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SEPTEMBER 2015

TAKE YOUR PICK: 55 Free Mass Museums

ARTS & ENRICHMENT

SIGNS OF AN OVERSCHEDULED CHILD MOLDING A MAESTRO: 10 Tips To Encourage Practice

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ME TIME

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table of contents SEPTEMBER 2015

VOLUME 20

NUMBER 5

things we learned

while making

the september issue

Boston Pops Conductor Keith Lockhart says children should practice their musical instrument at least 15 minutes a day. “The problem is when you’re first learning something, the frustrations outweigh the rewards,” he says. Avoid future regret and stick with it.

Although there is not a magic number of activities in which a child should participate, a good rule of thumb is one activity per season. Experts say parents should consider this question: Does the activity add something positive to the child’s quality of life?

A 2010 survey by the American Psychological Association reports that nearly 70% of surveyed parents of teens and tweens believed that their stress had little or no impact on their children, while only 14% of surveyed children claimed that their parent’s stress didn’t trouble them. Head to page 66 and discover why parents need time to themselves — and why they shouldn’t feel guilty about it.

arts & enrichment 44 46 48

Captured: After-School Activities PBS Kids’ Odd Squad: Making Fractions Funny

Boston Pops’ Keith Lockhart on Family, Work-Life Balance

Practice Makes Perfect: 10 Tips to Get Kids to Practice More

Needham Boy Wins National Volunteer Award

Over 50 Museums to Visit For Free This Month

58 60

features

Women In The Outdoors: A Day of Knife Tossing is Good for the Soul

Signs of An Over-Scheduled Child Go Inside the Science of Pixar

13 14 16

Cool School Supplies: Picks for Your Backpack

in every issue 8

WELCOME: A Letter From Our Editor

Meet Our Special Guest: Cover Model Gabrielle

9 10 11

MEET OUR CONTRIBUTORS

OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO: September Calendar of Family Events

LET’S GO: Explore, Discover Treasures at Battleship Cove

VERY SPECIAL PEOPLE: Triumphing Over Transitions

OUR SEPTEMBER FAVORITES: Facts, Finds and Freebies

ASK THE EXPERT: When A Child’s Anxiety May Require Treatment

WOMEN’S HEALTH: The Best Defense Against Stress

DIVORCE & SINGLE PARENTING: Deciding on After-School Activities

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

TAKE 8: Author/Illustrator Mo Willems

bsp ONLINE SHOW & TELL: Yuthica Candles and BubbleBum Travel Products

Fairs & Festivals: Autumn’s Bountiful Family Fun Tips for Tackling The Big E with Kids

Worcester Pride: A Family-Friendly Celebration

RIPE: Great Uses For Late-Summer Produce

Birth Order Basics: Discovering The Magic in the Middle

DISHIN’ WITH THE DIETITIAN: Fueling Extracurricular Activities

The Surprising Backers Behind Common Core in Massachusetts

BITES: New on-the-go snack package, the fight to end food allergies, DIY disposal pods, powering up lunch boxes, and more

BAYSTATEPARENT 7

meet team

welcome to

publisher KIRK DAVIS associate publisher KATHY REAL 508-749-3166 ext. 331 kreal@baystateparent.com

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

advertising director of sales REGINA STILLINGS 508-865-7070 ext. 210 regina@baystateparent.com account executive MARIE COREY 508-735-0503 marie@baystateparent.com account executive KATHY PUFFER 508-865-7070 ext. 211 kathy@baystateparent.com

Welcome to September, when your family car magically transforms into a taxi. Not that it hasn’t been all summer, of course, but as temperatures begin to dip, your livery career ramps up from parttime to full-time with the arrival of a new school year and a host of activities. Uber has nothing on you. As you drive from field to studio, gymnasium to pool (and McDonald’s because there’s no time for family dinner tonight), you may wonder, once again: Why do we do this? Two reasons: 1. Your child loves his activity and you love your child. (Friendly tip: If your child doesn’t love whatever he’s doing in his spare time, let him find something he enjoys. This sounds mind-blowingly obvious but, let’s face it, we all see unhappy, disengaged kids in any extracurricular who would rather be anywhere else.) 2. Ultimately, it’s about so much more than buns and bobby pins,

shin guards and cleats. If your child is in an activity — any activity — with supportive instructors and engaged peers, he or she is learning about commitment, discipline, teamwork, practice, trying, failing, disappointment, trying again, and succeeding — or going back to the drawing board one more time. They’re learning that some things come easily to them and others they have to work for. I see it in my 9-year-old daughter, who has fantastic stage presence and great dance fundamentals and footwork, but currently limited flexibility. “I can’t do a back bennnnnnnnd!” she’ll wail. Not that she has to do a back bend for her numbers, but she sees other Gumby-like dancers and wants to twist herself into a pretzel, too. And back to the “How To Do A Back Bend” YouTube videos we go. My 8-year-old takes karate and truly loves it, but after four years, he still comes out of the dojo crying once a month because he didn’t win a sparring match or got out too early in dodge ball. Given the fact he used to cry in disappointment after every other class, I say that’s progress — hard-earned, hard-won.

We hate to see our kids cry. We hate to see them frustrated or discouraged. But they have to try and they have to fail. They have to strike out, let in an easy goal, fall off the balance beam, or fumble. Then they must learn how to try again. These are important, honest, and lifelong lessons that our children are better served learning now rather than later or never (yes, I’m looking at you, Millennials). These are the lessons they learn in rehearsal halls, rinks, practice rooms, fields, gyms, and the classroom: aka, life. So while you’re navigating the slick, slippery schedule that runs September through June, remember why you drive hither and yon all year long, why your checkbook never closes, why you shiver on the sidelines, why you smile through the world’s squeakiest, squawkiest version of “Hot Cross Buns” 27 times in a row, why you mainline Dunkins on 6 a.m. weekend commutes to meets, and why that recital-seat backache is worth it. Because it’s about so much more than meets the eye.

M e li ss a

Melissa Shaw, Editor

Gabrielle

meet our special guest presidents KIRK and LAURIE DAVIS photographers STEVEN KING SHAWNA SHENETTE

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

baystateparent.com Find us on:

Many bsp readers may know the adorable face of 9-year-old Gabrielle of Granby. After all, she was voted as the Fan Favorite in a recent online poll of cover model finalists. We caught up with the history-loving 4thgrader following her cover shoot. What is your favorite after-school activity? My favorite after-school activity is gymnastics! I’m on a competing team and practice four times a week and compete on the weekends. What is your favorite subject in school? My favorite subject in school is history. I find it very interesting to learn about things and people from the past.

What is your favorite book? My favorite books are the Dork Diaries (a series by author Rachel Renee Russell) because they are diarythemed books.

What was the cover photo shoot like? It was a lot of fun! I loved trying on different outfits, getting my hair and makeup done, and taking pictures in the studio. It was an art theme so I was able to have different painting supplies as props with me. What did you enjoy most about the experience? The best part of the photo shoot was getting my hair and makeup done.

cover photo

Shawna Shenette

PHOTOGRAPHY

Hair and Makeup by Rob Roy Hair Salons, Clothing provided by Little V Designs, Westborough 8 SEPTEMBER2015

September Contributors Dr. Christopher Bellonci, M.D. is a child/adolescent psychiatrist at Floating Hospital for Children at Tufts Medical Center and an associate professor at Tufts University School of Medicine. In this month’s Ask The Expert column on page 63, he answers a question regarding childhood anxiety. On page 36, writer and Andover mother of three Wendy Bulawa Agudelo talks to experts about how parents can make the back-to-school transition easier for a child with special needs. Jane Boursaw is the film critic and editor-in-chief of ReelLifeWithJane.com. On page 78 she gets you up to date on what’s coming to theatres and DVD this month. Jennifer Sheehy Everett of Melrose and South Chatham is mom to an active toddler, wife to husband John, and a public relations and crisis management veteran of 20 years. On page 66, she discusses the critical importance of alone time for busy parents, sharing her personal challenges with the juggling act of motherhood and expert perspective on the benefits a balanced life can bring. Writer and mother of two Joan Goodchild of Shrewsbury spent a day at the Museum of Science to take you inside its popular new exhibit, The Science Behind Pixar. Read all about it on page 60.

On page 73, Medfield writer and father of two Doug Page looks at the surprising major backer behind the push for Common Core standards in Massachusetts public schools. 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. On page 69, Irwin examines how co-parents can make decisions on their child’s after-school activities. 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). On page 31, she shares a recipe for DIY disposal cleaning. On page 55, Rutland-based writer and mother of three Kathy Sloan talks to a Needham boy who received a national honor from Hasbro for his volunteerism. And on page 58, she shares expert advice on the signs of an overscheduled child and the potential effects. Abbey Tiderman is a writer, editor, and social media strategist who lives in Wilbraham with her husband and two young sons. On page 70 she continues her multi-part series on birth order, taking a look at the middle child.

Letter to the Editor ear Editor: D I am writing in response to the article in your August issue about the Common Core (“Common Core Opposition Gains Momentum,” page 77). Specifically, I would like to address two issues that the article inaccurately raised as cause for alarm. There is a clear reason why the state legislature never voted on whether to incorporate the Common Core State Standards into the Massachusetts math and English language arts curriculum frameworks: The Education Reform Act of 1993 charges the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, not the legislature, with setting academic standards: maleg-

islature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/ PartI/TitleXII/Chapter69/Section1D. Massachusetts has been well-served by having a non-partisan Board. The article also misquotes Commissioner Mitchell Chester about whether PARCC meets a federal requirement. Both PARCC and MCAS are aligned to the Common Core, but the U.S. Department of Education does not require a Common Corealigned test; it requires a single assessment. Sincerely, Jacqueline Reis Media Relations Coordinator Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

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bsp ONLINE “Here are our pics with our fun new case. TY to baystateparent mag & The Case Studio!” Betsy of Hudson

3 Easy Steps to Become a Winner They Got It! A big shout-out to recent bsp contest winners who sent us pics of their little ones enjoying their prizes. You can’t win if you don’t enter! “This is my older son, Ben, enjoying some time reading with his new Bed Bug, who has quickly become a friend he wants to hang with!” Jenn of Somerville “Look what the mailman just delivered!!!! Thank you so so much! This could not have come at a better time, we leave for vacation in a few days!!!” Thank you so much again. :)” Candice of Leominister

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1. Check out our Favorites calendar on page 40 2. Sign up for our e-newsletter for exclusive giveaways! Text baystateparent to 22828 3. Join our Facebook family @baystateparent and keep a look out for contest & give-aways

Bite-sized Blogs This month, check out the debut of a few blogs aimed at keeping us mentally and physically fit. Inside Education, a blog hosted by Commonwealth Learning Center — a nonprofit dedicated to helping students overcome learning challenges by serving as a valuable educational resource.

Mom & Daughter Shape Up, follows my daughter and I as we participate in a 12-week healthy living course at the Hockomock YMCA in Franklin. Simply Well, authored by doctors at UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester, it provides tips on everything from migraines to gardening.

First Borns Unite Our series on birth order began last month, of course with a closer look at the firstborn. According to experts, firstborns tend to be perfectionists, leaders, and over-achievers. We surveyed our readers and found that 70% of respondents agreed and the other 30% were split on semi-agreeing and disagreeing. Middle child, you are up next. I know what you’re thinking: “Marcia, Marcia, Marcia!”

— Heather Kempskie Multi-Media Editor heather@baystateparent.com

SHOW & TELL Two Ways To Make Family Travel Easier When you’re on a road trip with the family, there are two main goals: 1. Get to your destination without incident, and 2. Hear from your children as little as possible. That may read a touch callous, but you know it’s true. Car trips jam everyone into a confined, speeding box, an area ripe for conflict. The more you can do to defuse issues before they start, the better. And I’ve found two additions to your family car that do just that.

Space is at a premium in most family vehicles, and the lack thereof can lead to, let’s say, “disagreements,” which is why Junkie from BubbleBum (makers of the popular inflatable booster seat) is such a lifesaver. An all-in-one in-car organizer and activity station, Junkie fits between two occupants in the backseat, harnessed into the middle seatbelt. The center expands to hold crayons, books, snacks, notebooks, or toys, and two retractable trays slide out for snacking, drawing, etc. (think airplane trays). It also offers two cup holders and an arm in front that folds up or down to hold a tablet, so backseaters can watch a movie hands- or lap-free.

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Boston Smells Good I know fall doesn’t officially begin until later this month, but there is a small part of me that is looking forward to cooler temps and shorter days. Listen, we have to make the best of it and that’s why I’m sharing my latest find: Candles by Yuthica, a New England-based company, which sent us a sample of their Boston

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Also from BubbleBum, the Sneck is a travel pillow that Velcros to the headrest so it stays in place, thereby solving the annoying problem of “neck pillows on the floor.” Made of a soft material filled with microbeads, it can be folded into a variety of positions to keep kids stiff-neckfree. It also has a stash pocket that can be used to store electronics or small toys. My family put both to use on a 16-hour road trip and they were well used, well-enjoyed, and kept the minivan quiet. Both are a solid addition to your family travel gear. Currently available at Target.com, Babiesrus.com, Sears.com, and Walmart.com, Junkie costs $39.99 and the Sneck $14.99.

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Dice Erasers Roll the dice for funny combos like “My Friends Be… Cray” or “Girls Be Like… Genius.” DebbieLynn.net Available at Five Below. $1

Bixbee “Sparkalicious” Kids Glitter Backpack Includes exterior pockets for lunch money, water bottle and ID holder. Use off the shoulder or as a backpack. bixbee.com. $54.99

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Five Star 2” Zipper Binder + Expansion Panel Carry and organize school work with this all-in-one solution. meadonline.com $17.99

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Statement Tags Spread positive messages with these hanging from your backpack or keychain. sydneypaigeinc.com. $5

Pencils Pick a pattern to suit your style. DebbieLynn.net Available at Five Below. $1

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Dino Eraser Erase any mistakes with mammoth power. DebbieLynn.net Available at Five Below. $1

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Goody Straight A Style Contour Clips Clip back your hair and get ready to learn. goody.com. $3.99

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Fall Fairs & Festivals

Summer may be over, but a whole new season of family fun and adventure awaits thanks to the state’s robust fall fair and festival season. From music and maritime, and dogs and cats to garlic, marshmallow, and beer, fall fun is not limited to apples and the harvest — though there is plenty of fun around those two areas, for sure. Visit your favorite event or, better yet, find a new one with the 65 choices below. Compiled by baystateparent staff

SEPTEMBER Downtown Gloucester Block Party. Sept. 4. Artisans, kids activities, music. Free. gloucesterblockparty.com. Gloucester Schooner Festival. Gloucester Harbor. Sept. 4-6. Annual maritime and sailing event. gloucesterschoonerfestival.net. Appleseed Country Fair. Red Apple Farm, 455 Highland Ave., Phillipston. Sept. 5-7. Country fair, hayride, tractor pull competition, live music, food, local brewers, vendors, artisans. Free. 978-534-2302. appleseed.org. Pooch-A-Palooza. Topsfield Fairgrounds, Topsfield. Sept. 5-6. Dog entertainment, contests, kids inflatables, games, crafts. Admission $10, free for kids 12 and under. pooch-a-palooza.org. Boston Arts Festival. Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park, Boston. Sept. 5-6. Covered artists’ village, two stages of performing arts, and family activities. Free. King Richard’s Faire. 235 Main St., Carver. Sept. 5-Oct. 25. New England’s largest and longest-running Renaissance Festival. Children (4-11) $16, adults (12+) $29. kingrichardsfaire.net. Old Home Day Weekend Celebration. Town Common, Charlton. Sept. 5-7. Entertainment, craft fair, art show, flower show, car show, contests, food, soap box derby, road race, parade. Free. townofcharlton.net. St. Anargyroi Grecian Festival. 9 Central St., Marlborough. Sept. 5-7. Greek food, drinks, entertainment, music. Free. 508-485-2575. stsanargyroi.org. Spencer Fair. Spencer Fairgrounds, 48 Smithville Rd., Spencer. Sept. 5-7. Traditional agricultural exhibits, Great Pumpkin Contest, demolition derby, truck and tractor pulls, pig races, stage shows, food, games, children’s entertainment. 508-885-5814. Adults $10; $7 for seniors and children (7-12); children under 7 free. Free parking. thespencerfair.com. Bread & Roses Heritage Festival. Campagnone Common, Lawrence. Sept. 7. Trolley and walking 14 SEPTEMBER2015

tours, portrait drawing, exhibits, children’s activities at the Kidz Zone, pony rides, arts and crafts fair, and more. Free. breadandrosesheritage.org.

ers and more. Adults $10, kids under 12 free. oktoberfestmarion.com.

Sterling Fair. Sterling Airport, 121 Greenland Rd., Sterling. Sept. 11-13. Livestock, crafters, farmers market, midway, fireworks, exhibit hall, arts and crafts, food. sterlingfair.org.

Boston Hill Farm Fall Festival. Route 114, North Andover. Every weekend following Labor Day, through and including the last weekend of October. Apple picking, pumpkin picking, hay rides, kids’ games, petting zoo, ice cream. 978-681-8556. bostonhillfarm.com.

Codman Estate Fine Arts and Crafts Festival. Codman Estate, 34 Codman Rd., Lincoln. Sept. 12, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Artisans, live entertainment, food court. Admission $5, free for kids under 12. historicnewengland.org.

Oktoberfest. Boylston Schul-Verein, 8 County St., Walpole. Sept. 12-13. Music, dance, games, pony rides, food, drink. $10 per person, children under 12 are free. germanclub.org.

5th Annual Swampscott Arts and Craft Festival. Linscott Park, 17 Monument Ave., Swampscott. Sept. 12-13, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Free. castleberryfairs.com. 39th Annual Corn Festival. 48 Jacobs Lane, Norwell. Sept. 12-13, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Corn-themed food, games, crafts, hayrides, animals, activities. $10 adult, $8 child. Longfellow’s Autumn Arts and Crafts Festival. Wayside Inn Grounds, 72 Wayside Inn Rd., Sudbury. Sept. 12-13. Exhibitors, music, food. Admission $5, $4 for seniors, children under 14 free. wayside.org. Harvard Fall Festival. 150 Ayer Rd., Harvard. Sept. 12-13. Music, crafts, food, kids carnival. $5 per person. Saturday evening concert and fireworks are $15 for adults, $10 for teens and under, infants free. harvardfallfestival.com. Salem Spice Festival. Pioneer Village, 310 ½ Essex St., Salem. Sept. 12-13. Spices, herbs, arts, crafts, cooking contests, canoe race, demonstrations, live music, exhibits, storytelling. Suggested donation of $5 for adults, $3 for children. 978-744-8815. pioneervillagesalem.org. Jamaica Plain Music Festival. Pinebank Field, Perkins St. and Jamaica Way, Jamaica Plain. Sept. 12, noon to 7 p.m. Community event includes music, food, kids’ activities. Free. jpmusicfestival.com. Marion Oktoberfest. 465 Mill Street, Marion. Sept. 12, noon to 8 p.m. German food, music, danc-

20th Brazilian Independence Day Festival. Christian Herter Park, Lower Allston, Boston. Sept. 13. Children’s activities, crafts, food, music. Free. verdeamarelo.org. Cambridge Carnival International. Kendall Square, 300 Athenaeum St., Boston. Sept. 13, noon to 7 p.m. Festival rooted in African and Caribbean traditions, the event includes a grand costume parade. Free. cambridgecarnival.org. Somerville Dog Festival. Trum Field, Somerville. Sept. 13, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Dog sports demonstrations, silent auction and other activities. Free admission, but donations appreciated. somdogfest.org. The Big E, Eastern States Exposition, West Springfield. Sept. 18-Oct. 4, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Adults $15; children (6-12) $10; children 5 and under free. Massachusetts’s state fair features a midway, crafts, entertainment, exhibition halls, and more. thebige.com. Scallop Festival. Cape Cod Fairgrounds, 1220 Nathan Ellis Highway, East Falmouth. Sept. 18-20. Arts and crafts show, live music, inflatable ride park, food court, and more. Adults $7, children 6-12 $2. scallopfest.org.

5K Road Race & Family Festival Arts & Crafts and Vendor Fair. Elm Park, Worcester. September 19, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 5K Road Race/Walk, and Family Festival featuring live music, food vendors, arts and crafts vendors and free children’s activities. Free. thebridgecm.org. South Boston Street Festival. Between I and L Streets, South Boston. Sept. 19, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Over 100 local merchants, artists and organizations, food, dance performances, children’s activities. Free. bndc.org. 2015 Boxford Apple Festival. East Boxford around Melvin Green near the 1760 Holyoke-French house; it continues down Elm Street toward East Boxford Village. Sept. 19. Artisans, food. boxfordhistoricalsociety.com. Endless Summer Waterfront Festival. Nantasket Beach, Nantasket Ave., Hull. Sept. 19. Food, art, games, contests, music, sand castle competition. endlesssummerhull.com. Grotonfest. Legion Common, Groton. Sept. 19. Rain date Sept. 20. Family day includes crafts, food, entertainment, animals, dancers. Free. grotonfest.com. HarborArts Festival. 256 Marginal St., East Boston. Sept. 19, noon to midnight. Celebration of the HarborArts Shipyard Gallery includes music, artists, theater, food. Free, $10 suggested donation. 617-982-3244. harborarts.org. 23rd Annual Soule Homestead Harvest Fair & Joe Davies Festival. Soule Homestead, 46 Soule St., Middleborough. Sept. 19-20. Animals, children’s games and crafts, hay rides, family activities, food, drink. $7 admission, children under 6 free. soulehomestead.org.

Applefest 2015, Northborough. Sept. 18-20. 5K road race, street fair, parade, craft fair, and more. Free. northboroughapplefest.com.

25th Annual KidsFest. Wachusett Mountain, 499 Mountain Rd., Princeton. Sept. 19-20. Music, food, games, performances, characters, entertainment. Adults $14, children 3-12 $10. wachusett.com.

34th Annual Fall Arts and Crafts Fair. Town Common, Rts. 119 and 13, Townsend. Sept. 19-20. Juried arts show. 978-597-2106. townsendhistoricalsociety.org.

Urban Agriculture Fair. Loring Greenough House, 12 South St., Jamaica Plain. Sept. 20. Make cheese, press cider, and learn how to pickle, raise bees, grow

mushrooms, and make flour. Free. 617-388-7378. aghall.com. Boston Local Food Festival. Rose Kennedy Greenway, Boston. Sept. 20. Nation’s largest local and sustainable food hub features farmers, restaurants, food trucks, demonstrations. Free. 617-395-7680. bostonlocalfoodfestival.com. Spirit of Shrewsbury. Oak Middle School, Shrewsbury. Sept. 25-27, 7 p.m. Over 100 exhibitors, crafts, parade. Free. spiritofshrewsbury.org. River Ruckus 2015 and the Annual Rubber Duck Regatta. Riverwalk and Washington St., Haverhill. Sept. 26, 12 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Family activities, entertainment, “duck drop,” children’s activities. teamhaverhill.org. Johnny Appleseed Festival. Downtown Leominster. Sept. 26, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Activities, booths, crafts, moonwalks, food, performers. leominsterevents.com. 27th Annual AutumnFest. Bridgewater State University, Front of Boyden Hall, 131 Summer St., Bridgewater. Sept. 26, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Raffle, food, drink, music, family activities, kids’ events. autumnfest.net. Amherst Apple Harvest Festival. Amherst Town Common. Sept. 26, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Arts & crafts, local food, children’s games, and silent auction. Free. MetroFest 2015. 475 Union Ave., Framingham. Sept. 26, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Music, arts, food, activities, food trucks, entertainment. $7 adults, $3 children ages 5 to 12, free for kids under 5. metrowestvisitors.org. Berklee Beantown Jazz Festival. Columbus Ave. between Massachusetts Ave. and Burke St., Boston. Sept. 26, noon-6 p.m. Music, arts, crafts, instrument petting zoo. Free. beantownjazz.org. What The Fluff? Marshmallow Festival. Union Square, Somerville. Sept. 26, 3 p.m.-7 p.m. Sticky Musical Chairs and Fluff Jousting, cooking and eating competitions, a kids’ area, and live music. unionsquaremain.org. North Quabbin Garlic & Arts Festival. Forster’s Farm, 60 Chestnut Hill Rd., Orange. Sept. 26-27, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Hundreds of booths featuring farmers, artists, and community organizations. Raw garlic eating contest and chef demos, art and adventure activities for kids and families. Adults $5, weekend pass $8, kids 12 and under free, free shuttle and parking. garlicandarts.org. The Craft Festivals at Fruitlands. 102 Prospect Hill Road, Harvard. Sept. 26-27. Handmade ceramics, fiber art, jewelry and more will be available for purchase. Admission $5 for members, $10 nonmembers, children under 12 free, and includes admission to the museum. fruitlands.org. Allston Village Street Fair. Harvard Avenue, Allston. Sept. 27, 12 p.m.-6 p.m. A family friendly event with two outdoor stages, live bands, street performances, international food court, artists, and an amusements area. allstonvillagestreetfair.com. Gifford Cat Shelter Fall Festival. 30 Undine Rd., Brighton. Sept. 27, 1 to 4 p.m. Games, food, cat crafts vendors, kids activities. Free. 617-787-8872. giffordcatshelter.org.

