We’ve got you covered with plenty of ideas for fun while school is out.
Proud supporters of
Amy’s first steps (508) 425-5857 reliantmedicalgroup.org/kids 2 | MAY 2022 | BayStateParent
From pools and splash pads to cool off at to gardens and trails to explore, we’ll give you dozens of ways to keep the kids entertained all season long
Pick up our annual Summer Guide, out next month!
Table of
contents May 2022
volume 27
number 1
in every issue 5 5 7 8 9
Editor’s note Finally Forever Good to Know DIY: Egg Carton Flowers
Create an edible masterpiece with springtime veggies and herbs
Herding Goofballs
on the agenda 17
May Adventures: 18 Things to do This Month
21
The List: 6 Special Mother’s Day Events
bites 22
Nutrition: How to Stop Wasting Food with Your Picky Eater
23
Goose’s Goodies: Springtime Focaccia
features
10
12
This Bill Could Make Childcare Affordable for All
BaystateParent MASSACHUSETTS’
PREMIER MAGAZINE
FOR FAMILIES SINCE
1996
MAY 2022 | PRICELESS
+
On a Mission for Moms
The push for universal childcare Where your kids can take free swimming lessons 6 special Mother’s Day events
On a mission for mo ms Why this mother -daughter duo is truly the
15
How Your Kids Can Get Free Swim Lessons
bomb
on the cover Heather Roberts, with her husband Kevin and daughter Madison, sells homemade bath bombs and donates all profi ts to charity. ALLAN JUNG
BayStateParent | MAY 2022 | 3
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2020
editor’s note In my kitchen drawer there’s a tattered old cookbook, its pages splat tered with grease and crusted with dry batter. I got “The Best Kids Cook book” for Christmas in 1995, and I’ve used it on one day, every single year since then. The Lemon Strawberry Waffl es on page 46 make their ap pearance every Mother’s Day. The tradition started when I was a kid with breakfast in bed. My sis ters and I would carry a tray piled with eggs and waffl es and orange juice in a fancy glass into my mom’s room – and every year she’d pretend to be
GETTY IMAGES
May’s Child: Meet Jaxson
FINALLY
forever
Hi, I’m Jaxson and I love to snuggle! Fiveyearold Jax son is a sweet and af fectionate boy of Cau casian descent who can brighten up any room with his big eyes and happy smile. Those who know him best say he is loving, playful and awesome. Jaxson loves to be around other people and will vocalize to greet people he knows. While he enjoys music and his iPad, he is hap piest when he is inter acting with others. Jax son is loved and adored by his peers and teach ers, so much so that he is described as “the mayor” of his school! Jaxson has a variety of developmental and
medical needs, and is surrounded by a sup portive team of provid ers. He is nonspeaking and communicates us ing facial expressions, eye contact, vocaliza tions, smiles and body movements. He loves when people do or say silly things, and will laugh out loud to show his enjoyment. Jaxson uses a wheelchair for mobility and a feeding tube for nutrition at this time. Legally freed for adoption, Jaxson could thrive in a family of any constellation, with or without other children. A family must be pre pared to participate in the variety of suppor
tive services Jaxson re ceives, and in his fre quent medical ap pointments. Ongoing contact with his bio logical parents and longterm foster family will need to be support ed as well. 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 par ents can be single, married, or partnered;
experienced or not; renters or homeown ers; LGBTQ+ singles and couples. As an adoptive parent, you won’t have to pay any fees; adoption from foster care is complete ly free in Massachu setts. The process to adopt a child from fos ter care includes train ing, interviews, and home visits to deter mine if adoption is right for you. These steps will help match you with a child or sib ling group that your family will fi t well with. To learn more about adoption from foster care, call the Massa chusetts Adoption Re source Exchange (MARE) at (617) 964 6273 or visit www.ma reinc.org.
surprised. It evolved over the years. In college I found a way to sneak home and hide the waffl e ingredi ents in the basement mini fridge. When Covid kept us apart, I did a front porch drop off . Over the years my mom has raved about those tangy breakfast treats, but honestly, they’re not that good. I al ways wondered why they seemed so important to her. Wouldn’t she rather something a little more luxurious? Now, four years into my own motherhood journey, I get it. It’s the small, an nual act of love that she actually delights in. Real ly, it’s the thought that counts. Motherhood is a tiring and often thankless job, but moms want – and need – to be acknowl edged. Sure, big presents and grand gestures can be nice, but sometimes it’s the littlest things that mean the most. After all, that’s what motherhood is: a series of little tasks and chores and responsi bilities that string togeth er into one big, important job.
So don’t fret about get ting some big Mother’s Day gift this year. We just want someone to notice that we wiped those boo gie noses, we bought the favorite snacks, we made the dentist appointment and fi lled out the tball form. When it comes to motherhood and Mother’s Day, the little things really are the big things. Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms, whether you’re four months or for ty years into your journey. May you feel recognized and appreciated in what ever little way speaks to your heart. Amanda P.S. Mom, can I borrow your waffl e maker?
MEDICAL ADVICE WHEN YOU ARE ON THE GO. DOWNLOAD OUR FREE SYMPTOM CHECKER APP TODAY! Our Health eCheck app helps you make decisions on what type of medical care is needed when your child falls off their bike or has a persistant cough. Search from a list of symptoms or by body area.
BayStateParent | MAY 2022 | 5
6 | MAY 2022 | BayStateParent
GOOD TO
know y Padded crib bumpers could be gone for good after the Senate’s recent passage of the Safe Crib Act. The bill would ban the manufacturing and sale of crib bump ers nationwide.
There are more than 33,000 museums in the Unit ed States, and two of the best – according to USA TODAY – are right here in the Bay State. According to readers’ votes, the Fruitlands Museum and the USS Constitution Museum are among the top 10 history museums in the nation, coming in at No. 2 and 5, respectively. The Fruitlands Museum, a Trustees property set on 210 acres in Harvard, is home to five collections showcasing Transcenden talists, Shakers, Native Americans and more. Bos ton’s USS Constitution Museum, known as “the voice of Old Ironsides,” explores how the oldest commissioned warship afloat was built, sailed, and preserved.
