Bap 1017 by City Guide NY

BigApple Parent OCTOBER 2017

NYMETROPARENTS.COM

7 Hottest

Birthday Trendsof 2017 Emojis, unicorns, Shopkins, and more!

Boo!

Haunted houses, corn mazes, and other Halloween activities

Teaching Kids Life Skills • Emotional intelligence • Financial literacy

HELPING PARENTS MAKE BETTER DECISIONS

BigAppleParent

WANT TO GIVE YOUR KIDS THEIR

BEST REPORT CARD YEAR EVER? Enroll them today in the Kumon Math and Reading Program!

As a parent, you want your children to feel confident in class and earn the best grades. That’s why enrolling them in Kumon gives them such an advantage.

SAVE UP TO .

Kids study smarter and score higher with Kumon. Enroll now and save up to $50 with Free Registration!

WITH FREE REGISTRATION!*

CHELSEA

MIDTOWN - EAST

UPPER WEST SIDE

2 South End Avenue

320 West 23rd Street

212-242-6528

962 1st Avenue

212-702-8769

700 Columbus Avenue

CENTRAL HARLEM

GRAMERCY PARK

MIDTOWN WEST

2235 Frederick Douglass Boulevard

381 2nd Avenue

212-786-4295

212-866-6201

212-683-1232

747 10th Avenue

212-399-4124

212-866-1864 kumon.com

*Offer valid at participating Kumon Centers only when you enroll between 11/1/17 – 11/30/17. Most Kumon Centers are independently owned and operated. Additional fees may apply.

BigAppleParent

NYMetroParents

Helping Parents Make Better Decisions

Contents

October 2017 ››

Features

20 The 7 Hottest Birthday Party Trends of 2017 This year brought new movies, toys, and fun ideas for your child’s next birthday party.

26 The Importance of EQ High emotional intelligence translates to success across the board—in children academically and in adults professionally. 44 The Payoff of Teaching Kids Financial Literacy Experts discuss how parents can establish skills from a young age to ensure kids will know how to handle their money. 46 An Unimaginable Tragedy Though local infant mortality rates are lower than the national average, more babies die in their first year than most of us expect. Here’s how parents can reduce the risk. 50 Conquering Bake Sales Surviving the minefield of baking treats for your kid’s class, and tips to make allergy-free baked goods.

Connections

Family Activities CALENDAR ›› Original photo by PhotoOp NYC (photoopnyc.com) Clothing provided by Appaman (appaman.com)

6 Editor’s Note 8 New Places, New Programs 9 Check Out Our New Website! 10 Quotables 12 NYMP Q&A: Laurie Gelman talks about being the class mom and why she was fired. 17 Private School Proﬁle: Dwight School 54 Voices: Stop With the Trophies Already!

Fun & Activities

14 DIY Corner: Ring Toss Challenge 30 Outing: Randall’s Island 31 Family Activities Calendar 41 Where-To Guide: Haunted Houses, Corn Mazes, and Pumpkin Activities 42 Where-To Guide: Pick Your Own Pumpkins

Directories 24 43 52 52 52 53 53

Birthday Party Directory Party Central Professional Services Religious Schools Open Houses Party Planner Advertisers’ Index

››

ON THE COVER ›› 20 7 Hottest Birthday Trends of 2017 41 Boo! Haunted houses, corn mazes, and other Halloween activities Teaching Life Skills: 26 Emotional intelligence 44 Financial literacy facebook.com/nymetroparents

@NYMetroParents

Visit NYMETROPARENTS.COM for family activities updated daily and more than 2,000 parenting articles!

At The Little Gym, we complement the traditional school experience with unique classes that revolve around active play. Our students are encouraged to jump, ﬂip, and swing their way towards increased health, focus, knowledge, and happiness. Big Discoveries at The Little Gym. Find your kid's happy place with an Introductory Experience!

The Little Gym of Scarsdale tlgscarsdaleny.com 914-722-0072 The Little Gym of Upper West Side tlgupperwestsideny.com 212-799-1225

Parent/Child Classesŏđ Pre-K Gymnastics Grade School Gymnastics đ Dance Karate đ Sports Skills đ Awesome Birthday Bashes Parents’ Survival Nights đ Camps BigAppleParent

OCTOBER 2017 • Vol.32 • No.10

NYMetroParents nymetroparents.com

EDITORIAL EDITORIAL DIRECTOR: Michael Kress

EDITOR’S NOTE

MANAGING EDITOR: Katelin Walling DEPUTY EDITOR: Caitlin Berens SENIOR EDITOR: Bethany Braun-Silva ENGAGEMENT EDITOR: Samantha Neudorf

A Season of Celebration

REGIONAL EDITORS: Samantha Beranbom (Rockland); Karen Demeter (Suffolk); Whitney C. Harris (Manhattan); Rosalind Muggeridge (Brooklyn); Jamie McGillian (Westchester); Dorette Saunders (Nassau); Gail Warren (Queens) DIRECTORIES EDITOR: Alice Van Dyke EDITORIAL INTERN: Jordan Laird

n our family, we have a birthday season: From Nov. 5 (my youngest daughter’s birthday) through Jan. 16 (mine), all five of us celebrate our special days. Sprinkle in a gaggle of other close-but-not-immediate family members—a cousin’s daughter, my brother and his son, a sister-in-law, among others—and it is a busy time. Joyful, to be sure, but even joy brings its stresses, especially when you need to plan three kids’ birthday parties over the course of almost six weeks while scheduling around a bevvy of others’ parties, not to mention Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, and New Year’s. It’s around the middle of October when my wife and I kick into planning mode, and out come the Google spreadsheets, which we use to plan the parties and coordinate gifts. And, of course, the kids themselves are old enough to be involved and have their own wishes and opinions—which seem to change daily, especially as the event gets close. To help figure out this year’s parties, Bethany Braun-Silva looked into the hottest birthday themes of 2017, and she came back with unicorns, Shopkins, Star Wars, and much more (p. 20). As our kids settle into the new school year, we’re offering articles about how to teach them essential life skills: Samantha Neudorf looks at teaching kids financial literacy (p. 44), while Katelin Walling offers a report on the value of kids’ emotional intelligence (p. 26). Together, they remind us that not all crucial skills come from classroom learning, and that we parents play such an important role in readying our kids for a successful, independent adult life. October has been designated Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, so we’re offering a special report on a subject none of us wants to contemplate: Why do some babies die before they even turn 1? Stacey Pfeffer looks at local infant mortality rates and offers tips on how we can minimize the risks—and how parents who’ve experienced this horrific tragedy cope with a pain that will never go away (p. 46). This month also, of course, brings Halloween and related fall fun. Find haunted houses and other Halloween venues near you (p. 41), discover where to pick pumpkins in our region (p. 42), or plan your kids’ Halloween activities with our calendar (p. 31). Last but not least, I invite you to jump from page to screen and visit our newly relaunched website! The redesigned NYMetroParents.com makes it easier and quicker to find information and presents our content and resources in a cleaner, more attractive way on any device, all with the goal of helping you make better decisions for your kids. Find out more about the new site (p. 9), and happy clicking!

To Submit Events: nymetroparents.com/submitevents

ADVERTISING SALES

Big Apple Parent 212-315-0800 Jeunesse Jackson, Linda Pierce Queens Parent 718-878-4860 Annene Guertin, Manager Westchester Parent 914-397-0200 Nini DeLuca, Manager Merrill Sugarman, Mary Wender Brooklyn Parent 718-878-4860 Phyllis Crupi, Selene Rodriguez Rockland Parent 845-848-8021 Cara Roteman, Jim Russo Long Island Parent, Nassau 516-883-4543 Joan Bergman, Manager Lisa Herlihy, Dani Pollack Long Island Parent, Suffolk 631-472-5437 Karen Shapiro, Gayle Sherman To Advertise: nympads@davlermedia.com DIR. OF OPERATIONS -- EVENTS: Rebecca Stolcz DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS: Ray Winn OPERATIONS COORDINATOR: Leonard Porter DIRECTOR OF TRAFFIC: Heather Gambaro ADMINISTRATION MANAGER: Erin Jordan

PRODUCTION

DIRECTOR|PUBLISHING MANAGEMENT: Anthony Diaz DIRECTOR|DIGITAL CONTENT DEVELOPMENT: Sara Wentworth

MARKETING

MARKETING MANAGER: Jaime Graham PUBLISHING & MARKETING MANAGER: Barbara Byrd

ACCOUNTING

CONTROLLER: David Friedman

ADMINISTRATION

CREDIT MANAGER: Elizabeth Teagarden CREDIT ASSISTANTS: Rosa Meinhofer, Diedra Smith

MOMMYBITES.COM

MANAGING DIRECTOR: Rebecca Dixon 917-572-9192

Michael Kress Editorial Director

Davler Media Group davlermedia.com

CEO: David L. Miller General Manager: Thomas K. Hanlon 498 Seventh Ave., 10th Floor, New York, NY 10018 Phone: 212-315-0800; Fax: 212-271-2239

Keep in Touch: @nymetroparents nymetroparents.com October 2017 | nymetroparents.com 6editor@nymetroparents.com

BIG APPLE PARENT, QUEENS PARENT, WESTCHESTER PARENT BROOKLYN PARENT, ROCKLAND PARENT, BERGEN •ROCKLAND PARENT, and LONG ISLAND PARENT are published monthly by Davler Media Group, LLC Copyright © 2017, Davler Media Group, LLC No part of contents may be reproduced without prior permission from the publisher. Subscription rates per year, per publication: $39

The Mary Louis Academy NEW THRILLS!

TMLA +

NEW LAUGHS! NEW YORK TO ITS CORE!

At The Mary Louis Academy, you will find your own voice—distinctive, confident, intelligent, creative, and empowered—a voice that will be one of your greatest assets in life.

OPEN HOUSE Sunday, October 15, 2017 10am-3pm

SHADOW A STUDENT buddy@tmla.org

Please pre-register for our open house at tmla.org

VISIT OUR WEBSITE www.tmla.org

F E ATURING

NIK WALLENDA

AND

The Mary Louis Academy is sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Brentwood, New York. Accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and Chartered by the State of NY.

GRANDMA

LINCOLN CENTER OCTOBER 27 – JANUARY 7, 2018 F O R T I C K E T S : B I G A P P L E C I R C U S .C O M

176-21 Wexford Terrace, Jamaica Estates, NY 11432 Phone: 718-297-2120 | Fax: 718-739-0037 @WEARETMLA | #HILLTOPPERNATION | TACHS #016 BigAppleParent

NEW PLACES, NEW PROGRAMS

nymetroparents.com/np-bap

Who: International Academy of New York What’s New: A diverse and multi-cultural school with a focus on bilingual language immersion in Spanish or Mandarin Chinese, which opened its doors to students in nursery school to second grade in September. Students spend 40 percent or more of their week in their target language via language class, in addition to art and music classes also taught in their target language by teachers who are native speakers. International Academy of New York is accepting applications for pre-nursery to third grade for the fall 2018 school year. It plans to add a grade each year through eighth grade. Want More Info: 4 E. 90th St., Upper East Side; 212-641-0260; info@ianyc. org; ianyc.org

Courtesy International Academy of New York

School with Bilingual Focus Opens on the Upper East Side

Emily Benson, director of admissions, describes International Academy of New York as a “miniature New York City in its diversity.”

Who: The Shoe Tree What’s New: An expanded size range and several new brands of footwear, plus the Morningside Heights family shoe store will celebrate its 10th anniversary this fall. The Shoe Tree expanded its size range, starting this past spring, to offer shoes for preteens, teenagers, and adults. It also added new brands such as Crocs, Clarks, Birkenstock, Havaianas, Livie & Luca, and Step & Stride, and will add more throughout the year. The Shoe Tree provides full service measuring and properly fitting shoes for children of all ages. Want More Info: 2876 Broadway, Morningside Heights; 212-280-1711; theshoetree@earthlink.com; theshoetreeonline.com/brands

Courtesy The Shoe Tree

Family Shoe Store Offers New Products and Celebrates 10 Years

The Shoe Tree in Morningside Heights will celebrate its 10th anniversary this fall.

Who: Saint Ignatius Loyola School What’s New: STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) classes, Algebra I Regents, and a working greenhouse. Coding classes for students in the sixth to eighth grades through CodeSpeak Labs will begin in October. Accelerated eighth grade math students at Saint Ignatius Loyola School, a National Blue Ribbon School, will now take the Algebra I Regents at the end of the school year to enhance their preparation for high school. All students in kindergarten to eighth grade are encouraged to have hands-on experiences in the school’s greenhouse, a recent addition. Its harvest is offered to students in the cafeteria. Want More Info: 48 E. 84th St., Upper East Side; 212-861-3820; saintignatiusloyolaschool.com

October 2017 | nymetroparents.com

Courtesy Saint Ignatius Loyola School

Upper East Side Catholic School Expands Curriculum

One of Saint Ignatius Loyola School’s STEM initiatives has been adding iPads and Surface Pros in everyday lessons.

Check Out Our New Website!

››

The redesigned NYMetroParents.com helps you make better decisions for your family—faster and easier than ever.

s our kids were heading back to school with their new outfits and freshly chosen backpacks and lunch boxes, we here at NYMetroParents decided to get in the spirit and debut a new look of our own with the relaunch of NYMetroParents.com. The website is now cleaner, faster, easier to use, and more attractive—all to help you be a more informed parent. Our goal is to connect you seamlessly to all the relevant, useful local information and resources our site offers: business listings, kid-focused events and activities, and news and tips essential to moms and dads. Here are some of the highlights of our new site:

A cleaner look, softer color scheme, and new logo to match the new feel. We’re excited about our updated logo, which you can also find on the cover of this magazine, while our uncluttered design helps you focus on the content and information for which you’re looking with fewer distractions.

Find your region easier. We know you need to find ballet schools and pediatricians and therapists close to your home, so we’ve made it super easy to find your region’s content, via a pop-up that greets you when you arrive and/or the “My Region” option on the navigation bar. Each region has its own color scheme, adding to the vibrancy of the site and giving each region a bit of its own ﬂavor and personality. The new “megamenu” displaying the breadth and depth of the content the site offers.

Easier, clearer navigation. Across the top of our desktop site—and in the top-right “Topics” menu on mobile—you’ll find the core types of information we provide: business and resource listings, tips about things to do, advice and news about local parenting, and a comprehensive events calendar. For a deeper dive into the site and to find more specific listings, use our new “megamenu,” the “Search Categories” link at the top left of the page (“menu” on mobile). There you will find virtually our entire catalog of listings categories, from specific sports to special needs resources to summer camp options.

You’ll see this tool throughout the site to help you ﬁnd the resources you need in your area.

New ways to find businesses and resources. Connecting you with the local professionals, businesses, and resources that keep your family healthy, happy, and enriched is central to our mission. In addition to the easier navigation, you’ll find a tool throughout the site that asks you what kind of business you need and in what location—make your choices, click the arrow, and search the results to find what you’re looking for.

A better mobile experience. As parents, we’re all on the go (sometimes it seems like we’re in motion 24/7!) and using our phones to access the content and information that helps us make the decisions we need to make. To help, our new site focuses on the mobile experience, ensuring it is just as rich, easy to use, and attractive as it is on desktop. And it’s fast. Because we know you don’t have time to wait! As we all well know, being a parent requires making decisions large and small for our kids every day—no matter how busy we are. We spent the past several months designing a website to help you find what you need to make better decisions faster, easier, and more accurately and fully. We are so proud to invite you to check out the newly relaunched NYMetroParents.com today! BigAppleParent

UOTABLES This was also about the point that they both started begging me to carry their treat bags. ‘I’ll carry your treat bags but that means I’m allowed to eat your candy,’ was my rule. That put a stop to the laziness real quick. —Illana Wiles, a NYC mom, in a post entitled “Halloween in NYC Gets Better Every Year” on her blog mommyshorts.com

in an instagram Morning commute. #nyckids #twins #bestfriends (Posted by @toastncandy, aka Nancy Deane, HeyMamaCo editor and New York mom).

HALLOWEEN FOR THE FRIGHTENED “If you can get kids to realize that Halloween involves fun activities that the whole family can take part in, they’ll feel more at ease about it. You can all carve pumpkins, bake cookies or make other Halloween treats, and decorate the house with items your child picked out. You can even forego trick-or-treating and just spend the evening roasting marshmallows or reading books as a family. ”

in an instagram I can’t wait to see the world with these girls but for right now, our backyard is adventure enough. (Posted by @luckypennyblog, aka Ana Fritsch, a Brooklyn mom who blogs at luckypennyblog.com).

—Samantha Neudorf, in an article entitled “Making Halloween Fun For Kids Who Are Scared.” Read it all at nymetroparents.com/scary-fun

MORE NYMetroParents.com HIGHLIGHTS: COSTUME PLANNING: What should your child be this Halloween? (nymetroparents.com/costume) GET CRAFTY: Find Spooky Art Projects at nymetroparents.com/halloween-diy. TODDLER FUN: How to trick-or-treat with your little one (nymetroparents.com/toddler-halloween) HALLOWEEN TREATS: Eyeball cake pops, monster ‘toes,’ and more at nymetroparents.com/halloween-treats

October 2017 | nymetroparents.com

HUDSON RIVER PARK’S

Weill Music Institute

EXPERIENCE THE MAGIC OF MUSIC WITH THE ENTIRE FAMILY

HALLOWEEN KIDZ KARNIVAL Sun Oct 29 12–5pm • Pier 26

Ages

6–12

Saturday, October 14 at 2 PM CARNEGIE HALL FAMILY CONCERT

PETER AND THE WOLF AND OTHER STORIES

Introduce young audiences to the joy of classical music at this family-friendly event, featuring the Orchestra of St. Luke’s conducted by Edwin Outwater and narrated by John Lithgow. Tickets start at $10. Support provided by Wetherby-Pembridge School Thanks to the New York City Administration for Children’s Services and the Department of Homeless Services for supporting families during Family Concerts. Carnegie Hall Family Concerts are made possible, in part, by endowment gifts from The Irene Diamond Fund, Mr. and Mrs. Lester S. Morse Jr., and the Henry and Lucy Moses Fund.

Celebrate Halloween with the whole family at Hudson River Park’s 9th Annual Halloween Kidz Karnival!

FREE ADMISSION Featuring interactive storytelling with Story Pirates, magic with Kid Ace, rides, face painting, treats and much more. All ages are invited. Most attractions will appeal to kids aged 2–8 years. Some activities are free, and select activities are $2.

hudsonriverpark.org hudsonriverpark BigAppleParent 11

NYMP Q&A

Class Mom Qualms

›› By Bethany Braun-Silva

Laurie Gelman talks about her novel Class Mom and how she got fired from her class mom position after five years.

Is Jennifer Dixon (the main character) based on anyone in particular? She’s someone I just pieced together. I wish she was me, she’s so cool. The only thing that comes from reality are the emails [in the book] because I sent emails either exactly like that or very similar to my class when I was class mom. The emails in the book are hilarious. What prompted you to get so creative with them during your time as class mom? When I wasn’t class mom I would get these really boring grocery list emails that were just cut and paste from the parent-teacher association, and I thought, “I want to do something interesting, I want people to read these, I want people to actually have fun with it,” so I decided that I would write things that would shock or awe people or make them sit up and go, “Oh my gosh, did she just write that?” It actually worked, because I had more people participating and reading every word of my emails than any other class mom, because they were excited to see what I was going to say next.

New York's Premier Tutoring and Publications Company

Test Prep + Enrichment Tutoring ACE THE TEST www.bright-kids.com • (646) 434-1084 info@brightkidsnyc.com

What happens to a teenager’s brain during adolescence? Researchers at New York State Psychiatric Institute are looking for healthy kids and teens (11 to 18 years old) to volunteer for research studies using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI - no radiation), to learn more about the brain during adolescence. If your child is a good match, he or she can join a research study and receive up to $250 per visit. To learn more, please contact us at 646-774-5703 or email adhdmri@nyspi.columbia.edu 12

October 2017 | nymetroparents.com

But I read that this backfired on you and you got fired from the class mom position, is that true? Well to be fair, it was in my fifth year, I’d been doing it for four years and everybody loved it and it’s all good until somebody doesn’t like you. In my fifth year I upset someone or someone didn’t understand my humor, so they complained to the PTA and asked me to step down as class mom, which was very hurtful. Do you have any advice for moms who may be contemplating taking on the class mom role? I think you have to make it your own and make it fun. Make it something the parents can’t resist being a part of. I used to give awards for the quickest response time to one of my emails or the person who embodied the spirit of a class mom the most. I just made it fun for everybody. I wrote one email for the Christmas party that had to be sung to the tune of “Santa Claus is Coming to Town”. Everybody loved that because you end up humming it to yourself. I just tried to do things that piqued everybody’s interest and make it more fun for them. I think that’s the best way to be a great class mom. What’s your favorite thing about raising kids in NYC? I love the fact that we get to go to the museums, the fact that it’s a weekly thing, not a once-in-a lifetime adventure. There’s so much opportunity to experience culture and excitement and their backyard is something everyone in the world wants to see at least once. It’s really exciting to raise kids in New York. Something we started to do more of is Broadway—we are in the best place in the world to see a show and my girls love theater.