The Working Waterfront Festival. Fisherman’s Wharf/Pier 3, New Bedford. Sept. 26-27. Familyfriendly event includes music, children’s activities, cooking demonstrations, vessel and harbor tours, contests, seafood. workingwaterfrontfestival.org.

OCTOBER The Topsfield Fair. 207 Boston St., Topsfield. Oct. 2-12. Agriculture exhibits, entertainment, rides, games, shopping, food. Tickets start at $9, free for children under 8 with an adult. topsfieldfair.org. NB Oktoberfest. State Pier Ferry Terminal of New Bedford. Oct. 3, 3 p.m.-midnight. Local, seasonal craft brews and live music at this 9th annual event. 6th Annual New England BBQ Fest. Wachusett Mountain, 499 Mountain Rd., Princeton. Oct. 3-4, noon-6 p.m. Crafters, farmers market, entertainment, Oysterfest. $9 adult, $6 children 6 to 12. 978-464-2300. wachusett.com.

Ahoy, Mateys! Get Your Booty To Our Pirate Maze Opening September 12

Douglas Octoberfest. Downtown Douglas. Oct. 3. Street fair includes vendors, crafts, food, games, entertainment, rides. douglasoctoberfest.com. Plymouth Barktoberfest. Nelson Street Park, Plymouth. Oct. 3, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Contests, vendors, entertainment. 508-830-1620. plymouthbarktoberfest.com. Annual Harvest Celebration Weekend. Sholan Farms, 115 Pleasant St., Leominster. Oct. 10-11. Entertainment, food, children’s events, hikes. sholanfarms.com. Cranberry Harvest Celebration. 158 Tihonet Rd., Wareham. Oct. 10-11, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Juried crafters, activities for children, animal shows, cooking demonstrations, food, pony and wagon rides. Admission is $10, $5 for seniors and military, free for children under 7. admakepeace.com. 37th Annual Oktoberfest. Harvard Square, Cambridge. Oct. 11. Beer garden, food, live entertainment, vendors, annual HONK parade, family activities. harvardsquare.com. Rockport Harvest Festival. Downtown Rockport. Oct. 17, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Food, music. Free. 978-546-6575. rockportusa.com. 32nd Annual Applefest. Wachusett Mountain, 499 Mountain Rd., Princeton. Oct. 17-18, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Over 75 craft fair & farmers’ market booths, family entertainment, pony rides, jugglers and magicians, and more. $11 adults, $6 child 6 to 12. wachusett.com. Seaport Chowder Festival. Pier 3, New Bedford. Oct. 18, noon-5 p.m. Chowder and soup from more than 20 area restaurants, live music. $18 tickets, $5 for children 6 to 12, free for ages 5 and under. 508-990-2777. downtownnb.org. Chatham Oktoberfest. Kate Gould Park, Main Street, Chatham. Oct. 24, 12 p.m.-4 p.m. Featuring great beers, bratwurst, cupcake contests, kid’s games, and Pumpkin People in the Park. chathaminfo.com. 20th Annual Boston Vegetarian Food Festival. Reggie Lewis Athletic Center, 1350 Tremont St., Boston. Oct. 24-25. Natural food vendors, speakers, chefs, samples, exhibits. Free. bostonveg.org.

Doggy Maze Daze Fundraiser Sept. 6th & 7th • 10 am - 6 pm Four Legged Friends FREE! • New bakery • Farm Animals • Fully stocked farmstand grown on the farm

• S’mores Campfire Parties • Book parties • Field Trips

Marini Farm Ipswich MA • 978-238-9386 www.marinifarm.com marinifarmcornmaze@yahoo.com BAYSTATEPARENT 15

the fair. And watching working dogs herd sheep against the clock is endlessly fascinating.

Insider Tips

For Tackling

• The Mallary Building has a regular schedule of animal shows and demonstrations, and there are chairs or bleachers for spectators. You might not know what constitutes a prize sheep, cow, or llama, but the emcees generally explain the basics during the show — and you can always ask the winners!

The Big E With Kids

• The courtyard inside Storrowton Village (across from the Avenue of States), where crafters usually set up their wares, offers a pleasurable refuge.

BY BAYSTATEPARENT STAFF

Getting There Eastern States Exposition is conveniently located on Memorial Drive (Mass. Route 147) in West Springfield. But it was placed there nearly a century ago, when cars were still newfangled and people still used the word “newfangled.” So there’s a good amount of traffic on Memorial Drive during the fair, with a lot more on weekends. And, oh, by the way, the state is going to start tearing up I-91 through Springfield in the fall (though planners say the project won’t be in full swing until after the fair ends). Do: Consider using the weekend remote parking and shuttle bus option departing from the Holyoke Mall (off I-91, one exit north beyond the Mass Pike). The service is $5 round trip by itself if you’ve got tickets, or you can pay for the service and your fair ticket at the same time ($20 adults, $15 kids 6 and older).

The Big E in West Springfield is a six-state New England fair stretching over three weeks, from Sept. 18 through Oct. 4. An event this huge in size and scope can be intimidating: Where do we park? What’s for lunch? What’s the best thing to see? How many thousands of people are going to be there with us?

With a little forethought and some advance intelligence, you’ll enjoy yourself more, save a few bucks, and maybe pass down your Big E memories to your kids.

Plan Ahead Do: Check the Website (thebige.com) ahead of time and plan out your day. You can’t do everything, but with a little forethought you can map out a strategy — times, places, events — and keep the kids happy and yourself sane. 16 SEPTEMBER2015

Do: Figure out ahead of time where the bathrooms are around the grounds. And the help desk. And the “lost people” station. Don’t: Be afraid to ask for help if you need it. There are volunteers all around the grounds, and many of them have been helping out patrons for years. Do: Set times and places where you’ll meet if the group splits up. Even if you have cell phones, you don’t want to be looking for each other in a place this big.

Don’t: Walk out of the bathroom without tipping the attendants. They’re cleaning up after thousands of people. Be nice.

Relax and Enjoy Do: Keep in mind that even on a busy fairgrounds, there are places to sit down and take a break amid relative quiet: • The Eastern States Coliseum — the big building in the middle of the grounds — often has sheep dog agility trials or horse shows during

Do: Consider the “$6 After 5” offer Monday through Thursday, which gets you reduced ticket prices after 5 p.m. You’ll likely be sharing the roads and parking lots with fewer fairgoers. Do: Keep in mind that parking at Gate 9 is $10 and only accepts cash. Private parking is available at businesses on Memorial Drive, on private property, or on the side streets across from the fairgrounds, and over the bridge in Agawam (just beyond Gate 1). FYI: These private lots are not affiliated with The Big E.

Fun On The Farm Do: Take time to walk up and down the rows of animals and farm exhibits in the agricultural complex. You will see and meet real farmers and real farm kids producing real farm projects, and doing actual farm work with actual farm animals. Do not underestimate how cool this is. Kids love animals. Don’t: Forget to wash your hands (and make sure the kids do, too) after touching the animals.

Do: Watch your step. Real animals do real animal things.

Y World Class Markets from now through Sept. 16.

Food Glorious Food

Don’t: Forget to check out the chick incubator in the Farm-ARama building.

Do: Set a budget for what you’ll spend for the day and stick to it, or set aside a certain amount of “fun money” for rides, a Big E Cream Puff or the inevitable, “Mommy, I want that!” purchase.

Do: Consider the state buildings — the Avenue of States, where replicas of all six New England state houses stand — when you get hungry. Some of the best food on the grounds is there — the Maine baked potato, Massachusetts’ lobster rolls, Vermont apple crisp, New Hampshire blueberry pie, and Rhode Island clam chowder.

Do: Buy tickets in advance and save some money on same-day ticket prices. They’re on sale at the Big E box office, thebige.com, and at Big

Don’t: Get on a ride that applies large amounts of centrifugal force after eating your way across the Avenue of States.

Fun With Numbers

Apple & Pumpkin Festivals Lots of Fun Family Events Check out these dates:

Sept. 12 & 13 Sept. 19 & 20 Sept. 26 & 27 Oct. 3 & 4 Oct. 10 & 11 Oct. 17 & 18 Oct. 24 & 25

Featuring

Taste of Local Apple Festival Harvest Weekend Taste of Local Apple festival Pumpkin Festival A Magical Halloween Enchantment

• Games • Hay Rides • Bouncy House • Caramel Apples • Cider Donuts • Chocolate Apples • Crafts • And So Much More! • Pyo Apples

“by the pound”

Check out our website or facebook for more info about each event. Info & events change without notice, everything is dependent on the weather. “YOU WANT FRESH YOU WANT LOCAL”

294 Chase Rd Lunenburg 978-582-6246 • www.lanniorchards.com 8:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. 7 Days a Week BAYSTATEPARENT 17

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

Courtesy USS Constitution Museum, photo by Greg M. Cooper

GO FOUR-LEGGED Pooch-A-Palooza. Topsfield Fairgrounds. Sept. 5, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

GO NAUTICAL A Knot-ical Time. USS Constitution Museum, Charlestown. Sept. 5, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Free. 18 SEPTEMBER2015

GO BIG The Big E. Eastern States Exposition, West Springfield. Sept. 18-Oct. 4.

GO EAT Boston Local Food Festival. Rose Kennedy Greenway, Boston, Sept. 20, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free.

Courtesy On the Avenue Marketing

OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO

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

1 Tuesday

hold ingredients to create solutions that bubble and fizz, substances that squish, and slime. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $12, children under 1 free. discoverymuseums.org.

Toddler Tuesday. Spectacle Island, Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area, 66 Long Wharf, Boston. 10:30 a.m. Hop the ferry and enjoy this island exploration for toddlers and preschoolers undertaking a short nature walk, beach exploration, or storytelling. Free. bostonharborislands.org.

Newburyport Riverfront Music Festival. Waterfront Park, 36 Merrimac St., Newburyport. 12 p.m.-7 p.m. Spend the day on the waterfront, where you can enjoy a variety of food and music throughout the day. Free. newburyportchamber.org.

Kids’ Crafts. Spectacle Island, Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area, 66 Long Wharf, Boston. 11 a.m. Join us for an island-themed crafts activity to bring home and remember the special day. For children ages 12 and under. Free. bostonharborislands.org.

Let’s Go Camping — That ’70s Style. Rocky Woods, 64 Rocky Woods Reservation Entrance, Medfield. 6 p.m. Spend Labor Day Weekend camping during this overnight family camp for both experienced and first-time campers, including fishing, hiking, paddling, lounging, ’70s yard games, food, and a campfire. Register ahead. Member adults $35, children $20; nonmember adults $55, children $30. thetrustees.org.

2 Wednesday Free First Wednesday. deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, 51 Sandy Pond Rd., Lincoln. 10 a.m. Explore deCordova for free on the first Wednesday of the month. Free. decordova.org. PEEP Science Adventures: Exploring Fabric. The Children’s Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 10 a.m.-11 a.m. Try your hand at sewing, embroidery, and even a real sewing machine, as you experiment with different tools and materials to see what you can create. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $12, children under 1 free. discoverymuseums.org. Preschool Story Time. Gore Place, 52 Gore St., Waltham. 10 a.m.-11 a.m. Learn about the lives of chickens and how they are cared for at Gore Place as we read books, practice sitting on a nest, and make eggs-cellent art before watching chickens. For ages 3 to 4. Reserve ahead. $10. goreplace.org. Pancake Experiments. Boston Public Market, 100 Hanover St., Boston. Use simple, familiar foods during this workshop utilizing the kitchen as a laboratory that challenges families to think scientifically when it comes to cooking. For ages 4 to 7 with an adult. $25 per family. thetrustees.org.

3 Thursday Castle Hill Picnic Concert. Castle Hill on the Crane Estate, 310 Argilla Rd., Ipswich. 7 p.m.-9 p.m. Close out the season with the Orville Giddings Band Boogie Blues as you dance, play ball, enter to win prizes, and buy or bring your own food to enjoy under the stars. Member cars $20, nonmember cars $30. thetrustees.org.

4 Friday The Spencer Fair. Spencer Fairgrounds, 48 Smithville Rd., Spencer. 8 a.m.-11 p.m. Come

6 Sunday GO PLAY Family Fun Days. Old Sturbridge Village. Sept. 5, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

celebrate the 127th year of fun and games this Labor Day weekend, during this agricultural fair filled with music, exhibits, entertainment, rides, and food for the entire family to enjoy. Through Monday. Adults $10, children 7 to 12 $7, children under age 7 free. thespencerfair.com. Backyard and Beyond: Sticks and Stones. The Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Acton. 2 p.m.-4 p.m. Make a bouquet of sticks and twigs wrapped with brightly colored yarn, or paint a menagerie of rock animals, during this afternoon of nature-based art making. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $12, children under 1 free. discoverymuseums.org. The Goonies. Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard St., Brookline. 11:59 p.m. Follow this swashbuckling family adventure as a group of misfit kids set out to save their beloved neighborhood by embarking on a quest to find lost pirate treasure. $12. coolidge.org.

5 Saturday

dolls and make your own enchanting fairy to bring home. Register ahead. Members $20, nonmembers $25. plymouthantiquariansociety.org. Family Fun Days. Old Sturbridge Village, 1 Old Sturbridge Village Rd., Sturbridge. 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Bring the whole family and celebrate Labor Day Weekend with games and excitement for everyone: play baseball, make a craft, join a game of French and English tug o’ war, meet the oxen, make marble paper, and much more. Through Monday. Free with admission. Adults $24, youths 3 to 17 $10, children 2 and under free. osv.org. Gibbon Birthday Party. Stone Zoo, 149 Pond St., Stoneham. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Celebrate white-cheeked gibbon Kien’s and his son Paddy’s birthdays, with a festively decorated exhibit, and special treats for the gibbons and their visitors. Free with admission. Members free; nonmember adults $16, children 2 to 12 $12, children under 2 free. zoonewengland.org.

A Knot-ical Time. USS Constitution Museum, Charlestown Navy Yard, Building 22, Charlestown. 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Come learn the ropes this Labor Day weekend, as you try to balance on a footrope to furl a sail, scrub the deck, practice knot-tying skills, and take a nap in one of our hammocks. Through Monday. Free. ussconstitutionmuseum.org.

Pooch-A-Palooza. Topsfield Fairgrounds, 207 Boston St., Topsfield. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Bring the entire family, including your four-legged canines, for this fun-filled day of entertainment, face painting, crafts, a bounce house, pooch spa, pooch palace, pooch game zone, and vendor marketplace. Through Saturday. Adults $10, children 12 and under free, dogs $1. pooch-a-palooza.org.

Fairy Folk Workshop. Harlow Old Fort House, 119 Sandwich St., Plymouth. 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Learn the techniques of making wrapped fairy

Make a MESS: Kitchen Chemistry. The Science Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Experiment with common house-

Carnivorous Plant Show. Tower Hill Botanic Garden, 11 French Dr., Boylston. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Witness more than 300 carnivorous plants as you learn about the unique, different, or even strange world they inhabit, with the chance to purchase your own carnivorous plant from top area vendors. Free with admission. Members free, adults $12, youth 6 to 18 $7, children under 6 free. towerhillbg.org. Hawk Watching for Families. Wachusett Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary, 113 Goodnow Rd., Princeton. 12:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m. Bring binoculars if you have them as we hike to the summit of Brown Hill to scout for hawks and other wildlife of autumn during this fun afternoon outdoor excursion. Suitable for children ages 6 and up. Register ahead. Member adults $6, children $3; nonmember adults $8, children $4. massaudubon.org. Parkland Games. John W. Weeks Bridge, Cambridge. 3:30 p.m.-6 p.m. The Charles River Conservancy invites you to enjoy an afternoon of fun outdoor games and activities within the parklands. Sundays. Free. thecharles.org.

7 Monday Beach Ramble. Allens Pond Wildlife Sanctuary, 1280 Horseneck Rd., Westport. 10 a.m.12 p.m. Join us for a fun and educational beach ramble exploring the many habitats and their inhabitants as you meander through grassland meadows before walking by the salt pond onto a sandy beach. Free. massaudubon.org. MFA Playdate. Museum of Fine Arts: Boston, 465 Huntington Ave., Boston. 10:15 a.m.11 a.m. Bring your toddler to enjoy story time and looking activities in the galleries, followed BAYSTATEPARENT 19

OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO! and tasting the fresh leaves, while developing early learning fine motor skills. For children ages 1 to 3 with an adult. $25 per family. thetrustees.org. Teen LGBTQA Drop-In Night. Robbins Library, 700 Massachusetts Ave., Arlington. 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Meet like-minded teens from the community during this time of engagement and discussion. Free. robbinslibrary.org.

10 Thursday Nature Adventures. Broad Meadow Brook Wildlife Sanctuary, 414 Massasoit Rd., Worcester. 1 p.m.-3 p.m. Join us for a handson nature program as we explore nature topics indoors using investigations, crafts, and activities outdoors in our beautiful 400-acre wildlife sanctuary. For ages 5 to 7. Register ahead. Members $8, nonmembers $12. massaudubon.org. GO EXAMINE Take Aparts. The Science Discovery Museum, Acton. Sept. 17, 2 p.m.-4:30 p.m.

by an art making project around the theme of “Pint Sized Portraits”. Recommended for ages 4 and under. Free with admission. Members free, nonmember: adults $25, youths 7 to 17 $10, children 6 and under free. mfa.org.

versary of this modern classic that follows the terrorization of Amity Island by a Great White Shark. Adults $12, children $10. coolidge.org.

Blackstone Canal Fest. Harding St., Kelley Sq., Worcester. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Bring the family to this day of festivities and fun, including street performers, horse and wagon tours, a full sized canal replica, specially-designed kids’ activities, music, dancing, food, and more. Free. blackstonecanalfest.org.

3D Printing for Kids. Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St., Newton. 2 p.m.-3 p.m. Learn how 3D printing works by using Tinkercard to design your own three-dimensional creation during this fun, interactive activity. For children in grades 2 to 5. Register ahead. Free. newtonfreelibrary.net.

Boston Charter Day. Old South Meeting House, 310 Washington St., Boston. 12 p.m. Celebrate Boston’s 385th Birthday during this special day of free admission for Massachusetts residents. Free. oldsouthemeetinghouse.org.

9 Wednesday

Jaws. Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard St., Brookline. 7 p.m. Celebrate the 40th anni-

8 Tuesday

Food Senses. Boston Public Market, 100 Hanover St., Boston. 10 a.m.-11 a.m. Enjoy this morning activity in which younger children will experiment with senses, from ripping greens for a salad, experimenting by mixing foods, inhaling the aroma

3D Printing Exploration. Morse Institute Library, 14 East Central St., Natick. 3 p.m.4 p.m. Learn about 3D printing and print a small 3D object to take home, while also making colorful 3D printing material that can be used to print out a cute keychain ornament. For ages 11 to 18. Register ahead. Free. morseinstitute.org.

11 Friday

Black Violin. TCAN: Center for the Arts, 14 Summer St., Natick. 8 p.m. Watch two classically trained violinists and their DJ redefine and break down musical genre barriers, during this concert mixing hip-hop, funk, jazz, and classical music. Members $30, nonmembers $35. natickarts.org.

12 Saturday Teen Birders: Hawk Watch. Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary, 208 South Great Rd., Lincoln. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Fall is a wonderful time to go for a hike and look for migrating raptors from the top of a beautiful mountain, so pack a lunch, snack, and dress for the weather during this day of aviary intrigue. For ages 13 to 17. Register ahead. Members $40, nonmembers $48. massaudubon.org. COASTSWEEP on the Beach. Parker River National Wildlife Refuge, 6 Plum Island Turnpike, Newburyport. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Come participate in this annual statewide cleanup of Massachusetts coastal and estuarine environments, filled with fun outdoor activities including live tide pool animals, sand science on the beach, and crafts using natural items. Free. massaudubon.org.

Age of Adaline. Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St., Newton. 3 p.m.-4 p.m. Follow the story of a woman who, for nearly a century, has remained 29 years old, as she strains against the self-imposed exile in which she’s lived. Free. newtonfreelibrary.net.

Caterpillar Celebration. Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary, 208 South Great Rd., Lincoln. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Join us for an incredible day of exploration and discovery combining photographs, art, scientific study, and live animals to celebrate the crawling caterpillar. Free. massaudubon.org.

Crane Contra Dance. Castle Hill on the Crane Estate, 310 Argilla Rd., Ipswich. 6 p.m.-8 p.m. Join us as we celebrate during this gathering of musicians, callers, and dancers in the Italian Garden through the evening. Register ahead. Member adults $20, children free; nonmember adults $25, children $5. thetrustees.org.

39th Annual Corn Festival. South Shore Natural Science Center, 48 Jacobs Ln., Norwell. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Bring the entire family to this annual celebration of the fall harvest and the natural and cultural heritage of New England, filled with entertainment for all ages. Free. southshorenaturalsciencecenter.org.

For more events, visit baystateparent.com

FREE! 3 $ $

Souvenir Cup of Animal Feed. Expires 9/30/15. Not Valid with offer Discounts or Packages. BSP9

Looking for parenting support? UMass Memorial Medical Center and New England Prenatal and Family Education offer classes for expecting women, new moms, their families and support persons.

Call 1-855-366-5221 or visit umassmemorial.org/healthymoms UMassMemorial Medical Center

20 SEPTEMBER2015

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OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO! Hammered Leaf Art. Pope John Paul II Park, Neponset Circle, Dorchester. 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Join us to preserve the vibrant colors of leaves and flowers by hammering them to release their natural dyes onto papers. Members $5, nonmembers $10, children free. thetrustees.org.

the stars, where after an early dinner at home, bring your family and your tent, and we’ll provide the s’mores, fire pit, games, and other activities. Register ahead. Member adults $23, children $20; nonmember adults $27, children $24. massaudubon.org.

Beyond the Spectrum. Museum of Fine Arts: Boston, 465 Huntington Ave., Boston. 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. Discover what pieces of art and sculpture are made of and craft your own terrific piece of textured art, during this morning session designed for children on the Autism Spectrum. For ages 8 to 12. $9. mfa.org.

International Musical Art Concert. Regent Theatre, 7 Medford St., Arlington. 7 p.m.-10 p.m. Come experience performances from Chinese, Tibetan, Indian, American, Nepalese, Spanish, and Japanese performances during this evening to benefit elderly Tibetans living in South-Central Asia. Adults $25, children ages 15 and under $15. regenttheatre.com.

