PRICELESS
Massachusetts’ Premier Magazine For Families Since 1996
JULY 2020
Raising Kind Kids Teaching empathy during tough times Are Playdates Safe? • PYO Farm Guide • Drive-in Movies
2 JULY2020
contents
ta bl e o f
j u l y 2020
v ol u m e 2 5
n u mb e r 3
in every issue
14
Raising Kind Kids in Difficult Times
5 6 8 9 18 23
Editor’s Note Good to Know Herding Goofballs Very Special People Cyber Savvy Mom Take Eight
bites 20
17
Day Cares Struggle with COVID Guidelines
Goose’s Goodies: Star Spangled Snacks
21 Will Picky Eaters Outgrow It?
the agenda 10
New England’s Nostalgic Drive-Ins
12
Summer Pick-Your-Own Farm Guide
14
A Mom and Daughter Painted Their Town a Rainbow BAYSTATEPARENT 3
baystateparent What’s your favorite Fourth of July tradition?
‘‘ ’’ ‘‘ ’’ A cookout with lots of food and family.
Building our family’s float for the Rutland parade. But, sadly, not this year.
president PAUL M. PROVOST
CREATIVE editor in chief AMANDA COLLINS BERNIER 508-767-9526 acollins@gatehousemedia.com creative director SHIELA NEALON 508-793-9121 shiela.nealon@telegram.com
ADVERTISING sales manager JEREMY WARDWELL 508-767-9574 jwardwell@gatehousemedia.com account executive KATHY PUFFER 508-767-9544 kpuffer@gatehousemedia.com account executive REGINA STILLINGS 508-767-9546 rstillings@gatehousemedia.com
baystateparent is published 100 Front Street, 5th Floor monthly and is distributed free of Worcester, MA 01608 charge throughout Massachusetts.
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do you have a story idea? We want to hear from you! Email your suggestion to baystateparent.com acollins@gatehousemedia.com
finally
forever
ask an expert
Q A
:My CORI records revealed a misdemeanor crime, am I disqualified to adopt a child?
: All household members age 14 and older must have a record which is free of criminal conduct which, in the judgment of the Department of Child and Family Services, bears upon the family's ability to assume and carry out the responsibilities of a pre-adoptive family. When a “discretionary disqualification” is revealed in your CORI, the department will determine the probable effect that the misdemeanor would have on your ability to fulfil the needs of a child placed in your home and will inform you if you are eligible as a pre-adoptive family or not.-Ricardo L. Frano, a Family Support Services Coordinator at MARE Inc.
4 JULY2020
‘‘ ’’ ‘‘ ’’ Going to see fireworks!
Grilling and fireworks!
June’s Child: Meet Aiden, Age 9 Hi, my name is Aiden and I love cats and dogs!
Aiden is an energetic and sweet boy of Caucasian descent who loves to laugh. He is very active and likes to be outside, play sports, and run and climb. When he is inside, he enjoys playing with cars and trucks, building with Legos, and collecting Pokémon cards. He also likes to have books read to him before he goes to bed. Aiden is a big sports fan, and when he grows up, he would like to be Tom Brady. If that doesn’t work out, Aiden says that he would like to be a fireman. Aiden plays well with others, as well as on his own. He does well in school and gets along with his teachers and peers. He receives speech services, as well as emotional and behavioral supports to help him stay focused in class. Legally freed for adoption, Aiden is searching for a family of any constellation with either no children in the home or with children who are older than he is. An ideal family will be able to provide Aiden with individualized
attention, consistency, and structure. A family must be open to Aiden visiting with his birth mother twice a year in Massachusetts. Aiden also has an older sister who he is very attached to, and he will need to keep in contact with her. Who Can Adopt? Can you provide the guidance, love and stability that a child needs? If you’re at least 18 years old, have a stable source of income, and room in your heart, you may be a perfect match to adopt a waiting child. Adoptive parents can be single, married, or partnered; experienced or not; renters or homeowners; LGBTQ singles and couples. The process to adopt a child from foster care requires training, interviews, and home visits to determine if adoption is right for you, and if so, to help connect you with a child or sibling group that your family will be a good match for. To learn more about adoption from foster care, call the Massachusetts Adoption Resource Exchange (MARE) at 617-6273 or visit www.mareinc.org.
My s g n i h T e t Fa vo ri editor’s note
In 1903 Crayola introduced its first “flesh” colored crayon. Over a century later, kids can finally find colors in their box that represent more than just one skin tone. “Colors of the World” offer a more realistic gradient of colors designed to mirror and represent over 40 global skin tones across the world. The new set launches this month.
The Piggyback Rider, a standing child carrier, has been a game-changer on our frequent family hikes. It’s only three pounds and a great replacement for standard backpack carriers, which are too bulky for my small frame. It allows you to carry your child piggyback style while they’re harnessed to your back standing on a non-skid bar. Supports a child 2+ years and up to 50 pounds.
It was only a month ago, but a lot has happened since we published our last issue. Racial disparities have come to a head, protests have taken place around our country and state, and the world feels deeply divided. This, on top of a months-long pandemic and quarantine that’s changed pretty much every aspect of our everyday lives. To say it’s been a lot feels like a gross understatement. As parents, it all begs the question -- what do we tell our kids? As a white woman who grew up in the ‘90s and early 2000s, I was raised to “not see color.” I don’t blame my parents for trying to instill in me this rosey way of looking at the world, but I recognize now it’s not only naive, it’s counterproductive. It’s vital that our kids know that racial discrimination, privledge and bias are realities. And it’s perhaps even more important to let them know they can change it. This month, at baystateparent.com, you can find an age-by-age guide for talking to your children about race, racism, and what’s going on in the world. Read our interview with Francie Latour, a mom of three, a children’s book author, and the co-founder of Boston-based Wee the People, an arts-based series of programming and events for kids exploring social justice and the power of protest. Latour offers advice for talking about these issues with children of different ages and races, and some kid-friendly ways families can take -- and are taking -- action against injustices. Aside from opening up this dialogue, another thing we can do as parents is to stress kindness and empathy; to teach our children these traits just as we would teach them any other critical skill. On page 14, you’ll find tips from the Making Caring Common project, a program at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. They offer easy ways to make kindness part of the fabric of your family. In between the talks and the teachable moments, let’s not forget to let our kids be kids. It’s summer, after all! We’ve got you covered with ideas for socially distanced seasonal fun -- find everything you need to know for a nostalgic night at the drive-in movies on page 10, and our guide to the area’s pick-your-own berry farms on page 13. Here’s to the second half of 2020. May it be a bit easier and lighter than the first.
Amanda
Even little children have big questions about life. A new board book series out this month simplifies concepts covered by the world’s most iconic philosophers, inspiring readers to consider their place in the world and how it relates to those around them. The “Big Ideas for Little Philosophers” series includes four titles: “Equality with Simone de Beauvoir,” “Happiness with Aristotle,” “Imagination with René Descartes,” and “Truth with Socrates.”
Aside from the summer heat, if there’s one thing I can count on in July it’s a homemade birthday cake from my mom. Every year, she’s created a confection that celebrates who I am at that moment in time. It’s a tradition I’m carrying on with my own son, who happens to share this birthday month with me.
BAYSTATEPARENT 5
good to know The American Academy of Pediatrics wants moms and dads to call their pediatrician.
With lives upended by the pandemic and national data showing immunization rates dipping to dangerously low levels, the group is urging parents to call their pediatricians to schedule check-ups and vaccines for children of all ages. “Parents have a lot on their minds right now. We want them to know pediatricians are open for business, and we are ready to schedule visits to make sure their children are fully immunized,” said AAP president Dr. Sally Goza. “We want to reassure parents that pediatricians have taken every step to make these visits safe.”
Pediatricians around the country are worried that while staying home for the COVID-19 pandemic, children may be at an increased risk for drowning.
The AAP urges families to add extra layers of protection to keep children safe around all sources of water in the home this summer, as caregivers may be distracted by work and other responsibilities. Resources on drowning prevention can be found at aap.org/drowning.
