baystateparent magazine June 2019

JUNE 2019

20 Can’t-Miss Fairs & Festivals Splish Splash! Spray Park Guide 100 Places for FREE Summer Fun

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contents JUNE 2019 VOLUME 23

NUMBER 14

BEST. SUMMER. EVER.

4 JUNE2019

features 8

When Kids Come Out: How Parents Can Support LGBTQ Children

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Can You Dig It? Local Mom Teaches Foraging for Wild Food

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Can’t-Miss Summer Fairs & Festivals

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Summer Unplugged: Getting Back to the Basics

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Day Trip! Exploring the Beautiful Boston Harbor Islands

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New Drowning Prevention Guidelines: What Parents Need to Know

36

Your Child’s Medication Can’t Take a Vacation This Summer

34

Ten Free Fun Fridays at 100 Bay State Venues

in every issue 6 7 9 22 23 39 40 43

Momma to the Max Herding Goofballs On the Agenda Cyber Savvy Mom Bites Finally Forever Very Special People Take Eight with Megan Amaral

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baystateparent president PAUL M. PROVOST associate publisher KATHY REAL BENOIT 508-767-9525 kbenoit@gatehousemedia.com

CREATIVE editor in chief AMANDA COLLINS BERNIER 508-767-9526 acollins@gatehousemedia.com creative director SHIELA NEALON 508-793-9121 shiela.nealon@telegram.com

ADVERTISING sales manager JEREMY WARDELL 508-767-9574 jwardwell@gatehousemedia.com account executive KATHY PUFFER 508-767-9544 kpuffer@gatehousemedia.com account executive REGINA STILLINGS 508-344-8037 rstillings@gatehousemedia.com

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100 Front Street, 5th Floor Worcester, MA 01608 baystateparent is published monthly and is distributed free of charge throughout Massachusetts.

momma to the

MAX

Summer Loving For some, it’s a trip to the beach. Sand in their toes, waves at their feet, and the salty scent of the sea.

For kids, it’s the bell ringing on the last day of school. Walking out the door with no books, backpack or homework; a new schedule of pool parties and mid-day popsicles.

For me, it’s that first ice cream cone of the season. It has to be soft serve, it has to have sprinkles, and I have to eat it outside. Sitting in the sunshine, relishing that simple frosty treat -- it’s official. It’s summertime.

Sweet, sweet summertime.

I’ve always loved summer and the relaxed vibe it brings. When it comes to nostalgia, summertime can rival even the holiday season. I look back on my childhood summers with wistfulness – they were filled with lazy days, backyard games, sleepovers, day trips and family vacations.

Mugginess aside, the Bay State is a great place to live in the summer. There no shortage of lakes, parks and pools.

There’s woodsy nature to explore and oceanside beaches

to enjoy. We have amazing museums, zoos, and other attractions right in our backyard.

If you’re looking for a jam-packed summer to remember, with your days and nights brimming with activities to keep the kids busy and entertained, we’ve got you covered. This guide to summer 2019 has unique day trip ideas (page 32), a lineup of exciting fairs and festivals (page 28), and 100 places to find free family fun (page 38).

If you’re hoping for a more laid back summer, with nothing on the schedule but free time, look no further than page 30, where you’ll find ideas for getting “back to the basics” and a challenge to spend summer unplugged.

This is your go-to guide to an awesome season, but it’s not all fun and games. Drowning is the single leading cause of injury or death among children ages 1 to 4, the majority of the deaths occurring in the summer months in backyard pools. The American Academy of Pediatrics recently released new water safety guidelines that every parent should know, and you read about them on page 34. And, to help make sure your little ones stay healthy this season, you’ll find pharmacists’ tips for keeping up with kids’ medication over the summer on page 36.

Whatever kind of season you want, and whatever makes it “official” to you -- here’s to 2019 being your family’s best. summer. ever.

Amanda

Editor’s Picks What I’m Using

What I’m Loving

What I’m Planning

Bug repellant on my toddler is one of those things that makes me nervous (crazy mom, here!). I’ve been using the Bug Stick

by Dr. Federenko True Organic on my son Max. It’s made with all-natural ingredients and has no DEET or chemicals. Bonus: it smells ah-mazing!

The topic of bathroom choice for gender non-conforming people has sparked national conversation.

It can be a lot for adults to take in, let alone kids. Jacob’s Room to Choose, a new picture book for ages 5-8

by Sarah and Ian Hoffman, handles the subject in a kid-friendly, developmentally appropriate way.

It reminds us to respect others, despite any and all differences.

I’m hoping to take advantage of all the free things to do this summer. Did you know Tower Hill Botanic Garden offers free admission after 3 p.m. every Thursday all summer long? And the Boston Museum of Science has a free Astronomy After Hours program on Friday nights through October, with a variety of hands-on astronomy and science activities.

ON THE COVER- ADELE, AGE 7 • COVER PHOTO BY ELAN STUDIO BY TRACY SWEENEY • ELAN-STUDIO.COM 6 JUNE2019

Herding

Goofballs

Lending a Hand

BY JOSH FARNSWORTH, ILLUSTRATION BY KIRA BEAUDOIN

S

omewhere between “shameless” and “indifferent to ridicule” there lives a definition of me.

When people learn new things about me, I seldom feel awkward that they now are blessed with this newfound information.

For instance, readers, I enjoy watching ASMR relaxation videos where the subject gets a face massage from a renowned barber or masseuse.

That’s right.

I find it relaxing.

I hope we can still be friends.

Maybe my inability to feel nervous about public stuff like this is a personality flaw. I like to think of it as proactively sculpting my life as an open book.

I just hope and pray the way I live gains acceptance from enough people who I am lucky enough to call a friend.

When it comes to parenting my goofballs, I do care immensely about acceptance. I want my kids to not just like me as some sort of happenstance roommate, but genuinely love that I am there.

When my oldest, Cooper, was two and the only child around, part of cultivating this affection was making him laugh…often…as loud as he could. One of my “tools” for garnering affection— and in turn, temporary acceptance— was turning to an arsenal of ridiculous fake characters that lived in my head.

As a writer, creating different characters comes naturally. I tried out a number of quirky-voiced characters with Cooper, who had mixed reviews.

And then, one day giving Cooper a bath, I introduced “The Hands.”

Allow me to introduce you, as well.

Imagine, if you will, forming your left hand and right hand into talking puppets. Their voices can be best described as Kermit the Frog working his way through anger management.

Left Hand is the jokester hell-bent on raising Right Hand’s collective blood pressure in a series of tricks, gaffes or other misdirections.

Right Hand is the straight man (or hand, I suppose) in this comic duo. He’s a people-pleaser, who often is caught with his pants around his collective ankles by Left Hand’s tricks.

You know…if hands had ankles.

Or wore pants.

The punchlines were mostly about overindulging in food, funny-sounding names (who doesn’t like a good Walla, Walla, Washington reference?) and prop gags like accidently mistaking a glass of water for a bowl of ghost chili peppers.

The comedy pairing became an instant hit with Cooper. He was soon asking every day to talk to The Hands to participate in their brand of age-appropriate shenanigans.

Soon, The Hands became such a staple of comedy relief in the house, that I had an identity crisis: is Cooper having a great, fun time with me or The Hands?

Surely, Cooper understood they were attached to, and voiced by, yours truly?

When we would venture out into public, I found myself becoming very self-conscious about voicing our favorite two characters. When the people were out, The Hands tended to vanish— along with the level of fun for Coop.

Recently, when Cooper and I arrived at the grocery store, we were fresh off of a 15-minute adventure with The

Hands. When it was time to get out and walk to the store, he asked The Hands to continue their insanely ridiculous banter.

Me: “OK, not right now. It’s time to go into the store. The Hands need to go away.”

Cooper: “Why?” I began to stammer out an answer that sounded like the sorriest excuse.

I talked about other people not understanding who The Hands were and making too much noise while people shopped and on and on with this line of thinking.

In short, I was talking out of a part of me other than my hands.

What was I afraid of? After all, The Hands brought nothing but happiness and a diversion to playfulness. Isn’t that a gift to impart on the world?

While thinking about this ordeal, my sons took the courageous step I couldn’t until this point. They created their own The Hands, mimicking my change of voice, talking to other shoppers with them as they strolled by.

No, they do not have names yet.

Yes, they are as zany as you think they might be.

Most importantly, I continue to learn from kids. Their imagination should be encouraged, unabated and unobstructed. If this means showcasing The Hands in plain view, for all to see, I believe that is growth as a parent.

Moreover, my kids’ new characters not only validate my own two wacky hands, but are without a doubt the best thing that could’ve happened since I created them.

I know my The Hands cast has

allowed them to bust a gut plenty of times over the years, but their The Hands are the real gift.

And a reminder I need. If I want to sculpt my life as an open book, it starts with bringing joy to the people who live in my very home—regardless of looking funny to others.

After all, any laughs at me are jealousy they never thought of the idea, right?

It’s an amazing reminder about learning as a parent. The second I think I know most of the content, my goofballs remind me that the best of parents are always still learning—oftentimes directly from their kids.

Here is my promise to you, Cooper and Milo and the rest of America: moving forward, The Hands shall not be hidden from embarrassment. No sorry excuses. They are a gift—one that has already sprouted four new characters to pass down to the next generation.

There is no need to be embarrassed if it delivers even one ounce of happiness.

No worries. Hands up.

And if I do feel a tinge of self-awareness, I am reminded that I have a few relaxation videos to fall back on.

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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When Kids Come Out How Parents Can Support LGBTQ Children

BY DEBBIE LAPLACA Um mom, dad…I think I’m gay.

Gulp.

Popular TV dramas of late have portrayed this defining moment in the family dynamic as joyous, with words of affection and acceptance, punctuated by group hugs.

Yet, for many families, the scene plays out much differently.

How parents, caregivers and guardians react when hearing their young one is lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender can have a dramatic and long-lasting impact on the child. One study of more than 10,000 LGBT-identified youth, ages 13-17, reported 26 percent said their non-accepting families were the greatest problem they face.

So, how should you, as a parent or caregiver, react when learning your child is LBGT? First, “lead with love.”

That is the advice of PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays), a national nonprofit that provides support, education and advocacy for LGBT families.

National PFLAG spokesperson Liz Owen said, “Our work for 46 years has truly proven that family acceptance saves LGBTQ lives, like nothing else.”

In this instance, “Q” stands for “queer or questioning.”

While each family’s story differs, commonality is found in the questions parents ask, from, ‘Why my child?’ to ‘What do we do next?’

Know that you are not alone.

According to PFLAG, one in four, or possibly one in three families has an immediate family member who is LGBT. The five PFLAG chapters in Massachusetts serve as local resources for families seeking guidance and support.

The Greater Worcester chapter at 4 Mann Street, and Greater Boston chapter at 85 River Street in Waltham, offer confidential telephone helplines, monthly support group meetings, one-on-one sessions, workshops and community forums on sexual orientation and gender identity.

Laura Farnsworth, director PFLAG of Greater Worcester, says family acceptance truly does save LGBT lives.

“It can be almost negligent to reject and isolate a family member,” she said. “When a parent comes to us, it shows they are engaged and care for their children.”

The Worcester location serves nearly a 150 families per year.

“The need has never been greater for these families 8 JUNE2019

to have connections and resources,” Farnsworth said.

“For most parents who come to us, it’s about knowing they are not alone, that they have a safe place to go where they are not going to be judged, and they can receive appropriate support.”

The Human Rights Campaign and the Human Rights Campaign Foundation together are billed as the nation’s largest civil rights organization working to achieve LGBT equality, and a trusted resource in the support community.

An HRC report, Growing Up LGBT in America, is considered a groundbreaking survey of more than 10,000 LGBT-identified youth.

Fifty-six percent of the youth surveyed said they are out to their immediate family, and 25 percent are out to their extended family.

The Family Acceptance Project, which conducts research and publishes best practices to decrease risk and promote the wellbeing of LGBT youth, says family acceptance helps protect against risky behaviors.

The Project also reports gay and transgender teens who were highly rejected by their parents and caregivers were at high risk for health and mental health problems when they become young adults (ages 21-25).

When compared to their peers who were not rejected or only mildly rejected, the highly rejected were more than eight times as likely to have attempted suicide; nearly six times as likely to report high levels of depression; more than three times as likely to use illegal drugs, and more than three times as likely to be at high risk for HIV and sexually transmitted diseases.

So how do you best react to your child’s sexual and gender expression?

The Project says behaviors to avoid are physical abuse, verbal harassment, excluding the child from family activities, blocking access to LGBT friends and resources, and forcing the child to keep their identity secret.

The recommended behaviors to promote wellbeing include the show of affection, advocate for your child, bring your child to LGBT organizations or events, and welcome your child’s LGBT friends to your home.

Directed by Dr. Caitlin Ryan at the Marian Wright Edelman Institute at San Francisco State University, the Family Acceptance Project has developed the first research-based family support model and a wide range of research-based materials and assessment tools to help families.

Its publications, including “Best Practice” resources for LGBT families, are available for download athttps://familyproject.sfsu.edu/publications.

The PFLAG network of support groups sprang roots in 1972 when now deceased school teacher Jeanne Manford and her son Morty marched in the Christopher Street Liberation Day March in New York, which was the precursor to today’s Pride parade.

The story goes Manford’s experiences during that march and the mistreatment of her gay son led her to form a support group for families. The first meeting at a church in Greenwich Village in March 1973 was reportedly attended by approximately 20 people.

Today, PFLAG has 400 chapters and 200,000 supporters in 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, according to its website.

Its stated mission is to “build on a foundation of loving families united with LGBTQ people and allies who support one another, and to educate ourselves and our communities to speak up as advocates until all hearts and minds respect, value and affirm LGBTQ people.”

For more information on the Worcester PFLAG chapter, visit www.worcesterpflag.org.

Debbie LaPlaca is veteran journalist, photographer and joyful mom of two, living in Central Massachusetts.

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agenda • FACTS & FREEBIES • JUNE’S ADVENTURES • THE LIST

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FREEBIE} 3{FREEBIE}

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Fans will be on the edge of their seats when Monster Jam roars into Foxborough later this month with adrenaline-charged, high-flying, four-wheel excitement that is fun for the entire family. Head to Facebook today, where we’re away two family four-packs to take it all in!

{FACT} Full moon tonight! According to a 2016 study, kids really do sleep less when there’s a full moon, but only by a few minutes.

