Bsp0916 by baystateparent magazine

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SEPTEMBER 2016

11 TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL SCHOOL YEAR

GAS UP THE VAN! 63 FALL FAIRS AND FESTIVALS MOVE MORE, LEARN MORE: THE MAGIC OF ACTIVE CLASSROOMS

ARTS and

enrichment Massachusettsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Premier Magazine For Families Since 1996

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WORCESTER ART MUSEUM 2 SEPTEMBER2016

Youth Studio Art Classes & Workshops

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Creative fun, all year-long! • • • • •

Over 100 art classes for youth, teens and families School Vacation Workshops Summer Classes Portfolio Prep Classes for teens Adult classes too!

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Cornerstone Academy CELEBRATES

20 Years of providing a superior education at an affordable tuition!

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2016

• Academic Program Taught By Dedicated & Professional Staff

• Academic Program Taught By Dedicated & Professional Staff • Individualized, Tailored Lessons • Small Classes • Innovative Curriculum

• Individualized, Tailored Lessons • Small Classes • Innovative Curriculum

What’s Been Added • Technology • Google Classroom • S.T.E.M • Certified Wildlife Habitat • Outdoor Learning Space • Virtual Field Trips • Nature Trails • Mindfulness/Yoga

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WORCESTER CENTER FOR CRAFTS

Something NEW & DIFFERENT is coming to the WORCESTER CENTER for CRAFTS FOR Youth & Teens! Come and get a

SNEAK PEEK

Saturday, September 24, 2016 * 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. Worcester Center for Crafts, 25 Sagamore Road, Worcester

Our unique NEW YOUTH class program (ages 6-17) will encourage you to use your head, work with your hands and explore your creative side. Join us for free demos, class information, and hands-on making. See what Craft + Creativity is all about! Classes start late October.

COME AND BRING A FRIEND!! Registration at Sneak Peek. Get the class you want and receive a 10% discount. www.worcestercraftcenter.org

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Fall is a time for foliage, family adventures, and festivals.

Family adventures are all around in Appleseed Country, whether you are hiking up Wachusett Mountain, or attending one of the unique fairs or festivals that are a fall staple, there is always something exciting happening in Appleseed Country! Learn more about all of the fun fall festivities at Appleseed.org

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table of contents SEPTEMBER 2016 VOLUME 21

September not only means back to school, but also back to after-school activities. Many moms and dads will turn into unpaid Ubers for the next 10 months, shuttling the kids (and usually a friend or two) to whatever class, program, or practice is scheduled after 3 p.m. Forty weeks of pick-ups, dropoffs, schedules, tuition, equipment, and travel can grind on parents, and it’s not uncommon to — at least once or twice — wonder: Is this all worth it?

NUMBER 5

The answer: Yes. Absolutely, yes. (And I write this as a mom who shuttles three kids hither and yon and does the scary budget math, just like you.) Your daughter probably won’t be the next Simone Biles or Misty Copeland, nor your son the next Tom Brady or David Ortiz. However, what they will be, after a childhood of after-school enrichment in any fashion: a person who knows what it means to be a team player. Someone who knows the value of discipline, dedication, hard work, creativity, winning, losing, disappointment, respect, and sacrifice. Societally, these are traits that seem to be evaporating with each passing year and are also those that hiring managers

value the most today — and definitely, tomorrow. The greatest desire we hold for our children is a bright future: mentally, emotionally, and physically. Sports, the arts, and other extracurriculars deliver the foundation for that future, upon which your child will build. So when you’re writing that check or grabbing the keys for yet another run to the studio, field, or dojo, remember it is worth it. It will pay off for your child — now and later.

Melissa

— Melissa Shaw, editor in chief

in every issue

things we learned

while making

9 10 22

the september issue

According to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services guidelines, children ages 4-8 need 1,200-2,000 calories per day, yet if they order an adult meal at a fast food restaurant, it could contain 800 to 1,500 calories. Turn to page 62 and read about a new program designed to help kids and parents make better food choices to reverse the trend of child obesity.

36 51

Aerobic exercise has been hailed by scientists as “Miracle Grow” for the brain. Aerobic exercise increases oxygen, blood flow, and glucose to the brain, and promotes the production of more brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF). BDNF promotes healthy cellular growth in the brain and increases brain plasticity, all of which increases cognition and learning aptitude. Starting on page 16, learn how physical activity can be incorporated into classrooms to help students move — and learn — more.

Matilda was the last of Roald Dahl’s children’s books, published just two years before his death in 1990. He was 44 when he began writing for children, and in the following 28 years produced a series of classics that today span 200 million copies in 58 languages, as well as stage and screen adaptations. Head to page 48 to discover how Dahl became — and remains — a phenomenon, and how people are celebrating what would have been his 100th birthday this month. owner and publisher KIRK DAVIS associate publisher KATHY REAL kreal@baystateparent.com

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MEET OUR CONTRIBUTORS BSP ONLINE OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO: September Calendar Of Family Events VERY SPECIAL PEOPLE: How Every Child Can Benefit From Special Olympics Participation Divorce & Co-Parenting: Why Co-Parents Should Emphasize Arts and Extracurricular Activities THE THINKING PARENT: Signs Your Son May be Working Out Too Much OUR SEPTEMBER FAVORITES: FACTS, FINDS & FREEBIES FINALLY FOREVER: Area adoption events and September’s Child TAKE 8: Family Money Management Expert and BestSelling Author Rachel Cruze

multimedia editor MONICA HAMILTON monica@baystateparent.com ADVERTISING

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

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

BAYSTATEPARENT 7

Arts & Enrichment

Features

How One Small Dot Inspired a Worldwide Youth Art Movement

11 Ways to Help Your Child Have A Successful School Year

Cambridge Native, Broadway Star Nabs Most Coveted Role: Mom

Why Students Learn More in Active Classrooms

Roald Dahl at 100: Why His Legacy Lives On

Divorce & Co-Parenting: Why Co-Parents Should Emphasize Arts and Extracurricular Activities

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Simply the Best! Inside our Best of 2016 Party

Music: A Tool for Encouraging Calm, Mindful Kids

Let’s Go! Family Fun on 91 and The Berkshires

38 Massachusetts Museums Offer Free Admission on Sept. 24

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MCAS 2.0: What We Know So Far Gas Up the Van! 63 Fall Fairs and Festivals

The Money Talk: 10 Topics to Cover with Your Teen

Ripe 62

You’re the Mom Program Promotes Healthy Meal Choices for Children

Bites: Panera Makes Kids Meal Promise; Pack a Better Lunch With This Free App; The Food Gift You Need to Give (and Receive); Sweet Treats With ‘No Funky Stuff;’ and more.

Eagle Hill School

a personalized education. a traditional prep school experience.

Eagle Hill School is a college preparatory boarding school that provides an individualized education for students identified with language based learning (dis)abilities including Dyslexia, Dysgraphia and ADHD (inattentive type). Please join us for a tour of our beautiful New England boarding school campus.

This month’s cover model: Kristin, 16

Photography by Veronica Morrissette Photography

LEARNING DIVERSITY This blog reflects our commitment to promoting a model of education that nurtures the diverse learning abilities of individuals. We examine equitable and effective methods of teaching based on research, experience, and creative problem solving as opposed to prescribed “fixes.”

Fall Open House Friday, October 14th, 2016 12noon - 3pm

Please RSVP to Sharyn Buelow at 413-477-6000 or sbuelow@eaglehill.school

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413-477-6000

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PARTICIPATE IN THE DISCUSSION AT: LEARNING DIVERSITY.ORG

SEPTEMBER CONTRIBUTORS Michele Bennett Decoteau is a writer and mom to a tween and a teen in central New England. In addition to writing on science, nature, and parenting topics, she is a hiker and beekeeper. You can find her at MicheleDecoteau.com or @MBDecoteau. Kristin Guay lives in Cape Cod with her husband, two daughters, and beloved black lab. A former middle school language arts teacher, she is currently Youth Services Director at Centerville Library and enjoys projects that foster a love of reading and writing in young children and teens. She offers daily helpful suggestions on literacy, books, and educational issues on her blog: kristinannguay.weebly.com. Marshal D. Haneisen is a freelance journalist, writer, and creative writing instructor. She lives in Fitchburg with her husband, son, and a variety of pets. Her son has a dualdiagnosis of Down syndrome and autism, and her experience as a parent of a child with special needs inspires some of her writing for various publications, as well as for her blog, thespecialneedsfiles.com. Information about Marshal’s writing and workshops can be found marshaldhaneisen.com. MaryJo Kurtz, an award-winning journalist and 20-year contributor to baystateparent, currently serves as a communications specialist in the credit union industry. She is the mother of two boys, 15 and 26, and lives with her family in Westborough. Details about her work and contact information can be found at maryjokurtz.com. You can also follow her musings on Twitter at @maryjokurtz. Doug Page is a Medfield father of two whose newspaper career started in high school. He's written stories, sold ads, and delivered newspapers during the morning's wee hours. He's covered stories as shocking as the crash of Delta flight 191 in Dallas many years ago to the recent controversy involving Common Core and standardized testing in Massachusetts. Dr. Lynn Pantuosco-Hensch is an assistant professor in the Movement Science department at Westfield State University, teaching motor development, exercise science, and other sport-related courses. She is the mother of four boys and lives with her family in Longmeadow. Attorney Irwin M. Pollack is founder and lead attorney of Pollack Law Group, P.C. (PollackLawGroup.com) and a divorced father himself. He shares insights and information about co-parenting on his weekly radio talk show, Talking About Divorce, which can be heard weekends on WRKO in Boston (AM 680), WTAG in Worcester (AM 580/94.9 FM), WXTK on the Cape (95.1 FM), and WHYN in Springfield (AM 560). 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). Jennifer Sheehy Everett is a writer, PR consultant, and mother to a busy toddler who’s pretty certain he runs the show at her and husband John’s home in Melrose. She enjoys music and performing, dance, golf, travel, the pursuit of tasty food and wine, and time with cherished family and good friends. Austin Widmer is a graduate student clinician in the Mental Health Counseling program at Becker College. He provides counseling services to adults, children, and families through the Counselor Training Clinic (CTC) at Becker College in Leicester. Visit mhcclinic.becker.edu for more information about available, low-cost, counseling services at the CTC. BAYSTATEPARENT 9

bsp ONLiNE

ummer is in its final days and the kids are back to school. But don’t feel too bad about the change of seasons — we’ve got pages of fun fall family festivals, from traditional harvest fests to celebrations of that gooey Bay State creation, Fluff. And don’t forget to get your arts and culture fix on September 24, when dozens of Massachusetts museums offer free admission in honor of Smithsonian’s Museum Day Live. Need more September fun? Then pencil in September 13 to celebrate the writings of Roald Dahl, who would have turned 100 this year. And you can always find the latest parenting news, contests, and giveaways — and me — at baystateparent.com, Facebook (baystateparent), Twitter (@baystateparent), and Instagram (baystateparent).

They Got It! Shrewsbury reader Jennifer and her family, pictured below, enjoyed their trip to celebrate Star Wars Day at the Worcester Art Museum, while Melissa of Waltham and her family, right, enjoyed the Wizard of Oz in Boston. And 30 families from all over the Bay State have won passes to attractions as close as the EcoTarium in Worcester, and as far away as the Crayola Experience and Sesame Place in Pennsylvania! Make sure you visit baystateparent.com frequently, subscribe to our email newsletter, and Like us on Facebook to stay on top of the latest giveaways and contests. And please remember to check all your email folders after the contests you’ve entered ends: We need to confirm names and mailing addresses before we send out your prizes!

Congratulations ... ...to Karie of Fitchburg and Pam of Sutton, winners of last month’s newslettersubscriber-only giveaways! We are adding more exclusive contests and giveaways for our Facebook and newsletter followers, so make sure you subscribe to our newsletter at baystateparent.com/newsletter/ and Like us on Facebook (facebook.com/baystateparent) to stay on top of the latest chances to win.

Win a family four-pack to Roger Williams Park Zoo! Go on an urban safari! Roger Williams Park Zoo in Providence is home to more than 100 species of rare and fascinating animals from around the world on more than 102 acres, and we have family four packs of tickets to give away! Email win@ baystateparent.com with the subject line Roger Williams by Sept. 23 for your chance to win, and be sure to include your mailing address in your entry. Good luck! 10 SEPTEMBER2016

BAYSTATEPARENT 11

11 Ways to Help Your Child Have A Successful School Year BY KRISTIN GUAY

he school year is just beginning, and now is the optimal time to help your child have a successful year. There are many important tips and strategies you can implement now to ensure this will be the best year ever for your child.

Set Goals Both Academic and Non-Academic Early in the school year, ask your child what they would like to accomplish during the next year. This could include trying out for a team, making some new friends, joining a special club, or striving to be an officer in a club. Whatever it may be, have your child approach the school year being actively involved, engaged, and ready to move forward. Creating challenging-yet-realistic goals gets them excited about the academic environment and all the possibilities. Parents can help by knowing what is offered at school — websites usually list all the clubs, sports, musical opportunities, etc. Also, many students have taken it upon themselves to create a club of their own. Over the years, clubs such as Quidditch, teen cooking, transgender teens, hula-hoop, chess, and environmental affairs have been created by students in their schools. 12 SEPTEMBER2016

“Through the positive experience of goal setting, your child can learn about his or herself, by taking responsibility for his or her own behavior. This will teach your child the boundaries of his or her own capacity,” Dr. Gail Gross noted in a Huffington Post article, “Teaching Children Confidence Through Goal Setting” (huffingtonpost.comdr-gailgross). When discussing goals with your child, make sure you are setting a goal that challenges them but is also realistic and age-appropriate. It is also important to determine how this goal can be achieved and what support will be needed along the way. Children will be more invested if they feel their goal is attainable. “By looking at your whole child and meeting your child where he or she is, you can help them and guide them towards increments of small goals that can be rewarded and applauded on their way to learning how to set high, yet still reachable, milestones,” Gross wrote. By doing this, children learn to make choices that lead to accomplishments. It is important for children to feel they are part of the process and in control.

Establish a good relationship with school personnel early

One of the easiest ways you can establish a positive relationship with the teacher is attend any meetand-greet or open houses offered by the school. Not only can you meet your child’s teacher, but you also have an opportunity to see the classroom, hear about the curriculum, and ask any questions you might have. Most teachers have email addresses, and this is an excellent means of communication. Remember, they are busy with your child during the day, so phone calls do not always work. Never be reluctant to contact a teacher about a concern — teachers would rather have the issue addressed early on then let something fester with the parent or child. Like any person, the more you get to know a teacher, the more comfortable you will be in approaching them about a concern. “A positive parent-teacher relationship helps your child feel good about school and be successful in school,” said Diane Levin, a professor of education at Wheelock College. “It demonstrates to your child that he can trust his teacher, because you do. The positive relationship makes a child feel like the important people in his life are working together.” It is also extremely important that parents be involved in their child’s school as their own schedule

allows. Many schools offer events during days and evenings to help accommodate all schedules. This gives parents an opportunity to meet other parents outside the classroom and also be involved in fundraising or the decision-making process at the school. Schools are always looking for volunteers for festivals, fundraisers, or sporting/ musical events. Participate when you can to show your support.

Use the school and class website to stay informed The class website is an invaluable tool for staying up to date with all the happenings in a classroom, such as homework assignments, assessments, projects, and special activities. How many parents can relate to this conversation at the end of the day? Parent: “What did you do today at school?” Child: “Nothing much.” Class websites let you know what material was covered, if there was a special guest, what special events might be coming up, and other general information on how your child spent their day. Plus, checking the website gives you the opportunity to ask specific questions at the end of the day, such as, “Tell me about the insect video you watched today,” or “What did you think of the orchestra performance?”

Some schools even have online grading systems through which parents can track their child’s homework assignments, quizzes, and tests, and also can see any upcoming assignments. This is extremely important for students who might need a little extra support in preparing for quizzes, tests, and longterm projects.

Preparing a supportive workplace at home Creating a supportive workplace is a very important aspect in helping your child transfer their academic lessons from school to home. Here’s a common problem teachers experience, especially as kids reach the tween and teen ages. If a student’s performance were slipping, the teachers would call a conference with the parents to discuss a plan of action. This would begin by asking some simple questions about the home environment. One of the first questions asked is, “Where does your child do their homework?” The next question would be, “Where does your child keep their phone/computer/tablet when they are doing their homework?” If the answer was the same location (usually their bedroom), this might be part of the problem. Students need a quiet place to work with no distractions. Some children struggle with monitoring their time on social media, so it is up to the parents to help them with this. Maybe have them do their homework at the dining room table and keep all electronics away during this time. After a certain amount of work, give them a little break and let them check social media — only for a few minutes. Then it’s back to work. Also, make sure the work area has everything your child needs for their school assignments and projects. This includes notebook paper, graph paper, pencils, pens, calculators, rulers, protractors, scissors, dictionary, and even a good thesaurus. This is especially important for children who spend time in different households due to separation or divorce. Another important note — if a teacher distributes a textbook to keep at home, you might want to check if you can get another copy so there’s one textbook at each parent’s house. This creates a lot less stress for the child, and they will always have the resources they need at both homes.

Every once in awhile, purge the backpack Keeping a clean, organized backpack is something parents need to instill in their children during the early years of school. This is important for the transfer of assignments, money, permission slips, party invitations, book orders, and numer-

ous other items that go back and forth between school and home. Sometimes it helps to have a special folder (usually a bright color) that is used to store the most important papers. If a teacher sends home a permission slip for a field trip — it goes in this folder. When the parent signs the permission slip — it goes in this folder. Eventually, your child will learn to put all important papers in one place. Also, similar to the work environment, the backpack should contain important items your child might need at school — pencils, extra paper, markers, etc. No matter how organized a backpack, it can still be a challenge making sure the necessary items actu-

teacher they have completed the assignment, but they cannot find it anywhere. This would result in the student not being able to check the work with the rest of the class and feel bad that they could not prove they did the work. Sometimes, the assignment could appear as a crumpled, torn mess — but not until after a great deal of stress. Your child will feel less stressed and more prepared if they know exactly where everything is they need.

Help your child organize a calendar/agenda book Many schools issue agenda books to each student at the beginning of the year. These are important

“A positive parent-teacher relationship helps your child feel good about school and be successful in school.” — Diane Levin, professor of education, Wheelock College

ally go into the backpack in order to make the connection from school, to home, and back. One clever trick is to have a small checklist for the backpack. Do this by creating a list and putting it into a clear plastic photo key chain and attaching it to the backpack. This checklist can include such items as homework assignments, lunch, book, supplies, textbooks, anything the child needs to mentally check off before leaving home or school. This way an overdue library book does not stay at home and a textbook needed for an assignment does not stay at school Many teachers have seen firsthand how important this process is in helping a child feel prepared for school and reducing stress and anxiety. Teachers describe the countless times they have watched a student frantically look through a messy backpack for an assignment. The student assures the

might be due at the beginning of the week. With a little preparation and forethought, they will be able to complete their work and enjoy their free time.

Talk to your child about their school day This is when it is necessary for parents to know exactly what is happening in the classroom and at school. If you check your child’s class website, you can ask very specific questions about their day. Be sure to talk with your child every day about what they have experienced at school — questions can cover academics, friends, special events. As a parent, try setting a goal to ask at least one specific question about your child’s school day. Usually one question will lead to another, and before you know it, you are having a wonderful conversation about the events of the day. The federal Office of Adolescent Health offers a series of conversation tips and suggestions for effective communication with your teen at hhs.gov.ash.oah/resources-andpublication/info/parent/taling-teens. Some include: listen and ask openended questions; pay attention to the conversation and make sure your teen knows you are listening to every word; let your teen know that you understand the challenges of adolescence; and remember that talking to your child is an ongoing process that comes in bits and pieces over time.

Help your child control stress and conquer test anxiety

tools for keeping track of homework, assignments, and even activities outside of school. Students can see a week at a glance when assignments are due and tests are scheduled, as well as what other activities might interfere with these assignments — sports practice, instrument lessons, a visit from an out-of-town family member, etc. Some students find it helpful to put an open box next to the assignment and check it when the assignment is completed. Also, colored highlighters can be used for different assignments, tests, projects, etc. Having a calendar at home can also help your child prepare for long-term assignments and crunch periods when it seems like everything is due at the same time. As a parent, it is important to teach your child to prepare in advance. For example, if your family has big plans for the weekend, help your child think about any work that

There are many little tricks a parent can do to help their child prepare for assessments at school and approach these in a more confident manner. Many times a child will know the material, but freeze during the test. My daughter used to call these “brain farts.” We came up with a strategy after each test. If there were seven “brain farts” on one test, we would try for six “brain farts” on the next test. Another strategy is to help your child prepare a little at a time. For example, if your child has an upcoming spelling test, work on the words a little every day — during car rides, at the breakfast table, or walking the dog. A little practice every day, as opposed to cramming at the last minute, will help your child feel prepared and confident.

Seek support at school and through community resources If your child is struggling, do not hesitate to request a meeting with the teacher and a guidance counBAYSTATEPARENT 13

selor. The teacher and school personnel will be able to make suggestions to help your child’s academic success. It is important to address any concerns you or your child might have and come up with a plan to help your child be successful in school. Keep in mind your community offers many resources that can be used to help your child make the most of their academic environment. Libraries, museums, concerts, festivals, and historic sites are all enrichment activities that can be enjoyable and educationally beneficial at the same time. These resources can make what is taught

in the classroom “come to life” by presenting the topic in a different manner. A child can read several books about the pilgrims, but this topic is complemented with a visit to Plimoth Plantation.

and in the classroom. Teach your child to plan for large projects by breaking the assignment down into smaller, more manageable tasks. Give them a quiet homework spot that has all the necessary supplies and proper lighting; teach them to focus on one task, take a break, and then continue with the task. Be sure to keep all distractions away. Even though there is not a lot of homework at this age, this is still an excellent time to instill good homework habits.

Final thoughts for each level in school Elementary school — This is the time to establish good study habits. Help your child organize their backpack the night before, keep it clean, and have all papers in the correct folder. Use a calendar to write down important events at the school

Middle school — This is a very tricky age because some kids can be released a little from parental

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High school — By this age, most students have the skills to navigate their school-to-home environment. Unfortunately, many other things come into play — jobs, clubs, and college applications. This is when they can really use advice from adults and learn to have some balance in their lives. Help them select only the activities they feel passionate about and to which they feel they can contribute. As a parent, you know what it is like to juggle family commitments and other obligations. This is a great opportunity to share with your teenager what you have learned in balancing all of life’s obligations. Many parents have had to drop an activity or say “no” to a request in order to meet their commitment to their own priorities. (For example, saying “no” to being on a fundraising committee because you cannot commit to evening meetings due to your young children’s needs.) We have all been there, and it is important to explain this to your teenager and help them make the choices that are best for them.

Demonstrate the importance of being a lifelong learner

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homework supervision while others need it more than ever. You want to build on the strategies you taught your child during elementary level. Continue to check calendars and agenda books, and teach your child to record assignments and plan for long-term projects. Keep them focused for periods of time and continue to monitor distractions. At this age, encourage your child to work independently but be sure to recognize when it is not working. Many middle school teachers will hear parents say their child should be working more independently at this age and the parents want to back off. This can work for some kids, but others might still need more guidance. Always be ready to get involved if you see your child needs assistance. Middle school is a very challenging time for kids, and they do not need the added stress of having trouble in school.

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One of the most important lessons we can teach our children is to be lifelong learners and to never stop wanting to explore, learn, and grow. Let them see your enthusiasm about the new school year and all the possibilities and opportunities it holds for them. Share stories of your own school experiences and any clubs or teams you joined, new friends you made, or opportunities you explored. Let them see each year as a new adventure and understand it is up to them to make the most of it.

Samantha, age 10

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BAYSTATEPARENT 15

Move More, Learn More in Active Classrooms

Simple ways to bring physical activity to the classroom for myriad benefits

BY LYNN PANTUOSCO-HENSCH

ike many parents, I look ahead to the school year with traditional back-to-school nostalgia. September represents the bittersweet end of summer and a fresh start for children and parents alike. What my children and I will miss most about our summer may come as a surprise — we will miss moving. We will miss the outdoor play of summer as we trade it in for indoor classrooms with desks in rows. While I know there will be time for physical education and recess, it won’t be the same. There will simply be too much sitting all day, unless my children are fortunate enough to have teachers who value physical activity. 16 SEPTEMBER2016

As a motor development specialist and mother of four young boys, I want parents and teachers to know how very important movement is for children — and how moving more can actually lead to learning more. It should go without saying that movement, especially in the form of structured exercise, is good for us. Most people associate exercise with physical benefits such as weight management, cardiovascular health, and increased immunity — the list goes on and on. More recently, studies have also shown that increases in physical activity have had positive cognitive effects on academic achievement.