Multigenerational households are on the rise in Massachusetts. That’s according to a new study by SmartAsset, which found the Bay State No. 7 on their list of states where multigenerational households are becoming more common. Almost one in every 25 households in America consists of three or more generations living under the same roof, they found.
6 JULY2020
Ready to resume playdates? Here’s CDC tips for staying safe
As the country begins to reopen and restrictions are lifted, some parents are beginning to also have less restrictions on their children having play dates with their neighbors and classmates. Here are the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendations for playdates with friends: • Limit social interactions: Encourage older children to meet friends outside rather than inside. It’s easier to keep and maintain space between others in outdoor settings like parks. • Practice social distancing: If you do have small meetups, consider hanging out with another family or friend who is also taking extra cautious measures to distance themselves from others like you. Always try to maintain a 6-foot distance from each other. • Clean hands often: Make sure children practice preventive behaviors every day like washing their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. This is especially important every time you are in a public place. • Open spaces: Families can organize small play dates in big open spaces like parks. Encourage children to take turns and not play simultaneously on equipment.
Fish and pregnancy:
benefits outweigh the risks, new study says To eat or not to eat fish is a question that has long concerned pregnant women. Now, a new study shows that children whose mothers ate moderate amounts of fish during pregnancy were more likely to have a better metabolic profile -- despite the risk of exposure to mercury -- than children whose mothers ate fish rarely. The research, published in JAMA, looked at 805 mother and child pairs from five European countries participating in a collaborative research project known as the HELIX study, which is following women and their children from pregnancy onwards. During their pregnancy, the women were asked about their weekly fish consumption and tested for mercury exposure. When the children were from 6 to 12 years old, they underwent a clinical examination with various measurements including waist circumference, blood pressure, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglyceride levels and insulin levels. These measures were combined to calculate a metabolic syndrome score. The study found that moderate fish consumption during pregnancy was associated with less inflammation as well as improvement in the metabolic profile of children. Exposure to high levels of mercury, however, had the opposite association. “Results of this study suggest that moderate fish intake consistent with current health recommendations during pregnancy was associated with improvements in the metabolic health of children, while high maternal mercury exposure was associated with an unfavorable metabolic profile in children,” said the author. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should eat 8 to 12 ounces (that's two to three servings) of low-mercury fish every week, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Spotting the signs of adolescent anxiety BY MELISSA ERIKSON In today’s world kids have a lot to handle, so it’s not surprising that some adolescents have trouble coping. High expectations to succeed, the constant pressure of social media and a global pandemic are just some of the factors contributing to stress and anxiety levels. Anxiety can overwhelm and paralyze children, whether from separation anxiety or vague fears of the future to concerns with friends or being afraid of the dark. Nearly 1 in 3 adolescents will experience an anxiety disorder, according to the National Institutes of Health. The number of children diagnosed with anxiety disorder is increasing and has been for years. A new study by the American Academy of Pediatrics found that over a 10-year period, the percentage of children who showed up in hospital emergency rooms for mental health disorders rose by 60 percent, while visits for self-harm increased by a staggering 329 percent. But are more children affected by anxiety or is society now doing a better job paying attention? “Historically, a few decades ago it was thought that anxiety and depression didn’t even affect children,” said Dr. Sarah O’Rourke, pediatric psychologist with Duke Health in Durham, North Carolina. A greater recognition of anxiety and other mental health issues in children began in the 1980s and ’90s. In the 2010s research showed that high school students were twice as likely to see a mental health professional than in the 1980s, O’Rourke said. “I think the increase in recognition is great because it allows children who are struggling with these issues to get
the help they need,” she said. Ask the right questions Anxiety is normal, and everyone has it to some degree. Healthy feelings of anxiety can protect a person from danger, O’Rourke said. When anxiety becomes a disruption to a child’s everyday life in school, at home or with family or peers, parents may see avoidance behaviors, O’Rourke said. All children have fears and worries, but most are able to move forward and deal with their anxiety. Kids with anxiety disorder may have one or two things they will avoid such as large dogs, sleepovers or speaking in front of the classroom. Common childhood fears are age-related, O’Rourke said. For example, fear of being left with a babysitter is typical for a toddler, but not for an 8-year-old. Talking about a child’s anxiety can help a child cope. If parents start to see a pattern of behavior they can bring
it up in a caring, non-judgmental, matter-of-fact way, O’Rourke said. “A child may be relieved to talk about it or they may feel embarrassed, but it’s good to talk about their feelings,” she said. When parents notice a problem brewing they can ask gentle questions to allow a child to think through the situation for themselves, O’Rourke said. If a child is afraid a parent won’t pick them up after a playdate, a parent may ask: Has that happened to you or anyone you know? What are the chances it will happen? What are some possible reasons I may be late? Anxiety leads us quickly to worst-case scenarios, but a parent’s guidance can help a child think about a situation in a more balanced way, O’Rourke said. Learning to face fears helps a child learn how to cope, she said. When to seek help A parent’s first instinct will be to solve a problem, but don’t feed them the answers. Letting a child work it out on their own helps them recognize their ability to take control and build resilience, O’Rourke said. Practicing these behaviors increases their independence. Maintaining healthy habits, including getting enough sleep and exercise and eating a balanced diet, can help support emotional regulation, O’Rourke said. It’s time to seek professional help if a child is missing school or if the anxiety is causing changes to a family’s daily routine to accommodate a child’s worry, O’Rourke said. Ask your pediatrician, or to find a specialist visit the Society of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology (effectivechildtherapy.org) or the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (abct.org).
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Herding
Goofballs
Animal House How Stuffed Friends Saved the Day BY JOSH FARNSWORTH ILLUSTRATION BY KIRA BEAUDOIN The year is 2080. Flying cars have finally become a reality, laptops are now the size of a pen, and a world reflects on the 60th anniversary of a somber point in history. The great-grandkids gather around Old Man Farnsworth’s house to hear the story of how our family lived through the great pandemic of 2020. “How did you make it?” they will ask. After gracefully slipping my dentures into my mouth, I wait for the children to park their hover-chairs and listen. “Was it resilience? Did you spray the lawn with Febreze non-stop?” I will have three words for them: Clifford. Rocky. Cat-o. No, it was not tremendous upper body strength (though I may throw in a made up story about fending off swarms of heathens trying to steal my last roll or two of toilet paper). The very key to surviving the pandemic, in great part, was 8 JULY2020
due to my kids’ small army of stuffed animals. I can see you, and most likely my great-grandchildren, are a bit confused. Let this near-100year-old explain... My kids have slowly accumulated stuffed animals, superheroes, etc. over time. There were plenty of times pre-pandemic when I looked at the lot of them and shook my head. Why do we have so many? When did we get a stuffed alligator? Why did we not just stop at one? Or 12? On the surface, they are threads and stuffing with the occasional fluffy tail or hard plastic eyes. But my kids are serious about their stuffed friends. Very serious. So serious that we recently became the proud owners of a stuffed animal hammock—a decorative way to store them in our playroom. Side note: The sight of stuffed animals lounging around on a hammock while you attempt to
work from home and serve your children breakfast at 6 a.m. really “brightens” your day. While the concept of stuffed animals is an easy one to understand, I never would have known they would be the unsung heroes in our house during this tumultuous time in so many ways. Friends that can be within six feet As a graduating Kindergartner, my oldest, Cooper, was able to make an influx of new friends at school this year. And just like that, all those friends had to go—and stay— home for months on end. Although he gets along great with his younger brother, he has needed additional camaraderie. These are the favorites. Clifford the famous red dog has been Cooper’s favorite for years. At a time when Cooper seemed to most need a friend, Clifford was there. As in,
