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table of contents JUNE 2015 VOLUME 20

3 1.

2.

NUMBER 2

things we learned

while making the june issue

Members of tween-sensation Kidz Bop enjoy an average three-year run with the group, aging out at around 13 or 14. Head to page 64 to learn more about the multi-million-selling group, which is coming to Boston this month.

Worcester Polytechnic Institute was the first university in the U.S. to offer a bachelor’s degree in robotics.

Thousands of families will flock to WPI on June 13 to enjoy its popular Touch Tomorrow event. On page 28, discover what this free STEM festival has in store for families and why it’s so popular.

3.

From a motor-development standpoint, pedaling isn’t the most important part of learning how to ride a two-wheel bike. In fact, it’s the least important part. What’s #1? Turn to page 40 and find out.

in every issue 8 8 9 10 10 14 15 16 18

MEET OUR SPECIAL GUEST: Cover model Jaye

28

LET’S GO: Touch Tomorrow at Worcester Polytechnic Institute’s Family STEM Festival

30

VERY SPECIAL PEOPLE: Providing Optimal Dental Care For Children With Special Needs

62

EVERYDAY ART: Supercharge Your Child’s Creativity With STEAM

72

DIVORCE & SINGLE PARENTING: 5 Tips For Co-Parenting During the Summer

73

REEL LIFE WITH JANE: Family Movies Coming to Theatres, DVD in June

74 76

OUR JUNE FAVORITES: Facts, Finds and Freebies

82

features 12 57

RIPE: Shopping The Clean 15: Eating Healthy Regardless of Budget

59

DISHIN’ WITH THE DIETITIAN: Summertime Vegetables and Fruit: Keep them Safe

60

BITES: Farmers Market Finds, Fun Gear For Your Fridge, and More

13 51 52 64 65 70

Northampton Mom Fights Toy Aisle Stereotypes Mom Stands Up To Sexy Dolls in the Pink Aisle Families Flock To Boston Pride Week Is Your Family Leaving Money On The Table?

Inside the Kidz Bop Phenomenon Ashlynn Chong: My Life as a Kidz Bop Kid Meet Our Cover Model Finalists!

WELCOME: A Letter From Our Editor

MEET OUR CONTRIBUTORS bsp ONLINE SHOW & TELL FINALLY FOREVER: 2 Dads, 7 Kids and A Great, Big World JUNE’S CHILD: Meet Riley CIRCLE OF FRIENDS: Area Adoption Events OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO: June Calendar of Family Events

COUNTDOWN TO SUMMER CAMP: Girl Scout Camp Green Eyrie Turns 90 TAKE 8: Former Patriot Matt Light

Our Summer of Fun Articles 36 Hitting the Road: RV-Style Much More Than Memories: How 38 Travel Impacts Child Development The Trikes and Training Wheels: 40 Skip Teaching Toddlers To Ride 42

Gift Guide: Hot Stuff For a Summer of Fun

45

From For-Sale to Sodor: The Evolution of Edaville

46

33 Places to Brighten a Rainy Day on the Cape BAYSTATEPARENT 7

meet team

welcome to

publisher KIRK DAVIS

Temperatures are heating up, school is letting out, and your summer of fun is nearly here. Just a few months ago it certainly didn’t seem like green lawns and warm days would ever arrive, but now it’s time to get outdoors and have some fun. With that in mind, we have a host of stories to help you meet that goal.

Taking the family on the road is a lot of work, but it’s worth it — and not just for the memories. Writer Michelle Perras-Charron talks to experts about the incredible ways travel benefits children developmentally on page 38. So the next time you’re tempted to grumble about packing the car or the post-trip laundry, just remember: You’re doing a good thing.

Will my colleague, Multimedia Editor and land yacht newbie Heather Kempskie, be doing a good thing when she embarks on a twoweek RV journey down the East Coast in July? According to the aforementioned child development experts, she sure will, but Heather seems a little unsure of her own fate as she writes in her story

“Hitting The Road, RV-Style.” I know I can’t wait to read about the trip and watch her videos as she embarks on the adventure with her husband and two kids. All I know is I want a picture of her driving a 23-foot RV. Check out Heather’s story and learn why she — and thousands of other U.S. families — are taking to the road this summer on page 36 Also hitting the road right now are bicyclists — veterans, as well as those learning to ride for the first time. This month, Longmeadow mother of four and motor development college professor Lynn Pantuosco-Hensch shares her personal and professional experiences on teaching the art of the two-wheeler. The key? Skip the traditional trikes and training wheels and start with a balance bike instead. Head to page 40 to learn why balance bikes streamline learning and benefit a young child in many ways beyond physical fitness.

Families flock to the Cape each summer for the beaches and sun, but what if your beach day is rained out? Amazingly, there may be as much to do indoors as outdoors. On page 46, writer Sara Pokorny shares 33 ways families can beat a rainy day on the Cape —

from theatre and sports to shopping and museums — and still have an amazing time.

Staying closer to home and looking for free fun? Art educator Darcy Schwatrz examines ways families can supercharge a child’s creativity and critical thinking with simple STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) projects in her Everyday Art column on page 62. Using common household supplies, discover how you can foster art and interdisciplinary learning and, most importantly, have fun!

Those heading to Boston’s Wilbur Theatre this month to see the musical phenomenon Kidz Bop are certainly in for some fun. We had a great time talking to Kidz Bop officials about how the multimillion-selling group came to be and how its members are chosen.

Head to page 64 to learn about the group and get the inside scoop from a current Kidz Bop performer in a Q&A on page 65.

As always, thank you for reading and let us know what you think: melissa@baystateparent.com.

creative editor in chief MELISSA SHAW 508-865-7070 ext. 201 editor@baystateparent.com creative director PAULA MONETTE ETHIER 508-865-7070 ext. 221 pethier@holdenlandmark.com senior graphic designer STEPHANIE MALLARD 508-865-7070 design@baystateparent.com multi-media editor HEATHER KEMPSKIE heather@baystateparent.com

advertising director of sales REGINA STILLINGS 508-865-7070 ext. 210 regina@baystateparent.com account executive MARIE COREY 508-735-0503 marie@baystateparent.com

M e li ss a

account executive DEBORAH MEUNIER 508-450-9718 deb@baystateparent.com

Melissa Shaw, Editor

Jaye

meet our special guest

account executive KATHY PUFFER 508-865-7070 ext. 211 kathy@baystateparent.com

Nine-year-old Jaye of MetroWest is this month’s cover model and took some time to share fun facts with us!

Spanish. I also enjoy studying parts of animals. My favorite thing about school is my teacher, Mr. Cohen.

What was the photo shoot like?

Have you modeled before?

It was fun and I enjoyed getting my hair done in a different way. I loved the basket of flowers on my bike. I have never modeled before.

Do you have any hobbies?

Yes, I have a lot. I ski, snowboard, swim, dance, and play soccer. I also love to sew and paint in my free time.

STEVEN KING KAREN MORIARTY SHAWNA SHENETTE

What is your favorite book?

I like the book Matilda.

ABIGAIL MCCOY

What did you enjoy most about the experience?

I liked learning about the whole process and it felt really cool to be a model.

What is your favorite subject in school?

My favorite class in school is

What are you looking forward to most this summer?

I can’t wait to go to Explo camp, swim on a team, and relax in Waterville Valley with my family.

presidents KIRK and LAURIE DAVIS photographers

illustrator

cover photo

BY

Shawna Shenette

PHOTOGRAPHY

Hair and Makeup by Rob Roy Hair Salons, Clothing provided by Little V Designs, Westborough 8 JUNE2015

is published monthly with a main office at 22 West Street, Millbury, MA 01527 www.baystateparent.com It is distributed free of charge throughout Massachusetts.

June Contributors On page 30, writer and mother of three Wendy Bulawa Agudelo of Andover explains the critical issue of providing excellent dental care to children with special needs.

Jane Boursaw is the film critic and editor-in-chief of Reel Life With Jane. On page 73 she gets you up to date on what’s coming to theatres and DVD this month.

Michele Bennett Decoteau is a writer, mother of two, and beekeeper who lives in Millbury. Girl Scout Camp Green Eyrie in Harvard turns 90 in August and Michele has the scoop on the festivities on page 76. In our Ripe section, she introduces you to the Clean 15 and the Dirty Dozen, two lists that can influence how you spend your produce dollars.

Writer and father Gary L. Kelley of Marlborough looks at the extraordinary evolution of venerable family attraction Edaville USA on page 45. On page 52, he examines the Mass Save program and shows how families can get on-the-spot, energy-efficient upgrades for free.

Dr. Lynn Pantuosco-Hensch is an assistant professor in the Movement Science department at Westfield State University, teaching motor development, exercise science, and other sport-related courses. She is the mother of four boys ages 1, 3, 5 and 7, and lives with her family in Longmeadow. This month Lynn outlines the myriad benefits of abandoning tricycles and training wheels in favor of teaching children to ride via a balance bike. Read her story on page 40.

Greater Quincy Child Care Center

Michelle Perras-Charron is a freelance writer and mom to four boys in Belchertown. This month, she talks to experts about how travel benefits a child’s development on page 38. On page 28, she takes you inside a great family festival being held this month — Worcester Polytechnic Institute’s Touch Tomorrow.

Sara Pokorny is a freelance writer who lives in Amherst and is a proud puppy mommy to Link and Piper.

On page 14 Sara talks to a family of nine who say the secret to their success can be found at a spot in everyone’s home: the dinner table.

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859 Willard St., One Adams Pl., Quincy Attorney Irwin M. Pollack is founder and lead attorney of Pollack Law Group, P.C. (PollackLawGroup.com) and a divorced father himself. He shares insights and information about co-parenting on his weekly radio talk show, Talking About Divorce, which is broadcast live each Sunday at noon on NewsRadio 580/94.9, WTAG, in Worcester, and on Co-Parenting After Divorce, an informational broadcast that airs weekly on WBZ NewsRadio 1030 in Boston. Irwin offers 5 tips for co-parenting during the summer months on page 72.

Darcy Schwartz has worked as an illustrator and designer for the past 30 years, and is the founder and director of ArtReach, an in-school outreach program that brings fine art to children and programs throughout New England. When not teaching or creating art in her everyday life, she is a wife, a mother, and avid gardener. In her Everyday Art column on page 62, Darcy explains how parents can easily supercharge their child’s creativity and critical thinking with supplies found around the house.

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Facebook.com/baystateparent twitter @baystateparent

Weekly Summer Programs running through August 29th!

BAYSTATEPARENT 9

bsp ONLINE Let’s talk about stuff that nobody talks about

Ask yourself, why aren’t you entering our contests?

I mean, look at all this stuff waiting to find a home! From books and games to lotions and tech solutions, we are privy to the latest and greatest familyfriendly products. And we love to share! One Facebook friend wrote: “I love your contests! I won a great family vacation a few years ago.

Real people do win these things.

Thanks for offering such great giveaways!” Awww. Visit us on Facebook, YouTube or at baystateparent.com to be the first to enter to win! #clearingourshelves

Like bras: the ones that stab you in your ribcage or don’t do anything to compliment your figure. Why doesn’t anyone talk about how uncomfortable they often feel? We did. And you joined in. With nearly 3,000 views and an outreach topping 6,500 with our bra-fitting video, we want to cover more hot topics and parenting taboos. We can help get your questions answered by the experts. Just ask! Share ideas on our Facebook page or email them directly to me. Discretion will be used.

The voice of co-parenting Do you suffer from nomophobia? Because I’m pretty sure I do.

According to Wikipedia, nomophobia “occurs in situations when an individual experiences anxiety which is due to the fear of not having access to a mobile phone. Anxiety is provoked by several reasons, such as the loss of a mobile phone, loss of reception, and a dead mobile phone battery.

Researchers have found a way to evaluate how severe a person’s nomophobia really is. Let’s find out, collectively, how serious our condition may be and how we can get some help! Head to baystateparent.com/nomophobia

Attorney Irwin Pollack is lending us his voice both on the pages of bsp and also on the airwaves.

A divorced Dad and a divorce lawyer, Irwin writes about single/ divorced parenting topics for us every month, and you can get more of his sage advice by tuning into his weekly radio talk show, Talking About Divorce, which broadcasts live each Sunday at noon on NewsRadio 580/94.9, WTAG in Central Mass, and on Co-Parenting After Divorce, an informational broadcast that airs weekly on WBZ-News Radio 1030 in Boston.

— Heather Kempskie Multimedia Editor heather@baystateparent.com

Show & Tell PBS’s Odd Squad: Fun For The Whole Family (Really!)

Late last month, five new episodes of PBS’s live-action math series, Odd Squad, premiered, news that was heartily welcomed by my entire family.

“Live-action math series” sounds like a head scratcher, for sure, but cutting to the chase: Odd Squad is a fun show kids and parents can enjoy together, all while sneaking in a little math. For example, here’s the description of an upcoming episode: “Bad Lemonade: Olive and Otto are called in to help when Polly Graph mysteriously quits her lemonade stand.” (Educational objectives: Data collection and analysis; creating and interpreting bar graphs and pictographs.)

Premiering last fall on PBS, Odd Squad is designed to help kids ages 5 to 8 build math and 10 JUNE2015

collaboration skills. In each episode, kid agents Olive and Otto (above left) investigate unusual cases of odd activity, solving problems and mysteries, and saving the day using math. In less than a year, the show has already won a 2015 Parents’ Choice Award and two Daytime Emmy Awards, not a surprise when you find out it was created by the folks who developed Adventure Time, The Backyardigans, and The Electric Company.

The show is funny and the child actors are engaging. There’s also a lot of fun music, so much so the show also released a soundtrack late last month, available on iTunes, Amazon, and Spotify. If you’re looking for a fun show to share with the kids, Odd Squad is hard to beat… and you’ll enjoy some algebraic thinking and skip counting, too.

— Melissa (editor@baystateparent.com)

Control The Family TV With Your iPhone If your child(ren) turn into lethargic, zombie-like beings in front of the TV, Pronto may be your ticket to winning the TurnOff-The-TV-Now War. Download the free Peel Smart Remote app, sync it to Pronto and, suddenly, your TV remote (as well as the entire listing of channels and shows) are on your iPhone. Most impressive, you have the power to turn the TV on and off via your phone, which I found to be extremely convenient when dinnertime rolled around and (surprise) I couldn’t get my kids’ attention. I could also adjust the volume when I had the desire to hear my own thoughts.

Pronto stands just 3.5 inches tall and can control your DVD and Blu-ray players, too. It even customizes viewing recommendations based on

your interests and viewing habits.

I took a break from torturing my kids and easily pulled up a listing of what was on the tube. One touch and it was on the screen. I also set a reminder so I wouldn’t miss the next Ellen. Sweet. Saving the best for last: I no longer care if the TV remote lands under the couch and becomes coated with dust balls and cracker crumbs. My remote will always be right on my iPhone. (getpronto.com, $49) — Heather (heather@baystateparent.com)

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Camp show performances on July 25th & 26th

Your child will enjoy a summer of music, art, drama and dance at our 3 week, state certified theatre camp held in Worcester. Campers will also produce a full show for family and friends at the conclusion of camp. Students will learn all the aspects of producing a show from acting, singing & dancing to set building, costumes and more!

For all information, call 978-602-6288 or register online at

wachusetttheatre.com

BAYSTATEPARENT 11

Laurel Wider of Northhampton, her son, and the first member of The Wonder Crew — soft-bodied dolls geared towards preschool boys.

Northampton Mom Fights

Toy Aisle Stereotypes

BY MICHELLE PERRAS-CHARRON

N

orthampton mom Laurel Wider has never been afraid to question societal norms and practices that don’t ring true.

Observing at an early age that there were certain expectations of both boys and girls that just didn’t fit everyone, she began asking questions.

“I can remember being around 7 years old having conversations with my school principal about why girls were expected to wear skirts,” Wider says. “It didn’t seem fair.”

Unknowingly at that age, Wider was already challenging conventional norms tied to “gender stereotyping,” long before the term was on public radar.

“These conversations grew

12 JUNE2015

throughout my childhood,” she adds. “I felt it was important to challenge beliefs and stereotypes that didn’t make sense to me.”

Wider is a licensed psychotherapist in Northampton who specializes in gender, identity, and relationships. Though attuned to the stereotypes facing young girls and women while growing up, Wider says it wasn’t until she began her work as a therapist that she really began to consider the stereotypes young boys and men get boxed into.

“Boys and men get this idea that they’re not supposed to have feelings, that they’re supposed to be strong for everyone,” she notes.

“But when they have to shut down feelings and have no place to

express themselves, it can easily lead to problems such as anxiety, depression, and aggression.”

Already engaged in helping others resolve problems associated with gender stereotyping as part of her profession, Wider decided she needed to do more when her own son came home from preschool and announced, “Boys aren’t supposed to cry.”

She began to think in terms of child development, noting that children learn through play, and quickly realized that toys have the ability to impact youth at an early age. She began cruising mainstream toy aisles to take a closer look at those marketed to boys and immediately recognized a problem. Amid the aisles of weapons, muscles,

and toys geared towards displays of strength, and sometimes even aggression, Wider noted something important was missing.

“None offered a play experience that encouraged emotional connection or expression,” she says. “I wanted to change that. I wanted to create something different.”

And create something different she did — the Wonder Crew.

Wonder Crew, a work in progress for the past 15 months, is Wider’s line of soft-bodied dolls geared towards preschool-aged boys. The 15-inch dolls, called Crewmates, are designed to be a smaller peer, or equal, for preschool-aged boys.

Whereas action figures are typically designed to be muscular and strong, Wider says. Crewmates are

designed to let the child be that “bigger” person.

Combining the adventure of an action figure with the emotional connection of a favorite plush toy, Crewmates set the stage for nurturing play and friendships, she says.

Because of their soft-bodied design, they lend themselves to cuddling and hugging. Yes, plush toys are also great to love on, however as Wider points out, there are none marketed to boys that have a human face.

Why is this important? Because faces teach children to connect with people, she says.

“Relationships are the key to happiness and love, and if we’re not gearing our boys up for that, we’re short-changing them,” she adds, pointing out that today’s young boys will someday become fathers, brothers, and good friends to oth-

Mom Stands Up

To Sexy Dolls

BY MICHELLE PERRAS-CHARRON

Jodi Norgaard, CEO and founder of Dream Big Toy Company, and the creator of Go! Go! Sports Girls, is shaking up the toy aisle with a line of plush, sports-themed dolls that encourage healthy and active play for girls.

What began as a casual trip to the toy aisle seven years ago with her then 9-year-old daughter, has turned into a quest to create change and put the brakes on the stereotyping of young girls.

The Chicago-area mother of three explained that her daughter had just finished a soccer game. Afterwards they were browsing the doll aisle of a mainstream retailer, her daughter still in her soccer uniform, sweaty

ers. “Why aren’t we fostering this?”

Wider says parents can help their children build strong relationships through behavior modeling.

“Boys need to see from both parents that it’s important to value your feelings,” she says. Likewise, it’s also important to help boys be emotionally attuned to others — teaching empathy and kindness are key to being able to connect with people, she adds.

In fact, studies indicate that strong relationships with people and the ability to emotionally connect are key ingredients to happiness at all ages, she notes. However, in our culture, the opportunities for boys to fully express themselves can be limited or halted by peers, or sometimes even family. Boys may hear phrases like, “Man up!” or in the case of Wider’s son, “Boys don’t cry.”

“I want to be part of creating a world that allows boys to be their full selves, one where emotional connection and expression is seen as a strength,” she says.

Excited to see gender stereotyping of young girls turn a corner in mainstream toy aisles with the recent addition of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) toys marketed toward girls, Wider aspires to create this same type of change in the toy aisle for boys via the Wonder Crew.

She recently wrapped up a successful Kickstarter campaign to fund the production of the first Crewmate, Will, who is available for pre-order now. With positive support and helpful feedback from parents, Wider says the project has become a community build of sorts.

“I’m overwhelmed by all of the

Wonder Crew support and enthusiasm,” she says. “We’re not only a new, super-fun toy, I believe we will also create some change!” Wider adds that the support of Valley Venture Mentors, based in Springfield, and Kickstarter backers have been instrumental in turning the concept of the Wonder Crew (wondercrew. com) into a reality.

Up next for Wider will be putting Will into production over the summer, with more Crewmates to follow. She plans to extend the line to be representative of all children in terms of race, gender, and abilities.

“There’s much more involved than I anticipated,” Wider says regarding designing and funding the production of Will. “But it’s not scaring me off. We’re not going to give up.”

from her game, with messy hair and rosy cheeks to boot. Yet all around them dolls were outfitted in miniskirts, crop tops, high heels, and make-up. She noted one of the dolls was named “Lovely Lola.” Norgaard was appalled, to say the least.

“At 9, marketing takes a turn from cute baby dolls to sexy dolls,” she recalls. “And I thought, I can do something about this.”

Active in sports herself and frustrated over what she observed that day in the doll aisle, Norgaard created dolls that represent girls who are gymnasts, runners, swimmers, basketball players, and the like. Go! Go! Sports Girls are sold individually, and also as a doll-and-book set known as Read and Plays. The illustrated books explore socialemotional growth through sports in engaging stories.

“I just knew it was right,” she says.

“Girls play sports, why wouldn’t they want their dolls to play sports, too? Why are we judged by what we look like and not what we do?”

Norgaard joins a recent crop of like-minded women who are trying to make changes in the toy aisles for girls. New companies such as Roominate and GoldieBlox, which offer engineering toys for girls, have found their way onto mainstream toy shelves in recent years, reflecting that there is much more to young girls than all things pink and sparkly.