Physical activity improves academic achievement Emerging research suggests that more physical education, recess, and physical activity can improve academic achievement. In particular, aerobic exercise is most associated with academic achievement. Aerobic exercise has been hailed by experts as “Miracle Grow” for the brain. Specifically, aerobic exercise increases oxygen, blood flow, and glucose to the brain. Aerobic exercise also promotes the production of more brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF). BDNF promotes healthy cellular growth in the brain and increases brain plasticity, all of which increases cognition and learning aptitude. If physical activity can improve learning, then building more move-

ment into the school day makes perfect sense. Of course, this is easier said than done. Many schools struggle to offer physical education frequently enough to meet national standards. And most schools are afraid to offer more recess, at the risk of taking away from academic instruction time. So how can physical activity be effectively incorporated into the school day? Active classrooms! In a recent review of research, the Centers for Disease Control found “positive relationships between classroom physical activity and indicators of academic achievement, classroom behavior, and cognitive function.” Physical activity in the classroom has been shown to increase cognition, memory, and recall. Perhaps more convincing is the evidence that links increases in physical activity to increases in standardized test scores.

In an educational climate in which teachers already have too much to do in too little time, asking teachers to add movement to their daily routine may seem daunting. Teachers and parents alike need to be convinced that adding physical activity to classrooms will result in more focused, better-behaved students who can accomplish even more throughout the school day. There are a number of emerging research-based programs on physical activity in the classroom. Common themes in these physical activity programs include:

Active classrooms increase daily physical activity

Physical activity guidelines for classrooms

Active or kinesthetic classrooms add movement to the daily classroom routine and go so far as to encourage learning through movement. Successful active classrooms have to do more than incorporate movement into the classroom — movement needs to be part of the classroom culture. Teachers need to invest in purposeful, organized physical activity in the classroom in order to reap the optimal benefits of exercise on the brain.

• Adding aerobic physical activity in the morning. • Scheduling periodic physical activity throughout the day. • Exercising in intervals. • Increasing the intensity of physical activity to the target heart rate zone.

When planning the physical activity component for a classroom, the FITT formula (Frequency, Intensity, Time, and Type) can be used. The research-based programs suggest a range of protocols that can be adapted to meet the scheduling demands and available resources of each classroom. General classroom physical activity guidelines include: • Frequency: 3-5 days in a school week • Intensity: 60%-85% of maximum

heart rate. Physical activity in intervals, with some duration in the target heart rate zone • Time: 10-30+ minutes/ day, including 3-5 minute movement breaks. Recommendations include early morning bouts of exercise, followed by movement breaks of a few minutes each during the day • Type: Aerobic exercise is optimal for brain development.

Photo by Lynn Pantuosco-Hensch

Most teachers already implement sensory breaks or movement breaks, which are a great start. These breaks are important not just for children with special needs or challenges such as ADHD. Most children can benefit from movement breaks. In fact, many children can benefit from the accommodations often provided for children on Individual Education Plans. Instead of giving a few children a balance disc or stool to sit on, why not make them available for all students? For $12 a disc, every student can reap the benefits of active sitting, without singling out students with special needs. While specialized equipment in the classroom can certainly boost movement throughout the day, there are budget-friendly options as well. Examples of simple, creative, and effective movement breaks can be found at gonoodle.com and brain-breaks.com. Seats such as a physio/yoga ball, stool, or balance disc (which sits on top of a traditional chair) require a user to sit with proper posture, which involves engaging the core muscles. When students are channeling some of their energy into active sitting, this tends to lead to more attentional focus. Generally speaking, being active stimulates more of the brain-body connection. Even better, physio ball seats can be used for movement breaks with numerous exercises.

Simple strategies for building active classrooms Don’t just sit around: When students need to be seated, teachers can consider alternative seating such as physio-balls, balance discs, or ergonomic stools. Hokki stools (vs.de/en/hokki/), which come in a variety of sizes, are an excellent choice for schools. Standard desks can also be modified for movement by using resistance bands or rubber

bands around the legs of the desk to use as a wiggle bar. Products such as Bouncy Bands (bouncy bands.com) and Fidgeting Foot Bands (therapyshoppe.com) get positive reviews. Stand up: When convenient, students can stand up rather than sit down. The act of standing over sitting burns more calories and equates to more Metabolic Equivalents (METs) per hour, per day. Standing also increases blood flow, oxygen uptake, and muscular fitness. Classroom space can be modified for standing stations. Standing or adjustable desks are available as well.

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Walk and talk: When students work in pairs to peer review or have discussions, why not walk and talk? Teachers can encourage movement through walking in the classroom and school building as space allows. Keep count: When students arrive at school, keep count of their steps using inexpensive pedometers. Tracking steps is a motivating trend that can be incorporated into the classroom and reinforced at home. What better way to learn math than as it relates directly to students’ steps? Parents and teachers can help students set goals, track steps, crunch numbers, chart progress, and more! Take it outside: When weather permits, take learning outside. Students enjoy the change of scenery and benefit from fresh air. The air outside is more than 10 times healthier than the air indoors. More importantly, outdoor space allows for plenty of gross motor movement.

The next cycle in active classrooms If a school has the budget or ability to attain grant funding, there are new products designed to increase movement in the classroom. Among my favorite classroom tools are DeskCycles (deskcycle.com). DeskCycles are reasonably priced and highly functional. The primary advantage of DeskCycles is that students are able to be physically active, without detracting from academic time on task. The cycles are quiet and easily portable. Students can cycle while they read, write, listen, or interact. In my children’s elementary school this year, my colleagues at Westfield State University and I will be studying the impact of DeskCycles on academic achievement and physical fitness. We hypothesize there will be a positive relationship between the increase in physical activity in the classroom and academic and physical measures. Similar to the

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other research-based programs, our study will use a protocol that includes a morning bout of exercise in the target heart rate zone followed by scheduled movement breaks throughout the day using the DeskCyles.

tunities for kinesthetic learning have the capacity to maximize the brain-body connection to help students learn more effectively. To learn more, considering adding these books to your reading list: Brain Rules by Dr. John Medina; Kinesthetic Classroom by Mike Kuczala; and Spark by Dr. John Ratey. Too busy to read the whole book? You can listen to the authors’ presentations on Ted Talks (ted. com). Consider learning more about how to add physical activity to the classroom through these reputable programs:

Active classroom culture

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Whether a teacher starts with simple strategies or invests in more significant classroom equipment, incorporating physical activity throughout the day is critical. Once physical activity is woven into the daily routine, it can become part of the classroom culture. Physical activity should become an expectation in the classroom for students, rather than a special occasion. Active classrooms can boost morale and generate motivation for students. If teachers are able to appreciate the connection between exercise and learning, students will, too. If we rethink teaching and learning to include movement across the curriculum, there are countless practical applications. For instance, the following learning tasks can be done while moving:

A+PAAC nationalacademies.org/hmd/~/medi a/5B184B0E436D43888F824106F0BC F6A6.ashx BOKS bokskids.org Energizers www.ecu.edu/cs-hhp/exss/upload/ Energizers_for_Grades_K_2.pdf FUNtervals skhs.queensu.ca/musclephysio/ Activity%20Booklet.pdf Let’s Move in Schools letsmoveschools.org

• memorization of information • quick recall of information • vocabulary • spelling • math facts • subject matter facts (e.g., states and capitals)

Take 10! take10.net My hope is that parents will share this article with their children’s teachers and principals as a conversation starter. Parents, teachers, and administrators can delve into the resources provided here to learn more about active classrooms. Knowledge of active classrooms will enable teachers and administrators to adopt the strategies that best complement their classrooms and schools. With more active classrooms, students will be moving more and learning more in no time!

Researchers suggest that learning is optimal in the period of time immediately following aerobic exercise. Following a bout of highintensity aerobic exercise, students are more capable of higher-order learning tasks as well. Over time, teachers can build toward physically active lessons. Moving while learning can solidify understanding, build retention, and reinforce the learning process for students.

Dr. Lynn Pantuosco-Hensch is an assistant professor in the Movement Science department at Westfield State University, teaching motor development, exercise science, and other sport-related courses.

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MCAS 2.0 Taking Shape BY DOUG PAGE

Details of MCAS 2.0, the new standardized test Bay State public school children will take for the first time next spring, are emerging from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). About 425,000 Massachusetts public school students in Grades 3-8 — about 40% of the Commonwealth’s entire public student body — are expected to take the new hybrid test, dubbed MCAS 2.0, with students in Grades 4 and 8 taking it on a computer. The new test consists of questions aligned to the controversial Common Core State Standards (CCSS), as well as those unique to the Bay State’s homegrown MCAS test, which the state’s public school children have faced for nearly 20 years. The new test may not be timed, said DESE spokesperson Jacqueline Reis: “That’s still being worked out.” This is contrary to the previous, stand-alone PARCC test more than half of the Commonwealth’s public school students in Grades 3-8 took this spring. Students in districts not trialing the PARCC test were administered the current MCAS exam. Also unknown, Reis said, is how soon results from the computerized version of MCAS 2.0 will be released to school districts and parents. Last fall, Massachusetts Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Mitchell Chester proposed a hybrid test, just before the Massachusetts Board of Education (BOE) was due to vote on a successor to the original MCAS. Chester said the older version of the MCAS had served the Commonwealth well, but needed to be updated, as it was not completely aligned with and reflective of the Common Core standards the state BOE adopted in 2010. Massachusetts’s public school children started taking the MCAS in 1998 as part of the law to reform the Commonwealth’s public schools, which passed the state legislature in 1993 and was signed by then Gov. William Weld. 20 SEPTEMBER2016

State Secretary of Education James Peyser endorsed the hybrid proposal, and it passed by an 8-3 vote by the BOE, which oversees the state’s public K-12 schools. Bay State public schools must also comply with a federal government law, No Child Left Behind, and assess their students yearly or risk losing federal money to fund the state’s public school system. A new federal law, Every Student Succeeds Act, signed into law by President Obama last December, becomes effective starting with the 2017-2018 academic year. It also requires public K-12 schools across the country to assess their students annually or risk losing federal money for education. Last year, the BOE held five hearings across the state throughout spring and summer, during which parents, students, educators, and interested parties shared their thoughts on Common Core and potential MCAS successors, most

notably the Common Core-based PARCC test. There was speculation among many educators last year that the PARCC test would replace the MCAS exam, but PARCC’s stature was diminished when Princeton, NJ-based Mathematica, a policy research company, announced last October that student scores on MCAS “predict college performance (just) as well as scores” on the PARCC test.

MCAS 2.0 details DESE Deputy Commissioner Jeff Wulfson, who’s spearheading MCAS 2.0, told the BOE at its June meeting that DESE expects students in Grades 4 and 8 — about 142,000 students — to take the test on a computer. In a memo to the BOE last October, Chester estimated such a move to computer-based testing could cost Bay State school districts between $5.5 million to $14.7 million

in technology charges. “We have told the field [school districts] that for next spring our expectation is that we will be doing computer-based testing in Grades 4 and 8,” Wulfson said. DESE also plans to offer an online version of MCAS 2.0 in spring 2017 for all students in Grades 3-8, Wulfson said, with the expectation that some school districts already have the necessary technology to administer a computer-based test to all of their Grade 3-8 students. DESE estimates there will be about 425,000 students in those grades this fall. “Once we finalize the vendor selection [the test maker], we’ll be able to finalize the hardware specifications that will be needed for the test, and we’ll get that out to districts in the next few weeks,” Wulfson told the BOE. “And at that point, we want to hear back from districts who feel they won’t be able to make that interim target of Grades 4 and 8 by next year.” Last November, the BOE set a goal that all school districts be able to administer a computer-based test for nearly all students in 2019. Any school district unable to administer a computerized MCAS 2.0 to its Grade 4 and 8 students next spring will be able to apply for a waiver. It will be approved as long as the school district can show it will be able to offer a computer-based version of MCAS 2.0 by the spring 2018. “We want to make sure they’re [the school districts] putting together a plan that gets them back on track so they’re not in position where they’re waiting until the last minute trying to bring the whole district on board [for a digital version of MCAS 2.0],” Wulfson told the BOE during its June meeting. He also said DESE was negotiating with Dover, N.H.-based testing company, Measured Progress, to design and create MCAS 2.0. DESE’s new contract with a test maker is expected to last through June 30, 2021, Reis said. Details of DESE’s negotiations with Measured Progress — and the contract’s possible value — weren’t

available, Reis said. However, DESE reported on its website that the company created the previous version of MCAS, between 2009 and 2014, receiving $146 million for the work. The company that provides DESE with MCAS 2.0, Reis said, will pay PARCC for the Common Corealigned questions. “The MCAS questions are developed by Measured Progress and reviewed by Massachusetts educators, experts, and DESE staff before being used. PARCC questions were developed by Pearson [a billion-dollar British company] in conjunction with educators, experts, and state agency staff from around the country,” Reis said. The number of questions aligned with Massachusetts’s educational standards and the number of those from the PARCC consortium hasn’t been decided, Reis says. At the November 2015 meeting, the BOE also decided to hold school districts harmless in 2017 if their students score poorly on the new test. But the board decided all school districts would be held accountable for their MCAS 2.0 results in 2018. All Massachusetts school districts are ranked from Level 1 (highest-performing) through Level 5 (lowest-performing) depending on how their students fared in their last annual test.

At the June BOE meeting, Wulfson said he expected to address the BOE during its meeting this month with a progress report on how MCAS 2.0 is developing.

The test maker If Measured Progress provides MCAS 2.0, the company’s founding principal, Stuart Kahl, said their employees, both temporary and permanent, will grade the test at one or possibly all three of their locations in New Hampshire, Colorado, or New York. Measured Progress’s temporary employees grading the test are hired through Kelly Services, an employment company, and have collegiate training in the academic fields they’re grading, Kahl said. “Scoring is so misunderstood,” he said. “The important decisions are made before the scoring starts. It’s done by accommodation of the state education department, the committee of educators on a particular subject, and our staff. It’s all joint work and a joint process. What the [test] scorers are doing is matching student responses to the descriptors [answers] that are provided. They’re matching between a student response and the best student sample [response].”

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

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OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO

GO DIG Dirtopia. The Discovery Museum, Acton. Sept. 1-3. 22 SEPTEMBER2016

GO PICK. Apple Days. Old Sturbridge Village. Sept 24-25.

Photo courtesy Wachusett Mountain

Photo courtesy Old Sturbridge Village

Photo courtesy The Discovery Museums

GO EAT Boston Local Food Festival. Rose Kennedy Greenway, Boston. Sept. 18.

GO PARTY KidsFest. Wachusett Mountain, Princeton. Sept. 24-25.

OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO!

1 Thursday

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.

4 Sunday Family Fun Days. Old Sturbridge Village, 1 Old Sturbridge Village Rd., Sturbridge. 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Join in the fun playing baseball like early New Englanders, French & English tugof-war, meet the oxen in training, try your hand at marbling, learn to dance, and more. Through Monday. Free with admission. Adults $28, youths 3 to 17 $14, children under 3 free. osv.org.

Dirtopia. The Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Acton. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Dig, climb, burrow, and make mud pies, mud paintings, and mudanything as we discover the infinite potential of dirt. Through Saturday. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $12.50, children under 1 free. discoverymuseums.org.

Photo courtesy Aigner-Prensky Marketing

Pilgrim Hall Museum’s 192nd Birthday Bash. Pilgrim Hall Museum, 75 Court St., Plymouth. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Enjoy birthday cake and free admission during this special day celebrating the longevity of this Plymouth institution. Free. pilgrimhallmuseum.org. Family and Friends Support Group. AdCare Hospital Founders Room, 107 Lincoln St., Worcester. 6:30 p.m. The Family and Friends Group encourages participants to discuss their feelings and how they are coping with the effects of a loved one’s alcohol and drug use or recovery. All discussions are confidential. Held every Thursday. 800-345-3552 x4058. Castle Hill Summer Picnic Concert: Orville Giddings Band. Castle Hill on the Crane Estate, 310 Argilla Rd., Ipswich. 7 p.m.-9 p.m. Bring a picnic supper or enjoy some of our vendors’ provisions, explore the grounds, dance on the lawn, and experience one of the best Boogie Blues themed bands in the region. Member cars $20, nonmember cars $30. thetrustees.org. Starry Starry Night. Eleanor Cabot Bradley Estate, 2468 Washington St., Canton. 7 p.m.9 p.m. Gaze at the stars over the open fields at the Bradley Estate and learn about stories of the constellations and planets above. Members $9, nonmembers $15. thetrustees.org. Back to School Outdoor Movie. Governor Oliver Ames Estate, 35 Oliver St., North Easton. 7:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. Take in an outdoor movie to celebrate the summer of fun we just had and the upcoming school year. Register ahead. Member adults $5, nonmember adults $10, children free. thetrustees.org.

2 Friday Family Fun Friday: Hollywood Star Day. Heritage Museum & Gardens, 67 Grove St., Sandwich. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Be part of the exciting word of CUT! Costume and the Cinema as you walk the red carpet, create your own star to be added to the Heritage Walk of Fame, and vote on your favorite costume. Free with admission. Members free; nonmember adults $18, youths 3 to 11 $8, children under 3 free. heritagemuseumsandgardens.org. Summer Camp Movie Throwback. Rocky Woods, 64 Rocky Woods Reservation, Medfield. 4 p.m.-11 p.m. Enjoy this double header of

GO VEG Vegetarian Food Truck and Craft Beer Festival. The Arsenal Project, Watertown. Sept. 10.

summertime camp movie classics from the ’80s and ’90s, where food and drinks will be on sale, and hikes are always welcome. Register ahead. Members $20, nonmembers $25. thetrustees.org.

spent their time between chores and battle by writing a message home with a quill pen, playing an 1812 board game, or getting a temporary tattoo. Free. ussconstitutionmuseum.org.

Free Friday Night Fun. The Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Acton. 4:30 p.m.8:30 p.m. Join us as we accept food donations for local food pantries and enjoy this night of scientific exploration. Free. discoverymuseums.org.

Labor Day Family Camp Out. Castle Hill on the Crane Estate, 310 Argilla Rd., Ipswich. 11 a.m. An overnight adventure-filled weekend featuring a choice of activities, lounging on the beach, and exploration, with dinner and s’mores to kick-off the evening. Register ahead. Member adults $40, children $24; nonmember adults $50, children $30. thetrustees.org.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens. The Hall at Patriot Place, 2 Patriot Pl., Foxboro. 6 p.m. Enjoy pre-show entertainment on the plaza before stretching out at sunset on blankets or lawn chairs as we watch the first installment following-up on the classic space opera trilogy. Free. patriot-place.com.

3 Saturday Annual Butterfly Census. Allens Pond Wildlife Sanctuary, 1280 Horseneck Rd., Westport. 10 a.m.-12 p.m. The Massachusetts Butterfly Club leads teams across multiple habitats in the 593acre sanctuary and provides expertise in identifying butterflies. Register ahead. Free. massaudubon.org. 2nd Annual Onset Beach Kite Festival. Onset Beach, Onset Ave., Onset. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Live demonstrations, build your own kite, and see the many kites for sale by local hobby shops. Free. onsetbay.org. Fun and Games at Sea. USS Constitution Museum, Charlestown Navy Yard, Building 22, Charlestown. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Learn how sailors

Tomato Day. Tower Hill Botanic Garden, 11 French Dr., Boylston. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Tomato tastings, tours, cooking demos, and more. Free with admission. Members free; nonmember adults $12, children 6 to 18 $7, children under 6 free. towerhillbg.org. Arts and Activism Festival. Camp Kinderland,1543 Colebrook River Rd., Tolland. 12 p.m.-11 p.m. A weekend celebration supporting this multicultural summer camp and community through visual arts, performances, music, workshops, and more. Through Sunday. $60, children under 18 free. campkinderland.org. Family Drop-In Workshop: Book Binding and Journal-Making. Fruitlands Museum, 102 Prospect Hill Rd., Harvard. 1 p.m.-4 p.m. Make a book out of one single piece of paper, create a simple pamphlet-style book, and fashion an accordion book — all made out of recycled and decorative papers. Register ahead. Free with admission. Members free; nonmember adults $14, children 5 to 13 $6, children under 5 free. fruitlands.org.

Family Fishing Clinic. Rocky Woods, 64 Rocky Woods Reservation, Medfield. 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Bring a pole or learn on one of ours as our rangers introduce newcomers to the fun of fishing at Chickering Pond. Members free, nonmembers $5. thetrustees.org.

5 Monday Morningstar Access. Boston Children’s Museum, 308 Congress St., Boston. 8 a.m.10 a.m. A morning during which the museum dedicates itself to providing a welcoming environment for children with special needs. Register ahead. Free with admission. Members free; nonmember adults $16, children under 1 free. bostonchildrensmuseum.org. Labor Day Garden BBQ Potluck. Nightingale Community Garden, 512 Park St., Dorchester. 12 p.m.-2 p.m. Visit one of Boston’s flagship community gardens for a friendly neighborhood get-together, as we collectively bring something for the grill or a side dish to share. Free. thetrustees.org. Powisset Pig Roast. Powisset Farm, 31 Powisset St., Dover. 3 p.m.-5 p.m. Celebrate the unofficial end of summer with a Powisset pig roast. Register ahead. Member adults $15, children $9; nonmember adults $25, children $15. thetrustees.org. Jaws. Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard St., Brookline. 7 p.m. Enjoy this screening of the Spielberg-directed suspense drama as a Great White Shark terrorizes the quaint community of Amity Island, filmed on Massachusetts’s own Martha’s Vineyard. Adults $11.25, children $9.25. coolidge.org. Fire and Ice (Cream) on the Farm. Chestnut Hill Farm, 9 Chestnut Hill Rd., Southborough. 7 p.m.-9 p.m. Wrap up the long weekend with an ice cream cone on the farm, as we host locally made ice cream, tiki torches, a fire pit, and plenty of nocturnal animal and night sky observations. Member families $9, nonmember families $15. thetrustees.org.

6 Tuesday Storytime at the Museum. Concord Museum, 200 Lexington Rd., Concord. 11:15 a.m.BAYSTATEPARENT 23

OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO! 12 p.m. Spark your child’s imagination at the museum with a morning of stories and crafts. Free with admission. Members free; nonmember adults $10, children 5 to 17 $5, children under 5 free. concordmuseum.org. Library Craft Night: Books are the Best. Leominster Public Library, 30 West St., Leominster. 6 p.m.-7 p.m. Learn about the parts of a book, make your own special book to take home, and read Have a Look Says Book and Open This Little Book. For ages 3 to 7. Register ahead. Free. leominsterlibrary.org.

7 Wednesday Preschool Dance Party. Cary Memorial Library, 1874 Massachusetts Ave., Lexington. 9:45 a.m.10:15 a.m. Stretch to music and dance with us. For ages 3 to 5. Free. carylibrary.org. Card Battle Royale. Leominster Public Library, 30 West St., Leominster. 6 p.m.-9 p.m. Fans of Magic: The Gathering, and Yu-Gi-Oh are invited to join other gamers for an evening of open play and tournaments, with door prizes and snacks included. For ages 12 and up. Free. leominsterlibrary.org.

8 Thursday Hidden Treasures. Fitchburg Art Museum,

185 Elm St., Fitchburg. 1 p.m.-3 p.m. Explore the museum while chasing the theme “Light and Land” before topping the afternoon off with an art activity. Free with admission. Members free; nonmember adults $9, children under 13 free. fitchburgartmuseum.org.

game with us, be it on Xbox and Wii, or through board games and mini golf. Free. fitchburgpubliclibrary,org.

Martin Barre Band: An Evening of Blues, Rock & Jethro Tull. TCAN: Center for Arts, 14 Summer St., Natick. 8 p.m. Enjoy a unique sound and style that has brought about five platinum awards and a Grammy Award that embodies an important part of classic rock history. Members $28, nonmembers $32. natickarts.org.

Family Day at Bird Banding Station. Joppa Flats Education Center, 1 Plum Island Turnpike, Newburyport. 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. See scientists capture, measure, weigh, examine, and release migrant songbirds. For ages 6 and up. Register ahead. Member adults $8, children $5; nonmember adults $10, children $6. massaudubon.org.