literally, everywhere, barking away loneliness one day at a time. And as Cooper has bonded with his friends, his younger brother has watched and done the same. Rocky is a small, playful raccoon who Milo seldom has breakfast without. Collectively, the two…er, four… of them have allowed each other to play together, but also go into their own corners when tensions get high (you know, when one of them gets to have an extra piece of candy, and World War III nearly breaks out for the other). Stuffing makes for a nice buffer sometimes. Emotional maturity My kids are filled with lots of things: energy, sugary cereal, etc. However, they are also chalk-full of love, stories and empathy. The Stuffed Animal Gang has been the rain bucket for those emotional clouds. We have talked about the pandemic and about staying home. They mostly understand we are on the lengthiest home vacation of all time. But sometimes not seeing grandma or their cousin friends is beyond any reasoning. On one occasion, Cat-o (you get one guess as to what animal character she is) was the subject of a long lecture on why we all can’t go see my fatherin-law on a certain day. Cat-o was able to act as a surrogate grandfather that day. Also, great listener, that Cat-o is. And my kids are not the only ones emotionally invested. I find myself on the edge of my seat when the drama unfolds. When a favorite stuffed animal gets demoted in popularity and loses privileges to sleep in the bed or come on the big road trip, I openly root for a comeback story. Hang in there, Batman. Times are tough now, but Milo will come around. Insight The way they play reflects the way they live sometimes. Case and point: Milo recently had a doctor’s appointment. While he is usually not that timid for his age when it comes to seeing the doctor, a familiar scene unfolded at the Farnsworth Municipal Theater for the days leading up to the checkup: animals needing checkups for a litany of issues. For some, it was a routine
exam. For others, it was suddenly an emergency room for the poor animals who had the worst of life befallen them. For one unlucky animal, the diagnosis was “broken bones all over and a broken belly button.” How one breaks their belly button, I will never know. Sounds painful. That said, I was able to role play a routine exam with a few animals and find out just how on edge he was. We talked (well, I did through a very reflective stuffed talking tomato) and felt better about the appointment. The doctor appointment went great. No broken belly buttons to report. New perspective They sometimes overrun their beds. And then, overrun ours when they drag them all in early in the morning. They need constant washing (animal tubs, we refer to them as). They will be worn down to a last thread, no doubt. But for whatever reason we gathered a small gang of these stuffed animals, I am thankful. Maybe your kids have stuffed animals, or dolls, action figures, or an invisible friend or two. Either way, here are to the silent heroes that have helped us through a strange time that is hard for kids to understand. I hope you had one or 12, too. Compassion and friendship are universal languages. And there is more behind those threads, stuffing and hard plastic eyes than at first glance. So, my great-grandchildren, that is how your grandparents made it during the great pandemic of 2020 with much of their happiness intact. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I left my flying car double-parked. If you can’t find me when I get back, I’ll be the one napping in the stuffed animal hammock. Josh Farnsworth is a husband, father of goofballs Cooper and Milo, goofball himself, and award-winning writer and columnist living in Worcester. He can be reached for column ideas at josh. farnsworth@ yahoo.com.
very
special people
Gap between white and black children closes in autism cases fewer diagnoses than their black and white counterparts due to certain social stigmas, he gap in autism diagnoses between white and lack of access to healthcare services and nonblack children has closed as cases rise slightly English primary language, according to the in the U.S., a government report released recentreport. ly revealed. Alison Singer, president of the Autism The new findings are due to more screening; a Science Foundation, worried about the difference of 10% between the current and prior reporting implications of the findings amid the year, the Centers for Disease Control reported. coronavirus outbreak. Autism is a developmental “The rise in disability marked by differences in prevalence is communication, social interaction, For the first time, no concerning, and learning abilities. Parents but more overall difference in the usually notice autistic traits in concerning their children by the age of two, number of white and to us right according to the CDC. now is the black children identified The number of autism cases fact that children with autism spectrum have generally trended upward. with autism are In 2016, 1 in 54 8-year-old children disorder (ASD) was sheltering in place were diagnosed with autism. In due to coronavirus, found. In past reports, 2012, 1 in 64 were diagnosed and 1 and many are suffering in 68 in 2010, the CDC reported. white children were tremendously due to The findings in the CDC report consistently diagnosed severe disruptions in are based on health and medical their routine and lack with autism more often. history records reviewed by of access to mandated the Autism and Developmental therapeutic services,� Singer Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) said in a statement. network. The records belonged to 8-year-olds living in one Meanwhile, the CDC acknowledges it must work of 11 areas of the country in 2016. harder to make autism testing more accessible. For the first time, no overall difference in the number of "More work is needed to improve identification of white and black children identified with autism spectrum ASD within Hispanic communities," the report stated. disorder (ASD) was found. In past reports, white children "The ADDM Network will continue to monitor the number were consistently diagnosed with autism more often. and characteristics of children with ASD to find out if these Black and Hispanic children are still diagnosed at gaps continue to narrow." a later age, however. Hispanic children also receive BY CHELSEY COX, USA TODAY
T
BAYSTATEPARENT 9
the agenda
Your guide to New England’s nostalgic
DRIVE-INS Pull into some classic family fun
Welfleet Drive-In. BY ALEX KHAN
T
hese days many of us are wishing for the activities and traditions of an easier time. This summer, embrace nostalgia and perhaps create a new tradition by taking in one of New England’s drive-in movie theatres. Despite changes in configurations at drive-ins due to COVID-19 restrictions, including ensuring social distancing is permitted at refreshments booths, proprietors of the midcentury slice of Americana say families can still be at ease, be together, and be entertained. “It’s the same wholesome experience,” said Leicester Drive-In owner Maria Joseph, a legacy owner of the 1967-born theatre that was founded by her father, Hanna Joseph, and opened to a sold-out crowd. Joseph will be opening the Leicester drive-in with an expanded staff to ensure COVID compliance is maintained, anchored by Joseph, her mother, her nephew, and a projectionist “who has been working with us for at least 30 years.” If you and your family are ready to rock around the clock, 10 JULY2020
observe a few tips to ensure that no one gets all shook up. Advanced planning is essential, particularly with increased interest this summer season coupled with reduced spacing due to COVID-19 regulations. Movie schedules are released typically the Monday or Tuesday the week prior to their showings, and theatres are posting soldout notices days in advance of screenings. Gauge your interest level in the movies as they appear on theatres’ websites and purchase tickets at least four days out from the screening you wish to see. If you fear rain, double check any cancellation policies, but also remember, rain showers are not prohibitive of a drive-in screening. Drive-in theaters have advanced their technology to favor digital projections and FM audio streaming. However, with cars becoming smarter by the year, keeping one’s engine off and the radio on for an extended period can often require a lastminute consultation of your owner’s manual. To negate the need to scramble through your glove box and alleviate any worry regarding your car
battery, bring a portable radio tucked into your trunk and tune it to the prescribed channel. The drive-in theatre experience inverts the traditional driving experience. Before venturing out for the night, experiment briefly with seating scenarios. Find the positions where your children can relax and view the screen through the front windshield with ease. Empowering your kids to find their own seat will eliminate any last-minute scrambling on-site and give them ownership of their decisions. Much like the process of purchasing tickets, advanced arrival is essential for finding an optimal spot for your family. Though films begin at dusk, theatres can open an hourand-a-half to two hours before showtime. Getting in early will leave you time to take advantage of the concessions dished out at theatres, from hotdogs and hamburgers to ice cream and, of course, freshly made popcorn. Yet, an hour of downtime can be a recipe for boredom and angst by youngsters. And COVID-19 restrictions leave venturing outside of the car in flux for some establishments, so