It has not been an easy road for woman like Norgaard, who are clearing the path for change in the media and toy industry.

Many toy buyers told her that although they liked the dolls, they were not fashion-forward enough to compete alongside sexier competitors in the toy aisle. In other words, the dolls were not “mainstream” enough for retailers to stock on

their shelves.

But Norgaard was persistent, explaining to toy buyers that change is never created by mainstream ideas, and she, for one, wanted to create change.

“I told toy buyers, ‘Why don’t we give [girls] a choice and let them make the decision?” she says.

Her persistence over the past seven years has paid off. After testing the Read and Play sets in select Illinois stores, Walmart decided to put Go! Go! Sports Girls (gogosportsgirls.com) in 180 stores this past February.

“I never gave up because I believe strongly that girls deserve better.”

EcoBSP.TCWAd2015.pro.pdf

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BAYSTATEPARENT 13

FINALLY FOREVER

STEVEN KING

2 Dads, 7 Kids & a Great Big World

BY SARA POKORNY

A bookworm.

An athlete.

A musician.

An inquisitive mind.

A chef.

Parents Joe Sandagato (left), Tom Scott, and two of their seven children, Ashley and Devin.

Though it may read like the end of a John Hughes movie, what the list really represents are characteristics that scratch the surface of small town family in Central Massachusetts, one of love, diligent upbringings, and an overall sense of uniqueness that is actually grounded in tradition.

When Joe Sandagato and Tom Scott met more than two decades ago, Sandagato expressed he wanted to have a dozen children — and the couple is more than halfway to that goal, having over the years adopted seven through the state’s Department of Children & Families (DCF). The children not only range in age from 5 to 24, but also come from very different cultural backgrounds; four of the children identify as Mexican and Caucasian, African-American and El Salvadorian, African-American and Caucasian, and Latino and Caucasian.

“The 20-year-old version of me living in those political times, living the lifestyle we were living when we got together, would never have imagined that two decades later we’d have so many kids and this large family dynamic,” Sandagato said.

Scott and Sandagato have not only watched their children grow over the years, but have also

been witness to an ever-evolving society that has become more accepting of such a constellation, a term used to describe the structure of an adoptive family. They live lives of constant motion and change, and they wouldn’t have it any other way.

Family Beginnings The couple first began the adoption process in 1999, facing a bit of push back from some along the way who were not yet comfortable with the idea of a same-sex couple seeking to adopt. Yet the process was the same as that of any prospective adoptive parent: Massachusetts Approach to Partnerships and Parenting (MAPP) training, home studies, background checks, and seeking out the right fit.

“There were a lot of obstacles back in those days, and fortunately that’s changed because of the work people have done over the years; we participated in some of it and we continue to today,” Sandagato said. He serves as president of the board for the DCF Worcester West Area office and also heads Gay Adoptive Fathers of the Northeast. Today, any adult over age 18 is eligible to adopt from Massachusetts foster care: single, married, partnered, straight, or LGBT. The first two children to become a part of the family where then 4-and-a-half and 9 years old — now 24 and 20 — Anthony and Malcome,

respectively, who are also related through their mother. Next came Victor, now 21. The family is rounded out by Ashley, 15, who is also related to Anthony and Malcome maternally; Devin, 17; and two boys ages 5 and 10 who are currently in the pre-adoptive stage.

Over the years the couple has adapted to the lifestyle change, something they said wasn’t always easy, but worked out in the end. Scott, a physical therapist assistant, took what the men refer to as the “first shift,” a seven-year period during which he worked part-time and was home with the kids.

Sandagato, who worked in a corporate setting up until eight years ago (and now works from home through his own real estate company, as well as sales and marketing consulting), claimed ownership of the “second shift.”

They say communication is key, a process anyone in their presence can see flows naturally as they often finish each other’s thoughts and round out one another’s ideas. There’s also a willingness to cooperate and humor involved; Sandagato jokingly asked Scott if he had forgotten anyone when rambling off the list of children’s names and ages.

A Multi-Faceted Bunch Adopting across race was never something Scott and Sandagato sought out; it just happened. “When

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we met the kids, we just knew,” Sandagato said.

The couple understands the importance of integrating the children’s various cultures and have always sought out ways to show each child not only their own background, but also those of their siblings. The gateway to this is as simple as sitting down at the table.

“The thing that ties people to their culture in every family, no matter what their culture is, is food,” Sandagato said. “Learning how to make the food, trying to figure out what some favorites are. That’s where we really started.”

The dads have also made sure the kids were surrounded by multicultural environments growing up, taking them to cities such as Boston and Manhattan as often as possible, exposing them to broader communities of people. They wanted to explore diversity with the children, but without forcing it.

“We wanted to let them kind of take the lead and explore their ethnic background,” Scott said. “A lot of times it’s a process of self-discovery you have to enforce.”

They also want their children to explore who they are as individuals.

“We’ve taught them that you can be whatever you want, you can do whatever you want, you can make choices about what your future is going to be like. Because of that they had exposure to a lot of things and they tried a lot of things,” Sandagato said.

Riley is a beautiful, Caucasian young lady who just turned 13 and describes herself as feisty and silly. Riley is a smart girl who loves to read and do hands-on craft projects. She also enjoys playing the keyboard, playing board games, and watching TV. Riley has had multiple placements over the years and therefore struggles to trust adults. She has not had the opportunity to build lasting friendships due to these moves.

Riley will require on-going

Riley

support to develop her social skills.

Legally free for adoption, Riley is open to any type of family. She will need a non-emotional family that can set clear limits and treat her like part of the family.

The family should be open to maintaining contact with her sister who is placed in another home.

For more information regarding Riley, please call Department of Children and Families (DCF) Adoption Supervisor Rukaiyah Saforo at (508) 929-2095.

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Tradition, Redefined For all of the unconventionality on the surface, the household is one of the most traditional one may come across in this day and age.

“One of the most important things we found as a family unit is to sit and eat every night with the kids,” Scott said. “There may be nights where I might not be here, or Joe might not be here, or it’s more casual, but for the most part we are sitting at that island, talking and engaging, no technology allowed.”

Not only are these parents enriching the lives of their children, they’re also getting so much back from them. “It causes you to engage with the world in a different way,” Sandagato said. “We can talk about it from diversity, but there’s also looking at the world through a 5-year-old’s eyes.”

Does the pair intend to add more members to the family any time soon? Though they say they aren’t currently looking, it’s also a case of “never say never,” according to Sandagato.

“We’ve had, for the past 10 years, the same social worker, she always says, ‘You’ve told me so many times before you’re done; I don’t believe it!’”

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CIRCLE OF FRIENDS Sunday, June 7 — Hockomock Kickball Adoption Party, Hockomock YMCA 300 Elmwood St., North Attleboro. 1 p.m.-3 p.m. A party for waiting children age 5 and older who would enjoy an afternoon of arts and crafts, kickball and other outdoor activities, weather permitting. Prospective adoptive parents are encouraged to wear comfortable clothes and join in the play. This event is recommended for homestudied families. For more info: 617-54-ADOPT. Wednesday, June 10 — Northern Region Adoption Info Meetings, Jordan’s Furniture Reading: IMAX Conference Room - 50 Walker’s Brook Dr., Reading. 6 p.m. RSVP: 978-557-2734.

Thursday, June 11 — Family Support Group, Jordan’s Furniture, 50 Walkers Brook Drive, Reading, 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. This waiting family support group is open to families from all regions who are waiting, matched, or placed with a child. This is safe space for families to share their thoughts on the adoption process and receive guidance and support from other families. Call 978-337-6500 to RSVP.

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Tuesday, June 15 — Southern Region Adoption Info Meetings, Mass. Department of Children and Families, Canton Police Station, 1492 Washington Street, Canton. 6 p.m.-8 p.m. RSVP to 508-894-3830.

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Wednesday, June 17 — Boston Region Adoption Info Meeting, DCF Boston, 451 Blue Hill Avenue, Dorchester. 4 p.m.-5:30 p.m. 617-989-9209.

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Thursday, June 18 — Southern Region Adoption Info Meetings, Morton Hospital, 88 Washington Street,

Taunton, Margaret Stone Conference Room, first floor. 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m. RSVP: 508-894-3830.

Ongoing — Group for Adoptive Parents. Adoption Associates, 34 Lincoln Street, Newton. For parents of children in elementary or middle school. Meets monthly. For more information, contact 617-965-9369 or info@adoptionassociates.org.

Ongoing — Group for Adopted Teens. Adoption Associates, 34 Lincoln Street, Newton. For adopted children ages 14-19, this group focuses on identity development, self-esteem improvement, confidence building and communication skills. For more information, contact 617-965-9369 or info@ adoptionassociates.org.

Ongoing — Group for Adoptive Parents of Teens.

Adoption Associates, 34 Lincoln Street, Newton. This monthly group for parents focuses on understanding the impact of loss and trauma on children ages 14-19; learning to manage difficult and challenging behaviors and more. For more information, contact 617-9659369 or info@adoptionassociates.org.

Ongoing — The Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children offers an after-hours telephone hotline that provides emergency assistance to foster kinship and pre-adoptive families when the DCF offices are closed. 5 p.m. to 9 a.m. weekdays and 24 hours on weekends, holidays. (800) 486-3730.

If your group or organization is holding an adoption information or support group and would like to have information posted for readers of baystateparent, please email editor@baystateparent.com.

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OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO

GO EXPLORE Cambridge River Festival.

June 6, 12 p.m.-6 p.m.

18 JUNE2015 19

GO CREATE MAKEmobile. deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, Lincoln.

June 14, 1 p.m.-3 p.m.

Photo courtesy Museum of Science, Boston

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Photo courtesy deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum

GO WATCH Newsies: The Musical. Boston Opera House, June 23-July 5.

GO CHEER EurekaFest 2015.

Museum of Science, Boston.

June 20, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO! MELTDOWN WARNING: Before you pack up the mini-van, please confirm your destination. Although we’ve done our best to ensure accuracy at press time, things can and do change…

1 Monday

Spring Foraging Walk. Southwest Corridor Park, 38 New Heath Street, Jamaica Plain.

10 a.m.-12 p.m. Take a stroll with a local foraging expert to learn how to identify plants, as well as which can be used for medicine and which are safe to harvest. Register ahead. Free. thetrustees.org.

MFA Playdates. Museum of Fine Arts: Boston, 465 Huntington Avenue, Boston. 10:15 a.m.

Bring your toddler to enjoy story time and looking activities in the galleries, followed by art making. Recommended for children ages 4 and under with adult. Free with admission. Members free, adults $25, youths 7 to 17 $10, children 6 and under free. mfa.org.

Beyond the Spectrum. Museum of Fine Arts, 465 Huntington Avenue, Boston. 10:30 a.m.12 p.m. Explore the theme of “Clever Disguises” and see that not everything is always quite what it appears to be. For ages 8 to 12. $9. mfa.org.

Look What a Wonder. Newton Free Library, 330 Homer Street, Newton. 7 p.m.-8 p.m.

Bring the family to this evening experience of Look What a Wonder, the classic one-hour radio play. Free. newtonfreelibrary.net.

Family Tour. Worcester Art Museum, 55 Salisbury Street, Worcester. 10:30 a.m.11 a.m. Explore the museum and galleries with your family on this docent-guided discovery tour. Free with admission. Members free, adults $14, children ages 4 to 17 $6, children under 4 free. worcesterart.org.

2 Tuesday Winnie the Pooh Picnic. Newton Free Library, 330 Homer Street, Newton.

10:30 a.m.-11 a.m. Bring your favorite stuffed animal and picnic lunch for this fun sing-along before moving outside to lunch with our Winnie the Pooh and Friends statues. Free. newtonfreelibrary.net.

ASD Friendly Afternoon. The Discovery Museums, 117 Main Street, Acton.

1:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m. Enjoy this especially designed afternoon ensured to prevent overcrowding, support for exhibit accessibility, and a dedicated quiet room for your child.

Register ahead. Free. discoverymuseums.org.

Hebrew Bilingual Story Time. Newton Free Library, 330 Homer Street, Newton.

3:30 p.m.-4 p.m. Enjoy this special bilingual story time with stories, songs, and movement in English and Hebrew. For ages 3 to 5. Free. newtonfreelibrary.net.

Teen MakerLAB. Morse Institute Library, 14 East Central Street, Natick. 7 p.m.-8 p.m.

Create, share ideas, and explore technology with Arduino, Little Bits, soldering, and more.

For ages 11 to 18. Register ahead. Free. morseinstitute.org.

3 Wednesday Birds and BreakfaStreet South Shore Natural Science Center, 48 Jacobs Ln., Norwell. 8 a.m.-10 a.m. Come spend an hour or so outside viewing the spring migration underway before retreating inside for some breakfast treats. Members $8, nonmembers $10. southshorenaturalsciencecenter.org.

Free First Wednesday. deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, 51 Sandy Pond Road, Lincoln. 10 a.m. Explore the galleries and

GO PARTY Dan Zanes & Friends Dance Party.

Copley Square, Boston. June 20, 2 p.m.

sculpture garden with the entire family during this special event. Free. decordova.org.

4 Thursday

for children during an uplifting, fun-filled performance. For ages 2 and 3. Register ahead.

Free. morseinstitute.org.

First Thursday. The Umbrella Community Arts Center, 40 Stow Street, Concord. 6 p.m.8 p.m. Explore the open studios of community artists during this public opening featuring the best of the Umbrella’s artists, exhibitions, and education programs. Free. theumbrellaarts.org.

Salem Arts Festival. 34 New Derby Street, Salem. This family-friendly festival transforms downtown Salem into an opportunity for the arts community to showcase their talents, including painting, photography, sculpture, dance, music, writing, film, new media, performance, theatre, poetry, culinary, and more. Through June 7.

Free. salemartsfestival.com

Conquering the College Admission Essay. Newton Free Library, 330 Homer Street, Newton. 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Join bestselling author Alan Gelb as he conducts a workshop on how to approach the daunting task of the college admission essay, answering your questions, and relieving stress. Free. newtonfreelibrary.net.

Astronomy After Hours. Museum of Science, 1 Science Park, Boston. 8:30 p.m.-10 p.m.

Visit the Gilliland Observatory on the roof of the Museum’s parking garage to view stars, planets, the Moon, and other astronomical phenomenon.

Free. mos.org.

Free Thursday at the ICA. The Institute of Contemporary Art, 100 Northern Avenue, Boston. 5 p.m.-9 p.m. Come enjoy the Institute’s collection of thought-provoking and inspiring artwork during this special night.

Thursdays. icaboston.org.

5 Friday Fran Friedman Singalong. Morse Institute Library, 14 East Central Street, Natick.

10:30 a.m.-11:15 a.m. Join Fran Friedman as she presents a morning of musical fun

6 Saturday National Trails Day Celebration. Rocky Woods Reservation, 16 Hartford Street, Medfield. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Celebrate National Trails Day with REI, as you roll up your sleeves and pitch in to give the trails at Rocky Woods some TLC, with a light lunch provided. Register ahead. Free. thetrustees.org.

Pride Day. Faneuil Hall, Boston. 10 a.m.5 p.m. Artists, performers, dancers, and guests celebrate the start of Boston Pride Week. bostonpride.org.

Families @ WAM: Make Art. Worcester Art Museum, 55 Salisbury Street, Worcester.

11 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Drop-in for this fun intergenerational time in the galleries or studios as you get inspired by our art and try making something uniquely yours, during this materialprovided event. Free with admission. Members free; nonmember adults, children ages 4 to 17 $6, children under 4 free. worcesterart.org.

Cambridge River Festival. 344 Broadway, Cambridge. 12 p.m.-6 p.m. This event along the banks of the Charles River features jazz, folk, Latin and world music performances, dance, art demonstrations, family art-making activities and over 100 specialty food purveyors and craftspeople. Free. cambridgema.gov.

The Buzz about Bees. deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, 51 Sandy Pond Road, Lincoln. 1 p.m.-3 p.m. Drop in and learn about the importance of honey bees during this special day inspired by Jarrett Mellenbruch’s Haven sculptures in the park. Free with admission.

Adults $14, children 12 and under free. decordova.org.

7 Sunday Idea Hub. MIT Museum, 265 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Explore engineering using a variety of activities, including 3D programs and artistic circuits. For ages 12 and up. Sundays. Free with admission.

Adults $10, youths $8, children under 5 free. mit.edu/museum.

Happy Birthday Chickens. South Shore Natural Science Center, 48 Jacobs Ln., Norwell.

11 a.m.-4 p.m. The miniature chickens are BAYSTATEPARENT 18 19

OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO! Learn how 3D printing works by using Tinkercad to design your own three-dimensional creation.

For ages 12 and up. Register ahead. Free. newtonfreelibrary.net.

9 Tuesday Dream Girls. North Shore Music Theatre, 62 Dunham Road, Beverly. 7:30 p.m. Share the elation and tribulation on the road to stardom in this musical that tells the story of a 1960s girls group with an unforgettable score. $54-$79. nsmt.org.

Photo by Bill Gallery

10 Wednesday

GO DANCE KidsJam Dance Party. Boston Children’s Museum.

June 26, 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m.

turning 1, and the big girls will be 3, so come celebrate with chicken games and crafts, enjoy corn cake, and see a chicken up close. Member children $7, nonmember children $10, caregivers free. southshorenaturalsciencecenter.org.

A Practically Perfect Mary Poppins Party. Castle Hill on the Crane Estate, 310 Argilla Road, Ipswich. 1 p.m.-4 p.m.

Make and fly a kite, create a chalk masterpiece, play games on the lawn and more during this afternoon party celebrating Mary Poppins with tea and cookies. Member children $20, nonmember children $30, adults accompanying children free. thetrustees.org.

Centennial Presentation. Fruitlands Museum, 102 Prospect Hill Road, Harvard.

1 p.m. Join Annawon Weeden as he draws on his Mashpee Wampanoag and Narragansett Pequot lineage to share his experiences as a tradition bearer and discusses the cultural preservation of Eastern Woodland Native Peoples.

Register ahead. Members $5, nonmember adults $10, children $5. fruitlands.org.

Beatles Tribute Concert. Francis William Bird Park, 59 Rhoades Avenue, East Walpole.

5 p.m.-7 p.m. Bring a blanket, a picnic basket, and some friends to enjoy the sound of classic Beatles hits. Free. thetrustees.org.

8 Monday 3D Printing for Teens. Newton Free Library, 330 Homer Street, Newton. 4 p.m.-5:30 p.m.

Free Wednesday at the MFA. Museum of Fine Arts: Boston, 465 Huntington Avenue, Boston. 4 p.m.-9:30 p.m. Come witness one of the most comprehensive art museum collections in the world during this special evening.

Wednesdays. Free. mfa.org.

11 Thursday Guys and Dolls. Reagle Music Theatre of Greater Boston, 617 Lexington Street, Waltham. 3 p.m. Experience this classic Tony Award-winning musical starring Olivier Award nominee Brent Barrett and opera singer Mara Bonde in a New York filled with gangsters and showgirls. $35-$63. reaglemusictheatre.com.

Concert in the Park. Norman B. Leventhal Park, Post Office Square, Boston. 5 p.m.-6 p.m. Come join Inspire Arts and Music during this fun evening outdoor concert featuring the Hyde Park Youth Percussion Ensemble in their very first performance. Free. concertinthepark.org.

Wild Walks. Garden in the Woods, 180 Hemenway Road, Framingham. 6 p.m.7 p.m. Take a twilight walk through the Garden with horticultural staff to see what’s in bloom

and learn about gardening. Free with admission.

Adults $12, youth 3 to 17 $6, children under 3 free. newenglandwild.org.

12 Friday Robin Hood. Puppet Showplace Theater, 32 Station Street, Brookline. 10:30 a.m.

Explore the wilds of Sherwood Forest in this rollicking retelling of the classic tale, featuring hilarious dialogue, original music, and beautifully-crafted costumes and scenery. $12. puppetshowplace.org.

Norwell Farmer’s Market. South Shore Natural Science Center, 48 Jacobs Ln., Norwell.

2 p.m.-6 p.m. Come enjoy local organic vegetables, bread, fish, cheese, grass-fed meats, live music, kids’ activities, and more. Fridays.

Free. southshorenaturalsciencecenter.org.

Second Fridays. MIT Museum, 265 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge. 5 p.m.8 p.m. Join Mark Stewart and MIT’s Glass Band for this special one-of-the-kind sound symphonies. Free with admission. Adults $10, youths $8, children under 5 free. mit.edu/museum.

Awakening the Senses. Gore Place, 52 Gore Street, Waltham. 7:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Tour the mansion and learn about its operations as we embrace the return of spring to New England.

For ages 5 to 12. Members $10, nonmember adults $15, children 5 to 12 $10. goreplace.org.

13 Saturday by land...

Breakfast with Bobolinks. Doyle Community Park and Center, 455 Abbott Avenue, Leominster. 8 a.m.-10 a.m. Grab a bagel and other refreshments before heading out to explore bobolinks and other grassland birds with binoculars and spotting scopes.

Members free, nonmembers $5. thetrustees.org. by air...

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OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO! 90 Kids from Kyoto. Boston Children’s Museum, 308 Congress Street, Boston.

10 a.m.-5 p.m. Make an international new friend as you share hand-made activities and favorite games with children from Boston’s sister city, Kyoto, Japan. Free with admission.

Members free, adults $14, children under 1 free. bostonchildrensmuseum.org.

Teddy Bear Check-Up. Stone Zoo, 149 Pond Street, Stoneham. 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Bring your teddy bear for a cuddly day of fun.

