Announcing Bendee
The Pea
Order Now for the Holidays @ Barnes & Noble, Amazon or at bendeethepea.com • Welcome to Peapodville where Bendee The Pea lives • It’s a magical place that is full of friends of Bendee’s, Stories of adventures and life lessons along the way • Author, Dena Kinney’s aspiration was to write a book of Bendee’s life full of love, kindness, happiness, and lessons along the way.
More Series to Come:
Peas Doing Good Deeds • Be Kind Peas • Peas 4 Peace • Bendee and his podcast
WM-AT211025_164227
2 | DECEMBER 2021 | BayStateParent
contents Table of
December 2021 volume 26 number 8
in every issue 5 5 6 7 8 26 27
Editor’s note
Cocoa and peppermint a perfect pair
Finally Forever Good to Know Herding Goofballs Health & Wellness DIY: Cinnamon applesauce ornaments Take Five: Scott & Denise Weikel
on the agenda 14
The List: 20 magical holiday happenings
18
December Adventures: 11 things to do
bites 20
Goose’s Goodies: Peppermint-dipped Dutch Cocoa Cookies
21
Nutrition: Every Kitchen Task Your Child Can Help With
12
features
11
Have Yourself a Mediocre Holiday
Experience Gifts for Every Kind of Kid
25
How COVID-19 Compares to Other Viruses in Kids
on the cover GETTY IMAGES
BayStateParent | DECEMBER 2021 | 3
BaystateParent Executive editor Dave Nordman
CREATIVE Editor in chief Amanda Collins Bernier
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editor’s note
December’s Child: Meet McKenzi
FINALLY
forever
Hi, my name is McKenzi and I love to swim! McKenzi, 15, is a creative, kind teen of Caucasian descent. She loves to cook, swim, paint, and watch television. McKenzi describes herself as funny child who is also and a good friend. She is very loyal to those she cares about, and she remains dedicated to her interests and passions. Those who are close to McKenzi note that she is hard-working, caring, and a good role model to others. She is very resilient and does not give up easily. Her teachers report she does well in school and works at grade level. Her favorite subjects are art and math. Legally free for adoption, McKenzi’s ideal family would consist of one or two moms, with no other children in the home. Because McKenzi’s social worker believes she could thrive in any type of family, she will
consider all families who express interest. McKenzi’s one wish is that her future family be caring and understanding. They should also be willing to abide by the Open Adoption Agreement with her birth parents, and maintain contact with her siblings who are placed separately. Can you provide the guidance, love and stability that a child needs?If you’re at least 18 years old, have a stable source of income, and room in your heart, you may be a perfect match to adopt a waiting child. Adoptive parents can be single, married, or partnered; experienced or not; renters or homeowners; LGBTQ singles and couples. The process to adopt a child from foster care requires training, interviews, and home visits to deter-
Serendipitously, I began working for Baystate Parent right at the same time I became I parent, myself. My oldest was just a few months old when I moved from managing newspapers to a publication dedicated to parenthood, kids and family. This month marks my fourth holiday season as a mom and editor of BSP. In both those roles, I’ve focused on making it the Best. Christmas. Ever. How could each year be the merriest, jolliest, most jam-packed holiday ever – for my son, and for our readers? But this time around, as I began making my holiday shopping list and putting together this issue, I felt diff erently. How could there be less, I wondered? Less toys, less stress, less stuff , less mess. Could a less-than-best holiday still be great? According to Dana Laquidara, a local mom and author, the answer is yes. In fact, Laquidara says a “mediocre” holiday is something to strive for. She knows we parents put a lot of pressure on ourselves this time of year, and in her book “The Uncluttered Mother,” she devotes a section to reminding us that ordinary is AOK. So put down your to-do list, and take a breather, and read her advice on page 11. Of course, there are always
those who will want to go full throttle this season, and that’s just fi ne, too. Take Scott and Denise Weikel, for instance, the couple behind perhaps the largest residential Christmas display in the state. They began decking their halls, front and back yards just after Halloween with hundreds of holiday infl atables and tens thousands of lights. Their Leicester Christmas Display draws thousands of visitors every year. See how it all got started, and what keeps them going, on page 25. No matter what approach you’re taking this season, there is certainly plenty to enjoy. Check out The List on page 14 for some of the best local holiday happenings. Have a holly, jolly, or just ordinary holiday. See you in 2022! — Amanda
MEDICAL ADVICE WHEN YOU ARE ON THE GO. mine if adoption is right for you, and if so, to help connect you with a child or sibling group that your family will be a good match for. To learn more about adoption from foster care, call the Massachusetts Adoption Resource Exchange (MARE) at (617) 964-6273 or visitwww.mareinc.org.
DOWNLOAD OUR FREE SYMPTOM CHECKER APP TODAY! Our Health eCheck app helps you make decisions on what type of medical care is needed when your child falls off their bike or has a persistant cough. Search from a list of symptoms or by body area.
BayStateParent | DECEMBER 2021 | 5
GOOD TO
know
v fluff·er·nut·ter I noun The iconic New England lunchbox staple is now official. “Fluffernutter” is one of 455 new words added to the MerriamWebster dictionary in 2021. The dictionary defines fluffernutter as “a sandwich made with peanut butter and marshmallow crème between two slices of white sandwich bread.” Other new words added to the dictionary this year include air fryer, deplatform, vaccine passport, doorbell camera and dad bod.
x Holiday Toy Drives Check out these organizations hosting toy drives this season to bring a little cheer to local children: Christmas in the City: Non-denominational holiday events for children and families experiencing homelessness and poverty in and around Boston, and gift distribution to thousands of families in need. christmasinthecity.org Wonderfund: Aims to provide the 53,000 children involved with the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families (DCF) with gifts to open during the holidays. wonderfundma.org Toys for Tots: Distributes new, unwrapped toys to less fortunate children across the state. toysfortots.org
v This year’s Hess Toy Truck isn’t a truck at all. The legendary holiday tradition is switching gears, if you will, with its 2021 Cargo Plane and Jet set. The design features foldable landing gear, 32 lights and a hidden slide-out ramp that stows a fold-up jet. The white and green lightup plane is the largest Hess vehicle ever produced, with a nearly 14-inchlong fuselage and 15-inch wingspan.
y Lego plans to remove gender stereotypes from toys, following a global survey that looked into how creative play is gendered. The research found that girls feel less restrained by and are less supportive of typical gender biases than boys when it comes to creative play, and they are more open towards different types of creative play compared to what their parents and society typically encourage. In summing up the study, Lego said that “girls are ready for the world but society isn’t quite ready to support their growth through play.” The company plans to work with the Geena Davis Institute and UNICEF to ensure that Lego products and marketing are free of gendered stereotypes. It also published a 10-step guide for inspiring inclusive creative play and is releasing short films to highlight inspiring and entrepreneurial girls as part of a new “Ready for Girls” campaign.
HESS
It’s only the third time an aircraft is the featured annual product in the toy line’s nearly six decade tradition. Hess toy trucks date back to 1964, and each year, a new collectible ranks among the best-selling toys of the year. The set, intended for ages 3 and up, goes for $39.99 with batteries included.
PHOTOS FROM GETTY IMAGES
6 | DECEMBER 2021 | BayStateParent
x Facebook plans to introduce new controls that enable parents or guardians to supervise what their teens are doing online. The social media giant will also be introducing several features including prompting teens to take a break using its photo sharing app Instagram, and “nudging” teens if they are repeatedly looking at the same content that’s not conducive to their wellbeing, according to their vice president for global affairs. The announcement came after a whistleblower appeared before Congress in the fall to accuse the social media platform of failing to make changes to Instagram after internal research showed apparent harm to some teens.