9 Friday September Farm Store Open House. Appleton Farms, 219 Country Rd., Ipswich. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Enjoy music and fun for all ages as we showcase the food grazed, raised, and produced at Appleton as well as those made by our favorite local food vendors. Free. thetrustees.org. Emerson’s Quiet Fields of My Fathers. The Old Manse, 269 Monument St., Concord. 1 p.m., 3 p.m., & 6 p.m. Celebrate the day of Ralph Waldo Emerson’s essay “Nature,” through cake and a special walk through the homes and landscape that inspired and rooted Emerson. Members $15, nonmembers $25. thetrustees.org. Gaming. Fitchburg Public Library, 610 Main St., Fitchburg. 3:30 p.m.-4:30Madison, p.m. Come8

781 Grove Street Worcester 508-852-5555 spmguardians.org

10 Saturday

Third-Annual Volunteer Fair. Worcester Public Library: Main Branch, 3 Salem Sq., Worcester. 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Whether you enjoy working outdoors, mentoring local youth, teaching people new skills, or helping immigrant populations, come to this showcase of volunteer opportunities in your community. For ages 13 and up. Free. mywpl.org. Choate Island Day. Crane Wildlife Refuge on the Crane Estate, 310 Argilla Rd., Ipswich. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Explore an amazing island, home to deer, foxes, osprey, and other magnificent creatures, as boats run to the island from the docks until 1 p.m. Member adults $12, children $7; nonmember adults $20, children $12. thetrustees.org. Beyond the Spectrum: Lush Landscapes. Museum of Fine Arts: Boston, 465 Huntington Ave., Boston. 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. Learn about different techniques that are used to capture the beauty of the natural world during this adventure in art for children on the Autism Spectrum. For ages 8 to 12. $9. mfa.org. Vegetarian Food Truck and Craft Beer Festival. The Arsenal Project, 485 Arsenal St., Watertown. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Come enjoy 20 food trucks during this day serving up a variety of vegetarian favorites including Asian-fusion, soft serve treats, warm hand pies, and much more. Advance tickets $5, onsite tickets $10, children under 12 free. foodtruckfestivalsofamerica.com. Hawk Watch. Chestnut Hill Farm, 9 Chestnut Hill Rd., Southborough. 12 p.m.-2 p.m. Join

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our naturalists for a day of ‘hawk watching’ atop the hills of Chestnut Hill Farm, filled with sightseeing and hawk education. Members $5, nonmembers $10. thetrustees.org. 19th Annual MusicFest: Country. Wachusett Mountain, 499 Mountain Rd., Princeton. 12 p.m.-6 p.m. Grab your lawn chairs and blankets, and enjoy six live bands across two stages, great food, vendors, a race to the summit 5k, and the sounds of Kristen Merlin, Lance Carpenter and more. Advance adults $20, children 6; at-door adults $30, children $9, ages 5 and under free. wachusett.com. Riverfest. Assembly Row and Sylvester Baxter Riverfront Park, 340 Canal St., Somerville. 12 p.m.-8 p.m. Join us for a day of live local music, dozens of local artists, face painters, a moon bounce, an annual fireworks show at sundown, and more. Free. assemblyrow.com. Helping Wildlife: Monarch Butterflies. Wachusett Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary, 113 Goodnow Rd., Princeton. 1 p.m.-3 p.m. Join us for an afternoon of tagging monarchs, learning about other fall butterflies, and finding out how you can help monarchs in your own backyard. Register ahead. Member adults $6, children $3; nonmember adults $8, children $4. massaudubon.org. Zootopia. Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St., Newton. 2 p.m.-3:45 p.m. Enjoy this Saturday at the library as we show this Disney animated hit following a tenacious bunny and a sly fox as they team up to solve the case of missing animals. Free. newtonfreelibrary.net. Kids LEGO Club. Leominster Public Library, 30 West St., Leominster. 3 p.m.-4 p.m. Build boats, bridges, buildings, and more. For grades kindergarten through six. Register ahead. Free. leominsterlibrary.org. Teen Night. Fitchburg Public Library, 610 Main St., Fitchburg. 5 p.m.-8 p.m. Food, games, and movies after hours at the library. Free. fitchburgpubliclibrary.org. Youthful Exuberance. Cary Hall, 1605 Massachusetts Ave., Lexington. 8 p.m. A performance by the Lexington Symphony in its celebration of the uninhibited creativity of youth. $15-$50. caryhalllexington.com.

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 www.umassmemorial.org/healthymoms

24 SEPTEMBER2016

OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO!

11 Sunday

13 Tuesday

Fruitlands Wild Mushroom Foray. Fruitlands Museum, 102 Prospect Hill Rd., Harvard. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Join in this forest hunt looking for fungi, as hosted and led by the Boston Mycological Club, before returning to the Wayside Visitor Center to taste some of the gleanings. Register ahead. Members $10, nonmembers $15. fruitlands.org.

Peep Science Adventures; Rolling Down a Ramp. Children’s Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 10 a.m.-11 a.m. Drop-in and discover the science of ramps as we use a variety of materials and plenty of curiosity to see what makes things go faster and slower. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $12.50, children under 1 free. discoverymuseums.org.

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

Full STEAM Ahead Family Fun Night: Exploring Colors. Leominster Public Library, 30 West St., Leominster. 6 p.m.-7 p.m. Join us for our first Family Fun Night of the school year, as we read Bear Sees Colors and Mouse Paint and then use the light table for color exploration and do some other fun activities related to science, technology, engineering, art, and math. Suitable for ages 3 to 7. Register ahead. Free. leomisnterlibrary.org.

19th Annual MusicFest: Rock and Blues. Wachusett Mountain, 499 Mountain Rd., Princeton. 12 p.m.-6 p.m. Grab your lawn chairs and blankets and enjoy six live bands across two stages, great food, a classic car show, vendors, and the sounds of Aldous Collins Band, 11, Travis Colby, and more. Advance adults $20, children 6; at-door adults $30, children $9, ages 5 and under free. wachusett.com. Cambridge Carnival. Massachusetts Ave. & Main St., Cambridge. 12 p.m.-7 p.m. Enjoy two stages featuring local bands, international music, and DJs, a costume parade, a Kidsfest Zone with hands-on and interactive activities, tons of food and drinks, and more. Free. cambridgecarnival.org. Hands-On History. Concord Museum, 200 Lexington Rd., Concord. 1 p.m.-4 p.m. An afternoon where kids and families learn together through hands-on demonstrations. Free with admission. Members free; nonmember adults $10, children 5 to 17 $5, children under 5 free. concordmuseum.org. Learn About Instruments. Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St., Newton. 2 p.m.-3:30 p.m. Children are given the opportunity to experience a concert designed to teach them about the various instruments involved. Free. newtonfreelibrary.net.

12 Monday Kiddie Music Time with Monument Square Community Music School. Leominster Public Library, 30 West St., Leominster. 10 a.m.-11 a.m. A music and movement class using original and classic music, song, percussion instruments, and dance during this interactive class. Suitable for ages 5 and under. Register ahead. Free. leominsterlibrary.org.

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

14 Wednesday

LABOR DAY WEEKEND:

Backyard and Beyond: What’s the Weather Wednesday. The Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Acton. 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Join us for a program that depends on the weather, from leaf prints to wind catchers to rain painting. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $12.50, children under 1 free. discoverymuseums.org. Dance and Movement Class. Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St., Newton. 11 a.m.11:45 a.m. Join the Joanne Langione Dance Center as it presents a music and movement class. For toddlers and preschoolers. Free. newtonfreelibrary.net.

September 3, 4 & 5 Rainforest Reptiles September 11 Grandparents Day - kids bring your grandparents FREE! September 17-18 Apple Fest

Yoga in the Park. deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, 51 Sandy Pond Rd., Lincoln. 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Activate your body and mind as teachers from Still Studio lead vinyasa yoga surrounded by sculpture and nature. For ages 13 and up. Register ahead. Members free, nonmembers $15. decordova.org.

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Geocaching Basics. Governor Oliver Ames Estate, 35 Oliver St., North Easton. 6 p.m.-7 p.m. Learn the basics of geocaching on our property, which you can then take and use in your own backyard or town. Recommended for ages 12 to 17. Register ahead. Members free, nonmembers $5. thetrustees.org.

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15 Thursday Doggy Days: Out for a Walk. Children’s Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 10 a.m.-11 a.m. Drop in and meet certified Therapy Dog Abby, as she shows us how she gets exercise. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $12.50, children under 1 free. discoverymuseums.org. Spanish Bilingual Storytime. Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St., Newton. 4 p.m.-4:30 p.m. Enjoy this special bilingual story-time featuring stories, songs, and movement in English and Spanish. For ages 3 to 5. Free. newtonfreelibrary.net. Ben Cosgrove in Concert. Fitchburg Public Library, 610 Main St., Fitchburg. 6:30 p.m.8 p.m. Enjoy this multi-instrumentalist based in

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16 Friday

Photo courtesy The Revels

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

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New England, as he performs a concert that is electric and exhilarating. Free. fitchburgpubliclibrary.org. Learn How to Make Nature Wind Chimes. Leominster Public Library, 30 West St.,

Leominster. 7 p.m.-9 p.m. Join local nature artist Pete Cormier, as he demonstrates how to make nature wind chimes and presents a slide show of outdoor art at regional venues. Free. leominsterlibrary.org. Jacob, age 7

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Flower Field Soiree. The Stevens-Coolidge Place, 86 Andover St., North Andover. 5 p.m.-7 p.m. Join us for a relaxing evening of live music in a sea of colorful blooms and lawn games. Register ahead. Members $28, nonmembers $35. thetrustees.org. Rock Off Main Street. TCAN: Center for Arts, 14 Summer St., Natick. 7:30 p.m. This all-ages show provides a venue for local teen and young adult bands in the region to take their eclectic mix of music — from pop, emo, hardcore, punk, and more — from basements to the main stage. $8. natickarts.org.

17 Saturday Endless Summer Waterfront Festival. Nantasket Beach, Nantasket Ave., Hull. 12 p.m.5 p.m. This event celebrates Hulls’ great community of people, businesses, schools, and town

Author Storytime. Cary Memorial Library, 1874 Massachusetts Ave., Lexington. 9:30 a.m.-10 a.m. Local author Josh Funk reads his newest title Pirasaurs in honor of Talk Like a Pirate Day. Free. carylibrary.org. Corn Festival. South Shore Natural Science Center, 48 Jacobs Ln., Norwell. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. This annual event celebrates the fall harvest, embracing the natural and cultural heritage of New England through games and fun. Free with admission. Members free; nonmember adults $7, children ages 2 to 15 $3, children under 2 free. southshorenaturalsciencecenter.org. Batman Day. Grafton Public Library, 35 Grafton Common, Grafton. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. A day celebrating everyone’s favorite capedcrusader. Free. graftonlibrary.org. Family Yoga Class. Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St., Newton. 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Enjoy cooperative games, age-appropriate poses, partner poses between parent and child, breathing exercises, simple mindfulness activities, and relaxation. For ages 3 to 12. Free. newtonfreelibrary.net. Explore Science Together: Owls. Harvard Museum of Natural History, 26 Oxford St., Cambridge. 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. Learn together with hands-on activities about bird beaks and

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OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO! feed and conduct up-close observations of real specimens from our museum collections, before dissecting real owl pellets, and listening to owl calls. Register ahead. Members $10, nonmembers $20. hmnh.harvard.edu. Casey Carle’s BubbleMania. TCAN: Center for Arts, 14 Summer St., Natick. 11 a.m. Energetic entertainment is combined with artistic achievement for a performance of visual comedy, quick wit, big band swing music, and untamed creativity around bubbles. Adults $10, children $8. natickarts.org. Three Sheets to the Wind — Sea Shanties at the Meeting House. Old South Meeting House, 310 Washington St., Boston. 12 p.m.-2 p.m. Don’t miss this special chance to hear the Gloucester-based group Three Sheets to the Wind perform traditional sea shanties and songs of the sea. Free with admission. Adults $6, children 5 to 17 $1, children under 5 free. oldsouthmeetinghouse.org. Massachusetts Reptiles with Blue Hills Trailside Museum. Science Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 12 p.m.-2 p.m. Drop in and enjoy a unique opportunity to see some of our scaled and shelled friends up close with a trained naturalist. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $12.50, children under 1 free. discoverymuseums.org. Hawk Watching for Families. Wachusett Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary, 113 Goodnow Rd., Princeton. 12:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m. Enjoy a hike to the summit of Brown Hill to scout for hawks and other wildlife of autumn. For ages 6 and up. Register ahead. Member adults $6, children $3; nonmember adults $8, children $4. massudubon.org.

ready to hoist the mainsail and depart on an adventure with the crew during this celebration of silly pirate culture, from getting a temporary tattoo, creating a Jolly Roger, learn pirate lingo, hunt for hidden treasure, and more. Free with admission. Members free; nonmember adults $18, youths 3 to 11 $8, children under 3 free. heritagemuseumsandgardens.org. Family Farm Day. Appleton Farms, 219 Country Rd., Ipswich. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Celebrate the fall season with some good oldfashioned fun on America’s oldest working farm, as you challenge friends to a potato spoon relay or hay obstacle course, enjoy great music, paint

your own pumpkin, visit our farm animals, enjoy cider donuts, and more. Member cars $24, nonmember cars $30. thetrustees.org. Nature and Nurture with Miss Bernadette. Children’s Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 10:30 a.m.-11:15 a.m. Explore the great outdoors, as we sing songs, take a nature walk read a story, or make a craft. Designed for ages 2 to 4. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $12.50, children under 1 free. discoverymuseums.org. PJ Library Harvest the New Year. Wards Berry Farm, 614 South Main St., Sharon.

10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Celebrate Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, with your family on a hayride to the pumpkin fields, a holiday story-time, apple and honey taste test, crafts, farm animals, and more. Register ahead. Recommended for ages up to 5. Families $25. bostonjcc.org. Boston Local Food Festival. Rose Kennedy Greenway, Boston. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. The Sustainable Business Network transforms the Rose Kennedy Greenway into the nation’s largest local and sustainable food hub, featuring shops, fun, educational activities, exhibits, music, goat milking, and more. Free. bostonlocalfoodfestival.com. Javier, age 6

THANK YOU!

For voting us BEST After School Program for Children with Special Needs! Multiple Locations in Massachusetts. Find yours at ymca.net/find-your-y

LEGO Block Party. Cary Memorial Library, 1874 Massachusetts Ave., Lexington. 2 p.m.3 p.m. Drop in and build with our LEGO bricks to see what you can create and what new friends you can make. Free. carylibrary.org. Family Terrarium Workshop. Peabody Essex Museum, 161 Essex St., Salem. 2 p.m.-3 p.m. Get your hands dirty while learning about plants and mini habitats, as a member of the Niche Urban Garden Supply team guides you through the process as you design a one-of-a-kind terrarium to take home. Free. pem.org. Ho’okupu: The Offering. Jewett Art Center Auditorium, 106 Central St., Wellesley. 7:30 p.m. Enjoy as the world-renowned Hawaiian Cultural Group Hãlau ‘O Keikiali’I share what its members have learned with our community through the stories they tell in songs. Reservations Recommended. Free. wellesley.edu.

18 Sunday International Talk Like a Pirate Day Celebration. Heritage Museum & Gardens, 67 Grove St., Sandwich. 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Be BAYSTATEPARENT 27

Wednesday, Sept. 14

HOME SCHOOL DAY

OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO! ARTfull Explorations. deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, 51 Sandy Pond Rd., Lincoln. 1 p.m.-3 p.m. Explore the Sculpture Park’s installations and Museum exhibitions as we investigate an idea or material inspired by themes and artists on view. Designed for ages 5 to 12. Free with admission. Members free; nonmembers $14, children under 12 free. decordova.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, as you join a rousing chorus of sea chanteys at the USS Constitution Museum. Free. ussconstitutionmuseum.org. 2 Birds: Emerging Musicians from Berklee College of Music. Tower Hill Botanic Garden, 11 French Dr., Boylston. 3 p.m.-4 p.m. Enjoy a sound that has never been heard before fusing classical traditions with modern style to create a culture and groovy sound. Free with admission. Members free; adults $12, children 6 to 8 $7, children under 6 free. towerhillbg.org.

STEP BACK in time! CELEBRATE crafts and trades! HANDS-ON studios and programs

available.

VISIT the newly re-interpreted Bixby House.

September 3 – 5 Family Fun Days! 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

13th Annual Revels RiverSing. Winthrop Park, Harvard Square & Weeks Footbridge, Memorial Dr., Cambridge. 5 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Join thousands of voices in song as Revels waves goodbye to summer and welcomes in the fall, during this puppet-filled and song-filled parade. Free. revels.org.

19 Monday Fairy Houses. Leominster Public Library, 30 West St., Leominster. 10 a.m.-11 a.m. Use clay to create fairy houses for miniature fairies, before decorating your house and adorning your fairy. For ages 3 to 5. Register ahead. Free. leominsterlibrary.org. MFA Playdates. Museum of Fine Arts: Boston, 465 Huntington Ave., Boston. 10:15 a.m.11 a.m. Enjoy story-time and looking activities in the galleries, as we dive into the theme “Tune Into Art.” Recommended for ages 4 and younger. Free with admission. Members free; nonmember adults $25, youths 7 to 17 $10, children under 7 free. mfa.org. Sophisticated Stories. Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St., Newton. 7:30 p.m.-8:15 p.m. Enjoy cool, strange, weird, and wacky picture books during this designated story-time for older kids. For grades 3 and up. Free. newtonfreelibrary.net.

20 Tuesday Curious Explorers. Habitat Education and Wildlife Sanctuary, 10 Juniper Rd., Belmont. 10 a.m.-11 a.m. Bring your little explorer out to experience the wonders of fall, as we look for colors and play in the leaves, check the garden, and listen for birds and crickets. For families with children ages 2 to 3. Register ahead. Members $6, nonmembers $8. massaudubon.org. 28 SEPTEMBER2016

Snip and Tear. Children’s Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 10 a.m.-11 a.m. Drop in and show off your scissor skills whether you are cutting for the first time, creating a craft, or tearing up a collection of confetti. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $12.50, children under 1 free. discoverymuseums.org. Teen Crafterhours. Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St., Newton. 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Enjoy this time as we make buttons and enjoy snacks together. For grades 6 to 12. Free. newtonfreelibrary.net.

21 Wednesday Backyard and Beyond: Nature Journaling. The Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Acton. 11 a.m. Explore nature through science, art, and writing, as we make nature journals to take on a nature walk. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $12.50, children under 1 free. discoverymuseums.org. SPLAT Fall Kickoff. Shrewsbury Public Library, 214 Lake St., Shrewsbury. 4 p.m.-6 p.m. Enjoy this party to celebrate the new section of the library. For grades 7 through 12. Free. shrewsburyma.gov. Endless Summer Picnic Concert. The Stevens-Coolidge Place, 86 Andover St., North Andover. 5 p.m.-7 p.m. Liven up your week with this outdoor concert, filled with family fun, blues and roots music, and delicious food truck offerings — or bring your own picnic. Register ahead. Members $9, nonmembers $15, children free. thetrustees.org. This Is How We Roll: Small World. Shrewsbury Public Library, 214 Lake St., Shrewsbury. 7 p.m.-8:45 p.m. Learn to play new games and meet fellow gamers, featuring Small World, a Risk-like board game featuring goblins, wizards, trolls, and other fantasy races. Intended for teens and up. Free. shrewsburyma.gov.

22 Thursday Read to Your Bunny. Leominster Public Library, 30 West St., Leominster. 10 a.m.11 a.m. Enjoy this story-time through songs, stories, musical instruments, and Daisy the puppet. For ages 12 to 24 months. Free. leominsterlibrary.org. Take Aparts. Science Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 2 p.m.-4:30 p.m. Drop in and grab a screwdriver to discover resistors and capacitors as we uncover the inner workings of everyday electronics. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $12.50, children under 1 free. discoverymuseums.org. STEAM Ahead. Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St., Newton. 4 p.m.-4:45 p.m. Explore math, science, and the arts through children’s books and related activities. For ages 3 to 5. Free. newtonfreelibrary.net.

OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO! Family Films Under the Tent: Brother Bear. Fruitlands Museum, 102 Prospect Hill Rd., Harvard. 6 p.m.-8 p.m. Bring a picnic dinner and join us under the tent for a screening of this Disney animated movie, following a hunter turned into — and paired with — a younger bear. Member families $10, nonmember families $15. fruitlands.org.

23 Friday Cape Cod 47th Annual Scallop Festival. Cape Cod Fairgrounds, 1220 Nathan Ellis Hwy., East Falmouth. 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Enjoy a juried arts and crafts show, musical performances throughout the day, and of course fantastic fried scallops, chicken dinners, chowder, lobster rolls, and more. Through Sunday. Adults $7, children 6 to 12 $2, children under 6 free. capecodscallopfest.com. Exploring Nano: The Smallest Science. Science Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 2 p.m.-4:30 p.m. Join us for hands-on educational activities as we uncover the connection between nanotechnology and the art of stained glass windows. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $12.50, children under 1 free. discoverymuseums.org. Cranberry Harvest Bog Tour. Makepeace Farms, 146 Tihonet Rd., Wareham. 3 p.m. Take a guided tour including a discussion on growing seasons, the history of the cranberry industry, interaction with our farmers, and live viewing of our wet harvest cranberry operation. $12, children under 7 free. admakepeace.com.

us pick apples, taste some heirloom apples, try your hand at cider-making, and more. Free with admission. Adults $28, youths 3 to 17 $14, children under 3 free. osv.org. Fairy Gardens. Plymouth Art Center, 11 North St., Plymouth. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Help create fairy gardens and enjoy games, art projects, face painting, and a wish tree. Wear your favorite costume or buy wings at the boutique. $5. gcfm.org/plymoutheveninggardenclub. Daddy/Caregiver and Me Brain Building Morning. Leominster Public Library, 30 West St., Leominster. 10 a.m.-11 a.m. Children and their dads/caretakers are invited to join us for some boat stories before building and decorating our own wooden fireboats. For ages 3 to 7. Register ahead. Free. leominsterlibrary.org. The Craft Festival at Fruitlands. Fruitlands Museum, 102 Prospect Hill Rd., Harvard. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Come enjoy grilled goodies, and the music of The Summertime Trio as you enjoy this juried art show and vendors selling jewelry, ceramics, glassware, wood items, fiber arts, and more. Members $5, nonmembers $10. fruitlands.org. 26th Annual KidsFest. Wachusett Mountain, 499 Mountain Rd., Princeton. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Enjoy a day filled with music, food, and family fun, including live shows, sampling, and dozens of vendor activities and games. Advance adults $11, children $7; at-door adults $14, children $10, ages 2 and under free. Through Sunday. wachusett.com.

Apple Honey Harvest. Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary, 208 South Great Rd., Lincoln. 3:30 p.m.-5 p.m. Visit the bees and taste delicious honey and apple combinations, as we share stories, songs, and crafts. For families with children ages up to 8. Register ahead. Members $12.50, nonmembers $15.50. massaudubon.org.

3rd Annual Fall Festival at Gore Place. Gore Place, 52 Gore St., Waltham. 12 p.m.5 p.m. Celebrate fall with delicious local food, live local bands, and plenty of entertainment as we issue in the autumn weather with friends. Members free; nonmember adults $10, children under 13 free. goreplace.org.

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

Family Basketball Tournament. Francis William Bird Park, 41 Rhoades Ave., East Walpole. 2 p.m.-4 p.m. Bring the family down to our recently renovated basketball courts to try your hand at some basketball. Register ahead. Free. thetrustees.org.

24 Saturday Plum Island COASTWEEP 2016. Joppa Flats Education Center, 1 Plum Island Turnpike, Newburyport. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Come as we make our shorelines better during this Commonwealth-wide celebration, as we pick up trash from Plum Island beaches from the north end to the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge and Sandy Point State Reservation. Free. massaudubon.org. Apple Days. Old Sturbridge Village, 1 Old Sturbridge Village Rd., Sturbridge. 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Enjoy the crisp autumn days at Old Sturbridge Village as you tour the orchards, help

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PJ Library and JFN Celebrate the New Year. Lil’ Folk Farm, 1070 Washington St., Holliston. 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Bring your child to start the new year of by petting, grooming, and feeding a variety of barnyard animals, enjoy library books, food, and festive holiday-related crafts. Families $20. bostonjcc.org. Architectural Clay Sculpting with Allison Newsome. Museum of Fine Arts: Boston, 465 Huntington Ave., Boston. 12 p.m.-3 p.m. BAYSTATEPARENT 29

Explore the beauty and detail of sculpting with architectural clay from Allison Newsome — currently working on a life sized 3D sculpture —before visiting the exquisite glazed terracotta Renaissance works by della Robbia. Free with admission. Members; nonmember adults $25, youths 7 to 17 $10, children under 7 free. mfa.org. Newtonville Village Day and Jazz Festival. Walnut St., Newtonville. 12 p.m.5 p.m. Enjoy this huge block party and join us as we swing Walnut Street in Newtonville with a lineup of jazz performances, kids activities, crafts and food vendors, and dance. Free. newtonjazzfest.org. Chickadee Birders: Hawks. Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary, 208 South Great Rd., Lincoln. 1 p.m.-3 p.m. Enjoy this wonderful bird of prey, as we see and learn about the hawks at Drumlin Farm, from red-tailed, to red-shouldered, to broad wing varieties. For families with children ages 7 to 10. Register ahead. Members $13, nonmembers $16. massaudubon.org.

