October 2016

baystateparent FREE

OCTOBER 2016

RAISING OPEN-MINDED KIDS: TEACHING TOLERANCE THROUGH BOOKS

140+ FAMILY FUN EVENTS THIS MONTH BANK REDUCING BARRIERS TO ADOPTION WITH NEW LOAN PROGRAM

Experts: Say Goodnight To Evening Tech Use

Massachusetts’ Premier Magazine For Families Since 1996

WORCESTER ART M U S E U M e c a l p A ! s e i l i m a f r fo

Last call for Knights!

Closes November 6 2 OCTOBER2016

Get up close to knights– including Batman!

See their worlds come to life with interactive iPads.

Have fun in Helmutt’s House – a space just for kids!

worcesterart.org

BAYSTATEPARENT 3

4 OCTOBER2016

TURN YOUR CHILD’S DENTAL APPOINTMENT INTO A PLAY DATE!

KIDS ZONE DENTAL PROVIDES • A comfortable and relaxing dental experience for your child.

• A focus on educating you and your child about good oral hygiene.

• Preventive care to give your child a healthy, natural and beautiful smile.

• Specialized procedures and methods we use to treat your child’s dental needs.

Dr. Veeranna and Associates

113 Sutton Ave., Oxford, MA 01540 • 508-731-0808 • mykidszonedental.com BAYSTATEPARENT 5

TAKE

TO THE

ICE

LOCATIONS ACROSS MASSACHUSETTS

PUBLIC SKATING

 Admission

only $5!  Rental skates available for $5  Fun, affordable family outing  Schedules available online

Learn basic skating skills  Ages 3 and up  7 week sessions  Fun & safe atmosphere 

Introductory hockey school  Ages 3 - 16  Superior skating & skill instruction 

Use promo code BSP201617 and receive $10 OFF your entire purchase of any instructional program!

1•888•74•SKATE • WWW.FMCICESPORTS.COM 6 OCTOBER2016

Cornerstone Academy CELEBRATES

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

1996

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

5 Oak Avenue • Northboro, MA 01532 • 508-351-9976 www.cornerstoneacademy.org BAYSTATEPARENT 7

Helping your child achieve their personal best in life and scholastics The CDN network of doctors provides expert clinical care for...

Diagnostic Evaluations & Education Consultation/ Advocacy: • Autism Spectrum Disorders • Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity • Dyslexia/Learning Disorders • Executive Function Skills

Treatment and Therapy: • Executive Function Skills Training • Coping Skill Development • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Meet a member of our caring, professional team...

Renee Folsom, Ph.D.

Pediatric Neuropsychologist • Specialties: Autism Spectrum Disorder and other conditions that usually co-occur with this diagnosis; Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder; Specific Learning Disability; Anxiety/Depression; and Mood Disorders.

• Services: Full neuropsychological assessment of children, adolescents, and adults; developmental monitoring; assistance in educational programming; transition planning; and training in executive functions.

8 OCTOBER2016

Child Development Network, Inc. Lexington, MA • 781-861-6655 www.CDNKids.com

table of contents OCTOBER 2016 VOLUME 21

The more children you have, meet, or work with, the more you realize one central tenet: Kids are kids. And all kids want to be is just like any child. They want to enjoy the same things as their friends, and parents want them to have access to the same opportu-

3

1.

NUMBER 6

nities as their peers.

However, it’s not always that simple for families with children with special needs.

For a child with sensory triggers, a trip to buy new sneakers can result in an upset child, a stressed-out parent — and no shoes. A trip to a family destination may be derailed, or disappointing, if a child with physical disabilities can’t access an exhibit or attraction.

This month, we focus on the community of families with special needs and look at ways business and organizations are reaching out to them to provide more access, understanding, and everyday fun.

things we learned

while making

11 12 13 20

A 2014 study by the Rudd Adoption Research Program at the University of Massachusetts reports that the average cost of a domestic private adoption in the Bay State is about $40,000.

International adoptions can cost even more, depending on the country and the cost of travel. Turn to page 48 and read about a new loan program from Massachusetts-based Citizens Bank, one designed to humanize what can be a difficult, emotional process.

2.

— Melissa Shaw, editor in chief

in every issue

the october issue

Americans waste enough food every day to fill a 90,000-seat football stadium, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

On page 15, Chef Martha Ruch shares five simple ways to save precious time and money at dinnertime.

Melissa

3.

Research from a new University of Missouri study reveals interesting observations about the value of mother-daughter conversations in helping girls understand and process difficult life events. Head to page 56 and learn how the act of talking through tough times with mothers can help daughters.

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

48 49 49 62 66

MEET OUR CONTRIBUTORS BSP ONLINE

BY THE NUMBERS: HALLOWEEN OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO: October Calendar Of Family Events FINALLY FOREVER: Mass Bank Reducing Barriers to Adoption With New Loan Program CIRCLE OF FRIENDS: Area adoption events OCTOBER’S CHILD: Meet Hanna OUR OCTOBER FAVORITES: FACTS, FINDS & FREEBIES TAKE 8: Kids’ Music Superstar Laurie Berkner

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 9

Very Special People

Features

32

Mother, Mayor, Businesses Join Forces For Autism Education

18 46 50

34

The Discovery Museums Expand Offerings, Commitment to Accessibility

37

Using Books To Teach Tolerance to Young Children

53

41

Divorce & Co-Parenting: CoParenting Children With Special Needs

54

42

How to Approach Puberty Education for Adolescents with Intellectual Disabilities

56 60

Big Papi Corn Maze a Hit Keep Kids Safe Online By Learning Together Charter Schools: What To Do About Question 2?

Why Kids Should Say Goodnight To Evening Gadget Use How To Help Kids Manage Asthma, Food Allergies, and School Study: Mother-Daughter Talks Help Ease Difficult Experiences At-Risk Students Find Motivation in Massachusetts

Ripe

This month’s cover model: Ethan, 12, with the family cat Nala.

14 15

Flavors of the Harvest

16

Bites: Sweet Treats With ‘No Funky Stuff’; A Fun New Life for Halloween Candy; Expert: Recall Increase Doesn’t Mean Food is Less Safe; A New Way to Get Kids to Try New Foods; and more.

Simply Delicious: Five Ways to Save Time and Money at Dinnertime

Fall Classes Begin October ronlin2e,4

Photography by Barnes Portrait Design

JOIN US ONLINE! facebook.com/baystateparent Twitter @baystateparent

WORCESTER CENTER FOR CRAFTS

Registe y phone. in person, or b

This fun, new approach to craft education offers youth & teens a window into creative 3-D thinking, knowledge of materials, and the habits of mind and skills needed for the 21st century.

• Small Classes • Individual attention • Expert instruction • Interdisciplinary content •

worcestercraftcenter.org • 25 Sagamore Road, Worcester, MA • 508.753.8183 ext. 301 10 OCTOBER2016

OCTOBER 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.

David Dore is a writer and editor of The Leominster Champion, a sister publication to baystateparent.

Joan Goodchild is a Shrewsbury mother of two and editor of a business publication serving security and risk professionals.

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 dual-diagnosis of Down syndrome and autism, and her experience as a parent of a child with special needs inspires some of her writing for various publications, as well as for her blog, thespecialneedsfiles.com. Information about Marshal’s writing and workshops can be found marshaldhaneisen.com.

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).

Martha Ruch is the owner of Simply Delicious Personal Chef Service, helping busy families come together at the dinner table since 2007. Find pictures, recipes, cooking tips and more at simplydeliciouschef.com, facebook.com/pages/SimplyDelicious-Personal-Chef-Service/100774143364091, and on Twitter @chefmartha 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.

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.

baystateparent’s

KidsCon & CAMP EXPO

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

Kacy Zurkus is a freelance writer contributing to a variety of publications from CSO Online to K12 Tech Decisions and meetmindful. com. She can be found on Twitter @KSZ714 or at linkedin.com/in/ ksz714.

SAVE THE DATE Sat., Feb. 11, 2017 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel, Marlborough

This event is a one stop shop of all things kids.

See page 19 for more information.

BAYSTATEPARENT 11

COOKIES & TEA WITH CLARA SUNDAY, NOV 13

Reservations Required

508.791.3233

presented by

bsp ONLiNE

F

or most of us, fall means pumpkins, apples, and Halloween. Did you know that the average American eats 24 pounds of candy each year? Or that pumpkins have an average of 500 seeds? While you and your kids are settling back into school and sports routines, check out our new page of fun facts and stats, “By The Numbers,” on page 13. And be sure to check out some of our features this month celebrating children and families with special needs, including how The Discovery Museums in Acton are helping families enjoy their museums more by introducing Especially For Me events. We’ll even have passes to The Discovery Museums to give away. 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! Kara of Medfield and her daughter, pictured, won the fun and funky set of Wrist Wraps earbuds in a recent giveaway. And dozens of families from all over the Bay State have won passes to Edaville USA and the Roger Williams Park Zoo. 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 Karen of Bolton and Andrea of Mansfield, 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 4-pack to Southwick’s Zoo!

Tickets Available at TheHanoverTheatre.org

THANKSGIVING WEEKEND PERFORMANCES NOV 25-27 • 877.571.SHOW (7469)

Prepare to be amazed viewing giraffes, lions, tigers, white rhinos, and chimpanzees in Southwick’s Zoo in Mendon, the largest zoo in New England. We have family four packs to give away!

Set on 200 acres of naturalistic habitats, Southwick’s Zoo is home to 850 exotic animals from around the world. Stroll through the 35-acre deer forest, where the deer roam free, or ride the Woodlands Express train through the North American Elk habitat and wetlands. View the African Plains and other animal exhibits from new heights on the Skyfari Skyride. Email win@baystateparent. com with the subject line Southwick by Oct. 12 for your chance to win, and be sure to include your mailing address in your entry. Good luck!

— Monica Hamilton, multimedia editor

12 OCTOBER2016

Halloween By The Numbers Facts: Our current Halloween traditions are believed to have originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off roaming ghosts. The Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago in Ireland, the U.K., and northern France, celebrated their new year on Nov. 1. The day marked the end of summer and the harvest and the beginning of winter, a time often associated with death. Celts believed that on the night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred. On Oct. 31 they celebrated Samhain, when it was believed the ghosts of the dead returned to earth. Since not all ghosts were thought to be friendly, gifts or treats were left out to pacify them, which evolved into trick-or-treating.

Stats

50,900

41.2 million

The estimated number of trick-or-treaters in 2014 — children age 5 to 14 — across the U.S. This number doesn’t include trick-or-treaters older than 14 and younger than 5. Sweet!

24 35 million Number of pounds of candy the average American eats per year. That’s about equal to the weight of 2,366 Hershey Kisses.

Number in pounds of candy corn sold annually, equalling almost 9 billion pieces. If laid end to end, that amount could circle the Moon 21 times.

120 million

The number of U.S. children and adults who dress up in costumes for Halloween.

Acres of pumpkins harvested in the U.S. in 2013, with a total estimated production value of $149.9 million.

1.5 billion Pounds of pumpkins grown per year. That’s more than the weight of two Empire State Buildings.

$1.1 billion

Dollar value of U.S. fresh apples exported in 2014.

6

Number of continents where pumpkins now grow. The gourd is native to Central America and Mexico.

500

Number of seeds in an average pumpkin.

302

The number of broomstick and casket manufacturing establishments (for the more authentic witches and vampires).

Percentages

11.5% of families dress their pets up for Halloween 30% of kids sort their candy after trick-or-treating 46% of U.S. adults carve pumpkins 50% of Americans decorate their yards for Halloween 72% of adults hand out candy 90% of parents admit to sneaking candy from their kids’ bags

1,148

The number of costume rental and formal wear establishments.

BAYSTATEPARENT 13

Flavors

of the Harvest T he fall harvest brings a close to farmers’ efforts during the spring and summer months.

The abundant produce helps feed the farmer’s family, and is shared with both the surrounding community and markets from coastto-coast.

Now is the perfect time to help your children understand the role of agriculture in the foods we eat everyday.

Throughout the country, local farms invite young and old alike to wind their way through corn mazes in the crisp autumn air and to take part in the fall harvest by picking your own apples, peaches, berries, and pumpkins.

A trip to a local farm lets you experience firsthand the taste of a peach, plucked right from the branch. And with today’s growing concern for

Popcorn Caramel Apples 1 quart popped popcorn 1 (9.5 oz.) package caramels, unwrapped (35 caramels) ¼ cup light cream or half and half

weight and obesity issues, it’s important to provide children with positive experiences with healthful and nutritious foods. Plus, a walk in the fresh air will do you good.

Once you’re home with your bounty of Braeburns, try your hand at the following recipes, which include another timely fall harvest crop — popcorn — to create fun treats the whole family will enjoy. Making popcorn on the stove also is a learning experience for younger generations who know little of popping popcorn the “old-fashioned” way.

The second recipe calls for dried apple chips, which you can purchase from your local grocer. But making your own chips is surprisingly easy and a great way to use some of your freshly picked peck.

4 lollipop sticks (or wooden candy apple sticks) 4 apples ½ cup chocolate chips Sugar sprinkles Decorative ribbon, optional • Place popcorn in a large bowl; set aside. Place a sheet of waxed paper on work surface.

• Heat caramels and cream in a small sauce pan over medium-low heat. Stir frequently until caramels are melted and cream is blended into caramels.

• Push a stick into an apple center and dip into caramel. Spoon caramel over apple to coat completely.

Place caramel–coated apple into bowl of popcorn and press popcorn onto caramel to cover completely. Place apple on waxed paper to set; repeat with remaining apples.

• Place chocolate chips in a small, resealable plastic bag. Microwave 10 seconds and press chips to aid melt-

ing. Repeat, heating at 10-second intervals, until chips are completely melted. Cut a small corner off bag and squeeze chocolate onto each apple, allowing chocolate to drip down sides. Sprinkle with sugar sprinkles.

• Tie a bow to each apple stick, if desired.

To serve, cut apple into slices.

Nothing’s better than a great batch of popcorn.

Here are a few tips for perfect popping, every time.

Yield: 4

• Warm a heavy pan or skillet with lid. Add approximately ¼ cup of vegetable oil to the pan, just enough to cover the bottom.

Crispy Crunchy Apple Popcorn

• Drop in two or three kernels and cover. When the kernels pop, add the remaining popcorn. Pour just enough kernels to cover the bottom of the pan.

Again, cover with the lid.

6 cups popped popcorn 1 tablespoon butter, melted 2 teaspoons sugar 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 2 cups dried apple chips

• Shake the pan while the kernels heat and pop.

Occasionally lift the lid slightly to allow steam to escape. When you hear the last few pops, remove the pan from the heat, take off the lid and empty the popped popcorn into a large bowl.

• Preheat oven to 300° F. Line a 9 x 13-inch baking pan with foil; butter foil. Spread popcorn in pan and drizzle with melted butter; toss popcorn.

• Sprinkle popcorn with sugar and cinnamon and toss again. Heat in oven 7 minutes. Sprinkle apple chips over popcorn and heat an additional 3 minutes. Serve warm or cool to room temperature. Store in an airtight container.

Yield: 7 cups

For more great-tasting popcorn recipes, visit popcorn.org 14 OCTOBER2016

Perfect Popcorn Popping Tips

Oven Dried-Apple Chips • Heat oven to 200°. Cut off the bottoms of the apples and core. Thinly slice the apples (no more than an eighth of an inch thick) or use a mandoline for greater uniformity.

• Line baking sheet with a foil and place apple slices in a single layer. Do not overlap. Sprinkle with cinnamon, nutmeg, or confectioners’ sugar if desired.

• Bake for 1 to 2 hours. Cool completely on a wire rack. Store in an airtight container.

Five Ways to Save Time and Money at Dinnertime

BY MARTHA RUCH

• Extra cooked pasta or rice can be mixed with tuna and light mayo or tossed with some grilled vegetables,

• Make a big salad and let family

ts

• Extra grilled foods can be used again in a wrap, with pasta, or as a quesadilla filling.

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• When you get home from shopping, take the time to assemble a fruit salad, cut up vegetables for snacks, or sauté those chicken cutlets. Fresh food is much more likely to get eaten if it’s in the fridge and ready to go, rather than still in its packaging.

• If dinner leftovers consist of one slice of meatloaf, a few string beans, and half a baked sweet potato, pop them in a freezer container, label it, freeze, and take this mini-meal for lunch next week.

Massachu l a tr

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4. Recycle leftovers for lunch.

Package dinner leftovers for lunch the next day. Brown-bagging it not only helps you use up your leftovers, but it’s also healthier and less expensive than buying fast food or cafeteria food, especially if your dinner was full of whole grains, lean protein, and fresh fruits and vegetables. You’ll also save money by not buying separate grocery store items for lunch, such as expensive deli meats, packaged salads, and those unsatisfying frozen meals.

5. Think like a chef. A good chef doesn’t let anything go to waste. For instance:

canned chickpeas, and your favorite vinaigrette for lunch.

F R e e CHILDReN’S BooK FeSTIvAL

il

2. Cook once, eat twice. Baked or broiled seafood can be served as a traditional dinner one night and fish tacos the next, with a minimum of fuss or extra ingredients. Extra cooked chicken might inspire a family-size skillet of chicken fried rice or a chicken quesadilla. A big batch

3. Pantry raid. Organize your pantry so you can tell at a glance if you have rice, pasta, beans, or any other staples you might need during the week, instead of buying yet another box or can and coming home to find you already had some. You’ll probably find the fixings for a quick dinner in there, too (spaghetti with marinara sauce, anyone?).

members dress just the portion they are eating. The leftover undressed salad may be stored in the fridge for several days, eliminating the need to make a fresh salad daily.

Ch

1. Plan weekly menus. Sit down before grocery shopping and plan out your dinners for the week, using the sale flyers for inspiration. Be realistic: You might want to cook a fantastic meal each night, but in reality, you will probably have time to do that twice in the coming week. Having a plan will make it less likely you’ll overbuy perishable foods, only to toss them as they go bad. It will also help you avoid the after work “What’s for dinner?” panic, a prime time to overspend at the grocery store or take-out food place.

of meatballs can be enjoyed with pasta, sliced and used as a topping on homemade pizza, baked in a casserole dish with sautéed spinach and cheese, or popped into toasted rolls with some mozzarella cheese.

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here’s a big misconception about the cost of eating a healthy, whole-foods-based diet. You see, it’s not only about the price of the food, it’s also the fact that so much is purchased and then not used.

Think about your last big grocery shopping trip, the one where you stocked up on fresh vegetables, a boatload of fruit, and each family member’s favorite dinner ingredients.

Did you end up cooking and eating it all? Or did some of it (most of it) end up in the hopper? Get this: According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Americans waste enough food every day to fill a 90,000-seat football stadium.

Fortunately, a little mindfulness goes a long way in this arena. Here are five ways to reduce that percentage and make your food dollar go further, while at the same time streamlining dinner preparation.

e Book F

s

Books!

Authors Illustrators Music Puppets Family Fun

SATURDAY NoveMBeR 12 10 AM – 3 PM Mount Wachusett Community College 444 Green Street Gardner, MA

CentralMassChildrensBookFestival.org BAYSTATEPARENT 15

Sweet Treats With ‘No Funky Stuff ’

The snack you remember from your school days — Otis Spunkmeyer — is making a new promise to parents: “No Funky Stuff.”

The company says its all-new retail line of 20+ cookies and sweet treats is made without artificial flavors or colors, high-fructose corn syrup, or partially hydrogenated oils. The individually packaged offerings include snack cakes, loaf cakes, mini muffins, mini cupcakes, and its famous cookies in a variety of flavors. More info can be found at otisspunkmeyer.com.