The Cathedral School

A Classical Education for the Modern World 319 East 74th Street, New York City

OPEN HOUSE October 4th and October 26th at 6pm • Nursery through 8th Grade co-educational day school • Small student to faculty ratio • Extended day enrichment programs available

LICEXCHANGE The No Lip Service Lice Service

100% organic treatment in the privacy of your home. NYC’s best kept secret. Established; experienced; exceptional Screenings no school should be without. Practical not pricey!

Pursuing Excellence in Body, Mind & Spirit Contact our Admissions Office for more information: 212.249.2840 / info@cathedralschoolny.org

Debra L. Rosen (917) 657-0249 www.licexchange.com

www.cathedralschoolny.org

FALL REGISTRATION STILL OPEN!

Discover new friends and ways to PLAY at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, home of the US Open! REGISTER NOW AT:

NTC.USTA.COM Flushing Meadows-Corona Park Flushing, NY 11368

BigAppleParent 13

DIY CORNER Birthday Party Game

Ring Toss Challenge

Do you love fairground games but hardly ever get to play them? Why not create your own ring toss game at home? Invite your friends to play, then work on perfecting your aim. The game is very easy to make and will provide hours of fun for you and your friends. Make sure you store the board inside so you can use it again and again!

STEP 1

STEP 2

STEP 3

STEP 4

STEP 5

STEP 6

STEP 7

STEP 8

Difficulty Level: Easy What you will need: • Adhesive putty • Ruler • Scissors • Pencil • Paintbrushes • Paints • Large cardboard sheet Directions: 1. To make your target board, draw the outline of the board on a sheet of cardboard and add sloping flaps on either side. These will make the board stand up. 2. Carefully cut out your target board with scissors. Make sure you don’t cut off the sloping flaps! 3. Use a ruler and the tops of your scissors to score both sloping ends of the target board. Fold them back to create flaps to stand your board up. 4. It’s time to decorate the board. Paint the stand one color and each pin a different color, so they stand out. 5. Place your ring template (visit nymetroparents.com/ ring-toss to download) on a piece of cardboard and draw around it. Repeat the process to draw as many rings as you want. 6. Cut the rings out. Cut around the outside first, then place the adhesive putty underneath, pierce the center of the ring with a sharp pencil, and cut it out. 7. Paint the rings and leave them to dry. You can make them any color you like. You could even add patterns like stripes or dots to your set. 8. The ring toss board is ready. Find some friends and try it out. If you want to make things competitive, paint different point values on the pins and see who can reach 100 points first. Images and text of Out of the Box reprinted by permission of DK, a division of Penguin Random House LLC. Copyright © 2017 by Jemma Westing.

October 2017 | nymetroparents.com

PRIVATE SCHOOL PROFILE

The Gateway to the World Begins at Dwight School

GLOBAL VISION Five global campuses with one shared vision International exchange programs 17 foreign languages taught INNOVATION Spark Tank innovation grants for student entrepreneurs First school in the Americas to offer the full International Baccalaureate curriculum Dwight Global Online School, our campus in the cloud

Discover Wetherby Pembridge School Education should be founded on strong values. At Wetherby-Pembridge School, we inspire the individual to reach personal confidence and success with integrity, kindness, respect and manners.

Join our Open House events in October. Please note that registration is required.

Thursday 5th October, 5:30pm-7:00pm Wednesday 11th October, 9:30am - 11:00am Tuesday 17th October, 9:30am - 11:00am Saturday 21st October, 10:00am-12:00pm

For more information: info@wetherbypembridge.org | 646-213-3400 | www.wetherbypembridge.org 7 East 96th Street, New York

BigAppleParent 15

PRIVATE SCHOOL PROFILE

h The IDEAL Difference h The IDEAL The IDEAL Difference h The IDEAL Difference Difference

In our diverse and inclusive K–12 community and within our robust academic program, IDEAL students recognize their potential to community effect changeand andand are within equipped with the tools toprogram, do so. They strive In our diverse inclusive K–12 within ourour robust academic IDEAL In ourand diverse and inclusive K–12 community robust academic program, In our diverse and inclusive K–12 community and within our robust academic program, IDEAL for excellence in and out of the classroom and recognize and draw out the potential for excellence in IDEA L students recognize to their potential toand effect and are equipped with tools students recognize their potential effect change arechange equipped with the tools to the do so. They strive students recognize their potential to effect change and are equipped with the tools to do so. They strive to do so. They strive for excellence in and out of the classroom and recognize and draw out their peers. They possess the self-awareness to advocate for themselves and the compassion to stand for excellence in and out of the classroom and recognize and draw out the potential for excellence in theThey potential for excellence in their and peers. They possess the selfawareness to compassion advocate for to for excellence inThey and out of the classroom recognize andthemselves draw out the potential for excellence in behind others. not only appreciate but seek out difference, understanding that only in their peers. possess the self-awareness to also advocate for and the stand themselves and compassion to stand behind others. They not only appreciate but also their peers. They the self-awareness to also advocate for and the compassion stand community are wepossess IDEAL. behind others. They notthe only appreciate but seek out themselves difference, understanding that to only in seek outThey understanding community are we IDEA L. behind others. not only appreciatethat butonly alsoinseek out difference, understanding that only in community are wedifference, IDEAL. community are we IDEAL.

#SchoolCanBeIDEAL #SchoolCanBeIDEAL #SchoolCanBeIDEAL Sign up for a Tuesday Talk and Tour to learn more about IDEAL's rigorous and differentiated #SchoolCanBeIDEAL program, innovative social justice and community. Sign up for a Tuesday and Tour to curriculum, learn more about IDEAL's rigorous and differentiated Sign up Talk for an Open House or a Tuesday Talkuniquely and Tourinclusive to learn more Sign up for aabout Tuesday and Tour learn more program, about IDEAL's rigorous and differentiated program, innovative social justice curriculum, and uniquely inclusive IDEATalk L’s rigorous andtodifferentiated innovative socialcommunity. justice program, innovativecurriculum, social justice curriculum, and uniquely inclusive community. and uniquely inclusive community.

The IDEAL School Thelimited IDEALopenings School has The IDEAL Open School Houses has limited openings for fall 2017 Lower School: has limited openings for October fall 2017 in select grade levels 25, 6:30 PM for fall 2017 in select grade levels November 8, 9 AM forinqualified candidates. select grade March 6,levels 9 AM for qualifiedApril candidates. 5, 9 AM for qualified candidates.

Join us on June 10 for our Join us on JuneBuilding 10 for our Community Join us on June 10 for our Open Houses Community BlockSchool: PartyBuilding event! Upper Community Building Block Party 314 West 91stevent! Street October 19, 9 AM Block Party event! 314 West 91st November 1, 6:30 PM New York,91st NY Street 10024 314 West Street March 13, 9 AM New York, NY 10024 AprilYork, 19, 9 AMNY 10024 New

IDEAL has mid-year openings in select grade levels for qualified candidates.

For further information, contact us at admissions@theidealschool.org or 212-769-1699. For further information, contact us at admissions@theidealschool.org or 212-769-1699. For further information,www.theidealschool.org contact us at admissions@theidealschool.org or 212-769-1699. For further information, contact us at admissions@theidealschool.org or 212-769-1699. 16

October 2017 | nymetroparents.com

PRIVATE SCHOOL PROFILE

Dwight School Emphasizes Personalized Learning

Mike Sheehan Photography

The Upper West Side school kindles each student’s passion with the International Baccalaureate curriculum. ›› By Bethany Braun-Silva

Bilingual. Multi-Cultural. Diverse. Dwight School faculty work 1-on-1 with students, underscoring the school’s commitment to personalized learning.

Name of school: Dwight School Grades: Preschool to 12th grade Size of student body: Nearly 900 students Educational approach or philosophy: By focusing on personalized learning and instruction, the school helps students find and develop their unique passions, which builds selfconfidence and helps in all other areas of their learning. “We call this igniting the spark of genius in every child,” says Head of School Dianne Drew. “Dwight embraces the individuality of each student and crafts a personalized educational journey for every student based on his or her unique interests and passions. Our faculty empower students to believe in their own talents, take intellectual risks, and pursue whatever captures their minds, spirits, bodies, and imaginations. No matter the undertaking, we encourage students to pursue excellence in all their endeavors. We’ve matched this approach with the International Baccalaureate, an academically challenging curriculum that encourages students to explore their own interests. The IB is inquiry-based and students’ curiosity helps to guide their learning from an early age, making it a perfect fit for Dwight’s mission and philosophy.” What makes the school unique: Dwight is the first school in the Americas to offer the comprehensive IB curriculum for students in preschool through 12th grade. The IB enables students to look at ideas and issues over time, emphasizing their interconnected continued on next page ››

Helping students gain the skills, confidence, and compassion to contribute and thrive in today’s world.

ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR Pre-Nursery (age 2 by Sept. 1) - Grade 3 for Mandarin and Spanish tracks. Adding a grade each year through Grade 8.

www.ianyc.org All families are welcome to our Language, Art & Music Festival!

October 28th 10am-12pm RSVP: info@ianyc.org / 212-641-0260 BigAppleParent 17

‹‹ continued from previous page Emily Chase

PRIVATE SCHOOL PROFILE

Dwight School teaches 17 languages, including Mandarin.

Nursery through 8th grade (ages 3-13) French and American curricula with an international perspective Mandarin introduction in 3rd grade and Spanish in Middle School 3 campus locations around Madison Square Park

2017-2018 School Tours October 4, 2017

Wednesday 8:15AM

October 25, 2017

Wednesday 8:15AM

November 8, 2017

Wednesday 8:15AM

November 29, 2017

Wednesday 8:15AM

December 7, 2017

Thursday 6:00 -7:30PM evening session

TO SCHEDULE A PRIVATE TOUR, VISIT EINY.ORG 111 East 22nd Street, New York, NY 10010 646.410.2238

October 2017 | nymetroparents.com

nature and global contexts. It also emphasizes research, writing, problem solving, and critical-thinking skills, rather than teaching for exams. A unique Dwight program is Spark Tank, an incubator launched in 2015 designed to nurture student innovation, entrepreneurship, and leadership skills beyond the classroom. Students can develop their ideas for new businesses, nonprofit organizations, and products with guidance and mentorship from industry experts drawn from Dwight’s parent community. Students can also receive innovation grants from The Dwight School Foundation to help them take their projects from concept to market launch. “We believe that the next ‘big ideas’ will come from the under-18 sector. Spark Tank provides students with real-life experiences and essential skills beyond academics and theory, so they can pursue their dreams now rather than at some uncertain time in the future,” says Dwight Chancellor Stephen Spahn, who is celebrating 50 years in education at Dwight and is the longestserving head of school in the U.S., according to Dwight School. “Spark Tank entrepreneurs have inspired all of us with their ingenuity. They have produced new apps, clothing lines, healthrelated devices and prosthetics, and have designed business and nonprofit models to help make the world a better place. As many jobs of the future have yet to be created, we’re delighted to offer students the ability to create their own start-ups and business enterprises before they go to college.” Dwight School in New York is the flagship campus of a global network with campuses in London, Seoul, Shanghai, and Dubai. Students reap benefits from being part of this family of schools, ranging from cultural exchange programs beginning in fifth grade to cross-campus creative collaborations. A highlight of the year is the global concert at Carnegie Hall, in which students come together to perform in the iconic Stern Auditorium. Through these experiences, students forge friendships with peers around the world, broaden their perspectives, and learn how to become global leaders. Joining them are students in the Dwight Global Online School, Dwight’s “campus in the cloud,” offering personalized education to students wherever they are. Located across from Central Park, Dwight is expanding with the recent acquisition of a brownstone at 21 W. 88th St.. The new building, slated to open in September 2018, will feature state-of-theart spaces in which Dwight will launch new educational programs designed to enrich personalized learning, promote wellness, nurture innovation, and inspire student creativity. Dwight School is located at 291 Central Park West, on the Upper West Side. For more information, call 212-724-6360 or visit dwight.edu.

PRIVATE SCHOOL PROFILE

Incredible things happen when children love to Learn. JOIN US AT AN OPEN HOUSE THIS FALL

» Preschool is the perfect time to learn a second language. » La Escuelita is Manhattan's oldest accredited Spanish-English preschool.

Applications are now available for the 2018-19 school year. Sign up for an Information Session today to tour our brand new home!

160 West 74th Street Preschool – 12th Grade calhoun.org

225 West 99th Street New York, NY 10025 » LaEscuelitaNYC.org » BigAppleParent 19

The 7 Hottest Birthday Party Trends of 2017 This year brought new movies, toys, and fun ideas for your child’s birthday party. Here are our favorites. By Bethany Braun-Silva

the Tail on the Donkey. “I found a picture of Princess Leia and my husband printed it out on nine sheets of paper that I taped together. I then covered the bulk of the poster with clear adhesive contact paper. The kids wore a C3PO mask that I made so that they couldn’t see and attempted to ‘Pin the Bun on Princess Leia.’ The bun is brown yarn wrapped and hot glued to cardboard,” she writes on her blog. Courtesy Trisha Haas

Courtesy Amy Friend

We scoured the mom blogs and studied our Instagram feed in search of the trendiest kids’ birthday party themes of the year. And what did we find? Plenty of unicorns, emojis, and Shopkins, among many other fun ideas. Here are our picks for the hottest birthday party themes of 2017:

Unicorn Poop Cupcake Cones, a hilarious and easy-to-make treat for a memorable unicorn-themed birthday party

Unicorns A Star Wars-themed version of Pin the Tail on the Donkey

Star Wars

With the release of Rogue One: A Star Wars Movie late last year and the impending December debut of The Last Jedi, many kids will be wanting a Star Wars-themed party, complete with light sabers, storm troopers, and more. Blogger Amy Friend of DuringQuietTime.com created a Stars Wars spin on the classic Pin 20

October 2017 | nymetroparents.com

These mythical creatures are definitely having a moment this year. With the launch of the Unicorn Frappuccino at Starbucks and a unicorn horn store in Brooklyn, it seems like unicorns are everywhere, including very possibly at your little one’s next birthday party. Think pastel colors and lots of glitter to make this party extra special. You can create personalized horns for each child, or have them decorate their own as a fun activity. Trisha Haas, who blogs at momdot.com, made fun Unicorn Poop Cupcake Cones that are as easy to create as they are hilarious. You just need some cake mix, ice cream cones, and food coloring to create this one-of-a-kind-treat.

Courtesy Alison Faulkner of thealisonshow.com

BACK TO SCHOOL MARKETPLACE

Sugar cookies easily become emoji cookies for a fun addition to an emojithemed party.

Emojis

Courtesy Nicole Gonzalez

The Emoji Movie was released this summer, and since then my 5-year-old has been running around the house screaming, “We’re number two! We’re number two!” So it’s no surprise we are considering an emoji-themed party for his next birthday. One easy-todo idea is creating emojis out of clementines. It’s a healthy snack option and a creative way to let the kids make their very own emoji. Hand out clementines to each of the children and lay out permanent markers. You can hang some emoji print outs for inspiration. Less healthy but lots of fun, you can also decorate sugar cookies for fun, edible emoji. This party is also great for teens and tweens. Invite guests to play “name that movie” using only emojis. Or if you’ve got an avid texter—is there a teen who isn’t?—an emoji party is a fun way for Mom and Dad to play the “cool card.”

Pokémon cupcakes round out a birthday party of Pokémon-themed activities.

Pokémon

No mobile devices are necessary to have a good time at this party. Manhattan mom blogger Nicole Gonzalez of LilliesandLeon.com threw a Pokémon-themed party for her son’s 5th birthday. “Lucas is Pokémon obsessed, and we wanted his party to be simple but true to the characters and theme,” Gonzalez says. “A highlight for the kids were the Pokéball cupcakes made by Chloe Sackett.” You can also create your very own Pokémon Go hunt right in your own home, sans cellphones. Just take a cue from the game and hide cut outs around the house. You can divide up the kids into teams and award points for each Pokémon found. Nothing like an old-fashioned scavenger hunt to keep the kids entertained. continued on next page ››

11/6-12/18 (except 11/13)

SESSION:A 1-2:15pm SESSION:B 2:30-3:45pm 6 Sessions: $138

ã« Ù®ã®Ý« ®Äã ÙÄ ã®ÊÄ ½ Ý «ÊÊ½ Ê¥ Ä ó ùÊÙ» ®Ý ¦ÙÊó®Ä¦ çÖ-Ö Ù͘͘͘ ĞůĞďƌĂƟŶŐ ϭϬ ǇĞĂƌƐ ŽĨ ĂĐĂĚĞŵŝĐ ƐƵĐĐĞƐƐ ĂŶĚ ŐƌŽǁƚŚ ŝŶ EĞǁ zŽƌŬ ŝƚǇ͕ dŚĞ ƌŝƟƐŚ /ŶƚĞƌŶĂƟŽŶĂů ^ĐŚŽŽů ŽĨ EĞǁ zŽƌŬ ŝƐ ĚĞůŝŐŚƚĞĚ ƚŽ ĂŶŶŽƵŶĐĞ ĂŶ hƉƉĞƌ ^ĐŚŽŽů ĞǆƉĂŶƐŝŽŶ ĨƌŽŵ ^ĞƉƚĞŵďĞƌ ϮϬϭϴ͘ ĐĐĞƉƟŶŐ ĂƉƉůŝĐĂƟŽŶƐ ĨƌŽŵ EƵƌƐĞƌǇ ;ϯ͛ƐͿ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ ϵƚŚ 'ƌĂĚĞ ĨƌŽŵ ^ĞƉƚĞŵďĞƌ ϮϬϭϳ Ăƚ ǁǁǁ͘ďŝƐ-ŶǇ͘ŽƌŐ͘

DKZ d, E ^ ,KK>͕ /d͛^ E h d/KE͘ ttt͘ /^-Ez͘KZ' нϭ ;ϮϭϮͿ - ϰϴϭ -ϮϳϬϬ ϮϬ tĂƚĞƌƐŝĚĞ WůĂǌĂ͕ ͘ ϮϯƌĚ ^ƚ͕ Ez͕ Ez͕ ϭϬϬϭϬ Z^sW ƚŽ ũŽŝŶ ƵƐ Ăƚ ĂŶ ĂƵƚƵŵŶ KƉĞŶ ,ŽƵƐĞ ŽŶůŝŶĞ Ăƚ ǁǁǁ͘ďŝƐ-ŶǇ͘ŽƌŐͬĂĚŵŝƐƐŝŽŶƐ

BigAppleParent 21

Courtesy Christy Bergerson

Courtesy Victoria Saley

‹‹ continued from previous page

A fun idea for favors to top off a fun Lego-themed party

Lego

Courtesy Natalie Lesnefsky

For endless options and ways to play, Lego is the go-to toy—and it can also be the go-to option for birthday parties. Create a “bricks station” where partygoers can make an original creation to take home. And baking a Lego cake is fairly easy for the not-so-crafty parent: All you need is a cake pan, cupcake molds, and colorful frosting. Blogger Victoria Saley of www.Obseussed.com created Lego-themed party favors and put a mystery mini figurine in each one!

All ready for a Shopkins-themed birthday party

Shopkins A colorful, Hawaiian-focused Moana birthday party

Moana

Thanks to Disney’s hit Moana, you can expect to see a lot of Hawaiian-themed parties this year and next. Parents can get creative by using tons of flowers for decoration as well as DIY costumes for the partygoers. Why not set up a designated area where kids can dress up like characters from the movie? Have temporary tattoos and straw skirts ready for your guests to get into the spirit. Christy Bergerson from Itsy Belle Studio, a Printable Party Shop in Washington state, used pineapple blow-ups for her daughter’s Moana pool party. “I was hesitant when my daughter first said she wanted a Moana-themed birthday party, but I decided to run with it and it ended up being one of our favorite events to date!,” she says. “Playing with bright colors and tropical touches instead of going strictly character based allowed us to really create a fun, playful event with just enough elements of her favorite movie included.”

October 2017 | nymetroparents.com

These delicious little toys are all the rage, and since they’re food-centric, planning sweets and treats for a Shopkins party should be a breeze. Create shopping basket party favors that kids can fill themselves. Fill several bins with toys, treats, and other party favor paraphilia. Give each kid a basket and have her take a treat from each bin—it will be like they are “shopping” for their own favors. Natalie Lesnefsky of AtHomewithNatalie.com created a balloon garland over the must-have dessert table. “We were deep in the Shopkins craze over here so the party theme was a no brainer!,” she says. “It was really fun because both girls were old enough to help a lot with the party details. I had a balloon pump and they worked together to pump up almost all of the balloons... even tying them on their own! Together we created a fun balloon garland for the Dessert Table that immediately made it a party! The secret to the arch is the chicken wire! It’s awesome because it’s lightweight and moldable. All you do is hot glue clusters of balloons together, then make a tape tail and attach it to the chicken wire that you shaped and attached to the wall. (I had two nails holding it up.) Then go in and add more with tape or hot glue.”

