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baystateparent FREE

Massachusetts’ Premier Magazine For Families Since 1996

AUGUST 2016

E S A O E OOL T YS -SCH A 6 W K-T0 C BA ESS STR ET G TO ILD W NH E O C T H R GAR U YO DER KIN DY LE B I REA RED F C IN S O UD E T O H I L T EF G A DS N E B IN R KI D A RE OLDE TO

.. . t e S , y ! d L a Re OO

H C S

R E T S E C R M O U E W S U M ART

Summer FUN at WAM! 2 AUGUST2016

Family Tours and Make Art Art Carts Arms and Armor Demos

A plac e for famili es!

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Learn more at worcesterart.org

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4 AUGUST2016

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table of contents AUGUST 2016 VOLUME 21

August is an odd month for moms: one eye on the beach and another on the calendar, brains buzzing with the myriad changes, transitions,

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and to-dos associated with the start of another school year. So whether your children head back to school this month or right after the calendar page turns to September, we’ve got practical advice on everything from reading

and homework to health and nutrition so your family can start the school year off right.

while making

9 10 18

the august issue

Red Sox ownership has worked hard to promote venerable Fenway Park as a family-friendly destination.

The addition of a private nursing sweet is certainly another step in that direction and great news for moms.

Turn to page 12 to check out how women can nurse or pump privately at the ballpark, as well as what accommodations other popular Massachusetts sporting destinations offer.

3.

— Melissa Shaw, editor in chief

in every issue

things we learned

2.

Melissa

Parents stop reading to kids generally around the time said children can read themselves. But literacy experts say that bonding and reading time shouldn’t stop just because children can read to themselves. Starting on page 40, discover the many unexpected benefits of reading to tweens and teens.

Ask any working mother and she’ll tell you the term “work-life balance” is not entirely realistic. On page 62, check out the results of a survey of working mothers and 5 tips on how to achieve a better-termed “work-life harmony.”

owner and publisher KIRK DAVIS associate publisher KATHY REAL kreal@baystateparent.com

MEET OUR CONTRIBUTORS BSP ONLINE OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO: August Calendar Of Family Events

65

ASK THE EXPERT: How to Treat ‘Super Lice’

66

OUR AUGUST FAVORITES: FACTS, FINDS & FREEBIES

70

TAKE 8: Food Network Star, Chef, and Author Giada De Laurentiis

Features 12

Fenway: Friendly For Nursing Moms

60

The Critical Reason Why Girls Need to Get Outside and Get Gutsy

62

5 Ways Working Moms Can Find Work-Life Harmony

multimedia editor MONICA HAMILTON monica@baystateparent.com ADVERTISING

director of sales REGINA STILLINGS 508-865-7070 ext. 210 editor in chief regina@baystateparent.com MELISSA SHAW editor@baystateparent.com account executives creative director KATHY PUFFER PAULA MONETTE ETHIER 508-865-7070 ext. 211 pethier@holdenlandmark.com kathy@baystateparent.com senior graphic designer SHAUNA WHARTON STEPHANIE MALLARD 508-963-7154 design@baystateparent.com shauna@baystateparent.com CREATIVE

22 West Street, Millbury, MA 01527 • 508-865-7070

BAYSTATEPARENT 7

Ready, Set…School!

32

Getting Your Child KindergartenReady: 4 Tips for Parents

50

The Best Way Parents Can Set Kids Up for Homework Success

33

6 Ways To Ease Back-to-School Stress

53

34 38 40

Fashion: Reading Rocks

Massachusetts Supreme Court rules against Common Core Ballot Question

54

Cambridge Tackles Student Hunger One Backpack At a Time

56

Back to School & Co-Parenting Relationships

57

Start the School Year Off Right With a Dear Teacher Letter

58

DIY: Easy Bookmarks Starring Your Reader

46 48

The Best Back-to-School Book Picks Don’t Overlook the Incredible Benefits of Reading To Your Tween or Teen Judy Moody Marches On Simple Ways To Carve Out Reading Time for Kids

Ripe 14 16

New Year, New Lunch: Fun, Healthy Ideas for School Lunches Bites: New app for food allergy families; report names America’s best fast-food restaurant; protect drinks on the go; try a refreshing summer salad; and more.

This month’s cover model: Giuliana, age 9.

Photography by Shawna Shenette Photography Hair by Rob Roy Hair Salons

SORE THROATS,

SNIFFLES...

AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN

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5/16/2016 11:29:16 AM

AUGUST CONTRIBUTORS Michele Bennett Decoteau is a writer and mom to a tween and a teen in central New England. In addition to writing on science, nature, and parenting topics, she is a hiker and beekeeper. You can find her at MicheleDecoteau.com or @MBDecoteau.

Deborah A. Dixon, M.A. CCC-SLP, is director of School Services for the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. She provides resources, technical assistance and contemporary information to school-based speechlanguage pathologists. baystateparent Creative Director Paula Monette Ethier has been with us since Issue #1 (May 1996) and is responsible for our award-winning design and covers. A veteran crafter and DIY enthusiast, Paula enjoys creating projects that are simple, practical, and inexpensive!

Jennifer Sheehy Everett is a writer, PR consultant, and mother to a busy toddler who’s pretty certain he runs the show at her and husband John’s home in Melrose. She enjoys music and performing, dance, golf, travel, the pursuit of tasty food and wine, and time with cherished family and good friends.

Kristin Guay lives in Cape Cod with her husband, two daughters, and beloved black lab. A former middle school language arts teacher, she enjoys projects that foster a love of reading and writing in young children and teens. She is currently expanding her horizons with writing projects and voracious reading, and can be reached at kristinannguay@aol.com. She offers daily helpful suggestions on literacy, books, and educational issues on her blog: kristinannguay.weebly.com.

Janine Halloran is founder and CEO of copingskillsforkids.com, where she provides products and resources for parents to help their kids cope with stressful situations in healthy ways. She is also the author of the s Workbook, which offers more than 75 coping strategies to help kids deal with stress, anxiety and anger.

Massachusetts mom Leslie Reichert is known as the Green Cleaning Coach and is aiming to change the world — “one spray bottle at a time.” A national lecturer and author of The Joy Of Green Cleaning, you can find her at greencleaningcoach.com, on Facebook (GreenCleaningCoach), Twitter (@GreenCleanCoach), and Pinterest (cleaningcoach).

Marshal D. Haneisen is a freelance journalist, writer, and creative writing instructor. She lives in Fitchburg with her husband, son, and a variety of pets. Her son has a dual-diagnosis of Down syndrome and autism, and her experience as a parent of a child with special needs inspires some of her writing for various publications, as well as for her blog, thespecialneedsfiles.com.

Information about Marshal’s writing and workshops can be found marshaldhaneisen.com.

Greg Sukiennik is a freelance writer, Massachusetts native and long-time resident, currently based in Connecticut. He previously worked for ESPN.com, The Associated Press in Boston, and The Berkshire Eagle in Pittsfield.

Doug Page is a Medfield father of two whose newspaper career started in high school. He’s written stories, sold ads, and delivered newspapers during the morning’s wee hours. He’s covered stories as shocking as the crash of Delta flight 191 in Dallas many years ago to the recent controversy involving Common Core and standardized testing in Massachusetts.

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 can be heard weekends on WRKO in Boston (AM 680), WTAG in Worcester (AM 580/94.9 FM), WXTK on the Cape (95.1 FM), and WHYN in Springfield (AM 560).

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bsp ONLiNE

A

h August. Summer is winding down and our thoughts are turning from the lazy, hazy days of summer to the hustle and bustle of back to school. While the kids are wrapping up their summer reading lists, be sure to check out our stories about simple ways to carve out reading time, why bedtime reading is important for both kids and parents, and our back-to-school book roundup.

And you can always find the latest parenting news, contests, and giveaways — and me — at baystateparent.com, Facebook (baystateparent), Twitter (@baystateparent), and Instagram (baystateparent).

They Got It! Shrewsbury reader Amanda and her family, at left, enjoyed their trip to see the Cirque du Soleil KURIOS show in Boston; Carolyn from Worcester enjoyed the Green River Festival; and families from Sharon, Shrewsbury, Arlington, Leicester, and Uxbridge are going to enjoy a day at the ballpark with the PawSox this summer. Make sure you visit baystateparent.com frequently to stay on top of the latest giveaways and contests.

Congrats to our winners!

Congratulations to Dave of Sharon and and Sandi of Clinton, winners of last month’s newsletter-subscriber-only giveaways! We are adding more contests and giveaways just for our Facebook and newsletter followers, so make sure you subscribe to our newsletter at baystateparent.com/newsletter/ and Like us on Facebook (facebook.com/baystateparent) to stay on top of the latest chances to win.

Win an Edaville USA family four pack!

All aboard! The former Edaville Railroad isn’t just for train lovers anymore.

The park now features ferris wheels, carousels, bumper cars, Thomas Land, and more, and we have family four packs of tickets to give away! Email win@ baystateparent.com with the subject line Edaville by August 22 for your chance to win, and be sure to include your mailing address in your entry.

Good luck!

-- Monica Hamilton, Multimedia Editor 10 AUGUST2016

Thank You baystateparent Readers for Voting Us the Best Veterinary Clinic!

We are a full service clinic with a professional and loving staff

• We offer puppy and kitten wellness, senior wellness and small pocket pets wellness • Surgeries including spay, neuter and soft tissue and orthopedic procedures • We follow the AAHA certified Anesthesia and Patient monitoring guidelines • Dentals, dental procedures and digital dental xrays • A fully functioning in house lab and we work with a world leading diagnostic animal laboratory • Offering a wide range of pain control options including acupuncture and reiki • Fear free certified veterinary technician on staff

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Top photo courtesy Mamava; bottom photo by Greg Sukiennik

Fenway Friendly for Nursing Moms

BY GREG SUKIENNIK

Thanks to a recent addition to Fenway Park, Maggie Slaving of North Adams didn’t have to wait long in life to see her first-ever Boston Red Sox game in person.

Maggie was just two-and-a-half months old when she traveled to Fenway in June with her mother Melinda Slaving (at right) and her grandfather, Dennis Sheehan of North Chelmsford. The Baltimore Orioles were in town for the first game of a big three-game series, and a wide-eyed Maggie happily took in the sights and sounds, even if she had no idea what all the fuss was about.

But when she got hungry at the ballpark, Maggie wasn’t looking for standard ballpark fare like Italian sausage with onions and peppers, a Fenway Frank, or chicken tenders and fries. She wanted the only food she’s ever known — her mother’s milk.

And that’s where a relatively new addition to Fenway came in handy: a Mamava lactation suite, a standalone pod where mothers can breastfeed their children, or pump milk for later, in privacy and without interruption. It’s been in place since last season as part of the team’s efforts to improve the fan experience for children and families, Red Sox spokesman Zineb Curran said.

When the time came to search out the Mamava suite, Fenway’s fan ambassadors and staff at the fan service desk referred Melinda and Maggie to the Kid Nation Clubhouse 12 AUGUST2016

area near Gate B, down the first base line (near Grandstand Section 5, on the Van Ness Street side of the park, if you’re scoring at home). Following an inquiry at the service desk, a fan ambassador, key in hand, gladly led mother and daughter to the suite — a white molded plastic pod, about 4 feet wide by a little more than 8 feet tall, tucked away against a wall.

(It’s worth pointing out that all of the Red Sox employees Slaving approached with a question were friendly and helpful — and none knew a writer was following her and her daughter for the purposes of this story.)

A turn of the key, and the employee checked inside to make sure everything was clean and orderly before welcoming Melinda and Maggie to their nursing time. The door deadbolts from the inside, and an indicator on the outside clearly shows whether it’s vacant or occupied.

“It’s clean, and I’m glad that they checked,” Slaving said after the door closed and locked behind her and she prepared to nurse her daughter.

This was Maggie’s second feeding at the ballpark — we’ll get to the first one in a bit — and she was plenty hungry.

In a less-hectic location, such as the concourse of an airport terminal or an office building, it may be quieter inside the suite. But this is 104-year-old Fenway Park during a game. “It vibrates,” Slaving noted when a cheer erupted from the Fenway faithful. But, it’s worth not-

ing that the crowd served as an audio cue to check the television mounted on the wall, so Melinda didn’t miss Sox Center Fielder Jackie Bradley Jr.’s 10th home run of the season.

Still, the environment gave Melinda the privacy and calm she needed to sit down, make herself at home, arrange her gear on the foldout table in front of her and position Maggie for a good latch — critical for a positive breastfeeding experience for mother and child.

For Slaving, a relatively new mom making her first Fenway visit as well, the experience was positive. She was happy to learn that a big day out with her daughter was possible, with some planning ahead, and that there were options for feeding Maggie that didn’t involve nursing in the car.

Form follows function Inside the lactation suite there are facing bench seats, a fold-down table that can accommodate a nursing bag or pump, and an electrical outlet. The surfaces are made of white fiberglass and Corian, so they can

be easily cleaned and sanitized, and the interior is decorated with leafy green wallpaper. It’s like a comfy closet where a mother and child, and her partner, can share a nurturing moment without interruption.

Mamava (mamava.com), a Burlington, Vt.-based company founded by women, has installed about 100 of its lactation suites in stadiums, airports, colleges, convention centers, workplaces, and locations where mothers need a clean, comfortable space in which to nurse or pump. And if you’re on the go and need to find one near you? There’s an app for that — the Mamava Lactation Suite Locator, available free at Apple’s App Store.

Mamava can be found in five other stadiums in addition to Fenway – Miller Park (Milwaukee Brewers), Citi Field (New York Mets), Levi’s Stadium (San Francisco 49ers), Red Bull Arena (New York Red Bulls), and U.S. Bank Stadium (Minnesota

Vikings, opening this fall). The company is pursuing arrangements with five other teams, officials said.

Curran said the Red Sox, in focusing on improving the experience for children and families, designated three nursing areas and acquired the Mamava suite last year, at the same time the Wally’s Clubhouse and Kids Concourse activity areas were established.

“Space is at a premium at Fenway Park, so the Mamava was a great option for us to provide a nursing area for moms in our kids’ area where there was no available space that could be converted to a nursing station,” Curran said. “So far, the feedback from fans has been positive.”

What’s the score on other sports venues in greater Boston?

At TD Garden, the venue shared by the Boston Bruins and Boston Celtics, spokeswoman Courtney Mercier said the arena works with parents who require nursing assistance on an as-needed basis, with plans for a more permanent space being considered.

“Guests who are nursing mothers are directed to visit TD Garden’s Guest Relations, located on the main concourse, outside of Loge Section 4. A guest relations associate will

work with the guest to make sure accommodations are made to meet the guests’ need,” Mercier said. “We are currently exploring options for a more permanent space for nursing mothers, among other guest services.”

Gillette Stadium, home of the New England Patriots and the New England Revolution, has a private room inside the midfield first aid station, on the West 100-level concourse, for moms who need to nurse or pump. It has three privacy pods with chairs, power outlets, side tables, and supplies. (Those bringing breast pumps are advised to contact the stadium before attending.)

Plenty of moms breastfeed their children in public, and Mamava CEO Sascha Mayer said she and her company fully support that choice.

But it is a personal choice, and as Mayer explains, a baseball game can be a noisy, hectic place for mother and child to have a positive nursing experience.

“While we fully celebrate breastfeeding in public, we are empathetic to the reality that an environment as busy and chaotic as a sports arena is not always conducive to a good feeding session,” Mayer added.

“It’s harder for moms to relax, and babies can be too distracted to get a good latch. We provide our pods so that moms can rest assured there’s a great space for them to feed or to pump, and never second-guess

her opportunity to treat herself to a game night or worry about the return to work and how she’ll keep up her milk supply.”

Mayer and her colleagues at Mamava knew what that experience was all about first-hand, having sought space and privacy to pump breast milk at trade shows, airports, corporate retreats, and even the back seat of a client’s car. She and co-founder Christine Dodson launched Mamava out of the graphic design studio where they worked in Burlington.

“We know from experience, and from speaking with hundreds of moms, that pumping and breastfeeding at games is incredibly difficult,” Mayer said. “Moms who wish — and deserve — to take a night out and watch their favorite team deserve a dignified space to pump, as do moms who are working at stadiums and arenas and need to pump on the job.”

While some venues offer bona-fide nursing rooms — Mayer cited the Cincinnati Reds’ Great American Ballpark as a strong example — at other venues, it’s located in a family bathroom.

There are three nursing areas at Fenway, including a family bathroom doubling for that use near Section 19 — not far from behind home plate. It, too, was exceptionally clean, and has a chair for nursing along with changing tables and

bathroom fixtures. Slaving brought her daughter there for the first feeding, in the second inning, as it was closest to her seats. (The third is on Level 5 of Fenway, behind the State Street Pavilion box.)

While the nursing chair is positioned adjacent to the toilet (if there’s something Slaving would change, that was it), the bathroom was clean. And the chair had what the benches in the Mamava suite lack — arms, where a nursing mother can rest her elbows. What’s more, there are some advantages to being in a space with a sink, paper towels, and a changing table, depending on your particular needs.

Underscoring the need for nursing facilities at sporting events, there was another mom waiting with her baby outside the Mamava pod while Maggie nursed — Jennifer Hall of San Diego, and her 9-month-old daughter, Adrienne.

Hall checked the Mamava website while traveling — she used one at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport — and knew before she got to Fenway that there would be accommodations for her and her daughter when she arrived at the park.

“I’ve been pretty lucky,” Hall said of finding places to nurse her daughter on the go. “I wouldn’t let it stop me, but it’s nice to know there are options. I’ve found more options than I knew were available.”

The doctors, midwife and staff extend a heartfelt “Thank You” to the readers of baystateparent Magazine for voting us 2016 Best OB/Gyn Practice!

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NEW YEAR, NEW LUNCH

Fun, healthy ideas for school lunches

Photos at left courtesy ChopChop Kids

BY MARSHAL D. HANEISEN

B

Photo courtesy Bentology

ack to school means back to packing lunch for most families, but a few tips and tricks can make the chore easier and healthier this fall.

Parents who want to strive for a healthier lunch should aim for a mix of vegetables, protein, and fruit, and make it at home from real — not pro-

14 AUGUST2016

cessed — food, says Sally Sampson, president and founder of ChopChop Kids, the Belmont-based nonprofit that publishes ChopChop, The Fun Cooking Magazine for Families.

While lunch-making time can be in short supply for many, Sampson believes planning, preparing, and packing a healthy lunch can be made easier with just a few tricks.

She recommends setting aside time on the weekend to pre-pack snacks for the week, and purchasing ingredients, such as vegetables and legumes, which can be used in mix-and-match recipes to create salads, sandwiches, and grain bowls (a whatever-you-enjoy mix of grains, protein, and vegetables in one container).

ChopChop features a variety of recipes for nutritious and delicious meals designed to appeal to families. Roasted chickpeas, homemade energy bars, deviled eggs, and Greek salad kebabs are just a few of the many healthy recipes on its website. Sampson suggests the Rainbow Sandwich, Corn and Basil Frittata, and Fattoush (all pictured

above) as tasty recipes that can pack well (recipes can be found via a quick search at chopchopmag. org).

More inspiration can be found at holleygranger.com, where nationally recognized nutritionist and health expert Holley Granger provides photos and descriptions for 125+ healthy lunches for kids. The colorful collections of fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy grains are wonderful for a parent’s lunchbox, too.

Worried your kids won’t like a healthier lunch? Tufts University program ChildObesity180 (childobesity180.org), designed to reverse the youth health epidemic, conducted a study asking kids if they would accept fruit and veggies instead of fries. The majority said “Yes.” Its website, YoureTheMom.org, offers tips for simple changes that can help children eat healthier, such as the Kids Reward Program. The program features a free, downloadable, printable PDF of tokens (fresh fruits, vegetables, water, and milk) children earn with each healthy food

choice. Parents can establish fun rewards a child can earn after receiving five tokens.

Put the kids to work One way to ensure a child looks forward to a healthy lunch is to get them involved in packing it.

Sampson believes kids should help pack their own lunch, and the way they get involved can change as they grow.

“To get started, they can help measure ingredients, spread dips and dressings on sandwiches, add ingredients to lunch recipes, or peel fruits and vegetables,” she said. “Older kids can cut up ingredients, like fresh vegetables and fruits.”

Sampson also recommends bringing kids to the grocery store and encouraging them to select items from the produce section. This provides opportunities to learn responsibility, prompts them to try new foods, and helps them take ownership of their lunch.

An upgrade from a plain old paper bag, via a quality food storage solu-

tion, can also make lunchtime more fun and ensure hot foods stay hot and cold foods stay cold. For the latter, one option is the PackIt lunch bag, which folds flat and is kept in the freezer. PackIts can be found at many big box stores and online.

Vacuum thermos bottles and bowls can be used for for soups, pasta, and other warm foods. Read the manufacturer’s instructions and be sure to follow any recommendations for pre-warming or pre-chilling the container.

The Rubbermaid LunchBlox Kit (rubbermaid.com) is available at major retail and grocery stores and includes several containers with lids that stack together with a freezable ice pack.

Fit&Fresh (fit-fresh.com) offers a variety of lunch containers with slim freezable ice packs that insert into the leak-proof lids. Schools and organizations can also fundraise for their programs and raise awareness about healthy eating with the Fit-Fresh Fundraising program.

Several small containers packed into a lunch bag can be cumbersome at mealtime, especially for younger children. A Bento box features containers divided into sections so a variety of foods can be packed neatly into one larger container.

Bentology (pictured on previous page, bentology.com) lunch box sets are designed with an outer case that

holds the smaller containers. Some of the containers have lids so they can be filled with different foods without leaking or spilling.

LunchBots (lunchbots.com) and ECOlunchbox (ecolunchboxes.com) are BPA-free, stainless steel containers. Bento boxes and accessories are available in a variety of sizes and styles.

The OmieBox (omielife.com) is an all-in-one lunch kit to pack hot and cold foods in the same box. The vacuum-insulated bowl keeps foods hot, while insulated side compartments keep fruits, vegetables, cheese, hard boiled eggs, and other cold foods cool.

Another option is DIY — creating your own divided containers using silicone muffin cup liners. Pack foods tightly into a larger container and be sure to consider if the lunch bag or lunchbox being tipped or shaken will cause the contents to spill from the divided cups.

Purchasing or making a collection of cloth napkins to be used with packed lunches can be a colorful, environmentally friendly addition.