Bites Expert: Recall Increase Doesn’t Mean Food is Less Safe

A New Way to Get Kids to Try New Foods

It seems as if rarely a month passes in which there isn’t a new major food recall announced, but Martin Wiedmann, professor of food safety at Cornell University, says that doesn’t mean food today is riskier than ever before. “[The recall rise] doesn’t mean our food is less safe,” he told CBC News. “It’s the opposite. What happened over the last 20 years and really accelerated over the last two years is the use of completely new DNA fingerprinting tools to detect disease outbreaks. Today, we are 100 times more likely to detect an outbreak than we were 20 years ago.”

However, he reminds consumers that it’s impossible to remove all risk.

“It’s just not like ‘risk’ or ‘no-risk.’ There’s a gradation... And then somewhere in the middle, someone puts a line,” he said. “And that line is arbitrary, because no food is risk-free.”

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service has developed a fun new way to help parents get their kids to try new foods.

The free Kids Food Critic Activity encourages children to pick out and try a new food, and then rate it.

Parents can download and print out the free PDF at fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/tn/Food_Critic_508.pdf, on which kids can rate a food’s: • Visual appeal • Smell • Taste

• Texture • And more!

How To Clean Your Garbage Disposal

BY LESLIE REICHERT Does your kitchen have a “funny” smell lately? Do you notice it when you are standing next to your sink? That smell could be a buildup of food particles rotting in your garbage disposal and pipes. No one ever thinks about cleaning the garbage disposal, yet if you don’t, it will start to smell. Bacteria and mold love the dark, moist conditions found in your disposal.

Here are a few different ways to clean your kitchen disposal and pipes.

Ice cubes — Place a few ice cubes inside the disposal to remove the buildup on the disposal blades. The ice will sound like it’s hurting the disposal, but it’s just removing the buildup.

Frozen lemons peels — Instead of throwing away your lemon peels, save them, and pop them into the freezer. Once they are frozen you can grind them up in 16 OCTOBER2016

the disposal. They will work to remove buildup and leave a nice scent.

Baking soda and vinegar — Once a month, deep clean the disposal. A few simple ingredients will do a great job. Place two tablespoons of baking soda into the disposal. Add a cup of white vinegar and let it work for 10 minutes. Then flush the disposal with boiling hot water.

When you combine the lifting properties of baking soda and the acidity of the white vinegar, you will be cleaning your disposal naturally.

Simple soap and water — Occasionally, you could use a dish brush to clean the buildup inside the disposal. Never put your hand down into the disposal, and always make sure the electricity is off. Just place a few drops of dish detergent on dish brush and give it a good scrub.

Flush the disposal with very hot water.

Lemons and salt — A great way to freshen the disposal is to cut up a lemon into 1-inch pieces and sprinkle them with salt.

Grind them up in the disposal and your entire kitchen will smell wonderful.

Hydrogen peroxide to disinfect — One way to disinfect your disposal is to pour hydrogen peroxide inside to kill the bacteria. Hydrogen peroxide is perfect for getting rid of bacteria, and it’s gentle to your pipes and septic system.

Boiling water — A great habit is to pour boiling water into the garbage disposal. Grease can build up on the blades and further down the drain pipe. By pouring boiling water down the drain, you’ll remove some of the buildup.

A Fun New Life for Halloween Candy

Make Lunch Fun, Healthy and Easy

Get that leftover candy stash out of your house in a cool new way via Good Cooking’s Electric Deluxe Dual Chocolate Melting Pot. In addition to the melting pots, which perfectly melt your Halloween candy for hot fudge, s’mores, or a twist on traditional chocolate dipping, this kit comes with 30 accessories, including fondue forks, fruit skewers, a spatula, handling fork, truffle dipper, molding trays, and a metal cooling rack. At $39.99, this would also be a great holiday gift for the chocoholic in your life. More info and purchase information can be found at mygoodcooking.com or Amazon.com.

Show kids how they can make lunch-packing neat, organized, and healthy with Yumbox. This bento-style lunchbox delivers an education in nutrition through its pre-portioned design and illustrated serving tray. From vegetables to proteins, it shows how much of each food group should be consumed while encouraging greater variety. BPA-free and leak-proof, it fits in any standard sized thermal tote, and the removable tray offers fast and easy cleanup. yumboxlunch.com.

Cool Twists on Fave Kitchen Tools Two staples of every kitchen get a fun and functional upgrade thanks to Urban Trend. The Fruzen Ice Cream Scoop ($14.95) may not look much different than the one in your drawer, until you check out the end of the scoop — optimally designed to scape the bottom edges of ice cream pints (it works just as well on half-gallons,

too). And the company’s Halo Pizza Wheel ($17.95) is designed to be palm-held for single-handed cutting or two-handed leveraged-held for cutting through thick dough and deep dish pizzas. It folds flat (the black safety ring doubles as a blade guard) and, better yet, it looks like a Poké Ball. urban-trend.com.

Sholan Farms

Annual Harvest Weekend Festival October 8th-10th • 10am-4pm Entertainment on Sundays throughout the season U Pick Apples and Raspberries • Hiking • Seasonal Produce & Pumpkins Free Wagon Rides • School Tours & Outings

Come Enjoy a Picnic on out Beautiful Grounds!

Twilight Hike (Weather permitting) Oct. 14th • 8pm Visit our Christmas Tree Shop at Sholan Farms Check website or Facebook for dates and hours

Sholan Farms

Open 7 days a week 10am-5pm

New Friends Always Welcome!

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

Sponsored by the Friends of Sholan Farms BAYSTATEPARENT 17

Big Papi Corn Ma Photography by Shawna Shenette Photography

Retiring Red Sox slugger David Ortiz swung through Central Massachusetts recently to officially open the Big Papi Maze at Davis Mega Maze in Sterling. Weekends through Oct. 30, families can tackle the corn maze created in the DH’s honor, as well as the destination’s other attractions, including zip lining, lazer tag, outdoor games, and more.

18 OCTOBER2016

aze a Hit

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Aerial view courtesy of Davis Farmland

baystateparent’s

KidsCon & CAMP EXPO

Saturday, February 11, 2017 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Best Western Royal Plaza Hotel, Marlborough Kids are FREE with a $5.00 charge for each adult.

This event is a one stop shop of all things kids.

Family-friendly exhibitors will include camps, educators, extracurricular activities, sports, health, financial, the arts, entertainment, and a whole lot more!

BAYSTATEPARENT 19

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

Photo courtesy Boston Children’s Museum

OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO

GO FRESH Applefest, Wachusett Mountain, Princeton. Oct. 15.

20 OCTOBER2016

Photo courtesy MassArt

Photo courtesy Wachusett Mountain

GO SPARK Boston Children’s Museum, National Chemistry Week Celebration. Oct. 22.

GO (NO) NUTS Family Concert and Food Allergy Expo, Needham. Oct. 16.

GO CREATE Free Family Day, MassArt, Boston.

Oct. 22.

OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO!

1 Saturday

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.

Honey Harvest! Boston Nature Center, 500 Walk Hill St., Mattapan. 1 p.m.-3:30 p.m.

Learn why bees collect honey and where and how it is stored in the hive, then help uncap the honeycomb and extract the honey in a hand-crank spinner. For ages 5 and up. Register ahead. Member adults $25, children $10; Nonmembers adults $35, children $12. massaudubon.org.

Apple Days. Old Sturbridge Village, 1 Old Sturbridge Village Rd., Sturbridge. 9 a.m.5 p.m. Come tour the orchards, help us pick apples, and taste some nearly forgotten heirloom apple varieties, with cooking and preserving demonstrations. Watch the ox-powdered cider mill work, and get the opportunity to make your own sachet of mulling spices to take home.

Through Sunday. Free with admission. Adults $28, children 3 to 17 $14, children 2 and under free. osv.org.

Photo courtesy Heifer International

3 Monday

Family Day at the Bird Banding Station.

Joppa Flats Education Center, 1 Plum Island Turnpike, Newburyport. 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.

See Mass Audubon scientists capture, measure, weigh, examine, and release migrant songbirds, as we learn about migration, habitat use, and scientific research at a real field station. For ages 6 and up. Members adults $8, children $5; nonmember adults $10, children $6. massaudubon.org.

Global Harvest Festival at Heifer Farm.

Heifer Farm, 216 Wachusett St., Rutland.

10 a.m.-4 p.m. Enjoy a weekend filled with international crafts and games in our Global Village, live music, delicious food, hay rides, face painting, farm activities, and, of course, all the farm animals. Through Sunday. $20 per car. heifer.org/farm.

Sammy Snail’s Puppet Pajama Party.

Regent Theatre, 7 Medford St., Arlington.

10:30 a.m. Enjoy this performance by the world-class ventriloquist, vocalist, and puppeteer Lesley Smith and her characters starring Sammy Snail. Members $7; nonmember adults $10, children $8. regenttheatre.com.

Families @ WAM Tour. Worcester Art Museum, 55 Salisbury St., Worcester. 10:30 a.m.-11 a.m. Explore the Worcester Art Museum galleries with your family on a docent-guided discovery tour filled with fun facts, stories, and shared observations. Free. worcesterart.org.

Beyond the Spectrum: Magnificent Metals.

Museum of Fine Arts: Boston, 465 Huntington Ave., Boston. 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. Learn about the different metals used throughout history to make both functional and decorative works of art, and create your own sculptural artwork using wire and foil during this adventure in art for children on the Autism Spectrum. For ages 8 to 12. $9. mfa.org.

Tiny Trekkers. Stony Brook Wildlife Sanctuary, 108 North St., Norfolk. 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.

Start your morning off right with a fun and knowledgeable Stony Brook teacher on the trails learning about nature, while enjoying crafts, activities and lots of laughter. For ages 3-6.

Register ahead. Members $5, nonmembers $6. massaudubon.org.

GO GLOBAL Global Harvest Festival, Heifer Farm, Rutland. Oct. 1.

Families @ WAM Make Art. Worcester Art Museum, 55 Salisbury St., Worcester. 11 a.m.11:30 a.m. Drop-in for fun, intergenerational time as you get inspired by our art and try making something uniquely your own, with materials provided. Free. worcesterart.org.

15th Annual Bassetpalooza. Lancaster Fairgrounds, 318 Seven Bridge Rd., Lancaster.

11 a.m.-3 p.m. Enjoy a fun-filled day of Basset Hounds, their owners, and other supporters, as dogs compete in best costume, longest ears, and cookie catching contests, to raise money for the New England Basset Hound Rescue. Free. nebhr.org.

Autumn Impressions. Boston Nature Center, 500 Walk Hill St., Mattapan. 12 p.m.-4 p.m.

Enjoy an afternoon of art, making prints inspired by nature and the autumn season, using simple techniques and colorful Asian papers. For ages 10 and up. Register ahead. Members $45; nonmembers $55. massaudubon.org.

Meet an Archeologist. Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Acton. 1 p.m. Learn how archaeologists uncover the mysteries of ancient sites, led by an actual AntroScience Advisors archeologist. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $12.50, children under 1 free. discoverymuseums.org.

Trail Blazing Trek. Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary, 87 Perkins Row, Topsfield.

1:30 p.m.-3 p.m. Come with us as we trek some of the sanctuary’s less-frequented trails

to discover new sights and sounds in these spectacular habitats. For ages 6 and up.

Register ahead. Member adults $7, children $6; nonmembers adults $9, children $7. massaudubon.org.

The Salem Zombie Walk. Collins Cove, 102 Webb St., Salem. 3:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.

Enjoy this great family-friendly event in a genre that incorporates all aspects of life, or rather, the undead, with field day activities, last-minute costume tweaks, and face painting and kickball, with the walk beginning at 4:30 p.m. Free. salemzombiewalk.com.

2 Sunday Arms + Armor Demonstrations. Worcester Art Museum, 55 Salisbury St., Worcester.

11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Join us for this fun interactive program and learn all about different kinds of arms and armor used by knights and soldiers from the Roman empire, to Medieval times and beyond. Repeats on Saturdays and Sundays. Free with admission. Members free; nonmember adults $14, ages 4 to 17 $6, ages 3 and under free. worcesterart.org.

Author Talk and Children’s Book Event.

Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary, 208 South Great Road, Lincoln. 1 p.m.-2 p.m. Author Julia Walsh reads from her book and leads an educational activity, teaching children about wildlife in the salt marsh while instilling a love and appreciation for our wetlands. For ages 4-9. Members free; nonmembers: $5. massaudubon.org.

MFA Bilingual Playdate. 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 ‘Bountiful Autumn’ with educators from the Pinve Village Preschool. 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.

4 Tuesday PEEP Science Adventures: Playing with Mirrors. Children’s Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 10 a.m.-11 a.m. Drop in and explore how holding a mirror changes the reflection that you get. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $12.50, children under 1 free. discoverymuseums.org.

Nuts About Squirrels. Habitat Education Center and Wildlife Sanctuary, Belmont.

10 a.m.-11 a.m. Join us for squirrel-watching and squirrel games. For up to age 5. Register ahead. Members $6, nonmembers $8. massaudubon.org.

Spoil Them With Stories. Concord Museum, 200 Lexington Rd., Concord. 11:15 a.m.-12 p.m. Spark your child’s imagination and get a sneak peek at a children’s book that will be featured in Family Trees at the Concord Museum, with a craft to round out the morning. Free with admission. Members free; nonmember adults $10, children 5 to 17 $5, children under 5 free. concordmuseum.org.

ASD Friendly Afternoons. Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Acton. 1:30 p.m.4:30 p.m. Enjoy special sensory-based activities, a dedicated room for families, and plenty of room during this special day for families with children with an autism spectrum disorder.

Register ahead. Free. discoverymuseums.org.

Backyard and Beyond: Sock Walk.

Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Acton.

2:30 p.m. Slip some socks over your shoes for a “sock walk” on the conservation land and see what wild plant seeds hitch a ride on our socks, then take your seeds home and see what grows. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $12.50, children under 1 free. discoverymuseums.org.

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OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO! Afterschool Insect Discovery & Monarch Tagging. Allens Pond Wildlife Sanctuary, 1280 Horseneck Road, Westport. 4 p.m.-5:30 p.m.

Look for butterflies and other insects with an entomologist, learn more about the monarch butterfly, and if the weather agrees, learn how to catch and tag them as they make their way along the migratory route to Mexico. Register ahead. Members $6, nonmembers: $8. massaudubon.org.

6 Thursday

5 Wednesday

Where’s the Milk? Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary, 208 South Great Road, Lincoln.

10 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Lend a hand with morning chores in the barn, as we feed the cows, try our hands at milking, and enjoy a dairy treat. For ages 3-8. Register ahead. Members: $13.50, nonmembers: $16.50. massaudubon.org.

Backyard and Beyond: Walking Stick Nature Walk. Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Acton. 10 a.m. Choose and decorate your very own walking stick before taking it for a test drive with us on the Great Hill Conservation Land. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $12.50, children under 1 free. discoverymuseums.org.

Early Explorers. Boston Nature Center, 500 Walk Hill St., Mattapan. 10:30 a.m.12 p.m. Move, learn, and create through movement, games, stories, and art. For ages 3-6. Register ahead. Member children $5, nonmember children $7. massaudubon.org.

Wonderful Webs. Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary, 293 Moose Hill Pkwy., Sharon.

10 a.m.-11:30 a.m. & 1 p.m.-2:30 p.m. Search the forests and fields for evidence of spiders, play a game where you are either the spider or a fly caught in the web, and design your own spider to move about in a web. Register ahead.

For ages 4-6. Members $9, nonmembers: $12. massaudubon.org.

Minecraft. Worcester Public Library: Main Branch, 3 Salem Sq., Worcester. 4 p.m.-5 p.m.

Come join us as we play Minecraft, where you can share your best tricks, learn new ones, and make friends. For ages 8 to 17. Free. mywpl.org, Ghost Stories in the Blanchard Barn.

Blanchard Barn at Handover Historical, 97 Main St., Andover. 6 p.m. Enjoy an evening of ghost stories, a hay bale ride, and enjoy a treat as you listen to a selection of spooky stories, including an original set by Andover-resident Kathrine Finley. Register ahead. Members $5, nonmembers $10. andoverhistorical.org.

Make a MESS: Artists on a Roll. Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Acton. 10 a.m.11 a.m. Use balls dipped in paint to roll your way to brilliant works of art, combining physics, art, and your own movement. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $12.50, children under 1 free. discoverymuseums.org.

Color Art. Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary, 293 Moose Hill Pkwy., Sharon. 10 a.m.11:30 a.m. & 1 p.m.-2:30 p.m. Enjoy an outdoor excursion to find colorful leaves and the last flowers of fall. Register ahead. For ages 4-6. Members: $9, nonmembers: $12. massaudubon.org.

Take Aparts: Throwback Thursday.

Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Acton.

2 p.m.-4 p.m. Drop-in for a special Throwback edition of our popular Take Aparts program, by looking at what’s inside an old typewriter, record player, and more. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $12.50, children under 1 free. discoverymuseums.org.

Star Wars Night. Fitchburg Public Library, 610 Main St., Fitchburg. 5:30 p.m.-8 p.m. Enjoy this Star Wars celebration through games, movies, books, and food. Free. fitchburgpubliclibrary.org.

The Haunted Happenings Grand Parade.

Downtown Salem, Salem. 6 p.m.-8 p.m. Enjoy this time-honored kick off of the Halloween season full of color, pageantry, music, and the enthusiasm of thousands of Salem’s students from kindergarten to college and local business owners. Free. salem-chamber.org.

7 Friday Music and Movement with Miss Bernadette. Discovery Museums, 177 Main

WHAT EVERY PARENT NEEDS TO KNOW

THE HPV VACCINE AND CANCER PREVENTION

St., Acton. 9:30 a.m.-10 a.m. Explore sound through singing and playing, as we move, make music, listen, learn, and get a multisensory workout with our favorite Kindermusik educator. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $12.50, children under 1 free. discoverymuseums.org.

about our resident animals and plants. For children up to age 3. Register ahead. Members free, nonmember adults free, children $5. massaudubon.org.

Harvest Festival. Fruitlands Museum, 102 Prospect Hill Rd., Harvard. 10 a.m.4 p.m. Enjoy the abundance of the New England landscape in this celebration of the autumn harvest, as we taste local produce, see livestock, find fresh food sources, makes seasonal crafts, and learn about Native American practices. Free with admission. Members free; nonmember adults $12, ages 5 to 13 $6, under 5 free. fruitlands.org.

Take Aparts Art. Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Acton. 2 p.m.-4:30 p.m. Dropin and get ready to turn trash into treasure, as we combine uncovered inner workings of electronics with other recycled and repurposed materials to make one-of-a-kind sculptures and collages. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $12.50, children under 1 free. discoverymuseums.org.

Are You Here? With Artist Jonathan Gitelson. deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, 11 Sandy Pond Rd., Lincoln. 12 p.m.3 p.m. Join us in conversation and poster-making with artist Jonathan Gitelson whose project in the Sculpture Park is sparking discussion about billboards and being present. Free with admission. Members free; nonmember adults $14, children 12 and under free. decordova.org.

Trucks, Tractors and Tools. Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary, 208 South Great Road, Lincoln. 3:30 p.m.-5 p.m. Search for essential farm equipment and learn the important jobs they do, meet our farmers, go on a hayride, and get a behind-the-scenes look at mega machines.

For ages 2-8. Register ahead. Members $13.50, nonmembers: $16.50 adults/children. massaudubon.org.

Awesome Autumn Leaves. Boston Nature Center, 500 Walk Hill St., Mattapan. 1 p.m.2:30 p.m. Take in the vibrant fall colors and be inspired to create leaf art, as we will walk the trails and enjoy the beauty fall offers, while learning about why leaves change colors in the fall. For ages 5 and up. Register ahead.

Member children $5, nonmember children $7. massaudubon.org.

