BaystateParent February 2022

BaystateParent MASSACHUSETTS’

PREMIER MAGAZINE FOR FAMILIES SINCE 1996

FEBRUARY FEBR FE BRUA BR UARY UA RY 2022 202 2 022 02 2 | PRICELESS PRIC PR ICEL IC ELES EL ESS ES S

+

THE BEST

museums FOR KIDS

Winter festivals to bundle up for

Local mom’s ‘Purposeful Play’ Sweet gifts for your little valentine

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978-630-6228

contents Table of

February 2022

volume 26

number 10

in every issue 5 5 6 7 19 23

Editor’s note

Chocolate Chip Monkey Bars are a kid favorite

Finally Forever Good to Know Herding Goofballs DIY: Valentine’s Pinch Pot Take Five: ‘Blue Man’ Eric Rubb

on the agenda 15

February Adventures: 13 Ideas for Family Fun

17

The List: 8 Winter Festivals

bites 20

Nutrition: 5 Tips for Picky Eaters

21

Goose’s Goodies: Monkey Bars

features

8

10

Paxton Mom’s ‘Purposeful Play’

BaystateParent MASSACHUSETTS’

PREMIER MAGAZINE

FOR FAMILIES SINCE

1996

FEBR FE FEBRUARY BRUA BR UARY UA RY 2 2022 202 022 02 2 | PRICELESS PRIC PR ICEL IC ELES EL ESS ES S

The Best Museums for Kids THE BEST

museums

FOR KIDS

22

Sweet Gifts for Your Little Valentine

+

Winter festivals to bundle up for Local mom’s ‘Purposeful Play’ Sweet gifts for your little valentine

on the cover

A young visitor explores the Simple Machines Gallery at the Discovery Museum in Acton.

JESSICA CRONIN PHOTOGRAPHY

BayStateParent | FEBRUARY 2022 | 3

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2020

editor’s note

February’s Child: Meet Yessenia

FINALLY

forever

Hi, I’m Yessenia and I am ready to fi nd a family I can call my own!

Yessenia, 15, is of Puerto Rican descent.

Yessenia is shy but opens up once she gets to know you. She lights up when dancing with friends and is considered very caring among those who know her best. She loves fashion and enjoys trying on diff erent outfi ts and jewelry. Yessenia enjoys school and is described as a hard worker. She is very compassionate and kind to others.

Legally freed for adoption, Yessenia will need a family that will allow her continued contact and visits with her two younger brothers. She would do best in a two parent or single female family with or without other children. She would like to have a family that is supportive of her relationship with her siblings and her mother.

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

I’ll be honest, I’ve never been a big fan of February.

Sure, there’s the excuse to go out to dinner on Valentine’s Day (or at least eat a whole box of chocolates without any guilt), but for the most part, the month is cold, icy and dreary. It’s when snow offi cially goes from pretty to perturbing, and when cooped up kids start bouncing off the walls.

It’s the month of cabin fever.

While it’s not an offi cial psychiatric diagnosis, experts say that cabin fever is the real deal. It’s that distressing, claustrophobic feeling that leaves us irritable and restless. But before you take up permanent residence on your couch this month remember this: the best way to get out of the slump and into a happier mood is to get moving and fi nd something to do.

Luckily, despite the cold, there is plenty going on to get you off the sofa. The Blue Man Group returns to Boston this month after a nearly two-year hiatus. Meet one of the cast members, dad-of-three Eric Rubb, on page 23 and see what’s planned for their comeback shows.

Other chances for family fun include guided winter hikes, family maple sugaring workshops, Monster Jam and more. Turn to page 15 to check out these events and other Adventures, and to page 17 for a list of fes-

tively chilly Winter Festivals.

Starting on page 10, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite museums in the Bay State for kids. Along with the children’s museums you’d expect, there are a few institutions that might take you by surprise. Some might not be the fi rst that come to mind when you think “kid-friendly,” but they actually have a lot to off er families. Bonus: most are offering special events and activities over February Vacation.

As always, keep in mind that things are fl uid and can and do change. Avoid a meltdown by checking before you pack up the kids for any February fun you fi nd in this issue.

May your cabin fever be minor!

Amanda

MEDICAL ADVICE WHEN YOU ARE ON THE GO. home visits to determine if adoption is right for you, and if so, to help connect you with a child or sibling group that your family will be a good match for.

To learn more about adoption from foster care, call the Massachusetts Adoption Resource Exchange (MARE) at (617) 9646273 or visit www.mareinc.org.

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BayStateParent | FEBRUARY 2022 | 5

GOOD TO

know

Teenagers’ poor sleep habits could increase their risk for weight gain and other cardiometabolic diseases, new research has found.

Data from the American Academy of Pediatrics says that 73% of high school students get less than the recommended eight to ten hours of sleep each night, which has been linked to increased risk for poor mental health, poor academic performance, and behavioral problems. But new research also links the lack of shut eye to weight gain because teens have worse dietary habits when they sleep less.

Teenagers consumed more foods that were likely to spike blood sugar fast -- things like foods high in carbs and added sugar, or sugary drinks when they were short on sleep, the study found. The research found that teens in short sleep consumed 12 extra grams of sugar each day. With most teenagers not getting sufficient sleep during the 180 nights of a school year, an extra 12 grams of added sugar each day could result in over 4.5 pounds of extra sugar each year.

Have you spotted this new label when browsing the grocery store aisles? It’s the new way GMOs (genetically modified organisms) are labeled under USDA guidelines that went into effect last month.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts is calling on men to step up as mentors.

The agency has a growing list of children waiting to be matched with adult mentors, and more than three times as many boys are waiting as girls.

Volunteers must be 18 years old or older and be able to commit a few hours a few times a month for at least a year. To find out more, visit www.emassbigs.org.

Foods that have previously been labeled as containing GMOS are now known as “bioengineered” (“BE” for short) or having been “derived from bioengineering,” or come with a phone number or QR code guiding consumers to more information online.

The new rule requires food manufacturers, importers and retailers to disclose information whether foods are bioengineered or use bioengineered ingredients. Dietary supplement manufacturers must also follow the new labeling rules, though restaurants do not.

Other kinds of official certifications like USDA Organic and NON-GMO Project Verified are still allowed.

GIRL

SCO

UTS

It’s Girl Scout cookie season and the lineup is more decadent than ever with a brand new, brownie-inspired cookie. Adventurefuls are an indulgent chocolate cookie with caramelflavored creme and a hint of sea salt.

Not sure where to find cookies in your area? Download the “Girl Scout Cookie Finder” app and press “Find Cookies Now” (which may or may not be a dangerous button).