Get a check-up for your teddy bear, go on a teddy bear parade, and learn more about the zoo’s black bears. Free with admission. Members free, adults $16, children 2 to 12 $12, children under 2 free. zoonewengland.org.

Guitar and Strings Music Recital.

Worcester Public Library: Main Branch, 3 Salem Sq., Worcester. 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

Enjoy Worcester Public School students and those from the studio of Israel Saldana. Free. worcpublib.org.

Boston Pride Festival. City Hall Plaza. Music, entertainment, food, fun, and more. 11 a.m.6 p.m. bostonpride.org.

Boston Pride Parade. Copley Square to City Hall Plaza. 12 p.m. The LGBT community and allies celebrate the event’s 45th year. bostonpride.org.

Saturday Morning Story Time. Concord Museum, 53 Cambridge Turnpike, Concord.

11 a.m.-12 p.m. Have a seat and enjoy a morning filled with baseball stories with the whole family in our The Art of Baseball exhibit.

Free with admission. Adults $10, children 5 to 18 $5, children under 5 free. concordmuseum.org.

Worldwide Knit in Public Day. Natick Common, 9 South Main Street, Natick.

11 a.m.-1 p.m. Drop-by the Natick Common

with your stitching and lawn chair, or come learn the basics with yarn and needles provided.

Free. morseinstitute.org.

Kids in the Garden. City Natives, 30 Edgewater Dr., Mattapan. 1:30 p.m.3 p.m. Come learn about how to feed and care for worms and how to turn kitchen scraps into black gold for your garden or houseplants as you learn how to make worm-filled compost.

Register ahead. Free. thetrustees.org.

Nature Play: Explore the Pond.

Doyle Community Park and Center, 455 Abbott Avenue, Leominster. 3 p.m.4 p.m. Explore nature as we take scoops from the pond and use our magnifying glass to study our samples up-close. Free. thetrustees.org.

Boston Pride Youth Dance. City Hall Plaza.

6 p.m.-10 p.m. 21 and under. Alcohol-free event. $10. bostonpride.org.

14 Sunday Strawberry Field Jam. Verrill Farm, 11 Wheeler Road, Concord. 10 a.m.11:30 a.m. Pick your own berries and celebrate spring’s arrival with live “jammin” music, tastings, and more. For families with children age 2 and up. Registered families $15, unregistered $20. bostonjcc.org.

Archie’s Betty. The Institute of Contemporary Art, 100 Northern Avenue, Boston. 12 p.m. & 3 p.m. Follow Gerard Peary as he searches for the real life inspiration for Archie, Betty, Veronica, Moose, and Jughead, including interviews with cartoonist Bob Montana’s Haverhill classmates, Archie experts and cartoonists. Members $5, nonmembers $10. icaboston.org.

The Best Nest. Garden in the Woods, 180 Hemenway Road, Framingham. 1 p.m.-

3 p.m. Put your eyes and ears to the test as we walk the trails in search of hummingbirds, woodpeckers, and many other kinds of birds, before examining nests and trying out our nestbuilding skills. Members $12, nonmembers $14. newenglandwild.org.

MAKEmobile. deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, 51 Sandy Pond Road, Lincoln.

1 p.m.-3 p.m. Take your imagination for a spin with activities that explore artistic and material processes through amusing prompts and challenges. Free with admission. Adults $14, children 12 and under free. decordova.org.

Hands-On History. Concord Museum, 53 Cambridge Turnpike, Concord. 1 p.m.4 p.m. Bring the kids to this family-focused afternoon introducing history through hunts, crafts, and special gallery activities. Free with admission. Adults $10, children 5 to 18 $5, children under 5 free. concordmuseum.org.

Open Day. Woolson Street Garden, 44 Woolson Street, Mattapan. 1 p.m. Join in on this family fun evening filled with music, Zumba, gardening tips, kids activities, and a community barbeque. Free. thetrustees.org.

15 Monday Freedom Week. Old Sturbridge Village, 1 Old Sturbridge Village Road, Sturbridge.

9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Come celebrate Juneteenth by listening to stories of African-American history, while also enjoying activities and crafts. Through June 21. Free with admission. Adults $24, youths 3 to 17 $10, children 2 and under free. osv.org.

16 Tuesday Matt Heaton Family Singalong. Newton Free Library, 330 Homer Street, Newton.

10:30 a.m.-11:15 a.m. The Toddlerbilly Troubadour brings an infectious energy to his

singalongs, peppered with well-known classics and new songs, all performed with panache.

Free. newtonfreelibrary.net.

Teen Crafterhours. Newton Free Library, 330 Homer Street, Newton. 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m.

Come hang out with friends in this relaxed evening of crafting and snacking. For ages 12 and up. Free. newtonfreelibrary.net.

17 Wednesday Toddler Time on the Farm. Gore Place, 52 Gore Street, Waltham. 10 a.m. Learn about chickens, pigs, and sheep, while helping out with the farm, planting seeds, picking vegetables, and raising beds, in this morning filled with stories, songs, and activities. For age 2. Register ahead. $10 per child. goreplace.org.

Shrewsbury Farmers’ Market. Ski Ward, 1000 Main Street, Shrewsbury. 2 p.m.6:30 p.m. Explore the best artisanal baked goods, free-range meats and eggs, and an abundance of fruits, vegetables and cheeses, while seeing baby alpacas. Wednesdays. Free. shrewsburyfarmersmarket.com.

Juneteenth. Museum of Fine Arts, 465 Huntington Avenue, Boston. 6 p.m.9:45 p.m. Spend the evening at the MFA to honor the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the U.S. through music, activities, and tours.

Recommended for ages 11 and up. Free with admission. Members free, adults $25, youths 7 to 17 $10, children 6 and under free. mfa.org.

18 Thursday French Bilingual Story Time. Newton Free Library, 330 Homer Street, Newton.

3:30 p.m.-4 p.m. Enjoy this special bilingual story time with songs, stories, and movement in English and French. For ages 3 to 5. Free. newtonfreelibrary.net.

For more events, visit baystateparent.com Looking for parenting support?

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OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO! Evening with the Herons Picnic. Coolidge Reservation, 599 Summer Street, Manchesterby-the-Sea. 6 p.m.-8 p.m. Bring your picnic dinner to enjoy while we view the amazing spectacle evening flight of herons, egrets, and ibises returning to their night roost into the largest heronry in Massachusetts. Members $15, nonmembers $25. thetrustess.org.

19 Friday Shabbat Picnic and Puppetry. WhittemoreRobins House Lawn, 700 Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington. 6 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Bring a picnic dinner and blanket, as we welcome Shabbat with a community candle lighting and outdoor family picnic featuring Yankel the Dreamer, showcasing an interactive puppet show, and enjoy provided challah, grape juice, and dessert.

Free. bostonjcc.org.

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Dancing With The Stars Live. Hanover Theatre, 2 Southbridge Street, Worcester.

8 p.m. Hosted by Dancing with the Stars AllStars champion Melissa Rycroft, the “Perfect Ten Tour” brings your favorite dancers to Worcester. $50-$70. hanovertheatre.org.

The Wizard of Oz. deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, 51 Sandy Pond Road, Lincoln.

8:15 p.m. Come enjoy this outdoor showing of the classic Judy Garland-led adaptation of the L. Frank Baum book. Members free, nonmembers $5. decordova.org.

20 Saturday Centennial Saturday. Fruitlands Museum, 102 Prospect Hill Road, Harvard. 10 a.m.

Come celebrate the completion of our centennial year with this family-fun day filled with music, crafts, art-making, games, and more. Free. fruitlands.org.

Strawberry Festival. Marini Farm, 259 Linebrook Road, Ipswich. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Come have fun with hayrides, jumping pillows, duck races, farm animals, face painting, and of course strawberries ripe for picking. Free. marinifarm.com.

Kids & Crafts Festival. River Hollow Family Golf Center, 15 Hospital Road, Monson. 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. This family-friendly, fun-filled day outdoors features unique crafters, vendors, artisans, “green” exhibitors, mini-golf, face painting & more. 413.283.4448.

EurekaFest 2015. Museum of Science, 1 Science Park, Boston. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Come observe and cheer on high school students from around the country as they compete in

randomly matched teams to design, build, and test a wind-powered device, culminating in a rubber duck-themed finale. Free with admission.

Members free, adults $23, children 3 to 11 $20, children under 3 free. mos.org.

Mint Family Reunion. City Natives, 30 Edgewater Dr., Mattapan. 1:30 p.m.3 p.m. Let’s talk about the tastiest and fastest growing herbs in your garden, with recipes and samples featuring plants in the Lamiaceace family. Free. thetrustess.org.

Dan Zanes & Friends Dance Party. The internationally acclaimed children’s band comes to entertain families. Copley Square, Old South Sanctuary, Boston. 2 p.m. Adults $15, children 2-12 $10. hubbubfest.org.

Critter Day: Dog Bones. Boston Children’s Museum, 308 Congress Street, Boston.

2:15 p.m. & 3:15 p.m. If you love animals, come down to the museum for live animal presentations and a day of fun-filled learning.

Free with admission. Members free, adults $14, children under 1 free. bostonchildrensmuseum.org.

Bird Park Ice Cream Social. Francis William Bird Park, 59 Rhoades Avenue, East Walpole.

4 p.m.-6:30 p.m. Summer heat is coming, and our favorite frozen treat is the perfect way to chill out, so jump in the car, bring your family and friends, and celebrate the season with our annual ice cream social. Admission free, ice cream $2. thetrustees.org.

Summer Solstice Celebration. Condor Street Urban Wild, 255 Condor Street, East Boston.

6 p.m. Celebrate the longest day of the year with free kayaking, bike lessons, face painting, food, and music or the entire family. Free. thetrustees.org.

Lantern Light Solstice Stroll. Norris Reservation, 26 Dover Street, Norwell. 7 p.m.8:30 p.m. Welcome summer with the family, as you build a lantern to guide your way through the magical woods as you explore Norris on the eve of the Summer Solstice. Members $15, nonmembers $25. thetrustees.org.

Billy the Liar. Puppet Showplace Theater, 32 Station Street, Brookline. 8 p.m. You are invited to the New England premiere of this absurdist comedy adventure following Billy and his friend Suzy, as Billy tells more and more lies in this zany TOYBOX Theatre and Cripps Puppets developed show. $15. puppetshowplace.org.

21 Sunday Father’s Day at Stone Zoo. Stone Zoo, 149 Pond Street, Stoneham. 10 a.m. Celebrate

For more events, visit baystateparent.com 22 JUNE2015 23

OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO! your dad at the zoo, during this fun day exploring all of the animals. Free for fathers.

Adults $16, children 2 to 12 $12, children under 2 free. zoonewengland.org.

Matthew Marcus Jazz Quartet. Newton Free Library, 330 Homer Street, Newton.

2 p.m.-3 p.m. Relax in the afternoon during this expertly performed jazz concert. Free. newtonfreelibrary.net.

Chantey and Maritime Sing. USS Constitution Museum, Building 22, Charlestown Navy Yard, Charlestown. 2 p.m.-5 p.m.

Listen, learn, and lift your voices as you participate in your maritime heritage by joining a rousing chorus of sea chanteys at the USS Constitution Museum. Free. ussconstituionmuseum.org.

Friends of Broadway. Boston Children’s Museum, 308 Congress Street, Boston.

2:30 p.m. & 3:30 p.m. There is something for everyone in this high-energy, non-stop, fun show that the whole family can enjoy, as girls who travel all over the country sing and dance to music from Broadway, movies, oldies, pop, and much more. Free with admission. Members free, adults $14, children under 1 free. bostonchildrensmuseum.org.

Father’s Day Sail. Rowes Warf, 70 Rowes Warf, Boston. 3 p.m.-5 p.m. Join us for a spirited harbor sail aboard Boston’s only historic tall ships, as you help us raise the sails, take the helm, explore below decks, or just sit back and enjoy the summer breezes and Boston’s beautiful cityscape. $35. worldoceanschool.org.

Father’s Day Bluegrass Barbeque.

Appleton Farms, 219 County Road, Ipswich.

4 p.m. Bring a blanket, some beach chairs, and the kids for a summer evening on the farm, featuring a food truck, tasty brews, and live music from the Old Cold Tater band. Member families $20, nonmember families $30. Register ahead. thetrustees.org.

22 Monday Arte y Cultura Hispana. Boston Public Library: Roslindale Branch, 4238 Washington Street, Roslindale. 2:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.

Introduce your child to Spanish artists and give them the opportunity to try their techniques, while learning some basic Spanish vocabulary words. Free. bpl.org.

Crafty Monday. Boston Public Library: Hyde Park Branch, 35 Harvard Avenue, Hyde Park.

5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. Come join us as we explore the invention of sandpaper during this fun evening craft project to kick-off the week. Free. bpl.org.

JUNE 2015

23 Tuesday Newsies: The Musical. Boston Opera House, 539 Washington Street, Boston. 7:30 p.m.

Check out the Tony Award-winning adaptation of the 1992 Disney movie following newsboys who went from delivering papers to making the headlines. Through July 5. $40-$130. bostonoperahouseonline.com.

24 Wednesday Seasons of the Night Sky. Governor Hutchinson’s Field, 196 Adams Street, Milton.

8:30 p.m.-10 p.m. Gather for an informal star-party and learn the basics of seasonal astronomy. Register ahead. Free. thetrustees.org.

25 Thursday Animal Wild Heroes. Newton Free Library, 330 Homer Street, Newton. 3 p.m.-5 p.m.

Come learn how, just like your favorite superhero, animals all around us have their own special powers and abilities. Recommended for ages 5 and up. Free. newtonfreelibrary.net.

Summer Solstice Celebration. Harvard Museum of Natural History, 26 Oxford Street, Cambridge. 5 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Enjoy a fun evening of music, food, and hands-on activities for all ages during this annual event to kick-off summer. Free. hmnh.harvard.edu.

Movies at the Meeting House. Old South Meeting House, 310 Washington Street, Boston. 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m. Grab a friend and come enjoy the historic interior of the Old South Meeting House as we enjoy Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Advance tickets members $4, nonmembers $8; at door $10. osmh.com.

Solstice Sunset Salute. Crane Beach on the Crane Estate, 310 Argilla Road, Ipswich.

7 p.m.-9 p.m. Gather around a bonfire on Crane Beach to watch as the sun sets on the longest day of the year, the Summer Solstice. Member adults $15, children $5; nonmember adults $30, children $10. thetrustees.org.

Ice Cream Party. Newton Free Library, 330 Homer Street, Newton. 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m.

Stop by the library to celebrate the beginning of summer with ice cream provided by J.P. Licks and learn how you can get involved with this summer’s teen reading program, “Unmask.” For ages 13 and up. Free. newtonfreelibrary.net.

For more events, visit baystateparent.com

FREEDOM WEEK Celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the 13th Amendment

InspIrIng storIes of endurance and trIumph l E A R n A b O u T S l AV E R Y I n AMERIcA, THE undERGROund R AIl ROA d A n d T H E pA S S AG E Of THE THIRTEEnTH AMEndMEnT. MEET HA RRIET TubMAn And unclE TOM’S cAbIn AuTHOR HA RRIET bEEcHER STOWE.

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BAYSTATEPARENT 22 23

OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO! A League of Their Own. Concord Museum, 53 Cambridge Turnpike, Concord. 8 p.m. Bring the whole family and a blanket or chairs to enjoy this family-favorite movie under the stars in Concord. Free. concordmuseum.org.

26 Friday Superman. Newton Free Library, 330 Homer Street, Newton. 2:30 p.m.-5 p.m. View this classic family favorite starring Christopher Reeve as the titular Kryptonian. Free. newtonfreelibrary.net.

Anime Appetizers. Worcester Public Library: Main Branch, 3 Salem Sq., Worcester. 3 p.m.-5 p.m. Come for a trivia contest with awesome prizes and a sampler platter of the best Japanese cartoons out there, with prizes, snacks, anime, and a place to kick back and chat. For ages 13 to 17. Free. worcpublib.org.

Friday Farm Dinners. Appleton Farms, 219 County Rd., Ipswich. 5:30 p.m.8:30 p.m. Bing your family and some friends for a relaxing evening watching the sunset over the Great Pasture and munching on fresh-fromthe-farm food. Members $35, nonmembers

$45, children 3 and older $15, children under 3 free. thetrustees.org.

KidsJam Dance Party. Boston Children’s Museum, 308 Congress Street, Boston.

6:30 p.m.-8 p.m. Join us for this fun family dance party featuring a live DJ, dance lessons, and games around the theme of “STEP Out Onto The Boardwalk.” Free with admission.

Members free, adults $14, children under 1 free. bostonchildrensmuseum.org.

Rock off Main Street. TCAN Center for Arts, 14 Summer Street, Natick. 7:30 p.m. Enjoy

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this eclectic mix of music from local bands of all ages covering music from pop, punk, and indie rock. $8. natickarts.org.

Kids’ Night Hike. Crane Beach on the Crane Estate, 310 Argilla Road, Ipswich. 8 p.m.9:30 p.m. Join us for a hike down the Cedar Point Trail and experience the hush of dusk, stop to stargaze, and enjoy s’mores around a campfire with the entire family. Register ahead.

Member adults $10, children $5; nonmember adults $15, children $10. thetrustees.org.

27 Saturday Family Discover Day. Fruitlands Museum, 102 Prospect Hill Road, Harvard. 12 p.m.

Explore nature and spend time learning about plants, animals, and habitats by borrowing a naturalist’s toolkit, participate in our fun scavenger hunt, and even make a seasonal craft to take home. Free with admission. Members free; nonmember adults $14, children 5 to 13 $6, children under 5 free. fruitlands.org.

New Art Center Celebration. Newton Free Library, 330 Homer Street, Newton.

2 p.m.-3 p.m. Join the Newton Free Library in celebrating the New Art Center during this craft-filled afternoon. For ages 6 to 10. Free. newtonfreelibrary.net.

Milton Music Festival and Fireworks.

Governor Hutchinson’s Field, 196 Adams Street, Milton. 3 p.m.-11 p.m. Spend the late afternoon and evening with the family, as your children take the chance to sit in the driver’s seat of the big rigs, and you explore the finest artisanal goods from the Boston area, enjoy music in the air, and watch fireworks light up the night with a Boston backdrop. Free. thetrustess.org.

One-Man Star Wars Trilogy. Regent Theatre, 7 Medford Street, Arlington. 3 p.m. & 8 p.m. Come enjoy this impossibly funny oneman show that has been performed more than 1,200 times from New York to London to Dubai.

Reserve ahead. $23-$48. regenttheatre.com.

Superhero Notebook Decoupage.

Worcester Public Library: Main Branch, 3 Salem Sq., Worcester. 4 p.m.-5 p.m. Come customize a notebook using recycled comics. Free. worcpublib.org.

Kidz Bop: Make Some Noise. Wilbur Theatre, 246 Tremont Street, Boston.

7:30 p.m. Come enjoy the ultimate family concert experience that guarantees to get everyone singing and dancing along. $25-$50. thewilbur.com.

OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO!

28 Sunday Ramadan Celebration. Boston Children’s Museum, 308 Congress Street, Boston. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. You are invited to make a food collage plate for our iftar table, design a paper lantern, and learn about Ramadan customs from around the world. Free with admission.

Members free, adults $14, children under 1 free. bostonchildrensmuseum.org.

We Want Your Recipes!

2nd Annual Gaelic Sunday. Governor Hutchinson’s Field, 196 Adams Street, Milton.

1 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Sit by the banks of the Neponset River and enjoy a day packed with music overlooking the Boston skyline at this event where dancing is always encouraged.

Free. thetrustees.org.

Birds of Prey Show. Gore Place, 52 Gore Street, Waltham. 3 p.m. Come join wildlife expert Marla Isaac and witness hawks, owls, and raptors of all sizes for this fun

informative demonstration. Adults $10, children 12 and under $8. goreplace.org.

sounds, and feelings of the rainforest. Free. newtonfreelibrary.net.

29 Monday

30 Tuesday

Ecology of Sound. Newton Free Library, 330 Homer Street, Newton. 7 p.m.-8 p.m.

Incorporating Native American, African, South American, and Brazilian music, this concert promises to entertain and inspire children and parents as they absorb the rhythms,

Big Hero 6. Newton Free Library, 330 Homer Street, Newton. 3 p.m.-4:45 p.m.

Bring the family to watch this Disney story beloved by children and parents alike. Free. newtonfreelibrary.net.

: M A W t a ummer ull camp alternative!

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An art-f

We know you've got some great ones and we're hoping you'll share. We're asking readers this month to share their favorite Summer Side Dish recipes.

Send to editor@baystateparent.com and we will enter you in a contest to win great prizes!

The best recipe of the month will be printed in our July Bites section.

Studio art classes for ages 3-17 Computer Art, Drawing, Mixed Media, Painting, Photography, Printmaking, Sculpture, Swords, and More Six weeks of morning and afternoon sessions begin July 6th.

Visit worcesterart.org to browse class schedule and register today!