take the purely 1950s drive-in experience to break out some classic card or board games. When night does fall and films begin rolling on screen, drive-in movies start just as New England scorches fade to cool winds, so be sure to pack a handful of sweatshirts, blankets, and pillows. This is doubly important as the drive-in is one of the few remaining venues where a double feature is expected. By the time the credits roll on the second film and headlights brighten, children in the back may already be asleep. To find the location of your next family tradition, check out these local drive-in options for you. Rustic Tri View Drive-In With its blue and yellow marquee, the Rustic Tri View Drive-In has become a symbol for many Bay Staters traveling along 146 South that they have entered Rhode Island since its opening in 1951. After 70 years of operation, patrons should expect a throwback experience. When arriving, attendants will guide you to a parking spot, organized to ensure that smaller cars line the front row with successively
taller vehicles in the back. As its name would imply, the Tri View operates three screens, each showing backto-back features. With recent nights showing back-to-back Harry Potter films, and a Sonic the Hedgehog-Doolittle double feature, you can often expect two family-friendly choices to choose from. On Thursdays, gates open at 7 p.m., while Friday through Sunday showings allow cars to enter by 6 p.m. This leaves plenty of time for trips to the snack bar before the movie begins at dusk. Our tip: make sure your first trip includes an order of the Rustic’s clam cakes. And if social distancing is a concern, the Tri-View has a call ahead order option after you park. 1195 Eddie Dowling Highway, Route 146 S, North Smithfield, RI $27 per vehicle yourneighborhoodtheatre.com Mendon Twin Drive-In The Mendon Twin has been delighting visitors since it opened in the summer of 1954. During most of its life, the Mendon Twin was an only child, adding its second screen in 1998. Though his cowl and mask
are unlikely to appear drifting across the Screen, the fingers of the Phantom Gourmet can be found at the Mendon Twin Drive-In, after the Andelman Brothers purchased the drive-in in 2014. Along with staples such freshly popped popcorn, candy, and soda, patrons can find mac n’ cheese bites, nachos, fried dough, and Bay State-based Table Talk Pies. If you’re hungry after your main meal, treat yourself to ice cream cones, cups, sundaes, and floats at Ernie’s Ice Cream stand. Purchase tickets ahead of time and arrive at least 60 minutes before showtime. 35 Milford St., Mendon, Massachusetts $30 per vehicle. $6 per passenger over 6. mendondrivein.com (508) 473-4958 Wellfleet Cinema Drive-In Situated just off the Cape Cod National Seashore on Route 6, the Wellfleet Drive-In Theatre is situated on a parcel of land wellknown to sun drenched travelers looking for a break from the beach either through a movie, a round of mini golf, a lick of an ice cream cone, or a rummage through its weekend flea market. The Wellfleet Drive-In opened in 1957. By 1961, the Drive-In added its adjacent mini golf course for those waiting for the to begin; a pre-movie tradition that will be available for families this season as well. For the adventurous, nostalgic, or adventurously nostalgic, Wellfleet provides the opportunity for patrons to use original 1957 speaker boxes to complete their viewing experience. Find a spot in Rows 2-15 and try out the volume knob where hopefully you will hear pre-show music. If so, sit back and relax. If you would prefer the guaranteed method, or would rather have your windows closed, Wellfleet also broadcasts audio over an FM station. 51 State Highway, Route 6, Wellfleet, MA General Admission $13, Children 4-11 $9, ages under 3 Free. Mini Golf: $5 Adults, $3.50 Kids wellfleetcinemas.com Leicester Drive-In Aside from screen upgrades, few things have changed at the Leicester Drive-In since it opened to a sold-out crowd of revelers waiting to watch Elvis
Presley in “Double Trouble.” Its squat, red, toll-style box office has transported generations of Central Massachusetts families back in time. With ample room surrounded by the woods, the Leicester Drive-In is one of the few drive-in locations that instantly brings patrons away from the bustle of daily life. “We are far enough away from route 9 so it really does feel like you’re in the middle of nowhere, in a good way,” said the owner. Feel free to roll down your windows, throw on the radio, and sit back and enjoy an oldies playlist streamed over the theatre’s Drive-in Radio station. The box office opens at 7 p.m., with movies beginning shortly after dusk. Arriving early ensures a good seat before the digital Main Screen, which, per tradition, shows double features. 1675 Main St., Leicester, MA $30 per carload leicesterdrivein.net Northfield Drive-In The Northfield Drive-In has greeted families straddling the Massachusetts-New Hampshire border for over seven decades, survived gale force winds that toppled its screen in 1951, and been cemented in Hollywood history as the background for The Cider House Rules in 1998. After 52 years being run by the Shakour Family, the 2020 season is the first for new owners Julia and Steve Wiggin, and with them renovations to the snack bar, ticketing system, and WiFi capabilities on the grounds. Opening the theatre despite complications presented by COVID-19 is a throwback to the Northfield Drive-In’s original opening in 1948 when contractor issues pushed its opening date from late spring to the sweltering month of August. Having begun business in the traditionally swampiest month of the year, it is no wonder that the Northfield Drive-In stocks insect repellents and coils alongside other more flavorful treats, burgers, and popcorn at its concession stand. Gates and the Snack Bar open at 6:30 p.m. 981 Northfield Road, Hinsdale, NH Adults $12, children $7 | Triple Feature Adults $13, children $8. northfielddrivein.com
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Summer 2020 Pick-Your-Own Farm Guide This time of year, many area farms allow the public to pick a variety of fruits and berries from their fields. Here’s some farms where you can bring the kids and get picking, with social distancing protocols in place. Before you go, call ahead or check the farm’s website to be sure they’re open for pick-your-own. Carlson Orchards 115 Oak Hill Rd., Harvard carlsonorchards.com This second generation family farm has 50 acres of rolling green fruit trees and a 25-year-old blueberry patch, a raspberry patch, frog pond, and a retail store. Offering pick-your-own blueberries and raspberries. Check the website for details.
Hanson Farms 20 Nixon Rd., Framingham hansonfarms.50webs.com The farm stand here is stocked with nearly 200 different varieties of fresh fruits and vegetables. Children can visit with farm animals including chickens, horses, sheep, and a turkey. Summer pick-your-own offerings include flowers, blueberries and blackberries. Call ahead for hours.
Carver Hill Orchard 101 Brookside Ave., Stow carverhillorchard.com Pick-your-own season starts in July and runs through October. In the summer you’ll find blueberries, peaches, raspberries, cherries, and assorted vegetables. Check the Facebook page for updates.
Hollis Hills Farm 30 Marshall Rd., Fitchburg hollishillsfarm.com This farm hosts live music, corn hole tournaments and has an ice cream and retail store with everything from local honey and fresh eggs to homemade soaps and gifts. In the summer, you can pick your own flowers and raspberries, beginning in early July.
Clearview Farm 4 Kendall Hill Rd., Sterling clearviewfarmstand.com Set atop Kendall Hill, this farm boasts a clear view of Mount Wachusett. PYO season starts in June with strawberries, blueberries in July and peaches and raspberries in August. Apples and pumpkins late summer into the fall. Derrick Farm 301 Sanders Rd., Oakham facebooks.com/derrickblueberries Thousands of blueberry bushes and hundreds of raspberry bushes await hungry pickers at this family-owned farm. Chairs are provided if you’d like to sit and pick.
Honeypot Hill Orchards 138 Sudbury Rd., Stow honeypothill.com Watch sheep and goats graze in front of the farm store or get a look at their adorable bunnies and baby chicks. The farm store sells fresh produce as well as jams, butter and local honey. Open daily for PYO blueberries beginning in mid-July. Typically opens mid-July, call 508-8825591 for information about opening day and hours. Doe Orchards 327 Ayer Rd., Harvard doeorchards.com This beautifully maintained, family-run farm grows blueberries, raspberries, peaches and apples and Christmas trees. You can buy fruit from the farm stand or pick your own blueberries and raspberries, starting up right around the Fourth of July. Douglas Orchard & Farm 36 Locust St., Douglas douglasorchardandfarm.com Pick-your-own blueberries starting in mid July, Wednesday through Sunday. The farm grounds are open to walk around
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and get a sighting of their chickens and ducks. Elm Shade 1300 Richardson Rd., Ashby Facebook.com/blueberriesfromelmshadenterprises Pick your own blueberries from over 700 bushes while enjoying the beautiful quiet country setting in the small town of Ashby. Typically open Friday through Monday, check ahead for season opening and hours. George Hill Orchards 582 George Hill Rd., Lancaster yourfavoritefarm.com This historic farm is home to the Apple Tree Theater and “Tree-mendous Maze” – a popular field trip destination for children. Offering pick your
own blueberries, peaches, nectarines in the summer, with the picking season typically starting in early July. Check their Facebook page for details. Gianetti’s U-Pick Blueberries 557 Union St., Franklin facebook.com/gianettisupickblueberries This family-owned blueberry farm is open Fridays and Saturdays in July and August (most likely by appointment this year). It's recommended that you bring your own container, but containers are available for use. Follow their Facebook page for updates.