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wednesday

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Kalon Farm will host Kids Obstacle Challenge, an obstacle and adventure course event series for kids ages 5-16 and their parents this month, featuring a 1.5-mile course and over a dozen fun obstacles. Up for the challenge? Head to our Facebook page today for a chance to win four tickets!

Take time out from your daily routine to find a stream, pond, lake or river, bait your hook, cast your line and catch a fish or two.

It’s Go Fishing Day!

Do you have an insatiable reader?

Keep them occupied this summer with some new books! We’re giving away a stack of middle grade books (for ages 8-12), of various genres and titles. Enter today to win them for your bookworm!

Heading to the Cape this summer? You need this Cape Cod Notebook that’s part travel guide, part journal. Divided by region, the notebook includes detailed maps, space to write, and beach info such as parking fees; food, shower, and boat ramp and more. Win it today on our Facebook page!

26 {FACT} Did you know? June is the month with the longest daylight hours of the year.

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thurs

It’s National DriveIn Movie Day! There are several local spots to enjoy this classic family passtime.

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Starting on the date the prize appears, go to our page to enter for your chance to win.

sday

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friday

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{FACT}

Dessert fiends everywhere will be stuffing their faces with all shapes and sizes of doughy, icing-covered goodness today. There are plenty of places to score a free donut on National Donut Day!

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Here’s a fun fact for Flag Day: did you know the 50-star pattern was created by a high school student? Robert G. Heft, a 17-year-old Ohio student created the design for a class project, and got a B-.

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Break out the swimsuits and flip flops! It’s the first day of Summer!

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ADVENTURES OUR TOP

5 PICKS OF THINGS TO DO IN JUNE

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Kids Obstacle Challenge. Kalon Farm, 339 7 Bridge Rd., Lancaster. Saturday, June 22, 8:30 a.m. This adventure and obstacle course race series for kids ages 5-16 features more than 15 fun and challenging obstacles and mud. It’s a family adventure with parents getting to run alongside their kids. Use code ADVENTURE15 for 15% off. $44-$52. kidsobstaclechallenge.com.

Muster Day. Old Sturbridge Village, 1 Old Sturbridge Village Rd., Sturbridge. Saturday, June 1, 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Watch as a ‘muster day’ is recreated through marching, musket and cannon firing, military martial music, and target practice. Free with admission. Adults $28, youths 4-17 $14, under 4 free. osv.org.

Puppet Showplace Theater’s 45th Birthday Celebration. Puppet Showplace Theater, 32 Station St., Brookline. Sunday, June 2, 2 p.m. Dance through the decades with fellow puppetry friends, fans, and supporters during this all ages block party and fundraiser. Adults $60, youths 12 and under free. puppetshowplace.org.

40th Annual Boston Dragon Boat Festival. John Weeks Footbridge, 953 Memorial Dr., Cambridge. Sunday, June 9, 12-5 p.m. Watch as teams compete paddling sleek, colorful, dragon boats along the Charles River, during this day of family fun, arts and crafts, performances, and a celebration of Asian culture. Free. bostondragonboat.org.

The Caterpillar Lab. Leominster Public Library, 30 West St., Leominster. Wednesday, June 26, 3-4 p.m. Learn about the diverse and fantastical creatures that are caterpillars during this afternoon of fun. For ages 5 to 13. Register ahead. Free. leominsterlibrary.org.

ADVENTURES 1 SATURDAY Kids Equipment Day & Open House. Shrewsbury DPW, 211 South St., Shrewsbury. 9 a.m.-1 p.m. See highway trucks, parks equipment, and learn more about stormwater, and the new recycling program. Free, but toiletry item donations requested.

MOS Red Sox Weekend. Museum of Science, 1 Science Park, Boston. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Highlighting the science and engineering behind baseball. Experience everything from Red Sox-themed design challenges to baseball-themed live presentations. Through Sunday. Free with admission. Adults $29, children $24, members free. mos.org.

Accessible Recreation Fair. Herter Park/Artesani Playground, 1255 Soldiers Field Rd., Brighton. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. A free, fun-filled day celebrating accessible outdoor recreation in state parks. Inclusive activities include adaptive cycling, hiking and letterboxing with all-terrain wheelchairs and walkers, face painting and kite decorating, mask making and sidewalk chalking, golf and other equipment demonstrations, bubble blowing and games, music and dancing, and more. Free. mass.gov.

WGBY Asparagus Festival. Town Commons, Hadley. 10 a.m.- 6 p.m. A celebration of all things local, this outdoor, family-friendly event features live music all day, a large farmers/makers’ market, and fresh food and craft beers from around the Pioneer Valley. Admission is free, but donations suggested. wgby.org.

The Legend of the Banana Kid. Puppet Showplace Theater, 32 Station St., Brookline. 10:30 a.m. & 1 p.m. Enjoy Frogtown Mountain Puppeteers as a young Western enthusiasts rides into town on his trusty goat to outsmart bad guys and bring justice using his weapon of choice: a banana. $12. puppetshowplace.org.

Beyond the Spectrum: Express Yourself. Museum of Fine Arts: Boston, 465 Huntington Ave., Boston. 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Explore examples of self-portraits from the museum’s collections, and then return to the studio to make our own expressive self-portraits during these adventures in art for

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children on the Autism Spectrum. Recommended for ages 8-12. $9. mfa.org.

Everyday Engineering: Tinfoil Ferries. Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Drop-in and engage in some everyday engineering as you construct and create tinfoil boats to test how much they can carry before sinking. Free with admission.

Members free; nonmembers $14.50, ages under 1 free. discoveryacton.org.

Cambridge Arts River Festival.

Central Square Cultural District, Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Join thousands of festival goers as you rove through performances, hands-on artmaking, food vendors, and an art market through Central Square in Cambridge. Free. cambridgema. gov/arts/ Worcester Food Truck Festival.

City Hall and Common, Worcester. 12-5 p.m.

Featuring some of the area’s most popular food trucks, dishing out fan favorites, along with dozens of regional and national craft breweries. $5-$40, kids under 12 free. foodtruckfestivalsofamerica.com.

Raffi. The Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts, 2 Southbridge St., Worcester.

1 p.m. & 4 p.m. Singer, songwriter, and tireless advocate, and world-renowned children’s entertainer comes to the Hanover to delight audiences of all ages with his classic songs and dulcet tones. $37.50-47.50. thehanovertheatre.org.

Family Concert & Instrument Petting Zoo. Boston Public Library: Hyde Park Branch, 35 Harvard Ave., Hyde Park. 2 p.m.

Join the Chameleon Arts Ensemble of Boston as they present the family concert ‘Music, Magic, and the Natural World,’ and a special petting zoo giving children the opportunity to handle and play orchestral instruments. Free. chameleonarts.org.

Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse.

Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St., Newton.

2 p.m. Miles Morales collides with a universe of Spider-Men in this Academy Award-winning animated film discovering the hero in all of us.

Free. newtonfreelibrary.net.

Dirtopia at the Discovery Museum.

Especially for Me: Autism Friendly Evening. Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 5-8 p.m. A special evening for families with members on the autism spectrum, and dinner provided. Register ahead. Free. discoveryacton.org.

2 SUNDAY The Rainbow Fish Musical. Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard St., Brookline.

10:30 a.m. Artbarn’s Traveling Geese Touring Company dives into the best-selling children’s book featuring a selfish Rainbow Fish who refuses to share her vibrant, shimmering scales.

Adults $13.50, children $10.50. coolidge.org.

interactive show that engages curious kids and their grown-ups in science, wonder, imagination, and music. $35-40. berklee.edu/events.

First Sunday. Museum of Russian Icons, 203 Union St., Clinton. 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Explore the museum’s galleries and exhibitions all day long. Free. museumofrussianicons.org.

3 MONDAY Kid Rock Music Concert. Leominster Public Library, 30 West St., Leominster. 10-11

a.m. Join the Monument Square Community Music as it presents an all prop band playing original and popular songs for children.

Recommended for ages 5 and under. Free. leominsterlibrary.org.

MFA Playdates: Color. Museum of Fine Arts: Boston, 465 Huntington Ave., Boston.

10:15-11 a.m. Enjoy story-time and looking activities in the galleries, followed by artmaking celebrating all things color. Recommended for ages 4 and younger. Free with admission.

Members free; nonmember adults $25, youths 7-17 $10, ages under 7 free. mfa.org.

Wow in the World: Pop Up Party.

Berklee Performance Center, 136 Massachusetts Ave., Boston. 11 a.m. & 2:30 p.m. Join Mindy Thomas and the Pop-Ups for a highly

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LEGOs and Games Galore Afternoon. Leominster Public Library, 30 West St., Leominster. 1-4 p.m. A half-day of school for some fun with LEGOs and board games. Free. leominsterlibrary.org.

Digital Animation with Empow.

Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St., Newton.

4-6 p.m. Learn how to use digital animation software to create your own short animated film. For ages 8 to 11. Register ahead. Free. newtonfreelibrary.net.

4 TUESDAY Winnie-the-Pooh Picnic. Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St., Newton. Bring your favorite stuffed animal and picnic lunch, and join the children’s librarians for a fun sing-along.

Free. newtonfreelibrary.net.

Take Aparts, Jr. Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 10-11 a.m. Drop-in and grab some tools and discover resistors, gears, and more behind some of our household gadgets and gizmos. Free with admission. Members free; nonmembers $14.50, ages under 1 free. discoveryacton.org.

Especially for Me: Sensory Friendly Afternoon. Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 1:30-4:30 p.m. Come explore the entire Museum campus at your own pace during this time of limited crowding. Register ahead. Free. discoveryacton.org.

5 WEDNESDAY National Pink Flamingo Day. Leominster Public Library, 30 West St., Leominster. 10-11 a.m. Join Mayor Mazzarella as we read a funny story, make a flamingo

craft, and celebrate the Leominster-born global phenomenon. Register ahead. Free. leominsterlibrary.org.

ARTfull Play. deCordova Sculpture Park & Museum, 51 Sandy Pond Rd., Lincoln. 10:3011:30 a.m. Engage with art, stories, nature, and new friends during multi-sensory activities.

Designed for ages 2-5. Free with admission.

Members free; nonmembers $14, ages 12 and under free. deCordova.org.

WAM Stroller Tours. Worcester Art Museum, 55 Salisbury St., Worcester. 10:30-11:30 a.m. Enjoy a docent-led guide throughout the museum’s galleries, followed by an age-appropriate story and light refreshments.

Designed for ages 0 to 3 and siblings. Free. with admission. Members free; nonmember adults $16, ages 4-17 $6, ages under 4 free. worcesterart.org.

Backyard and Beyond: Walking Sticks. Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Hop out onto the Great Hill conservation land. Find the perfect walking stick on the trails, bring it back to the Discovery Woods, and decorate it for a test drive through the Fairyborough. Free with admission.

Members free; nonmembers $14.50, ages under 1 free. discoveryacton.org.

Scott Magoon: Author and Illustrator. Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St., Newton. 7-8:30 p.m. Join us as celebrated author and illustrator Scott Magoon gives children and families insight into his creative process. Free. newtonfreelibrary.net.

6 THURSDAY Dress Your Stuffed Pet. Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 10-11 a.m.

Treat your favorite stuffed animal to a new outfit. Use your imaginations and a variety of materials to design and construct a special costume for your furry friend. Free with admission. Members free; nonmembers $14.50, ages under 1 free. discoveryacton.org.

7 FRIDAY Music and Movement with Miss Bernadette. Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 9:30-10 a.m. Explore sound through singing and playing. Move, make music, listen, learn, and get a multi-sensory workout. Free with admission. Members free; nonmembers $14.50, ages under 1 free. discoveryacton.org.

Backyard and Beyond: Forest Fridays. Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 10-10:45 a.m. Enjoy a nature-based activity corresponded to the weather and season outside, and explore the outdoors through our Discovery Woods or on the adjacent conservation land. Recommended for ages 2 to 6. Free with admission. Members free; nonmembers $14.50, ages under 1 free. discoveryacton.org.

Open Book, Open Play. The Eric Carle Museum, 125 West Bay Rd., Amherst. 10:3011:30 a.m. Enjoy an interactive story-time followed by time to move, play, and explore materials. Recommended for ages 2-6. Free with admission. Adults $9, youths $6, ages under 1 free. carlemuseum.org.

First Friday Nights Free. Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 4:30-8 p.m.

Explore the museum at night. Non-perishable food donations accepted for the Acton Food Pantry and Open Table of Concord and Maynard. Free. discoveryacton.org.

8 SATURDAY Backyard and Beyond: Fire-Making with PrimiTim. Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Join primate skills expert, Tim ‘PrimiTim’ Swanson, to learn and practice the ancient skill of fire-making. Free with admission. Members free; nonmembers $14.50, ages under 1 free. discoveryacton.org.

Pop-Up Play Day. Berkshire Museum, 39 South St., Pittsfield. 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Build, rebuild, collaborate, and play across our colorful Imagination Playground filled with 14 JUNE2019

big blue blocks. Free with admission. Members free; nonmember adults $13, youths 4-17 $6, ages under 4 free. berkshiremuseum.org.

51st Annual Strawberry Festival.

Topsfield Town Common, 4 North Common St., Topsfield. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Kick-off the summer season during this annual celebration featuring bowls of fresh strawberries, whipped cream, piles of shortcakes, music, an artisan market, children’s game, and more. Free. topsfieldhistory.org.

Arms + Armor Demonstrations.

Worcester Art Museum, 55 Salisbury St., Worcester. 11:30 a.m. & 2 p.m. Join this interactive program to learn about the arms and armor used by Roman soldiers, Medieval knights, and more. Free with admission. Members free; nonmember adults $16, ages 4-17 $6, ages under 4 free. Worcesterart.org.

Clowns for Gay Rights. Copley Square, Boston. 12 p.m. Want to clown around? Clown with “Clowns for Gay Rights” at Boston Gay Pride parade. No previous clowning experience necessary. March in the parade, wave at the crowds, and give out stickers.

Clown accessories, makeup, and stickers provided! Free. clownsforpeaceandjustice.org.

Apollo 11. Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St., Newton. 2 p.m. Blast off into space during this afternoon screening following NASA’s first mission to the moon. Free. newtonfreelibrary.net.

9 SUNDAY World Oceans Day Celebration.

Harbor View Terrace at the New England Aquarium, Boston. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Celebrate World Oceans Day with a fun, family-friendly festival on Central Wharf. Free. neaq.org.