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

OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO! 12:30 p.m. A special morning for families with sing-alongs, peppered with well-known classics infants and toddlers with hearing loss. Register and originals on the guitar and banjo. Free. ahead. Free. discoverymuseums.org. newtonfreelibrary.net. Captain America: Civil War. Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St., Newton. 6 p.m.Let’s Go Fly a Kite. Discovery Woods at The 8:30 p.m. Watch as this superhero epic between Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Acton. 2 the denizens of the Marvel Universe unfold, p.m.-4:30 p.m. Drop in and head outside as we pinning Captain America against Iron Man. Free. experiment with a variety of materials, shapes, newtonfreelibrary.net. and sizes to create a one-of-a kind kite. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $12.50, Chessmates. Newton Free Library, 330 Homer children under 1 free. discoverymuseums.org. St., Newton. 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m. Have fun playing chess with general instruction and open play, Hawks Aloft. Drumlin Farm Wildlife where all levels and expertise are invited. For Sanctuary, 208 South Great Rd., Lincoln. 3:30 ages 6 to 9. Free. newtonfreelibrary.net. p.m.-5 p.m. Meet a migrator and hike to top of the drumlin while searching the skies for soaring hawks, before making flying bird crafts to take home. For families with children up to 8. Register ahead. Members $12.50, nonmembers Make a MESS: Wacky Bubbles. Discovery $15.50. massaudubon.org. Woods at The Discovery Museums, 177 Main

27 Tuesday

St., Acton. 10 a.m.-11 a.m. Drop in, play and experiment with bubbles of different shapes and sizes. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $12.50, children under 1 free. discoverymuseums.org.

Matt Heaton Family Singalong. Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St., Newton. 11 a.m.-11:45 a.m. Come enjoy as Matt Heaton, the Toddlerbilly Troubadour, brings an infectious energy to his

28 Wednesday Family and Friends Informational Program. AdCare Outpatient Services, 95 Lincoln St., Worcester. 6 p.m. AdCare’s Family and Friends Informational and Support Programs are designed to educate loved ones about substance dependency and provide support for family members. 800-345-3552 x4058.

29 Thursday Peep Science Adventures: Tree Detectives. Discovery Woods at The Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Acton. 10 a.m.-11 a.m. Drop in and test out different methods of investigating tress in Discovery Woods. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $12.50, children under 1 free. discoverymuseums.org. Family Films Under the Tent: Fly Away Home. Fruitlands Museum, 102 Prospect Hill Rd., Harvard. 6 p.m.-8 p.m. Bring a picnic dinner and join us under the tent for a screening of this film following a young girl who is driven to guide her once hatchling geese to a new location. Member families $10, nonmember families $15. fruitlands.org.

30 Friday Make a MESS: Fall Flowers. Discovery Woods at The Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Acton. 2 p.m.-4:30 p.m. Drop in as we take a cue from nature and get our hands a little dirty while making ‘seed bombs’ to help scatter seeds. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $12.50, children under 1 free. discoverymuseums.org. Samantha, age 10

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Gas 63 Fall Fairs and Festivals The C

BY MONICA HAMILTON

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 arts and crafts to garlic, marshmallow, and beer, fall fun is not limited to apples and the har-

September Downtown Gloucester Block Party. Sept. 2. Artisans, kids activities, music. Free. gloucesterblockparty.com Gloucester Schooner Festival. Gloucester Harbor. Sept. 2-4. Annual maritime and sailing event. gloucesterschoonerfestival.net. Spencer Fair. Spencer Fairgrounds, 48 Smithville Rd., Spencer. Sept. 2-5. Traditional agricultural exhibits, derbies, rides, games, food and more. General admission $10; Children 32 SEPTEMBER2016

ages 7-12, Senior Citizens (62 and Over), & Military, $7; Weekend Pass, $25. Free parking. thespencerfair. com. Appleseed Country Fair. Red Apple Farm, 455 Highland Ave., Phillipston. Sept. 3-5. Country fair, hayride, tractor pull competition, live music, food, local brewers, vendors, artisans. Fiddle fest Sunday at noon. Free. 978-534-2302. appleseed.org. St. Anargyroi Grecian Festival. 9 Central St., Marlborough. Sept. 3-5. Greek food, drinks, entertainment, music, children’s activities, auctions,

vest — 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 choices below. vendors, and marketplace. Free. stsanargyroi.org.

rides, arts and crafts fair, and more. Free. breadandrosesheritage.org.

King Richard’s Faire. 235 Main St., Carver. Sept. 5-Oct. 25., including Labor Day and Columbus Day. New England’s largest and longestrunning Renaissance Festival. Adult tickets: $31; Children’s tickets (4-11): $16; Children 3 and under free. kingrichardsfaire.net.

Old Home Day Weekend Celebration. Town Common, Charlton. Sept. 5. Entertainment, craft fair, art show, flower show, contests, food, soap box derby, road race, parade. Free. townofcharlton.net/oldhomedaycom. htm.

Bread & Roses Heritage Festival. Campagnone Common, Lawrence. Sept. 5. Trolley and walking tours, portrait drawing, exhibits, children’s activities at the Kidz Zone, pony

Boston Brazilian Independence Day Festival. Christian Herter Park, Lower Allston, Boston. Sept. 6-11 Children’s activities, crafts, food, music. Free. verdeamarelo.org/festival/program.

6th Annual Swampscott Arts and Craft Festival. Linscott Park, 17 Monument Ave., Swampscott. Sept. 10-11, 10 a.m. Free. castleberryfairs.com.

Vegetarian Food Truck and Craft Beer Festival. The Arsenal Project, 485 Arsenal St., Watertown. Sept. 10, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Twenty food trucks serve up a variety of vegetarian favorites including Asian-fusion, soft serve treats, warm hand pies, and much more. Advance tickets $5, onsite tickets $10, children under 12 free. foodtruckfestivalsofamerica.com. Jamaica Plain Music Festival. Pinebank Field, Perkins St. and Jamaica Way, Jamaica Plain. Sept. 10, noon to 7 p.m. Community event includes music, food, kids’ activities. Free. jpmusicfestival.com. Codman Estate Fine Arts and Crafts Festival. Codman Estate, 34 Codman Rd., Lincoln. Sept. 10, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Artisans, live entertainment, food court. Admission $5, free for kids under 12. historicnewengland.org.

recipes, music, open hearth cooking, demonstrations, vendors, and crafts. Free, but donations accepted for Pioneer Village. 978-744-8815. salemspicefest.com.

Wachusett Mountain Musicfest. 499 Mountain Rd., Princeton, Sept.10-11. Country Day Saturday. Rock/Blues Day Sunday. Classic Car Show, Sunday. Adults $30 at the door; children ages 6-12, $9 at the door. wachusett.com

under 12 are free. germanclub.org. Somerville Dog Festival. Trum Field, Somerville. Sept. 11. Dog sports demonstrations, silent auction and more. Free, but donations appreciated. somdogfest.org. Cambridge Carnival International. Kendall Square, 300 Athenaeum St., Boston. Sept. 11, noon to 7 p.m. Festival rooted in African and Caribbean traditions, the event includes a grand costume parade. Free, cambridgecarnival.org.

Photo courtesy Union Square Main Streets

Sterling Fair. Sterling Airport, 121 Greenland Rd., Sterling. Sept. 9-11. Livestock, crafters, farmers market, midway, fireworks, exhibit hall, arts and crafts, food. sterlingfair.org.

Applefest 2016, Northborough. Sept. 15-18. 5K road race, BBQ, music, street fair, parade, craft fair, fireworks, bake-off, book sale, and more. Free. northboroughapplefest.com.

Fluff Jousting at The What The Fluff? Marshmallow Festival, Sept. 24

Boston Arts Festival. Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park, Boston. Sept. 10. Covered artists’ village, two stages of performing arts, and family activities. Free. thebostonartsfestival.com Salem Spice Festival. Pioneer Village, 310 ½ Essex St., Salem. Sept. 10-11. Exhibits, storytelling, talks, colonial

Longfellow’s Autumn Arts and Crafts Festival. Wayside Inn Grounds, 72 Wayside Inn Rd., Sudbury. Sept. 10-11, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Exhibitors, music, food. wayside.org. Oktoberfest. Boylston Schul-Verein, 8 County St., Walpole. Sept. 10-11. Music, dance, games, pony rides, food, drink. $10 per person, children

FreshGrass Music Festival. Mass MoCA, North Adams. Sept. 16-18. Three-day music festival featuring Ricky Skaggs, Roseanne Cash, Old Crow Medicine Show, Glen Hansard, and dozens more top-notch acts, plus workshops, food and family music-making and art-making events. Adult 3-day pass, $99; student 3-day pass, $89, child 7-16 3-day pass, $46. Single-day passes may be released closer to the festival date. freshgrass.com The Big E. Eastern States Exposition, West Springfield. Sept. 16-Oct. 2, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Adults $15; children

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Corn Maze at Marini Farms

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(6-12) $10; children 5 and under free. Massachusetts’s state fair features a midway, crafts, entertainment, exhibition halls, and more. thebige.com. New England Indonesian Festival. Copley Square, Boston. Sept. 17, noon6 p.m. Indonesian culture, arts, performances, and food. neindofest.com. New England Blues Festival. Middleboro Lodge of Elks #1274, 24 High St., Middleboro. Sept. 17. General admission $20, children under 12 free. nebluesfest.com Marion Oktoberfest. 164 Front St., Marion. Sept. 17, noon to 8 p.m. German food, music, dancers, and more. Adults $10, kids under 12 free. oktoberfestmarion.com. Volksfest by Harvard Lions. Bromfield Library Field, 4 Pond Rd., Harvard. Sept. 17, 3-7 p.m. A “Festival for all People,” featuring traditional German food, beer and wine, live music & dancing. Admission and parking are free. Bed races, kid’s activities, and craft vendors. Free admission. Rain date Oct. 1. e-clubhouse.org/sites/harvardma South Boston Street Festival. Between I and L Streets, South Boston. Sept. 17, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Live entertainment on two stages, over 100 local merchants, artists and organizations, food, dance performances, children’s activities, pooch-friendly. Free. southbostonstreetfestival.com

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12th Annual Endless Summer Waterfront Festival. Nantasket Beach, Nantasket Ave., Hull. Sept. 17, noon - 5 p.m. Rain date, Sept. 18. Food, art, games, contests, music, sand castle competition. endlesssummerhull.com. 2016 Boxford Apple Festival. East Boxford Village around Melvin Green near the 1760 Holyoke-French house; continues down Elm Street. Sept. 17, 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Artisans, food, activities. facebook.com/boxfordapple. Redbrook HarvestFest. 237 Wareham Rd., Plymouth. Sept.17, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Scenic wagon rides to the cranberry bogs, demonstrations of the water harvest, kayak rentals, cranberry products, nature walks, vendors, face painting, jugglers, and live music. Free admission. facebook.com/ redbrookplymouth/events 40th Annual Corn Festival. 48 Jacobs Lane, Norwell. Sept. 17, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Corn-themed food, games, crafts, hayrides, animals, activities. southshorenaturalsciencecenter.org/event/ corn-festival 35th Annual Fall Arts and Crafts Fair. Town Common, Routes 119 and 13, Townsend. Sept. 17-18. Juried arts show. Rain or shine. 978-597-2106. townsendhistoricalsociety.org.

23rd Annual Soule Homestead Harvest Fair & Joe Davies Festival. Soule Homestead, 46 Soule St., Middleborough. Sept. 17-18. Animals, children’s games and crafts, hay rides, family activities, food, drink. soulehomestead.org. Boston Local Food Festival. Rose Kennedy Greenway, Boston. Sept. 18, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Nation’s largest local and sustainable food hub features farmers, restaurants, food trucks, demonstrations. Free. bostonlocalfoodfestival.com. 13th Annual Revels RiverSing. Winthrop Park, Harvard Square & Weeks Footbridge, Memorial Dr., Cambridge. 5 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Join thousands of voices in song as Revels waves goodbye to summer and welcomes in the fall, during this puppet-filled and song-filled parade. Free. revels.org. Cape Cod Scallop Festival. Cape Cod Fairgrounds, 1220 Nathan Ellis Highway, East Falmouth. Sept. 23-25. Arts and crafts show, live music, inflatable ride park, food court, and more. Adults $7, children 6-12 $2. Combo admission and meal ticket costs vary. scallopfest.org. Boston Teen Author Festival. Sept. 24. Cambridge Public Library, 449 Broadway, Cambridge, 9:30 a.m.- 5 p.m. Boston celebrates young adult literature with speakers and readers. Free. bostonteenauthorfestival.com. Grotonfest. Legion Common, Groton. Sept. 24. Rain date Sept. 25. Family day Featuring Fiddlin’ Quinn and His Big Folks Band, with crafts, food, entertainment, animals, dancers. Free. grotonfest.com. 28th Annual AutumnFest. Bridgewater State University, Front of Boyden Hall, 131 Summer St., Bridgewater. Sept. 24, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Raffle, food, drink, music, family activities, kids’ events. autumnfest.net. River Ruckus 2016 and the Annual Rubber Duck Regatta. Riverfront Cultural District, Haverhill. Sept. 24, noon.-8:30 p.m. Family activities, entertainment, “duck drop,” children’s activities, live music, craft fair, classic car show, and fireworks over the Merrimack. teamhaverhill.org. Amherst Apple Harvest Festival. Amherst Town Common. Sept. 24, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., rain or shine. Arts & crafts, local food, children’s games, and silent auction. 413-545-0865. Free. Berklee Beantown Jazz Festival. Columbus Ave. between Mass Ave. and Burke Street, Boston. Sept. 24, noon-6 p.m. Music, arts, crafts, instrument petting zoo. Free. beantownjazz.org.

Samantha, age 10

What The Fluff? Marshmallow Festival. Union Square, Somerville. Sept. 24, rain date Sept. 25, 3 p.m.-7 p.m. Three stages of entertainment, with events including Sticky Musical Chairs and Fluff Jousting, cooking and eating competitions, a kids’ area, and live music. flufffestival.com.

are $20 in advance, $25 at the door. scballiance.org

26th Annual KidsFest. Wachusett Mountain, 499 Mountain Rd., Princeton. Sept. 24-25. Music, food, games, performances, characters, entertainment. Adults $14, children 3-12 $10 at door. wachusett.com.

7th Annual New England BBQ Fest. Wachusett Mountain, 499 Mountain Rd., Princeton. Oct. 1-2, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Crafters, farmers market, entertainment, Oysterfest. $9 adult, $6 children 6 to 12. 978-464-2300. wachusett.com.

Spirit of Shrewsbury. Oak Middle School, Shrewsbury. Sept. 24-25. Over 100 exhibitors, crafts, parade. Other events include pancake breakfast, fishing derby, historic walking tour, and 5K at other locations around town. Free. spiritofshrewsbury.org. The Craft Festivals at Fruitlands. 102 Prospect Hill Road, Harvard. Sept. 24-25. Handmade ceramics, fiber art, jewelry and more will be available for purchase. Live music and food available. Admission $5 for members, $10 nonmembers, children under 12 free, and includes admission to the museum. Fruitlands.org. North Quabbin Garlic & Arts Festival. Forster’s Farm, 60 Chestnut Hill Rd., Orange. Sept. 24-25, 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. Allston Village Street Fair. Harvard Avenue, Allston. Sept. 25, noon-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. 21st Annual Marlborough Heritage Weekend. Downtown Main St., Marlborough. Sept. 30-Oct. 2. Music, Oktoberfest, Chili & Chowder Challenges, and Farmer’s Market. General admission and parking are free. marlboroughheritagefestival. com The Topsfield Fair. 207 Boston St., Topsfield. Sept. 30-Oct. 10. Agriculture exhibits, entertainment, rides, games, shopping, food. Tickets start at $9, free for children under 8 with an adult. topsfieldfair.org.

October NB Oktoberfest. 54 State Pier, State Pier Ferry Terminal, New Bedford. Oct. 1, 3 p.m. -11:45 p.m.. Local, seasonal craft brews and live music at this 11th annual event. Tickets

Douglas Octoberfest. Downtown Douglas. Oct. 1. Street fair includes vendors, crafts, food, games, entertainment, rides. douglasoctoberfest. com.

Cranberry Harvest Celebration. 158 Tihonet Rd., Wareham. Oct. 8-9, 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. Annual Harvest Celebration Weekend. Sholan Farms, 115 Pleasant St., Leominster. Oct. 8-10. Live entertainment, free wagon rides, food trucks, numerous free, interactive children’s activities. facebook.com/ sholanfarms. 38th Annual Oktoberfest. Harvard Square, Cambridge. Oct. 9, noon - 6 p.m. Beer garden, food, live entertainment, vendors, annual HONK parade, family activities. harvardsquare.com. 33rd Annual Applefest. Wachusett Mountain, 499 Mountain Rd., Princeton. Oct. 15-16, 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.

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Rockport Harvest Festival. Downtown Rockport. Oct. 15, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Food, music, family activities. Free. 978-546-6575. rockportusa.com/ event-festival/rockport-harvestfest. Westminster Cracker Festival. Rt 2A, Village Center, Westminster. Oct. 22, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Live music, arts & crafts, beer garden, kids activities, and more. Free. crackerfestival.com. Chatham Oktoberfest. Kate Gould Park, Main Street, Chatham. Oct. 22, noon - 4 p.m. Featuring beers, kid’s crafts and games, entertainment, and food trucks. chathaminfo.com/ event/show/1265. Seaport Chowder Festival. Pier 3, New Bedford. Oct. 25, 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.

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VERY SPECIAL PEOPLE

Photo courtesy Special Olympics of Massachusetts

How Every Child Can Benefit From Special Olympics Participation BY MARSHAL D. HANEISEN

hen 8-year-old Autumn Tellier of Fitchburg arrived at the first candlepin bowling practice for the Special Olympics Midstate Strikers, she proudly told the coaches, “I am here to be a helper.” Autumn initially believed she was attending practice to assist her older sister, Valerie, an energetic, 12-yearold who bowled top scores for the past Midstate Strikers season. The coaches wrote Autumn’s name on a scorecard at that first practice and at every practice through the season. Autumn bowled in rotation with the rest of the athletes. When the athletes got their team shirts, Autumn got one, too. What Autumn learned is that in the Special Olympics Unified Sports program, she was a full member of the team — an athlete, a peer, and a friend. Autumn, like all athletes on the Strikers, bowled each week — without bumpers — and over the season developed skills in bowling and sportsmanship. One week after the

team held the final practice for the year, Autumn and Valerie attended the first practice of the Midstate Lightning athletics (track and field) team. “I love seeing them work together as peers. When they do, it doesn’t seem like their differences are so significant,” said Stephanie Tellier, Autumn and Valerie’s mom.

Changing the world through sports On July 20, 1968, 1,000 people with intellectual disabilities gathered at Chicago’s Soldier Field for the first International Special Olympics Summer Games. Over the past nearly 50 years, Special Olympics has grown and developed into a comprehensive movement committed to “Changing the World Through Sports” with programs to encourage inclusion and acceptance and to build communities. While Special Olympics has traditionally been associated with chil-

dren with intellectual disabilities, all youth are welcome to participate, become teammates, and work together to spread the message of inclusion. There are several ways for kids to participate: Unified Sports: Special Olympics Unified Sports was founded in Massachusetts. It is designed to have athletes with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team. Unified Sports exist in Massachusetts in community-based local programs and school-based programs. Community-based programs: Community-based local programs of the Special Olympics of Massachusetts offer 24 different sports. They include: aquatics, basketball, bocce, bowling (ten-pin and candlepin), cycling, equestrian events, figure skating, fishing, flag football, floor hockey, golf, gymnastics, horseshoes, powerlifting, roller skating, sailing, skiing (alpine

and Nordic), snowboarding, soccer, softball, speed skating, tennis, track & field, and volleyball. More than half of the sports represented have a Unified Sports community-based component at one or more local programs in the state. Different local programs focus on specific sports and age ranges of athletes. When a group of volunteers, who are often parents of children with intellectual disabilities, recognize an interest and need in their community for a new program, staff at the Special Olympics of Massachusetts headquarters help them put their program together. School-based programs: “One of our strategic areas for growth is in schools where youth through teenage and early 20s can be involved,” said Charles M. Hirsch, communications and marketing manager for Special Olympics of Massachusetts. According to Hirsch, school programs are really growing, and the potential growth is huge. More

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 size.indd 36BayStateParent-new SEPTEMBER2016

5/28/2015 9:04:04 AM

Sarah, age 7

As the communications and marketthan 35 schools participated in the ing director for Special Olympics of recent sports season. This past year, Massachusetts, Hirsch believes one the Massachusetts Interscholastic amazing way everyone can help is Athletic Association hosted a track using social media apps to spread a meet for Unified Track, in which the positive word and share enthusiasm winning schools each received a state about Special Olympics events and championship trophy. activities by tagging @specialolympic“As I understand it, these are the smassachusetts in posts. same trophies winning varsity athletic teams get,” Hirsch said. “It was a huge victory for Unified Sports Taking the next step and the support of inclusion in the to get involved schools.” Hirsch explained that kids who Autumn is excited to start the do not have intellectual disabilities next candlepin bowling season get involved with Special Olympics with the Midstate Strikers. When Unified Sports programs for a variasked what she would say to a child ety of reasons. Oftentimes, partners unsure whether he or she should get who participate in Unified Sports involved with Special Olympics she really enjoy sports, but are not ready responded, “Special Olympics is realto commit to varsity-level teams. ly fun. They would probably love it if For an example, he referenced one they like running track and bowling. student who wanted to focus on his In track, we do a lot of relay races. education during high school, but In bowling, we take turns. It is easy also wanted to stay active through when waiting for your turn because sports. So this athlete participated in there are a lot of really nice people a Unified Sports school-based track & to talk to.” field program. To find out more It’s a winabout Special win situation Olympics opportufor everyone nities in your combecause all munity, email getinathletes get the volved@specialolymopportunity to picsma.org. maintain active, healthy lifestyles A Note from the and promote Author: My perspecinclusion behavtive on the power ior, Hirsch said. of Special Olympics Special is very close and Olympics is dediclear. I am a Special cated to incluOlympics local prosion in all areas gram coordinator of school, from and coach. I have witkindergarten nessed the profound through college. capacity for comProject UNIFY is munity-building that a multi-faceted, is possible through school-based proSpecial Olympics program with leadergrams. I encourage ship and athletic all parents to take opportunities for some time to tour the students with and websites for Special without intellecOlympics (specialo— STEPHANIE TELLIER tual disabilities. lympics.org) and One component Special Olympics of is the R-Word Massachusetts (speCampaign. This cialolympicsma.org), powerful iniespecially the “What tiative to Spread the Word to End We Do” tabs on each site. Watch the the Word is raising awareness so videos and read the content. Then, people will stop using the hurtful and sit with your children and talk about derogatory “r-word.” To date, more what Special Olympics is and see if than 645,000 people have logged onto they want to get involved. This is an r-word.org and signed the pledge. opportunity to teach your children Project UNIFY offers a variety of how each and every one of us serves resources for students and teachers as a role model on how to treat to become leaders in the area of proothers. Kids, especially middle and moting acceptance and respect for high school students, experience a individuals with intellectual disability. lot of peer pressure, and often the College students can be involved cool kids set an example of bullying with Special Olympics through particand exclusion. By getting involved ipating NCAA Division III Partnership in any of the many facets of Special schools, fraternity and sorority comOlympics, children will quickly learn mitments to the Special Olympics that it is very cool to be part of an movement, and SO College, which inclusive community where everyoffers inclusive sports, youth leaderone is valued for just being themship programs, and opportunities for selves. Full Campus Involvement.

“I love seeing them work together as peers. When they do, it doesn’t seem like their differences are so significant.”

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ARTS and enrichment

Be it on stage or on the page, children need an avenue to express themselves, their ideas, and creativity. Earlier this year, baystateparent teamed with ArtReach, a creative arts studio offering classes, workshops, and after-school art enrichment in Worcester (artreachstudioafs.com), to do just that. Throughout this issue, you’ll see one-of-a-kind advertisements drawn by ArtReach artists, ranging from ages 5 to 14. Students were shown the list of our Best of 2016 award winners and chose the business or topic that sparked their creativity. The results are the amazing ads you see throughout this issue, showcasing the talent and creativity of this next generation. Thank you to our advertisers, ArtReach, and — most importantly — these young artists for their contributions this month!