Howe’s Farm & Garden 225 Hardwick Rd., New Braintree howesfarmandgardenllc.com This expansive farm boasts over 10 acres of pick-your-own blueberries and raspberries. The farm stand is stocked with fruits and an assortment of vegetables picked daily. Indian Head Farm 232 Pleasant St., Berlin indianheadfarm.com This historic farm dates back two centuries and has been family-owned and operated for seven generations. Each summer, they offer pick-your-own strawberries, blueberries and raspberries, though they may offer store purchases only this year. Check their Facebook page for updates.
Summer 2020 Pick-Your-Own Farm Guide Lanni Orchards 294 Chase Rd., Lunenburg lanniorchard.com Set on 250 sprawling acres, this farm has a stand that sells everything from pies and cakes to meat and dairy – and, of course, fresh produce. Raspberries ready in early July will be the first of their pick-your-own offerings this year, then blueberries later in the month. PYO peaches, nectarines, grapes, pears, concord grapes, apples and pumpkins come later summer and into the fall. Meadowbrook Orchards 209 Chace Hill Rd., Sterling meadowbrookorchards.com A farm store, bakery, and restaurant is situated on 100 acres of rolling farmland. The PYO season starts with blueberries in early July, and raspberries later in the month. Check their Facebook or Instagram for updates. Nourse Farm 70 Nourse St., Westborough noursefarm.com At the edge of berry, vegetable and flower fields, you’ll find a farm store with jams, pies, fresh-cut herbs and flowers, honey and seasonal produce. In the summer, you can pick your own strawberries, raspberries and blueberries. While you’re there, take a walk on their self-guided hiking trail, which passes by barns, a pond and Nourse Brook. Odd Pine Farm 122 Ferin Rd., Ashburnham oddpinefarmblueberries.com This 5-acre blueberry farm will host its opening day on Thursday, July 30 with a farmer’s market and food truck. Blueberry picking starts bright and early at 6 a.m.
Red Apple Farm 455 Highland Ave., Phillipston redapplefarm.com This century-old family farm and store will offer a reservation system for PYO slots to ensure social distancing. Raspberries are available to pick in July, blueberries in July and August, and peaches in late summer. Looking for apples? The first PYO varieties are available the last week of July, and by August, you’ll find eight varieties to choose from. Russell Orchards 143 Argilla Rd., Ipswich russellorchards.com A bakery, farm store and winery are all here, but perhaps the biggest draw for little ones is the menagerie of farm animals. Grain is sold for 25 cents a handful to feed the barnyard critters. Summertime pickyour-own attractions include strawberries, cherries, raspberries, currants, blueberries and blackberries.
season. Opening for the season around July 4. Call ahead for hours: 508-234-9859. Tougas Family Farm 234 Ball St., Northborough tougasfamilyfarm.com This family farm will use a reservation system for PYO this year to ensure social distancing. Pick strawberries in cherries in June, blueberries in early July, peaches and blackberries in August and apples from late summer through October. Check “today’s pickings” on the website before you go or call the picking number: 508393-6404.
Sawyer’s Farm 38 Root Rd., Hubbardston sawyersfarm.org This 100-acre third-generation family farm sells hay, cordwood, and plump, juicy blueberries. U-Pick blueberry season kicks off in July. Enjoy nine acres of blueberry bushes. Sunburst Blueberry Farm 44 Rawson St., N. Uxbridge sunburstblueberryfarm.com This pick-your-own blueberry farm is surrounded by open fields with horses grazing in pastures and paddocks. It features over 1,000 blueberry bushes of seven different varieties, allowing for a longer picking
Parlee Farms 95 Farwell Rd., Tynsboro parleefarms.com You can pick your own strawberries, blueberries, cherries, peaches and flowers at this family-owned farm featuring a farmstand, country kitchen, animals and family fun. Five varieties of strawberries are available for picking from mid-June to mid-July, and over 10 acres of PYO blueberry plants available from mid-July through early September. Check “today’s farm news” for times and prices.
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Raising
kind kids during difficult times
What does it take to help children learn empathy, respect and kindness when there are so many conflicting messages all around us these days? BY JOAN GOODCHILD
B
etween the spread of COVID-19, widespread quarantine orders, racial strife in the news, and resulting demonstrations around the country, the last few months have been challenging for almost all Americans. And during each event, our children watch and see how we respond and react. With news channels broadcasting upsetting stories around the clock, and social media now used as a platform for many to disagree and air opinions in less-thanrespectful ways, it seems there is no better time to have a conversation about kindness with our children. “Raising kind and empathetic kids couldn’t be any more important right now,” said Milena Batanova, research & evaluation manager with Making Caring Common, a program at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. “These are scary, confusing, and historic times, and empathy can be one antidote to help our young people – and the adults that set an example for them – make sense of it all and feel compelled to do something good.” MCC’s mission is to help schools, families, and communities raise children who care about others and
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the common good. They offer several family resources that parents can tap into for strategies on fostering empathy and kindness in children. Batanova says a good place to start is with the stories you read or watch with your children. “Actively seeking stories featuring people of color as protagonists or heroes could be one step to fostering empathy,” said Batanova. “We also have seven tips for raising caring kids. Particularly now,
and we should not only be mindful how we talk about others, but also what we do for others.” Dr. Thomas Lickona is a developmental psychologist and professor of education at the State University of New York at Cortland, where he directs the Center for the Fourth and Fifth Rs (Respect and Responsibility). Lickona, also author of the book “How to Raise Kind -Dr. Thomas Lickona, Kids,” says now is “How to Raise Kind Kids” an ideal time for a conversation with our kids about what
when many parents might be spending more time with their children, having meaningful conversations and purposeful time together is key. What we model to our children matters,
“Mention it at dinner. Ask, ‘what is something kind you did today?’” author of
kindness and empathy are all about – and what those traits look like in action. “My heart just breaks to see what is happening,” he said. “Everything that has just exploded. There are so many dimensions to what is happening nationally. It just underscores our responsibility as parents to teach respect.” And, in fact, respect, kindness and empathy may be critical skills for kids to master, because research finds it is beneficial. A 2015 study published in the American Journal of Public Health followed hundreds of students from kindergarten through early adulthood. The students, who were from low-income households in North Carolina, Tennessee, Washington and Pennsylvania, were rated as kindergarteners on how well they demonstrated kind behaviors, like being helpful to others, understanding others’ feelings, and cooperating with peers. The research revealed the level of “pro-social” (i.e.: kindness and cooperation) behavior helped predict their outcomes later in life. Factors like education, career success, criminal activity and addiction were also examined. Students who were kinder and more cooperative with their peers had better outcomes in all of those areas. Lickona has suggestions for both short term and long-term actions that parents can engage in at home to help their kids learn respect and kindness. One important opportunity for teaching is the family table, he said. “Mention it at dinner,” said Lickona. “Ask ‘What is something kind you did today?’ If you have that time together it gives you context for conversation. You build
that tradition of meaningful conversation.” Lickona said psychologists called habits like regular conversation at dinner “connective rituals” and they can be powerful in helping to establish long term behavior. While it can take place at dinner, if you are more of an on-the-go family who doesn’t often have time to sit down, it can happen in the car. Establish that conversation is expected, and don’t allow kids to be glued to a screen, said Lickona. Like Batanova, Lickona also suggests choosing books and media that have kindness in the theme. Or simply put a quotation on the fridge like “We become kind by doing kind acts” that can be a visual reference point in the home. And praise your kids using kindness language, said Lickona. Say “Thanks for being a kind person” regularly. “Sit down and think about what you want to teach your kids,” he said “How do you make that a priority in the home? Have a family mission statement. Make a list with expected behaviors like ‘We show kindness in our words’
on it.” And of course, model kind behavior yourself. Parents should be using all opportunities to show kindness and resolve conflicts with good, exemplary behavior. “No matter what you do there will be problems and conflicts,” he said. “Parents will argue but they need ways to solve conflict that is positive. Parents should have a dedicated space to solve problems.” Batanova echoes Lickona and notes it is only through living a kind life ourselves that we can truly teach our children real kindness and empathy. “Too often, we think about ways we can help our children without truly reflecting on the need to help or work on ourselves. We can all be better and do better, and it’s important that parents confront their own limitations in experiencing and modeling empathy.” Joan Goodchild is a veteran writer and editor and mom of two living in Central Massachusetts.