Family Concert. Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St., Newton. 2 p.m. Enjoy a one hour concert for families as performed by the Suzuki School of Newton. Free. newtonfreelibrary.net.

10 MONDAY Kevin Henkes Celebration. Leominster Public Library, 30 West St., Leominster.

9:30-10:30 a.m. Enjoy stories, art, music, and movement to celebrate the books of Kevin Henkes. Recommended for ages 2 to 5. Register ahead. Free. leominsterlibrary.org.

Baby Bookworms. Leominster Public Library, 30 West St., Leominster. 11-11:30 a.m.

Enjoy nursery rhymes, action rhymes, songs, and stories aimed to stimulate the brains of the youngest patrons. For ages up to 12 months.

Register ahead. Free. leominsterlibrary.org.

ARTfull Explorations. deCordova Sculpture Park & Museum, 51 Sandy Pond Rd., Lincoln. 1-3 p.m. Investigate new ideas and unique materials inspired by the Museum’s exhibitions and Park sculptures. Designed for ages 5 and up. Free with admission. Members free; nonmembers $14, ages 12 and under free. deCordova.org.

The Spectacular Science Show with Kosmic Kelly. Leominster Public Library, 30 West St., Leominster. 6-7 p.m. Watch

BAYSTATEPARENT 15

Strawberry ‘N Arts Festival. First Parish Church, Westford Town Common, 48 Main St., Westford. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Celebrate community and enjoy fabulous food, creative crafts, energizing entertainment, and more during this event bringing crafters and community together for over thirty years. Free. thestrawberryfestival.org.

fizzy rainbow volcanoes, elephant toothpaste, bubbling beakers, and more, during this fun, interactive, family show centering on science.

Free. leominsterlibrary.org.

A Star is Born (1954). Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard St., Brookline.

7 p.m. Judy Garland stars as a signer of undeniable talent on the rise who catches the eye of an actor in career decline, during this classic movie of tragedy and romance. Adults $13.25; children $11.25. coolidge.org.

Arts Fest Beverly. Downtown Beverly, Cabot St., Beverly. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Join over 150 artists and crafters, music and entertainers, kids’ activities, art-on-the-spot creations, outdoor food trucks, and more during this celebration of arts, community, and togetherness.

Free. beverlymainstreets.org.

11 TUESDAY Joanne Langione Dance and Movement Class. Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St., Newton. 10-10:45 a.m. Enjoy a music and movement class for toddlers and preschoolers. Free. newtonfreelibrary.net.

Tinker Tuesday: Open Studio.

Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 1011 a.m. Drop-in and explore the possibilities of reusing what you usually throw away and find treasure out of repurposed materials. Free with admission. Members free; nonmembers $14.50, ages under 1 free. discoveryacton.org.

12 WEDNESDAY Global Strings Ensemble. Berk Recital Hall, 1140 Boylston St., Boston. 7 p.m.

The Global String Ensemble presents a performance of traditional string music from various countries. Free. berklee.edu/events.

13 THURSDAY Make a MESS: Paint Prints. Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 10-11 a.m.

Drop-in and j experiment with different ways to make prints using various colors and designs of your own creations. Free with admission.

Members free; nonmembers $14.50, ages under 1 free. discoveryacton.org.

Scavenger Hunt Challenge.

Fruitlands Museum, 102 Prospect Hill Rd., Harvard. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Follow clues around the grounds, learn fun facts, and return to the check-in tables to claim prizes during this scavenger hunt challenge. Free with admission. Members free; nonmember adults $15; youths 5 to 13 $6, ages under 5 free. fruitlands.org.

Boston Dragon Boat Frestival in Cambridge.

Ukulele J: Song Time Fun and Stuffed Animal Parade. Leominster Public Library, 30 West St., Leominster. 10-11 a.m. Join for an interactive musical program taking a stuffed animal parade around the library, dancing, singing, and fun with a ukulele twist. Recommended for ages up to 5. Register ahead. Free. leominsterlibrary.org.

Take Aparts. Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 2-4:30 p.m. Grab a screwdriver and discover the inner workings of telephones, computers, radios, and more. Free with admission. Members free; nonmembers $14.50, ages under 1 free. discoveryacton.org.

Bilingual Story Time: Chinese.

Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St., Newton.

4-4:30 p.m. Join a special bilingual story-time

with stories, songs, and movements in English and Chinese. Designed for ages 3 to 5. Free. newtonfreelibrary.net.

A Hard Day’s Night. Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard St., Brookline. 7 p.m.

Meet the Beatles as they explode onto the US scene, as each member play a slapstick version of themselves and some of their classic pop anthems. Adults $13.25, children $11.25. coolidge.org.

14 FRIDAY Officer Leo Storytime and Meet & Greet. Leominster Public Library, 30 West St., Leominster. 10-10:30 a.m. Meet local police officer, Leonardo Colon, as he reads a story and answers any questions you may have

about his job. Recommended for ages 3 to 6.

Register ahead. Free. leominsterlibrary.org.

Backyard and Beyond: Forest Fridays. Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 10-10:45 a.m. Enjoy a nature-based activity corresponded to the weather and season outside, and explore the outdoors through our Discovery Woods or on the adjacent conservation land. Recommended for ages 2 to 6. Free with admission. Members free; nonmembers $14.50, ages under 1 free. discoveryacton.org.

Sensory Play Storytime. Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St., Newton. 11:15 a.m.-12 p.m. Look, listen, touch, and play during this time of stories and activities aimed at exploring different sensory concepts during this program. For children 2 to 4 with caregivers. Free. newtonfreelibrary.net.

Everyday Engineering: Build a Bubble Wand. Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 2-4:30 p.m. Try your hand at building a bubble wand that’s a cube or a pyramid, or any shape as you learn about the fascinating formulations of bubbles. Free with admission. Members free; nonmembers $14.50, ages under 1 free. discoveryacton. org.

15 SATURDAY Mobile Subjects: Mapping Sound in the Sculpture Park. deCordova Sculpture Park & Museum, 51 Sandy Pond Rd., Lincoln. 9:30 a.m.-12 p.m. A soundwalk and map workshop led by artist and sound designer Jose Rivera. Register ahead. Members $20, nonmembers $30. deCordova.org.

Arts Fest in downtown Beverly.

16 JUNE2019

Pop-Up Play Day. Berkshire Museum, 39 South St., Pittsfield. 10 a.m.-12 p.m.

Build, rebuild, collaborate, and play across the colorful Imagination Playground filled with big blue blocks. Free with admission. Members free; nonmember adults $13, youths 4-17 $6, ages under 4 free. berkshiremuseum.org.

A Seussian Celebration. Springfield Museums, 21 Edwards St., Springfield. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Celebrate the Amazing World of Dr. Seuss with new additions to the museum and family activities. Advance purchasing recommended. Free with admission. Adults $25, youths 3-17 $13, ages under 3 free. springfieldmuseums.org.

MFA Playdates: Color. Museum of Fine Arts: Boston, 465 Huntington Ave., Boston. 10:15-11 a.m. Enjoy story-time and looking activities in the galleries, followed by artmaking celebrating all things color.

Recommended for ages 4 and younger. Free with admission. Members free; nonmember adults $25, youths 7-17 $10, ages under 7 free. mfa.org.

Family Yoga Class. Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St., Newton. 10:30-11:30 a.m. Enjoy cooperative games, age appropriate poses, partner poses, breathing exercises, simple mindfulness activities, and relaxation during this specially-designed yoga class.

Designed for ages 3 to 12 with caregivers.

Free. newtonfreelibrary.net.

Day of Play Family Festival. Elm Park, 292 Park Ave., Worcester. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Designed for children 3 to 10 years old and their families. Fun interactive activities, and exciting performances, while spreading the word about the importance of playful learning at home. Free. worcesterdayofplay.org.

Exploring Nano: Rays Awareness. Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Learn about ultraviolet light, do some simple experiments to see how sunscreen protects you, and make your own simple UV detector bracelet to take home. Free with admission. Members free; nonmembers $14.50, ages under 1 free. discoveryacton.org.

MetroFest. Bowditch Athletic and Cultural Complex, 475 Union Ave., Framingham. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Enjoy music, arts, fantastic food, a wide variety of activities for kids, and a complete array of crafts and exhibitors from across the region. Free. metrowestvisitors.org.

Arms + Armor Demonstrations.

Worcester Art Museum, 55 Salisbury St., Worcester. 11:30 a.m. & 2 p.m. Join this interactive program to learn about the arms and armor used by Roman soldiers, Medieval knights, and more. Free with admission. Members free; nonmember adults $16, ages 4-17 $6, ages under 4 free. worcesterart.org.

Old Fashioned Ice Cream Social.

Cabot’s Ice Cream, 743 Washington St., Newton.

Cabot’s celebrates its 50th anniversary with a fun event featuring face painting, a magician, Barber Shop Quartet, photo booth, and, of course, lots of ice cream. Free admission. cabots. com.

Happier Family Comedy Show.

The Eric Carle Museum, 125 West Bay Rd., Amherst. 3-4 p.m. Laugh your head off during this hour-long, all-new, created-on-the-spot, family friendly improv comedy show. Geared for ages 5 to 12. Member adults $9, youths $4.50; nonmember adults $10, youths $5. carlemuseum.org.

Monster Jam. Gillette Stadium, 1 Patriot Pl., Foxborough. 7 p.m. Watch at the edge of your seat during this adrenaline-charged, high-flying, four-wheel event promising to excite and entertain the entire family. $15 and up. monsterjam.com.

16 SUNDAY Scavenger Hunt Challenge. Fruitlands Museum, 102 Prospect Hill Rd., Harvard. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Follow clues around the grounds, learn fun facts, and return to the check-in tables to claim prizes during this scavenger hunt challenge. Free with admission. Members free; nonmember adults $15; youths 5 to 13 $6, ages under 5 free. fruitlands.org.

Father’s Day Bluegrass Picnic.

Fruitlands Museum, 102 Prospect Hill Rd., Harvard. 12-3 p.m. Get outside with your family during this afternoon of music, food, scavenger hunts, and activities outdoors. Free with admission. Members free; nonmember adults $15, youth ages 5 to 13 $6, ages under 5 free. fruitlands.org.

Troubadour, brings an infectious energy to his sing-alongs peppered with well known classics and a few soon-to-be classics for kids and parents alike to enjoy. Free. newtonfreelibrary.net.

Ready, Set, Balance. Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 10-11 a.m. Drop-in to explore several different stations where you can test what makes objects stay put or topple over, and feel balance in your body as you try out movement challenges. Free with admission.

Members free; nonmembers $14.50, ages under 1 free. discoveryacton.org.

Folk Open Mic. TCAN: Center for Arts, 14 Summer St., Natick. 8 p.m. Enjoy this decades-long tradition featuring the best folk and acoustic artists from the local music community, with Dennis Pearne & the Elastic Waste Band performing. Members free; nonmembers $5. natickarts.org.

19 WEDNESDAY Drop-In LEGOs. Leominster Public Library, 30 West St., Leominster. 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Join for a morning full of LEGO exploration and celebration. Free. leominsterlibrary.org.

WAM Stroller Tours. Worcester Art Museum, 55 Salisbury St., Worcester. 10:30-11:30 a.m. Enjoy a docent-led guide throughout the museum’s galleries, followed by an age-appropriate story and light refreshments. Designed for ages 0 to 3 and siblings. Free. with admission.

Members free; nonmember adults $16, ages 4-17 $6, ages under 4 free. worcesterart.org.

Backyard and Beyond: Celebrate National Pollinators Week. Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 11 a.m.-12 p.m.

Celebrate pollinators and learn a little bit about butterflies and bees, and make your own pipe cleaner bees to pollinate paper flowers throughout the Discovery Woods. Free with admission.

Members free; nonmembers $14.50, ages under 1 free. discoveryacton.org.

Juneteenth. Museum of Fine Arts: Boston, 465 Huntington Ave., Boston. 5-10 p.m.

Participate in the oldest nationally observed commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States, through community and creativity.

Free. mfa.org.

Boston Area Chantey & Maritime Sing. USS Constitution Museum, Charlestown Navy Yard, Building 22, Charlestown. 2-5 p.m. Listen, learn, and lift your voices, as you participate in your maritime heritage by joining a rousing chorus of sea chanteys. Free with admission. Suggested donation $25-45 per family. ussconstitutionmuseum.org.

Sunset Drum Circle. Fruitlands Museum, 102 Prospect Hill Rd., Harvard. 7-8:15 p.m. Join on the hillside at sunset for a facilitated drum circle to connect with rhythm, the landscape, and mother nature. Register ahead. Members $9, nonmembers $15. fruitlands.org.

17 MONDAY

Doggy Days: Abby Gets a CheckUp. Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton.

10-11 a.m. Explore the ins and outs of dogs.

Enjoy lots of hugs with Abby, the Therapy Dog, as she gets a special check-up. Free with admission. Members free; nonmembers $14.50, ages under 1 free. discoveryacton.org.

Dots and Stamps Drop-In Maker Space. Leominster Public Library, 30 West St., Leominster. 2-4 p.m. Learn to make fingerprint art or just explore using our materials and your imagination during this stamp and dot-painting afternoon. For ages 3 to 12. Free. leominsterlibrary.org.

18 TUESDAY Matt Heaton Family Singalong.

Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St., Newton.

10-10:45 a.m. Matt Heaton, the Toddlerbilly

20 THURSDAY

Summer Concert Series. Fruitlands Museum, 102 Prospect Hill Rd., Harvard. 7:15 p.m.-9 p.m. Gather on the lawn for this annual Summer Concert Series, featuring food vendors, The Concord Band, fun, and together time.

Member carloads $15, walk-ins $5; nonmember carloads $20, walk-ins $10. fruitlands.org.

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21 FRIDAY Officer Leo Storytime and Meet & Greet. Leominster Public Library, 30 West St., Leominster. 10-10:30 a.m. Meet local police officer Leonardo Colon, as he reads a story and answers any questions you may have about his job. Recommended for ages 3 to 6.

Register ahead. Free. leominsterlibrary.org.

Backyard and Beyond: Forest Fridays. Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 10-10:45 a.m. Enjoy a nature-based activity corresponded to the weather and season outside, and explore the outdoors through our Discovery Woods or on the adjacent conservation land. Recommended for ages 2 to 6. Free with admission. Members free; nonmembers $14.50, ages under 1 free. discoveryacton.org.