6 | FEBRUARY 2022 | BayStateParent

GETTY IMAGES ILLUSTRATIONS

“The number of boys on the waiting list to receive Big Brothers is currently in the hundreds,” said President and CEO Mark O’Donnell. “Over 75% percent of our mentees come from single-parent households, a majority of which only have a mother or female guardian looking for a consistent and caring male role model in their children’s lives. We need male-identifying volunteers, men of color, and all volunteers fluent in Spanish to seriously consider signing up to be a mentor for these children.”

“We know that pediatric obesity is an epidemic, and we’ve focused on a lot of interventions to try and address it, but sleep is not one of the things that researchers tend to focus on,” said Dr. Kara Duraccio, a BYU clinical and developmental psychology professor and lead author of the study that appeared in the medical journal, SLEEP. “If we are really trying to discover preventative strategies or interventions to increase optimal weight in teens, getting enough and well-timed sleep should be at the forefront of our efforts.”

Fourth quarter If the game is a blowout, that bed is calling. If they are having a diffi cult time of it or the game is close (and it should be considered a misdemeanor crime to send someone away during the Super Bowl), take my kids’ advice: allow them to build a pillow fort. For football’s sake, refer to this fort as the indoor practice stadium.

Away from the TV. With pillows not currently being used.

HERDING

goofballs

SUPER BOWL A parents’ survival guide Josh Farnsworth

Fourth down. The camera pans to the teams breaking their respective huddles as the tension spills over. As the squads line up, a call rings out through the intensity…

My oldest son: Dad!! Come quick! I have a question for you!!

I had been waiting for this.

The Super Bowl is my area of expertise. Maybe he has a question about the play call coming? A player? The drama?

I sprinted around the corner to meet up with him.

My oldest son: Want to come see my pillow fort upstairs??

As the cheering erupted around the corner, three thoughts immediately crossed my stream of consciousness: 1. That was the play of the game. I didn’t see it, but I know it. (It was.)

2. I need to fi nd a way to get him to share in this interest of mine. (He wasn’t.)

3. This better be one epic pillow fort. (To be fair, it was.)

Perhaps a scene similar to this one played out at a Super Bowl party near you? Sure, playing with the little goofballs is cool, but this is the game.

Unfortunately, there is nothing interesting enough to keep their attention for 3-4 hours. I once watched as my boys checked out of a 15-minute fi reworks display because they were “starting to get bored, so bored I might fall asleep.”

But the Super Bowl should be a celebration - together. If you are prepared to get creative, you stand a chance to not only soak in all four quarters of the action, but make the entire weekend something your kids will look forward to.

Weekend of the big game Consider starting a day or two early to set the gridiron mood. Have them make posters with drawings of the two teams involved. Find a still im-

age of the star players and have them paint their portrait to hang up before the game.

If you are watching at your house, fi nd streamers with colors that match the two teams and put enough paper mache up on the walls to make a party supply store blush.

Sunday - noon For even the strictest of football-loathing party-goers, a great selection of food can get them ready for the gridiron.

If you have the ingredients and most importantly the time and patience - allow your kids to plan out part of the party menu.

Put them in charge of assisting you with a green-frosted rectangular cake that can look vaguely like a football fi eld. Let them design out the menu they hand out to your party guests when they arrive.

First quarter We get our fi rst glimpse at the uber-priced commercials.

Give your kids papers, cards, anything numbered 1-10. Have them exclaim how they rate each commercial - and if they are old enough - write down their favorites.

If your kids can write, have them script out their own big game commercial and have them present it during a commercial break.

Second quarter Most people are familiar with squares - that contest where names are placed on a grid where the big game’s score dictates who wins some sort of prize. Skip the money and have them grab their action fi gures, stuff ed animals, dolls and/or other characters they currently play with that are lightning rods for their love.

Have the kids arrange these characters somewhere together and have one of the kids fi ll out a grid with all the characters’ names. The stakes? Win-

ner gets to have the coveted “Big Grid Super Prize.”

Halftime You have two moves here: dance party to the halftime performance or Puppy Bowl.

Give them the choice. Here is their (limited time) chance to change the channel.

Third quarter The sight of the same two teams is probably beginning to gnaw at your goofballs. Bust out the crayons, paper, pencils

and all other art supplies. Their mission? The league needs (number of kids you are trying to distract) new teams, and they are the new marketing department.

Have them design the new team logo, name and have them design the jerseys. Third quarter dragging on with penalties and injuries? Well, each team nowadays does have a home jersey, a road jersey and three additional alternative jerseys.

Let’s recap that gameplan They may not care what team is holding the trophy when the game ends, but if they have a chance to manage part of the fun, they’ll be holding this weekend in high esteem.

So, good luck. Enjoy that game. And if they have trouble getting to sleep? No worries.

I hear they are planning fi reworks at the conclusion of the game.

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.

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feature

Purposeful Play’s Construction Site Kit. JACLYN MORSE

PURPOSEFUL Danielle Ray

L

ike so many other parents, Jaclyn Morse was trying to fi nd ways to keep her kids entertained when the pandemic hit and they found themselves at home. Her idea to create themed sensory bins not only occupied her kids, but became the beginning of a now booming side hustle.

“As a mom of fi ve, I came to understand how important and essential play is in the development of children,” she said of the idea behind her business, Purposeful Play. “I have always looked for ways to provide my children with open-ended play that will engage their imaginations, creativity, and senses.”

Morse, who works full time in display development and procurement for an eyewear company, was born and raised in New England and is one of fi ve children herself. She has spent most of her life living

between Rhode Island and Massachusetts and graduated from St. Mary Academy – Bay View in East Providence, Rhode Island, before attending Rhode Island College in Providence. She has lived in Paxton with her wife Cate Kadis for fi ve years, where they are raising their kids – 13year-old son Anderson, 11year-old triplet girls Madyson, McKenna and Morgan, and recently turned 3-year-old daughter Adelyn.

Morse said it is her children’s “love of sensory activities” that inspired her to “want to bring this developmentally enriching play to other families.”

“At the start of the pandemic when many of us were home, I was looking for new ways to bring sensory activities into my home to help meet the developmental needs of my children, especially my youngest, who was 13 months old at the time,” she recalled. “I began building

8 | FEBRUARY 2022 | BayStateParent

Paxton mom’s way to entertain her fi ve kids during the pandemic leads to creative side hustle themed sensory bins that not only my toddler became enthralled in playing with, but also my older children, spending hours throughout the day playing and creating with the sensory bins.”

In February of last year, she created two themed playdough sensory kits - St. Patrick’s Day and Easter - and posted them on the Mountaineer Mamas Facebook page that is geared towards Wachusett district families.

“The response was astounding,” Morse said. “I re-

ceived over 50 orders over the course of a couple of weeks.

From there, Purposeful Play was quickly born.”