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TIPS FOR RAISING KIND KIDS
The Making Caring Common Project offers this advice to help raise children with empathy and compassion. For tips on implementing these suggestions, visit mcc.gse.havard.edu. 1. Work to develop caring, loving relationships with your kids. 2. Be a strong role model and mentor. 3. Make caring for others a priority and set high ethical expectations. 4. Provide opportunities for children to practice caring and gratitude. 5. Expand your child’s circle of concern. 6. Promote children’s ability to be ethical thinkers and positive change-makers in their communities. 7. Help children develop self-control and manage feelings effectively.
BAYSTATEPARENT 15
With greenlight to reopen, some local daycares remain closed as they struggle to enact strict COVID guidelines BY DANIELLE RAY
C
hild care facilities across the state, which shut down to most families in mid-March amid the coronavirus pandemic, have been given the go ahead to reopen. Yet the exhaustive and detailed list of health and safety protocols required in order to resume business are leaving child and day care providers feeling overwhelmed -- and some unsure when they can realistically reopen their doors. The guidelines, first unveiled by the state on June 1, are extensive. The 32 pages worth of health and safety regulations were so pervasive -- and scrutinized -- that later in the month, the state scaled them back. At first, classroom and group sizes were not to exceed 10 children and there could be no more than 12 individuals including staff members in a classroom at any given time. In late June, the Department of Early and Education and Care eased some of those requirements, still limiting
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classroom sizes to 10 children per group, but removing the provision requiring no more than two adults per group, instead asking that staffing be “minimized.” Staff assigned to classrooms or groups cannot float between other classrooms or groups unless needed to provide supervision for “specialized activities.” The state is recommending masks or face coverings for children 2 and up if they can’t keep 6 feet apart but does not require them. No children under the age of 2 may wear a mask. Children 2-5 may wear a mask at the discretion of their parents, to be determined in partnership with the provider. The department will continue to require staff at daycares wear masks or face coverings whenever 6 feet of physical distancing is not possible. Other requirements include daily screenings of children being dropped off at programs and reconfigured spaces to encourage physical distancing. Erika Helnarski has been in the early education and care (EEC) field for 20 years. She
worked in center-based facilities for many years before opening up her own in-home daycare in Worcester, Once Upon Amherst, in September of 2016. Because she was approved as an emergency daycare, Helnarski’s center has remained open throughout the pandemic. “Luckily it hasn’t been too much of a financial struggle for us because a few parents in my program still continued to financially contribute,” she said. “I’m forever grateful to those families, they’ve always been so supportive. The only negative aspect it has had on my family is that my 4-year-old son hasn’t been able to learn and play with his friends, except for the two children that have come while I’ve been an emergency daycare.” Her emergency daycare approval ended June 26. “I’m hoping to reopen by the end of July, granted that I’m able to implement the new restrictions and my new basement classroom gets licensed in time,” she said. After seeing the state’s first set of guidelines for reopening, Helnarski said she was feeling
“extremely overwhelmed.” “The way they were presented was like a mental bomb,” she said. “They crammed everything together, for every type of facility. I took a day to cry it out and gather my thoughts, and then on day two I printed out the entire 32 pages and sat down with a highlighter to highlight what exactly pertained to me as a family child care facility. “I understand that they’re trying to tackle the spread of COVID-19 in childcare facilities, but with these new regulations they’re basically asking us to unlearn everything we were taught as an early childhood educator,” Helnarski continued. “It’s like they’re asking us to institutionalize our homes and centers while also expecting us to magically come up with more square footage to accommodate an extra bathroom used only for the sick, and an isolation room. I operate out of my home and I am the only educator here. I can’t work miracles.” Helnarski said it will be nearly impossible to follow all of the protocols and regulations, as well as incredibly stressful for providers, parents and children
alike. “How can I devote five plus minutes to the arrival of each child while still caring for and supervising the other children?” she said. “We need to be quick on our feet as educators.” She pointed out that while operating as an emergency daycare, the guidelines weren’t nearly as intense. “So why now that all centers have the green light they’re implementing such insane regulations?” Helnarski said she believes there is “no way” children will be able to follow the rules when it comes to staying separate from each other. “How do I expect a child under two to even comprehend social distancing, or any child for that matter,” she said. Helnarski said she is looking forward to the day when some sort of normalcy returns. “I’m looking forward to mostly being able to hug my daycare kids and for them to be able to hug one another,” she said. “Children learn from socializing and playing with their peers, and these regulations are taking that fundamental part of early education away from them.”
For Jessica Moran, who has owned and operated PumpKID Patch Child Care out of her home in Sterling since July 2011, the financial hit due to the pandemic has been detrimental. She closed her daycare on March 23, following the announcement that schools would remain closed in the Wachusett Regional school district for the remainder of the school year. Moran’s center follows the district calendar as many of her families include teachers. As such, she will be closed this summer with plans to reopen on September 2. Moran currently has 13 registered families, including shared and part-time spots. “In the beginning of the closure I had the amazing support of my students’ families,” she said. “All families continued to pay childcare costs weekly as the parents themselves were being paid as well.” Moran set up a virtual classroom for her students and their families on ClassDojo. She posted daily story times, did a Zoom story time one day a week, and on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays she posted videos of herself doing arts and crafts activities that families could do together. “If materials were needed, families would notify me and I would prepare bags for them to pick up,” she said. “I also did driveway visits and delivered Easter treats to my PumpKIDs.” In April she notified all her families to discontinue their payments, and that she would “seek an alternate plan for income”. Moran attended town hall style meetings held specifically for child care providers during the shutdown, and said it was “extremely difficult” to sit and listen to the discussions. “We were not provided with support or guidance,” she said. “The (EEC) Commissioner continued to repeat our questions and concerns and then would respond ‘I’ve heard you loud and clear’ but no answers were provided. I fear those responsible for the growth and development of our young children have lost sight of what this means, as they are hindering exactly what their goals and expectations used to be.” An unexpected and significant business cost came in the form of having to hire someone to install