The cotton pads that line the interior edge of a crib were involved in more than 100 reported fatalities from 1990 to 2019, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safe ty Commission. In the US, there is no national safety standard on crib bumpers, but they are banned for sale in several other states. Meanwhile, the American Academy of Pediatrics says that they “have no place in a safe sleep environment.”
PHOTOS BY GETTY IMAGES
“As a pediatrician, parent and grandparent, I cannot overstate how dangerous and deceitful crib bumpers are to infant safety,” said Dr. Moira Szilagyi, AAP president, who called the Safe Crib Act “a long overdue step that is supported by science.”
v Need a last minute Mother’s Day gift? Grab the vacuum. According to a survey by RetailMeNot, what moms really want can’t be bought. The top four things moms really want for Mother’s Day are: a clean house (34%); an acknowledgment that she’s doing a good job (32%); a break from the mom routine (30%); delivered breakfast, lunch, brunch and/or dinner (26%). Easier than you thought!
A new research report from Common Sense Media provides a clearer picture of what many have long suspected when it comes to media use by teens and tweens after more than two years of the pandemic: It spiked. The new research reveals that media use by 8 to 18yearolds has grown faster during the two years of the pandemic than it had over the four years before the pandemic began. While social media is popular among teens, and growing more popular with tweens, not all of them are enjoying the experience. Eightyfour percent of teens surveyed say they use social media, but only 34% say they enjoy using social media “a lot,” which is much lower than the 62% who say they enjoy watching online videos that much. The survey also found an “aging down” of social media. Children ages 8 to 12yearolds, an age group that is technically not allowed to have access to the main social media platforms, are using social media more and more, with 38% percent of respondents in the age group saying that they use some form of social media, up from 31% in 2019. BayStateParent | MAY 2022 | 7
DIY
What you need: Cardboard egg carton
EGG CARTON
fl owers
Buttons Green pipe cleaners Glue Paint and paintbrush
This colorful craft is perfect to make for Mother’s Day. It’s a bouquet that will never wilt!
How to make them: First, cut out the individual egg compartments into various flower shapes pointy, curved, round, etc. Paint the egg cartons. We used a variety of spring colors, including pink, yellow, blue and purple. Let dry completely.
Once dry, use a pencil or pen to poke a hole in the bottom of each egg carton.
two halves come together and make the pipe cleaner stem stronger.
Fold the pipe cleaner in half, so that the folded part is at the bottom of the stem of the flower. Push the ends through the egg carton hole. Twist the pipe cleaner all the way down so that the
Glue a button on top of the pipe cleaner in the center of the egg carton. Let dry completely. Arrange your flowers in a vase or as desired.
Egg Carton Flowers are a perfect craft for Mother’s Day. AMANDA COLLINS BERNIER
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8 | MAY 2022 | BayStateParent
HERDING
goofballs
Parenting
BOOT CAMP ‘I knew I would miss them’ but camp can help Josh Farnsworth
I
t was probably about the fourth time the door went fl ying open. Defi nitely by the fi fth, but more likely the fourth. As I sat in my familiar home offi ce seat, a cackling bunch of boys scuttled up the stairs once more. They pushed open the closed door and began to sere nade me with Sonic the Hedgehog fac toids so trivial that I doubt the blue video game character himself had the correct answer. This was mere moments after being asked to stay out of the room, unless it was an emergency. And that was about fi ve minutes after the last reminder. And that was after… OK, you get the picture. It was also explained that “emergen cy” in this situation is defi ned as either someone is hurt, you think the house
may be in danger of collapsing in on it self or strange individuals were trying to break down the door. Apparently, fun facts about the former Sega character was deemed “houseisabouttocol lapse” levels of concern. So there they were, notsostrange individuals breaking down my door once again. “That’s it! I’ve told you a few times al ready. Daddy is working! Get out of here!” The truth is, dad was really the one who needed to get out of here. Badly. I stared at my calendar and saw a few days until I was to fl y away to visit a friend I hadn’t seen since before the pandemic. It was to be my fi rst few days away from my goofballs in several years.
I knew I would miss them, but as I heard them start to approach the stairs once again, the heartache was not palpable enough to cancel my fl ight tickets. My heart raced with giddy anticipa tion as I drove away for the airport and embraced the prospect of 72 kidless hours. Well, my kidless hours. The friend I was visiting has two kids, but surely that would be a whole diff erent kettle of fi sh, right? For the most part, yes. However, I was able to have a front row seat to a dif ferent parenting style. I was able to wit ness the whole range of parenting, but from a diff erent vantage point. I returned from the trip feeling reju venated. I had more energy once the jet lag wore off . Plus, their youngest (about the age of my sons) is my new tacolov ing, hoopsshooting buddy. And who doesn’t want a new taco buddy? The parents were much more patient with complaints and quicker to off er a calm solution (as opposed to the ex clamatory statement aforementioned earlier with the door swinging open a bunch of times). I also learned from the kids. Detached from having to parent them, I could see them trying to do good, seeing them…well…do kid things from a diff erent lens. As I returned home with a couple small gifts (I was instructed that the locks may be changed if I did not reward them for my weekend away; not sure how that works), I had an epiphany. The trip has led me to one defi nitive conclu sion: all parents should take an annual “onsite parenting boot camp.” In other words, visit and stay with friends who have kids approximately your own kids’ age. You don’t need to hop on a plane or go to another state entirely. You simply need to get away and observe. To do this right and really get an immersive expe rience, there are a few rules you must follow…
Rules for boot camp 1 You are not there to judge. No oth er rule comes close to the top of the list. 2 The main objective is a good time with those willing to put you up. You are getting out of begging your children to give you fi ve minutes of peace, so being grateful is a must here. 3 It must last at least 36 hours. A quick overnight stay won’t allow you to
fully study the matter and have your glorious aha moment. 4 No, you kids can’t come. You are there to learn. 5 Your spouse can’t come either. I believe, in this particular scenario, it is best to arrive at your own conclusions. Make sure your spouse, however, also gets a crack at a weekend like this of his or her own. It’s only fair. 6 Don’t bring a clipboard. It’ll just feel like you are there to judge (see rule #1) and not have a good time (see rule #2). Plus, talk about uncool vibes. Don’t expect an invite back soon if you pull this move. 7 The experience must have some time on the road and some signifi cant time at their home. You must strike a balance. Too much time going out and doing fun activities the entire time does not give you an accurate fl avor for how life is typically spent. Too much time in the house and miss the oppor tunity to see the kids melt down over a trip to the zoo? Pull up a chair and some popcorn and watch. It’s been a few weeks since I returned home, but I do feel like the lessons I’ve learned have paid dividends. I am fo cused on being patient when my kids step out of line and try not to verbally snap as much as I do. The experience gave me a great chance to understand how much kids are alike when it comes to the important things in life. And how I am not always right with how I believe I should parent. I learned that I need to reinforce bound aries, but a Sonic fact or two is some thing to embrace, not shun. So, consider booking your time across town or across the country and see what you fi nd. You may just learn a thing or two. You’ll defi nitely appreciate your own kids once you return. Just re member to bring that token gift. Thanks host family for this incredible gift. Thanks for putting me up. And thanks for that jolt all parents need from time to time. Thanks to you, too, taco buddy.