Open Book, Open Play. The Eric Carle Museum, 125 West Bay Rd., Amherst. 10:3011:30 a.m. Enjoy an interactive story-time followed by time to move, play, and explore materials. Recommended for ages 2-6. Free with admission. Adults $9, youths $6, ages under 1 free. carlemuseum.org.

Backyard and Beyond: Nature Journaling. Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 2-3 p.m. Explore the natural world taking in the signs of the season by making your own nature journals and take them out on a walk through our adjacent conservation land. Free with admission. Members free; nonmembers $14.50, ages under 1 free. discoveryacton.org.

Family Fun. Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St., Newton. 3-4:30 p.m. Drop-in for

provide games, building materials, and other activities for all ages and families to enjoy.

Free. newtonfreelibrary.net.

Summer Friday Nights Free. Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 4:30-8 p.m.

Free admission to explore the museum. Food donations accepted for Open Table of Concord and Maynard, and the Acton Food Pantry. Free. discoveryacton.org.

Think Like an Archaeologist. Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 5-7:30 p.m. Put on your archaeologist’s thinking cap and try some simple activities that archaeologists use in the field to learn the history of the people and places around them. Free. discoveryacton.org.

Summer Solstice Celebration.

Harvard Museums of Science and Culture, 11

Divinity Ave., Cambridge. 5-9 p.m. Celebrate the longest day of the year and mark the beginning of the summer season through flower-crown making, sun-inspired crafts, and festive learning.

Free. hmnh.harvard.edu.

22 SATURDAY Boston Pickle Fair. Seaport, One Design Center Place, Boston. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. This is a big dill, celebrating all things pickle. Sample pickles, enjoy live entertainment and a home pickling competition. $20, kids under 5 free. bostonpicklefair.com.

Mr. Liam & Friends. The Eric Carle Museum, 125 West Bay Rd., Amherst. 11 a.m. Mr. Liam & Friends present an energetic show filled with drums, ukulele, puppets, and comedy featuring old favorites and silly parodies. $5. carlemuseum.org.

Backyard and Beyond: Backyard ‘Campout.’ Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Celebrate National Wildlife Federation’s Great American Backyard Campout Day and try out some classic campout activities and learn some basics for a fun and successful campout. Free with admission.

Members free; nonmembers $14.50, ages under 1 free. discoveryacton.org.

Kitchen Ka-Boom. Berkshire Museum, 39 South St., Pittsfield. 11 a.m.-12 p.m. Be a kitchen scientist with cool, hands-on, kid-safe experiments using ingredients found in most pantries. Registration requested. Free with admission. Members free; nonmember adults $13, youths 4-17 $6, ages under 4 free.

Berkshiremuseum.org.

New England Whale Festival.

Marina Bay, Quincy. 11 a.m.- 4 p.m. Exhibits promoting marine conservation and boater education, with onsite marine mammal scientists, kid’s activities, free boat rides, and the debut of life-sized North Atlantic right whale, Delilah.

Free. us.whales.org.

Arms + Armor Demonstrations.

Worcester Art Museum, 55 Salisbury St., Worcester. 11:30 a.m. & 2 p.m. Join this interactive program to learn about the arms and armor used by Roman soldiers, Medieval knights, and more. Free with admission. Members free; nonmember adults $16, ages 4-17 $6, ages under 4 free. worcesterart.org.

How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World. Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St., Newton. 2 p.m. Join Hiccup the Viking Dragon Trainer as he enters a hidden dragon utopia. Free. newtonfreelibrary.net.

Summer Solstice Concert & Celebration. Museum of Russian Icons, 203 Union St., Clinton. 2-4:30 p.m. Featuring the music of Bach, Prokofiev, and Albeniz, this special solo cello concert will inspire all.

Members $25-30; nonmembers $30-35; atdoor $40. museumofrussianicons.org.

23 SUNDAY Special Sunday in the Studio.

The Eric Carle Museum, 125 West Bay Rd., Amherst. 12-5 p.m. Explore new materials and try a different project during this special artful exploration. Free with admission. Adults $9, youths $6, ages under 1 free. carlemuseum. org.

Boston Portuguese Festival. Boston City Hall Plaza, 1 City Hall Sq., Boston. 2-8 p.m. Celebrate the sounds, culture and folk traditions of Portugal and Portuguese Americans during this outdoor celebration to kick-off the summer. Free. bostonportuguesefestival.org.

24 MONDAY Out of This World: Aliens. Leominster Public Library, 30 West St., Leominster.

10-11 a.m. Come and listen to out-of-this-world stories, before making our own aliens to go home and on celestial adventures. For ages 3 to 7. Register ahead. Register ahead. Free. leominsterlibrary.org.

18 JUNE2019

25 TUESDAY

free; nonmembers $14.50, ages under 1 free. discoveryacton.org.

LittleBeats Dance. Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St., Newton. 10-10:30 a.m. Join friends from LittleBeats for creative dance at the library filled with music, dancing, and stories to stimulate your busy brains and bodies. For ages 0 to 4. Free. newtonfreelibrary.net.

Free Fun Fridays @ WAM. Worcester Art Museum, 55 Salisbury St., Worcester. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Explore the Worcester Art Museum’s exhibits and take part in hands-on art activities throughout the day. Free. worcesterart.org.

Make a Mess: Making Tints and Shades. Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 10-11 a.m. Experiment with white, black, and colored paints to make an endless number of tints and shades. Free with admission.

Members free; nonmembers $14.50, ages under 1 free. discoveryacton.org.

Open Book, Open Play. The Eric Carle Museum, 125 West Bay Rd., Amherst. 10:3011:30 a.m. Enjoy an interactive story-time followed by time to move, play, and explore materials. Recommended for ages 2-6. Free with admission. Adults $9, youths $6, ages under 1 free. carlemuseum.org.

Animals from Around the World.

Leominster Public Library, 30 West St., Leominster. 3-4 p.m. Kick-off the Summer Reading event. Encounter a variety of animals from around the world, including a bearded dragon, wallaby, porcupine, alligator, and more. Free. leominsterlibrary.org.

Summer Friday Nights Free. Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 4:30-8 p.m.

Free admission to explore the museum. Food donations accepted for Open Table of Concord and Maynard and the Acton Food Pantry. Free. discoveryacton.org.

26 WEDNESDAY Dirtopia. Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Dig, climb, burrow, make mud pies and mud-paintings, and more, as we bring back our giant pile of dirt and its infinite possibilities. Free with admission. Members free; nonmembers $14.50, ages under 1 free. discoveryacton.org.

27 THURSDAY Rockabye Beats. Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St., Newton. 10-10:45 a.m. Come dance, sing, and get a little crazy, during this time of freestyle dance, an instrument show and tell, music jams, and a mix of Spanish songs.

Free. newtonfreelibrary.net.

Ukulele J: Song Time Fun and Stuffed Animal Parade. Leominster Public Library, 30 West St., Leominster. 10-11 a.m. Join an interactive musical program taking a stuffed animal parade around the library, dancing, singing, and fun with a ukulele twist.

Recommended for ages up to 5. Register ahead.

Free. leominsterlibrary.org.

Dirtopia. Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Dig, climb, burrow, make mud pies and mud-paintings, and more in a giant pile of dirt and its infinite possibilities. Free with admission. Members free; nonmembers $14.50, ages under 1 free. discoveryacton.org.

Summer Concert Series. Fruitlands Museum, 102 Prospect Hill Rd., Harvard. 7:15-9 p.m. Gather on the lawn for the annual Summer Concert Series, featuring food vendors, The Concord Band, fun, and together time. Member carloads $15, walk-ins $5; nonmember carloads $20, walk-ins $10. fruitlands.org.

28 FRIDAY Dirtopia. Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Dig, climb, burrow, make mud pies and mud-paintings, and more with a giant pile of dirt and its infinite possibilities. Free with admission. Members

International Ocean Film Tour. The Regent Theatre, 7 Medford St., Arlington. 7:30 p.m. Celebrate the first week of Summer with a captivating presentation of the sea in all its diversity and beauty. $16. regenttheatre.com.

29 SATURDAY Pop-Up Play Day. Berkshire Museum, 39 South St., Pittsfield. 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Build, rebuild, collaborate, and play across the colorful Imagination Playground filled with big blue blocks. Free with admission. Members free; nonmember adults $13, youths 4-17 $6, ages under 4 free. berkshiremuseum.org.

Dirtopia. Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Dig, climb, burrow, make mud pies and mud-paintings, and more with a giant pile of dirt and its infinite possibilities.

Free with admission. Members free; nonmembers $14.50, ages under 1 free. discoveryacton. org.

Play Date: Contemporary Explorations. Institute of Contemporary Art: Boston, 25 Harbor Shore Dr., Boston. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Discover ways the ICA museum building is unique, throughs stories, adventure, and a time to create your own small-scale 3D building with your family. Free. icaboston.org.

Arms + Armor Demonstrations.

Worcester Art Museum, 55 Salisbury St., Worcester. 11:30 a.m. & 2 p.m. Join this interactive program to learn about the arms and armor used by Roman soldiers, Medieval knights, and more. Free with admission. Members free; nonmember adults $16, ages 4-17 $6, ages under 4 free. worcesterart.org.

30 SUNDAY Dirtopia. Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Dig, climb, burrow, make mud pies and mud-paintings, and more with a giant pile of dirt and its infinite possibilities. Free with admission. Members free; nonmembers $14.50, ages under 1 free. discoveryacton.org.

BAYSTATEPARENT 19

on the

agenda

the list

12

Cool Places to Cool Off This Summer

Splish Splash!

Looking for a way to cool off without lugging the kids to the beach or fighting crowds at a public pool? Sprinkler parks and splash pads are perfect for kids of all ages, from pre-swimmers to too-cool teens.

1. Beaver Brook Reservation Spray Deck & Park – Belmont The Beaver Brook Playground and Spray Deck on the WalthamBelmont line has been completely renovated in recent years with everything from new play equipment and freshly paved tennis courts to revamped restrooms and water bubblers. The big draw is the spray deck, made from a soft, resilient surface and featuring multiple zones with different activation details and sequences.

Children can scramble across rocks and splash in pop-up sprinklers at this beautifully landscaped woodsy retreat.

2. Artesani Wading Pool & Spray Deck – Brighton This scenic riverside location with views of the Charles is like a mini waterpark. Artesani Park offers two playgrounds, a wading pool, and zero-depth spray deck with all sorts of waterfall-like structures.

The wading pool has lifeguards on duty, showers, changing rooms, picnic area, and an ice cream truck visits often. Both the spray deck and wading pool are open daily during the summer.

3. Christian Science Center Splash Fountain – Boston On hot summer days you’re sure to find flocks of Bostonians cooling off at this famous landmark. The long reflecting pool mirrors the beautiful Christian Science Church and the Back Bay skyline. Wind your way in and out of the columns comprising the colonnade of the church building fronting the reflecting pool.

The fountain at the northern end of the pool (near the Prudential Center) features 180 water jets that shoot directly out of the ground, providing endless summer fun for little ones.

4. The Greenway Fountains – Boston This mile-and-a-half of contemporary parks in the heart of Boston offers seven different water fountains for cooling down in the summer, all within walking distance of each other. The most popular is the Rings Fountain, located in the Wharfs District near the Boston Aquarium, where dozens of nozzles shoot into the air creating a circle of vertical water. Nearby, the interactive Harbor Fog Sculpture puts off a cool mist in response to movement. Littler kids who just want to get their feet wet will love the canals in the North End Park, or the refreshing, bamboo-lined Serpantine Path Chinatown Stream. A bubbling fountain at the center of a Labyrinth is a fun stop near the Armenian Heritage Park.

The Labyrinth Fountain

GREENWAY CONSERVATORY PHOTO

5. Boston Frog Pond Spray Pool – Boston Sit back, relax, and enjoy the beauty and history of the Boston Common while your little tadpoles splash around and cool down on hot summer days. The Frog Pond Spray Pool is open daily during the summer, and is a favorite among city dwellers and visitors alike. Bigger kids can splash their way to the giant, spraying fountain in the middle of the wading pool, while littler ones can soak in the outskirts. Lifeguards are on hand, as well as a café with drinks and snacks. And don’t forget the Frog Pond Carousel, where kids can catch a whirling ride on fun and zany characters.

6. Park Hill Splash Park – Fitchburg

The Rings Fountain 20 JUNE2019

GREENWAY CONSERVATORY PHOTO

Children can splash in geysers and run through colorful water-spraying rings at this fenced-in splash pad, adjacent to Park Hill Park. The sprinklers go off at different intervals which is a lovely surprise for kids looking for water play. Nearby in the park, visitors can enjoy a skatepark, play structures and swings, tennis and basketball courts and several fields.

7. Ward Park Wading Pool – Marlborough The highlight of this large, sloped wading pool is its giant red mushroom-shaped fountain for kids to splash in. New swimmers and littler ones can enjoy the shallow pool. Open seven days week from noon to 5:45 p.m. starting on June 22. The adjacent park has a walking track, bike trails and skate ramp.

8. Assabet Park Splash Pad – Northborough Adjacent to the park’s toddler playground, this splash pad is a popular spot for little ones to cool off. Roughly the same dimensions as a basketball court, it offers several different features such as bubblers, misters, and geysers to delight everyone from babies to preschool-age kids. As it is on an asphalt surface, water shoes are recommended to protect sensitive toes. Bring lunch, there are plenty of picnic tables at the park.

9. Adventure Spray & Play at Davis Farmland – Sterling Splish and splash at New England’s largest, zero depth, water spray park. There are two spray pads; one for toddlers and the other for multi-generational fun. Parents and children can get creative as they interact with every kind of mister, sprinkler and geyser imaginable. Cool off under the water tower or giant sunflowers, the kiddy car wash, the Slip & Slide, get bubbly in the bubble blast and slide down an inflatable waterslide!

Davis Farmland is open daily, 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Spray Park opens June 15.

North End Canal Fountain

GREENWAY CONSERVATORY PHOTO

Greenwood Park is located on the south end of the city in the Quinsigamond Village Neighborhood section. It is bustling with lots of activities during the summer months.

The spray park features fun-shaped sprinklers and geysers that spray from the ground.

There is also a playground, softball field, spray park, basketball court, nature trail, picnic areas and tennis court onsite.