It was then she knew she had struck a chord with families and offi cially formed her business. The reaction from the local and greater community has been nothing short of amazing, and since then she has sold more than 750 items with prices ranging from $10 to $50 including sensory bins, kits, mini kits, and bottles.

“I am truly humbled by the support and love we have re-

ceived,” Morse said. “Our customer feedback is positive and has resulted in repeated sales and customer growth, with many new customers coming from referrals, some even as far as California.”

That valued feedback is what Morse said has kept her creative juices fl owing, creating sensory products geared towards a myriad of diff erent personality types and interested.

While the bins and sensory bottles are focused for ages three to 10, she said she fi nds that “people of all ages enjoy” them.

“Sensory play is a great activity to help with mindfulness and stress relief and can be enjoyed by all ages,” Morse said, adding that she had a customer who recently purchased her popular snowman

Founder of Purposeful Play and mom of fi ve Jaclyn Morse with her 3-year-old daughter, Adelyn.

JACLYN MORSE

continue to bring sensory play to families,” she said. “I love the purpose we have in the lives of our customers, their children, and being able to help make a positive and meaningful impact on their families. We continue to hone in on what parents want and embrace for their children, and their continued feedback has allowed us to create sensory items that appeal to a variety of children.”

When asked what she feels makes Purposeful Play unique, for parents and caregivers as well as children, Morse said it is a combination of things.

“The feedback I receive the most from parents is that they appreciate that our products keep their kids entertained and engaged, allowing them the fl exibility to focus on completing other tasks, which is a balance that is often challenging for many parents,” she said. “They feel good giving them our products, keeping them away from electronics and instead engaged in imaginative play.

“Also, most, if not all parents, appreciate the developmental benefi ts of sensory play,” Morse continued. “Some of those benefi ts include supporting and enhancing cognitive development, memory, motor skills, problem solving, and language development.

Sensory play is all inclusive there is no right or wrong way to play.”

She said it is not just parents who have embraced Purposeful Play but teachers as well.

“I realize that teachers have a diff erent struggle,” Morse said. “They know and understand the benefi ts of sensory play, but fi nancial factors and time can hinder bringing this into their classrooms, especially during the pandemic when shared materials between children are generally not allowed.”

As such, Morse said she has worked with several teachers to create aff ordable, lap-sized sensory bins for preschool classrooms.

“They often tell me, ‘The kids ask and wait to play with the bins every day!’,” she said.

“Our sensory bottles are also awesome classroom tools, allowing children to have hands-on and visual exploration without disrupting their learning. They are also great calming and mindfulness tools.”

Morse said the benefi ts of sensory play are multiple, and that she enjoys providing those benefi ts to her customers as well as her own children.

“Sensory play is not only fun but engages children’s senses,” she said. “It helps to develop brain nerve connections and these connections help with your child’s ability to complete more complex learning tasks.”

She said knowledge and memory are also developed

through sensory play, and that children enjoy exploring all of the diff erent elements included in each kit. And for those who have children who “decide to taste test” the homemade playdough, Morse said there’s no need to worry – it’s non-toxic.

“Discovery is encouraged through hands on, self-directed, creative play,” she said, “and sensory play also supports the development of motor skills, problem solving and language development.

Whether squishing playdough, pouring beans, scooping, or stamping, your child is working on developing these important skills. Sensory play enhances all the senses – sight, sound, touch, taste, and

smell.

Stimulating these senses helps with language development and learning.”

When it comes to her hopes and goals for the future of Purposeful Play, she is focused on continuing “to innovate and bring sensory play to families near and far.”

“We want children of all ages to benefi t from the developmental and creative benefi ts that come with sensory play,” Morse said. “We realize that play is an integral part of childhood and each of our products are carefully planned and created, to not only meet the developing needs of your child, but also keep them engaged in imaginative play.”

For more information visit www.purposefulplayus.com.

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kit for her grandmother.

The themes are inspired by weather, holidays, places, “or just ideas that children in general are drawn to.”

“For example, we released our ocean kit in June as we were heading into beach season and at a time when children might be extra inspired by this theme,” Morse said.

Each item includes elements that align with the theme. A garden mini bin, for instance, includes dry black beans as “dirt,” along with mini tools, green colored wagon wheel dry pasta, and more.

A construction site kit features scented playdough, two toy construction vehicles, rocks, wood sticks. She also off ers a galaxy sensory bottle with mesmerizing stars slowly “falling.”

“Our seasonal kits and sensory bottles seem to be our most popular items,” Morse said.

In addition to her regular lineup she creates limited kits for holidays and other occasions including Halloween, Christmas and the holidays, Thanksgiving, Earth Day, Valentine’s Day, the four seasons, and more. She said the newly released “Do You Want to Build a Snowman” sensory kit has been “by far” her most popular item, with over 100 units selling within hours of release and hundreds more since.

“It is the stories I hear from customers that inspire me to

The Learning First Charter School is a tuition-free public school serving Worcester’s children. With no admission test, the school serves a student body that is representative of Worcester’s diversity. Learning First Charter Public School does not discriminate based on gender, race, religion, gender identity, cultural heritage, linguistic background, political beliefs, physical or mental ability, sexual orientation, marital status, or national origin. In the event that there are more applicants than seats, a lottery will be used to select students.

BayStateParent | FEBRUARY 2022 | 9

cover story

BOSTON CHILDRE

N'S MUSEUM

SEUM DISCOVERY MU

8 GREAT

Museums for kids IN THE BAY STATE

M ECOTARIU

Amanda Collins Bernier Bay State Parent Magazine | USA TODAY NETWORK

D

oes taking your child to a museum sound a bit daunting? It doesn’t have to be. Fantastic museums designed especially for kids -- where they are actually encouraged to touch things -- are dotted throughout the state. But it’s not just children’s museums that are worth checking out. Some of the grandest institutions go to great lengths to encourage curiosity and interest from a tender age. Here are eight great museums in the Bay State to bring the kids to, and what they have in store this month.

Boston Children’s Museum The second oldest children’s museum in the country, the Boston Children’s Museum is located on Children’s Wharf, with views of the Financial District and Boston Harbor. Designed for children and families, it emphasizes learning through play.

The museum has nearly two 10 | FEBRUARY 2022 | BayStateParent

dozen exhibits, off ering kids the chance to create art, build forts, or get on stage and put on a show.

In the beloved Bubbles exhibit, children can create giant bubbles with a variety of tools and surfaces. In the kid-sized Construction Zone, they can ride a real Bobcat, operate a jackhammer, or scale the three-story climbing structure to get a birds’ eye view

of it all. And what museum for kids would be complete without an animatronic life-size dinosaur?

The museum is best suited for kids up to age 10, and has a preschool science section and a kindergarten readiness exhibit.