WORCESTER ART MUSEUM / worcesterart.org f l n BAYSTATEPARENT 24 25

Saturday, June 13 Summer Vendor Fair

Design! Build! KEVA! April 29 - September 4

10:00am - 4:00pm Visit with local businesses and learn about their new Summer products & services

June 18 - June 21 Take Dad Out to the Ballgame

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BAYSTATEPARENT 27

LET'S GO

Touch Tomorrow At WPI’s Free STEM Festival

BY MICHELLE PERRAS-CHARRON, PHOTOS COURTESY WPI

On Saturday, June 13, Worcester Polytechnic Institute will host Touch Tomorrow, its annual free family festival that celebrates the future of science and technology via Peeps, M&M’s, slime, and more. Geared towards sparking the curiosity and imagination of school-aged children, the event features hands-on exhibits including: • Playing on a model of the lunar floor and feeling what it’s like to walk on the moon • Learning about spacesuit design through vacuum chamber experiments with Peeps • Letting kids get “rolled over” by Roll-Over Rover, a lightweight, eightwheeled rover • Helping operate a rover at the Be-A-Bot 2.0 exhibit • Commanding the NASA MARCBot IV Rover, and more.

WGBH will debut “WGBH@ TouchTomorrow,” an exhibit of multimedia activities for students and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) enthusiasts of all ages. WPI students and faculty will also hold a hands-on open house. Research labs on campus will be open to festival-goers so students and faculty can share their innovations with the public.

Visitors will have the opportunity to: • Demo video games developed by students in the gaming lab • Go on a wireless fix hunt to learn about wireless communication systems • Try on a wearable exo-musculature robot • Make their own slime • Explore numbers with M&M’s math • Create a flying device at the paper airplane station • Explore electrical circuits by 28 JUNE2015

creating a secret alarm and more Kristen Graffeo, Millbury mom of two, and Touch Tomorrow attendee, says last year her then 9-year-old daughter made a solar conductor and extracted DNA from a strawberry as part of the WPI labs open house.

“She loved being in the ‘real’ college labs, with professors, working with tool and chemicals,” Graffeo says.

“She felt very special being allowed into college labs and enjoyed seeing what the labs are like and how they are designed for specific types of experiments. I was impressed with the level of detail of the projects they had set up and allowed the kids to do.” Due to this, Graffeo advises parents that the labs do have limited space and it can be difficult to get a spot, so while worthwhile, patience is in order when attending the event.

The History Founded in 1865, WPI is one of the nation’s first engineering and technology universities, and was the first school in the U.S. to offer a bachelor’s degree in robotics.

It should, therefore, come as no surprise that in 2012, WPI won a national competition to host NASA’s Sample Return Robot Challenge.

For this event, teams from around the world descend on WPI to build, program, and demonstrate robots that could locate and retrieve geological samples from a wide and varied terrain, and return the samples to the starting zone, hence the name. A NASA Centennial Challenge, the competition seeks to promote technological innovations that can aid in the space agency’s mission and work. Touch Tomorrow is the culmination of the Sample Return Robot Challenge at WPI. “In selecting WPI, NASA explicitly asked that the challenge week also include some broader-reaching, K-12, STEM-focused activities that would draw a large crowd and give more people exposure to NASA’s work in this arena,” explains Stephanie Eden Pasha, WPI assistant vice president.

With that in mind, Pasha put together a team and a concept that would meet NASA’s requirement and

also showcase some of the school’s best work. The end result: Touch Tomorrow.

The event, now in its fourth year, continues to grow in popularity.

According to Pasha, WPI staff estimate approximately 6,000 to 8,000 guests attended in 2012. By the third year, Pasha believes that number grew to nearly 10,000. She credits the uniqueness of the Touch Tomorrow experience as one reason for its growing popularity.

“We want parents, children, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and kids at heart to walk away with an excitement for the possibilities of science and technology, and an appreciation that science and engineering manifests in nearly

everything we see, touch, and do,” Pasha says. “If we can get a young girl or boy who didn’t know that s/ he was interested in science to walk away transformed and excited about making a difference in the world, mission accomplished!”

Touch Tomorrow takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., June 13, rain or shine, at the WPI campus, 100 Institute Road, Worcester.

Heading to Touch Tomorrow?

Post your favorite pic and tag us on Facebook or tweet us @baystateparent!

For more Summer Fun for techie kids, check out the Camp Guide@baystateparent.com

5 June 21 2nd Annual

Extreme Field Day For Kids August 15 2nd Annual

Country MusicFest August 15 2nd Annual

Wachusett to Wachusett Road Race New!

August 29-30

Farm Fresh Festival

October 8-12

25th Annual

Labor Day Sale & Family Fun Days

Columbus Day Sale & Swap

September 12-13 18th Annual

October 17-18 32nd Annual

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MusicFest

AppleFest

September 19-20

25th Annual

October 18 4th Annual

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Cider House 5K Race

October 3-4 6th Annual

November 20 5th Annual

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September 4-7 23rd Annual

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BAYSTATEPARENT 29

A

VERY SPECIAL PEOPLE

Providing Optimal Dental Care for Children with Special Needs

BY WENDY BULAWA AGUDELO

ccording to the National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center (OHRC), dental care has become the leading unmet health care need among children with special needs.

As the daughter of a dentist, I was surprised to learn this as proper oral health was paramount in my own childhood home, and those strict lessons have since transferred to each of my children — two of which have special needs.

Fortunately, my children seem to have an innate love of the dentist — possibly due to my own personal perspective — or perhaps due to the superior dentist we’ve chosen.

Yet not all families have the same good fortune, and instead struggle with not only finding a dentist they like, but also finding one who will accept their child with special needs as a patient. The main reason cited behind dental care being the leading unmet health care need among children with special needs, according to the OHRC, is the fact that many general dentists refuse to treat children with special needs, making it challenging for parents and caregivers to find a local, or even regional, practitioner. Much of this reticence stems primarily from concerns relative to a child’s incidence of anxiety, which tied to any physical or developmental disability can make routine dental procedure challenging.

However, plenty of neuro-typical children and even adults fall victim to anxiety when it comes to the dentist. The mere pain of a toothache, sound of a drill, or sterile dental office smell can stimulate negative memory triggers and often severe stress. For children with special needs, similar stressors can result — or even become amplified — should they feel scared, unprepared or carry sensory inhibitions.

With greater understanding of anxiety and how it manifests, many in the dental industry, particularly pediatric dentists, have advanced a diverse array of tactics and

unique approaches to support the needs of every patient. Yet general dentists too are well aware that the population of patients residing in their communities contain plenty of patients with diverse needs, encouraging even general dentists to consider adding to their own knowledge base to ensure that every family can be cared for equally.

Pediatric dentists differ from general dentists, given that their training frequently includes an additional two to three years of specialized training post-dental school graduation, during which they learn how to properly manage complex dental cases. Given the OHRC’s data, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recently released additional information and a handful of tips to support families of children with special needs: Find a dentist that makes you feel comfortable. According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), all children should visit a pediatric dentist by their first birthday or upon eruption of a child’s first tooth.

Unfortunately, many parents and caregivers maintain concerns and anxiety relative to their child’s tolerance of a dental appointment and, therefore, postpone dental visits until their child is older.

In some cases, the parent’s own anxiousness or previous lifetime dental experience can further add to mounting stress, ultimately debilitating an entire family.

“It’s important not to let oral health slip to the back burner,” says Dr. John Hendry, pediatric dentist and AAPD member. “Parents should plan to bring their children in early so we can do preventative work versus treating problems which may require uncomfortable, lengthy procedures.”

“Dentists are trained to treat all patients the same, so in our practice, we believe the most important first step is to get to know each of our patients and

A Commitment That Lasts a Lifetime The Special Needs Practice Group at Fletcher Tilton PC offers years of experience providing comprehensive legal services in a caring and concerned environment. We help individuals and families with: • Special Needs Planning • Guardianship & Considering Alternatives Transition Planning & Adult Services • • Advocacy For more information call our Special Needs Practice Group leader, Frederick m. misilo, Jr., at 508.459.8059 or email him at fmisilo@fletchertilton.com. We’re here to help!

Worcester | Framingham | cap e co d | www.fletchertilton.com 30 BayStateParent-Ver2.indd JUNE2015

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allow them time to get to know us,” says Dr. Andrea Biondo of Biondo & Foley Dental in Wilmington. “We take our time with each patient as what may be routine for one — with or without special needs — may be a traumatizing trigger for another.

We feel it is a huge responsibility and sign of trust to be chosen as someone’s dentist, and we don’t take either lightly.”

Provide details about your child prior to the first visit. Parents clearly know the most about their children, so the best way to prepare for an initial dental visit is to share the details. Parents regularly complete HIPPA and medical background forms for all healthrelated appointments, yet anything additional that can be shared with your chosen dentist will be of great benefit.

“Make note of anything about your child that could help the visit go smoothly,” Dr. Hendry says.

Pre-visit is the perfect time to ask questions, voice concerns, and make sure that you and your new dentist are on the same page. For example: • Does your child absolutely need to understand every step taken by the dentist or hygienist prior to being seated in the chair?

start. Once your appointment is arranged, parents may want to write it on the calendar (complete with stickers of teeth and smiling faces), bulletin board or something similar, to help visually prepare their child.

Dr. Hendry also suggests parents be as positive and excited as possible when discussing the first dentist visit. To help orient and familiarize each child with the dentist office’s location, he also recommends that parents and caregivers consider driving past the dentist’s office once or twice prior to the appointment.

Finally, non-verbal or visuallyoriented children may benefit from a “social story,” a written and visual series of interactions, situations, desired behaviors, and events that advise readers of something yet to come. A simple Google search nets a number of social story options for first dental visits that can easily be customized, printed, and shared.

Dr. Biondo also recommends establishing a routine of regular dental visits. All children benefit from routine so that each visit becomes expected and familiar.

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Most pediatric dental offices will invite and even encourage parents -0587 to be present in the treatment room the Commonwealth (508) 478 and will provide as much time as Satellite offices located across is necessary to establish comfort in the environment and with the Specializing In: Autism Spectrum Disorders, staff. This is an opportunity for your child to interact and take Developmental Disabilities and Learning Style Challenges. counsel from a trained adult, one The Beacon Assessment Center specializes in assessing children who will support their efforts to build strong oral health habits to with developmental, learning, and behavior challenges. benefit them for a lifetime. Once Our team of licensed psychologists provides clinical services to children your child is seated in the dentist’s in satellite offices across Massachusetts. chair, it is often best to take the role of advisor and audience rather than Appoint AVAILABLE SERVICES: ments show stopper. Trusting your chosen S chedule Early Intervention Diagnostic Evaluations dental team to support your child d Developmental Assessments and your family will go far as each in 30 day s! team member is a highly skilled, Neuropsychological Evaluations educated and knowledgeable Educational Assessment & Clinical Consultation individual who, at the end of the day, wants exactly what you want Massachusetts Locations: North Dartmouth, — a healthy and cared-for child.

Milford, North Andover, West Springfield, Head to baystateparent.com/ Leominster, Sunderland, and Rockland dentalneeds for links to a social Referral Line 508-478-0587 story on visiting the dentist, which beaconassessmentcenter.com can help lessen anxiety for children. ®

• Does your child require sunglasses to minimize bright light and glare?

• Does a favorite Disney character or movie resonate strongly with your child? And perhaps serve as a source of comfort?

• Is your child highly sensitive to noises or vibration?

• Do sterile scents cause hyper stimulation?

Dr. Biondo shared that on some first visits, very little dental work is done as the dentist may spend time simply familiarizing their patient with the dental office and the dentist, and vice versa.

“We encourage a lot of talk and interaction with our patients,” she says. “As children get to know and trust us, we are able to successfully deliver preventative care in a comfortable manner. If they simply want to look, touch, and experience the office the first few times, that is completely fine as we know from experience that the more often we see them, the more comfortable they will be, and the greater the care we can deliver.”

Prepare for and build excitement around your child’s first dental visit. Some children require very little advance notice prior to a first introduction to something new, yet children with special needs often fare far better with a little head

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Two Ways Parents Can Encourage Good Dental Health From the Start Prevent tooth decay from the start. Unlike many of the health conditions faced by patients with special needs, tooth decay is mostly preventable. Children with special needs often have greater chance of dental challenges including teeth crowding, grinding, and bite and poor jaw position.

Additionally, children may also take longer to experience the emergence of baby and adult teeth.

By visiting a dentist early on and regularly, parents and caregivers will take a major step towards positive oral health as all children benefit from preventative care, including proper brushing, flossing, limited snacking and regular dental checkups. Dr. Hendry further adds that consistent routines to promote oral health, such as drinking water throughout the day, can be an important measure

in helping to keep teeth clean at home. Other important suggestions include the avoidance of sugary drinks, especially bottles in bed or juice at bedtime; limiting “sipping” sugary drinks as the lengthier contact of sugar and teeth leads to greater risk of decay; and oral cleansing using a warm washcloth even before the teeth fully erupt to help stimulate oral sensations that minimize sensory defensiveness.

Practice, practice, practice.

Given physical or sensory issues or developmental delays, some children with special needs require more assistance and practice in caring for their teeth. For example, children with autism may struggle with the sound or sensation resonating from a spinning toothbrush or perhaps the scent of particular toothpastes. Others may struggle with dexterity and find reaching the far rear of the mouth difficult.

Parents are encouraged to work with their children several times a day to experiment with different options (regular toothbrush versus spin brush, floss holders versus regular floss, rinses and adaptive aids for toothbrushes) to find options that work best.

Your dentist can provide optimal recommendations especially if the sensation of brushing or flossing causes discomfort. Other things to consider include whether your child is properly holding and manipulating their toothbrush or reaching far enough towards the back of their mouth to cleanse rear teeth. Any effort or ideas to encourage regular brushing will make a difference.

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Su m of F m e r u n!

BAYSTATEPARENT 35

SUMMER OF FUN

Hitting the Road:

RV-STYLE

BY HEATHER KEMPSKIE

C

omparatively speaking, I live in a small house. My family of four has all we need, minus a guest room, playroom, dining room, and garage, or any sort of area for shoes and jackets. You get the idea.

For some vacation fun, I’ve decided to make our living space even tighter: as in home-on-wheels tight.

That’s right, come July, our home away from home will be in the form of a 23-foot RV semi-equipped with all the essentials to keep us happy, healthy, and safe. Notice, I didn’t say sane.

Apparently, a lot of families are similarly “insane.” According to industry experts, 2015 promises to be one of the best RV rental seasons in more than a decade.

Affordable fuel prices and an overall desire for a low-key travel experience top the list of reasons families are opting in. And in a recent survey by Kampgrounds of America Inc. (KOA), respondents overwhelmingly said that they choose camping/RV vacations over resorts in order to “spend quality 36 JUNE2015

time with their children.”

Sheri Fuller, co-owner of Fuller RV in Boylston, has been in the business for 31 years and says all 27 of her rental RVs will be out multiple times over the summer.

“Three-quarters of our customers right now are first-timers like yourself,” she tells me. “They’re renting it for vacations, special family functions. Hey, it’s cheaper than flying right now and it’s something different. You could book a place in the Cape for the same amount of money, but then you’re stuck there. In an RV, you can go anywhere you please. Or you could fly to Florida — from the time you leave your house, get on the plane, land, drive — it’s been 12 hours and you haven’t seen anything. Twelve hours in an RV? You’ll see lots.”

Why RV rentals are on the rise “Many private campgrounds have a lot of amenities, such as pools, organized outside activities, and game rooms to keep the kids busy,”

explains Phil Ingrassia, president of the Recreation Vehicle Dealers Association. “There are a lot of RV product types for families, too.

From the folding camping trailers to motorhomes, there is really an RV to fit every family budget. It’s an affordable way to see the country for families looking to take a long trip, or if they want to stay closer to home for a short trip there are places to go within a short drive of most areas. That kind of flexibility is important for today’s on-the-go kids and their parents.”

John DiPietro, of RV Insights, has a theory, too.

“People see [RV travel] as the last remnant of Americans communicating with each other,” he explains. “You go into any house and everyone is on a device. They are not communicating anymore.

But when you go RVing and you’re around a campfire and talking…”

He pauses, then continues, “…it just doesn’t get better than that.”

My 10-year-old daughter is psyched to skip a plane ride and has an affinity for all things mini, so she’s good to go. My 12-year-old son was most concerned about our RV sporting an adequate number of outlets and Wi-Fi capability, possibly debunking DiPietro’s claim.

In fact, according to the 2015 North American Camping Report, an independent study conducted

by KOA, young campers say having a working smartphone is almost as important as toilet paper when it comes to camping. In nature.

“Oh, they’re at the perfect age for their first RV trip,” a reassuring

DiPietro tells me. “They will remember the whole trip and they are much more manageable than toddlers or teens.”

Manageable. That’s optimistic.

In the meantime, I’m learning what a dump station is and where to find one. I’m also investigating inside intel that says we can park and spend the night free of charge in most Walmart parking lots. The same goes for Cracker Barrel and Cabela’s.

Twenty-four-year-old Keri Young, who overhears me during a recent visit to Fuller RV, has a different take on why this form of travel is her favorite: “You can cook and pee on the road.”

True.

“You get up and walk around, watch a movie. It’s way better than being in the backseat with your brother punching each other.”

Very true.

Will my blood pressure also be on the rise?

Will my family and I survive in such tight quarters? For 14 days?

Will my husband be able to drive this tank safely as we travel the East Coast? Will I be able to keep it fairly neat and organized? Will we really be safe in a tin can parked outside of a Walmart?

I needed advice. And I found it in the unlikely form of actress Lisa Whelchel, who played Blair on the popular ’80s sitcom Facts of Life.

Whelchel, with her family, took a one-year RV trip across our grand country in 2001 and blogged

about the experience along the way.

She had just written her first book and was homeschooling her three young children at the time.

“I was going to have to travel for a book tour and thought an RV would be a great way to do it so I could still homeschool the kids,” she says.

“The biggest surprise was how much easier it was, how much more fun we had, and how much we all loved being together 24/7,” she said in an earlier interview with Homeschool.com. “We embarked on the trip with our eyes wide open.

We knew it would be the trip of a lifetime but we also assumed that there would be ‘tight’ spots along the way, especially living in such close quarters. Surprisingly, the ‘tighter’ the spot, the better. From the black water hose exploding, to nearly sinking in a swamp, to the awning coming out while driving down the Interstate, we cheerfully proclaimed, ‘We’re making a memory!’

“My kids really loved it,” Whelchel told me. “I mean, they fought some but they would have been fighting at home, too.” After a short pause she adds: “A TV helped, too.”

Her other advice: You don’t have to pack up your entire house.

And plan on eating out a lot. “The kitchens are kind of small and ordering out was much easier,” she notes.

Our RV kitchen includes a sink, stove, microwave, and refrigerator.

The table also doubles as a bed.

There is a king-size bed above the driver’s and passenger’s seats with a small flat-screen TV and DVR. There is also a double bed and a bathroom with a shower.

“Don’t feel like you have to bring everything,” concurs DiPietro, who will travel 9,000 miles this year in his RV. “You’re not going out into the wilderness and there will be plenty of supermarkets on the way.”

His must-haves: folding lawn chairs and plenty of games for the kids.

Prior to our departure, Fuller will give us a two-hour rundown on all things RV.

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“Oh, I scare people so much they don’t want to leave the parking lot,” she proudly states.

Her main concerns are safety and getting the RV back in one piece.

“If you smell smoke or fire, don’t get a thing. Just get out of there!”

Happily, all renters have 24/7 access to her while on the road.

When forced to name the top three items to bring along on my trip, Fuller’s answers include kitchen gear, linens, and clothes.

“Bring enough clothes for 2 to 3 days and plan to do laundry every other night.” The beauty of this, she reminds me, is we won’t have to pack and unpack over and over again.

Is there any type of person who should skip an RV adventure, I wonder out loud.

“I don’t think it’s for someone who likes five-star hotels,” she says.

I’m certain she has finished her thought, but a wistful look comes over her face. “I just put them in the best RV we have and break ’em in. I’ve converted many five-star people.”

Read Heather’s RV Outtakes blog beginning in July. Will she convert?

Only time and a few hundred miles will tell.

As of press time, my family and I have decided to make an ocean-front RV camp in Myrtle Beach our ultimate destination.

Along the way, we’ll stop in DC and the Outer Banks in South Carolina. Current estimates suggest we’ll clock 29 hours of driving over a two-week span.

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SUMMER OF FUN

Much More

Than Memories: How Travel Impacts Child Development

BY MICHELLE PERRAS-CHARRON

“The kids learn to depend on each other and watch out for each other in an unfamiliar location. We will see Ben grab Morgan’s hand to be sure she doesn’t get separated,” Knodler says. “There is very little bickering and a lot of cooperative team work.

They become each other’s best friend.”

Denette strongly believes that travel also develops bravery and instills self-confidence in children.

As parents, we all want our children to be confident and brave, but these are traits that cannot be taught, but rather, develop over time with experiences.

Denette and her husband, Marek Ludkiewicz, have put this into practice with their own three.

“We have presented many opportunities for our children to test themselves, always giving them the message that we believe in them and their abilities,” she adds. “When they accepted the challenge and tackled something new, they were visibly proud of themselves and more confident in tackling the next challenge.”

Amanda Norman, 24, of Granby, credits childhood travel for her love of travel today as an adult.

“My parents made sure that we took a trip every year,” she says.

“As a kid it was just fun to me, but as an adult I began to really value it more and I started traveling internationally and learning more about other cultures and seeing different parts of the world.”

Norman has traveled to Alaska, Romania, and Nepal, and will head to the Philippines this summer.

She notes that though always challenging, her travel is very rewarding.

Seen as an opportunity to do something fun with their kids, and also enjoy time together away from the demands of work and school (i.e. chores, homework, bedtime routines and the like) many families will hit the road this summer. But what parents may not realize is that travel can have a major developmental impact on kids — with huge longterm payoffs. Don’t fret, you don’t have to travel far to reap the rewards for your kiddos. Traveling to places both far and near can positively impact your child, so start packing that overnight bag.