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

Worcester Pride Parade. Starts at 11 a.m. on Humboldt Street along Institute Park and ends at Worcester Common. Pride Festival starts at 12 p.m. at Worcester Common. worcesterpride.org. Wild About Turtles. Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary, 280 Eliot St., Natick. 1 p.m.-2:30 p.m. Visit up close and personal with some of the turtles found around Broadmoor and learn about our wonderful shelled friends, before taking a short walk to see more turtles in the wild. Suitable for children ages 4 to 16. Register ahead. Member adults $12, children $7; nonmember adults $14, children $9. massaudubon.org.

surrounded by sculpture and nature. For ages 13 and up. Members free, nonmembers $15. decordova.org. Tea and Lunch with Your Grandparents. Governor Oliver Ames Estate, 35 Oliver St., North Easton. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Celebrate Grandparents’ Day with some tea and help plant a seed that will grow into something beautiful for all to enjoy. Member families $10, nonmember families $20. thetrustees.org. Cambridge Carnival. Galileo Way/Binney St., Cambridge. 12 p.m.-6:30 p.m. Enjoy a day filled with costume parades, DJs, and internation-

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Map and Compass Treasure Hunt. Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary, 87 Perkins Row, Topsfield. 1:30 p.m.-3 p.m. Join us for a map and compass guided treasure hunt, as we hit the trails and use new skills we learn to search for some hidden natural treasures. Register ahead. Member adults $7, children $6; nonmember adults $9, children $7. massaudubon.org.

Food Truck Safari. Franklin Park Zoo, 1 Franklin Park Rd., Boston. 2 p.m.-6 p.m. Join us as food trucks from all over Boston roll into Franklin Park Zoo for a deliciously wild day, with some of the tastiest offerings from Boston’s best food trucks situated amongst ring-tailed lemurs, giraffes, zebra, gorillas, and so much more. Free with admission. Adults $20, children ages 2 to 12 $13, children under age 2 free. zoonewengland.org.

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Bird Park Fall Concert. Francis William Bird Park, 41 Rhoades Ave., East Walpole. 4 p.m.6 p.m. Close your summer out with a concert at Bird Park, taking in the majesty of the music court and scenic views on the vista lawn. Free. thetrustees.org. River Camping. Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary, 87 Perkins Row, Topsfield. 4:30 p.m. Join us for a night of camping under

Mayor’s Summer Reading Ice Cream Celebration. Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St., Newton. 2 p.m.-4 p.m. Join Mayor Warren in celebrating the accomplishments of our summer readers during this special ice cream celebration for the whole family, featuring a Music for All Ages concert. Free. newtonfreelibrary.net.

New shows added all the time! GROUP DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE For tickets call 877.571.SHOW (7469) or visit TheHanoverTheatre.org 2 Southbridge Street • Worcester, MA 01608 Worcester Center for Performing Arts, a registered not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization, owns and operates The Hanover Theatre for Performing Arts.

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al music bringing the sounds of several islands and South American nations encompassing African, Caribbean, Calypso, and Haitian Roots inspired music. Also, check out the dedicated KidsFest with stilt walking, arts and crafts, face painting, and more. Free. cambridgecarnival.org. Hands-On History. Concord Museum, 53 Cambridge Turnpike, Concord. 1 p.m.-4 p.m. Learn how genealogists use family trees by examining the Emerson family tree, and then begin your own. Free with admission. Members free; nonmember adults $10, children ages 5 to 17 $5, children under 5 free. concordmuseum.org.

14 Monday School of Rock. Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard St., Brookline. 7 p.m. Watch this family-favorite following Jack Black as a desperate former-rocker masquerading as a substitute teacher for a fifth grade class of high-achievers. Adults $12, children $10. coolidge.org.

15 Tuesday

fAmiLY fun DAYS! SeptemBeR 5 - 7 Play early New England games Ride on the Village Stagecoach CRUiSe the Quinebaug River on a boat ride See demonstrations of cooking, pottery, blacksmithing and more

ComPete in Farm Olympics WatCh a fire balloon launching

oLD StuRBRiDge ViLLAge

Make a MESS: Making Music. The Children’s Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 10 a.m.-11 a.m. Explore different sounds and noises as we create different instruments with cardboard tubes, straws, and other materials from around the house. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $12, children under 1 free. discoverymuseums.org. E.T. Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St., Newton. 3:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m. Enjoy this modern-classic following Elliot, as he shepherds a lost extra-terrestrial home while attempting to keep his new friend secret from his family and the rest of society. Free. newtonfreelibrary.net.

16 Wednesday Tail Waggin’ Tales. Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St., Newton. 9:45 a.m.-10:15 a.m. Get ready to clap your hands and wag your tail during this highly interactive morning featuring therapy dog team Stephanie and Marmalade. For ages 3 to 5. Free. newtonfreelibrary.net. Toddler Time on the Farm. Gore Place, 52 Gore St., Waltham. 10 a.m. Learn how chickens, pigs, and sheep live, what they eat, and why they are important on the farm, before planting seeds, and picking vegetables. For age 2 with an adult. Reserve ahead. $10 per child. goreplace.org. Backyard and Beyond: Cloud Gazing. The Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Acton. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Come stretch out on the grass with

us to do some cloud gazing, as we name the different types of clouds we see, or just relax and watch them pass by. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $12, children under 1 free. discoverymuseums.org.

17 Thursday Take Aparts. The Science Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 2 p.m.-4:30 p.m. Grab a screwdriver and discover resistors and capacitors as you uncover the inner workings of everyday electronics. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $12, children under 1 free. discoverymuseums.org. Spanish Bilingual Story Time. Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St., Newton. 3:30 p.m.4 p.m. Sharpen your language skills during this story, song, and movement-filled afternoon event in English and Spanish. Free. newtonfreelibrary.net. LEGOLAND Master Builder. Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St., Newton. 4:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m. Join Master Builder Ian as he talks about his job, shares his tips and tricks, and works with kids to build their own LEGO creations. For ages 6 and up. Free. newtonfreelibrary.net. Clueless. Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard St., Brookline. 7 p.m. Come enjoy arguably the most quotable film of the ’90s, during this Alicia Silverstone-led loose interpretation of Jane Austen’s Emma set in a Beverley Hills high school. $12. coolidge.org.

18 Friday PARK(ing) Day. Pop-Up Parking Spot Garden, 689 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge. 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Stop by our pop-up garden to start seeds, make hammered leaf notecards, and take a break in the shade with a nature book. Free. thetrustees.org. The Big E. Eastern States Exposition, 1305 Memorial Ave., West Springfield. 8 a.m. With fall just arriving, come bring the family to this annual celebration of fun, filled with jaw-dropping entertainment, food, drinks, shopping, butter sculptures, a petting zoo, the daily Mardi Gras parade, and more. Adults $15, children 6 to 12 $10, children ages 5 and under free. Through Oct. 4. thebige.com. Music and Movement with Miss Bernadette. The Children’s Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 9:30 a.m.-10 a.m. Move, make music, listen, and learn, as your child develops their memory and learning skills dur-

Sturbridge, Massachusetts

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OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO! ing this morning session led by one of the best Indian Hill Music School faculty members. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $12, children under 1 free. discoverymuseums.org. 46th Annual Scallop Fest. Cape Cod Fairgrounds, 1220 Nathan Ellis Highway, East Falmouth. 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Enjoy great music and great food, including famous fried scallop and herb roasted chicken dinners, chowder, lobster rolls, hotdogs, salads, and fried dough, a craft show, games, and more. Adults $6, children 6 to 12 $2, children ages 5 and under free. scallopfest.org. Exploring Nano: The Smallest Science. The Science Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 2 p.m.-4:30 p.m. Uncover hidden rainbows and discover something invisible as you explore how technologies and society influence each other as we celebrate nanoscale science and the International Year of Light. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $12, children under 1 free. discoverymuseums.org. Friday Evening Hayride and Campfire. Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary, 208 South Great Rd., Lincoln. 4 p.m.-5:30 p.m. & 6 p.m.7:30 p.m. Join us for a hayride around the farm as summer moves into fall, before stopping at our campfire for stories, s’mores, and a special night-time visitor. Suitable for children up to age 14. Register ahead. Members $16, nonmembers $19. massaudubon.org. Explore the Night Sky. Battis Farm. 7 South Hampton Rd., Amesbury. 8 p.m.-9:30 p.m. Come star gazing with the North Shore Amateur Astronomy Club, as you view galaxies millions of light years away, clusters, and stars bigger than Earth’s orbit through telescopes provided on-site. Free. essexheritage.org. Rock Off Main St. TCAN: Center for the Arts, 14 Summer St., Natick. 8 p.m. Shaking the old firehouse for the past 17 years, come enjoy this all-ages show that provides a venue for local teen and young adult talent, featuring the best pop, punk, and indie bands in the Boston area. $8. natickarts.org.

19 Saturday Fall Book and Bake Sale. Morse Institute Library, 14 East Central St., Natick. 9:30 a.m.4:30 p.m. Come look through thousands of books on sale from all genres, before diving into some delicious baked goods like cookies, breads, and jams, sold and prepared by our volunteers. Free. morseinstitute.org. From Nest to Table. Powisset Farm, 31 Powisset St., Dover. 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Start by

saying hello to the chickens and partake in their egg collection, before heading to the kitchen to make frittatas. For ages 5 and up with an adult. Members $20, nonmembers $30, first child free, additional children $5. thetrustees.org.

Who KneW

25th Annual KidsFest. Wachusett Mountain, 499 Mountain Rd., Princeton. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Enjoy a day filled with music, food, and fun, including a baby animal petting zoo, rainforest reptile show, and more. Through Sunday. Advance adults $11, children ages 3 to 12 $7; day-of adults $14, children ages 3 to 12 $10. wachusett.com.

CouLD Be So

Pirate Day. Manchester Historical Museum, 10 Union St., Manchester. 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Enjoy a free family concert of sea chanteys, make your own pirate boat, and hear stories of local pirates and privateers. Free. manchesterbytheseahistorical.org.

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Exploring Science Together: Owls. Harvard Museum of Natural History, 26 Oxford St., Cambridge. 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. Study the secretive world of owls, with hands-on activities, up close observation, and dig even deeper by dissecting real owl pellets. For families with children ages 5 and up. Register ahead. Members $10, nonmembers $20. hmnh.harvard.edu. 16th Annual South Boston Street Festival. Between I and L Streets, 647 East Broadway, South Boston. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Enjoy two stages’ worth of live performances, over 100 local merchants, children’s activities, and more. Free. southbostonstreetfestival.com. Backyard and Beyond: Listening Walk. The Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Acton. 11 a.m. Meet at Bessie’s Tent to brainstorm about the types of sounds we’ll hear out in the woods, before exploring the Great Hill Conservation and Recreation land for an engaging listening walk. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $12, children under 1 free. discoverymuseums.org. Family Yoga Class. Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St., Newton. 12 p.m.-1 p.m. Chuck the weekend to-do list and enjoy an hour of fun, learning, and connection, during this hour filled with activities, age-appropriate poses, and simple mindfulness activities. For ages 3 to 12 with caregiver. Free. newtonfreelibrary.net. Endless Summer Waterfront Festival. Nantasket Beach, 205 Nantasket Ave., Hull. 12 p.m.-5 p.m. Join us for great food, live music played throughout the beach, contests, and more for the entire family to enjoy. Free. endlesssummerhull.com.

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OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO! Monarch Magic. Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary, 87 Perkins Row, Topsfield. 1:30 p.m.-3 p.m. Join us at the sanctuary and discover the amazing journey of the monarch butterfly to Mexico, as we learn about butterfly gardening and create a paper butterfly that will spend the winter with children who live near the monarch sanctuaries in the mountains of Michoaca, Mexico. Register ahead. Member adults $8, children $7; nonmember adults $10, children $8. massaudubon.org. New to Newton Under Three. Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St., Newton. 3 p.m.-4 p.m. If you are new to Newton with a child ages 3 and under, enjoy this story and activity time for toddlers and meeting place for parents. Free. newtonfreelibrary.net. Paul Blart Mall Cop 2. Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St., Newton. 3 p.m.-4:35 p.m. Watch everyone’s favorite bumbling mall cop as he returns to thwart the daring heist of art thieves in Las Vegas. Free. newtonfreelibrary.net.

8:30 p.m.-10 p.m. Join local astronomers for a look at the stars and other night objects through big telescopes throughout the evening. Free. massaudubon.org.

20 Sunday Boston Local Food Festival. Rose Kennedy Greenway, Boston. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Come enjoy the best of local sourced food the city has to offer during this day of fun, music, games, and education. Free. bostonlocalfoodfestival.com. Trails and Sails-Beach Seining Demonstration. Forest River Park, 32 Clifton St., Salem. 11 a.m. Come join staff and volunteers as they take a large seining net into the water and then drag it back to shore where we’ll lay it out, gather around to examine the catch, and talk about what we found. Reserve ahead. Free. salemsound.org.

Easton Local Film Series. Governor Oliver Ames Estate, 35 Oliver St., North Easton. 7 p.m. Come enjoy a series of films by local artists in the Easton community. Members $3, nonmembers $5. thetrustees.org.

Family Drop-in Workshop. Fruitlands Museum, 102 Prospect Hill Rd., Harvard. 12 p.m. Meet us in the art gallery for a scavenger hunt and then join us outside where you and your children can make a landscape painting of your own. Free with admission. Members free; nonmember adults $14, children ages 5 to 13 $6, children under 5 free. fruitlands.org.

Star Gazing Parties. Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary, 293 Moose Hill Pkwy., Sharon.

Sense of Wonder Walk: Up, Up, and Away We Go. Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary,

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21 Monday

87 Perkin Row, Topsfield. 1:30 p.m.-3 p.m. Explore the mystery of how birds and some insects fly away to winter homes through games and activities that show us how to rely on our senses and the elements of nature for clues to direction and location. Register ahead. Member adults $7, children $6; nonmember adults $9, children $7. massaudubon.org.

Accessible Explorations. Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary, 208 South Great Rd., Lincoln. 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Come discover life on a local farm with this small group program focused on engaging the senses through hands-on farm chores and explorations. Register ahead. Members $15, nonmembers $18. massaudubon.org.

Boston Area Chantey and Maritime Sing. USS Constitution Museum, Charlestown Navy Yard, Building 22, Charlestown. 2 p.m.-5 p.m. Listen, learn, and lift your voices by joining in a rousing chorus of sea chanteys at the USS Constitution Museum. Free. ussconstitutionmuseum.org.

22 Tuesday The Wiggles Rock and Roll Pre-School Tour. The Hanover Theatre, 22 Southbridge St., Worcester. 6:30 p.m. Bring your children to this family-favorite traveling brigade of singers and characters, including Dorothy the Dinosaur, Captain Featherword, Wags the Dog, and Henry the Octopus. Tickets: $30-$40. thehanovertheatre.org.

Revels RiverSing. Winthrop Park, Harvard Square & John W. Weeks Footbridge, Cambridge. 5 p.m.-7 p.m. Join us in celebrating the Autumnal Equinox by starting in Winthrop Park for family festivities including face-painting, hula hooping, and a honk band, before making a parade to the banks of the Charles River, with singing beginning at 6 p.m. Free. revels.org. MDSC Buddy Walk and Harvest Fair. River Bend Farm, 287 Oak St., Uxbridge. 10 a.m. registration, walk begins at 11:15 a.m. In addition to the 1-mile walk, enjoy raffles, live music, field games, arts and crafts, and more. events. mdsc.org. EcoBSPHalf-PriceSeptemberpro.pdf

23 Wednesday Tot Rock. The Children’s Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Acton. 10 a.m.-10:30 a.m. Bring in your guitar, saxophone, cow bell, or other instrument and make some music, or grab a shaker, sing, or dance. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $12, children under 1 free. discoverymuseums.org. 1

Backyard Beyond: Signs of the 8/19/15 and 4:41 PM Season Nature Journals. The Discovery

OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO! Museums, 177 Main St., Acton. 2 p.m. Celebrate the first official day of Fall by creating a nature journal before heading out to the Great Hill Conservation and Recreation land to explore and look for signs of fall in New England. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $12, children under 1 free. discoverymuseums.org.

24 Thursday

Rd., Ipswich. 2 p.m.-3 p.m. Enjoy this fun and energetic time as we head outdoors to our spectacular local habitats to see what’s new, think about colors, shapes and patterns, and wonder why this place is a special home to wildlife. For ages 3 to 6. Register ahead. Member adults $6, children $5; nonmember adults $8, children $7. massaudubon.org.

25 Friday

Woodland Trail Hunt. The Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Acton. 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Kick-off Take a Child Outside Week and visit our Woodland Trail to put your skills for observation and exploration to the test, as you explore the trails and museum grounds using clues inspired by letterboxing. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $12, children under 1 free. discoverymuseums.org.

Backyard and Beyond: Great Hill Exploration. The Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Acton. 10 a.m. & 1 p.m. Come explore some of the trails that wind through the wooded Great Hill Conservation and Recreation Land with museum staff. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $12, children under 1 free. discoverymuseums.org.

Oh My, Pizza Pie. Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary, 208 South Great Rd., Lincoln. 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Let’s have a pizza party, as you mix up the dough, and head for the garden to harvest fresh tomatoes, herbs, and other tasty veggies while it rises, before putting it all together with sauce and cheese for your own harvest pizza treat. Suitable for ages 3 to 7. Register ahead. Members $13, nonmembers $16. massaudubon.org.

Preschool Story and Nature Hour. Wachusett Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary, 113 Goodnow Rd., Princeton. 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Explore the Hawks in the Sky themed-hour as we read an engaging storybook, make a craft to take home, and go for a walk on one of the sanctuary’s trails with our lead educator. For ages 2.5 to 5 years. Register ahead. Member adults free, children $2; nonmember adults free, children $3. massaudubon.org.

See, Think, and Wonder Walks for Preschoolers. Sandy Point State Park, Refuge

Apple Honey Harvest. Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary, 208 South Great Rd., Lincoln. 3:30

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p.m.-5 p.m. Visit with the bees and taste some delicious honey and apple combinations as we share apple and bee stories and songs, then round out the afternoon with some apple crafts. Suitable for ages up to age 8. Register ahead. Members $12, nonmembers $15. massaudubon.org. Our Earth Workshop. Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St., Newton. 4 p.m.-5 p.m. Come learn about the environment and our shared resources during this story-, discussion-, and activity-filled hour. For children in grades K to 2. Free. newtonfreelibrary.net. Family Movie Night. World’s End, Martins Ln., Hingham. 5:30 p.m. Bring a blanket, picnic basket, and your family and friends to the top of Planters Hill to watch a movie with the Boston Harbor as your background. Member individuals $5, families $20; nonmember individuals $10, families $35. thetrustees.org. Powisset Farm Friday Fall Dinner. Powisset Farm, 31 Powisset St., Dover. 6 p.m.-9 p.m. Enjoy a seasonal dinner, the scenic view of the farm at sunset, and the company of new and old farm friends, with plenty to keep you entertained for the night. Members $35, nonmembers $45, children $15. thetrustees.org. Campfire Cooking and Stargazing. Governor Hutchinson’s Field, 196 Adams St., Milton.

7 p.m.-9 p.m. Learn how to build and maintain a campfire beneath the stars, during this night filled with games, campfire snacks, and celestial exploration. Member adults $10, children $5, family of four $25; nonmember adults $15, children $10, family of four $40. thetrustees.org.

26 Saturday Butterfly Garden and Live Caterpillar Show. Camp Kent Nature Center, 92 South Hampton Rd., Amesbury. 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Watch caterpillars up close, eating, camouflaging, or defending-without glass during this special presentation of the variety of native New England caterpillars in various stages of development. Register ahead. Free. essexheritage.org. Fall Food Fest. Tower Hill Botanic Garden, 11 French Dr., Boylston. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Come visit New England’s extraordinary year-round garden during this day filled with kids’ activities, farm animals, hay wagon rides, a garden scavenger hunt, plenty of delicious food, and more. Adults $12, children ages 6 to 18 $7, children ages 5 and under free. towerhillbg.org. Illusions, Imagination, and Invention Play Date. The Institute of Contemporary Art: Boston, 100 Northern Ave., Boston. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Find out about local artist Ethan Murrow’s monumental new drawing, then design seascapes and landscapes that are out of this world, build

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27th Annual Autumn-Fest. Boyden Hall, Bridgewater State University, 131 Summer St., Bridgewater. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Enjoy this funtastic day with kids activities, face painting, pumpkin decorating, crafts, live demonstrations and performances, a moon bounce, train rides, magic, food, music and more. Free. autumnfest.net. Fall Festival and Plant Sale. City Natives, 30 Edgewater Dr., Mattapan. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Celebrate the coming of autumn by joining in games, workshops, and the fall perennial divide, with plenty of hardy seedlings, soil amendments, and season extension supplies on-sale. Free. thetrustees.org. The Craft Festival at Fruitlands. Fruitlands Museum, 102 Prospect Hill Rd., Harvard. 10 a.m. Come join artists and artisans from all across New England during this juried festival, with ceramics, fiber art, jewelry, and more. Through Sunday. Members $5, nonmembers $10, children under 12 free. fruitlands.org. Wild Animals in Your Neighborhood. The Science Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 12 p.m.-2 p.m. Enjoy a unique opportunity to see native animals up close with a trained naturalist from the Blue Hills Trailside Museum, and handle natural history artifacts as you learn about the birds, reptiles, and mammals that live in your neighborhood. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $12, children under 1 free. discoverymuseums.org. River Ruckus. Haverhill Riverfront Cultural District, Washington St., Haverhill. 12 p.m.8:30 p.m. Enjoy a day filled with music, family activities, a duck-drop, local food vendors, and a fireworks spectacular. Free. teamhaverhill.org. Fluff Festival. Union Square, Somerville. 3 p.m.-7 p.m. Enjoy a day dedicated to the best thing to come out of a jar, Marshmallow Fluff, during this full day of shenanigans, including Fluff jousting, a marshmallow toss, Fluff Musical Chairs, Fluff Hair Dos, and more to entertain and involve the entire family. Free. unionsquaremain.org. Afternoon Chores and More. Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary, 208 South Great Rd., Lincoln. 3:30 p.m.-5 p.m. Come in and help with afternoon chores on the farm, as we feed the animals their afternoon meal and help them settle in for the night, collect eggs, and then enjoy a seasonal treat of our own. Suitable for ages 4 to 12 years. Register ahead. Members $13, nonmembers $16. massaudubon.org.

27 Sunday Weave-a-Sukkah. Whittemore-Robins House Lawn, 700 Massachusetts Ave., Arlington. 10

a.m.-11:30 a.m. Weave your dreams for a better world for all into a colorful, communal “sukkah” we create together, while also making sukkot decorations to take home and edible sukkahs, and hear stories. For ages 2 and up. Register ahead. Families $20. bostonjcc.org. My School Color Run. Soldier’s Field, Mechanic Street, Douglas. Check-in begins at 10 am. Toddler Run begins at 11 a.m. 5K race begins at noon. Participants will be doused with food-safe colored powder before the run begins and then splashed with liquid color at various stations along the route. There will be a 1-mile family walk and a special toddler run for ages 18 months to 4 years. Registration fees are $35 per person or $30 per person for groups of 4+; Douglas students are $25 per student. DouglasMSCR.eventbrite.com. Backyard and Beyond: Backyard Birding. The Science Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Join us to make a birdfeeder to bring home and see whom you can spot at our bird feeders. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $12, children under 1 free. discoverymuseums.org. Sukkot Celebration with JFN and MWJDS. Shillman House, 49 Edmands Rd., Framingham. 2:30 p.m.-4 p.m. Together we’ll decorate a community sukkah, sing songs, hear stories, and share the festivities of this harvest holiday commemorating the Israelites’ 40 years of wandering in the desert. For ages 2 and up. Preregistered families $10, walk-in families $15. bostonjcc.org. Saddle Up for Sukkot. Temple Sinai, 25 Canton St., Sharon. 3 p.m.-4:30 p.m. Celebrate Sukkot with a fun Harvest-themed party and kid-friendly pony rides, with edible and holiday crafts, and stories. For children 6 and under. Preregistered families $20, walk-in families $25. bostonjcc.org. Full Moon Hike. Noanet Woodlands, 61 Powisset St., Dover. 6 p.m.-9 p.m. Come join an REI Outdoor School Instructor for a guided night hike at one of the area’s best hiking venues under sparkling stars and the dark woods. Register ahead. REI members $25, nonmembers $45. thetrustees.org. The September 27 Lunar Eclipse. Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary, 87 Perkins Row, Topsfield. After learning about how and why lunar eclipses occur, we will step outside just as the main event is about to get underway to observe the first hour of the eclipse together through the telescopes of local amateur astronomers. Register ahead. Member adults $7, children $6; nonmember adults $9, children $7. massaudubon.org.