There is also a PlaySpace for the youngest visitors, an area for babies and toddlers to explore, experiment, and pretend in a safe place built just for them.

Hours: Wednesday to Sunday, 9 a.m.-12 p.m., 1:30-4:30 p.m. Reservations required.

Admission: $15; children under 12 months free Off erings for Special Needs: Morningstar Access off ers children with special needs/medical

needs the opportunity to visit the museum at a time when there are only a few other visitors. At these times, there is a limit of 100 guests, and children and their families can explore the museum with less concern about large crowds. Pre-registration is required. Mask exceptions will be considered in advance at registration for children who have sensory needs or other types of needs that prevent them from keeping their masks on.

February Vacation: Engineering Week - Children can be an engineer, trying various activities and challenges throughout the week to explore, create, test and try again.

Discovery Museum “Play Matters” is the philosophy at this museum in Acton. It’s a two-part campus: the indoor Discovery Museum with hands-on, low-tech, open-ended exhibits, and the outdoor Discovery Woods, a fully inclusive and accessible space with a giant treehouse, gardens, and acres of adjoining conservation land.

Throughout the museum you’ll fi nd galleries dedicated to simple machines, water play, sound, math and more.

Kids can cook up and serve play food in a pretend diner, or tinker, design, build, and invent in the da Vinci Workshop. In the Train Room, little engineers can buy tickets, schedule their departure, operate the train, and build or repair a track. There is also a special space for caregivers and children up to age three to play and spend time together.

Outside, you’ll fi nd slides to zip down, boulders to scramble, and a wiggly bridge to cross into the Discovery Treehouse. The 550 square foot treehouse has quirky features, cozy nooks and hands-on activities to explore. It’s surrounded by a nature playspace with a climbing net, nest swing, woodland nook, rain garden, beaver lodge, and acres of adjoining forest. Take a short break on the Log Couch carved from a large 200 year old white oak tree, peek into a birdhouse or grab a map and wander into the 182 acre Great Hill Conservation Area.

The museum’s newest exhibit, “Picture Yourself: Women in STEAM” features six portraits of local female scientists, painted by local female artists. Accompanying the portraits are information panels that include the scientists’ interests, hobbies, and photo of them as a child—so kids can see that these accomplished scientists were kids, just like them. Another new exhibit is coming this month called Seeing Shadows, a fun way to investigate light and shadows.

Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Admission: $15.50; seniors $14.50; children under 1 free.

Tickets must be reserved online in advance.

Off erings for Special Needs: Especially for Me—

ERIC CARLE MUSEUM

the museum’s access program for families with children on the autism spectrum, who are deaf or hard of hearing, or who have vision loss or sensory issues—off ers a full schedule of free events for families in 2022. The schedule can be found on the museum’s website and includes all-access, autism-friendly, and sensoryfriendly evenings, mornings and evenings for D/HH and KODA children, and sensoryfriendly afternoons. Discovery Museum also off ers free family memberships to Especially for Me families, so that they can visit any time with free admission.

February Vacation: Celebrate National Engineers Week over school vacation making sailmobiles and building bridges and cup towers in the drop-in Everyday Engineering workshops.

side a phone-booth sized hurricane simulator. There’s a Preschool Discovery Area sized perfectly for young children and stocked with fun learning toys and structures.

And animal encounters and other live programming with museum educators are off ered throughout the day.

In a timely traveling exhibit, Project Vaccine, families

can learn about how vaccines work and how to stop the spread of an outbreak. They can also take an interactive survey to see how their opinions rate in relation to their visitor group.

Outside, walking paths easily accommodate strollers, so families can visit ponds and nature trails, discover dozens of local plant species, and say hello to the EcoTarium’s otters, owls, fox, mountain lions, skunks, porcupine, eagle, and raven, which are part of its living collection.

Kids can let off some steam at the nature playspace, featuring sand digging and building areas, water play, and areas for climbing, crawling and more. Cap it off with a scenic, open-air ride around the grounds on the Explorer Express Train.

Preschool Story Times are held on the fi rst Wednesday of the month, when kids can enjoy a story, meet one of the resident animals and participate in hands-on activities.

The Budding Scientists program for ages 3-5 is on the second Thursday of each month, and off ers an introduction into scientifi c principles with fun activities.

EcoTarium With 45 acres of indooroutdoor experiences, Worcester’s EcoTarium is designed especially for kids and families.

Kids can investigate city science, geology and weather and even experience the sound and fury of category one hurricane-force winds inBayStateParent | FEBRUARY 2022 | 11

Hours: Wednesday to Sunday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Admission: Adults $19; children $14; seniors $15; kids under 2 free Off erings for Special Needs: The EcoTarium’s grounds and facilities are wheelchair and stroller accessible, as are most trails and paths. Exhibits and experiences are fl exible and selfcontained, and visitors are able and encouraged to “choose their own adventure” and visit the parts of the museum and grounds that work for them. Visitors are welcome to fi nd a staff member if they’d like access to a quiet, carpeted library space.

February Vacation: Special programming is planned for the EcoTarium’s Engineering Week. Burgeoning engineers and those who like to build, tinker, and solve problems will be challenged to design a bridge strong enough to hold three billy goats (and a troll!), program a funky dance using a simple screenless algorithm, or help the environment by testing an innovative water fi ltration system.

jects are off ered daily in the Art Studio, ranging from thumbprint art to paper collages to sculpture and everything in between.

Hours: Thursday and Friday 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday 12-5 p.m.

Admission: Adults $9; youths (ages 1-18) and seniors $6. Advance tickets required.

Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

OGRAPHY SETH KAYE PHOT

Eric Carle Museum The nation’s fi rst museum of picture book art is nestled next to the Hampshire College campus in Amherst. The vision of celebrated author and artist Eric Carle – who is perhaps best known for the beloved The Very Hungry Caterpillar – the museum is designed to make visitors feel as if they are stepping inside one of the bold, bright collages in Carle’s books. The Carle’s picture-book exhibitions showcase a variety of artists,

themes, and styles. The three galleries host seven original shows a year, so there is always something new to see. In the auditorium, short, animated versions of new and classic picture book stories and family-friendly documentaries about illustrators are shown daily. The museum also has a reading library and an Art Studio. Fun, interactive story times are held in the library, where children can browse hundreds of books and plop down in a chair to fl ip through a favorite. Art pro-

More than one million visitors take in the MFA’s nearly 500,000 works of art each year. To engage the kids, search for objects and images—from cats and fl owers to mythical creatures to arms and armor—to learn interesting facts and get ideas for artmaking activities. The museum off ers Art Connections Cards that focus on a specifi c theme, linking intriguing objects from many cultures. You can download these self-guided activity sheets or pick up a copy at the visitor center.

