BigApple igApple Parent NYMETROPARENTS.COM PARENTS.COM OCTOBER 2018
Birthday
Bl o w o u t !
• What your child really wants at her party • Venues, entertainment, and resources, oh my!
Get in the Halloween Spirit Pumpkin picking, haunted houses, and more!
Welcome to ‘Sharenthood’
Weighing the pros and cons of posting your baby on social media
HELPING PARENTS MAKE BETTER DECISIONS
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contents table of
Original photo by ›› Big Apple Portraits (bigappleportraits.com) Clothing provided by Land’s End (landsend.com)
october 2018
35 38
birthday parties 18 What Kids Really Want at Their Birthday Parties
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20 Birthday Party Directory 24 Birthday Planner
October Chills & Spooky Thrills
Get in the Halloween spirit with some ghoulish fun and light-hearted haunts
‘Sharental’ Advisory
Which moments with your baby you should share, and which ones you shouldn’t
401K vs. IRA vs. Nothing
Let us help you determine which retirement savings vehicle is best for you
raising kids
things to do
family life
6 Editor’s Note 8 New Places, New Programs 10 The Road to Happy Motherhood 12 How to Help Your Teen Be Active & Healthy 14 Independent School Spotlight 24 Party Planner 36 Parochial Schools and Private Schools 38 ‘Sharental’ Advisory 42 Teen Milestones You Need to Know 46 Party Central 47 Professional Services 48 Open Houses 49 Advertisers’ Index 50 Quotables
11 Dream Catcher
40 Babyproofing 2.0
26 Family Fun a Ride Away
44 401K vs. IRA vs. Nothing
27 Family Activities Calendar 35 October Chills & Spooky Thrills
NYMetroParents
Helping Parents Make Better Decisions ON THE COVER ›› 18 What Your Child Really Wants at Her Party 20 Venues, Entertainment, and Resources 35 Get in the Halloween Spirit 38 Welcome to ‘Sharenthood’ facebook.com/nymetroparents
@NYMetroParents Visit NYMETROPARENTS.COM for family activities updated daily and more than 2,000 parenting articles!
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OCTOBER 2018 • Vol.33 • No.9
raising kids editor’s note
NYMetroParents nymetroparents.com
EDITORIAL
EDITORIAL DIRECTOR: Katelin Walling ASSISTANT EDITORS: Anja Webb, Melissa Wickes
Party Secrets
DIRECTOR OF CONTENT: Deborah Skolnik
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love every issue of Big Apple Parent we publish, but there’s something extra-sweet about the months when we cover kids’ birthday parties. After all, who doesn’t love a celebration? It’s a blast seeing your child so happy, and it’s also a terrific chance to put your parental pride on display. But when it comes to kids’ parties, is bigger always better? What do our children actually remember about their special day? We asked writer Lambeth Hochwald to investigate. The result: “What Kids Really Want at Their Birthday Parties” on p. 18, an unflinching look at the gotta-haves, nice-to-haves, and don’t-really-needs, through the eyes of those who know children the best. Read this insightful piece right now—it may significantly change the way you go about your party planning in the future. Speaking of public shows of parental pride, do you run to social media and share the news each time your baby does something cute or new? There’s a name for that— ‘sharenting’—and we’re almost all doing it. Dasha Kofman examines our motives, as well as this trend’s pros and cons, in her report “‘Sharental’ Advisory” (p. 38). It may make you think twice about safeguarding your little one’s privacy. Meanwhile over on p. 40, Anja Webb’s story, “Baby Proofing 2.0,” will have you thinking about how to safeguard your little one in general. It gives a terrific rundown of ways to keep active and curious toddlers safe at home; you’ll want to make sure you take every tip to heart. Then there’s a story near and dear to my own heart: “Teen Milestones You Need to Know,” on p. 42. As the mom of two teenage daughters, I know kids make some real quantum leaps in their adolescent years, especially when it comes to cognitive and emotional development. No, these milestones aren’t Insta-worthy—sorry, sharents!—but they’re important signs that your child’s growth is right on track. Read on and you’ll see why it’s actually a good (if annoying) thing that your teen is embarrassed by you or disagrees with your politics. While you’re focused on your child’s well-being (and what decent parent isn’t?) it’s easy to forget your own. That’s why Melissa Wickes’s article, “Saving for Retirement” (p. 44), is so vital to read. It demystifies the most common types of savings vehicles, and explains painless ways to build your nest egg now so it’s ready when you need it most. And don’t miss my essay, “The Road to Happy Motherhood” on p. 10. I share the “selfish” decision that helped me escape a dreary bout of postpartum blues, and made me a happier, better mom—I guess it wasn’t so selfish doing something for myself after all. Would you like to share your personal essay about parenthood with us? We’re always looking for great new submissions for our Voices page. Feel free to send yours to editor@nymetroparents.com! Of course, no October issue of our magazine would be complete without a celebration of my favorite holiday: Halloween! There’s something about the sight of little kids in costumes (and, I’ll admit, mounds of candy) that makes me so happy, and you too, I bet. For some chills and thrills, turn to p. 35, where we share information on pumpkinpicking spots, haunted houses, and more. Wishing you a boo-tiful month ahead!
REGIONAL EDITORS: Samantha Beranbom (Rockland); Karen Demeter (Suffolk); Whitney C. Harris (Westchester); Karen Lo (Brooklyn, Manhattan); Dorette Saunders (Nassau); Gail Warren (Queens) DIRECTORIES EDITOR: Alice Van Dyke
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9/17/18 12:44 PM
raising kids new places, new programs
Who: The Martial Arts Family Studio What’s New: The studio, which opened in Nolita on Sept. 12 Parents can work out starting at 8am while keeping an eye on their children in the playroom through a window that allows for constant communication. Children’s classes will begin at 2pm and are split into age groups of 3½-4½ years old, 4½-6 years old, 6-10 years old, and 11-15 years old. Adult classes begin at 7pm. An after-school program will be available Monday-Friday for children. Program aids will help with homework and subjects that are challenging for the children. The aides will also read with children while they wait to be picked up. This program is geared toward helping children develop a sense of community and social responsibility. Want More Info: 290 Mulberry St., Nolita; 646-335-5034; martialartsfamilystudio.com
Courtesy Martial Arts Family Studio
Martial Arts Studio Opens in Nolita
Martial Arts Family Studio offers progr ams
for the whole family.