BACK TO SCHOOL MARKETPLACE

play e xplo re crea te

learn

UPPER WEST SIDE & LOWER EAST SIDE LOCATIONS

over 20 years experience

allmychildrendaycare.com 212.419.5416

Lexington Children’s Center is a day care center in East Harlem. We service 40 children age 2.0 – 4.11. We offer free Pre-k from 9 am - 2:20 pm. We also offer Private classes our Private fee is $250 per week. We have certified teachers that use the creative curriculum and common core. We offer music and art classes. Our teachers are patient and loving. Our Director has 30 years of experience. We are open from 8 am – 5:45 pm. We serve breakfast, lunch and snack. Call for a tour.

115 East 98th Street 212-410-1060 rbeza@aol.com www.lexingtonchildrenscenter.com BigAppleParent 23

BIRTHDAY PARTIES 2017 Birthday Party Entertainment

Clowns.com

Proudly Serving Westchester, Long Island, Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and the Bronx 516-577-0000; 718-971-5862 clowns.com At Clowns.com, our goal is to create an unforgettable and memorable party experience for you and your family. We provide the highest quality children’s entertainment and rental services in the industry. If you’re looking for a professional, dependable, and enthusiastic team, you’ve come to the right place! We are a family-owned and -operated entertainment company, offering a wide range of party and entertainment services including clowns, inflatable bounce houses, characters, magicians, princesses, magic shows, face painting, and party concession rentals.

Dave’s Cast Of Characters

914-235-7100 davescast.com Make your party a special one! Dave’s entertainment services include more than 100 costumed characters. From princesses and superheroes to pirates and tea parties, there’s something for everyone. We feature DJs, clowns, magicians, face painters, balloon sculptors, photo booths, and food carts. Spectacular inflatable attractions include Wild One and Kong’s Revenge obstacle courses, Cliffhanger Slide, and Mickey Park. Water fun includes the Big Kahuna and the gigantic Polar Plunge slides. New robotic animals. Frozen and Katy Perry parties. Enjoy bouncers, the Spider-Man Velcro wall, gladiator joust, sports inflatables, robots, and racecars.

Birthday Party Places

Book Nook

167 W. 81st St. (at Amsterdam Avenue) 212-873-BOOK (2665) booknooknyc.com Come celebrate your next birthday party at Book Nook Enrichment and see why the

locals have been raving about our amazing new location! We provide various packages from custom story times to entire space rental of our indoor garden and party room. All parties come complete with a full kitchen, surround sound system, and party planner. Custom add-ons include face painters, puppeteers, and live music! Please call 646649-5917, visit booknooknyc. com/events-parties or email us at tribeca@booknooknyc.com to start planning the party you will never forget!

Chelsea Piers Sports and Entertainment Complex

West 23rd Street and Hudson River Park Field House Registration Desk: 212-336-6500 x6520 chelseapiers.com/youth Why cross the bridge for your next birthday party? Because Chelsea Piers parties are action-packed, entertaining, and hassle-free, with more sports, activities, and fun than any other party venue in NYC! The Field House offers gymnastics, rock climbing, soccer, and ninja warrior. Hit the ice at Sky Rink for ice-skating- or ice hockey-themed parties. Junior golfers can hit the range for a party at the Golf Club or hit the pins with a bowling celebration at Bowlmor. All parties are customizable. Choose from multiple packages that include pizza, beverages, cake, favors, and catering services.

The Fashion Class

21 W. 39th St. 646-329-6663 thefashionclass.com Learn from real fashion designers with a runway or sewing party this year in our 2,500-squarefoot, bright, sunny, and pink fashion studio! Guests can choose from a variety of our most popular sewing projects, or put on a full runway show complete with makeup and hair styling. Sewers use our stateof-the-art touch screen Singer sewing machines, which are easy to use and complete with loads of safety features. Runway shows take place on our 24-foot,

October 2017 | nymetroparents.com

Your local guide to party places, resources and activities for kids! light-up runway with a takehome runway photo. Starting at age 6, Fashion Class parties are fabulous for any age!

Funfuzion at New Roc City

29 LeCount Place (Exit 16 off I-95), New Rochelle Party Central: 914-637-7575, option 1 funfuziononline.com Calling all birthday superstars! You and your guests will be dazzled by a unique, interactive party experience! Our dedicated emcees and party hosts will provide an unforgettable birthday experience within a theatrical and interactive party room atmosphere. As “The Birthday” leading man or lady, you will be center stage for your spectacular birthday production! Act one begins with a dazzling interactive show in which everyone is a star! There will be eating, singing, dancing, and prizes! Act two is filled with your choice of action-packed amusements! It is a standing ovation every time for the birthday star!

Galli Theater New York

151 W. 26th St., 7th Floor 212-731-0668 gallitheaterny.com galliny@gmail.com Galli Theater: Fairytale theater for the whole family! Party with the Galli Theater New York. We offer a party package for any need and budget! Whether you opt for a personally selected private performance or a workshop party showcasing your little one’s skills, a Galli Theater birthday is one you will never forget! Our most popular packages include A Show And A Party, A Workshop Party, and A Travelshow. Please email us at galliny@gmail. com to find out more.

Jodi’s Gym

244 E. 84th St. 212-772-7633 25 Hubbels Drive, Mount Kisco 914-244-8811 jodisgym.com Kids run, jump, climb, tumble, slide, bounce, and giggle to their hearts’ delight at Jodi’s Gym, where action-packed parties and unmatched experience have won children’s hearts for 35 years. Our

bright, spacious facility is every child’s dream. Teachers guide the children on bars, beams, rings, slides, tunnels, bounce house, and tumble track. Next, it’s off to a separate area for refreshments that we are happy to supply. Teachers set up, serve, and clean up. At Jodi’s, the whole place is yours! You sit back and enjoy.

Just Kidding at Symphony Space

2537 Broadway 212-864-1414 x289 symphonyspace.org/justkidding Just Kidding parties are artsy, imaginative, and fun, designed to make party planning easy and engaging! Through the show kids have the chance to interact with Just Kidding artists creating a once in a lifetime birthday party experience. Post-show, kids can enjoy music, a tasty lunch, and cake made in-house by Symphony Space’s own personal chef. All of this is located under one roof! Rates for 15 or more attendees (ages 2 and older) begin at $600 for the Just Kidding Theatre Party and $425 for the Easy Party. To book your party email birthday@symphonyspace.org or call 212-864-5400 x249.

Launch Math & Science Centers

173 W. 81st St., Lower Level 212-600-1010 launchmath.com info@launchmath.com Launch Math & Science Centers’ birthday parties are out of this world fun! Launch hosts full-service parties for your child and friends at the UWS flagship center. Parties feature a fun STEM activity, decorations, cupcakes and juice, paper goods and utensils, party favors, and a gift for the birthday child. Activity options include coding with Scratch and Python, chemistry and physics experiments, rocket science and electronics projects, architectural structures, and robotic creations. The Launch team can also provide an engaging STEM project as entertainment for your child’s in-home party!

The Little Gym

2121 Broadway, 2nd Floor (between 74th and 75th streets), Upper West Side

212-799-1225 tlgupperwestsideny.com 207 E. 94th St. (between Second and Third avenues), Upper East Side 212-787-1124 tlguppereastsideny.com 777 White Plains Road, Scarsdale 914-722-0072 tlgscarsdaleny.com 28 Franklin Turnpike, Waldwick, NJ 201-445-4444 tlgwaldwicknj.com A private party at The Little Gym is a perfect way to celebrate your child’s next birthday. The 1½-hour parties are supervised by our trained, professional staff from beginning to end. Gymnastics, games, obstacle courses, trampoline, sports, and music are tailored to your child’s interests. Parties at The Little Gym mean exclusive use of the gym and party room. At The Little Gym, your child’s birthday bash will be the easiest party you’ll ever throw!

Pier 62 Carousel

Pier 62 at Hudson River Park (by Chelsea Piers) 718-788-2676 pier62carouselnyc.com info@nycarousel.com Have a ride-filled birthday party at the Pier 62 Carousel in the Hudson River Park. Hassle-free for parents and fun for kids, our 2-hour Premium Party Package includes a private seating area, unlimited rides for 15 children, goodie bag with plush toy per child, and a party host to help set up and clean. Available upgrades include entertainment and extra children. Nearby parking available. For more information, check our website, call us at 718788-2676, or email us at info@ nycarousel.com. Follow us on

Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for our latest updates.

BACK TO SCHOOL MARKETPLACE

RoboFun

2672 Broadway 212-245-0444 robofun.org robofun@robofun.org Celebrate your next birthday making robots, video games, or animations with RoboFun. RoboFun birthday parties are the perfect combination of fun and creativity. All party guests will design, build, code, and animate their own Lego® robots (kindergarten-sixth grades), video games (first-sixth grades), Minecraft challenges (third-sixth grades), and stop motion animation films (fourth-sixth grades). Packages include knowledgeable staff and full supervision, pizza party, and RoboFun T-shirt and drawstring backpack for each guest. Call us for more details!

USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center

Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, Flushing, Queens 718-760-6200 x0 ntc.usta.com Give your child a birthday party they will always remember! Let the National Tennis Center host your next birthday party. Our birthday party packages include 1 hour of court time with tennis drills and games organized by our USTA Pro staff. You will also get a 1-hour private room for your birthday celebration, which includes pizza for all of your party guests. For more detailed information on our party packages, please call 718-760-6200 x0, or go to ntc.usta.com where you will also find detailed information on our year-round tennis programs for all ages and levels.

www.cityandcountry.org

The Galli Theater New York

Performances • Camps • School Shows • Birthday Parties

BIG OPENING BASH OCTOBER 7TH AT 2PM: $5 OFF EACH TICKET AND A FREE CUPCAKE FOR EVERY CHILD!

WE’VE MOVED!!

357 West 36th Street #202 | New York, NY

RAPUNZEL

2PM THE FROG PRINCE

October 7th, 8th, 14th, 15th

October 21st & 28th

2PM

Ticket Reservations Required: galliny@gmail.com Call 212-731-0668 or book at gallitheaternyc.com BigAppleParent 25

Being able to discern others’ feelings and acting based on that information is part of emotional intelligence, so experts suggest parents begin clearly demonstrating empathy around elementary school-aged children to help them learn what it means to be a good friend.

The Importance of EQ

››

High emotional intelligence translates to success across the board—in children academically and in adults professionally. Here’s how you can help your child succeed in all development stages. By Katelin Walling

motional intelligence (EQ) is a hot topic these days, from the slew of articles discussing characteristics of those with high emotional intelligence to the business articles revealing the emotional-intelligence job skills everyone needs to be successful. And members of Bachelor Nation will undoubtedly remember the showdown between Corinne Olympios and Taylor Nolan on Nick Viall’s season of ABC’s The Bachelor, when Nolan told Olympios she lacked emotional intelligence. But what exactly is emotional intelligence, and how can parents ensure their children have a high level? We spoke to experts to get a clear picture of EQ, its benefits to children, and how parents can help children build their emotional intelligence skills.

Emotional Intelligence Explained

Psychologists John D. Mayer, Ph.D., and Peter Salovey, Ph.D., first coined the term emotional intelligence in the ’90s. Their 26

October 2017 | nymetroparents.com

definition of EQ is “the ability to monitor one’s own and others’ feelings and emotions, to discriminate among them, and to use this information to guide one’s thinking and action.” This is the definition the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence uses, says Kathryn Lee, M.A., director of RULER for Families at the center. (RULER is an acronym for the building blocks of emotional intelligence: recognizing, understanding, labeling, expressing, and regulating emotions.) Meanwhile, The Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning combines social and emotional intelligences and divides those into five skill areas: self-awareness, selfmanagement, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision making, according to Jennifer Miller, M.Ed., who formerly worked with CASEL and is currently an expert contributor for NBC’s Parent Toolkit and creator and author of the blog Confident Parents, Confident Kids.

Keeping these two definitions in mind, Lee and Miller say a child has a good EQ level if she is able to: name her feelings and moods, respond flexibly to changes in her environment, show empathy toward others, appraise how others are feeling, recover more quickly from upset or disappointment, and manage emotions in a challenging environment (calm herself down, articulate what she’s feeling, and move forward).

Benefits of Emotional Intelligence

While kids will utilize emotional intelligence skills in everyday life and social interactions, building those skills can help children be more successful academically and, later on, professionally. Schools with a focus on social-emotional learning had an 11-percent advantage on high-stakes achievement tests as compared to schools without such a focus, according to a 2011 meta-analysis published in the journal Child Development, which looked at the effectiveness of 213 school-based social and emotional learning programs. “That’s pretty significant when you look at moving the needle on academic performance,” Miller says. A 20-year retrospective study published in the American Journal of Public Health in 2015 compared the social-emotional competencies in children as kindergarteners and again as 25-yearolds. The study found that for every point increase in the person’s original score, he was 54 percent more likely to graduate from high school, twice as likely to attain a college degree, and 46 percent more likely to have a full-time job at the age of 25. As children become members of the workplace of today and the future, they are required to be critical, creative, and innovative thinkers. Employers require employees that are able to collaborate, work in teams, and understand cross-cultural communications in a global economy, including perspective taking, empathy, and social awareness, Miller says. “You go down the list of social-emotional competencies, and they have become the foundation of what employers are looking for in the workforce, so it is absolutely critical in looking to the future,” she says.

How to Help Kids Build Emotional Intelligence

Since social-emotional intelligence is a set of skills, “they can be learned at any point. You’re not born with it, it’s not static, it’s dynamic,” Miller says. “There is not a kid in the world that doesn’t need support in this area. As they develop, they are working on their skills, so [support] is critical. It’s not a low income issue, it’s not a cultural issue, it’s very much every child needs to understand and relate to each other effectively.” So how can parents help their children build social-emotional skills? Miller and Lee share their tips for various stages of development.

Toddlers and Pre-K

Build your child’s feeling-word vocabulary. Help her learn to identify and name how she is feeling. “Even preschoolers can use words like frustrated, lonely, or surprised—and when they are able to name their feelings, they become more able to understand and work with their feelings,” Lee says. One way parents can help their toddler or pre-K age child is to separate him from the situation to take stock of his feelings. Lead “a young child into a safe space—in other words not in a public forum where a bunch of people are looking at them where they can get even more upset because they’re humiliated by the social context,” Miller says. “Walk them to a safe place where they can calm down, you can model breathing, help them breathe, and then give them words to ask them whether you’re right about

their feelings. It seems like you’re really frustrated, is that right? It seems like you’re angry, like you’re hurt, is that right?” This very brief statement about what he is feeling and experiencing can help him begin to name and label those feelings.

Elementary School

Cultivate friend-making skills. Pre-K to second-grade children are beginning to create genuine friendships, but they’re new to creating friendships, Miller says. “Children need a lot of help in figuring out how to be a good friend and to have friends,” she says. “At the beginning of the school year, you can practice making introductions if they’re nervous about not knowing other kids, and you can do that with stuffed animals or action figures that they play with: Hi, I want to introduce you to Betsy Bear. It’s nice to meet you, this is so-and-so.” Demonstrate empathy. “In elementary school, friends become increasingly important. Elementary school-aged children learn to identify and become attuned to peers’ facial expressions and perspectives. So parents can support their children by helping them learn how to understand others’ feelings, and to empathize with them, creating the basis for becoming a true friend,” Lee says. In the home, where emotions are okay to talk about and explore, Lee recommends parents try to model empathy by saying, I wonder how your friend’s doing. She looked a little sad when she was here the other day—have you noticed that? or Gosh, I remember his parents are separated. I wonder if there is anything we can do to show our love and support for him? “Helping your child learn to develop an empathic frame for their experience can really mean a lot for a child during those elementary school years,” Lee says. Practice self-management techniques. Third- through sixthgraders start to encounter more complicated social problems, such as bullying. So, Miller says, their self-management skills become really important. To help your child become a responsible decision-maker, discern what her values are, and act responsibly in social environments, Miller suggests practicing these scenarios with your child at home: how to deal when she is picked on, help her practice ways to respond to bullies whether she is the one being bullied or witnessing it, what to do when her friend is being bullied, when to disengage and not be an audience giving the bully power. Kids at this age can also become very performance oriented, worried about how teachers and peers are judging them, whether it’s sports or academic. Because of this pressure, Miller says kids need really good coping skills. Talk to your child about dealing with frustration, persisting toward a goal when the outcome isn’t perfect immediately, and dealing with feelings of embarrassment or humiliation in front of peers when he doesn’t first succeed.

Middle School

Explore morals and ethics. In middle school, kids’ moral and ethical development begins, and awareness starts to shift from “me and my accomplishments to an awareness of one’s membership in a larger community and humanity,” Lee says. “So parents exploring those topics with their middle-schoolers helps support their efforts to develop this larger vision and to formulate their own values.” Talk and listen. “I think a critical aspect of being a middleschool parent is keeping the lines of communication open,” Miller continued on next page ››

BigAppleParent 27

BACK TO SCHOOL MARKETPLACE VISIT GOOG LE OR Y TO RE ELP A D OVE 100 5 R -STAR REVIE WS

LESSONS ★ CLASSES ★ CAMPS ★ BANDS FOR AGES 3-17. WE LOVE BEGINNERS.

UES ★ Midtown ★ Queens ★ Brooklyn ★ Our Studios LESSONS AVAILABLE IN YOUR HOME! Vist www.NYCGuitarSchool.com Or call 646-485-7244

Pusteblume International Preschool provides children with a fun and community-oriented multicultural environment where instruction in the German and Spanish language serves as a catalyst for their development. Tours are available every Friday between the hours of 9:30AM to 11:30AM, please contact us to book your date and time. Pusteblume International Preschool is directed by Friends of the German International School of New York, Inc., a non-proﬁt, 501(c)(3) corporation.

A social skills training program for children. Parent training provided. Role playing sessions. Behavioral assessments conducted. Fun activities in the community include dance, yoga, music, soccer, bowling and much more! SensationalCityKids@gmail.com

(646) 539-8011 | (917) 405-8717

Ages 2-6 Sunday’s 9am-1pm

Check out our golf programs for kids in NYC, and Montauk Downs. ktuga.com

‹‹ continued from previous page

says. At this age, kids are in the throes of puberty, and part of it is parental pushback and pushing boundaries. So talk about those boundaries and discuss why they are important, she says. “Kids are learning and caring more about social justice as it relates to the world and as it relates to them, and so they want to know why.” When you are open with your child, she will come to you on her own time. You may not talk about little issues, “but when the big issues come up, they come to you, not somebody else,” Miller adds.

High School

Give your teen space to create an identity. “High-schoolers are really working hard at creating their own identity and independence, so sometimes they’re going to need more alone time and time with their friends and away from you. I think it’s a tough time to create independence when you are still dependent in a household,” Miller says; so allow your teen space to develop his self-identity. Miller also suggests telling your teen stories from her childhood when she demonstrated strength and perseverance. “I think it’s really helpful because at the time when social pressure is at it’s height and they’re trying to figure out who they’re going to be in all of it, you want them to feel strong and feel like they can stand their ground if they need to,” she says. While giving your teen space to cultivate independence, stay connected to him and keep the relationship strong. “Parents can support their high-schooler’s development by thoughtfully thinking issues through with them, by encouraging the ability of their teen to think critically in their decision-making. If we can recognize that this is a time when kids naturally begin to differentiate themselves from other adults, often including their parents, then we can avoid taking it personally and arguing,” Lee advises. “This is a healthy development—a necessary part of formulating their own identities.” As with most life skills, parents are their children’s first and main teachers. So to help your child build her emotional and social skills, you have to demonstrate and build these skills yourself. As Miller says, “Every human being can continue to hone their social and emotional competence.”

THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Nursery School

A NON-SECTARIAN PROGRAM WELCOMING ALL CHILDREN SINCE 1952 Dedicated to children’s Specialists for music, movement, studio, growth and learning gardening & healthy Experienced, nurturing snack program staff Large airy classrooms, Children ages 2.3 to 5.3 rooftop playground & indoor play space The First Presbyterian Church Nursery School 12 West 12th Street, New York, NY 10011 Call 212-691-3432 or visit our website www.fpcns.org

Kathleen Cook, Director

October 2017 | nymetroparents.com

BACK TO SCHOOL MARKETPLACE

yrs. of Fun, Frien ds, & Fitness !

For Kids 9 mos to 12 yrs

Great Perks For Members

V is it O u r To ta Awe s o mll y e Ne w ly Re n ova te Fa c il ity d !

Nothing Else Even Comes Close! Gymnastics • Ninja Challenge • Music • Playtime Summer and School Break Camps • Jodi’s To Go Best Birthdays Ever

Concerned about Kindergarten?

At Blue Rock, we give children the time and space to explore the world around them in a warm and nurturing environment. The only progressive school in the Lower Hudson Valley, Blue Rock offers a creative and dynamic learning environment for grades K-8.

Kindergarten Information Session and Play Day Saturday, October 21, 10 am to 12pm.

www.jodisgym.com 25 Hubbels Dr. Mt. Kisco • 914.244.8811 244 E. 84th St. NYC • 212.772.7633

Where Learning Comes Alive! West Nyack, NY — www.bluerockschool.org

Explore. Imagine. Create.