In December, the museum opened fi ve brand-new galleries that create a grand entry to its collection of Greek and Roman art, and a new home for the collection of Byzantine art.

With freshly imagined spaces that include natural light, innovative displays, interactive experiences, and immersive evocations of an ancient Greek temple and a Byzantine church, visitors of all ages can learn about the legacies of these ancient cultures and understand their relevance today.

Another hit with the kids:

mummies! The Mummies Gallery has more than 140 objects ranging in date from about 1700 BC to AD 300, introducing visitors to the gods and goddesses who inhabited the underworld. There are also two large sculptures in the courtyard—Your Dog and Lime Green Icicle Tower – that are kid and family favorites.

The MFA off ers studio art classes and workshops for families, children, teens, and adults, taught by experienced educators who are also professional artists. The kids program is intended for ages 5–11 (classes grouped by age). Students explore the museum’s collection, then respond to what they have seen through drawing, painting, sculpture, collage, printmaking projects, and more.

Hours: Thursday to Monday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Admission: Adults $25; youth (age 7-17) $10; 6 and under free Off erings for Special Needs: The MFA off ers tips for visitors on the autism spectrum on their website. Its Beyond the Spectrum program, for ages 8-18, is designed to introduce the museum to children and teens on the autism spectrum, including Asperger’s Syndrome. Each class consists of a gallery tour focusing on a few specifi c artworks, followed by an artmaking activity in the classroom.

February Vacation: Inperson events have not been announced, but online events include music, performances, distance learning classes, chats, talks, and more.

MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS,

12 | FEBRUARY 2022 | BayStateParent

BOSTON

Springfi eld Museums Located in the heart of downtown Springfi eld, the Springfi eld Museums include fi ve museums, including the Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum and the Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden, all under a single admission. Of course, the Amazing World of Dr. Seuss is the favorite destination for children. With completely immersive, hands-on and minds-on exhibits throughout several galleries that make you feel like you walked right into one of Dr. Seuss’s books, this museum made especially for kids is hard to beat. The fi rst fl oor features interactive exhibits to experiment with new sounds and vocabulary, play rhyming games, and invent stories. The second fl oor, curated by Springfi eld-born Theodor Geisel’s two step daughters and great nephew, recreates the author’s studio and living room (with the furniture and art materials he actually used) and features never before publicly displayed art, family photographs and letters.

The live animal center at the Springfi eld Science Museum holds a lot of appeal with little ones, too. Turtles, lizards, snakes and fi sh capture kids’ attention and their sense of awe. Other kidfriendly spaces are dotted throughout the campus: The Smithsonian Spark!Lab in the Science Museum, Hasbro Gameland in the Wood Museum of Springfi eld History, and the Art Discovery Center in the George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum.

There are also often traveling exhibits specifi cally for kids. This winter, check out Under the Arctic: Digging into the Permafrost, a STEMbased, immersive exhibit that incorporates the sights and smells of the Western Hemisphere’s only permafrost research tunnel, and Ice Age fossils.

Hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Admission: Adults $25; seniors $16.50; youth (age 317) $13; children under 3 free Off erings for Special Needs: Sensory Friendly Saturdays are off ered on the sec-

ond Saturday of the month, a quieter experience for children with sensory sensitivity (from 9-11 a.m. in the Amazing World of Dr. Seuss and the Science Museum). All museums are accessible, and many have audio tours with verbal descriptions for visitors who are Blind. Sensory backpacks are available to borrow to help enhance visitor experiences.

February Vacation: Check out Hip Hop Hooray over school vacation week, with family friendly programming including music, dance, crafts, and reading.

USS Constitution Museum Come aboard USS Constitution and meet the active duty sailors who are part of her legacy today. Then, go deeper into the ship’s history at the USS Constitution Museum.

Serving as the memory and educational voice of “Old Ironsides,” this museum off ers hands-on experiences exploring how the oldest commissioned warship afl oat was built, sailed, and preserved.

The museum is located in the historic old Engine House at the Charlestown Navy Yard, which sits at the end of Boston’s Freedom Trail. Visitors entering the museum walk directly over the location of the original pump wells that fi rst drained the dry dock for the Constitution.

A family favorite at the museum is the award-winning exhibit, All Hands on Deck.

Try a meal of salted meat and ship’s biscuit, crawl into a hammock, and enjoy a video in the Battle Theater. Families can furl a sail, fi re a cannon, and scrub the decks to see what life at sea was like 200 years ago. There is also an “Eagle Eye” scavenger hunt (spot all the eagles hidden in the museum) that is designed for children and can be picked up at the front desk.

Hours: Daily 10 a.m.-5p.m.

Admission: Donation Off erings for Special Needs: The All Hands on Deck exhibit is designed to be multimodal and accessible. There is also a social story for what to expect when visiting the museum available at the front desk.

February Vacation: The

SPRINGFIELD MUSEU

MS

USS Constitution Museum will host its popular LEGO Maritime Festival during school vacation week. Details are to be announced.

Worcester Art Museum The WAM houses over 38,000 works of art dating from antiquity to the present day and representing cultures from all over the world. The museum off ers interactive Scavenger Hunts and Family Guides to help kids and families explore the galleries in

fun and engaging ways. Art Carts throughout the museum off er places for children to have hands-on participation with objects and materials that they see throughout the museum. Touch Carts have objects that children can handle, interactive iPads and more. When you’re ready for a break, the WAM has a Family Nook, where you can read, make art, and chat together before returning to the galleries.

Of all there is to see, the WAM’s massive collection

(the second-largest in the country!) of arms and armor is perhaps the most enchanting for kids. They can view full suits of steel armor, try on a helmet or heft a sword to feel what these objects were really like. In live, interactive Arms and Armor presentations, recommended for ages 6+, you’ll learn all about diff erent kinds of arms and armor, including those used by Roman soldiers, Medieval knights, Vikings, and more. The museum holds First Free Sundays, allowing families and visitors of all ages free admission on the fi rst Sunday of each month, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Hours: Wednesday to Sunday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Admission: Adults $18; seniors $14; children 17 and under free February Vacation: WAM holds vacation week workshops as a fun introduction to the museum’s collection, and the process that goes into creating art. The February theme is “Into the Future,” and features unique programming for ages 3 to 17, including Nano Portraits, Robo-Creature, City Planner and more. Check out the WAM website and look under “classes” to register.