Friday Night Free. Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Acton. 4:30 p.m.-8 p.m. Join us for this free exploration of the museums at night, as we collect donations for Open Table of Concord and Maynard, and the Acton Food Pantry. Free. discoverymuseums.org.

8 Saturday

Fall Colors Paddle for Families. Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary, 87 Perkins Row, Topsfield. 1 p.m.-3 p.m. Take in the spectacular colors along the Ipswich River as we explore this pristine habitat via a gentle paddle in canoes.

For ages 6 and up. Register ahead. Member adults $16, children $14; nonmember adults $18, children $16. massaudubon.org.

Dig In: Field-to-Table 2016. Old Sturbridge Village, 1 Old Sturbridge Village Rd., Sturbridge. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Celebrate the harvest and the beautiful New England autumn, savor samples, help with the harvest, and join costumed interpreters as they churn butter, conduct garden and cellar tours, and more. Through Monday. Free with admission. Adults $28, children ages 3 to 17 $14, children 2 and under free. osv.org.

Beach Ramble. Allens Pond Wildlife Sanctuary, 1280 Horseneck Road, Westport. 10 a.m.12 p.m. Enjoy this family-friendly program that explores many different habitats and their inhabitants as you depart the field station and meander through grassland meadow before walking by the salt pond onto a sandy beach. For ages 5-17. Register ahead. Free. massaudubon.org.

Nature Story Hour. Boston Nature Center, 500 Walk Hill St., Mattapan. 10 a.m.-11 a.m. Listen to a nature-themed story and join us on a short walk around the trails to learn

LEARN – TO – SKATE CLASSES RECREATIONAL • FIGURE • HOCKEY SKATING SKILLS

BAY STATE SKATING SCHOOL CHILDREN ages 4 1/2-18

A Free, Live Web Event Wednesday, October 26, 7 pm Registration required. Visit: www.umassmemorial.org/HPVevent

As Featured on “Chronicle” Up Sign Now

O 48 Yever ars!

781-890-8480

www.BayStateSkatingSchool.org NonProfit 22 OCTOBER2016

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

OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO! Wild Animals in Your Neighborhood with Blue Hills Trailside Museum. Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Acton. 12 p.m.-2 p.m.

Enjoy a unique opportunity to see native animals up close with a trained naturalist, and handle natural history artifacts as you learn about the birds, reptiles, and mammals that live in your neighborhood. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $12.50, children under 1 free. discoverymuseums.org.

9 Sunday Nature and Nurture with Miss Bernadette. Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Acton. 10:30 a.m.-11:15 a.m. Come and 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.

Hojolata Workshops: Make Your Own Tin Creations. Boston Children’s Museum, 308 Congress St., Boston. 11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Come make your own tin creation, inspired by tin objects from Boston Children’s Museum collection in celebration of Hispanic Heritage.

Recommended for ages 6 and up. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $16, children under 1 free. bostonchildrensmuseum.org.

Hands-On-History. Concord Museum, 200 Lexington Rd., Concord. 1 p.m.-4 p.m. Bring your family and get hands-on with history in this program focusing on Native American artifacts, including a simulated archeological test pit. Free with admission. Members free; nonmember adults $10, children 5 to 17 $5, children under 5 free. concordmuseum.org.

10 Monday Morningstar Access. Boston Children’s Museum, 308 Congress St., Boston. 8 a.m.10 a.m. Enjoy an opportunity for families with children with special needs to explore the Museum at a time when there are only a few other visitors. Register ahead. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $16, children under 1 free. bostonchildrensmuseum.org.

Lego Zone. Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Acton. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Bring your imagination as we supply the Legos during this day of challenging your own ideas, or picking up one of ours, before adding your creation to our community display to inspire fellow visitors. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $12.50, children under 1 free. discoverymuseums.org.

SteveSongs. Regent Theatre, 7 Medford St., Arlington. 10 a.m. Enjoy participatory songs, clever stories, and great melodies during this exciting concert from the award-winning children and family artist. Advance $10, day-of $14. regentheatre.com.

Sing-A-Long in Spanish and English. Boston

Children’s Museum, 308 Congress St., Boston.

11 a.m. Enjoy as we celebrate Hispanic Heritage through a morning of songs with Mariana Iranzi.

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

11 Tuesday Little Naturalists: Bats. North River Wildlife Sanctuary, 2000 Main St., Marshfield. 9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. Learn about New England animals and how they live, through walks, stories, songs, and crafts. For ages 3 to 5 with caregiver.

Register ahead. Adults free, member children $5, nonmember children $7. massaudubon.org.

Dinosaur Discoveries. Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Acton. 10 a.m.-11 a.m. Celebrate National Fossil Day one day early, and touch a dinosaur fossil and pretend to be a paleontologist digging for dinosaur bones in our mock excavation site. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $12.50, children under 1 free. discoverymuseums.org.

Backyard and Beyond: Autumn Leaf Suncatchers. Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Acton. 2 p.m.-4 p.m. Drop-in and celebrate the season, as we collect colorful leaves and then turn them into sun catchers in this beautiful and simple nature craft. Free with admission.

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

Tuesday Tools: Nets. Habitat Education Center and Wildlife Sanctuary, Belmont. 3:30 p.m.5 p.m. Use sweep nets in the meadow and skimmer nets at the pond to collect, then release, wildlife specimens we find. For ages 5-9. Register ahead. Members $15, nonmembers $18. massaudubon.org.

13 Thursday

Apple & Pumpkin Festivals

Lots of Fun Family Events Check out these dates: October 1st & 2nd

Taste of Local “Apple Edition” & Get lost in our corn maze then go pick apples and pumpkins!

8 am to 6 pm

October 8th & 9th & 10th

Columbus Day Apple Festival & Making memories while having fun!

8 am to 6 pm

Fall Light Friday’s in October 14th, 21st & 28

Island Adventure Corn Maze by flashlight • 6pm to 9pm

October 15th & 16th

Fall Festival • 8 am to 6 pm

October 22nd & 23rd

Pumpkin Festival • 8 am to to 6 pm

Featuring

• Pyo Apples “by the pound”

• Bouncy House • Cider Donuts • Crafts

“YOU WANT FRESH YOU WANT LOCAL”

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

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

COMMONWE

The Nutcracker

PEEP Science Adventure: Reusing.

Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton.

10 a.m.-11 a.m. Explore the possibilities of reusing what we usually throw away, during this creative activity. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $12.50, children under 1 free. discoverymuseums.org.

A LT

H B ALLET’S

REGIS COLLEGE, Weston Friday November 25th at 6PM Saturday November 26th at 1PM & 6PM Sunday November 27th at 1PM SENSORY-FRIENDLY PERFORMANCE

Lady Bugs. Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary, 293 Moose Hill Pkwy., Sharon. 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m. & 1 p.m.-2:30 p.m. Discover the secret lives of ladybugs while searching the garden for this interesting beetle, make a ladybug to take home, and enjoy a story about a ladybug’s adventures.

For ages 4-6. Register ahead. Members $9, nonmembers: $12. massaudubon.org.

Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella.

The Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts, 2 Southbridge St., Worcester. 7:30 p.m.

Enjoy this lushly designed Tony Award-winning Broadway musical following the classic tale of a maid-turned-princess. Through Sunday. $39-$74. thehanovertheatre.org.

• Games • Hay Rides • Caramel Apples • Chocolate Apples • And So Much More!

Friday December 9th at 7PM Saturday December 10th at 1PM & 6PM Sunday December 11th at 1PM

Tickets from $20 Free Parking Order online at CommonwealthBallet.org or call (978) 263-7794

Mike Nyman Photography

BAYSTATEPARENT 23

OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO!

Photo courtesy The Regent Theatre

Everyday Engineering: Marble Runs.

Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Acton. 2 p.m.-4:30 p.m. Engage in some everyday engineering, as you drop-in and construct a roller coaster for a marble run. Free with admission.

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

GO SING SteveSongs Concert, Regent Theatre, Arlington. Oct. 10.

14 Friday Imagine, Sing, & Learn: Wake Up, It’s Night! Joppa Flats Education Center, 1 Plum Island Turnpike, Newburyport. 9:30 a.m.-

11:30 a.m. Enjoy a structured series of activities including original songs, movement, dramatic play, hands-on science, and a snack. For ages 3 to 6. Register ahead. Member adults $6, children $5; nonmembers adults $8, children $7. massaudubon.org.

FAMILY FUN FOR

EVERYONE!

French Fryday. Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary, 208 South Great Road, Lincoln.

3:30 p.m.-5 p.m. We will harvest the pommes de terre in the garden and make our own French fries. For ages 3-7. Register ahead. Members $13.50, nonmembers: $16.50. massaudubon.org.

Pumpkin Carving. Oak Knoll Wildlife Sanctuary, 1417 Park St., Attleboro. 4 p.m.7 p.m. Bring your own pumpkin and help staff at Oak Knoll as we carve pumpkins for our Spooktacular to be held at Attleboro Springs Wildlife Sanctuary. For ages 3-16. Free. massaudubon.org.

Block Party. Boston Children’s Museum, 308 Congress St., Boston. 6 p.m.-8 p.m. Join us as we make happening scenes on the streets of Boston in the Museum exhibit halls through music, art, stories, and play. Free with admission.

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

Halloween Hike at Boo Meadow Brook.

Broad Meadow Brook Wildlife Sanctuary, 414 Massasoit Rd., Worcester. 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m.

Meet our resident sprits during a gentle guided tour through the woods on trails, encounter old favorites and new characters, and learn about some of the fascinating creatures of New England. Register ahead. Members $5, nonmembers $6. massaudubon.org.

Monsterbash. NARA Ampitheater, 25 Ledge Rock Way, Acton. 7 p.m.-9 p.m. Enjoy a black light DJ dance party, bring a flashlight for a flashlight candy hunt, or just enjoy fun and games for the entire family. $5, children under 2 free. acton-ma.gov/events.

15 Saturday 36th Annual Farm Day. Daniel Webster Sanctuary, Winslow Cemetery Rd., Marshfield.

10 a.m.-4 p.m. Head on down as we celebrate the farm with live bluegrass music, delicious food, games, crafts, demonstrations, hayrides, educational presentations, and more. Members $5, nonmembers $8. massaudubon.org.

33rd Annual Applefest at Wachusett Mountain. Wachusett Mountain, 499 Mountain Rd., Princeton. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Enjoy over 75 craft fair and farmers’ market booths, mountainside barbecue, pony rides, clowns, a climbing wall, jugglers, magicians, live music, and more.

Through Sunday. Advance adults $11, ages 6 to 12 $6; at-door adults $14, ages 6 to 12 $9, children under 6 free. wachusett.com.

Corn Maze at Marini Farms Open 7 days a week through October 31st

INTERACTIVE LEARNING LOUNGES, CLASSES, WORKSHOPS, TOURS,

AND EXHIBITIONS FOR ALL AGES!

¡FAM ES PARA TODOS! Opening September 25th:

Punkin Chunkin FREE Demo October 8th 10-3 • New bakery • Farm animals • Parties/Scouts/Corporate Events • Fully stocked farmstand • Field trips grown on the farm • Campfire parties

185 Elm Street Fitchburg, MA 01420 978.345.4207 fitchburgartmuseum.org 24 OCTOBER2016

Flashlight Nights: Fridays and Saturdays starting September 23rd Punkin Chunkin: October 8th Trick or Treat hayrides: Oct 22nd, Rain date: Oct 23

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

OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO! Karen K and the Jitterbugs. Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard St., Brookline.

10:30 a.m. Come bug out with Karen K in her imaginary backyard fort where she makes music with her friends, the Jitterbugs, featuring songs from Karen K’s brand new album The Blue Bike Chronicles. Recommended for ages 2 and up.

Adults $12, children $9. coolidge.org.

Northampton Community Music Center Family Concert Series: The Flannery Brothers. Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, 125 West Bay Rd., Amherst. 11 a.m. Enjoy the influences of Paul Simon, Billy Joel, Bach, The Beatles, Ricki Lee Jones, and more during this sensational children’s concert. Members $4.50, nonmembers $5. carlemuseum.org.

recycle plastic bottles that can be used as building materials, and then try them out to help create the walls of a communal sukkah. For families with children ages 2 and up. Register ahead.

Free. bostonjcc.org.

Backyard and Beyond: Make Your Own Walking Stick. Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Acton. 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Drop in and create your very own walking stick, as we provide sticks of different shapes and sizes, and lots of art supplies to make a walking stick oneof-a-kind. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $12.50, children under 1 free. discoverymuseums.org.

Preschool Family Adventures. Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary, 293 Moose Hill Pkwy., Sharon. 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Listen to a story about what chipmunks do throughout the year: how they find and store food, build a home, and stay safe from predators. Includes indoor and outdoor discovery time. For ages 3-6. Register ahead. Members $6, nonmembers $9. massaudubon.org.

smell. For ages 7-10. Register ahead. Members: $13, nonmembers: $16. massaudubon.org.

Field and Forest Wagon Rides. Brookwood Farm, Milton. Sponsored by Blue Hills Trailside Museum. 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m., & 4 p.m. Join a naturalist for an interpreted horse-drawn wagon ride thru the fields and woodlands of Brookwood Farm in Milton. Register ahead. Members $20, nonmembers $24. massaudubon.org.

Chickadee Birders: Vultures. Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary, 208 South Great Road, Lincoln. 1 p.m.-3 p.m. Meet resident turkey and black vultures and learn more about these curious birds with bald heads and a keen sense a

Family Concert and Food Allergy Expo.

Needham High School, 609 Webster St., Needham. 1:30 p.m.-3 p.m. Come enjoy internationally acclaimed songwriter, performer, and

Infants • Toddlers • Preschool Full Time Part Time

Critter Day: Buzzing Bees. Boston Children’s Museum, 308 Congress St., Boston. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Meet a real beekeeper, a small hive to observe, try on beekeeper gear, explore the tools of the trade, and take a look at some of the amazing materials we get from bees. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $16, children under 1 free. bostonchildrensmuseum.org.

Halloween Spooktacular. Attleboro Springs Wildlife Sanctuary, Park St., Attleboro. 5 p.m.-8 p.m. Enjoy this non-scary evening as you are guided through pumpkin-lit trails and meet forest inhabitants, make fun creature crafts, play games, and more. Register ahead. For ages 1-14. $5. massaudubon.org.

Especially for Me: ASD Friendly Evening.

Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Acton.

5 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Come join in all the fun and explore both museums and Discovery Woods during this special evening for families with children on the autism spectrum, featuring a furry friend until 7 p.m., and dinner. Register ahead. Free. discoverymuseums.org.

The Great Duck Migration. Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary, 87 Perkins Row, Topsfield.

5:30 p.m.-7 p.m. Come hike down to Bunker Meadows and climb the observation tower to observe the magnificent spectacle of ducks coming in to roost. For ages 5 and up.

Register ahead. Member adults $7, children $6; nonmember adults $9, children $7. massaudubon.org.

Family Screech Owl Prowl. Blue Hills Trailside Museum, 1904 Canton Avenue, Milton. 7 p.m.-9 p.m. Discover some of the unique adaptations of owls, practice owl calls, and meet some of the museum’s resident owls before going on a night hike to search for owls and other nocturnal life.

Ages 6 and up. Register ahead. Members: $8, nonmembers: $10. massaudubon.org.

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• Structured curriculum beginning at 15 months • All staff members are infant/child CPR and first aid certified • Weekly visits from The Story Teller, Music Man, My First Yoga, The Tumble Bus, Happy Feet and Hoop It (Kids Basketball)

16 Sunday Upcycled Sukkah. Jason Russell House Lawn, 7 Jason St., Arlington. 10 a.m.-11:30 a.m.

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OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO! food allergy educator Kyle Dine, as the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America brings awareness around a variety of food allergies. Free. asthmaandallergies.org.

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Sense of Wonder Walk: Food Webs of the Pond. Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary, 87 Perkins Row, Topsfield. 1:30 p.m.-3 p.m. Explore Waterfowl Pond for a close-up look at a place where hundreds of hungry creatures are always on the hunt using nets and other collecting equipment. For ages 3 and up. Register ahead. Member adults $7, children $6; nonmember adults $9, children $7. massaudubon.org.

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17 Monday 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 ‘Bountiful Autumn’. 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.

Experience the magic of hands-on animal encounters, award-winning discovery play areas and so much more!

OCTOBER EVENTS: October 15 & 16 Pirate and Princess Weekend October 22–23 & 29–30 Moo Moo’s Halloween Party!

©2016 Davis Farmland

Scribble Art: Crayon Resist. Boston Public Library: South Boston Branch, 646 East Broadway, South Boston. 3:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.

All ages are invited to try out a variety of media at their own pace and with their own designs.

Free. bpl.org.

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18 Tuesday Solving Mysteries through Chemistry.

Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Acton.

10 a.m.-11 a.m. Discover the wonders of chemistry as we celebrate National Chemistry Week, through experimenting, observing, and making a mess. Through Friday. Free with admission.

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

Going to the Bridge. Habitat Education Center and Wildlife Sanctuary, Belmont.

10 a.m.-11 a.m. Walk to the bridge at Turtle Pond as we keep our eyes open for things with wings and things that swim. For children through age 5. Register ahead. Members $6, nonmembers $8. massaudubon.org.

10 a.m.-11:30 a.m. & 1 p.m.-2:30 p.m. Take a peek into the lives of bats, spiders, owls, and other Halloween creatures of the night, discover how trick-or-treating started while playing games, enjoying stories, and exploring outdoors for these Halloween favorites. For ages 4-6.

Register ahead. Members $9, nonmembers $12. massaudubon.org.

ARTfull Play. deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, 51 Sandy Pond Rd., Lincoln. 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Engage with art, stories, materials, nature, and new friends during unique multisensory activities. Best for ages 2 to 5. Free with admission. Members free; nonmember adults $14, children 12 and under free. decordova.org.

Be a Landscape Architect. Habitat Education Center and Wildlife Sanctuary, Belmont. 3:30 p.m.-5 p.m. Walk around the habitat looking at landscape features and then design your own. For grades third through sixth. Register ahead. Members $15, nonmembers $18. massaudubon.org.

Pigs and Potatoes. Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary, 208 South Great Road, Lincoln.

3:30 p.m.-5 p.m. Join us in digging, harvesting and pigging out. We’ll harvest potatoes, feed the pigs, and make a potato treat of our own.

For ages 2-8. Register ahead. Members $13.50, nonmembers $16.50. massaudubon.org.

20 Thursday Doggy Days: Howl-o-ween. Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Acton. 10 a.m.11 a.m. Come visit Abby, a certified therapy dog, and help her play doggy dress-up, and vote for the costume you think she should wear for trickor-treating this Halloween. Free with admission.

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

21 Friday

19 Wednesday

Backyard and Beyond: Nature Playgroup.

Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Acton.

10 a.m.-10:45. Enjoy time outdoors with your little one during our outside no-matter-theweather playgroup, including games, songs, special art projects, and exploration. Designed for ages 2 to 6. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $12.50, children under 1 free. discoverymuseums.org.

Backyard and Beyond: Great Hill Exploration. Great Hill Conservation and Recreation Land, 177 Main St., Acton. 10 a.m.

Meet us at the Discovery Museums’ Treehouse, to explore some of the trails that wind through the wooded 184 acres along with museum staff. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $12.50, children under 1 free. discoverymuseums.org.

See, Think, and Wonder Walks: Seek, Scoop, and Sweep at Mill Pond. Mill Pond Recreation Area, West Newbury. 2 p.m.3:30 p.m. Head outdoors at Mill Pond to see what’s new as we locate birds, other wildlife, learn about collecting techniques, and become environmentally aware. For ages 3-6. Register ahead. Member adults $6, children $5; nonmember adults $8, children $7. massaudubon.org.

Halloween Critters. Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary, 293 Moose Hill Pkwy., Sharon.