28 Monday Especially For Me! Deaf or Hard of Hearing Morning. The Children’s Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Acton. 9:30 a.m.-

Photo by Michael Kolowich

a telescopic device powered by imagination and drawing, and catch a screening of Song of the Sea at 1:30 p.m. Free for families. icaboston.org.

GO LISTEN Revels RiverSing. Winthrop Park, Cambridge. Sept. 20, 5 p.m.-7 p.m. Free.

12:30 p.m. Join in all the fun during this special free morning for families with infants and toddlers with hearing loss. Register ahead. Free. discoverymuseums.org. Furious 7. Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St., Newton. 6:30 p.m.-8:50 p.m. Join this tight-knit gang of street racers as they battle the brothers of a defeated nemesis and rescue a software genius from terrorists. Free. newtonfreelibrary.net. Poetry Writing Workshop. Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St., Newton. 7 p.m.8 p.m. Come enjoy this hour specially designed for children to refine, retool, and enjoy their poetry writing. For ages 8 to 9. Register ahead. Free. newtonfreelibrary.net.

29 Tuesday Make a MESS: Nature’s Palette. The Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Acton. 10 a.m.-12 p.m. & 2 p.m.-4:30 p.m. Take a close look at the landscape around us, and get inspired before painting your own portrait. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $12, children under 1 free. discoverymuseums.org.

admission. Members free, nonmembers $12, children under 1. discoverymuseums.org. Hawks Aloft. Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary, 208 South Great Rd., Lincoln. 3:30 p.m.-5 p.m. It is migration time, so meet a marvelous migrator and hike to the top of the drumlin while searching the skies for hawks soaring on warm air. Suitable for ages up to 7. Register ahead. Members $12, nonmembers $15. massaudubon.org.

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Geography Fair. Worcester Public Library: Main Branch, 3 Salem Sq., Worcester. 5:30 p.m.-8 p.m. Come enjoy as children make oral presentation on a given country or a country of their choosing. Free. worcpublib.org.

30 Wednesday Backyard and Beyond: Nature Impressions. The Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Acton. 2 p.m.-4:30 p.m. Grab some clay and then take a nature walk and make an impression of tree bark, a rock, a leaf, or anything you find as we explore the Great Hill Conservation and Recreation land. Free with

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  

BAYSTATEPARENT 27

An Unforgettable Voyage Through Time! Explore the world’s largest collection of historic naval vessels at America’s Fleet Museum, Battleship Cove! Your journey begins at www.battleshipcove.org

Tickets Start at $15! Restrictions, exclusions and additional charges may apply. Subject to availability.

OCT. 8 – 12

5 Water Street Fall River, MA 02721 508-678-1100 www.battleshipcove.org 322788

Buy Tickets: Ticketmaster.com • 800-745-3000 • Venue Box Office

28 SEPTEMBER2015

#RinglingBros

Ringling.com

Blend Late Summer Produce to Make Sauces, Sips and Soups

ant to get the most out of late summer’s fresh fruits and vegetables? Look to your blender and spice rack to puree seasonal produce into refreshing sips, chilled soups and savory sauces. “We’re in peak farmer’s market season with an abundance of juicy red tomatoes and leafy greens,” says Chef Kevan Vetter of the McCormick Kitchens. “The same old veggie sides and salads can get boring as the summer rolls on, and

blending allows you to enjoy produce in tasty new ways – from using kale and avocado in a pasta sauce to a Greek yogurt dressing featuring pureed fresh cucumber.” Try putting a flavorful spin on a classic summer side with this Greek pasta salad. Blend fresh cucumbers with Greek yogurt, lemon juice and herbs like dill weed and Mediterranean oregano to create a creamy dressing. Toss with cooked pasta, veggies and feta.

Greek Pasta Salad with Cucumber Yogurt Dressing Prep time: 25 minutes Cook time: 20 minutes Serves: 8 1/2 1/2 2 1 1 1 1/2 1/2 8 2 1 1/4 1/4 2

cup cucumber, peeled, seeded and diced cup plain Greek nonfat yogurt tablespoons light mayonnaise teaspoon lemon juice teaspoon Garlic Powder teaspoon Dill Weed teaspoon Oregano teaspoon Sea Salt ounces pasta, such as cellentani or gemelli cups broccoli florets cup heirloom cherry tomatoes, quartered cup thinly sliced red onion cup pitted Kalamata olives, quartered tablespoons crumbled feta cheese

For the Cucumber Yogurt Dressing, place cucumber, yogurt, mayonnaise, lemon juice, garlic powder, dill, oregano and sea salt in blender container; cover. Blend on high speed until smooth. Refrigerate until ready to use. For the Greek Pasta Salad, cook pasta as directed on package, adding broccoli during last 1 minute of cooking. Rinse under cold water; drain well. Place cooked pasta, broccoli, tomatoes and onions in large bowl. Add Cucumber Yogurt Dressing; toss gently to coat. Top with olives and feta cheese. Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to serve. BAYSTATEPARENT 29

Breakfast Bars

Dishin’

Ingredients

with the Dietitian

Fueling Extracurricular Activities BY ANDREA LUTTRELL, RDN, LDN

Over the past year, we’ve had our son play a few different sports. When I say “sports,” I use the term loosely because it’s typically a group of 4- and 5-year-olds running after a soccer ball or basketball. Even though it’s not exactly strenuous activity, I often see parents offering sports drinks to their children when it’s time to rehydrate. The truth is, unless your child is participating in a moderate- to high-intensity sport that lasts longer than 1 hour, water is the only beverage needed to replace fluid lost from activity. Water should be consumed before, after, and during activity, and kids should be encouraged to drink whenever they feel thirsty, or every 15 to 20 minutes while on the move. An exception to only needing water to hydrate would be if you notice a white residue on your child’s skin or clothing. This indicates sodium loss and a sports

beverage would be warranted. Additionally, if temperature and humidity are high and you notice excessive sweating, this could indicate your child should replenish with a sports beverage, as well. Another thing to keep in mind when you have a child participating in after-school sports is ensuring they get the right nourishment to fuel their activities. Especially when lunch is served early in the day, children need balanced snacks prior to taking part in extracurricular practices and games. Focus on providing options that deliver a mixture of protein and carbohydrates before and after practice. For example, graham crackers with almond butter, a fruit smoothie with Greek yogurt and frozen berries, or a ham and cheese tortilla rollup. This breakfast bar recipe is another portable option that can be packed up and enjoyed later in the day.

• 1 cup old fashioned or quick oats • 1 (7-ounce) bag dried fruit of choice (raisins, cranberries, cherries, etc.) • ¼ cup sugar • ½ cup shredded unsweetened coconut (optional) • ¼ cup chopped walnuts (optional) • ½ teaspoon salt • ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon • ¼ cup honey • 2 tablespoons olive oil • ¼ cup peanut butter • 1 tablespoon fat-free milk • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract Directions 1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly coat an 8x8-inch baking pan with nonstick spray. 2. In a large bowl mix together oats, dried fruit, sugar, coconut, walnuts, salt and cinnamon. Set aside. 3. In a medium bowl stir together honey, oil, peanut butter, milk and vanilla. 4. Pour honey mixture over oat mixture and blend until completely coated. 5. Pour mixture into prepared pan and press firmly to the edges. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until bars begin to brown and turn bubbly. 6. Remove from oven, let stand 10 minutes, and cut up while still warm. 7. Let cool completely before removing from pan. Store in an airtight container. Recipe Courtesy of MilkPEP.

For sports nutrition recommendations specific to your child, schedule an appointment with a sports dietitian to tailor an individualized eating plan. Visit the Sports, Cardiovascular, and Wellness Nutrition (SCAN) dietetic practice group Website at scandpg.org to learn more. Andrea Luttrell is a registered dietitian nutritionist for the Living Well Eating Smart program at Big Y Foods. She can be reached at livingwell@bigy.com or write Living Well,

LEARN – TO – SKATE CLASSES CHILDREN (41/2 up) & ADULTS

As Featured on “Chronicle” Up Sign Now

O 47 Yever ars!

781-890-8480

www.BayStateSkatingSchool.org NonProfit 30 SEPTEMBER2015

Brookline Cambridge Medford Newton/Brighton Quincy Somerville South Boston Waltham West Roxbury Weymouth

Do you have a question on nutrition or healthy eating or want more information or ideas on a related topic? Email editor@baystateparent.com and your suggestion could be featured in an upcoming edition of Dishin’ With the Dietitian.

NOW ENROLLING

www.riseandshine.com

RECREATIONAL • FIGURE • HOCKEY SKATING SKILLS

BAY STATE SKATING SCHOOL

2145 Roosevelt Ave, PO Box 7840, Springfield 01102.

Rise & Shine Academy

Infants, & Toddlersl Age r P eschooren Child

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6:30 AM - 6:00 PM Hot Lunch Program Indoor/Outdoor Play Area Preschool Literacy Enrichment Program Rise and Shine Academy 375 Fortune Boulevard Milford, MA 01757 (508) 478-5288 Rise and Shine Academy 30 Old Lyman Road South Hadley, MA 01075 (413) 532-2824

RSA is a program of Criterion Child Enrichment, Inc. • www.criterionchild.com • Rise & Shine is Licensed by the State of Massachusetts. All teachers are certified by the Massachusetts Department of Early Education and Care.

Group Seeks

Increased Funding

For Food Allergy Research

Two Connecticut mothers are looking to raise awareness — and money — in order to make severe food allergies a thing of the past. Founded last year, E.A.T. (End Allergies Together) seeks to increase research funding so a cure can be found. While 1 in 12 children are born with a food allergy, research funding lags dramatically behind that of other childhood diseases and disorders. E.A.T. has launched an awareness campaign, “We Want A Cure,” encouraging affected people and families to share their stories, photos, and videos of why they want a cure for food allergies. Through Sept. 25, entrants can get a chance to win E.A.T. gear and have their voices heard. To share your story, photo, or video, visit the nonprofit on Facebook (EndAllergiesTogether) or endallergiestogether.com.

A New Take On

Bites

On-The-Go Snacking

Looking for a new way to send snacks to school? Non-toxic, non-stick, and BPA-free, Green Paxx snack containers are easy for on-the-go eating. Fill them with kids’ favorite treats or freeze overnight to make ice pops. Each holds approximately 3 ounces and is sold in four packs for $13.95 at greenpaxx.com or Amazon.com.

Power Your Kids’ Lunchbox This Year Sandwich Kebobs Bento Box Ingredients • 1 large beet, peeled, thinly sliced • ½ tsp. sea salt • 1 tsp. olive oil • 2 slices whole wheat bread, cut into small squares • ½ cucumber, sliced lengthwise to create 4 ribbons • 4 grape tomatoes • 2 slices low-sodium ham, cut in half • 4 cubes low-fat cheddar cheese Instructions 1. Preheat oven to 375ºF. 2. Place beets on parchment-lined baking sheet,

Get Your

Kids Cooking Children can enjoy a cooking class right

DIY Disposal Pods BY LESLIE REICHERT

brush with oil, sprinkle with salt 3. Bake 20 minutes or until edges start to brown. Remove from oven and let cool. 4. Assemble sandwich kebobs with bread, cucumber, tomatoes, ham and cheese. This and other fun, kidfriendly lunch ideas can be found through Sept. 18 at The Power Your Lunchbox Pledge (poweryourlunchbox.com). Every family that makes the online pledge to pack a healthier lunchbox for the 2015 school year is eligible to win an iPad and iPad mini, and $1 will be donated to Feeding America food banks. The Website also offers a resource page for teachers with nutrition-focused downloadable lesson plans.

in the comfort of their home via Barbara Brandt’s new cooking program, Your Kids: Cooking! A Recipe for Turning Ordinary Kids Into Extraordinary Cooks. Designed especially for young cooks, Brandt takes kids through a step-by-step guide for

Does your disposal smell a little stale these days? Food particles that get stuck on the blades inside the disposal tend to start rotting within minutes. Stale smells can also come from food particles that haven’t been completely flushed down the drain. I’m going to show you how to make cute pods that will leave your disposal smelling clean and fresh. They are easy to make and only take a minute to work. Things you will need: • Ice cube tray • Lemons, limes and oranges • A sharp cutting knife • White distilled vinegar • Large Ziploc baggie • ½ cup baking soda 1. Cut the fruit into small pieces so that you can fit 3 or 4 in each ice cube slot. Mix up the fruit any way

turning fresh, wholesome ingredients into healthy and delicious meals the entire family can enjoy together via her book and DVD package. Want to win a copy? Keep an eye on baystateparent’s Facebook page this month!

you’d prefer. Have the fruit stick out over the top of the ice cube tray (this is how you are going to remove the cube after it’s frozen). 2. Pour white vinegar over the fruit and place the tray in the freezer. Once the cubes are frozen, remove them and store them in the Ziploc baggie. Make sure to mark them as disposal pods and DO NOT EAT. Store the bag in the freezer. 3. To clean your disposal, start by flushing the drain with very hot water from the tap for a few minutes. Put ½ cup of baking soda inside the disposal. Drop two or three of the disposal pods on top of the baking soda. You may hear a faint sizzle. This is a chemical reaction between the baking soda and the vinegar. Turn the hot water on to just a small stream. The hot water will active the vinegar and the baking soda. Turn on the dis-

posal and then turn the water onto full stream. Leave it on until the grinding sound stops. Turn off the disposal and continue to run the hot water for another minute. Your disposal will be clean and fresh for the rest of the week. Head to baystateparent.com/DIYDisposalPods to see how it’s done. BAYSTATEPARENT 31

Fun is our middle name. Actually it’s Wolf, but you get the idea. At Great Wolf Lodge®, the memories are just waiting to be made. Families can zip down water slides, play MagiQuest®, our interactive adventure game, and climb our Howlers Peak Ropes Course™. You get two days’ play with one night’s stay. And water park passes are always included. It’s fun on top of fun on top of fun.

Everybody in. TM

greatwolf.com/newengland

32 SEPTEMBER2015

You’ll Love our NEW 2nd Location in Holden!

Twinkle Babies ages 18 mos. - 4 years Introductory dance class including ballet, tap and creative movement. If they can walk, they can dance! Twinkle Stars ages 4 - 6 years Ballet, tap, jazz and creative movement designed to help the young dancer grow. Your child will shine in this program! Recreational & Competitive Classes Ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, lyrical, and acro for ALL levels. Boysonly classes, too! Build your confidence through the love of dance! Adult Fitness While your child dances, have fun in one of our Zumba or Booty Barre classes! Why should THEY have all the fun?

Central Mass Dance Academy

65 Water St., Worcester • 800 Main St., Holden 508-754-2700 • cmdanceacademy.com

The Chestnut Hill School Academic Excellence, Community & Diversity. 428 Hammond Street, Chestnut Hill, MA 02467-1229 617-566-4394 FAX 617-738-6602

OPEN HOUSE

SUNDAY NOVEMBER 1, 2015 1:00 – 3:00 P.M. Beginners (age 3) to Grade 6 Co-educational Finanicial Aid Program Exceptional Secondary School Placement Afterschool Extended Day

WWW.TCHS.ORG BAYSTATEPARENT 33

LET’S GO

Battleship Cove: Adventures Await Onboard BY HEATHER KEMPSKIE

ch for the Stars a e R Owner: Former Olympian

NEW DROP IN ($7.00) Mom & Me For Toddlers

Join us in Celebrating USA National Gymnastics Day Sat., Sept. 19 • 1:15-3:15 Games, Fitness Fun Activities USA Team Demonstrations FREE Introductory Gymnastics Class

CLASSES START SEPT. 3

at Kathy Corrigan’s School of Gymnastics • USA Gymnastics Skill Development Program for All Ages • Competitive USA Teams • USA Certified Coaches • Gym Tot Fitness for Ages 3 & 4 • Birthday Parties!

FREE

Registration ($25 VALUE)

& FREE Introductory Gymnastics Class

With this coupon • Expires 10/31/15 Now accepting phone registration with Visa and MasterCard

406 VFW Drive, Rockland • 781-878-9155

www.kathycorrigans.com 34 SEPTEMBER2015

For most, life at sea is only something to be imagined: sleeping in a bunk as the waters rock below; gathering in small quarters for carefully portioned meals, and maintaining extraordinary engines that hum day and night. But less than an hour’s drive from Boston, families can explore the deep bunks and wide decks of some of the most impressive and experienced ships in the world. Battleship Cove, located in Fall River, boasts the world’s largest collection of preserved US Navy ships. The fleet includes five National Historic Landmarks: Battleship USS Massachusetts, Destroyer USS Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr., Submarine USS Lionfish, and PT Boats 617 and 796. Individually, each ship represents different moments in history and technical achievements; collectively, these vessels symbolize American sacrifices made in defense of our freedom. “Each ship is a museum in itself,” says Cristoff Shay, director of communications & visitor experience at Battleship Cove. “Where else are you going to be able to climb and explore World War II ships and beyond? We still have WWII vets volunteering on our ships.” Shay lists the Lionfish as one of the must-sees. “It’s quite an experience to go onboard and explore a vessel that was many feet below the ocean. You can see just how small the sleeping and eating quarters really were. Our servicemen went above and beyond.”

5 Things You Don’t Want to Miss 1. Family Nautical Nights (next one is Sept. 12) If your family is seeking a different kind of experience to enjoy together, the Nautical Nights Program is just what you’re looking for! Explore every nook, cranny, and exhibit of the entire Battleship Cove fleet; sleep in the same authentic bunks that the sailors slept in; learn how the sailors lived and worked on board, and enjoy a full dinner and breakfast in the Officer’s Wardroom. All included in the price of your stay, prices begin at $50 per person. 2. New Techy Tour Options Battleship Cove may be an historical museum, but it uses the latest technology to enhance visitors’ experiences. Visitors can opt for a self-guided tour via their cell phone, and this fall graduates from Brown University are helping to launch a system using Bluetooth beacons. “The system will be programmed to recognize devices using Bluetooth, and as visitors explore ships, messages will appear on their cell phone asking if they’d like to learn more about what they are currently looking at,” explains Shay. 3. Marine Museum at Fall River Boasting an expansive collection of ship models, including a 28-foot model of the RMS Titanic, the museum champions and promotes the South Coast’s maritime identity. Be sure to check out their events calendar for

kid-friendly activities — a Pirate Day is set for Sept. 13. Late last year, Battleship Cove and the Marine Museum, which are only a 1-minute walk from each other, formed an alliance allowing Battleship Cove to support the Marine Museum administration. “Battleship Cove is reinventing the waterfront of Fall River,” says Shay. “It made sense that this jewel become part of the Battleship Cove family — it enhances both institutions.” Joint tickets are available to visit both museums at a discount. Visit marinemuseumfr.org for more information. 4. The Fall River Carousel End your day with a ride on this historic, antique carousel open through October 10, (Wednesday – Sunday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.) $2 per ride. Carousel # 54, as it was called, was built around 1919 during the “Golden Age” of wooden carousels. In 1920, the ride was shipped from Pennsylvania to Lincoln Park in North Dartmouth and resided there until the park closed in 1987. During its heyday, Lincoln Park attracted many celebrities of the time, including Eleanor Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy. Upon the park closure, and knowing the carousel needed a home, the community of Fall River rallied together to raise $250,000 to refurbish and bring her to Battleship Cove in 1991. 5. Get a peek inside the wooden Patrol Torpedo boats For the first time since the 1980s, visitors can finally see inside World War II vintage ships thanks to a new virtual tour option. “Visitors can scan the QR code and get to see inside and experience what life was like for sailors on this 80-foot boat.” PT Boat 796 was used during President Kennedy’s inaugural parade. While conservation restrictions have prohibited visitors

from stepping onboard, Battleship Cove and technology found a cool way around that.

Upcoming Special Events Pearl Harbor Experience Weekends in September Every hour from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Included in museum admission The attack on Pearl Harbor comes to life with state-of-the-art special effects, archive film, and surroundsound. The only outdoor reenactment of Pearl Harbor anywhere. World War II Weekend September 5 & 6 Included in museum admission History comes alive when World War II living historians arrive at Battleship Cove with an exciting display of equipment, artillery, and vehicles. Get a chance to talk with veterans and relive the history of the Greatest Generation.

ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT & FUN Starts at the YMCA of Central Massachusetts

Marine Museum at Fall River, Pirate Day September 13 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Included in museum admission Arrgh! Calling all mates for a fun-filled day of piracy! Activities and pirate songs for kids. Marine Museum at Fall River, Teacher's Social September 26 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Reservations can be made at 508-674-3533. Calling all educators: Join the staff of the Marine Museum and Battleship Cove to see what the museums have to offer students and learn how these historic museums can support education efforts.

Before and After School Programs At the Y children are cultivating the values and skills and relationships that lead to positive behaviors, better health and educational achievement. If you are looking for safe, convenient and affordable child care right in your community, look no further than the YMCA.

For More Information Visit: www.ymcaofcm.org Financial Assistance Available

The YMCA of Central Massachusetts is proud to announce the opening of the Leominster Community Branch 108 Adams Street, Leominster, MA Early Fall 2015 BAYSTATEPARENT 35

VERY SPECIAL PEOPLE

Tips for Making Tricky Back-To-School Transitions Terrific BY WENDY BULAWA AGUDELO

we begin to close the book on another fabulous New England summer, most families are returning to academics, sports, therapy, clubs, and regular bedtime routines. While some children loathe the start of a new routine, others embrace it for the stability and known expectations brought to their lives. Parents of children who struggle with transition find the switch from school-year schedule to summer and back again leads to incredibly challenging adjustment periods,

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complete with tantrums, high anxiety, breakdowns in behavior, loss of appetite, change in personality, and uprooted sleep patterns. With or without special needs, transitions aren’t always easy. Most of us prefer being comfortable and only attack challenges when we can mentally mitigate the riskreward proposition. Young children aren’t typically equipped or mature enough to manage that process, so transition (especially away from preferred activities) can be, to put it kindly, arduous. Transition difficulty is a common

theme – especially for children with special needs, said Donna Shae, director and founder of The Peter Pan Center in Ayer and co-author of the book series, How to Make and Keep Friends. She refers to transition difficulty as “stickiness” and believes two areas of challenge exist: moving from preferred to nonpreferred activities; and moments in which a child feels an uncontrollable need to finish what they started — be it a coloring page, Lego project, homework, or book chapter. In either instance, many parents, caregivers, and teachers often resort to

unsuccessful attempts to get children to move on. Consider how many times you’ve asked your children to clean up and wash hands before dinner only to repeat your request five times. When children don’t follow instructions, frustration mounts. Adults often have schedules to keep that can only be kept when children properly fall in line. When they do not, frustration mounts and, ultimately, a power play for control begins. It is important to highlight the fact that transition is about con-

trol. Parents frequently feel that raised voices or lording punishment will get the child to follow directions, however neither may work with children with special needs. Instead, situations can quickly grow tense while added time, effort, and emotion is invested — ultimately resulting in both an unhappy adult and unhappy child. “Kids who are anxious seek control, so giving them some control can really help lessen anxiety,” Shae said. A better approach is to have empathy for another’s point of view — ultimately calming a situation — and to offer solutions in which control is placed into the hands of the child, she added. The overarching goal, of course, is to help each child develop proper coping mechanisms. A technique Shae employs at The Peter Pan Center, and personally, is “collaborative problem solving.” She shared that while it took time to embrace and regularly use this process, she has found undeniable success when placing options and control in the hands of the child. To implement, she often uses reassuring words to explain that the child can complete what they are working on: “I know you want to finish this homework page, but it is now time for our math lesson. Because I know how much it means to you to finish it, can we set a time for you to work on it this afternoon? Or, perhaps you can tell me when you would like to work on it — during recess or after lunch during free play?” Shae concedes that building in some extra time, or providing verbal (and visual) alerts to prepare children that a transition is forthcoming, also helps alleviate stickiness.