How One Small Dot Inspired a Worldwide Youth Art Movement

Cambridge Native, Broadway Star Nabs Most Coveted Role: Mom

Roald Dahl at 100: Why His Legacy Lives On

Why Co-Parents Should Emphasize Arts and Extracurricular Activities Music: A Tool for Encouraging Calm, Mindful Kids 34 Massachusetts Museums Offer Free Admission on Sept. 24 BAYSTATEPARENT 39

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BAYSTATEPARENT 41

ARTS & ENRICHMENT

Why Massachusetts Kids Should Make

Their Mark on Sept. 15-ish BY MELISSA SHAW

One tiny dot from a 2003 children’s book has grown into an international phenomenon, encouraging kids to make their mark in their own unique way. This month, millions of students worldwide will celebrate the seventh-annual International Dot Day on Sept. 15-ish. The Dot, created by Massachusetts author/illustrator Peter H. Reynolds, tells the story of Vashti, a frustrated student in art class who doubts her abilities and proclaims she “just can’t draw.” Her teacher encourages: “Just make a mark and see where it takes you.” Vashti angrily makes a lone dot, a process that unleashes her creative energy and ability, and proves that everyone can make their mark in their own way. Iowa music teacher Terry Shay shared the book with his K-12 students in the small rural school where he’s been teaching for over 20 years. He had seen Reynolds at an education conference and read 42 SEPTEMBER2016

The Dot. “It was instantly my favorite book,” he says. “I almost got a little choked up the first time I read it. It’s such a powerful story about what teachers can do for kids. A couple years later I said, ‘I have this crazy idea. I think we should have a day where kids make dots. Everybody can do that. Everybody is able to make a dot, so there’s no fear of doing it wrong.’” Shay tweeted the idea to his personal network — and Reynolds. “When I first told Peter, he ran with it. I was at a lake, and by the time I got home from the lake, he had made a logo and called it ‘International Dot Day,’” Shay recalls. “If you’re going to share your dreams, share them with someone who’s going to pour gas on them.” The first year, 2009, a couple dozen schools participated on Sept. 15-ish. Reynolds added the –ish, which Shay called a “brilliant” move

that allows educators to participate on that day or anytime during the school year. By 2011, organizers got the idea to start asking participating schools to register free. This allowed them to track the event’s global reach and share information and ideas via email and social media. “Superstar” librarians also began publicizing the event, Shay says, and NewberyAward-winning author Sharon Creech sent him a dot she drew. That spawned Celebri-dots, those drawn by authors and celebrities, including Jeff Kinney, Julie Andrews, Kate DiCamillo, Sandra Boynton, Eric Carle, and dozens of others who support the idea of a more creative world (they can all be seen at celebridots.com). Shay calls Celebri-dots “rocket fuel” in terms of growing Dot Day: “I’m thinking if one of my favorite authors made this dot and it was so cool to me, it would be cool to kids.”

Thanks to all the publicity, 17,000 people participated in the 2011 event. “That was so far beyond my wildest dreams,” Shay says. “It was stunning. I watched it grow. I was, like, ‘There’s something here. This idea speaks to teachers.’ I look at it as finding people who share the same passion.” In 2012, participants hit six figures (400,000+), and International Dot Day passed the 1 million mark by 2013. “We no longer reset the number,” Shay says, “but it’s in the 4 million participants [range] in 128 countries.”

Making their mark Whether it’s art or music, math or science, regardless of subject, every classroom can participate, Shay says. From computer-based to crafting to a large exercise ball

those kids, I’ll do this forever. It’s so meaningful; it’s not just putting dots on a paper. It’s become this big fountain of hope.” The event even began connect-

and have a much more colorful and friendly world.” Brooks began celebrating the event in her classrooms in 2010 and says it’s a great way to start off the

ing interested schools via Skype, so classes around the world could share their celebrations. “Last year, at my school we had a principal from Nepal pop in while we were making dots,” Shay adds. “It’s a really cool way to connect

school year. “It was our way to talk about how to make a difference, how you only have one third-grade year, and how are you going to make that stand out,” she says. “How are you going to make it unique? How are you

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going to make your mark on our classroom?” Her classes began celebrating by decorating blank, white CDs and hanging them on the walls, and eventually went high-tech, using the augmented reality coloring app, Quiver (quivervision.com). Regardless of medium, Brooks says the event shows kids that “you don’t have to start big, you can start small. You can make just a small mark and see where it takes you. You don’t have to have a perfect goal in mind to begin something. No matter what you’re putting on the paper, in your writing or in your spoken thought, it’s important for you to try because you never know how it will improve as you go along.” Perfectionism is a common trait in students, many of whom — just like Vashti — are reluctant to try something at which they think they can’t excel. International Dot Day helps drive home an antidote to that mindset, Brooks says: “We’re trying to get students to learn to fail forward, learn to make mistakes, because that’s where the most learning is.” Photo by Josh Youel

covered in paper and rolled around a school, International Dot Day has been celebrated in every medium. Educators can get inspired and find resources (including a free educator’s handbook) at the event’s website (thedotclub.org/dotday/get-inspired/resources); Facebook (facebook.com/ InternationalDotDay); or via the hashtag #dotday on Twitter and Instagram. Search “Dot Day” on Pinterest and you’ll find enough ideas to fill several boards. “My favorite thing: Everybody does it their own way,” he says. “There’s not one way to do it, everybody brings their own spin to it.” There’s no curriculum to follow, no testing, or standards: “And it’s free. It is always about creativity.” Adds Mashpee educator Suzy Brooks: “You don’t have to do Dot Day in a certain way, at a certain time, or on a certain day. It’s very flexible, so I think it meets the needs of various classrooms across the globe.” Shay has seen the idea expand beyond classrooms, to daycares and even hospitals. He recalls seeing pictures of the celebration from a children’s cancer hospital in Vietnam: “Looking at the faces on

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ARTS & ENRICHMENT

Mom

Photo by Joan Marcus

Cambridge Native, Broadway Star Nabs Most Coveted Role:

BY MELISSA SHAW

was fall 2013 when Broadway actress, singer, and Cambridge native Anika Larsen found herself on her knees in an Austrian cathedral, praying to get pregnant. On a rare week off before she began rehearsals for a new Broadway musical, Larsen traveled to Salzburg with her sister, Britta, to tour the city and see the sights of their favorite movie, The Sound of Music. “She and I are obsessed,” Larsen notes. While many of the movie’s filming locations are in Salzburg, one important must-see for the sisters — Mondsee Cathedral, the scene of Maria and the Captain’s wedding — was not. The women took a four-hour lakes and mountains tour that would get them near Mondsee (located about 15 miles east of Salzburg), but not in it. At least not without a little help. “Britta and I made nice with the guide all afternoon, and by the time we got to that town he said, ‘We can stop,’” Larsen chuckled. “We were so thrilled, we went in, sat in a pew, and held hands. We never really did religion in my house [growing up]. We didn’t pray to God.” But the sisters had a specific goal, so they appealed to another deity. “We prayed to Julie Andrews that we would be pregnant together,” Larsen laughs. “At the time I was 39 and single, and [Britta] had had a lot of fertility issues with her first son. The idea that we would magically within the next year be pregnant together was so implausible. But everyone should pray to Julie Andrews — by the end of next year we were both pregnant.” 44 SEPTEMBER2016

That trip to Mondsee eventually delivered not only a son, Kie, now 1, and a husband, but the best year of her 20+ year musical theater career. “It was,” she says, the smile fullblown in her voice, “the best year of my life.” Larsen’s voice is joyful and bright as she talks about the role she’s waited years to play — mom — as well as her recent run on Broadway in Beautiful, the Tony-nominated musical about the life of singer-songwriter Carole King. And, she says, one would not be a reality without the other. “Kie [pronounced “key”] only exists because of the musical Beautiful. Thank you, Carole King,” Larsen sighs.

A ‘Beautiful’ year In 2014, Larsen originated the role of lyricist and Carole King friend Cynthia Weil on Broadway. (Weil is also an incredibly prolific, successful songwriter, and an inductee of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, writing or co-writing classics including “You’ve Lost That Lovin Feeling,” “On Broadway,” “Somewhere Out There,” and countless others.) The musical opened at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre in January, and a few months later Larsen was nominated for a Tony for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. Personally, she was on a major roll, too. Her dresser (the backstage pros who help actors quickly change in and out of costume) had set her up on a blind date with jazz trumpeter Freddie Maxwell. “It was the best blind date of my life,” Larsen says. “Within three

months I was living with him and within six months I was pregnant.” Although Larsen had been working on and off Broadway for 20+ years, including roles in Broadway shows such as Avenue Q, Xanadu, All Shook Up, and Rent, Beautiful was her greatest success to date. Professionally and personally, everything was coming together at once. “I kept saying to people, ‘My cup runneth over,’” she remembers. “I had been working to this. It was late for me, to finally be a mother at 41. I wanted it my whole life. I nannied and babysat for so many people’s babies, always learning stuff and retaining stuff I wanted to do when I was a mother. I had started to despair that I would never get there, that I would ever find somebody.” Larsen notes she was close to becoming a mother on her own when fate — or Julie Andrews — intervened. “For a theater person, where every job is finite and you’re never sure of your work or how you’re going to get your health insurance, it’s a real scary thing to try and have a baby on your own,” she notes. “I had gotten to the place where I decided, ‘OK, I have to do it now,’ and just in the nick of time Freddie came along, and I gotta tell you, I don’t know how I’d do it without him. I have such a greater — ‘respect’ doesn’t even hold enough in it as a word — the feeling I feel for single mothers or fathers who are doing it on their own. It’s a Herculean task.” Larsen notes her husband, who was 50 when they met, is similarly grateful: “He always wanted a family and had almost given up on it himself. We

so understand how lucky we are.”

Pregnant on Broadway Larsen stayed in Beautiful, playing eight shows a week, until she was six months’ pregnant. “I had arbitrarily chosen the date I was leaving so they could have my replacement ready and lined up,” she says. Larsen could have stayed until she gave birth, but the six-month mark proved prescient as playing the chic-dressing Weil got tougher and tougher as the baby grew. “My costumes were so fitted, and it’s a part of the show that [Weil is] very stylish,” she says. “I jokingly said she should, sitcom style, enter every scene holding a bag of groceries and never explain why. It was so fun to have the wardrobe department on my side, letting out the costumes little by little!” Larsen also experienced a pregnancy symptom she had never heard of before: “My ears would get stopped up, like when you’re really congested, you can’t pop them and you can’t hear very well. The worst part is it would get stopped up and go in and out, so I’d be onstage singing and the sound would be going in and out in my ear. Sometimes I’d start my song and not really be sure I was in the right key or tempo because I couldn’t hear the orchestra. That was scary.” By her final pre-birth performance in March 2015, Larsen declared herself “ready to go” for the previous reasons and one other familiar to most pregnant women: “You have to pee all the time and there’s only

certain times I can pee during the show! There were lots of ways it’s not a job that’s conducive to being pregnant.” Given Kie’s six-month in-utero run in Beautiful, Larsen laughingly wonders if the experience will have any future effect on him: “Kie was in the womb and he heard Carole King music every day. I love the idea that someday he’s in Bloomingdale’s or some department store, and overhead he hears a Carole King song. Suddenly he’s, like, ‘I don’t know why, but I am intensely claustrophobic right now and I have to get out of this store. Let me out! Let me out!’” Kie arrived patriotically on July 4, 2015 at 7 lb. 15 oz. Larsen told theater website Playbill.com: “He is a Cancer with a passionate belief in the relevance of theater, an abiding love of jazz, and punctuality issues (he was born 11 days late).” The baby was named after Larsen’s brother, Peik (rhymes with “cake”), who died suddenly the previous year at just 42, leaving behind a wife, 4-year-old twins, and a baby on the way. Devastated by the loss, Larsen thought “Kie” (“Peik” spelled backwards, minus the “p”) was a special way to honor her brother and also give her son a unique name. “There probably won’t be a Kie M. and a Kie R. in his class,” she laughs.

Family ties The naming of her son is just another way Larsen is tied to her very large, very unique family. She grew up in Cambridge in the ’70s,

one of 10 children in what resembled a multicultural Von Trapp family. Larsen is “fourth by arrival, sixth by age. Every therapist I’ve gone to has told me I’m a textbook fourthby-arrival, sixth-by-age personality,” she jokes. She describes her parents as “children of the ’60s affected by the Civil Rights movement,” “extraordinary people,” and “people with big hearts,” who began adopting in 1971 from America, Vietnam, and Cambodia. The latter “was a direct result of being so against the Vietnam War and seeing all the orphans we were creating over there and feeling a responsibility to do something about it.” “We would often be stopped in restaurants or public places, and people would tell my mother, ‘Oh, you guys are saints!’ and my mom would always get grouchy about that,” Larsen recalls. “She thought that makes it like we’re extraordinary and everybody couldn’t do it, when more people should be doing what we do. She was always very aware that we were a model for international adoption when we were out. I know the reasons why they did what they did, but having just one child now I don’t quite know how I could possibly fathom having 10. I don’t think that was the intention from the start, I think it was just that every new child seemed like a good idea.” The family grew by eight children within five years, and at one point sported seven children under the age of 7. (Regardless of birth country, every Larsen child received a Norwegian name, thanks to father Rikk.) “People would ask, ‘What’s it like?’ and I wouldn’t understand what the question was,” she says of growing up in a large, diverse family. “For me, it was the only thing I knew. Looking back now, it made me the person that I am today, made me somebody for whom diversity and multiculturalism is really important. And also somebody that really cares about being a team player, everybody carrying their weight, sharing, and being good members of their community. I know that has a whole lot to do with being 1 of 10.” Larsen also believes her family constellation impacted her choice of career. “I also know it is the reason why I do theater because I was desperate for attention,” she says. “I realized very early on that if I sang loud, people would pay individual attention to me. We were all called ‘The Larsens’ as a group. I think everybody needed to find their individual way, and my individual way was to sing, act, and eventually do musical theater.” Having Kie has made her appreciate her parents even more: “Boy, is motherhood an astonishing thing. It’s so hard to do, it’s so mundane, but at the same time until you do it you don’t realize what a big deal

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performing in Beautiful and recording her first solo album, Sing You To Sleep, a collection of lullabies. When initially approached about a solo recording, Larsen declined: “I said, ‘Absolutely not.’ Just me? For a whole hour of a CD? Why would I do that, that’s so self-indulgent? I couldn’t find any way to justify that, and I think that has a lot to do with being 1 of 10. A few weeks later, I was singing lullabies with my nieces and nephews and I thought, Actually an album of lullabies I could get behind. It was a purpose that is greater than me. It’s doing something for somebody else’s children. It makes me so happy because it

ARTS & ENRICHMENT it is,” she says. “I always thought Mother’s Day was a Hallmark holiday. My first Mother’s Day was this year and I got teary. I now understood why we need to honor our mothers — and our fathers. I knew how cool they were for the choices that they made and the family they created, but also for the love and the loving way they raised us, the day to day in and out, the mundane details of organizing and loving 10 children.”

Sing You To Sleep Larsen says Kie was conceived during a period in which she was

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serves the community.” The singer had a plethora of songs to choose from given her 14 nieces and nephews and years of babysitting and nannying, her day jobs while auditioning for theater roles. “I didn’t know a lot of [traditional] lullabies. I would sing whatever song came to mind, and slowly over time there were some I liked singing better. I had quite a repertoire by the time I was asked to do it,” she says. Favorite tracks include “Summetime,” a surprisingly soothing voice-trumpet “duet” with husband Maxwell; “Four-Leaf Clover,” the Larsen family lullabye; “You Can Close Your Eyes,” featuring Jessie

Mueller, who won a Tony for her performance as Carole King in Beautiful; and Sting’s “Fields of Gold,” which Larsen sang at brother’s Peik’s wedding, and several years later, his funeral. The album is dedicated to Peik and his family. The tracks are arranged specifically so they get slower in tempo as the CD progresses, “a little trick I learned from babysitting,” she notes. She loves hearing from listeners who say the album puts their kids to sleep, and unsurprisingly her son is a fan, too. “Kie, within 10 minutes of getting in the car, he’ll start to fuss and the only thing that will stop him is playing the album. I’m so touched by it, but it’s also the last thing I want to listen to — my own voice!” she laughs.

Working motherhood Larsen returned to Beautiful last October and gave her final performance as Weil this April. Kie became “the mascot of the show,” and would join his mom at the theater on two-show days, Wednesdays and Saturdays. A sitter would pick him up from her dressing room a halfhour before the curtain went up and return him during the several-hour break between the afternoon and evening performances. “Anytime people would see his stroller outside my dressing room, cast and crew would stop in and ooh and aah and coo over him. Sometimes his stroller would be there, but he would not because he’d be with the babysitter. People would stop in and say, ‘Hey, where’s Kie?’ I’d say, ‘He’s not here’ and then they’d leave and pop back in and say, ‘I’m sorry, Anika, you exist, too,’” she laughs. “I totally get it’.” Now post-Beautiful, Larsen says her career plans are to be determined, but summer included Kie’s first birthday, and time off and traveling with her family. In June, Larsen joined a who’s-who of Broadway celebrities, including Lin-Manuel Miranda, Idina Menzel, Audra McDonald, Carole King, and other all-stars, to record a cover of “What The World Needs Now Is Love,” in response to the Orlando nightclub shooting. All proceeds of the single will benefit the GLBT Community Center of Central Florida (available at iTunes and broadwayrecords. com/broadway-for-orlando/). She also performed the song with the group at the Democratic National Convention. “The year I was 40 was the best year of my life. I met Freddie, got pregnant, we opened this show, and I got all this attention that is good for my career, but makes me uncomfortable personally, perhaps,” she admits. “Far more important than any [career success] is finally becoming a mom. I think every parent knows once you have a kid you realize that’s

what matters, that’s what’s important. There’s nothing I’ve done in my life that matters more than him. It sounds trite and cliché, but it’s the truth. As I go forward I like thinking about what might be next in my career, but I also know this chapter right now is about family.”

Larsen’s Advice for Parents of Potential Performers A career in any area of the performing arts has never been easy, but Larsen says kids who have a dream should go for it. She offers three pieces of advice from her 20+-year career.

timid to even try, then you don’t get anything out of it, you don’t learn from it.” With today’s lifespan, the next generation has the potential for two to three careers if the first doesn’t pan out. “For kids, it can’t hurt to try,” she says. “There’s nothing worse in life than regrets and wondering, What if? I think kids should always give it a shot.” Larsen went to high school at Cambridge Rindge and Latin, and credits her high school drama teacher with giving her a piece of advice she followed throughout her career. She notes she was never a big fish in

a small pond, never getting leads in high school or college. “He said, ‘If you have the talent, you will work.’ It may take 10 years, but you will work. In movies and TV it’s made to seem like you need to get your big break, your lucky break, and there’s some aspect of timing in it, but I also think if you are good at what you do and you’re a responsible, smart person who is a good employee, you will work eventually,” she says. “You may not get famous or rich, but if that’s what you’re aspiring to, you’re not aspiring to be an artist. I’m so grateful he said this to me, it might be the single largest reason I’m doing what I’m doing

because it made it seem possible.” Also, a failure in one area may lead to success in another. “One of the nice things, it might funnel you into another aspect of the business you never thought you would do,” she adds. “I don’t think any kid grows up thinking, ‘I want to be an agent’, or a press agent for theater. They come to the city and start trying to do it, and then say say, ‘Maybe I could do that instead.’ It’s still a way to be a part of that community and help make that happen that’s more suited to your talents and skills.” — MELISSA SHAW

Leah S., age 8

• Enjoy the arts with your children. Larsen says her father was the only person in her large family who loved the theater. The pair would enjoy rare 1-on-1 time by attending whatever they could. “It was one of the most special times for me in my childhood,” she recalls. “He’d take me into town, we’d get on the T and go see any show I wanted to see. Those times meant so much to me.” She encourages families to take their children to as many amateur or professional performances as possible. “Any way you can indulge them in it,” she advises. “The arts are so hard to make a living in, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t foster their love for it. It could be one of the most special times you share, loving the arts. It will only enrich a child’s life and make them a more well-rounded citizen and adult to have that kind of a knowledge and richness in their life.” • Go to college. “You’re a better artist if you are an educated artist,” she notes. “I think that’s a better idea than a conservatory program. Who knows if you’re going to end up doing it, and the more well-rounded person you are, the better off you are.” Larsen graduated from Yale and laughs, “At the very least it got me better temping jobs to pay the rent while I was pursuing my dream. You’re a better, smarter actor the more you know about the world. The most successful people in the arts are the ones you can tell clearly are educated.” • Go “Strong and Wrong.” “‘Strong and wrong’ is something we say often in the business,” Larsen says. “Don’t be scared to make a big choice, try something. Try it strong and take the chance it might be wrong. It might be awful, but we can work with that. When you’re too

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ARTS & ENRICHMENT

DAHL AT 100:

WHY HIS LEGACY

Lives On BY JENNIFER SHEEHY EVERETT

Photo courtesy Penquin Young Readers

eptember 13 marks what would have been the 100th birthday of celebrated British author Roald Dahl. Dahl is famous for children’s classics such as Matilda, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, and The BFG, which was recently adapted for film by Steven Spielberg and released this summer. Dahl began writing for children in 1960, after establishing himself as a writer of often dark and grisly adult stories. Some say that becoming a father motivated his foray into storytelling for children. His daughter Lucy has shared vivid accounts of

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her father’s nightly bedtime visits, where he would sit perched on the edge of the bed telling engaging stories about characters that would eventually come to life in his beloved children’s books. The BFG (or “Big, Friendly Giant”) was a favorite, and Dahl would follow up his storytelling about that whimsical and gentle character by slipping outside their home, climbing a ladder to the children’s bedroom window, and gently pushing a horn through its opening to blow his children their nightly dreams. The BFG does much of the same with his magical horn in Dahl’s popular book, which has graced the New York Times bestsellers list.

Dahl believed that children deserved stories to unleash the power of their imagination, and he answered that by bringing to life captivating tales rich with humor, vibrant (and occasionally zany) language, and compelling characters who have stood the test of time. More than 200 million Dahl books — in 58 languages — have been sold worldwide, with more than 40 million in print in the U.S. alone. Many of his stories also easily leapt off the page to grace stage and screen. Matilda was released as a major motion picture 20 years ago and is now a musical appearing on Broadway through Jan. 1 and throughout the U.S. via a national tour. The tour swung through Boston earlier this year and will next visit New England via Providence in May 2017. (Matilda was the last of Dahl’s children’s books, published two years before his death in 1990.) Recent news that Charlie and the Chocolate Factory will also open on Broadway in Spring 2017 has garnered global excitement. “If you look at the 20th Century, you have to say that Dahl is one of the great writers for children,” said Anita Silvey, author of 100 Best Books for Children and Everything I Need To Know I Learned From A Children’s Book. “Dahl was a remarkable storyteller and absolutely understood his audience and how to write for them. He was a master plotter, then added

to it these eccentric, memorable, and quirky characters that children wanted to get to know and come back to again and again. This combination seems to have resonated with children over the years. Dahl simply had the capacity to create a great story that you wanted to read from beginning to end.” A number of his stories feature child characters who are challenged by bleak and oppressive life circumstances and are at the mercy of corrupt authority figures. There is an uncomfortable darkness in the way Dahl describes their trials and oppressors, perhaps a nod to memories of his own troubled childhood. Magic comes, however, when the put-upon child characters demonstrate strength, courage, and smarts beyond their years to conquer the parents, aunts, teachers, principals, etc. who mistreated them. “Dahl believed that children were champions of good and would always triumph over adversity,” said Eileen Bishop Kreit, president and publisher of Puffin Books, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers, one of the leading children’s book publishers in the U.S. “He reminds children that they are smart, strong, and capable, and have the power to triumph. I think that’s what makes Dahl’s stories so lasting and helps children connect to them in such a unique way. Children become heroes of their own stories in against-the-odds circumstances.” Duncan, age 13

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And these stories unfold in realworld settings that are tangible for readers, all the while pushing the boundaries of reality and dancing around the edges of fantasy. In Dahl’s non-fiction book BOY: Tales of Childhood, he recounts his life experience as a taster for chocolate manufacturer Cadbury. He and the boys in his house would periodically receive a cardboard box filled with bars of Cadbury chocolate, which they had to taste, rate, and share why each was liked or disliked. Dahl has acknowledged how this experience led him to envision the elaborate inventing rooms used by large chocolate companies to create their masterpieces. About 35 years later, the wacky and whimsical Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was born, and readers came to know and love young Charlie Bucket and his roller coaster of adventures with the now iconic Golden Ticket. Dahl’s magical stories jumped off the page and into the hearts and minds of readers with the support of captivating illustrations. Today, his children’s work is best known as illustrated by British artist Sir Quentin Blake. (American Nancy Ekholm Burkert provided art for some of Dahl’s early work.) Once Blake and Dahl were paired up, Dahl knew that he and his children’s work had met their match. “Blake’s work is inseparable from Dahl’s and definitely heightened the

appeal of it,” noted Megan Lambert, senior lecturer in children’s literature at Simmons College. “Blake’s illustrations are so expressive and dynamic, and their expressiveness visually is a great match for the kind of overthe-top humor and playfulness of the writing that Dahl offers.” While Dahl’s works are certainly worthy of great celebration, they have not escaped criticism. Adult critics have been dismissive or hostile most of Dahl’s career, said author Silvey, even while children wholeheartedly embraced his stories. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was Dahl’s most controversial work, and his original, seemingly racist characterization of the Oompa-Loompas attracted the most ire. Years later, Dahl tweaked the description of the characters to respond to the criticism and changing societal values and expectations. Passages in some of Dahl’s books may still cause adults to pause while reading them with children. Therein lies teaching moments. Lambert suggests that “we can look at [these books] for how they reflect culture, and we can embrace the things we find that have staying power and that we want to keep in our culture. Then there will be criticisms of things that we don’t want to perpetuate. Books are a product of a human mind, as well as a culture, a time, and a place. We can look at books not just for stories, but for what they tell us about Sara B., age 8

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September celebrations include: The Roald Dahl Splendiferous Showdown: Education and media organization Story Pirates (storypirates.org), in partnership with Penguin Young Readers and the Roald Dahl Literary Estate, will visit schools and libraries across the

when and where they were produced. It’s important to give children context for the stories they read and allow for conversation to help them engage critically with a text.” Silvey considers Dahl one writer that parents should be sure to share with their children: “They will have very good memories of that for years to come, and it’s a great way to create a wonderful bond. When I wrote Everything I Needed To Know I Learned From A Children’s Book, I found while interviewing people that they always remembered the person who had shared favorite books with them. Sometimes they had forgotten the authors, but they always knew who had put a certain book in their hands or who had read it to them. One of the reasons to read and share Dahl is because he is

country with an interactive live trivia show inspired by the storytelling genius of Roald Dahl. The tour kicks off at the Eric Carle Museum in Amherst (carlemuseum.org) on Sept. 12 and runs through the end of the month. Wondercrump Weekend: During the

an author who generates those kinds of positive memories.” And adult nostalgia for Dahl’s exaggerated and exhilarating characters and storylines is likely playing its part in supporting the longevity of his work and exposing new generations of children to his artistry. And what better occasion for adults to introduce children to their childhood favorites from Roald Dahl than during the ongoing worldwide celebration of his 100th year, spearheaded by the Roald Dahl Literary Estate and Penguin Young Readers (see events below). To honor the celebration and Dahl’s birth month, on Sept. 6 Penguin Young Readers is releasing new collectible hardcover editions of Matilda, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator, Fantastic Mr. Fox, and James and the Giant Peach.

weekend of Sept. 16, libraries, bookshops, eateries, and public places in the U.S. and across the world will host fun-filled parties celebrating Dahl’s 100th birthday. Party pack activities are available for download at RoaldDahl.com/party. Dahlicious Delights: Dessert companies across the country will sell sweet treats inspired by Roald Dahl’s books during September. Local participants include Flour Bakery, J.P.