ber Studio and Th Courtesy T. Schrei
Who: T. Schreiber Studio and Theatre What’s New: Youth acting program, which started in September. The studio has teamed up with celebrity acting coach Denise Simon to create a fun but serious program for children ages 8-11 and 12-16. Small class sizes of six to 12 students will be held on Saturdays in a safe and nurturing environment. Students will learn the fundamentals of acting, character building, working with scenes, and audition skills. At the end of the Spring semester in June, students will put on a showcase for families and industry guests featuring scenes of their choice. You can register for one semester at a time or a full year by visiting the T. Schreiber website. The winter session for both programs begins Saturday, Jan. 5. Want More Info: 151 W. 26th St., 10th floor, Chelsea; 212-741-0209; tschreiber.org
eatre
Theater and Film Studio in Chelsea Offers Youth Acting Program
laboration speaking skills, col confidence, public ild bu s coach. sse ing cla act g , “Actin Denise Simon ilding skills,” says skills, and team bu
Who: Fun Fit Kids What’s New: The first physical location on the Upper West Side, which includes the Open Sports program for children with special needs. The program will allow children with any developmental and/or cognitive disabilities to participate in multi-sport and movement classes. Prior to opening this new facility, Fun Fit Kids offered its curriculums in various private schools and enrichment programs throughout the community. The 2,700-square-foot, open-floor, multi-sports center includes a private room available for birthday parties and other private events. Fun Fit Kids works with professionals in the field to develop the Open Sports program, the inclusion-based program that gives children with special needs a 1-to-1 student-to-coach ratio. Want More Info: 550 W. 110th Street., Upper West Side; 646-580-3758; funfitkids.com 8
October 2018 | nymetroparents.com
Courtesy Fun Fit Kids
Kids Sports Program Opens on the Upper West Side, Offers Programs for Children with Special Needs
Classes at Fun Fit Kid s are organized accord ing to age group and are 40-minutes to 1-h our long.
Buckley Country Day School Toddler through Grade 8
Opening The Eyes And Awakening The Mind
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The Road to Happy Motherhood
TP Enders
raising kids voices
››
The author, her family, and her Miata, almost six months after she purchased it
How my dream car helped me get back in gear after the post-baby blues
I
fell in love with the Mazda Miata around the same time I fell in love with my husband. Both were great looking, dependable, and made me feel like life’s journeys would be a whole lot more exciting if we made them together. I married my prince charming a few years later, but we drove away in his Buick, not my tiny dream car. I didn’t mind, especially since marriage itself speeded us along in thrilling new directions. We had a daughter, traded our cool Manhattan apartment for a little house with a white picket fence in my hometown, and welcomed another daughter. It felt like we’d gone from zero to two kids in under 60 seconds! We bought a minivan, something I thought I’d never do. Indeed, between sour-milk baby bottles and suburban living, some days I scarcely recognized myself. But I was content. Then something happened: An invitation to my high school reunion arrived along with a form asking what I’d done with my life. Suddenly I felt as blank as the form. What had I done with my life? My teenage dreams were a bust. I wasn’t a famous writer living in Manhattan, the way I’d planned. I was back living in my hometown. I was a minivan mom. Blame it on the high-school reunion committee or hormones (I was postpartum), but as I measured the unexciting progress of my life against the ruler of adolescent ambition, I felt like a huge failure. I slipped into a gray, tearful state that lasted for months. Sleepless, I’d hit the gym at 5am. Then one morning on the way home, I passed a Miata. My heart leapt at the sight; it was the best I’d felt in a long time. And a realization washed over me: I didn’t have to be a minivan mom after all. “I’m buying a Miata,” I told everybody. My husband was cool with it—but my mom friends disapproved. “Will you use it enough?” asked one pal, though she herself had once bought an expensive party dress she’d worn only once. “Can you afford it?” quizzed another friend, whose SUV cost multiples of what my Miata, which I planned to buy used, would. Then finally, 10
October 2018 | nymetroparents.com
By Deborah Skolnik
one friend voiced the true sticking point: “It’s a two-seater. Where will you put the kids?” she pressed, even knowing we were keeping the minivan and the Buick. I was disappointed in, or rather for, my friends. We mothers have only come so far. We urge one another to do things that affirm our individuality—provided they tie into our families. We cheer each other on to assert our financial power—so long as our purchases can be stashed in the closet, away from judgmental eyes. It’s fine for a dad to buy himself a sports car— in fact my neighbor just had—but if a mom buys herself one, it’s unseemly. Rattled, I called my oldest friend, Matt, for advice. “You’re in a full-fledged midlife crisis!” he teased. Then he grew serious. “My buddy used to drive me around in his sports car,” he mused. “On the highway, it felt like all four wheels had lifted off the ground.” He paused. “Buy the car.” So I did. I had to learn to drive stick, which was intimidating. It takes finesse to start a manual transmission car from a dead stop. At first I either stalled out or hit the gas too fast, sending the engine into frenetic revolutions. Yet each day, my driving improved, and so did my blues, until both miraculously smoothed out. Who knew a car had healing powers? Okay, it wasn’t really the car; it was the fact that I had done something solely for myself. Some shifts, I came to see, are automatic—girlhood’s dreams give way to motherhood’s realities. But figuring out how to be a mom while still asserting your individuality? That’s a conscious shift, but one worth making. After weeks of practice, I drove my daughter to preschool in the Miata. As I pulled out of the parking lot, several mothers gathered around. One stroked the Miata’s door. “Looks fun,” she said. I smiled. Then I prayed, Please God, don’t let me stall out in front of everyone. I pulled out smoothly. I was barely going 10 miles per hour, but it felt like all four wheels had lifted off the ground.
things to do
diy corner
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Dream Catcher
Going to bed alone can be scary for children, especially those who tend to have nightmares or difficulty getting settled down for the night. One thing that can help relieve bedtime anxiety is the reassurance a dream catcher can provide. Because they were made to protect children from bad dreams, you can help your kid get some shut-eye by making this dream catcher craft from Laura Minter and Tia Williams’s “The Big Book of 100 Outdoor Activities.” This dream catcher is made from the center part of an embroidery hoop, which you can find in most craft stores. A dream catcher is traditionally woven to resemble a spider’s web. You will need some feathers, which you can search for on a woodland walk, and some beads to decorate. You will need
Different-colored beads
2 shades of brightly colored twine
6 feathers
Embroidery hoop
Glue
The Mary Louis Academy
TMLA +
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 14, 2018 10am-3pm
SHADOW A STUDENT buddy@tmla.org
1. To make the weave on the embroidery hoop, begin by tying the end of the twine onto the hoop. Pull the twine about 1½ inches along and fold it over the top of the hoop from the front. Bring the twine in through the loop and pull tight. Continue all the way along the hoop. 2. When you get to the beginning, continue to loop the twine and go forward, but instead of looping around the hoop, loop through the previous row of twine, in the center of each loop. Pull tight each time. 3. Keep going round, looping and pulling tight, until the gaps become too small to continue easily. Tie the twine in the center and trim the loose ends. 4. Tie three pieces of twine onto the bottom of the hoop, evenly spaced out. Add beads to each one, then cut to your preferred lengths (this one was about 10 inches in the center). Glue two feathers onto the bottom of each piece of twine. Add another length of twine to the top of the hoop to enable you to hang your dream catcher. Extract reprinted here with permission from GMC Publications, The Big Book of 100 Outdoor Activities by Laura Minter and Tia Williams, RRP $19.95, published July 2018
VISIT OUR WEBSITE www.tmla.org
Please pre-register for our open house at www.tmla.org.