The Important Role of ‘Free Play’ Time Even the most diligent parent cannot prepare for what may unfold each day. And, scientifically speaking, human beings tend to operate more happily and effectively within

inexpensive and visual solutions — the easiest of which to employ is a “countdown clock.” “Digital clocks don’t allow us to see time click by, but face clocks allow us to see time moving and are, therefore, much more useful,” she said. The simple clock she uses showcases three sections: “green”

structure. However, many beneficial social, collaborative play, and problem-solving skills are formed and nurtured during unstructured, free playtime. But children today operate in an increasingly overscheduled, highly routinized, limited free-play environment, which Shae believes only adds to a child’s

“Kids who are anxious seek control, so giving them some control can really help lessen anxiety.” – Donna Shae Founder of The Peter Pan Center, Ayer

stickiness. “We live in a time when kids are unsure what to do next when their daily schedules aren’t set or they are in front of a screen,” she noted. Through her work, Shae has found that children she works with seek out a schedule or routine, and when one isn’t available, she finds that anxiety creeps in and becomes a basis for transition difficulty. To minimize this, she recommends incorporating unstructured playtime within the framework of a daily routine, finding that free-flow play time gives children opportunities to work on critical areas of development, such as creative play, problem solving, social skills, and comfort with transition. In concert, she encourages parents and caregivers to consider the idea of a time countdown. As we age and through experience, we learn what 5 minutes is and how much can be accomplished in that short window. However, to younger children or those with special needs, time is abstract, and many require visual reminders to become more adept. Shae discovered and uses several

for free time; “yellow” for when it is time to adjust our brain and think about a transition approaching; and “red” for when it is time to clean up and prepare for “done” time. In addition, many iPad, iPod, and tablets offer downloadable time-management applications, such as StopLight Clock, Kiddie Countdown, Time Timer, FlipsTimer, Get Cracking, and iPrompts, to help keep children on task. Some are designed for younger children, while others are simply digitallydesigned visual timers. Using these tools help children anticipate changes or upcoming transitions by giving them time to prepare, thus eliminating the sudden or unexpected end moment that can be overwhelming and lead to tantrums, meltdowns, or shutdowns.

Easing Transition Challenges At this time of year, parents have a variety of opportunities to involve their children with back-to-school/ back-to-fall preparation that ulti-

mately afford them a level of control and eases transition challenges, including clothing or school supplies shopping. For children with significant stickiness, Shae recommends “previewing” activities, which can include a school or classroom/teacher visit, driving the bus route, or play dates with incoming classmates. The effort ultimately helps children familiarize themselves and, lessen anxiety. Also, should your family not yet have a structured routine, even a looselyframed routine each week can plummet a child’s anxiety. “For many children, routines are valuable as it helps children organize themselves and their time,” she says. Shae also recommends what she feels is an underutilized tool: regular family meetings. When sitting down together in the evening (dinner time or another set time), families can check-in with one another about how the day unfolded as well as plans for the following day (who will need a ride where and for what; is homework completed; are any additional supplies needed; etc.). Parents and children greatly benefit from knowing one another’s schedules and expectations to ensure that no wires get crossed or important pieces missed — ultimately reducing anxiety. These meetings also give parents an opportunity to share excitement and enthusiasm and place a positive tone about the upcoming transition, while also gaining a sense of the triggers or insecurities children may be feeling. Shae adds that with transition comes an opportunity to highlight future fun. Family meetings are a wonderful time to talk up the fun things planned for the fall and winter. Perhaps apple picking, a Halloween bash, or ski trip are on the horizon. What are the children looking forward to as they enter the school year? Do teachers have interesting curriculum or field trips worth noting? The purpose of family meetings is to not only help one another stay on track, but also preview positive events.

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 BayStateParent-new size.indd 1

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VERY SPECIAL PEOPLE As a return to fall schedules can be a huge shift for some families, Shae recommends the following additional tips to help everyone ease through the transition: • No more bucking bedtime. After many late summer nights by the fire pit and on the boardwalk, consider re-establishing an age-appropriate bedtime two weeks in advance of the actual start of a new routine — be it for school or other activities. Bedtime is after the end of free-play time, screen time, and next-day preparation (clothing, lunches/ backpacks, supplies, etc.). • Limit scheduled activities. Shae recommends limiting scheduled events and activities so that at least 1 to 2 hours a day are allotted as downtime. Too many events/activities can lead to anxiety, especially if parent schedules or traffic cause lateness or delays. Even minor transitions can be off-putting, so by limiting activities, neither children nor parents are running too fast to achieve daily balance. • Build in extra time when possible. While this seems intuitive, mornings are known to be busy, and in some homes chaotic, as parents prepare for work and children for

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school. Shae shared that in the first few weeks of transition, a useful tip is to build in a little extra time to allow for last-minute hiccups, and also to practice the new daily routine. • Create a visual schedule: Visual schedules, charts, or even a dryerase board can help families stay on track, especially if the daily routine includes extra activities such as after-school sports, parties, dinner visits, chores, etc. Pinterest showcases numerous options to support children with special needs so they gain a sense of comfort, structure, routine, and responsibility. • Integrate a positive reinforcement program. For younger children (and siblings), opportunities to earn genuine praise and rewards often go a long way. Whether using a sticker chart, goodie basket, or coupon program, this tactic merely reinforces the behavior parents desire from their children and again provides an opportunity for the child to control the situation. Should your child complete the “Wake up, get dressed, eat breakfast, wash face/hands and brush teeth” routine, showering them with praise no doubt will lead to a happier start to the day.

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our september favorites monday

sunday

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13 14 {Fact} 13 It’s Grandparents Day, the official flower for which is the forget-menot. The holiday was first celebrated in 1979.

13 27 27{Fact} Apples ripen from the outside towards the center, so those on the outside of the tree will ripen first. And remember — twist them off to remove, don’t pull.

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wednesday

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It’s World Play-Doh Day! In honor of the Hasbro classic, visit baystateparent.com today and get your chance to win this Cupcake Celebration set, complete with tools, molds, a roller, and five cans of Play-Doh.

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saturday

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According to a 2014 report, the annual cost of school supplies is $100, up 12% from the previous year.

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24 25 {WIN} 24 The Rockee toothbrush from Violife is designed to always stand upright — it rocks, wobbles, and spins, but never tips over, which means no more messy, toothpaste-covered counter tops or replacing toothbrushes that are dropped on the floor. Learn how you can win one at baystateparent.com today.

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Your opinion may differ, but bon appétit declares Pink Lady, Honeycrisp, and Mutsu (also known as Crispin) as the best apple varieties to use for baking.

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ARTS & ENRICHMENT 44

Moms, Grandmothers, Daughters & Friends Take To The Outdoors

Captured: Readers’ After-School Activities

PBS Kids’ Odd Squad: Making Fractions…Funny?

Boston Pops’ Keith Lockhart on Family, Work-Life Balance

Practice Makes Perfect: 10 Tips to Encourage Your Child to Practice

Needham Boy Wins National Volunteer Award

55 Massachusetts Museums To Visit Free On Sept. 26

Signs of a Stressed-Out, Over-scheduled Child

Go Inside The Science of Pixar

BAYSTATEPARENT 43

BY MELISSA SHAW & HEATHER KEMPSKIE • PHOTOS BY STEVEN KING & MELISSA SHAW

All-day, women-only event offers tomahawk tossing, trapshooting, and moves that could kill

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ARTS & ENRICHMENT

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he outdoors just got a little bit more sassy, a heck of a lot stronger, and a whole lot more wild. During morning announcements at the annual Women In The Outdoors (WITO) event held at Auburn Sportsman’s Club in Central Massa-

chusetts, a grandmother sporting a bright pink neon shirt turned to a friend and declared, “Stop with all the talking, I want to throw some knives.” Who could blame Barbara Frappier? She, along with a handful of her friends, had signed up for the day’s first tomahawk–throwing workshop and their fingers were ach-

ing for some action. In a few minutes’ time, 100 women — mothers, daughters, grandmothers, aunts, and friends — dispersed across the 100-acre compound on a warm Saturday in July to partake in workshops on fly fishing, falconry, kayaking, self defense, wilderness survival, trapping, archery, and two dozen more. For attendees like Christine Stone of Worcester, the day provided an opportunity to get access to expert instruction on a variety of activities in one place. “I have a kayak, but I’ve never taken any lessons, so I know coming here I’m going to learn the

proper way,” she said. “I’m taking rifle and marksmanship because there’s nobody around to show me how to shoot. Here I’m going to get instruction on how to do it. You’re always learning something and you’re learning something practical.” A program of the National Wildlife Turkey Foundation, hundreds of Women In The Outdoors events are held each year across the U.S. The goal: to introduce women to a variety of outdoor activities in a noncompetitive, supportive, safe, and fun environment. “I like the idea of getting more women into archery. Introducing the shooting sports to women is a big deal because we used to get really pinned as the delicate little housewives,” noted Archery Instructor Amanda Ferrie. “I like to be able to take it to the other end and not just be the gatherers, but teach women

and kids to hunt.” Now in its fifth year, the one-day Massachusetts event is organized and run by the NWTF Central Mass chapter, with help from a variety of other wildlife and outdoors groups and experts across the state. The first iteration was held in 2011 via a Turkey Hunting 101 program, which drew 16 women. In 2012, organizers decided to expand, offering 20 classes and more than tripling attendance. Today, the event averages more than 100 women a year, nearly 30 classes, 70 all-volunteer instructors, and 20 additional volunteers to help the day go smoothly.

“If offering a gender-specific workshop will afford more women the opportunity to become educated and utilize the great outdoors, then I am all in,” said Stephanie Keimig, who led the Wilderness Survival workshop. “I believe the most important message is that everyone, but especially women, are most certainly capable of tackling anything they set their minds to — learning by training and practice! It was a joy to teach wilderness survival to a group of 22 women of diverse backgrounds.” Attendees came from across the state, across the country (California), and across the ocean (Germany), as well as from a variety of backgrounds, some camo-wearing outdoorswomen and others tenderfeet. From groups of teens to pairs of mothers and daughters and girls’day-out friends on a break from their families, everyone shared one com-

mon denominator: enthusiasm. Jubilant, spontaneous cheers ripped through the thick woods at random intervals throughout the day. A group of first-time tomahawk throwers split playing cards from 12 feet away, the sharp blades cleanly slicing the cards, held onto a thick wooden target by a toothpick. It’s hard to tell who was more excited: the women or their teachers. “The instructor told me to bring these home to my boyfriend,” laughed one woman, proudly sporting a headband bearing two split cards. Childhood friends, Carla Sauvignon of Easton and Jeannette Webster of

Boston, were feeling confident and capable after the interactive selfdefense course. “It was excellent. I’ve always wanted to take something like this,” Sauvignon said. “If there is ever an incident, I’ll know what to do — like getting out of a hold.” “Sometimes being small is an obstacle, but not with these tactics they showed us,” added Webster, mom to kids ages 17, 11, and 5. For the past three years, the Massachusetts event has been named the Best Special Event In The Nation by the NWTF. “Men will be more likely to be competitive with each other,” said Frappier. “Women I find are more competitive with themselves: I’m going to do this. Not I’m going to beat her, but I’m going to do better than I did last time.”

“I believe the most important message is that everyone, but especially women, are most certainly capable of tackling anything they set their minds to — learning by training and practice!” – Stephanie Keimig Wilderness Survival Instructor “I like the idea of getting more women into archery. Introducing the shooting sports to women is a big deal because we used to get really pinned as the delicate little housewives.” – Amanda Ferrie

Archery Instructor

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ARTS & ENRICHMENT

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Four-year-old Nicolas’ favorite past time? Hanging with Mommy and Daddy!

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here aren’t many “kids shows” that a parent would willingly sit down and watch with said kids. Add “educational” to the description and the list narrows even further. Yet PBS Kids’ Odd Squad is a rare, welcome exception. Debuting last November, the live-action series is designed to help kids ages 5 to 8 build math and collaboration skills. It does this by following the exploits of child Agents Olive and Otto, who work for — you guessed it — Odd Squad, investigating unusual cases of odd activity, solving problems, and saving the day. Just wrapping up its first season, the show has already garnered numerous accolades, including a 2015 Parents’ Choice Award and two Daytime Emmy Awards. But that’s not surprising when you consider the pedigree of its creators, Westborough native and UMass Amherst grad Tim McKeon (Adventure Time, The Electric Company) and Adam Peltzman (The Electric Company, The Backyardigans). We talked to McKeon to learn how he and his staff create an engaging show for families — all while imparting a little math along the way.

PBS Kids’ Odd Squad: Making Fractions Funny

How did you come up with the idea for the show?

BY MELISSA SHAW

My partner and co-creator Adam and I had done some work for PBS. They approached us and told us they were looking for some ideas for a math show — that was definitely front and center. We wanted to do something with real kids and we wanted to do something that was wish fulfillment for kids, in which kids were in charge. And then we talked a lot about the shows we liked growing up: Police Squad! and The Naked Gun — silly, goofy shows. It’s a silliness that doesn’t seem to be in a lot of shows these days. Adam and I have worked on a bunch of animated shows; we wanted to make a live-action cartoon. We were talking about the math and said we wanted something where there’s two kids, so we could show teamwork and partnership. That led us to the spy genre. The trick is always balancing the fun and the education; you don’t ever want the show to feel like a teacher in front of a classroom. It’s not called The Math Squad, it’s called Odd Squad. The episodes you’re watching just happen to have something to do with math, coincidentally, every time. We wanted to put in jokes and references for adults, too. As long as you’re not writing jokes about home mortgages, kids can grab onto just about anything. The idea was to put in jokes for parents and for older siblings. I have a 6-yearold and I know when I watch TV with him, whenever there’s anything for me as a grownup, I’m, like, ‘Oh, thank God. Thank you so much for just throwing me a bone.’

Photo by Rahoul Ghose/PBS

Your cast is great, they seem like real kids, not actors.

48 SEPTEMBER2015

That was baked into the idea: We want the kids to be serious and we want the kids to be in charge. That hopefully cuts through some of the treacle you see in other kids’ shows. One of the most fun parts is really working with the kids on stage. A lot of credit goes to them. We encourage supervised improv. Oftentimes, we have a joke that ends the scene, but if the kid has an idea for a joke, or more often when the joke doesn’t work…some of my favorite moments are huddling up with the kids and talking: “Well,

The fun thing about our set is we have our main kids and we usually have 10 to 15 background kids, so there’s children everywhere. I think the kids on set really like that; it really is a kids’ world, even in the filming of it. When we have an adult guest star, they’re really the odd ones out, as opposed to a lot of other TV shows where the kid actors usually play the role of the son or the daughter and are usually the only kid on set. As a result, you get fun things, simple things, like a kid will walk through the room and then they sort of jump up and tap the ceiling. And you’re, like, “Well, that’s great, you should just do that. Do that in the show!” Just little things like that [lend an authenticity]. What it boils down to: The show is this fantastical world where odd things happen, but if you have kids acting like real kids and everything else is real, it makes the oddness pop more.

You’re the head writer trying to work math and problemsolving concepts into your episodes, do you have educators that you work with? Or are you just really good at math? [Laughs] My co-creator and I were drama geeks and English geeks in high school and college. PBS is super-strict, which I really like. They have a couple of grants and there are strict guidelines on the kind of math we have to do. When we started the show, we had an education director in our writers’ room for three months. She was there everyday and was a former first-grade teacher, and in addition to that there’s a curricu-

lum expert on the PBS side. Groups of episodes are sent to a panel of PhDs who look at the show as a whole. There’s this really intimidating Excel spreadsheet with all these different curriculum areas, so [for example] we have to write about estimation, we have to write an episode about rounding. It’s really specific and you have to tick off all those boxes. I think we rise to the challenge: I’m going to write the best estimation story you’ve ever seen in your life! It’s our job to make it funny.

That must be interesting as a writer. “Here’s what you have to write: Go…” Adam has more experience working in educational stuff and I’ve written in more “normal” shows,

of in a bubble up here [in Toronto] making the show, so it’s so fun to see people post things. That’s been the most fun.

What’s up for the next season? We’re bringing back our favorite characters. We have one episode about villains I’m very excited about. One thing that was fun about Season 1 was we really started out with stories about Olive and Otto. Season 1 is the arc of their friendship and it is the series arc, there’s a beginning, middle, and a hopefully exciting finale to the story. One of the fun things is we did episodes about side characters, to expand the whole, and the model is The Simpsons, of course. So that’s been really fun, exploring the different departments in Odd Squad. There’s an episode about the security department, there’s an episode about the scientist. The idea with the show is you’re following Olive and Otto, but there’s always background gags, there’s always these other agents milling about. We’re trying to get across the idea that what you’re seeing is just the tip of the iceberg for all of Odd Squad. Courtesy ODD SQUAD © The Fred Rogers Company

that wasn’t funny. What can we come up with?” We’re also trying to capture the weirdness and individuality of normal kids. A lot of times we have an idea for a character and then the kid walks into the room and auditions, and you’re, like, “Well, that is better than what I wrote.” That was the case with the character, Olaf, [the actor is] just this really unique kid and he brought this whole spin to his character.

but it’s great. It gives you a feeling of superiority over other shows: “All you had to do is tell a story and we have to tell an amazing story and teach fractions!” It’s also easier when you’re not starting with a blank page. Your challenge is to come up with the funniest, most character-based, action-packed way to tell it.

What surprised you most about the show’s first season? We’re thrilled people like it. I’m just so happy when I hear people are watching it. We’re kind

One of the fun things is when I see people post online, it seems like kids, when they’re play acting, they’re not playacting to be Olive and Otto or Oscar and Miss O, they’re play acting that they are still themselves, but as agents. That’s so much cooler than pretending to be James Bond or Luke Skywalker, you’re pretending to be yourself in this world and that’s the goal: to make kids feel like this world really exists and they can be a part of it. Want more Odd Squad? On Oct. 5, PBS Kids will launch a one-hour “Odd-tober” special premiere featuring five new 11-minute storylines. Odd Squad is currently filming its second season, which will air next year.

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ARTS & ENRICHMENT

Photo by Winslow Townson

Boston Pops’ Lockhart on Family, Work-Life Balance

BY MELISSA SHAW

his year Keith Lockhart celebrates his 20th anniversary as conductor of The Boston Pops, a job he describes as “an incredible bully pulpit.” But “job” may not be the best word to explain his role as maestro, which is high-profile across not only Massachusetts, but the nation, too. It is also a position that has only been vacant once since 1930. “Where else would a conductor walk down the street and people say, ‘That’s Keith Lockhaaaaht!’?” he laughs. (And, yes, he did a good accent.) “That is not so much a tribute to me as much as a tribute to how dialed-in the community is to The Boston Pops.” baystateparent talked to the father of three about the benefits of later fatherhood, work-life balance, and the responsibility of constantly innovating a 130-year-old institution.

The role of conductor of the Pops seems to be more of a lifestyle than a job. Is that accurate? The part the public sees is only the poster child. You’re a poster 50 SEPTEMBER2015

child for classical music in general, you’re a poster child for The Boston Pops, your face shows up on a lot of signs. But that’s not really where the work is. The work is continually looking at what we’re doing, planning for the future, bringing new elements, new energies, new commissions, and learning an immense amount of repertoire. You’re constantly doing a lot of work that doesn’t actually have to do with conducting. If it were just the conducting part of the job, it would be a part-time thing. But as it is, it is an all-encompassing thing. What we try to do at The Boston Pops is think about how to bring great music to the widest group of people and inspire them to be involved in it. It keeps me out of trouble, between that and the kids.

You followed John Williams, who followed Arthur Fiedler. Looking back, did you realize the enormity of what you were undertaking, at the time at age 35? Maybe, gratefully, I didn’t. But the job had only been open once before since 1930. It was kind of a big deal

and it was pretty obvious when I got here and the flashbulbs started popping. At that point I couldn’t have seen 20 years down the road, because what’s long-term when you’re 35?

What has surprised you most about the role? The amount of time thinking about what to do next, how to connect. With The Pops, it’s always looking at what new audience are we not touching? What sort of artist could we make music with who would excite that audience and bring them into our spectrum? There’s a lot fewer rules, so there’s a lot more thinking.

Fewer rules must be great in some respects and challenging in others. It is. It’s great to have that freedom to be able to do things that nobody else has done. It’s a wonderful chance for innovation. I think we’re in an art form — not just classical music, but live performing arts — that needs innovation right now.

How do you keep a pulse on where the audience wants to go? There are lots of people willing to give advice on the subject. I find it really important to always make sure we hire people on The Pops staff who are at least 15 to 20 years younger than I am, because I think one of the problems is you begin to think that everything stopped with you. That you are young, cutting edge and you realize there are people in the market who are 30 years younger than you. It’s a lot of listening, you try to check your own arrogance at the door. On the other hand, I don’t think we’ve gone for 130 years strong by just pandering, lowest-common-denominator music-making. We’re always looking for new things to do, but new things worthy of the institution.

Is there a vocalist you haven’t worked with yet that you want to? In terms of iconic figures I’d love to work with: Clapton, Bruce Springsteen. I think that would be

a pretty amazing Fourth of July concert. Then there are some upand-coming people who would be amazing, too. Bruno Mars comes to mind as somebody who really should come sing with The Boston Pops. When people are at the very height of their commercial success, it’s very hard to get them to think, “Hey, let’s do something artistically interesting with The Boston Pops.”

What are your keys for a good work-life balance? How do you make it work? I’m still working on that, it’s something in progress. My youngest is 3 and I’m 55, and I have to say my youngest two at home, who are 5 and 3, I’m glad I had them now because it’s much easier for me to be less selfish than it would have been 25 years ago when “normal” people would have had kids. It was all so much about me: I have to be gone for six weeks in a row, I have to stay up until 4 a.m. studying this. I would have been a terrible parent and they would have written books

about me. [laughs] Now you begin to realize you don’t have to anymore, partly because you’ve fought a lot of those battles; whether you won or lost them, you’re past them. You begin to realize there are other things that will bring you greater satisfaction in the long run. My schedule is very different than most people. I’m gone these days probably about one-third of the year, which is many fewer weeks than I was gone a decade ago. I’m gone a long time, but when I’m home I can go pick [the kids] up on a Wednesday at noon. You have to schedule it. You have to block these times off and say, “I will not allow work to creep into every facet of my life.” We have a place out on the Cape. The best thing we do at the Cape is my wife and I take our cell phones and put them in the drawer. I check my emails when I get up in the morning and when I go to bed at night and that’s it. If you don’t do that, you find yourself saying, “Gee I wonder if somebody else needs me more,” and the truth of the matter is: Your family needs you more.