Serpentine Path Stream in Chinatown

GREENWAY CONSERVATORY PHOTO

Christian Science Plaza Fountain

Frog Pond Spray Pool

10. Bradley Palmer State Park Wading Pool – Topsfield This hidden gem has a large, shallow wading pool for little ones to dip in, and a turtle sprayer and sprinkler mushroom for splashing around. There are lifeguards, bathrooms, a small climbing structure, and lots of shady lounging areas. After cooling off, enjoy the picturesque park and its pine needled paths and sunny rolling meadows.

11. Cristoforo Colombo Spray Park – Worcester Splash around and get sprayed by bouts of water. This park in Worcester’s Shrewsbury Street commercial district also has a padded-surface playground, tennis court, and several climbing structures. Spray Park is open daily during the summer from noon to 7 p.m. with lifeguards on duty.

12. Greenwood Spray Park – Worcester

The Rings Fountain

BAYSTATEPARENT 21

cyber savvy mom

Study Finds

Free Apps for Kids are a Cyber Crime Risk

BY JOAN GOODCHILD

H

ave you ever offered your child an iPad to play games in order to get some uninterrupted time to cook dinner, or to do some work around the house? Many of us have. It’s common for parents to allow young kids to play games on parent-owned phones or tablets.

But a new report from security firm Rubica finds many gaming apps for kids contain significant security risks and may not be safe for use.

“As parents, we often let our kids play games on our phones and tablets, and cybercriminals know that we share devices with our kids and they exploit this,” said Rubica CEO Frances Dewing.

“Kids’ games, once downloaded onto a device, can act as a gateway for malware or for sensitive

22 JUNE2019

personal data to be leaked out.”

That’s because free apps almost always contain advertisements and in-app purchase or upgrade options, and that is where the trouble often starts.

While an adult consumer expects to be advertised to when using a free service, children are often unaware that what they are watching or interacting with is an advertisement.

“It is not uncommon for kids’ apps to contain aggressive prompts to download other apps that may be age inappropriate or unlock gates for cybercriminals to access everything from emails to banking apps,” noted the report summary.

You can read all about Rubica’s methodology for testing and ranking the apps in their free white

paper on app dangers. Dewing said it is not the app itself that poses the danger, it is the secondary apps kids download as part of the game experience.

“The advertisements that popup during gameplay - as often as every 2-3 minutes in some cases - prompt the child to download other applications, such as puzzle games, word games, race car games, etc. Many of these secondary apps have excessive, overreaching, and even dangerous access to personal data on your device,” she said.

Deceptive tactics in free apps include offering a “prize” or enticement like “click here for a free life” to prompt the child to click and unknowingly allow the app to take an action. Often this action gives the app additional permissions on the device, or authorizes the download of another program, which can secretly gain access to information on the device. That means any sensitive information on the device could be breached.

What kind of information are these secondary apps accessing?

During the research, Dewing said Rubica found puzzle games that had access to precise GPS location, the ability to see other running applications, and sensitive device history. A race car game had access to phone call information and contacts and

had the ability to read and modify files on the device. A billiard game had access to “send email without owner knowledge” and was able to read and modify calendar events. These are just a few examples.

In all, researchers tested 20 primary games and were prompted to download 62 additional applications, and more than 30 percent of them had dangerous permission levels, said Dewing.

The Rubica report ranks the top 20 free mobile games aimed at children with scores that range from “safe” to “unsafe.” Among some of the rankings: • Sonic Dash (Sega) ranked as the most insecure with a score of 130.

• Rolling Sky (Cheetah) ranked second most unsafe with a score of 95.

• Fruit Ninja (Halfbrick Studios) is “not recommended” with a score of 43 • Hot Wheels: Race Off (Hutch Games) is recommended “only with parents’ supervision” and scored a 16.

• Nintendo’s Super Mario Run was given a safe score with a 0.

All of the game rankings are available in the Rubica report.

If you are concerned about app safety, Dewing has this advice: 1. Use parental controls… the right way: Enabling parental controls will prevent your child

from downloading apps without your authorization. However, make sure the password for your parental authorization is one your child doesn’t know.

2. Check permissions: Don’t assume an app is safe. Check the permissions listed in the app store for that game before downloading, and be sure to read each permission prompt/pop-up before accepting. Use common sense, and if the app asks for permission that doesn’t seem necessary or seems invasive, then click “don’t allow” or don’t download the app at all.

3. Use a solution that detects hidden threats based on behavior: These app-based threats often hide in plain sight and aren’t detectable by antivirus or other traditional security solutions.

Joan Goodchild, the CyberSavvy Mom, is a writer and editor living in Central Massachusetts. Got a question or a topic you would like to see covered here? Reach out at cybersavvymom@yahoo. com or follow Cybersavvy Mom on Facebook.

Read more news and information on staying safe, secure and civil online at cybersavvymom.com

bites

FOOD FOR THOUGHT • GOOSE’S GOODIES • NUTRITION

BAYSTATEPARENT 23

Bites

Food for

Thought

Can You Dig It?

Local Mom Teaches Foraging for Wild Food

BY JOAN GOODCHILD

Yes, you can pick and eat wild plants.

Naturalist Rachel Goclawski offers tips for identifying, eating and cooking with herbs, flowers and shrubs from your own neighborhood.

24 JUNE2019

T

he New England weather is warming up and many of us will begin gardening outside this month. But did you know there is another way to live off the land that requires no tending to plants at all? It’s called foraging, the practice of identifying, harvesting and preparing wild foods and herbs.

Rachel Goclawski, a Millbury mom of two, is a Massachusettscertified educator, naturalist and foraging expert. Her goal is to get more families heading outside to give foraging a try.

“Some of my fondest memories as a child are of the walks my grandmother and I would take together,” said Goclawski, explaining how she first was drawn to foraging. “She would teach me the names of the trees and flowers, and taught me to forage my first edibles. In many cultures, foraging is a gift that has been passed down from generation to generation, but few families keep this valuable tradition these days, so I have been teaching it to anyone who would listen, starting as a young child with the children in the neighborhood!”

As a programming partner with the Museum of Natural History, Sudbury Valley Trustees, Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts and Waters Farm Preservation, Goclawski teaches classes on foraging in several locations, including the Museum of Natural History on Cape Cod and at Waters Farm Preservation in Sutton. It is an educational experience that can be enjoyed by all ages, said Goclawski.

“You would be surprised how many kids have no idea where their food comes from. Foraging is a great way for kids to learn, not only where whole food comes from, but the ecology surrounding that food, the natural history, nutrition it contains, and how the food or medicine played a role in Native American or culture’s histories. Through foraging, kids have the potential to learn about health, self-reliance, responsibility, the importance of listening and following directions, science, sustainability and appreciation for our natural world.”

In addition to the fun and learning, foraging can also be incredibly healthful if done right, said Goclawski.

“Wild food has much higher concentrations of nutrients than cultivated food, so it takes a much smaller serving of wild food to reach the recommended daily allowance of vitamins and minerals they contain. Many wild foods and herbs contain high concentrations of disease-fighting nutrients such as antioxidants and anti-in-

flammatory properties. Getting outside to forage relieves stress and inspires exercise.”

If you’re cringing at the idea of picking something wild and actually eating it, that’s because Goclawski notes many of us were raised with the perception that wild plants were off limits and dangerous. It is time to turn that notion around, she said.

“If I had a dollar for every time someone exclaimed their surprise at the huge amounts of edible and medicinal plants surrounding a typical parking lot or playground!

Often people have been told as a child that some plant or flower is poisonous when in fact it is a valuable edible or herb,” she said.

Want to get started foraging in your own neighborhood? Start by learning together with your child, purchase a foraging guide or pick out foraging books focused on your region from the library and read them together. If possible, book a trip with a local foraging instructor, or seasoned adult who can guide you all on a walk, said Goclawski.

“The first edible plants you teach your child should be common, safe, age-appropriate edibles,” she said “In other words, edibles with no poisonous look-alikes. They should be plentiful and easy to find; weeds like violets, wood sorrel, and lamb’s quarters are a good start. Teach how to identify poisonous plants to avoid like poison ivy.”

And of course, safety first.

Never eat an edible unless you already know how to properly identify and prepare it yourself, cautions Goclawski.

“This sounds like common sense, but even adults can get carried away when they find something new, or excited when they think they found a long-sought-for edible. Don’t hide your excitement from your child, instead, collect it and bring it home to properly identify it together with your child before consuming it in a small amount. This teaches your child a valuable basic to foraging which is proper identification for safety.

Teach your child that they have to find all the key identifiers for that particular edible in order to safely identify it.”

You can find out more about foraging and Goclawski’s work by visiting her Facebook page at www.facebook.com/cookingwithmrsg.

Save the Dates for Summer Time Fun in Leominster!

Ladies Night Out

Summer Stroll

August 8th • 5-9 pm

Downton Leominster

Rain date: August 15 • 5-9pm

June 8th • 3-7 pm

Downton Leominster

Rain date: June 9 • 3 -7pm

Pink Flamingo Day June 23rd • 5-7 pm Monument Square

Rain location City Hall

Kids’Day August 17th • 4-7 pm Downton Leominster

For more information contact Leominster City Hall at (978) 534-7500 www.leominster-ma.gov Leominster Community Development

Joan Goodchild is a veteran writer and mom of two living in Central Massachusetts.

BAYSTATEPARENT 25

Y

ou might just be able to get the kids to eat their vegetables when you offer this homemade hummus for dipping. It’s made with tahini, a paste made from sesame seeds, which you can find in the condiment aisle or ethnic section. Never get store-bought again with this super creamy and quick-tomake hummus.

Easy Creamy Homemade Hummus Ingredients • 1 15-ounce can chickpeas, drained and rinsed • ¼ cup fresh lemon juice • ¼ cup tahini • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, plus more for serving • 1 small clove garlic, minced • ½ teaspoon ground cumin • ½ teaspoon salt • 2 to 3 tablespoons water • Paprika Directions • In a food processor, combine tahini and lemon juice and process for 1 minute. Scrape sides and process for about 30 seconds more to “cream” the tahini.

• Add olive oil, garlic, cumin and salt to the tahini-lemon mixture. Process for 1 minute, scrape sides, and process for about 30 seconds more.

• Add half the chickpeas to the food processor and process for 1 minute.

Scrape the bowl, then add the remaining chickpeas and process until smooth and creamy; about 1 to 2 minutes.

• If hummus is too thick or has chunks of chickpeas, turn the food processor on and slowly add the 2 to 3 tablespoons of water until you reach the desired consistency. Taste, and add more salt needed.

Bites

goose’s

goodies 26 JUNE2019

• Serve hummus topped with a drizzle of olive oil and sprinkle of paprika. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.

Laurie Silva Collins, known affectionately as Goose by her grandkids, is a nurse, mother and grandmother who is happiest when she’s in the kitchen, cooking and baking for those she loves. She learned to cook from her parents, and has perfected her recipes over the years while raising three daughters… and spoiling seven grandchildren.

Bites

ask the nutritiontist

Should You Bribe Your Kid to Eat?

BY LAUREN SHARIFI, RD LDN

Q

Sometimes the only way I can get my daughter to eat dinner is to promise dessert afterwards. Is “bribing” okay or is this making her value sweets over real food?

How else can I get her to eat?

A

Dinner is often one of the hardest meals for families. Kids can be tired, have eaten a large snack and not be hungry, or just don’t have the attention span to sit down to eat at the end of the day.

I recommend trying to stay away from using food as a bribe to prevent kids from valuing sweets (or other food) as superior to another.

Bribes also disconnect them from listening to their internal hunger and fullness cues. In this scenario, I would start by offering the sweet with dinner.

Then your child knows they can still get that “fun” food but can eat it when they want to along with the other more nourishing foods. This allows them to start seeing sweets as just another food and lets them listen to their body and eat an amount of food that is satisfying. Often kids go to the dessert first, but that’s okay.

Over time this may change, they may not go to the sweet first or if they do, they may not finish it. The goal is to get them to eat a variety of foods at the dinner table and to make meal time a bit less stressful for everyone.

Other tips to try to get your child to eat at dinner: • Avoid pressuring your child to eat dinner, this often causes

the opposite reaction. Offer a variety of foods at dinner (even if this include a sweet) and let them decide what and how much to eat.

• Plan snack time differently.

If they have a large snack or snack too close to dinner, they may not be hungry. Instead offer snack earlier.

• Get an idea of how they are eating during the rest of the day. Some kids just tend to be less hungry at dinner and eat really well the rest of the day.

This is okay.

• Offer a nourishing bedtime snack. Especially if dinner is well before bedtime or if they don’t eat well at dinner. Some ideas include fruit, vegetables and dip, milk or yogurt.

Lauren Sharifi is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and food blogger at biteofhealthnutrition.com.

Lauren works in private practice in Brighton at ASF-Peak Health (asfpeakhealth.com) and is passionate about helping individuals and families become competent eaters that find joy out of eating.

Have a question for Lauren?

Email BSPeditor@gatehousemedia.com.

BAYSTATEPARENT 27

BEST. SUMMER. EVER.

Can’t-Miss

Fairs & Festivals Mark your calendar! From an all-you-can-eat ice cream party and festivals of food trucks to quaint country fairs and seaside celebrations, these are some of the best events happening in the Bay State this summer.

WGBY Asparagus Festival June 1, 10 a.m.- 6 p.m.

Town Common, Hadley A celebration of all things local, this outdoor, family-friendly event features live music all day, a large farmers/makers’ market, and fresh food and craft beers from around the Pioneer Valley. Play PBS Kids games and meet Curious George and his Pioneer Valley friend, The Very Hungry Caterpillar from The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art. Peruse nearly 150 different vendors, enjoy cooking demos, food displays, and plenty of fun for all ages.

Admission is free, but donations encouraged. wgby.org/asparagus.

Scooper Bowl: All-You-Can Eat Ice Cream Festival June 4 to 6 City Hall Plaza, Boston Bring your sweet tooth to the nation’s largest all-you-can-eat ice cream festival.

Dozens of flavors will be served by top ice cream and frozen yogurt companies, including Baskin Robbins, Ben & Jerry’s, Breyers, Edy’s, Friendly’s, and Hood, along with Greater Boston fan favorites: Bart’s Ice Cream, Blake’s Ice Cream, Vice Cream, Beckon Ice Cream, and Yasso, among others. All proceeds benefit the Jimmy Fund for adult and pediatric cancer care and 28 JUNE2019

research at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, so you can indulge without feeling too guilty! Admission: advance tickets $5 for kids, $10 for adults; day-of tickets $10 for kids, $15 for adults with kids under 2 always free. scooperbowl.org.