The Mary Louis Academy is sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Brentwood,NY. Accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and Chartered by the State of NY.
176-21 Wexford Terrace, Jamaica Estates, NY 11432 Phone: 718-297-2120 | Fax: 718-739-0037 @WEARETMLA | #HILLTOPPERNATION | TACHS #016
BigAppleParent 11
raising kids in the know
How to Help Your Teen Be Active & Healthy ››
G
By Melissa Wickes
ood exercise and eating habits are vital and are best established at a young age. By teaching your teen effective and enjoyable ways to exercise and stay well, you are setting her up to live a healthy, happy life. Here are five ways you can help your teen get excited about fitness and wellness, according to Christian Palmer, strength and conditioning coach and personal trainer at Equinox Mamaroneck. Make sure his focus isn’t the scale. In a world dominated by social media and superficial mindsets, teens are very conscious of how they look versus how they feel. Palmer suggests the first thing to teach your child when it comes to exercising is not to focus on the scale, but instead on the way exercising makes him feel.
athletes, and ultimately more confidence,” Palmer says. Help your child develop a structured weightlifting plan, and keep it simple!
Help her eat healthy, but don’t enforce a strict diet. Developing a healthy and well-balanced diet is important, especially in growing teenagers. But, giving a strict, structured diet to a teen may not be necessary or the best option for her. Instead, Palmer suggests encouraging her to make the best choices she can and emphasize eating from the ground (unprocessed, natural foods).
Make sure she loves what she’s doing. Forcing your kid to work out in a way she doesn’t find enjoyable can be the easiest way to make her hate exercising, Palmer warns. Find out what she loves and integrate it into the exercise plan. “Take your daughter to the field, invite her friend, and make it a competition. Make it fun but add a challenge so she gets the cardiovascular benefit as well,” Palmer says
Don’t be afraid of weights. A lot of parents are afraid their child will stunt his growth if he begins lifting weights at a young age. The reality, Palmer says, is most kids aren’t strong enough to lift weights that would negatively impact their growth in any way. Teach him the proper form for motions such as squatting, deadlifting, and pressing. “Strength is typically what translates to better movers, better
Lead by example. “A lot of kids come to me and say, ‘my dad wants me to go to the gym but he doesn’t really do it so I don’t really think it’s that important,’” Palmer says. Parents are the strongest influence on their children. If you are implementing healthy eating and exercise habits in your own life, it will not only be easier for your teen to do so, but it might make him want to.
raising kids child care
The Benefits of a Nanny Share ››
Courtesy Mommybites.com
A
s a parent, one of the most important decisions you’ll have to make is who will care for your child when you can’t. For most, that means choosing between a nanny and day care center while Mom and Dad are at work. But why not consider a third option such as a nanny share? It’s a new trend on the rise— two or more families employ one nanny and share the cost of her or his salary. It’s a solution that offers the best of having a nanny and sending your child to a child care center. Here are the top three benefits of participating in a nanny share with another family. Significant savings: The cost of the nanny’s salary is shared across two or more families, which means the financial burden one family bears is usually significantly lower than any other child care options available. Individual attention: In a nanny-share setup, the nanny cares for two or more children (but not too many), which provides a more
intimate environment than day care centers. This allows the nanny to give each of the children more individual attention every day than they would likely receive at a child care facility. Socialization: In addition to the individual attention your child will receive, she’ll also gain the benefits of socializing with the other kids involved in the nanny share. It’s like getting the best of both worlds.
Mommybites’ mom-generated nanny, babysitter, and nanny-share boards have been some of the most popular child-care resources in New York City since 2006. You can find nannies and babysitters as well as help them get new jobs. Join this community of moms and receive weekly parenting advice at mommybites.com/newyork.
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October 2018 | nymetroparents.com
Independent School Spotlight
BigAppleParent 13
Joshua Brightener
raising kids independent school spotlight
A British School With Broad Appeal
Students from more than 40 countries attend the British International School of New York, creating a vibrant community. ›› By Deborah Skolnik Name of School: British International School of New York Grades: Pre-K through ninth grade Size of student body: 300 Educational approach or philosophy: The British International School of New York offers a combination of the English Curriculum and the International Baccalaureate, the only school in the city to do so, according to Jason Morrow, headmaster. “Our philosophy is that we look to be ambitious for every child, both in terms of their academic progress and their level of achievement in work within in the school, but also in terms of their personal development,” Morrow says. As part of the school’s commitment to creating well-rounded students, there are abundant offerings in music, art, sports, and community service. “We have four choirs and a series of ensembles, orchestras, and bands,” Morrow says. “We do eight drama productions each year and have 14 sports teams, and then we have lots of national and international links, both in terms of charity and also for academic projects.” Among them is a sister school in London.
A young student playing chess at the British International School of New York
What makes the school unique: “In addition to our unique curriculum, we are the only school in the city that offers the Cambridge International Exams, which are highly regarded for university entrance around the world,” Morrow says. Yet that’s just the start of what makes BISNY so distinctive. It also boasts a diverse student body. “About one-third of our students are from a British background, about one-third are New York families, and about one-third come from other countries,” Morrow explains. All students, beginning in nursery school, learn either French or Spanish, and there are clubs for Arabic and Chinese. Students and staffers are each assigned to a house (“like in Harry Potter,” Morrow says) and there are various activities, friendly competitions, and quizzes between houses. The school is also notable for its striking views of the East River, and “the warmth of relations across the school community,” Morrow says. “We always say ‘children first,’ which we think works because it’s quite simple. We tend to make decisions around what’s going to be in the best interests of the students, either their learning or their progress or well-being.”
Independent School Spotlight
INCLUSION • DIVERSITY • EXCELLENCE • ACCEPTANCE • LEADERSHIP
The IDEAL Difference
In our diverse and inclusive K-12 community and within our robust academic program, IDEAL students recognize their potential to effect change and are equipped with the tools to do so. They strive for excellence in and out of school and recognize and draw out the potential for excellence in their peers. They possess the self-awareness to advocate for themselves and the compassion to stand behind others. They not only appreciate but also seek out difference, understanding that only in community are we IDEAL. IDEAL is New York’s only K-12 independent inclusion school.