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 | FEBRUARY 2022 | 13

14 | FEBRUARY 2022 | BayStateParent

y Preschool Story and Nature Hour

agenda

FEBRUARY ADVENTURES:

13 things to do with the kids this month

IMAGINE VAN GOGH

DINO AND DRAGON STROLL

x Dino and Dragon Stroll

Feb. 5 and 6 Springfi eld Encounter colossal sized dinosaurs, climb inside a dinosaur egg, and enter the Dragon’s Den surrounded by fantastical, legendary fi rebreathing dragons. The Dragon and Dino Stroll at the Big E brings these amazing creatures to life. The massive dinos and dragons – some over two stories high – feature scaly skin, feathers and fur, moving heads, swinging tails, and blinking eyes. The event also boasts bounce house infl atables and “dinosaur rides.”

Children can participate in story time and craft stations.

Tickets start at $17.99. Children under 2 are free. A sensory-friendly session will be held Feb. 5. dinostroll.com.

Feb. 9, 10, 11, 18 Worcester Broad Meadow Brook in Worcester and Wachusett Meadow in Princeton each host two nature-based story hours for preschoolers this month. Read a story, make a take-home craft and walk the wildlife sanctuaries’ trails.

Topics explored include groundhogs, snow and the colors of winter. Dress for the weather and be prepared to be outside. Pre-registration required. Children $5, members $4. massaudubon.org.

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ON THE

x Imagine Van Gogh: The Immersive Exhibition

Daily through Feb. 20 Boston This immersive exhibition at Boston’s SoWa Power Station features more than 200 of the Dutch artist’s paintings. The unique experience brings Van Gogh’s canvases to life in a vivid, spectacular way: the audience enters the artist’s world of dreams as visitors are literally transported on a journey to the heart of the artist’s work. Admire The Starry Night, Irises and Sunfl owers. Imagine Van Gogh is accompanied by the music of the great composers Saint-Saë ns, Mozart, Bach, Delibes and Satie. Tickets start at $33.99. imagine-vangogh.com.

v Hike & Seek: Tales of Trees

THE TRUSTEES

Daily beginning Feb. 3 North Andover Explore nature in winter with this family-friendly outdoor self-guided program at the Stevens-Coolidge House & Gardens. You'll be emailed an activity bundle to you them look for clues along the trail and work as a team to discover the tiny world beneath your feet and towering trees above your head. Pre-registration for one person is required to receive a downloadable bundle of activities to enjoy along the trail or at home, including maps, a scavenger hunt, crafts, additional reading list and recipes. The special trail will run through March 13. thetrustees.org.

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y Family Night Hike and Owl Prowl

Feb. 5, 12, 19 Natick, Belmont & Princeton Join this winter night hike through fi elds and forest, searching for signs of owls.

Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary in Natick, Habitat Education Center and Wildlife Sanctuary in Belmont, and Wachusett Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary in Princeton are hosting family-friendly hikes to learn about and search for owls this month. Check out samples of owl wings, skulls, talons, and feathers and learn about owl calls, behaviors, and habitats.

Search and listen for screech, barred, and great horned owls.

For ages 4 and up. Advance registration required. Members $17, nonmembers $21. massaudubon.org.

BLUE MAN GROUP

x Blue Man Group

Select dates beginning Feb. 10 Boston A dynamic combination of art, music, comedy and technology, Blue Man Group encourages audiences to reconnect with their inner (and outer) child in order to see the world through a new perspective. Three bald and blue men explore today’s cultural norms with wonder, poking fun at the audience’s collective quirks and reminding them how much they all have in common. The show is continually refreshed with new music, stories, custom instruments and state-of-the-art technology. This theatrical phenomenon returns to Boston’s Charles Playhouse on Feb. 10. Tickets start at $38.75. blueman.com/boston.

BayStateParent | FEBRUARY 2022 | 15

y ARTfull Play

Feb. 16 Lincoln Fill your morning with art and play at deCordova Sculpture Park. Each play-based hour features a unique opportunity to engage with art, stories, materials, nature, and new friends.

Best for children ages 2-5 accompanied by a caregiver. Preticketing is required in order to maintain capacity. Tickets include Museum and Sculpture Park admission. Adults $18, children and members free. thetrustees.org.

THE TRUSTEES

x Clay Valentine’s Chimes and Cards Workshop

THE TRUSTEES

Weekends beginning Feb.

20

x Monster Jam

Feb. 18-20 Worcester Witness heated rivalries, high-fl ying stunts and fi erce head-to-head battles as the 12,000-pound Monster Jam trucks push all limits in Freestyle, Skills, Donuts and Racing competitions at Worcester’s DCU Center. The Arena Championship Series East features eight skilled athletes fi ghting for the championship while putting on a spectacle, constantly innovating and always entertaining. Brandon Vinson gets behind the wheel of the black and green wrecking machine, the legendary Grave Digger, and Bernard Lyght makes his debut in Megalodon. Brianna Mahon in Whiplash and fan-favorite Coty Saucier return to arena competition. Tickets start at $20. dcucenter.com.

w Tap a Tree

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Feb. 16, 23, 26, 27 Sharon Learn about maple sugaring at Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary by exploring the tools of the trade and adopting a maple tree. At home, design your own tree label, then hike to the sugar bush and attach it to your chosen tree. Along the way you will learn about what it means to be a maple farmer - from identifying the tree, to learning the tools of the trade to the actual tapping of the tree. At the end of the sugaring season, each family will receive a bottle of Moose Hill syrup from this year's season to complete the experience. Registration required. Cost is $75 per family; $50 for members. massaudubon.org.

Presenting puppets, princesses, pirates, storytelling and much more!

Call today for more information All Ages.

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

www.rosalitaspuppets.com 617-633-2832

WM-0000485895-01

16 | FEBRUARY 2022 | BayStateParent

y Family Maple Syrup Workshop

Hamilton & Ipswich Try your hand at maple sugaring at Appleton Farms in this fun, hands-on workshop.

After exploring maple sugaring tools, use a hand drill to practice tapping a tree. Go through the whole process from maple sugar tree ID to boiling sap, and be sure to play along the way. Finish up with a story– and, of course, a maple syrup sample! This is a twohour educational family program and pre-registration is required. Adults $20, children $15. thetrustees.org.

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Feb. 12 Lincoln Make and decorate ceramic Valentine’s chime ornaments and cards for someone special. Hot cocoa with marshmallows and cider with mulled spices will be served to accompany this festive, outdoor, all-levels workshop at deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum. Instruction, tools, materials, seating and work surfaces for building and decorating a clay card and three smaller Valentine’s Day chime ornaments will be provided during this familystyled workshop. Work will be fi red and ready for pick up at a later date. Cost is $60; members $48. thetrustees.org.

MONSTER JAM

y Professional Bull Riders’ Velocity Tour

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x Enchanted Forest at Fruitlands

Feb. 19-27 Harvard During February School Vacation Week, visit the Enchanted Forest at the Fruitlands Museum and enjoy selfguided explorations. Fairy, Gnome, and Elf houses installed on the yellow trail bring the winter forest to life.