Josh Farnsworth is a husband, father of goofballs Cooper and Milo, goofball himself, and awardwinning writer and columnist living in Worcester. He can be reached for column ideas at josh.farns worth@yahoo.com. BayStateParent | MAY 2022 | 9
feature
STATE’S CHILDCARE IS THE COSTLIEST Advocates are trying to pass legislation to change that Debbie Laplaca
10 | MAY 2022 | BayStateParent
P
roposed state legislation presently before the joint House and Senate Education Committee could help parents burdened by the costs of early education and childcare by subsidizing programs with public funding. The Common Start Coalition says access to quality early education and childcare programs is out of reach for too many Massachusetts families. The COVID19 pandemic, it says, has highlighted how critical those services are for Massachusetts families, for children, for businesses, and for the state’s economy. Tens of thousands of women have left the workforce, provid ers are closing their doors, and employers are suff ering due to their employees’ struggles with childcare. The solution, according to Common Start, is to treat early education like K12 public education and provide state funding for childcare ages newborn to fi ve. Common Start is a statewide partnership of organi zations, parents, early educators, and advocates who are working to make highquality early education and childcare aff ordable and accessible to all Massachu setts families. Its proposed legislation was fi led in March 2021 and is presently in the joint committee on education. Re cently, the committee’s reporting date was extended to May 1. “Without safe access to aff ordable, highquality early education and childcare, parents and other care givers are either unable to work, or struggle to balance work with caring for their children,” says Common Start. If enacted, the legislation would, over fi ve years, es tablish a system of early education and childcare for children from birth through age 5, after and outof school time for children ages 512, and for children with special needs through age 15. The new system would also allow children who age out during the school year to remain in care through the end of that school year. Lowerincome families would have access to care at no cost, while most other families would quality for fi nancial assistance to lower the cost of care. The goal is that no family would pay more than 7% of their total household income toward early education or care. Common Start is a project of the Coalition for Social Justice in Massachusetts. Deb Fastino, CSJ Executive Director, said the joint Education Committee chairpersons led a separate leg islative commission on this topic and reported short and longterm recommendations that align with the Common Start bill. “I expect to see some good things come out of the legislature this session,” she said. “If they fully fund their immediate recommendations, it’s going to look a lot like the fi rst year roll out of the Common Start Co alition bill.” The CSJ launched Common Start in December 2018. “Once the Paid Family and Medical Leave legisla tion was passed, the next logical step for the CSJ was to work toward aff ordability and accessibility in early education and childcare. Once you are home for three months what do you do next? Early education and childcare,” Fastino said.
“
Compared to many other developed countries, the U.S. trails behind when it comes to affordable, highquality early childhood education. It’s time we fix this by providing all families access to affordable, holistic, childcentered early education.”
Focus groups in 2019 built the bill. Once fi led, public awareness began, which included roundta bles and virtual rallies. Katherine, a parent in Brockton, had this to say about the need for the legislation. “Compared to many other developed countries, the U.S. trails behind when it comes to aff ordable, highquality early childhood education. It’s time we fi x this by providing all families access to af fordable, holistic, childcentered early education.” She continued, “If I had access to highquality, aff ordable early education and childcare that would mean less of a mental and a fi nancial bur den would be placed on my family. My partner and I could return to work content knowing that our child is in good hands and can therefore focus on thriving at work. We wouldn’t have to consider sacrifi cing our way of life or possibly not working at all to care for our child.” According to Common Start, important pro gress has been made on this front in recent years, from raising educator salaries and improving pro vider quality, to supporting aff ordability for low income families and closing gaps in access for par ents who work nontraditional hours. Yet, according to a recent study conducted by Lending Tree, childcare is getting more expensive. The cost of fulltime centerbased childcare for kids younger than age 5 rose across the U.S. be tween 2018 and 2020. The price jumped 5% to $12,411 for infants; 5% to $11,379 for toddlers, and 7% to $10,008 for 4yearolds. Massachusetts families with average wages of $83,738 pay 27%, or $22,577 of their income for in fant incenter care, while families with toddlers pay 24.8% of their income for childcare, according
to the study. Funding for the proposed system would come primarily from federal and state funds, with additional support from local municipalities for public preK programs. It would also be subsidized by reduced parent fees from middle and upperincome families, according to Common Start. “While signifi cant upfront investment is necessary to achieve the system we envision, over the long term, in vestments in highquality early education and childcare largely pay for themselves,” the Common Start writes. “By improving education and life outcomes for children, spending on highquality early education and childcare reduces the need for future government spending on spe cial education, grade repetition, healthcare, and incarcer ation. By improving workforce participation rates among parents, investments in highquality early education and childcare also lead to increased economic growth and ad ditional tax revenue.” The exact costs would be determined by the state De partment of Early Education and Care, which is estimated to be hundreds of millions of dollars each year in addition al federal and state funding, phased in over a 5year im plementation. Common Start breaks that funding down to “Bedrock Funding,” where the legislation would create new direct toprovider funds based on provider capacity that off sets its operating costs, including higher educator pay. And, “Family Subsidy,” where families below 50% of the statewide median income, which today is $62,668 for a family of four, or $42,614 for a single parent with one child, would have access to early education and childcare op tions for free. Families with incomes above that threshold would pay no more than 7% of their total household in come. Cassidy, an early childhood educator had this to say about the proposed legislation, “As an educator, I see a lot of families who can't aff ord to put their children in early care. I'm concerned for these families; it’s not an equal fi eld for all children as of right now. This stage of devel opment is so crucial for children. Research has shown how important this stage of development is. I think the out come for many children would be more positive if every one had better access to early education. We need time and resources.”