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ARTS & ENRICHMENT

10 TIPS to Encourage Your Child to

PRACTICE BY MELISSA SHAW

eing a music parent is a balancing act, an exercise in encouraging and guiding a child in practice and performance just enough to improve their skills and grow their love of music, but not so much that it leads to burnout, pressure, or returning an instrument to its case forever. Music parent and author Amy Nathan interviewed more than 150 music parents, 40 professional musicians, and many parents of professional musicians in an attempt to demystify the best way to raise a musician — second-chair trombone or future pro. She discovered some truths: • It is hard to do and parents — even professional musicians/parents — always feel like they’re not doing it right. • There is no one right way to raise a musician. A lot of frustration stems from the

act of getting a child to practice. And even the best of the best, such as Boston Pops Conductor Keith Lockhart, admits trying to cut corners. “When I was a kid, my parents had a kitchen timer on the piano. I would always surreptitiously take 5 minutes off it, as if they couldn’t tell time and know that. Maybe they just set it up an extra 35% so I could lose some,” he laughs. Growing up in a family of nonmusicians — both parents worked for IBM — he says his mother and father were “pretty strict” but “they weren’t trying to turn me into the next Carnegie Hall prodigy.” “I was always coming to music because I loved it, not because somebody was telling me I had to do it, which is an important thing,” he notes. Yet children need to practice to improve and many are not selfmotivated enough to consistently sit themselves down on the piano bench or pull a chair up to a music stand. Nathan notes that a variety of

methods — from direct orders to a laissez faire approach — work, it just depends on the individual child. “Many parents changed their methods over the course of raising their kids,” she reports, citing findings in her recently published, The Music Parents’ Survival Guide. “Some of the strict parents loosened up and some of the laissez faire parents really tightened up. They all produced musically interested, musically skilled youngsters. If you’re attuned to the needs, the personality, and the learning style of your child, a variety of different kinds of approaches can work.” Despite the fact there’s no one right way of raising a musician, there are a number of guidelines parents and pros recommend to make the experience more fun for a family: 1. Make practice consistent and regularly scheduled. “It’s not so important it is long,” says Lockhart, who has an 11-year-old who plays piano and cello, and a 5- and 3-yearold “just starting to get interested.”

“Even 15 minutes, but 15 minutes every day at the same time.” 2. Set practice expectations from the start. “When you start an instrument, you have to sit down and talk to the student and explain how this is like playing a sport,” says Vanessa Mulvey, a music parent, flutist, and faculty member of the Longy School of Music of Bard College and the New England Conservatory of Music. “Anybody that’s good at playing a sport, they don’t just do it once a week, they do it on a regular basis. Learning a musical instrument is like learning any sport, but on a micro level. Explain this is what you expect and this is what it takes to get better.” 3. Find the right time. “Pick a time in the day where there’s a lot of energy, even if it’s before school if you can,” Lockhart says. “A time when they’re fresh and can look forward to it as opposed to another obligation at the end of a long day. Fifteen minutes of really good, con-

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centrated energy for a 6-, 7-, 8-yearold is an immense period of time.” 4. Spread out longer practice times. Longer practice times for older or more experienced students can be split up across a day into smaller chunks to make them more manageable, Mulvey notes. “That can make it fit into kids’ busy lives better and keep their attention,” Nathan adds. 5. Be consistent with lesson attendance. “If you can’t get to a regular lesson every week and cancel, that is very hard for a student,” Mulvey says. 6. Frustration is normal. Practice is rarely anyone’s favorite because, frankly, it’s hard. “The problem is when you’re first learning something, the frustrations outweigh the rewards,” Lockhart says. Mulvey interviewed trumpet great Wynton Marsalis, who shared his observation: “Of course kids don’t want to practice, because when you practice you’re working on things you can’t do.” Adds Lockhart: “It’s very easy for a child early on in studying any instrument to feel frustration, and turn around in 6 months and say, ‘I don’t want to do this anymore.’ As we all know when we get older and wiser, there is nothing worth doing that doesn’t take application. You have to push past those moments of ‘I would rather be doing something else.’” “Just because kids don’t want to practice doesn’t mean they hate music and want to quit and go on to something else,” Nathan says. “Kids not wanting to practice is absolutely as normal as the sun coming up each morning.”

level, he notes: “The problem is, when you’re first learning something, the frustrations outweigh the rewards. I think in general we let kids off the hook too easy these days. We don’t teach them the necessity of sticking with something until you get results. If I had a nickel for every adult who comes up to me and goes, ‘Well, you know, I played trumpet for a couple years and then I stopped and, boy, I wish I kept doing that.’ The parents are the only ones who can really make you keep doing that.” 9. Go watch live music. “If they can get out and hear different kinds of

music they might hear something that really excites them, see a performer that really connects with them, and that will give them a vision for what they’d like to do,” Mulvey says. “Maybe they’d like to play that piece or style of music, or see the instrument used in a different way. I have students who come every week for lessons but they never get to see it in practice, it’s only in school or in their lessons. It’s so important to get out there and see different instruments and lots of styles of live music.” There are many opportunities to see free, live concerts across the state, from local music schools to

community performances. If your schedule is tight, even attending just half a performance is enough to inspire, she says. 10. Remember, this is supposed to be fun. “Music should be fun for kids,” Nathan reminds. “That’s the basic idea. It’s the parents’ job to figure out how to engineer the situation so that the fun stays in the music even though learning to master your instrument requires a lot of hard work and regular practice. There are ways to keep the fun in it so it’s not a chore.”

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7. Ensure your child knows how to practice. “If students don’t know how to practice or they’re not sure, just make a note in their music,” Mulvey advises parents. “[Teachers/ instructors] can give them different strategies, because there are lots of strategies to learn things, it’s not just repetition over and over and over. Let’s find out: What are the challenges in this little measure? Is it finger changes, the air, or the embouchure? Once we identify that we can fix it, rather than say, ‘OK, I’ll do it again and maybe I’ll do better this time.’ It’s a really good lesson in problem solving.” 8. Give it a year — at least. Mulvey advocates that a child commit to at least a school year before thinking about quitting. Have this discussion and make this requirement clear before lessons begin. Lockhart argues for 12 to 24 months: “Until the point where they start getting some rewards back and say, ‘Wow, I really did that.’” And it takes a while to get to that

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ARTS & ENRICHMENT

Needham Boy Wins National Volunteer Award BY KATHY SLOAN, PHOTOGRAPHY BY ADAM PERRI

leven-year-old Maxwell Surprenant of Needham recently played Hook, the villain from Peter Pan, in his school play and, according to his mother Joy, he played it convincingly. However, Surprenant is anything but villainous. He is benevolent, self-assured, and articulate. And he was recently named a hero. From the moment I met Surprenant, it was obvious that he was special. He had a strong handshake, looked me in the eyes when he spoke, and his smile lit up the room at the Starbucks where we met. Mom Joy accompanied him for the interview and while she provided a lot of information, she often conferred with him. Surprenant answered questions thoughtfully and confidently on his own and interjected when he felt it was needed. We started by talking about the camp he’s attending at school and about baseball – the sport he loves the most – and it felt like I was talking to any other boy, but Surprenant isn’t just any boy. In April, he was one of 10 children in the United States to win the Hasbro Community Action Hero Award. Each year, Hasbro’s Children’s Fund and global youth service movement generationOn honor young people between the ages of 5 and 18 for their community service and volunteer activities. In Los Angeles, Surprenant accepted the Hasbro Transformer trophy (seen at right) that he proudly displays on a dresser in his room, a $1,000 educational scholarship, and a $500 grant to the charity of his choice. But that’s only one of the many awards he’s received this year. He has also won the John F. Kennedy “Make a Difference Award”; was a regional winner for the Kohl’s Cares Scholarship; has been named a semi-finalist for the Peace First award; and was an honorable mention in the White House Student Film Festival for his video on “The Impact of Giving Back.” Together with his parents, Surprenant won the Jimmy Fund “Big Ideas Contest,” and recently presented his family’s idea to a panel of national CEOs. His

Eleven-year-old Maxwell Surprenant was one of 10 children in the United States to win the Hasbro Community Action Hero Award.

presentation lasted 15 minutes, and when he was done, he received a standing ovation, not to mention job offers — yes, job offers. In fact, Surprenant was recently named a board member for Catching Joy, the charity he helped start, after making a presentation on why he would make a good addition. A 501(c)(3) non-profit, Catching Joy promotes volunteerism beginning

with young children and their families. The organization, whose motto is “You got it, give it!”, organizes hands-on activities for kids so they can feel the joy of giving. Activities include making cards for sick children, singing to the elderly in nursing homes, sock drives for the homeless, book drives for kids, or comedy nights where kids stand up and tell jokes to help raise money.

So, how does an 11-year-old become so philanthropic? With his parents’ encouragement, of course. Joy Surprenant grew up in a philanthropic family, traveling with her parents to the Philippines to help people in poor provinces and performing community service through their church. Those experiences taught her that giving back feels good, something she and her husband wanted their son to feel, too. Surprenant’s parents may be the driving force behind the work for which he receives accolades, but he does it all willingly and happily. The events that Catching Joy organizes usually piggyback other charitable outings so the amount of work involved is minimal, making it easy and fun for Maxwell to participate. In addition to attending events, he often makes the posters to promote the events because he loves to draw. He says that he’s never felt pressure to do any of the work because “making someone smile makes me feel really good.” While many may think they don’t have a lot of time to give to volunteerism, Joy Surprenant says helping people in need doesn’t have to take a lot of time, doing small things can be powerful. She believes that by getting kids involved when they’re young, even if it’s making a bookmark or telling a joke to help raise money, helps them realize that doing something, no matter how small, makes a difference in the world. “Being a part of something helps kids feel empowered, connected, and compassionate,” she says. Catchingjoy.org lists area events where kids can help make a difference. If you don’t see anything listed for your area, contact the group to find out how your family can get involved. GenerationOn’s Website (generationon.org) also offers 65 ways kids can make a difference. “Kids have a lot to give, like time, energy, enthusiasm,” the sixthgrader says. “Once they see they can make a difference they will want to keep doing it.” BAYSTATEPARENT 55

ARTS & ENRICHMENT

55 Mass Museums Offer Free Admission On Sept. 26!

Compiled by baystateparent staff This month, for one day only, 55 Massachusetts museums will do their best Smithsonian Museums impersonation and open their doors for free. Smithsonian magazine has named Saturday, Sept. 26 as its 11th annual Museum Day Live! Participating museums across the United States will offer free admission on Sept. 26 to those who download a Museum Day Live! ticket. “Museum Day Live! unites a spectacular array of museums across the country around Smithsonian’s commitment to make knowledge accessible to everyone,” says Stephen Giannetti, chief revenue officer Participating Massachusetts museums include: The Discovery Museums 177 Main St., Acton The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art 125 West Bay Rd., Amherst Mead Art Museum at Amherst College (free everyday) 41 Quadrangle Dr., Amherst Yiddish Book Center (free everyday) 1021 West St., Amherst Gibson House Museum 137 Beacon St., Boston The Mary Baker Eddy Library, home of the Mapparium 200 Massachusetts Ave., Boston

Harvard Semitic Museum (free everyday), 6 Divinity Dr., Cambridge Longfellow House Washington’s Headquarters National Historic Site (free everyday), 105 Brattle St., Cambridge Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology 11 Divinity Ave., Harvard University, Cambridge USS Constitution Museum Building 22, Charlestown Navy Yard, Charlestown Atwood House Museum Chatham Historical Society 347 Stage Harbor Rd, Chatham

of Smithsonian Enterprises. “This year we hope to welcome more guests to experience a cultural institution in their area.” To get your ticket, visit smithsonian.com/museumdaylive. Each ticket grants the ticket holder and a guest free access to participating museums. The limit is one ticket per household, per email address. More than 1,300 museums across all 50 states have signed up to participate in this year’s event. The complete list of participating museums can be found at smithsonian.com/museumday/venues.

John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum Foundation 397 Main St., Hyannis The Great House at Castle Hill 290 Argilla Rd., Ipswich Codman Estate 34 Codman Rd., Lincoln American Textile History Museum 491 Dutton St., Lowell Blue Hills Trailside Museum 1904 Canton Ave., Milton Forbes House Museum 215 Adams St., Milton The Bidwell House Museum 100 Art School Rd., Monterey

Museum of Russian Icons 203 Union St., Clinton

Durant-Kenrick House and Grounds 286 Waverley Ave., Newton

Concord Museum 200 Lexington Rd., Concord

Custom House Maritime Museum 25 Water Street, Newburyport

The Old Manse 269 Monument St., Concord

Herman Melville’s Arrowhead 780 Holmes Rd., Pittsfield

Martha’s Vineyard Museum 59 School St., Edgartown

Salem Witch Museum 19 ½ Washington Square North, Salem

Cogswell’s Grant 60 Spring St., Essex

Sandwich Glass Museum 129 Main St., Sandwich

Battleship Cove 5 Water St., Fall River

Springfield Museums 21 Edwards St., Springfield

The Paul S. Russell, MD Museum of Medical History and Innovation 2 North Grove Street, Boston

Marine Museum at Fall River 70 Water St., Fall River

Merwin House 14 Main St., Stockbridge

The Shirley-Eustis House 33 Shirley St., Boston

Garden in the Woods 180 Hemenway Rd., Framingham

Naumkeag House and Gardens 5 Prospect Hill Rd, Stockbridge

John Fitzgerald Kennedy National Historic Site 83 Beals St., Brookline

The Gardner Museum 28 Pearl St., Gardner

Old Colony Historical Society 66 Church Green, Taunton

John Cabot House 117 Cabot St., Beverly

Cape Ann Museum 27 Pleasant St., Gloucester

Armenian Museum of America 65 Main St., Watertown

Harvard Museum of Natural History 26 Oxford St., Cambridge

Wistariahurst Museum 238 Cabot St., Holyoke

Wenham Museum 132 Main St., Wenham

Museum of African American History 46 Joy Street, Beacon Hill, Boston Museum of Fine Arts 465 Huntington Ave., Boston Nichols House Museum 55 Mount Vernon St., Boston Old South Meeting House 310 Washington St., Boston Otis House 141 Cambridge St., Boston

56 SEPTEMBER2015

Spellman Museum of Stamps & Postal History Regis College 241 Wellesley St., Weston Williams College Museum of Art 15 Lawrence Hall Dr., Suite 2, Williamstown Griffin Museum of Photography 67 Shore Rd., Winchester EcoTarium 222 Harrington Way, Worcester Winslow Crocker House 250 Route 6A, Yarmouth Port For more information, visit smithsonian.com/museumdaylive.

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MEN

ICH ENR

S N SIG AN OF ARTS

Over-Scheduled,

Stressed-Out

child has one job in life – to be a child. Yet, some treat them like mini adults, which can result in childhoods crammed with activities, commitments, and obligations. As such, childhood is no longer carefree, but a pressure cooker in which children are expected to perform at all times at home, at school, and beyond. Today, experts say children are busier and lonelier than any generation before them. Many kids attend before and afterschool programs or daycare so parents can work. Sports and other enrichment activities can be seen as ways to build a child’s college resume rather than opportunities for joy. Many eat dinner in the car most nights and cram homework in right before bed. All of this allows for very little downtime and can leave children stressed and sleep deprived. While some kids seem to handle their busy lives just fine, not all children can handle the stress associated with over-scheduling.

58 SEPTEMBER2015

Jeanine Fitzgerald, author, certified human behavior consultant and specialist, and owner of The Fitzgerald Institute of Lifelong Learning in Northboro, says that 1 in 3 children are suffering from stress and most of that stress comes from living over-scheduled lives. “Over-scheduling has become how we parent. Children spend very little time with their own parents but with other adults,” she says. In today’s society, some equate idle time with laziness, when in fact downtime is a necessity in life helping to restore bodies and minds. Knowing when your child needs a break from his own busy life is essential.

How Many Activities Are Too Many? We all want to do what’s best for our children and give them every opportunity to try different things. Parents think exposing them to a variety of sports or activities will

CHILD

make them well-rounded, and may feel compelled to keep signing up for this team or that lesson just so they don’t let others (i.e., teammates and coaches) down. Is any of that bad? Not as long as your child is happy. “Parents should consider the cost of over-scheduling to the child’s mental health,” says Fitzgerald, who often sees children who have anxiety and are depressed. More often than not, a child feels over-scheduled but won’t tell parents for fear of letting them down. “Kids want to please their parents and are afraid to talk to them,” she adds. Although there is not a magic number of activities in which a child should participate, a good rule of thumb is one activity per season. Lori Lite, parenting expert and author of Stress Free Kids – A Parent’s Guide to Helping Build Self-Esteem, Manage Stress, and Reduce Anxiety in Children, says that parents should ask: “Does the activity add something positive to the child’s quality of life?” Activities should help your child

BY KATHY SLOAN

build self-esteem and make friends, as well as be something that he or she is proud to be a part of. An activity is no longer serving a purpose if you have to drag your child to it. Fitzgerald suggests that children wait to participate in organized sports until at least age 7: “The most important thing for a 4-year-old is to be a 4-year-old. We need to let our kids be kids and have unstructured time to play.”

When Is Quitting An Option? Parents want their children to finish what they start because it teaches responsibility and commitment. Not to mention, they likely paid for it. However, it’s not always healthy to force a child to do something they don’t love, especially if a child feels inadequate while participating in a sport or activity. Remember, the activity should build self-esteem, not reduce it. If a child wants to quit something or is feeling stressed, it

may be time to shift gears and eliminate that activity. “It’s OK to tell your child they need to finish the commitment they’ve made before they quit. But not if it’s causing stress or anxiety for the child,” Fitzgerald says. In other words, if your son wants to quit hockey mid-season because his schoolwork is suffering or because he’s tired all the time, those would be good reasons to quit regardless of the commitment. Lite adds that parents should check in with themselves, too: “If Mom or Dad feels resentful of the demanding schedule, then it’s time to look at the schedule.”

How Can I Tell If My Child is Stressed? Believe it or not, kids of all ages worry — or stress — about many things, such as friendships, crime, grades, terrorism, ticks (yes, the bug), and the future. In her book, Lite writes that the range of stress a child experiences can be as simple as arriving at school to find out there is a substitute teacher to being exposed to a violent experience. If you think your child will tell you he’s feeling stressed, think again. Children tend to express stress through symptomatic, such as headaches, stomachaches, and asthma symptoms. Childhood stress is also

expressed through behaviors such as bedwetting, withdrawing, regressing, frequent meltdowns, or clingy behavior, “which is so hard because all of those symptoms are ordinary childhood complaints or behaviors,” Lite notes. (See this month’s “Ask The Expert” column on page 63 for advice on childhood anxiety.) However, if a symptom or behavior appears suddenly or seems to happen only on certain days, parents should check in with the child. “I tell parents to trust their instincts,” Lite says. “Parents know what is normal for their child and what is not. Don’t worry, however, if you don’t recognize something right away. It’s normal for a behavior to happen over the course of a few weeks before you think, ‘Something’s not right.’”

How To Help Understanding how your child responds to stress is important for your child’s well-being. Teaching them how to cope with it is equally important. “Kids are using drugs and alcohol to cope with stress and many are committing suicide to get away from stress,” Fitzgerald says. It’s important to help children learn how to recognize when they are feeling frazzled and how to manage it. Family coaching, parental education, and professional help are all successful

your child at dinnertime and look them in the eyes goes a long way to fostering the parent/child relationship.” Eating dinner together is a great place to start. Also, spending time with your child doing a puzzle, snuggling, riding bikes, or playing a game is much more important for the child’s mental health than any organized sport or activity.

“Over-scheduling has become how we parent. Children spend very little time with their own parents but with other adults." – Jeanine Fitzgerald, author, certified Human Behavior Consultant, and Specialist methods. Lite also suggests things like breathing techniques, visualizations, muscle relaxation exercises, and affirmations. Thanks to the Internet, we live in a heavily connected society, yet we are very disconnected. Fitzgerald notes that 16% of families spend time together, but in separate rooms on their electronics. For many, Sunday dinners with extended family are a thing of the past, let alone dinner together as a family during the week. Lite says it’s a parent’s job to foster a positive parent/child relationship: “If you’re in the car all the time driving to activities or saying, “Hurry up!” to your child a lot, it’s time to reevaluate.” And while having an occasional dinner in the car isn’t a bad thing, “being able to sit across from

7 Signs Your Child May Be Over-Scheduled 1. Child isn’t getting enough sleep recommended for his age 2. Child eats dinner on the run most nights 3. Child is having frequent meltdowns 4. Child is asking to quit an activity 5. Child complains of being tired all the time 6. Child doesn’t have a couple hours of downtime per day 7. Child complains of headaches, stomachaches, or has changes in behavior

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ARTS & ENRICHMENT

Inside The Science Behind Pixar New Interactive Pixar Exhibit Opens at Museum of Science BY JOAN GOODCHILD

Twenty years and two children of my own later, I’ve now seen every Pixar film — many of them multiple times. So when the Museum of Science, Boston (MOS) announced an exhibit that takes visitors into the process behind the making of Pixar movies, I had to go.

The exhibit, The Science Behind Pixar, is a 10-city, five-year traveling display that was developed by Pixar and Boston’s MOS, according to Paul Fontaine, the museum’s vice president of education. “We had a lot of success with a previous exhibit in cooperation with Lucasfilm that talked about new technologies in movies coming to reality today. It was really an exhibit about engineering that was wildly popular.” With that experience under their belt, MOS was approached by Pixar about collaborating on an exhibit that gives a glimpse behind the scenes showing how Pixar movies are made. The result is a highly interactive, colorful, and engaging display for visitors of all ages to enjoy, said Fontaine. “The educators made the math and computer science topics really fun. It’s like a bag of potato chips: Once you start with the interactives, it’s addictive,” he said. “You want to delve deeper, go to the next interactive.”

60 SEPTEMBER2015

I visited the exhibit on a rainy Saturday with my children, ages 10 and 7, and my 16-year-old nephew. The museum was extremely busy that day but the exhibit is crowdcontrolled: visitors buy admission for a certain time and only a limited number of people are allowed to view during that time slot. When you enter the exhibit, you view a 5-minute introductory film that takes you inside the walls of Pixar studios and features some of the artists, who explain the process of making the films. From there, you round a corner and are greeted by huge, oversized models of Buzz Lightyear and Woody from the Toy Story movies, which of course became our first photo op. Making our way around the exhibit, there were multiple facets of animation described in detail, with many hands-on opportunities to really give visitors an idea of how the technology works. One of the first features we tried was the Plot a Fish demonstra-

tion, using characters from Finding Nemo. Modelers create Marlin’s shape in virtual 3-D using coordinate geometry to translate shape into a character that moves. Next, we were treated to a display on character maquettes, featuring Joy from Inside Out, Carl Fredricksen from Up, Dash from The Incredibles, and Luigi from Cars. The display explains that while drawings help define the basic form of a character, a model sculpted in clay reveals their whole shape. The maquettes on display were cast in plastic from original clay models that inspired the movie characters. There is also a section of the exhibit that focuses on surface animation; the colors, textures, and patterns of a character’s clothing, for example. We see what kind of intricate detail goes into creating surface appearance because, as we learn, surface tells us not only what an object is made from, but its history, too. Think of the dirty, worn appearance of Wall-E and

I still remember the first time I saw a Pixar movie, many years ago. I was with two children whom I babysat regularly and we watched Toy Story, the first Pixar film. The movie was so breathtaking with its animation and intelligent in its storytelling that I knew I was witnessing something special.