Topsfield Strawberry Festival June 8, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Topsfield Town Common For over five decades, summer is celebrated in sweet style on the picturesque Topsfield Town Common with bowls and bowls of fresh strawberries, whipped cream and piles of shortcakes. Enjoy live music, children’s games, and free tours of the Parson Capen House, a National Historic Landmark that dates back to the 1600s. Peruse displays from over 60 fine artisans, including fine art, glass, pottery, jewelry, clothing, woodwork and specialty items.

Admission is free. topsfieldhistory. org/strawberry.

World Oceans Day Celebration June 9, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Central Wharf, Boston Join the New England Aquarium to celebrate World Oceans Day with a fun, family-friendly festival on Central Wharf.

Featuring hands-on activities for kids, presentations, and opportunities to learn more about one of the ocean’s most pressing issues: single-use plastic. The festival will take place at the Aquarium’s Harbor View Terrace Tent and plaza area rain or shine.

Admission is free (Aquarium admission is not included or necessary). neaq.org.

MetroFest: Arts, Music & Food Truck Festival June 15, 11 a.m.4 p.m.

Bowditch Athletic Complex, Framingham Explore 100+ exhibits featuring artisans, crafters, cultural institutions and regional businesses with unique and oneof-a-kind offerings.

Children can play in

kid’s town on bounce houses, climb the rock wall, and touch big trucks and heavy equipment. Live music, at least 20 food trucks and a tasting tent with craft beer, wine and hard cider round out the event.

Admission: $7 for adults, $3 for children, with kids under 5 free. metrowestvisitors. org.

Summer Solstice Celebration: Night at the HMSC June 21, 5-9 p.m.

Harvard Museum of Science & Culture, Cambridge Celebrate the longest day of the year and mark the beginning of the summer season with free admission to four museums and access to special performances.

Make flower crowns and other sun-inspired crafts, and learn about the astronomical significance of the solstice. Save the date for this very festive, family-friendly event.

Admission is free. hmnh.harvard.edu.

New England Whale Festival June 22, 11 a.m.- 4 p.m.

Marina Bay, Quincy Exhibits promoting marine conservation and boater education, with onsite marine mammal scientists, kid’s activities, free boat rides, and the debut of life-sized North Atlantic right whale, Delilah. This free festi-

val takes place rain or shine, is dog friendly, and fun for all ages. Sift through the sand learn about the top culprits contributing to an unhealthy ocean, climb aboard a 50-foot, multi-purpose research vessel, view and touch real whale bones, and walk right into the inflatable replica of a whale see her bones, baleen, blowholes, and lungs.

Admission is free. us.whales.org.

New England Food Truck Festival June 22 & 23, Sat. 12-9 p.m., Sun. 12-7 p.m.

Eastern States Exposition, W. Springfield Dig in! Enjoy amazing food from throughout New England served up from dozens of food trucks. The festival also includes musical entertainment, kids’ activities and an array of vendors. Admission: $6-$35. nefoodtruckfest.com.

Go up, up and away at America’s premier Hot Air Balloon Festival. Featuring hot air balloon rides and activities, a food festival, vendor expo, craft beer, amusement rides and games, petting zoo, live music and more. Admission $15. northeastballoonfestival.com.

Mac ‘n’ Cheese Festival July 13, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Town Common, Templeton Music, vendors, superheroes, and, of course, Mac ‘n’ Cheese are all part of this family fun festival. Bring your little (or big) superheroes all dressed up and watch them play Superhero games. Area restaurants and organizations will be serving up gooey, yummy macaroni and cheese creations like Mac ‘n’ Cheese Pizza, Mac ‘n’ Cheeseburgers, Mac ‘n’ Cheesedogs and, the ol’ favorite -- classic Mac ‘n’ Cheese.

Kids can enjoy an open house at the Templeton Center Fire Station while mom and dad can shop more than 40 vendors and groove to live music at the town gazebo. Admission is free. templetonelders.org.

Neponset RiverFest July 20, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Neponset Park, Dorchester

Boston Harborfest July 1 to 7 Various locations, Boston With hundreds of activities over Independence Day weekend at Boston’s best landmarks, this family-friendly event is one of the country’s largest Fourth of July festivals. Activities include the historical reenactments, Freedom Trail walks, Boat Tours, live entertainment, fireworks and more. It all kicks off with an opening ceremony at Boston’s Faneuil Hall, featuring Colonial-era reenactments and the traditional cutting of the cake. Indulge at Chowderfest, take in live music and art displays, and watch a promenade of festively-lit boats light up the Inner Harbor and seaport. Admission to most events is free. bostonharborfest.com.

Bring a picnic and plan to spend the whole day at this family event celebrating the Neponset River and environment.

Free canoes and kayaks are provided for families to get out on the river. Enjoy live music, exhibitor displays, and kid-friendly fun including face painting, a rock wall, a bouncy house, a spray deck, and a fishing clinic. Kids can climb on a Boston fire truck and get up close to sea creatures at a New England Aquarium tide pool touch tank.

Families can explore the paved Neponset Greenway Trail by foot or bike. Food and ice trucks will make stops throughout the day.

Admission is free. neponset.org/riverfest

Salem Maritime Festival August 3 & 4, Saturday 10 a.m.4:30 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m.-4 p.m.

Derby Wharf, Salem Celebrate ships, sailors, and song!

Hosted by the National Park Service, this festival by the sea offers an exciting array of free fun for everyone, including live music, harbor cruises, craft demonstrations, re-enactors, story-telling, visiting vessels, fish painting, kite-flying, radio-controlled boats, and much more. Admission is free. nps.org.

One of the largest sand sculpting festivals in the world, the Revere Beach International Sand Sculpting Festival draws artists from around the globe and hundreds of thousands

This traditional country fair dates back to the 1860s.The fair features live music, amusement rides, a midway, typical fair food and extensive farm and agriculture exhibits. Regular special events each year include the demolition derby and tractor pulls. Admission: $10, kids under 10 free. marshfieldfair.org.

Holden Days August 25, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Main Street, Holden This annual event promises great food, fun and entertainment for the entire family.

Featuring musical and dance performances, a Kids Court, an auto showcase, and bandstand performances with local musicians.

Visitors can stroll through the marketplace, food court, art lot and craft corner and peruse sidewalk sales. Kids can catch a ride on the Roaming Railroad, enjoy face-painting, games and more. Admission is free. wachusettareachamber.org.

Antique & Classic Boat Festival August 24 & 25 Hawthorne Cove Marina, Salem

Bolton Fair August 9 to 11 Fairgrounds, Lancaster

International Sand Sculpting Festival July 26 to 28, 10 a.m.- 8 p.m Revere Beach, Revere Northeast Balloon Festival July 12 to 14 Three County Fairgrounds, Northampton

of visitors to America’s first public beach.

Along with magnificent sand sculptures, the festival also includes fireworks, live entertainment, food trucks/stands, children’s activities, and amusement rides. Admission is free. reverebeachpartnership.com.

A quintessential New England Fair with old fashioned fun for the entire family.

The fair will be open three full, fun-filled days - Friday, Saturday and Sunday - with a Midway preview on Thursday night.

Attractions include a lumberjack show, demolition derby, FMX and Monster Trucks.

A petting farm, livestock exhibits, midway rides and lots of animals provide fun for kids. Take in bands, fiddlers and acoustic performances, see horse, oxen and tractor pulls, and enjoy fair food, shopping, crafters, exhibits, and a farmers’ market.

Admission: $10 for adults, $6 for seniors, $5 for kids, with children 4 and under free. boltonfair.org.

Marshfield Fair August 16 to 25, 12-10 p.m.

Marshfield Fairgrounds

You don’t get to see boats like this every day! Get a glimpse at a wonderful variety of rare vintage motor yachts and sailboats from 1900-1960s. Meet skippers and crews and vote for your favorite boats. Children get to make their own wee boat, and all can board real ones. Boat rides, crafts market, artists, old-time band music, the Blessing of the Fleet and more is in store. Admission: $5 per person; children under 12 free. boatfestival.org.

Three County Fair August 30 to September 2 Three County Fairgrounds, Northampton American’s oldest continuously operated fair, the Three County Fair takes place over Labor Day weekend, featuring livestock and agricultural contests and exhibits, musical entertainment, a farm museum, delicious food vendors, demolition derbies, and an exciting midway with rides and games for all ages. Admission: $12 for adults, $10 for seniors, with children 11 and under free when accompanied by an adult. 3countyfair.com.

BAYSTATEPARENT 29

BEST. SUMMER. EVER.

SUMMER UNPLUGGED Get� Back to�e Basics

BY JODI DEE

M

ost of us remember our childhood summers with a warm nostalgia; roasting marshmallows on a clear night by an open fire or running around catching fireflies to hold in a glass jar. The environment was our entertainment and earth was our playground.

Summers were simple.

During my childhood summers we rarely turned on the television other than for the 5 o’clock news or the occasional Saturday night party, where all the children in the neighborhood came over for popcorn to watch a movie. The popcorn was made in a big vat, not in a microwave. We could smell the butter boiling and waited hungrily for the popping to start. The parents would stay to socialize, drink, and laugh.

We didn’t have smart phones constantly buzzing in our pockets, iPads, iPods, or computers. When we were bored, there was little to distract us other than our younger siblings’ teasing. We had to be bored. We had to create fun. We had to use our imaginations. Our time was spent outside, playing or riding our bicycles up and down the street, racing, or trying to win some

30 JUNE2019

made up challenge (who was faster or who could ride with no hands the longest).

We would play hide-and-seek past dark until the call would come, “It’s time for bed!” It may not have been midnight, but after a long day of playing outside in the sun, never sitting down, it sure felt like it. We were ready for sleep. Our bodies were utterly exhausted, but in a way that satisfied the soul and mollified the energy of a child...until the next day.

Unfortunately, childhood seems much more complicated and busier than it was in the past. Between sports clinics, playdates, parties, summer school programs, and more, it seems impossible to have a quiet day at the beach. Add technology to the mix, and the way summertime used to feel seems like a distant memory from another lifetime.

In today’s world of instant gratification and constant mental stimulation, children do not know how to be bored. But boredom is the empty space of creation and imagination. When everything comes easy, when questions are answered instantly, children often do not even know they can figure it out themselves.

Summers should be a time of rest; a time of quiet rejuvenation when children can reset, take time to be present and be a child.

Bring your child the experience of your childhood, even if only for a week. Bring them back to basics! By the end of the summer they will have a new appreciation for life.

Getting Back to the Basics: • Unplug! Shut off cell phones, iPads, iPods, or computers. No electronic devices allowed (or limit the time each day to 2 hours or less). That means Mom and Dad, too!

• Make a pact not to bring any devices on destination vacations, other than a phone for emergencies.

• Play board games at night like Monopoly, Pictionary or Chess. Keep a deck of cards on hand, these are easy to carry and can be played anywhere.

• Do mind stimulating activities like crossword puzzles, Sudoku, or Brain Quests.

• Have sleepovers with friends and relatives and no movies or electronics. Have them return to basics with you.

• Limit TV or movies to once a week, Mom and Dad too!

• Make popcorn in a pot with lots of real butter and salt.

• Make campfires! Cook hotdogs on a stick. Make s’mores...the gooier the better!

• Talk to each other! Create lists of questions to answer. (This sounds simple but you would be amazed, especially with teenagers, that conversation is not easy). Have them make a list of questions they want to know about you, when you were young, your favorite memories, etc.

• Cook meals together. Have each child pick a recipe and be responsible for all the ingredients and preparing the entire meal once a week. Try to have one meal together every day.

• Try a new activity: borrow friends’ paddleboard, kayaks, or canoes. (We forget we used to share everything. We don’t need to buy everything our children want. Don’t be afraid to ask and borrow from neighbors or friends.)

• Bring bikes! Walk or bike to places when able, rather than drive.

• Read books or articles together! Our parents used to read the newspaper and share current events with us and what was happening in the world. Conversation is the greatest way children learn language.

• Play! Get a Wiffle ball and bat. Find a court and play tennis or basketball together, even if you never have.

Set up a volleyball net or tetherball (these are pretty cheap and easy to install).

• Require at least 3-4 hours outside every day (for everyone), even if it is just sitting on the lawn with paper and colored pencils, a book, or a pen to journal.

• Make lunches together, plan a picnic.

• Go for a simple walk around the neighborhood.

• Visit an elderly neighbor, bring them something you cooked together. Ask if they need help mowing the lawn. We knew everyone in our neighborhood growing up, because we were always outside. Meet them, they are part of your community.

• Hike a state forest or mountain! In this area, there are countless hikes of varying levels of ability: Wachusett, Monadnock, Wattatick, Purgatory, Douglas State Forest, Leadmine Mountain Trail, etc.

• Make lemonade and set up a lemonade stand.

• Have a yard sale. Clean out old toys and clothes together. Have the children price and run the sale. Take the profits, donate to a charity or go get an ice cream cone. Remember the one year rule (if not used of worn in a year, donate) • Visit an ice cream stand! Often.

• Sit out and watch the stars on a warm summer night, look for a shooting star to make a wish.

• Sleep out in sleeping bags or tents in your backyard.

• Find a farm to pick your own blueberries, strawberries, and other fresh fruits and vegetables.

• Visit a farm stand. Hand pick vegetables to cook with.

• Find a campsite that has a lake. Fish, swim, kayak.

• Sit on the beach with books or magazines (no electronic devices or music allowed!) Bring buckets and shovels (metal work shovels are great, you can dig deep holes and have plenty of sand for structures or castles) Explore the rocks and seashore, find sea creatures and shells • Get wet! Take out a hose on a hot day and spray each other! Make up a game with the water, see if the person who’s turn it is can get you. Grab buckets, water guns, water balloons and form teams. Or, fill up a water table or buckets for smaller children and let them explore (throw in measuring cups, spoons, or medicine dispensers).

• Or, just do nothing!

We are so used to moving quickly and doing everything, we often forget the basics are what our children need the most. Summers are a great time to unwind and unplug… so do it together!