Metal utensils and reusable drink containers will also create less waste.

Finally, establish a daily routine of emptying lunch boxes after school and work so containers are cleaned and foods are not allowed to spoil in packed bags.

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It was SWEET of you to vote us BEST BAKERY! Gerardo’s Italian Bakery 339 W Boylston St. West Boylston 508-853-3434 Gerardo’s European Bakery 232 Turnpike Rd. Westborough 508-366-1845 Gerardo’s Italian Bakery 125 Still River Rd. Bolton 978-779-5200 Coming Soon - Our new location Gerardo’s Cupcakes and More Quinsigamond Plaza, Shrewsbury

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A Nutty New Snack To Go New snack packs from Justin’s can send kids back to school (or parents to work) with a portable, easy way to enjoy the company’s famous nut butters. Justin’s Snack Packs come in three varieties: Chocolate Hazelnut Butter and Pretzels; Classic Almond Butter and Pretzels; and Maple Almond Butter and Pretzels.

Snack packs retail for $1.99 and can be found on local grocery store shelves and online (justins.com).

Bites Protect Drinks on the Go With Great Coaster Uneven sand at the beach or ground at a picnic can quickly result in an empty drink. With its wide base and three prongs, Great Coaster can balance safely on or dig into unstable ground, providing a snug, safe, level surface for your can, bottle, water bottle, or juice box. Not thirsty? The coaster’s well can also house snacks, keeping them within arm’s reach and off the ground. Available at Amazon, Great Coaster comes in a variety of colors and retails at $12 for a set of six.

Report Names America’s Best Fast-Food Restaurant The annual American Customer Satisfaction Index Restaurant Report is out, with Chick-fil-A retaining the top spot as the country’s favorite fastfood restaurant, scoring 87 points out of 100. Pizza chain Papa John’s came in a distant second with 82 points.

Other chains in the Top 10 include: • Little Caesars Pizza, 81 • Panera Bread, 81 • Arby’s, 80 • Dunkin’ Donuts, 80 • Subway, 80 • Chipotle Mexican Grill, 78 The chain scoring the lowest? McDonalds, with 69 points. The survey was based on responses from 4,700 diners polled nationwide in March.

The entire report can be viewed at theacsi.org.

How to Manage the Dog Days of Summer Shedding

BY LESLIE REICHERT

16 AUGUST2016

Who doesn’t love the warm, beautiful weather in the middle of summer? We love wearing our sleeveless shirts, shorts, and sandals. But how would you like to be enjoying this weather while wearing a fur coat? Dogs have two different coats of fur. The top coat protects the dog from dirt and water, while the undercoat insulates them. But no one – even your dog – wants to be wearing an insulated coat on a hot day. A dog’s body realizes that it doesn’t need that extra fur and the dog starts shedding. It’s amazing how much fur just seems to fall out. Here are some tips to help you battle the buildup of fur in your home.

you need to vacuum much more often. Use a canister vacuum with a soft horsehair brush for hardwood floors.

For carpets, you need a very aggressive power brush to pick up all the hair.

Vacuum more often – Once a week in the wintertime may be enough to keep their fur under control, but in the summertime

Use a lint roller – Pet fur can get into places that make it really hard to remove. Use a lint roller on those areas and

Try the “rubber glove trick” – It’s very difficult to get pet hair off carpeted stairs – unless you use the rubber glove trick. Take a rubber glove (one you would usually use for washing dishes) and while wearing it, rub it over any fur on the stairs. The glove will create static electricity and pull fur off the carpet.

This trick also works for runners and small carpets around your home.

you will be amazed at how easily it comes off. You can use the lint roller on lamp shades and furniture so you don’t damage those items.

No more “sticky” fur – Sometimes it seems the dog hair is glued to the fabric of your favorite chair. Actually it is stuck on with static. You can reverse this by spraying a little fabric softener to the chair and then wiping with a damp microfiber cloth.

Quick fix – Having company and you need to get hair off the furniture? Make your own version of a dryer sheet by using a coffee filter and lightly spraying it with olive oil. Work the oil into the paper of the filter – it won’t leave an oil spot on the fabric – then wipe the fur off with the treated coffee filter.

Corn Maze

A New App For Food Allergy Families

at Marini Farms Opening September 10th!

A new app has been released to help parents better manage the care of food-allergic children. Via AllerPal (allerpal.net), parents can easily enter information from the care plan created by their child’s pediatrician or allergist, and send it to any caregivers in their child’s life, including babysitters, coaches, neighbors, family, and friends. Caregivers receive an email notification, download the app, and can access the shared plans, meaning the child’s information is always on a caregiver’s phone and is only a click away.

AllerPal is available in the Apple App Store and on Google Play.

Parents can download the app free and create a food allergy care plan for their children. Parents can upgrade for $5.99, which allows them to share their children’s plans with as many caregivers as they like. The app is free for caregivers to download and access.

Doggy Maze Daze Fundraiser

Sept. 10th & 11th• 10 am-6 pm

Four Legged Friends FREE!

Try a Refreshing New Summer Salad

• New bakery • Farm animals • Book parties • Fully stocked farmstand • Field trips grown on the farm • Campfire parties Flashlight Nights: Sept 23rd • Pumpkin Chunkin: October 8th Trick or Treat hayrides: Oct 22nd, Rain date: Oct 23

Ipswich MA • 978-238-9386 • www.marinifarm.com marinifarmcornmaze@yahoo.com

CHOCOLATES · FUDGE · GIFTS · and more...

The Mason jar mavens at reCAP (recapmasonjars.com) share this fresh seasonal salad recipe: Summertime Happiness Salad featuring Grapefruit Ginger Dressing.

Grapefruit Ginger Dressing Ingredients: 1/4 cup light oil (sunflower, canola, or olive) Juice from 1/2 ruby red grapefruit, freshly squeezed 1/2 tsp. salt 1/8 tsp. black pepper 1/2 to 1 tsp. minced fresh ginger 1 tsp. honey Directions: Into a half-pint Mason jar, add all ingredients except for the grapefruit juice. Squeeze most of the juice from the half grapefruit through a sieve into the jar.

Screw on The Original reCAP Mason Jars pour cap – shake vigorously for a couple minutes or until well incorporated. Serve as a salad dressing or use as a marinade for fish, chicken, beef, or vegetables.

Summertime Happiness Salad On a bed of baby spinach (or your choice of fresh greens), add sliced strawberries; sunflower seeds or thinly sliced roasted almonds; thinly sliced shallot (optional); and feta cheese or small dollops of goat cheese. Shake, pour on Grapefruit Ginger dressing, and enjoy.

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BAYSTATEPARENT 17

Congratulations! Today is your day. You’re off to Great Places! You’re off and away! - dr. seuss

Photo courtesy The Discovery Museums

OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO

GO CREATE Families @ WAM Make Art, Worcester Art Museum. August 6.

18 AUGUST2016

GO FIND YOUR ALTER EGO Boston Comic Con Family Costume Parade and Contest.

Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Boston. August 4.

Photo courtesy Prudential Center

Photo courtesy O’Neill and Associates

Photo courtesy Worcester Art Museum

GO CHILL Cold as Ice: A 300-lb Block of Ice. The Discovery Museums, Acton. August 9.

GO UNDER THE STARS Family Film Festival, Prudential Center, Boston.

August 6, 13, 20, 27.

OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO!

2 Tuesday

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.

Marketplace, 1 Faneuil Hall Sq., Boston.

11:30 a.m. Dress up as your favorite superhero or comic book character, with prizes for the top three adult winners and a kids’ winner. Register ahead. Free. faneuilhallmarketplace.com.

Peep Science Adventures: Looking Closely.

The Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Acton.

10 a.m.-11 a.m. Drop in as we use magnifying glasses to take a closer look at some everyday objects. Free with admission. Members free; nonmembers $12.50, children under 1 free. discoverymuseums.org.

Butterfly Treasure Boxes. Leominster Public Library, 30 West St., Leominster. 3 p.m.-4 p.m. Flutter on by for a fun butterfly story and craft time, including Elmer and the Butterfly and Butterfly Butterfly readings, and butterfly treasure box making. For ages 3 to 7. Register ahead. Free. leominsterlibrary.org.

Photo courtesy Patriot Place

Funny Fruit. Leominster Public Library, 30 West St., Leominster. 10 a.m.-11 a.m. Join us for a funny fruit story and craft time as we read Little Apple Goat, before making grape, watermelon, and strawberry magnets complete with silly, smiling faces. For ages 3 to 7. Register ahead. Free. leominsterlibrary.org.

Fairy Gardens. KITCHEN at Boston Public Market, 6 Congress St., Boston. 10 a.m.11:30 a.m. Learn how to create an enchanted fairy garden complete with a fairy house, plants, accessories, and even a fairy. Recommended for ages 6 and up. Register ahead. Members $36, nonmembers $45. thetrustees.org.

GO PATS Patriot Place Summer Flicks.

Foxboro. August 10 & 24.

Storytime at the Museum. Concord Museum, 200 Lexington Rd., Concord. 11:15 a.m.12 p.m. Spark your child’s imagination with a morning of stories and crafts. Free with admission. Members free; nonmember adults $10, children ages 5 to 17 $5, children under 5 free. concordmuseum.org.

activity and art lesson in the wonderful space of the Marine Museum. For ages 4 to 8. Register ahead. Children $5. marinemuseumfr.org.

Box Tower Contest. Fitchburg Public Library, 610 Main St., Fitchburg. 3 p.m.-4 p.m. Build them up and knock them down during this boxbuilding contest to see who can build the tallest tower. Free. fitchburgpubliclibrary.org.

Maritime Art for Kids. Battleship Cove, 5 Water St., Fall River. 2 p.m.-3 p.m. Learn about many of the most magnificent sea creatures from folktales and then create your own sea monster. Children $5. battleshipcove.org.

3 Wednesday

Alissa Coates Music Show. Leominster Public Library, 30 West St., Leominster. 3 p.m.-4 p.m.

An interactive show including upbeat and exciting songs, structured instrument play, and plenty of sing-along songs to entice kids and parents alike.

Free. leominsterlibrary.org.

Free First Wednesday. deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, 51 Sandy Pond Rd., Lincoln.

10 a.m. Explore the art installations that reside outside and duck inside to see the latest of deCordova’s exhibitions. Free. decordova.org.

Backyard and Beyond: Nature Journaling and Walk. The Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Acton. 11 a.m.

Explore the natural world through science, art, and writing, as we make journals and then take them on a nature walk through the Great Hill conservation land. Free with admission.

Members free; nonmembers $12.50, children under 1 free. discoverymuseums.org.

Organ Concert. Mechanics Hall, 321 Main St., Worcester. 12 p.m.-1 p.m. Join Sean Redrow with a brown bag lunch, or buy one from us, as he plays a concert in a cabaret setting. Free. mechanicshalls.org.

Sea Creatures: Art Class. The Marine Museum at Fall River, 70 Water St., Fall River.

2 p.m. Enjoy this thematic afternoon crafting

Yoga Storytime. Fitchburg Public Library, 610 Main St., Fitchburg. 6 p.m.-7 p.m. Listen to a few stories and relax with some fun yoga moves where pajama clad children and families are welcome. Free. fitchburgpubliclibrary.org.

Escape Room. Worcester Public Library: Main Branch, 3 Salem Sq., Worcester. 6 p.m.-8 p.m.

Test out your sleuthing mettle with this dramatic game of deduction as we lock you in and you have 45 minutes to follow the clues and find the final key. For ages 13 to 17. Free. mywpl.org.

Card Battle Royale. Leominster Public Library, 30 West St., Leominster. 6 p.m.-9 p.m. Fans of Magic: The Gathering and Yu-Gi-Oh are invited to join other gamers for an evening of open play and tournaments with door prizes and snacks included. For ages 12 and up. Free. leominsterlibrary.org.

On the Town. DCR’s Hatch Memorial Shell, 47 David G Mugar Way, Boston. Dusk. A screening of the classic 1949 movie musical starring Frank Sinatra, Gene Kelly, and Ann Miller based on the 1944 Broadway musical of the same name. Free. landmarksorchestra.org.

4 Thursday Yarn Picture Frames and Caterpillar Book Marks. Leominster Public Library, 30 West St., Leominster. 10 a.m.-11 a.m. Learn how to make yarn-covered photo frames and caterpillar bookmarks with plenty of colors and materials to make crafts to take home. For ages 7 to 12.

Register ahead. Free. leominsterlibrary.org.

Exploring Nano: Rays Awareness. The Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Acton.

11 a.m.-2 p.m. Drop in, learn about ultraviolet light, and do some simple experiments to see how sunscreen protects you by blocking harmful rays. Also, make your own UV detector bracelet. Free with admission. Members free; nonmembers $12.50, children under 1 free. discoverymuseums.org.

Everybody Plays. Boston Children’s Museum, 308 Congress St., Boston. 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Explore and share the different ways that people play together in your street, city, or many places around the world. Through Friday. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $16, children under 1 free. bostonchildrensmuseum.org.

4th Annual Boston Comic Con Costume Parade and Contest. West End, Faneuil Hall

Drive-In Movie Night. Fitchburg Public Library, 610 Main St., Worcester. 5:30 p.m.7:30 p.m. Come make a car out of a cardboard box and relax as you watch a movie in our garden room. For ages 10 and under. Register ahead. Free. fitchburgpubliclibrary.org.

Claflin Hill Symphony Summer Winds Concert. Alternatives’ Community Plaza at the Whitin Mill, 50 Douglas Rd., Whitinsville.

6 p.m.-8 p.m. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets to this fantastic outdoor concert, featuring this raw and emotional orchestra filled with skilled artists, with refreshments available. Free. alternativesnet.org.

Guys and Dolls Jr. Regent Theatre, 7 Medford St., Arlington. 7 p.m. Join us as we journey from the heart of Times Square to the cafés of Havana, during this musical comedy classic presented by Arlington Children’s Theater. Reserve ahead. $15. regenttheatre.com.

Love Dogs Concert. Fruitlands Museum, 102 Prospect Hill Rd., Harvard. 7 p.m.-9 p.m.

Send off our Summer Concert series during this evening concert of jazz and jive. Member cars $10, nonmember cars $15. fruitlands.org.

5 Friday Music and Movement with Miss Bernadette. Children’s Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 9:30 a.m.-10 a.m. Explore sound through singing and playing, as we move, make music, listen, learn, and get a multi-sensory workout with a professional music. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $12.50, children under 1 free. discoverymuseums.org.

Krazy Days. Downtown Middleborough, Main Street & Center Street, Middleborough. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Enjoy this outdoor festival offering arts, crafts, food, cultural events, and educational activities. Through Sunday. Free. middleboroughonthemove.org.

Gina’s Bracelet Workshop. Leominster Public Library, 30 West St., Leominster. 1 p.m.-3 p.m. Learn how to make stylish bracelets. For ages 10 to 13. Register ahead. Free. leominsterlibrary.org.

BAYSTATEPARENT 19

OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO! Playspace. Worcester Public Library: Goddard Branch, 14 Richards St., Worcester. 3 p.m.-4 p.m. Take a break from the summer heat and enjoy jumbo games and free play in the library.

Free. mywpl.org.

Action Art. Worcester Public Library: Main Branch, 3 Salem Sq., Worcester. 3 p.m.-5 p.m.

Paint a song, tap out a beat for a comic, and use science to make your art even better during this mixture of movement and art. For ages 10 to 17. Free. mywpl.org.

We DOKI DOKI. Boston Children’s Museum, 308 Congress St., Boston. 5 p.m.-9 p.m.

Explore the new book The Sound of Silence, as we hang out with friends, enjoy music, dance, craft, play games, and more. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $1, children under 1 free. bostonchildrensmuseum.org.

The Good Dinosaur. DCR’s Hatch Memorial Shell, 47 David G Mugar Way, Boston. 6 p.m.

Bring a blanket or lawn chair, pack a picnic, and enjoy games and giveaways, before settling in to enjoy this Disney animated film following what would happen if the asteroid that forever changed life on Earth missed the planet completely and giant dinosaurs never became extinct. Free. boston.cbslocal.com.

The UnHoly Mackerels Outdoor Concert.

Eleanor Cabot Bradley Estate, 2468 Washington St., Canton. 6 p.m.-8 p.m. Bring your family, friends, and a picnic dinner and join us for a lovely evening of outdoor music featuring some of your favorite songs from the 1960s and ’70s.

Members $25, nonmembers $40. thetrustees.org.

Movies in the Park: Wall-E. deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, 51 Sandy Pond Rd., Lincoln. 8:30 p.m. Pack a picnic dinner and bring the family for a spectacular Sculpture Park sunset followed by a showing of this award-winning Pixar film about a robot falling in love and adventuring following the desolation of Earth.

Members free; nonmember adults $10, children 12 and under $5. decordova.org.

6 Saturday The Olympics Come to Heritage. Heritage Museum & Gardens, 67 Grove St., Sandwich.

9 a.m.-5 p.m. Join us in a full day of competitions, hunts, obstacles, and races, with opportunities to create your own unique flag and make an Olympic torch. $38-$53. heritageadventurepark.org.

Family Fun on the Beach: Bathyscopes.

Duxbury Beach. 9:30 a.m.-11 a.m. A look at the secret lives of the denizens of the shallows.

Construct some simple homemade bathyscopes, a viewfinder for underwater exploration, and ply the shallows in search of intertidal life.

Participants meet in the lot on the ocean side of the Powder Point Bridge; tell the harbormaster you are attending the Mass Audubon program.

All are drop-in, free, and nonresident parking is permitted during the program. 781-837-9400. massaudubon.org/southshore.

EARTH Day Awareness Day. Southwick’s Zoo, 2 Southwick St., Mendon. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Join us for a day of family fun, as we learn about endangered species, watch a presentation about birds of prey, speak to a beekeeper, and more. Free with admission. Members free; nonmember adults $25, children ages 3 to 12 $18, children under 2 free. southwickszoo.com.

Beyond the Spectrum: Terrific Textiles.

Museum of Fine Arts: Boston, 465 Huntington Ave., Boston. 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. Learn about the evolution of textiles and how it has shaped our everyday lives, before trying our hands at weaving techniques during this adventure in art for children on the Autism Spectrum. For ages 8 to 12. $9. mfa.org.

Kids Colonial Games on the Grass and Dorothy Quincy Homestead Open House.

34 Butler Rd., Quincy. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Tours of the National Historic Landmark and colonial games for kids. Free. Children must be accompanied by an adult. nscdama.org.

Origami Class. Fitchburg Public Library, 610 Main St., Fitchburg. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Learn the fine ancient art of origami with a local expert. Free. fitchburgpubliclibrary.org.

Seussical Jr.: The Musical. The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, 125 West Bay Rd., Amherst. 11 a.m. & 1 p.m. Join Starlight’s Youth Theater for a special presentation following Horton the Elephant as he must save the Whos over the course of mishaps and fun. Members $6.50, nonmembers $7. carlemuseum.org.

Make a MESS: Spin Art. The Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Acton. 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

Drop-in and put a fresh spin on art as we twist our tools, twirl our paper, and give our watercolors a whirl. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $12.50, children under 1 free. discoverymuseums.org.

Families @ WAM Tour. Worcester Art Museum, 55 Salisbury St., Worcester.

10:30 a.m.-11 a.m. Explore the galleries with your family on a docent-guided discovery tour.

Hear fun facts, stories and enjoy sharing observations and time together. Tours last approximately 30 minutes. Free. worcesterart.org.

Families @ WAM Make Art. Worcester Art Museum, 55 Salisbury St., Worcester. 11 a.m.11:30 a.m. Drop in for fun, intergenerational time in the Worcester Art Museum galleries. Get inspired by our art and try making something uniquely yours. Free. worcesterart.org.

Fort Independence Tours. Castle Island, South Boston. 12 p.m.-3:30 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Labor Day. Castle Island is the oldest continuously fortified site in British North America. Free. 617-698-1802 x 217.

24th Annual Onset Blues Festival. 191 Onset Ave., Onset. 12 p.m.-9 p.m. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets to one of the longest running blues festivals in New England, overlooking the picturesque harbors around Cape Cod. Adults $30, children under 12 $15. onsetbluesfestival.com.

Fairy House and Garden in a Basket Workshop. Fruitlands Museum, 102 Prospect Hill Rd., Harvard. 1 p.m.-3 p.m. Indulge your imagination in this two-hour workshop when you build a fairy house and garden that might just entice the fairies to come in play, through bark, leaves, ivy, twigs, and more. Members $35, nonmembers $45. fruitlands.org.

Let’s Fly a Kite. Governor Oliver Ames Estate, 35 Oliver St., North Easton. 1 p.m.-3 p.m.

Make classic kites in different patterns and enjoy flying them around the property. Register ahead.

Member children $5, nonmember children $10, adults free. thetrustees.org.

Special Storytime: Aaron Becker. The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, 125 West Bay Rd., Amherst. 2 p.m. Celebrate Aaron Becker’s final book in his epic Journey trilogy following a girl and her adventures into another realm. Free with admission. Adults $9, youths 18 and under $6. carlemuseum.org.

Anything Goes. Regent Theatre, 7 Medford St., Arlington. 2 p.m. Follow nightclub singer Reno Sweeny en route from New York to England, as she finds herself in a love triangle on board the high seas. Through Sunday. Reserve ahead. $15. regenttheatre.com.

Teen Mystery Party: Murder at the Toadwart Inn. Grafton Public Library, 35 Grafton Common, Grafton. 5 p.m.-9 p.m. Join us for a witch- and wizard-themed murder mystery party, where costumes are encouraged, and pizza and snacks will be served, as we enter this place where witches, wizard, gnomes, genies, and other magical creatures congregate. For grades 6 to 12. Register ahead. Free. graftonlibrary.org.

Brave. South Garden, Prudential Center, 800 Boylston St., Boston. 6 p.m. Enjoy entertainment, children’s activities and giveaways, before settling down to watch this Pixar-animated film following a courageous and independent princess who must save herself and her mother.

Free. prudentialcenter.com.

For more events, visit baystateparent.com Our Down Syndrome Program Is Now Open!

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Thank You baystateparent readers for voting Sterling Gymnastics the Best Gym! 978-422-ROLL www.sterlinggym.com 15 Industrial Drive, Sterling, MA 01564

20 AUGUST2016

OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO!