Emily Singer, a 15-year-old high school student from Essex, Vermont, was visiting the museum and was busy changing the lighting on a large model of Dory from Finding Nemo when I approached her. Singer, who said she has been fascinated by the science behind animation for several years, said she had been taken in by the handson demonstrations throughout the room. “It’s really tricky to try and get the lighting right and the way I want it in this activity. It helps me to understand more about how the science of it works,” she said. Katherine Saltonstall, 9, of Newton, was as impressed as I was by the movement simulation display: “I like how it shows you how it works. If you turn something on and off, you can really see the difference between scenes.” “The main educational goal is to get people to understand that it’s really a combination of math, computer science, art, and creativity in the making of Pixar movies,” Fontaine said. “We think the exhibit provides just that.” The Science Behind Pixar runs through Jan. 10, 2016. Tickets are $29 adults, $27 seniors (60+), and $26 children (3-11). Advance ticket reservations are recommended.

his trash collection, which helps convey how long Wall-E has been living and working on an abandoned planet Earth. The part of the exhibit that really stood out for me was the section on movement simulation, where the science behind the realistic movement of hair, or the gentle waves of the ocean under the sea in Finding Nemo, is explained. Visitors are given the chance to try different simulation stations and turn the simulation off and on in a number of scenes to see what they would look like without the technology. “Look at her hair!” my daughter exclaimed when it is revealed that Merida, from Brave, looks like she has a giant blob of red on top of her head without the motion simulation turned on. These are just a few examples of some of the really neat features in the exhibit. Other sections include details on lighting, rigging, and rendering. There is also a large model of Ant Island from A Bug’s Life, which gives viewers an explanation of scale and perspective, and which Fontaine pointed to as his favorite part of the exhibit. “We hope people will make the connection that this is related to what they learned in math or science, and this is how it can be used in a way that touches our lives,” he said.

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Worcester Pride Prides Itself on Family-Friendliness BY HEATHER KEMPSKIE Celebrating its 40th year, Worcester Pride has become one of the region’s most beloved community events, offering entertainment, resources, and a sense of belonging for the city’s richly diverse residents. “Over the years, I think our (LGBTQ) community has matured,” says John Trobaugh, Worcester Pride president. “When I moved to Massachusetts six years ago, Pride was not kid-friendly at all. As I became involved and talked to other members, there was a general sentiment to really change the focus as our community has become more mainstream.” Two years ago, the event moved to the more family-friendly Worcester City Common and away from areas of the city more geared towards adults. “We really pride ourselves on the diversity of Worcester and how we capture that in (the events offered through) Pride,” Trobaugh says. Organizers are preparing to host thousands of attendees over the

four-day event, beginning with a kick-off dinner on Wednesday, Sept. 9 and concluding with the Pride Parade and Festival on the Common on Saturday, Sept. 12. The Woo Church, located on Main Street and one of the event sponsors, hosts a gated kid-friendly area with activities, a bouncy house, and games. “That has become a draw in and of itself,” says Trobaugh, who has a 10-year-old son. “It drew people to the event who may have not planned on attending. It really broadened who we attract.” Joseph W. Sandagato III, president of the state Department of Children & Families’ Worcester West Area Advisory Board (WWAAB), says Worcester Pride has done a great job in leading the fight for families, but communication and education about LGBTQ topics must continue. “It’s great that we live in such a progressive state where gay marriage has been mainstreamed and gay adoption is common, but if we’re not continuing

the conversation, (the larger populations) won’t know how it works,” he notes. “Worcester Pride is not a club-based group of adults. They are families and kids and represent the diversity in our city. They have filled a gap and have tied together a lot of pieces.” The WWAAB, in conjunction with the DCF West and East Area Offices, will be participating in the 2015 Worcester Pride Parade and Worcester Common Pride Festival on Sept. 12. Representatives from DCF will be available to answer questions about foster care and adoption at the free festival. “Some people have said, since gay marriage is now legal and gay couples can adopt, maybe there won’t be a need for such events,” Trobaugh says. “We’ll always need Pride because it doesn’t matter what the laws are, people come out at different times and need support and community and resources, especially young people.”

Worcester Pride Week Schedule Wednesday, Sept. 9: Pride Kick-Off Dinner at Bocado Thursday, Sept. 10: Pride Flag Raising at City Hall Friday, Sept. 11: LGBTQ Pride Pageant Saturday, Sept. 12: Pride Parade, Worcester Pride Festival on the Common, Pride Block Party, Youth Pride Dance, and Sweet Pride After Party For more information, visit worcesterpride.org

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Ask The Expert:

Identify Potential Causes

How To Address

Childhood Anxiety This article is not a substitute for advice from a medical professional who has seen your child. If you have concerns about your child’s health, please notify your pediatrician. BY CHRISTOPHER BELLONCI, M.D. Floating Hospital for Children at Tufts Medical Center

My third-grade daughter is seemingly always anxious and even has separation anxiety when she is away from home. She used to enjoy playdates and was so carefree. What is going on? Is this normal? Dear Reader, Based on your description of your daughter’s previous carefree behavior, you are right to be alarmed by the sudden change. While shyness alone is not a cause for concern, it can be a red flag if that shyness is a new behavior. Anxiety should not be taken lightly, but luckily it is highly treatable. It’s important to be able to identify the signs so that you can take the necessary steps toward a more worry-free childhood.

Has there been an event in your family or child’s life that could have triggered anxiety? Examples could include relocation, a divorce, or the passing of a family member or friend. A parent’s anxiety can also rub off on a child. If a parent is stressed out about an event such as a job loss, the child could be absorbing some of those feelings. After a stressful or emotional event, it is normal for a child’s anxious behaviors to last a couple of weeks. If they last longer, then it is recommended that you consult with your pediatrician. It is important to talk to your child and share your observations about her changes in behavior, as there could unfortunately be a traumatic event of which you are not aware. Ask her if anything has happened that has bothered her, and ask her what in particular she is worried will happen. This conversation is best had at a time when your child is experiencing these worries.

Evaluate Behavior

Treat

The distinction between whether a child’s fears are normal or signify a larger problem comes down to the degree of functional impairment they are causing. In other words: What extent is your child’s worrying keeping her from doing things she previously enjoyed? Is she having trouble maintaining friendships? Is it limiting the things you expect a girl her age to do? The more a child is accommodating fears by restricting activities, the more likely it is that there is a need for intervention. Evaluating behaviors should always be done in the context of your child’s past behaviors. If your child has always been shy, then anxiety about certain social activities would be less alarming. You should also be aware of physical symptoms that anxiety can produce. A child’s frequent complaining of headaches and stomach aches — with no vomiting or fever — can be a sign.

While it is difficult to see your child experience anxiety, the good news is that it is highly treatable with cognitive behavioral therapy. Doctors may recommend medication in more severe cases.

Even if you are not certain whether anxiety is present, it would be wise to mention your concerns to your pediatrician or even schedule a consultation with a cognitive behavioral therapist. Doing so does not commit your child to a lifetime of therapy, but can arm your child with long-lasting coping tools. Therapists may recommend guiding your child through a workbook like Coping Cat, which has an 80% success rate. You can also learn more by viewing the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry’s “Facts for Families” informational sheet, available on its Website at aacap.org. Children will have worries, but it’s important to distinguish typical childhood concerns, such as fear of the dark, from signs of greater anxiety that needs treatment. You know your child best, and should consider whether these behaviors are new and obstructive to your child’s lifestyle. Any concerns should prompt a conversation with your child and your pediatrician, and you should consider a session with a cognitive behavioral therapist. Anxiety is treatable, and needed treatment should not wait. Have a question for our experts in the areas of parenting, child development, behavior, or more? Email editor@baystateparent.com; reader names will not be published.

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WOMEN’S HEALTH

ALONE TIME: The Best Defense Against Stress

BY JENNIFER SHEEHY EVERETT

66 SEPTEMBER2015

love my child and consider him a true blessing after years of struggle to bring him into the world. I dove into parenting with eyes wide open, embracing the 24/7 needs of the sweet little human being entrusted to me and my husband. Most days, I couldn’t get enough of his big blue eyes, sly smirks, and happy coos, and would gaze at him for what seemed like — and probably was — hours on end. But, over time, I began to stumble a bit in my new role as parent.

Minor parenting hurdles began to take on more weight than I care to admit. Emotions were growing more intense than they needed to be. My patience, at times, was waning. I wasn’t proud of how I was feeling and figured that the stress of parenting was simply intensifying as our little boy became more active, engaged and strong-willed. Some much-needed self-reflection helped me understand what was happening: I had committed myself so completely to round-the-clock childcare that I had forgotten to nourish the parts of me that weren’t just Mom. I had spent the prior years largely focused on me — my career, search for a life partner, travel with friends, exercise, and fun hobbies that kept a skip in my step — and truly relished a life of spontaneity. I was embarrassed to admit that I was secretly longing for a return to that spontaneity, if only for a moment here or there. Life was obviously out of balance. Some Moms and Dads are masters of the parenting domain and aren’t significantly impacted by the major life changes that accompany the arrival of a bundle (or bundles) of joy. I applaud those people. Even for those who aren’t fazed by the monumental life shift, the sleepless nights, thousands of diaper changes and bottle washes, and intermittent crying jags and tantrums do take their toll. As children grow, the daily challenges shift to school and friend issues, schedule and carpool juggling, and battles over the amount of technology a child can enjoy, but remain equally weighty. Experts agree that successfully weathering the highs and lows of life as a parent requires intermittently stepping away from the role and enjoying critical alone time to recharge. “In order to care for someone, you have to be taking care of yourself,” says Dr. Adele Kauffman, clinical psychologist and mother of two daughters in their 20s. “You don’t have as much to give to your child if you’re depleted, and your child may ultimately suffer. This doesn’t happen all the time, but it can happen. It’s easier to be a happy parent

if you’re getting some of your own needs met.” Dr. Kate Roberts, licensed child and family psychologist, parenting coach, and mother of two boys, believes that alone time has to be scheduled for parents in our hectic, technology-driven society. “There are so many distractions today,” she notes. “If people don’t set aside a time and place for alone time and self-reflection, they risk getting burned out, losing focus, feeling overwhelmed, and getting more anxious, which creates a negative spiral. The single-biggest impact [of not finding alone time] is that your stress level is increased. And there is research that suggests stress impacts children much more than the amount of time a parent does or does not spend with his or her children.” A particularly concerning study on childhood stress exposure — published in the January/February 2013 issue of Child Development — reports that significant parental stress during a child’s first few years can go so far as to affect the child’s genes associated with insulin production and brain development — more than a decade later. Meanwhile, a 2010 “Stress in America Survey” by the American Psychological Association suggests that most parents underestimate the impact of their stress on their children. Nearly 70% of surveyed parents of teens and tweens believed that their stress had little or no impact on their children, while only 14% of surveyed children claimed that their parent’s stress didn’t trouble them. The study further noted that children as young as 8 reported experiencing physical and emotional health consequences often associated with stress. Benefits of alone time extend beyond minimizing stress on parents and children. For parents, a marriage or other adult relationship can thrive with more time, attention, and nurturing. And for children, interacting with people other than their parents — another family member, babysitter, teacher, coach — exposes them to different personalities, points-of-view, and experiences that

provide them with the space to figure out what is important to them and to learn how to become their own people. Many parents still experience a nagging guilt about making themselves a priority and detaching from their children for self-care. “I feel guilty at the thought of leaving my boys to take advantage of alone time,” says Amy Cunningham, of Wakefield, a mother of 3-year-old twin boys. “I worry that something will happen to them when I’m gone. Plus, I feel I know best how to take care of their needs.” “I feel guilty for the first 30 minutes I’m away, but then I’m able to detach,” adds Victoria Cooper, of Melrose, mother of a 10-month-old son. “I often think about life before I was a mom. Now we sacrifice most, if not all, of our free time. In order to be better mothers, I feel we need alone time more than ever.” Kauffman suggests several ways to overcome parental guilt in the quest for this critical alone time: “Talk to other parents who feel that it’s helpful or find a peer group where others are taking the time. Doing it and see-

ing that your child is OK without you also works. Seeing that the result is worth it will help you overcome the conflicted feelings. Long-term, it’s good for kids to see that their parents are participants in the world. This doesn’t necessarily mean a paying job — it could be volunteering or participating in various activities in the community. These are good lessons and a good model for kids.” The verdict is in. Our sanity, our children and our relationships will benefit from occasional alone time. And alone time doesn’t have to be extraordinary. It can be as simple as enjoying a cup of coffee in a quiet house, going for a jog or hike, or doing some leisurely shopping without simultaneously juggling a fussy toddler or eye-rolling tween. Consider the popular saying, “Happy Wife, Happy Life.” Can’t we turn that on its head to become “Happy Parent, Happy Child”? And isn’t that what we’re all striving for at the end of the day? So let’s start penciling in that time to re-energize, re-focus, and recommit to being the loving and engaged parents our children so richly deserve.

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DIVORCE & SINGLE PARENTING

Deciding On After-School Activities BY ATTY. IRWIN POLLACK

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Are you and your co-parent at odds over how your child(ren) spend their time after school? Do you think hockey and soccer should be on the list, but your ex feels like drama and piano lessons are a better option? One of the benefits of single parenting is that children can create an authentic relationship with each parent independently, participating in certain types of events without influence from the other. But when it comes to guiding afterschool activity choices, it’s important to focus on your child’s likes and dislikes, along with his or her temperament. Quite often, parents want to live vicariously through their children and relive their own dreams, losing sight of what their own son or daughter may be interested in. Forcing a shy child — or one who lacks the requisite self-confidence — to get on stage with the local children’s theater program may cause anxiety and turn him or her away from theater later in life. Similarly, the benefits of sports participation are endless, but for children who are turned off by competition or whose experience in sports leads them to feelings of failure, participation in different music and arts programs provides a welcome alternative. As the new school year begins, there are dozens of options when it comes to after-school programs. Research shows that youth in any of these programs do better in school and in their personal lives than young people from the same socioeconomic categories who were not enrolled in after-school programs. To the surprise of some researchers, however, children involved in arts programs seem to do the best. They believe that a combination of roles, risks, and rules offered in arts programs have a greater impact on young lives. While stereotypes can lead people to think of music and art education as somewhat frivolous, statistics prove otherwise. For example, students of the arts consistently outscore their non-arts peers on college exams in the verbal and math portions of the SAT.

But what if your child isn’t the arts-and-entertainment type? The thought of being dragged around an art gallery or science exhibit when they don’t want to go can cause some children to throw a temper tantrum. We’d all like to believe that our children will show a native interest in the arts, but the fact is that most of them need encouragement and help to enjoy it. You can make visiting art shows, museums, and other activities related to arts and entertainment educational and fun for your family. One way to start is for both parents to support the idea. While you and your former spouse may have differences on key parenting issues, trying to find common ground when it comes to exposure to the arts is a good start.

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Here are some other tips: • When visiting a museum or participating in a cultural activity, don’t make it an all-day event. You don’t have to do it all or see it all. Even when children are having fun, they’ll likely get anxious after a few hours — especially if they’re constantly being told, “Just look. Don’t touch!” • Start to display artwork around your home, and talk frequently about your own connections to the arts. Emphasize how each person experiences art differently and appreciates different things. • When you’re planning a trip to a museum or gallery, go to the Website and choose pieces to study and/or discuss ahead of time. Learn about the artists and why they’re meaningful. This will help children connect to the work ahead of time. • Some pieces of artwork and certain exhibits can be old. Find something in history that your kids are interested in and place art in the same context. • Since photography is an art form, let children take their own photographs, if permitted. Let them be artists themselves!

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PART 2 OF A 5-PART SERIES

BIRTH ORDER BASICS:

The Magic in the Middle BY ABBEY TIDERMAN

Much like we associate defiance and tantrums with “The Terrible Twos,” emotional outbursts and displays of anger by a child who’s neither the eldest nor the baby of the family is often written off as “middle child syndrome.” (Cue Jan Brady’s “Marcia! Marcia! Marcia!” meltdown.) While middle child syndrome is not a clinical term, the effects of birth order on how a child perceives one’s self is very real, and middle children typically bare the brunt. “The term ‘middle child syndrome’ has that negative connotation because, well, it’s just really hard to be a middle child,” says Meri Wallace, clinical social worker and author of Birth Order Blues. “Each position in the family has its challenges, but the middle child has to compete for attention with the older sibling, who absorbs the time and energy of the family. The whole family — parents, in particular — get involved in supporting each new experience of the firstborn. Then, when a new child comes along, the middle child loses his or her position as the baby, which can be a trauma. A lot of attention is used up on the youngest because she needs to be cared for or help getting dressed, while the oldest needs help with homework. Not the oldest, not the youngest, so who is he?” During one of the hundreds of interviews Wallace conducted in researching birth order, a young girl — and middle child — shared how she sometimes sits in the hallway of her home just waiting for someone to notice her. And the research shows she’s not alone feeling lost in the shuffle. Frank Sulloway and Richard Zweigenhaft, authors of the study, Birth Order and Risk Taking in Athletics, write: “In contrast to eldest 70 SEPTEMBER2015

and youngest children, middleborns end up receiving less cumulative parental investment, as has been shown in numerous studies.” While we’re not talking neglect here, middle child syndrome stems from the fact that kids need — and may not be getting — enough of that

time and attention. Psychologist Dr. Kevin Leman emphasizes this in his work, The Birth Order Book: “Every child is born with the need for attention, and one of his or her primary goals is to gain attention in one way or another. When a child’s attempt to gain attention, either positively or

negatively, doesn’t get the desired results, the child becomes discouraged and then turns his or her efforts toward another goal: gaining power. If those attempts to be powerful (to control the parents) fail, he or she becomes still more discouraged, and the goal may become revenge.” Yet it’s not just limited attention from parents that creates middle child characteristics; birth order in and of itself also has an impact. By nature of being older and oftentimes stronger, a firstborn child can do a range of things that a younger sibling cannot. This can make the younger sibling feel incompetent, and they don’t necessarily realize it’s due to the fact that they’re younger. As the firstborn meets meaningful milestones, parents enthusiastically support them. For a secondborn, it’s often a given that they’ll reach the same milestone, and when they do, while parents are still proud, the luster is lost. When it comes to the youngest child in the family, however, parents tend to refocus, realizing it’s their “last” of these experiences. Feeling isolated, “middleborn children find themselves clamoring for an identity. The more children in a family, the more complicated all these issues get,” Wallace says. Simply being aware of your own position as you grew up, as well as your child’s, can prove helpful in parenting and beyond. Unresolved insecurities born of birth order can appear in unexpected places and wreak havoc. “In my clinical practice I spotted these issues causing problems for adults in their workplace, marriages, and family relationships. Zeroing in on these early childhood emotional experiences and resolving them as early as possible proved to be of significant help to people in all these situ-

ations,” Wallace writes. The effects of middle child syndrome aren’t inevitable, however, and there are many steps parents can take to shape confident kids. For starters, “make sure you ask your middle child what they think,” Leman advises. This ensures they feel like they have a voice that matters in the family, that they’re being heard. Wallace expresses a similar sentiment: “Communicating often and acknowledging that you understand it can be tough being the middle child will go a long way.” When your middle child’s festering frustrations at their position in the family results in sibling conflict, she suggests avoiding direct blame. General statements while disciplining, “We don’t hit in our family” or “We always need to treat each other with respect,” can help get your point across, without exacerbating potential feelings of always “getting the raw deal.” She notes it’s important not to compare children out loud, however different they may be, even in conversations to others. Chances are, children will pick up on that and internalize the sentiments over time. In addition, she says small gestures can go a long way, such as ensuring the middle child gets new

clothes once in a while, instead of hand-me-downs all the time, or making sure you capture photos and

“The middle child has an advantage in the sense that they can follow and look up to their older sibling and learn from them. They see what mistakes to avoid.” – Meri Wallace, author, Birth Order Blues

video of your child alone, instead of always among siblings. Prioritizing and scheduling one-on-one time

between parents and their middle child from an early age will also help quell any resentment toward other siblings and boost selfesteem. “Time alone equals love,” Wallace notes. Having to juggle several different types of relationships and challenges from an early age has its advantages and magic, however. “The first two children in a family are night and day different,” Leman says. “Many middleborns have a good balance of traits, are creative, and tend to become entrepreneurs. They are mediators, negotiators, and loyal. They’re also big on friendship.” Because middle children often feel like they don’t have a concrete place within the family, they look outside the home to build close friendships and tend to excel in team sports in which collaboration and support is important. “The middle child has an advantage in the sense that they can follow and look up to their older sibling and learn from them,” Wallace adds. “They see what mistakes to avoid. Similarly, they are in the position to nurture their younger sibling, which is a character-building experience and instills empathy — building a strong foundation for lifelong success and happiness.”

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The Surprising Backers Behind Common Core in Massachusetts BY DOUG PAGE

he world’s richest man, Bill Gates, also funds the world’s richest, private philanthropic organization, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, an entity that over the past several years has heavily funded efforts to advance controversial Common Core educational standards across the country – including Massachusetts. The state Board of Education is expected to vote this fall on a critical Common Core-related issue — which standardized test more than half a million Massachusetts public school students will take: the Common Core-aligned PARCC or the 17-year-old homegrown MCAS test, which has been adjusted to fit the new standards. While the PARCC has its fair share of critics (an issue highlighted in August’s baystateparent), so does the overarching Common Core standards, which are designed to better prepare students for post-secondary education and careers. Common Core also has hundreds of millions of dollars in funding from the $40 billion Gates Foundation, a situation that critics say blurs the line between philanthropy and policy making. In September 2009, R. Kirk Kramer, a partner in the Boston-based

Bridgespan Group, a nonprofit business consultancy, sent a letter to then-state Secretary of Education Paul Reville and Massachusetts Education Commissioner Mitchell Chester, saying his company would work “to help you with both strategy development and your proposal to secure Race to the Top funding.” The letter was shared with baystateparent. “Our understanding is that the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will fund part of Bridgespan’s support for this work,” Kramer continued. “In addition a group of local foundations … will also provide funding support.” In other words, the Gates Foundation paid $250,000 — about half of Bridgespan’s fees — so the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) could successfully apply for a $250 million Race to the Top grant from the U. S. Department of Education (DOE). The grants were designed to make states implement Common Core. Winning the grant in 2010 obligated the Commonwealth to adopt Common Core’s K-12 college- and careerready standards for Bay

State public schools. DESE oversees all of the Commonwealth’s public K-12 schools. “We were told it (the grant from the Gates Foundation) would never show up as a line item on the budget so anyone could ask questions,” said Sandra Stotsky, a Massachusetts Board of Education (BOE) member at the time. “Gates chose the writers and made sure the right application (for the Race to the Top grant) went to the U. S. Department of Education. He wasn’t taking any chances with his $250,000.”

BAYSTATEPARENT 73

“The problem is the influence and the coziness of the arrangement between the government and a private foundation and the hundreds of millions of dollars put into this preferred outcome. It’s the kind of influence peddling that’s not appropriate.”

— Jane Robbins, The American Principles Project

The quarter-million dollars was a small portion of the $160 million the Gates Foundation has awarded Massachusetts organizations, universities, and school districts since 2002 to fund projects involving education and Common Core. “I believe The Bridgespan Group offered to help DESE,” said Jacqueline Reis, DESE spokesperson. “The role Bridgespan played on the Race to the Top application was project management and logistical work, and they did not shape the content of our application plans.” The date of Kramer’s letter shows that DESE, with a statewide K-12 student population of more than 955,000, was working on its application for the Race to the Top grant at least 10 months before its governing board, the BOE, voted to accept Common Core State Standards in 2010. Proponents say such standards are designed to reduce the number of Bay State public high school graduates requiring remedial math and English classes when they enter college or a post-secondary school. Kramer didn’t respond to baystateparent’s queries about The Bridgespan Group’s actions, nor were calls to the Gates Foundation returned.