Your registration includes a pass for grounds access and link to a digital activity kit including map, craft activity guide, story time reading, and more, inspired by Louisa May Alcott’s “The Frost King, of The Power of Love” from her book Flower Fables. Carload $15, members $5. thetrustees.org.

Saturday, Feb. 26 Worcester See some of the best bull riders in the world battle the sport’s rankest bovine athletes in the ultimate showdown of man versus beast.

Forty competing riders will attempt one bull each in the opening round, then the Top 10 will then advance to the championship round where they will attempt one fi nal bull, all in an eff ort to be crowned the event champion.

Tickets start at $15. dcucenter.com.

ANDRE SILVA

the list

7 WINTER FESTIVALS worth bundling up for

Winterfest at Brimfi eld Winery Saturday, Feb. 5 The Brimfi eld Winery teams up with Rapscallion Brewery’s French Canadian Day for a family-friendly event including meat pies, poutine, snowman competitions, bonfi res, a beverage ice luge, live music, and more.

Adults can sip on a specially brewed IPA or hot mulled wine.

Lowell WinterFest Friday & Saturday, Feb. 18-19 Ride a classic carousel, enjoy kids activities, play giant games and cast your vote in the soup competition. Live music, outdoor ice skating, an artisans’ market, and an array of eclectic food vendors are all part of the fun.

Fruitlands Winter Fest Saturday. Feb. 26 A human dog sled race, sledding, s’mores by the fi repit, nature walks through the Enchanted Forest and more are part of this day of family fun. Warm up with beer, food and wine in a heated tent.

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Greenfi eld Winter Carnival Friday to Sunday, Feb. 4-6 From ice carving to sled races, winter-themed events will take place all over this western Mass. city all weekend long for their 100th annual Winter Carnival.

Northampton Ice Art Festival Friday, February 11 Artists carve ice sculptures throughout downtown NoHo for this day-long festival, which culminates with a public display of the fi nal sculptures during Arts Night Out from 5-8 p.m.

Easthampton WinterFest Saturday, Feb. 12 Enjoy a winter-themed outdoor StoryWalk, horsedrawn wagon rides, ice carving and harvesting demonstrations, guided nature hikes and more throughout this quaint city in the Pioneer Valley.

Oxford Winter Carnival Saturday, Feb. 19 The fun kicks off with a Polar Plunge at Carbuncle Pond, followed by ice skating, an interactive ice sculptor demonstration, free coff ee and refreshments, and a host of other outdoor activities on the town common.

BayStateParent | FEBRUARY 2022 | 17

18 | FEBRUARY 2022 | BayStateParent

DIY

Valentine’s PINCH POT Pinch pots are a simple pottery project for kids of all ages.

This festive, heart-shaped clay dish is perfect for holding their trinkets and treasures.

What you need h Air drying clay h Acrylic paints h Paint brush

How to make it

AMANDA COLLINS BERNIER

Knead your clay to soften it, then work it into a smooth, round ball. If the clay is too hard, you can add a bit of water. The more clay you have, the bigger your pot will be.

Once you have your ball, press into the middle with your two thumbs. Then, using your thumb and index fi nger, pinch around to shape the walls.

When you have a basic round pinch pot, push into one side of the bowl with your index fi nger to create the top of the heart indent. At the opposite end, pinch the wall together make the point part of the heart.

Dip your index fi nger in water and use to smooth out any cracks or bumps.

Set your pot out overnight to dry. Once it’s completely dry, paint and embellish.

Worcester

BRING A FRIEND SALE!

th New Members Bring a Friend & Each Receive n o M e Th y 1 month free & $50 Off Enrollment Fee r a u r b e of F 633 Salisbury St., Worcester • www.worcesterjcc.org • 508.756.7109 Monica Maher; mmaher@worcesterjcc.org • Lillian Cohen; lcohen@worcesterjcc.org BayStateParent | FEBRUARY 2022 | 19

NUTRITION

bites

Start slow

Loading up your little ones’ plates with steamed veggies and sauteed fi sh may be a surefi re way to send them to the pantry for a less nutritious snack. Instead, try combining personal favorites with small portions of foods you’d like to introduce, such as chicken nuggets alongside green beans or topping pizza with black olives.

5 tips to encourage

PICKY EATERS

Don’t force it

Make mealtimes an adventure for the whole family Family Features

F

eeding an entire family can be diffi cult enough on its own with busy evenings full of hustle and bustle. One additional factor that can

cause even more headaches is dealing with a picky eater, especially a child whose preferred menu ranges from hot dogs to candy. ❚ If you’re looking to widen the palate of your picky eater (or eaters), consider these tips to start down a path toward a more expansive slate of family meals.

While it can be frustrating to constantly hear “no” to fruits and veggies, forcing them upon children may turn them away for good. In addition, a struggle over eating certain foods may create a constant sense of frustration around mealtime, which may only decrease a child’s desire to expand his or her horizons.

Create a fun experience

Remember not every meal has to include something new.

On occasion, mix up mealtime by serving your children’s favorites, even if it’s as simple as

a hamburger or as creative as breakfast for dinner.

Bring your sidekicks to the store

Introducing your children to the place your family’s food comes from may help them feel more comfortable with new fl avors. Plus, by letting them in on the shopping process, you can have some help choosing foods they’re more likely to be willing to try.

Let children help cook

Much like choosing their own ingredients increases the likelihood they’ll try something new, perhaps becoming part of the cooking process can help children see how a meal comes together. It doesn’t have to be a gourmet experience – simply seasoning roasted asparagus with salt and olive oil, for example, can introduce your up-andcoming chefs to the kitchen while helping make the cooking (and eating) process a fun adventure.

camp kick off!

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 27 Starting at 11AM O N E DAY O N LY ! 1 5 % o f f * FEB 28—MAR 6.....10% OFF* MAR 7—13...............5% OFF*

All Summer Camp Registrations Done Online To register go to www.worcesterjcc.org and click on “register for summer camp” *Valid only on base camp price. Does not apply to paid electives.

WM-0000485953-01

20 | FEBRUARY 2022 | BayStateParent

633 Salisbury St., Worcester www.worcesterjcc.org 508.756.7109

GOOSE’S

goodies

CHOCOLATE CHIP

Monkey Bars

T

his kid-favorite treat features bananas, cinnamon

and chocolate chips... what could be better than that?

Ingredients 1 2⁄ 3 cups mashed, ripe bananas (about 5 bananas) ⁄ 4 cup packed light brown sugar

3

⁄ 4 cup oil

1

⁄ 4 cup milk

1

2 large eggs

AMANDA COLLINS BERNIER

2 tsp. vanilla extract 1 tsp. baking soda 1 tsp. cinnamon ⁄ 4 tsp. salt

1

1 3⁄ 4 cups whole wheat flour 1 cup mini chocolate chips

Directions Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 15 x 10 x 1⁄ 2-inch baking pan with nonstick foil (let the foil extend about 2 inches above the pan at both ends).