Hit the accelerator From a developmental standpoint, travel — whether a day trip or longer vacation — benefits children of all ages in many ways.

These benefits can extend well beyond exploring new places and meeting new people; travel can shape who our children become as they grow.

“Traveling builds flexible thinking, resilience, self-regulation skills, patience, organization, and responsibility,” says Donna Denette, co-founder and executive director of Children First Enterprises, a non-profit childcare organization in Granby. “And that is all before you have arrived at your destination!”

She says travel also promotes evaluative thinking, helps children practice responding to disappointment, and instills in all of us the importance of having a “Plan B.” “When we travel, we are constantly having to imagine what might be (Will it rain while I’m there?), plan accordingly (I will pack a rain coat), and then adjust to the reality once the experience occurs (I need to find another activity to do today because the zip line course closes when it rains),” she explains. “The younger the child, the more naturally the adjustments are made.”

Denette, an avid traveler, credits 38 JUNE2015

her parents for her love of travel.

When she was very young, her parents took her, along with her five older siblings, to Europe for eight weeks. Twice. In a Volkswagen camper van.

“That tested and refined our ability to get along,” she notes, which speaks to another point — cooperation. While traveling,

siblings must learn to adapt to their travel environment and be able to depend on each other.

Beth Knodler of Belchertown says she and her husband love going on long, cross-country trips with their two children, Morgan, 10 and Ben, 12, because as parents, they get to see the best of their children emerge while traveling.

Get outside the box Inarguably, school and classroom learning is important, however, there is a different kind of education to be had while traveling. Imagine learning about the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in school, and then actually

sitting in a pew at the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, where King, his father, and his grandfather preached — all within walking distance to King’s childhood home.

“This kind of learning is a valuable companion for classroom learning,” says Denette of a travel-based education.

“Children practice map-reading, are exposed to different languages, different foods, music, art, and styles of architecture,” she adds. “They use math when they convert currency [when traveling abroad], adjust time zones, and keep a budget during their trip. They experience history by walking the grounds where that history took place.”

“Nothing gives a child better perspective of the world than to take them out of the world in which they live and teach them that the world is a big place,” says Michael Saklad, father of three children ages 9-13 in Belchertown.

Saklad recently took his 13-year-old daughter on a road trip to Florida.

He says during their long journey by car, they talked for hours and shared great regional foods — stopping for Philly cheesesteaks, NYC delis, boiled peanuts, and Low Country cuisine.

“She got cultural lessons in both people and food and how it differs throughout the country — or at least that small part of it,” he adds.

His daughter, Althea, agreed: “It’s important to travel, to get out and see things — new things. You get a better perspective of the world.”

She notes it was fun getting to know her father better in an environment away from their home, explaining that he shared his interest in cars with her by teaching her all about the cars they passed on the road, while she taught him all about her favorite pop songs that played on the radio during the trip.

“I got to see another side of him — relaxed and chill. And he’s pretty fun when he’s chilled,” she says with a big smile.

On the way home, father and daughter took in historic locations associated with the Civil War, stopping in Charleston, South Carolina and Gettysburg.

“She learned valuable lessons about how slaves were treated, how and why the Civil War happened, and the difference between how the South and the North perceives the war,” he says.

“Classroom environments are controlled, expected, regulated, and regimented. Travel experiences are anything but!” Denette adds.

“Learning is more experimental, more hands-on, more unexpected.

And the learning and benefits happen before, during, and after the travel experience.”

For example, Denette explains that before travel, children can research destinations, make choices and

compromises, plan, budget, and pack, laying a foundation for their future experiences. During travel, children practice patience, flexibility, make adjustments, and enjoy new experiences.

“During travel, children make connections with what they researched, cementing that learning into their minds,” she says.

Also, after taking a trip, children have powerful shared memories and increased closeness with their families, having enjoyed new experiences together while traveling, she explains.

Saklad says he decided early on that each of his children would have a one-on-one trip with him.

This stems from his own travel experiences as a child.

He explains that his father took him on a cross-country road trip when he was 10 to help a relative move a house full of furniture. The trip was an adventure for him in many ways — replete with engine trouble, sleeping on the side of the road, a state trooper, and cattle.

“I never forgot the experience and determined that there is no better trip for a child to take but one that involves miles and miles of highway…” he says. “I remember my trip as vividly as if it was yesterday and it was nearly 40 years ago.”

Denette explains that travel experiences can be powerful and often have this type of impact on a child.

“Whenever we tackle something new, something outside of our comfort zone, outside of the everyday, we experience heightened sensations and, due to those heightened sensations, the experiences are all the more powerful and influential on us,” she says. “As a result, our children can often recall minute details of travel experiences — sounds, smells, tastes, colors, textures — in ways that they cannot recall in their everyday experiences.”

Put them in the driver’s seat Many parents will agree that their kids are much more capable, resourceful, and responsible than we, as parents, typically give them credit for. What better way to send them this powerful message, coupled with the benefits of travel, than by letting them plan the family vacation? And I don’t mean just simply allowing them to pick a destination. Why not let them do it all? Put them in the driver’s seat.

They are capable.

Denette and her husband have done so with each of their three children, Marus, 16, Ania, 14, and Kasia, 12.

“My husband and I decided to

mark the year each child turned 10 (double-digits) by allowing them to choose, plan, and run the family vacation,” she explains. “Each child had to research the best activities, [travel] distances, plan travel times, plan transportation, lodging, menus, and pack lists. They had to do the map reading and be the guide for the entire trip.”

Denette suggests buying or borrowing some travel books to kick

off the idea, and then help your child choose a location that fits within the family budget while also providing fun activities for each member of the family.

“We were dramatically sending them the message that we believed in their abilities and recognized that they were ready for a new level of responsibility and involvement in our family dynamic,” she adds.

Exit ahead: Travel tips for parents Planning is key for any type of travel, but even more so when traveling involves kids, especially the younger set. Here are some tips from Denette on how to make travel more enjoyable for everyone involved — parents included.

• Involve your children in every aspect of the trip from start to finish. Allow them to help you research, plan, and pack for the trip.

• Talk about expectations prior to the trip. Remind them there may be times when they have to be flexible or wait for their needs to be met.

• Plan, plan, plan! Pack snacks and small games. Brain games related to the trip destination can be fun.

• Less is more. By being less

dependent on things, we are more dependent on relationships, environments, and experiences, Denette says.

• Break up the day into a kid-friendly schedule. For example, do an activity in the morning when young children are most attentive. Find a place to picnic for lunch where kids can run around, then drive to another location during naptime. Visit a second location after naptime.

• Be flexible. If we wanted all of the comforts and familiarity of home, we could have just stayed there.

• Consider camping or renting a house rather than a hotel stay. This can allow your day to be extended without having to “shush” children.

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SUMMER OF FUN

Skip the Trikes and Training Wheels: Teaching Toddlers To Ride

BY LYNN PANTUOSCO-HENSCH

R

ecently, my third son, Charlie, set the family record for learning to ride his two-wheel pedal bike at the age of 2 years and 10 months old thanks to a balance bike.

As a mother of four young sons and a college professor who teaches motor development, I have become an advocate for the use of balance bikes when teaching a child how to ride a two-wheel pedal bike. Both research and practice support the use of balance bikes and give plenty of reasons — physical, cognitive, and social-emotional — to skip tricycles and training wheels.

Our story began when my sister gave our oldest a balance bike for his 3rd birthday. A balance bike sports no pedals or chain. After a few months of use, and before his 4th birthday, he transitioned to a two-wheel pedal bike (sans training wheels), setting the bar for his siblings. Since then, each sibling and cousin has continued to improve on the family record.

Children first walk with a balance bike and then build up to a run and 40 JUNE2015

glide. They learn to balance and steer first, and develop pedaling afterward on a traditional twowheel bike. In Charlie’s case, after a summer on his balance bike, he learned how to ride a two-wheel pedal bike within an hour. The pedaling was nearly automatic and learned almost instantaneously; within minutes he was bursting with pride and confidence.

From a motor development point of view, the traditional methods of teaching bike riding, such as tricycles and training wheels, don’t actually teach the necessary skills for riding a two-wheel pedal bike.

Tricycles teach children to pedal, but a typical trike doesn’t go fast enough to require much steering sophistication nor any balance.

Training wheels also allow for pedaling and perhaps more steering, yet require no balance, either.

Training wheels are also often used on bikes that are inappropriately sized for children, creating even less likelihood of learning balance, agility, or coordination. The science behind a balance bike supports the belief

that balancing is the most important aspect of learning to ride a bike, followed by the ability to steer, and then pedal.

A recent study at the University of South Dakota found an increase in balance (better stability) in 3- to 5-year-old children within two to three weeks of using a pedal-less balance bike. Furthermore, “the children were able to pick up their feet more often and glide without the use of their feet, demonstrating their new skill development with confidence within the first two weeks.”

Benefits of Young Bike Riders An introduction to early bike riding promotes healthy motor development in physical, cognitive, and social-emotional ways.

Physically, bike riding promotes balance, coordination, and agility, all of which are conducive to healthy locomotion. Early bike riding also allows children to have a family-

friendly mechanism for increasing physical activity. A family bike ride is great exercise!

Another key benefit is psychomotor development, the connection between mind and body. As the University of South Dakota study suggested, children increased their confidence with practice time on the balance bikes. A child who is able to learn a physical skill, such as bike riding, is able to develop confidence and other associated cognitive skills.

For example, an early bike rider is exposed to problem-solving and decision-making opportunities such as stopping, changing direction, following the leader, observing traffic patterns, and practicing road safety. My children have learned how to follow along, stop at intersections, listen to the crossing guard and more, at very early ages.

The boost in confidence may be a cognitive attribute, but increased self-confidence also has a socialemotional component. For instance, our now 3-year-old is able to bike with his older brothers (ages 5 and 7) on their way to school. Bike riding

SUMMER OF FUN is one of the few physical skills he can do at a level comparable to his older brothers. This capacity to fit in with them socially gives him a great sense of pride and belonging. He is also learning to be independent, since bike riding is now something he can do all on his own. Perhaps, the greatest social-emotional benefit of all is the newfound ability to accept and overcome a challenge.

Transitioning from a balance bike to a two-wheel pedal bike was a perfect opportunity to accomplish a challenge, connect with older siblings, and build self-confidence.

In healthy motor development, the physical, cognitive, and social-emotional domains can be best developed when children demonstrate “readiness” for a task.

Occasionally, I’ve heard parents mention that their child didn’t take to a balance bike or show much interest in them. Like most things in life, timing is everything. In many of these cases, the children were introduced to the balance bike too early or too late. Professionally, I advise introducing a balance bike when a child is able to run, meet the minimum size requirements (feet can comfortably touch the ground), and is young enough not

Glacier PLAY SET

to be concerned with the absence of pedals. Readiness for a balance bike typically occurs between 2 and 4 years old.

If your child is older and not setting any family records for early bike riding, consider modifying an age-appropriate two-wheel pedal bike. A local bike shop can help ensure a proper bike fit and temporarily remove the pedals and chain. Allow older children a few weeks to practice balancing, running, and gliding on their bike in a low-pressure environment. Once a child demonstrates stability and the ability to glide, it is time to reattach the pedals and chain. If you are handy, you can even save yourself a trip back to the bike shop. Your child will be pedaling in no time!

In order to position your children for the optimal benefits of early bike riding, considering the following guidelines for best practice:

determining bike fit.

1. Bike size: Whether you are purchasing a balance bike or modifying a pedal bike, be sure the bike is the proper size for the child.

The ball of the child’s foot should comfortably touch the ground. The professionals at your local bike shop are a valuable resource when

Our family has reaped the benefits early bike riding has to offer. Only time will tell if son number four will break the current family record. Either way, I have no doubt he will enjoy being along for the (bike) ride!

2. Bike weight: For younger riders, lightweight balance bikes, such as Strider bikes (6 pounds), are ideal for maneuvering (and easily portable).

3. Bike helmet: Unlike our own childhoods, it does go without saying that a bike helmet is a necessity. Consider upgrading to a high-quality helmet, sized to fit by a professional. With early bike riders, a snug fitting, reliable helmet is well worth the added expense.

4. Timing: When children demonstrate the ability to run and glide on a balance bike with confidence, they are likely ready to transition to the two-wheel pedal bike. In our family, once there are signs of showing off on the balance bike, it’s time!

in s l e e h W N

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HOT STUFF

for a Su mmer of Fun Here’s a roundup of cool, creative, and practical gear that will make your summer sensational.

IceMule Cooler The IceMule Cooler combines the portability of a backpack with the performance of a hard cooler, keeping ice intact and your food or drink cold for up to 24 hours. Based on the traditional dry bag concept, the cooler features welded seams so it won’t leak. IceMule rolls up for storage in its own stuff sack — it even floats — and comes in a variety of styles and sizes. $49.95 and up • icemulecooler.com

One look at this collapsible pail and you know a mom created it. Easily tote full-size pails using a fraction of the space, a godsend for beach- or lake-gear-hauling parents. Available in a variety of colors. $14.99 • packablepails.com

Bronco Ride-On Suitcase Your child will be ready to hit the range — or the road — with this carry-on-sized ride-on suitcase.

Kids can pack Trunki with their favorite belongings, ride it, tow their travel companion, or be towed by mom and dad. $50 • trunki.com

PortaPocket

Tech Pack Boost++ When you’re on the road, you rely on your phone more than ever: navigation, information searching, music playing, you name it.

The last thing you want to do is run out of battery. Enter the Tech Pack Boost+, a tiny, stylish, and lightweight charger that can recharge phones, tablets, Bluetooth devices, and more.

The Pack includes the slim, rechargeable power bank, a USB to micro-USB charging cable, a 5x7 microfiber Smart Cloth, and a microfiber storage pouch. $24.99 • toddygear.com

Highline iPhone Leash How many times do you drop or misplace your phone in everyday life? Now, imagine the opportunities when you’re on the go during the summer. Kenu’s Highline is a security leash and protective case for iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, keeping it safe from 42 JUNE2015

Packable Pails

This hands-free, lightweight carrying case is just the trick when you don’t want to haul a backpack, purse, or bag (or can’t, think: roller coaster). Securing it via belt loops or a Velcro band, this sweat-proof, hands-free carrying case (available in a variety of sizes) is a safe, easy way to carry ID, cash, glasses, keys, phones, cameras, passports, and more. portapocket.com • $19.95 and up

accidental drops, absent-mindedness, and theft. Snap your phone into the case and then easily secure the elastic coil leash to yourself (or purse, backpack, stroller, etc.) on one end and the case on the other, giving you full use of your phone and peace of mind. kenu.com • $29.95 for the iPhone 6 • $34.95 for 6 Plus

Stance Smartphone Mount Kenu’s tiny (1.2-ounce), palm-sized tripod lets iPhone or Android users take better selfies or shoot video by providing a solid, hands-free base. A ball-and-pivot joint allows the phone to be positioned in any way a user desires. The three legs also fold flat, keeping the phone in portrait or landscape positions for easy video viewing. It even sports a bottle opener! kenu.com • $29.95

JumperPack Mini No one’s in a good mood hunting for jumper cables, and unloading the trunk and all the junk in it to find them only makes it worse. Enter Cyntur’s rechargeable JumperPack Mini, which weighs less than 1 pound, holds a charge for up to a year, can jump a battery up to six times in a row, and fits in your glove compartment. Even better, it can also quickly charge smartphones, tablets, and more, and sports a flashlight/emergency strobe light. cyntur.com • $99.95

Voombox Outdoor This portable speaker from Divoom is designed specifically for rugged conditions, featuring a water-resistant, shock-absorbing, rubber case that protects its components from splashing water and dust. Powered by a 6-hour rechargeable battery, Voombox uses Bluetooth to wirelessly stream audio from an iPhone, iPad, or any smartphone and tablet. divoom.com $79.90

Selfie Extension Arm Take a better selfie with Satechi’s Extension Arm, which positions a smartphone (Android or iPhone) up to 3 feet away. Lightweight (5.6 ounces), the foldable design makes it compact (9.6”) and portable enough to fit into a backpack or carry-on bag. It can also be attached via the included wrist strap to a belt loop or backpack. satechi.net • $39.99

Watershot iPhone Housing This underwater camera housing lets families take pictures in the water and underwater while keeping their smartphone dry, as it’s waterproof up to 33 feet deep. A flexible membrane allows touchscreen use above water.

The PRO Line features removable lenses (flat port and wide angle) and is waterproof up to 195 feet.

Compatible with iPhone Series 4 and up. watershot.com • $99.99 and up

SmartLantern The fully-charged SmartLantern from Bracketron offers 48 hours of flashlight or lantern illumination or up to five full charges of your phone, camera, or tablet via its USB port. Less than 4 inches high and 2 inches wide, SmartLantern easily fits in a backpack, purse, or glove compartment. Slide it up and it’s a powerful lantern, complete with a handle for hanging anywhere you need light. Keep it compact and it’s a focused flashlight.

It could even serve as a handy travel nightlight in hotel rooms. bracketron.com • $79.95

Ascent Pack

Aqua Vault No more storing your wallet and phone in your sneaker! It’s no surprise the Aqua Vault won a deal on Shark Tank this spring, given the perennial problem it solves: “Where do I put my stuff when I go in the ocean/lake/pool?” With Aqua Vault, families can hook the 120-square-inch lock box over their beach chair (or stroller) and secure it with their own code, providing a safe space and peace of mind while in the water. theaquavault.com • $39.95

When you’re out and about with the family, chances are you’re toting gear.

Keep it safe and secure with this rugged pack from Ogio. With plenty of padded space and easy access, you’ll have all the room you need for everything from a water bottle to your smartphone, laptop to tablet, and everything else you got stuck carrying. ogio.com • $99.99

BAYSTATEPARENT 43

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SUMMER OF FUN

The Evolution

PHOTOS COURTESY EDAVILLE USA

of Edaville From For-Sale to Sodor

BY GARY KELLEY

ust five years ago, Edaville USA — more popularly known to generations as “Edaville Railroad” — was up for sale, its future uncertain.

Yet this summer the nearly 70-year-old Carver attraction is ready to not only open once more but also celebrate its new role as home to the only Thomas the Tank Engine-themed park, Thomas Land, in North America.

Edaville founder Ellis D. Atwood (whose initials EDA form the beginning of the attraction’s name) might not recognize his creation

J

today given its transformation over the years. The train was originally installed to service an 1,800-acre cranberry plantation.

Free rides gave way to nickel rides, and Edaville began evolving into a tourist attraction, adding kiddie rides and its famous Christmas Festival of Lights. The Edaville USA name was adopted in 2000.

The 1990s where not kind to Edaville, with the operation floundering through three different ownerships and trains only sporadically operating.

One of the challenges to running it was fragmented ownership

of the railroad and the land.

In 2005, developer Jon Delli Priscolli emerged as the sole owner. While he had previously developed housing on a portion of the Edaville property, in late 2010 Priscolli put the remaining property up for sale for $10 million.

“The person with the right vision never came along and Jon has a true love for Edaville,” says Samantha Johnson, Edaville USA communications director.

“Truthfully, getting personal, Jon and his general manager looked at each other one day and both said, ‘We cannot let this magical New England tradition die. Let’s do it, all or nothing!’”

Since then, the park has been undergoing a reconstruction effort, including adding new attractions and a new main gate.

“One of the things Priscolli noticed was the popularity of the Thomas events,” says Savery Moore, an Edaville Railroad fan since 1956, when he rode his bike there regularly. “Thomas the Tank Engine visited Edaville for special ‘Day Out with Thomas’ events and was well received by families familiar with the Thomas books and Thomas and Friends television shows.”

“Mattel, owner of Thomas the Tank Engine, loves New England

and saw similarities between Edaville and Sodor [a fictional island in the Irish Sea used as a setting for the television series],” Johnson adds. “Edaville is preparing to celebrate our 70th anniversary, and Thomas is celebrating his 70th. We just saw so many similarities.”

Opening Aug. 7, Thomas Land at Edaville USA will feature a 20-minute, scenic train ride on a life-sized Thomas, roller coaster, drop tower, Ferris wheel, soft-play area and more. Favorite characters such as Thomas, Diesel, Toby, Cranky the Crane, Harold the Helicopter, and Sir Topham Hatt will be represented, and families can visit familiar destinations around the Island of Sodor such as Tidmouth Sheds, Knapford Station, and Brendam Docks. (The rest of Edaville will open weekends starting June 20.)

There are only two other Thomas Lands worldwide, the first opened in 1998 at Japan’s Fujikyu Highland amusement park, 90 minutes from Tokyo. The second, and Europe’s first, opened in 2008 at Drayton Manor Theme Park in the UK. Priscolli intends to preserve Edaville’s retro feeling until guests reach the Thomas Land gate or the Dinoland gate (where animatronic dinosaurs roam), providing two entirely different areas. A retro arcade has been added and vintage rides will continue to be placed throughout the park. The Christmas Festival of Lights and Polar Express events will continue, as well.

“A new period section will be opening this year, called Dickens’ Village, with shops and other period pieces,” Johnson adds.

“There are 235 acres here, and after Thomas Land’s 12-acre footprint is established, there are 50 acres remaining for growth.”

“It’s been interesting to watch all the construction underway at Edaville this winter. Crews had to plow snow to build things, and as we New Englanders know there was a lot of plowing this winter,” Moore notes. “The crews are working hard at Edaville.”