Cre ati ve Steps

Early Care + Education Center Our play-based & child-centered program offers: Low

staff-to-child ratio, with 3 teachers per classroom

Weekly

music, movement, and art enrichment programs

Flexible

full-day programs for children 12 months - 4 years

Easy

access to well-maintained, safe outdoor playgrounds

To lear n mo r e, co n tact us to s ch edule a to ur ! 4 Washington Square Village 212.982.2273 creativesteps@universitysettlement.org WWW.UNIVERSITYSETTLEMENT.ORG/CREATIVESTEPS

STAR Academy is a small, Pre k-5th grade public school in the East Village, serving families from all 5 boroughs. STAR is a NYC DOE Showcase School. We specialize in partner teaching, hands-on learning, and thinking like a disciplinarian. All students participate twice a week in music, arts, and gym. Students in K-5 participate in a dance program. We offer after-school programming for all grades.

Please visit our website to find out tour dates and sign up for a school tour. Want to find out more about what makes STAR Academy Shine Visit our website at www.staracademyps63.com. We have available seats for the 2017-2018 school year. Please contact Jfriedman3@schools.nyc.gov. BigAppleParent 29

OUTINGS: Randall’s Island

nymetroparents.com/outings

Explore Nature and Get in the Game Hit a hole-in-one, explore an urban farm, check out bee hotels, and more on Randall’s Island. ›› By Sabrina Sooknanan

Sabrina Sooknanan

Courtesy Randall’s Island Park Alliance

Vincent LaForet

1 Hit a hole-in-one on the island’s 36-hole miniature-golf course. 2 Decorate pumpkins, enjoy live music, and watch the Randall’s Island Chef Showdown at the Harvest Festival. 3 The Urban Farm is an educational stop at which families can learn about sustainable gardening practices. 4 Randall’s Island contains more than 60 playing fields, so you can cheer on a local team or play ball. 5 Randall’s Island is home to six bee hotels.

andall’s Island Park, a multifaceted public park covering most of a 480-acre island in the East River between East Harlem, the South Bronx, and Astoria, Queens, is home to a variety of facilities and natural areas for every member of the family to enjoy.

Farm in the City

The seasonal Urban Farm gives families the opportunity to plant, harvest, and compost. It offers lessons on sustainable gardening practices such as rainwater capture, soil fertility, pollination, and botany. Your family can see chickens, the only known rice paddies in New York, an apple orchard, greenhouses, and a berry patch.

Explore Themed Gardens

Check out five themed gardens created using native species and sustainable practices, including the Rock Garden and the Waters Edge Garden. The White Garden is composed of plants with flowers or foliate in various tones of white. The Hell Gate Wildflower Meadow provides food and shelter for insects, and the Freshwater Wetlands Wildflower Meadow contains unusual native plants. There are also six bee hotels on the island. The park also has freshwater wetlands, a tidal salt marsh, an urban forest, and nearly 5 miles of coastal upland habitat. Bike or walk the almost 8 miles of pathways to catch a glimpse.

Play Sports (or Cheer on a Local Team)

Randall’s Island is home to more than 60 playing fields. Come out to play and enjoy a good game of soccer, softball, lacrosse, rugby, and more. Randall’s Island Park Alliance works to ensure the fields are available for NYC children and adult leagues and teams. 30

October 2017 | nymetroparents.com

There’s also Icahn Stadium, a 400-meter running track used for local, national, and international track and field events.

Become the Next Tennis Star

The Sportime Tennis Center has 20 indoor and outdoor courts, a fitness center, locker rooms, a café, a pro shop, and more. Programs, athletic training, and youth camps are available for all ages and levels.

Hit a Hole-in-One

The Golf Center includes an indoor-outdoor, two-tier driving range with 80 stalls, a 36-hole miniature-golf course, batting cages, golf lessons, and free Wi-Fi.

Celebrate the Harvest

In addition to the yoga, tours, birding, and outdoor movie nights on the island, the Harvest Festival on Oct. 15 will have live music, face painting, and pumpkins for kids to decorate, as well as the Randall’s Island Chef Showdown, during which three chefs will be judged on their creations using the Urban Farm’s harvest. Run the River 5K on Oct. 28 also includes a children’s fun run.

Want to Go?

Address: 20 Randall’s Island Park, Randall’s Island Directions: pproximately a 40-minute subway ride from Midtown Hours: Park: daily, 5am-12am; Urban Farm: Saturday-Sunday, 11am-5pm through Oct. 15 For more information: 212-830-7722 or randallsisland.org

Ideas When You Need Them:

Sign up for our FREE newsletter & never hear “I’m bored!” again. We email the top kids’ events every Thursday—just in time to make weekend plans!

nymetroparents.com/register

Turn the page for details on The Medieval Festival (No. 1 on our list).

OCTOBER

y-day day-b : r u o t ou line ar Check alendar on alend c ood, hborh cost. g i e n h by and Searc type, age, t n eve ily! ted da a d p U

nyme

com/c

ents. ropar

WANT US TO INCLUDE YOUR EVENT?

nymetroparents.com/submitevent UPDATED DAILY AT nymetroparents.com/calendar

EDITOR: WHITNEY C. HARRIS nyccalendar@davlermedia.com

CALENDAR

Editor’s Hot Tickets

We Can’t Believe It’s FREE!, Fun Fairs & Festivals

Crafty Kids, Movers & Shakers

The Great Outdoors

Show Time!, On Screen

Holiday Fun, Animal Lovers

Smarty Pants, Special Needs

Mini Musicians

Once Upon a Time

EDITOR’S HOT TICKETS Our calendar is full of great ideas. First, here are the seven events we consider can’t-miss—the ones we’re taking our own kids to. Consider it your cheat sheet to the best of what’s great this month!

The Medieval Festival FREE

WHEN: Sunday, Oct. 1, 11:30am-6pm WHERE: The Cloisters at Fort Tryon Park, 741 Fort Washington Ave., Fort Washington AGES: All WHAT: Let your kids go medieval for the day at this festive gathering in Fort Tryon Park. Aside from costumes, bountiful cuisine, and courtly gestures, the child-friendly offerings include magic and puppet shows, juggling lessons, and arts and crafts. WHY WE LOVE IT: There’s a definite “Game of Thrones” vibe going on. WANT TO GO? 212-795-1600. whidc.org.

Little Red Lighthouse Festival FREE

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 7, 12-4pm WHERE: Little Red Lighthouse, West 181st Street and Plaza Lafayette, Fort Washington AGES: All WHAT: Celebrate Manhattan’s only remaining lighthouse with educational presentations by an Urban Park Ranger, visits to the lighthouse interior, readings of the eponymous children’s book, fishing clinics, live music, food vendors, and more. WHY WE LOVE IT: So many sweet, nostalgia-inducing photo opportunities. WANT TO GO? riversideparknyc.org.

CMOM Comic Con

WHEN: Oct. 7-9, Saturday-Monday, 10am-5pm WHERE: Children’s Museum of Manhattan, 212 W. 83rd St., Upper West Side AGES: All WHAT: This child-focused version of the popular convention lets kids navigate obstacle course games while training to be a superhero, draw their own comic books, design their own cape, and take on a dynamic dance challenge. WHY WE LOVE IT: Because the real Comic Con is sold out. WANT TO GO? $12; free for children younger than 1. 212-721-1223. cmom.org.

Yes Chef! An Afternoon with Chef Marcus Samuelsson

WHEN: Sunday, Oct. 15, 3pm WHERE: Scandinavia House, 58 Park Ave., Murray Hill AGES: All WHAT: Join Swedish chef Marcus Samuelsson for a cooking demonstration and meet-and-greet at Scandinavia House. Chef Marcus will be cooking up something delicious and, of course, will have something tasty for all to try, so bring the family for an afternoon of fun. WHY WE LOVE IT: Red Rooster in Harlem has the best cornbread, fried chicken, and so much more. WANT TO GO? $15; $10 members; $5 children. 212-779-3587. scandinaviahouse.org.

October 2017 | nymetroparents.com

Lisa Loeb Family Concert

WHEN: Sunday, Oct. 22, 11:30am-12:30pm WHERE: The Jewish Museum, Scheuer Auditorium, 1109 Fifth Ave., Upper East Side AGES: 3-8 WHAT: Little kids love singer-songwriter Lisa Loeb for her kids music such as “Catch the Moon.” This family concert features her recent hits. WHY WE LOVE IT: What parent doesn’t remember her mid-’90s hit “Stay (I Missed You)”?! WANT TO GO? $16; $13 members. 212-423-3200. thejewishmuseum.org.

The Laurie Berkner Band’s Monster Boogie Halloween Concert

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 28, 3pm WHERE: Concert Hall at The New York Society for Ethical Culture, 2 W. 64th St., Upper West Side AGES: Newborn to 5 WHAT: Catch award-winning and bestselling children’s music star Laurie Berkner in concert. This Halloween-themed performance promises 90 minutes of your favorite Laurie Berkner Band songs. WHY WE LOVE IT: When else will the audience show up in costume? WANT TO GO? $39; free for children younger than 1. 212-874-5210. nysec.org.

27th Annual Children’s Halloween Parade FREE

WHEN: Tuesday, Oct. 31, 3-6pm WHERE: Washington Square Park, University Place, from East 13th to West 3rd streets, Washington Square AGES: All WHAT: Gather at the fountain in Washington Square Park for a family-friendly Halloween parade. Then, kids can snag free trick-or-treat bags, play games, and experience rides. WHY WE LOVE IT: The biggest gathering of kids in costumes! WANT TO GO? 212-982-6255. nyu.edu.

FUN FAIRS & FESTIVALS 92Y Street Fest FREE

WE CAN’T BELIEVE IT’S FREE

Think a freebie has to be ho-hum? Don’t let the price tag (or lack of one) fool you. Here are the five no-cost events we’re excited about now. You’re welcome. Artists at the Atrium: The Happy Racers FREE

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 7, 11am and 2pm WHERE: Lincoln Center, David Rubenstein Atrium, 61 W. 62nd St., Upper West Side AGES: Newborn to 5 WHAT: Families will move and groove to tunes such as “Doghouse Jamboree” and “Move Your Body” as The Happy Racers perform live onstage. The adventurous, fun-loving trio is known for getting audiences up and dancing while singing catchy, kid-friendly lyrics. WANT TO GO? 212-875-5000. kids.lincolncenter.org.

‘Guji Guji: A Very Special Duck’ by Boulevardteatern FREE

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 28, 1pm WHERE: Scandinavia House, 58 Park Ave., Murray Hill AGES: 3-8 WHAT: Swedish theatre group Boulevardteatern presents the enchanting story of a crocodile raised as a duck. Guji Guji is a tale about differences and similarities, love, friendship, and learning to think for yourself. WANT TO GO? 212-779-3587. scandinaviahouse.org.

Haunted High Line Halloween FREE

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 28, 11am-3pm WHERE: The High Line, West 14th to West 16th streets between Tenth and Twelfth avenues, Chelsea AGES: All WHAT: Spend an afternoon enjoying artistic face painting, a candy scavenger hunt, an old-time photo booth, and live performances. There will be a cookie factory art project, a Halloween magic show, music and dancing with the Bilingual Birdies, a DJ/karaoke station, and more. WANT TO GO? 212-500-6035. thehighline.org.

Iridescence FREE

WHEN: Through Oct. 29: Friday, 2-4pm; Saturday-Sunday, 11am-5pm WHERE: Governors Island - Colonels Row, The HoloCenter, ferries leave from 10 South St., Financial District AGES: All WHAT: The HoloCenter transforms the post commander quarters in Colonels Row with light-based installations. Selected through an international competition, six artists produced new holograms sculpting with light to explore how memory, motion, and images entwine. WANT TO GO? 212-440-2205. govisland.com.

BAMboo! FREE

WHEN: Tuesday, Oct. 31, 4-7pm WHERE: Brooklyn Academy of Music, 30 Lafayette Ave., Fort Greene, Brooklyn AGES: All WHAT: BAM’s annual free community Halloween celebration returns, featuring music, carnival games, arts and crafts, stilt walkers, roaming artists, costume contest, and a candy giveaway. WANT TO GO? 718-636-4100. bam.org.

WHEN: Sunday, Oct. 1, 12-5pm WHERE: 92Y, Lexington Avenue between 79th and 94th streets, Upper East Side AGES: All WHAT: This year’s fest promises Broadway performances, mascots from the Winter 2018 Olympics in Korea, healthy snacks, games, face painting, slime, beading, STEM activities, and a mini-golf putting green. WANT TO GO? 212-415-5500. 92y.org.

Chile Pepper Festival

WHEN: Sunday, Oct. 1, 11am-6pm WHERE: Brooklyn Botanic Garden, 900 Washington Ave., Prospect Heights/Crown Heights, Brooklyn AGES: All WHAT: One of Brooklyn’s favorite fall events returns with food, hot music, family workshops, fire jugglers, and more. WANT TO GO? $25; $20 seniors and students; free for children younger than 12. 718-623-7200. bbg.org.

Hester Street Fair 2017 FREE

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 7, 11am-6pm WHERE: Hester Street Fair, Essex and Hester streets, Lower East Side AGES: All WHAT: Peruse handmade goods, creative products, and artisanal food, or participate in one of many workshops taking place. WANT TO GO? hesterstreetfair.com.

Kids Fest: Stages in the Square 2017 FREE

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 14, 11am-3pm WHERE: Madison Square Park, Fifth and Madison avenues, from 23rd to 26th streets, Flatiron AGES: All WHAT: Catch Secret Agent 23 Skidoo, WonderSpark Puppets, Sammie and Tudie’s Comedy Magic Circus, Story Pirates, and more at this familyfriendly afternoon in the park. WANT TO GO? 212-520-7600. madisonsquarepark.org.

Harvest Festival FREE

WHEN: Sunday, Oct. 15, 12-4pm WHERE: Randall’s Island Park, Fields 62 and 63, Randall’s Island AGES: All WHAT: Each fall RIPA’s annual Harvest Festival celebrates the bounty of the earth and the completion of another fruitful season at the Urban Farm. Enjoy live music, face painting, and more fun fall activities. WANT TO GO? 212-860-1899. randallsisland.org.

Harvest Festival FREE

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 21, 11am-1pm WHERE: Carl Schurz Park, East End Avenue between East 84th and 90th streets, Upper East Side AGES: All WHAT: Children will love picking their own pumpkins, decorating their gourds, riding a horse-drawn carriage along the river, and more. WANT TO GO? 212-459-4455. carlschurzparknyc.org.

It’s Happening! Celebrating 50 Years of Public Art in NYC Parks FREE WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 21, 11am-3pm WHERE: East Pinetum, Enter at East 84th Street at East Drive, Central Park AGES: All WHAT: A celebration with free exhibits, performances, and workshops. WANT TO GO? 212-360-8163. nycgovparks.org. ››

BigAppleParent 33

‘My Perfect Pet the Musical’

WHEN: Oct. 14-Nov. 18, Saturdays, 12pm and 2pm WHERE: The Playroom Theater, 151 W. 46th St., Midtown West AGES: 3-8 WHAT: My Perfect Pet is the story of Cailin, a young girl who dreams of getting a puppy for her upcoming 10th birthday. But, is she responsible and mature enough? It’s up to her parents to decide. WANT TO GO? $20. 646-262-1562. myperfectpetthemusical.com.

New York City Children’s Theater’s ‘Please Bring Balloons’

WHEN: Through Dec. 10: Sundays, 10am and 12pm WHERE: University Settlement, 184 Eldridge St., Lower East Side AGES: 3-5 WHAT: Back by popular demand, this show is an interactive, multisensory theater experience created for the youngest audience members. WANT TO GO? $25. 212-573-8791. nycchildrenstheater.org.

‘The Wizard of Oz’

SHOW TIME! ‘The Young King’

WHEN: Oct. 13-22, Friday-Saturday, 7pm; Saturday-Sunday, 11am and 3pm WHERE: New Victory Theater, 209 W. 42nd St., Midtown AGES: 5 and older WHAT: Oscar Wilde’s short story takes on new possibilities with this New Victory show. The theater is completely transformed for this epic story. WANT TO GO? $28-$38. 646-223-3010. newvictory.org.

‘The Village of Vale’

WHEN: Oct. 28-29, Saturday-Sunday, 2pm WHERE: Lincoln Center, Clark Studio Theater, 165 W. 65th St., 7th Floor, Upper West Side AGES: 5 and older WHAT: In the spirit of Halloween, this dark, fairytale musical uncovers the mystery behind a curious traveler and a village full of secrets and curses. WANT TO GO? $25; $18 members. 212-721-6500. kids.lincolncenter.org.

‘Kid Frankenstein’

WHEN: Oct. 6-Nov. 5, Friday, 7pm; Saturday-Sunday, 3pm and 7pm WHERE: Theater at Blessed Sacrament, 152 W. 71st St., Upper West Side AGES: 5-12 WHAT: It’s Halloween and something weird is going on at Frankie Steiner’s house. WANT TO GO? $25-$59.50. 212-579-0528. vitaltheatre.org.

‘Frankenstein: A Musical’

WHEN: Through Nov. 12: Friday-Saturday, 7pm; Sunday, 2pm WHERE: The Players Theatre, 115 MacDougal St., Greenwich Village AGES: 9 and older WHAT: A classic Gothic horror takes the stage with new steampunk flair in this original musical adaptation of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. WANT TO GO? $42 and up. 212-475-1237. monsteroffbroadway.com.

‘Treasure Island the Musical’

WHEN: Oct. 8-Nov. 12, Saturdays, 3pm; Sundays, 11am WHERE: The Players Theatre, 115 MacDougal St., Greenwich Village AGES: All WHAT: A rollicking musical adventure through the pages of Robert Louis Stevenson’s beloved novel Treasure Island. The audience will participate in interactive arts workshops an hour prior to the performance. WANT TO GO? $32-$52. 212-475-1237. literallyalive.com. 34

October 2017 | nymetroparents.com

WHEN: Through Dec. 16: Saturdays, 3pm WHERE: Harlem Rep, 240 E. 123rd St., Harlem AGES: All WHAT: The classic musical The Wizard of Oz is being performed by a multi-racial cast with a jazzy underscore and authoritative dramaturgy by representatives of the Yip Harburg Foundation. WANT TO GO? $10-$20. 212-868-4444. harlemrepertorytheatre.com.

‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’

WHEN: Through Dec. 30: Saturdays and select weekdays, 11am WHERE: St. Luke’s Theatre, 308 W. 46th St., Midtown AGES: 5 and older WHAT: A highly theatrical adaptation of C.S. Lewis’ classic book brings audiences along as Peter, Susan, Lucy, and Edmund courageously battle the forces of evil, discovering that love is the deepest magic of all. WANT TO GO? $35. 212-239-6200. narniaoffbroadway.com.

‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show’

WHEN: Through Feb. 4, 2018: Thursday-Sunday, see website for times WHERE: DR2 Theatre, 103 E. 15th St., Gramercy Park AGES: 3-5 WHAT: A theatrical recreation of Eric Carle’s beautifully imaginative stories, The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show features a menagerie enchanting puppets during a magical 60-minute show. WANT TO GO? $49.50 and up. 1-800-982-2787. hungrycaterpillarshow.

ON SCREEN BAMkids Movie Matinees

WHEN: Oct. 8-Nov. 26, Sundays, 2pm WHERE: BAM Rose Cinemas, 30 Lafayette Ave., Fort Greene, Brooklyn AGES: 5 and older WHAT: Curated by BAMcinématek, this series offers families the perfect introduction to classic films on the big screen. WANT TO GO? $10; $7 children 12 and younger. 718-636-4129. bam.org/kids.

Earthflight

WHEN: Through March 8, 2018: daily, 10am-5:45pm WHERE: The American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West and 79th Street, Upper West Side AGES: All WHAT: Earthflight is a totally immersive experience, taking the audience on an incredible flight across the world on the wings of birds. WANT TO GO? $27; $22 students and seniors; $16 children ages 2-12; free for children younger than 2. 212-769-5200. amnh.org.

SMARTY PANTS Solve for XX: A Celebration of Women in Mathematics FREE

WHEN: Thursday, Oct. 5, 4:30-5:30pm WHERE: National Museum of Math, 11 E. 26th St., Gramercy AGES: 9-17 WHAT: Girls can meet the first civilian woman in space, Anousheh Ansari, at this informal discussion. Learn how she uses math in her life and her career, and hear how she came from Iran to the U.S. to the International Space Station. WANT TO GO? 212-542-0566. momath.org.

Family Fridays: A Construction Toy Revolution: Introducing Lux!

WHEN: Friday, Oct. 6, 6:30-8pm WHERE: National Museum of Math, 11 E. 26th St., Gramercy AGES: All WHAT: Join toy creators Heather and Mike Acerra as they take you on a hands-on journey into Lux, their creative new kinematic construction system. WANT TO GO? $16; $10 seniors and students; $10 children ages 2-12; free for children younger than 2. 212-542-0566. momath.org.

Rhoda and the Fossil Hunt: An Opera for Families

WHEN: Through Oct. 15: Friday, 11:30am; Saturday-Sunday, 12pm and 2:30pm WHERE: The Hall of Saurischian Dinosaurs at the American Museum of Natural History, 79th Street and Central Park West, Upper West Side AGES: 5 and older WHAT: Families will be taken on a lyrical search for missing relics surrounded by the museum’s iconic Tyrannosaurus rex, Apatosaurus, and Allosaurus skeletons. Reservations required. WANT TO GO? $23; $18 seniors and students; $13 children ages 2-12; free for children younger than 2. 212-769-5200. amnh.org.