7 Sunday

with us and make it your own. Free. mywpl.org.

Redcoats & Rebels. Old Sturbridge Village, 1 Old Sturbridge Village Rd., Sturbridge. 9:30 a.m.-8 p.m. See the largest military re-enactment in New England — with nearly 1,000 soldiers portraying Spanish to Irish to Colonial troops — during this day filled with dances, cannon demonstrations, musket drilling, and more as Old Sturbridge Village is transformed into a military camp from the time of the War of Independence.

Free with admission. Adults $28, youths 3 to 14 $14, children under 3 free. osv.org.

Minecraft Monday: Teens. Worcester Public Library: Main Branch, 3 Salem Sq., Worcester.

4 p.m.-5 p.m. Play on the library’s server where you can share your best Minecraft tricks, learn new ones, and make friends. For ages 13 to 17.

Free. mywpl.org.

8 Monday Jell-O Prints. Leominster Public Library, 30 West St., Leominster. 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m.

Join Art Educator Suzanna Hauerstein and learn how to use a Jell-O printing plate and different textured materials to create one-of-a-kind monoprints. For ages 7 to 12. Register ahead. Free. leominsterlibrary.org.

Lindsay’s Puppet Pals. Leominster Public Library, 30 West St., Leominster. 3 p.m.-4 p.m.

Enjoy this interactive, comedic performance to delight the young and young at heart through stories and hand-crafted charming puppets. For ages 3 and up. Free. leominsterlibrary.org.

Decorate a Cap. Worcester Public Library: Great Brook Valley Branch, 89 Tacoma St., Worcester. 3 p.m.-4:30 p.m. Decorate a cap

How Children Learn Music. Hunneman Hall, Brookline Public Library, 361 Washington St., Brookline. 7 p.m. A presentation by Marilyn Lowe, author of Music Moves for Piano, who explains how children develop the ability to perform, create, and read music in the mind with understanding. Free.

617-277-4593. bmsmusic.org.

9 Tuesday Summer Wind Mobile Craft. Linden Square, 181 Linden St., Wellesley. 10 a.m. Enjoy this outdoor crafting activity making wind mobiles to bring home. Suitable for ages 1.5 to 5. Register ahead. Free. shoplindensquare.com.

Get Ready, Set…Paint. Leominster Public Library, 30 West St., Leominster. 10 a.m.-11 a.m. Enjoy readings of We’re Painting and My World of Color, before using watercolors to create your own special artwork to bring home. For ages 2 to 7. Register ahead. Free. leominsterlibrary.org.

Peep Science Adventures: Melting Ice Cubes.

The Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Acton. 10 a.m.-11 a.m. Drop-in and explore the properties of ice as we “paint” with it as it melts. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $12.50, children under 1 free. discoverymuseums.org.

Cold as Ice: A 300lb Block of Ice. The Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Acton.

10 a.m.-4 p.m. Drop in and get ready for a cold day in August, where we make chilly discoveries as we put salt, coins, keys, and liquid watercolors on a 300-pound block of ice. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $12.50, children under 1 free. discoverymuseums.org.

PJ Library Rock-a-Baby Outdoor Concert and Picnic. Leventhal-Sidman Jewish Community Center, 333 Nahanton St., Newton.

5 p.m.-7 p.m. Spend a glorious summer evening picnicking on the West Lawn with your family and friends during this engaging concert featuring music and mesmerizing puppets. Register ahead. $10. bostonjcc.org.

Community Art Center Student Showcase.

MIT Museum, 265 Massachusetts Ave., Building N51, Cambridge. 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Explore wonderful works of art created this summer by teens supported by Cambridge’s Community Arts Center. Free. web.mit.edu/museum.

Berklee City Music Scholarship Concert.

Berklee Performance Center, 136 Massachusetts Ave., Boston. 7:30 p.m. Enjoy this annual con-

cert featuring Berklee City Music students from throughout North America performing in the Jazz, Pop/Rock, Choral, Big Band, and Pop/R&B ensembles celebrating students receiving scholarships this year. $15. berklee.edu.

10 Wednesday Scribbling Machines with Visiting Artist Kim Bernard. The Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Acton. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Drop in and create dynamic drawings using simple DIY robotic contraptions, spinning and wiggling motors, markers, tape, rubber bands, and pipe cleaners. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $12.50, children under 1 free. discoverymuseums.org.

RMS Titanic: Art Class. The Marine Museum at Fall River, 70 Water St., Fall River. 2 p.m.

Enjoy this thematic afternoon crafting activity and art lesson in the wonderful space of the Marine Museum. For ages 4 to 8. Register ahead.

Children $5. marinemuseumfr.org.

Get Ready, Set…Sand Castles. Leominster Public Library, 30 West St., Leominster. 3 p.m.4 p.m. Join us for readings of When a Dragon Moves In and Sand Castles before decorating cardboard sandcastles (without the scratchy sand) to bring home. For ages 3 to 7. Register ahead.

Free. leominsterlibrary.org.

THE 134

TH

BOLTON FAIR 2016

Thursday August 11th Preview night for midway

Friday August 12th thru Sunday August 14th • Expanded Midway • Food • Entertainment • Exhibit Hall • Animal Shows & Contests • Commercial & Craft Vendors • Demolition Derby • Kids Country Entertainment & Games New Shows this year Monster Truck Shows Magic of Lance Gifford & Company Ninja Challenge Obstacle Course for Kids

See Website for schedule of events, entertainment, prices & hours

www.boltonfair.org

The Fairgrounds at Lancaster, Rt. 117, Exit 27 off Rt. 495

Sponsored by BAYSTATEPARENT 21

OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO! Playspace. Worcester Public Library: Tatnuck Branch, 1083 Pleasant St., Worcester. 3 p.m.4:30 p.m. Take a break from the summer heat and enjoy jumbo games and free play in the library. Free. mywpl.org.

End of the Summer Party. Fitchburg Public Library, 610 Main St., Fitchburg. 4:30 p.m.6:30 p.m. Help us wrap up the end of the Summer Reading Program through ice cream, games, prizes, and Mr. Vinny the Bubble Guy. Free. fitchburgpubliclibrary.org.

Aladdin. The Hall at Patriot Place, 2 Patriot Pl., Foxboro. 6 p.m. Enjoy pre-show entertainment on the plaza before stretching out at sunset on blankets or lawn chairs as we watch this Disney animated film following a scoundrel whose life turns around when he finds a magical lamp.

Free. patriot-place.com.

Summer Teen Night. Institute of Contemporary Art: Boston, 25 Harbor Shore Dr., Boston. 6 p.m.-9 p.m. Join the ICA Teen Arts Council for an unforgettable Teen Night featuring art tours, artmaking, and youth performances.

Free. icateens.org.

Beatboxing with Melinda Packard.

Worcester Public Library: Main Branch, 3 Salem Sq., Worcester. 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Come learn how to beatbox from a master in the craft. For ages 13 to 17. Free. mywpl.org.

Landmarks Lollapalooza. DCR’s Hatch Memorial Shell, 47 David G Mugar Way, Boston. 7 p.m. Enjoy this open-air festival of sundry styles and celebrated classics from Gershwin to Tchaikovsky and a presentation by the Honk Festival of Activist Street Bands. Rain date: August 11. Free. landmarksorchestra.org.

11 Thursday We Heart Books + Art. The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, 125 West Bay Rd., Amherst. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Pack a lunch and come for a full day of experimentation and fun together, as we dive into three unique picture books, and craft with gouache paint, photo collage, and bookmaking techniques. For ages 7 to 11.

Register ahead. Members $59.50, nonmembers $70. carlemuseum.org.

Make a MESS: A Variety of Vegetables.

The Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Acton.

10 a.m.-11 a.m. Drop in and experiment with a variety of food found in the garden to compare and contrast, look at the inside and outside, and create a work of art almost too good to eat. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $12.50, children under 1 free. discoverymuseums.org.

Children’s Tour of Wilson Farms. Wilson Farm, 10 Pleasant St., Lexington. 10 a.m. & 3 p.m. Enjoy a behind-the-scenes group tour of the 33-acre farmland, from fields to greenhouses

to the animal barn. For ages 5 and up. Register ahead. Free. wilsonfarm.com.

Take Aparts. The Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Acton. 1 p.m.-4 p.m. Drop in and grab a screwdriver to discover resistors and capacitors as you uncover the inner workings of everyday electronics. Free with admission.

Members free, nonmembers $12.50, children under 1 free. discoverymuseums.org.

Altered Journals: Teens. Leominster Public Library, 30 West St., Leominster. 2 p.m.-5 p.m.

Drop in and use a collage of scrapbooking papers and unique decorative objects to create a one-ofa-kind writing journal. Free. leominsterlibrary.org.

Lady Whitesnake. Boston Children’s Museum, 308 Congress St., Boston. 2:30 p.m. Enjoy Art Barn Children’s Theater as they perform an adaptation of the 2011 Pulitzer Prize-winning Madame Whitesnake based on an old Chinese folktale. Through Sunday. Free with admission.

Members free, nonmembers $16, children under 1 free. bostonchildrensmuseum.org.

Sparky’s Puppets: On Your Mark, Get Set, Read. Leominster Public Library, 30 West St., Leominster. 3 p.m.-3:45 p.m. Come cheer the race between the tortoise and the hair, watch Jack’s speedy escape from the giant, and see more fast-paced adventures.

Free. leomisnterlibrary.org.

CCTV Youth Media Student Showcase.

MIT Museum, 265 Massachusetts Ave., Building N51, Cambridge. 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Join us for engaging videos produced by Cambridge Community Television’s Summer Media Institute students. Free. web.mit.edu/museum.

Far from Eden Outdoor Concert.

Alternatives’ Community Plaza at the Whitin Mill, 50 Douglas Rd., Whitinsville. 6 p.m.-8 p.m.

Bring your lawn chairs and blankets for this concert straight from a Central Massachusetts band delivering arrangements of pop hits and classic rock tunes, with refreshments available. Free. alternativesnet.org.

Fort Independence Twilight Skyline Viewing. Castle Island, South Boston.

7 p.m.-dusk. Thursdays through Labor Day. Enjoy a scenic sunset over the Boston Skyline from atop Fort Independence, hosted by volunteers from the Castle Island Association. Free.

617-698-1802 x 217.

Star Gazing Night. Moose Hill, 293 Moose Hill St., Sharon. 8:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m. Join local astronomers for a look at the stars and other night objects through big telescopes in one of Mass Audubon’s best sites. Free. massaudubon.org.

12 Friday Boston Comic Con Family Friday and Kids Con. Seaport World Trade Center, Boston.

Craft Breweries Day Trips New England has some of the best craft breweries in the country.

Take a day trip to visit a few highlighted here and enjoy!

Castle Island Brewing: Way More Fun Than Consulting No, it’s not actually brewed on Castle Island. But, brewery founder and South Boston resident Adam Romanow has always had an affinity for the harborside landmark, and couldn’t think of a a better way to pay tribute than to name his new beer company after it. Introducing: Castle Island Brewing Co. Long hours in Adam’s previous career as a consultant and too many hours staring at Excel spreadsheets meant burning the midnight oil. As the story goes, Adam got more into the local beer scene and he eventually took a shot at making some hooch of his own. Stove

top batches evolved into a job at a small they quietly assembled a team while New Hampshire brewery and, during his building out a 20,000 square foot facility time there, Adam was quickly convinced in Norwood, MA. that the beer industry was for him.

The brewery opened in December of After spending 2015 and began shipping nearly five years to a select few Castle Island Brew carefully researching, retailers in the Boston in g planning, and area in early 2016. developing a business Their flagship beer, model, Adam set out in 2015 to open Candlepin, is a hoppy session ale that Castle Island Brewing Company. Through checks in at a 4.4 percent ABV. It was a mutual friend, he crossed paths with recently rated a 93 by BeerAdvocate and Matt DeLuca, then a 10 -year veteran of named a “Top Beer for Your Cooler” by the Harpoon Brewery. The two decided Thrillist. Keeper, the company’s IPA, is a their skills and goals were aligned and blend of East and West coast styles, with

a huge piney, citrusy nose and a smooth finish. Castle Island’s third beer, Jetty, is a 4 percent ABV, lightly tart sour ale perfect for warm weather.

Located off Route 1, at 31 Astor Ave., Norwood, Ma, Castle Island is currently open for tastings, tours and purchases on Thursdays and Fridays, 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm, Saturdays, 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

For more additional information about the brewery, please visit castleislandbeer. com.

Oh, and Adam still has to stare at spreadsheets.

While in the area, visit these other great breweries Here is a list of the Breweries in the Boston area.

Sam Adams Brewery 30 Germania St, Boston, MA

Jack’s Abbey Brewery 100 Clinton Street, Framingham, MA

Trillium Brewery 369 Congress St., Boston, MA

Harpoon Brewery 306 Northern Avenue, Boston, MA

Slumbrew Brewery 15 Ward Street Somerville, MA

Downeast Cidery 200 Terminal Street Charlestown, MA

McKinlay’s Liquors • 508-829-6624 • 624 Main Street, Holden 22 AUGUST2016

Next month, we’ll have more great destination breweries to visit!

OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO! 12 p.m.-7 p.m. The three-day event kicks off with a host of free activities for kids, including how-to workshops on comic creation and cartooning, mask-making, color contest, face painting, balloonist, caricaturist, Jedi training by professional martial artists, superheroes meet and greet, and more. Friday admission free for children 10 and under, adult admission $30 in advance, $40 onsite. bostoncomiccon.com.

Jurassic World. DCR’s Hatch Memorial Shell, 47 David G Mugar Way, Boston. 6 p.m. Bring a blanket or lawn chair, pack a picnic, and enjoy games and giveaways, before settling in to enjoy this updated adventure, 22 years after the original Jurassic Park. Free. boston.cbslocal.com.

Shooting Star Campout. Governor Hutchinson’s Field, 196 Adams St., Milton.

7 p.m. Enjoy some campfire snacks before stretching out beneath the stars to enjoy the annual Perseid meteor shower, and bring your sleeping bag, tent, flashlight, and bug spray for a night outside. Register ahead. Member individual $12, families $24; nonmember individuals $15, families $30. thetrustees.org.

Astronomy Night & BYO Picnic. Powisset Farm, 31 Powisset St., Dover. 7 p.m.-9 p.m.

Join us and our local astronomer to celebrate the Perseid meteor shower. Register ahead. Members free, nonmembers $5. thetrustees.org.

Andrews Brothers. Battle Ship Cove, 5 Water St., Fall River. 7:30 p.m. Enjoy classic songs from the 1940s through this all-male trio showcasing 27 popular and novelty songs from the era of World War II. Members $25, nonmembers $30. battleshipcove.org.

Stargazing. Francis William Bird Park, 41 Rhoades Ave., East Walpole. 9 p.m.10 p.m. Enjoy the Perseid meteor shower, one of the best events to catch for those interested in stargazing. Members free, nonmembers $5. thetrustees.org.

13 Saturday Family Fun on the Beach: Dip Net, Pail and Worn Out Hat. Duxbury Beach. 9:30 a.m.11 a.m. Join us for a quintessential August pastime: a stroll along the beach with dip nets, pail, your favorite worn out hat, and a love for discovery. Participants meet in the lot on the ocean side of the Powder Point Bridge; tell the harbormaster you are attending the Mass Audubon program.

All are drop-in, free, and nonresident parking is permitted during the program. 781-837-9400. massaudubon.org/southshore.

9th Annual Barbara J. Walker Butterfly Festival. Broad Meadow Brook Conservation Center and Wildlife Sanctuary, 414 Massasoit Rd., Worcester. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Educational fun for all ages through naturalist-led walks and workshops, performances, live caterpillars, butterfly art, face painting, plant sales, food, and more, where a costume might get you a prize. Members $4; nonmembers $5, children under 2 free. massaudubon.org.

adults $25, children ages 3 to 12 $18, children under 3 free. southwickszoo.com.

Sounds of Africa. Southwick’s Zoo, 2 Southwick St., Mendon. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. A day full of African music and dance at the zoo.

Free with admission. Members free; nonmember

Arms & Armor Demonstration. Worcester Art Museum, 55 Salisbury St., Worcester.

Saturdays and Sundays, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Join us for this fun interactive program, and

49th Annual Pembroke Arts Festival.

Pembroke Town Green, 124 Center St., Pembroke. 10 a.m.-10 p.m. A juror-helmed art competition, featuring art exhibitions, raffle tables, a car show, barbecue, and a dedicated children’s tent for a fantastic day outside. Free. pembrokeartsfestival.org.

learn all about different kinds of arms and armor used by knights and soldiers, including Roman soldiers, Medieval knights and beyond! Events held in the Museum Conference Room. Free. worcesterart.org.

Wild Animals in Your Neighborhood. The Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Acton.

12 p.m.-2 p.m. A unique opportunity to see native animals up close, as you handle natural history artifacts while learning about the birds, reptiles, and mammals that live in your neighborhood. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $12.50, children under 1 free. discoverymuseums.org.

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Honey Festival. Chestnut Hill Farm, 9-99 Chestnut Hill Rd., Southborough. 10 a.m.2 p.m. Enjoy a day that is all things bees, including honey tasting and cooking, bee-related crafts and activities, tours, and more. Member families $15, nonmember families $25. thetrustees.org.

BAYSTATEPARENT 23

OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO! Special Storytime: Bill Thomson. The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, 125 West Bay Rd., Amherst. 2 p.m. Find out what happens when three children discover a typewriter on a carousel, along with Bill Thomson’s stunning, photorealistic illustrations. Free with admission. Adults $9, youths 18 and under $6. carlemuseum.org.

Concerts at Castle Island. South Boston.

2 p.m.-4 p.m. Musical genres will blend between folk, bluegrass, and pop. Come early and make a day of it. Swim at Pleasure Bay, enjoy a free tour of Fort Independence between noon and 3:30 p.m., grab lunch at Sullivan’s, or just relax in the shade. Free. 617-698-1802 x 217.

Open Style Lab Project Showcase. MIT Museum, 265 Massachusetts Ave., Building N51, Cambridge. 2 p.m.-3 p.m. Explore the interactive clothing solutions that student teams in Open Style Lab worked intensively to develop this summer, and meet the unique clients who inspired their user-centered designs. Free with admission.

Adults $10, youths 5 to 18 $5, children under 5 free. web.mit.edu/museum.

6th Annual DRHS Croquet Tournament. King Caesar House, 120 King Caesar Rd., Duxbury. 3 p.m.-7 p.m. Watch this masterful croquet tournament through games, food, and a competition supervised by Croquet Master Bob Kroeger. $25. duxburyhistory.org.

Hollywood Musicals Night. Fitchburg Public Library, 610 Main St., Fitchburg. 5 p.m.-8 p.m.

Join us for a celebration of great Hollywood musicals, games, food, and more. For ages 13 to 18. Free. fitchburgpubliclibrary.org.

Zootopia. South Garden, Prudential Center, 800 Boylston St., Boston. 6 p.m. Enjoy entertainment, children’s activities and giveaways, before settling down to watch this Disney animated movie following a tenacious bunny cop and a sly fox as they team up to solve the mysterious disappearance of urban-dwelling animals. Free. prudentialcenter.com.

Movie Under the Stars. Francis William Bird Park, 45 Rhoades Ave., East Walpole. 7 p.m.9:30 p.m. Bring along a lawn chair or blanket, and grab the best spot you can find on Vista Field, with refreshments available and the perfect atmosphere for outdoor movie viewing. Free. thetrustees.org.

14 Sunday Yoga for Kids. deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, 51 Sandy Pond Rd., Lincoln. 10:30 a.m.-11 a.m. Get moving as a family, as teachers from Still Studio lead kid-friendly yoga in the Sculpture Park. For ages 3 to 12 with a caregiver. Register ahead. Members free, nonmember children $5. decordova.org.

Yoga in the Park. deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, 51 Sandy Pond Rd., Lincoln.

11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Activate your body and 24 AUGUST2016

mind as teachers from Still Studio lead vinyasa yoga surrounded by sculpture and nature. For ages 13 and up. Register ahead. Members free, nonmembers $15. decordova.org.

Special Sundays in the Studio: The Artistic Olympics. The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, 125 West Bay Rd., Amherst. 12 p.m.-4 p.m. Join us for a marathon of art games for all ages to celebrate the 2016 Olympics, from sculptures to painting to drawing. Free with admission. Adults $9, youths 18 and under $6. carlemuseum.org.

Earth Mandalas in the Woods Walk.

Eleanor Cabot Bradley Estate, 2468 Washington St., Canton. 12:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. Learn how to look at the items scattered along the forest floors as color and texture, incorporate your foraging into your own site-specific mandala design, and take a photo before your creation blows away.

Members $9, nonmembers $15. thetrustees.org.

Hands-On History. Concord Museum, 200 Lexington Rd., Concord. 1 p.m.-4 p.m. An afternoon of hands-on demonstrations for kids and families to learn together. Free with admission. Members free; nonmember adults $10, children ages 5 to 17 $5, children under 5 free. concordmuseum.org.

Especially For Me: Evening for ASD Families. The Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Acton. 3:30 p.m.-7 p.m. Explore both museums during this special evening for families with children on the autism spectrum, dinner, and furry friends from Therapy Dogs International visiting from 5 p.m.-7 p.m. Free. Register ahead. discoverymuseums.org.

15 Monday Morningstar Access. Boston Children’s Museum, 308 Congress St., Boston. 8 a.m.10 a.m. Enjoy this special time dedicated to creating an environment of exploration for children with special needs. Register ahead. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $16, children under 1 free. bostonchildrensmuseum.org.

Garden on the Go. Leominster Public Library, 30 West St., Leominster. 10 a.m.-11 a.m.

Visit the traveling garden and discuss gardening while learning what plants need to grow, before picking seasonal produce, and make a recipe or gardening activity. For ages 5 to 12. Register ahead. Free. leominsterlibrary.org.

MFA Playdates. Museum of Fine Arts: Boston, 465 Huntington Ave., Boston. 10:15 a.m.11 a.m. Enjoy story-time and looking activities in the galleries, as we dive into the theme “Tune Into Art”. Recommended for ages 4 and younger.

Free with admission. Members free; nonmember adults $25, youths 7 to 17 $10, children under 7 free. mfa.org.

16 Tuesday

and dancers from Armenian and Latin American traditions. Free. landmarksorchestra.org.