Mom of three Jodi Dee has more than 30 years’ experience in Early Childhood Education and business. She has a B.A. in Psychology and a Masters in Education from Clark University. A columnist, blogger and children’s book author, she recently launched createahomeoflearning.com to promote education and early learning.

BAYSTATEPARENT 31

BEST. SUMMER. EVER.

Day Trip!

Harbor Islands Summer Happenings Spectacle Island 5K & Fun Run: Saturday, June 8, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Enjoy panoramic views of Boston Harbor and the city skyline as you race around Spectacle Island’s scenic perimeter trail. Festivities feature a 5K Race, a half-mile Kids Fun Run, picnic lunch, music, a beer ticket, and kids’ activities. Ferry departures are available from both downtown Boston and Hingham Shipyard. Learn more at www.bostonharbornow.org/5K. Boston Harbor Lighthouse Tour: Saturdays & Sundays, June 29 through September 29, 1 & 3:30 p.m.

Experience the lighthouses of Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park with a special three-lighthouse tour. This two-hour cruise will sail past Long Island Light, Graves Light, and Boston Light: America’s first light station. Onboard narration provided by staff and volunteers from the National Park Service and United States Coast Guard.

Boston Harbor Sunset Cruise: Every other Friday, July 12 through September 20, 5:30 p.m.

Experience the lighthouses of Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park through a special narrated cruise. Voyage through maritime history and pass renowned Boston Harbor landmarks on this three-lighthouse tour. This 2-hour cruise will sail past Long Island Light, Graves Light, and Boston Light, America’s oldest light station. Narrations and programs on-board provided by staff and volunteers from the National Park Service and United States Coast Guard.

32 JUNE2019

Exploring the Beautiful Boston Harbor Islands

BY CHERYL MAGUIRE

E

very year we love to visit the Boston Harbor Islands, located just off the coast of Boston, Massachusetts. As far as islands go, these may be missing the Caribbean turquoise blue ocean, but they do offer awe-inspiring views along with significant historical buildings. You may be thinking at this point, “I’ve never heard of it.” Well, you would not be alone. Many people in Massachusetts are unaware of this beautiful travel destination exists so close to home.

The Boston Harbor Islands is a National and State Park consisting of 34 different islands or former islands. Eight islands are accessible by a public ferry. The ferry operates from May until October and departs from either Boston, Hingham or Hull. You pay one fee at a departure point regardless of the number of times you get on or off to visit each island. If you are interested in a longer adventure you can bring your tent and camp out at one of the campgrounds located on the islands of Grape, Bumpkin, Peddocks, and Lovells.

If you don’t have tent Peddocks

offers six Yurts for rent.

Our favorite island accessible by ferry is the small island called Bumpkin. You can hike around the entire island in about an hour with the Boston skyline visible from most points. The trails are well maintained and easy to walk. There are picnic tables if you bring your breakfast or lunch, you can enjoy island views while you dine. There is also a beach which is across from Hull. During low tide, a sand

split connects the mainland of Hull to Bumpkin.

The island has beautiful flowers and vegetation dating back to the 1900s. Wildlife such as turkeys and deer have crossed our path while we were hiking. There are three different structures still present on the island. One is a former hospital built in the 1900s for children with disabilities which is mostly in ruins. Another is a naval training camp which was used during WWI.

receive permission you are able to horseback ride or cross country ski.

The Boston Harbor Island offers a unique nature and historical experience for the day or several days. Before you visit check the calendar of events along with any special exhibits. We have witnessed different art exhibits displayed on various islands. Some of the programs offered are yoga, music, kayaking and vintage base ball (spelled with a space). Even if you visit more than once as we do, it is always a new adventure.

Lastly, there are some stone walls still standing of an old farmhouse.

Georges Island is the largest and most popular Boston Harbor Island accessible by ferry which encompasses 53 acres. The main attraction at Georges Island is Fort Warren. It was built between 1833-1860 and served many purposes. During the Civil War, Fort Warren was a prison for Confederate officers and government officials. The fort was also a training ground and patrol point. Today the fort is considered a National Historic Landmark. You can either visit the museum or take a ranger-guided tour to learn more about the history of the island including the ghost, The Lady in Black who allegedly still haunts the place.

Allow for at least 2 hours to explore the fort and scenic views of the city of Boston.

Similar to Bumpkin, the trails are easy to walk. Before you explore the island check in at the visitor’s center to learn about possible events or shows that may be held throughout the day.

If you are not interested in traveling by ferry then you may be interested in Worlds End which is the largest of the Boston Harbor Islands at 275 acres and accessible by car. You have a choice of two different types of experiences when you visit. There is a steep (my FitBit said 35 flights) slow climbing hill path which if you choose you will be rewarded with remarkable views of both Boston and Hull. If you would rather walk around the island, there is a mostly flat path you can select instead.

In 2003 a survey was con-

ducted and found Worlds End has 301 different plant species.

You can experience both rocky beaches along with both fresh and saltwater marshes. If you

Cheryl Maguire holds a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology. She is the mother of twins and a daughter.

You can find her on Twitter @ CherylMaguire05.

Trip Tips ● If you are a Massachusetts resident or know someone who is, check your local library for discounted passes for the ferry. You can also receive a free parking pass to Worlds End from the library. ● If you are visiting more than one island leave plenty of time to catch the ferry since it may only run one time during the day (if you miss it you may be stuck there!). ● Georges Island is the only island which has a snack bar. Bring food and water if you plan to visit the other islands. ●If you are traveling with children ask a ranger about the junior ranger program.

BAYSTATEPARENT 33

BEST. SUMMER. EVER.

It Can Happen to Anyone Every Parent Needs to Know These New Drowning Prevention Guidelines

D

rowning can be silent and quick, and it kills nearly 1,000 children every year. That’s why the American Academy of Pediatrics has released new water safety guidelines; a campaign to help parents prevent such tragedy.

Drowning is the single leading cause of injury or death among children ages 1 to 4. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, 350 children under the age of 5 drown in pools nationwide each year, the majority of the deaths occurring in the summer months in backyard pools.

One of the new recommendations is that children start swimming lessons at the age of one-year-old to learn proper water safety. Ideally, programs should teach ‘water competency’ too – the ability to get out of the water if your child ends up in the water unexpectedly.

But the AAP warns that even the best swim lessons cannot “drown-proof” a child, so the group strongly recommends parents take steps to make a child’s environment safer.

“Many of these deaths occur when children are not expected to be swimming or when they have unanticipated access to water,” said Dr. Sarah Denny. “Toddlers are naturally curious; that’s why we must implement other strategies, such as pool fencing and door locks.”

A four-sided fence is the most important safeguard for homes with a pool, but parents and caregivers should also be mindful of other bodies of water. Most parents know to never leave a child alone near open water, but the new recommendations suggest that caregivers should empty water from buckets and other containers immediately after use and put locks on bathroom toilets.

Additionally, whenever an infant or toddler is in the water, an adult who knows how to swim should always be within an arm’s length distance from them.

But it’s not just toddlers who are at risk. Teenagers are the second-highest age group most likely to be involved in a drowning related death, with 370 teens and pre-teens losing their life each year.

“Adolescents can be overconfident in their swimming abilities and are more likely to combine alcohol use with swimming – compounding their risk significantly,” said Denny. “Children of color, especially African American teens are especially at risk.”

Teens are encouraged to learn CPR and other water safety skills. All children and teens should wear life jackets while near open bodies of water.

Several parents who have lost children to drowning are joining the AAP in the push to refocus the attention of parents and physicians on drowning risks and prevention. Olympic skier Bode Miller, whose 19-month daughter, Emmy, drowned in a neighbor’s swimming pool last year, and Nicole and Jonathan Hughes, whose 3-year-old son, Levi, wandered outside and drowned while on a family vacation last year, have partnered with the AAP to share their stories.

“Having families share their personal stories, we hope, will help connect with parents who may think it could ‘never happen’ to them,” said Dr. Ben Hoffman of the AAP. “Tragically, it can happen to anyone.”

You can read more about the new Drowning Prevention Guidelines at healthychildren.org.

34 JUNE2019

BEST. SUMMER. EVER.

our

fave 1.

2.

No pool? No problem. The backyard sprinkler is an affordable way to keep kids cool and occupied in the summer. Sure, they can always run through the ‘ole oscillating sprinkler, but these four picks are a lot more fun.

4.

1. This huge Rainbow Tunnel

3.

4

Sprinkler will make running through hose water magical. When inflated, this rainbow arch stands 6 feet tall.

Available at Target. $99.99.

2. The Jasonwell Sprinkle & Splash Play Mat is the perfect size for toddlers. Little ones can lay or sit in the big mouth of the shark and play in the gentle spray on a hot summer day. Available on Amazon. $22.99.

3. This 4-foot-tall JoyIn Inflatable Unicorn Sprinkler sprays water from its horn. Coolness and cuteness all in one. Available on Amazon. $21.95.

4. The BigMouth Ginormous

Inflatable Green Dinosaur Sprinkler means big-time fun. This bad boy stands over 6 feet tall! Available at Walmart. $47.99.

BAYSTATEPARENT 35

BEST. SUMMER. EVER.

Because

YOUR CHILD’S MEDICATION

Can’t Take a Vacation This Summer…

BY SAAD AND RAY DINNO

36 JUNE2019

W

ith the start of summer quickly approaching, we know as parents that this can be an exciting yet stressful time of year.

The days get longer, family and work schedules change, and we must adjust to a new “normal” for the following two to three months until the school bell rings again.

With this in mind, we offer some suggestions for parents to ensure that their kids stay on top of their medication during summer vacation.

First, let’s start with your child’s plans. Are they spending their summer at day camp? If so, use this added structure as an opportunity to create a new schedule for taking medication. For instance, if your kids need to take their medication in the morning, make this part of the breakfast routine, so that your child takes their medication around the same time each day.

Store the medication in the same place, and if necessary, set an alarm on your cell phone or smart watch as a friendly reminder. If your child needs medication while at camp, set up a meeting with the camp medical staff to inquire about daily activities, meal time and other questions you may have.

Clearly label any medication for the medical staff with how much to take and when to take it, and provide a contact list that includes your phone number along with your child’s pediatrician and pharmacist. Your pharmacist can split a prescription up into multiple bottles with labels so that medications do not get lost between home and camp.

If your child’s summer will be less regimented, it may be more challenging to create the same sort of schedule. Luckily, there is an easy solution.

Compliance packaging is one way to ensure your child takes their medication. The packaging seals medication into individual pill cups and is labeled with your child’s name, the type and dose of the medication, and the time of day to take it.

Compliance packaging provides a precise and easy schedule to follow, so you don’t have to worry about keeping track of when or whether your child took their medication. We recommend this system to many of our customers, especially those who may live a busier lifestyle or have a loved one on multiple medications. Check with your pharmacist to see if compliance packaging is available.

Even with a schedule in place, parents still may face the additional challenge of getting their child to actually take the medication, especially if the pill is too large or particularly unpalatable. Custom compounded medication is one way to solve this situation. Compounding pharmacists can work with your child’s pediatrician to create alternative forms of commercially available medications to suit the child’s particular needs. For example, pills or tablets can be converted into liquid form, and flavored to your child’s liking. If this is a challenge that you frequently encounter, talk to your child’s pediatrician to see if this is possible.

Another strategy to consider is to give your child a small amount of ice cream (if they have no dietary restrictions) before a dose which can, briefly, slightly numb the taste buds.

Whatever method you use to ensure your child stays on track with medication is fine. The key is to not fall off the prescribed dosing schedule, which can create significant medical complications.

At the very least, start with a written schedule, and check it regularly.

Most importantly, remember to relax and enjoy the days of summer.

Autumn winds will be here before you know it.

Saad and Ray Dinno, brothers, are registered pharmacists and co-owners of Acton Pharmacy, Keyes Drug in Newton, and West Concord Pharmacy.

BAYSTATEPARENT 37

BEST. SUMMER. EVER.

Your Ticket to

FREE Summer Fun! Free Fun Fridays are back this summer to give your wallet a break.

For the eleventh year, Highland Street Foundation is sponsoring weekly summer family family, at no cost.

From June 28 to August 30, there will be an array of museums, parks, zoos and cultural centers opening their doors each Friday for free.

Peruse gardens and sculptures in the Berkshires, step back in time with a visit to Old Sturbridge Village or Plimoth Plantation, or get up close to sharks and whales on Cape Cod. One hundred venues, stretching from one end of the Bay State to the other, are participating in this year’s program. Free Fun Fridays are open to all -- not just Massachusetts residents -- and in most cases there is no need to pre-register. Just show up, and have fun!