HERDING
goofballs
A tradition unlike any other
T
Josh Farnsworth Special to Baystate Parent Magazine | USA TODAY NETWORK
he green and red fl ow just kept coming. h A sugar cookie that once looked dense and bountiful was now looking wafer-thin as it drowned from the
fl ood of Christmas-colored frosting and chocolate candies. h As my oldest son looked up from his piping bag, he lifted the now-30-pound cookie and took a bite - crumbs and pieces of candy cascading everywhere. From this moment, I knew two things were true for the foreseeable future: 1. He was going to be hyper and crash incredibly hard that evening. 2. The tradition will continue! This sugar-inducing memory comes thanks to my favorite singular day of the year: my
family’s holiday cookie bake. It’s a day that has cemented itself with legendary status amongst family and friends who have been fortunate enough to partake in this celebration. It was a celebration started
many generations ago on my mother’s side of the family, because...well, why not? While the energy level shifts with the personnel in attendance, it’s a day to say ‘yes’. It’s a yes to much food and drink. Yes, to holiday games
that my dad has personally researched and developed for months leading up to the event. Yes, to Christmas carols, which sometimes extend over the phone to others who cannot be in attendance. Yes, to the kids partying all afternoon. And of course, ‘yes’ to decorating hundreds upon hundreds of holiday-shaped sugar cookies with enough sweet, sugary accessories to make Willy Wonka’s factory look like bake sale amateur hour. When we had to collectively say ‘no’ last year due to COVID-19, it was a diffi cult day to stomach (even if my stomach may have celebrated just a little for not having to digest all the cookies for the next week or so). That makes this year’s arrival of my favorite day feel twice as exciting. As much fun as the day is, however, I do have one confession: I go there scared every year. Not because I am afraid when we sing “12 Days of Christmas”, I’ll be stuck with the 10 Lords-a-leaping part. I mean, come on, they are lords. They must have others who can leap for them, right? No, I fear my children not having the greatest of times. There is something baked into my DNA (much like a delicious cookie) that presents a crippling, childlike need to have the things I love for my kids to love and cherish equally. The fi rst cookie bake that my oldest son could understand what the day was about, I probably checked in every 10 minutes to make sure the message was clear. Me: Isn’t this great???!! Isn’t it?? Isn’t it?? Cooper: (continues to calmly lick frosting off fi ngers). Sure dad. Sure. And that is part of my personal insanity. Here is a boy surrounded by candy, playing with his best friends at one of his favorite places in the world - my parents’ house. Goofi ness on this day was not just
suggested but highly recommended. This is adolescent Eden. Yet, I found myself nervously attempting to reinforce his fun. This would happen days, weeks, months and even years later - reminding him about how much fun he had and would have next year. This was not just about this day either. Whether it was sports, vacationing in my favorite location, even turning the volume up whenever the Foo Fighters came on the radio so they could properly airdrum like I do to my favorite band. It was all part of this parental desperation to not only keep them present in my life, but front and center in theirs. This fear is not based on losing out on a part of Christmas. It’s about connection to yourself as a kid, a teen an adult and every past part of you that brought you joy. Those things we love - many of them at least - take root as we grow up. Is there a cure for this type of insecurity? Indeed, I believe I have answers... Decorate the cookie. Sing the carol. Have faith that they will see that joy and want to be a part of it. However you choose to celebrate this time of year, you may feel anxious, but you cannot live these amazing days with fear the tradition will die off . Live it. Frosting and all. And if it does end, understand what made it the tradition you love - those goofballs you shared a table full of cookies with each December. I wasn’t there when my relatives came up with the idea for the cookie bake, but I know why they did it. “Why not?” More like, “Why not have one more excuse to come together?” I hope you and yours are blessed to live out your own favorite holiday traditions where you get to say ‘yes’ to your childhood. Pass the piping bag - if my kids left any frosting in it.
Josh Farnsworth is a husband, father of goofballs Cooper and Milo, goofball himself, and award-winning writer and columnist living in Worcester. He can be reached for column ideas at josh.farnsworth@yahoo.com. BayStateParent | DECEMBER 2021 | 7
health & wellness Screen time among teens during COVID more than doubled outside of virtual school Adrianna Rodriguez USA TODAY
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Americans relied on technology to continue working, going to school, checking in with health care providers and connecting with family and friends. h But a recent study found recreational screen time for teens sky-
Watching a trend
rocketed, too. h According to the study, published in JAMA Pediatrics, screen time outside of virtual school among teenagers doubled from pre-pandemic estimates of 3.8 hours per day to 7.7 hours. “Kids were essentially putting in a full work day of recreational screen time,” said Dr. Michael Rich, director of the Digital Wellness Lab at Boston Children’s Hospital and associate professor of pediatrics at Harvard Medical School, who was unaffi liated with the study. “That’s a pretty crazy phenomenon when you consider they were also on screens for 5 to 7 hours a day for school.” Using data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development Study, a large, long-term study of brain development funded by the National Institutes of Health, researchers compared 5,412 participants’ screen time from 2016 to their screen time in May 2020. In 2016, participants were between the ages of 9 and 10, said lead study author Dr. Jason Nagata, pediatrician at the University of California, San Francisco. During the pandemic, most were 12 and 13.
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The most common recreational activities included watching or streaming videos, movies or television shows, multiple-player gaming or single-player gaming, the UCSF-led researchers found. “The estimates for social media were lower than watching TV and movies and that’s probably refl ective of this age range,” Nagata said. “As teens get older, the social media use (likely) increases.” Wellness experts say actual screen time may be higher than what the study results estimated, as participants were asked to self-report and may have underreported their media use. “If anything, this is an underestimate of the time they are ‘actively using’ screens,” Rich said. “When you add in multitasking and ambient exposure … these numbers are low.” The study also found children of color and those from lower-income families logged more hours on screens than their white, wealthier peers. “This may be due to lack of fi nancial resources to do other activities or lack of access to safe outdoor spaces,” Nagata said. Researchers also looked at the amount of screen time and participants’ mental health. They found higher screen times were associated with poorer mental health and greater perceived stress, while more social support and better coping behaviors were associated with a lower total screen use. “As screen time increased, so did adolescents’ worry and stress, while their coping abilities declined,” he said. “Though social media and video chat can foster social connection and support, we found that most of the adolescents’ screen use during the pandemic didn’t serve this purpose.” Previous studies have linked high screen times and poor mental health, Rich said, but his work at the Digital Wellness Lab suggests it's a “bi-directional relationship” where poor mental health leads to more screen use, which worsens mental health. “What we’re seeing here is
that the mental health issues preceded the screen use rather than the other way around,” Rich said. “Particularly when you consider the overall mental health implications of the pandemic and how anxiety and depression all spiked during the lockdown period.” Excessive screen time has not only been linked to poor mental health, but also poor physical health. A 2020 study, also led by Nagata and published in the International Journal of Eating Disorders, calculated a weighted average of screen use in a typical day and found each additional hour of total screen time per day was associated with 1.11 higher odds of a binge-eating disorder. Each additional hour of social networking, texting and watching or streaming television shows or movies was also signifi cantly associated with binge-eating disorder. “Teens that spend a lot of time sedentary in front of a screen are more likely to overeat,” Nagata said. Excessive screen use can also aff ect sleep, structured meal times, and physical activity, which are all crucial to a healthy lifestyle, said Dr. Paul Weigle, chair of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry media committee. Surveys from the Digital Wellness Lab have shown parents reported children using screen media even more frequently during the summer compared to the 2020 school year. That upward trend has continued into the 2021 school year, Rich said, despite children and teens making a full return to in-person learning. “We’re getting multiple data points and multiple studies showing a very consistent increase into using the digital environment more and more, not just for schooling and work, but for recreation, entertainment and social life,” he said. However, experts recommend parents monitor the quality of their child’s screen time – not the quantity. Screen time is not “inherently toxic,” Rich said. But it can become so if it starts to undercut academic perfor-
Wellness experts say actual screen time may be higher than what the study results estimated, as participants were asked to self-report and may have underreported their media use.