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BayStateParent | MAY 2022 | 11
cover story
On a
MISSION for MOMS Why this mother-daughter pair is truly ‘the bomb’ Amanda Collins Bernier Bay State Parent Magazine | USA TODAY NETWORK
What if instead of how much money could be made, businesses mea sured success by how many people they could impact? That’s Heather Roberts’ philosophy. An entrepreneur by spirit, the Shrewsbury mom of two has done everything from running a luxury real estate magazine to managing a marketing and PR fi rm. But it’s through her latest venture – an unexpected foray into the business of bath bombs – that she’s found her true calling: a way to help struggling moms. In 2016, Roberts’ life changed when she began suff ering from chronic pain, seizures, and spells of passing out. Eventually she was diagnosed with Trigeminal neuralgia, a rare neuropathic disorder. “I couldn’t work, my businesses were dying. I couldn’t go see custom ers. I needed something to do,” said Roberts. “I had been reading that CBD and essential oils would help with the headaches and pain, so I started making these bath bombs.”
12 | MAY 2022 | BayStateParent
you. Let’s just get through this and then we’ll go from there. I feel like sometimes all we need, just someone to say ‘we’re going to fi gure it out together,’” she said. Over the years, Roberts has seen that “crisis” looks diff erent to everyone. They’ve assisted women fl eeing domestic violence, battling cancer, or just getting back on their feet after job loss. In one instance, they even helped provide childcare to a mom who wanted some time to be able to go volunteer, herself. “That’s the kind of community we’ve created,” said Roberts. “It’s not about me and it’s not about money, it’s about us. Let’s do the right thing and see what hap pens.” As the list of women they’ve helped grows, so does Mom Bomb. This year, they’ve expanded the line to in clude shower steamers, foot soaks, and bath bombs made just for kids or men. They also have a new pat ented CBD bath bomb that Roberts likens to “having a glass of wine.” Madison, now 17 and a junior at Shrewsbury High School, runs Mom Bomb’s social media. Her TikToks have reached half a million people and helped the non profi t connect with dozens of moms in need of help. “This caused fl ipped the way that I see the world upside down,” Madison said. “Now, I know that you can be the change that you want to see in the world. I get to be part of something bigger than myself.” To shop for the luxury bath bombs, or if you or someone you know you could use help, go to mom bomb.org.
ABOVE: Heather Roberts sells homemade bath bombs and donates all profi ts to charity. ALLAN JUNG/TELEGRAM & GAZETTE
OPPOSITE: Madison and Heather Roberts are on a mission to help moms with their handmade bath bomb business, Mom Bomb. AMANDA COLLINS BERNIER
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The project became a bonding experience for Rob erts and her then 12yearold daughter, Madison. The pair perfected their recipe together, and started giving the bath bombs away to friends and family. “People started asking if they could buy them,” Rob erts said. “I thought, I can’t take money, but if I could fi gure out a way to help other women who are going through something like what I went through, I could do that.” And Mom Bomb was born. “On a mission for moms,” as she says, Roberts’ bath bomb business donates every dollar of profi t to their partner charity, Mom Bomb Giving. The nonprofi t pro vides grants to women in crisis, helping them with ser vices like laundry, meal delivery, housekeeping or child care. In the last fi ve years, Mom Bomb has helped close to 50 women, including Alison, an exhausted mom of a medically complex toddler who was relieved to have the help of a cleaning service. “As moms we already struggle to ask for help,” she said. “Being given an opportunity for support to allow us to focus on the situation at home and reduce some stress is just wonderful.” Roberts said that’s her goal – to help a mom stop and be able to just catch her breath. “What happens when you’re a mom is that the panic sets in. You have too much to do and you don’t have the resources and then it clouds the rest of your life. If we can be the catalyst to be like, ‘OK, take a breath, we got
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BayStateParent | MAY 2022 | 13
feature
‘THIS CAN
SAVE THEIR LIFE’
Here’s where kids can take free swim lessons this spring Amanda Collins Bernier Bay State Parent Magazine | USA TODAY NETWORK
W
atching her 6yearold daughter CJ at her weekly swimming lessons brings a mix of emotions for Jeannette McCusker. CJ is brave and she loves the water. Sometimes that fearlessness makes her mom uneasy. But mostly McCusker feels grateful. That CJ knows how to swim brings peace of mind to the Spencer mom whose oldest daughter drowned when she was just a toddler. It was Easter Sunday 2016 when CJ’s older sister, Elizabeth, wandered off from a family brunch in West Newbury. She was found in a pond in the nearby woods, and later died at the hospital.