AGES: 9 and older WHAT: An evening of spooky stories of the cosmos while navigating the constellations along with the most frightful and petrifying objects in the sky. WANT TO GO? $15; 13.50 seniors and students; $12 members. 212-7695100. amnh.org.

Morgan Explorers

WHEN: Through Dec. 10: Sundays, 1:30-3pm WHERE: The Morgan Library & Museum, 225 Madison Ave., Murray Hill AGES: All WHAT: Enjoy art activities, get up-close with touch objects, and have all your questions answered by a Morgan Educator. WANT TO GO? $20; $13 seniors and students; free for children younger than 12. 212-590-0311. themorgan.org.

Gulliver’s Gate

WHEN: Through Dec. 31: daily, 9am-10pm WHERE: Times Square, 216 W. 44th St., Times Square AGES: All WHAT: Artists from eight countries took part in building this miniature world, featuring cities from across the globe, all built to scale. WANT TO GO? $36; $27 seniors and for children 12 and younger. gulliversgate.com.

Millions: Migrants and Millionaires Aboard the Great Liners, 1900-1914

WHEN: Through Jan. 7, 2018: Wednesday-Sunday, 11am-7pm WHERE: South Street Seaport Museum, 12 Fulton St., South Street Seaport AGES: All WHAT: Learn all about 20th-century ocean liners, such as Titanic and Lusitania, and the differences between traveling aboard as a first- or third-class passenger. Featuring original and reproduced artifacts. WANT TO GO? $12; $8 seniors and students; $6 children ages 2-17. 212748-8600. southstreetseaportmuseum.org.

Halloween Murder Mystery

WHEN: Oct. 21-28, Friday-Saturday, 6:15pm and 7:30pm WHERE: Mount Vernon Hotel Museum & Garden, 421 E. 61st St., Upper East Side AGES: 9 and older WHAT: In this fictional mystery game, loosely based on an historic newspaper account, an unidentified skeleton has been discovered at the Mount Vernon Hotel. Explore the museum by candlelight and collect clues to unravel the mystery and solve the case. WANT TO GO? $25; $15 members and for children younger than 12. 212-838-6878. mvhm.org.

Astronomy Live: Spooky Astronomy

WHEN: Tuesday, Oct. 31, 7pm WHERE: Hayden Planetarium Space Theater, Central Park West and 81st Street, Upper West Side

SPECIAL NEEDS Sights & Sounds—Emotions FREE

WHEN: Wednesday, Oct. 4, 10-11am WHERE: The Met Cloisters, 99 Margaret Corbin Drive, Fort Tryon Park AGES: 5-12 WHAT: Children on the autism spectrum and those with developmental and learning disabilities are invited to join friends and family at The Met Cloisters for a special Sights & Sounds program. Participants will discover historic treasures from medieval castles and sacred spaces while also taking part in engaging musical activities. WANT TO GO? 212-923-3700. metmuseum.org.

Sculpturescope FREE

WHEN: Sunday, Oct. 22, 2-3:30pm WHERE: The Met Cloisters, 99 Margaret Corbin Drive, Fort Tryon Park AGES: 5-17 WHAT: Children with developmental or learning disabilities are invited to join friends and family at The Met Cloisters for a special gallery tour and art activity. Reservations required. WANT TO GO? 212-650-2010. metmuseum.org.

Workshops for Kids with Disabilities FREE

WHEN: Sunday, Oct. 29, 10am-12:30pm WHERE: The Jewish Museum, 1109 Fifth Ave., Upper East Side AGES: 5-17 WHAT: Examine art on view and create a work of your own in these programs for families with children who have developmental and learning disabilities. WANT TO GO? 212-423-3200. thejewishmuseum.org. ›› BigAppleParent 35

AGES: All WHAT: Meet special effects artists and technologists while participating in hands-on activities and exploring the science of creepy. WANT TO GO? $16; $13 children, students, and seniors. 718-699-0005. nysci.org.

Family Sundays at the Rubin Museum

CRAFTY KIDS MOCACREATE: Zhizha, Folded Paper Arts

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 7, 1-4pm WHERE: Museum of Chinese in America, 215 Centre St., Chinatown AGES: 3 and older WHAT: While detained, undocumented Chinese immigrants aboard a cargo ship to the U.S. folded paper to create symbolic sculptures of all shapes and sizes. Take inspiration from the museum’s exhibit to construct colorful figures using a variety of paper types and folding techniques. WANT TO GO? $10; $5 seniors and children; free for children younger than 2. 855-955-6622. mocanyc.org.

Family Afternoon: Remix

WHEN: Sunday, Oct. 8, 1-4pm WHERE: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 Fifth Ave., Upper East Side AGES: 3-12 WHAT: Arrive ready to observe, imagine, and create at this Met drop-in for free, hands-on family fun. This month, remix artworks, materials, and ideas in the museum studios and galleries. WANT TO GO? $25; $17 seniors; $12 students; children are free. 212535-7710. metmuseum.org.

Drop-In Art Workshop: Mobiles for Modigliani

WHEN: Oct. 8-10, Sunday-Tuesday, 1-4pm WHERE: The Jewish Museum, 1109 Fifth Ave., 4th Floor, Upper East Side AGES: 3-8 WHAT: Kids create colorful mobiles to decorate their homes or sukkahs for the holiday of Sukkot using found objects such as wire, collage papers, cardboard, and oil pastels. Then draw family portraits inspired by the exhibit Modigliani Unmasked. WANT TO GO? $15; $12 seniors; $7.50 students; free for children younger than 18. 212-423-3200. thejewishmuseum.org.

Picture This! Series

WHEN: Sunday, Oct. 22, 10am-12:30pm WHERE: The Jewish Museum, 1109 Fifth Ave., Upper East Side AGES: 3-8 WHAT: These interactive programs include art-viewing activities and a book reading from the PJ Library collection, followed by an opportunity to create original artworks and a concert featuring an acclaimed performer. WANT TO GO? $25; $22 members. 212-423-3200. thejewishmuseum.org.

Dead or Alive: Special Effects

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 28, 1-4:30pm WHERE: New York Hall of Science, 4701 111th St., Corona, Queens 36

October 2017 | nymetroparents.com

WHEN: Oct. 1-29, Sundays, 1-4pm WHERE: The Rubin Museum of Art, 150 W. 17th St., Chelsea AGES: 3 and older WHAT: Swing by the museum on Sunday afternoons this month for casual art-making and family-friendly activities. October is all about Board Games & Bright Lights as little ones learn how to play traditional Nepalese board games while sculpting game pieces, then create traditional diyas (candles) to celebrate Diwali. WANT TO GO? $15; $10 seniors and students; free for children 12 and younger. 212-620-5000. rubinmuseum.org.

Special Folding Fun Sessions

WHEN: Sunday, Oct. 29, 10:30am-12:30pm and 2:30-4:30pm WHERE: OrigamiUSA at the American Museum of Natural History, 15 W. 77th St., Upper West Side AGES: 5-17 WHAT: Fold paper wonders like a pro at special sessions hosted by OrigamiUSA. If you and your child are new to folding, consider taking one of the Family Fun classes designed for beginners. WANT TO GO? $35; $20 members. 212-769-5635. origamiusa.org.

Sculptural Spider Webs

WHEN: Monday, Oct. 30, 12-5pm WHERE: Children’s Museum of the Arts, 103 Charlton St., Greenwich Village AGES: All WHAT: In celebration of Halloween, museum guests will design and create their very own sculptural spider webs. Pick materials and design to recreate one of nature’s spookiest traps. WANT TO GO? $12; seniors pay as you wish; free for children younger than 1. 212-274-0986. cmany.org.

MOVERS & SHAKERS ‘A la Calle’ Block Party FREE

WHEN: Sunday, Oct. 1, 2-6pm WHERE: Ballet Hispánico, West 89th Street between Amsterdam and Columbus avenues, Upper West Side AGES: All WHAT: Celebrate Latino dance, music, art, food, and community at this family-friendly block party hosted by Ballet Hispánico. Enjoy dance and music performances, free dance classes, and thematic arts and crafts. WANT TO GO? 212-362-6710. ballethispanico.org.

Start with Art and Music

WHEN: Thursday, Oct. 5, 3:30-4:30pm WHERE: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 Fifth Ave., Upper East Side AGES: 3-8 WHAT: Look, move, and sing while exploring art and music together in the galleries at the Met. October’s theme is “Mix it Up!” and will involve sharing ideas, enjoying stories, sketching, singing, and other gallery activities that bring works of art to life. WANT TO GO? $25; $17 seniors; $12 students; children are free. 212535-7710. metmuseum.org.

Unlimited

WHEN: Sunday, Oct. 8, 6:30-8pm WHERE: National Museum of Math, 11 E. 26th St., Gramercy AGES: 11-14 WHAT: Kids can mingle, dance to DJ music, devour cookies and hot chocolate, and have (real) fun with math at this parent-free night out. WANT TO GO? $15. 212-542-0566. momath.org.

National Dance Institute (NDI) Celebration Team: ‘Harlem Night Song’

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 21, 2pm WHERE: Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway, Upper West Side AGES: All WHAT: Through dance and music, NDI will bring to life the work of Jacob Lawrence, Duke Ellington, Florence Mills, Fats Waller, and Hector LaVoe. WANT TO GO? $17; $14 members. 503-293-9498. symphonyspace.org.

Art and Games FREE

WHEN: Through Oct. 26: Thursdays, 3:30-5:30pm WHERE: Rockefeller Park, North end of Battery Park City, west of River Terrace, Battery Park City AGES: 5-12 WHAT: Make art, play games, make friends, and have fun. WANT TO GO? bpcparks.org.

Asphalt Screams FREE

WHEN: Friday, Oct. 27, 4-6pm WHERE: Asphalt Green: 555 E. 90th St., Upper East Side and 212 North End Ave., Battery Park City AGES: All WHAT: Gear up in costume for an afternoon of trick-or-treating and sports-related activities, including a Spooktacular Soccer Shootout. The first 500 kids at each campus will receive a goodie bag. WANT TO GO? 212.369.8890. asphaltgreen.org.

Thunder & Sunshine’s Monster Mash Halloween Show for Kids and Families

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 28, 12pm WHERE: Joe’s Pub at The Public Theater, 425 Lafayette St., East Village AGES: 3-8 WHAT: There are plenty of treats in store for this family concert, with puppets, prizes, and spooky surprises galore. Kids are encouraged to come in costume. WANT TO GO? $12; $8 children 12 and younger. 212-539-8778. joespub.com.

Children’s Basketball FREE

WHEN: Through Oct. 30: 3:30-5:15pm WHERE: Rockefeller Park, 75 Battery Place, Battery Park City AGES: 5-12 WHAT: This weekly children’s basketball gathering has adjustable-height hoops to allow kids of all sizes and abilities to practice. WANT TO GO? 212-267-9700. bpcparks.org.

Preschool Play FREE

WHEN: Through Oct. 31: Monday-Wednesday, 10am-12pm WHERE: Robert F. Wagner, Jr. Park, 20 Battery Place, Battery Park City AGES: Newborn to 5 WHAT: Meet other toddlers, parents, and caregivers at this interactive play group on the lawn. Sing, listen to stories, and play with toys and water. WANT TO GO? bpcparks.org.

Children’s Soccer FREE

WHEN: Through Oct. 31: Tuesdays, 2:30-5:15pm WHERE: Rockefeller Park, 75 Battery Place, Battery Park City AGES: 3-11 WHAT: This free soccer drop-in is about having fun while learning the basics. WANT TO GO? 212-267-9700. bpcparks.org.

THE GREAT OUTDOORS Raccoon Art Day FREE

WHEN: Sunday, Oct. 1, 2-4pm WHERE: NYC Parks, Central Park, outside the Dana Discovery Center, Central Park AGES: 5-17 WHAT: Participants will create their own chalk art celebrating these masked mammals, as part of a larger community curated piece. Then take a short walk with an Urban Park Ranger in search of raccoons around the Harlem Meer, or talk with NYC Parks’ Wildlife Unit to learn more about coexisting with urban wildlife. WANT TO GO? 212-360-1424. nycgovparks.org.

Urban Farm Exploration Days FREE

WHEN: Through Oct. 14: Saturday-Sunday, 11am-5pm WHERE: Randall’s Island Park, 20 Randall’s Island Park, Randall’s Island AGES: All WHAT: Come discover the Randall’s Island Urban Farm with these discovery days. Meet the chickens and explore the farm, an expert will be on-site to answer questions. WANT TO GO? 212-860-1899. randallsisland.org.

Big City Fishing FREE

WHEN: Through Oct. 15: Sundays, 11am WHERE: Hudson River Park - Pier 25, 225 West St., Tribeca AGES: 5 and older WHAT: Each summer, Hudson River Park offers Big City Fishing to those children who are eager to learn both how to fish and about the Hudson River environment. WANT TO GO? 212-627-2020. hudsonriverpark.org.

Shell-ebrate Oysters! FREE

WHEN: Through Oct. 15: Sundays, 4pm WHERE: Pier 25 at Hudson River Park, 225 West St., Soho AGES: All WHAT: Oysters filter water, engineer reef habitat, and stabilize shorelines. Work alongside park staff to restore oysters and learn how these bivalves benefit the health of the river. WANT TO GO? 212-627-2020. hudsonriverpark.eventbrite.com.

Family Astronomy Night FREE

WHEN: Friday, Oct. 20, 7:30pm WHERE: Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, Pier 86, West 46th Street and Twelfth Avenue, Midtown AGES: All WHAT: There will be talks from leading scientists and local astronomers will be on hand with high-powered telescopes to help visitors navigate the night sky and answer questions about astronomy and star-gazing. Entry is first-come, first-served. WANT TO GO? 212-843-9381. intrepidmuseum.org. ››

BigAppleParent 37

DiMenna Creepy History Museum’s Haunted Halloween Party

HOLIDAY FUN Sukkot Celebration FREE

WHEN: Wednesday, Oct. 4, 10:30-11:30am WHERE: JCC Manhattan, 334 Amsterdam Ave., Upper West Side AGES: 3-5 WHAT: Celebrate Sukkot with art, stories, music, and more. WANT TO GO? 646-505-5708. jccmanhattan.org.

Diwali Family Celebration

WHEN: Sunday, Oct. 22, 8am-5pm WHERE: Children’s Museum of Manhattan, 212 W. 83rd St., Upper West Side AGES: All WHAT: Learn about the Hindu festival of lights through storytelling, sand art, textile design projects, a Bollywood dance party, and more. WANT TO GO? $14; $11 seniors; free for children younger than 1. 212-721-1223. cmom.org.

Diwali Family Celebration FREE

WHEN: Sunday, Oct. 22, 2:30-5:30pm WHERE: Museum of The City of New York, 1220 Fifth Ave., Upper East Side AGES: 5-12 WHAT: Light up your family’s day and celebrate the Hindu Festival of Lights with traditional Indian treats, a special performance, and a decorate-your-own-diya activity. WANT TO GO? $18; $12 seniors and students; free for children younger than 19. 212-534-1672. mcny.org.

LC Trick-or-Treat FREE

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 28, 11am WHERE: Lincoln Center, Josie Robertson Plaza, Broadway between 63rd and 64th streets, Lincoln Center AGES: All WHAT: A fun-filled day of costumes, candy, spooky stories, and seasonal fun with a reading of Crankenstein by Samantha Berger. WANT TO GO? 212-875-5000. kids.lincolncenter.org.

Halloween Celebration

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 28, 2-6pm WHERE: American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West and 79th Street, Upper West Side AGES: 3-12 WHAT: Some of the museum’s popular halls will be open for trick-ortreating, arts and crafts, performers from the Big Apple Circus and more. WANT TO GO? $15; $12 members. 212-769-5100. amnh.org.

Halloween Parade and Party FREE

WHEN: Sunday, Oct. 29, 1-3pm WHERE: Washington Market Park, 199 Chambers St., Tribeca AGES: All WHAT: Families adore this annual party and costume parade. Volunteers will run a dozen free events, including penny-in-a-haystack, a bone dig in the sandbox, crafts, juggling, and a hay circle on the lawn. WANT TO GO? 212-408-0100. washingtonmarketpark.org. 38

October 2017 | nymetroparents.com

WHEN: Sunday, Oct. 29, 3-5pm WHERE: DiMenna Children’s Museum at New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park W., Upper West Side AGES: All WHAT: This gathering at the museum beckons families to summon spirits of the past through historical fortune-telling, ghost stories, and creepy crafts. WANT TO GO? $10 in advance; $12 day of ($10 members). 212-8733400. nyhistory.org/childrens-museum.

Halloween Pumpkin Flotilla FREE

WHEN: Sunday, Oct. 29, 4-7pm WHERE: Charles A. Dana Discovery Center, 110th Street between Fifth and Lenox avenues, Central Park AGES: All WHAT: Make a spooky jack-o’-lantern and then send it floating in the open waters of the Harlem Meer at twilight. WANT TO GO? 212-860-1370. centralparknyc.org.

Trick or Treat Grand Central FREE

WHEN: Tuesday, Oct. 31, see website for times WHERE: Grand Central Terminal, 89 E. 42nd St., Midtown East AGES: All WHAT: Bring the family to Grand Central to celebrate Halloween with trick-or-treating at participating shops and restaurants, face painting, tote giveaways, raffles, and more. WANT TO GO? 212-340-2583. grandcentralterminal.com.

ANIMAL LOVERS The Feast of Saint Francis and Blessing of the Animals FREE

WHEN: Sunday, Oct. 1, 11am-4pm WHERE: The Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, 1047 Amsterdam Ave., Upper West Side AGES: All WHAT: A choir of hundreds of voices meets with modern and traditional West African dance in this celebration of the animal kingdom. The service concludes with the Procession of the Animals down the Nave of the Cathedral, and then a fair with pet blessings, refreshments, and performances. WANT TO GO? 212-316-7540. stjohndivine.org.

Halloween Howl & Healthy Hound Fair FREE

WHEN: Sunday, Oct. 15, 12-3pm WHERE: Carl Schurz Park, East End Avenue between East 84th and 90th streets, Upper East Side AGES: All WHAT: Watch mutts strut their stuff at this annual gathering. Expect to see more than 200 creatively costumed pups sartorially evaluated. WANT TO GO? 212-459-4455. carlschurzparknyc.org.

Tinga Tinga Tanzania

WHEN: Oct. 14-15, Saturday-Sunday, 10am-5pm WHERE: Children’s Museum of Manhattan, 212 W. 83rd St., Upper West Side AGES: All WHAT: Celebrate Tanzania at this two-day festival full of painting, storytelling, and crafts. Learn all about the wild animals depicted in East African painting, little ones will learn to count with a fuzzy felt aquarium, and more. WANT TO GO? $12; free for children younger than 1. 212-721-1223. cmom.org.

Annual Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade FREE

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 21, 12-3pm WHERE: Tompkins Square, East 9th Street and Avenue A, East Village

AGES: All WHAT: Pups get in on Halloween costume fun at the Annual Tompkins Square Halloween Dog Parade. WANT TO GO? tompkinssquaredogrun.com.

Boo at the Zoo

WHEN: Through Oct. 29: Saturday-Sunday, 10am-5:30pm WHERE: Bronx Zoo, 2300 Southern Blvd., Bronx AGES: All WHAT: This year’s Boo at the Zoo has family favorites including magic shows, costume parades, pumpkin carvings, a candy trail, a bird meetand-greet, plus hayrides, nature treks, and a haunted forest. WANT TO GO? $36.95; $31.95 seniors; $26.96 children; free for children younger than 2. 718-220-5100. bronxzoo.com.

Ocean Odyssey

WHEN: Oct. 6-March 31, 2018: Sunday-Thursday, 10am-10:30pm; Friday-Saturday, 10am-12am WHERE: National Geographic Encounter, 226 W. 44th St., Times Square AGES: 5 and older WHAT: This immersive entertainment experience takes families on a simulated underwater adventure to witness Pacific Ocean life firsthand. WANT TO GO? $39.50; $36.50 seniors; $32.50 children younger than 12. 646-308-1337. natgeoencounter.com.

MINI

MUSICIANS Tango Concert in Celebration of the 100th Anniversary of ‘ La Cumparsita,’ The World’s Most Famous Tango FREE

WHEN: Thursday, Oct. 5, 6pm WHERE: Trinity Church, 75 Broadway, Financial District AGES: All WHAT: This tango concert for all ages features bandoneon master, composer, and Latin Grammy Winner Raúl Jaurena, young musicians from InterSchool Orchestras of New York (ISO), and guest conductor Martín García of National Symphony Orchestra of Uruguay. WANT TO GO? 212-410-0370. isorch.org.

Story Pirates Musical Sketch Comedy Powered by Kids

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 7, 11am and 2pm WHERE: Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway, Upper West Side AGES: 3-12 WHAT: Using stories submitted by children, the Story Pirates create outlandishly funny sketches and mini-musicals. WANT TO GO? $17; $14 members. 503-293-9498. symphonyspace.org.