GETTY IMAGES
mance, sleep and relationships. “We need to be conscious of what it is displacing,” he said. “The one place where the issue of screen time comes in is what you’re not doing when
you’re on a screen.” Instead of the “old idea of a screen time limit,” Rich suggested increasing non-screen time throughout the day. This could happen at the dinner table, while doing homework,
and especially during sleeping hours. Weigle recommended adjusting children’s phone and tablet settings so they become inactive during certain times of the day and night. If children complain of being bored, Rich said, let them be bored. “We’re not giving boredom the space it needs and boredom is where creativity and imagination happens,” he said. “We need to bring back boredom.”
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feature
5 tips for an uncluttered holiday season
MEDIOCRE HOLIDAY Why it’s OK to aim for ordinary
I
Dana Laquidara Special to Baystate Parent Magazine | USA TODAY NETWORK
hope I reach you before The Madness sweeps you away. Chances are it doesn’t have you in its grip quite yet, though it could be close. I certainly bet you think you’re succumbing. And just what is The Madness? It is Everything You Must Do in Order to Have a Great Holiday. It is fulfi lling grand expectations, whether your own or those of someone else’s. Maybe your mother’s or mother-in-law’s, or your spouse’s or your kids’? Does the mere thought of everything you have to do to ensure that everyone in your family has a great holiday grab you at the sternum and trickle down to your gut? Does it excite you…or does it hit you with a twinge of dread? If your answer is dread, here is my suggestion: Change the goal from having a fabulous holiday to having a mediocre one. Mediocre holidays are much gentler on the psyche. You know the saying, ‘What goes up must come down?’ The holiday mood—anticipation, excitement, chaos— not only has to come from somewhere, it has to go somewhere when it’s over! The time, money, and energy it takes to create an amazing holiday is likely siphoned from your daily life. Before the festivities, you’re working on adrenaline, anticipation, and possibly
even guilt. Afterward, you crash. Now, what if you decide not to steal from whatever makes your daily life good? Your exercise routine, time with loved ones, alone time, a creative endeavor—whatever it is that keeps you sane and happy— what if you guarded it with your life? Because every ordinary day IS your life. During the holidays, I want to be with family, enjoy some good food, and open a few carefully chosen presents. But I also want to enjoy them before the holidays. And after. No rushing, no stress, no frenzy, no crash. There’s some-
thing to be said for being a holiday underachiever. I’m saying no to the high of an amazing holiday season, and yes to the peace of a mediocre one. I invite you to join me if you like. Maybe this year you skip the holiday cards, or cut down on the baking. Put up fewer decorations, have others bring a favorite dish to the meal, and don’t fuss over your children’s holiday clothing. Perhaps some people thrive on the frenzy of an amazing holiday, but for the rest of us, a mediocre holiday is a happy holiday.
Excerpted from “The Uncluttered Mother: Free Up Your Space Mind & Heart.” Author Dana Laquidara is an Upton-based mom of three (now grown) daughters who hopes to inspire readers to simplify life in order to unwrap the gifts of creativity and joyful parenthood.
h Maintain your family’s day to day routines as much as possible, especially with little ones. Keep bedtimes and mealtimes reasonably consistent. h Consider giving older children gifts of experiences in place of stuff. h Have an agreement with your spouse of partner ahead of time that you will limit your gift giving to each other. h Keep self-care in the forefront of your mind throughout the season. A joyful, healthy mom is the best gift you can give your family.
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Have yourself a
GETTY IMAGES ILLUSTRATIONS
h When your children are very young, choose your holiday traditions carefully. Whatever you do will set their expectations for years to come.
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BayStateParent | DECEMBER 2021 | 11
feature h Beginning jewelry making classes h Lessons in glasswork h Bath bomb, soap or lotion making lessons
A heart for the arts
Is your child a budding Van Gogh or drama queen? Here are some ideas for visual and performing arts experience gifts. Experience gifts: h A membership or ticket to tour an art museum h A day at a paint-yourown pottery place h Acting classes h Parent and Child Painting class h Dance Lessons
Think outside the box
Tangible gifts: h The book “13 Artists Children Should Know,” by Angela Wenzel h Ed Emberley’s Drawing book h An easel h A table and chair that it is okay to drip paint on h Spirograph h Paint pens, gel crayons or oil pastels h Makeup kits for actors h Tap, jazz or ballet shoes h A costume representing a favorite character h Microphone
Tangible gifts: h Knit or crochet kit for kids h The book “Woodland Crochet: 12 Precious Projects to Stitch and Snuggle,” by Kristen Rask h Young Woodworker’s Project Kit from Lakeshore Learning (includes everything needed to build a small corner shelf, tool box and treasure chest) h Beginner Sewing Machine like the Singer Start 1304 h Calligraphy Set h Origami or Craft Paper h Beads or jewelry making kit h Materials to make bath bombs, bath salts, soaps or lotions
Sports fans
Sports are not only a fun way for a child to get exercise, but they also provide an opportunity for parents to connect to kids.
Experience gifts for every kind of kid
GETTY IMAGES ILLUSTRATIONS
Janeen Lewis Special to Baystate Parent | USA TODAY NETWORK
Parents want Christmas to be magical. Sometimes this means driving all over town or frantically searching online for trendy toys or gadgets only to fi nd that children grow bored and banish them to the back of the closet or toy box after the holidays. h This holiday season, why not give your child the gift of time by picking out an activity you can do together? Try one of these experience-gift ideas and pair it with a related fun item to go under the tree.