Fish Prints for Kids. Castle Hill on the Crane Estate, 290 Argilla Rd., Ipswich. 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Search for shapes in the wrackline to print and press. Register ahead. Member children $24, nonmember children $30. thetrustees.org.

18 Thursday

The Caterpillar Lab. The Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Acton. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Drop-in and visit some little-known native creatures, featuring a huge variety of New England caterpillar species munching on their food plants right in front of you. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $12.50, children under 1 free. discoverymuseums.org.

Teen Screening Tuesdays: The 5th Wave.

Leominster Public Library, 30 West St., Leominster. 2:30 p.m.-5 p.m. Join us for snacks and a great movie based on the acclaimed 2013 young adult sci-fi novel by Rick Yancey following the survivor of a catastrophic alien invasion. Free. leominsterlibrary.org.

Karaoke Party. Worcester Public Library: Burncoat Branch, 526 Burncoat St., Worcester.

3 p.m.-4 p.m. Enjoy the last of the summer days as we sing along with Just Dance on our big screen. Free. mywpl.org.

17 Wednesday Access Day. deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, 51 Sandy Pond Rd., Lincoln. 11 a.m.2 p.m. A day full of all-inclusive programming for the whole family, including hands-on workshops to special Touch Tours and more, in collaboration with Mass Audubon’s Drumlin Farm, the Discovery Museums, and more. Register ahead.

Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $14, children 12 and under free. decordova.org.

Sea Creatures: Art Class. The Marine Museum at Fall River, 70 Water St., Fall River.

2 p.m. A thematic afternoon crafting activity and art lesson in the wonderful space of the Marine Museum. For ages 4 to 8. Register ahead.

Children $5. marinemuseumfr.org.

Meet and Great with Beauty. Leominster Public Library, 30 West St., Leominster. 3 p.m.4 p.m. Dress up as your favorite prince or princess and enjoy a special sing-a-long with Beauty from Beauty and Beast, before decorating your own enchanted mirror with gems, stickers, and crayons. Register ahead. leomisterlibrary.org.

Phillis Wheatley Day. Old South Meeting House, 310 Washington St., Boston. 9:30 a.m.5 p.m. Discover the remarkable life and poetry of Phillis Wheatley who, kidnapped from Africa and sold as a slave in Boston as a child, became a poet and an international celebrity with the publication of her book in 1773. Free with admission. Members free; nonmember adults $6, youths 5 to 17 $1, children under 5 free. oldsouthmeetinghouse.org.

Doggy Days: Abby the Artist. The Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Acton. 10 a.m.-11 a.m. Drop in and join certified therapy dog Abby, as she makes some art and invites you to do the same. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $12.50, children under 1 free. discoverymuseums.org.

Teen Guild Games. Worcester Public Library: Main Branch, 3 Salem Sq., Worcester. 2 p.m.-5 p.m. Play Magic: The Gathering, Yu-Gi-Oh, tabletop and video games galore. For ages 13 to 17.

Free. mywpl.org.

Summer Reading Finale. Leominster Public Library, 30 West St., Leominster. 3 p.m.-4 p.m.

Enjoy a Yo-Yos music and dance show that incorporates the favorite hanging-by-a-string toys, line dances, freeze dance, hula hoops, and more.

For ages 5 and up. Free. leominsterlibrary.org.

The Michelle Canning Band Outdoor Concert. Alternatives’ Community Plaza at the Whitin Mill, 50 Douglas Rd., Whitinsville. 6 p.m.-8 p.m. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets for a fabulous blue grass performance under the stars with refreshments available. Free. alternativesnet.org.

End-of-Summer Blues. The Peabody Essex Museum, 161 Essex St., Salem. 6 p.m.-9 p.m.

Enjoy local blues bands, lawn games, and backyard BBQ food, and be part of the music with instrument making and blue jean art workshops to end the summer with a bang. Members free, nonmembers $12. pem.org.

rs ! a e ies Y y or DAVIS FARMLAND t n m e Twf Me o

GOT KIDS? SM

The Ultimate Children’s Discovery Farm Experience the magic of hands-on animal encounters, award-winning discovery play areas and so much more…It’s a full day of fun for families with younger ones!

OUR BIRTHDAY WEEKEND EVENT

AUGUST 20 & 21:

You’re invited to our very special birthday party!

Help us celebrate 20 years of making memories.

©2016 Davis Farmland

OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO!

DavisFarmland.com. (978)422-MOOO (6666). *Adults must be accompanied by a child 12 years or younger at Davis Farmland.

FREE! $3 Souvenir Cup of Animal Feed at Davis Farmland!

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19 Friday

Bingo. Worcester Public Library: Goddard Branch, 14 Richards St., Worcester. 3 p.m.-4 p.m. Bring your friends and family for a game of Bingo. Free. mywpl.org.

Victory for ‘Old Ironsides’. USS Constitution Museum, Charlestown Navy Yard, Building 22, Charlestown. 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

Celebrate the Museum’s 40th anniversary through interactive exhibits, family-friendly craft activities, musket demonstrations, and more. Free. ussconstitutionmuseum.org.

Footloose and Fancy Free. DCR’s Hatch Memorial Shell, 47 David G Mugar Way, Boston. 7 p.m. Movers and shakers from across the city converge on the Esplanade for a celebration of American and International Dance, with companies from the Boys and Girls Club

Peter Rabbit Hops Down to Edaville.

Edaville USA, 5 Pine St., Carver. 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Peter Rabbit joins in on the Edaville fun for a day of meet and greets and photos. Free with admission. $37, ages 2 to 3 $32, under 2 free. edaville.com.

PAPI MAZE

Unveiling Celebration on Tuesday, August 30th Official opening Labor Day weekend BAYSTATEPARENT 25

DFL BSP8 4.5x11 AD 7-14-16.indd 2

7/17/16 4:08 PM

OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO! bounty? Explore the special adaptations shorebird species have developed to get their fill.

Participants meet in the lot on the ocean side of the Powder Point Bridge; tell the harbormaster you are attending the Mass Audubon program.

All are drop-in, free, and nonresident parking is permitted during the program. 781-837-9400. massaudubon.org/southshore.

Plymouth Airshow and Open House.

Plymouth Airport, 246 South Meadow Rd., Plymouth. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Airshow and helicopter displays, activities, airplane ground displays, exhibits, and airplane and helicopter rides. $10 per car. plymouthairshow.com.

Live Caterpillar Show. Tower Hill Botanic Garden, 11 French Dr., Boylston. 10 a.m.2:30 p.m. A close-up look at the most spectacular live caterpillars. Free with admission. Members free; nonmember adults $12, ages 6 to 18 $7, children under 6 free. towerhillbg.com.

GO DIG Family Fun on the Beach programs. Duxbury Beach.

August 6, 13, 20, 27

The KITCHEN’s First Birthday. The KITCHEN at Boston Public Market, 6 Congress St., Boston.

10 a.m.-7 p.m. Celebrating KITCHEN’s first birthday and 125 years of The Trustees, with all-day long activities, free cake, cooking demos, board games, bingo, and a scavenger hunt. Free. thetrustees.org.

A Plethora of Play and Copiousness of Creativity. The Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Acton. 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Get moving with classic summertime lawn games, simple engineering challenges, exploration of a woodland path, and more. Free. discoverymuseums.org.

Free Fun Friday at the ICA. Institute of Contemporary Art: Boston, 25 Harbor Shore Dr., Boston. 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Activities for the whole family, including art-making, performances, conversations on art, and more, throughout the day and afternoon. Free. icaboston.org.

Drumming with the Rhythm Room Enrichment Program. Worcester Public Library: Goddard Branch, 14 Richards St., Worcester. 11 a.m.-11:45 a.m. & 2 p.m.2:45 p.m. A special performance by the Rhythm Room Enrichment Program as you explore percussion and learn to play your own drum beat.

Free. mywpl.org.

Pizza! Pizza! KITCHEN at Boston Public Market, 6 Congress St., Boston. 5 p.m.-8 p.m. An allyou-can eat pizza party with board games and tunes. Learn how to make delicious mini and seasonal pizzas. Register ahead. Members $5, nonmembers $10. thetrustees.org.

Up. DCR’s Hatch Memorial Shell, 47 David G Mugar Way, Boston. 6 p.m. Bring a blanket or lawn chair, pack a picnic, and enjoy games and giveaways, before settling in to enjoy this Pixar 26 AUGUST2016

animated film following a curmudgeonly man, the boy who got stuck on his porch, and a dog, as they experience the adventure of a lifetime.

Free. boston.cbslocal.com.

Dancing by the Mystic. Assembly Row East, 611 Assembly Row, Somerville. 6 p.m.-8 p.m.

Salsa with Meta Movements as Assembly Row transforms into a dance party. Register ahead.

Free. assemblyrow.com.

Clam-O-Rama. Castle Hill on the Crane Estate, 290 Argilla Rd., Ipswich. 6 p.m.-8:30 p.m.

Wander into Fox Creek to dig for a variety of clams, and then hike to the Pine Grove to cook and eat what we’ve gathered. Register ahead.

Members $21, nonmembers $35. thetrustees.org.

Pajama Party in PlaySpace. Boston Children’s Museum, 308 Congress St., Boston.

7:30 p.m.-8 p.m. Join us for games, songs, and picture-stories as we enjoy the night in our pajamas. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $1, children under 1 free. bostonchildrensmuseum.org.

Flicks in the Field: Toy Story. Governor Hutchinson’s Field, 196 Adams St., Milton.

7:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m. Enjoy popcorn and beverages for snacking, pre-movie games, and activities, and of course this Pixar-family favorite. Members free; nonmember individuals $5, families $10. thetrustees.org.

Community Day: MEOW. Worcester Art Museum, 55 Salisbury St., Worcester. 10 a.m.5 p.m. Cat-themed programing, from artmaking to performances, visit “The Captivating Cat: Felines and the Artist’s Gaze,” and more. Free. worcesterart.org.

Play Fest. Boston Children’s Museum, 308 Congress St., Boston. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Find lots of opportunities to get messy during this celebration of play, through our pop-up recycle shop for an up-cycled red carpet look, critter visits, fort building, instrument-making, and more. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $16, children under 1 free. bostonchildrensmuseum.org.

Kids Colonial Games on the Grass and Dorothy Quincy Homestead Open House.

34 Butler Rd., Quincy. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Free tours of the National Historic Landmark and colonial games for kids. Free. Children must be accompanied by an adult. nscdama.org.

Special Storytime: Elizabeth Howard and Diana Wege. The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, 125 West Bay Rd., Amherst. 2 p.m.

Join author Elizabeth Howard and illustrator Diana Wege as they share their debut picture book about a young girl and her adventurous day at sea with Bonefish Joe. Free with admission. Adults $9, youths 18 and under $6. carlemuseum.org.

20 Saturday

A Bugs Life. South Garden, Prudential Center, 800 Boylston St., Boston. 6 p.m. Enjoy entertainment, children’s activities, and giveaways, before settling down to watch this Pixar movie following an ant as he finds himself and friends in the face of a battle with predatory grasshoppers. Free. prudentialcenter.com.

Family Fun on the Beach: Sure, Shorebirds Share the Shallow Shoreline and Shoals Searching for Specialties.

Duxbury Beach. 9:30 a.m.-11 a.m. How do shorebirds all eat at the same table and compete with each other for the shoreline’s

Sunset Hayride & Fire. Daniel Webster Wildlife Sanctuary, Winslow Cemetery Rd., Mansfield. 6 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Celebrate the beauty of a summer evening with a tractordrawn hayride through the Sanctuary, where we will also relax fireside and listen to some

traditional stories of the season and watching the stars. Register ahead. Members $7, nonmembers $10. massaudubon.org/southshore.

21 Sunday Disc Golf Family Day. Rocky Woods, 64 Rocky Woods Reservation Entrance, Medfield.

10 a.m.-2 p.m. Learn and play disc golf during this event with practice holes and official discs to try, experts to give you pointers, and a full 18-hole course. Members $5, nonmembers $10. thetrustees.org.

LEGO Zone. The Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Acton. 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Drop in with your imagination as we supply the LEGOs and some LEGO challenges for you to build or create your own unique vision. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $12.50, children under 1 free. discoverymuseums.org.

Summer Safari Scavenger Hunt. Southwick’s Zoo, 2 Southwick St., Mendon. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Test your zoo knowledge with our annual Summer Safari Scavenger Hunt, with different hunts for different ages, and prizes for winners.

Free with admission. Members free; nonmember adults $25, children ages 3 to 12 $18, children under 3 free. southwickszoo.com.

Food for Thought Film Festival. Fruitlands Museum, 102 Prospect Hill Rd., Harvard.

10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Join us in the Wayside Visitor Center for popcorn and screenings of some of our top-rated films from Fruitlands’s winter film series. Free with admission. Members free; nonmember adults $14, children ages 5 to 13 $6, children under 5 free. fruitlands.org.

22 Monday Everyday Engineering: SailMobiles. The Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton.

11 a.m.-2 p.m. Drop in and engage in some everyday engineering as you construct and create with repurposed and recycled materials, as we construct a simple vehicle that’s part car, part sailboat. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $12.50, children under 1 free. discoverymuseums.org.

D.W. Counts Down to Kindergarten.

Leominster Public Library, 30 West St., Leominster. 6 p.m.-7 p.m. Children entering Kindergarten and their families are invited to join in on this interactive hour of play where children will learn about what to expect as they enter kindergarten. Free. leominsterlibrary.org.

23 Tuesday Dress Up DIY. The Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Acton. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Drop in and style yourself as an astronaut, fashion your very own monster mask, piece together a pirate suit, sew yourself a superhero cape, or just have fun putting on and taking off different materials. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $12.50, children under 1 free. discoverymuseums.org.

OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO!

24 Wednesday Back to School Concert with Alissa Cotes.

American Fresh Brewhouse, 301 Canal St., Somerville. 10 a.m. A time to get your child moving, thinking, and creating, during a fantastic concert to kick off the school year with plenty of coffee to boot. Free. assemblyrow.com.

Banana Boats: Art Class. The Marine Museum at Fall River, 70 Water St., Fall River.

2 p.m. A thematic afternoon crafting activity and art lesson in the wonderful space of the Marine Museum. For ages 4 to 8. Register ahead.

Children $5. marinemuseumfr.org.

Alternatives Free Summer Concert.

Alternatives’ Community Plaza at the Whitin Mill, 50 Douglas Rd., Whitinsville. 6 p.m.8 p.m. Enjoy an outdoor concert with refreshments available from Uxbridge First Holiday Night, just remember to bring your lawn chairs or blankets. Free. alternativesnet.org.

DCR Free Shakespeare in the Park. Castle Island, South Boston. 7:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m.

The Brown Box Theatre presents Cymbeline, King of Britain. Bring along a blanket or chair and settle in the grass field in the shadow of Fort Independence, on the hilltop to the right of Sullivan’s. Free. 617-698-1802 x 217.

Artist Toolbox Cart: Silver. Museum of Fine Arts: Boston, 465 Huntington Ave., Boston.

5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Explore the tools and materials that artists use, right in the galleries at this drop-in program, including the step-bystep process behind the creation of the objects in the museum’s collection. Free with admission.

Members free; nonmember adults $25, ages 17 and under free. mfa.org.

26 Friday

around your favorite fandoms from comics, to anime, to BBC, to cartoons. For ages 10 to 17.

Free. mywpl.org.

In the Yard: Rosies Invade the Charlestown Navy Yard. USS Constitution Museum, Charlestown Navy Yard, Building 22, Charlestown. 12 p.m. Join this extravaganza celebrating the role of women workers at the Charlestown Navy Yard through music, swing dancing, special tours, talks, and activities for the whole family. Through Saturday. Free. ussconstitutionmuseum.org.

12th Annual Ice Cream Social. Cary Memorial Library, 1874 Massachusetts Ave., Lexington. 3:30 p.m. Enjoy ice cream from Rancatore’s to wrap up the Summer Reading Program at Cary Memorial Library. Free. carylibrary.org.

Friday Farm Dinner. Powisset Farm, 31 Powisset St., Dover. 6 p.m.-8 p.m. A seasonal dinner, the scenic views of the farm at sunset, and the company of new and old farm friends, with a full dinner, dessert, and entertainment.

Fandom Friday. Worcester Public Library: Main Branch, 3 Salem Sq., Worcester. 3 p.m.-5 p.m.

Trivia, crafts, snacks, and games all centering

Infants • Toddlers • Preschool Full Time Part Time

Zootopia. The Hall at Patriot Place, 2 Patriot Pl., Foxboro. 6 p.m. Enjoy pre-show entertainment on the plaza before stretching out at sunset on blankets or lawn chairs as we watch this Disney animated film following a tenacious bunny cop and a sly fox as they team up to solve the mystery of disappearing urban-dwelling animals. Free. patriot-place.com.

Longwood Symphony Orchestra. DCR’s Hatch Memorial Shell, 47 David G Mugar Way, Boston. 7 p.m. The annual performance at the Hatch Shell by Boston’s medical community orchestra, promoting music as a healing art.

Free. landmarksorchestra.org.

Free Shakespeare at Martini Shell Park.

DCR Martini Shell Park, 1015 Truman Parkway, Hyde Park. 7:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. The Brown Box Theatre presents Cymbeline, King of Britain, a theatrical feast that blends tragedy, comedy and romance into an enchanting Shakespearean fairytale. Free. 617-698-1802 x 217.

25 Thursday Make a MESS: B is for Butterfly. The Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Acton.

10 a.m.-11 a.m. Drop in and create your own beautiful unique butterflies by mixing paints, while learning about these fast and beautiful creatures. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $12.50, children under 1 free. discoverymuseums.org.

The British Redcoat. Minute Man National Historical Park, 250 North Great Rd., Lincoln.

1 p.m. & 3 p.m. Join Park Ranger Roger Fuller to explore the perspective of the King’s Army on April 19, 1775, and why they were in Massachusetts at that time. Free. nps.gov.

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OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO!

FREE

Fun Fridays August 2016

Eight cultural destinations throughout Massachusetts are opening their doors free each Friday this month, courtesy of the Highland Street Foundation. Here’s August’s lineup, visit highlandstreet.org/freefunfridays for more information.

August 5 Harvard Museum of Natural History The Old State House The Greenway Carousel Springfield Museums Historic Deerfield Hancock Shaker Village The Old Manse, The Trustees Worcester Historical Museum August 12 MIT Museum The Museum of the NCAAA Concord Museum Garden in the Woods Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center Naumkeag, The Trustees Emily Dickinson Museum The Metropolitan Waterworks Museum August 19 The Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston USS Constitution Museum The Discovery Museums EcoTarium The Children’s Museum of Greater Fall River New England Historic Genealogical Society Fuller Craft Museum Griffin Photography Museum August 26 Franklin Park Zoo Old Sturbridge Village Freedom Trail Foundation Museum of African American History Norman Rockwell Museum Berkshire Museum Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum Cape Cod Museum of Natural History

28 AUGUST2016

Register ahead. Member adults $36, children $12; nonmember adults $45, children $15. thetrustees.org.

of them. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $16, children under 1 free. bostonchildrensmuseum.org.

Friday Night Video Games: Teens.

Leominster Public Library, 30 West St., Leominster. 6 p.m.-9 p.m. Come hang out with friends to play Smash Brothers Brawl on the WiiU, Playstation 3, and X-Box 360 with snacks and door prizes. For grades 7 to 12. Free. leominsterlibrary.org.

Artist Toolbox Cart: Marble Sculpture.

Museum of Fine Arts: Boston, 465 Huntington Ave., Boston. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Explore the tools and materials that artists use during this drop-in program exploring how marble sculptures are approached and created. Free with admission.

Members free; nonmember adults $25, ages 17 and under free. mfa.org.

Ant-Man. DCR’s Hatch Memorial Shell, 47 David G Mugar Way, Boston. 6 p.m. Bring a blanket or lawn chair, pack a picnic, and enjoy games and giveaways, before settling in to enjoy this Marvel film following con-man turned hero Scott Lang as he protects the secrets that gave him his amazing suit. Free. boston.cbslocal.com.

KidsJam. Boston Children’s Museum, 308 Congress St., Boston. 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m.

Enjoy a live DJ, dance lessons, games, and of course dancing during this fun for all ages dance party. Members free, nonmembers $1, children under 1 free. bostonchildrensmuseum.org.

27 Saturday Family Fun on the Beach: Kites and the Science of Flight. Duxbury Beach. 9:30 a.m.-11 a.m. Build a few simple kites as we explore the science of flight. Participants meet in the lot on the ocean side of the Powder Point Bridge; tell the harbormaster you are attending the Mass Audubon program. All are drop-in, free, and nonresident parking is permitted during the program. 781-837-9400. massaudubon.org/ southshore.

Play Date: Seaside Adventures. Institute of Contemporary Art: Boston, 25 Harbor Shore Dr., Boston. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Pack some snacks and venture to the ICA for a day by the harbor, as you design your own artist’s book, make a sculpture, sketch a view, and catch a family concert.

Members free; nonmembers $15, youths under 17 free. icaboston.org.

Bee Weekend. Tower Hill Botanic Garden, 11 French Dr., Boylston. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Celebrate bees through exhibits, demos, honey tastings, hands-on activities, games, and much more. Through Sunday until 4 p.m. Free with admission. Members free; nonmember adults $12, ages 6 to 18 $7, children under 6 free. towerhillbg.com.

Downtown Plymouth Waterfront Festival.

Plymouth Waterfront, Water St., Plymouth.

10:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Enjoy over 230 artisan and crafter booths, food vendors, two stages of live entertainment, kids’ activities, ducky dash, and more. Free. plymoutthwaterfrontfestival.com.

Eye Care. Boston Children’s Museum, 308 Congress St., Boston. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Learn about how eyes work and how to take good care

Mary Poppins. South Garden, Prudential Center, 800 Boylston St., Boston. 6 p.m. Enjoy entertainment, children’s activities and giveaways, before settling down to watch this Disney movie following Julie Andrews as a magical nanny charged with two mischievous youths in London. Free. prudentialcenter.com.

28 Sunday Marshfield Fair. 140 Main St., Marshfield.

12 p.m.-10 p.m. Enjoy daily entertainment during this final day of the Marshfield fair, including arts and crafts, spinning, horticultural and agricultural displays, Rick Boni Chainsaw Artist, bird carvers, a traveling zoo, balloon magic, illusionists, and more. $10, children under 7 free. marshfieldfair.org.