Family Concert: ‘Peter and the Wolf and Other Stories’

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 14, 2pm WHERE: Carnegie Hall, Stern Auditorium, 154 W. 57th St., Midtown AGES: 5-12 WHAT: The Orchestra of St. Luke’s will perform Prokofiev’s classic Peter and the Wolf, along with two new compositions. WANT TO GO? $10-$22. 212-247-7800. carnegiehall.org.

The Moonlights (Rachel Loshak and Dean Jones) in Concert WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 14, 11am WHERE: Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway, Upper West Side AGES: All

WHAT: The Moonlights is a collaboration between two songwriters and family music luminaries Rachel Loshak and Grammy-winning producer and Dog on Fleas performer, Dean Jones. WANT TO GO? $17; $14 members. 503-293-9498. symphonyspace.org.

Joanie Leeds and the Nightlights: Harmony Filled Halloween Hootenanny

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 28, 11am WHERE: Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway, Upper West Side AGES: All WHAT: Leeds and her harmony-driven trio plan to come in costume to sing “Confusing Costume” and other hits, plus new songs from the latest album Brooklyn Baby. Fans are invited to come in costume for a chance to win a copy of the latest CD. WANT TO GO? $17; $14 members. 503-293-9498. symphonyspace.org.

The Little Orchestra Society presents Saint-Saens: A Halloween ‘Carnival of the Animals’

WHEN: Oct. 28-29, Saturday, 10am and 11:30am; Sunday, 11:30am and 1pm WHERE: The Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College, 695 Park Ave., Upper East Side AGES: 3-12 WHAT: The fun begins this weekend with composer Camille Saint-Saens and a Halloween “Carnival of the Animals” theme. WANT TO GO? $15-$50. 212-971-9500. littleorchestra.org.

‘Hansel & Gretel’s Halloween Adventure’

WHEN: Oct. 13-31, Tuesday-Sunday, 10:30am, 12pm, and 1pm WHERE: Swedish Cottage Marionette Theater, Central Park, 79th Street and West Drive, Central Park AGES: 5-8 WHAT: This Halloween adventure is more sweet than spooky as Hansel and Gretel encounter lovable characters such as amazing mermaids, adorable monsters, swashbuckling pirates, charming vampires, and a fabulous witch. WANT TO GO? $8-$12. 212-360-1399. cityparksfoundation.org.

Community Cowpokes with Hopalong Andrew FREE

WHEN: Through Dec. 29: 10am WHERE: Whole Foods Tribeca, 270 Greenwich St., Tribeca AGES: Newborn to 5 WHAT: Catch a free drop-in music class with Hopalong Andrew every Friday. He’ll bring his guitar, banjo, harmonica, and suitcase drum kit to get babies and tots rocking to his modern adaptations of classic cowboy tunes. WANT TO GO? 212-349-7680. hopalongandrew.com.

Jazz for Kids

WHEN: Oct. 15-May 27, 2018, Sundays, 2-3pm WHERE: Jazz Standard, 116 E. 27th St., Kips Bay AGES: All WHAT: The Jazz Standard Youth Orchestra will get families grooving every Sunday at Jazz Standard’s Jazz for Kids brunch. WANT TO GO? $5 suggestion donation. 212-576-2232. jazzstandard.com. ›› BigAppleParent 39

ONCE UPON A TIME Eloise’s Storytime

WHEN: Through Oct. 6: Tuesday-Friday, 2pm WHERE: New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park W., Upper West Side AGES: All WHAT: Listen to the exploits of The Plaza’s most famous resident. WANT TO GO? $21; $16 seniors; $13 students; $6 children ages 5-13; free for children 4 and younger. 212-873-3400. nyhistory.org.

Special Story Time with Joanne Oppenheim

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 7, 2pm WHERE: DiMenna Children’s Museum at New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park W., Upper West Side AGES: All WHAT: Join for a special reading of The Knish War on Rivington Street. WANT TO GO? $21; $16 teachers and seniors; $13 students: $6 children ages 5-13; free for children younger than 4. 212-873-3400. nyhistory.org/childrens-museum.

STORY PIRATES SAT, OCT 07 | 11AM & 2PM Sketch comedy and mini-musicals inspired by stories written by children.

MOCAKIDS Storytime!

WHEN: Thursday, Oct. 12, 3:30-4pm WHERE: Museum of Chinese in America, 215 Centre St., Chinatown AGES: 3-8 WHAT: Enjoy stories, finger-plays, songs, and more in English and Mandarin. WANT TO GO? $5. 855-955-6622. mocanyc.org/storytime.

THE MOONLIGHTS SAT, OCT 14 | 11AM Whimsical, evocative songs about the world around us.

Sherman Alexie: ‘The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian’ WHEN: Friday, Oct. 13, 7pm WHERE: Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway, Upper West Side AGES: 9 and older WHAT: Join Sherman Alexie to celebrate the 10th anniversary of his novel. WANT TO GO? $17; $14 members. 503-293-9498. symphonyspace.org.

NATIONAL DANCE INSTITUTE: THE CELEBRATION TEAM! SAT, OCT 21 | 2PM

KIDSTUFF: ‘Pete the Cat’

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 14, 2-4pm WHERE: The Calhoun School’s Mary Lea Johnson Performing Arts Center, 433 West End Ave., Upper West Side AGES: 5-8 WHAT: The Calhoun’s Performing Arts Series presents this Theatreworks USA musical based on the popular children’s book series. WANT TO GO? $10; $5 seniors and children ages 5-9. 212-497-6500. calhoun.org.

Kids dance for kids!

JOANIE LEEDS AND THE NIGHTLIGHTS SAT, OCT 28 | 11AM A musical halloween hootenanny!

Cressida Cowell, Wizards of Once

WHEN: Sunday, Oct. 15, 1pm WHERE: Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway, Upper West Side AGES: 9 and older WHAT: The author of How to Train Your Dragon presents her new novel. Includes a creative writing project, a discussion, and a book-signing. WANT TO GO? $17; $14 members. 503-293-9498. symphonyspace.org.

Coming up next month:

FOR TICKETS VISIT SYMPHONYSPACE.ORG/JUSTKIDDING OFFICIAL FITNESS PARTNER

95TH & BROADWAY | 212.864.5400

October 2017 | nymetroparents.com

STARTING NOV. 10: Christmas Spectacular Starring the Radio City Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall, Midtown STARTING NOV. 22: Holiday Train Show at the New York Botanical Garden, Bronx NOV. 23: Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Upper West Side and Midtown

WHERE-TO GUIDE

nymetroparents.com/where-to

Haunted Houses, Corn Mazes, and Pumpkin Activities ›› Research by Melissa Wickes

Tom Nycz/Historic Hudson Valley Tom Nycz/Historic Hudson Valley

Whether you’re looking for something spooky or just outdoor fall fun this Halloween season, these haunted houses, corn mazes, pumpkin blazes, and autumn activities are sure to make this Halloween one to remember.

The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze features more than 7,000 illuminated jack-o’-lanterns at Van Cortlandt Manor in Croton-on-Hudson.

Central Park Conservancy Halloween Parade and Pumpkin Sail 14 E. 60th St., Upper East Side 212-310-6600; centralparknyc.org After pre-registering for your ‘flotilla,’ bring your carved pumpkin or jack-o’-lantern for a sunset journey across the Harlem Meer (Note: Arrive early before it reaches capacity!). Other festive activities include spooky mask making and live carving demonstrations, as well as arts and crafts. Haunted High Line Halloween West 14th to West 17th streets, Chelsea 212-206-9922; thehighline.org The haunted house at this event is actually a haunted train tunnel, created by puppet master Ralph Lee (Fun fact: Lee is responsible for turning the Greenwich Village Halloween Parade from a community event to the festival of today). Other memorable events include meeting ghosts from the West Side’s industrial past, and creating kites out of fears to be set free. Museum of Natural History 22nd Annual Halloween Celebration Central Park West at 79th St., Upper West Side 212-769-5100; amnh.org

Technically this isn’t a haunted house, but we’ll let that slide: It’s a chance to experience the Halloween version of one of NYC’s most iconic buildings. Magic, zombie shows, origami, and trick-ortreating are some of the top attractions; be sure to say hello to Clifford and Curious George if you see them roaming the halls! Rise of the Jack O’Lanterns’ Night of 1,000 Jack O’Lanterns Governors Island; ferry departs from 10 South St., Lower Manhattan 516-252-3392; therise.org For its Governors Island debut, this event features more than 1,000 handcarved glowing pumpkins and live carving demonstrations for one weekend only (Oct. 26-29). The adventure begins with a ferry ride from Manhattan to the island, where visitors will follow the jack-o’lantern walking trail. Look out for the dozens of intricately carved pumpkins weighing more than 100 pounds.

Brooklyn Ghouls and Gourds, Brooklyn Botanic Garden 150 Eastern Parkway, Prospect Heights 718-623-7200; bbg.org

While pumpkin-related crafts are involved, there’s so much to do at this annual 6-hour celebration. Enjoy book signings from renowned authors and illustrators, waltz with woodland creatures, and witness a flying flea circus. Costumes are essential: You’ll want to wear them to the day’s closing parade. Festivities will take place Oct. 28 at 12pm. Gravesend Inn Haunted Hotel 186 Jay St., Dumbo 718-260-5588; gravesendinn.org Produced by City Tech’s theatrical troupe, Theatreworks, as its annual fall production, this visually stunning haunted house is high-tech as well; sensors react to visitors’ movements from Oct. 19 through Halloween. Luna Park Halloween Harvest 1000 Surf Ave., Coney Island 718-373-5862 lunaparknyc.com Not only can you see one of NYC’s largest pumpkins here (and win up to $1,000 if you guess its weight!), you can watch Maniac Pumpkin Carvers carve a giant pumpkin! Other offerings include a dog costume parade, marching bands, and pony rides. Wristbands are available for purchase online. Puppetry Arts 13th Annual Haunted Halloween Carnival 1st Street Recreation Center, 1st Street at 4th Avenue, Park Slope puppetryarts.org The first 200 children to attend this Halloween-day carnival receive a free trickor-treat bag! Expect Star Wars characters roaming around, puppet crafts, live music, and games. The carnival helps to give Halloween costumes to families in need through partnerships with local shelters and foster care programs. Find the full guide at ››

nymetroparents.com/haunted-houses

BigAppleParent 41

WHERE-TO GUIDE

nymetroparents.com/where-to

Pick Your Own Pumpkins ››

Research by Lindsay Roussin

You can paint them, carve them, bake with them, and decorate with them! This fall, get out and pick your own pumpkins, then playfully master them into crafts or treats! Many pumpkin patches offer fun autumn activities, such as hayrides, corn mazes, and farm stands with fresh fruits, vegetables, and delicious pastries. Spooky or silly, picking your own pumpkin is definitely one thing: fun for the whole family. As always, confirm details ahead of time. Wilkens Fruit & Fir Farm 1335 Whitehill Road, Yorktown Heights 914-245-5111; wilkensfarm.com Pick your own pumpkins in October, Friday-Sunday, 10am-4:30pm. Bakery and Appleseed Gift Shop on-site, plus a Farm Market with pre-picked farm produce, snacks, apple cider, and more.

Rockland County

Decker Farm 435 Richmond Hill Road, Staten Island 718-351-1611 historicrichmondtown.org/decker-farm Pumpkin picking through October (weekends only starting Oct. 1, 11am4pm; closed Oct. 8, but open the following Sunday and Monday). Self-guided tours and hayrides offered. Cornfield on-site. Free shuttle bus service available from the Historic Richmond Town parking lot to the farm. Admission: $6 per person or $20 for a family of four. Additional cost for pumpkins. Queens County Farm Museum 73-50 Little Neck Parkway, Floral Park, Queens 718-347-3276; queensfarm.org Pick your own pumpkins through Oct. 29, weekends, 11am-4:30pm. Hayrides and a 3-acre interactive corn maze on-site.

Westchester County

Hilltop Hanover Farm and Environmental Center 1271 Hanover St., Yorktown Heights 914-962-2368; hilltophanoverfarm.org U-pick pumpkins and vegetables through

the fall, Saturdays and Sundays, 10am4pm. Organic practice. Three hiking trails on-site. Guided tours available. Free parking. Farm stand with farm-grown produce, seasonal vegetables, herbs, cut flowers, honey, grains, and maple syrup; open Fridays, 1-6pm, and Saturdays, 10am-4pm. Bring your own bags. Outhouse Orchards 139 Hardscrabble Road, North Salem 914-277-3188 outhouseorchardsny.com Pick your own pumpkins and apples through mid-October, daily, 9am-5pm. Stuart’s Fruit Farm 62 Granite Springs Road, Granite Springs 914-245-2784; stuartsfarm.com Pick your own pumpkins and apples through November, daily, 10am-5pm. School tours available weekdays in October. Group tours available through the barn, cider mill, and cold storage, ending with a chance to pick apples or pumpkins. Cash and check only. Bakery open daily with pies, apple cider, apple cider doughnuts, muffins, scones, and other treats for sale. Corn maze open daily, 10am-5pm.

October 2017 | nymetroparents.com

Dr. Davies Farm 306 Route 304, Congers 845-268-7020; drdaviesfarm.com Pick your own pumpkins and apples through the first weekend in November, daily, 10am-4pm. Hayrides to the pumpkin fields offered on weekends (weekdays by appointment); $5 per person. Farmers market with homegrown and local produce open daily. Large field with picnic areas.

Bergen County, NJ

Demarest Farms 244 Wierimus Road, Hillsdale 201-666-0472 demarestfarms.com Pumpkin and apple picking in the fall, weekends and holidays, 9:30am-4:30pm, weekdays, 9:30am-4:30pm (group picking during the week by appointment only). Hayrides to the orchard. Store on-site open daily, 8am-6:30pm. Secor Farms 85 Airmont Ave., Mahwah 201-529-2595; secorfarms.com Pick your own pumpkins through October. Hay maze, corn maze, millet maze, apple cider doughnuts, pies, animal farm, and flower garden. Hayrides offered weekdays, 3-5pm, and weekends, 10am-4:30pm. Farm stand open daily, 8am-6pm. Visit Facebook page for most up to date info. Find the full guide at ›› nymetroparents.com/pumpkins

PartyCentral PARTY ENTERTAINMENT CLOWNS.COM Proudly Serving Westchester, Long Island, Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and the Bronx 516-577-0000; 718-971-5862 clowns.com We are a family-owned and -operated entertainment company, offering a wide range of party and entertainment services including clowns, inflatable bounce houses, characters, magicians, princesses, magic shows, face painting, and party concession rentals. DAVE’S CAST OF CHARACTERS 914-235-7100 davescast.com Make your party a special one! Dave’s entertainment services include more than 100 costumed characters. From princesses and superheroes to pirates and tea parties, there’s something for everyone. PARTY PLACES BOOK NOOK 167 W. 81st St. (at Amsterdam Avenue) 212-873-BOOK (2665) booknooknyc.com Come celebrate your next birthday party at Book Nook! We provide various packages from custom story times to entire space rental of our indoor garden and party room. CHELSEA PIERS SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT COMPLEX West 23rd Street and Hudson River Park

Field House Registration Desk: 212-336-6500 x6520 chelseapiers.com/youth Why cross the bridge for your next birthday party? Because Chelsea Piers parties are action-packed, entertaining, and hassle-free, with more sports, activities, and fun than any other party venue in NYC! THE FASHION CLASS 21 W. 39th St. 646-329-6663 thefashionclass.com Learn from real fashion designers with a runway or sewing party this year in our 2,500-square-foot, bright, sunny, and pink fashion studio! Guests can choose from a variety of our most popular sewing projects, or put on a full runway show! FUNFUZION AT NEW ROC CITY 29 LeCount Place (Exit 16 off I-95), New Rochelle Party Central: 914-637-7575, option 1 funfuziononline.com Calling all birthday superstars! You and your guests will be dazzled by a unique, interactive party experience! GALLI THEATER NEW YORK 151 W. 26th St., 7th Floor 212-731-0668 gallitheaterny.com galliny@gmail.com Party with the Galli Theater New York. We offer a party package for any need and budget! Whether you opt for a personally selected private performance or a workshop party showcasing your little one’s skills, a Galli Theater Birthday is one you will never forget!

Your local guide to entertainers, party places, activities, and other resources.

JODI’S GYM 244 E. 84th St. 212-772-7633 25 Hubbels Drive, Mount Kisco 914-244-8811 jodisgym.com Kids run, jump, climb, tumble, slide, bounce, and giggle to their hearts’ delight at Jodi’s Gym, where action-packed parties and unmatched experience have won children’s hearts for 34 years. JUST KIDDING AT SYMPHONY SPACE 2537 Broadway 212-864-1414 x289 symphonyspace.org/justkidding Just Kidding parties are artsy, imaginative, and fun—designed to make party planning easy and engaging! Through the show kids have the chance to interact with Just Kidding artists creating a once in a lifetime birthday party experience. LAUNCH MATH & SCIENCE CENTERS 173 W. 81st St., Lower Level 212-600-1010 launchmath.com info@launchmath.com Launch Math & Science Centers provide full-service birthday parties featuring hands-on STEM projects as entertainment at the UWS flagship center or in the home! THE LITTLE GYM 2121 Broadway, 2nd Floor (between 74th and 75th streets), Upper West Side 212-799-1225 tlgupperwestsideny.com 207 E. 94th St. (between Second and Third avenues), Upper East Side 212-787-1124

tlguppereastsideny.com 777 White Plains Road, Scarsdale 914-722-0072 tlgscarsdaleny.com 28 Franklin Turnpike, Waldwick, NJ 201-445-4444 tlgwaldwicknj.com A private party at The Little Gym is a perfect way to celebrate your child’s next birthday. Gymnastics, games, obstacle courses, trampoline, sports, and music are tailored to your child’s interests! PIER 62 CAROUSEL Pier 62 at Hudson River Park (by Chelsea Piers) 718-788-2676 pier62carouselnyc.com info@nycarousel.com Enjoy a classic carousel-themed birthday party—includes two hours in VIP party tent, unlimited rides, games, goodie bags, and a host to help. ROBOFUN 2672 Broadway 212-245-0444 robofun.org; robofun@robofun.org Celebrate your next birthday making robots, video games, or animations with RoboFun. RoboFun birthday parties are the perfect combination of fun and creativity! USTA BILLIE JEAN KING NATIONAL TENNIS CENTER Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, Flushing, Queens 718-760-6200 x0 ntc.usta.com Birthday party packages include 1 hour of court time with drills and games organized by our USTA Pro staff and 1-hour private room for pizza.

Want to know the best

activities for families? Subscribe to our family activity

email newsletter

NYMETROPARENTS.COM/REGISTER BigAppleParent 43

The Payoff of Teaching Kids Financial Literacy

››

Experts discuss how parents can establish skills from a young age to ensure kids will know how to handle their money. By Samantha Neudorf

hough teenagers may be successfully juggling AP classes, extracurricular activities, and standardized tests, they are failing at a vital subject necessary for life: financial literacy. A study released by the Program for International Student Assessment in May found that 1 in 5 teenagers in the U.S. lacks basic financial literacy skills, which is approximately 22 percent of the country’s teenage population. PISA surveyed 15-year-olds from 15 countries to test how well they understand financial concepts, products, and risks, and the U.S. ranked seventh overall, while China secured first place, followed by Belgium and Canada. Unfortunately, financial literacy skills are often not taught at school, so it is up to parents to equip their children with the knowledge and tools to be able to manage their money wisely. These conversations should not just take place during high school either. Experts say financial literacy skills should be instilled from a young age—even as young as 3. Here, financial experts share their strategies for teaching kids money skills for life.

Ages 3-6

Learn your 1, 2, 3s. Your child may learn how to count by the time she is 3 years old and start to grasp the idea that you need 44

October 2017 | nymetroparents.com

money to pay for items while shopping. Jean Chatzky, financial editor of NBC’s Today Show, says she had discussions about money with her kids when they were young. For example, she explained that one particular brand of orange juice was cheaper than another, so that’s why she bought it. “It’s just a running dialogue where you talk about money,” Chatzky says. In learning that you need money to buy goods, this might also be the age your child understands how to count coins and dollars and may even begin to receive an allowance for doing chores.

Elementary School

Give cash rewards for chores. When your child reaches elementary school, he may begin to take on more chores, such as folding laundry and putting it away or feeding a pet, and receive an allowance in cash to be able to see money as a tangible asset. This is a fundamental way to teach him how to earn and save money, and he will be able to physically see and count his cash. Chatzky recommends having two different jars: one for saving and one for spending money. (Some experts recommend adding a third jar, for money to be given to charity.) “So much of our money these days is invisible with Venmo and direct deposit,”

Chatzky says. “It’s important that kids actually see and use money before transitioning into electronic spending.” Differentiate between credit and debit cards. Though it may seem kids are too young to learn this, it is an opportune time to teach them the difference between credit and debit cards. Gregg Murset is the founder of BusyKid.com—an app to keep track of your child’s chores and allowance—and a certified financial planner based in Arizona. He says parents can create a teachable moment while waiting in line at a grocery store to compare the two types of cards. “That’s an easy way to teach them, and your cards are right there in your wallet,” Murset says. Open a savings account for your child, and have her go with you to learn how to deposit money into the account. Roy Paul, executive director of Cents Ability—a New York City-based nonprofit dedicated to teaching students from low-income families financial literacy—expressed the importance of teaching kids how to save allowance. “It really helps them understand how to take that money and put it into an institution that will protect it,” Paul says. “That’s also a good time to explain how interest works, and that when you put this money into an account, it will grow over a period of time.”