12 | DECEMBER 2021 | BayStateParent
Crafty and creative
Does your child like to create projects over time? Maybe you’re a maker-minded parent that wants your child to learn practical life skills. Here are some ideas to get your hobbyist started: Experience gifts: h Knitting or crocheting classes h Home Depot free woodworking classes h Sewing classes at JoAnn Fabrics h Crafts class at Michael’s
Experience gifts: h Tickets to a professional sporting event h Tour a sporting stadium or Hall of Fame h Membership or admission to an ice or roller skating rink h Lessons with a private coach for a favorite sport h Batting facility membership Tangible gifts: h Sports Equipment h Professional or college team jerseys or hats h Ticket stub diary to hold memorable sporting event stubs h Fitness tracker watch h Gymnastics or yoga mat h Over the door basketball hoop
Future foodies
You could be raising the next Pioneer Woman or Bobby Flay. Support their love of creating dishes with these fun ideas. Experience gifts: h Cooking lessons h Dinner at a fi ne dining, gourmet or culturally diverse restaurants to explore diff erent foods Tangible gifts: h MasterChef Junior Cooking Essentials Set h Personalized chef apron, jacket or hat h MindWare Playful Chef Knife Kit (it really cuts but is safe for kids) h Make Your Own Chocolate Kit h “Kid Chef: The Foodie Kids Cookbook,” by Melina Hammer
Fashionistas Clothes and accessories are always a hit at Christmas, especially if you have teens in the house. These ideas show your fashion lover you care about their style. Experience gifts: h Go to a fashion show h Modeling classes h Mommy and Me mani pedis Tangible gifts: h My First Fashion Designer by Lakeshore Learning. This kit includes a miniature dress form, cloth swatches and buttons to create runway designs. h A mix and match fashion drawing set like Fashion Plates h A chic hat, scarf, gloves or ear muff s h Graphic tees h Bangles h Designer watch h FabKids subscription box
A flair for design
Wild about books
Book gifts don’t have to be boring! Spice up your present by making stories come alive and adding a cool reading gadget. Experience gifts: h Visit a storytelling venue h Attend an author visit or book signing of your child’s favorite author Tangible gifts: h Book ends h Booklight h E-reader, like a Kindle or Nook h Magnetic clip bookmarks h Reading tent h Comfy bean bag chair h Personalized book stamp h Magazine subscription
Help your child fi nd their inner interior designer with these gift ideas. Experience gift: h Consult with a local interior decorator and use your child’s ideas to design his or her bedroom or playroom makeover Tangible gifts: h Klutz Design Your Dream Room. This portfolio lets your child explore with patterns, color, space, and 300 punch-out pieces to design a room. h Paint for a bedroom or playroom picked out by your child h Sheets, bedspread, curtains or designer pillows h Lamps, desk set, or wall art
STEAM on Tea time
Boys and girls both enjoy quiet conversation over a warm cup of tea. Experience gifts: h Book a tea time at a tea room h Plant an indoor herb garden from which to make herbal tea (try chamomile, lavender and peppermint) Tangible gifts: h Tea pot and cup h Tea cozy h Costume necklaces, hats, gloves and purse to wear to tea time h Tea pot necklace h Scones and tea biscuits
If your child loves STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math), check out some local classes and camps. Experience gifts: h Engineering class h Membership at a nature center h Membership to a children’s museum h Computer camp or classes h Join a maker space Tangible gifts: h Science subscription boxes like Groovy Lab in a Box and Kiwi Crate h Microscope h Composter h Telescope h Snap Circuits h Lego Master Builders Academy
Nature lovers
Get outdoors and enjoy fi shing, hiking, camping, canoeing or more with your child. Experience gifts: h Membership in the Wild Explorers Club h Membership at a nature center h Whitewater rafting trip h Fishing trip h Beginner SCUBA diving lessons Tangible gifts: h Fishing rod and gear h SCUBA gear h Compass h Hiking gear h Tent h Binoculars h Canoe or kayak
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BayStateParent | DECEMBER 2021 | 13
THE
list From dazzling light displays to quaint Christmas festivals, we’ve rounded up 20 of the most enchanting holiday events Christmas by Candlelight - Sturbridge
Magical HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS LA SALETTE SHRINE
Worcester
Dec. 3-5, 10-12, 17-19, 23, and 27-30 Enjoy the sights of Christmas throughout Old Sturbridge Village while exploring the 200-acre campus decorated for the season. Wander down the peaceful Christmas Tree Trail and across the Christmas Wish Bridge. Take a ride on the horsedrawn carry-all. Enjoy a nightly tree lighting ceremony. View an intricate 500+ piece miniature nativity scene and a model train display. Warm up by the bonfire, visit with Santa Claus, watch demonstrations of classic Christmas projects, enjoy live music and storytelling, and so much more. Tickets are $28 for adults, $14 for youth, and free for children 3 and under. Tickets must be purchased in advance. osv.org.
Nantucket Christmas Stroll - Nantucket Dec. 3-5 Now in its 47th year, the annual Christmas Stroll embodies the magic of the holiday season with tributes to Christmas’s past. Stroll through downtown and take in hundreds of twinkling seven-foot Christmas lining the streets. On Saturday, carolers in costume sing familiar holiday tunes at various downtown locations and a variety of outdoor live entertainment is offered. The event features a visit by Santa Claus, Santa’s Village Marketplace, craft shows, tours, and local specials. christmasstroll.com.
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633 Salisbury St., Worcester, MA www.worcesterjcc.org 508.756.7109 Monica Maher, Membership Director x 236 mmaher@worcesterjcc.org
Santa’s Arrival by Lobster Boat - Rockport
reindeer, ethereal aerialists, gingerbread people, carolers and colossal ornaments fly, balance, juggle and stretch imaginations. Broadway singers perform original music along with new twists on seasonal favorites such as “Deck The Halls,” “Winter Wonderland” and “Jingle Bell Rock.” Cirque Dreams Holidaze is at the Shubert Theatre and tickets start at $49.50. bochcenter.org.
Saturday, Dec. 4 Take in the joy of the holiday season in this quaint, picturesque seaside village. In this cherished North Shore tradition, Santa arrives by lobster boat at Rockport’s T-Wharf following a brisk boat ride across Sandy Bay, then takes a fire truck to the town’s annual tree lighting at Dock Square. Children can visit and take pictures with Santa, and join in holiday caroling. rockportusa.com.
Chain of Lights Millbury & Sutton Dec. 4 & 5 Neighboring towns of Millbury and Sutton host a weekend of holiday festivities. In this annual small-town tradition, free trolleys bring visitors around town to different “stops” to enjoy themed holiday events like concerts and children’s activities, plus yummy food, shopping and lots of holiday cheer. The fun kicks off in Sutton on Saturday, winding down in the evening with the Christmas tree lighting and a visit from Santa on the quaint town common. On Sunday in Millbury, meet Santa at the historic Asa Waters Mansion, where you can enjoy carolers, dancers, refreshments, and a tree-lighting at dusk. facebook.com/millbury chainoflights, suttonchain oflights.weebly.com.
Holiday Pops Kids’ Matinees - Boston Dec. 5, 11, 12, 18, 19, 23, and 24 A kid-friendly Holiday Pops at Boston’s famed Symphony Hall. These special family concerts are shorter in length (75 minutes), with no intermission, a children’s singalong, plus an opportunity for post-concert treats and a visit with Santa. Kids are encouraged to add their voices to the chorus of holiday favorites like Jingle Bells and Frosty the Snowman. Boston Pops will also offer a sensory-friendly concert on Dec. 5, designed for families with children or adults diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder or sensory sensitivities. Modifications for the performance include relaxed house rules, reduced volume and lighting
Grinchmas Holiday Stroll Springfield GETTY IMAGES
levels, extra space for movement, available noise-reduction headphones, a designated quiet room and support spaces, and credentialed autism therapist volunteers on site. Tickets range from $25 to $175, children under 2 are free. bso.org.
Door to Door - Worcester Dec. 5-31 This holiday experience organized by Preservation Worcester celebrates each city neighborhood’s unique architecture, history, and culture. Participating locations decorate their front doors in a fashion, faith or custom of their choosing. Each decorated property appears in a digital booklet that includes personal participant statements that convey the inspirations, traditions, and context of their decorations. Use the booklet as a guide for a self-guided tour through the city. More details at preservationworcester.org.
Cirque Dream Holidaze Boston Dec. 10-12 This annual tradition combines a whimsical, Broadwaystyle musical with contemporary circus artistry. As lights dim and music plays, a fantastical cast of holiday storybook characters come to life presenting an elaborate wonderland, invoking the stories behind a child’s eye as they dream on the most magical of nights. Ballerinas, nutcrackers, snowmen, penguins,
Saturday, Dec. 11 Enjoy the stunning architecture and glittering lights of the Springfield Museums and grounds while hobnobbing with your favorite holiday characters. Benches in front of each character allow for safe, socially distanced photography. You’ll have the chance to meet the Grinch, Rudolph, Frosty the Snowman, and Santa. Color a luminaria to add to the lighting display and enjoy holiday music. This event is free and open to the public− museum admission not required. springfieldmuseums.org.