FRIDAY JUNE

28

Lyric Stage Company of Boston - Boston Cape Ann Museum - Gloucester Clark Art Institute - Williamstown MIT Museum - Cambridge Nichols House Museum - Boston Norman Rockwell Museum - Stockbridge Plimoth Plantation - Plymouth The Mount: Edith Wharton’s Home - Lenox Wenham Museum - Wenham Worcester Art Museum - Worcester

FRIDAY JULY

05

Amelia Park Children’s Museum - Westfield Cape Cod Maritime Museum - Hyannis Children’s Museum in Easton - North Easton Edward Gorey House - Yarmouth Port Falmouth Museums on the Green - Falmouth Jacob’s Pillow - Becket Museum of Printing - Haverhill Pilgrim Hall Museum - Plymouth The Old Manse, The Trustees - Concord The Telephone Museum - Waltham

38 JUNE2019

FRIDAY JULY

12

FRIDAY JULY

19

FRIDAY AUGUST

Museum of Fine Arts - Boston Charles River Watershed Association - Weston Chesterwood - Stockbridge Children’s Museum of Greater Fall River - Fall River Gloucester Stage Company - Gloucester Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center - Great Barrington New England Quilt Museum - Lowell The Patriots Hall of Fame - Foxborough Smith College Museum of Art - Northampton Springfield Museums - Springfield

FRIDAY JULY

Boston Children’s Museum - Boston The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University - Jamaica Plain Battleship Cove - Fall River Cape Cod Children’s Museum - Mashpee Nantucket Maria Mitchell Association - Nantucket New England Historic Genealogical Society - Boston Peabody Essex Museum - Salem Sandwich Glass Museum - Sandwich Spellman Museum of Stamps & Postal History - Weston The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art - Amherst

26

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum - Boston Edward M. Kennedy Institute of the U.S. Senate - Dorchester Cape Cod Museum of Art - Dennis Commonwealth Museum - Boston Commonwealth Shakespeare Company - Babson Park Fitchburg Art Museum - Fitchburg Historic Deerfield - Deerfield Larz Anderson Auto Museum - Brookline The Gardens at Elm Bank (Mass Hort) - Wellesley Ventfort Hall Mansion & Gilded Age Museum - Lenox

02

Franklin Park Zoo - Stoneham Boston Symphony Orchestra at Tanglewood - Lenox Chatham Shark Center - Chatham Children’s Museum at Holyoke - Holyoke Concord Museum - Concord International Volleyball Hall of Fame - Holyoke Lynn Museum - Lynn Museum of Russian Icons - Clinton Naumkeag, The Trustees - Stockbridge Old State House - Boston

10 Fun Fridays at 100 Bay State Venues

FRIDAY AUGUST

09

Boston Harbor Islands National & State Park - Boston Davis Museum at Wellesley College - Wellesley Gore Place - Waltham Hancock Shaker Village - Hancock JFK Hyannis Museum - Hyannis Museum of the National Center of Afro-American Artists - Roxbury New Bedford Whaling Museum - New Bedford Old Colony History Museum - Taunton Worcester Historical Museum - Worcester The Greenway Carousel - Boston

FRIDAY AUGUST

16

John F. Kennedy Presidential Library & Museum - Boston Berkshire Theatre Group - Pittsfield Cahoon Museum of American Art - Cotuit Discovery Museum - Acton Fruitlands Museum, The Trustees - Harvard Fuller Craft Museum - Brockton Paragon Carousel - Hull Provincetown Art Association & Museum - Provincetown USS Constitution Museum - Boston

FRIDAY AUGUST

23

The Institute of Contemporary Art - Boston Berkshire Museum - Pittfield Boston Athenaeum - Boston Buttonwood Park Zoo - New Bedford Emily Dickinson Museum - Amherst Fort Devens Museum - Devens Freedom Trail Foundation - Boston Heritage Museums & Gardens - Sandwich Museum of African American History - Boston The Mary Baker Eddy Library & Mapparium - Boston

FRIDAY AUGUST

30

Old Sturbridge Village - Sturbridge Cape Cod Museum of Natural History - Brewster Griffin Museum of Photography - Winchester Hull Lifesaving Museum - Hull Mass Audubon’s Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary - Topsfield MASS MoCA - North Adams Museum of the First Corps of Cadets - Boston Osterville Historical Museum - Osterville Capron Park Zoo - Attleboro EcoTarium - Worcester

continued to volunteer her time and talents as a MARE photographer. She continued to build rapport with both the social workers as a photographer and through her family’s own adoption process.

While Jackie and Jay waited for the finalization of their daughter’s adoption, Erykah’s biological brother was born.

Cole came home to the family directly from the hospital at two weeks old, about a yearand-a-half after Erykah entered their lives.

Though saddened by the recent loss of Erykah and Cole’s birth mother, Jackie feels blessed for the special bond they had and grateful she is able to tell the kids how much their birth mother loved them.

Their adoption process was quite lengthy and at times grueling; they hit every obstacle imaginable, from a retiring judge to the loss of their beloved social worker, Wendy.

finally

forever

The Bratton’s

Bumpy, Fulfilling Road

F

to Adoption

or over a decade, professional photographer, Jackie MastromatteoBratton, has been volunteering as a MARE Heart Gallery photographer. The Heart Gallery, a series of waiting child portraits, debuted in 2005 as a contemporary way to connect the public to adoption and Jackie was one of the first photographers to join the volunteer program.

All it took was an email to a local Department of Children and Families (DCF) asking about opportunities to lend her time and talents to. The department pointed her to MARE (Massachusetts Adoption Resource Exchange) where she initially met with

Executive Director Lisa Funaro.

As one of the first photographers involved in the Heart Gallery, Jackie has driven across the state and back to capture stunning images of children seeking a loving, permanent family.

Jackie and her husband, Jay, had always wanted to adopt, but at the time Jackie started volunteering with MARE adoption was not on their minds.

“We always thought we would have biological children first and adopt children after,” she explained. “That is not the way things turned out.”

After struggling with infertility for many years, the couple decided to attend a parenting training and start the adoption process. Just two weeks after certification, their daughter,

Erykah, blessed their home in 2012, and they instantly fell in love.

Erykah moved in two weeks before Thanksgiving and just shy of her first birthday.

The family’s court date was scheduled for January, but what they believed would be a smooth process with the date just around the corner quickly became complicated.

Jackie grew up in a town where everyone knew each other and it eventually came to light that she knew Erykah’s biological mother. This changed things; she reached out and built a relationship with the biological mother.

During court dates and meetings, the two would sit together; a sight normally unseen.

Through all of this, Jackie

But, finally, four years later, it all became official.

To this day, Jackie still volunteers with MARE as a photographer. She captures portraits of other children seeking permanent families, not unlike her own children early in their lives.

Grateful that adoption gave them the gift of becoming parents, Jay and Jackie could not imagine their lives any other way. They celebrate adoption and hope by sharing their story that they can encourage others to consider adopting as well.

“As an adoptive parent you will encounter things that other parents don’t understand,” said Jackie. “When it comes to the adoption process, keeping your faith and trusting your instincts and social worker are imperative. Every bump whether big or small is worth the fight!”

June’s Child: Meet Chloe Hi, I’m Chloe and I am open to trying new things!

Chloe is an outgoing, friendly and social 13-yearold girl of Caucasian descent. Her favorite activities are listening to music, working on arts and crafts projects, attending dance classes, and spending time with her friends. Chloe has many interests and is open to trying new things. She has made a few friends at school and is successful in class with extra supports.

Chloe is doing very well in her foster home.

Legally freed for adoption, Chloe will thrive in an attentive and supportive home of any constellation that can provide her with consistent boundaries.

Chloe will do best in a home where she can be an only-child or have older siblings. A family should be open to helping Chloe maintain contact with her

biological siblings and other birth family, as these relationships are important to her.

Can you provide the guidance, love and stability that a child needs?

If you’re at least 18 years old, have a stable source of income, and room in your heart, you may be a perfect match to adopt a waiting child. Adoptive parents can be single, married, or partnered; experienced or not; renters or homeowners; LGBTQ singles and couples.

The process to adopt a child from foster care requires training, interviews, and home visits to determine if adoption is right for you, and if so, to help connect you with a child or sibling group that your family will be a good match for.

To learn more about adoption from foster care, call the Massachusetts Adoption Resource Exchange (MARE) at 617-964-6273 or visit www.mareinc.org.

BAYSTATEPARENT 39

VERY SPECIAL PEOPLE

8for navigating TIPS THEME PARKS without tears

BY RACHAEL MOSHMAN

Y

ou’ve shelled out a fortune for a magical family trip to a theme park.

Sorry to break this to you, but theme parks can be overwhelming and exhausting experiences, especially for young children or those with special needs. There are usually crowds of people trying to navigate through the same small walkways. Much of the day is spent waiting in line. The rides are often loud or have unexpected effects, such as flashing lights. Some rides splash water on people as they pass by. There are food carts emitting smells from every corner.

40 JUNE2019

Add in the heat of summer and many adults and typically developing children quickly hit sensory overload. The experience is intensified in children who have special needs.

My daughter has generalized anxiety disorder, as well as sensory processing issues.

We took her to Disney World for the first time when she was nine. We had spent weeks prior to the trip talking about Disney World. We watched videos, looked at photos online and read books. We told her what to expect - for example, it would be a lot of walking and we would have to wait in line to go on the rides.

It was still too much for her. She was completely overwhelmed.

We quickly realized within an hour of walking through the gates that we would need to develop some strategies in order for us to have a successful vacation.

Here’s what we learned from that experience, and some things that worked for us over the course of that trip and subsequent trips to other theme parks:

1. Tell your child what to expect. Talk about things that might bring your child stress, such as the crowds, screaming on the rides, long lines or weather conditions. Plan an exit strategy in case the child becomes overwhelmed (such as going to a calm area of the park or heading back to the hotel for a break).

2. Remind your child of the things you spoke of, including the exit plan, as you enter the park. No matter how much research, planning and discussion you do to prepare your child, it may all go out the window when they are in the moment. My daughter simply couldn’t comprehend how large, crowded, loud and busy the Magic Kingdom was until it was actually in front of her.

3. Get a hotel onsite if possible or at least nearby. If you don’t have your own vehicle, choose a hotel that has a free shuttle service running throughout the day. Even if everyone is holding up fine, plan to go back to the hotel in the afternoon. Enjoy a quiet lunch. Cool off in the pool. Maybe even take a nap. Then go back to the park for a few more hours in the evening once the crowds have thinned and your family is refreshed.

4. If leaving during the day isn’t an option, look for quiet places within the park to get away for a little break. Let your child kick off her shoes and run around a little patch of grass off the beaten track. Sit on the pavement in a quiet space between buildings to enjoy a cold drink.

5. Don’t let too much time pass without giving your child a snack and drink. It’s easy to get dehydrated walking around with the sun reflecting off the concrete. Most children have little control over their emotions when their blood sugar drops or they are dehydrated. Bring lightweight snacks, such as fruit leather, nuts and beef jerky. Bring an empty bottle that you can fill with cool, fresh water at water fountains.

6. Follow your child’s lead. If they find a ride they like, they will most likely want to ride in several times. The unknown of trying out the next ride can be very frightening. If they start to get agitated in line for a ride, it is probably a good indication that the ride will be too intense for them at this time.

7. Encourage your child to ask the park staff questions. The attendant at the front of each ride can tell your child what to expect.

Then you can help your child decide if they want to give it a try.

8. Let go of your expectations. Don’t try to stick to a rigorous schedule. The day might not go anything like you planned, but you can still consider it a success if more fun was had than meltdowns.

With these quick adjustments, our first day at Disney World was a success. We arrived at the park at opening. As the crowds increased, so did her anxiety. By the time lunchtime arrived, she was out of steam. We caught a bus back to our onsite hotel and grabbed lunch in the food court there. We spent the afternoon playing in the pool. We took a water taxi to Downtown Disney for dinner and then went back to the Magic Kingdom after dark. The temperature was more tolerable and the crowds had thinned. We learned the best time to enjoy the rides is when everyone else is watching the parade.

Yes, she was up way past her bedtime, but she left the park with a big smile and feeling like she was successful in handling the day.

We’ve gone on to enjoy many more theme park days using these strategies.

Rachael Moshman is a mom, writer, educator and advocate. She loves chocolate peanut butter ice cream, thrift shops and sequins. Find her at ramblingrach.com.

BAYSTATEPARENT 41

A GOOD PARTY IS ALWAYS IN SEASON

42 JUNE2019

take eight with Megan Amaral Talk about a cool job. Megan Amaral’s work is many a child’s dream: Master Model Builder at LegoLand Discovery Center Boston. Amaral, 30, a Sturbridge native with a degree in architecture, is the only female Master Model Builder in North America. Last month, along with a group of female first responders, she kicked off Legoland’s new “Lego City: Reporting for Duty,” campaign, helping show young girls they can do anything.

At the new exhibit children can build police badges and rescue helicopters, create their own police chase adventure movie, speed down a zipline for a helicopter rescue, and meet costumed Lego City police officers and firefighters. The exhibit is open through July 7, with tickets available at boston.legolanddiscoverycenter.com.

1.

What exactly is a Lego Master Model Builder? What does the job entail?

5.

This past year I built a scale model of the Wang Theater in Boston which is now on display at the theater. I was able to get plans of the building and really use my architecture background to make the model as accurate as possible. Another project I did last year was a lifesize model of the Grinch. It was a challenge because the Grinch is a cartoon that structurally, would not work. I had to make him sitting on a pile of snow to make sure there was enough support for his body. A more recent project is a mural that I built of Assembly Row. It is 10-by-2 ½-feet and is hanging in the windows down the street. I had to create the picture first using pictures of the various buildings in the area.

I then had to make it into a flat Lego picture and then build on top of it. It is a collection of as many different Lego bricks as I could find to give the mural texture.

I get to design and build with Lego bricks every day. I take care of the various models around our attraction, teach classes in our Master Builder Academy and share my passions with kids of all ages.

2.

What was your path to becoming a Master Model Builder?

Before becoming the Master Model Builder, I was working at the Lego store at the Burlington Mall and at a small architecture firm in Somerville, where I found that a desk job was not for me. A coworker at the Lego store told me about a competition to be the Master Model Builder and thought I should go for it.

I competed in Brickfactor at the Boston Public Library in 2014, and made it to the top 10 but lost the competition. About a year later, LegoLand Discovery Center Boston hosted another Brickfactor competition to find a new builder and I competed again for the dream job. There were three timed rounds with a theme given to us right before we started and giant buckets of brick to work with. The final round was an hour long and the theme was to build your favorite character or cartoon. I built Bugs Bunny and I won!

3.

Were you Lego crazy as a kid? Where did the love for bricks come from?

I built with Lego a lot as a kid and most of my bricks were given to me by my aunt. I was always building houses and restaurants and cities which led my mom to suggest I look into architecture. I have always loved the fact that I would think of an idea for a building and could immediately bring it to life with Lego bricks to see if it worked.

4.

What’s the best part of your job?

What’s the most challenging?

What are some of the coolest Lego projects you’ve worked on?

6.

7.

You’re the only female MMB in North America. Why do you think women/ girls are underrepresented in this world? How can we change it?

I think that it is important to encourage girls to pursue anything they are interested in. With that encouragement, girls will have to confidence to excel in fields that might be male dominated.

8.

What’s on your Lego bucket list?

I would love to one day visit the Lego House in Billund, Denmark, which is also the town where the Lego brick was invented. There are so many large and amazing models there are I would love to see them close up!

Take us through the process of creating a giant Lego sculpture.

Each build I have done has been different so the process is always a bit different. In the past I had to make a 4-foot tall Nutcracker for the Boston Ballet. This model needed an interior structure and a base so it had to be fully designed on the computer first.

There is a lot of math involved to get the size just right to then build the interior structure out of other materials before building and gluing the Lego bricks around it using my computer design as a guide.

The best part is getting to be a kid again and sharing my passion for Lego with all of the kids that come to the attraction. I get excited for the new sets that Lego comes out with and I get to design and create each day. The most challenging part of my job is probably designing the large builds.

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44 JUNE2019