30 Tuesday Make an Impression like Monet. The Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Acton. 10 a.m.-11 a.m. View printed examples of Monet’s famous paintings and then set off outside to create your own Monet-inspired artwork. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $12.50, children under 1 free. discoverymuseums.org.

Try It Out Tuesday. The Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Acton. 1 p.m.-4 p.m. Drop in and provide your expert opinion and help us prototype a new idea, program, or exhibit component. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $12.50, children under 1 free. discoverymuseums.org.

31 Wednesday Chopped: Kids Cooking Class. KITCHEN at Boston Public Market, 6 Congress St., Boston.

9 a.m.-12 p.m. & 1 p.m.-4 p.m. Build culinary and team working skills, as you collaborate in teams of 3 or 4 to create a dish or meal with ingredients sourced from vendors in the market.

For ages 11 to 13. Members $44, nonmembers $55. thetrustees.org.

Backyard and Beyond: Great Hill Exploration. The Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Acton. 11 a.m. Come explore some of the trails that wind through the wooded 184 acres along with museum staff. Free with admission.

Members free, nonmembers $12.50, children under 1 free. discoverymuseums.org.

Artist Toolbox Cart: Painting. Museum of Fine Arts: Boston, 465 Huntington Ave., Boston.

5:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Explore the tools and materials that artists use to create the portraits and landscapes that hang right in the galleries during this drop-in program. Free with admission.

Members free; nonmembers $25, ages 17 and under free. mfa.org.

Maynard Community Band Concert.

Memorial Park, 24 Summer St., Maynard.

7 p.m. Bring a blanket or folding chair to enjoy this community performance on the lawn. maynardcommunityband.com.

Your Event + Our Calendar = Awesome Want your event listed in our comprehensive monthly listing of Massachusetts family fun?

Send the details to editor@baystateparent.com by the first week of the month.

For example, September events should be submitted by the first week of August.

BAYSTATEPARENT 29

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Getting Your Child Kindergarten-Ready: 4 Tips for Parents

33 34 38

6 Ways To Ease Back-to-School Stress

40

Don’t Overlook the Incredible Benefits of Reading To Your Tween or Teen

46

Judy Moody Marches On

48

Simple Ways To Carve Out Reading Time for Kids

50

The Best Way Parents Can Set Kids Up for Homework Success

53

Massachusetts Supreme Court rules against Common Core Ballot Question

54

Cambridge Tackles Student Hunger One Backpack At a Time

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Back to School & Co-Parenting Relationships

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Start the School Year Off Right With a Dear Teacher Letter

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6

Remember your first week at your new job? Your stomach was full of butterflies. You were excited to be starting something new, but you also didn’t know what to expect, and that led to stress and anxiety. Just like the first week on a new job, the beginning of a school year can be stressful.

Part of the stress of the start of a year is all the transitions that are happening at once. Think about all the changes a child faces at the beginning of a new school year. They’re starting a new grade, perhaps in a new school. They’re getting used to a new teaching style, a new schedule, a different time for lunch, etc.

With all of those changes, of course there is stress! That first week back, everyone is exhausted and dazed. There are two ways you can make this transition a little easier for everyone in your family: You can be purposeful and planful in your schedule, and you can teach your kids healthy ways to manage stress.

32 AUGUST2016

Ways To Ease

Back-to-School Stress

BY JANINE HALLORAN

Be purposeful with your schedule

Teach your child to manage stress

1. Ease back to a school-year time clock gradually We all get a little less structured during the summer months, and our schedules are (hopefully) less busy during this time, too. A few weeks before school begins, start gradually waking up yourself and your kids a little bit earlier, so that by the time school starts, you’re closer to a typical school day wake-up time.

Stress is part of everyone’s life; kids and adults feel stressed at one time or another. Dealing with stress is something that can be taught, just as you teach children to brush their teeth or take a bath. Teaching them how to cope with stress now is wonderful because it is more likely they will become an adult with good coping skills.

2. Start activities slowly The start of the school year is always busy. Why add to the madness by starting several activities at the same time? Take this opportunity to prioritize activities and only choose one. Does your child want to try a new activity or do they absolutely adore an activity they’ve done? Talk about this as a family and decide which activity will be done first. Let your child ease into the school year, get comfortable, and then add to the schedule.

If this is a year of big transitions in school, maybe it makes sense to start with nothing and then add on as everyone gets more comfortable. My son started kindergarten this past year. Although he had been doing activities while he was in preschool, we wanted to be very thoughtful because he was starting full-day kindergarten. I know it seems a little unconventional, but he had no scheduled activities until January. This allowed him time to get settled into new routines, and it worked really well for all of us.

1. Recognize and acknowledge the feelings First and foremost, it’s important to first recognize that overwhelmed feeling. Talk with your child about what their body feels like when they are stressed out.

Does their stomach get clenched?

Does their mind go fuzzy? Do they feel sweaty? When their body gives them those cues, then it’s time to use a coping skill. The hope is that with enough practice, kids will start to make the connection that they need to use a coping skill on their own when they feel this way.

2. The importance of taking a few deep breaths It sounds hokey and overdone, but taking deep breaths cues your body to move out of flight, fright, or freeze mode and back into rest and digest mode. When you are in flight, fright, or freeze, your breathing gets shallow. By deliberately taking deep breaths, you’re telling your body to calm down. The way to take a good, effective, deep breath is to breathe from your

belly, not your chest.

Pretend that your belly is a balloon. When you take a deep breath your belly should expand like a balloon. When you breathe out, your belly should move in, like air is escaping from a balloon.

3. Help your kids identify what helps them calm down and relax Help your child figure out things they can do to relax. Start with their favorites. My children love to create projects with recycling, do arts & crafts, and read silly books.

Here are other ideas to help you brainstorm ways your child can: • • • • • • •

Coloring Listen to music Playing with a pet Building with LEGOs Shuffling cards Knitting Going to a playground

4. Plan something fun Do something relaxing and enjoyable for the first weekend after school starts. It may be going to a new playground or taking a special trip to the frozen yogurt place.

Keep it low key. It’s always great to have something special to look forward to after a tough week.

Transitions in life happen, and back to school always comes quicker than we think. Being planful with your schedule and teaching your child ways to cope with stress will make the transition a bit easier for everyone.

READY, SET...SCHOOL!

Getting Your Child Kindergarten-Ready: 4 Tips for Parents

BY DEBORAH DIXON

A

riences as opposed to formal workbooks or apps) goes a long way.

This is an important topic, with new research showing that kindergarten readiness is tied to long-term academic success, and some teachers expressing concerns that kids’ skills are lacking because of too much time on tech devices in their formative years.

There are a number of key skills children need for a successful school experience. These include:

lthough summer is still in full swing, parents who have children entering kindergarten this fall may already be thinking ahead to the first day of school.

This is an exciting time, but it can also be a stressful one as parents consider whether their child is fully prepared for this important milestone.

Rest assured, most children will do just fine with this transition.

However, a little dedicated preparation (in the form of real-life expeCommunication skills — sharing one’s thoughts, wants, and needs, as well as understanding the thoughts, wants, and needs of others.

Social skills — successfully interacting and sharing experiences with peers as well as adults. This involves turn-taking, initiating and concluding conversations, and using appropriate gestures, facial expressions, and intonations, among other things.

Independence and self-regulation — being able to complete age-appropriate tasks without assistance (e.g., washing hands and getting dressed) as well as being able to control one’s emotions and behaviors.

Problem solving, collaboration, and following directions — knowing how to play with other children, work with other children and teachers, and solve the hundreds of small problems that may come up every day.

Providing your child with occasions to experience the world with

and plants you passed. Make up stories as you walk along and have your child contribute to the stories.

you offers important opportunities to enhance many of these skills.

Here are some day-to-day activities that can be turned into invaluable learning experiences: 1. Household tasks — Engaging your child in sorting laundry by color, size, and type of clothing; counting silverware as it is unloaded from the dishwasher; following directions (e.g., “Can you find the colander and put it beside the pasta dish?”); and practicing decision making (e.g., “Would you like to wear the blue top or the green one?”) all work on essential skills. Help children to be independent when getting dressed and brushing their teeth. Assign them simple chores to complete.

3. Reading — An evening ritual signals the end of the day, provides quiet time for parents and children, and develops a love of reading. As you read to your child, stop and ask simple questions that require them to remember what was read, or ask questions that probe their thoughts.

Count how many pages are in the book, and talk about the cover and pictures (e.g., “What is between the dog and the cow?”; “Which one is smaller?”; “Which is the most colorful?”). Stop and ask how they think the story may end. Draw pictures about the book.

2. Neighborhood walks — Compare the shapes, colors, and objects that you see. Use basic concept words such as in front of, behind, beside, and above, and talk about things that are bigger, wider, softer, and so forth. Ask your child to name something they saw at the beginning of the walk. Name the kinds of trees

4. “Field trips” to the zoo, parks, and museums — Trips to these places provide a great opportunity to build vocabulary, social skills, and overall language. Name objects and describe what they look like and how they are used. Ask those questions of your child. Talk about how the animals feel, sound, and

move; talk about what they eat and where they live (e.g., oceans, mountains, beach, jungle). Run, skip, and hop around the park and talk about those movement words. In the museum, talk about things you don’t use or see in your world anymore and how they were used.

If you have concerns about your child’s communication skills, contact your local school district to be put in touch with a certified speechlanguage pathologist, or search the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association website (asha.org/ profind/) to find a professional. By practicing important skills, and identifying any potential communication problems early, you can set your child on a path to academic and social success.

Deborah A. Dixon, M.A. CCC-SLP, is director of School Services for the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA). She provides resources, technical assistance, and contemporary information to schoolbased speech-language pathologists.

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34 AUGUST2016

True Story!

READY, SET...SCHOOL!

It’s no lie: Reading is the key to a child’s success in school and, truly, life beyond the classroom.

Lucky for us, there are classics — old and new — being discovered and re-discovered by kids and parents every day. New York-based Out of Print Clothing (outofprintclothing.com) has created an entire line of fun, unique clothing and accessories designed to showcase your — or your child’s — love of a good book.

Our models: Zac, 4: Kids’ Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus T-shirt, sizes 2T, 4T, 6, $20 (also available as an infant bodysuit) Julio, 7: Kids’ Where the Wild Things Are T-shirt, sizes 2T, 4T, 6, 8, 10, $20 (also available in adult sizes and infant bodysuit)

Alyona, 6: Kids’ Charlotte’s Web T-shirt, sizes 2T, 4T, 6, 8, 10, $20 (also available in adult sizes) Grace, 3: Kids’ Harold and the Purple Crayon T-shirt, sizes 2T, 4T, 6, 8, $20 (also available in women’s sizes and infant bodysuit)

BAYSTATEPARENT 35

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Giuliana, 9: Women’s The Outsiders: Burton Edition T-shirt, sizes S-XXL, $28 (also available in men’s) 36 AUGUST2016

Yaraneisy, 10: Unisex The Great Gatsby sweatshirt, sizes XS-XXL, $42; Composition Notebook leggings, adult sizes S/M, M/L, $20

Nicholas, 9: The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy T-shirt, available in men’s and women’s fit, sizes S-XXL, $28

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Ethan, 15: Unisex Library stamp sweatshirt, sizes XS-XL, $42 (also available in men’s and women’s T-shirts)

Photography by Shawna Shenette Hair and Makeup provided by Rob Roy Hair Salons Models provided by The Cameo Agency BAYSTATEPARENT 37

The Best Back-to-School Reading Picks

Whether it’s kindergarten or senior year, reading is on the agenda for every student this fall, pretty much from the first bell.

If your reader is looking for new titles to enjoy, characters to meet, and places to explore, look no further than these new school-themed releases from Penguin Young Readers, Candlewick Press, and Bloomsbury Children’s.

BY MELISSA SHAW

YOUNG READERS

Bear’s Big Day Salina Yoon Ages 0-5 It’s Bear’s very first day of school! He wants to be grown up, so he leaves his stuffed bunny at home along with all his familiar things. But being away from his best friend is hard — and the first day doesn’t turn out quite like Bear wanted it to. Bear learns that the first day of school might not always be perfect, and being grown up doesn’t have to mean giving up the things he loves.

Milk Goes to School Terry Border Ages 3-7 First days of school are tough, and making new friends is even tougher. Milk’s dad gave her a sparkly new backpack and told her that she was the crème de la crème, but most of the other kids don’t seem to agree. Food friends go to school and learn that sharing and playing together can be a whole lot of fun.

The Night Before Class Picture Day Natasha Wing Ages 3-5 It’s the night before class picture day, and kids all down the block are getting ready — everyone wants to look perfect for the photo. They fix hair, practice smiles, and choose outfits. At school the next day, they do their best to try and stay picture-perfect.

Juana & Lucas Juana Medina Ages 5-8 Juana loves many things — drawing, eating Brussels sprouts, living in Bogotá, Colombia, and especially her dog, Lucas. She does not love wearing her itchy school uniform or learning English. But when Juana’s abuelos tell her about a special trip they are planning — one that Juana will need to speak English to go on — she begins to wonder whether learning English might be a good use of her time after all.

MIDDLE-GRADE READERS

The Great Shelby Holmes Elizabeth Eulberg Ages 8-12 Shelby Holmes is 9 years old, barely 4 feet tall, and the best detective her Harlem neighborhood has ever seen. When 11-year-old John Watson moves downstairs, Shelby finds something that’s eluded her up till now: a friend. Soon he finds himself Shelby’s partner in a dog-napping case that’ll take both their talents to crack.

38 AUGUST2016

The Kindness Club Courtney Sheinmel Ages 8-12 Chloe Silver is new in town and, after her parents’ divorce, she is not excited about yet another change. In her new fifth grade class, Chloe worries about making friends, but when she is assigned a group project with offbeat Lucy Tanaka and nerdy Theo Barnes, they decide to form The Kindness Club. Testing out different acts of kindness on their classmates, neighbors, and siblings, they hope to prove every action has an equal reaction. But sometimes being kind is harder than you’d think.

Been There, Done That School Dazed Mike Winchell (editor) Ages 10+ To some kids, school means homework, bus rides, or band practice. To others it means bullies, tough teachers, or pranking the substitute. In this anthology of short stories, 18 celebrated middlegrade authors share their real-life academic experiences and turn them into original fictional short stories.

Timmy Failure: The Book You’re Not Supposed to Have Stephan Pastis Ages 8-12 In this fifth installment of the popular series, overconfident detective Timmy Failure is faced with a teachers’ strike that is crippling his academic future, and he’s banned from detective work. He recorded everything in his private notebook, which ends up stolen. If this book gets out, he will be grounded for life. Or maybe longer.

READY, SET...SCHOOL!

YOUNG ADULT READERS

Fish In a Tree Lynda Mullaly Hunt Ages 10+ Ally has been smart enough to fool a lot of smart people. Every time she lands in a new school, she is able to hide her inability to read by creating clever yet disruptive distractions. However, her newest teacher sees the bright, creative kid underneath the troublemaker. With his help, Ally learns not to be so hard on herself and that dyslexia is nothing to be ashamed of.

Sophomores and Other Oxymorons David Lubar Ages 12+ A follow-up to the popular Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie, Scott Hudson has somehow managed to survive freshman year. But with a new baby brother in the house and a whole host of new adventures awaiting him at school, sophomore year will be anything but boring.

Read Me Like a Book Liz Kessler Ages 14+

The Long Game Jennifer Lynn Barnes Ages 12+

In her first novel for young adults, the bestselling author tells the story of Ashleigh Walker, a mediocre student with no plans for the future.

Then straight-from-college English teacher Miss Murray takes over Ash’s class and changes everything. For the first time, Ash feels an urge to try harder, and before she knows it, Ashleigh is in love — with Miss Murray.

For Tess Kendrick, a junior at the elite Hardwicke School in Washington D.C., fixing (the ability to make her peers’ problems disappear) runs in the family. When Tess is asked to run a classmate’s campaign for student council, she agrees. But when the candidates are children of politicians, even a high school election can involve lifeshattering secrets. A sequel to 2015’s The Fixer.

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READY, SET...SCHOOL!

DON’T OVERLOOK the Incredible Benefits of Reading To Your Tween or Teen

BY KRISTEN GUAY

It

is a quiet weekday evening in a typical home with school-aged children.

Homework is completed and tucked in backpacks, children are bathed and in their pajamas, and the bedtime hour is closely approaching.

A parent carefully selects some reading material and recites an interesting story to their child. The parent exudes enthusiasm, inflections in tone, and other parental tricks to make this reading time interesting and pleasant for both the parent and the child.

Yet something is different. It’s 9 p.m., not 7 p.m. The setting is not the character-themed bedroom of a young child, but the family room

40 AUGUST2016

of the house. The parents are not nestled into a cozy single bed, but are sitting on a sofa, as are their children. The stories are not Where The Wild Things Are or The Cat In The Hat. These are articles from national magazines and newspapers, or a chapter or two from a popular youngadult book. And the children are not young elementary-aged, but middle and high-schoolers. Let’s clarify the situation: The parents have found an interesting story in the daily newspaper or a favorite magazine, and they are sharing the story with their older child. Maybe the parent is even reading aloud a chapter in a contemporary teen novel.

By the time your child reaches their

teens, they have been reading independently for several years. So, is this scenario really necessary? Yes, reading aloud to your child can and should continue into the teen years.

Why not? It’s done in the classroom Teachers have been advocating read-aloud sessions in the classroom at the upper levels for years. In the Education Week article, “Reading Aloud To Teens Gains Favor Among Teachers,” author Mary Ann Zehr points out that this practice is not exclusive to a language arts classroom: “English teachers are reading aloud to teenagers, classics ranging from the Odyssey to Of Mice and Men. History and social studies teachers are voicing the words of the Declaration of Independence and letters home from U.S. soldiers in the Vietnam War. Even some math and science teachers are reading to adolescents in class.”

The Sir Cumference series and Flatland are books read aloud in math classes, while Animal Farm has been a staple in social study classes for years. Teenagers are a captive audience when this occurs during class because they are at an age at which having an adult read aloud to them is almost non-existent.

Research supports it Let’s take a look at some of the research that supports the positive benefits of reading aloud to pre-teens and teens. Lettie K. Albright, an associate professor of literacy at Texas Woman’s University, presented findings from a study of a reading aloud program involving eighth-grade students. Teachers surveyed reported that reading aloud “builds middle school students’ knowledge in content areas, helps them have positive attitudes toward reading, and helps increase their reading fluency.” The teachers in this survey stated several justifications for reading aloud to their students — create interest in a specific topic, model fluent reading, and expose students to a variety of genres. However, the most important reason of all was to foster a love of reading. These above-mentioned reasons are worthy enough to encourage parents to implement this practice at home.

Personal experience I recently shared four articles with my teenage daughters. The first two came from Time. One article, “What Reality TV Can Teach Reality Politics,” takes a look at the realityTV format of the presidential campaigns and compares the campaigns to the show Survivor. The other, “In Our Over-Documented Lives, Letting Go Has Gotten A Lot Harder,” explores how our children are growing up with digital banks of memories, occasions, letters, pictures, etc., that will be a constant reminder of their past. Both daughters are interested in the presidential campaigns and, of course, they are involved with digital devices, so these articles were of interest to them.

Earlier this year, New York Times magazine published its music issue, and this was a huge hit with our family. Both the song “Say No to This” by the Hamilton cast and “Stressed Out” by 21 Pilots were featured in the article — something that resonated with each daughter. Even dated reading material can be of interest. There was an article in a 2012 Town & Country

magazine chronicling the epicurean adventures of an American chef in some of the most innovative restaurants in Hong Kong — perfect for my daughter who was born in China and longs to be a chef someday. The point: We can reshape our thinking of reading aloud to our kids when they get older, but we should not eliminate it altogether.

Home vs. school Contrary to the classroom, home is an environment where reading will not be followed by a comprehension quiz or a paper outlining character development throughout a novel.

Parents have the opportunity to read aloud to their children for pure enjoyment — for both the parent and the child. Try to think of the last time this was done. Many parents discontinue reading aloud to their child once their child has mastered independent reading. A parent feels they have done all they can do by providing a good base of reading skills when the child was younger. There is absolutely no doubt this is true — a parent reading to a child is one of the best gifts the former can give (both educational and emotional). However, there are still many advantages to continuing this practice. The parent now has the opportunity to read aloud something that is enjoyable to them as well as opposed to one more reading of Pinkalicious.

What reading aloud offers When I was involved in the Literacy Leadership Team at my previous school, we were working with the book Igniting A Passion For Reading

by Steven L. Layne. Layne is a professor of literacy education at Judson University in Elgin, Ill., and his book is used by educators across the county to help support literacy in the classroom — across content and grade levels.

It is important to remember that language in everyday conversations lacks correct grammar and sentence structure, challenging vocabulary, and enriched detail — the written language makes up for these deficits.

In order to develop eloquent and expressive communication skills, children need to continually hear appropriate and sophisticated language, and a great deal of this can be done through reading aloud.

Layne points out that children are able to listen and comprehend at a higher level than they are able with silent reading on their own: “When we are reading aloud from text beyond a student’s listening level, we are actually bringing him more mature vocabulary, more sophisticated literacy devices, and more complex text structures than he would meet in text he could navigate on his own.”

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READY, SET...SCHOOL! In addition to exposing your child to a more advanced level of communication, you are also validating their interests by sharing something you feel they would enjoy. The reading can then lead to further discussion about the material. As Layne points out, “Reading aloud is such an intimate act, the conversations that take place surrounding the book being read matter; they matter a lot, and the kids remember.”

What should you read to your teen?

Bank Street College of Education’s article, “Reading Aloud With Children Twelve & Older,” illustrates the numerous benefits that reading aloud offers to the parent/child relationship.

The material that is selected to read is just as important as the act of reading itself. There are scores of articles in national newspapers and magazines that feature stories of interest to our teens and topics they confront every day in school. There have been recent articles on transgender teens, teachers having guns in the classrooms, the death of Prince, issues important to teens in the presidential elections, Syrian refugees, Coachella

music festival, and Steph Curry’s amazing basketball skills.

Books in the young adult genre also address some of the more edgy topics that are important to teens, such as violence, drug use, teen pregnancy, bullying, and challenging issues with family and friends. Just because your child gravitates toward these types of books does not mean they are experiencing the specific topic of the book. Many times teenagers are looking for a vicarious experience through literature — something they would not experience in real life but on which they still hold a curiosity.