Festival of Trees & Snow Village - Wellesley Wednesdays through Sundays, through Dec. 19 Celebrate the beauty and tradition of decorated holiday trees at this annual event at the Gardens at Elm Bank. Massachusetts Horticultural Society’s thirteenth Festival of Trees showcases dozens of decorated faux trees and a model railroad display. Visitors will be warmed with a cup of hot chocolate as they arrive. Stroll through the outdoor garden lights, visit Weezie’s Garden for Children, and explore Snow Village, featuring model trains winding their way through villages and vignettes. Take in dozens of beautifully decorated holiday trees, and enter for a chance to win your favorite one. Visit the fire pit on your way out to toast s’mores. Weekday tickets are $15 for adults; members $10. Weekend tickets $23/$18. Kids $5 every day, and children under 2 are free. Timed tickets must be purchased in advance at masshort.org.
Holiday Lights Spectacular at RWPZoo Providence, RI Dec. 2-5; and Dec. 9-Jan. 2 (closed Christmas Eve and Day) Walk through dazzling light displays throughout Roger Williams Park Zoo, featuring festive larger-than-life luminous displays and over 1.5 million illuminated lights. The experience runs 5-9:30 p.m. Tickets are timed-entry and available for purchase online only. Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for kids with children 1 and under free. rpwzoo.org/holidaylights. BayStateParent | DECEMBER 2021 | 15
Winterlights Stockbridge, North Andover, and Canton
BRIGHT NIGHTS
Wednesdays through Sundays, through Jan. 9 This holiday season, three Trustees’ beautiful garden properties sparkle with thousands of shimmering, artfully designed holiday lights. The whole family will enjoy this magical, fun, and safe outdoor experience – with food, refreshments, and more. Winterlights, a walk-through experience, is at Naumkeag in Stockbridge, Stevens-Coolidge House & Gardens in North Andover, and the Elea-
nor Cabot Bradley Estate in Canton. Tickets are $20 for adults, $10 for kids Wednesday through Sunday (members $15/$5); and $25 for adults, $10 for kids on Friday and Saturday (members $20/ $5); children under 2 are free. Timed tickets must be purchased in advance at thetrustees.org.
Gardens Aglow Sandwich Thursdays through Sundays through Dec. 26 (closed Christmas Eve and Day) A treasured holiday tradition at Heritage Museum and Gar-
dens featuring beautiful light displays throughout the gardens, festive seasonal décor, and fun activities for all. Stroll the gardens, visit Santa in a 1913 Ford Model T, see an exhibit of Heritage’s antique and classic car collection, and ride the 1908 Looff Carousel. Children will enjoy the Imagination Playground, a reindeer scavenger hunt, roasting marshmallows, lawn games and an outdoor G-scale model train display. Ice carving demonstrations take place on Thursdays. General admission: Adults $20 youth $10, children under 2 free; members $18/$9. heritage museumsandgardens.org.
Magic of Lights at Gillette - Foxborough Daily through Dec. 24 This drive-through experience featuring dazzling themed light displays and digital animations returns to Foxborough for the second time after a record-breaking first stint in 2020. Pack the kids into the car to enjoy the nearly one million sparkling lights in this nostalgic holiday experience. Accompanied by a festive soundtrack, brandnew light displays include Prehistoric Christmas, BigFoot, Monster Trucks and a Snow Flurry Tunnel, as well as Magic of Lights favorites. The all-new Illuminating Mega Trees boasts 40 feet of dancing lights synchronized to popular holiday tunes. Gillette Stadium hosts Magic of Lights daily from 5 p.m. until 10 p.m. through Friday, Dec. 24. Tickets are $40 per vehicle, and must be purchased in advance at magicoflights .com/foxborough.
Bright Nights at Forest Park - Springfield Daily through Jan. 2 (closed Nov. 29 & 30) More than 6 million visitors have taken in the “Bright Nights” at Springfield’s Forest Park. Load up the car for this annual attraction, featured on People.com’s list of “Top Ten Holiday Happenings in America.” The nearly three-mile tour features more than 650,000 glittering lights. The display is always evolving, so you’ll see familiar favorites and new additions every year. Bright Nights runs daily from 16 | DECEMBER 2021 | BayStateParent
5-9 p.m., and until 11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Tickets are $23 per car, and must be purchased in advance at brightnights.org.
Holiday in the Park Lights - Agawam Daily through Jan. 2 (closed holidays) Take a stroll through Six Flags New England and immerse yourself in one of the countless electrifying light displays, synchronized to your favorite holiday tunes. Gather around a crackling holiday fi re pit to cook s’mores and indulge in a cup of hot chocolate. Enjoy a nightly tree lighting and meet your favorite holiday characters. Explore Santa’s workshop, Polar Playground, Jingle Bell Junction and Candy Cane Crossing. Family and children’s rides make it a thrilling, festive night. Tickets start at $14.95. sixfl ags.com. Night Lights - West Boylston Daily through Dec. 30 (closed Christmas Eve and Day) Celebrate the season with thousands of lights and enchanting landscapes at Tower
Hill Botanic Garden. Enjoy a walking experience outdoors through roughly 15 acres of formal gardens and surrounding woodlands, including illuminated plants, paths, sculptures, and fountains. The magical scene is enhanced with fi re pits for warming up, making s’mores, or enjoying a cup of hot cocoa or an adult beverage. Timed entry tickets must be reserved online in advance, adults $23, youth $13, children 5 and under free. towerhillbg.org.
ZooLights at Stone Zoo Stoneham Daily through Jan. 9 (closed holidays) Enter a winter wonderland of tree-lined paths lit by thousands of twinkling lights. Take a one-way stroll through festively decorated Yukon Creek, home to black bears, bald eagle, Canada lynx, reindeer and arctic foxes. Enjoy a moonlit spin on our carousel and Jungle Fun ride. New this year, several illuminated large-scale lantern displays will light up your winter’s night. On Tuesdays, meet Mrs. Claus as she spreads holiday cheer through the Zoo from 6-9 p.m. Tickets
are $13.95 per person, or a 4pack for $50; members $12.95/ $45; children under 2 are free. Buy tickets in advance at zoonewengland.org.
La Salette Shrine Festival of Lights - Attleboro Daily through Jan. 2 Marvel at thousands of twinkly lights at this storied light display, free and open to the public each night from 5-9 p.m. Other holiday attractions include the International Creche Museum, a snack bar with hot cocoa and cider, Clopper the Donkey and a carousel. Check the website for COVID guidelines. lasaletteattleboroshrine.org. Celebration of Lights Lancaster & Waltham Daily through Jan. 2 Two drive-through holiday light experiences return to the Bay State: the Lancaster Celebration of Lights at the Bolton Fairgrounds in Lancaster, and the Greater Boston Celebration of Lights at the former Fernald School in Waltham. At each, visitors will be treated to over a mile-long dazzling display featuring over one million glittering lights and animatronic
celebrate christmas past while creating new traditions
This December, details and tickets available at WWW.OSV.ORG/CBC
STONE ZOO
scenes. In Lancaster, a 90-foot Christmas tree and giant 85foot wreath will also light up the night. Tickets are $21.99 per car Monday through Thursday, $24.99 weekends and holidays, and must be purchased in advance online. fi estashows.com.
Winter Wonderland Festival of Illumination Mendon Daily through Jan. 2 Southwick’s Zoo transforms their Chinese lantern Festival of Illumination into a drive-through Winter Wonderland experience this season. The Chinese Lantern Fes-
tival is a centuries-old tradition, celebrated beginning in 206 B.C. featuring spectacular illuminated displays from history and mythology; the displays are incredibly detailed and intricately constructed, with some lanterns as large as 60 feet tall and 300 feet in length. Before or after driving through, park your car and hop on a train tram that will drop you off at Santa’s Village. Meet Santa Claus, enjoy live entertainment, grab some yummy treats, and more. Tickets are $60 per car and must be purchased in advance. southwickszoo.com.