#SchoolCanBeIDEAL
Sign up for a Tuesday Talk and Tour or an Open House to learn more about IDEAL’s rigorous and differentiated program, innovative social justice curriculum, and uniquely inclusive community. LOWER SCHOOL OPEN HOUSES, Grades K-5: Thursday, October 11, 9 AM; Tuesday, November 6, 6 PM UPPER SCHOOL OPEN HOUSES, Grades 6-12: Thursday, October 18, 9 AM; Tuesday, November 13, 6 PM IDEAL has mid-year openings in select grade levels for qualified candidates. 14
October 2018 | nymetroparents.com
www.theidealschool.org For further information, contact us at admissions@theidealschool.org or 212-769-1699.
Independent School Spotlight
At WetherbyPembridge School, we inspire the individual to reach personal confidence and success with integrity, kindness, respect and manners. Nursery 3 - Grade 8.
O
Respect, Resilience, Responsibility
ur school vision is to awaken curiosity, cultivate high standards and celebrate successes. We combine the merits of single-sex and co-education in a unique provision that is both family-friendly and educationally sound. Backed by decades of educational experience at Wetherby School and Pembridge Hall in London, the children at Wetherby-Pembridge in New York enjoy a balanced, diverse and inspiring academic programme. They are challenged and fulfilled at all stages, embrace opportunities and learn from failure.
Join our Autumn Open Houses Please note that registration is required, visit our website or call to sign up. Thursday 11th October, 5:30pm - 7:00pm Tuesday 23rd October, 9:00am - 10:30am Saturday 27th 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
Independent School Spotlight
WELCOME
欢迎
BIENVENIDOS
The École, formerly École Internationale de New York, is an intimate and independent French-American school located in New York’s vibrant Flatiron District that cultivates an internationally-minded community of students. From maternelle to middle school, we artfully blend the best of the French and American educational systems, gifting our students with deep academic bi-literacy, whole-child skills and knowledge, and an optimistic, multi-cultural perspective.
Open Houses in October & November: Tuesday, October 23, 2018 at 8:15am Tuesday, November 13, 2018 at 8:15am Tuesday, November 27, 2018 at 8:15am
Bilingual. Multicultural. Diverse. Teaching students the skills, confidence and compassion to contribute and thrive in today’s world. Spanish and Mandarin tracks for Pre-Nursery (age 2) - Grade 4. Adding a grade each year through Grade 8.
For more dates or to sign up for an Open House, please visit theEcole.org/admissions/open-houses
111 East 22nd Street New York, NY 10010 646.410.2238 bonjour@theEcole.org www.TheEcole.org 16
October 2018 | nymetroparents.com
COME TO AN OPEN HOUSE: October 10 @ 6pm – 115 E. 82nd October 17 @ 9am – 150 W. 83rd October 25 @ 6pm – 4 E. 90th
admissions@ianyc.org / 212-641-0260
www.ianyc.org
ATTEND AN OPEN HOUSE • TAKE A TOUR
Inspiring Our Students Since 1872 GLOBAL VISION
Five global campuses with one shared vision International exchange programs Mandarin and Spanish beginning in preschool
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
admissions@dwight.edu 212.724.6360 dwight.edu Nursery-Grade 12
17 NEW YORK | LONDON | SEOUL | SHANGHAIBigAppleParent | DUBAI | ONLINE
What Kids Really Want at Their Birthday Parties ››
Bigger isn’t always better—learn what will make the celebration truly special.
T
ake it from parents who know: Your kids may say they want a huge birthday blowout at the local arcade, but what they really want is a celebration that’s far more meaningful—and less chaotic. “A birthday is a time to enter your child’s world,” says Julie Morganstern, author of several books, including her latest, Time to Parent: Organizing Your Life to Bring Out the Best in Your Child and You. “All kids want is for someone to see [them] and to understand [them] and that’s what I think a birthday celebration is really about.” In fact, keeping the party smaller and simpler may make a bigger impression on your kid in the long run. “The most memorable experiences are those that incorporate multiple senses, evoke an emotional connection, and incorporate an element of novelty,” says Chrissy Khachane, an educational consultant and parenting coach. “Slowing down a bit to focus on some of life’s simple pleasures—family, good food, and laughter—affords children a party that incorporates the most important parts of childhood.” So this year, instead of getting into a frenzy planning your child’s party, consider tapping into your sense of nostalgia. Plan a day that involves playing tag in the backyard, tossing a ball, gathering on a beach or in the park, or playing board games or Duck, Duck, Goose. And whatever you do, consider taking a few cues from these parents and experts as they share their take on rethinking our kids’ birthday parties.
Step Away from the Competition
It’s super easy for birthday parties to become competitive, or all about status, where parents are one-upping each other over everything from the venue to just how deluxe the goodie bags are, Morganstern warns. Instead, “you want to establish values and make sure your kids don’t get caught up in all that external pressure to compete,” Mo18
October 2018 | nymetroparents.com
By Lambeth Hochwald
ganstern says. “You also want to focus on redefining what the real value is of a birthday party. In my book it’s all about celebrating who you are, it’s connecting with the people you really love and the ones who care most about you. That’s your family and friends. It’s not about impressing anybody. If it’s about competition with other parents then the party isn’t about [your child], it’s about other people.”
Let Your Child Play Party Planner
If your child insists on helping out with the party planning, don’t hesitate to invite him to play an important role—depending on how old he is, of course. “One way you can let your child take the lead is picking out the party theme,” says Amy Horta, owner of AEH Events, a custom event planning and design firm in Westchester County. Horta let her own 3-year-old son have a hand in creating his construction-themed birthday party. “He went with me on a trip to Home Depot (his favorite place!) for décor,” she says. “He also helped paint toolbox favors for all his guests.”
Exercise Crowd Control
If you have a toddler who doesn’t love big crowds, having a party with lots of guests just won’t be fun for her. “If there are loads of family and friends who want to shower the birthday boy or girl with good wishes, consider inviting family over for cake the weekend before the birthday and then have a small kids’ party the weekend after,” Horta recommends. “It may be a little more work planning two events, but it helps make sure that the birthday boy or girl doesn’t get completely overwhelmed on his or her big day!” Teens, too, may feel that a crowded bash isn’t right for them. They may prefer to do a special activity with couple of friends in
place of a bustling party. “Think indoor rock climbing, a trapeze class, a double feature at the movies—with popcorn—or even a day out in Manhattan,” Horta says. “A birthday celebration doesn’t always have to mean a big party with lots of people.”