14 | MAY 2022 | BayStateParent
“Elizabeth didn’t know how to swim,” said McCusk er. “If there’s one thing I could share, it’s that parents really need to get their kids to learn how to swim. It’s so important.” CJ takes weekly swim lessons with the British Swim School of Worcester, one of 10 organizations of fering free beginner swim lessons through June 30 as part of the state’s Safe Water Initiative Massachusetts (SWIM). The SWIM program was launched last year, follow ing a series of tragic drownings throughout the state. In May 2021, 12 and 13yearold cousins drowned while skipping rocks at a Brockton lake, and a 16year
old boy drowned at Learned Pond in Framingham. In June, Worcester Police Offi cer Manny Familia drowned trying to save three children struggling in the water at Green Hill Pond. A 14yearold boy also died in the incident. Days later, a 19yearold and a 16yearold drowned in separate incidents at state beaches. In July, a 17 yearold boy drowned in the Squannacook River in Groton. SWIM is part of a larger water safety initiative that includes new safety infrastructure at state water fronts and the launch of a new Swim Safe Massachu setts collaboration among state and nonprofi t part ners to raise public awareness around water and swimming safety. The state awarded $475,000 in grants nonprofi t and private organizations to expand free beginner swim lessons to Massachusetts resi dents of all ages this spring. Local organizations off ering free lessons through SWIM include the British Swim School of Worcester, which off ers classes in Paxton, Worcester and West borough; the West Suburban YMCA in Newton; and the YMCA of Central Mass. in Worcester. There are no income thresholds to take advantage of the program. Interested individuals should contact the locations directly for signup opportunities. Danny Boliver, who owns the British Swim School of Worcester, hopes the program reaches families in need before children are out at pools and beaches this summer. “It’s not fair that families that cannot aff ord classes can’t learn to be safe in the water. It’s something that haunts us,” she said. “This is about basic water surviv al.” Drowning is the single leading cause of injuryrelat ed death among children ages 1 to 4. Teens, who can be overconfi dent in their swimming abilities, are the sec ond age group at highest risk of drowning, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The AAP recommends children begin swimming lessons around age 1, but notes that it’s “never too late” to de velop water survival skills. “No matter how old they are – an infant or toddler, little kid, a teenager, even adults. This can save their life,” said McCusker. “There is no upper age limit for water safety,” Boli var agreed. The SWIM program builds on the Department of Conservation and Recreation’s annual Learn to Swim Program, which brings free swim lessons to DCR pools over three twoweek sessions in the summer. Last year, more than 300 young people took part. Learn to Swim will be announced on agency swimming pool’s websites in June, said DCR spokeswoman Carolyn As sa, and lessons will be off ered on a fi rstcome, fi rst served basis.
CJ takes a swim lesson with the British Swim School inside the Paxton Tennis & Fitness Club. RICK CINCLAIR/TELEGRAM & GAZETTE
ON THE
agenda y Preschool Farm Explorers Fridays in May Southborough Experience life on the farm! Chestnut Hill Farm. Through farm “chores” such as brushing goats, planting seeds, and other ageappropriate handson activ ities, stories, and adventures, little farmers will become fully immersed in what life is like for a farmer. Each ses sion meets from 1011 a.m. and features a diff erent theme. Monthly signup $80/ $64. thetrustees.org.
PEPPA PIG LIVE
MAY ADVENTURES
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18 things to do with the kids this month x Peppa Pig’s Adventure May 1 Boston Little piggies everywhere will love this 60minute live musical experience at Em erson Colonial Theatre. Join Peppa on an exciting camping trip in the woods with George and her school friends. With lunchboxes packed and Daddy Pig driving the bus, Peppa and friends are excited about their outdoor adventure, full of singing, dancing, games and surprises. Tickets start at $29.50. emersoncolonialtheatre .com.
THE HANOVER THEATRE
x Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood Live! May 10 Worcester In this whimsical, familyfriendly theatrical event, Daniel Tiger and his family and friends take audiences on an interactive and exciting adventure to the Neighborhood of MakeBelieve, sharing stories of friendship, helping others, and celebrating new experienc es. The live theatrical production is fi lled with music, dancing, and wonder ful surprises that will warm the hearts of preschoolers, parents, and grandpar ents alike. Tickets start at $29. thehano vertheatre.org.
y Preschool Story Hour May 13, 18, 19 & 20 Worcester A thematic hour with a story, activity, and naturalistled walk for children 3 to 5 years old and a caregiver. Preschool story hours are held at Broad Meadow Brook in Worcester and Wachusett Meadow in Princeton. May’s themes are fl owers, turtles and ducks. $5 per child. massaudubon.org.
THE TRUSTEES
y May 4th Stargazing Hike in Cormier Woods May 4 Uxbridge Join a guided, after hours nighttime excursion through Cormier Woods. Bring along your Star Wars trivia for a slowpaced stroll under the stars. Cos tumes are welcomed. Preregistration required $15/$10 members. thetrustees.org.
May 3 & 24 Dover At Powisset Farm toddlers 2 years 9 months to 5 years old will learn the ba sics of cooking. Each session children will make a simple muffi n or cookie reci pe in the kitchen to take home. Adult su pervision is required; not a drop off pro gram. Preregistration required; $34/ $24 members. thetrustees.org.
THE TRUSTEES
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x Tots in the Kitchen
BayStateParent | MAY 2022 | 15
y Asparagus & Flower Heritage Festival May 21 West Brookfi eld A family friendly festival on the town common featuring local artisans, farm ers, and crafters. Activities for kids in cluding games, pony rides, and face painting. Food trucks and live music! Free shuttle available from parking lots. No entry fee.
THE TRUSTEES
x Stroller Tours at deCordova
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May 18 Lincoln Visit deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum with your little one for a date with art, history and the landscape. Trained guides off er a unique onehour stroller tour of sculptures in the park with lively conversation about artist, process, materials, and deCordova’s rich history. Ask our experienced guides about your favorite sculpture, new ac quisitions, or the history of Julian deCo rdova himself. Best for parents and caregivers with children newborn to 2 years old. Limited tickets available; $20/$12 members. thetrustees.org.
x Apple Blossom Festival
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SPRINGFIELD MUSEUMS
May 14 Leominster Sholan Farms’ annual springtime event off ers fun for the whole family. Enjoy a craft show, food trucks, butter fl y release, scavenger hunt, entertain ment and activities. Free admission. sholanfarms.com.