a new entryway to her daycare, so families do not enter through her residence – one of the new regulations. This is after state asked daycares to reconfigure space to encourage physical distancing between children as well as staff. “There is more money going out than coming in,” Moran said. Moran echoed Helnarski’s thoughts when it comes to whether children will realistically be able to follow social distancing and other rules. “Absolutely not,” she said. “If EEC is suggesting we have kids in face masks and positioned around the room ‘distanced’ I’m sad to realize that they know nothing about child development and children as a whole.” Moran said she plans to “work hard” to ensure the children she cares for are healthy and happy. “My toys will be cleaner than the day I purchased them, and the number of toys will increase in an effort to replace sensory and water play, which are so necessary and will be missed by the children. I will remove all pillows, stuffed animals and any and all cloth like items that are considered hot spot items for this virus. My assistant and I will wear masks and I have already found an individual who is making me transparent face masks so the kids can see me smile. However, despite all these efforts, I will not and cannot assure you or my families that these kids will remain separated from 7:30 am. to 4:30 p.m. That’s unfair for you all to assume.” Moran said she is also looking forward to the return of normalcy – or at least some semblance of it. “I love my job and I love my PumpKIDs and their families,” she said. “I’m ready to get back to teaching, nurturing and loving my bonus children.” Child care providers were allowed to submit their plans for reopening for review and approval to the state in midJune. The EEC said it would immediately review the plans and self-attestations from the providers to ensure they are complete and give providers conditional approval to immediately reopen services. Final approvals will be given within 60 days after the department performs a more “thorough review of plans and address any support needs for on-going operations.” BAYSTATEPARENT 17
cyber savvy mom
Finding the right virtual camp or activity for summer While it may not be a typical summer, with so many virtual programs for kids and teens, there are still plenty of opportunities to engage and learn during break
W
e are firmly in the throes of summer, and it is now apparent to most of us that this year won’t look the same as previ-
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BY JOAN GOODCHILD, CYBER SAVVY MOM ous summer breaks with our kids. Perhaps you had to cancel plans to get away as a family as the unpredictability of quarantine orders hung in the air. Maybe you are still sticking close to home most days. And it is very likely that your kids’
summer activities and camps are nothing like years before. Indeed, many camps and activities were forced to pivot to online, virtual offerings this summer. While these online camps won’t necessarily offer the exact same experience,
they still mean engagement, learning – and likely lots of fun. My daughter, a theatre arts lover who has performed in several plays and musicals over the years, was planning to take part in a two-week theater camp run by Apple
Tree Arts in Grafton this July. The pandemic turned those plans on their ear. But rather than cancel programs, ATA chose instead to find ways to offer virtual experiences. One of these includes a summer “Zoomsical,” which is a show
called The Big One-Oh, a musical written specifically to be rehearsed and performed in an online setting. “We researched it, watched the performance video and thought it looked like something that would appeal to our students,” said Lisa Scarlett, ATA’s theatre arts director. “We are hoping that they will be able to have a positive, rewarding and enjoyable theatre experience despite the uncertainty we are all facing.” While it is done online, Scarlett said the production will strive to feel like a typical stage production and summer camp experience in many ways. “We will be utilizing breakout rooms, which simulates how we break the kids into groups during the summer to focus on various areas of the show with a smaller number of students. We are also hoping to help encourage the connections they make with their peers every year by having an optional online lunch and social time.” And since young thespians also practice on their own after theatre camp lets out each day, the staff at ATA will also encourage rehearsals once the computer goes off. Campers then submit clips for feedback. “This model also encourages more independence and responsibility,” said Scarlett. “It requires the kids to film some segments to submit to us for feedback or for parts of the performance. They will also be asked to take more responsibility for the visual representation and interpretation of their roles by having to provide simple costuming or props from items they have at home.” Virtual theatre productions are just one way that typical in-person camps are getting creative. Local organizations here in Massachusetts have cooked up a host of choices for online summer fun. The Ecotarium in Worcester has pivoted to an online “discovery” camp that offers Zoom programming with a counselor in the mornings, and then instructions for activities to complete throughout the week, and kits with the needed supplies for all activities. Local non-profit group Tenacity is offering its Boston and Worcester-based reading and tennis programs free of
charge starting July 6. The plan is for virtual training sessions, but depending on the phase of opening Massachusetts is in this summer, there may also be an opportunity for on-court tennis skill activities. Check with your local parks and recreation department about possible online programs, or even your area scouting organization. You might be surprised just how much opportunity is out there through area groups to participate in a fun, but safe, virtual class or activity. Of course, another advantage of an online experience is it
doesn’t have to be local to take part! New York’s Metropolitan Opera is holding a global summer camp at no charge this summer. It will be held via Zoom and Google Classroom and will feature all kinds of activities to help kids explore and learn about opera. The program will focus on a different opera each week. Destinations Career Academy is also holding a free online coding programs for older students, regardless of location. Options include Video Game Design, Programming and Virtual Reality, among others.
The takeaway is simple: Summer is different this year. But there’s no need to hear “Mom and Dad, I’m bored.” Because this season, with so many learning and fun options right at kids’ fingertips, it just takes a Google search to get started with a virtual camp. Many are low or no cost to you. Once they get started, there’s so much to do. And it can often be done at their own pace. And who knows? You might just find virtual camps and activities are so rewarding, that they make sense again in the future – even if we’re aren’t dealing with a pandemic. As ATA’s Scarlett
points out, the key is flexibility and creativity this summer. “While we know that a virtual production is a bit of an unknown, we are excited for the chance to work with the students in a different setting, to find new and interesting ways to approach theatre and to have ATA summer theatre programming continue in some way through this time of crisis.” Do you have a question or a story suggestion for Cyber Savvy Mom? Contact me at joangoodchild@ cybersavvymedia.com.
BAYSTATEPARENT 19
Star Spangled Snack Tray Get festive this Fourth with a kid-style charcuterie board. We included two dips perfect for summer: Creamy Fruit Dip and Black Bean Salsa. To up the cute factor, we decked it out with some star spangled snacks like cheese and tomato skewers and patriotic pretzels. A star-shaped cookie cutter for fruit, chips, and cheese takes it up a notch.
Creamy Fruit Dip Ingredients 1 3.4 oz. box instant vanilla pudding mix 1 8 oz. container cool whip (thawed) 1 32 oz. container low fat vanilla yogurt Directions In a large bowl mix cool whip and yogurt. Stir in dry pudding mix until no visible lumps. Cover and refrigerate at least 3 hours before serving. (Will keep in fridge for up to 5 days.)
Black Bean Salsa Ingredients 1 16 oz can black beans 1 12 oz can shoepeg corn 1/4 cup cilantro (roughly chopped) 1 medium purple onion (chopped) 4 medium tomatoes (chopped) I jalapeño pepper (seeded and finely chopped) 1 tablespoon vegetable oil 3 tablespoons fresh squeezed lime juice 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon garlic powder Directions Rinse and drain beans and corn. In a large bowl, mix drained beans, corn, onion, cilantro, tomato and jalapeño. Add salt, garlic powder, oil and lime juice. Cover and refrigerate 2-4 hours before serving. Note: Adjust the amount of jalapeño to your family’s taste.
Bites
goose’s
goodies 20 JULY2020
To make patriotic chips for dipping: Use a star cookie cutter to cut shapes out of 6-8 corn tortillas. Brush each side with oil and sprinkle with sea salt. Bake at 350 for 10 minutes, turning over halfway through. Cool on paper towels. Laurie Silva Collins, known affectionately as Goose by her grandkids, is a nurse, mother and grandmother who is happiest when she’s in the kitchen, cooking and baking for those she loves. She learned to cook from her parents, and has perfected her recipes over the years while raising three daughters… and spoiling seven grandchildren.