Middle School

Get them involved. Middle school is the time when your child can learn about the value of real world items, such as the property value of your house and how much bills cost. This is also the age when he might receive his first debit card and learn how to deposit and withdraw money. Discuss needs vs. wants. Have a conversation about discerning the difference between needs versus wants. Do you absolutely need a new pair of shoes or do you just want it? Asking questions like this establishes a foundation to be able to analyze whether spending hard-earned money on an item (especially material) is truly worth it. Talk about saving for college. If your child wants to go to college, it is important for her to understand how expensive tuition will be and that saving for it should start now. “A lot of kids, poor and wealthy, do not really have an understanding of how you pay for college, from the savings that happens on the parents’ ends to taking out loans and borrowing money,” Paul says. This is also a good opportunity to talk to your child about loans—that they’re not free money and they have to be paid back with an interest rate.

High School

Have them start “adulting.” High school students will soon enough become full-fledged adults and should begin taking on more responsibilities. Many high school-aged kids may get their licenses, so this can be an opportunity to send them out to run errands at the grocery store, or even have them pay for gas or oil changes to get the experience of making everyday transactions independently. Think about the big picture. Paul shared that Cents Ability teaches kids a 50-30-20 rule to manage their money. From each paycheck, 50 percent of it should go to absolute needs such as bills, rent, car insurance, etc.; 30 percent can go to miscellaneous items such as a vacation or clothes; and 20 percent should be saved in a bank account. Make an investment. Stocks are an equity investment, and when you invest in one, there is a chance that it will yield a higher return over time. Murset advises teens buy stocks as a first step

in learning how to invest money, even if it is just $20. “The best learning is done by doing,” Murset says, “Just jump in and buy some [stocks] and start watching them grow.” Speak with a professional together. It’s okay to ask for help when you do not know the answer to your child’s question. Paul recalls a time when his mother set up an appointment for the two of them to speak with her tax accountant to learn about interest rates for college. “If parents do not know the answers to these questions, they should not feel embarrassed about it,” Paul says. “If you have someone who does your taxes every year, ask them to take a few extra minutes to explain these concepts to your kids. Most of them are happy to do it.”

THE ALLOWANCE DEBATE While whether kids should receive an allowance at all is a debate in itself, parents who are pro-allowance typically fall between two sides of the spectrum. Some believe allowance should be earned by doing chores and others say it should just be given and it is up to the child to manage his own money. There is even debate on whether kids should receive money electronically or as cold hard cash. Gregg Murset, founder of BusyKid.com, is a proponent of the idea you have to do something in order to earn your money. “You need to challenge them by providing different opportunities for them to make money, and challenge them with these concepts we’ve been talking about: saving, sharing, and spending,” Murset says. Murset’s app BusyKid allows parents to assign chores to their kids, and the kids can see how close they are to “payday” and decide how to budget their money. “It doesn’t make sense to give kids $20 at the end of the week when they just sit around and watch Netflix,” Murset says. “We need to teach kids what we do every day: We work, earn some money, save some, share some with charity or people we care about, and then spend the rest.” Rather than using cash, Murset says kids should learn how to use debit cards or phones to pay because most forms of payment have shifted over to technology. “One thing that drives me nuts is when people say, ‘Kids don’t know how to balance a checkbook these days.’ Well, no one really uses checkbooks anymore,” Murset says. “We have to change our mindset and teach kids in a way that makes sense.” Roy Paul, executive director of Cents Ability, agrees that kids should earn money through work, but should receive cash to be able to see their money in their hands. “We really want young people to turn into responsible adults to understand the concept of hard work and what they should get in return because those trickle down into fundamental beliefs about the workplace and to work hard for money,” Paul says. However, Jean Chatzky, financial editor of the NBC’s Today Show, has a viewpoint that is more in the middle of these two ideologies and favors giving kids cash. She believes kids should not be paid for doing chores because she says they are tasks that should just get done without a monetary incentive. Instead, kids should be given money to buy things that parents no longer want to pay for, which will teach kids how to save and budget within reason. “You shouldn’t give them so much that they can buy as much as they want,” Chatzky says. As with all things when it comes to raising kids, ultimately it is up to you whether your child receives allowance, for what, and how. Where do you stand on this debate? BigAppleParent 45

Courtesy Stacey Follman

PREGNANCY AND INFANT LOSS AWARENESS MONTH

Photos of Aaron Follman and his mom, Stacey Follman, from his too-short life. Aaron died from a genetic disorder days shy of his 8-month birthday.

An Unimaginable Tragedy

››

Though local infant mortality rates are lower than the national average, more babies die in their ﬁrst year than most of us expect. Here’s a look at this tragedy and what parents can do to reduce the risk. By Stacey Pfeffer

tacey Follman, a Westchester mom, had a healthy pregnancy, with everything progressing normally and as she and her doctors expected. But when her son Aaron Ross Follman was born on May 21, 2002, and taken to the neonatal intensive care unit immediately, she knew something obviously was wrong. Aaron had a seizure shortly after delivery and hardly moved or cried. It took the doctors 10 days to figure out he suffered from a rare congenital disorder called Zellweger Syndrome. The doctors expected Aaron to have a life expectancy of about 12 months. He died just a few days short of his 8-month birthday on Jan. 16, 2003. Nothing can prepare parents for losing a baby. Follman believed Aaron would live longer despite being told he probably would die within a year. “We were buying him new pajamas because he was growing,” she says. “We had faith that he was going to live until the day he died.” It’s a heartbreak that will never go away. Most parents thankfully do not have to face the horrors of losing a baby, and it’s difficult to imagine the pain endured by that small minority of parents who, like Follman, never see their babies make it to their 1st birthday. Despite its advanced health care system, America still lags behind other industrialized nations in its infant mortality rate (IMR), 46

October 2017 | nymetroparents.com

which is defined as “the death of a child under the age of 1— from birth through 364 days,” explains Deborah E. Campbell, M.D., the director of neonatology at The Children’s Hospital at Montefiore in the Bronx. The reasons for this are complicated and varied, and with October designated as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, it’s a moment to try to understand why some babies die in the first year, how our area compares to the nation as a whole, and what parents can do to minimize the risk.

Understanding the Statistics

Experts break down the IMR into two categories: neonatal mortality, which occurs the first 28 days after birth, and post-neonatal mortality (29-364 days). “Most infant deaths take place in the neonatal period,” says Dr. Campbell, who lost a baby herself many years ago. The IMR does not include miscarriages or stillbirths. Although the U.S. is a developed nation, 25 other industrialized nations do a better job at keeping babies alive in the first year of life. While these statistics are startling for expectant parents, the relatively good news for New Yorkers is the IMR in New York City and the surrounding areas is at a historic low. In 2013, the most recent year IMR statistics are available, our area’s IMR averaged

nearly 30 percent lower than the overall U.S. rate of 6 deaths per 1,000 live births (see sidebar on p. 48 for details). The three leading causes of infant death in our region were prematurity, birth defects or congenital diseases—such as Aaron’s Zellweger Syndrome—and cardiovascular disease. Other infant death causes include babies born to a mother with an underlying medical condition and babies who die from sudden infant death syndrome or accidental suffocation while sleeping, usually with other family members, Dr. Campbell explains.

Disparities in Infant Death Rates

Infant death rates vary greatly depending on the mother’s race and ethnicity. The infant mortality rate for African-American infants in the metropolitan area was 8.3 per 1,000 births versus a rate of 3.0 among white infants in 2013. Infant mortality rates were also higher for Puerto Ricans (4.8) and other Hispanics and Latinas (4.3). Infant mortality rates likewise differ by socioeconomic status, with high-poverty areas such as the South Bronx reporting 1.9 times greater rates—5.2 per 1,000 live births compared to 2.8 in higher-income places such as the Upper East Side or Scarsdale. Dr. Campbell notes that years ago certain areas of Brooklyn had a much higher IMR but with gentrification those numbers have been dropping significantly. David Bateman, M.D., an attending neonatologist and professor of pediatrics at Columbia University Medical Center, has been treating newborns for more than four decades. In the 1980s, he practiced at Harlem Hospital and witnessed firsthand how the trifecta of AIDS, crack, and syphilis in Harlem was wreaking havoc on the IMR rates in that neighborhood. “In the past 30 years, IMR in New York City has had a threefold drop,” Dr. Bateman says. “You can look at changes in medical care, you can look at access to medical care, but it is all about poverty and the changing demographics of NYC. Our IMR has been dropping because you don’t have the same concentration of desperately poor people in NYC that you used to.” IMR tends to drop as doctors discover new ways to save infants’ lives, such as the increased availability of clean water in the first half of the 20th century and the advent of neonatal intensive care units in the 1960s and early ’70s. However, Dr. Bateman cautions, “until the social and economic problems are taken care of, the problem of high IMR is not going to go away.” There have been many studies looking at the inequity of health care delivery and how that correlates with infant mortality. “There are still women who get late or no prenatal care or have trouble accessing prenatal care, particularly minority women,” Dr. Campbell says. While the teen pregnancy rate has dropped almost 50 percent in recent years, babies born to women younger than 20 have higher infant mortality rates and their mothers are less likely to have had prenatal care. On the flip side, many studies have shown that women with advanced maternal age (defined by doctors as older than 35) also have babies who are at a higher risk of infant mortality. Other factors also play a role. Babies born to obese mothers, for instance, face higher infant mortality rates, as obesity can lead to health problems in the mother such as hypertensive disorders or preeclampsia, putting her baby at a higher risk of complications for pre-term or low birth weight. And some experts believe assisted reproductive technology may play a role in infant mortality, especially when several embryos have been implanted, Dr. Campbell says.

Minimizing the Risk of Infant Mortality

While there is no way to eliminate the risk of infant death, pregnant women can take steps to minimize the danger, starting continued on next page ››

•• Academic Excellence •• delivered to your door: one-on-one tutoring, ﬂexible scheduling, aﬀordable rates, and 100% Tutor Satisfaction guarantee. Exceptional tutors in all subjects K-12 including test prep. We also specialize in executive functioning skills coaching (goal- oriented organization and time management). For more information, please call an Academic Advisor at one of our locations below:

Queens: Manhattan: 35-37 36th St. 54 W. 40th St. Astoria, NY 11106 New York, NY 10018 (212) 235-1460 (718) 268-0092

tutorsonwheels.com

ST. LUKE’S SCHOOL

OPEN WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11 HOUSE 4:00 TO 5:30 PM You will hear from our Head of School, meet outstanding faculty, talk to current parents, and tour our facilities. RSVP Required: 212.924.5960 or www.stlukeschool.org 487 Hudson Street (located in the heart of the West Village)

BigAppleParent 47

‹‹ continued from previous page

with getting prenatal care; moms who do not receive prenatal care have babies that are at a higher risk of infant mortality. Doctors prescribe prenatal vitamins, recommend exercises and offer instruction on healthy pregnancy diets, and monitor the mom and baby to help ensure a successful pregnancy, delivery, and infancy. In addition, tests during the prenatal period can pinpoint a fetus’ growth and show if there are any genetic defects or other problems in utero. Doctors are regularly developing more advanced tests that can screen for a multitude of genetic disorders. When Aaron Follman was born 15 years ago, there were no genetic tests for his disease, but today, with the help of genetic counseling, expectant parents can now test for that and many other congenital diseases. Armed with this information, doctors can sometimes perform interventions in utero or soon after birth to help the baby, while parents can make informed decisions about whether to continue the pregnancy or how to care for the baby after birth. As terrifying as it is to prepare for the worst, expectant parents should learn about the differences in NICUs and what types of services are offered at different hospitals in the area. NICUs are rated on levels from 1-4, with Level 1 offering basic newborn care for healthy infants and Level 2 offering advanced newborn care for babies born at 32 weeks or more or those recovering from more serious conditions. Levels 3 and 4 are for the most complex cases, with Level 3 providing care for babies born at less than 32 weeks who may require access to pediatric sub-specialists or babies who are born with critical illnesses. Level 4 NICUs provide the most acute care. These nurseries are located in hospitals that can provide surgical repair of complex congenital or acquired conditions. If the delivery is expected to be complicated or the baby is determined to be high-risk, having access to a level 3 or 4 NICU is key. Once a baby is born, doctors obviously do everything they can to keep her healthy, and a lot of medical research focuses on keeping babies alive in this neonatal period. Parents can also take steps to maintain their baby’s overall health, including getting children immunized on schedule, experts say. Ensuring a safe sleep environment is also essential, as many babies die during their first year because of SIDS or suffocation while sleeping. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends parents follow the ABCs of safe sleep: Alone, On Back, In a Crib. That translates to having babies share a room with their parents if possible, but not in the same bed. And babies should always be put to sleep on their backs.

‘I Don’t Want Aaron to be Forgotten’

For those who have endured the loss of a baby, the grieving process varies from individual to individual. Family, friends, and community members are left to try to offer some comfort to those parents; however, even the best-intentioned efforts can sometimes cause the mourning parents pain and leave them feeling lonely. “Our society is very uncomfortable with baby loss, so people express their sympathy with platitudes such as, ‘You are young, you can have another kid,’ which really minimizes the loss,” says Marianne Walsh, a grief counselor at the Maggie Rose Perinatal Bereavement Program at Northern Westchester Hospital in Mount Kisco. Dr. Campbell echoes that sentiment, saying she often hears people say to the parents, “At least the baby didn’t live long—you didn’t have time to get too attached.” Current research on grief shows there are four stages bereaved parents generally face, Walsh says: (1) Accepting the death, (2) working through the feelings of pain and grief, (3) adjusting to life without their beloved child, and (4) continuing a bond with their 48

October 2017 | nymetroparents.com

baby, which often happens by memorializing their lost loved one, whether it be through a ritual or by joining or starting a group. Follman decided to take that last route after Aaron died. To raise awareness of the disease that killed him, she created a nonprofit called the Aaron Ross Foundation (zellweger-syndrome.org). “I want people to know about Zellweger Syndrome and I want Aaron’s name to live on and for our nonprofit to outlive me,” Follman says. “I don’t want Aaron to be forgotten.” The process of memorializing or honoring a deceased baby has changed dramatically during recent years with the help of social media and groups such as Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, a nonprofit that provides professional-quality photographers free of charge to grieving parents to take photos of their child prior to the funeral. This remembrance photography can be a very powerful part of the healing process for grieving parents. The grieving process is not a linear progression, Walsh says, and the needs of the bereaved parents will fluctuate over time. “I often use the analogy of a roller coaster. After a while it [the grief] becomes like a kiddie roller coaster; the highs aren’t so high and the lows aren’t so low.” It is impossible to predict the duration of grieving from person to person. “Bereavement groups provide wrap-around support because when a baby dies the world stops for these families,” Walsh says. Follman says she found it very difficult to be in a bereavement group with other parents who had lost older children. For her and her husband, individual counseling was a better option, and the doctors at Mount Sinai Hospital, where she delivered, were able to put them in touch with other couples who had babies with ZS. “They were the only ones who truly understood us,” she says. After Aaron died, Follman says she felt very selfish for a long time. Despite knowing that Aaron had no quality of life, she wondered if she did the right thing by signing a “do not resuscitate” order. “In hindsight, I know I gave everything to my child. His whole life he knew people loved him,” she now says. Dr. Campbell says many parents drift in and out of support groups, often showing an elevated need for help around birthdays, the anniversary of their due dates, or family holidays. “After the funeral, everyone is around but then the world wants everything to go back to normal,” she says. “People are worried to talk to the mother about it because they don’t want her to dwell on the death. But as a mother, you are going to think about that loss every single day. And then there comes a day that you don’t think about it and then you realize you are more upset, so you beat yourself up that you forgot about your baby.” No matter how short a life the child lived, that time was still important and marks the life of a human being. “Having lost a child, even if it was a newborn or baby, still means you are a parent,” Dr. Campbell says. “You may not have that child with you physically in your arms anymore but you are still a parent and that child will always be in your head and in your heart.” Stacey Pfeffer is a writer based in Chappaqua.

Local Infant Mortality Rates The following are IMR expressed per 1,000 live births in 2013, the most recent year statistics are available: Bronx: 5.1 Brooklyn: 3.6 Manhattan: 3.7 Nassau: 4.0 Queens: 4.2

Rockland County: 4.4 Staten Island: 3.8 Suffolk: 4.8 Westchester County: 4.7 United States overall: 6.0

Sources: NYC Department of Health; March of Dimes Perinatal Stats; health.ny.gov

Are you concerned about your daughter’s weight or eating habits? Columbia Center for Eating Disorders at New York State Psychiatric Institute is dedicated to advancing the understanding and treatment of eating disorders. Currently, we are studying how the brain changes over time in teens with and without anorexia nervosa. Females 14-18 years old who are interested in research participation may be able to receive inpatient, outpatient, or day treatment at no cost. Monetary compensation is up to $250 per visit.

p nU Sig day! o T

To learn more, please contact us at 646-774-8066 or email edru@nyspi.columbia.edu.

A joyful, new music experience for your family—with a Jewish twist! Eastside Westside Music Together • Music Together in the City bit.ly/SingShalom Music Together Sing Shalom is offered in collaboration with The Jewish Education Project with funding by UJA-Federation of New York.

BigAppleParent

SALES OPENING MAGAZINES • WEBSITES • SOCIAL MEDIA • EMAIL send resumé to dmgsales@davlermedia.com

NYMetroParents.com BigAppleParent 49

Conquering Bake Sales

››

Gluten-free, nut-free, vegan—with variety of dietary needs becoming more common, baking treats for your kid’s class can be a mineﬁeld. Here’s how to win the battle. By April Peveteaux

t’s hard enough to prepare food for your own family with all of their “I can’t eat anything with green stuff on it,” and “Oh, I didn’t tell you? I’m a ‘porkaterian’ now” bulls**t. Add in a few other kids to the mix, and it’s downright terrifying. So, it makes sense to just forget about this whole baking for others thing and move on. I get it. If you’re like me, you mostly ignore any and all emails that come from your child’s school for this reason, and many other good ones. You can only read about the latest pinkeye breakout so many times before you embrace the philosophy of, “Let Go and Let God.” And this is how I have mostly avoided providing baked goods for five-plus years of elementary school events! Apparently, God doesn’t want me baking for kindergarteners. Understood. But I did reconsider my no-baking policy once I learned about a newly diagnosed celiac in our community. I realized that if I didn’t provide some gluten-free chocolate chip cookies, no one would. Except for his parents, of course, but they were probably too busy freaking out about letting their little dude eat in public, much less trying to find a great gluten-free, nut-free, kosher recipe for shortbread. As I began to hear about more and more kids with food allergies and intolerances, I knew that a bake sale without options would be a very sad bake sale, indeed. All of a sudden, I wasn’t the only one walking by the rows of bento box-shaped cookies and luscious pieces of chocolate cake, crying because I would never know the feel of a pecan tart pie crust crunching all around my mouth ever again. The exclusive bake sale treats were no longer only upsetting to me—an adult who, in theory, can tolerate the pain of flaky pastry denial. I knew at that point that I must think about the children. THE CHILDREN!!!! Of course, I also wanted to eat a lemon bar that wouldn’t make me poop my pants, but if I lost control of my bowels, at least it wouldn’t be in front of a group of 8-year-old boys during gym class. Probably. From that point on, I vowed to re-create allergy-friendly treats to offer up 50

October 2017 | nymetroparents.com

whenever I was called upon to do so. This, my friends, is easier said than done. That doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t do it, though.