As mentioned in the Bank Street article, the impression this has on your teenager is much greater than just the reading of the article, especially if there is discussion about the issues: “The impact of this activity may be even greater and more crucial at this point in a young person’s life.

A great read-aloud tells a teenager they are not alone in feeling awkward and uncertain. Throughout the characters’ fictional or real-life emotional journeys, young adults learn strategies to handle social situations and conflicts resulting in their own increased self-confidence.”

A special promise Many in education regard Jim Trelease as the guru of reading aloud

to our children. His book, The ReadAloud Handbook, contains a wealth of information to help parents read aloud to children of all ages.

In the book, Trelease tells the story of a father named Jim Brozina, who read aloud every night to his oldest daughter until she announced, in fourth grade, that she was now of age where she could read on her own, thus ending the nightly reading ritual.

Determined not to let this happen with his youngest daughter, Brozina decided to create a little game — they made a promise to read 100 nights straight. When that goal was reached, his daughter wanted to create a new goal. Ultimately, they reached the grand number of 3,218 nights in a row. Amazingly, this continued despite sickness, prom, divorce, and other daily activities that can threaten such a mission.

However, there was one milestone that proved too difficult to continue the streak — college. The last reading he did was the final chapter of a book on her first night away at college.

The story also mentions that Brozina worked for an elementary principal who felt that reading aloud was a waste of valuable instructional time.

Well, let’s see: Brozina’s daughter earned all As and one B in college, won two national writing contests, and wrote a book one year out of college, The Reading Promise: My Father and the Books We Shared. Not too

bad for someone that received 3,218 nights of “wasted instructional time.”

Final thought I have an old picture displayed in my home of my family when I was about 8. The setting is a woodsy bluff over the Jack’s Fork River in central Missouri. My father is sitting on a rock with a book in his hand (probably a tale about Native Americans, my father’s favorite). My brothers, ages 5 and 11, along with myself were sitting facing him. Here was our family in the middle of the woods listening to a story my father was reading.

I can honestly say I have not thought about that moment for about 40 years, but now I can remember it like it was yesterday. It was common practice for my father to carry a book, usually of short stories, with us when we went on these nature hikes.

We would take a little break, have a snack, and listen to these stories. I can remember my father continuing this practice with the reading of Little Match Girl at Christmas and sharing various stories from the newspaper.

This was all a wonderful way to bring the family in, if only for a brief moment. Keep in mind that you are not simply reading to your teenager: You are creating memories they will remember for a lifetime — or at least for 40 years.

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TIPS for Reading Aloud to Your Teen • Scour book lists to find reading material that would be of interest to you and your teenager — there is something out there for everyone. If you enjoy the book, you will enjoy reading it to your teenager.

• Select a book/movie combination. Read the book, then watch the movie. This provides an opportunity for discussion in comparing the two.

• Do not rule out graphic novels and comic books. These can be very appealing to some teenagers.

• Always keep reading material in the house, car, etc. Magazines and newspapers provide opportunities for quick reads. Keep in mind that magazines are an excellent resource to support a teenager’s interest.

There is a magazine out there for almost any interest, sport, or hobby of a teenager (see world-newspapers.com/youth.html).

• Our teenagers will do what we do,

not what we say. Model good reading habits for your child. Set aside time each day for them to see you reading something in a magazine, newspaper, or even on the Internet.

Let them see that you value reading and learning.

• Carefully select the time you read to your teen. Trying to share an article during the morning rush might not be the best idea — for both parents and teens — however, gathered around the table during dinner might be a little better. Sharing a brief article at the beginning of the meal can lead to some interesting discussion during the remainder of the dinner.

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• Be sure to have the adults of the house take turns sharing their reading interests. One parent might be more into fiction while another might prefer biographies. One parent might prefer hard news stories while another enjoys the opinion section. Don’t feel you need to read an entire article to your teenager — maybe just an interesting section or a vivid description you think they might enjoy.

• Above all: Always make it enjoyable. This is a time when reading has absolutely no strings attached to it. It is done simply for the pure enjoyment of sharing something between a parent and a teen.

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HOW TO Select Reading Material There are many websites that offer suggested teen reading.

Libraries and literary publications also offer lists of the top-selling teen reads. Below is a list of some websites to help get you started on your book selections: goodreads.com/shelf/show/teen — Provides an extensive list of the most popular YA books on the market. The site also provides information on each book such as page count and customer reviews. theguardian.com/books/booksblog/2014/mar/06/word-book-dayten-best-teen-reads — Contains a wealth of information for parents and teens. There are several different suggested teen reading lists: “Top Ten Books” (The Hunger Games, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Jane Eyre); “Books That Will Change the Way You Think” (To Kill a Mockingbird, The Book Thief, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time); “Books That Help You Understand You” (The Catcher in the Rye, The Knife of Never Letting Go, The Outsiders); “Books That Make You Cry” (The Color Purple, Of Mice and Men, The Kite Runner); “Books That Make You Laugh” (Catch 22, Geek Girl, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy); “Books That Scare You” (Lord Loss, The Shining, 1984); “Books That Teach You About Love” (Pride and Prejudice, How I Live Now, Wuthering Heights); “Books That

44 AUGUST2016

Thrill You” (Gone, Skulduggery Pleasant, The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones); and “Books That Transport You” (Life of Pi, Northern Lights, The Great Gatsby). teenreads.com — Provides a variety of information for parents and teens, such as suggested reading lists, information about authors, reviews, and books soon to be released. The site offers several suggested reading lists, including a banned books list (books the site feels would be perfect reads for teens — interesting and a little edgy — yet are banned in at least one school or library in the United States.) amightygirl.com — Features more than 2,000 books designed to empower girls. The website provides various filters to make selections by age and genre. This site lists books for age ranges from toddlers to adult. A brief synopsis of each book is also provided. insidedog.com.us — This Australian-based website gets its interesting name from a Groucho Marx quote: “Outside of a dog, a book is a man’s best friend. Inside a dog, it’s too dark to read.” Visitors can find book selections, read and share book reviews, engage in book discussions, and learn more about writers through the writer’s blog. readingrants.org — This site has been around for almost 20 years.

During this time, it has provided book reviews and now solicits reviews from teens. The reading lists are divided into categories with interesting names that reflect the themes of the books on the list such as “Bare Bones” (weight issues and eating disorders); “Closet Club” (gay teens); “Deadheads and Mosh-pits” (being in a band); “Spectacular Speculative Fiction” (science fiction); “The Silver Pentacle” (witches and witchcraft); and “Word Up!” (poetry written by teens for teens).

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Judy Moody Marches READY, SET...SCHOOL!

Author Megan McDonald on the series’ 13th book and her character’s lasting appeal

BY MELISSA SHAW

Spot any elementary school-aged reader the name “Judy” and they will likely quickly reply: “Moody.”

Since 2000, the redheaded thirdgrader and her enthusiastic exploits have taken the children’s chapter book market by storm. It’s often one of the first chapter book series children read and, impressively, continue to enjoy as they get older.

This month, Judy is back in her 13th book: Judy Moody and the Bucket List.

In her latest adventure, Judy finds a list of exciting possibilities in her grandmother’s purse, which the latter explains is her Bucket List. In her typical full-steam-ahead fashion, Judy decides to make her own list of things she wants to accomplish before she enters fourth grade — ride a horse, learn to do a cartwheel, invent something rad, and more.

And, also in typical Judy fashion, “of course she gets carried away,” laughs author Megan McDonald. “So many things go wrong for Judy, and that’s how real life is.”

The character’s comedic reflection of the frustrations and imperfection of real life is one major reason she continues to attract and retain young readers.

“I didn’t even realize the power of that until I started writing these books,” says the California-based author. “When I went out among kids and started talking to them about the books, I realized that is a really powerful thing for kids — to be able to read a book and think, Wow, it is OK to be frustrated and get mad and have a bad day. It happens to everybody and it’s not just me.

Right around this age of third grade 46 AUGUST2016

seems to be when kids become aware of that.”

Whether she’s successful or stalling, Judy Moody is always her own person and — an unexpected bonus in a children’s book — an effective nontraditional leader. She dives passionately into whatever her latest escapade may be, and instead of telling her friends to join her, she hooks them via her enthusiasm.

Comfortable in her own skin, Judy likes what she likes, regardless of whatever anyone else thinks.

“So many books I read around this age, especially with girl main characters, it’s all about the dynamics and machinations of having a best friend,” McDonald notes. “You hurt their feelings and you have a falling out and there’s the mean girl…not that that isn’t real, that’s true. But I was just trying to do something different from those dynamics with Judy, creating a character who is fiercely independent and creative in her own imagination. So whatever she’s into, she’s a leader in the sense of, ‘If I decide I’m going to try to break a record or save the planet, I’m going to pull all my friends and all the people around me into this passion or enthusiasm, too.’ They all get swept up in the Judyness of it.”

Team Judy Moody Just as Judy has evolved over more than a dozen books and a decade and a half, so has

JUDY MOODY AND THE BUCKET LIST. Text copyright © 2016 by Megan McDonald. Illustrations copyright © 2016 by Peter H. Reynolds. Reproduced by permission of the publisher, Candlewick Press, Somerville, MA.

McDonald’s writing.

“I grew up with four sisters, so the original stories were trying to capture some of these antics and things of growing up with sisters, even though I was doing it with Judy and a little brother to make it different from my own life,” she says. “The early books had more to do with stories that were from my own childhood. Then as I was writing the series, it got further away from who I was as a kid and more into the character of who really Judy Moody is. She’s come into her own much more as a character. I got braver and more courageous going further from my own stuff.”

Yet two constants over the years have been series illustrator Peter Reynolds and editor Mary Lee Donovan of Somerville-based publisher Candlewick Press.

McDonald and Reynolds were paired by Donovan, and at the time the Massachusetts-based Reynolds was brand new to book illustration.

“The first book, he really broke the mold,” McDonald says. “Most

chapter books at that time had maybe one spot illustration per chapter, and he just drew all over the pages; if there was slime he’d have it dripping down the page.

When Judy’s looking for the fake hand in the toilet in the first book [Judy Moody Was In a Mood], he drew the whole thing in comic book vignettes, he did double-page spreads. It was so wonderful to see.

He didn’t really know there was a formula, so he just did what he wanted to do.”

Later, Reynolds told McDonald his approach was influenced by his own childhood.

“He told me that he was a reluctant reader as a kid, so he would always count ahead the number of pages until he got to the next picture because he wasn’t very text-oriented,” she adds. “When he designed this book, he said he didn’t want kids to have to wait 17 pages of text until they get to the next visual image.”

Reynolds’ iconic illustrations, right down to the lone curl that juts

s On

to shape it and cut out the right things, the funny stuff really comes to the fore.

“With humor, it’s easy to get slapsticky. Judy is obviously exaggerated in terms of her character and her moods and her extreme passion about everything, but I want to keep it real because that’s one of the ways kids really connect with Judy.

They relate to her and they think she’s a real kid. Mary Lee really helps with that, too.”

Judy’s lasting appeal

straight off Judy’s head, have even replaced McDonald’s original visualization of the character.

“At the beginning, you have what’s in your imagination, but once Judy became Judy, that’s how I think of her now,” she says. “We’ve been together all these years, and I’m so lucky he wanted to be with Judy from the beginning.”

Yet the pair is not together in the literal sense, as many young readers imagine.

“Most kids think I get to sit in my kitchen with Peter and tell him what to draw, like we’re sitting there having tea and I’m, like, ‘That’s not right. Do this.’ They don’t realize we live 3,000 miles apart and all of our communication about the book goes through our editor,” she laughs.

McDonald calls editor Donovan “an unsung hero” in the series’ success.

“So much of what goes into Judy Moody is really the brilliance of Mary Lee. She’s so good,” she adds.

“Whatever the book is, I seem to have so many more ideas than will fit in 150 pages. I way overwrite, and then she helps me contain it and bring it back down to earth.

What happens in that process is it gets funnier. When you are able

When the first Judy Moody books were published, McDonald says the average reader was around 10 years old. Today, she’s finding Moody fans as young as first grade.

“It’s gotten younger and younger over the years because I think there’s been such a push to introduce chapter books earlier and get kids reading sooner,” she notes.

Now, McDonald is finding a range of ages at book signings and speaking engagements. She recalls a recent trip to an elementary school to talk to second and third graders, only to have the school ask if sixth graders could attend, too: “I said, ‘Sure, if you think they’re going to be interested.’ [They] wrote back immediately: ‘They’re the ones who want to come because they read Judy, they still love Judy, and they don’t want to be left out because they’re in sixth grade.’ I thought that was amazing.

“Now Judy’s been around long enough, I actually have young adults and people in college come through an autographing line,” she continues. “I think, ‘Oh, my gosh, that’s how I feel about Ramona!’

It’s so wonderful to see these 18-, 20-year-olds who want to meet the author of Judy Moody because that was their beloved third grade book.”

Which begs the question: Will Judy Moody ever get to fourth grade? As much as she loves her teacher Mr. Todd, Judy has now been in third grade for 16 years.

“I figured Ramona was in third grade for 25 years or something, I probably have a little bit of time,” McDonald laughs. “I just love that 8-year-old sensibility. There’s a part of me that wants to have Judy be frozen in time, forever third grade.

In a way I keep it timeless so that I’m not hemmed in, I’m sort of fast and loose with the time. Is it spring break? Is it May? I don’t really ground it in a particular time so it can go on forever.”

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Simple Ways To Carve Out Reading Time For Kids READY, SET...SCHOOL!

BY KRISTIN GUAY

L

et me take a wild guess: As a busy parent you’re probably reading this article in between folding laundry, running errands, paying bills, making meals, maintaining the house, driving to extracurricular activities, commuting to work and school, and all the many other activities that chisel away the hours in the day. So, if you were asked to add one more daily activity to the list — encourage family reading — you may be very reluctant. But you might think differently if you knew how important daily reading is to the educational and social future of your child.

48 AUGUST2016

The Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy has pointed out the need for strong literacy skills in our children and how this impacts various aspects of their adult lives: “Adolescents entering the adult world in the 21st Century will read and write more than at any other time in human history. They will need advanced levels of literacy to perform their jobs, run their households, act as citizens, and conduct their personal lives. They will need literacy to cope with the flood of information they will find everywhere they turn. They will need literacy to feed their imaginations so they can create the world of the future. In a complex and sometimes even dangerous world, their ability to read will be crucial.”

Gone are the days when literacy was simply thought of as reading a book used for language arts class in school. In today’s schools, students are instructed in information literacy and how to navigate different media to retrieve and present information. Students are given complex word problems in math class and are asked to write out, step-by-step, a lab experiment in science class.

They are asked to write a report about a classical composer in music class and write a reflective poem about an abstract painting in art class.

A cursory look at a student’s last two years in high school can illustrate the importance of these skills — studying for SAT exams; reviewing and understanding material from prospective colleges; writing

college application essays; communicating with college personnel; and writing letters for jobs, internships, or scholarships. These skills are needed regardless of whether your child’s interests lie in language arts, math, science, or the arts. The bottom line is that it is never too early to work on literacy skills, and creating a little time every day is necessary.

Finding time for daily reading might not be as challenging as you think. A few simple tricks and suggestions will help you support your child in receiving the much-needed reading time that is so important to their personal interests and education, now and in the future.

A good start Encourage your child to take advantage of all the little pockets of time between their daily activities — waiting for a dental/medical appointment; bus/car ride; waiting for friends to arrive before school; free time after lunch; waiting for sports practice to start; sitting through a sibling’s activity; or even free time in class. These moments are wonderful opportunities to sneak in a little reading time. The key is to always have reading material tucked away in your child’s backpack. If they have a good book, magazine or e-reader on hand, all these little moments are opportunities to read a few more pages or even finish an entire magazine article.

Examine your child’s day Keep a brief log of how your child

spends their free time. Is there unnecessary time spent watching TV or checking social media? You might be surprised how your child spends their time each day. A 2010 report published by the Kaiser Foundation, “Generation M2: Media in the Lives of 8-to-18- Year Olds,” delivered some alarming statistics regarding media use in teens: “Today’s teens spend more than 7½ hours a day consuming media — watching TV, listening to music, surfing the Web, social networking, and playing video games.”

On the road With busy schedules, many families spend an incredible amount of time in the car driving to school, afterschool activities, errands, playdates, etc. This can all add up to countless minutes per day, but it can also be used to your advantage.

Keep in mind that when your child is in the car, this is an opportunity to direct their attention to reading material and provide alternatives to portable electronics. Many cars have large sleeves on the back of the front seats — fill these with quick reading material. Magazines, crossword puzzles, and word games, such as Scrabble books, all fit nicely and are easily available to occupants in the back seat. Change them up every once in awhile to keep it fresh and engaging. You can also get a small container to put either on the back seat or back seat floor, and fill it with books. Good suggestions would be short-story collections, comic books, Chicken Soup for the Soul editions — something that could be completed

in a short amount of time. Again, keep the selections revolving to retain interest.

Monitor screen time Keep a log of exactly how much TV your child is watching. A study conducted by the Nielsen Company reported: “Kids aged 2-5 now spend more than 32 hours a week, on average, in front of a TV screen.

The older segment of that group (ages 6-11) spends a little less time, about 28 hours per week watching TV, due in part that they are more likely to be attending school for longer hours.” Does your child need to watch a cartoon while they eat breakfast or can they read a good book instead?

Also, monitor computer time — especially if your child has a computer in their room. Are they completing a homework assignment or browsing the Web? Try to control the constant distractions from electronics. When your child is reading, keep phone, computer, and any other electronic devices out of reach and allow them to check only at designated times. This will eliminate distractions and remove the temptation to stop reading, check, and respond to messages.

Plan your time in advance Make sure you and your child are

not overscheduled and doing activities that are not absolutely necessary. Determine if there is something that can wait until the next day to allow a few precious minutes for reading. Again, the goal is to provide a little reading time every day, and sometimes choices need to be made to make this happen. If the day is coming to an end and your child has not had quiet reading time, maybe their chore of cleaning their bedroom can wait until tomorrow.

As hard as it is to look at clothes and toys on the floor, the rewards of daily reading are much greater than a tidy bedroom.

Use quiet reading time as a “reward” for your child If they have worked diligently on homework or completed a challenging chore, give them some quiet reading time to rest and relax. Make this time a family activity — turn off the TV, radios, phones, computers, etc., and spend a few minutes as a family enjoying reading. Children will imitate what they see the adults in their lives doing on a regular basis.

Let them see you read a book, magazine, or newspaper. Share with your child something interesting or funny you are reading. This gives them a front-row seat to see for themselves how literacy skills impact and enrich their daily lives.

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The Best Way Parents Can Set Kids Up For Homework Success

T

BY MELISSA SHAW

gets more important as the child ime management is a key ages, he notes: “By the time they’re component of the sucin high school, it’s absolutely cess of today’s students. imperative they figure out However, how are they going to today’s keep their calendar, youth are at a dis“What’s how are they going to tinct disadvantage happened in the stay on top of their compared with genappointments, how erations past, says last generation are they going to Ron Fry, author of is most kids are stay on top of their the seminal study overscheduled. classes.” skills book, How To Fry says parents Study. It’s hard to The idea that can set their student learn how to manage there’s a way to up for success by your time when you actually effectivesetting a homework/ have no time to manstudying routine that age. ly manage your is enforced and con“Parents to a great time, they never sistent. extent haven’t really do that because “Have a rule that helped their kids it’s all managed when you come home with this,” he says. from school, before “What’s happened in for them.” you do anything the last generation is else — whether it’s most kids are over– Ron Fry, author, TV or playing with scheduled. The idea How To Study your friends — that that there’s a way to homework always actually effectively comes first. The earlier manage your time, they you inoculate that into your kids, never do that because it’s all manthe easier it becomes,” he says. aged for them.”

“That, to me, is the Number 1 thing Time management is a skill that

How To Study Turns 25

“The key should be studying smart as opposed to studying longer — studying more efficiently,” he says.

“A lot of students waste a lot of time. If you look at the smartest students out there and ask them how they study for a test, they will invariably say they same thing: They figure out what the teacher has deemed most important and that’s what they study. They never, ever study everything. A student that’s maybe getting Cs hasn’t figured that out, so they try to study everything, which automatically means they probably haven’t spent enough time studying the important

stuff, and they still get a C.” And once students determine what to study, Fry says the best way to do so is study/review materials a little bit every day, as opposed to cramming.

“If you’ve got a test in two weeks and you spread it out over that two weeks, you’re probably going to do a lot better than if you tried to do it all the night before,” he notes. “But even if you try to do it 2 or 3 days before, you discover there’s far more material you have to master even in a couple of nights.”

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St. Mary’s is a place where kids educate both their minds and hearts. ” – Renata Lech, St. Mary’s Mom

RY’S SCH A M

LS OO

How To Study has been revised and re-released in honor of its 25th anniversary. The book was developed after Fry, a straight-A student, went to Princeton.

“I wasn’t a straight-A student at Princeton,” he chuckles. “I realized when I made the leap from a local high school to Princeton, the level of study that was required was so completely different, it bore no relation. What you could get away with in high school because you were one of the smart kids, you simply could not get away with. I had to learn — big-time — organizational skills, time management — huge things. How to write a better paper, how to deal better with tests: Little by little I learned a system.”

While other study-aid books are written in the “This worked for me, it will work for you” philosophy, Fry says How To Study has stood the test of time because it goes 180 degrees the other way.

“When I started writing How To Study, although I had some definite things that worked for me, I realized that it had nothing to do with a lot of other people,” he says.

“The whole point of How To Study is there are many, many, many different techniques, tips, and tricks, and not all of them are pertinent to everybody. You pick and choose what works for you. Some kids learn orally, some learn visually.

Some people are going to have a kinesthetic memory, where you use parts of your body and that helps you remember. All of these things are adaptable and usable by any

student. There are no rules, there are no must-dos, and you can adapt what’s going to work for you.”

Fry outlines a variety of techniques in his book, allowing the reader to choose which works best for them. It opens with a self-assessment, through which the reader can determine the area(s) in which they need the most help (studying, note taking, research, paper writing, etc.) and concentrate on that. It also includes tips for studying with younger children.

However, Fry says there is one universal studying misconception: the longer you study, the better you do.