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y Trolls Live! May 21 & 22 Worcester The journey begins when the Trolls’ Hug Time is unexpectedly put at risk. Knowing that the only way to save it is by doing what the Trolls do best, Poppy hosts a toetapping, Trollstastic show, jampacked with all the epic music, glit ter, humor and happiness only the Trolls can create. Tickets start at $19. thehano vertheatre.org.
x Explore Vernal Pools May 14 Natick Go along on a vernal pool adventure at Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary. Search for salamander and wood frog eggs, as well as tadpoles. Watch cad disfl y larvae carry wooden shelters that they built themselves. Use magnifi ers and fi eld microscopes to get upclose looks at some of the myriad of tiny orga nisms that depend on these temporary ponds. Hear the story of the ‘Big Night’ and what you can do to help protect ver nal pools. $17. massaudubon.org. 16 | MAY 2022 | BayStateParent
x Nature Cat: Backyard and Beyond Opens May 21 Springfi eld Explore the natural world in this interactive exhibit at the Springfi eld Museums based on the popular PBS animated kids’ series. Nature Cat: Backyard and Beyond inspires families and children to understand that nature discovery can happen any where – even in their own backyards. Diff erent areas of this bilingual, Spanish and English, exhibit provide opportunities to learn about nature, use math skills to ex plore the natural world, use tools to investigate environments, and work and play together to create, explore and accomplish tasks. Included with admission. spring fi eldmuseums.org.
THE HANOVER THEATRE
THE HANOVER THEATRE
x STOMP! May 31 Worcester The eightmember percussion troupe uses everything but conventional percus sion instruments – matchboxes, wooden poles, brooms, garbage cans, Zippo light ers, hubcaps – to fi ll the stage with magnifi cent rhythms. Year after year, audiences worldwide keep coming back for more of this pulsepounding, electrifying show. Tickets start at $32. thehanovertheatre.org.
THE TRUSTEES
x Hike with Goats
THE TRUSTEES
x Kids Fishing Clinic May 28 Royalston Enjoy the afternoon fi shing with rangers at a secret fi shing spot on Tully Lake. Fishing poles and bait will be provided but feel free to bring your own pole. For kids 12 and under, with parents. $10/$5 members. thetrustees.org.
Weekends in May Southborough Take a leisurely hike through Chest nut Hill Farm’s beautiful grounds and trails, accompanied by one or more of their friendly goats! Goats are naturally playful and curious creatures. They love to follow the leader and stick together, which makes them perfect hiking com panions. Your reservation gets you and your group an hourlong experience with a friendly goat on its own harness and leash. Bring your patience and sense of adventure. Preregistration re quired; $95 per family/$75 members. thetrustees.org.
y Family-Friendly Tour of the Old Manse Saturdays in May Concord Built 250 years ago, the Old Manse witnessed the start of the Revolutionary War and was later a home to several famous writers. In this special, 30min ute tour designed for families with young children, visitors will learn how people lived long ago, see objects that date back to the Revolutionary War, and even get to touch and play a piano that is 160 years old. Adults $9, children $5. thetrustees.org.
THE TRUSTEES
BayStateParent | MAY 2022 | 17
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Sensory-Friendly/Inclusive Programs
x Fantastic Beasts Scavenger Hunt at HMSC Daily Cambridge Courageous travelers are welcomed through the secret passages and hidden rooms of the Harvard Museums of Science and Culture to uncover the hiding places of Harvard’s own fantastic beasts. Test your skills with the likes of Bowtruckles, Kappas, Nundus, and other fantastic beasts. Discover real creatures that inspire the creation of modern stories and classic legends. Your hunt will take you through the galleries of the Harvard Museum of Natural History, the Peabody Museum of Ar chaeology & Ethnology, the Harvard Museum of the Ancient Near East, and the Collection of Historical Scientifi c Instruments. Included with admission. hmsc.harvard.edu.
v Critters on the Trail Daily Sharon Enjoy some fresh air at Moose Hill Farm and look for wood cutouts of seven critters found on the farm — a bat, snake, butterfl y, owl, deer, fox, and frog. The critters are placed along a loop trail that starts and ends at the main parking lot (approximately 1.5 miles). Follow the Old Farm Trail through pastures, meadows, and the young fern forest. Free. thetrustees.org. 18 | MAY 2022 | BayStateParent
THE TRUSTEES
Sensory Friendly Hour at Apex: Sunday, May 1. Enjoy all that Apex En tertainment in Marlborough has to of fer in a sensoryfriendly environ ment. SensoryFriendly Afternoon at Discovery Museum: Tuesday, May 3. Group visits and birthday parties are not scheduled, to avoid crowding and support access to exhibits. Registra tion required. Visually Impaired Family Eve ning at Discovery Museum: Satur day, May 7. Play, explore, experiment, and meet and play with similar fam ilies while the museum is closed to the general public and headcount is lim ited. ASL interpretation may be avail able upon request. Dinner provided. Registration required. Morningstar Program at Boston Children’s Museum: Saturday, May 7. Children with special needs/medi cal needs can visit the museum with few other visitors. Registration re quired. Sensory Friendly Saturday at Springfi eld Museums: Saturday, May 14. Exhibits modifi ed and senso ryfriendly crafts off ered. AutismFriendly Evening at Dis covery Museum: Saturday, May 21. Play, explore, and experiment while the museum is closed to the general public and headcount is limited. ASL interpretation may be available upon request. Dinner provided. Registra tion required.
the list buffet brunch on the sweeping grounds of this historic farm. Live music, lawn games, and visits with the farm animals are all in store. Beer, wine and mimosas available for mom and dad. Adults $65, children $20. Tickets at thetrustees.org.
Family Yoga in the (Sculpture) Park Lincoln Get moving with mom! This kidfriendly yoga class at deCordova Sculpture Park weaves a balance between imagination and mindfulness. For ages 312 and a caregiver, the class will take place on the lawn by the famous Two Big Black Hearts sculpture. Adults $20, children $12. Register at thetrustees.org.