Milking Time. Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary, 208 South Great Road, Lincoln. 3:30 p.m.-

OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO! 5 p.m. We’ll feed the cows their evening hay and try our hands at milking our dairy cow, and enjoy our own dairy treat. For ages 3-8.

Register ahead. Members: $13.50, nonmembers: $16.50. massaudubon.org.

From the Top: Live Musical Performance.

Boston Children’s Museum, 308 Congress St., Boston. 6 p.m. & 6:45 p.m. Enjoy an interactive musical presentation with young classical musicians from National Public Radio’s program From the Top. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $16, children under 1 free. bostonchildrensmuseum.org.

Halloween Happenings. Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary, 87 Perkins Row, Topsfield.

6 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Take a guided walk along our Halloween trail, home to some interesting creatures that come out just for Halloween as the Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary has been turned into an enchanted forest. For ages 4-10.

Register ahead. Members $9, nonmembers $10. massaudubon.org.

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

7:30 p.m. Wear your pajamas to the Museums on Friday night and join us for games, songs, and picture stories. Free with admission.

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

22 Saturday Food Day. Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary, 208 South Great Road, Lincoln. 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Celebrate statewide Food Day, as we explore the garden with farm staff, meet native wildlife, and enjoy a taste from the farm stand. For all ages.

Free with admission. Members free; nonmember adults $9, children 2 to 12 $6, children under 2 free. massaudubon.org.

Westminster Cracker Festival. Village Center Plaza, 10 Village Sq. Rt. 2A, Westminster.

10 a.m.-5 p.m. Enjoy live music, arts and crafts, food, bounce houses, kids’ yoga and activities, face painting, and more, during this autumn festival celebrating a famous New England brand.

Free. crackerfestival.com Gustafer Yellowgold’s Show. The Regent Theatre, 7 Medford St., Arlington. 10:30 a.m.

Enjoy this live performance featuring material from the Grammy-nominated artist, following a friendly fellow who came from the Sun, landed in Minnesota, and has since toured the world.

Members $7; nonmember adults $10, children $8. regenttheatre.com.

National Chemistry Week Celebration.

Boston Children’s Museum, 308 Congress St., Boston. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. A crime has been committed at the Museum, and we need you to solve it, as you learn to take fingerprints, analyze blood types, use chromatography to identify different substances, and more. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $16, children under 1 free. bostonchildrensmuseum.org.

Free Family Day. MassArt, Bakalar and Paine Galleries, 621 Huntington Ave., Boston.

11 a.m.-4 p.m. Drop-in for fun-filled art-making activities, designed and led by MassArt art education students, inspired by the exhibitions on view, with refreshment served to round out this fun day for all. Free. massart.edu.

Spider Web Walk. Boston Nature Center, 500 Walk Hill St., Mattapan. 1 p.m.-2:30 p.m.

What would the world be like without spiders? Hit the trails to investigate the different habitats that spiders call home and put together a spider identification book to take home. For ages 5 and up. Register ahead. Member children $5, nonmember children $7. massaudubon.org.

13 Annual Great Pumpkin Fest. EcoTarium, 222 Harrington Way, Worcester. 2 p.m.- 9 p.m.

Join us for an afternoon and evening of familyfriendly Halloween fun, with more than a thousand carved pumpkins lit, trick-or-treating, exciting entertainment, and more. Members $12, nonmembers $16, children under 2 free. ecotarium.org. th

23 Sunday Magic by Scott Jameson. Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard St., Brookline. 10:30 a.m.

Come join magician and juggler Scott Jameson for an extraordinary performance that will have you laughing out loud and perched on the very edge of your seat. Recommended for ages 3 and up.

Adults $12, children $9. coolidge.org.

Storyteller Lorén Spears. Boston Children’s Museum, 308 Congress St., Boston. 1 p.m.

Narragansett-native Lorén Spears she spins tales to entice all. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $16, children under 1 free. bostonchildrensmuseum.org.

Witches of Fosters Pond. Goldsmith Woodlands, 491 South Main St., Andover.

1 p.m.-3 p.m. Join Andover Trails for a hike of the Goldsmith Woodlands, and learn about the history of New England’s woods as homes of impenetrable evil, from voracious wolves to the malicious lurking of the devil. Register ahead.

Free. andoverhistorical.org.

Boston Symphony Orchestra: Community Chamber Concert. Regent Theatre, 7 Medford St., Arlington. 3 p.m. Enjoy a high-quality, relevant, and engaging chamber music concert performed expertly by BSO musicians. Free. register ahead. regenttheatre.com.

Oct 14 & 15, 2016 6:30-8:30 p.m.

$5 Mass Audubon members $6 Non-members • $8 at the door At sundown, the sanctuary will be transformed into a magical enchanted forest.

Our resident spirits, primarily native wildlife, will delight visitors young and old on this special romp through “Boo” Meadow Brook. During your walk, you will have a chance to learn about some of the most fascinating creatures of the forest.

Arrive anytime between 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. (Last tour leaves at 8:30 p.m.)

Held rain or shine. Festivities held indoors if it is raining.

Call 508-753-6087 for more information and to register!

Broad Meadow Brook Conservation Center and Wildlife Sanctuary 414 Massasoit Road, Worcester, MA 01604 • bmbrook@massaudubon.org

Halloween Night Hike and Hayride

October 22, 2016 • 6-8 pm • Rain date: October 23 $7 members, $9 nonmembers; children $4 members, $5 nonmembers Experience the sounds of night on a guided hike through the fields and woods.

Then enjoy a hayride with friends and family.

Learn about nocturnal wildlife, do a craft and taste some goodies.

Wachusett Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary 113 Goodnow Rd., Princeton, MA 01541 • 978-464-2712

www.massaudubon.org

Live Your Learning ea g Exploring educational options for your family? Try Oak Meadow’s flexible, creative homeschooling curriculum for K–12, or enrollment in our fully accredited distance learning school.

• K-4 is child-centered, experiential, playful, nature-based.

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• High School offers challenging academic courses, options to earn credit, college counseling.

• Start anytime during the year.

24 Monday

Join us for Open House!

Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard St., Brookline. 7 p.m.

Enjoy this truly original film powered up by wit, action, and groundbreaking visuals that you will want to watch again as soon as it’s over.

Members $9; nonmember adults $12, children $10. coolidge.org.

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25 Tuesday Pumpkin Parts. Discovery Museums, 117 Main St., Acton. 10 a.m.-11 a.m. Squish some pumpkin guts, count the seeds, knock on the body, scoop out the flesh, and investigate pumpkins through all of our senses. Free with admission.

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

OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO! Tales of the Night. Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary, 208 South Great Road, Lincoln.

6:30 p.m.-9 p.m. Bring a flashlight, and meet 3D Printing Class for Children. Fitchburg curious creatures of the night on candlelit paths, Public Library, 610 Main St., Fitchburg. 1 p.m.take a haunted hayride, step into a story on 2 p.m. Learn how to create a 3D print, as our Nursery Rhyme Trail, and visit the ghoulish class introduces you to our 3D printer, explain graveyard for witch’s brew, hot chocolate, and how 3D printing works, and then allow some spooky snacks. Members $13, nonmembers: hands-on work with design software. Free. $15. massaudubon.org. fitchburgpubliclibrary.org.

26 Wednesday

Lots of Leaves. Habitat Education Center and Wildlife Sanctuary, Belmont. 10 a.m.- 11 a.m.

Autumn is upon us and the forest has become a colorful display of wonderment, so come and create your very own woodland crown as we explore the changes our trees and forest floor go through. For children through age 5.

Register ahead. Members $6, nonmembers $8. massaudubon.org.

Exploring Nano: Nano in Nature. Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Acton. 2 p.m.-4:30 p.m. Drop in as we explore nano-science in nature and how animals use these beautiful colors to survive and thrive. Free with admission.

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

Backyard and Beyond: Leaf Prints.

Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Acton.

2 p.m.-4 p.m. Drop in as we collect leaves to make painted leaf prints. Free with admission.

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

Make a MESS: Spooky Science. Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Acton. 10 a.m.-11 a.m.

Join us as we use a little spooky science to create some strange substances. Free with admission.

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

Owl-o-ween. Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary, 208 South Great Road, Lincoln.

3:30 p.m.-5 p.m. After visiting an owl, we’ll create owl masks and prowl about! For ages 2-8.

Register ahead. Members $12.50, nonmembers $15.50. massaudubon.org.

Carve a Pumpkin. Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary, 293 Moose Hill Pkwy., Sharon. 1 p.m.-8:30 p.m.

Bring your own pumpkin and help us carve pumpkins into Jack-O-Lanterns for our annual Halloween Prowl. Free. massaudubon.org.

27 Thursday

28 Friday

Ooey Gooey Pumpkin Science. Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Acton. 2 p.m.-4:30 p.m. Drop in and explore all of your questions and more at our pumpkin exploration station. Free with admission. Members free, nonmembers $12.50, children under 1 free. discoverymuseums.org.

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

Join us for trivia, crafts, snacks, and games, all centering on your favorite fandoms, from comics, anime, BBC shows, or anything else. For ages 10 to 17. Free. mywpl.org.

Trail Detectives’ Club. Boston Nature Center, 500 Walk Hill St., Mattapan. 3:15 p.m.-4:45 p.m. We are on the lookout for a few good detectives to help us solve the weekly mysteries here at the BNC, so come explore the wonders that autumn reveals; looking for insects, flowers,

and animal signs. For ages 6-10. Register ahead.

Member children $5, nonmember children $7. massaudubon.org.

29 Saturday South Shore Explorations: Round the Bend. North River Wildlife Sanctuary, 2000 Main St., Marshfield. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Explore some lesser-known but compelling natural history hot spots, where you are welcome to bring a picnic lunch after our ecosystem exploration.

Register ahead. Member adults 12, children $8; nonmember adults $15, children $11. massaudubon.org.

Play Date: Contemporary Creative Express. The Institute of Contemporary Art: Boston, 25 Harbor Shore Dr., Boston. 10 a.m.4 p.m. Enjoy contemporary art in our galleries, then transform yourself into a ‘contemporary kid’ in the Bank of America Art Lab, see local youth and professional dancers, and maybe even take the stage yourself. Free. icaboston.org.

Fruitlands Halloween Treats. Fruitlands Museum, 102 Prospect Hill Rd., Harvard. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. All ghouls and goblins are invited to join us to decorate a spooky mask and hand out treats in the museum buildings. Through Sunday.

Free with admission or costume. Members free; nonmember adults $14, children ages 5 to 13 $6, children under 5 free. fruitlands.org.

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28 OCTOBER2016

OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO! ParaNorman. Coolidge Corner Theatre, imagination. Free with admission. Members free, 290 Harvard St., Brookline. 10:30 a.m. Come nonmembers $12.50, children under 1 free. dressed in costume for our special screening of this discoverymuseums.org. animated family film following the misadventures of young Norman Babcock, who has the ability Boston Symphony Orchestra Concert to speak with the dead, as zombies rise from the for Very Young People. Boston Children’s grave. Adults $8, children $6. coolidge.org.

Museum, 308 Congress St., Boston. 1 p.m.

Enjoy this specially tailored performance from Zoo Howl. Franklin Park Zoo, 1 Franklin Park Boston’s best musician entity for visitors to Rd., Boston. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Come as thrills, the museum of all ages. Free with admission. chills, and animals await you at the zoo, during Members free, nonmembers $16, children under this evening of creepy crafts, ghoulish games, 1 free. bostonchildrensmuseum.org. costume contests, and a haunted maze. Through Sunday. Members free; nonmember adults Creepy Crawlies. Broadmoor Wildlife $19.95, children 2 to 12 $13.95, children under Sanctuary, 280 Eliot Street, Natick. 1 p.m.2 free. zoonewengland.org.

2 p.m. Get up close and personal with tarantulas, amphibians, snakes, and even some cool cockFire Safety. Boston Children’s Museum, roaches! For ages 4-16. Register ahead. Member 308 Congress St., Boston. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Meet adults $13, children $7; nonmember adults $15, firefighters from the Boston Fire Department, children $9. massaudubon.org. visit a fire truck, and practice techniques to keep you safe. Free with admission. Members free, Sleepy Hollow-een Tour. Concord Museum, nonmembers $16, children under 1 free.

200 Lexington Rd., Concord. 3:30 p.m.-5 p.m. bostonchildrensmuseum.org.

Join us for this special Halloween event, as we tour through historic Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, Boston Symphony Orchestra Family and learn about the lives and deaths of past Concert. Symphony Hall, 301 Massachusetts Concordians through stories passed down through Ave., Boston. 12 p.m. Enjoy the Boston Youth the generations. Register ahead. Members $5, Symphony Orchestra as they perform Prokofiev’s nonmembers $10. concordmuseum.org. beloved Peter and the Wolf. Designed for children ages 3 to 8. Adults $20, children free. bso.org.

Go Bats! Boston Nature Center, 500 Walk Hill St., Mattapan. 5 p.m.-6:30 p.m. Enjoy an Pumpkins, Pumpkins, Pumpkins. Boston evening at the BNC while learning fact from Nature Center, 500 Walk Hill St., Mattapan. fiction about bats. For ages 4-18. Register 1 p.m.-3 p.m. Bring or buy a pumpkin and ahead. Member children $5, nonmember children celebrate the fall harvest and Halloween by $7. massaudubon.org. creating your own carved pumpkin by taking part in seed experiments, learn about the Haunted Hillside. Fruitlands Museum, history of pumpkins and Jack-O-Lanterns, and 102 Prospect Hill Rd., Harvard. 6 p.m.-9 p.m. learn techniques for designs. For ages 5 and up.

Come follow the candle-lit paths across the Through Sunday. Register ahead. Members $7, Fruitlands hillside and listen to tales of ghosts, nonmembers $9. massaudubon.org. spirits, and a foolish medical student from Harvard, with hot cider, popcorn, and goosebumps.

Autumn Adventure Walk. Ipswich River Member adults $10, children $3; nonmember Wildlife Sanctuary, 87 Perkins Row, Topsfield. adults $15, children $5. fruitlands.org.

1:30 p.m.-3 p.m. Walk the sanctuary trails and learn about the amazing ways that plants The Haunting at Witch Hill. Pierce Farm and animals prepare themselves for survival, at Witch Hill, 116 Boston St., Topsfield. 6:30 and test some of your own skills. For ages 6 p.m.-10:30 p.m. Travel back to Victorian times at and up. Register ahead. Member adults $7, the gentleman farm of railroad tycoon T.W. Peirce children $6; nonmember adults $9, children $7. where you will be spellbound by eerie ghost stories massaudubon.org. in the manor house, and enjoy games and music in the barn. $65. essexheritage.org.

2nd Annual Spooktacular Halloween Bash.

Edaville USA, 5 Pine St., Carver. 2 p.m.-6 p.m.

Join Sir Topham Hatt, Sandy the Dinosaur, and more, during this day of crafts, games, and Spooky Story Hour & Halloween Craft. costume parades, with trick or treating on all Powisset Farm, 31 Powisset St., Dover. 10 a.m.rides, a dance party, and other surprises. Free 11 a.m. Join us at Powisset Farm under the tent with admission. $37, ages 2 to 3 $32, ages 2 for a spooky Halloween-themed story hour and and under free. edaville.com. pumpkin craft project, with costumes encouraged.

Register ahead. Members free, nonmembers $5. thetrustees.org.

31 Monday

30 Sunday

Backyard and Beyond: Last Minute Nature Halloween Costumes. Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Acton. 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Drop in and get creative with natural objects and make yourself a costume, as we provide art supplies and nature, and you bring your

Teen Zombie Party. Worcester Public Library: Main Branch, 3 Salem Sq., Worcester. 3 p.m.-5 p.m. Thwart the zombie apocalypse as part of our spooky escape room, then enjoy food, drinks, zombie face-paint, and zombify a rubber duck to take home. For ages 13 to 17. Free. mywpl.org.

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Mother, Mayor, Businesses Join Forces For Autism Education The Discovery Museums Expand Offerings, Commitment to Accessibility

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Divorce & Co-Parenting: Co-Parenting Children With Special Needs How to Approach Puberty Education for Adolescents with Intellectual Disabilities

Using Books To Teach Tolerance to Young Children Photo by Steven King

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VERY SPECIAL PEOPLE

Teaming Up for Autism Awareness

BY DAVID DORE, PHOTOS BY STEVEN KING

“When something so simple can be put in place and make their lives better, why wouldn’t we do that?”

– Stephanie Madrigal

S

tephanie Madrigal and her father, Leominster Mayor Dean Mazzarella, have a deeply personal connection to the Leominster Autism Project, which they co-founded earlier this year.

Madrigal found out her 3-yearold son Jamison is on the autism spectrum.

“As a parent of a somewhat newly diagnosed child, you start to see the world in a very different way,” she 32 OCTOBER2016

said. “You start to see that it’s more difficult to go out into the community, to take advantage of the things that the community offers, different businesses, things like that. Then you start to think, ‘How could things change?’”

Madrigal, above with Mazzarella and Jamison, recalled a visit to a local shoe store that, because of helpful employees, became a positive experience: “I remember I had a difficult time getting shoes for my son because once I brought him into a shoe store, all he wants to do is run because he sees the lanes.

That’s kind of typical of any 3-anda-half-year-old, but then it became very difficult to actually have him sit down. And the feeling of the shoe going on, that was very distressing to him. But I was fortunate enough to have a couple of employees that

were amazing with him.”

After a conversation with her father, who has been mayor of Leominster for 22 years, Madrigal wrote an outline for what became the Leominster Autism Project. She met with Mazzarella and other advocates in the community.

“I did a little research to see if any other locations were doing things for the community,” Madrigal said, “and Dad’s the one that said, ‘It’d be cool to bring the businesses into it, and to have them participating.’”

The Leominster Autism Project was unveiled at a ceremony in February at City Hall. Madrigal and Mazzarella teamed with professionals such as Judy Scola, director and owner of inSync Communication Center and Social/Sensory Gym in Sterling; Nancy Murray, an education professor at Fitchburg State

University; Leominster firefighter Lance Mason, father to a son who has autism, and Stacy Maillet, CEO and founder of the Nicholas James Foundation for Autism, which raises money to provide tools and therapies for children with autism.

An hour-long training program was created to “train and educate people on autism,” Madrigal said, “but mostly focusing on sensoryprocessing disorder, which is really what someone would have difficulty with going into public places. That’s what creates some of the behaviors that people see.”

Roughly two dozen businesses around Leominster have gone through the training to become “autism-friendly.” According to Madrigal, the list includes dentist offices, hair salons, restaurants, music and dance schools, The Mall at Whitney

Field in Leominster (along with several of its stores), and even departments at Leominster City Hall.

Each location that signs up for the program comes up with a list of accommodations it can make to help people of all ages with autism, attention deficit disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety, Asperger syndrome, and more. Accommodations can include turning down music or turning off lights when asked, creating a separate room, or creating charts or social stories to navigate tasks such as visiting the dentist.

And, Madrigal said, many of these things can be done for free.

“The biggest thing is the preparation, getting people prepared before they even go in,” she said. “Spontaneity isn’t really someone’s friend when they have feelings of anxiety.”

Once they go through the training, establishments receive stickers to display, noting they are an autismfriendly business, provided by an anonymous donor and Creative Print Products in Leominster.

Madrigal said she feels the program has increased awareness of the autism spectrum and dispelled incorrect information people may have about the developmental disorder.

“It’s been great [for] people understanding that their own feeling about what autism was isn’t really that,” she said. “It’s something very different, and it’s actually something not very scary or intimidating. You can just tell how happy and excited they are to serve these people and to make their lives easier, once they feel comfortable with understanding.”

And, according to Madrigal, a few establishments have seen an increase in business after getting involved with the Leominster Autism Project.

“It’s not intimidating,” she said.