“Edaville has been here forever, and as a cranberry grower myself, we still look at them as a part of the cranberry industry. The Edaville train still goes through active cranberry bogs,” says Dick Ward, chairman of the Town of Carver Board of Selectmen. “Edaville is trying to go big and maintain the local connection. This is beneficial to the town, and we have many residents employed at Edaville.

I’m looking forward to taking my granddaughters to see the improvements!”

BAYSTATEPARENT 45

SUMMER OF FUN

33 Places

to Brighten a

PHOTO BY WILLIAM DESOUSA-MAUK

Rainy Day on the Cape

BY SARA POKORNY

N

othing beats a day on the Cape where the sun warms your bare feet and the breeze provides a breath of cool air — but that postcard-perfect weather is not always guaranteed.

“Every time we’ve gone to the Cape it’s rained at least once,” says Krista Hugo, a Framingham native who’s vacationed on the Cape with her two children, ages 9 and 10, for the past three years. “The kids do get disappointed on those days, but we always manage to find something to do.”

While the area is known for its beaches and outdoor activities, there’s quite a bit to keep visitors busy on a rainy day. There are a host of activities that suit the needs of families with children of all ages, from those who want to have an active day to those who like everything from history and sports to games and theater.

Sports and Amusements One of Hugo’s favorite places to take the kids is a spot where she also

gets to indulge her childlike side: Wackenhammer’s Clockwork Arcade and Carousel (541 Main St., Hyannis, wackenhammer.com), the home of not only a 1956 antique carousel, but also kiddie rides, classic arcade games and other fun oddities such as a giant kaleidoscope.

“It’s nice to not only watch them run around and have fun, but to be able to do it with them,” she says.

Other must-sees: • The Flying Horses Carousel (15 Lake Ave., Oak Bluffs, mvpreservation.org), the nation’s oldest operating platform carousel and a National Historic Landmark.

• Ryan Family Amusements, located in various spots (Yarmouth, Hyannis, and Buzzards Bay, to start, all locations can be found at ryanfamily.com), the familycentric business offers Candlepin, Ten Pin or Duckpin bowling. You can also enjoy

From top to bottom, photos courtesy Harwich Junior Theatre; Sandwich Glass Museum; Sandwich Glass Museum; photo by William DeSousa-Mauk; Wackenhammer’s Clockwork Arcade and Carousel.

46 JUNE2015

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a show along with your alley cat instincts in the form of Mystic Bowling, when a light and sound show is added to the mix.

• Mashpee Commons (mashpeecommons.com) is home to dozens of stores and restaurants, including The Lanes Bowl & Bistro (9 Greene Street, Mashpee Commons, lanesbowlandbistro.com), where you can bowl a few strings in a comfortable setting and enjoy a wait-staff service restaurant at the same time.

• Balls to the Wall (96 Airport Road, Hyannis, balls2thewall. com) offers paintball, with its Lazer Tag arena a good option for the younger set. There’s also an indoor skate park where helmets, pads and boards can be rented, as well as an option to rent scooters hourly or for the whole day.

• Jump On Us (260 MA-28, West Yarmouth, 508-775-3304) is a covered trampoline park and another energy-burning locale.

• Cool off at Tony Kent Arena (8 South Gages Way, South Dennis;

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48 JUNE2015

tonykentarena.com), an indoor skating rink that offers rentals, and a snack bar.

Movies and Theatre The movies are a typical go-to for rainy days, but seeing one at the Cape Cinema Art House (35 Hope Lane, Dennis, capecinema.com) is not your everyday experience. The building was opened in 1930 and features art deco designs throughout, as well as a 6,400-square-foot mural on the ceiling. There are plenty of shows to choose from, as well as a Summer Music Series with live

performances on stage.

Other must-sees: • Harwich Junior Theater (105 Division Street, West Harwich, hjtcapecod.org) puts on familyfriendly productions, such as this season’s The Music Man, which runs from June 26 to July 11, and Aladdin, which runs from July 17 to Aug. 1.

• The Cape Playhouse (820 Main Street, Route 6A, Dennis, capeplayhouse.com) has been a haven for famous actors since its opening in 1927. It has been declared the Oldest Professional Summer Theatre in America by the Actors’ Equity Association, and will put on productions like the comedic musical The Drowsy Chaperone from June 30 to July 11 and the classic My Fair Lady from July 28 to Aug. 8.

• The Provincetown Theatre (238 Bradford Street, provincetowntheater.org) hosts concerts throughout the summer from top Broadway talent such as original RENT cast members Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp, vocalists Christine Ebersole, Ann Hampton Callaway, Liz Callaway, and more.

History and Museums On the tip of the Cape, the Pilgrim Monument and Provincetown Museum (High Pole Hill Road, pilgrim-monument.org) features exhibits covering the arrival of the Mayflower Pilgrims, the town’s rich maritime history, the early days of modern American theater in Provincetown, history of the local Wampanoag tribe and more.

Other must-sees: • Cape Cod’s first lighthouse, Highland Light (27 Highland Light Road, North Truro; highlandlighthouse.org) and its accompanying museum offer guided tours, history, and a 69-step climb to the top of the structure for those who are at least 48 inches tall.

• The Whydah Pirate Museum (16 MacMillan Pier, Provincetown; whydah.com) showcases more than 200,000 artifacts uncovered from the 1717 wreck of the pirate ship Whydah, including canon, coins, jewelry and much more.

• The Scargo Tower in Dennis is a cobblestone, 30-foot-high structure with a spiral staircase and quite the backstory. It was built as a wooden structure in 1874, but was destroyed in a gale two years later. Rebuilt in wood, it burned

in 1900 and was finally erected in cobblestone. With it comes the legend of Princess Scargo, an Indian woman whose tears are said to have formed the Scargo Lake that lies below.

• It’s not quite a museum nor history, but the Cape Cod Potato Chip factory tour (100 Breed’s Hill Road, Hyannis, capecodchips.com) is a popular take and one your kids won’t soon forget.

• The Cape Cod Canal Visitors Center (60 Ed Moffitt Drive, Sandwich) is run by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Guests can learn about the Big Dig of the 1930s that resulted in the removal of 30-million cubic yards of earth to form the canal, as well as watch vessels entering the canal via realtime radar.

Shopping and Books

• The nearby Sandwich Glass Museum (129 Main Street, Corner Rte 13, sandwichglassmuseum.org) offers live demonstrations and history.

No matter where you are on the Cape, there is shopping nearby, be it a downtown Main Street, outlets, a mall, or more.

However, if you’re looking to pass an afternoon with a book, check out the famous Eight Cousins Books (189 Main Street,

Falmouth, eightcousins.com), complete with fantastic selections for readers of all ages. Other independent Cape bookstores include Titcomb’s Bookshop (432 Route 6A, East Sandwich, titcombsbookshop.com); Yellow Umbrella Books (501 Main Street, Chatham, yellowumbrellabooks. net); and Where The Sidewalk Ends (432 Main Street, Chatham, booksonthecape.com).

And if you’re in Falmouth, take the kids across the street to Rainbow Toys, an independent, family-owned store with unique and popular offerings that will make a rainy afternoon fun.

FRIDAY, JUNE 19, 8 PM

• Heritage Gardens (67 Grove Street, Sandwich; heritagemuseumsandgardens.org), features art and floral exhibitions, as well as The Hidden Hollow outdoor family exploration area, and the new Adventure Park at Heritage.

• The Woods Hole Science Aquarium (166 Water St., Woods Hole, aquarium.nefsc.noaa.gov) is a small public aquarium with free admission (though donations are accepted) that houses 140 species of marine animals. Activity sheets are available for download on the aquarium’s Website to help put the kiddos to the test while making learning fun.

• Introduce your family to one of the most famous families to share a connection with the Cape through the John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum (397 Main St., Hyannis, jfkhyannismuseum.org).

Other cool toy stores: Orleans’s 45-year-old Red Balloon (114 Rt 6A, redballoontoyshop. com). A sister store can be found in Mashpee (27 Central Square, Mashpee Commons). Other kid-popular takes throughout the Cape include Village Toy Store (Lemon Tree Village, 1069 Main Street, Rt. 6A Brewster, thevillagetoystorebrewster.com), and Dr. Gravity’s Kite Shop & Emporium of Fun (560 Main St., Harwich Port, drgravitys.com).

TUESDAY, JULY 28 7:30 PM

Tickets start at $43.50

• Sports fans will love a trip to the Cape Cod Baseball League Hall of Fame (397 Main Street, Hyannis, capecodbaseball.org). It’s located in the same building as the JFK Hyannis Museum, so you can easily enjoy both.

• The Cape Cod Children’s Museum (577 Great Neck Road South, Mashpee, capecodchildrensmuseum.org) offers a multitude of hands-on discovery and learning activities.

• The Chatham Railroad Museum (153 Depot Rd Chatham, chathamrailroadmuseum.com) features hundreds of exhibits and the New York Central model locomotives used at the 1939 New York World’s Fair. Child friendly, it includes a 1910 restored wood caboose available for children and adults to explore.

Tickets start at $50

For tickets call 877.571.SHOW (7469) or visit TheHanoverTheatre.org 2 Southbridge Street • Worcester, MA 01608 Swipe your WOO Card for discounts, points and prizes!

Worcester Center for Performing Arts, a registered not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization, owns and operates The Hanover Theatre for Performing Arts.

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Pride Week

BY MELISSA SHAW Photo by Marilyn Humphries for Boston Pride

While it began 45 years ago as a demonstration for rights, in recent years the Boston Pride Parade has become quite the family celebration, heavily attended by LGBT and ally parents and children. It’s a shift that members of the community say is reflective of major gains in the drive for equality.

“When I joined Pride a little over 10 years ago, there weren’t that many families on the sidelines,” says Sylvain Bruni, president of the Board of Directions of the all-volunteer, nonprofit Boston Pride organization.

“There has been a tremendous transformation over the last decade, and now you have a lot of strollers and families watching the parade and waving as the contingents march their way down the streets of Boston. It’s a testimony to the change in cultural acceptance and visibility.”

Bruni estimates the march has gone from “100% political to 50% political/50% celebration.”

“We’re celebrating the community itself, the accomplishments so far, but there is still more to do,” he notes.

“Having families part of the celebration at the parade or the festival is the natural next step of showing there is widespread acceptance.”

While the parade is the focal point of the city’s annual Pride celebrations, which run June 5-14, it’s just one of several family friendly events that welcome and attract families of all constellations.

“Every family structure is represented during the celebration, which is really great because it shows acceptance in general of LGBT families. It also shows that straight families want to participate and show their children what Pride is and what the LGBT community is about,” Bruni notes.

“I think there is a huge educational component to it, which is really, really good.”

One of the flagship family events is Pride Day at Faneuil Hall on June 5.

Held 10 a.m.- 5 p.m., the day offers music, artists, entertainment, and dancing.

“It’s also good for information,” adds Nikki Saunders, a mom and member of the Boston Pride Committee. “A lot of people don’t know about Family Week in Provincetown in July or

camps that are gay friendly. It’s really good for parents for information and it’s good for the kids to just run around and experience Faneuil Hall.”

She even offers a veteran, parentpro tip: “Faneuil Hall is close to the Harbor, you can combine it with your Aquarium trip!”

While Pride Day is held on the first Saturday of the weeklong celebration, the centerpiece parade and festival are held a week later. The Festival, held at City Hall Plaza, begins at 11 a.m. June 13, while the parade steps off at noon at Copley Square. Here again Saunders offers parent-friendly advice: Catch the beginning of the parade, then head over to the festival so the kids can experience both and beat the crowds when the parade is over. “You want to be prepared,” she adds. “If you have little ones you want the diaper bag fully stocked.”

Bruni calls the presence of families lining the parade “very empowering.”

“We are able to provide a platform for those families to come out and feel comfortable being in public, because I know some families are not,” he says.

“But having this celebration, being a safe space for all kinds of families, to me is very empowering. It means the work we are doing to produce Pride actually has a direct impact on those families and those children who can be there. Having families there has a lot of impact on every component of the LGBT community.

Having families there and children, clapping and waving and enjoying the day contributes to people feeling safe and loved and welcomed in their community.”

The final day of Pride Week, June 14, boasts the family-friendly JP Block Party, held on Perkins Street in Jamaica Plain.

Saunders says attending Pride events with her son and other families is fun, but a different experience than premotherhood. “Now all my friends are, like, ‘Oh, you got the new BOB stroller, we couldn’t’ find them. They were sold out!’ It’s a whole other conversation,” she laughs. “It’s definitely a good time.”

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Head to baystateparent.com/ bostonpride for links to a list of Boston Pride Week events and further details.

BAYSTATEPARENT 51

Is Your Family

Leaving

Money On The Table?

BY GARY KELLEY

Every month Massachusetts families are paying an energy efficiency charge on their power bills, but not everyone is taking advantage of the free benefits the monthly fee delivers.

Founded in 2010, Mass Save famously advertises its free home energy assessments, which in many cases result in a variety of on-thespot, no-cost improvements for home owners, like new LED bulbs in every fixture in a home, upgraded thermostats, and water-efficient showerheads.

“One hundred and six lightbulbs!

My house has 106 lightbulbs!” exclaims Ashland’s Jed Dineen with unbridled enthusiasm. “All of

them were the traditional, old-style incandescent bulbs dating back to Thomas Edison’s era. Now, my home has new energy efficient LED lighting for free.”

Dineen and his family recently had Mass Save perform a no-cost energy assessment. An assessor came to the house and spent two hours doing a top-to-bottom inspection of the home, including: • Attic & wall insulation • Airflow • Siding • Thermostats • Doors • Windows

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• Appliances • Heating and cooling systems • Hot water • Surge suppressors Mass Save in-home assessments result in a personalized report outlining recommended energy efficiency improvements along with an estimate of the energy savings and low/no cost financing plans.

In Dineen’s case, at the time of the assessment, Mass Save installed 106 LED light bulbs (replacing simple screw bulbs) and programmable (heating/cooling and time of day) thermostats for free. Had he done these improvements himself, he estimates the cost would easily

have been hundreds of dollars.

The payoff? The Dineen’s electric bill dropped $35 in the first month compared to the prior year.

Prior personal attempts to try energy-saving approaches yielded mixed results for Dineen. For example, lighting improvements were unimpressive. “We tried compact fluorescent bulbs and they always fell flat,” he says. “The early versions had a rather harsh light we just didn’t like. And it always took too long for them to ‘warm up’ to full brightness. For example, when going to the basement to get something, the 2-minute warm-up time often exceeded the needed time in the basement, and we were

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not happy they had mercury in them. We have none of those issues with the LEDs.” Mass Save left Dineen with specific energy-efficiency improvement recommendations so he could make subsequent decisions on his schedule. He looks at the home energy assessment as a way to “prioritize” expenditures. “I have a Sub-Zero refrigerator-freezer.

The Mass Save program will help fund a replacement refrigerator, and nothing like a Sub-Zero,” he says. “We need to decide if we want to keep the Sub-Zero (with its accompanying aesthetics) or replace it with a more energy efficient version.”

Available Mass Save rebates and incentives vary over time.

Currently they include: • 75% up to $2,000 toward the installation of approved insulation improvements • No-cost targeted air sealing • Rebates on qualifying energyefficient heating and hot water heating equipment • The opportunity to apply for 0% financing for eligible measures through the HEAT loan program.

In 2013, 9,000 HEAT loans were provided in Massachusetts.

Under this program, customers can apply for a 0% loan from participating lenders assisting with the installation of qualified energyefficient improvements in their home.

Massachusetts is a Leader in Conservation “The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has made energy efficiency a top priority to help people manage their energy costs and improve the comfort of their homes,” says Dan Burgess, Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources acting commissioner. “I always recommend homeowners, renters, and business owners explore Mass Save’s Website to see what’s available for them at home and work.”

The Massachusetts Energy Efficiency Advisory Council’s 2013 annual report supports Burgess’ statement in a compelling manner: “Mass Save helped customers save the same amount of electricity as all households in Lowell, Springfield, Taunton, and Waltham collectively use in a year. The natural gas savings

kilowatt-hour-per-month customer, the energy-efficiency charge is currently about $5 per month (1 cent per kilowatt-hour).”

Navarro is quick to point out companies like National Grid do not generate power, they only provide transmission lines.

Programs like Mass Save help companies such as National Grid plan better for infrastructure improvements.

Everyone wants lower energy bills, which was evident in recent months.

“This past winter drove a huge uptick in interest in these programs,” Navarro says. “November and December 2014 had a 69% increase in assessment requests over the same period in 2013. People saw large electric bill increases and this drove increased interest in conservation.”

The increases in power generation costs are attributed to constrained natural gas, and “will be a regional issue going on a few years,” Navarro notes.

The Mass Save Website, masssave.com, is a common entry point for energy assessment programs. The Website also includes an Online Home Energy Assessment, giving a quick assessment of your energy efficiency and an improvement plan.

are equal to heating nearly every single household in Framingham for a year. In 2013, the efforts generated $2.8 billion in benefits, slightly greater total benefits than projected, while spending 12% less than budgeted.”

This pace was continued in 2014, according to Susan Kaplan, director of marketing and stakeholder engagement for the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources.

“The 2014 savings were the equivalent of a 172 megawatt power plant, and this is ongoing.

Massachusetts has been ranked #1 in energy efficiency for the past four years.”

Kaplan points to the impacts being seen at ISO New England, the independent, not-for-profit company charged with grid operation, market administration, and power system planning: “Our Massachusetts programs are actually bending the demand curve down. You can see the benefits in action.”

“Mass Save started as a program in 2010, without a headquarters or staff,” notes Jake Navarro, spokesman for National Grid US. “The programs are funded by the energy efficiency charge on energy bills across Massachusetts overseen by the Department of Public Utilities. For a typical 500

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Shopping The Clean 15: Eating Healthy Regardless of Budget

BY MICHELE BENNETT DECOTEAU

W

hen the daily recommendation of eating five servings of fresh fruits and veggies is multiplied by everyone in your family, “organic” can start to mean “out of your budget.”

Organic fruits and vegetables can cost as much as twice their nonorganic counterparts, yet parents have many reasons why they prefer organic produce for their children.

“Kids, especially at different developmental stages, are susceptible to chemicals,” says Dr. Jay Fong, pediatric gastroenterologist and assistant professor at UMass Medical School

in Worcester.

Reducing exposure to various chemicals via fruits and vegetables sprayed with pesticides or other chemicals is an excellent reason to choose organic, but is organic more nutritious?

“There have been a number of scientific research papers that show the nutrient content of organic produce and conventionally-grown produce is the same. It is a very hot topic in research right now,” says Maisie Ostrye, registered clinical dietitian at UMass Medical Center in Worcester.

While few pediatricians are going to recommend only feeding a child

organic food when budget concerns affect everyone, most will admit that it is better not to expose children, especially young children, to industrial chemicals. Is there a middle ground?

“Whenever possible, and with budget permitting, buy organic produce,” Fong says. “The Clean 15 list is a nice alternative.”

Every spring, the Environmental Working Group (ewg.org) does the scientific dirty work of testing fruits and vegetables for pesticide residue. “The Clean 15” is its list of fruits and vegetables with the least amount of chemical residue. Some of the yummy produce listed on the

Clean 15 list includes asparagus, sweet potatoes, mangos, kiwi, and cantaloupe.

“The Dirty Dozen” lists fruits and vegetables that retain the highest levels of pesticides when grown conventionally and includes foods like apples, strawberries, peaches, and spinach. The EWG suggests that if consumers have a limited budget — and who doesn’t? — the lists can help them make informed choices.

For example, parents can feel pretty safe purchasing conventionallygrown fruits and vegetables from the Clean 15 list, but might choose to purchase organically grown Dirty Dozen produce.

BAYSTATEPARENT 57

To avoid chemical exposure, “look for fruits and vegetables like oranges and bananas, ones with a thick peel that you take off,” Ostrye advises. Those with thick peels are often a good choice because the pesticides and other chemicals are removed from the edible portion of the food.

Pesticide levels are tightly regulated in the foods we eat and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) tests for pesticides as well as a host of other agricultural chemicals in more than 100 different kinds of foods, including fish, nuts, fruits, vegetables, infant formula, and honey. The levels allowed are limited by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

“Parents don’t want to expose their children to pesticides,” Ostrye says. “But keep in mind that pesticide levels cannot exceed government safety levels.” And in the most recent year available, 2013, less than 1% of the samples exceeded EPA safety standards.

But make no mistake, organic or not, feeding your children a variety of fruits and vegetables is always the best choice, medical professionals say.

“Focus on healthier food choices.

Cleaner, organic produce is always safer since you are not giving kids

added pesticides and chemicals, but always choose healthy foods,” says Dr. Richard Lirio, pediatric gastroenterologist and assistant professor at UMass Medical School.

Tips on healthy eating

• Shop the produce section and perimeter of the grocery store rather than the aisles to help focus meals on unprocessed foods. When you do choose processed foods, read labels, and do it with your children, looking for whole grain and the least-processed items, as well as ingredients you recognize and can pronounce.

• “If parents cannot buy all organic, then buy conventionally grown and organic produce, but purchase a variety of both so you are not exposed to the same pesticides over and over,” Ostrye adds.

“Do what you can, but don’t stress over it,” Ostrye says. “Food is so expensive. Try to shop local, go to famers markets, and grow things on your own. Variety is the most important message.”

• Choose a rainbow of produce to eat daily. “Eat a varied diet with as many fruits and vegetables as possible so there is a constant flow of vitamins, minerals, and proteins to meet changing nutritional needs,” Fong says.