What are you waiting for?

Join the thousands of followers in more than 180 countries.

In a large bowl, whisk together the mashed bananas, sugar, oil, milk, eggs, vanilla, baking soda, cinnamon and salt.

Whisk flour into the banana mixture, just until blended. Fold in 1⁄ 2 cup of the mini chocolate chips.

Spread the batter into the prepared pan. Sprinkle the remaining chocolate chips on top. Bake 15 to 20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool completely on a wire rack.

Hold the foil by the ends and lift from the pan onto a cutting board. Carefully cut into bars, slicing lengthwise into 4 strips, and then each strip into 10.

Remove foil.

Follow the UMass Memorial Simply Well blog today:

www.umassmemorial.org/simplywell

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 | FEBRUARY 2022 | 21

feature Chocolate Game Controller Gamers might just put down their real controller to enjoy this sweet treat made of rich, chocolatey goodness. amazon.com, $10.99.

CHALK OF THE TOWN

AMAZON.COM

Chalk of the Town Kids can customize their own T-shirt on this festive, heartshaped chalkboard surface.

Erasable chalk markers are included. chalk-of-thetown.com, $29.95.

Sweet gifts for your little

CREATE ON

Valentine PAPER SOURCE

Show your little ones the love this Valentine’s Day with these fun and festive gift ideas.

Love From The Very Hungry Caterpillar This interactive magnetic tile set helps build retelling and story sequencing skills, and encourages creativity. createon.com, $44.95.

Heart to Heart Crayons

M AMAZON.CO

Each of these 12 heartshaped crayons has a fine point that allows them to connect to each other in one long stack. papersource.com, $4.95.

What I Love About Being Your Mom

Valentine’s Craft Kit

KID MADE MODERN

Create a bevy of love notes and sweet crafts with this bundle that includes cardstock hearts, sticky gems, fuzzy sticks, gel pens and more. kidmademodern.com, $16.99.

22 | FEBRUARY 2022 | BayStateParent

Fill in the blanks of this little book and voilà: it becomes a personalized gift your little love will read over and over again. amazon.com, $11.56.

US PL

US PL

Plus-Plus Tube - I Love You The 70-piece I Love You tube is a great way to get started with Plus-Plus, a one-shape puzzle piece to build 2D mosaics or 3D creations. plusplususa.com, $7.99.

Take Five with

‘Blue Man’ Eric Rubb

I

Amanda Collins Bernier Bay State Parent Magazine | USA TODAY NETWORK

t’s been nearly two years since the theatrical phenomenon Blue Man Group rocked the iconic Charles Playhouse in Boston. Dur-

ing that time, the cast – many of them dads – coped with daycare shutdowns, remote learning, and all the uncertainty the rest of us have. We caught up with Blue Man Eric Rubb, a South Shore dad of three, about pandemic parenting and what he’s most looking forward to when the group makes its long-awaited return to to the stage this month.

1. What’s your background and how did it lead you to the Blue Man Group?

I probably grew up like a lot of kids – played sports (soccer for me), loved to act, and when all my friends took up guitar and bass, I thought, “Well, I guess I should play drums if I want to be in the band!”

Flash forward - I went to Boston University for theatre and while studying there, I had the opportunity to take my mother to a show for Mother’s Day. That show: Blue Man Group. The moment I fi rst heard the opening drum calls, I remember thinking to myself, “This is it. This is the show I want to do.” It was the perfect blend of everything I loved about live theatre – playful, dynamic, wild, hilarious, and moving. I felt an instant draw to the emotional life of the character and the show.

And there was great music.

When I heard about open calls my junior year, I went. And the casting director at the time was incredibly generous. He gave me great feedback on my audition and even greater feedback for my career. He said, “Come back and see us when you graduate.”

I did and the rest is history.

2. You have three kids and have been “blue” for their whole lives.

Are they impressed by your job or is it no big deal to them?

They better think it’s a big deal! No, in all seriousness, they all connect to it

in very unique ways. My eldest is fascinated by the energy and community of the show and likes to talk about what interesting thing happened on any given night. My middle child is all about the music – in fact, he started taking lessons from one of the Blue Man drummers. My youngest – she likes the performance itself and that it makes for “the best day ever!” (her words).

3. The pandemic has been hard on us all, especially parents. How has your family life changed in the past couple years, and do you hope to carry any of those changes into post-pandemic life?

That’s a tough question. I think fi rst and foremost, was our desire to be closer to and invest more in our immediate family. That includes investing in each other – building individual relationships with the kids, fi nding what makes each of our interactions diff erent.

For many years, raising three kids all under 10 can quickly become what my wife’s family refers to as, “army maneuvers;” who needs to be where, when, who’s doing the pickups, the drop-off s, who’s making the school lunches – suddenly you fi nd yourself being carried by your day rather than guiding it.

It was hard when the show initially shut down, but it also gave us as family time to connect more. I’m so proud of my kids and the unique humans they

Blue Man Eric Rubb looks forward to returning to the stage this month after a two year hiatus. ERIC RUBB

are turning out to be and those ways of connecting are ones we’re not likely to give up on anytime soon.

4. It’s been almost two years since the Blue Man Group has performed in Boston. What are you most excited about returning to the stage?

Can I say everything? I’ve been so fortunate over the years to perform this show in a lot of diff erent places and with so many talented performers.

There’s a collective moment in the show – we casually refer to it as “helmets up” – when the Blue Men and the audience see each other for the fi rst time. And in all my years, there is nothing quite like that moment. So much possibility, danger, excitement, nervous anticipation, all bubbling together, and it is in that moment that we all decide together to go on this ride.

That moment. I can’t wait to experience that moment with my fellow per-

formers and audiences again. And again. And again.

5. What’s unique about the Boston show?

Boston has always felt a bit like an incubator for the world of Blue Man. We have a performance space that is simultaneously rooted in the history of this city but also unlike any other performance venue that Blue Man plays in across the globe. This means we are always testing new approaches, new ways to adapt material that are unique to our audiences and our home.

Blue Man Group returns to the Charles Playhouse beginning Feb. 10.

During School Vacation week, Feb. 1827, the group will have an expanded show schedule including added weekday matinees at 1:30 p.m. Children under the age of 5 are not permitted in the theatre. Tickets and more information is at blueman.com.

BayStateParent | FEBRUARY 2022 | 23

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For appointments, call 855-UMASS-MD (855-862-7763) or visit umassmemorial.org/IVF. 24 | FEBRUARY 2022 | BayStateParent