“We walk them through it. We make them feel comfortable, the business owners. We’re not going to leave them hanging. The community feels so appreciative that they’re doing what they’re doing that it’s really a positive experience. Parents are not going to expect perfection, especially as they get to be familiar with how things go and how the

symptoms manifest, but it’s a very positive experience, and a very rewarding experience all around, and they’re changing people’s lives more than they could ever imagine.”

Word of the autism project has spread far beyond Leominster’s borders.

“We’ve gotten phone calls and Facebook messages and emails from people all over who are loving this, wanting it done in their town or city,” Madrigal said. “We had someone from Missouri contact me and say, ‘We want to start our own.

We love your project. We love how you’ve done it, and we want to do it just like yours.’ And they have.

They’ve done a wonderful job. We keep in touch, we share ideas, and it’s been great.

“My hope is that other states and cities take it upon themselves to do this,” she added. “It’s not difficult.

It’s not that expensive.”

And while businesses and people across Leominster have learned more about autism over the past several months, Madrigal said she’s learned things as well from both her involvement with the project and her son’s diagnosis.

“I went from a teacher who had students in her classroom on the spectrum, with no specific training for it, to someone who lives it every day,” she said. “It’s definitely going to make me a different teacher, I guess you could say.”

She later added, “When I see this project, yes, it was my own feelings as a mother and wanting to help my son, but what drives me is that there are so many out there like my son. There’s so many kids like that, and adults, and teenagers, who are really struggling. And when something so simple can be put in place and make their lives better, why wouldn’t we do that? So that’s what drives me, keeps me going. I admire their strong will, and I don’t want them to struggle more than they have to.”

For more information on the Leominster Autism Project, call the Leominster Mayor’s Office at (978) 534-7500, visit facebook.com/ LeominsterAutismProject or email autismproject@leominster-ma. gov. The project’s website recently launched at autismfriendlycity.com.

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VERY SPECIAL PEOPLE

The Discovery Museums Expand Offerings, Commitment to Acce

BY MARSHAL D. HANEISEN

Photos courtesy of The Discovery Museums

On

34 OCTOBER2016

a recent beautiful evening, a group of visitors explored the new Discovery Woods area at The Discovery Museums in Acton. Children played in the 550-square-foot treehouse, scaled the rope climbing wall, enjoyed the nest swing, and glided down the family-size slide. Parents talked together. Many times throughout the evening and around the grounds, different visitors could be heard remarking: “We would never be able to come here if it wasn’t for this.” The “this” to which they were referring is the Especially for Me program.

The museums’ Especially for Me programs are designed to break down barriers to visitation. These scheduled events offer accommodations for visitors who are on the autism spectrum, deaf, or blind, said Alli Leake, the organization’s early childhood education director. “We hear from families that the subtle accommodations we can do make such a big difference.”

Founded in 1982, The Discovery Museums consist of two separate museums — the Children’s Discovery Museum and the Science Discovery Museum — and the new outdoor 1.5-acre Discovery Woods, an inclusive, fully-accessible nature playscape and treehouse (built by DIY Network’s The Treehouse Guys),

which opened this summer. The nonprofit organization is well-known for its hands-on, open-ended, interactive exhibits that encourage exploration, imagination, and learning.

The Discovery Museums’ website describes the events and accommodations: • No school groups or birthday parties are scheduled during (Autism Spectrum Disorder) ASD Friendly Afternoons. A dedicated welcome room allows families with a child with an ASD to orient to the campus and programs. This quiet space allows children a break from the stimulation of the museums if needed. Upcoming events are scheduled for Oct. 4, Nov. 1, and Dec. 6 from 1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

• The Museums are closed to the public during the Evenings for Families of Children with an ASD, and quiet spaces are typically available in each building if children would benefit from a stimulation break. These events are next scheduled for Oct. 15 and Dec. 3 from 5 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

• On Nov. 5 from 5 p.m. – 8 p.m., the museums will host the next Evening for Families with Deaf or Hard of Hearing Children, during which the Museums are closed to the public.

This program is offered in conjunction with the Deaf and Hard of

Hearing Program of Boston Children’s Hospital. ASL Interpreters will be present.

• The next Evening for Families of Children with a Visual Impairment is scheduled for Nov. 19 from 5 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. Interested visitors can contact the museum to discuss accommodations.

While these programs are labeled for the respective audiences, Leake acknowledges there may be children with other disabilities or challenges who would benefit from the events.

“We explain the specific accommodations we provide, and if a family feels that accommodation is appropriate to their child with special needs, we are happy they can enjoy the museums during these times,” she said.

Especially for Me events are free, and dinner is always provided from area vendors. However, pre-registration is necessary to secure a spot.

Susan Loring is director of HMEA’s Autism Resource Central, one of seven centers across the state funded by the Department of Developmental Services that serve as an information and referral service for families that include a member with autism.

Personally and professionally, Loring understands the importance of inclusive attractions and destinations for families who have members

Photos by Mitchell Green

essibility with special needs.

“As the numbers of families affected by ASD grew, museums and other recreational providers began to understand that families with a child on the spectrum faced challenges other families do not when visiting.

By creating special nights or days at their venues, they give families an opportunity to enjoy their facilities and the child on the spectrum a judgment-free zone with less sensory challenges to become acclimated to the environment in a supportive atmosphere,” Loring said. “This is a win-win strategy as many children can, after a successful visit or two, be successful in return visits with

the general public. The family wins when this happens and the museum wins with a larger patron base. It also benefits their siblings as they get to attend the museum, which might not be possible for them as a family without the accommodation for their sibling.”

Loring adds that attending an Especially for Me event may be the baby step a child with ASD needs to be able to grow and attend other times with their siblings. These events can be a baby step for parents, as well.

“Sometimes when we venture out into the community, we are overwhelmed with feelings of dread, given previous bad experiences,” Loring said. “These evenings are geared to be supportive and encouraging… being with others who have a child on the spectrum creates a natural support system, where behaviors are not judged or misunderstood.”

The Discovery Museums have a long history of being a nurturing and caring place for all kids, Loring noted.

Twenty-five years ago, when her son was young, few accessible opportunities like this existed. However, Loring had a family membership to The Discovery Museums for several years because they provided her son with hands-on activities, opportunities, and the learning style he needed to participate and enjoy the museum.

She noted the museum staff were wonderfully supportive, and once she explained his challenges, went out of their way to accommodate him.

Open Door Connections Especially for Me is a program of Discovery Museums’ Open Door Connections. Prior to 2009/2010, The Discovery Museums dealt with accessibility on a case-by-case basis, according to Ann Skarzi, director of marketing. If a group requested a free visit or special accommodations, The Discovery Museums team would locate funding and resources to make the visit possible.

BAYSTATEPARENT 35

MetroWest, she said.

The Museums added accessibility as an objective in its five-year strategic plan, setting accessibility goals each year and reporting on the results. It has exceeded the goals each year since.

Open Door Connections and Especially for Me are extremely important to museum staff because they know that informal learning spaces, such as the museums, are incredibly important for kids’ healthy development, Skarzi said.

Other components of Open Door Connections include subsidized school field trips and in-school science workshops for which the organization secures grant funding.

“In 2015, a full 25% of our audience was served for free or very deeply reduced cost,” Skarzi said.

In 2010, it formalized and expanded the Open Door program, adding the word “Connections” to signify they were taking steps at accessibility to encourage special groups to feel connected to the museum and to signify its intention to form partnerships with other organizations serving these groups, she said.

The partnerships would provide education, staff training, and connection to other resources, and get the word out to families through their network. The first, and a great, example of this is Autism Alliance of

said.

The building will be fully compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The museum has an Accessibility Advisory Board comprised of representatives from organizations including IHCD (Institute for Human Centered Design), Perkins School for the Blind, Autism Alliance, Boston Children’s Hospital Deaf & Hard of Hearing program, and others, Skarzi noted. This board provides input, modification recommendations, and accessibility reviews of the current buildings, exhibits and programs. It is also

advising on the Phase 2 project.

“We have hired two exhibit designers to develop exhibits for the new building, and they both have experience with accessibility,” she said.

Last month, with funding by the Sudbury Foundation, the museum launched a new accessible website.

“I believe that having an accessible website sends a strong message to a potential visitor that all visitors are welcome, and we believe in making our best accommodations for all,” Skarzi said.

Discovery Woods The new Discovery Woods nature playscape is Phase 1 of the museums’ Master Plan. Phase 2, which will begin in 2017, is to renovate and double the size of the Science Discovery Museum, combining exhibits from the two current buildings into one, and adding more exhibits and classroom space, Skarzi

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VERY SPECIAL PEOPLE

Using Books To Teach Tolerance to Young Children

BY KRISTIN GUAY

When it comes to the importance of tolerance in our society, no one could express the message better than Helen Keller, who said:

“The highest result of education is tolerance.”

Young children look to their parents and caregivers for guidance and support in navigating their world. There is a wealth of literacy resources that adults can use to help youth understand the concepts of acceptance, tolerance, diversity, racism, and compassion. In previous years, tolerance was associated with predominantly ethnic and religious beliefs — now the term encompasses much more. As noted in the article, “Teaching Your Child Tolerance” (kidshealth.org): “Tolerance means respecting and learning from others, valuing differences, bridging cultural gaps, rejecting unfair stereotypes, discovering common grounds, and creating new bonds. Tolerance, in many ways, is the opposite of prejudice.”

How to select and use literature to teach tolerance to your child Selecting the appropriate books for your child is important, but how you read the book to your child is just as critical. Books can create a dialogue between you and your child to help them understand all the different people, families, and customs of our world. It is also important to note

that there are many books on the market for very specific situations — a young girl that likes to wear unusual clothes, a little boy who likes to dress as a princess, a child with two dads, or one who has a sibling who has autism. Parents and caregivers can find specific books to meet the needs and concerns of their family.

Before reading a book to your child, take a quick read and think of questions or comments to be used before reading, during reading, and after reading the book. For example, before reading the book Everywhere Babies (Susan Meyers, Marla Frazee), ask your child about the babies on the cover of the book.

The front cover illustration features babies of different ethnicities all doing different activities. A parent could point out different hair colors and skin tones, and how some babies are crawling, walking, or standing. While reading the book, the parent can point out the different families in the book. This book shows same sex couples, biracial couples, babies with a single parent, and some with siblings. Again, this is an opportunity for dialogue, and the parent can introduce these concepts to their child.

Another great book for discussing the theme of acceptance would

be Eggbert: The Slightly Cracked Egg (Tom Ross, Rex Barron). This is a sweet story of an egg that is told to leave the refrigerator because he has a crack in his shell. Eggbert did not know this was a problem until the other foods told him he must leave. During his banishment, Eggbert discovers that there are many wonderful things in the world — some of them have cracks just like him. Again, the important concept is to talk to your child while you are reading this book. During the beginning of the book, ask them if they have ever felt left out because of something about their appearance or personality. Maybe this did not happen to them, but perhaps they have seen it happen to someone else. Take a minute and ask your child how they think that might make someone feel. For example, what if someone was not invited to play on the playground because they had a leg brace? Really take a minute to ask your child if there is someone at school like this — a child who has a feature that others do not like and, therefore, causes them to reject the child. This is an important moment to have with your child, to encourage them to think about others’ feelings.

The story The Brand New Kid

(Katie Couric, Marjorie Princeman) tells the common tale of a new boy at school who is teased and ostracized because he looks and talks a little different from his classmates.

One little girl is witness to this, but does nothing until she realizes just how much this is affecting him and his family. She ultimately decides to do something positive about the situation.

There is a great lesson with this book in that a parent can have a discussion with their child before turning to the next page. For example, after reading a page where the students tease the new boy, a parent can ask their child, “How do you think this makes him feel?” or “What would you do to help this situation?”

Just remember to have this dialogue as you read the story to make the most of the book as a lesson in tolerance.

Keep in mind that there are also many books available to help your child understand their own unique features, be proud of who they are, and increase their self-esteem. If children do not feel good about themselves, they tend to exhibit negative behaviors toward others.

A great example of this would be Invisible Isabelle (Wendy Sefcik).

BAYSTATEPARENT 37

Isabelle is a little girl who loves wearing quirky clothes that she has created through her own imagination. When she is ridiculed by her classmates, she makes the decision to blend in with others — essentially making herself invisible. A kindly art teacher encourages her to embrace her unique self and be proud of her special gift.

While reading this book, a parent can ask their child if they know of any classmate who might be a little different and is teased because of this. Some kids like to wear bright hair ribbons every day, some wear nothing but Angry Birds T-shirts, and others wear mismatched outfits.

These are all expressions of individuality and should be embraced, not abandoned. Any discussion a parent has with their child will let them know that not only are their unique qualities important, but so are those of others, and this should be celebrated.

The importance of tolerance in your child’s future As noted in the article “Teaching Your Child Tolerance,” the lessons parents and caregivers provide to their children serve them well the rest of their lives: “Teaching tolerance is important not just because it

is part of our American heritage, but because the person who learns to be open to differences will have more opportunities in education, business, and many other aspects of life.” In order to grow and thrive in today’s world, children and adults alike need to understand and accept others in their society.

Book recommendations for toddlers and elementary school children The Skin You Live In (Michael Tyler and David Csicsko). This sweet book celebrates all the different colors of the human skin with rhyming text and bright, vivid illustrations. The message is that what really matters is what is underneath our skin, not its color.

Ten Little Fingers and Ten Little Toes (Mem Fox, Helen Oxenbury). This story shows how all babies have the same body parts, but yet they are different. Illustrations highlight a variety of babies from around the world.

Snug (Carol Thompson). This is a wonderful book for the very young child to show a variety of different

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children, and includes glasses and wheelchair use.

such as “Hermione howls at the moon.”

Jump! (Carol Thompson). This colorfully illustrated books features a variety of children doing what they love best — being fully active. The illustrations feature children with leg splints, cochlear implants, a head scarf, and a safety helmet.

Eggbert: The Slightly Cracked Egg (Tom Ross, Rex Barron). A cracked egg is banished from the refrigerator and sets out on a journey of selfdiscovery. He soon learns that the world is full of wonderful cracks (The Liberty Bell, a crack in a volcanic mountain) and he learns the important lesson of embracing his flaws.

Everywhere Babies (Susan Meyers, Marla Frazee). This is a sweet book about the love babies receive from their families — all kinds of families.

The book features same-sex couples, biracial couples, and many other unique families all showing love for their little ones. It is a great way to introduce young children to the many different kinds of families in the world.

The Brand New Kid (Katie Couric, Marjorie Princeman). A new boy arrives at school and does not fit in because he looks and talks a little different. Events go from bad to worse until a little girl decides to change the situation. A great lesson on how kids can reach out to the new student at school.

Odd Bods (Steven Butler, Jarvis).

Bright graphics and whimsical rhyme make this book a treat for young children. The story runs through an alphabetical list of children and their wonderful quirks,

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The Cow That Went OINK (Bernard Most). On this farm, a cow opts to say “oink” instead of “moo,” and this sets the stage for a lesson in tolerance and teaching children that it is

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Sam and Pam Can and You Can Too! Series: We Can Help Our Mom, We Can Ride Our Bikes, and We Can Count (Amanda Litz). Sam and Pam are twins and do many things the same — but they are also very different. The books in this series help children to be accepting of differences and embrace their own unique selves.

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It’s Okay to be Different (Todd Parr).

This is an excellent book for teaching young readers that being different is okay — even eating macaroni and cheese in the bathtub. One picture features a blind person walking with a seeing-eye dog with the caption, “It’s okay to need some help.”

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Two Eggs, Please (Sarah Weeks, Betsy Lewin). In a diner late in the evening, customers all place orders for two eggs — however, they are all different. Some want fried, others poached, others want sunny side up.

It is a simple lesson on the similarities and differences of others around us.

And Tango Makes Three (Justin Richardson, Peter Parnell, Henry Cole). This is a delightful story of two Central Park Zoo penguins, Roy and Silo, who create a non-traditional family with the help of a kind zookeeper.

Introducing Teddy (Jessica Walton, Dougal MacPherson). This story deals with a group of friends and one friend confiding his desire to be a girl. The themes of acceptance and friendship are displayed, as well as that of encouraging children to confide in their friends.

Everyone Matters (Pat Thomas, Lesley Harker). This is a non-fiction picture book that explains the importance of being respectful, polite, and honest. The story also outlines how bullies try to force respect as opposed to earning it.

My Princess Boy (Cheryl Kilodavis, Suzanne DeSimone). This nonfic-

tion picture book is based on the author’s son. The story centers around Dyson, a little boy who loves pink, wears dresses, and enjoys wearing his princess tiara. This is a heart-warming story of tolerance, acceptance, and unconditional love.

Invisible Isabelle (Wendy Sefcik).

Isabelle becomes invisible after she sheds her creative clothing and blends in with her other classmates.

A caring art teacher encourages her to be proud of her creativity and show the world just who she is.

Tyrannosaurus Drip (Julia Donaldson, David Roberts). The underlying themes of bullying, prejudice, and acceptance are covered in this story of a vegetarian T. rex.

Freckleface Strawberry (Julianne Moore, Lelyan Plum). Freckles and red hair make a little girl unhappy — until she learns to embrace her unique features and be proud of who she is.

I Don’t Care!: Learning About Respect (Brian Moses, Mike Gordon). This book is loaded with messages and examples of respect in all kinds of situations.

Not Your Typical Dragon (Dan Barel, Tim Bowers). This story centers around Crispin, a 7-year-old dragon who breathes just about everything

but fire. This upsets Crispin until the moment comes when his unique ability saves the day. A great lesson for learning to accept who you are — even if it is not what is expected of you.

The Animal Boogie (Debbie Harter).

This trip through the Indian Jungle is a lesson in differences and acceptance. There is an accompanying CD with a lively tune of the story.

The Sunflower Sword (Mark Sperring, Mariam Latimer). A young boy and a fire-breathing dragon have an unusual meeting all because of a sunflower. The message is that enemies can truly be friends.

Elmer (David McKee). This story has been around for a long time: Elmer is a patchwork elephant who learns the value of being different.

This Book Belongs to Aye-Aye (Richard Byrne). Aye-Aye is a very unusual looking character who demonstrates that his kindness and intelligence are more important than his looks. There is also an anti-bullying message within the book.

I Can’t Hear Like You (Althea, Bridget Dowty). A young deaf boy shares his experiences with other children.

There is quite a bit of information about hearing aids, sign language, and how life is different because of

his hearing loss. However, this could help make kids aware of others with physical disabilities with similar situations.

The Sneetches and Other Stories (Dr. Seuss). This collection of silly stories subtly teaches children the lessons of tolerance, diversity, and understanding of other’s differences.

Monsters Not Allowed (Tracey Hammett, Jan McCafferty). This book teaches children that if you give someone a chance, you just might like them.

Giraffes Can’t Dance (Giles Andreae, Guy Parker-Rees). This book contains a great lesson on self-esteem and embracing individual differences. Filled with humorous, rhyming text.

The Great Big Book of Families (Mary Hoffman, Ros Asquith). The book shows all the different kinds of families around the world — using examples of adoption, same-sex parents, children raised by grandparents, and children raised by a mother and father. Children are exposed to how families go to work, do their cooking, run errands, and just go about their normal daily routine.

Shaun the Shy Shark (Neil Griffiths, Peggy Collins). This sweet story features Shaun, a shark who is extremely

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Books can create a dialogue between you and your child to help them understand all the different people, families, and customs of our world.

and teaches others about acceptance as well.

winner and features artwork from Caldecott artist Louis Slobodkin.

Elliot Jones Midnight Superhero (Anne Cottringer, Alex T. Smith).

Alex has curly red hair and large dark glasses. He is a quiet boy by day and a superhero during the wee hours of the night. This book teaches children to look beyond physical appearance and see that it’s what is inside a person that really counts.