Be sure to check out our Holiday Market & Cafe! Open November 3 through December 30, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, Wednesday through Sunday, and evenings during Christmas By Candlelight.
BayStateParent | DECEMBER 2021 | 17
ON THE
w Splash and Bubbles: Dive In, Lend a Fin! Tuesdays to Sundays, through Jan. 16 (closed holidays) Springfi eld This new exhibit at the Springfi eld Museums is based on the popular PBS KIDS TV show, Splash and Bubbles. Building on kids’ connections to the characters and their habitats, the exhibit immerses them in a larger-than-life marine environment and introduces them to the incredible world of ocean exploration. Featuring a variety of hands-on exhibit components, this invites children to discover a whole new world as they navigate an under-the-sea maze in a kelp forest, explore a sunken ship that has become an artifi cial reef, interact with puppet characters created by Jim Henson’s Creature Shop, become a Reeftown Ranger to learn to protect the ocean, and more. Included with museum admission: adults $25, youth $13, children under 3 free. springfi eldmuseums.org.
MAGIC HOUSE
DECEMBER ADVENTURES:
11
Ideas for family fun this month
v Preschool Story Hour: Animals in Winter Dec. 15 & 16 Worcester A thematic story hour at Broadmeadow Brook Wildlife Sanctuary featuring a story, an activity, and a naturalistled walk. Be prepared to be outdoors as much as possible for this program, which will use a pavilion and sheltered porch as the classroom. Adults free, children $5. Preregistration required. massaudubon.org.
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x Family Group Farm and Nature Exploration Programs Available weekends and limited weekdays through Dec. 18 Lincoln Take a personalized and private guided tour into the wonders of nature and farming with your family. A Mass Audubon Naturalist will lead your group on a two-hour exploration of Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary, guiding you through hands-on investigations of plants and animals and observing the interactions and energy fl ow in the ecosystem or a hands-on family farm chore experience. Choose your program: Morning or Afternoon Farm Chores; Habitat Hike; or Pond Exploration. Program must be booked in advance; $150 for a family up to 5 people; $130 for members. massaudubon.org.
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Solstice Celebration at Chestnut Hill Farm Saturday, Dec. 18 Southborough At this annual winter solstice celebration you’ll welcome winter by making upcycled tin can lanterns. At dusk, light the lanterns and embark on a guided walk along the trails that will include presented passages from the story, “The Shortest Day,” by Wendy Pfeff er. After the hike, guests will gather back in the orchard to warm up by a campfi re and enjoy hot drinks, cookies, and s’mores while welcoming the new season under the stars. Pre-registration required; tickets are $30 for adults, $15 for children; members $24/$12. thetrustees.org.
PATRIOT PLACE
Reindeer Quest Daily through January Southborough and Walpole Get the family outside to discover an elusive herd of wooden reindeer throughout the trails at Chestnut Hill Farm in Southborough and Francis William Bird Park in Walpole. This is a free, selfguided program. At the Bird Park, grab a bell from the offi ce to put around the reindeers’ necks. Directions can be found at the trailhead parking lot kiosks. thetrustees.org.
THE TRUSTEES
x Fruitlands Solstice Stroll Sunday, Dec. 19 Harvard Take a guided, candlelit stroll through the grounds of the Fruitlands Museum. Family strolls geared towards kids are offered at 4, 4:30 and 5 p.m., and include presented passages from the story “The Shortest Day.” Later sessions, geared towards older audiences, explore stories of solstice celebrations throughout the world and over the centuries. After your stroll, enjoy a cup of cocoa or cider around one of the fi repits. Preregistration for timed tickets is required. thetrustees.org. John McDonough’s Pumpernickel Puppets Musical Variety Show Dec. 26 Worcester Join Bugsy and his Pumpernickel Puppet Friends both old and new for an interactive, musical variety show at the Worcester Art Museum featuring hand, string and life size puppets. For nearly forty years, the Pumpernickel Puppets have captivated audiences of all ages with humorous and colorful adaptations of classic folk and fairy tales. Included with museum admission; adults $18, youth 17 and under free. worcesterart.org.
Dino Safari Daily through Jan. 16 (closed holidays), Boston Grab a Jurassic passport and feel the thrill of standing next to 30+ giant moving dinosaurs on this walkthrough expedition at historic Quincy Market. Along the journey, earthquakes might erupt, dinosaurs could battle, and your family might just have to help save a baby dinosaur’s life. You’ll learn how dinosaurs evolved over time, where on Earth they lived, and the discoveries paleontologists have made about how they ate, moved, and behaved. Tickets start at $20. dinosafariboston.com.
w Winter Skate at Patriot Place Daily (closed during Patriots home games), Foxborough Take to the ice in the shadow of Gillette Stadium. After a year hiatus due to COVID-19, Winter Skate at Patriot Place is open through February. The 60-by-140foot, professionally-maintained ice surface is specifi cally designed for recreational skating, non-contact hockey and fi gure skating and features an observation deck for non-skaters. The surface is large enough to accommodate beginners and experts alike. Onsite skate rentals, concessions and bathrooms are available and parking is free. Patriot Place encourages guests to bring a new or gently used coat or hat/glove set to donate to Cradles to Crayons. Public skating is Monday through Wednesday from 4-9 p.m.; Thursday from 4-6 p.m.; Friday from 4-10 p.m.; Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday and all school holidays from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Price is $10 for adults and $6 for children 12 and under. Skate rentals are $5. patriot-place.com.
All Aboard! Trains at Science Park Daily through December (closed holidays), Boston The Museum of Science Boston’s seasonal tradition continues with this fun-for-all-ages temporary exhibit featuring classic winter landscapes and a hint of nostalgia. Miniature trains, snow-covered peaks, and engaging activities. Experience a whimsical setting where powered model trains at different scales run through various colorful scenes, complete with intricately created décor, buildings, and even people. You can also check out smaller wooden train tables where you and your group can move trains by hand and around diff erent layouts and curves. Developed by expert train model makers who spent hours creating tiny trees and adjusting tracks to create an unforgettable Boston experience (including miniature versions of the Museum, Custom House, and the city’s iconic Zakim bridge, created by master model maker John Goodson of The Mandalorian fame), this exhibit is a great way to welcome the winter season. Included with museum admission. Adults $29, children $24, kids under 3 free. mos.org.
MUSEUM OF SCIENCE
w The Polar Express 4-D Experience Various times Boston Go on an extraordinary 4-D adventure on the Polar Express! The Polar Express 4-D Experience is based on the beloved Caldecott Medal children’s book by Chris Van Allsburg. Featured in digital 3-D and brought to life with multisensory eff ects, this is an immersive experience for the whole family to enjoy at the Museum of Science. 4-D tickets are $6 in addition to museum admission. mos.org.
Give the gift of Discovery with a membership or passes to Discovery Museum!
Buy online, by phone, or in person.
177 Main Street, Acton MA 978-264-4200 • discoveryacton.org BayStateParent | DECEMBER 2021 | 19
20 | DECEMBER 2021 | BayStateParent
GOOSE’S
goodies
PEPPERMINT-DIPPED
DUTCH COCOA COOKIES White chocolate and crushed peppermints make this the perfect holiday indulgence.