SAIN T

parents can do — at any age. Set up a homework area, make sure they have everything they need, and set up a routine. And the first thing they need is it starts immediately.

Once homework becomes an afterthought, all of a sudden it’s time to go to bed, and they’ve got an hour and a half of homework.”

Today’s technology-equipped students also face a new generation of distractions their parents never knew.

“When you’re sitting and trying to study and you’ve got your phone next to you and you’re set on the fact that whenever anybody texts you, you must respond within 5 seconds, I don’t know how you can possibly concentrate. Find a way to get the phone away when they’re doing homework,” he says.

“Find a way to turn the TV off.

There are some kids who can study OK in front of the TV, but I don’t think there are many. Give yourself a chance to focus. The younger you can get into a study habit, the easier it is to keep developing that habit as you get older.”

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READY, SET...SCHOOL!

Massachusetts Supreme Court rules against Common Core Ballot Question

BY DOUG PAGE

T

he controversial Common Core State Standards (CCSS) will remain in place for Bay State public schools as a result of a Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruling last month.

On July 1, the justices unanimously ruled that a grassroots November ballot question asking voters to revoke Common Core violated state law, which means the educational standards will remain in place for the Commonwealth’s K-12 public schools. The standards, which have elicited a vocal negative response nationwide from many parents and educators, have been in place in Massachusetts since July 2010 when the state Board of Education (BOE) voted to adopt them.

“This ruling is an example of big special interest money using intimidation tactics with scores of lawyers and public relations machines to do what is best for them and drown —out the voices of the people,” said Donna Colorio, who led the grassroots campaign through her group, End Common Core in Massachusetts (endcommoncorema.com), to have the proposed referendum question placed on the ballot this November.

“The special interests behind Common Core do not want an open

state to get the referendum on the ballot this fall.

“If the ballot initiative had passed, it would have pulled the rug out from under Massachusetts educators who have been teaching to the existing standards for the past five years,” said Massachusetts Education Commissioner Mitchell Chester on the state’s Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) website.

“Educators can now continue to develop curriculum and prepare for the upcoming school year knowing that their work will not be derailed this fall.”

“We’re very excited and thrilled that the process worked and that our standards aren’t going back to where they were in 2004,” added Stephanie Gray, president of the Massachusetts Parent Teacher Association (MPTA), whose organization supported the lawsuit against the Common Core ballot initiative. “The Massachusetts PTA will continue to make sure that every Massachusetts child has a good, quality education and that Massachusetts remains #1 in education.”

The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled that the ballot failed to meet Bay State legal standards because it involved two subjects — Common Core and

“This ruling is an example of big special interest money using intimidation tactics with scores of lawyers and public relations machines to do what is best for them and drown —out the voices of the people.”

Colorio’s group submitted the final series of required signatures to Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin for certification, which would have put the referendum on the ballot.

A group of 10, including former Massachusetts Education Commissioner Robert Antonucci, MPTA President Gray, and Dianne Kelly, superintendent of Revere Public Schools, filed a lawsuit with the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court in March, asking the Commonwealth’s highest court to throw out the petition to put the referendum on the ballot because it

violated the Bay State’s constitution.

The lawsuit was filed against State Attorney General Maura Healey, who deemed the petition constitutional in December 2015, as well as Secretary of the Commonwealth Galvin, who certified voters’ signatures.

In the lawsuit, Antonucci and his group argued that the Massachusetts state legislature is the only government entity empowered to allow the BOE to set the Commonwealth’s educational standards for its public K-12 schools and, as a result, CCSS should remain in place.

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and fair debate about education in Massachusetts, so they rely on legal maneuvers and technicalities to control public education in Massachusetts.”

Colorio, a Worcester School Committee member, noted that her group gathered more than 100,000 signatures from voters across the

standardized testing — and as such “voters would be in the ‘untenable position of casting a single vote on two or more dissimilar subjects’ …which is the specific misuse of the initiative (ballot) process,” wrote Associate Justice Margaret Botsford.

The ruling came just days after

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Cambridge Tackles Student Hunger One Backpack At a Time READY, SET...SCHOOL!

BY MICHELE BENNETT DECOTEAU

54 AUGUST2016

O

ne out of every 5 households in America lives with food insecurity, meaning they lack access to adequate food for an active, healthy lifestyle for everyone in the household. In Massachusetts, food insecurity is on the rise, according to Project Bread in Boston.

“One in every 6 kids experiences food insecurity,” says Sasha Purpura, executive director of Food for Free (foodforfree.org), a food rescue program in Cambridge.

Hunger is an issue that extends well beyond the dinner table and affects kids most. Their growing and developing bodies need plenty of calories and solid nutrition.

“If a child is hungry, if affects their learning and their health,” Purpura says. “Kids having the food they need has a longerterm impact and gives them the chance to learn and break out of the poverty cycle.”

While many students get help during the school day via free and reduced-priced breakfasts and lunches, what happens on the weekends?

“A teacher shared with the principal that on most Mondays, she had students who regularly complained of a stomach ache or not feeling well,” says Nikki Grizzle, marketing officer of Blessings in a Backpack.

“Once the students ate, they were fine. This is what inspired our founder to start Blessings in a Backpack in 2008.”

Blessings in a Backpack (blessingsinabackpack.org) is a grassroots organization that provides non-perishable, child-friendly food every Friday to students. “We provide guidelines to local organizations who do the packing, and they all include at least two breakfast items like bagels, two entrée items, like pasta in a can, and two healthy snacks,” Grizzle added.

“All the items need to be really child-friendly with pop-top cans and can be eaten without having to be heated.”

Blessings in a Backpack is feeding 513 students at nine schools throughout Massachusetts.

Others in Massachusetts have been inspired to start school programs through local food banks, including Alanna Mallon, Food for Free program director and a mother herself: “I was driving home in 2013, and this was after 12 days

of family and friend parties and all the food around the holidays. I heard this story on NPR about kids being hungry over the holidays. I was thinking that food insecurity was all over the country, but here in Cambridge?

I contacted the local school administration and found that there was a need for a weekend nutrition program.”

She started the Cambridge Weekend Backpack Program during the 2012-2013 school year with small steps, feeding a pilot group of 10 students. It grew quickly and is now serving 400 students in the Cambridge school system. Students are provided with two breakfasts, two lunches, snacks, two fresh fruits, and a vegetable, discretely tucked into their backpack on Friday afternoon.

“Allergies and dietary needs have been challenging, but we’ve done our best to accommodate them,” Mallon notes. “We offer vegetarian, Halal, nut-free, sugar-free, and milk-free options.”

Backpack food distribution is a familyfriendly way to help meet the needs of the community on many levels.

“Emergency food from a pantry and meal programs are not always easy for families,” Purpura notes. “Oftentimes, food pantries are only open during the day or you have to stand outside in a line in your neighborhood to access them. Many community meals are a challenge for families because after working all day and getting the kids from school, it is difficult to make the timing work with homework. Backpack meals reach families in schools; it is meeting people where they are.”

While many may think such programs would be found only in large cities or traditionally disadvantaged areas, experts say that’s not the case — they’re increasingly found in cities and towns large and small all across the state.

“Since I started the Weekend Backpack Program here in Cambridge, many other cities and towns in Massachusetts have implemented their own programs, from small communities like Bourne, which serves 25 families, to larger cities like Brockton, which currently serves over 200 students,” Mallon says. “Some are run by the local food pantries or churches, some are run by the school districts themselves, and some are simply run by parents who want to help their children’s classmates. No matter the size of your city or town, or its perceived wealth, there are hungry people in every community.”

Reaching out in other ways Conversations between schools, community, and parents have led to discovering other

needs families have that are not being met.

“We are able to connect parents to other services like fuel assistance, summer camp scholarships, and Internet services,” Mallon says. This, in turn, leads to a stronger schoolfamily connection, which leads to better outcomes for students.

Blessings in a Backpack serves students in kindergarten through high school. The food that goes home in the backpacks comes from a variety of sources. “In some places, we contract through the vendor the local school district uses,” Grizzle says.

“And we have some districts who have extreme couponers help with additional items.” In Cambridge, food is also purchased from a variety of sources, including the school lunch food vendor.

Three other schools in the Cambridge area are starting inschool food pantries called School Food Markets. “These aren’t like a food pantry,” Mallon notes. “We have the usual shelf-stable food, but we also have fresh eggs, milk, fresh fruits and vegetables, music, food tastings, and staff from the schools also shop there. It is a great complement to the backpack program. It is human services in a humane way.”

These experts say those who want to get involved can become part of the solution. Contact your local school to find out if they have a backpack program. If they don’t

have one, start one.

“I am always happy to help people get started. When I started, people were very willing to help me get educated about the need,” Grizzle says.

“So many people were willing to help me get started,” Mallon added.

“I am happy to help answer questions about starting a program.”

If your school has a backpack program, adults can offer to donate time or money.

“We can feed a child every weekend for 38 weeks for $100,” Grizzle notes.

Adds Purpura: “People don’t realize the need in their own community but when they do, it is an ‘Ah-ha’ moment.”

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READY, SET...SCHOOL! VERY SPECIAL PEOPLE

Start the School Year Off Right With a Dear Teacher Letter

BY MARSHAL D. HANEISEN

If your child has an Individualized Education Plan, you might be surprised to learn that although the law requires teachers and school staff to follow the provisions of a child’s IEP, there is no mandated timeframe for your child’s teacher, or any school staff, to read the entire contract. Get the school year off to a good start this year by providing your child’s teachers with a Dear Teacher Letter.

Break the Ice This one-page letter is designed to introduce your child’s teacher to some of the most critical information about your child and remind the teacher that your child has an IEP. “It is not a bad idea, though this is not a substitute for reading the IEP…it’s just key points,” said Attorney Ruth M. Diaz when asked for an opinion on the Dear Teacher Letter concept. Diaz is the director of Parent Training and Information at the Federation for Children with Special Needs (fcsn.org), a Bostonbased nonprofit with the mission of “providing information, support, and assistance to parents of children with disabilities.”

Federal law requires that a child’s IEP be accessible to each teacher, service providers, and special education teachers, Diaz said. Parents should ask the teacher to read the IEP and let the parent know if the teacher cannot access the full IEP, she added.

Wrightslaw is a renowned resource on special education law and advocacy. In a blog post on The Wrightslaw Way (wrightslaw.com/ blog/home/), writer Pat Howey explained that some school administrators do not share full IEPs with teachers and specialists. These districts might use IEP Summaries to inform their staff of a child’s needs, and substitute teachers and paraprofessionals often never see the IEP. School district administrators may claim student confidentiality rules prohibit sharing the IEP with all staff involved in a child’s education.

However, according to Howey, this is not true.

“Schools can release confidential

information about your child to anyone at school who has a genuine need for that information,” Howey wrote. “Certainly teachers, substitute teachers, and many other school staff members need information about your child. It is the only way we can expect them to understand your child’s unique needs!”

Howey recommends parents request a meeting and in that meeting give a copy of the full IEP to the teacher.

But if a meeting can’t happen during the first couple weeks of school, a Dear Teacher Letter offers a way to cover some key points about your child and establish a base of communication with the teacher.

What type of information might be in the letter?

• Introduce yourself and your child.

Share some of your child’s strengths and interests.

• Medical and safety issues • Does the IEP call for a 1-to-1 or 2-to-1 aide? If so, ask for the name of the person who will be working with your child in this capacity. If the teacher or school says they will be rotating aides, ask for the names of all staff who will be included in the rotation and a schedule they intend to follow.

• Point out if your child has a behavior plan.

• Your emergency and general contact information: This data is surely on file in the school office, but by providing it to your teacher, you make it easy for your teacher to follow up with you after reading the letter.

• Conclude by reminding the teacher that your child has an IEP and request the teacher read the plan.

Also, you can ask the teacher to let you know if he or she does not have access to the IEP.

You may wish to provide copies of the letter to specialists, paraprofessionals, the school nurse, guidance counselor, and front office.

Ongoing communication While a Dear Teacher Letter shows your willingness to communicate with the teacher, Diaz states that if a parent wants regular communication from the teacher or classroom paraprofessional, it should be established in the IEP. If the school does not use a standardized communication log, ask the teacher what type of communication process will be best. It is important to be realistic about how much communication you can expect.

One model to consider is a daily worksheet your child can help complete as he or she goes through the day. In an ideal situation, our children will come home and tell us about their day. With this student log approach, the daily sheet also serves as a learning and communication tool for your child to complete with the appropriate level of help from school staff. This daily sheet format can also include a designated space for a teacher or paraprofessional to make notes. Teachers and aides have limited time each day to complete communication logs, so keep it simple.

Seek help if you need it The Federation for Children with Special Needs (fcsn.org) has a team of dedicated volunteers, many of whom are parents of children with special needs, available to help answer questions and direct you to resources and information. The organization offers information on the fcsn.org website, and Parent Training and Information Center volunteers can be reached at (800) 331-0688, 10 a.m.- 3 p.m., Monday through Friday.

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 | ca p e co d | www.fletchertilton.com 56BayStateParent-new AUGUST2016 size.indd

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READY, SET...SCHOOL! DIVORCE AND SINGLE PARENTING

Women’s Health Obstetrics and Gynecology

Getting children back to school is hard enough, but if you are coparenting with a former spouse, even the simplest tasks can become difficult.

Here are nine tips for navigating back-to-school more comfortably for parents and — and most importantly — your child.

1. Make sure your child knows that both parents will be involved and supportive throughout the school year.

• Meet teachers • Go to open houses • Attend parent-teacher conferences and special education meetings for 504s and IEPs — if possible, together • Attend classroom and school events when possible • Support after-school and extracurricular activities 2. At home, both parents need to promote good study habits — including proper diet, getting enough sleep, setting some structure within a schedule, and allocating time for homework — even before school starts!

3. Sharing finances and time commitments. Both parents should contribute time and money to share the excitement and expense of back-to-school shopping — first-dayof-school outfits; new clothes and shoes; backpack; and supplies. (This is often an exciting adventure for children — both parents should get to enjoy the excitement!)

4. The All-Important Backpack.

Moving from one home to another can leave children feeling uprooted and unstable. Their backpacks can

be the one “place” that is theirs alone. Help them customize and accessorize it, and assure them that no matter where they go, they can have it with them, as well as whatever they chose to keep inside.

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5. The ceremonial first day of school. Whether it involves walking your child to school, being at the bus stop, or even bringing children to school to meet their teacher, both parents should be there, if possible, for the first day.

6. Throughout the school year, pay attention to your child’s school routine. Regularly ask your child about his or her day at school — not only about tests and projects, but also about whom they played with at recess, which teacher had the most interesting lesson, homework assignments, what they’re reading, what’s coming up, etc.

7. Post a family calendar so children know when “mom time” and “dad time” are. List any and all events so everyone knows what’s coming up — and so that there are as few surprises as possible.

8. Stay connected with your coparent. Make sure both of you know how your child is doing — academically and socially. Each co-parent should focus on making sure assignments are completed on time.

9. End-of-summer celebration.

Before school starts, plan a Last Bash of Summer for you and your child. Focus on ending the summer on a positive note and help everybody get excited for back-to-school.

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READY, SET...SCHOOL!

DIY Bookmarks: Put Your Reader In The Story

BY PAULA MONETTE ETHIER

Parents can get their children into a good book in a whole new way via these fun, personalized bookmarks, pictured here.

This easy DIY craft is simple to make, inexpensive, aand is sure to delight your reader every time they pick up their book.

Supplies Camera Printer Heavy cardstock Scissors Glue stick

Embroidery floss Cardboard Sewing needle with wide eyehole Clear contact paper

Directions 1. Take full-body photo of child with hands up, as if they’re hanging onto a rope.

2. Print out photo on heavy cardstock.

3. Reverse image using your current photo software and print out on heavy cardstock.

4. Cut around child’s body leaving a thin border.

5. Glue two images together, except for child’s hands.

6. Make a tassel, place end of tassel in between child’s hands and glue together. Secure with a small alligator clip to ensure bond.

7. Place image on clear contact paper on each side and cut around the child’s outline.

58 AUGUST2016

Tassel instructions 1. Cut a cardboard square about 2 inches tall. Wrap embroidery floss length wise around cardboard about 30 times (more for a thicker tassel).

2. Cut a separate piece about 12 inches long; slip one end between cardboard and wrapped floss. Pull loose ends together at top and knot; pull string until knot is hidden behind wrapped floss on card board.

3. Cut bottom of the wrapped floss to create the tassel, discard cardboard.

4. Cut another piece of floss and wrap around near top of tassel about 12 times.

Thread loose end into needle. Slide needle under wrapping at top and pull through.

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A

The Critical Reason Why Girls Need to Get Outside and Get Gutsy

BY MELISSA SHAW

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CALL 508.791.3233

uthor Caroline Paul was 13 when she decided she wanted to build her own pirate ship… out of milk cartons.

Inspired by an actual race in which sailing vessels were held afloat by said objects, she set out to do it herself. Paul collected the cartons over four months, cleaned them out, taped them together, and fashioned them into a raft, comprised of 167 milk cartons, 15 nails, and some plywood.

The HMS Homogenized was born.

The vessel’s service was short-lived, ripped apart on its maiden voyage by river rapids, depositing Paul and her crew into the water. However, the experience had a lasting effect on the shy teenager.

“Our grand adventure had been cut short,” she writes in her latest book, The Gutsy Girl. “On the other hand, I had commanded a ship that I had fashioned with my own hands (with a lot of help from my dad), a ship that I had dreamed about and made real….

How cool is that?”

In the book, subtitled Tales for Your Life of Ridiculous Adventure, Paul encourages girls to follow her lead in their own way: Get outside and get gutsy.

“I was at [an earlier book] reading where I read a story about one of my mishaps and misadventures,” she says from her San Francisco home.

“Another writer, she was a mom, came up to me and said, ‘You know, you should write a book about your

adventures for girls because they really need to hear it.’ I had finished my last book and I was casting about for something to do. It was sort of provident, it was perfect.”

The Gutsy Girl is part memoir, part adventure guide. Each chapter outlines one of Paul’s real-life exploits (“All of the stories are true,” she chuckles), from her attempt at setting the Guinness World Record for crawling, to trying to make the U.S. Olympic Luge Team (her nickname: Crash), to rafting in Siberia and climbing the Golden Gate Bridge.

She clearly notes the latter is illegal, writing: “I’m not suggesting in any way that you too should live a life of bridge-climbing crime…You will read this story the way it should be read — as a lesson in managing fear and not as a blueprint for a life of crime.”

Building bravery and managing fear are critical for today’s girls, Paul notes.

“It’s vital because girls are not really given the language of bravery,” she says. “Boys are really taught to live within a paradigm of courage very, very early. Girls are taught to live within a paradigm of fear, and by that I mean I believe we teach them to approach life with fear, and that’s the predominant emotion. I don’t think that’s helpful. Fear doesn’t offer you tools in which to face a situation, it just tells you to run away.”

Paul, a former San Francisco firefighter (the 15th female firefighter

ever hired in the 1,500-man department) — notes she is not diminishing the feeling.

“Fear is an important emotion,” she says. “I think people think I’m against fear and I’m really not. I just believe that a bravery paradigm is way more rewarding than a fear paradigm.

That’s what the book’s about: giving the girls the vocabulary of bravery and the tools to start making decisions based on bravery instead of based on fear.”

Considering her adventurous resume, Paul, a Connecticut native, surprisingly says she grew up without a sense of derring-do.

“I was quite shy when I was a kid and pretty fearful of a lot of things. I have an identical twin; she was not afraid,” Paul notes. “She was very precocious and I was really intimidated by big kids and adults, being called on in school, whatever was under the bed. What I probably didn’t know consciously at the time is that bravery is learned, and that’s the point of the book. You can learn bravery. I did.”

Paul describes The Gutsy Girl, her fourth book, as “a bravery-in-theoutdoors book.”

“The great thing about the outdoors is that it’s this little training ground where everything is pretty obvious.

The physical-ness is really important for girls. When they hit puberty they’re going to be facing these challenges of having to be pretty, having

to be perfect, and having to be liked,” she notes. “I think outdoor adventure and understanding your own physical abilities and your own strengths is an antidote to that.”

Being outside — and outside of their comfort zone — is not only empowering for girls, “it’s fun,” Paul adds. “Kids love fun. When girls grow up, they don’t learn exhilaration because they mistake it for fear. Fear and exhilaration feel very much the same physically: the pounding heart, a little bit of sweat, a little nerves. So I think girls often decide not to do something because they think they’re afraid, and in fact what they are is exhilarated. That’s something you learn when you step outside your comfort zone a little bit and start practicing bravery.”

When Paul asks girls what’s the bravest thing they’ve done, their answer is usually followed by, “I really felt great afterward. I was scared initially, but I really felt great afterwards.”

“That’s what bravery offers you,” she notes.

In addition to Paul’s experiences, The Gutsy Girl outlines a variety of practical skills, such as how to change a bike tire, tie knots, recognize animal tracks, find water, and more. Each chapter also provides short profiles of female heroes and adventurers, as well as quotes on confidence, bravery, goals, and more.

“It’s all well and good to inspire kids

with personal stories, I think that’s really important. I have 10 chapters of my own mishaps and misadventures, but I don’t like just using me as an example,” Paul says. “When I grew up, there were hardly any female role models, and the only one I knew was Amelia Earhart. But because she was the only one, she seemed like an exception to the rule. I didn’t think it was effective just to talk about my misadventures as lessons in bravery, so I added girl heroes and quotes from others to give it a lot of breadth so girls could see there’s a lot of role models out there.”

The social construct of a fearful, deferent female is no longer accurate, realistic, or useful to women today, Paul says. It works against them and will continue to do so against the next generation if girls are not equipped with the tools of bravery, fear-management, and selfconfidence.

“Women used to be timid and deferent because it was the way we could survive and assist a country that didn’t protect us legally, culturally,” she notes. “Timidity and deference worked; it’s a way not to rile up the powers that be. That has been taught for a very long time in this country, but that is not relevant anymore.

Now we are demanding a place at the table. We have a place at the table.