Don’t Laugh at Me (Steve Seskin, Allen Shamblin, Glin Dibley). “Don’t laugh at me. Don’t call me names.

Don’t get your pleasure from my pain.” These are some of the lyrics in this song/story that provide encouragement and inspiration to stop the cycle of bullying.

The Sissy Duckling (Harvey Fierstein, Henry Cole). This story deals with Elmer, a duck who does not enjoy doing traditional “boy” things. He would rather bake or create puppet shows instead of playing sports. He ends up saving his father — changing his views and those around him.

Woolbur (Leslie Helakoski, Lee Harper). Woolbur is not like other sheep. He actually wants to play with dogs and he refuses to cut his long hair. This is a delightful story of a young sheep trying to hold onto his individuality.

Amazing Grace (Mary Hoffman, Caroline Binch). Grace faces obstacles when she decides to try out for the part of Peter Pan in the school musical — and is told Peter Pan is not a girl or African-American.

This story of hope, support, and determination leads to a memorable performance.

shy as opposed to being scary. He meets other sea creatures with the same feelings and learns that it is OK to be who he is.

Chrysanthemum (Kevin Henkes).

This popular picture book shares a story of teasing, self-esteem, and acceptance. Little Chrysanthemum is teased because her name is a flower. This makes her very upset — until she learns the first name of a beloved teacher.

Rabbityness (Jo Empson). Rabbit does typical rabbit activities like cleaning his whiskers and hiding in his burrow, but he also enjoys “non-rabbit” activities.” His friends love his non-rabbit activities and ultimately find their own unique, non-rabbit qualities as well.

Our Stripy Baby (Gillian Shields, Paula Metcalf). A new addition to the family has stripes instead of spots — setting the tone for a story about having a sibling with special needs. Through patience and understanding, a sibling realizes just how truly special their new little addition really is.

40 OCTOBER2016

Looking After Louis (Lesley Ely, Polly Dunbar). This is a story about a young boy with autisum trying to assimilate into his new classroom.

His classmates learn more about Louis and show compassion and understanding. This story helps children learn to accept others who may be different from them.

How Willy Got His Wheels (Deborah Turner). This inspirational book is based on the true story of a disabled Chihuahua and the woman who helps him to walk again. This is an early lesson on teaching young children to show concern and care for others.

Dad David, Baba Chris and Me (Ed Merchant, Rachel Fuller). This is the story of 7-year-old Ben and his two fathers. It introduces children to concepts of adoption, gay parents, bullying, and understanding of different families.

William’s Doll (Charlotte Zolotow, William Pene du Bois). William receives several taunts when he announces that he really wants a doll. William’s understanding grandmother makes him feel accepted

I Wish I Had Glasses Like Rosa (Kathryn Heling, Deborah Hembrook). This story shares the bond between two young girls that goes beyond their difference in skin color. This is a great lesson for what is important in a friendship.

Children Just Like Me (Anabela and Barnabas Kindersley). This book is packed with beautiful and detailed illustrations of children all around the world. Their homes, pets, schools, clothes, food, and families are displayed so children can learn a little bit more about children just like them — but clear across the world.

Goblinheart (Brett Axel, Terra Bidlespacher). A fairy named Julep feels she is a goblin at heart. Julep’s tribe learns to accept and support her decision to be her true self — a goblin.

The Hundred Dresses (Eleanor Estes, Louis Slobodkin). This story deals with the ridicule a young Polish girl faces at school every day because she wears the same dress.

Ultimately she leaves the school, which prompts a classmate to declare that she will never stand by and let something like this happen ever again. This is a Newbery Honor

Be Who You Are (Jennifer Car, Ben Rumback). Nick is a young boy — but feels he should be a girl. Nick finds the support he needs from his family to be the person he was meant to be.

The Story of Ferdinand (Munro Leaf). This is a special story of a big, strong bull that wants nothing more than to sit all day in a peaceful field. This is a wonderful story to discuss what is expected of you versus what you really want.

Smoky Night (Eve Bunting, David Diaz). Seeking shelter from a dangerous riot, city residents are forced to address their prejudices and learn about others in their neighborhood. This Caldecott Medal winner is illustrated with mixed media collages, making the important message visually pleasing as well.

Same, Same But Different (Jenny Sue Kostecki-Shaw). This story shares the lives of two pen pals, one from the United States and the other from India. The two boys learn about their differences but also their similarities by looking at their homes, how they get to school, and animals in their lives.

Little Blue and Little Yellow (Leo Lionni). This is a simple story of two best friends, Little Blue and Little Yellow. By chance, they discover that when they hug, they make the color green. This is a great lesson for children on the power of friendship and how what they have together is greater than being individual.

The Sandwich Swap (Queen Rania of Jordan Al Abdullah and Kelly DiPucchio). A fight between two friends at a lunchroom table escalates into a battle of intolerance between the “jelly head” vs. the “chickpea brains.” Ultimately, this story is a lesson in accepting differences and creating a more tolerant world.

Whoever You Are (Mem Fox, Leslie Staub). This book is a delightful collection of all the similarities and differences between cultures around the world. Colorful folk art-style illustrations fill the book.

VERY SPECIAL PEOPLE

Co-Parenting Children With Special Needs

BY ATTY. IRWIN M. POLLACK

Millions of children with special needs are being co-parented in separate households after their parents separate or divorce. It’s tough enough going through divorce with a child, but if your child has special needs, the stakes skyrocket. While the typical parenting plans, including child

custody and support, may work in some cases, each family — especially those with children with unique needs — must consider the unique challenges they face.

Here are some tips to help make life easier for you and your children:

• Keep a consistent schedule and regular routines. All children benefit from structure, but children with special needs even more so. Some children simply cannot adjust to constant changes in daily schedules, drop-off or pick-up, transitioning between houses, etc., especially during the school year, which can result in behavior and learning issues at home and at school.

• Consider networking with other parents of children with special needs. It helps being able to talk things through with other people who are dealing with the same challenges. It gives you a chance to vent to other parents who truly understand. One way to get started is by seeking out other parents in your child’s classroom or other programs.

• Have your child participate in social and extracurricular activities. It’s important for all children to participate in social and recreational activities. But for children with special needs, it will likely take some extra time and effort to identify those programs designed specifically for the special needs surrounding your family’s situation.

• Accept the help you’re offered because no one parent can do it all! Whether it’s help with childcare, transportation, or giving you a breather for a night out, take people up on your offer. From a financial perspective, take advantage of the many public assistance programs out there that can provide help with housing, food, heat, clothing, and other needs.

• Don’t become overly focused on the special (unique) needs.

Make time to enjoy your children. Block out a specific family time on the weekly calendar — and try to keep it on the same day and time each week. Turn off all electronics and spend time enjoying your child — reading a book, playing a game, taking a walk, or just snuggling with them.

• Every single day, find ways to celebrate with your child — even if it’s simply celebrating that you made it through the day!

Hang photos on your walls to celebrate special moments. They may seem small to others, but you know they’re huge for you and your child. And they’ll help remind you that you’re doing an awesome job raising this very special child of yours!

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VERY SPECIAL PEOPLE

How to Approach Puberty Education for Adolescents with Intellectual Disabilities

BY MARSHAL D. HANEISEN

P

uberty. Just the word can make parents cringe. With puberty comes body odor, body hair, menstrual periods, fluctuating emotions, and crushes. It can be a challenging and confusing time for adolescents.

Adolescents with intellectual disabilities go through puberty, too, and educating them about their bodies is critical.

Dr. Susan Gray, attending physician in adolescent medicine at Boston Children’s Hospital and assistant professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School, is committed to sexual and reproductive healthcare and education. She believes it is important to teach all adolescents about puberty, body awareness, and sexual health.

“It’s especially important for par-

ents and healthcare providers to be involved in teaching adolescents with intellectual disabilities about these topics because they are less likely to receive this information in school,” Gray said. “And they need to receive this information from people they trust, who can give them medically accurate information in a way they can understand. Teaching adolescents with intellectual disabilities about what kind of touching is appropriate or not is important for self-esteem and for preventing sexual abuse.”

Parents may feel overwhelmed at the thought of how to educate a child with intellectual disabilities on such topics. Fortunately, there are skilled medical professionals and an abundance of resources available to help.

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“We are lucky in Massachusetts to have many adolescent medicine specialists throughout the state,” Gray noted.

Adolescent medicine specialists receive two to three additional years of fellowship training after completion of a residency in pediatrics, internal medicine, or family medicine. They may see patients for routine primary care, but they also consult on topics such as normal growth and development, puberty, sexuality, abnormal menstrual periods, bone health, or mental health and substance abuse. If parents would like to arrange for a child to visit an adolescent medicine specialist, a good place to start is by speaking with a primary care physician about a referral.

Ideally, puberty and sexual educa-

tion begins long before puberty, Gray said. It can take place in informal conversations over many years. It may start with parents teaching toddlers the anatomically correct terms for body parts and build from there.

“Sometimes parents feel a lot of pressure to have one big conversation about ‘the birds and the bees,’ but talking about privacy and changes in bodies as natural opportunities arise is a good strategy,” she noted.

“These conversations can happen in the men’s room, in the changing room at the YMCA, when kids are in the bathroom. Children are naturally curious, and it’s important for them to know they can come to their parents with questions at any time.”

Parents can’t assume this material is being taught in their child’s school, or that the curriculum is being modi-

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fied to accommodate the educational needs and styles of every child.

“My opinion is that schools are trying, but sexuality education is often something that falls through the cracks for students with disabilities.

It’s important for parents and healthcare providers to fill in the gaps,” Gray said.

Kathy Campbell of Fitchburg is the mother of two adolescent girls, one of whom has Down syndrome. She has learned that parents need to ask questions early about puberty education in school, which can mean confronting their own fears, anxieties, and misconceptions on the topic while deciding what information they want their child to learn and when.

She emphasized the need to ask why children with intellectual disabilities are the ones slipping through the cracks, and confront any reluctance to them being perceived as healthy, informed, sexual beings. Campbell said she appreciates this challenge, especially when these conversations with school representatives need to be started by fourth grade. She believes health and puberty education should have its own IEP category and goals, and notes that sometimes reaching out to the teacher responsible for offering the puberty portion of the health curriculum and providing recommendations for modified materials is effective.

Communication between parents

and school staff can be very important as children experience puberty.

Families may choose to request the support of a medical specialist in

“My opinion is that schools are trying, but sexuality education is often something that falls through the cracks for students with disabilities.

It’s important for parents and healthcare providers to fill in the gaps.”

— Dr. Stephanie Gray, attending physician in adolescent medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital

these discussions, Gray added.

“In general, I have found schools very accommodating to students’ individual needs when a parent gave me permission to speak to a teacher or school nurse. Sometimes having a healthcare provider attend or call into an IEP meeting to support

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the idea that pubertal education is important and that sexuality is a normal part of adolescence can go a long way,” Gray said.

Where to find resources Parents can find resources on puberty and adolescence in bookstores, hospital and government websites, and through advocacy organizations.

Gray recommends the Robbie Harris books It’s Not the Stork, It’s So Amazing, and It’s Perfectly Normal for boys and girls, as well as the American Girl Care and Keeping of You books for girls.

Maryland-based Woodbine Press specializes in publishing books on a variety of disability-related topics.

The company carries four books on puberty/dating/sexuality written specifically for individuals with intellectual disabilities: Boyfriends & Girlfriends; Teaching Children with Down Syndrome about Their Bodies Boundaries, and Sexuality; The Boy’s Guide to Growing Up; and The Girls Guide to Growing Up. Campbell said she found the aforementioned American Girl books, as well as the Woodbine Press books, Teaching Children with Down Syndrome about Their Bodies, Boundaries, and Sexuality and The Girls Guide to Growing Up, very help-

ful and advises parents to look at the back of these books for additional resource recommendations.

The Boston Children’s Hospital Division of Adolescent Medicine websites — youngwomenshealth.org and youngmenshealthsite.org — feature handouts on frequently-asked questions, including everything from how to insert a tampon to how to know if you are in a healthy relationship. The websites also feature an “Ask us” function, so parents and adolescents can write in with specific questions.

Gray added that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts created an excellent resource guide on healthy relationships, sexuality, and disability with condition-specific suggestions at mass.gov/eohhs/docs/dph/ com-health/prevention/hrhs-sexuality-and-disability-resource-guide.pdf.

The ATN/AIR-P Puberty and Adolescent Resource: A Guide for Parents of Adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder can be found on the Autism Speaks website, autismspeaks.org. This comprehensive toolkit is available for download and covers body changes, self-care and hygiene, public vs. private rules, staying safe, strangers, secrets and touch, elopement, safety planning for increased aggression, and Internet safety. It includes visual cue cards parents can laminate to create a visual process chart for bathing and dressing, as well as additional cue cards for addressing appropriate

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public and private behavior. Parent testimonials, role-playing exercises, guidance on how to establish appropriate self-care goals, and ways supplemental occupational therapy services may help during puberty are also included.

Campbell recommends a website by the Center for Parent Information and Resources that lists a variety of reference materials on the topic, including a section on Sexuality and Disability at parentcenterhub.org/ repository/sexed/.

Advocacy organizations

The Chestnut Hill School

• The Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress (mdsc.org) shares resources on various topics at conferences, said Executive Director Maureen Gallagher. In addition, the organization’s AIM: Teen and Young Adult Program provides opportunities for participants ages 13-22 to connect and learn about a variety of health-related topics. According to the MDSC website, “AIM participants develop leadership and self-advocacy skills, form meaningful relationships with peers, and build their self-confidence in an encouraging environment.” To learn more about the AIM: Teen and Young Adult Program, contact the MDSC at 781-221-0024.

• Seven Hills Family Services in Fitchburg partners with the Montachusett Opportunity Council to offer workshops on the topic. Visit the Contact tab at sevenhills.org to request more information.

• Local offices of The Arc of Massachusetts may coordinate workshops and seminars on the subject of puberty and adolescence.

Locate your local chapter by visiting thearcofmass.org.

• The Family Ties of Massachusetts Directory of Resources for Families of Children and Youth with Special Needs, 19th Edition – March 2016 is an invaluable tool for parents of children with intellectual disabilities.

Family Ties is a statewide information and referral network and a joint project of the Federation for Children with Special Needs and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Bureau of Family Health & Nutrition, Division of Children & Youth with Special Health Needs. The directory is available for download at massfamilyties.org and contains contact information for organizations, agencies, and service providers across the state. It is organized by subject matter, as well as geographic region, and is an excellent way for parents to track down very specific resources.

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Keep Kids Safe Online

By Learning Together, Talking

BY KACY ZURKUS

From connecting with strangers to adopting inappropriate behaviors from peers, young kids are engaging in dangerous online behavior that can jeopardize their safety and wellbeing.

Earlier this year, (ISC)2, in conjunction with the Center for Cyber Safety and Education and Booz Allen Hamilton, released the Children’s Internet Usage Study (safeandsecureonline.org/childrens-internet-study/).

Surveying students in grades 4-8 and their parents, the report focuses on the time youth are spending online and the suspicious behavior in which they are taking part vs. the frequency and content of which their parents are aware.

Despite receiving instructions on how to use the Internet safely, the report found that “40% of kids surveyed said they connected with or chatted online with a stranger.” Some children (21%) took even riskier chances and spoke to a stranger by phone. Though fewer tried to meet with a stranger they first encountered online (15%), children believe these strangers are friends who pose no threat. Eleven percent of those surveyed met a stranger either in their home, the stranger’s home, a park, mall, or a restaurant, often accompanied by a friend.

How parents can help The more active kids are online, the more likely the potential of incidents, and the online reality is that even in the nicest of places, there are still dangerous things happening.

“It’s not responsible for a parent to say, ‘My kid is the greatest kid and would never do anything wrong,’” said Robert Reichmann, CEO of VISR, which aims to help parents keep their children safe online with its social media monitoring platform. “Instead, be there for them, talk with them about their online usage. The world is not the safest place for children right now, and we need to be a lot more vocal about what we want in a safer world.”

Technologies that will help parents support their children when they need it — rather than virtually spying on them — are ways to open the lines of communication.

And there are a variety of ways to protect kids online. Bill Carey, vice 46 OCTOBER2016

president of marketing at RoboForm, a password-management platform, said engaging in conversations about what personal information should and shouldn’t be shared online is a good place to start.

“Kids are naïve and don’t understand there could be danger lurking out there,” he noted.

Parents should be setting ground

ogy — especially young people — are not concerned about risk. Rather than teaching kids about the threats and potential consequences, perhaps teaching them to be skeptical would provide an added measure of safety and lead to good online habits.

“This cyber world is 24/7. The expectation that a parent can control everything their child does online is

rules upfront, and the rules should be age-specific, especially when it comes to the sites and apps to which children are permitted access.

“Teach them to look for the HTTPS — for a secure site,” Carey added.

“Those sites need to go through a process of getting approved.”

While it might seem insignificant, teaching children to use a secure and unique password for each site also provides a layer of protection.

“Teach them how to research a site,” he said. “Google it first and see if there are any negative reviews about it. Teach them not to be impulsive. They are just clicking and moving around. Teach them to slow down.”

Since the birth of Snapchat and Instagram, which gained popularity with the younger demographic before adults even knew it existed, kids have been taking greater risks and pushing their learned line of right and wrong a little further away with each click.

Joel Scambray, managing principal at Cigital, a technology company that works with application developers to build more secure software, said that most people who use technol-

unreasonable,” Scambray said. “Have a good, trusting relationship with children, and then enforce that with technology, where appropriate using restrictions, control panel privacy, Touch ID passcode, Find My iPhone, and other features [are] set up to help parents.”

Software can be dangerous, and many children have racked up thousands of dollars in cell phone bills or corrupted their home computers by downloading software.

“When bad software gets in, it’s taking control of a portion of your machine. As fun as the app economy is, you have to be skeptical,” Scambray added. As a household, learn together about how to evaluate the reputation of different links, and look at site ratings and application reviews from other users before visiting a site, engaging with others in the virtual world, and downloading applications that might be harmful.

YOLO FOMO In today’s virtual world, in which the You Only Live Once (YOLO) attitude encourages kids to take

advantage of every opportunity to enjoy life, many young people are suffering from what is popularly referred to as FOMO, a Fear Of Missing Out. “Internet access is changing childhood in ways that I had never seen before,” said Dr. Tracy Bennett, a psychologist with more than 20 years of clinical practice and the creator of Get Kids Internet Safe (getkidsinternetsafe.com).

“Nine- and 10-year-olds are talking as if they are really worldly and sophisticated. The topics they are engaged in with the peers is alarming.”

When children are young, prior to being introduced to connected devices, parents help build a child’s emotional development skills. Virtual online environments, such as video games, social media, and websites, are not places that teach interpersonal skills. When children play together and a conflict arises, parents are able to step in to help with problem solving.

“We ask them things like, ‘How do you think that person felt when this happened?’ ‘How do you think that made your sister feel?’ They are building that teaching dialogue,” Bennett said.

Online, however, “they are not working things through, and no one is asking questions or guiding them on how to have that conversation. I really think parents are failing kids on this,” she added.

The (ISC)2 survey results concluded: “Parents are not always vigilant in their follow-through.

They seem unaware of how late children are online (often at midnight or later on a school night and after 1 a.m. on weekends).”

Unfortunately, many, if not most, parents do not frequently monitor their children’s activity on social media sites. “They are aware that their children sometimes use the Internet in ways they don’t approve, but don’t always hold their children (especially younger ones) accountable for that behavior,” the survey concluded.

Providing parents with the tools they need to connect with their children to better monitor and communicate with them is a good first step.

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FINALLY FOREVER

Mass Bank Reducing Barriers to Adoption With New Loan Program

BY GREG SUKIENNIK There are grown-ups in Massachusetts who, for a variety of reasons, want to adopt children, give them loving, happy homes, and build a family.