Gather Somewhere Unique
“We keep our daughter’s birthday parties pretty low key,” says Raakhee Mirchandani Singh, a Hoboken, NJ mom of Satya, 5, and author of the forthcoming kids’ book, Super Satya Saves the Day. “For Satya’s second, third, and fourth birthdays, we’ve had a story time at our local bookstore,” she says. The owner “reads some of Satya’s favorite titles, and some new ones too. And Satya and her friends love it,” Singh says. Instead of receiving goodie bags, “the kids go home with a book,” Singh adds. “I feel awesome knowing we’re...encouraging the next generation of bookworms!”
Honor Your Kid’s Passions
“When my daughter was seven, we decided to focus her birthday party around her interest in dance,” Morganstern says. “I invited a woman who did dance parties to come and lead the kids in a series of dances. It was so wonderful to watch our daughter share something she loved with her friends.” Incorporating your child’s interests is a great way to make a party special, Khachane agrees: “Through focusing on something that is important to the birthday girl or boy there is a strong connection that takes the experience beyond what one might find at a [generic] party.”
See a Party as a Way to Build Community
A birthday party should absolutely focus fully on the birthday boy or girl, but it can also serve another purpose, especially if you’re new in town. For Cherie Corso, a Westchester parent expert, blogger, and mom of a 15-year-old daughter, birthday parties through the years
have been wonderful ways to meet other families in town. “My daughter always wanted to invite her whole class so these gatherings were a great way for me to get to know the parents,” Corso says. “Best of all, my daughter has wonderful memories of those gatherings and I got to meet so many other families, too.”
Let Your Kids Have a Say
After Fort Lee, NJ mom Zaida Khaze’s daughters spent their sixth and seventh birthday parties with close friends, they both announced that for their next birthdays they’d rather go somewhere special. “With all the money that was spent per party for ninety minutes of fun and a goodie bag, I didn’t object,” Khaze says. “The next year, my older daughter opted for a weekend visit with the immediate family to [Great] Wolf Lodge and my younger daughter wanted to go to Six Flags.” Khaze says she was happy to not spend the time or money planning parties. “I would rather spend that money on their birthday presents. I was very impressed how my kids figured this out on their own.”
Focus on the Love
“Satya just wants to feel loved and celebrated,” Singh says. “I don’t think she cares about the specifics of the venue, the cake, or anything else...As for gifts, we’re pretty aggressive in our ‘no gifts’ policy and have been since her first birthday as Satya is a cancer survivor. Our friends bring gift cards to the party that we donate to the Tomorrows Children’s Fund in Hackensack,” she says. “Truth is, the kid has everything a little girl could want and then some: good health, sneakers that light up, parents who adore her, and more Wonder Woman junk than I ever thought humanly possible. So we encourage her to share with others.” And isn’t that the point of an awesome birthday party after all? Lambeth Hochwald is a New York City-based journalist covering trends, relationships, and life in New York City.
BIRTHDAY MARKETPLACE
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Birthday Party Directory BIRTHDAY PARTY ENTERTAINMENT Bold Arts
419-349-2465 bold-arts.com chelsea@bold-arts.com BOLD Arts offers fun and personalized dance birthday parties for children ages 4 and older! All birthday parties are designed and tailored to the birthday child’s likes and include a dance class culminating with all children taking part in a mini dance performance to the birthday child’s favorite song. You provide the space and BOLD will provide a memorable, high-energy dance party. BOLD birthdays are a unique way to celebrate with dance and friends! Learn more at bold-arts.com/birthdayparties or email us at info@bold-arts.com.
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.
Confetti Grace
confettigrace.org One of our favorite sayings is “throw kindness around like confetti.” This is the inspiration behind “Confetti Grace.” With our DIY craft subscription box, you receive all the supplies you need to make two projects. Keep one, give one, or give both. Gift bags and DIY greeting cards are included. Crafting with friends? Check out the “Let’s Confetti” party box for eight or more guests! Visit our social media for a how-to video and ideas for spreading kindness in your community. We donate 20 percent of net profits to charity.
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 super heroes 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, Spiderman velcro wall, gladiator joust, sports inflatables, robots, and racecars.
Mystery & Mayhem
212-260-2295 mysteryandmayhem.com mitzvahzoe@aol.com More than 30 years in business! Mystery & Mayhem offers hilarious, interactive, unique, age-appropriate dress-up mystery parties in which guests ages 8-18 become suspects in a dastardly crime. “Like Clue, but better!” is the way one youngster described the event. Choose from five mysterious, winning dramas, or we can theme your party around Nancy Drew, Sherlock Holmes, or Harry Potter. “Best party I ever had!” is an oft-repeated refrain; once from a child who did all five: her first at age 9, and her last at 24!
BIRTHDAY PARTY PLACES Chelsea Piers Sports and Entertainment Complex
West 23rd Street and Hudson River Park Field House Registration Desk: 212-336-6500 x6520 chelseapiers.com/birthday 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 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 customizable. Choose from packages that include pizza, beverages, cake, favors, and catering.
Children’s Museum of the Arts
103 Charlton St. 212-274-0986 cmany.org/about/birthdays-rentals/birthdays Art-filled parties begin with time to explore the museum’s hands-on workshops. Experienced teaching artists lead children in your choice of private workshop. Parties end with food and cake.
Epiphany Community Nursery School
510 E. 74th St. 212-737-2977 ecnsnyc.org Let ECNS ETC. help you plan your child’s next birthday party! Children ages 2-10 love our gymnastics parties. A typical party starts with 45 minutes in our 2100-square-foot, fully equipped, child-friendly gymnasium with our gym coaches, followed by 45 minutes in our private party room. Our staff will handle the setup and cleanup. “But my child doesn’t like gymnastics,” you say? We can put together a custom party for you, just contact our party coordinator. Check out our website for more information!
FunFit Blooming Branches Specific Sports
550 W. 110th St. 646-580-3758 funfitnyc.com info@funfitnyc.com Your little one deserves a special day! FunFit parties are customized for the birthday child. Our team works with you to select your party activities. Children will be entertained by participating in
age-appropriate, high-energy, sport games and FunFit activities led by our expert coaches. Children enjoy a traditional birthday celebration in a private party room. FunFit parties are 90 minutes in length and hosted at our flagship location on the Upper West Side. We can also bring the party to you, at a location of your choice.
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 will be dazzled by a unique, interactive party experience! Our dedicated emcees and party hosts provide an unforgettable birthday experience within a theatrical, interactive party room atmosphere. As “The Birthday” leading man or lady, you are center stage for your spectacular birthday production! Act one begins with a dazzling interactive show where 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
74 Warren St. 212-731-0668 gallitheaternyc.com galliny@gmail.com Party with the Galli Theater New York and experience the magic of live theater for your special event! Your child loves the theater and would love to be on stage? Allow your child to experience the most amazing theater party in town!
Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
Pier 86, West 46th Street and Twelfth Avenue 646-381-5010 intrepidmuseum.org groupsales@intrepidmuseum.org Celebrate your child’s birthday with a one-of-akind party! The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum will captivate groups of all ages and interests. Choose from exciting themes, value packages, and customization options to create a birthday adventure they’ll remember forever. Packages start at $30 per person. Experience life aboard an aircraft carrier during Operation Slumber! Enjoy after-hours access to the ship and the Space Shuttle Pavilion as well as tours and activities. It’s ideal for scouts, students, and campers ages 6–17.
JCC of Mid-Westchester
999 Wilmot Road, Scarsdale 914-472-3300 jccmw.org Have your child’s next party at the JCC of Mid-Westchester. Entertain up to 20 children with a sports or gymnastics party, or a fun and fantastic pool party! Parties are available on Sunday afternoons. Enjoy supervised activities the first hour, followed by a half-hour in the party room to enjoy food, cake, and games as supplied by parent or guardian. Customized sports and gymnastics parties are also available for children with developmental learning needs. Visit jccmw.org or call 914-472-3300.
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BIRTHDAY MARKETPLACE
E ARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER 17 months – 5 years | Half or Full Day Early Morning/Curbside Drop Off | After School Care Lunch Program | Afternoon Enrichments including Science, Learning with Numbers & Letters, and more
Registration for this academic year is still open. For more information contact Caryn Symons, Early Childhood Director 914.472.3300 x336 | symonsc@jccmw.org 999 Wilmot rd Scarsdale NY | www.jccmw.org
Mornings: - Music-based Childcare for Toddlers - Kickboxing: from Cardio to Intensive Instruction - Yoga - Boxing - Check out our Saturday Morning Music Class Afternoons: - Mommy and Me Music Theater - Afterschool Programs - Kids Taekwondo - Kids and Teens Kickboxing Kali Evenings: - Kali Self-Defense Realistic Fighting Method - Self-Defense for Women Only (17-110 years old) Call the studio to reserve your birthday party!!
@MAFamilyStudio
CHECK OUT OUR OFFERINGS FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY!
Big Apple Parent for 20% discount (BIGAPPLEPARENT2018) martialartsfamilystudio.com
info@mafamilystudio.com
( 646)-335-5034
BigAppleParent 21
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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, a bounce house, and a 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.
Kate Tempesta’s Urban Golf Academy
917-270-7257 ktuga.com/birthday-parties mari@ktuga.com KTUGA’s parties are customized to your child’s interests. Think Pirate Golf Fun to Princess Castle Chipping. Ideal for ages 3-8. Select from different activities to highlight our golf games including storytelling, shadow screen play, and music and movement.
The Little Gym
2121 Broadway, 2nd Floor (between 74th and 75th streets), Upper West Side, Manhattan 212-799-1225 tlgupperwestsideny.com 207 E. 94th St. (between Second and Third avenues), Upper East Side, Manhattan 212-787-1124 tlguppereastsideny.com 28 Franklin Turnpike, Waldwick, NJ 201-445-4444 tlgwaldwicknj.com 777 White Plains Road, Scarsdale 914-722-0072 tlgscarsdaleny.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!
are available for birthday parties, other groups, and special events. Book your party today!
Martial Arts Family Studio
Pier 62 at Hudson River Park (by Chelsea Piers) 718-788-2676 pier62carousel.com info@nycarousel.com Give your child the best birthday with our VIP Birthday Party Package at Hudson River Park’s whimsical carousel on the water! Book our custom birthday package (starting at $449) and personalize it with our exclusive food and entertainment add-ons. View our package details at: promo.nycarousel.com/book-us. Book online or contact our party specialist for availability at info@nycarousel.com.
290 Mulberry St. 646-460-3770 martialartsfamilystudio.com info@martialartsfamilystudio.com At Martial Arts Family Studio we will be delighted to organize your child birthday party so you can focus on your guests. Our two-room facility with tons of sunlight in the heart of Soho/Noho has a playroom and martial arts studio that can easily transform into a disco party with black lights and music. We offer music theater puppets based birthday parties for the little ones and dance or martial arts birthday parties for older kids. Can’t decide? Do a mix! Call today to book your birthday party!
NY CAKE
118 W. 22nd St. 212-675-2253 nycakeacademy.com info@nycakeacademy.com NY Cake is your destination for so much more than just the best selection of cake and baking supplies in the city. We are now home to the NY Cake Academy, a school focusing on both baking and decorating classes for all ages and levels. New York Cake Academy is also the ultimate destination for private events. Have a unicorn-themed adventure or take off with a galaxy cake that everyone will talk about for weeks to come. Let NY Cake Academy take care of everything for you.
Palisades Climb Adventure
4590 Palisades Center Drive, Level 4 of the Palisades Center, West Nyack 845-727-3500 palisadesclimb.com Palisades Climb Adventure offers the world’s tallest indoor ropes challenge course. Standing 85feet tall, it has five levels and 75 unique challenge elements to explore, climb, and conquer. More advanced athletes will find a challenge, while “just for fun” climbers will experience a sense of athletic accomplishment. Our Sky Tykes kids’ ropes course is designed for ages 2-7, 48-inches max and our new Sky Rail attraction is now open! Both courses
BIRTHDAY MARKETPLACE
MAKE YOUR CHILD’S BIRTHDAY
DANCE BOLDLY
LEARN MORE AT BOLD-ARTS.COM 22
October 2018 | nymetroparents.com
Pier 62 Carousel
SeaGlass Carousel at The Battery
Water Street and State Street 718-788-2676 seaglasscarousel.nyc info@nycarousel.com Celebrate at SeaGlass! The Battery invites you to celebrate all birthdays at SeaGlass Carousel. Our dedicated party host will ensure your birthday is extra special and never one to forget. With endless fun and carousel rides, birthdays at SeaGlass are magical experiences set within the adjacent shade-covered terraces. The terraces are surrounded by magnificent perennial gardens designed by internationally acclaimed Dutch garden designer Piet Oudolf and the seven-acre Battery Woodland. Book online at seaglasscarousel.nyc/birthdays.
USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center
Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, Flushing 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 one hour of court time with tennis drills and games organized by our USTA Pro staff. You will also have a one-hour private room for your birthday celebration, which includes pizza for all your party guests. For more detailed information on our party packages please call 718-7606200 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.