Daffodil and Tulip Festival
Daffodil and Tulip Festival at Naumkeag.
CELEBRATE
Mother’s Day
THE TRUSTEES
From Boston to the Berkshires, here are some memorable places to take mom Duckling Day Boston Common A beloved, threedecadelong tradi tion, Duckling Day draws over 1,000 people to the Boston Common for play time, picnics and quite possibly the most adorable parade you’ve ever seen. Celebrating the classic children’s book, “Make way for Ducklings,” little ones come dressed like characters from the story. Led by the Harvard Marching Band, they parade to the famous Make Way for Ducklings sculpture at the pic turesque Boston Public Garden. Come early for Playtime on the Common, a vibrant array of family entertainment
including a creative play area, a magi cian and other performers, interactive circus games, live music, and more. All families are welcome to decorate their wagons or strollers, bring a picnic, and celebrate mom in America’s oldest pub lic park. Registration is $35 per family. Find more at friendsofthepublicgarde n.org.
Lilac Sunday Boston Experience the springtime bloom of the Arnold Arboretum’s renowned col lection of nearly 400 lilacs. The Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University, a
281acre preserve in the heart of Bos ton, brings this Mother’s Day event back for the first time since 2019, of fering tours with Arboretum experts, handson children’s programming, and more. This is the only day of the year that picnicking is permitted at the Ar boretum, so pack lunch and plan to stay all day. The event is free, though dona tions to the Arboretum are appreciated. Parking is limited to perimeter streets. Details at aboretum.harvard.edu.
Brunch at Powisset Farm
Stockbridge Take a drive to the Berkshires for Naumkeag’s annual springtime cele bration where you can stroll through 8 acres of their worldrenowned gardens with over 130,000 daffodils and tulips. Take a selfguided tour of the first floor of the 1884 estate, browse the seasonal gift shop, and grab a mixed bouquet or container plant from the greenhouse to bring home. Food and refreshments will be for sale at the outdoor snack shack. The festival runs Thursday through Monday, through May 15. Advanced purchase of timed tickets, $20 for adults, $5 for kids, required at thetrus tees.org.
Spring Bloomfest North Andover The StevensCoolidge House & Gar dens, an early 20thcentury estate with acres of stunning gardens, showcases the beauty of more than 175,000 tulips and other flowers at this annual festival, running through May 15. Two special activities are offered as part of the event on Mother’s Day weekend – an “After Hours” in the evenings and a floral workshop on Saturday. During the “After Hours” guests can picnic and explore the gardens at sunset, from 68 p.m. At the Mother’s Day Floral Work shop, you’ll learn stepbystep instruc tions to assemble a spring inspired centerpiece based on both the colors and seasonal blooms flourishing in the garden. Bloomfest is $20 for adults, $5 for kids. Advanced tickets are required for all events at thetrustees.org.
Dover Enjoy a locallysourced, farmtotable BayStateParent | MAY 2022 | 19
BITES
How to stop
nutrition
wasting food with your picky eater Sarah Derry Nourished Village Nutrition
M
any parents tell me that they are tired of serving food to their child only to have it end up in the trash. I get how dishearten ing it is, and I know groceries aren’t cheap these days! Here are a few tips to help you navigate this: Start with small por tions of everything. Kids’ appetites vary a ton from day to day and meal to meal. Start with small portions of every thing, especially nonpre ferred foods. You can al ways off er more if they want it!
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What are you waiting for? Join the thousands of followers in more than 180 countries. OPEN
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craft brews LIVE MUSIC Follow the UMass Memorial Simply Well blog today:
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Use leftovers to your advantage. Do you have three green beans left over from dinner? Save them! Left overs are a great option for repeated exposures to new or nonpreferred foods. I suggest waiting a day before off ering the food again, and switching up the presentation a lit tle bit just to make it a lit tle more interesting. Remember that it’s about so much more than eating. Kids need to get com fortable with food on many levels before they will be ready to eat it. Just because they didn’t eat the broccoli tonight doesn’t mean it was a lost cause. With each expo sure they are learning, and they are one step closer to eating that food. Think of it as an invest ment that will pay off in the long term. Sarah Derry, Regis tered Dietitian, is a child and family nutrition ex pert who helps families conquer mealtimes and raise happy, adventurous eaters. She off ers virtual coaching at Nourished Village Nutrition. For more tips, follow her on Instagram @nourish ing.picky.eaters
GOOSE’S
goodies
Springtime
focaccia Create an edible masterpiece with springtime veggies and herbs. This is a fun recipe to make with kids, who will love adorning the dough with their own designs.
Ingredients
in size.
1 ⁄ 2 cups warm water
Once dough has risen, brush a 9x13 baking dish with 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Punch down the dough to deflate, then transfer it to the prepared baking dish.
1
1 tablespoon sugar 1 tablespoon active dry yeast ⁄ 2 cup olive oil, divided
1
1 1⁄ 2 teaspoons sea salt, plus more for topping 3 1⁄ 4 to 3 1⁄ 2 cups all purpose flour Desired garden toppings (We used fresh rosemary, chives, asparagus and grape tomatoes. Other ideas: bell pepper, onion, garlic, squash, parsley, rosemary, scallions, etc.)
Directions In a large mixing bowl, stir the sugar into the warm water until it dissolves. Sprinkle in the yeast and let sit for 510 minutes. Stir the yeast mixture and add the salt, 1⁄ 4 cup of the olive oil, and 3 cups of flour. Stir to combine then transfer to a wellfloured flat surface. Knead the dough for about 5 minutes, until it’s smooth and stretchy. Add more flour as needed if the dough is too sticky. Place the ball of dough in a large bowl coated with olive oil. Cover the bowl with a clean dish cloth and let rise at warm room temperature, about 1 hour or until doubled
Use your hands to pull and stretch the dough out to the sides of the pan. Cover with a dish cloth and let rise again, about 30 minutes or until doubled in size. While the dough rises, prepare your toppings and plan your design. You might want to use an extra similarly sized pan to lay out your design before transferring it to the dough. Once the dough has risen, use your fi ngers to poke holes throughout the dough. This will create the focaccia’s signature bumpy texture. Drizzle the remaining 2 tablespoons of olive oil over the top of the dough, then add the toppings to create your design. Press the toppings in slightly so that they set into the dough. Sprinkle with sea salt. Bake at 400 degrees for about 20 minutes, until golden brown and slightly toasted at the edges. Let cool before cutting and serving. Wrap tightly and store at room temperature.