Additionally, Roald Dahl’s Letters to His Mother, a collection of personal letters, will be on sale from Blue Rider Press, and Oxford University Press will publish a dictionary for children aged 8+ that celebrates the way Dahl used language and created engaging additions to it. The dictionary will feature full-color illustrations by Sir Quentin Blake. Families can visit roalddahl.com/ usa for additional details about the Roald Dahl 100 celebration and activities through year’s end. A percentage of proceeds from some of the Roald Dahl 100 events in September will be donated to Partners in Health (pih. org), a charity co-founded by Dahl’s daughter Ophelia to bring high-quality health care to poor communities in 10 countries.

Licks, and Union Square Donuts in Boston. And the celebrating continues in November and December: Happy Dahlidays Sweepstakes: Penguin Young Readers will launch a sweepstakes to give fans an opportunity to enter and win Roald Dahl books, tote bags, musical soundtracks and more.

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ARTS & ENRICHMENT • DIVORCE & SINGLE PARENTING

Why Co-Parents Should Emphasize Arts and Extracurricular Activities BY ATTY. IRWIN M. POLLACK

Whether parents have separated or divorced, parenting plans are essential documents in order to outline each of the co-parent’s rights and responsibilities as it relates to raising their children. Certain provisions — parenting time, pickups and drop-offs, and how the parents will address the physical, emotional, mental, and educational needs of the child — appear in well over 90% of parenting plans. Some even address which parent will pay for extracurricular activities. Most common: “Each parent will share the reasonable costs and expenses… ” Even better: “…none to be unreasonably denied.” A challenge co-parents often face is when one supports having a child participate in arts and extracurricular activities, but the other does not. Courts generally don’t want to get involved in these day-to-day parenting decisions. It’s usually agreed that both parents should support what is important to the child, and it’s far better to work this out with your child’s other parent than to have some stranger in a black robe dictate what is best for you and your family!

Advantages to arts and extracurricular activities Generally speaking, it is in a child’s best interest to be involved in extracurricular activities, to develop skills, and give them the confidence that comes with success and failure, as well as building relationships with peers. Ideally, you both have the best interest of your child as your guiding star, considering each child’s wants and needs, likes, and dislikes. Additionally, students who are involved in extracurricular pursuits tend to improve their academic performance as well. This may be due to increased self-esteem, motivation, and better time management. They become better organized in the classroom. They demonstrate fewer at-risk behaviors and a heightened sense of belonging, resulting in better behavior. They also learn useful new skills from their chosen activities and, in integrating these activities into their everyday school lives, they learn time management, critical thinking, teamwork, and social skills. They develop lifelong relationships with their peers and learn how to lead oth-

ers. These skills will be beneficial in later life and in the workplace. Extracurricular activities also foster a sense of commitment to a cause or purpose, and they reduce selfish behavior. This eventually leads to students becoming more marketable in the workplace. Participation in extracurricular activities also makes it easier for students to gain admission into colleges and universities. As of late, universities are more interested in recruiting students who have something more to offer besides academic qualifications. They seek out students who show promise in contributing in other areas to the university and the society at large.

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Questions and issues to discuss with your co-parent 1. What if a parent insists on activities he or she believes are in the child’s best interest (i.e., swim lessons, piano lessons, an academic tutor) and the child doesn’t want to do it and/or is “brainwashed” by the other parent into believing it is irrelevant or a waste of time? 2. Is there a limit on the number of activities a child will participate in (i.e., having music lessons and sports practices seven days a week)? What happens if one or more activities are impacting the child’s school work or the other parent’s parenting time? What if there’s a conflict between activities? Who decides whether flute lessons trump baseball practice? 3. Who will take the child to and from the lessons/practices? 4. Can both parents attend recitals, games, and exhibits — even if the child is technically supposed to be with the other parent on that given day/time?

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5. What if one parent wants to serve as the child’s coach? 6. Will both parents help make sure children get in the requisite amount of “homework” for activities (i.e., practicing piano 15 minutes a day)? However you decide to work things out, remember that this isn’t about you or your co-parent — the focus should be on the best interest of your child.

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Music

ARTS & ENRICHMENT

as a Tool for Calm and Mindful Kids BY MARSHAL D. HANEISEN

have all had the experience of getting home from an incredibly stressful day, our muscles tense, jaw clenched, and mind racing. We turn on quiet music, and soon the physical effects of stress lessen. We begin to relax. Our mind quiets and our pulse slows. Music has that calming power. Parents can use the magic of music to help their children relax and be calm, too.

Music is more than entertainment Lisa Summer, director of Music Therapy at Anna Maria College in Paxton, teaches future music therapists, nurses, social workers, and psychologists how to use music in ways other than entertainment.

Her students go on to use music for nonmusical goals with their patients and students, such as improving cognition, and developing fine and gross motor skills by using music to encourage movement. While music therapists define a piece of music as either stimulative or sedative, Summer cautions parents to recognize that one type of music may be sedative for one person, but not for another. Very young children might find repetition of a simple song to be sedative. Hearing “Itsy Bitsy Spider” repeated over and over may not be relaxing for a parent, but it could be soothing for a child, she said. Younger children are more likely to use music for stimulation, but most people learn to use music for calming by adulthood, she added. Parents can help condition children to the calming nature of music by

considering how music is used in the home. When children are young, parents regulate the music and the emotional atmosphere. If a parent is using music in a very diverse way, such as singing while washing dishes and putting music on at quiet time, children pick up on the calming quality of the music by being in that environment. It is very healthy, said Summer, who explained that this atmosphere regulation can begin very early, simply with a parent softly singing to a baby. “When we sing to a child, music becomes ingrained within the child’s brain,” she noted. “Slow, relaxing sounds become ingrained. We become conditioned, and there is a kind of trust that is formed.” As children grow, parents can offer exposure to different types of music and observe how the child responds. If the child becomes excited, the mu-

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sic is likely stimulative. With regular exposure and careful observation, parents will learn to recognize which music appears to calm or soothe a child.

Music and mindfulness The ability for a child to recognize music as a tool for self-regulation and coping with stress is invaluable. According to Missy Brown, founder and creator of Deep Play for Kids studio in Fairfield, Conn., this skill is tied to mindfulness. Brown is a presenter at the famed Kripalu Center for Yoga in Stockbridge, an E-RYT (Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher), a RCYT (Registered Children’s Yoga Teacher) and holds more than 11 yoga certifications, including many involving youth yoga education. R EGIST ER NOW F AL L “2011”

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fect playlist for their family. Verizon FIOS customers can enjoy the Music Choice Soundscapes channel, which features 24-hour music by a variety of artists. Brown also recommends CDs with nature sounds. She suggests sitting outside with your child on a spring or summer day when birds are active. Ask your child to sit quietly with you and listen to the sounds of birds. This quiet time to focus can have a calming effect. In winter, when the birds are quiet, a prerecorded CD of bird sounds can imitate nature and allow for a similar calming exercise. Other nature sounds to enjoy include ocean waves, trickling streams, chirping crickets and other night creatures, and even thunderstorms and rain showers. Your local library may offer these types of CDs. By using these music tools regularly, parents help children train their minds to be calm. “When the mind hears something calming and soothing and familiar,” Brown said, “your mind says, ‘Oh, I know what this is, it is time to relax.’”

Music is crucial to her work. “I feel like music, for our mind, is similar to a workout for our body,” she said. “Receptors in our brain are open to shifting based upon what we are hearing. Parasympathetic and nervous system pathways are all affected by music. Fast music can make us more awake and alert, slow music can quiet our mind and relax internal organs and muscles. It allows our pulse to slow down.” For Brown, an important component of music’s ability to help children calm is the use of fast, silly music to let them dance and burn off energy. Anxious and excited kids can use music to release energy at an appropriate time, instead of at bedtime. Loud music can be used as a tool for teaching how to be calm because it demonstrates the importance of contrast. In one of her children’s workshops, kids dance with finger lights to fun music in a freeze-dance game. When the music stops, the kids freeze and Brown asks them to put their hands on their heart or belly to notice their physical and mental reaction to the sound and activity. Brown uses music to help children build awareness of their breath. For children with sensory challenges, there are appropriate times when louder, more active music can be played in a safe, predictable way. Kids can learn to respond to music, like drumming or dance music that is fun and lively, when it is played in an audibly controlled way. This may help them learn to be calmer in other loud settings. All of Brown’s work is sensory oriented because she believes that is how to meet children exactly where they are as individuals. These exercises cultivate mindfulness. When children learn to recognize how their bodies respond to different types of music, they are also learning to observe their body’s reaction to stress factors and calming factors. This mindfulness, in time, will allow them to learn to use tools, such as music, for self-regulation and coping with stress. Brown said she has repeatedly seen individualized evidence of the calming effect of music on children. She cites the example of children barreling down the hallway with excitement and running into her classroom. Brown explains that if she has quiet music on in the room, the children naturally lower their voices, slow their breathing, and calm their bodies. Like Summer, Brown believes parents can create an atmosphere conducive to calm with quiet background music played in the home. She enjoys music by Dana Cunningham, Michael Jones, Todd Norian, and Cody Michaels. She recognizes music can be costly and is pleased that via iTunes, parents can buy one song at a time to assemble the per-

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CDs designed to calm kids Sarah Freedman, owner of Uptonbased Airy Melody Music, is a certified applied behavior therapist with experience working with children with autism. Airy Melody Music (airy-melody.com) offers guided meditations, stories, and music on CD and digital music files specifically designed to help children relax and fall asleep, including three CDs in Portuguese. Soothing titles like, “Dreaming of Ponies” and “Rainbows and Sunshine,” evoke thoughts for sweet dreams. Peg S. lives in MetroWest Massachusetts with her husband and two children. (Her name is abbreviated at her request out of respect for her 11-year old son, who is adjusting to learning about his Asperger’s diagnosis.) When the boy was about 8, Freeman began working with the family to help him develop impulse control, manage frustration, and learn to calm himself. “My son had been getting frustrated with how difficult everything was,” Peg said. “One of the tools Sarah brought that worked well were her CDs. They are wonderful.” Three years later, not only does Peg’s son still use Freeman’s CDs to help him calm, he now independently seeks out music when he is stressed. Freeman had suggested he have access to a portable music player as a calming tool. “When I give him choices of what he wants to do to calm himself, more than half the time he chooses music as his tool of choice,” Peg said. “Ten to 15 minutes later, he is calm.”

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Photo courtesy The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art

38 Massachusetts Museums Offer

Free Admission on Sept. 24

For one day this month, 38 Massachusetts museums will do their best Smithsonian Museums impersonation and open their doors for free. Smithsonian magazine has named Saturday, Sept. 24 as its 12th annual Museum Day Live! For one day only, participating museums across the United States will offer free admission to those who download a Museum Day Live ticket. To get yours, 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. Museums are being added through mid-September. A complete list of participating museums across the U.S. can be found at smithsonian.com/museumday/venues.

Participating Massachusetts museums include: The Discovery Museums 177 Main St., Acton discoverymuseums.org

Beneski Museum of Natural History at Amherst College 11 Barrett Hill Drive, Amherst amherst.edu/museums/ naturalhistory

The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art (pictured above) 125 West Bay Rd., Amherst carlemuseum.org Gibson House Museum 137 Beacon St., Boston thegibsonhouse.org The Mary Baker Eddy Library 200 Massachusetts Ave., Boston marybakereddylibrary.org Nichols House Museum 55 Mount Vernon St., Boston nicholshousemuseum.org

Old South Meeting House 310 Washington St., Boston oldsouthmeetinghouse.org The Shirley-Eustis House 33 Shirley St., Roxbury shirleyeustishouse.org Harvard Museum of Natural History 26 Oxford St., Cambridge hmnh.harvard.edu Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology 11 Divinity Ave., Harvard University peabody.harvard.edu

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Museum of Russian Icons 203 Union St., Clinton museumofrussianicons.org Concord Museum 200 Lexington Rd., Concord concordmuseum.org The Old Manse 269 Monument St., Concord thetrustees.org/places-to-visit/ greater-boston/old-manse.html Martha’s Vineyard Museum 59 School St., Edgartown mvmuseum.org

The Gardner Museum 28 Pearl St., Gardner gardnermuseum.org/home

Photo by Coreq M. Cooper Photography, courtesy of USS Constitution Museum

USS Constitution Museum (pictured at right) Building 22, Charlestown Navy Yard, Charlestown ussconstitutionmuseum.org

Cape Ann Museum 27 Pleasant St., Gloucester capeannmuseum.org Mass Audubon’s Blue Hills Trailside Museum 1904 Canton Ave., Milton massaudubon.org/get-outdoors/ wildlife-sanctuaries/blue-hills-trailside-museum Durant-Kenrick House and Grounds 286 Waverley Ave., Newton historicnewton.org Jackson Homestead and Museum 527 Washington Street, Newton historicnewton.org

Springfield Museums 21 Edwards St., Springfield springfieldmuseums.org

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

Herman Melville’s Arrowhead 780 Holmes Rd., Pittsfield mobydick.org

Old Colony History Museum 66 Church Green, Taunton oldcolonyhistorymuseum.org

Falmouth Museums on the Green 55-65 Palmer Avenue, Falmouth museumsonthegreen.org

Salem Witch Museum 19 ½ Washington Square North, Salem salemwitchmuseum.com

Armenian Museum of America 65 Main St., Watertown armenianmuseum.org

Garden in the Woods 180 Hemenway Rd., Framingham newfs.org

Sandwich Glass Museum 129 Main St., Sandwich sandwichglassmuseum.org

Wenham Museum 132 Main St., Wenham wenhammuseum.org

Battleship Cove 5 Water St., Fall River battleshipcove.org

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Spellman Museum of Stamps & Postal History 241 Wellesley St., Weston spellmanmuseum.org Williams College Museum of Art 15 Lawrence Hall Dr., Suite 2, Williamstown wcma.williams.edu EcoTarium 222 Harrington Way, Worcester ecotarium.org For more information and to download your free ticket, visit smithsonian.com/museumdaylive.

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Family Fun on 91

and The Berkshires

BY MELISSA SHAW

Ask anyone west of 495 (or if you live in Central Massachusetts, west of the Mass Pike/84 split) and they may think the entire state is tilted. Certainly, the eastern half of Massachusetts commands the most attention and publicity, leaving the left-most third underappreciated and underexplored for all it has to offer â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Â and it has a lot to offer. Certainly, there is much family fun to be had on the eastern shores from Salisbury to Provincetown, but a drive west delivers a host of indoor and outdoor adventures in art, culture, nature, education, shopping, and much more. Here is just a sampling of fun family gems found throughout The Pioneer Valley and The Berkshires.

The Clark, Williamstown. Photo courtesy Ogden Gigli (berkshires.org) 56 SEPTEMBER2016

Children’s Museum at Holyoke: Open Tuesdays through Sundays, the museum offers hands-on, interactive exhibits where families can learn together about art, science, and the world around them, all for the very affordable price of just $7 per person (kids under 1 are free). childrensmuseumholyoke.org Holyoke Heritage State Park: The 8-acre, historybased state park occupies the site of the William Skinner Silk Mill, which was lost to fire in 1980. The visitor’s center offers exhibits about paper manufacturing and the city’s industrial and cultural past, and the landscaped grounds provide picnicking and views of the city’s canals and mill buildings. The Holyoke MerryGo-Round, the Children’s Museum at Holyoke, and the Volleyball Hall of Fame (volleyball.org) are also located in the park. More info on the park can be found at: mass. gov/eea/agencies/dcr/massparks/ region-west/holyoke-heritage-statepark.html Holyoke Merry-Go-Round: Located alongside the Holyoke State Park Visitor’s Center, the carousel (known as Holyoke’s Happiness Machine) offered its first ride in 1929 and is still spinning today. Rides are $2 or six for $10, and it is open year-round. holyokemerrygoround.org

Smith College Museum of Art: Every second Friday of the month is family-focused at the museum, offering hands-on art-making, guided tours, and more (smith.edu/artmuseum/Events/Second-Fridays). Children 18 and under are always free, and adults are just $5 (free on Second Fridays). smith.edu/artmuseum Downtown Northampton: The area provides a great opportunity for strolling, browsing, and buying. The second Friday of each month (from 5 p.m.-8 p.m.) is Northampton Arts Night Out, a chance to enjoy diverse visual and performing arts downtown.

Emily Dickinson Museum: Located on two acres in the center of Amherst, the museum celebrates the poet’s life and work, and offers guided tours of her home, The Homestead, and her brother’s home, The Evergreens. While adults are charged a fee for tours, children under 17 are free. emilydickinsonmuseum.org Beneski Museum of Natural History: Found on the Amherst College campus and always free, the 1,700-specimen museum features fossil skeletons, an extraordinary collection of dinosaur footprints, and just inside the front door, a massive skeleton of a wooly mammoth. The museum offers family “field guides” with age-appropriate language about the museum’s collection geared toward different grade levels. amherst.edu/ museums/naturalhistory

South Deerfield

Photo by Lynne Graves

Holyoke

Look Park: Technically named the Frank Newhall Look Memorial Park, this private, nonprofit space spans 150 acres and offers a host of special events and family fun, including playgrounds, minigolf, bumper boats, waterspray park, walking trail, picnic sites, zoo, a steamer railroad, and more. Open yearround, the park sustains itself on admission fees: $7 on weekdays and $9 on weekends. lookpark.org

the exhibit, “Louis Darling: Drawing the Words of Beverly Cleary,” through Nov. 27. carlemuseum.org

Photo courtesy Look Park

Heading west on the Mass Pike, take a right just past Chicopee and grab Route 91, which extends north into Vermont and south into Connecticut. Route 91 North brings you into the heart of The Pioneer Valley and the college towns of Amherst (UMass Amherst, Amherst College, Hampshire College), Northampton (Smith), and South Hadley (Mount Holyoke).

Northampton

Photo by Lynne Graves

The Pioneer Valley

Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory & Gardens: Closed only twice a year (Thanksgiving and Christmas), Magic Wings is an 18,400-square foot facility that includes an 8,000-square-foot glass conservatory filled with butterflies, moths, and tropical vegetation. If you need a little warmth in the non-summer months, this is the place to go as it’s heated to an 80-degree tropical-like environment year-round. magicwings.com Yankee Candle Village: Fragrance fans can visit the mothership of New England candles at Yankee’s flagship store. In addition to sporting 400,000 candles in 200 scents, it offers a Christmas room, where it snows every 4 minutes; a magic castle; interactive candle-making; a candy shop; seasonal events, and much more. yankeecandle.com/ about-us/visit-our-village-stores/ south-deerfield-events

Holyoke Mall at Ingleside: If you need to power shop, this large mall Northampton-area fun includes shopping, strolling, and Look Park. Historic Deerfield: Located in offers nearly 200 stores, a food Deerfield, this authentic 18th-centucourt, several restaurants, and events. holyokemall. ry New England village features beautifully restored artsnightout.org com museum houses with period architecture and furnishings, demonstrations of colonial-era trades, and Norwottuck Rail Trail: This 11-mile path links South Hadley Northampton, Hadley, and Amherst along the former a world-famous collection of early American crafts, ceramics, furniture, textiles and metalwork. KidBoston & Maine Railroad right-of-way. The level terOdyssey Bookshop: Take a stroll around the Mount Friendly Deerfield offers hands-on exhibits and guidrain provides safe passage for pedestrians of all ages Holyoke grounds, then walk across the street to this ed tours for young explorers. historic-deerfield.org and abilities. mass.gov/eea/agencies/dcr/massparks/ locally owned, 53-year-old independent bookstore. region-west/norwottuck-rail-trail.html The large children’s section is loosely grouped by age, ability level, and topic. And if you’re looking for suggestions, there’s no better person to ask than someone who works at an independent bookstore. odysseybks.com

Mount Holyoke College Art Museum: The museum offers two programs for families. The self-guided Look and Learn can be used with children of all ages and provides close-looking prompts and information for five different works of art that will help a family deeply engage with select objects on view. Animals and Funny Faces are Art Seek scavenger hunts designed for shorter visits and can help children enjoy the galleries while learning. artmuseum.mtholyoke.edu

Amherst The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art: A must-see, the nonprofit is the only full-scale museum in the country devoted to the art of the picture book. The Carle collects, preserves, presents, and celebrates picture books and picture book illustrations from around the world, housing more than 13,000 objects, three art galleries, an art studio, a theater, picture book and scholarly libraries, and educational programs and events. In honor of the Make Way for Ducklings’s 75th anniversary, the museum is showcasing the art of author/illustrator Robert McCloskey through Oct. 23, It is also celebrating Beverly Cleary’s 100th birthday with

Greenfield

At Greenfield, those on 91 North should hang a left on Route 2 West to take the famous, 69-mile Mohawk Trail, which ends in The Berkshires. But before you do, make two stops in the city first. Greenfield Games: Located in the Main Street Historic District, the store is the largest of its kind in Western Mass and offers an impressive variety of board, dice, card, strategy, educational, and tabletop games, puzzles, and more. Whether you want a small Rubik’s Cube or a large roleplaying game complete with miniatures, it’s worth the stop for browsing and finding what could be a new family game night favorite. greenfieldgames.com BAYSTATEPARENT 57

Federal Street Books: Just a couple blocks up from Greenfield Games is this book-lover’s paradise, a two-floor, well-organized used bookstore, jam-packed with hardcover and paperback titles. Fun, funky art is displayed on walls and hangs from the ceilings, and adults and kids could spend quite a while hunting for favorite — or new — titles, all for a bargain used price. facebook.com/Federal-StreetBooks-195234420507457/

Contemporary Art is housed in a massive 26-building converted factory complex, previously home to a major textile printing business and later an electronics R&D and production

The Berkshires

exhibitions. The FreshGrass music festival, held Sept. 16-18, will feature family music- and artmaking events. massmoca.org North Adams Museum of History and Science: Offering free admission, the museum offers a model of the solar system that’ll have the kids playing astronaut, a train set to make the kid in you drool, a full-sized model of the Fort Massachusetts Barracks Room that’ll have kids and adults playing fort together, as well as exhibits on local history, Anasazi Indian artifacts, architecture, and much, much more. northadamshistory.org

The area is world-famous for many offerings: the scenic, winding Mohawk Trail; its vibrant arts and The Hairpin Turn: If you take Route music scene, from Tanglewood to 2 into the city, you will drive the the Williamstown Theatre Festival; famous hairpin turn. Make sure you and its idyllic renderings of smallpull over to the observation area to town America via Stockbridge check out the city of North Adams resident Norman Rockwell, among below, as well as the mountainous much more. However, the area is portions of southern Vermont and about to gain even more notoriety northwestern Massachusetts, includvia a recent major announcement. ing Mount Greylock, Mount Prospect, Author J.K. Rowling revealed that Make sure you pull over just before (if you're heading west) or after and Mount Williams. (See sidebar, in her Harry Potter universe, there (going east) the Hairpin Turn to catch a glimpse of North Adams and page 60, for more North Adams fun.) is one wizarding school located in surrounding mountains including Greylock, Prospect, and Williams. the United States: Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, which Williamstown is located “at the highest peak” of the very real Mount Greylock, the highest point company. Opened in 1999, the museum is one of Williams College and Spring Street Shopping: in Massachusetts, which rises up from the the largest centers for contemporary visual art The town is not called “The Village Beautiful” for Berkshires. and performing arts in the country. Families may nothing. The grounds of the country’s leading libbe especially interested in Kidspace, a child-ceneral arts college are simply gorgeous, begging to tered art gallery, and ArtBar, a hands-on studio. be strolled and photographed. Head down Spring North Adams Families are invited to drop in to make art that is Street for a series of eating and shopping pleathematically connected to current MASS MoCA sures, including the very fun Where’d You Get Mass MoCA: The Massachusetts Museum of

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That? gift shop (wygt.com). The Clark Art Institute: Better known as “The Clark,” the museum’s collection features Renoir, John Singer Sargent, Winslow Homer, Degas, and countless other paintings, sculpture, prints, drawings, photographs, and decorative arts from the Renaissance to the early 20th Century. The organization places a high value on education and offers families sketch pads for young artists, as well as Looking Closely Cards, especially designed to encourage children to view the paintings and contemplate what they see. clarkart.edu/visit/families

turers journey from tree to tree at various heights throughout the forest, encountering elements such as high wires, zip lines, balancing logs, rope ladders, cargo nets, suspended bridges, and

years of this life and has become synonymous with the area. The museum houses the world’s largest and most significant collection of original Rockwell art, as well as more than 100,000 photographs, letters, and other rare mementos. It offers audio tours, guided gallery talks, and programs and events for families throughout the year. nrm.org Main Street: The town’s main thoroughfare is as picturesque and New England as it gets. Park the car and walk around, take pictures, and browse through the many unique offerings on Main and Elm streets, from galleries and restaurants to gift shops. Watch traffic go by while sitting on the porch of the famous Red Lion Inn, and don’t miss Williams & Sons Country Store. Which it offers penny candy, jams, and much more.