BIRTHDAY MARKETPLACE
5
yrs. of Fun, Frien ds, & Fitness !
Fo r K id s 9 mos to 12 yrs
Grea t Pe rk s Fo r M em be rs
Nothing Else Even Comes Close! Gymnastics • Music • Playtime • Summer Camps School Break Camps • Ninja Challenge Jodi’s To Go • Best Birthdays Ever
www.jodisgym.com 25 Hubbels Dr. Mt. Kisco • 914.244.8811 244 E. 84th St. NYC • 212.772.7633
Flipping into Fall @ USC Gymnastics! SIGN UP for a Fun-tastic Gymnastics Class! Weekend & Weekday Classes Available! Boys & Girls Ages 2-17yrs!
CALL NOW TO REGISTER!
USC Gymnastics & Baseball Training Facility 636 S. Broadway, Yonkers NY 10705 Tel.914-965-2619 Fax. 914-476-2050 www.uscgymnasticsandbaseball.com
Follow us on
USCGymnastics.Baseball
BigAppleParent 23
Birthday Planner Classes & Programs
Activity Birthday Party Entertainment
Bold Arts
bold-arts.com
419-349-2465
clowns.com
516-577-0000
confettigrace.org
Visit website
davescast.com
914-235-7100
frogglepartytime.com
646-480-0570
mysteryandmayhem.com
212-260-2295
Broadway Dance Center Children and Teens
broadwaydancecenter.com
212-582-9304
Chelsea Piers Sports and Entertainment Complex
chelseapiers.com/birthday
212-336-6500 x6520
Children’s Museum of the Arts
cmany.org/about/ birthdays-rentals/birthdays
212-274-0986
Epiphany Community Nursery School
ecnsnyc.org
212-737-2977
FunFit Blooming Branches Specific Sports
funfitnyc.com
646-580-3758
Funfuzion at New Roc City
funfuziononline.com
914-637-7575, option 1
Galli Theater New York
gallitheaternyc.com
212-731-0668
Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum
intrepidmuseum.org
646-381-5010
jccmw.org
914-472-3300
jodisgym.com
212-772-7633
Clowns.com Confetti Grace Dave’s Cast Of Characters Froggle Parties Mystery & Mayhem
Birthday Party Places
JCC of Mid-Westchester Jodi’s Gym Just Kidding at Symphony Space
symphonyspace.org/justkidding
212-864-1414 x289
Kate Tempesta’s Urban Golf Academy
ktuga.com/birthday-parties
917-270-7257
tlgupperwestsideny.com
212-799-1225
martialartsfamilystudio.com
646-460-3770
NY CAKE
nycakeacademy.com
212-675-2253
Palisades Climb Adventure
palisadesclimb.com
845-727-3500
Pier 62 Carousel
pier62carouselnyc.com
718-788-2676
SeaGlass Carousel at The Battery
seaglasscarousel.nyc/ birthdays
718-788-2676
The Little Gym Martial Arts Family Studio
USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center
24
October 2018 | nymetroparents.com
ntc.usta.com
718-760-6200 x0
BIRTHDAY MARKETPLACE
Children’s Museum of the Arts Enjoy an art-filled celebration with your child and friends! Register Today at CMANY.org or Email birthdays@cmany.org for more information and booking. Hosting a party at home, the patio, the park, or another space? We will design a private workshop for your party!
Confetti Grace
Check out our golf programs for kids ages 3 to 12 in NYC!
“Throw kindness around like confetti” DIY craft projects delivered to your door each month Make 2 projects (one to keep, one to give) Gift bags & DIY greeting cards included Ages 8+/great family project with young crafters
https://www.confettigrace.org
ktuga.com
Visit us on social media to watch how-to videos, share a picture of your project & find ideas on more ways you can spread kindness in your community! Enter CONFETTICRAFTS
at checkout for $4 off your first box
ECNS ETC. Does Parties! Let ECNS ETC. help you plan your child‛s birthday party. Our parties are best suited for children aged 2 to 10. From September to May, parties are available: Friday afternoons 4:00 to 5:30 Saturday and Sunday 11 to 12:30, 1:30 to 3:00 and 4:00 to 5:30.
20% of profits are donated to worldwide charities. See website for details.
Mystery Parties For Kids, Teens & Tweens!
From June to August, parties are available Monday to Thursday afternoons as well. With three different packages, we‛re sure to find the perfect party for your child! For more information, please email party@ecnsnyc.org or call 212-737-2977
Epiphany Community Nursery School 510 East 74th Street • New York, NY 10021 • 212-737-2977
Galli Theater New York Theater For The Whole Family SHOWS • BIRTHDAY PARTIES • CAMPS
Brand New Tribeca Location
Galli Theater At GSM 74 Warren Street New York, NY 10007 212-731-0668 galliny@gmail.com gallitheaternyc.com
Mystery & Mayhem 212.260.2295
MysteryandMayhem.com
Shows in October: Rapunzel and Hansel & Gretel
Saturdays & Sundays at 2pm
BigAppleParent 25
things to do
outbound
Family Fun a Ride Away Courtesy Van Cortlandt Manor
Courtesy Boundless Adventures
In Westchester County, NY…
Boundless Adventure Park hopes to get kids off their phones and active outside.
The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze at the Van Cortlandt Manor features more than 10,000 individually hand-carved, illuminated jack-o’-lanterns.
Boundless Adventure Park
Van Cortlandt Manor
Create a keepsake “scrimshaw” box at Cold Spring Harbor Whaling Museum during one of the many crafting programs.
Cold Spring Harbor Whaling Museum
Long Island is rich with whaling heritage, as it was one of the island’s most important commercial industries. This unique museum provides exhibits and programs that leave visitors with a comprehensive understanding of the industry that shaped the economic and social foundation of the region. View approximately 6,000 artifacts, the only fully-equipped whaling vessel with original gear on display in New York, scrimshaw collections, ship logs, and more. Visit It: 279 Main St., Cold Spring Harbor; 631-367-3418; cshwhalingmuseum.org
The beautiful stone manor house and brick ferry house in Hudson Valley is the perfect place for Halloween thrills and not-so-spooky fun with the whole family. Explore the historic, 18th-century riverside landscape during the day or come back for a breathtaking display of jack-o’-lanterns at The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze on select evenings through the end of November. Visit It: 525 S. Riverside, Croton-on-Hudson; hudsonvalley.org
o and bey nd! Courtesy Hudson Highlands Nature Museum
Courtesy Cold Spring Harbor Whaling Museum
There’s an obstacle course for every climber at Boundless Adventure, whether you’re a beginner or a pro. During the 3 hours you spend here, you can do as many courses as you wish. If you’re interested in a less physical experience, walking paths and benches are available throughout the park as well. Leave your valuables in the car because this is quite the outdoor adventure! Visit It: 735 Anderson Hill Road, Purchase; 914-893-4550
The Hudson Highlands Nature Museum highlights the role human interaction has in the well-being of our earth.