Bites nutrition Children may not always grow out of being picky eaters
Being overly restrictive with children's diets might not be the best strategy; most finicky eaters maintain a healthy childhood weight
I
f your preschooler often pushes their dinner plate away or wages battles against taking another bite of a vegetable they don't like, they may not grow out of it anytime soon. By age four, children could be established picky eaters, a new study suggests. And the more parents try to control and restrict children's diets, the more finicky they may become, according to findings published in Pediatrics. "Picky eating is common during childhood and parents often hear that their children will eventually 'grow out of it.' But that's not always the case," says senior author Megan Pesch, M.D., a developmental behavioral pediatrician at Michigan Medicine C.S. Mott Children's Hospital. But there's a silver lining for worried parents -- while fussy eaters have a lower body mass index, most are still in the healthy range and not underweight, researchers found. They may also be less likely to be overweight or experience obesity than peers. "We still want parents to encourage varied diets at young ages, but our study suggests that they can take a less controlling approach," Pesch says. That being said "we need more research to better understand how children's limited food choices impact healthy weight gain and growth long term." The study followed 317 mother-child pairs from low-income homes over a four-year period. Families reported on children's eating habits and mothers' behaviors and attitudes about feeding when children were four, five, six, eight and nine. Picky eating was stable from preschool to school-age, indicating that any attempts to expand food preferences may need to occur in toddler or preschool years to be most effective. High picky eating was associated with lower BMIs and low picky eating was associated with higher BMIs. The pickiest eaters also were often associated with increased pressure to eat and restriction on certain types of foods. This reinforces previous Mott-led research suggesting that pressuring children to eat foods they dislike won't lead to a well-rounded diet later in life or encourage better health or development. Certain child characteristics, including sex, birth order, and socioeconomic status, also have been associated with persistence of picky eating. "We found that children who were pickier had mothers who reported more restriction of unhealthy foods and sweets," Pesch says. "These mothers of picky eaters may be trying to shape their children's preferences for more palatable and selective diets to be more healthful. But it may not always have the desired effect." It is unknown if children who are picky eaters would have become even more selective if they did not receive higher levels of controlling feeding behaviors, Pesch says. She says future studies should investigate interventions around maternal feeding and child picky eating. BAYSTATEPARENT 21
The mother-daughter duo who painted their town a rainbow BY AMANDA COLLINS BERNIER Four days, countless miles, and 176 flags. That’s how Lisa Gregoire and Ava Mackin celebrated Pride Month. Just weeks before the pandemic shut down everyday life in March, the motherdaughter duo from Sturbridge launched Somewhere Over the Rainbow, a social club for LGBTQ+ youth in their local community. As the stay-at-home advisory wore on into June, they came up with an idea to support LGBTQ+ youth from home. “All these Pride events had been cancelled and we were feeling disappointed and thinking ‘there has to be a way they’re still supported. There still has to be some way to celebrate,’” Gregoire said. A few months before, she had purchased a bulk order of mini rainbow flags to pass out to members of their newly formed club. But with meetings on hold, she thought of passing them out to neighbors and friends to display at their homes
throughout the month of June. “Yes!” Ava agreed. “We can paint the towns a rainbow!” Gregiore, who’s general manager at Saw Dust Coffee
House and Dessert Bar in Sturbridge and a commercial artist, reached out to her local contacts to sign dozens of local businesses and organizations
onto the initiative. Each time a new flag went up, she posted a picture on Facebook with the hashtag #paintthetownsrainbow. Soon strangers in Gregoire's hometown and beyond were reaching out to see how they could get a flag. Over the course of four days, they hand delivered more than 175 flags big and small to residents and businesses in a half dozen towns. “It was a chore, but I was blown away by the support we got,” said Gregoire. A mom of three (and soonto-be stepmom to two more) Gregoire has been supportive of her oldest daughter’s sexualitly since she came out at 12. Gregoire can easily recall the nonchalant way her daughter told her she was gay. “We in the car and she was just talking -- she’s always talking -- and she looked over at me and said ‘mom, you know I’m gay,’” Gregoire recalled. “And I said, ‘I do?’ She was just like, ‘yeah, mom,’ and grabbed her backpack and hopped out of the car.” A hint of concern crept in. Would she be bullied, Gregoire wondered? Would she have the support she needed at school? But Ava is confident and selfassured, moving through her teenage years authentically, with the backing of a always supportive family.
Not all kids are given this chance to feel supported, though. Some face a lack of support at home or in their community. One study of more than 10,000 LGBT-identified youth, ages 13-17, reported 26 percent said their non-accepting families were the greatest problem they face. Ava, who is entering eighth grade in the fall, has friends who are in that boat. Looking for a safe space to meet with local LGBTQ+ youth, she found the closest groups were several miles away in Worcester. That’s when she approached her mom about starting Somewhere Over the Rainbow. The group, which hasn’t fully started up yet due to the coronavirus pandemic, is a social club for LGBTQ+ teens and tweens in the greater Sturbridge area. “Just a place where they can hang out, talk about things, and feel accepted. I know a lot of these kids struggle,” said Gregoire. The group’s bi-weekly meetings will resume when pandemic coronavirus concerns lift. For more information about getting involved, follow Somewhere Over the Rainbow on Facebook.
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take eight
with A.J. Burnett
7.
You took your Facebook followers on some of those “virtual” walks this spring. What other activities kept your family busy during quarantine? We spent as much time outdoors as we could. We built a raised garden bed for vegetables and flowers, went through a few boxes of sidewalk chalk, got the kids new bikes (they’re growing like weeds!) and basically just took each day one at a time; each day presenting its own unique challenges.
8.
Do you have any special birthday traditions in your family? When I was younger, my grandmother always wrote me a check in the amount of my age, but backwards. I got $91 when I turned 19. The tradition stopped for my 20th birthday, although as a joke when I was in college, I did write her a check for $8 on her 80th birthday. I have my own tradition that I’ve been doing every year for a long while. I bring about 4 boxes of Hoodsies into work on my birthday (or the closest workday to my actual birthday) and hand them out to everyone in the office. Who doesn’t love a Hoodsie? I love being able to spot people who did not grow up around New England when they ask, “What’s a Hoodsie?”
WCVB’s A.J. Burnett has been forecasting the weather for 24 years, including 20 years on television in New England. A native Cape Codder, he now lives on the North Shore with his wife, Carrie and their two daughters, Grace, 9, and Caroline, 4. He shared with us his passion for weather, volunteerism, and a good old fashioned Hoodsie Cup.
1.
When did you become interested in meteorology? I was three years old – no joke! The legendary Don Kent made a huge impression on me as I watched him from my childhood home on Cape Cod. Fast forward a couple of years and the Weather Channel was on for hours and hours in my house. For my bar mitzvah, I got a HeathKit rain gauge that my dad and I built together. I was always tracking tropical storms and hurricanes on maps and logging weather observations. I went to school to study meteorology and have been living a childhood dream ever since!
2.
Blizzards, thunderstorms, a calm sunny day… what’s your favorite kind of weather? I rank them this way: thunderstorms, blizzards, hurricanes, and sunny summer days. But I will say that blizzards are great while I’m standing in them (I’ll always be out in the storm, covering it for the news, never in the studio -- and that’s the way I like it!), but when I get home, I shovel the snow out of my driveway, just like everyone else. That’s when I suddenly don’t like blizzards much. Oddly enough, I was petrified of thunderstorms as a kid. I’d crawl under my parent’s bed and stay there until morning. Of course, there came a time when I became too big to fit under the bed, so under the pillows it was! I perfected the full body flip onto my belly while grabbing the pillows and smothering my head underneath and had that move down to 1.3 seconds!
3.
If you weren’t a meteorologist, what job do you see yourself having? Believe it or not, I taught high school for four months before my career move to WCVB. I could see myself teaching again (maybe not high school this time!). I would love to teach a broadcast meteorology course someday or work at a young scientist camp.
4.
What’s it like to work a big storm? Are you there all night? Do you go without sleep for days? Working a big storm is something I always look forward to and I always suggest the station sends me to where I think the storm is going to be the worst. It’s a long day and usually means that I’m up at 1 a.m. for the morning news or awake until 1 a.m. if I’m working the evening news. It’s all about layers of waterproofing in the winter or changes of dry clothes in the warmer months. And it’s always about packing food, which my wife is awesome about handling for me most of the time.
5.
What’s the best part about being a dad? The most challenging? I love watching my kids discover things. Maybe it’s that the stars never really go away during the day, or another way of multiplying numbers. Hearing them laugh in their own unique ways, whether it’s from being tickled or something funny happening. It reminds me that they are both very different and their own person. I constantly struggle with having enough patience.
6.
For several years you volunteered for Birthday Wishes, a nonprofit that provides birthday parties for kids experiencing homelessness. Why does this organization mean so much to you? I love birthdays! For me, my birthday always meant spring was just around the corner (I was born in March), and my mother always made my birthday cakes when I was a kid. One year, it was a cake in the shape of an alligator, another was a soccer ball. And there were usually Hoodsies to go along with the cake. And I loved going to my friends’ birthday parties because it gave me a chance to hang out with them outside of school. When I was approached by a former high school classmate of mine, asking me to get involved with Birthday Wishes, I guess I didn’t truly appreciate the fact that there are kids who don’t get the same opportunity to celebrate their special day, and that moved me. I remain involved, emceeing the CakeWalk for the last three years and taking part in this year’s virtual walk.
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