Lanesboro

Mount Greylock State Reservation: At 3,491 feet, Mount Greylock provides dramatic views of The Stockbridge Main Street at Berkshires and the surrounding 60 Christmas: The scene was immortalto 90 miles on a good day. (Muggles ized in Rockwell’s 1967 classic of the are unable to spy Ilvermorny same name, which the town recreCastle, which is “concealed from ates every December, right down non-magic gaze by a variety of powAn afternoon in the woods takes on a whole new meaning at to the same color, make, and model erful enchantments,” according to Ramblewild’s Tree-to-Tree Adventure Park. antique cars in their proper places. Pottermore.com.) You can drive to the The first weekend in December is peak late May through Nov. 1. mass. a three-day (this year Dec. 2-4), gov/eea/agencies/dcr/massparks/ town-wide celebration, featuring family events, more. The experience is open to anyone over age region-west/mt-greylock-state-reservation-generic. concerts, a candlelight walk, a visit from Santa, 7 and 55 inches tall. ramblewild.com html entertainment, and more. stockbridgechamber. org/visit/stockbridge-main-street-at-christmas/ Ramblewild: Its Tree-to-Tree Adventure Park is Stockbridge the premier aerial park in the Berkshires, set on 10+ acres in the middle of the forest. The experiNorman Rockwell Museum: This iconic American ence offers eight obstacle courses where advenoriginal called Stockbridge home for the last 25

Javier, age 6

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Largest professional faculty in Central Massachusetts

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Photos courtesy The Porches Inn

50 Leominster Road Sterling, MA 01564 978-422-6989 office@paulameoladance.com

Pull Up a Chair at The Porches Inn The Berkshires is fun, funky, and undeniably cool. If you want your lodging to reflect that aesthetic, there’s no better place to stay with your family than The Porches Inn in North Adams (porches.com). Located across the street from Mass MoCA, the 47-room hotel was upcycled from six 19th-century rowhouses that housed the previous generations who worked in the former mill complex that now houses the contemporary art museum. The Inn commands an entire block and was named after its signature verandas, replete with rocking chairs and swings, which link the six buildings. (Make sure you take time to just sit and rock with your kids, watching the world pass by.) A member of the Historic Hotels of America, the Inn is a distinct blend of old and new styles it describes as “industrial granny chic.” Hallways are lined with a mix of contemporary art and ceramics, knickknacks, signs, and homey regional souvenirs and tchotchkes you would find in your grandmother’s home, as well as the original sturdy staircases that lead to the second floor. Guest rooms sport paint-by-number artwork from the 1950s and ’60s, beadboard walls, and wooden floors, alongside modern-day amenities like Wi-Fi and HDTVs with built-in Netflix and DVD players (guests can borrow movies at the front desk). Clawfoot or jacuzzi tubs sit on slate floors next to modern glass showers, and the bathrooms feature distinctive touches, such as interior windows with frosted glass and mirror frames created from the building’s original window frames. Five loft suites feature iron spiral staircases twisting to a separate level, featuring its own bathroom, TV, and more (a perfect spot for the kids), and eight guestrooms offer private outdoor porches. Children will love the year-round heated pool and hot tub, while adults will also enjoy the fitness area and sauna (both open around the clock). And the whole family will remember an evening around the fire pit, which the staff will build and light. They will also provide a basket of s’mores ingredients for extra fun. A free breakfast buffet is offered each morning, which can be enjoyed in the Breakfast Room in the center house or delivered to guest rooms via retro galvanized metal lunchboxes, reflective of the mill workers who once lived onsite. There’s a hotel bar in the front lobby for adults, and a selection of board games to play with the kids if Netflix fails to entertain them. Outside, families can enjoy the playground and woodland gazebo or take the short walk to Mass MoCA or into town for a multitude of dining options and sightseeing. The Porches Inn is a truly unique family-friendly hotel your family will never forget. — Melissa Shaw

THE THINKING PARENT

Signs Your Son May Be Working Out Too Much BY AUSTIN WIDMER

As a dedicated weight lifter, I’m used to people asking me for advice on a range of topics, from proper form to good nutrition. So it was no surprise when one of my coworkers started asking me about supplements for bulking up. However, I was surprised when I learned that his questions were not for himself, but for his teenage son who had come home from football practice with a wishlist of pre- and post-workout ingestibles. As a former high school and college football player, lifelong athlete, and counselor, the conversation raised many red flags. The pressure for young men to get big and strong isn’t new. Studies dating back to 1959 have reported the male desire to match the masculine stereotype of “bigger, stronger, faster, better.” Popular media show large, muscular men as ideal, and many sports coaches, while well-meaning, are pushing young athletes to build six-pack abs and create muscles that bulge against the fabric of their shirt sleeves and jeans. In “Broscience,” a popular YouTube series parodying the hardcore gym lifestyle, the main character jokes: “The day you start lifting is the day you become forever small, because you will never be as big as you want to be.” As with any good comedy, there’s a hint of truth in this line, as it touches on the main problem with an out-ofcontrol drive for muscularity: There is no goal state, no acceptable level of muscularity. While a normal training regimen can lead to positive health outcomes, including healthy diet and regular exercise, research has repeatedly shown that teens with an excessive drive for muscularity are prone to negative physical and emotional outcomes, including eating disorder symptoms, depression, and low body image-esteem. This extreme drive for unattainable perfection in the body becomes a physical compulsion, as well as a cognitive obsession with imagined flaws and self-imposed restrictions. In its extreme state: Self-perception becomes completely disconnected from reality. Although all men are susceptible to media influences and are bombarded with messages about the benefits of exercise and the need to be “ripped” in order to reap the best rewards from society, adolescent boys are especially vulnerable. Outside

influences like well-meaning, but illinformed coaches, peer pressure, and media sources drive athletes to higher and higher ideals, without regard for genetic predispositions and overall health. Adolescents are already exposed to lofty ideals of attractiveness, and this emphasis on leanness and muscle development can lead to body image obsessions, and in extreme cases, muscle dysmorphia, a kind of reverse anorexia in which teens train for an impossible-toobtain ideal of physical appearance while causing themselves considerable internal harm. It can be difficult to recognize when a young person is training too much. Exercise is often promoted as such a good thing that it seems impossible to do too much. Yet a 2013 article from the Psychology of Men and Masculinity offers a few helpful tips. Teens who are at risk may choose weight training over social, interpersonal, and educational goals. They begin sacrificing other parts of their routine to accommodate more and more training hours. Ironically, this can lead to overtraining (intense workouts with insufficient recovery), which can tax the body so much that performance is affected, making it seem as though more training is needed. The cycle of training>poor performance>more training may begin to appear as a change in mood state, an increase in fatigue, and in some cases, a set of symptoms that mimic depression. The most important thing a parent can do is understand why a child is training. Maintaining involvement with a young person’s weight lifting routine allows a parent to monitor change in mood and interpersonal behaviors, to prevent overtaxing the body or mind. Parents are encouraged to talk to coaches about lifting programs, and not about supplements — that’s what dietitians and pediatricians are for. And if they suspect their teen’s workout is getting too extreme, parents should contact a counselor to evaluate the teen and possibly provide brief solution-focused or cognitive therapy to address issues of self-perception. Muscularity and strength should never come at the cost of overall health, and overall health comes from education, intention, and moderation.

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

Sept. 3 & 4 Taste of Local Sept. 10 & 11 Island Adventure Corn Maze Grand Opening Sept. 17 & 18 Apple Festival Oct. 1 & 2 Taste of Local Oct. 8, 9 & 10 Columbus Day Apple Festival Oct. 14, 21 & 28 Island Adventure Corn Maze Oct. 15 & 16 Fall Festival Oct. 22 & 23 Pumpkin Festival Oct. 29 & 30 Doggie Days through Island Adventure Corn Maze

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You’re the Mom Promotes Healthy Meal Choices for Children

Photos by Ian MacLellan for ChildObesity180

BY MICHELE BENNETT DECOTEAU

besity affects 1 out of every 6 kids in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and for the first time in our history, children face a shorter lifespan than their parents. These facts led a team of scientists from Tufts University and community partners such as Partners for a Healthier Community, Square One, and Springfield Food Policy Council, to unite and promote a program, ChildhoodObesity180.org. This program seeks to reverse the trend with four evidence-based initiatives, including a Restaurant Initiative. “We want to empower moms when they eat out,” says Linda Harelick, deputy director of ChildhoodObesity180. “They have an important role in the family and the community. We want them to rethink the choices they are making when they order at a restaurant with their kids. When we order, it is a habit to order the same things. This campaign is about breaking that habit. We want them to make simple but powerful changes.” A new pilot program to empower mothers, “You’re The Mom” (yourethemom.org), has been rolled out in Springfield with the team from Tufts and a focus group of local moms. You’re the Mom will go national in spring 2017. Harelick says Springfield is an excellent test area because it is low-income, diverse, 62 SEPTEMBER2016

and close to Boston. Moms are being asked to make simple swaps to improve meals when kids are eating out, such as having kids eat from the children’s menu. According to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Guidelines, children ages 4-8 need 1,200 to 2,000 calories per day, yet the average adult meal at a fast-food restaurant contains more than 800 calories — for a single meal. Some adult meals can go as high as 1,500 calories. Ordering from kids’ menus typically provides fewer calories, more nutritional variety, and stays within the guidelines a 600-calorie-or-less meal for a 4- to 12-yearold child. But ordering off the kids’ menu is the just the first step. “Choose the fruit or vegetable options rather than the fried sides,” Harelick advises. “We have a fun hashtag to help moms remember that: #AppleSliceSaturday.” Other healthy hashtags include #MilkStasheMonday, #TomatoTuesday (add a tomato to your child’s sandwich) and #WaterWendesdays (swap at least one soda or sugary drink for water). Moms are encouraged to post using the hashtags as way of supporting each other. “Peer support is so important,” Harelick notes. “During the focus groups, one mom got so excited about the picture of the kid in

an adult suit as a reminder to order of the kids’ menu, that she took a picture of it and sent it to a friend. That kind of sharing is natural, and we want to give moms tools to share healthy messages.” Springfield mom and pilot program member Natalie Parrish (pictured opposite page) worked to get her 7-year-old son to eat more fruits and vegetables. “We go to the farmer’s market now for our vegetables,” she says. “The fresh fruits and vegetables are fresher and they last longer. They are also a better price. We eat more produce this way.” She also encourages her son to visit the market with her to pick out fresh vegetables and fruits. “The truth is, he won’t eat what I don’t buy, so I don’t buy snack food like I did,” she adds. “I might buy the multipack of chips, but the bags have smaller amounts so I can have some portion control, too.” Healthy Hashtags are just one of a handful of social media supports offered to moms. You’re The Mom also has a Facebook page (facebook. com/yourethemommovement) and Twitter feed (@yourethemom). Social media isn’t the only way they are reaching out. Recently, two large murals were painted in downtown Springfield featuring some of the moms, including Parrish, and reminders about making simple choices that have big impacts. One of the murals was painted by artist Victor “Marka27” Quinonez

(marka27.com), who creates vibrant murals with social commentary. “I was there when it was being painted and it was, honestly, overwhelming!” Parrish laughed. “It has been really exciting, and I’ve had so many positive responses. It has been really welcoming, too. It brings a personal touch to the campaign, and I want to help get the message out.” (Her mural, opposite page, can found on the side of the Imperial Grocery at 1072 State St.) Residents can also look for healthy hashtags and You’re The Mom messages on utility boxes and buses. Moms do have power. In 2011, McDonald’s changed the default menu for its Happy Meal to offer apple slices and milk; parents have to request fries and soda. Wendy’s Kid’s Meal offers a grilled chicken wrap as an option. “Choosing a grill item is an excellent way to improve the nutrition of a kid’s meal,” Harelick adds. Research that underlies the Restaurant Initiative found that when a restaurant changed its menu to offer healthy options as the default, kids ordered more healthy options and the restaurant actually made a few cents more per meal. So with more moms asking for healthy choices and it being better for business, the change could be even greater. “And the spillover we hope to see is that moms begin to make good choices for themselves too,” Harelick said.

Now Open For the Season Full line of fresh fruits and vegetables • Beautiful hanging plants, annuals • Bakery Deli Ice Cream now open 7 days a week 11am-9pm

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Craft Breweries Day Trips New England has some of the best craft breweries in the country. Take a day trip to Switchback Brewing Company and enjoy!

Switchback Brewing Company Switchback Brewing Company from Burlington, Vermont was started in 2002 by long time friends Bill Cherry (brewmaster) and Jeff Neiblum (electrical engineer).Starting on a 15bbl brewhouse from a failed brewery in Arizona, it didn’t take long for the first saleable batch of Switchback Ale to hit the Vermont market in October of 2002. Bill had an obstinate stance on not releasing “another pale ale” into the markets, and developed the formula for Switchback Ale in his head, with no test brewing. He envisioned maximizing complexity, flavor and delivering beer the way a brewmaster experiences it. To do this, the beer is left unfiltered and is carbonated 100% naturally in a special process using yeast. The result is a beer that defies easy description because it is brewed to a flavor idea and not based on any existing style guidelines. A tough first sell, but ultimately creating a uniqueness to itself that has led Switchback Ale to becoming Vermont’s most selling draught beer for ten years and counting!

It didn’t take long for Bill’s around unfiltered and naturally carbonated, the clock brewing habit to lead to beers to our repertoire including our Switchback slowly but surely growing, Roasted Red Ale, Dooley’s Belated Porter, both in employees, as well as brewing Slow-Fermented Brown Ale, Extra Pale equipment. Over the Ale, Marzen Fest Bier, course of two years Citra-Pils Keller Bier Switchback Brewin g starting in 2008, Bill and SwitchBOCK. Company Cherry and his team As we began worked on a serious to brew lagers, the expansion dropping in a new brewhouse mentality stayed the same: quality and matching fermenters. The “new” first, and above all else. We worked to brewhouse was actually a 1964 built cultivate our own proprietary strain of copper brewhouse from the Braurei lager yeast as we had done with our ale Schmucker in Beerfelden, Germany. yeast, to continue to provide our thirsty This new brewhouse increased our friends with unfiltered and naturally production campacity to meet the carbonated beers. demand for Switchback Ale then as well Our distribution has grown from as the future. With this new brewing being available only in Vermonth to capability, Switchback was growing both encompassing Maine, New Hampshire, its portfolio of beers and sales territories. upstate New York and Massachusetts. We kept our original 15bbl brewhouse We are working towards our goal of to rotate our specialty beers while being providing greater New England with a able to focus on the unending demand brew that they know they can trust and for more Switchback Ale. return to pint and pint again! At the time of this writing, Switchback Switchback Brewing Company has has grown our Rotating Special lineup grown in its original space at 160 Flynn to include seven unique, while still left Avenue, Burlington, Vermont since the

company’s inception. In 2014, we opened a fully renovated Tap Room so we can invite friends to come visit and enjoy a pint with our crew anytime! Tap Room Hours Summer (May - October 31) 160 Flynn Ave, Burlington, Vermont Sunday: 11AM - 7PM Monday - Thursday: 11AM - 8PM Friday - Saturday: 11AM - 9PM Phone 802-651-4114 unfitered@switchbackvt.com

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

McKinlay’s Liquors • 508-829-6624 • 624 Main Street, Holden 394325 McKinlays 1.2H 0916.indd 1

BAYSTATEPARENT 63 8/18/16 11:10 AM

The Food Gift You Need to Give (and Receive) If there are two words that were ever meant to go together, they’re “chocolate” and “pizza.” Chocolate Pizza Company (chocolatepizza.com) offers this unique, delicious treat, which can be shipped to the lucky recipient of your choice (yourself included). Starting at $16.95, it fittingly arrives in a pizza box and comes in a variety of flavors and styles, flavors and toppings.

Bites

Regardless of the question, you know the answer is always “chocolate.” Birthdays, congratulations, goodies for a kid at college, or getting in good with teachers early in the school year — this one’s a slam dunk.

Removing The Smell of Skunk From Your Pet BY LESLIE REICHERT Everyone has a “secret way” of removing the terrible smell of skunk. But most of those simple ideas really don’t work. Beer, tomato juice, even douches have all been proven ineffective. But if we apply science to the problem, we can come up with a simple recipe that really works.

Skunks spray an oily substance that contains thiols. Thiols are what gives the skunk spray its terrible smell. They aren’t water-soluble, but if you mix hydrogen peroxide and baking soda together, it turns them into a water-soluble combo that will wash out of your dog’s fur. Paul Krebaum published his solution in Chemical & Engineering News in 1993, and it was republished in Popular Science in 2007 (https://en.wikibooks. org/wiki/Removal_of_Skunk_Odor/ Removing_Odor). I tweaked his recipe so it works great on any kind of pet hair or fur.

Secret Skunk De-skunker • 1 large bottle of hydrogen peroxide • 1/4 cup baking soda • 1 teaspoon castile soap • 1 teaspoon rubbing alcohol or vodka • 1 tablespoon hair conditioner Mix these ingredients together and bathe Fluffy in the mixture. Rinse and repeat. Be very careful to avoid getting the solution in your pet’s eyes. The alcohol will work to cut through the oils from the skunk, but can also dry out your pet’s skin and damage their eyes. You can mix up a second batch of the De-skunker without the alcohol for the second application. If your pet still has a slight smell of skunk, just put a spray nozzle in a bottle of hydrogen peroxide mixed with 1 tablespoon of baking soda and spray him occasionally.

Sholan Farms Meet the Artists - Johnny Appleseed Homecrafters September 17th (Rain Date September 18) Honey Crisp Weekend September 17th-18th Cream of the Crop “Macoun” Weekend September 24th-25th Annual Harvest Weekend Festival October 8th-10th • 10am-4pm

Entertainment on Sundays throughout the season

U Pick Apples, Blueberries and Raspberries • Hiking • Seasonal Produce & Pumpkins Free Wagon Rides • School Tours & Outings

Come Enjoy a Picnic on out Beautiful Grounds!

Twilight Hikes (Weather permitting) Sept. 9th & Oct. 14th • 8pm

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1125 Pleasant St. Leominster • 978-840-3276 • www.sholanfarms.com Like us on facebook 64 SEPTEMBER2016

Sponsored by the Friends of Sholan Farms

Panera Makes Kids Meal Promise Family favorite on-the-go meal spot Panera has announced it’s making a Kids Meal Promise to children who eat at the national chain. Company officials say the Kids Menu will be: • Clean. “No artificial flavors, preservatives, sweeteners or colors from artificial sources.” • Worthy of trust. “No gimmicks. No distractions. No cartoon characters, crazy colors, toys, or toy-shaped food.” • Full of delicious options. “Let kids be kids. Let them be picky. Let them make their own choices from a menu full of tasty, wholesome options. • Nutritiously paired. Growing bodies need a meal complete with nutritious sides. Not fries, not onion rings. Options like organic yogurt, sprouted grain rolls, or apples.” • Drink optional. “Kids meals shouldn’t encourage kids to drink a sugary beverage. Ours never have, never will. Water first, then the option of adding organic milk or 100% juice.” “As a father of two, I am personally driven to serve foods that I want my own children to eat,” said Ron

Shaich, Panera founder, chairman and CEO. “Frankly, the typical restaurant industry kids meal doesn’t serve our kids well.” As of Sept. 7, the chain’s Kids Menu will be free of all artificial preservatives, sweeteners, flavors, and colors from artificial sources listed on its “No No List.” All food served by the company will adhere to the list by the end of this year. “Just like our No No List, the Kids Meal Promise is a line in the sand,” added Sara Burnett, Panera director of wellness and food policy. “It’s really a rejection of the entire concept of ‘kid food.’ We believe that our cafes should offer the same choices and transparency to children as we do adults.”

Protect Snacks, Drinks On The Go Sending drinks and snacks to school or toting them along for errands is great — provided they don’t get crushed, smushed, or pop a hole along the way. Snack in the Box holds 6 ounces and allows parents to pack two snacks in one durable, spill-proof container. With two separate chambers topped with pop-up lids, it’s easy to offer healthy snacks and fruit

in the right amounts and get them out easily, too. Available in 8- and 12-ounce sizes, Drink in the Box is a durable, boxyshaped drink container that is spill-proof, leak-proof, fits perfectly into lunch boxes, and can hold fruitinfused water, organic juices, milk or diluted juice. More information and how to buy can be found at drinkinthebox.com.

Pack a Better Lunch With This Free App Nearly 18% of American children are obese according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a sharp rise from the rate of 7% in 1980. Free mobile app ShopWell (shopwell.com) thinks what’s in their lunchbox is to blame. The company found the statistics on school lunches above. ShopWell, available at the App Store and Google Play, offers “betterfor-you” food recommendations based on preferences, allergies, and more.

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: k l a T y e n r o e v M o The s to C c i p o 10 T ur Teen o Y h t i w B

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Emily C., age 10

redit scores, debit cards, salaries, interest rates, budgets. Ugh. Who wants to talk about this stuff? It turns out, your kids do. In a 2015 Junior Achievement survey, 84% of teens said they look to their parents for money management advice. These are the facts of life your teens want you to discuss, and this is your opportunity to help them build a strong financial foundation. So, where do you begin and what should you cover? We’ve broken The Money Talk into 10 important conversations below. Plan to cover each of these with your teen before he or she graduates from high school, and you can both feel more confident about creating a healthy financial future. 1. Wants vs. needs. Do you know the difference? Shelter, food, and clothing are needs. Cable TV, dining out, and designer sneakers are wants. Easy. But what about lessobvious categories, like technology? My husband and I had a lively discussion with our 15-year-old son on this topic. We debated the wants and needs of cellphones, laptops, and Internet access. What is a need when it comes to college research, contacting future employers, watching YouTube? The conversation resulted in a variety of budget options and solutions — including a flip phone. (I’m pretty sure I saw him shudder when that last one was mentioned.) 2. Banking basics: Checking and savings accounts. Most money management lessons should begin with these two basic accounts. Talk to your teen about the purpose of each. Discuss interest rates, minimum balances, overdraft consequences, and ATM fees. Teach your child how to write a check. In an age in which financial mobile apps and online banking access are growing in popularity, it is still important to master the basics. Speaking of mobile banking, work together to understand your bank’s mobile app. Review its features, deposit a check remotely, make a payment, and discuss security options.

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3. The difference between credit and debit cards. This is where you get to use the classic parent line, “Money doesn’t grow on trees.” Be clear with your child that credit cards are not free money. Explain that, ideally, you should be able to pay off your credit card in full each month. Go over the downside of making minimum monthly payments. Compare interest rates on various credit cards on the market. Emphasize the importance of keeping credit card information secure and how to do so. Talk about what to do if the card is ever lost or stolen. 4. Identity protection. An estimated 17.6 million Americans (about 7%) aged 16 and over were victims of identity theft in 2014, according to a report from the Bureau of Justice Statistics. The vast majority of victims (86%) experienced misuse of an existing credit card or bank account. To help prevent this from happening to your child, explain the importance of protecting Social Security numbers, passwords, and account numbers. Together, review social media privacy settings and discuss what kinds of information (birthday, address, phone number) should stay off the Internet. Encourage a change of passwords every month, and use different passwords for different accounts. Examine your child’s credit report together at least once a year, and encourage him or her to check their bank balances regularly. “If they are using a debit card, remind them to shield their pin when using it,” advised Maria Porto, a financial educator with Hanscom Federal Credit Union. “Explain that if someone is standing right behind you, possibly to get your pin number, don’t be afraid to tell that person to back up.” 5. What jobs pay. Income shouldn’t be a mystery to our children. Knowing what positions pay can help them to make better decisions about their education and career paths. If you are not comfortable discussing your income, take time to research the incomes of various occupations that interest your son or daughter. Start with websites such as salary.com and glassdoor. com. 6. How to make a budget. If you are comfortable, share your household budget. If you don’t want to share your personal budget, help your teen to create a mock budget using a possible future income. Do an online search for a budget template to get started. Take time to explain the expenses that you find to be most challenging and strategies you use to manage your money.