How to Not Screw Up

There are many ways to screw up in the kitchen, and, believe me, I’ve done most of them. We’re still trying to get that chocolate-barbecue sauce off my kitchen ceiling. It becomes very crucial to avoid screwing up, however, when you’re handling food for kids who could react badly to an allergen. Crucial. While you’re preparing these allergy-free recipes, please keep the following in mind. Wrap It for Safety You must prepare allergy-free food on clean surfaces and in clean pots, pans, and baking sheets. You absolutely cannot boil some gluten-free pasta for your mac and cheese in the same pot you just used to boil up your gluten-filled pasta. You cannot bake an egg- and dairy-free cookie on a sheet that has been habitually used to bake cookies chock-full of eggs and dairy without covering it with parchment or scrubbing it so hard you probably scrub off the nonstick surface. You can scrub pots and pans within an inch of their lives, but if they have even a crumb of allergen left over, it’s possible it will stick on your nice, allergy-free dough. You also cannot bake nutfilled cookies on the same sheet as their nutless brothers and sisters. This may sound like a pain, so I have two words that will make it much easier to keep things clean and separate: aluminum foil. Oh, and two more: parchment paper. Before you bake, cover your bakeware with aluminum foil, or parchment paper for the cookies that stick. Before you grill, place aluminum foil down on the grill that will hold your allergy-free options. If you don’t have a cutting board, or very clean surface to prepare your safe food, put down aluminum foil or parchment pa-

Chia Seeds: Chia seeds work in the same manner as flaxseeds, and are truly gelatinous. My only issue is if you’re creating something light in color, you can get a little black spot action in the final No Holding Hands or PDA product. Both work well, so go with what you like. When you’re preparing food, keep the allergens far away from the Follow Your Heart VeganEgg: What’s great about this all allerallergen-free ingredients. If they get mixed up, your allergen-free gen-free product is that you can even cook this up and make an omdish is toast. Don’t use the same cutting board for fish that you do elet if you’ve been craving one since you had to go egg-free. for chicken, if you have a fish-allergic guest. Also, don’t think fish Baking Soda and Vinegar: I’ve used the baking-soda-and-vinegar is a great ingredient for a school bake sale or a 6-year-old birthday combo in a pinch and, while it didn’t seem to work as well as the magic party. That’s a mistake you’ll only make once. flax meal, it’s definitely serviceable in your baked goods. Combine 1 Additionally, don’t let all this hard work keeping surfaces bleached teaspoon of baking soda and 1 tablespoon of vinegar (watch, as it will and ingredients separate go to waste by serving up all of your safe food bubble up), allow to dissolve, and you have a substitute for 1 egg. on a platter alongside the dangerous food. Continue to keep these foods separate, using separate cooking pots, pans, and sheets, as well Gluten Substitutes as separate utensils. Consciously uncouple the allergy-laden from the Cup4Cup: For baking, I’ve always loved Cup4Cup multi-purpose gluallergy-free foods to make sure that the end result is safe for all. ten-free flour, but it will not work as a flour in the dairy-free recipes, as Whew! That’s a lot, but if you remember to keep your allerone of the ingredients is milk powder. I also like to use all-purpose flours gy-safe treats safe from the first time you pick up the ingredients so I don’t have to experiment with xanthan gum or add anything else to until they are safely delivered to the sale, you’ll make a heck of a lot the mix. It makes it easier, and that makes me happier. of kiddos happy, as well as their very anxious parents. It’s like farm Better Batter: Luckily, my other favorite gluten-free, all-purpose to table, but without the hipster element. flour is dairy-free (and every other allergen-free, plus kosher), and it A much more exhaustive list of allergy-friendly products lives in also gives fantastic results. It’s become one of my go-tos now that I’m the resource section of [Bake Sales are My B*tch], but if you want experimenting with gluten- and dairy-free recipes, but it is sadly harder to get started baking right away, here are a few items to consider to find than many other popular brands. I recommend ordering online stocking in your pantry before you put on your allergen-free apron. and stocking up if you’re going to be the bake-sale queen. (Okay, that’s not a real thing, so don’t panic. Any old apron withKing Arthur Gluten-Free All-Purpose: Another great glutenout clumps of food on it will do.) and dairy-free option, I also love to use King Arthur’s recipes. It’s a solid choice, and I almost always have a box in my cupboard. Butter Substitutes Almond Meal: Only if you know there are no nut allergies Earth Balance: This vegan butter alternative comes in many forms, around, almond meal makes for some delicious cakes. The texture but you’ll most likely be picking up the baking sticks. If you’re is lovely and moist, and the slight nutty flavor can enhance any cake making a soy-free treat, do not buy the buttery baking sticks, but recipe. You do have to experiment with it, unlike the all-purpose instead pick up the soy-free version. flours above, but if you’re 100-percent sure that you don’t need to Nutiva Organic Vegan Superfood Shortening: This soy-free, keep it tree nut-free, have some fun with the almond flour family. dairy-free, gluten-free, GMO (genetically modified organism)-free, fair-trade product is a combination of red palm oil and virgin coco- Milk Substitutes nut oil. You can find a million different coconut oils on the market, The trouble with milk substitutes in baking is the lack of eight but Nutiva’s combination with palm oil makes it a better option for main allergen-free options if (and this is a pretty big if) you have a baking when you’re avoiding the eight main allergens. coconut problem. While rice milk fits the bill, it is not as rich and Crisco Vegetable Shortening, Butter Flavor: I grew up using Crisco appropriate for baking as coconut milk cream and coconut milk butter flavor in so many family recipes that I naturally tried it first when I are. Soy milk and nut milks are also great substitutes, but have the went about experimenting with dairy-free baked goods. While my fam- obvious problem of being in the eight main allergen family. ily probably used Crisco as a butter substitute for completely different, I generally recommend coconut cream and coconut milk regardless, now-defunct reasons (it was the 1980s, and butter was the enemy), it as a coconut allergy as part of a tree-nut allergy is so incredibly rare. And does hold up in recipes pretty well. Crisco contains soy, along with artiwhen it comes to baked goods, coconut milk does have the best result ficial flavors, so if you’re not on board with either of those, you should in a recipe. Still, be sure you know the specifics of any allergies kids may probably try Spectrum organic all-vegetable shortening. The main ingre- have before you start to mix up your eight main allergen-free brownies. dient in both vegetable shortening brands is also palm oil. One more note for the bake-sale bakers: If you’re preparing food for a party, bake sale, or anywhere that you will be dropping off Egg Substitutes and not sticking around to explain what’s up with your cookies, Ener-G Egg Replacer: The OG of egg replacement, Ener-G has label your treats. Let the dairy-free know if something is safe to been helping out egg-free bakers for a very long time. If you’re eat by being very clear with your packaging. After all, what’s the going to be baking egg-free a lot, I would suggest grabbing a box point of making allergy-friendly treats if no one knows about it? and going to town. Since it’s also eight main allergen-free, it’s a (Note to parents of the severely allergic: You still don’t want to risk good substitute for the kids. homemade treats from someone’s kitchen unless you’ve had a very Golden Flax Meal: Flax meal has become my go-to for baking detailed convo and know without a doubt that they’re safe for your without eggs. You combine 1 tablespoon of flax meal with 3 tablekiddo. But you knew that already, I’m sure.) spoons of water per egg called for in the recipe. The key is in letting it Now, stock up on your cellophane and decorative twine...it’s sit for a little while before you use it. (I say at least 10 minutes, but if bake sale time! you have a half-hour to wait, do that for optimum egglike properties.) You can either buy the golden flaxseeds and grind them in a coffee Reprinted from Bake Sales are My B*tch by April Peveteaux. Copyright (c) 2016 by April Peveteaux. By permission of grinder when you’re ready to use them, or buy the meal and keep it Rodale Books. Available wherever books are sold. sealed up tight so it will retain its freshness. per. Your new best friend is aluminum foil. Get to know him, along with his BFF, parchment paper.

BigAppleParent 51

Professional OPEN HOUSES 2017 services

Your local guide to tutors, teachers, lawyers, financial planners, and other professionals SPECIAL NEEDS EASY PEASY POTTY TRAINING: GREATER NYC AREA 516-318-5228 easypeasypottynyc.com EASY PEASY POTTY offers a customized potty training plan specific to your child’s needs, and at affordable prices. Consultation can be offered on the phone or in person. Complete the intake form online to begin the process. LITTLE OPTICS, INC. 192-07 Union Turnpike, Fresh Meadows, Queens 53-15 Roosevelt Ave., Woodside, Queens 718-468-7500; hablamos Español littleopticsinc@yahoo.com We provide eyeglasses and

professional eye care for children, including infants and young adults. We also alleviate any self-esteem issues associated with the stigma of wearing glasses. When your child leaves Little Optics, rest assured that they will feel confident. TUTORS & TEST PREP FRENCH TUTORING 646-251 4058 simonch67@gmail.com UES, experienced, native French teacher (M.A. Sorbonne) offers customized and engaging lessons in a comfortable setting. All ages and levels, flexible times and places. Improve fluency and accent, and practice conversation. Test preparation (AP, Regent), Skype option. Rate is $50 per hour.

Religious Schools Mary Louis Academy: Empowering Young Women Since 1936

176-21 Wexford Terrace, Jamaica Estates, Queens 718-297-2120 tmla.org The Mary Louis Academy is proud to announce the establishment of several new and exciting initiatives designed to provide young women with increased opportunities to achieve academic success, develop leadership skills, set career goals, and form strategies to achieve those goals. Successful completion of a program, all of which began September 2017, will be recognized at graduation with a special designation certificate. The academic concentrations will include Pre-Med, Dual-Language/International Studies Program, S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math), Fine Art, Music, and Physical Education and Wellness. For more information visit, tmla.org.

The British International School of New York

20 Waterside Plaza 212-481-2700 x204 bis-ny.org info@bis-ny.org We welcome families considering application for the 2018 school year to join us at our stunning waterside campus to discover just what makes BIS-NY so special. Oct. 3 at 6pm or Oct. 17 at 9:30am.

City and Country School

146 W. 13th St. 212-242-7802 cityandcountry.org Join us for an open house on Thursday, Nov. 16 from 6-8pm.

Creative Steps Early Care & Education Center

4 Washington Square Village, entrance on Mercer Street 212-982-2273 universitysettlement.org/creativesteps creativesteps@universitysettlement.org We are accepting applications and tours for the 2017-2018 school year. Contact us to schedule a visit at creativesteps@universitysettlement.org.

École Internationale de New York (EINY)

111 E. 22nd St. 646-410-2238 einy.org To get a better idea about the bilingual program we offer, join us for a tour on Wednesdays, Oct. 4 or 25, or Nov. 8 or 29 at 8:15am.

First Presbyterian Church Nursery School

12 W. 12th St. 212-691-3432 fpcns.org Please join us for an admissions open house on Tuesday, Nov. 15.

Mary Louis Academy: Empowering Young Women Since 1936

176-21 Wexford Terrace, Jamaica Estates, Queens 718-297-2120 tmla.org At The Mary Louis Academy, you will find your own voice—distinctive, confident, intelligent, creative, and empowered. Join us at our open house on Sunday, Oct. 15 from 10am-3pm. Pre-register at tmla.org.

Pusteblume International Preschool and Afterschool Programs

244 W. 14th St. 212-206-1137 pusteblumenyc.org carola.grundmann@pusteblumenyc.org We encourage prospective parents to attend an evening open house to learn more about the school. Dates: Oct. 17, Nov. 14, and Jan. 6 from 6-9pm.

RoboFun

2672 Broadway 212-245-0444 robofun.org robofun@robofun.org RoboFun Fall Preview Classes: One-day workshops for only $45! Stop Motion Animation Oct. 8, Circuits and Making on Oct. 1 and 7.

NEED to plan the perfect party? FIND venues, entertainers, suppliers, and other ideas to create the ideal party in our online Parent Resources Directory.

NYMETROPARENTS.COM 52

October 2017 | nymetroparents.com

STAR Academy, P.S. 63

121 E. 3rd St. 212-674-3180 staracademyps63.com; jfriedman3@schools.nyc.gov School tours offered Oct. 12 or 18, Nov. 14, Dec. 8 or 22, or Jan. 4 or 18 at 8:30am. Meet in the school lobby.

PARTY PLANNER

To advertise: 212-315-0800 or nympads@davlermedia.com

NEED to help your

child do better in school? FIND tutors, enrichment options, and other ways to help your child thrive – in our online Parent Resources Directory

NYMETROPARENTS.COM

100+ CHARACTERS, INTERACTIVE DJ’S FACE PAINTERS & MAGICIANS SUPERHEROES PHOTO BOOTHS NEW! TREASURE ISLAND “ZOOBOTS”

CARNIVALS & INFLATABLES CHARACTER SHOWS FAIRYTALE PRINCESS PARTIES THEME PARTIES SHOWS & ATTRACTIONS

COMPLETE CARNIVAL & PARTY PLANNING

914-235-7100

www.davescast.com

AD INDEX

NYMetroParents.com features more than 20,000 businesses serving the NY Metropolitan area!

ACROBATICS / GYMNASTICS Jodi’s Gym ............................................ 29 BIRTHDAY / PARTY SERVICES Big Apple Parent Party Planner ............ 53 FunFuzion............................................. 49 Galli Theater ......................................... 25 Jodi’s Gym ........................................... 29 Little Gym .............................................. 5 USTA BJK National Tennis Center........ 13 CAMPS All My Children Day Care ..................... 23 British International School of New York .....21 Calhoun School .................................... 19 Chelsea Piers ....................................... 56 Dwight School....................................... 15 Jodi’s Gym ........................................... 29 Little Gym .............................................. 5 New York City Guitar School ................ 28 Pusteblume International School .......... 28 Urban Golf Academy ............................ 28 USTA BJK National Tennis Center........ 13 CHILD CARE / DAY CARE All My Children Day Care ..................... 23 Creative Steps Early Care & Education Center .................................. 29 First Presbyterian Church Nursery ....... 28 Lexington Children’s Classes ............... 23 CLASSES Battery Park City Authority ............. 21, 25 Chelsea Piers ....................................... 56 City & Country School .......................... 25 Ecole Internationale de NY ................... 18 International Academy of New York ..... 17 Jewish Education Project (The) ............ 49 Kumon North America ............................ 3 La Escuelita .......................................... 19

New York City Guitar School ................ 28 Pusteblume International School .......... 28 Sensational City Kids............................ 28 STAR Academy, P.S. 63 ....................... 29 Urban Golf Academy ............................ 28 Wetherby-Pembridge School................ 15 DEVELOPMENTAL Calhoun School .................................... 19 Cathedral School .................................. 13 Columbia University, Department of Psychiatry ................................... 12, 49 Cosmic Cubs Club ................................ 12 Creative Steps Early Care & Education Center .................................. 29 Dwight School....................................... 15 Ecole Internationale de NY ................... 18 Ideal School (The) ................................ 16 International Academy of New York ..... 17 La Escuelita .......................................... 19 Lexington Children’s Classes ............... 23 Sensational City Kids............................ 28 Wetherby-Pembridge School................ 15 EDUCATION All My Children Day Care ..................... 23 Blue Rock School ................................. 29 Bright Kids Inc. ..................................... 12 British International School of New York .....21 Calhoun School .................................... 19 Cathedral School .................................. 13 City & Country School .......................... 25 Cosmic Cubs Club ................................ 12 Creative Steps Early Care & Education Center .................................. 29 Dwight School....................................... 15 Ecole Internationale de NY ................... 18 First Presbyterian Church Nursery ....... 28 Ideal School (The) ................................ 16 International Academy of New York ..... 17

La Escuelita .......................................... 19 Lexington Children’s Classes ............... 23 Mary Louis Academy (The)..................... 7 Pusteblume International School .......... 28 St. Luke’s School ................................. 47 STAR Academy, P.S. 63 ....................... 29 Tutors on Wheels.................................. 47 Wetherby-Pembridge School................ 15 FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT / EVENTS / OUTINGS Battery Park City Authority ............. 21, 25 Big Apple Circus ..................................... 7 Carnegie Hall .........................................11 Cosmic Cubs Club ................................ 12 FunFuzion............................................. 49 Hudson River Park Trust .......................11 Inn at East Hill Farm (The) ................... 49 Jewish Education Project (The) ............ 49 Play Fair / LeftField Media ...................... 2 Symphony Space ................................. 40 FAMILY TRAVEL Inn at East Hill Farm (The) ................... 49 FITNESS Battery Park City Authority ............. 21, 25 HEALTH Columbia University, Department of Psychiatry ................................... 12, 49 LiceXchange ......................................... 13

Jewish Education Project (The) ............ 49 New York City Guitar School ................ 28 PERFORMING ARTS / ACTING Carnegie Hall .........................................11 Galli Theater ......................................... 25 PLAY SPACES Play Fair / LeftField Media ...................... 2 RELIGIOUS Cathedral School .................................. 13 Mary Louis Academy (The)..................... 7 St. Luke’s School ................................. 47 RESEARCH Columbia University, Department of Psychiatry ................................... 12, 49 SPECIAL EVENTS Big Apple Circus ..................................... 7 Hudson River Park Trust .......................11 Ideal School (The) ................................ 16 Play Fair / LeftField Media ...................... 2 Sensational City Kids............................ 28 Symphony Space ................................. 40 SPORTS Chelsea Piers ....................................... 56 Mary Louis Academy (The)..................... 7 Urban Golf Academy ............................ 28 USTA BJK National Tennis Center........ 13

HOME SERVICES LiceXchange ......................................... 13

THEATER Galli Theater ......................................... 25 Symphony Space ................................. 40

MUSIC Carnegie Hall .........................................11 City & Country School .......................... 25 Hudson River Park Trust .......................11

TUTORS Bright Kids Inc. ..................................... 12 Kumon North America ............................ 3 Tutors on Wheels.................................. 47

BigAppleParent 53

VOICES

Stop With the Trophies Already! ››

One mom offers a plea for kids to be awarded trophies only when they’ve accomplished something that deserves the recognition. By Karen J. Bannan

y kids are 12 and 8. They have been playing sports since they were little. They aren’t superstars, and yet we have more than 20 trophies sitting in our home. Trophies that take up room, gather dust, and are pretty much meaningless. We’ve got trophies for kindergarten Catholic Youth Organization basketball, our beach club’s swim team, the National PTA Reflections contest, a first-grade soccer tournament, and cheerleading. Last month the girls and I cleaned their rooms. All those trophies ended up sitting in the hallway of our upstairs. The girls didn’t want them cluttering up their shelves. “Mommy,” they said, “we don’t need them.” No kidding, I thought. No kidding. I have been against giving out trophies since we got the first shiny plastic and stone monstrosity complete with a little soccer ball. (That one was for participating in a local peewee soccer program that didn’t even have games!) My biggest complaint has always been that trophies should be for real accomplishments. Big wins. Amazing feats of prowess, academic or athletic. You don’t need a trophy to commemorate 10 weeks of kindergarten sports skills classes! I’m not the only one who feels this way. Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison created a firestorm when he posted on Instagram about taking away trophies his little ones got. The photo was accompanied by this post: “I came home to find out that my boys received two trophies for nothing, participation trophies! While I am very proud of my boys for everything they do and will encourage them till the day I die, these

trophies will be given back until they EARN a real trophy. I’m sorry I’m not sorry for believing that everything in life should be earned and I’m not about to raise two boys to be men by making them believe that they are entitled to something just because they tried their best… cause sometimes your best is not enough, and that should drive you to want to do better…not cry and whine until somebody gives you something to shut u up and keep you happy. #harrisonfamilyvalues” I totally agree and wish others did, but alas, I am in the minority. For example, a few years ago I ran our elementary school’s Reflections program and I championed phasing out the trophies. We could give out ribbons and medals, I said. It would be cheaper, I said. It didn’t fly. The trophies were ordered, and I silently cursed the fact that I would have another four of them in my house. (My kids tend to do well at those types of contests.) But I digress, as usual. When my kids handed over their shiny loot I took to the Internet to find out if I could recycle them. Yes, I discovered, there are companies that will recycle trophies, but I couldn’t find any close by. Today I posted on Facebook and a friend sent me a link about a place way out east that takes them and refurbishes them for charities. It’s about an hour away from my home, but it may be worth the trip just to get them out of my sight. In the meantime, I know I am blessed that my kids are able to be involved with sports and contests to earn trophies at all. There are many children who don’t have the same opportunities. Does that earn me a medal?

Karen J. Bannan is a Long Island writer who blogs at naturalaspossiblemom.com, where this post first appeared.

October 2017 | nymetroparents.com

We've got everything for a…

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! NYMetroParents.com is parents' Party Central—one-stop shopping for the best in: H Party Places (for the trendiest, newest, or most classic locale) H Entertainers (clowns, balloon twisting, magicians, spa parties & so much more!) H Gift-Giving (from charitable ideas to the best presents for every age) H At-Home Party Themes (think pirates, princesses, superheroes, Harry Potter…) H Planning Help H Tips & Tricks from the Pros (…and parents who’ve been there!) Bergen•RocklandParent NORTH

HILLSDALE • MONTVALE

SEPTEMBER 2012

NORTHVALE • NORWOOD • OLD TAPPAN • PARK RIDGE • RAMSEY • RIDGEWOOD • SADDLE RIVER/UPPER SADDLE RIVER • WALDWICK • WESTWOOD • WYCKOFF

NYMETROPARENTS.COM

LongIslandParent Parent SPETEMBER 2012

Class Is In!

After-School Activities

✓ ❑ ✓ ❑

Resource Guide

✓ ❑ ✓ ❑

SLOW DOWN!

NYMETROPARENTS.COM

Back-to-School Resource Guide Pack a Smarter Lunch Ease the Morning Rush Advocate for Your Twins

How to Manage Kids’ Schedules

What Makes a Good Mentor?

+ 174 Family

+ 130 Family

(see our calendar, p. 26)

(see our calendar, p. 32)

Events

Plus: Learning to Let Go

Vaccines at Every Age Plus: Journaling for Your Child

Where-To Guide: Berry Picking

•

Dinosaur Fun

Where-To Guide: Apple Picking • Outing: New York Hall of Science

NYMetroParents Helping Parents Make Better Decisions

BigAppleParent 55

S E I E R T E H R T A R P A T S N FU

DATES FILL UP FAST, BOOK YOUR PARTY TODAY!

Chelsea piers offers a variety of exciting activities for kids of all ages. Planning is a breeze with our expert party planners and all-inclusive packages. BAP Full Parties 9-17.indd 1

chelseapiers.com/birthday 9/18/17 11:54 AM