Known as “Goose” to her grandkids, Laurie Silva Collins has perfected her recipes over years of cooking for her three daughters and six grand children.
Springtime Focaccia Bread. AMANDA COLLINS BERNIER BayStateParent | MAY 2022 | 21
feature
CHORES your kids should be doing Kristina Wright Reviewed.com
22 | MAY 2022 | BayStateParent
I
f you’re concerned that your kids are too young to to start doing chores and helping around the house, you shouldn’t be. Children
Preschool (Ages 2 to 5) Teaching kids to pitch in and help out around the house can start as soon as they’re mobile. In fact, at this age my kids loved “helping” clean the house, never mind that sometimes their “help” made more work for me. The important part is that they want to do their part. Turn it into a game, make it fun, and be sure to praise them for their eff orts. Young kids can: Put away their toys and books: In vest in some colorful kidheight bins to make the job easier. Dust baseboards and low tables: Pretend play cleaning tools are a great way to encourage your little ones to help out. Fold hand towels and pair socks Pull weeds
Lower elementary (Ages 5 to 7) In the early elementary grades, kids are starting to develop more independ ence and a sense of personal identity. Giving them more complex chores will encourage their growing autonomy. At this age, kids can do everything above as well as: Sort their laundry: A dualsided hamper makes the job a little easier. Keep school work, books and backpacks organized Water houseplants, fl ower beds and gardens outside: A colorful, child sized watering can makes the job even more fun. Get their own snacks from low pantry and refrigerator shelves: A set of refrigerator bins keeps snacks orga nized and easily accessible. Help prepare school lunches
Feed pets Set and clear the table for meals: Put the expensive China away until your kids are older, and invest in an aff ord able set of dishes that can withstand some rough treatment. Make their bed Sweep Bring in mail and newspapers
Upper elementary (Ages 7 to 11) Kids in the higher elementary grades are gaining confi dence, developing their interests, and starting to pay attention to what’s going on in the world. Give them only as much supervision as they need to complete the following chores: Load and empty the dishwasher Peel vegetables, grate cheese, and other simple meal time tasks Prepare microwavable dishes and reheat leftovers Vacuum Fold and put away laundry Change bed sheets Wash the car Sew on a button: Keep a beginner’s sewing kit on hand to make the job easi er.
Middle School (Ages 11 to 14) By middle school, kids who have mastered all of the above chores are ready to for more household responsi bilities. Give them tasks that off er them a challenge, and be prepared to step in if they ask for help. At this age, consider having them: Do their own laundry: Collapsible laundry baskets are ideal because they’re easy for kids to use on laundry day and store under their beds the rest
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as young as 2 can be tasked with simple chores, and learning to do things around the house has the potential to turn them into more successful adults. h Every kid is diff erent, so consider your child’s abil ities and interests when giving them a new chore. In my case, my third grader loves to make simple meals, such as grilled cheese, and fi ll and empty the dishwasher. My second grader enjoys helping with meal preparation by setting the table, peeling vegetables, and grating cheese. h If you don’t already have one, a household chore chart is a great way to keep everyone in the family organized and on track.
of the week. Clean a bathroom, top to bottom: Colorful classroom caddies are great for all sorts of household cleaning projects. Assign each kid their own caddy for whatever cleaning chore they need to tackle. Help shop for and put away gro ceries Babysit younger siblings: Visit the Red Cross website to fi nd babysitting and childcare classes so your teen is confi dent and prepared to watch chil dren—it’s a good idea to sign them up for a CPR course as well. Prepare their own breakfast and lunch Read a recipe and prepare a family dinner: I love “Teens Cook: How to Cook What You Want to Eat” because the reci pes are fun and wellwritten, and there’s an entire section on preparing family meals. Fill out school and extracurricular forms Take out the trash and recycling Keep their electronic devices charged and updated: If you’re tired of hearing, “Mom, have you seen my phone?” or “Why didn’t you plug in my tablet?”, encourage your kids to take charge of their electronics with a desk top charging station dock.
High school—and beyond By high school, kids should be com
fortable doing most any household chore you give them. Encourage respon sibility and independence by involving them in any chores you do, with the goal of preparing them for college and adult hood. “Adulting” can be stressful, but let ting our kids try—and possibly fail— while they still have a safety net will help ready them for anything they face alone. So give them an opportunity to: Grocery shop for the family: Make grocery planning and shopping easier with preprinted grocery lists. Mow and edge the lawn Run household errands Put gas in the car, air in the tires and check fl uid levels: You don’t have to wait until your teen is driving to teach them about basic automobile and road side maintenance—they should be fa miliar with all the contents of an emer gency roadside assistance kit before they get behind the wheel. Organize the kitchen pantry and cabinets Clean out the refrigerator: Our guide on how to clean your fridge off ers tips to help your teen organize and safe ly store food. Fill out college and job applica tions Perform basic fi rst aid: Make sure you have a fi rst aid kit in the house and car and that your teen knows how to use everything included. Make and keep a budget BayStateParent | MAY 2022 | 23
Introducing our new IVF Center. No matter how your path to pregnancy turns, we’re prepared for every step and every stage.
The path to pregnancy can be an overwhelming maze of emotions. You need the right team with the right capabilities. That’s why we’re pleased to announce the addition of our on-site IVF Center to round out our robust fertility services — ensuring convenient, state-of-the-art care, close to home. Reach out today to schedule your appointment.
For appointments, call 855-UMASS-MD (855-862-7763) or visit umassmemorial.org/IVF. 24 | MAY 2022 | BayStateParent