There are kids in Massachusetts who, for a variety of reasons, some of them unimaginable, need a safe, loving place to call home — and a grown-up they can call mom or dad.

Putting those two groups of people together and creating families seems like it ought to be a simple process.

If only it was that easy.

If you or a family member or friend have adopted a child, then you know it’s rewarding — and that completing the process can be an emotional struggle. You might also know that the cost can easily climb into the thousands. And the cost varies greatly depending on factors such as 48 OCTOBER2016

location and whether the adoption is from a public agency, a private agency, or overseas.

Think about it this way: Do you remember what you spent on your wedding, the cost of a new car, or the down payment on your house?

The cost of adoption can easily equal or exceed all of those.

But two officers at Massachusettsbased Citizens Bank know first-hand how adoption changes lives. And when they were advised of an opportunity to address that financial barrier in conjunction with the National Adoption Foundation (NAF), they built a loan program they say is designed to humanize what can be a difficult, emotional process.

“We feel very strongly that financing or the ability to afford adoption should not get in the way of bringing

families together,” said M.K. Fiorille, vice president of unsecured lending at Citizens Bank.

For Fiorille, making adoption financially accessible is a personal passion as well as a professional challenge. She and her younger sister Judy were adopted by a family in Rochester, N.Y., and she knows personally what an impact her parents’ decision had on her life — and theirs.

“We had such an amazing upbringing, and my parents were just so incredibly thrilled to have a family,” Fiorille said of her parents, Bob and Kay Headley. “Throughout our entire upbringing, they would talk so positively about the adoption process and having adoption be an option to them when they found out they couldn’t have biological children. It’s always something I’ve been personally proud of.”

She’s not alone in that commitment at Citizens. Brad Conner, the bank’s vice chairman of consumer banking, is the father of two adopted children and a board member of the Dave Thomas Foundation, which was established by the late Wendy’s founder — himself an adopted child.

So when Fiorille advised Conner that there was an opportunity for Citizens Bank to provide a financial product that made adoption easier, she quickly gained his support for the initiative.

“As an adoptive parent myself, this partnership means a lot to me personally,” Conner said. “I’m happy that Citizens can play a role in future adoptions.”

According to the NAF (fundyouradoption.org), the average cost of a domestic private agency adoption is about $30,000; board member Tom Alfredo said it can range from $20,000 in rural areas to $50,000 in cities. “People freak out,” he said.

“That’s a lot of money.”

A 2014 study by the Rudd Adoption Research Program at the University of Massachusetts reported the average cost in the Bay State is about $40,000. International adoptions can cost even more, depending on the country and the cost of travel.

A second Rudd study showed that many children adopted from foster care in Massachusetts — in some cases, children who have endured emotional trauma — have educational, developmental, and emotional needs that aren’t being detected or diagnosed until after their adoption, adding to the emotional and financial cost.

Through its partnership with NAF, Citizens Bank established a flexible, low-APR personal loan program for adoptive parents, and took care to make the program responsive to their specific needs, Fiorille explained.

She saw the stress that some of her friends and colleagues experienced as they entered the adoption

process. And along with the money that’s required for private, for-profit agency fees, home studies, lawyers, court costs, and, if needed, travel, there is also a significant time commitment.

To afford all that, Fiorille said, her friends made trade-offs to secure the needed funds.

“In some cases, the tradeoffs weren’t good ones,” she said. “But the families felt so passionately about making the adoption process work they were willing to make the sacrifice. In my mind, the question became why does someone have to sacrifice in order to afford to become a part of a larger family? We built out the program to meet the ability for families to afford adoption without making huge lifestyle changes.”

Alfredo said the NAF was unhappy with its previous lender’s approach in dealing with clients: “There was no hand-holding in the process.

There was no heart in it.” When NAF reached out to Citizens, officials realized that Conner and Fiorille had personal interest in adoptions.

“They received us with open arms,” Alfredo said.

The loan program is built on the same platform as Citizens Bank’s personal loans, Fiorille said. But the adoption loan call center is specifically trained to answer questions that families looking to finance an adoption might have — and to treat prospective adoptive parents with understanding of their circumstances.

“There’s a lot of emotion that comes along with whether or not a family would be approved for financing,” she explained. “So the contact center needs to be able to recognize that these applicants are not applying to buy a refrigerator or purchase a car — they’re making a life decision to adopt a child.”

Furthermore, for every adoption loan it writes, Citizens is donating at least $100 to NAF — money that will be used to help families meet the cost of adoptions. Alfredo said NAF is pleased with the ease of the online application, the personal care extended to its clients, and the speed with which Citizens is responding to applications.

That said, it’s still a loan, and in some cases, extending credit just isn’t possible. But “if there’s a yes to be had, we’re going to find it,” Fiorille said. Most of the adoption loans Citizens Bank has written so far range between $18,000 and $20,000, she added.

The Rudd Adoption Research Program study at UMass surveyed 121 parents who had adopted 163 children through public and private agencies at home and abroad between 2010 and 2014. The results?

The average adoption cost in Massachusetts ranged from $867 for domestic child welfare adoptions to $40,851 for domestic private

agency adoptions and $42,344 for international adoptions. Those figures closely mirrored results of a larger study conducted by Adoptive Families Magazine in the same timeframe, according to the Rudd program.

Massachusetts has a long history with legal adoption. On May 24, 1851, the Massachusetts Adoption of Children Act, the nation’s first adoption law, was enacted. That law made county probate courts the legal authority for adoptions and tasked judges with determining whether adoptive parents had the ability and the means to take on the responsibility.

If you’re thinking of adopting …

There are many helpful resources available to prospective adoptive parents in Massachusetts. Here are just a few:

• The Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF) offers a PDF adoption guide (mass.gov/ eohhs/docs/dcf/adoption-guide. pdf), which discusses the process and the requirements set by the Commonwealth to assure positive outcomes. The state Executive Office of Health and Human Services also offers a page of online resources and answers to frequently asked questions (mass.gov/eohhs/gov/departments/dcf/adoption/).

• Massachusetts Adoption Resource Exchange (mareinc.org) is a private not-for-profit partially funded by DCF. It acts as a bridge between DCF, adoptive parents, and foster children in need of homes. It is not an adoption agency, but acts as an information and referral service.

• And more information about the Citizens Bank loan program can be found at fundyouradoption.org/ adoption-loans/.

CIRLE OF FRIENDS Sunday, Oct. 2: The Adoption Option, Jordan’s Furniture: 50 Walkers Brook Dr., Reading. 9 a.m.-11 a.m. An event for anyone interested in the adoption of children or sibling groups from foster care. Learn about the adoption process, talk with families who have adopted. Meet waiting children and their social workers. 617-54-ADOPT. Pre-registration recommended but not required.

Tuesday, Oct. 4: 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.

Wednesday, Oct. 12: Central Region Adoption Info Meetings — ADLU Worcester. 13 Sudbury St., Worcester. 6 p.m.-7 p.m. (508) 929-2413.

Wednesday, Oct. 12: Northern Region Adoption Info Meeting — ADLU, Lawrence. Jordan’s Furniture: 50 Walkers Brook Dr., Reading. IMAX Conference Room. Contact: stephanie.frankel@state.ma.us Monday, Oct. 17: 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, Oct. 19: Boston Region Adoption Info Meeting, DCF Boston, 451 Blue Hill Avenue, Dorchester. 4 p.m.-5:30 p.m. 617-989-9209.

Thursday, Oct. 20: 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.

Adoptive Families Together (AFT) are parent-run, confidential groups for sharing personal concerns and needs around adoptive parenting. AFT provides education, advocacy, support, and more. They welcome adopted individuals, birth parents, foster parents, Kin parents, pre-adoptive parents, and all those with a

connection to adoption. No registration required, dropins welcome. Visit mspcc.org/aft for more information.

October AFT meetings:

Meet Hanna October’s Child Sixteen-year-old Hanna is a caring Caucasian young lady who describes herself as artistic, outgoing, loving, helpful, and courageous. Some of Hanna’s favorite activities include pencil drawing and painting on canvas.

She is a very good advocate for herself and has big dreams for her future! It is Hanna’s goal to attend the Rhode Island School of Design and become an artist.

She is hopeful she can win a full

scholarship to attend this school of her dreams. Hanna is in a residential placement where there are several other children around her age. She makes the best out of her situation and tries to be friendly with those around her.

Hanna benefits from emotional and behavioral support to help maintain healthy decision-making skills. Family relationships are important to Hanna as she recently reconnected with her mom and is visiting. She loves to stay connected with her sister, as well. Legally freed for adoption, Hanna would do well in a two-parent family with no other children.

She should maintain contact with her biological mother and sister.

If you would like more information about Hanna, please call The Department of Children and Families (DCF) Adoption Supervisor Rukaiyah Saforo at (508) 929-2095. DCF hosts monthly informational meetings about the adoption process. The next meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 12th 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.

Thursday, Oct. 4 2: First Church, 40 Monument Ave., Swampscott. 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 4: Maynard Public Library, 77 Nason St., Cullen Conference Room, Maynard.

7:30 p.m.-9 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 5: John W. McCormack Post Office and Courthouse, 5 Post Office Square, First floor library (use entrance facing Congress Street), Boston.

12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Friday, Oct. 14: Jamaica Plain MSPCC office, 3815 Washington St. Jamaica Plain. 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Free childcare provided.

Monday, Oct. 17: 180 Old Colony Ave., Quincy.

7 p.m.-9 p.m.

Wednesday, Oct. 19: Roslindale Congregational Church, 25 Cummins Hwy, Roslindale. 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m. Free childcare provided.

Thursday, Oct. 20: Nu Café Conference Room, 335 Chandler St. (Same building as MSPCC), Worcester.

7 p.m.-9 p.m.

Sunday, Oct. 23: Online meeting. 9 p.m.-10 p.m.

Register at https://annettecreynolds.clickmeeting. com/aftonline/register.

Sunday, Oct. 30: First Congregational Church, 18 Andover Rd., Room 4 (use door in rear), Billerica.

7 p.m. – 9 p.m. Free childcare provided.

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

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What To Do About Question

BY KACY ZURKUS

G

iven the attention over this year’s Presidential election, it’s difficult to avert the focus to local politics. One ballot question, however, has the power to impact the future of education for all students in Massachusetts.

Question 2 is a proposed bill that would lift the cap on charter school spending, allowing the potential addition of 12 more charter schools per year. Supporters and opponents of the bill both make compelling arguments as to why voters should cast a “Yes” or “No” vote.

According to GreatSchoolsMA.org, a coalition of parents, educators, and community leaders working

YES

2?

NO

to expand access to public charter schools in Massachusetts, a Yes vote would allow the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) to authorize up to 12 new public charter schools or existing school expansions per year.

The petition for the bill was filed in August 2015, and was one of only four to become a statewide ballot question. If passed, the law would take effect on Jan. 1, 2017.

While its aim is to raise the cap on public charter school spending, the proposal also includes a provision that the total charter school enrollment allowed in a single fiscal year will not exceed 1% of the total

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If DESE were to receive more than 12 applications, the law would require that the board “give priority to proposed charter schools or enrollment expansions in districts where student performance on statewide assessments is in the bottom 25% of all districts in the previous two years and where demonstrated parent demand for additional public school options is greatest.”

A “No” vote would keep the current funding for charter schools.

Because charters receive only a portion of the per-pupil expenditure costs from the state, they also rely upon private funding in order to cover their start-up and operation costs. Voting “No” would keep their current funding, which could handicap their ability to increase enrollment at existing charters or open additional charter schools.

Gov. Charlie Baker, who rallied with the Yes On 2 Campaign (yeson2ma.com), has publicly demonstrated support of the bill. With equal enthusiasm, the Massachusetts Teachers Association (MTA) has advocated voters support their position and vote “No.” Supporters argue that an increase in the number of charter schools would provide more opportunities for students to receive higher

quality education than that which is available at their neighborhood school, while opponents say that would take funding away from already underfunded schools.

While charter schools are partially publicly funded, they are privately operated. Unlike public schools that are governed by elected school committee members, charters are not accountable to any elected officials. Massachusetts law requires that all charter schools have open enrollment, but children are admitted by lottery if the demand is too high. Students are not charged tuition, hence the public funding.

In August, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh voiced his opposition to the bill on the grounds it doesn’t provide for a funding source, suggesting that the funding for the expanded enrollment and new charter schools would come from the public school budget, taking that money away from public schools.

Advocates of traditional public education believe that shifting funding from traditional schools to charter schools is tantamount to robbing Peter to pay Paul. Public schools would receive a 100% reimbursement for per pupil expenditure the first year a student attends a charter school and then 25% of the district’s per pupil expenditure for the remaining five years.

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“Public schools, which serve 96% of students in Massachusetts, are already underfunded. This would take even more money away,” said MTA President Barbara Madeloni.

She suggests voters ask: ‘How much money is my local public school system losing to charter schools?’ One way to do that is to go to our webpage (massteacher. org). There’s a map, you can click on your district, and you can see what we are projected to lose.”

Rather than taking money from traditional schools, Madeloni said educators would like to see Massachusetts voters trying to solve the greater problem of how to fully fund public schools so children can enroll in pre-K programs, and every school in every district is staffed with a librarian.

“Let’s commit to our public schools,” she said, “so that they can have rich and broad curriculum, offer art programs, and smaller class sizes.”

Mother of three children attending traditional public schools in Wilmington, Rosalina Piazza said, “I like the competition [of charter schools], but more funding from the government shouldn't be necessary, and in my opinion should not happen at all. They are charter because of support from government, parents, donors, community. It's a school that isn't public or private,

an option in between, but public schools need the money.”

Sudbury resident Siobhan Hullinger agreed: “Funding for charters should be separate and distinct from public school funding. We should only expand charters when we have leveled the playing field for lower income communities who cannot afford to properly fund their school district due to state and federal unfunded mandates and low tax revenue.”

One argument in favor of lifting the cap is to provide alternatives to those children in lower income communities.

“For me, a ‘Yes’ vote means that more kids across Massachusetts will have access to a great public education,” said parent Sheyla Negron, whose children attend Brooke Charter School in Boston.

Negron said she didn't have the opportunity to attend great schools growing up and argued that she had to work doubly hard to catch up later. “I want my kids, and the kids in my community, to be able to go to a great public school right in their neighborhood,” she said. “I support Question 2 because it will give parents in my community more great public school options, and it will lead to more funding for public education overall. That's why lifting the cap on public charter schools is so important.”

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Why Families Should Say “Goodnight” to Evening Gadget Use

BY JOAN GOODCHILD

B

edtime in a household with kids offers a unique set of challenges.

For homes with small children, it might be tough getting that fussy baby or toddler off to bed. And for those with older kids, the difficulty may be getting them to unplug and shut down their devices.

With smartphones, tablets, and gaming systems seemingly just about everywhere now, it is not uncommon for kids to spend their time absorbed in a screen during downtime in the evening hours. While earlier generations may have watched television, our current generation of kids is turning to the Internet, mobile devices, and sites like YouTube for a daily dose of entertainment.

Putting aside concerns about keeping tabs on what they are watching and seeing online (an entirely separate issue), there is also a physical consideration to keep in mind. And that is the blue light emitting from these devices, which can possibly interfere with a child’s ability to sleep well and soundly through the night. Sleep experts say that’s because while LED backlight technology helps screens offer more brightness and clarity, it also emits very strong artificial bluelight waves, which can throw off the body’s internal sleep clock.

“Artificial blue light can negatively impact the circadian rhythm,” said Teresa Stewart, a sleep consultant and child development specialist based in Norwood. “It can suppress the production of the hormone melatonin, which we need to release in order to fall asleep; and it can start to shift the circadian rhythm later; both of these mean it's harder for people to fall asleep and stay asleep.

Studies indicate that exposure to artificial blue light for longer than two hours can impact vision [and cause] eyestrain, blurriness, and headaches.”

“There is supported scientific evidence that the blue light band of visible light generates increased brain activity that can degrade sleep quality and REM cycles,” said Clayton Ostler of Net Nanny, a maker of parental-controls software for computers and mobile devices. “Blue light causes maximum death in retinal cells when compared to other visible light bands, and it can cause long-term vision problems as it increases the likelihood of age-related macular degeneration.”

Mindful of this, technology manufacturers are now responding with what they hope will be a solution to the sleep-blue light connection.

Apple, for example, now has a feature available in iPhones and iPads called Night Shift, which it touts as a way of modifying the computer’s display so less blue light is present in the evening. The feature, if enabled, will automatically take effect

when the sun goes down, making the phone look “warmer” as the screen displays more of the yellow-orange end of the spectrum.

(It can be turned on via General > Display & Brightness > Night Shift.) Stewart said advances like these are a start, but not a substitute for simply unplugging.

“It still doesn't mean that people should be on their devices close to bedtime,” she noted. “Any light exposure tells the body to be awake. So although I think this is a good offering for those who can't put their devices down due to work or other commitments, I would still like to get the bigger-picture message out there: Light reinforces wake-ups and can negatively impact a person's ability to fall asleep or stay asleep.”

Of course, putting limits into place in the home, and stopping device use, is often easier said than done, Stewart added.

“As a mom and a self-employed sleep consultant, I admit I struggle with this, too,” she said. “Technology is so great for many reasons and can be helpful, but it needs to have boundaries. I would encourage families to turn off the cell phones and other handheld devices starting at dinnertime.

Preferably, we could keep them off until the next morning, but realistically that might not work for many families. So can they be off until your children are asleep? If that's not feasible, then what about for one hour every night, there are no devices used.”

Melissa Carriveau, a Shrewsbury mother of three, has her children turn off devices at a certain time before heading off to bed each night.

“All devices in our bedroom 30 minutes before lights out,” Carriveau said. “Typically this means they read until falling asleep, which I like. As a principal in one school once told [me]: ‘There's nothing good that can come out of a 12-year-old looking at his device in the middle of the night.’ I liked that advice.”

“We can’t reasonably say to never use a mobile device or avoid electronic screens, but we can set limitations,” Ostler noted.

“Parents can set family rules regarding daily screen time allowances and set rules around times when devices should be shut off or unavailable.”

Ostler offered the following tips for minimizing device use and the struggle to unplug in the evening: • Have a time when all devices should be shut off.

• Never let your kids take a device to bed or put one in an area they could see while in bed.

• Create maximum screen time rules for your household.

• Don’t let kids go to sleep while watching a TV, tablet, or any kind of screen.

• Consider a central location where devices are stored at night to help kids avoid temptation.

“Light reinforces wake-ups and can negatively impact a person’s ability to fall asleep or stay asleep.”

–Teresa Stewart, sleep consultant and child development specialist 52 OCTOBER2016

BAYSTATEPARENT 53

How To Help Kids Manage Asthma, Food Allergies, and School

BY MICHELE BENNETT DECOTEAU

Fall is filled with the smell of apples, the sound of crunchy leaves, and the sight of big yellow school buses taking kids to school. While most kids are worried about getting just the right binder or finding the perfect pair of jeans, many also worry about food allergies and asthma.

This is a time of concern for many parents whose children have asthma and allergies.

“You are moving to having your child manage symptoms on someone else’s turf,” says Dr. Mike Pistiner, an allergist with Allergy & Asthma Network and a pediatric allergist with Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates. He is also the father of a child with food allergies.

Fall allergens irritate asthma, and stress can exacerbate the symptoms.

“Kids don’t get a lot of colds in the summer,” says Dr. Scott Schroeder, chief of the Division of Pediatric Pulmonology & Allergy at Floating Hospital for Children at Tufts Medical Center. “It is usually the third week of September, when kids are in a new environment, swapping spit, and being exposed to new compounds and rhinoviruses, that we start seeing more cases of asthma.”