7. Compound interest. Simply put, compound interest is interest that is added to a deposit or loan over a set period of time. With each new passing of that specified amount of time, interest is calculated using the previous balance with its accrued interest. In short, interest begets interest, meaning that a small savings today can grow into something bigger over time. Underlining this concept will help your teen understand the importance of saving money early in life and — hopefully — developing a lifelong dedication to savings. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has an online Compound Interest Calculator at investor.gov. This calculator is a handy tool when explaining compound interest. You can enter various savings amounts, interest rates, and time frames — and then watch the money grow. 8. Building credit. It’s an important lesson to teach all young people: Maintaining a good credit score and report will save you money throughout your life. The best interest rates charged by lenders go to those with the best credit. Additionally, future employers or landlords may use your credit worthiness in making a decision about you. Teach your child strategies for building a strong credit profile. These include keeping a low balance on credit cards and paying bills on time.

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9. The price of debt. Remember that lesson about compound interest? Well, it holds true for debt as well as savings. According to a recent report by U.S. News and World Report, the average student loan bill for 2014 college graduates was $28,077. To pay that back over 10 years at 5% interest, a student will have to fork over $300 a month. That can put a noticeable dent in a monthly budget. 10. How to set financial goals. This is one of the fun financial lessons to share with your child. By making financial goals, both short- and long-term, plans can be created to reach those goals. Is a new phone on the wish list? How much will it cost and how many months do you have to save for it? By making a realistic plan and sticking to it, you can reach your goal. Explain that setting financial goals is a skill your teen will use throughout life to save for things like a new car, a vacation, the holidays and — most importantly — retirement. If you hesitate to have The Money Talk because you lack confidence in your own money management skills, take this opportunity to learn with your teen. The Internet is filled with articles and videos to get you started, and most banks and credit unions provide advice at no charge — all you have to do is ask.

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our september favorites sunday

monday

tuesday

wednesday

Starting on the date the prize appears, log on to baystateparent.com to enter for your chance to win.

{WIN}

11 11{Fact}

13 13

The average pencil can write 45,000 words. Prefer a crayon? Crayola produces 3 billion each year.

{WIN}

19 {Fact} 19 It’s Talk Like a Pirate Day, which began when two friends were playing racquetball in1995 and one exclaimed in frustration, “Arrr!” In 2002, the men emailed columnist Dave Barry about their personal holiday and it exploded across the U.S.

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It’s all the fun of a piñata, but without the fear of getting whacked by a bat. Easily fill the Goodie Gusher with treats and hang. Kids (or parents) take turns trying to pull the Magic Key. Once the Magic Key is pulled, the Goodie Gusher will release a shower of party treats — and it’s reusable! Visit baystateparent.com today and grab your chance to win.

7 14

Celebrate Play-Doh’s 60th anniversary with the all-new Doctor Drill ’N Fill playset. Little dentists can use tools for the examination, a toothbrush to get teeth sparkly clean, and a drill that really spins. Playset includes patient head, electronic drill, tooth book mold, tweezers, toothbrush, dentist tools, and five cans of PlayDoh compound. Go to baystateparent.com today to enter to win this cool science set!

21{WIN} Families can have a safe, snug spot for little ones to comfortably relax, play, and sleep on the go with DockATot. This portable baby lounger is hypoallergenic, made with nurturing and hygienic fabrics, and provides the ideal microclimate that mimics the womb. Head to baystateparent. com today to grab your chance to win a Deluxe model, for babies up to 9 months, a retail value of $185.

facts, finds and freebies thursday

1 8

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15 22

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friday

2 9

Let Staples send your child back to class in style with this cool Back to School bundle: a Jansport Austin Backpack, a Five Star Style 1-Subject Notebook, and a pack of Paper Mate InkJoy Gel Pens. Head to baystateparent.com today for details on how to enter to win this prize pack, valued at $65.

saturday

33 {Fact}

Yellow, orange and variations thereof always reside in the pigmentation of tree leaves, but they are overpowered by the abundance of green from the chlorophyll in the leaves. Come autumn, when the sun weakens and days grow shorter, the amount of chlorophyll in leaves diminishes, allowing the other pigments to show through.

16 16 {WIN} 17 Add some fine fashion to your fall by wining this Curved Initial Bar Necklace from Isabella Grace Jewelry. Hung on a 14 kt gold-fill chain accented with pyrite, this gold or silver bar is personalized with your initial of choice. Choose either a silver chain accented with gold pyrite or a 14 kt gold fill chain accented with oxidized silver pyrite. Enter today to win this necklace, valued at $80, at baystateparent.com.

Keep the healing power of plants and natural aromatherapy in your purse with the Pocket Farmacy from Saje Natural Wellness. This pack includes five of the companyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s best-selling therapeutic remedy roll-ons to provide headache relief; reduce inflammation and muscle pain; help alleviate cold symptoms, and more. Visit baystateparent.com and enter today for your chance to win this pack, valued at $59.95.

24 24{Fact} There are more than 7,500 varieties of apples grown around the world. It would take you more than 20 years to try them all if you ate one a day.

BAYSTATEPARENT 69

FINALLY FOREVER

September’s Child: Michele Michele is a sweet-natured, artistically talented 13-year-old girl of Caucasian descent who hopes to get adopted into a big family that has a dog! She is most often found coloring, drawing, playing with her doll house or with board games. Michele is learning how to act, playing Charlie Brown in her first acting role. Michele is unsure what she wants to be when she grows up, but thinks she would like working with animals. Michele loves school and having opportunities to learn. She has the support of an Individualized Education Plan, primarily due to the lack of consistency in her schooling through-

CIRCLE OF FRIENDS

out her life. Michele gets along with others and is considered kind and caring. She has made great progress in her current foster home. Legally free for adoption, Michele would benefit from a family who could give her the love and support she needs. And if they had a dog that would be great, too! Her social worker feels that Michele would do well with a two-parent family, being the youngest or only child in the home. Michele has requested that a family allow her to make her own religious choices and allow her to have frequent contact with her siblings who are placed in separate homes.

Tuesday, Sept. 6: Western Region Adoption Info Meetings — Department of Children and Families, 140 High St., 5th Floor, Springfield. 4 p.m.-5:30 p.m. (413) 452-3369. Friday, Sept. 9: Brown Bag Session — Department of Children and Families, 151 West Boylston Dr., Worcester. Noon-1 p.m. A monthly informational meetings for those interested in learning more about becoming a foster parent. Call (508) 793- 8000 to register. Tuesday, Sept. 13: Northern Region Adoption Info Meeting — ADLU, Lawrence. Jordan’s Furniture: 50

For more information about Michele, please contact Department of Children and Families Adoption Supervisor Karen Greaney at (508) 929-1000. The Worcester DCF Office hosts monthly informational meetings on the second Wednesday of each month for those wishing to learn more about the adoption process in general. The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 14 from 6–7 p.m. The DCF Adoption Development & Licensing Unit’s Office is located at 13 Sudbury St. in Worcester. Please call (508) 929-2143 to register and for specifics about parking.

Walkers Brook Dr., Reading. IMAX Conference Room. Contact: stephanie.frankel@state.ma.us Wednesday, Sept. 14: Central Region Adoption Info Meetings — ADLU Worcester. 13 Sudbury St., Worcester. 6 p.m.-7 p.m. (508) 929-2413. Thursday, Sept. 15: Foster parent informational meeting — South Central DCF Office, 185 Church St., Whitinsville 6 p.m.-7:30 p.m. A monthly informational meeting for those interested in learning more about becoming a foster parent. Call (508) 929-1073 to register.

Monday, Sept. 19: Southern Region Adoption Info Meeting — ADLU Canton. Canton Police Station, 1492 Washington St., Canton. Upstairs community/ conference room. 6 p.m.-8 p.m. 508-894-3830 Wednesday, Sept. 21: Boston Region Adoption Info Meeting, DCF Boston, 451 Blue Hill Avenue, Dorchester. 4 p.m.-5:30 p.m. 617-989-9209. Thursday, Sept. 22: Southern Region Adoption Info Meetings — ADLU Taunton, Morton Hospital, 88 Washington St., Taunton. Margaret Stone Conference Room, first floor. 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m. 508-894-3830.

Slide Swing explore learn Come on a nature adventure!

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ADVERTORIAL

26th Annual

Featuring: · Sterling Gym Ninja Challenge Course · XPOGO Stunt Team · Rainforest Reptile Show · WXLO’s ‘Wachusett’s Got Talent’ · Kidslope Learning Area · Gramma Potts 25th Anniversary Celebration · Heart Warrior 5K

September 24-25, 2016 10am-5pm

Plus: · Scenic SkyRide · Magic Shows · Pony Rides · Climbing Wall · Bungee Jump · Jugglers & Clowns · Facepainting · Balloon Animals

· Moonbounces · Obstacle Course & Giant Slide · Activities & Games · Singing & Dance Demos · And Lots More!

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ADVERTORIAL

Featured

Troy Wunderle of Wunderle’s Big Top Adventures

t s e F s d i K ent

Troy is the Artistic Director of Circus Smirkus and the Director of Clowning for the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus

m n i a t r e t n E

Rainforest Reptile Show Rainforest Reptile Show’s unique programming engages children of all ages at a hands-on level. Experience direct contact with live animals, artifacts and fascinating stories about the animals and their natural habitats. We offer fun, dynamic, educational programs. We are the best in children’s and adult education. Call upon the experts at Rainforest Reptile Shows.

Baby Animal Petting Zoo Animal Craze offers more choices than any other traveling farm in New England! My children and I hand raise all of the animals right here at our home in Winchendon, MA. We know it is important to keep it small to ensure they get the love and attention it takes to make them gentle and seek out the affection of people. We not only allow children to touch the animals, but we will teach them how to hold the animals and bottle feed them. We encourage the children to learn by doing.

XPOGO Stunt Team The Xpogo Stunt Team is the world’s best extreme pogo demo crew, Featuring Championship Pro Athletes flying over 10 Feet in the air on extreme pogo sticks throwing down flips and incredible tricks, the Xpogo Stunt Team brings the sport to you. With fans across the globe, and new followers after every show, Xpogo Stunt Team Pros are a hit everywhere, every time.

Gramma Potts 25th Anniversary We’ve been ‘clowning around’ with Gramma Potts and her balloon animal fun at KidsFest for 25 years now! In honor of this milestone and to say thanks for all her years of service, we’ll have additional balloon options for all who visit our favorite Gramma! We’ll also gather around once each day to cheer loudly for Gramma and celebrate with mini-cupcakes!

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ADVERTORIAL

Sterling Gym Ninja Challenge Think you’re strong!? Based off the popular television series, the Ninja Challenge Course will focus on strength, coordination and self-confidence. This fun, hands-on activity will run under our big tent throughout the weekend and will be coached by Sterling Gym’s amazing instructors. Gravity can be beat!

Heart Warrior 5K

Wachusett Mountain’s 26th Annual KidsFest, has something for everyone! Whether it’s taking a ride on our scenic SkyRide, watching any of the amazing live shows and performances throughout the weekend or visiting our many vendors, we 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!

Pricing Information:

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

Admission: • Adults $11 advance, $14 door • Kids (3-12) $7 advance, $10 door • Kids 2 & under are FREE!

Join this 5K Race and Kids Fun Run on Sunday starting at 9am to support Boston Children’s Hospital Heart Center. More information can be found at www.facebook.com/ events/593714484114802.

Kidslope Learning Area Try skiing or snowboarding at our outdoor learning slope, specially designed to give you the feeling of gliding down a mountain, minus the snow! Equipment will be available for all kids!

SkyRide Package Pricing (includes admission plus unlimited SkyRides): • Adults $19 advance, $22 door • Kids (6-12) $13 advance, $18 door SkyRide: • Adults $10 door • Kids (6-12) $8 door • Kids 5 & under are FREE! For a full schedule of Main & Side Stage events & shows, please visit Wachusett.com. All activities, except SkyRide are included with the price of admission (moonbounces, climbing wall, balloon animals, etc.)

BAYSTATEPARENT 73

ADVERTORIAL

Main Stage ent nm i a t r e ent

Magic Steve Be amazed and amused as he strolls through the crowd and performs on-stage, complete with audience participation.

Saturday-only

Bradley Bartlett-Roche

SUNDAY only WXLO’s ‘Wachusett’s Got Talent’

Bradley Bartlett-Roche, also known as the “Boston Piano Kid”, is 13 years old and currently resides in Massachusetts. For as long as he could sit up on his own, Bradley has loved to play the piano! His passion for Blues/Jazz/Classic Rock/Boogie/Classical Music and the ability to create his own music from little more than a thought can only be attributed to the possibility that Bradley is indeed an “Old Soul”. He plays from his heart and brings his emotions to life through the keys.

Sequence

Think you’ve got a talented kid? Are you a talented kid!? Then sign up online at wxlo.com for your opportunity to perform LIVE at Wachsuett in front of a cheering crowd of onlookers! Sing, play or dance your way for the chance to perform on community auditions.

Sequence is an all-girl group with a passion for performing. Combining their harmonic voices with entertaining choreography, these four girls will impress you with their sound and performing ability. And while doing what they love, they spread positivity and volunteerism.

e g a t S e Sid t n e m n i nterta

Vendors

• Martial Arts • Dance Groups • Gymnastics Shows Demos • And more… • Magic Shows

All ongoing throughout the weekend!

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Sampling by Polar Beverages & Partners, including Vita CoCo, Neuro, Essentia, Karma and more!

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Fun, Fitness & Nutrition! Thomas Prince School is getting fit with

Boosterthon Fun Run

Battleship Cove 5 Water St., Fall River 508-678-1100 battleshipcove.org $18 admission

F3 227 Turnpike Rd Ste C Westborough 508-898-3362 F3ma.com $10 admission

Edaville 5 Pine St., South Carver 508-866-8190 edaville.com $37 admission Extreme Kids Lab 79 Reservoir RD., Holden 508-713-7581 extremekidslab.com $25.00 admission

Fitchburg Art Museum 185 Elm St., Fitchburg 978-345-4207 fitchburgartmuseum.org $9.00 admission

Jump Nation

Old Sturbridge Village 1 Old Sturbridge Village Rd. ,Sturbridge 508-347-0205, osv.org $28 admission

Jump Nation 810 Boston TPKE Shrewsbury 508-845-7529 jumpnationparty.com $12.00 admission

on Oct 4th

We will be having a fundraiser event for the school with the students involved in a fun run! Two weeks before the run trainers from Boosterthon will work with kids to learn about the importance of excersise, nutrition, character building and leadership.

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$15 Canvas Painting (always) $10 Wine Glass Painting (always) Art Classes & Workshops http://www.artreachstudioafs.com

322 West Boylston Street, Worcester, MA

Spin • Boot Camp • Pilates • Boxing • Kettle Ball

ikravefitness.com ikravefitness@gmail.com 22 West St, Millbury, MA 122 Turnpike Rd, Westboro, MA 508.410.5127

Style. Find it Here.

Shop over 60 specialty and department stores, plus select dining options and more at The Mall at Whitney Field. ROBROYHAIRSALONS.COM

An intimate apparel boutique

$30/hour

A GREAT place to CREATE, take a class, PAINT, relax and un “WINE” with ART!

ONGOING MONTHLY SPECIALS

800 Main St. Holden, MA (the pink building), 508-210-0569

Massage

art Reach

Coupon must be presented at time of appointment in order to receive discount.

www.benessereskinspa.com • 508-873-3880 • Grafton, MA

Burlington • JC Penney Macy’s • Sears Toys ‘R’ Us • Old Navy Victoria’s Secret American Eagle Outfitters rue21 • The Children’s Place Jo-Ann Fabrics & Crafts Aeropostale • maurices Yankee Candle • Panera Bread Bath & Body Works Sephora

Retail Therapy Inside JC Penney

BUSINESSDIRECTORY PartyKids

SEPTEMBERINDEX

PartyKids

All Ages. Birthday Parties, Schools, Fairs, Day Care Centers, Etc.

www.rosalitaspuppets.com 617-633-2832

PartyKids

Big Joe

YOUNG MINDS GROW THROUGH

the Storyteller

Storytelling fun for Birthday Parties, Schools, Daycare Centers, Library Programs, Special Events and TV Featuring:

Our hands-on learning environment encourages your child to build creativity, confidence and lifelong friendships.

• Original & Classic Stories • Puppets, Props and Surprises For Bookings and Info Call: 617-713-4349 E-mail: BigJoe@BigJoe.com Visit me on the web at: www.BigJoe.com

Our Birthday Parties are so much fun for all!

76 Otis Street (Rt 9 Eastbound), Westboro 508-366-1495

www.gymboreeclasses.com

PartyKids EDUCATIONAL INTERACTIVE PROGRAMS • Libraries • Scouts • Schools • Expositions • Fairs • Birthday Parties

• Establised in 1993 • Professional Leaders in Educational Entertainment

978-922-5107

rainforestreptileshows.com EDUCATIONAL FUN FOR ALL AGES!!!

To place your ad contact Regina Stillings, Director of Sales at 508-865-7070 ext. 210 or email regina@ baystateparent.com

Autism Resource Center............................................15 B.A.W. Inc..........................................................43,48 Bancroft School....................................................... 79 Bark ‘n Bubbles....................................................... 50 Bay State Skating School......................................... 18 Benessere Skin Spa & Nail Care..........................67,76 Big Y Foods, Inc....................................................... 11 Central Mass Arts/stART on the street....................... 21 Child Health Associates............................................ 37 Child Works............................................................. 59 Children’s Development Network, Inc....................6,18 Children’s Orchard-Westboro.................................... 58 Cornerstone Academy.............................................. ..3 D’Ambrosio Eye Care............................................... 49 Dance Now & Forever.............................................. 54 Davidian Brothers Farm........................................... 63 Davis Farmland....................................................... 25 Discovery Museums................................................. 70 The Center at Eagle Hill.........................................8,67 Ecotarium........................................................9,48,73 Ellie’s Pet Barn........................................................ 35 Fitchburg Art Museum.............................................. 54 Fletcher Tilton PC..................................................... 36 FMC Ice Sports......................................................... 31 GQ Hair Salon......................................................... 30 Great Wolf New England.......................................... 33 Gymnastics Learning Center..................................... 52 Hebert Candy Mansion............................................. 35 Heywood Hospital.................................................... 38 Holden Vet Center.................................................... 46 HP Hood................................................................. 51 Jack & Jill Preschool................................................ 18 Johnny Appleseed Trail Association........................... ..5 Kathy Corrigan’s School of Gymnastics..................... 50 KidsFest at Wachusett Mountain.............................. 71 Krave Fitness & Nutrition......................................... 76 Lanni Orchards........................................................ 61 Legoland Discovery Center Boston............................ 69 Lundgren Honda...................................................... 26 Mall At Whitney Field..........................................10,76 Marini Farm............................................................ 34 McKinlay’s Liquors................................................... 63 Millbury Federal Credit Union.................................. 47 New England Cord Blood Bank Inc........................... 45 New To You........................................................45,76 The Fix Burger Bar.................................................. 49 O’Connor’s Restaurant............................................. 53 Old Sturbridge Village.........................................28,29 Pakachoag Community Music School...................55,66 Parenting Solutions.................................................. 66 Paula Meola Dance.................................................. 60 Reliant Ready Med.................................................. 30 Rob Roy Hair Salon ................................................76 Sholan Farms.......................................................... 64 Shrewsbury Children’s Center................................... 61 Spa Tech Institute.................................................... 76 Speech & Language Specialties Inc........................... 37 St. Peter-Marian C.C. Jr./Sr. School........................... 24 St. Vincent Hospital.................................................. 19 The Chestnut Hill School........................................... 17 The Children’s Workshop.......................................... 21 The Learning Zone................................................... 14 Thomas Prince Shool............................................... 75 Trek Stop................................................................. 59 UMass Memorial Medical Center.....................24,58,80 Vin Bin (The)........................................................... 76 VOL Boutique.......................................................... 76 Westminster Village Foundation............................... 26 Women’s Health of Central MA................................. 66 Worcester Art Museum............................................. ..2 Worcester Center for Crafts...................................... ..4 Worcester Children’s Chorus..................................... 55 YMCA Central Branch............................................... 27 YWCA of Central Massachusetts................................ 43 BAYSTATEPARENT 77

TAKE EIGHT

with Rachel Cruze Family money management expert, mother, and wife Rachel Cruze co-authored the #1 New York Times best-selling book Smart Money Smart Kids in 2014 with her dad: debt-destroying guru, author, and radio host Dave Ramsey. Cruze’s new book, Love Your Life, Not Theirs, comes out next month, and she and Ramsey will be in Lowell on Sept. 29 with their Smart Money event, in which they walk attendees through topics like budgeting, paying off debt, and saving for retirement (tickets and info can be found at daveramsey.com).

What is the No. 1 money problem families are facing today? Comparisons are killing us financially! We see our neighbor with a new car in the driveway or our friend’s photos of her newly renovated kitchen on Instagram, and suddenly our stuff isn’t good enough. We’ve always been trying to keep up with the Joneses, only now they don’t have to live across the street, they live in our smartphones. We lose sight of the fact that we’re often comparing our lives to people who struggle with that car payment every month or took out a loan to cover the cost of the updated kitchen. It’s not reality.

Can average-income families really get out of debt in today’s world? Anyone can get out of debt! It isn’t always easy, but it can be done. The most important thing you can do when trying to pay off debt is having a plan, and that starts with a budget. By creating a budget for your money each month, you’ll be able to plan for each month’s expenses so that you can avoid debt and start saving for emergencies. I use the app EveryDollar to help make my budget and keep it balanced.

What was/is the hardest part of money management to learn as you grew up? I’m a natural spender, so saving money and sticking to a budget has always been a challenge. Even from a young age, this was apparent. I spent all my money at the store and even bounced a check one time – yes, Dave Ramsey’s kid bounced a check. But learning these lessons as a kid and under my parents’ roof allowed me to learn the importance of forming the habits of budgeting and saving up to pay cash.

How can parents best set their children up for solid money management habits? The number one piece of advice I give parents is to be intentional. More is caught than taught, so remember that your kids are watching you. You have to teach your kids how to win with money or someone else, like the credit card companies, will teach them for you.

What is one area where you see parents go overboard with their children and money, and what would you recommend for reversing that? Holidays and birthdays are definitely times where parents are tempted to overspend. Birthday parties are becoming a lot more about the parents than the kids. During the holidays, it’s important to remember that your kids may have a wish list a mile long, but you aren’t obligated to get them everything on that list, especially if you can’t afford it. The best way to deal with it is to plan ahead and budget your money.

What is your advice for teaching children how to avoid lifestyle comparisons to their peers? If your kids see you constantly comparing your life to other people’s lives, they will pick that up in their own behavior. Teach them early that going into debt to keep up with other people is a bad idea. Content people don’t always have the best of everything, but they do make the best of everything. If they see that in you, when they are old enough, it will come naturally to them.

For parents who think their children may feel too entitled when it comes to their lifestyle, how can they give their kids a monetary reality check? The best thing you can do to avoid raising entitled kids is to teach them the value of work. There are many adults who don’t understand this lesson. My parents made sure I knew that money comes from work, and if you want it, you have to earn it. Of course, I’m talking about age-appropriate work; nevertheless, the value of work is needed and necessary. When your kids learn hard work from a young age, the habit will stick with them for life.

What are your thoughts on allowances? Should children be paid for doing work around the house and, if so, do you recommend a specific system/plan? I don’t believe in giving your kids an “allowance.” Instead, I suggest giving them a commission. If they work, they get paid. If they don’t work, they don’t get paid. Some parents give $1 per chore, while other parents may give $5 per chore. Either of these amounts is fine, and it’s okay to increase the amount as the child grows and the work becomes more difficult. Just make sure the amount is appropriate for your family and your budget.

For an unabridged version of this interview, complete with more advice and how-tos, head to baystateparent.com/rachelcruze. 78 SEPTEMBER2016

BAYSTATEPARENT 79

Oh, Baby – Do We Deliver! Nine months is a long time to wait for your special delivery, so when the big day finally arrives, you want to be sure you and your baby have the very best care. Moms in Central Massachusetts trust UMass Memorial to deliver the greatest experience, from excellent preand post-natal care from our obstetricians and family medicine partners, to a wonderful birthing experience at UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester or UMass Memorial – HealthAlliance Hospital in Leominster. With nearly 5,000 babies born at our hospitals each year, our team most definitely delivers! For added confidence, you have direct access to our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in Worcester.

Let UMass Memorial be your delivery destination. To learn more about your women’s health team and to make an appointment, call 855-UMASS-MD.

If you’re expecting, you’re in the right place. 80 SEPTEMBER2016