• “Parents should really be feeding their children whole foods as unprocessed as possible. Think whole grain and whole fruits rather than fruit juices,” adds Dr. Kerri Gosselin, director of Pediatric Nutrition at UMass, Worcester.

“You keep more of the important micronutrients with unprocessed food.”

Strawberry Festival June 20 & June 21 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. th

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Rain dates June 27th & June 28th • Pyo Strawberries • Bouncy House • Hay Rides • Make Your Own Chocolate Covered Strawberries • Make Your Own Strawberry Shortcake • Hot Dogs • Crafts • And So Much More!

“YOU WANT FRESH YOU WANT LOCAL”

Come sample products from local vendors at our Monthly Tastings June 13th & 14th • 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Vendors include • Ever So Humble Pie Co • Dom’s Meats • Lilly’s Pasta Bisosweet Gourmet Cookies • Dancing Deer Cookies & Brownies and so many more

294 Chase Rd Lunenburg • 978-582-6246 • www.lanniorchards.com Open daily 8:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.

58 JUNE2015

“Do what you can, but don’t stress over it.”

– Maisie Ostrye, registered clinical dietitian at UMass Medical Center

Summer Stroll & International Festival Saturday, June 20th • 1-5 Downtown Leominster

Celebrating Leominster’s Diversity Inter

na t io

na lF est ival

Leominster is rich with diversity!

In keeping with the centennial anniversary, this year we will have the Summer Stroll & International Festival highlighting the different countries represented in Leominster.

Sand sculpture, pony rides, misting tent, music, food, dancing, face painting, vendors and more!

For more information contact the mayor’s office at 978-534-7500

Dishin’ with the Dietitian

Summertime Vegetables and Fruit: Keep them Safe

BY CARRIE TAYLOR, RDN, LDN

Food Safety Rule #2 - Beware of Cross Contact What happens when you place your cooked burgers on the same plate that held the raw burgers on the way to the grill? Or what about when you use the same cutting board to prep your chicken and salad toppings? The answer is the same: cross contamination.

and Listeria from their hands onto the food we eat.

Cross contact, or cross contamination, occurs when bacteria such as E. coli is present in a food like ground hamburger and transfers from the surface you are using, whether a plate or cutting board, onto foods you will consume.

Proper hand washing includes running water, soap (anti-bacterial is not necessary) and friction. Rub your hands vigorously for 20 seconds (or the amount of time to sing Happy Birthday twice), rinse and dry with a clean towel or fresh paper towel. And be sure to use the paper towel to shut off the faucet so you do not cross contaminate your hands.

Tip: Never reuse plates, utensils, or cutting boards that come in contact with raw meat or fish. Wash your plate, utensil, or cutting board in hot, soapy water. Better yet, opt for a completely different, clean plate, utensil, or cutting board.

N

ow that we have officially kicked off the summer cookout season, let’s talk about ways to not only incorporate more color into your picnics but also steps you can take to ensure you’re keeping those around you safe from foodborne illness.

Appetizers Appetizers often set the tone of the meal, so be sure to incorporate as much color as possible.

Whether you’re offering a platter of crudités, such as cucumber spears and carrot sticks, or sliced strawberries and grapes with yogurt dip, incorporating color is key for obtaining vitamins, minerals and fiber.

Food Safety Rule #1 - Honor the Clock Once fruits and vegetables are cut, their expiration date quickly speeds up. If the weather is under 90 degrees, fruits and vegetables can be left out 2 hours without refrigeration. When it’s over 90, that window drops to 1 hour.

Tip: Only put out the amount of food you need and replenish trays as needed. Additionally, consider placing plates and bowls on ice or immersed in a cold water bath in which the ice is maintained.

Main Dishes Continue adding color to your summer festivities by offering sides like bean salads, which incorporate different colored beans or lentils with a mixture of chopped vegetables such as cauliflower, broccoli, spinach, and celery.

Another great main course that will surely delight guests’ taste buds: grilled Portobello mushroom burgers or kabobs made with tomatoes, white button mushrooms, bell peppers, onions, and zucchini.

Food Safety Rule # 3 - Keep Hot Foods Hot and Cold Foods Cold The food safety danger zone falls between 40 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit.

This is the magic zone in which bacteria love to multiply. For this reason, it’s imperative to maintain the temperature of the food when serving.

Tip: As mentioned above, keep cold foods on ice. For hot foods, hold them in slow cookers placed on the warm setting or in chaffing dishes sitting in hot water baths above a constant flame created by chaffing fuel.

Tip: Wash your hands properly after using the lavatory, in between touching surfaces and food, as well as working between raw meats and uncooked items like salad greens and bread.

Whether you enjoy potlucks, picnics, or festive family cookouts, take the steps now to ensure you’re as safe as can be for the season ahead.

If you or a loved one has ever come down with the “24-hour bug,” you learned first-hand that foodborne illness is no fun. That 24-hour bug was more than likely the result of something you ate being contaminated with a bacteria or virus. To learn more about summer food safety, visit the Food Safety section of BigY.com.

Carrie Taylor is the lead registered dietitian nutritionist for the Living Well Eating Smart program at Big Y Foods. Have a nutrition question?

E-mail livingwell@bigy.com or write Living Well at 2145 Roosevelt Ave, PO Box 7840, Springfield, 01102.

Would you like to be featured in a future issue of baystateparent? Send your question to editor@baystateparent.com and you might soon be Dishin’ with the Dietitian!

Dessert Step outside the usual fruit salad or strawberry shortcake and opt to grill peaches and nectarines or an aluminum foil pouch of faux bananas foster.

Food Safety Rule #4 - Wash Your Hands The number one cause of a foodborne illness is not the food in question. Individuals handling food tend to transfer bacteria like E. Coli, Salmonella BAYSTATEPARENT 59

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Find Farmers Markets In Your Town And On The Road Farmers markets are great ways to enjoy fresh local food and support your local farming families. Looking for your local market or interested in finding a new favorite? Head to the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources’s interactive map: mass.gov/agr/ massgrown/farmers_markets.htm.

Just one click shows you where to find the local harvests in your area.

And if you’re on the road this summer, don’t forget the MassDOT’s Farmer’s Market Program, which is now open for business at 18 service plazas (11 along I-90 and seven along

Majority of Food Marketed On TV Toward Children Unhealthy A University of Arizona study finds that 80% of the food products advertised to children fall into what it calls “the poorest nutritional category” set by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services guidelines.

The recent study monitored 103 kids’ shows on two cable channels and five broadcast networks and found the results nearly the same as those from a 2007 report, after which 17 of the nation’s largest food manufacturers banded together to create the Children’s Food and Beverage Advertising Initiative.

The self-regulated group vowed to promote healthier food and reduce the use of cartoons and characters to catch kids’ attention. Critics say self-regulation isn’t working and manufacturers’ definition of healthy foods is too liberal. Advertisers say the health standards outlined by the study are to stringent and that the majority of food in the U.S. would fall short.

60 JUNE2015

other state highways) offering local produce. Participating service areas include: • Lee (east/west) • Blandford (east/west) • Ludlow (east/west) • Charlton (east/west) • Westboro (west) • Framingham (west) • Natick (east) • Interstate 95 in Newton and Lexington • Route 128 in Beverly • Route 24 locations (north/south ) in Bridgewater • Route 3 in Plymouth • Route 6 in Barnstable

Boneless Country-Style Spare Ribs on the Grill Sauce: • 3 Cups Ketchup • 3 Cups Brewed Coffee • 1 1/2 Cups Sugar • 1 Small Onion Chopped • 3 TBS Vinegar • 3 TBS Worcestershire Sauce Mix all the ingredients for sauce in a medium sauce pan. Bring to a boil for 10 minutes.

Place spare ribs in a tin foil pan and grill on high for 10 minutes. Drain any fat. Pour 3/4 of the sauce over ribs and turn heat down to medium. Set aside remaining sauce. Turn ribs over half way thru cooking and spoon sauce over them. (sauce will thicken as the ribs cook) If needed use remaining sauce or save and pour over baked potato.

This recipe can be baked in the oven, too!

Bake at 400 degrees for 10 minutes, drain fat, turn oven down to 350. Bake until done while turning ribs half way and spooning sauce over them.

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r r y e F b e w stival a r t S Saturday, June 20th

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• Pedal Cars • Antique Tractors • Farm Animals • Pony Rides

pening Grand O akery! of our B

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HOW TO SUPERCHARGE YOUR CHILD’S

Creativity, Critical Thinking With STEAM

BY DARCY SCHWARTZ

fresh, innovative new methods to interdisciplinary learning. Across the country, educators are coming to the conclusion that Art informs STEM and vice versa. Consequently, they are pioneering new methods of teaching that combine these disciplines, which are separated from one another under traditional educational models.

STEAM is the integration of Art into the disciplines of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math). It combines problem solving and critical thinking skills with “A” (aka Art) skills.

This allows creativity to break down the walls between art, hard sciences and math, fostering 62 JUNE2015

How Your Family Can Integrate STEAM Time Into Fun Time For young children, a STEAM experience can be as simple as identifying colors: and recognizing

discover the form and mechanics of the scissors (Engineering.) Ask them if they can cut specific shapes, like circles, triangles, and squares (geometrics are perfect for early math recognition.) Share with them some images of collage work by Henri Matisse and encourage them to make their own collage masterpiece inspired by his work.

For older children, consider using the technology component of STEAM by letting them explore camera and movie techniques through stop-motion animation, a film-making technique that makes inanimate objects move (think Gumby or Wallace & Gromit). While stop motion is, for the most part, a simple, hands-on technology with which children can use with ease, there are constraints to the medium that encourages problem solving, experimentation through trying and testing, as well as projecting and planning out where a story is going.

And it’s really fun being Spielberg for a day!

One of the best family projects that incorporates all elements of STEAM is gardening and journaling. Backyard gardening, urban gardening, kitchen gardening, homesteading — whatever you want to call it in your house — is a fantastic way for families to connect and discover. From tilling the soil and planting the seeds to watching them grow into food for your table, scientific discovery is everywhere in a family garden.

• What type of soil do you have?

(Science) • What types and how much of each nutrient will be needed to make your crops grow better? (Science and Math) • How do I “map” where my plants should grow? (Math) • How do I “stake” my garden?

(Engineering)

which colors make new colors: “If you have red paint and you add blue paint, what color will you make?” Then give them the paint.

Finger paints are great for this, as it allows for free experience. Once you add a brush, some children may feel the need to paint a picture, and a STEAM lesson is more about the process than the finished product.

The science behind why and how combined colors create more colors is a spark for critical thinking and will nurture your child’s ability to illustrate what they see.

Cutting is perfect for preschoolaged children. Give your child a stack of paper, all different types (construction paper, newspapers, magazines, old mail), and let them

• What are “companion plants?”

What’s your “zone?” (Technology) Through research — like visiting a garden center, searching online, or checking your local library for books on gardening — collaboration, and just getting your hands dirty trying new plants and techniques, you will discover the answers, as well as gain a deeper respect for the environmental sciences.

Where is the “A” in our family gardening project? It’s everywhere!

It’s in the physical beauty of the plants and flowers that will grow throughout the season. In the colors, smells, and sounds of Mother Nature. And how can you capture this “Art” part of your experience?

Journal! By writing and sketching the story of your garden adventure, you

are stopping and reflecting on each part of the scientific process and bringing those elements of STEAM full circle.

You can make a small journal by folding pieces of inexpensive drawing paper into a folio, and adding a folded piece of card stock as the cover. Use a piece of twine, yarn, or ribbon and sew a few stitches along the folded spine. Tie a knot or bow to finish the stitching, and your journal is complete. Keep it in a small bag with a pencil, some colored pencils, even a small

watercolor set, so you are ready at any time to record your words and images.

You may also want to use photographs to document the growth of specific plants, and put them in your journal. For decorating the cover, it could be fun to use leaves or petals and a monoprinting technique. Simply rub a very small amount of ink or paint on the leaf or petal you would like to print, and then press it onto your paper.

Use one, two, or several prints for a more personal, handmade look.

Three places to check out for STEAM education fun!

1. Take a trip into Boston and visit the MIT Museum. With exhibits like Robots and Beyond, Gestural Engineering, and The Jeweled Net: Views of Contemporary Holography, there is something for every scientist in the family to discover. Admission to the museum is free on the last Sunday of each month.

A Parent’s Guide to Exploring & Explaining Nature Have you ever struggled to find an answer when your child asks why something happens the way it does?

2. Spend a day at one of Mass Audubon’s magnificent properties, like Broad Meadow Brook Sanctuary in Worcester. The largest urban wildlife sanctuary in New England, it is home to over 430 acres of natural beauty.

There are rope-guided and easily accessible trails, plus indoor and outdoor exhibits that incorporate nature with innovative, STEAM-based solutions for growing and maintaining this environmental science oasis in the city. Visit the Mass Audubon website for information on Broad Meadow Brook, and other sanctuaries throughout Massachusetts.

3. Head to Danforth Art in Framingham. From paintings and sculpture to works that use science and technology to move light that creates changing images, the exhibits here a perfect example of the visual beauty of STEAM, and admission is always free for art enthusiasts ages 17 and under.

This book will provide you with those answers. Each chapter contains examples of “everyday knowledge” to show the relevance of the scientific concepts to everyday life, as well as “everyday experiments” to help you show your kids examples of these principles in action.

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Inside the Kidz Bop Sensation Once or twice a month, Sasha Junk gets cold-called at her Manhattan office by an enterprising child armed with online skills and a mission. The question is always the same: How do I become a Kidz Bop Kid? “You answer the phone and you’re not expecting a 7-year-old to be on the other line,” laughs the Kidz Bop senior vice president of marketing.

“They just launch in and it’s so adorable. A month or two ago, over a weekend this little boy left me five or six messages and they were hilarious. He was auditioning via phone.”

It’s no surprise Junk’s number is hot property given the Kidz Bop phenomenon. Launched in 2001, the brand began regularly releasing CDs of singing and dancing tweens and young teens covering current pop hits, whose lyrics, when necessary, are sanitized for young listeners’ protection and parents’ relief.

In the decade-plus since, Kidz Bop has grown into a major musical movement. In addition to 28 albums that have sold more than 15 million copies, the group consistently hits the Billboard Top 200 chart and has been named #1 Kids Artist for five years in a row. While Kidz Bop originally recorded two CDs per year, this year it’s doubling that with quarterly releases.

“It’s going to give us an opportunity to cover more music and make sure the songs are as current as they possibly can be,” Junk says. The reason behind the brand’s success? “It’s a fairly simple concept: We take popular songs that are appropriate and have kids cover them,” she adds. “To be honest, kids just love to hear other kids sing and they love to sing themselves.”

Along with CDs, the group records music videos, national commercials, and hosts its own SiriusXM channel, 64 JUNE2015

Photo Courtesy Kidz Bop

BY MELISSA SHAW

Coming to make some noise in Boston this month are, clockwise from top: Matt, Ashlynn, Grant, and Bredia, the Kidz Bop Kids.

Kidz Bop Radio. There are even toothbrushes that play Kidz Bop tunes, so it’s no surprise that last year the group launched its first national tour, a 45-city endeavor that has become an annual event.

The new tour, “Make Some Noise 2015,” comes to Boston’s Wilbur Theatre on June 27.

“We thought it would be really fun to extend the brand into a live experience so kids could actually come out and experience the music first hand,” Junk says. “We’re already planning for 2016. It’s so fun to see all the kids and the families

come out to the shows. What we were noticing for a lot of kids is that it’s their first-ever live concert experience. It’s really fun to be a part of that, to see how excited they are.”

How to Become a Kidz Bop Kid While 28 Kidz Bop CDs have been released over the past 14 years, the makeup of the group changes regularly.

“Generally, we recast every three

years,” Junk says. “Typically the kids are with us as a group between two and three years. We cast around the ages of 10 and 11, and then they age out around age 13, 14.”

While the members change every few years, there is only one Kidz Bop group at a time. The current four-kid lineup consists of Matt, 12, from North Bergen, New Jersey; Ashlynn, 13, from Los Angeles; Grant, 12, from Dallas; and Bredia, 12, from Chicago. The current group has been together for a year and a half, Junk says, and the next round of auditions is probably a year or so away.

“They are the face and voice of Kidz Bop. They are the voice you hear on the albums, they’re the kids you see in TV commercials and music videos. They are the voice of our SiriusXM Kidz Bop radio channel and then of course they tour. They are insanely talented for a bunch of 12 years olds and one 13 year old. I always try to think back and remember, Gosh, what was I doing when I was 12 and 13?

So I babysat for the family down the street…” Junk tails off into a laugh.

And while the performers are talented and beat out thousands to get the job, they’re not the product of a quick casting call to L.A. “Everyone thinks we go straight to Hollywood and we don’t,” Junk says. “In fact, the four kids we have now are from all over the U.S. When we do the casting, we open up the casting call to all of the U.S. Kids can audition by sending in a video, then we do multiple castings throughout the U.S. to narrow it down. The [current Kidz Bop] Kids are from all over and really do represent a cross section of America. As a 6-, 7-, 8-year-old, no matter where you are, you can identify on a personal level with at least one of the kids.”

Life as a Kidz Bop Kid Thirteen-year-old Ashlynn Chong is a singing, dancing eighth grader from California who’s halfway through her three-year run as a member of Kidz Bop. Here’s her inside scoop on the life of a Kidz Bop kid.

Why did you decide to audition?

I actually auditioned for Kidz Bop a couple times. I auditioned when I was 9 and I re-auditioned when I was 11. The whole process was a couple months long when I got further along into the audition. We did a couple of live auditions and screen tests. They had 12 kids go to Dallas for a final audition and from there they picked the Kidz Bop kids.

I should do this because I have the training now.’ I went into the second audition way more confident.

work out a lot trying to get our stamina up. Running is always really helpful.

What was it like when they told you that you made the group? It felt really incredible because I could see how great of an opportunity this was.

What is it like being on tour? Being on tour is a really cool experience.

I’ve seen, done, and am experiencing some incredible things that I probably would not have been able to if I were going to a public school every day. It was really great.

Dancing is an important part of the performance? It’s an extremely important part of being a Kidz Bop kid.

When did you start to study acting and music? I started music when I was really young. My Dad has a music school so I started training at about 6 or 7.

You auditioned when you were 9 and you weren’t chosen. Why did you decide to audition again?

When I was 9, I was too young, I wasn’t ready, and I hadn’t started dancing yet. I started dancing when I was 10. So when the audition came around again I’m, like, ‘Oh, maybe

Is singing or dancing your favorite?

It’s really hard to choose between music and dance.

How do you not run out of breath?

You’re always singing and dancing with such high energy. Conditioning, lots and lots of conditioning. We

When you tour do you get to see any of the cities you visit? It depends how long we’re in these cities. Sometimes if we’re there for a day or two we can go and get to see some awesome things.

Favorite experiences on tour? We went to Sacramento and we got a tour of City Hall. I remember performing at Sea World in Texas and we got to go see dolphins. In Colorado, we got to take a tour of the Olympic Training Center — that was insanely awesome.

Being on tour has really opened me up to new experiences.

Kidz Bop's Ashlynn

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Do you attend school or are you homeschooled? All four of us do either homeschooling or online schooling. I do online schooling, the same programs as my friend, Matt, who is also a Kidz Bop kid.

It’s a really great school because it’s kind of like an online public school; you have teachers you can connect with and virtual, live lessons. And we also have a teacher who travels with us at all times.

being a Kidz Bop kid. Being in the recording studio is always really fun, we get to sing all new songs and also we go in and do background vocals, and that’s a fun experience for all of us.

What’s in store for kids and families coming to the Boston show? Lots and lots of energy.

They should expect a fun show, lots of music, lots of dancing, lots of crowd interaction. So they have to come ready to have fun.

What advice would you give to kids who want to audition for Kidz Bop in the future? Hard work is extremely important in getting this job, as well as teamwork. I remember being at the auditions and all the people who were really good team players ended up getting the job.

Do you have favorite song right now? In the tour, I really like “Uptown Funk.” Another one that’s really fun is “Break Free.”

Located in Boston’s historic Fenway neighborhood.

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Who are some of your favorite artists? Bruno Mars, Jessie J, Sia, Ingrid Michaelson, just to name a few.

What is it like recording the albums? Recording the albums is one of my favorite parts of

Had you done any professional recordings before Kidz Bop? Somewhat. At my Dad’s music school we have a little recording studio, so I’ve made a couple of recordings.

What’s the most challenging part of being a Kidz Bop kid? The most challenging thing is being able to keep everything up. Keep up your stamina, keep up your dancing ability, keep up your singing skills, all while keeping up school because we’re also fulltime students and school is a high priority.

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Meet Our 2015 Cover Model Con Last month’s Cover Model Contest events were bittersweet. We loved meeting all the entrants and their families, but boy was it hard picking only two finalists for each of our six categories! Special thanks to our photographers: Shawna Shenette,

6 to 23 months Mackenzie, Brookfield

Iris, Sutton

Photos by Georgia Moriarty

AT SOLOMON POND MALL

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Age 8-10 Gabrielle, Granby Victoria, Westborough

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Karen Moriarty, and Steven King; our hosts, Simon Malls and The Mall at Whitney Field; our supporting sponsors, and our presenting sponsor, Rob Roy Hair Salons.

24 to 47 months Dilan, Westborough Annalee, Milford

Age 11-13 Jessica, Leominster Kayla, Cherry Valley

ntest Finalists!

Thank you to everyone who came out!

The Grand Prize winner will be announced next month.

Renari, Worcester

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Juliana, Hopedale

Age 14-16 Matthew, Sutton

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Looking for a Jewish education for your child?