Parents play a critical role in building a collaboration between schools, kids, and their allergist.

“Parents really need to plug in with the school nurse. You need to really understand the Anaphylaxes Emergency Care Plan and Asthma Action Plan. You give this to the nurse and your child so they can both understand it step by step,” Pistiner says.

Schroeder reminds parents and kids: “Restart or be religious in using asthma medications as prescribed.

Often in the summertime, kids are more relaxed about taking medication because they aren’t having symptoms.”

An Asthma Action Plan is simply a preprinted form parents give to schools or the school nurse that lists what the child’s daily medications 54 OCTOBER2016

are and what to do if a child is having symptoms.

“The Action Plan helps everyone stay on the same page,” Schroeder says. “It gives the school nurse a place to record symptoms and responses. Young kids may not always be aware of their symptoms, so this helps parents have confidence that the school nurse is taking care of their child.”

Even very young children need to be able to recognize their asthma or allergy symptoms and practice what might happen as they feel different things.

“Role playing is a great way for kids to practice what to do when they have symptoms without it being a real emergency,” Pistiner says.

“Parents should also practice with autoinjector testers.”

Parents can empower children with food allergies by helping them practice skills such as label reading, as they need to be savvy about reading labels, finding hidden ingredients, and avoiding cross contamination.

Once kids are able to read on their own, have them read labels as they walk through a grocery store with you. Read labels with young children, and as they grow, quiz them.

“My son is a teen now, and I will hand him something in the grocery store and ask, ‘Can you eat this?’ so he can learn safely with me as a backup,” Pistiner says. “But you need to start young. Even the youngest of kids needs to learn to wash their hands before eating when they have food allergies to avoid cross contact.”

In addition, parents need to help establish routines for ensuring children — especially those very young — are using their medications as prescribed. “Get into a routine. If you use your inhaler twice a day, use it right before brushing your teeth,” Schroeder adds. “This way, kids are ready for school.”

Kids also need to advocate for themselves and know whom in the school they can ask for help; this might be

the nurse or the head of meal services. Work with the school to find a good fit for your child. In addition, pre-readers need to know to find an adult who can read labels for them.

To help start right in a new school or with a new school nurse, parents can help empower their children with allergies and asthma, as well as help the school nurse.

“Remind your child that they have asthma, but it doesn’t control their life.

Empower them.”

– Dr. Scott Schroeder, Floating Hospital for Children at Tufts Medical Center

“Make sure all your medical forms are up to date with a legible and understandable plan,” Pistiner says.

“It needs to be practical and appropriately follow-able by the nurse and other unlicensed assistive staff, like teachers or substitute school nurses.

You should also be sure to send in all the medications your child needs, especially if it is an injector. Ideally send in two.”

“Always inform the school nurse if there are issues,” Schroeder notes.

“Things don’t usually happen immediately. A drier cough, a case of the sniffles — it can easily turn into a bigger issue at school, so just let them know.”

“Do not be afraid to advocate and/ or educate staff on allergies and safe procedures, ” says Melissa Beyer of Millbury, a mom to two kids with food allergies and asthma.

“Just because someone is a nurse or because a school has had other children with allergies, don’t assume that appropriate methods are in place. Previous parents may not have known to push for certain measures, such as peanut-free tables at lunch or wiping down desks before use if snacks are eaten in the classroom.”

If you are starting with a new school, plan ahead and “make sure you ask what plan they have in place for safety for your child with allergies and what paperwork they need to store to administer any allergy meds if necessary,” says Kristin Graffeo of Acton, mom to a son with nut allergies. “Doctors usually need a couple weeks to fill out Allergy Action Plan paperwork.”

“Definitely plan a meeting and don’t be afraid to ask questions as to how things are handled,” Beyer adds.

“Do art projects utilize empty food containers? Are there peanut-free tables? What about food in the classrooms or school-sponsored events such as ice cream socials? What happens if another child brings an allergenic food into a ‘safe zone?’ Make a list of questions and situations beforehand so you can go into the meeting prepared. Finally, make sure that any provisions, plans, or accommodations are documented and that you receive a copy.”

It is hard to remember everything, especially if you have multiple children with different allergies. “But remember, you as the parent need to be sure you fully understand everything your child’s allergist tells you,” Pistiner reminds. “You should ask questions and be an advocate for

younger kids. Remember, ultimately you are the one training everyone else on your child’s plan.”

“Meeting and speaking directly to the nurse and classroom teacher about what the child needs will help to give you peace of mind as you send the child to school,” Graffeo says.

“As a child gets older, it gets a bit easier,” Beyer adds. “They can advocate for themselves and be aware of the presence of allergens, and then

take whatever steps are necessary to avoid them. In our case, my kids are also able to carry their own EpiPens once they reach junior/senior high school.”

“Remind your child that they have asthma, but it doesn’t control their life,” Schroeder says. “Empower them.”

Families not affected by food allergies also play a part in a safe school.

“Unlike all other chronic medical conditions, food allergies require policies that impact other kids,” Pistiner says.

Many schools have instituted a “no home-baked goods” or no “outside food” policies for parties and celebrations. These schools often suggest stickers, pencils, or guest readers as alternative treats. Some schools are choosing to have all learning spaces be completely nut-free. These policies make it easier for students with food allergies and reduce the chances of mistakes. It is also easier to train staff who might not always be on site, such as substitute teachers, coaches, and outside specialists.

“Polices need to be in place to keep kids safe and able to learn. Even though this impacts kids without food allergies, everybody wants kids to be safe and wants them to be great,” Pistiner says.

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Study: Mother-Daughter Talks Help Ease Difficult Experiences

BY JENNIFER SHEEHY EVERETT

Communication today is largely reduced to texts or Facebook messages, Snapchat, or whatever hot new technology promises the quickest — and often shallowest — interaction.

Communication between parents and children is sadly not immune to this phenomenon.

Even when seemingly spending time together, parents and children are too often hunched over their smartphones. They are coexisting, but not truly connecting.

Meanwhile, research continues to reinforce the value of relationships built on deep, honest, and direct conversation. A recent study shared interesting observations about the value of parent-child conversations in helping children understand and process difficult life events that inevitably impact them.

Led by Dr. Haley Kranstuber Horstman, assistant professor of interpersonal and family communication at the University of Missouri, the study focused specifically on communication within the mother-daughter relationship.

Horstman was intent on investigating this one characteristically close and dynamic relationship within a family.

Women are also generally socialized as girls to relate to each other through talk, unlike men and boys who tend to relate through activity.

The implications of Horstman’s research may, however, apply to other relationships.

“My goal [with this research] was to try to understand how daughters 56 OCTOBER2016

make sense of difficulty in the context of talking to their mothers,” Horstman said. “I was interested to see how communication changed the way that daughters made sense of their experiences — or how interpersonal communication affected intrapersonal meaning making.”

The laboratory-based study involved 62 mother-daughter pairs recruited from within and around the University of Nebraska, where Horstman was then engaged in doctoral work. The three-part study kicked off with a laboratory visit by the daughters, during which they had to write about a difficult experience in their lives, answer questions about their mental health and well-being, and rate their experience on a few different scales.

Two days later, mothers joined their daughters at the same laboratory to participate in a 15-minute, taperecorded conversation with their daughters about those difficult experiences. Across all motherdaughter pairs, experiences ranged from the everyday (struggling with a class in school) to the more intense (the death of a loved one, infidelity, etc.). Mothers’ previous knowledge of the events varied, but most had some awareness of the events their daughters chose to highlight. On the third and final visit to the laboratory two days later, daughters were again asked to write about their difficult experiences and complete the same survey offered during their initial appointment.

The study generally found that daughters’ stories about negative experiences do change based on the quality of their mother-daughter conversations about the events. The conversations and interactions had the power to help daughters “reauthor” — and increase the positivity of — their individual stories of adversity over time.

A few specific behaviors predicted the most significant positive change in the tone of a daughter’s narrative over time, and are valuable for Moms to model when helping daughters work through hardship.

1) Taking turns. The Horstmanled study showed that when mothers and daughters took many (equal) turns talking about a challenging event, the positivity of a daughter’s personal story about the event increased. Having a mother’s voice as part of a daughters’ sense-making process provided far greater benefit than a daughter simply spewing forth a monologue about an event.

While the latter approach may be tempting for young adults who are often seeking a sounding board or someone to “just hear them out” when something goes wrong, the most significant positive impact comes from a 50/50, give-and-take conversation that jointly makes sense of difficulty. Even if a daughter appears resistant to engaging in this way about a difficult experience, there is great value in Moms continuing to lobby — perhaps gently — for this ever-important mother-daughter interaction.

Horstman suggests that Moms start early in establishing relationships with daughters where there is quite a bit of talk. Doing so lays an important foundation for the future — one in which daughters are accustomed to talking with Mom about challenges they face and seeking her perspective and guidance. If there isn’t a lot of communication at the beginning of a motherdaughter relationship, a mother cannot expect a daughter to suddenly begin sharing in young adulthood. The status quo will likely continue.

2) Considering Mom’s perspective.

The extent to which a daughter listens and actively considers her mother’s perspective when discussing a difficult event also predicted how much more positive a daughter’s story of adversity would become over time. And a daughter doesn’t necessarily have to agree

with Mom’s perspective to derive some benefit from this behavior. Stepping outside of oneself and simply welcoming someone else’s point of view helps daughters externalize their problems and gain more objective opinions about them.

Horstman sees perspectivetaking as a teachable quality, and research is currently underway to determine the most effective way to teach people how to take the perspective of a loved one.

Making a comment, such as, “I never thought of it like that,” and asking questions about the thoughts and opinions that are being shared signal that someone is practicing perspective-taking behaviors.

Horstman reminds that daughters learn a lot of their behaviors from their mothers, and these become a foundation for their communication tendencies in adulthood.

3) Fleshing out the story of adversity. An increase in positivity about a difficult event

also occurs when mothers and daughters are able to tell a more coherent story together about a negative event. A mother who is engaged in the storytelling and helps her daughter tease out and talk through elements of her story will help build a more complete account of what occurred. The story of adversity ultimately makes better sense and can help improve the daughter’s mental health related to it.

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“Communication really is a foundation for relationships throughout our lives — it creates and sustains our relationships,” Horstman remarked. “One of the most important takeaways that the study is showing is how important it is to build good communication with your daughters, weaving conversations into everyday life, asking them questions, getting interested in what they’re interested in, and knowing that even these everyday conversations that we take for granted or that seem mundane do have the power to change the way we understand our life experiences.”

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At-Risk Students Find Motivation in Massachusetts

BY MARYJO KURTZ

opportunity to get experience while helping others.”

Finding a giant solution Photo by MaryJo Kurtz

For a group of at-risk middle school students in rural Missouri, some of whom were disrespectful and unmotivated, a new appreciation for school came from an unexpected place: a handful of successful high school students and a cell phone in Central Massachusetts. Over the past school year, the two seemingly mismatched groups met over the Internet once a week for 15 minutes. The result was a win for everyone.

“I wanted to help my community,” said 16-year-old Ben Riela (pictured, left), a sophomore at Westborough High School. “We have good opportunities at my school. We can pursue our academic interests. But for other students and schools, kids aren’t as motivated. We can change that by using the resources we have to help others succeed.”

Together with friend James Coffey (pictured, right), a 17-year-old junior, Ben organized a local chapter of On Giants Shoulders. The not-for-profit organization provides support for high school students interested in working with at-risk middle school-

ers. The older teens are matched with the younger teens to mentor and motivate them.

“I was looking for a leadership opportunity,” Coffey said. “I was very involved in school, but I had no leadership. This seemed like a great

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On Giants Shoulders was introduced in 2010 by Chelsea Dale, then a high school junior from the Bronx.

“My older cousin, who was a recent college graduate in her first teaching position, told me she was having a horrible time with her students. They disrespected her, wouldn’t learn, and refused to even listen to her,” Dale writes on the group’s website, ongiantsshoulders.org. “It dawned on me that children in elementary and middle school wouldn’t do that to a high school student. They know that it wasn’t very long ago that we were their age, so we know all the tricks.

We’re not authority figures.”

According to the National Center for Education Statistics, roughly 7% of American students drop out of school before high school graduation. Dale reasoned that a group like On Giants Shoulders could reach students who were considering dropping out and motivate them to stay in school. She saw teen role models as the key to making that happen. The group was created as a resource tool for elementary and middle school teachers, as well as a community service outlet for high school students.

Both Riela and Coffey spread the word about their organization and quickly amassed a group of peers interested in helping out. Working with an advisor, English teacher Diane Perryman, the group was matched with students in the rural town of Roscoe, Miss., about 100 miles south of Kansas City.

Mentoring in 15 minutes The school-year mentoring program involved six Roscoe Middle School students and six Westborough High School teens. Using an interest survey, the older students were matched one-on-one with younger students based on mutual interests like sports or music.

“We knew that these students didn’t want to be in school,” Coffey said. “Some had a lack of focus. Some weren’t sure about education after high school.”

The conversations took place in the afternoon, with the Westborough students gathered around a cell phone, while the Roscoe students joined via a classroom computer during math class.

“It was a little awkward at first, but Mrs. Perryman gave us tips on how to relate to them. Once we started to share, they opened up to us. We talked about things that they are interested in,” Riela said. “We found that they wanted to join the conversation. They wanted to talk to us.

They looked at us as older friends.”

“We didn’t specifically talk about school, but we are encouraged to talk about it. We worked it into the conversations,” Coffey noted. “The kids started out saying they didn’t like school and that they would rather talk about their interests. They would drive the conversation.”

The pair shared that the Missouri students were especially interested in the differences between their towns and schools. They marveled at the size of the Massachusetts high school, and they talked about how much they enjoyed taking a break from math class.

“After a big snow here in Massachusetts, they wanted to talk about that,” Riela said. “So, we turned the phone around and showed them the snow. They kept saying, ‘That’s

so cool.’”

With time, the younger teens became comfortable talking about schoolwork and even shared what they were doing for their science fair projects.

“We could see that the students were more engaged by the end of the school year. Their guidance counselor could see that, too,” Coffey said.

“Some of the kids had issues with each other. We could see that early in the year,” Riela recalled. “By the end of the year, they became more friendly with each other. It was cool to see that.”

To end a successful school year of mentoring, the Westborough team brought in fellow student Kofi Dadzie, a slam poetry master who competes nationally. “That was great,” Riela said. “We could hear the entire math class clapping. We could see the guidance counselor and the entire 8th grade class. They were all nodding and smiling. They said, ‘We love working with you.’”

The Roscoe Middle School guidance counselor told the boys the Roscoe kids looked forward to the chat sessions each week and wanted to do it again.

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The program accomplished what it set out to do. The older teens gained leadership and community service experience. They learned to develop relationships with partnering schools, and they created a resumeworthy activity for college applications and future employment.

The younger students found support for their schoolwork from a group of role models. They learned communication skills and respect for each other, and they had a chance to learn about school in a different American town.

What makes this program unique is that it costs nothing to implement and takes only 15 minutes a week to achieve.

As Massachusetts ambassadors for On Giants Shoulders Riela and Coffey are now working to expand the program to other schools in the Commonwealth.

“It’s easy to get a program started,” Coffey said. “Information is on the website, and Chelsea is great about guiding you to build the program.”

Teachers, too, are encouraged to contact program coordinators for information on involving at-risk students. Participating schools can be from the same school district or different school systems across the United States and Canada.

“The organization is a guide,” Riela said. “You can run your program any way you want. You have the freedom to make it grow.”

BAYSTATEPARENT 61

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The American literature classic, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” was actually written while author Washington Irving was living in Birmingham, England.

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The tradition of Homecoming began in 1911 when the University of Missouri athletics director invited all alumni to the school’s football game against their biggest rivals, the Kansas Jayhawks. The game ended with a 3-3 tie, and the 10,000 alumni in attendance celebrated with a parade, bonfire, and a spirit rally.

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Following the success of 1966’s special A Charlie Brown Christmas, CBS demanded another seasonal special they could run annually or else it would not purchase another Peanuts special.

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TAKE EIGHT

with Laurie Berkner Christened “The Queen of Children’s Music” by People Magazine, superstar Laurie Berkner is back this fall with Superhero, featuring 21 new original songs. What’s new in Laurie Land? A lot — so much, in fact, we couldn’t fit it all on this page! Check out her latest exciting developments below (and enjoy an unabridged version of this interview at baystateparent.com/laurieberkner).

1

It’s been eight years since your last CD of original music.

Was that long span planned?

It wasn’t planned at all. I didn’t actually stop releasing albums during that time.

What I didn’t do was put out an album that was made up entirely of brand-new songs.

I released a Christmas album, an album of lullabies, an album of classic kids’ songs, etc., and on each one I had some new originals, but they were not the main event. It was really fun and really scary to sit down and write 21 new songs to put all together on this new album.

What is the meaning behind the title? Is there a central theme or message you’re trying to impart to kids with this release?

The title is the name of the first song on the album. I chose to use it because once I surveyed all the songs I had written, I heard a theme that had emerged of encouraging kids (and anyone else who would be listening) to be their best selves. The title Superhero seemed to encompass that message and was a powerful image that I hoped kids would relate to.

3

2

How did you land Ziggy Marley to sing on “My My Marisol”?

I was lucky enough to have him ask me to sing on his first kids’ album, Family Time, a few years back. So when it came time to think about whom I would like to have as a guest on the album, I immediately thought of him. I was thrilled when he said yes! I’m a big fan of his, and I love the way the track turned out.

Your 12-year-old daughter Lucy lends her voice on “Elephant In There.” Does she enjoy singing?

Lucy sang on that track because the whole song was really her idea. While I was working, I told her I needed more silly songs on the album and asked for her help. The story of “Elephant In There” was what she came up with. Then when I went to record it, I felt it was only fitting that she should sing on it. She does like singing a lot, but I think she likes playing the drums even better.

5

Superhero is your 11th album; did you ever envision releasing 11 albums? How has your songwriting changed over the years?

I definitely did not envision putting out so many albums, but I feel really great about having done it! I think my songwriting has changed mostly in that I often think harder about what I’m writing than I used to. When I started out, there were many days when I wrote songs in my head on my way to work, and sang them once I got there. Now I spend more time crafting them and working on the lyrics. Mostly that’s a good change, but it does make it harder sometimes to come up with completely silly lyrics that used to emerge from being really spontaneous in my writing.

Your first release turns 20 next year. How has the kids’ music industry changed since “We Are The Dinosaurs” broke out?

The entire landscape of how people consume music and how the music business functions has completely changed. Some of those changes are wonderful because it’s so much easier to share my music than it ever has been before, but it’s also much harder to make a living as a musician. I’m trying hard to creatively navigate my way through what is happening now, and keep what I do viable while still enjoying myself.

7

You will add “author” to your list of titles next year with your picture book debut via Simon and Schuster. How did that come to be, and what is it like breaking into another beloved medium for reaching children?

I am so excited about the books I have coming out! The first is We Are the Dinosaurs, and it’s coming out in March 2017, which will coincide with the 20th anniversary of that song. It’s amazing to realize that that song has become something of a classic in the interim, and that there are families that can’t wait for one of their favorite songs of mine to become a book. Now that We Are the Dinosaurs is getting ready to go to print, we’ve started working on the next one, which is going to be based on the song “Pillowland.” I love seeing what the illustrators focus in on about each song, and how the images I write about come to life. I can’t wait for my fans to see them!

6

Are your audiences similar today as they were when you began? When you look out at a crowd, what do you see today?

They are not very different, but one change is that there are now older kids who come to shows because they grew up on my music. I love that those kids still feel enough of a connection to me and my songs to actually come to a show, and sometimes even stay to meet me afterwards. It’s one of the most validating feelings to be able to see the long-lasting effects of what I share with these kids and their families.

66 OCTOBER2016

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