We have laws that protect us now, and this fear paradigm is backfiring on us”

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BAYSTATEPARENT 61

5 Ways Working Moms Can Find Wo

BY JENNIFER SHEEHY EVERETT

The life of a mom isn’t what it used to be. Today, nearly half of all U.S. women are the primary breadwinner or are on par financially with their significant other, according to a 2014 “Marketing to Moms” survey conducted by global PR agency Ketchum and media network BlogHer. On the surface, this is welcome news. However, the challenge is that many of the same women who are enjoying expanded leadership roles in today’s technology-driven, alwayson work world are also juggling a second and equally taxing job as CEO of home and family.

Dana Brownlee, corporate trainer, nationally recognized speaker, and mother of two young children, set out to explore this pressure-filled balancing act in the Working Moms Work-Life Balance Report she launched in April 2015. Brownlee was eager to collect authentic perspectives from working mothers on their fears and struggles, as well as tips and advice for having it all and being their best selves. She aptly described the exercise as a “virtual group therapy session.”

Brownlee collected responses from 524 women over an approximate one-month timeframe. Nearly 79% of respondents were married moms, and approximately 83% were employed and working full-time. The ages of their children ran the gamut, with more than 40% reporting children 12 and under in their households. Approximately 27% had 13- to 18-year old children, and just over 14% were parents to children over18.

Survey questions inquired about the moms’ best time management tip for work or home; advice they wish they had received 10 years ago to effectively manage work and home; the changes they would make to their work situation, if they could; their spouse’s/partner’s understanding of their day-to-day struggles; the one wish they want granted if a genie materialized to make their work-life balance struggle easier; and the things and experiences that make them happiest.

For two-thirds of the moms who responded to Brownlee’s survey, work appeared to win in the worklife balance struggle. Forty-three percent felt they spent “probably too much” or “definitely too much” time at work and, conversely, 73% charac62 AUGUST2016

terized the amount of time spent at home as “definitely not enough” or “probably not enough.”

Moms who were more intentional about how they chose to spend their time and those who were more willing to sacrifice and say no to lower-priority requests appeared to maintain greater sanity in the face of the work-life balancing act.

“The reality is that there is almost never a 50/50 balance,” Brownlee said. “One women I know uses the term ‘work-life harmony,’ which I think is more reflective of reality.

And harmony looks different for different people. It’s about consciously choosing where you want to focus and how you want to prioritize, communicating the boundaries you have set, and being OK with the choices you have made.”

Dr. Mary Ahn, UMass Memorial Health Care psychiatrist, therapist, career development coach, and mother of two, sees this type of thoughtful approach to time management as critical to helping moms avoid burnout.

“It’s about more than just the time that moms are spending,” she noted.

“It’s about ensuring that moms are investing their available time in activities that are meaningful to them and that align with their personal missions and values.”

Brownlee and Ahn offer myriad valuable tips and perspective for moms navigating the work-life balance struggle: Streamline, streamline, streamline — less really can be more.

Brownlee experienced her own time management metamorphosis, shifting her brain from trying to figure out how to run faster on the treadmill to picking the five activities or responsibilities that are most realistic and high-priority, and declining, delegating, or streamlining other requests. Doing less is freeing and rewarding to Brownlee, and she has even instilled this approach in her children. They currently focus on one extracurricular activity at one time — a true rarity in this age of overscheduled children.

Get family input — remove the guesswork and make everyone happier. One mother Brownlee polled schedules a biannual family meeting to prioritize where time will be spent. Her children are

asked to share the top three activities they definitely want Mom to attend in the coming six months, and Mom commits to these activities by reserving the dates with a permanent marker in her personal calendar. Letting her children own these decisions helps this mom feel OK about missing certain events because she knows she is taking care of the highest-priority activities. Conversations of this nature can occur even more frequently to ensure an even greater understanding of how the family will operate.

Create clear boundaries in the workplace — and always “walk your talk.” If arriving home for family dinner each evening is of utmost importance, co-workers should know that you will leave at a certain time each day to manage family obligations (and perhaps log in hours later). Being vocal about the boundaries you’ve set and religious about abiding by them will increase the likelihood that colleagues will also respect them.

Request feedback — who doesn’t enjoy positive reinforcement? Ahn sees great value in women gathering frequent input on their performance from their professional managers to debunk the myths that many moms carry about underperformance in the workplace due to competing family pressures. In most cases, moms will learn they are doing more than a good job and are even outperforming peers. Similar input can also be requested at home (and hopefully partners and children will share equal praise).

Admit when you need help — moms are masters at hiding their struggles. Findings from Brownlee’s study call for greater communication between working moms and their spouses/partners, most notably about moms’ weighty to-do list.

Brownlee witnessed the greatest frustration from women when asking a question about the support and understanding they receive from spouses/partners. Most noted a complete lack of awareness of the various puzzle pieces they manage each day and the exhaustion that accompanies it. Reinforcing this need for greater connection, women in the survey also listed their spouse as the person with whom

ork-Life Harmony they would like to spend more time (above “kids” and “self”), if given a choice.

The Lonely American by Drs. Jacqueline Olds and Richard S. Schwartz suggests that today’s frenetic lifestyle has made it difficult to create the village of support for families that was common in past generations. But doing so isn’t impossible, as long as extended family, friends, and even local community members understand your needs and how best to support them.

Cut yourself slack — moms don’t have to be everything to everybody. Today’s moms and dads tend to want more significant interaction with their children, according to Ahn, perhaps to overcompensate for the latchkey parenting on which many in their generation were raised. She suggests “you need ‘just enough time’ with them, which differs based on your child’s needs.

Being a perfect or almost-perfect parent (i.e., “helicopter parent”) isn’t healthy for kids — nor is mindless parenting, where parents are in the same room, but aren’t mindfully present with their children. It’s not about always cohabitating in the same space as your child, it’s about your child feeling like you will be

there if they need help, support or reassurance.”

Remember that work-life balance struggles will ebb and flow — this, too, shall pass. Life challenges will shift as moms advance in their careers and as children move through various developmental stages. There is always a light flickering at the end of the current tunnel that moms are navigating, and that’s good news.

Equally good news is that 79% of the women Brownlee polled rated themselves as “somewhat successful” or “quite successful” at achieving some type of work/life balance (as they define it). Additionally, 83% of respondents characterized themselves as “fairly happy” or “ecstatic.” While they acknowledge the daily struggles of life as a working mom, the vast majority are pleased with the life path they have taken and truly enjoy their professional and home lives. Brownlee believes moms recognize that true work-life balance is a myth and have adjusted their expectations accordingly.

For access to Brownlee’s complete Working Moms Work-Life Balance Report and the candid perspectives of the moms she interviewed, visit professionalismmatters.com/ work-life-balance-report.

Which Mom Are You? Brownlee believes that moms assume one of four “flawed” time management approaches in their quest for work/life balance. Which one speaks to you?

The “I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead” Approach — This mom refuses to make tradeoffs and seeks attention as a superhuman.

The “Rose Colored Glasses” Approach — This mom takes on too much and is often the most

stressed and disappointed because she is shocked at her inability to complete her lengthy to-do list.

The “Yoga Master” Approach — This mom prioritizes obsessively, yet is at peace with all she is sacrificing.

The “White Flag” Approach — This mom oversimplifies, often giving up on areas of interest and frequently feeling that she is missing out.

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Simply Well Get recipes, parenting tips and more delivered right to your inbox.

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64 AUGUST2016

HWD021_MatAd_BayParJunior.indd 1

7/11/14 10:09 PM

ASK THE EXPERT

How to Treat ‘Super Lice’

BY LYNNE KARLSON, MD

I’m very vigilant about preventing lice with my children (telling them not to share hats, scarves, hairbrushes, etc.), however I have now heard about “super lice” that are resistant to treatment. Is that true? How can they be treated?

Dear Reader, Telling your children to avoid sharing hats, scarves, and hairbrushes is a good preventative measure, and back-to-school season is a great time to remind them. Classrooms are the most common places for lice transmission, especially in the early elementary years when children are sitting closely together to complete classwork.

While lice should be prevented as much as possible and treated promptly, parents should also be aware that lice do not carry diseases. There is no cause for panic.

Across the U.S., strains of lice have emerged that are resistant to commonly used over-the-counter lice treatments, as well as some prescription treatments. Other than this resistance, “super lice,” as they are called, are no different from other forms of lice: They do not carry diseases, and they are not more contagious. As back-to-school time nears, parents will benefit from an understanding of super lice and how to treat them.

Treating “Super Lice” While super lice do not have any effects more harmful than standard forms of lice, they are resistant to many commonly used forms of over-the-counter treatments and some prescription treatments. In the event that a child over 6 months of age is experiencing an outbreak, parents are advised to try an overthe-counter treatment containing pyrethin or permethrin first. If this treatment is not effective, then a pediatrician should be consulted and will likely provide a prescription for malathion or ivermectin.

These treatments are not higher in toxicity, rather, they simply work in a different way than over-the-

counter and other prescription treatments.

Wet combing, in which lice and their eggs are manually removed from wet, detangled hair, provides an alternative to treating lice with an over-the-counter or prescription medication. This approach, while time-consuming, can be performed by a parent using wet combing, or outside help can be hired.

Over-the-counter and prescription lice treatments should not be used on children under 6 months of age due to the potential for neurotoxicity. In these cases, wet combing or a short haircut is a common approach.

scalp.

Many people believe that lice result from a lack of cleanliness, but this is simply not the case. They are transmitted via contact (they do not jump or fly) and anyone can catch them. As children head back to school, parents should remind them not to share hats, scarves, or hairbrushes. While lice can be distressing, there should be no cause for panic. They do not carry diseases,

and there are treatments out there that are highly effective.

Lynne Karlson, MD, is chief of General Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine at Floating Hospital for Children at Tufts Medical Center, and an associate professor at Tufts University School of Medicine.

Treating your home after a lice outbreak When it comes to treating your home following a lice outbreak, the rules for super lice and standard, less-resistant forms of lice do not differ. All bedding, towels, hats, and other fabrics that come into contact with the hair should be washed in hot water and placed in the dryer.

Stuffed animals can be washed and dried or placed in a sealed plastic bag for two weeks. Brushes and combs can be placed in boiling water or alcohol, or they can be replaced.

Checking for lice There is no need for parents to regularly check for lice if there is no cause for concern. Parents should check if there is a report of a lice outbreak from their child’s school, or if they notice their child scratching his or her scalp. Parents can check for lice by parting the child’s hair under a bright light, and looking for small insects or eggs, called “nits.” The nits are laid close to the

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our august favorites sunday

monday

tuesday

11 {Fact} 7 14 {Fact} 14

“New” sports to be featured at this month’s Summer Olympics include golf (returning after 112 years) and rugby (returning after 92 years).

8

15

Photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt took his iconic V-J Day in Times Square photo of a sailor kissing a nurse on Aug. 14, 1945. In October 1980, Life editors asked the two previously unidentified subjects to come forward: 11 men and 3 women claimed to be famous couple.

28

22 29

{WIN}

66 AUGUST2016

wednesday

3 299 {WIN}

10

16

17 {WIN} 17

23

24

Sydney Paige backpacks come with an easy access double zipper, expandable side pockets, a padded back, and ergonomic shoulder straps to ensure a comfy fit.

Backpacks are made from 100% cotton canvas or natural leather and are PVC-free. Best of all, for each backpack sold, another will be donated to a child in need and filled with school supplies. Head to baystateparent.com today for details on how to enter to win.

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Forget boring old notebooks: Jazz up back to school with the WAFF Notebook. It features a soft rubber cover and offers colored alphabet and math cubes to decorate the outside. Enter to win one today at baystateparent.com.

Don’t just read your favorite fairy tales, act them out! The Read & Play Puppet Theater’s box can be used as a stage. It contains puppets, set pieces, and a book of three fairy tales: Little Red Riding Hood, The World and the Young Kids, and The Three Little Pigs. Visit baystateparent.com today and grab your chance to win.

facts, finds and freebies thursday

4

{WIN}

This is one school bus kids will be excited to see at their house.

Playmobil’s School Bus set includes four figures, the bus, and other accessories.

Learn how you can win this fantastic set by visiting baystateparent.com today!

11

friday

66 {Fact}

5

12

If you were born, or gave birth, in August, you’re in good company. July, August, and September are the highest birth months in the U.S. The busiest day of the week for deliveries? Tuesday.

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13

Share an experience with your child this summer you’ll never forget. Insect Lore’s butterfly habitats allows children to see a caterpillar’s transition as it grows, changes into a chrysalis, and finally emerges as a beautiful butterfly, in just three weeks’ time. Everything required to watch the magic happen comes in this kit. Visit baystateparent.com and enter today for your chance to win.

{WIN}

19 18

saturday

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Engineers ages 8 and up can learn to harness the power of water with the Hydropower Renewable Energy Science Kit from Thames & Kosmos. This 105-piece set can be used to conduct 12 experiments by building models such as a waterwheel, sawmill, hammer mill, and more. Go to baystateparent.com today to enter to win this cool science set!

20{Fact} 20 All school buses in the U.S. are yellow because studies show humans notice the color yellow over all others. Yellow is 1.24 times greater for catching the human eye, even over red.

Yellow is also easier to detect in dim light or bad weather.

Starting on the date the prize appears, log on to baystateparent.com to enter for your chance to win.

BAYSTATEPARENT 67

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Retail Therapy

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Yourself Darcy Schwartz, “Miss Darcy” as she is known to her students, is the founder of ArtReach. Recently voted BEST Art Studio and BEST After School Program by the readers of baystateparent Magazine, ArtReach is an artist owned, working art studio, founded on the premise that developmentally appropriate, creative activities can serve as launching points for artistic exploration and expression at any age. The studio offers classes in all of the fine art disciplines, and hires talented local artists to teach everything from painting, to clay, to mixed media collage work, to classes that incorporate STEAM Learning and new technologies like 3-D printing and stop motion video. ArtReach is also home to “The RUNWAY Series,” the FIRST & ONLY Fashion Design Studio in Central Massachusetts that teaches the ART of FASHION. It offers reading and art based programming for young children, workshops and programming for students after school, a designated gallery space for local artists to show their work, Destination Imagination Teams, in-school out-reach programming, and the city’s ONLY creative fundraising program that gives ALL of the funds raised at an event back to the organization. ArtReach is a dream come true for Miss Darcy, who is committed to bringing high quality, affordable art opportunities to her community. ArtReach truly is the place where “Fine Art Meets FUN!” Darcy holds a BFA from the Kansas City Art Institute (KCAI), where she majored in painting and printmaking, with a minor in illustration. She attended The School of Visual Arts in New York where she furthered her studies in design and illustration, and completed a certificate program in art therapy.

Inside JC Penney

Priceless Paint Night Sunday, August 14th 6:30pm - 9:00pm

Massage $30/hour

www.spatech.edu

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A Private Spa For Women $20. Off Any Facial

www.benessereskinspa.com • Grafton, MA

A Great Outfit Starts with a Great Foundation Offering: • Sizes XSmall to 3X • Shapewear, Hosiery, Lingerie • Swimwear • Active Wear • Accessories and More • FREE Bra Fittings • Carrying Bra Sizes 30-50, Cup Sizes B-F and Up • Call Today to Schedule a Bridal or Exclusive Event

An intimate apparel boutique 800 Main St. Holden, MA (the pink building), 508-210-0569

ONGOING MONTHLY SPECIALS

ROBROYHAIRSALONS.COM

The End of Summer “Mom’s Night Out” Event at PRICELESS! Oh yes that word rings true. You like 'em.

You LOVE 'em. You really do... but oh the joy when they head back to school!

You deserve a little break before the back-to-school Fall FUN begins, so we invite you to join us at ArtReach for our end of Summer event. PAINT Canvas. PAINT Glass. PAINT Tile. Whatever we have left in the studio is YOURS for FREE!

Call 800-262-8530

By Appointment Only 508-873-3880

A FREE evening of PAINTING FUN, FOOD, and DRINKS (non-alcoholic-you may BYOB if you like.) So bring yourself, a friend, something to sip, and REJUVENATE CREATIVELY before Fall! This event is FREE, but YOU MUST REGISTER ONLINE to attend!! http://www.artreachstudioafs.com/calendar.html

Spin • Boot Camp • Pilates • Boxing • Kettle Ball

ikravefitness.com ikravefitness@gmail.com 22 West St, Millbury, MA 122 Turnpike Rd, Westboro, MA 508.410.5127

BUSINESSDIRECTORY PartyKids

AUGUSTINDEX

PartyKids

All Ages.

Birthday Parties, Schools, Fairs, Day Care Centers, Etc.

www.rosalitaspuppets.com 617-633-2832

PartyKids

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Big Joe

YOUNG MINDS GROW THROUGH

the Storyteller

Storytelling fun for Birthday Parties, Schools, Daycare Centers, Library Programs, Special Events and TV Featuring:

Our hands-on learning environment encourages your child to build creativity, confidence and lifelong friendships.

• Original & Classic Stories • Puppets, Props and Surprises For Bookings and Info Call: 617-713-4349 E-mail: BigJoe@BigJoe.com Visit me on the web at: www.BigJoe.com

To place your ad contact Regina Stilling, Director of Sales at 508-865-7070 ext. 210 or regina@baystateparent.com Vist us Online at baystateparent.com

Our Birthday Parties are so much fun for all!

76 Otis Street (Rt 9 Eastbound), Westboro 508-366-1495

www.gymboreeclasses.com

PartyKids

ArtReach......................................................... 68 B.A.W. Inc....................................................... 60 Bancroft School............................................... 71 Bay Path University......................................... 39 Benessere Skin Spa & Nail Care....................... 68 Big Y Foods, Inc................................................. 4 Breezy Picnic Grounds..................................... 43 C & R Tire .........................................................9 Central One Federal Credit Union..................... 23 Children’s Development Network, Inc............... ..6 Cornerstone Academy........................................5 Davidian Brothers Farm . ................................ 41 Davis Farmland............................................... 25 Ecotarium ..................................................29,44 F3................................................................... ..3 Fitchburg Art Museum...................................... 47 Fletcher Tilton PC............................................. 56 FMC Ice Sports................................................. 45 Gerardo’s Italian Bakery.................................. 15 Girls Inc.......................................................... 60 GQ Hair Salon................................................. 61 Great Wolf New England.................................. 55 Gymnastics Learning Center............................. 33 Harrington Memorial Hospital.......................... 57 Hebert Candy Mansion..................................... 17 Heywood Hospital............................................ 64 Holden Vet Center............................................ 11 Indian Hill Music School................................... 28 Kathy Corrigan’s Full Day Care Center.............. 50 Krave Fitness & Nutrition................................. 68 Legoland Discovery Center Boston.................... 67 Lowell Summer Music ..................................... 44 Mall At Whitney Field................................. 10,68 Marini Farm.................................................... 17 McKinlay’s Liquors........................................... 22 Metrowest Jewish Day School ......................... 41 Millbury Federal Credit Union.....................57,65 New England Cord Blood Bank Inc................... 49 New To You..................................................... 68 Oak Meadow . ................................................ 42 Pakachoag Community Music School ............... 42 Reliant Medical Group....................................... 8 Rob Roy Hair Salons........................................ 68 Seven Hills Charter School................................ 53 Sholan Farms.................................................. 15 Shrewsbury Children’s Center........................... 49 Southwick’s Zoo............................................... 30 Spa Tech Institute............................................ 68 Springfield Museums Corp................................ 55 St. Mary’s Schools............................................ 51 Sterling Academy of Gymnastics....................... 20 Swings and Things........................................... 41 The Bolton Fair................................................ 21 The Chestnut Hill School................................... 43 The Children’s Workshop.................................. 47 The Learning Zone........................................... 27 UMass Memorial Medical Center..............20,63,72 Vin Bin (The)................................................... 68 VOL Boutique.................................................. 68 Wachusett Mountain........................................ 52 Wee Care for Little People, Inc......................... 61 Women’s Health of Central MA......................... 13 Worcester Art Museum........................................2 Worcester Center for Expressive Therapies........ 50 YMCA Central Branch....................................... 24 BAYSTATEPARENT 69

TAKE EIGHT

with Giada De Laurentiis You may best know culinary superstar Giada De Laurentiis from Food Network, but the businesswoman and mom of 8-year-old Jade can also be found in the children’s section of your local bookstore. The Emmy winner recently released the eighth book in her series for middle-grade readers, Recipe for Adventure. The series features siblings Alfie and Emilia Bertolizzi, their mysterious Zia Donatella, a new city/culture/cuisine in each edition, and two laminated recipe cards to get families cooking.

De Laurentiis took a break from her whirlwind career to talk about the latest book, Recipe for Adventure: Philadelphia!

1

You’re a chef, restaurant owner, TV personality, voice actor, businesswoman, and mom. What made you decide to add “children’s author” to the list?

When Jade was born, I realized that there weren’t many kids’ books about different cultures, families, and food all wrapped up into one story. I travel a lot and come from a different country with different food and traditions, so I wanted to write a series based on that.

Does your daughter influence how you write Alfie or Emilia?

She does, but really and truly that comes from my relationship with my brother who passed away 10 years ago. We were really close and loved to cook and travel together, and that inspired the relationship between Alfie and Emilia.

3

How did you create Zia Donatella? Was there any personal inspiration in your family behind the character?

Zia Donatella is inspired by my Aunt Raffy…and for those of you who watch my cooking show, you know how playful our relationship is. She doesn’t have kids, but travels a lot, so growing up she would always come back with different recipes and we would try them together in the kitchen.

What has surprised you most about the Recipe for Adventure series?

I think what surprised me the most is how much joy kids get out of reading it. Also seeing Jade read the series as she gets better at reading is really special. It’s our go-to book to read together, and that’s pretty exciting.

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With her family’s recipe for pizzelles, 10-year-old Emma DeFazio of Pennsylvania won the contest to make Philadelphia the setting for this book.

What was it like choosing a winner, and what’s the key to making a good pizzelle?

I wanted to choose a winner who had a really authentic story and who loved cooking and his/her heritage. The key to making a good pizzelle? Almond oil instead of almond extract!

Moms everywhere struggle to balance career and family.

What’s your best piece of advice on how to do it?

Lots of breathing and take everything one day at a time. It’s OK to ask for help!

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What’s a good way to introduce kids to cooking?

Allow them to look at cookbooks and pick recipes out by the pictures. What I love about Recipe For Adventure is that as you read, you can cook along with the characters and it makes you feel like you’re there and part of the action.

Does your daughter enjoy cooking? What are your favorite dishes to make together?

Yes! She likes just about everything, but pasta and desserts are her favorite.

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