The Hidden Tug

This isn’t the first time a philanthropic foundation has used its financial muscle to bring about 74 SEPTEMBER2015

change. During the first half of the 20th century, the business titans of that era – Andrew Carnegie, Henry Ford and John D. Rockefeller – also started foundations that impacted the nation, scholars say. Joan Roelofs, a retired professor at New Hampshire’s Keane State University, and the author of the book Foundations and Public Policy: The Mask of Pluralism, says large, private philanthropies, like Gates’s, with their significant amounts of money, are able to promote policies they prefer. “All citizens should want to know who is pulling the strings,” she said. “After all, government policy is supposed to be made by our representatives, in accordance with our preferences.” While there’s nothing illegal about the actions The Bridgespan Group took to help DESE win a Race to the Top grant, foundation experts said the funding from the Gates Foundation to Bridgespan to assist DESE shows the power of a private philanthropic organization with deep coffers. “The problem is the influence and the coziness of the arrangement between the government and a private foundation and the hundreds of millions of dollars put into this preferred outcome,” said Jane Robbins, an attorney with The American Principles Project, a conservative think-tank in Washington, D.C. “It’s the kind of influence peddling that’s not appropriate.” “All of their (Gates Foundation) funding is going to further their goals — some of it through direct programs, some through research, and some through advocacy,” said University of Chicago Professor Jennifer Mosley. “They can’t tell the organizations (they fund) what to say, but they can advance the voices of allies (with their money).” The larger question for the Gates Foundation is to whom does it report, especially when it’s seeking a particular outcome, such as the apparent implementation of Common Core? “No one,” Mosley said. “What they fund and what they pursue is completely up to them.” “Internal Revenue Service rules strictly forbid foundations from lobbying, and if they go too far into politics, the foundation risks losing its tax-exempt status,” said Brenda Bushouse, University of Massachusetts-Amherst professor and author of Universal Preschool: Policy Change, Stability, and the Pew Charitable Trusts. “I have qualms about the impacts of foundations on the democratic process, which is one of the reasons why I wrote my book.” The only obligations U.S.-based philanthropic foundations have is to abide by Internal Revenue Service tax regulations by giving away 5% of their financial assets annually,

which is more than $2 billion for the Gates Foundation, and to make sure they’re funding only non-profits and causes that fit their charter, noted Andrew Morton, a Chicago attorney who works with many celebrity philanthropies. According to the Gates Foundation Website, the organization focuses on tackling: “critical problems in four program areas”: “Our Global Development Division works to help the world’s poorest people lift themselves out of hunger and poverty. Our Global Health Division aims to harness advances in

million to organizations working on the new standards. From a review of the funding dispersed, publicly available on the Gates Foundation Website, baystateparent estimates that, over the past 13 years, the foundation made grants of more that $160 million to Bay State companies and nonprofits working in education, including several universities and two public school systems. Nearly $36 million of that amount, baystateparent estimates, was given to Massachusetts companies and nonprofits either working on projects related to

science and technology to save lives in developing countries. Our United States Division works to improve U.S. high school and postsecondary education and support vulnerable children and families in Washington State. And our Global Policy & Advocacy Division seeks to build strategic relationships and promote policies that will help advance our work. Our approach to grantmaking in all four areas emphasizes collaboration, innovation, risk-taking, and, most importantly, results.”

Common Core or those entities advocating for the new college- and career-ready standards. Well-known local institutions receiving Gates Foundation grants include Harvard University ($38 million), which Gates left before completing his bachelor’s degree; the Massachusetts Institute of Technology ($3.3 million); Clark University ($1.9 million); Worcester Polytechnic Institute ($265,760); Boston Public Schools ($2.5 million); Worcester Public Schools ($312,266); and Boston public television station WGBH’s Educational Foundation ($999,999) to support “educationrelated programming on (the show) Frontline,” the Website shows. Gates Foundation money also went to the state’s Secretary of Education office during Paul Reville’s tenure. It received a $650,000 grant from Gates in 2010, shortly after the BOE approved Common Core, “to support Innovation Schools in two types of

Gates Money in Massachusetts

The Washington Post two years ago estimated that the Gates Foundation gave about $150 million to organizations across the country on behalf of Common Core, while Mother Jones last year pegged Gates Foundation giving at more than $200

districts … those that include higher- and lower-performing schools,” the Gates Website says. baystateparent inquiries regarding the grant were made to Reville’s office and unreturned. He currently teaches at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education. James Peyser, Massachusetts’s current Secretary of Education, was working as managing director for the nonprofit, venture philanthropy New School Ventures Fund – which raised and directed $150 million to charter schools – when it received more than $80 million from the Gates

Foundation between 2003 and 2014, the Foundation’s Website shows. baystateparent contacted Gov. Charlie Baker’s office about this and received the following response: “Secretary Peyser, a key figure in developing MCAS (Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System) over a decade ago, is working with (BOE) Chairman Paul Sagan to objectively and fairly gather the information needed to make an open and public debate around this important issue,” said Laura Rigas, Peyser’s spokesperson. “Chairman Sagan and the (BOE) held five public hearings and Secretary Peyser is convening an independent group of researchers to analyze and synthesize the relevant studies, in addition to initiating a new research project to determine whether PARCC (Partnership for Assessment for Readiness for College and Careers) or MCAS is a better indicator of future college success.” Rigas also noted that “Gov. Baker was the only person to testify before the BOE against joining Common Core when Massachusetts was considering the move several years ago.” DESE Commissioner Mitchell Chester joined the board of directors of the Council of Chief State School Officers, based in Washington, in January; since 2002, it has received more than $90 million in grants from the Gates Foundation, the Gates Website shows. The Council’s mission is similar to that of PARCC consortium, which Chester leads, supporting “major reforms in classrooms and schools — like college- and careerready standards, aligned assessments, and systems for improving educator effectiveness,” according to its Website.

“I wouldn’t say he’s bought the system but he’s bought the capacity to put pressure on the system. Systematically, what they have done is paid for advocacy groups, paid for lobbying, paid for influence, and cultivated very important relationships within the Obama Administration that have converged to put pressure on the public school system.” — Anthony Cody, author, The Educator and The Oligarch: A Teacher Challenges The Gates Foundation

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BOE Chairman Sagan recently said that the Board determined there was no conflict of interest between Commissioner Chester’s Commonwealth job and his duties outside of the Bay State. Worcester Public Schools used its Gates Foundation grant money to train coaches for the Literacy Design Collaborative, a Common Corerelated program, said WPS Chief Financial Officer Brian Allen. When asked how Boston Public Schools spent its $2.5 million in Gates grant money, spokesman Richard Weir noted: “We have not been able to pinpoint grants totaling anything close to that amount.” baystateparent sent links from the Gates Foundation’s Website to Weir via email, listing the grants made to Boston Public Schools, but received no response. Education Next, a journal produced at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, applied for and received three Gates Foundation grants totaling over $1 million, the foundation’s Website shows. Paul Peterson, the journal’s editor and a Harvard professor, said the foundation never pressured the journal to adopt its views on Common Core. WGBH spokesperson Jeanne Hopkins said Frontline, which develops in-depth journalism shows, used the Gates Foundation grant to produce four episodes about education,

but none were about Common Core. “The Gates Foundation placed no pressure on Frontline to explore this topic in any of its productions,” she said.

Other Gates Giving in Massachusetts

The Bridgespan Group received four Gates Foundation grants, totaling more than $17 million, the Gates Website shows. The Massachusetts education nonprofit receiving the most money from the Gates Foundation over the past 13 years was Jobs for the Future, a Boston-based organization working with school systems and community colleges to ensure lowincome high school students in the Bay State — and in more than 40 other states — are aware of classes and other opportunities that prepare them for either a career or additional college courses, says spokesperson Sophie Besl. Jobs for the Future received more than $52 million from the Gates Foundation. It also received financial support from many other sources, including Chicago Public Schools and DESE, the organization’s Website shows. Boston-based Teach Plus, which received more than $17 million from the Gates Foundation, develops

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teachers working in urban public schools, training them on communicating with policy makers, including BOE members, leadership skills, and ways to brainstorm best practices with their fellow teachers to improve classroom results, says Lindsay Sobel, the organization’s executive director for Massachusetts. The organization also sent representatives to testify on behalf of Common Core and the proposed PARCC test at the BOE forums held around the Commonwealth between April and July 2015. Linda Noonan, executive director of Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education, which received more than $400,000 from two Gates Foundation grants, also testified in favor of Common Core and the PARCC test at the BOE forum in Springfield. Many of the Massachusetts organizations receiving Gates Foundation funding are listed on baystateparent.com/commoncorema.

Gates on Common Core

The only recent insight Bill Gates has offered on Common Core came via a video interview he granted last year to The Washington Post: “We don’t fund people to say, ‘OK, we’ll pay you this if you say you like Common Core. We’ve never done anything like that. We do evaluations.” Gates also talked about his support for the standards: “I believe in the Common Core because of its substance and what it will do to improve education and that’s the only reason I believe in the Common Core. This is philanthropy trying to make sure students have the kind of opportunity I had.” About six years ago, Michael Petrilli, then a vice president and now president with the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, a conservative nonprofit education think tank, told the Puget Sound Business Journal,

“It’s not unfair to say that the Gates Foundation’s agenda has become the country’s agenda in education.’” “I wouldn’t say he’s bought the system but he’s bought the capacity to put pressure on the system,” noted Anthony Cody, a former Oakland, Calif., middle school math and science teacher and author of a book about the Gates Foundation, The Educator And The Oligarch: A Teacher Challenges the Gates Foundation. “Systematically, what they have done is paid for advocacy groups, paid for lobbying, paid for influence, and cultivated very important relationships within the Obama Administration that have converged to put pressure on the public school system.” As Cody sees it, there’s a direct link between Bill Gates and U. S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan, as a deputy secretary at the federal DOE, James Shelton, came from the Gates Foundation, as did Duncan’s former chief of staff, Margot Rogers. Over the past five years, the Gates Foundation Website shows it made grants totaling more than $800,000 to the DOE as well as to several states’ departments of education, including Tennessee, Kentucky, Washington, Oregon, and many others. “When the foundations have as much money as they do, and they have the tight ties that they do with the political class, it’s very difficult to stop them,” said Robbins of The American Principles Project. “When the government, which is public, says, ‘We’ll get them (the foundations) to do this because they’re the experts,’ what this does is remove any sort of accountability. Voters have no idea these foundations are making public policy decisions.” Yet UMass Professor Bushouse warns we don’t have “enough data to draw any conclusions” about foundations. “There are a lot of people doing very good work, but the foundation world tends to be quite insular,” she said.

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Coming to theatres, DVD & Blu-Ray releases this month By Jane Louise Boursaw

The Drac pack is back for an all-new monster comedy adventure! Everything is changing at Hotel Transylvania. Dracula’s rigid monster-only hotel policy has finally relaxed, opening its doors to human guests. But behind closed coffins, Drac is worried that his adorable half-human, half-vampire grandson, Dennis, isn’t showing signs of being a vampire. “Vampa” Drac enlists his friends Frank, Murray, Wayne, and Griffin to put Dennis through a “monsterin-training” boot camp. Featuring the voices of Mel Brooks, Adam Sandler, David Spade, Steve Buscemi, and Selena Gomez. New on DVD/Blu-ray

Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials • Not yet rated; likely PG-13 • In theaters Sept. 18 • OK for kids 12+ • Reel Preview: 4 of 5 Reels This sequel to the 2014 hit movie follows Thomas and his fellow Gladers as they face their greatest challenge yet: searching for clues about the mysterious and powerful organization known as WCKD. Their journey takes them to the Scorch, a desolate landscape filled with unimaginable obstacles. Based on the book by James Dashner, the movie stars Patricia Clarkson, Giancarlo Esposito, Will Poulter, Kaya Scodelario, and Aidan Gillen.

The Intern • Rated PG-13 for some suggestive content and brief strong language • In theaters Sept. 25 • OK for kids 13+ • Reel Preview: 4 of 5 Reels In this cute comedy, Robert De Niro plays Ben Whittaker, a 70-year-old widower who’s discovered that retirement isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Seizing an opportunity to get back in the game, he becomes a senior intern at an online fashion site, founded and run by Jules Ostin (Anne Hathaway). This movie also stars Anders Holm, Rene Russo, Nat Wolff, and Linda Lavin. 78 SEPTEMBER2015

My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic: Games Ponies Play • Not Rated • On DVD Sept. 29 • OK for kids 3+ • Reel Review: 5 of 5 Reels Sportsmanship is put to the ultimate test in Equestria, as your favorite Ponies — Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy — prepare for the Games Ponies Play. Included are six awesome adventures that will teach kids all about overcoming the challenges of competition through the magic of friendship.

20 Halloween Stories: Scholastic Storybook Treasures Classic Collection • Not Rated • On DVD Sept. 1 • OK for kids 4+ • Reel Review: 4 of 5 Reels This wonderful collection of spooky tales and silly stories, faithfully adapted from classic books, is the perfect way to get kids reading. The set includes: Where the Wild Things Are, Creepy Carrots, Dinosaur Bones, The Day of the Dead, Dem Bones, The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything, Teeny-Tiny and the Witch-Woman, A Very Brave Witch, Space Case, Diary of a Spider, Los Gatos Black on Halloween, By the Light of the Halloween Moon, A Dark, Dark Tale, What’s Under My Bed, Strega Nona, The Three Robbers, Fletcher and the Falling Leaves, The Trip, Georgie, and The Wizard.

Jane’s Reel Rating System • One Reel – Even The Force can’t save it. • Two Reels – Coulda been a contender. • Three Reels – Something to talk about. • Four Reels – You want the truth? Great flick! • Five Reels – Wow! The stuff dreams are made of. Head to baystateparent.com/ September Flicks for a full list of movies heading to theatres and DVDs this month.

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Pricing Information: Order tickets in advance and SAVE $$$! Visit www.wachusett.com for more info!

Participate in this NEW, fun activity, taking place throughout the weekend. Sign up on site!

USA Ninja Challenge

Wachusett Mountain’s 25th Annual KidsFest, presented by Market Basket, has something for everyone! Whether it’s taking a ride on our scenic SkyRide, grabbing some free samples from Market Basket Vendors or watching any of the amazing live shows throughout the weekend, we can guarantee you’ll have a smile on your face! baystateparent magazine will be on hand with fun games and lots of prizes as will 50+ additional vendors, all of whom are set-up with an interactive activity!

Sample Skiing or Snowboarding 12:53 PM

on the Kidslope Learning Area

Admission: • Adults $11 advance, $14 door • Kids (3-12) $7 advance, $10 door • Kids 2 & under are FREE! SkyRide Package Pricing (includes admission plus unlimited SkyRides): • Adults $19 advance, $22 door • Kids (6-12) $13 advance, $18 door SkyRide Package plus $10 Food Voucher • Adults $24 advance only • Kids (6-12) $17 advance only

SkyRide: • Adults $10 door • Kids (6-12) $8 • Kids 5 & under are FREE!

For a full schedule of Main & Side Stage events, please visit

wachusett.com.

All activities (except SkyRide) are included with the price of admission.

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ADVERTORIAL

SAMPLE PRODUCTS FROM THESE FINE

MARKET BASKET VENDORS:

E G A T S E D I S T N E M N I A ENTERT • Dance Groups • Gymnastics Shows • Magic Shows • Martial Arts Demos • And more…

• Marley Coffee • Bark Thins • Hershey • Jelly Belly • Power Crunch • Koffee Cup • Bimbo • Bagel Boy • Jolly Time • Rustic Crusts • Middle East • Lancers • Cat's Prided • Hydrive Energy • Beuro Drinks • Polar • Calypso Lemonade • Snapple • Bai Drinks • Essentia Water • Figi Water • Herr Foods • Imperial • Wachusett Chips • Jax • Bachman • Scotties • Popcorners • Pirates Booty • Milton Crackers • Teddie Peanut Butter • Nabisco • Keebler • General Mills • Kelloggs • Pepperidge Farm • Sabra • Cabot Cheese • Garelick • Friendly's • Cedars • Stoneyfield • Lactalis • Orna • Saputo • Jacqueline's • Diana's Bakery • Jessica's • NE Pie • Carhil • Panera • Blount Foods • Willow Tree • Land O' Lakes • Sal's Pizza • Bubba Burgers • Kayem Dogs • Sunkist • Mitchell's Salsa • State Garden • JP Sullivan • Naked Juice

Vendors & Activities: 123 Grow Child Center, Inc. Arts & Crafts baystateparent Superhero Photo Booth Bristol Entertainment Studios Singing Demos Central MA Dance Academy Dance Show Demo Commonwealth of Mass Dept. of Children & Families Bean Bag Toss Game with Books as Prizes Cutie Patootie's Melissa & Doug Play Place Daddy's Friend Dough Fried Dough Davis Farmland & Mega Maze Costume Character & Games FMC Ice Sports Skating Obstacle Course & Hockey Net Fun America at Roll on America Costume Characters & Plinko Great Wolf Lodge New England Wolf Ears Karon Shea Modeling Management Modeling Search KiDoodles Learning Center Arts & Crafts & Games Lazerzone Lazer Tag, Prize Wheel Meininger Family Chiropractic Free Spinal Screenings Polar Sampling & Games Power Home Remodeling Group Games & Enter-to-Win Ray's Kettle Korn Kettle Korn Sand Art/Candle Art Sand Art Wachusett Info Booth Plinko Game & Giveaways Westminster Police Department Car Seat Safety Checks WXLO Games & Gameshow YWCA Central MA Games & Prizes Ava Anderson Non Toxic Slingshot, Water Table, Bubble Swatter The Little Gym of West Boylston Obstacle Course w/mats & balance beams Leominster Family Dentist Giveaways & the Tooth Fairy Johnny Appleseed Trail Association Educational Info. Skyhawks Sports Academy Sports and Activities Snipt-its Hair Coloring & Balloons Solar City Games & Enter-to-Win LL Bean Bootmobile

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BAYSTATEPARENT 83

Dance, Gym & Enrichment

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INDEX ArtWeek Boston...............................................51 B.A.W. Inc..................................................11,51 Bancroft School...............................................87 Battleship Cove................................................28 Bay State Skating School.................................30 Big Y Foods, Inc...............................................12 CCS Dance Academy........................................61 Central MA Dance Academy.............................33 Charlotte Klein Dance Centers..........................76 Child Works.....................................................38 Children’s Development Network, Inc.................6 Citi Performing Arts Center.........................26,54 Cornerstone Academy......................................59 Danforth Museum of Art..................................61 Davis Farmland............................................2,20 DCU Center.....................................................28 Ecotarium.............................................24,57,81 F3.....................................................................3 Faucher Dance School......................................47 Fitchburg Art Museum......................................25 Fletcher Tilton PC.............................................37 FMC Ice Sports.................................................64 Great Wolf New England..................................32 Gymnastics Learning Center.............................52 Harrington Oil.................................................67 Hartford Comic Con.........................................83 Harvard Grad School of Education....................75 Heywood Hospital............................................68 Hopkinton Center for the Arts..........................77 Indian Hill Music School...................................49 Johnny Appleseed Trail Association...................42 Kathy Corrigan’s Full Day Care Center..............34 Lanni Orchards................................................17 Legoland Discovery Center Boston....................41 Mall At Whitney Field.......................................17 Marini Farm....................................................15 Millbury Federal Credit Union..........................67 Millbury Savings Bank.....................................77

Music Together Corporation..............................39 New Horizon Karate & More............................47 Next Generation Children’s Ctr...........................5 Oak Meadow...................................................39 Old Sturbridge Village................................22,23 Pakachoag Community Music School................27 Parenting Solutions..........................................71 Paula Meola Dance..........................................57 Pixie Children’s Boutique.................................11 Reliant Medical Group.....................................65 Rise and Shine Academy..................................30 Rob Roy Coiffures..............................................9 S.E.T. School....................................................75 Seven Hills Charter School................................38 Shawna Shenette Photography.........................34 Sholan Farms..................................................36 Shrewsbury Children’s Center...........................63 Signarama Worcester.......................................69 Skribbles Learning Center................................77 Small Miracles Preschool..................................76 Southwick’s Zoo...............................................10 Spa Tech Institute..............................................4 stART on the street..........................................47 Sterling Community Theater.............................71 The Chestnut Hill School...................................33 The Children’s Workshop..................................61 The Hanover Theatre.......................................21 The Learning Zone...........................................72 Turn 4 Hobbies................................................49 UMass Memorial Medical Center.............20,67,88 Veterans Inc....................................................24 Wee Care for Little People, Inc.........................69 Westminster Village Foundation.......................25 Worcester Academy.........................................71 Worcester Art Museum.....................................53 Worcester Children’s Chorus.............................77 YMCA Central Branch.......................................35

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BAYSTATEPARENT 85

TAKE EIGHT

With Mo Willems Mo Willems won six Emmys for his work as a writer and animator on Sesame Street before leaving to write and illustrate children’s books. His subsequent Knuffle Bunny, The Pigeon, and Elephant and Piggie books have earned him a slew of major children’s literature awards — Caldecott Honors, Geisel Medals, and Geisel Honors — as well as #1 spots on the New York Times Bestseller List. Willems lives in Massachusetts with his wife and daughter.

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What was the main takeaway from your years working on Sesame Street? Sesame Street was my graduate school. It taught me how to write for children (don’t condescend) and showed me that I wanted to write for children (or at least people who haven’t yet learned how to be embarrassed). Most valuable lesson: Puppets make things funnier.

You left a career in television to become a stayat-home dad. Looking back, what was the most surprising aspect of that time? That’s a misconception, I’m afraid. I quit TV to become a workat-home dad, which meant that between bits of work I finally got to spend time with my daughter, which is, and was, a wondrous thing. But Mom was always on the front-line, doing the difficult work of steering a household that suddenly had double the number of immature people clamoring for attention.

Why did you choose Paris as a location for your 2013 sabbatical? What was that adventure like for your family? Paris is Paris. Living is Paris is not unlike going to kindergarten; each day is filled with enough astounding surprises that it helps to take naps. I love naps.

86 SEPTEMBER2015

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Knuffle Bunny and Elephant and Piggie have come to life on the stage via professional productions. How involved were you in the process and what is it like to see your work in such a medium? I wrote them; so, whatever faults they have are mine, and I apologize. Television is highly collaborative, but there’s no time to finesse anything. Books afford you the time to get it “right,” but you’re on your own. Theater combines the fun of collaboration with the time to work through problems towards the best possible experience for your audience. It’s great, great fun to create and amazing to watch unfold on stage. Each performance is as unique as a person; it’s magic.

You could live anywhere in the world. Why Massachusetts? It’s nice here, and so are the people. Elephant and Piggie won another Geisel Honor this year. What’s next for them? Elephant and Piggie have a few more upcoming adventures (I Really Like Slop! & The Thank You Book) before they will hang up their hats, end the series, and move on to other things. I’m curious as to what will tickle their fancy in the future. What is your advice for parents of children who love to draw and create? How can they best foster and support their young artists? Any creative endeavor that you think is important for your youngster to engage in, is also important for you to engage in. Draw WITH them. Write WITH them. Create WITH them. It’ll show how important it really is and you’ll have fun doing it!

What do you think is the most challenging part of being a parent today? The most rewarding? Being a parent is a great ride that only gets better once you realize you’re not the one doing the steering.

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I want choice I want convenience I want compassion I want the best technology I want world-class care

I WANT IT ALL At UMass Memorial Health Care, you’ll find hundreds of caring, compassionate and skilled adult and pediatric primary care physicians across Central Massachusetts. And because our doctors are part of the region’s premier health care system, access to a wide range of specialty care and our nationally recognized academic medical center is only a referral away.

To find a UMass Memorial primary care physician near you, call 855-UMASS-MD (855-862-7763).

UMass Memorial – Clinton Hospital | UMass Memorial – HealthAlliance Hospital UMass Memorial – Marlborough Hospital | UMass Memorial Medical Center 88 SEPTEMBER2015