Ingredients 2 cups of all purpose flour ⁄ 4 cup Dutch-process cocoa
3
1 teaspoon baking soda ⁄ 2 teaspoon salt
1
1 cup of unsalted butter, softened 2 cups of sugar 2 eggs 2 teaspoons vanilla For dipping: 1 (12 oz) bag white chocolate chips ⁄ 2 cup fi nely crushed candy canes or peppermints
1
Directions Heat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt. Stir and set aside. Using a mixer, beat the butter and sugar until creamed. Add eggs, mix together. Stir in vanilla. Add flour mixture to the butter mixture, a little at a time, until completely incorporated. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill until fi rm, 1-2 hours. Roll the dough into 1 1⁄ 2 inch balls and place on a parchment-lined cookie sheet. Bake for 11-12 minutes until set in the middle. Do not overbake. Allow cookies to cool completely on a wire rack. To make topping: Add the white chocolate chips to a medium microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 15-sec. intervals, until melted, stirring between intervals. Dip each cookie halfway into the melted chocolate. Place on parchment and sprinkle with some of the crushed candy canes. Let stand until chocolate sets. Store in a sealed container at room temperature up to one week.
AMANDA COLLINS BERNIER
Known as “Goose” to her grandkids, Laurie Silva Collins has perfected her recipes over years of cooking for her three daughters and six grandchildren. BayStateParent | DECEMBER 2021 | 21
BITES
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nutrition
Helping hands Every kitchen task your child can help with, based on their age Tatiana Rosana Reviewed.com
I
n my home, some of the best memories have happened in the kitchen. I remember learning how to cook next to my mother and grandmother, vowing that I would one day pass along those lessons to my future children. Now that I’m a mother, I’ve learned that cooking with your child allows them to ex-
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more likely to experiment with new fl avors. Cooking with your kids also provides them with a sense of independence and accomplishment and teaches them family traditions, important food skills, and other habits that they can carry into adulthood. But beyond the lessons, spending time in the kitchen together is fun! (Clean-up, maybe not so much.) Pick a time when you're not in a rush, like weekend meals and Sunday brunch instead of a midweek dinner, so that you have the time to explain and work together. Rushing though a task or getting frus-
trated that it’s taking too long will be counterproductive so try and make it enjoyable for everyone by setting aside an extra half hour to prepare your meals together. Looking for ways to introduce your little one to the kitchen? Follow below for ageappropriate tasks that will turn your toddler into a top chef in no time. And remember: each child develops at a diff erent rate. Use your judgement and the skill set of your babe to determine what tasks they are capable of safely accomplishing.
Babies and toddlers love to observe and take in the sights around them. This is a great opportunity for them to touch, taste, and explore new ingredients and make some noise with cooking utensils. Set your little one down in a safe space in the kitchen—such as a high chair, playpen, or a learning tower if they can stand—and allow them to touch items like the skin of an orange, a wooden spoon, or plastic measuring cups. Make sure to verbalize what you’re doing out loud so that they connect the process with the words which will help them as they start developing language skills. Babies and toddlers can: h Play with whole fruit and vegetables, wooden spoons, and mixing bowls h Explore a sensory table with water and measuring cups for them to scoop, dip, and explore h Smell and taste age-appropriate ingredients h Tear herbs or lettuce greens: This is a great time to smell new ingredients, too. h Sprinkle spices and salt
Preschool (ages 2-5) Preschool aged kids will love working on fi ne motor skills as well as gaining even more independence. They may start showing signs of pickiness when eating, which is why engaging them in the cooking process is so helpful as they feel a stronger connection if they help prepare their meals. This is also the age range where they can do larger cooking tasks such as rolling out dough and mixing more ingredients. Kids this age will be able to help with the following tasks: h Rolling out pizza or cookie dough and cutting with a childsafe knife or cookie cutter h Arranging cookie dough on baking sheet h Whisking batter h Customizing their own smoothies by choosing from a list of ingredients: This allows them to feel in control of what they're putting in their bodies while still getting nutrition. Pick fi ve to six healthy options and let them decide what goes in. h Helping fi nd ingredients in the refrigerator or cupboard: This also helps them continue building their language skills. h Mixing wet ingredients into dry ingredients and gently stir with a wooden spoon h Adding sprinkles to cake h Placing cupcake liners in cupcake pans h Sorting spoons and forks to put in dishwasher h Setting a timer h Peeling hard-boiled eggs and slicing with child-safe knife
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Babies and toddlers (ages 0-2)
Why you should ask your kids to help you in the kitchen
Upper elementary (ages 7-11) At this age your child is much more coordinated and can even begin cooking foods on their own under your supervision. Allowing them to help plan out the weekly household menu will keep them feeling involved and let them get creative with their newfound skills. This is the age when you can decide if they are ready to move on to small adult kitchen knives, but as always, use your judgment. Older kids can: h Make simple dishes on the stove: Grilled cheese, pancakes, and scrambled eggs are good dishes to start with. h Make their own school lunches and assemble their own snacks h Pre-make yogurt parfaits in individual containers for the week h Use a kid-friendly knife to cut things such as cheese, tofu, berries, and bread h Skewer meat and vegetables on wooden skewers and marinate for later. This task is perfect for the family that loves to grill.
There’s no limit to the possibilities your little one can accomplish in the kitchen if given the opportunity to learn. I truly believe it leads to a lifetime of confi dent eating habits and a positive outlook on food. Instead of mealtime being a struggle, we can work to make it a fun activity for the entire family, moving the focus away from needing to eat and towards wanting to eat because they feel engaged in the process. There are endless opportunities to learn and grow with your child and the kitchen is one of the best (and tastiest) of them all.
What are you waiting for? Join the thousands of followers in more than 180 countries.
Lower elementary (ages 5-7) At this age your child has spent a good amount of time in the kitchen and has picked up on some basic prep skills. They are now also learning how to read and are able to complete simple recipes such as making their own chia pudding or mixing their own cupcake batter. This is a good time to start including them in cooking tasks that require the stove top and teaching them how to safely use gadgets like a stand mixer, a box grater, and a blender. The following tasks are suited for children this age: h Reading recipes out loud and complete tasks independently h Grating cheese on a box grater h Writing down their recipe for the perfect fruit salad: Then chop ingredients using a kid-friendly knife to recreate the recipe. h Making their own sandwich
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BayStateParent | DECEMBER 2021 | 23
HOLIDAY SHOPPING
#COMETOGETHER
THE HOLIDAY FESTIVITIES ARE KICKING OFF AT SOLOMON POND Black Friday Shopping, exciting events, and stores to meet all your holiday shopping needs. For futher details check out www.visitsolomonpondmall.com
24 | DECEMBER 2021 | BayStateParent
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COVID-19 vs OTHER VIRUSES Here’s what the numbers look like
C
USA TODAY
OVID-19 isn’t the only viral disease children are catching this year. Infl uenza, which sends thousands of children to the hospital each season, is
predicted to ramp up in the coming months. h How do the risks of COVID-19 in children compare to other common viral diseases? At the peak of the 2014-15 season, the fl u sent twice as many children to the hospital as COVID-19 did from October 2020 through February 2021, according to data published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But unlike the fl u, COVID-19 is around all year, and the appearance of the more transmissible delta variant has sickened more children this past year than the average fl u season does, says Dr. Jeremy Faust, an attending physician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. “Keep in mind that this summer’s delta spike occurred during a time of year when there is typically far less serious respiratory disease in children,” Faust says. “July and August delta being worse than some January-February fl u seasons should be pretty alarming.” Dr. David Buchholz, a professor of pediatrics at Columbia University’s Irving Medical Center, says the fl u, which is dormant through the summer, is not a simple comparison to COVID-19, which infects yearround. What’s clear, he says, is that the risk of COVID-19 out-
weighs that of the fl u during a typical season. “Flu kills 37 to 199 children per year, which is far less than COVID. So if you look at the worst-case scenario of death, COVID is worse than fl u.” Buchholz points to another virus that parents contend with every year: respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, which he says can kill 100 to 500 children a year. “If you have an infant or toddler you should be a lot more worried about RSV than COVID. A lot more children die of RSV than COVID, particularly children under 2.”