5 TIPS FOR CO-PARENTING DURING THE SUMMER

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Most children enjoy the fun and freedom that come with summer activities, but when a family is going through separation or divorce, the tension and new experiences that the family may face can put a damper on what is (for most kids) their favorite time of the year.

Here are five tips to help you make it through the summer even if your family dynamic has changed: 1. If you haven’t done so already, devise a plan for parenting. Be sure to include both a “regular” schedule and a “vacation” schedule for those days or weeks when the child or children are going to be away from home with either parent.

2. Do your best to remain flexible.

With three-day weekends (Fourth of July and Labor Day), Father’s Day, graduations, and countless barbecues and summer outings, parenting times may need to be adjusted — by either side. Give yourself and your co-parent permission to deviate from an existing court order. Just be sure to put it in writing and have it signed by both of you.

3. Determine how you will handle extra summer expenses. Certain costs, such as childcare or camp tuition, may not have been a big deal while you were married, but separated and divorced parents need to have a specific plan for how these expenses will be paid. This way, there won’t be any surprises!

Note: Children don’t need to know who paid for what, who demanded what, or who refused or agreed to do it. What they should know is that both parents want them to have a great summer and that both parents look forward to sharing time with them.

4. If your parenting arrangement calls for your child to have extended time with his or her other parent, you may experience feelings of anger, hostility or sadness, or even a prolonged reexamination of the cause for your separation or divorce. Don’t be afraid to talk about your feelings with family members or friends, or seek counsel from a health care professional.

5. Most important, do the best you can to work things out with the other parent. Children are smart and can sense when their parents aren’t on the same page and will try to use this to their advantage by playing one parent against the other, such as seeking support from whichever parent is most likely to give in to the child’s request.

Summertime and vacations are supposed to be “premium” time, both for parents and their children.

Ample planning and communication can ensure the time off goes smoothly for the entire family. The goal is to save both parents from scrambling at the last minute or having to race to court to enforce their parenting plan.

Inside Out • PG for mild thematic elements and some action • In theaters June 19 • OK for kids 6+ • Reel Preview: 5 of 5 Reels

Coming to theatres, DVD & Blu-Ray releases this month

By Jane Louise Boursaw

Big Game • PG-13 for sequences of intense action and violence, and some language • In theaters June 26 • OK for kids 13+ • Reel Preview: 4 of 5 Reels

Jurassic World • Not yet rated; likely PG-13 • In Theaters June 12 • OK for kids 13+ • Reel Preview: 5 of 5 Reels

In the rugged countryside of Finland, young 13-year-old Oskari embarks on a traditional quest to prove himself by spending 24 hours alone in the wild, armed with only a bow and arrow. After witnessing a spectacular plane crash, he discovers the escape pod from Air Force One, containing the President of the United States (Samuel L. Jackson).

When they realize a group of kidnappers is hot on their trail with the intention of taking the President, this unlikely duo must escape their hunters as they search for the American Special Forces team sent out to find them.

The park is open! Steven Spielberg returns to executive produce the long-awaited next installment of his groundbreaking Jurassic Park series. Set 22 years after the events of the original movie, Isla Nublar, an island located off Central America’s Pacific Coast, now features a fully functioning dinosaur theme park, Jurassic World. The park’s geneticists create a genetically modified hybrid mutant dinosaur, known as Indominus Rex, to boost visitor attendance, and you can guess how well that goes…

Jane’s Reel Rating System

New On DVD and Blu-ray

Spirited Away

Insidious Chapter 3

• PG for some scary moments • On DVD June 16 • OK for kids 7+ • Reel Review: 5 of 5 Reels

• PG-13 for violence, frightening images, some language and thematic elements • In theaters June 5 • OK for kids 14+ • Reel Preview: 3.5 of 5 Reels

This newest chapter in the terrifying horror series is a prequel, set before the haunting of the Lambert family. The movie reveals how gifted psychic Elise Rainier reluctantly agrees to use her ability to contact the dead in order to

Growing up can be a bumpy road, and it’s no exception for Riley, an 11-year-old girl who’s uprooted from her Midwest life when her father starts a new job in San Francisco. Like all of us, Riley is guided by her emotions – Joy (Amy Poehler), Fear (Bill Hader), Anger (Lewis Black), Disgust (Mindy Kaling) and Sadness (Phyllis Smith).

The emotions live in Headquarters, the control center inside Riley’s mind, where they help advise her through everyday life, but of course, chaos ensues.

help a teenage girl who has been targeted by a dangerous supernatural entity.

The Oscar-winning animated fantasy about a young girl who finds herself trapped in a strange new world of spirits. When Chihiro’s parents undergo a mysterious transformation, she must call on the courage she never knew she had to free herself and return her family to the outside

world. This unforgettable, dream-like story features gorgeous animation and a compelling story.

• One Reel – Even The Force can’t save it.

• Two Reels – Coulda been a contender.

• Three Reels – Something to talk about.

• Four Reels – You want the truth? Great flick!

• Five Reels – Wow! The stuff dreams are made of.

Head to baystateparent. com/June Flicks for a full list of movies heading to theatres and DVDs this month.

BAYSTATEPARENT 73

our june favorites monday

sunday Starting on the date the prize appears, log on to baystateparent.com to enter for your chance to win.

7

21

The June solstice is not the beginning of summer — officially.

No world body has designated it as such, but unofficially summer begins at 12:38 p.m.

74 JUNE2015

2 {Fact}

3

9

10

Shed those socks, it’s summer! Those who visit baystateparent.com today will get their chance to enter to win a pair of waterproof, quick-drying children’s sandals from Kamik, a $39.99 value (color and style dependent on availability).

15 16 15{WIN} {Fact}

wednesday

June’s full moon is known as the Strawberry Moon.

8 {WIN}

14

28

1

tuesday

Prevent sunburns on your back and other hardto-reach places with My Cabana Boy. Just snap any full-size can of sunscreen into this personal applicator, push the nozzle on the handle, and protect your skin. Get your chance to bring home this handy appliance by visiting baystateparent.com today.

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23 24 {WIN} 23 Pillow Pets Inspirations’ Prayer Lamb is an 11” folding bedtime pal and nightlight that displays a soothing message across a bedroom ceiling amidst a starry sky. Visit baystateparent.com today for your chance to win this cute bedroom accessory, valued at $29.99

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facts, finds and freebies thursday

44

{WIN}

friday

saturday

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Soap Sox are soft, antimicrobial, and machine-washable friends that make bath time fun. Built-in finger pockets allow for secure scrubbing, while a clever opening for liquid or bar soap makes sudsing up all the easier. Learn how you can win Tank the Shark or Ray the Stingray at baystateparent.com today.

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The average number of guests invited to a wedding is 178.

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25 25{Tip}

Cut garden flowers in the morning or early evening, when the stalks are filled with water. Always use a sharp knife and avoid scissors, which can pinch the water channels of the stalks.

20

Want a different kind of doll for your 3- to 9-year-old? Lottie Dolls are purposefully designed to look and dress like a regular child — a childlike body shape, no make-up, jewelry, or highheels. For your chance to bring home this cute doll and her accessories, visit baystateparent.com today.

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Avoid painful ponytails or knotted hair with EZ Tails, a new hair band that prevents knotting, snagging, or fussing. Just pull hair through the slipknot and pull the bungee to tighten. Enter to win a set today at baystateparent.com.

BAYSTATEPARENT 75

COUNTDOWN TO SUMMER CAMP

Camp Green Eyrie Turns 90

BY MICHELE BENNETT DECOTEAU

C Nor thern Exposure Outfitters

amp Green Eyrie, one of a handful of Girl Scout-owned camps in Massachusetts, is looking to the future as it turns 90 this year. Named in honor of its location high in the woods like an eagle’s nest, the Harvard, Mass.-based camp was built in 1925, merely five years after women earned the right to vote.

“And we are absolutely having an anniversary celebration,” says Elizabeth Gordon, Camp Green Eyrie director. “We are having a two-day celebration in August.”

“The anniversary celebration is

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going to be open to camp alums, supporters, adults as well as current girl Girl Scouts, past staff and past campers,” adds Melanie Bonsu, fund development manager for the Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts. “The event will be Aug. 1-2 and everyone is invited to stay overnight, come just for the day, or even come just for dinner.”

In response to surveys sent to former campers and staff, the celebration will be filled with traditional summer camp activities, including camp-wide events. The

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party is being planned by the Camp Green Eyrie Committee, a 13-member team consisting of two paid staff members, past campers, past staff, and current Girl Scout Board members. Details can be found at gscwm.org.

Parts of the festivities will integrate this summer’s campers and staff as well. “Girl Scouts has a long tradition of Ashes,” Gordon says. “We add the ashes of one campfire to the next to keep the fire circle going. We are going to take ashes from the campfires each week this summer and add them the campfire at the celebration.

They will be mixed with ashes from previous campfires over the history of Camp Green Eyrie.”

Many Girl Scout camps can trace their campfire ashes back through time for decades, and some date all the way back to fires with Girl Scouts founder Juliet Gordon Low. Also on tap are crafts, pictures with campers and staff of different decades, and “singing, lots of singing,” Bonsu says.

Along those lines, staffers are also compiling a songbook of Girl Scout favorites from past decades.

“We will revive some songs that are out of fashion,” Gordon notes.

Other plans include a rededication ceremony for the kitchen, McCleary Lodge, which was recently upgraded, and the chapel.

“We also had a contest among the current Girl Scouts to design a patch for the Camp Anniversary,” Bonsu says.

“I’ve been a camper since I was in second grade,” says Colleen Sullivan, also known by her camp name of Jellybean. “This summer

I am going to be a unit councilor. I love helping the girls and how Girl Scouts has really changed since I started scouting.”

Girl-led has become a key component of Girl Scouting and that is reflected in the planning of the celebration at the end of the summer. “The councilors-intraining, or CITs, are going to plan part of the event,” Gordon notes.

“CITs are transitioning from being a camper to being staff.”

“I was at the 85th anniversary, too,” Sullivan adds. “We put a time capsule in Cove [one of the Green Eyrie campsites]. I remember we had s’mores and big campfire with songs from the past.”

While turning 90 might make some want to rest on their laurels and reflect, Camp Green Eyrie is still changing and evolving. “We are expanding our waterfront area. Right now we have canoeing, kayaking, and swimming. This summer we are adding paddle boarding,” Gordon says.

No matter how much things change at Camp Green Eyrie, the best parts will remain the same, fans say.

“The experience of Girl Scouts and Camp Green Eyrie has really led me to where I am today. It is completely translatable,” says Sullivan, a student at Wellesley College. “It really prepares you, it gives you a voice. You are used to leadership.

Summer camp gives girls the chance to rebuild themselves to be who they want to be in a very safe place. So the girl who might be shy at home can come to camp and be a real leader.”

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A FESTIVAL OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND ROBOTS AT W P I

June 13, 2015 | 10AM – 4PM Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Be part of it.

Discover the undiscovered at the 4th annual TouchTomorrow, a hands-on, family-friendly festival, featuring interactive and out-of-this-world exhibits for all ages by WPI, NASA, WGBH, and friends.

Admission is free and open to the public. Rain or shine.

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Register at www.summerfenn.org or call 978-318-3614 78 JUNE2015

While you're busy at work, your child is busy at Play!

• Family owned and run • Infant thru Kindergarten Programs • EEC Licensed Teachers • The Letter People Curriculum (K) • Lively Letters Curriculum (PK) • Handwriting Without Tears (PS) • Indoor Gym • Sibling Discounts, Military Discounts • Music & Movement, Tumblebus • Mad Science • Hot Lunch Program

Now Enrolling at both locations 325 West Main Street, Northboro, MA (508) 393-0798 348 Main Street (Rte 20), Northboro, MA (508) 393-2100 Hours: 7:00 am to 6:00 pm, 52 weeks a year

www.skribbles.com

NACCRRA/CHILDAWARE & STATE FUNDING ACCEPTED

Starting the week of July 6th through the week of August 17th A.M. Camps: 8:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.

P.M. Camps: 1 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Option for FULL day camp; Choose 1-day or the WHOLE week Dance camps: 3-day Tumbling (5 years and up) Twinkle Star Dance Camps Frozen Camp (3-6 years) 2 weeks of DISNEY Princess Camp (3-6 years) *NEW* Harry Potter Dance Camp (7-12 years) YMCA OF GREATER BOSTON

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Also offering NON-dance camps: Lego (5-12 years) Arts and Crafts (4-6 years and 7-12 years) Scrapbooking (6-14 years) American Girl Doll (5-10 years) Cooking (5-12 years) • Pirate (4-9 years)

As LOW as

$99 a week !

Call NOW to register for the camp of your choice

Central Mass Dance Academy 65 Water St., - REAR, Worcester MA 01604 508-754-2700• cmdanceacademy.com

YMCA DAY AND OVERNIGHT CAMPS

ymcaboston.org/camps BAYSTATEPARENT 79

COUNTDOWN TO SUMMER CAMP

Summer Camps

Party - Kids

Dance, Gym & Enrichment

Party - Kids

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the Storyteller

Also offering Kids’ Nite Out

Stardust Gym offers a variety of children’s activities including: Gymnastics, Toddler Classes and Open Gyms (up to age 12) Visit us online for more information.

Storytelling fun for Birthday Parties, Schools, Daycare Centers, Library Programs, Special Events and TV Featuring: • Original & Classic Stories • Puppets, Props and Surprises

612 Plymouth St., Rte. 106 ★ East Bridgewater 508-378-2223 ★ www.STARDUSTGYM.com

For Bookings and Info Call: 617-713-4349 E-mail: BigJoe@BigJoe.com Visit me on the web at: www.BigJoe.com

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Visit us online for more information.

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144 Shrewsbury St. Boylston (Rt. 140) (800)796-1001 www.mikesmoonwalkrentals.com

www.rosalitaspuppets.com 617-633-2832

Party - Kids To advertise contact

Regina Stillings New Flavors Daily • Fresh Fruit Made from Scratch Gluten Free Every Saturday Parties • Weddings • Showers 80 JUNE2015

238 Millbury Ave., Millbury, MA

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at 508-865-7070 ext. 210 or

regina@baystateparent.com

INDEX

B.A.W. Inc................................................................... 66 Backyard Adventures................................................... 41 Bancroft School........................................................... 83 Battleship Cove............................................................ 48 Beacon ABA Services.................................................... 31 Big Y Foods, Inc........................................................... 55 F3............................................................................... 39 Boston Children’s Theatre............................................. 41 Breezy Picnic Grounds................................................. 37 Central MA Dance Academy......................................... 79 ChicMed Laser & Esthetic Center................................... 56 Children’s Development Network, Inc........................... .6 City of Leominster....................................................... 58 Cornerstone Academy....................................................3 Davis Farmland........................................................2,21 Discovery Museums..................................................... 26 Ecotarium...............................................................13,44 Fay School................................................................... 79 Fidelity Investments..................................................... 54 Fletcher Tilton PC......................................................... 30 FMC Ice Sports............................................................. 17 Great Wolf New England.............................................. 69 Greater Quincy Child Care............................................ ..9 Gymnastics Learning Center......................................... 14 The Hanover Theatre................................................... 49 Harrington Oil............................................................. 53 Harvard Grad School of Education................................ 52 Heywood Hospital........................................................ 34 Incrediflix................................................................... 78 Johnny Appleseed Trail Association............................... 27 Karen Moriarty Photography....................................... 16 Karla M Talanian......................................................... 63 Kathy Corrigan’s Full Day Care Center.......................... 77 Lanni Orchards............................................................ 58 Laser Craze................................................................. 24 Legoland Discovery Center Boston................................ 75 Linx Camps................................................................. 77 Lowell Summer Music.................................................. 37 Mall At Whitney Field................................................... 26 Marchand Financial, LLC.............................................. 51 Marini Farm................................................................ 61

McDonald’s Corporation............................................... 67 Mickey Travels, LLC...................................................... 50 Millbury Federal Credit Union...................................... 53 Music Together Corporation.......................................... 65 NE Outfitters Inc.......................................................... 76 New Horizon Karate & More........................................ 66 Next Generation Children’s Ctr..................................... ..5 Nichols College............................................................ 52 Oak Meadow............................................................... 68 Old Sturbridge Village.............................................22,23 Pardes........................................................................ 72 Pawtucket Red Sox...................................................... 44 Pine Acres Family Camping Resort................................ 37 Project Shine............................................................... ..9 Reconnect Study.......................................................... 68 Red Jacket Resorts...................................................... 47 Reliant Medical Group................................................. 33 Reliant Ready Med...................................................... 31 Rob Roy Coiffures........................................................ 56 Shawna Shenette Photography..................................... 29 Shrewsbury Children’s Center....................................... 16 Signarama Worcester................................................... 81 Skribbles Learning Center............................................ 78 Smuggler’s Notch Resort.............................................. 50 Spa Tech Institute........................................................ ..4 Springfield Museums Corp............................................ 15 Summer Fenn/The Fenn School.................................... 78 The Children’s Workshop.............................................. 32 The Learning Zone....................................................... 63 Turn 4 Hobbies............................................................ 20 UMass Memorial Medical Center.........................21,32,84 Wachusett Mountain.................................................... 29 Wachusett Theatre Company........................................ 11 Wheelock College Theatre............................................ 66 Wheels In Motion......................................................... 41 Worcester Art Museum................................................. 25 WPI............................................................................. 77 Yarmouth Chamber of Commerce................................. 47 YMCA Central Branch................................................... 71 YMCA Greater Boston.................................................. 79

Don't Let a Missing Sign Sour Your Deal

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508.829.5981 508.829.5981 ext ext 450 450BAYSTATEPARENT 81 in partnership with in partnership with

TAKE EIGHT

with Matt Light When Matt Light retired from his position as offensive tackle with the New England Patriots in 2012, he didn’t take his three Super Bowl rings and fade into what could have easily been a sweet and easy post-NFL life. Instead, this father of four devoted himself full-time to his family and to helping youth via the 14-year-old Light Foundation (mattlight72.com).

1 2 3 4 5 82 JUNE2015

How is The Light Foundation impacting youth? There are many different ways but we have found that when you spend time with young people and SHOW them how to be REAL — Responsible, Ethical, Accountable and ultimately [a] Leader — they respond really well.

That’s all it takes, just spend time with them.

What do you think kids need most today to become successful adults? Kids today need a lot to be successful, the good news is they have plenty of resources and tons of info readily available to help them. The bad news is that there are far more negative influencers than positive. They tend to take the easy road instead of the path that requires hard work and determination. Ultimately, they need parents and family and friends to push them towards a life that includes taking risks and stepping out of the comfort zone. They need to compete for everything they want and not settle for the easy road.

Your foundation specifically aims to provide youth with “unique outdoor learning experiences.” Tell us about some.

We celebrate all the great things that make us wild by using the real wild as our classroom. It’s not always easy, lots of mosquitos and mud.

But it’s REAL. We run the trails for a workout and shoot 3D archery and play paintball. We make ancient arapuca traps to catch animals and fashion Atlatls from materials in the woods. We teach the kids how to be responsible and knowledgeable around firearms, something that isn’t to be feared but handled with a great amount of respect.

Swimming in a creek or pond for the first time will tell you a lot about yourself!

Who is/was a role model in your life?

My role models have always been my family. They are all so unique and talented. They pushed me my entire life. My mom is an amazing lady and worked in the school system all her life. My dad is a Renaissance man and one of the brightest persons alive today.

I’ve got family members who all contribute to our foundation in big ways and work with the kids as though they were their own. .

We think parents should encourage one another. Have you had any recent parenting wins? I’m very fortunate in that my wife is completely involved in all aspects of raising our kids. There are trade offs for parents in today’s world. I’m always on the go and in a lot of families both parents are working. So to have a wife like Susie means that our children can all benefit. We believe in tough love.

We don’t sugar coat life, but at the same time we let them know that feelings are real and should be shared. It all comes down to looking at your family with the same set of eyes you would your business or your “things.” It takes constant preventative maintenance and crisis planning. It’s not easy and we make a lot of mistakes, but that’s how families work.

If you had a day free to do anything, what would you do? On a free day I would be out with my kids hunting or fishing or just enjoying the outdoors.

Do any of your kids show any promise as a future football player? I don’t know what the future holds for my kids with respect to sports. At this time, all four are interested in about anything but sports. I didn’t grow up watching a single sport. My first time seeing a college or professional sport came while playing for the team, so my kids probably get that from me. They are very active and enjoy riding dirt bikes and horses and being kids.

What do you miss most about playing football? I miss some of the exciting aspects of football that you don’t find in the real world. It’s a fast-paced life and there are a ton of unique personalities. It’s hard to find people in the business world who are as committed and able to work as hard as my former coaches and teammates.

6 7 8

Head to baystateparent.com/ Matt Light for extra questions and unabridged answers, including his reaction to the Patriots’ latest Super Bowl win and how being a professional football player impacted his skills as a dad.

BAYSTATEPARENT 83

I want choice I want convenience I want compassion I want the best technology I want world-class care

I WANT IT ALL At UMass Memorial Health Care, you’ll find hundreds of caring, compassionate and skilled adult and pediatric primary care physicians across Central Massachusetts.

And because our doctors are part of the region’s premier health care system, access to a wide range of specialty care and our nationally recognized academic medical center is only a referral away.

To find a UMass Memorial primary care physician near you, call 855-UMASS-MD (855-862-7763).

Clinton Hospital | HealthAlliance Hospital | Marlborough Hospital | UMass Memorial Medical Center

84 JUNE2015