RSV is driving pediatric hospitalizations RSV is always a primary concern for pediatricians. “RSV year after year has been the single No. 1 cause of pediatric hospitalizations,” says Dr. Daniel Rauch, chief of pediatric hospital medicine at Tufts
Children’s Hospital in Boston. Typically striking in the winter, RSV can cause severe complications in the very young and the very old, Rauch says. Every year, 58,000 children under 5 are hospitalized with RSV, according to esti-
mates from the CDC. In comparison, 64,000 children under 18 have been hospitalized with COVID-19 since Aug. 1, 2020, according to the CDC. “Fortunately, overwhelmingly the kids do well,” Rauch says, referring to children infected with RSV. “It’s the preterm infants, the infants with underlying heart or lung disease who are more at risk for problems.” This year, RSV started infecting children a lot earlier than normal – in the summer months instead of winter – likely because of the relaxing of restrictions and more social contact between kids, doctors say. And many infants born just before or during lockdown weren’t exposed to viruses and therefore didn’t develop natural immunity. “We’re seeing probably two to three times more positive tests for RSV than we are for COVID,” says Dr. Craig Shapiro, an attending physician in the division of pediatric infectious diseases at Nemours Children’s Hospital in Wilmington, Delaware.
Uncertainties surrounding this fall and winter Infl uenza cases haven’t picked up yet this season, experts say – and last season there were virtually no infl uenza cases because of distancing, hand-washing and masking protocols. Though this season may be worse, the medical experts say it’s hard to predict to what extent diff erent viruses will surge this fall and winter in children. Flu vaccines are available for
“
Flu kills 37 to 199 children per year, which is far less than COVID. So if you look at the worst-case scenario of death, COVID is worse than flu.” Dr. David Buchholz
Professor of pediatrics at Columbia University’s Irving Medical Center
children as young as 6 months. The CDC recommends the vaccines annually. Shapiro said hundreds of kids a year die from infl uenza. “We need to be aware that we have the ability to prevent kids from getting sick from some of these viruses.” There’s also a great deal of uncertainty surrounding COVID-19’s lasting eff ects on children. So-called long-haul COVID-19, in which puzzling symptoms persist for weeks and months after an infection, seems to be rare in children. According to CDC Director Rochelle Walensky, up to 3% of children infected with COVID-19 are believed to be longhaulers. And a condition known as multisystem infl ammatory syndrome in children, or MIS-C, has been reported in more than 5,000 cases of children with COVID-19, according to the CDC. “Then there’s the unknowns of the long haul kids,” Rauch says. “We don’t know much about MIS-C. We don’t know what happens to these kids one year, two years down the line. There’s simply no question that you’re better off not getting COVID.”
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DIY Cinnamon applesauce
ornaments
Cinnamon and applesauce. That is all you need to make these easy Christmas ornaments that smell oh-so-good. Hang them on the tree, around the house, or attach to present. You can use these anywhere you want a scented, festive pop.
What you need 1 1⁄ 4 cup ground cinnamon 1 cup smooth applesauce Ribbon or twine Whole cloves (optional)
Directions Preheat oven to 200 degrees. In a medium bowl, combine the cinnamon and applesauce with a spoon or spatula until a dough forms. Knead a few times with your hands. Dough should be moist and smooth, not sticky. Shape into a ball, and chill in
the refrigerator for one hour. Sprinkle a little cinnamon on your working surface. With a rolling pin, roll dough out to about 1⁄ 4 inch thickness. Cut desired shapes with cookie cutters. Use a straw or dowel to make a small hole in each shape to hang it. Decorate with cloves, if desired. Bake ornaments on a parchment lined baking sheet for two hours, or until completely fi rm. Let ornaments cool completely, then thread ribbon or twine through the hole to hang them. Cinnamon applesauce ornaments are easy to make and smell amazing. AMANDA COLLINS BERNIER
A Christmas Carol Share the joy of theatre at our RELAXED PERFORMANCE! Shar
• Sunday, December 19 at 11AM • Scan for Relaxed Performance Details.
Why is the RELAXED performance special? • • • • •
50% off children’s tickets for all price levels House lights are dimmed but remain on Sounds are lower in volume and intensity Quiet zone available at all times Trained volunteers to provide patron support Generously sponsored by
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Worcester Center for Performing Arts is a registered not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization, which owns and operates The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory for the Performing Arts.
Take Five with
Scott and Denise Weikel,
the couple behind the Leicester Christmas Display Amanda Collins Bernier
T
Baystate Parent Magazine | USA TODAY NETWORK
hirty years ago, when they were newlyweds celebrating their fi rst Christmas as a married couple, Scott and Denise Weikel put two little soldiers in front of their Leicester home to decorate for the holidays. With each season, they’d add a little something; their display growing bigger and brighter as the years went by. Revelers would come from near and far to take in the lights and cheer. By 2015, their holiday display was so large — and so popular — a police detail was needed to corral the more than 3,000 visitors who would show up at the Weikels on a Saturday night. After taking a year off due to the pandemic, the Leicester Christmas Display is back. Scott and Denise began setting up in October, arranging over 200 holiday infl atables, a rainbow of colored Christmas trees, and stringing more than 50,000 Christmas lights at their residence at 25 Waite Street. The walkthrough experience will off er visits with Santa, and is free and open to the public through Christmas (weather permitting, check their Facebook page). A registered non-profi t, they accept donations which go back into the local community. We caught up with the couple while they prepared for the festivities.
1. How did the Leicester Christmas Display become what it is?
Denise: Every year we just added and added. My birthday is November 29 and he started getting me decorations for my birthday, and... well, this is what happened. Scott: One thing just led to another. I’ll be honest, in the beginning I used to say ‘shut those things off , the electric bill!’ But then I saw how much people liked it so we did it more and more and more. I don’t do anything in my life halfway. About fi ve years ago I said, ‘I’m going to do the backyard.’ Nobody believed me. And now the whole backyard
Main: Scott and Denise Weikel outside their Waite Street in Leicester; Right: An aerial view of the Leicester Christmas Display. PROVIDED PHOTOS
is fi lled. We have an electrical service I brought in just for the Christmas display, and we have to use some generators.
2. How do you make it all happen?
Scott: The display itself is funded by us. We fundraise for the police detail, and we also put out a small donation box. It’s free to come in, but in that donation box, by the end of the year, we’ll raise $13,000 for local charities -- we keep it local. All year round we’re then able to help people who are down on their luck. The charity end of it is really important to me.
3. Are there days during the holiday season when you’re not feeling up to having 3,000 people at your house?
Scott: It can be draining mentally and physically. I don’t eat supper until 10 o’clock every night, and all of it does get a little stressful. But when it all comes on and the little kids are having fun, it makes it all worth it. It has its pros and its cons, but I’m not complaining. It’s something we choose to do.
4. Is there a particular part of the display that’s your favorite?
Scott: A couple years after Christmas we were getting white Christmas trees. We painted them each a color — every type of cancer has a color — and we call them ‘cancer trees.’ We put them out and we supply ornaments for survivors of cancer or loved ones who’ve passed away and that is one of the biggest hits down here.
5. Have you ever thought about entering a holiday decorating competition?
Scott: I don’t enter house competitions. I was in contact with the Great Christmas Light Fight [television show], but for a couple diff erent reasons we passed on going on the show. I don’t like to judge and I never want to someone to say ‘it’s not as good as yours.” I wish everybody would put out a couple strands of lights.
BayStateParent | DECEMBER 2021 | 27
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