Hudson Highlands Nature Museum
This museum aims to teach its visitors how to responsibly take care of our environment. Educational programming, native animals, natural habitats, and trails are just some of the things to experience when you visit—all highlighting the unique ecology of the Hudson Highlands. Throughout October, participate in a variety of fun events including Halloween ‘I Spy’ and ‘Fungus Among Us.’ Visit It: 120 Muser Drive, Cornwall; 845-534-5506; hhnm.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 Historical Hallowe’en (No. 5 on our list).
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
t
nyme
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ents. ropar
WANT US TO INCLUDE YOUR EVENT?
nymetroparents.com/submitevent UPDATED DAILY AT nymetroparents.com/calendar
EDITOR: WHITNEY C. HARRIS nyccalendar@davlermedia.com
OCTOBER CALENDAR
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Editor’s Hot Tickets
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We Can’t Believe It’s FREE!
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Crafty Kids
31
Fun Fairs & Festivals, Animal Lovers
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The Great Outdoors, Smarty Pants
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Holiday Fun, Mini Musicians
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Show Time!
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EDITOR’S HOT TICKETS
Our calendar is full of great ideas. First, here are the 10 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!
1
Watson Adventures’ Ghosts of Greenwich Village Family Scavenger Hunt
WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 27, 3:30-5:30pm WHERE: Washington Square Park, Fifth Avenue and Washington Square North, Greenwich Village AGES: 5 and older WHAT: Work together to uncover the stories of secret cemeteries, looming skeletons, the homes of Edgar Allen Poe and Mark Twain, and more. WHY WE LOVE IT: Your family’s problem-solving abilities will be put to the test like never before—or else you’ll be haunted forever! WANT TO GO? $17.50-$21.50. 877-946-4868. watsonadventures.com.
National Dance Institute: The Celebration Team Performs to Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ and More
2
WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 27, 2pm WHERE: Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway, Upper West Side AGES: 9-17 WHAT: Kids will be dancing for kids at this year’s annual dance production which includes Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” and several more high-energy pieces. WHY WE LOVE IT: A once-in-a-lifetime show, performed by kids! WANT TO GO? $17-$20. 212-864-5400. symphonyspace.org.
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American Museum of Natural History Presents: Halloween Celebration
WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 27, 2pm WHERE: American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, Upper West Side
October 2018 | nymetroparents.com
AGES: All WHAT: Guests are invited to wander among dinosaurs, elephants, and the universe for trick-or-treating, arts and crafts, and fun with roaming cartoon characters, stilt-walkers, and balloon artists! WHY WE LOVE IT: This Halloween party includes live performances by the Big Apple Circus! WANT TO GO? $16. 212-769-5100. amnh.org.
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Show Up, Kids!
WHEN: Through Oct. 28: Saturday-Sunday, 2:30pm WHERE: The Kraine Theater, 85 E. 4th St., East Village AGES: 3-12 WHAT: This interactive, improvised family show puts a comedic, theatrical twist on the traditional kids’ show. WHY WE LOVE IT: Kids will put their wild imaginations to good use during this off-the-cuff show that must go on. WANT TO GO? $10. 917-825-3549. showuptheshow.com/kids.
Historical Hallowe’en
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WHEN: Sunday, Oct. 28, 5-7pm WHERE: New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park W., Upper West Side AGES: All WHAT: Kids and their grown-ups imagine the past through Victorianera fortune-telling, creepy crafts, Gilded Age ghost stories, and lots of candy. WHY WE LOVE IT: As a special treat, guests will also receive tickets to visit Harry Potter: A History of Magic during the party. WANT TO GO? $20. 212-873-3400. nyhistory.org.
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Halloween Pumpkin Flotilla FREE
WHEN: Sunday, Oct. 28, 4pm WHERE: Central Park, Charles A. Dana Discovery Center, 110th Street between Fifth and Lenox avenues, Central Park AGES: All WHAT: Enjoy pumpkin carving, Halloween crafts, spooky stories, a costume parade, and the Pumpkin Flotilla, which sets sail at twilight! WHY WE LOVE IT: Your spooky jack-o’-lantern will make Halloween history as it sails into the night. WANT TO GO? 212-860-1370. centralparknyc.org.
‘Sleepy Hollow’ the Musical
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WHEN: Through Nov. 11: See website for schedule WHERE: The Players Theater, 115 MacDougal St., Greenwich Village AGES: 9 and older WHAT: Ichabod Crane lost his way in the Hollow and was never seen again. Did the headless horseman get to him? WHY WE LOVE IT: Families will love this enduring tale about a real New York town that’s just spooky enough for the kids. WANT TO GO? $32 and up. 866-811-4111. theplayerstheatre.com.
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The Art of Dr. Seuss Collection: 20th Anniversary Celebration FREE
WHEN: Oct. 13-Nov. 15, Monday-Saturday, 10am7pm; Sunday, 11am-6pm WHERE: Pop International Galleries, 195 Bowery, Lower East Side AGES: All WHAT: This exhibit features original drawings, paintings, and “Unorthodox Taxidermy” sculptures from Dr. Seuss. WHY WE LOVE IT: Dr. Seuss created hundreds of lesser-known works of art—and some of it is for sale! WANT TO GO? 212-533-4262. popinternational.com.
Harry Potter: A History of Magic
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WHEN: Oct. 5-Jan. 27, 2019, Tuesday-Thursday and Saturday, 10am-6pm; Friday, 10am-9pm; Sunday, 10am-5pm WHERE: New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park W., Upper West Side AGES: All WHAT: The exhibition features rare books, manuscripts, and magical objects from museums, as well as original material from J.K. Rowling. WHY WE LOVE IT: NYHS will also host several Harry Potter-related events, including trivia and Hogwarts House Badge decorating! WANT TO GO? $21; $16 teachers and seniors; $13 students; $6 children ages 5-13; free for children 4 and younger. 212-873-3400. nyhistory.org.
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Big Apple Circus
W HEN: Oct. 20-Jan. 27, 2019, See website for schedule WHERE: Lincoln Center, 10 Lincoln Center Plaza, Upper West Side AGES: All WHAT: See horizontal juggling, an award-winning aerial duo, the quadruple somersault on the flying trapeze, clowns, acrobats, and much more. WHY WE LOVE IT: Clowning around is serious business at this landmark city circus, now in its 41st year. WANT TO GO? $35 and up. 212-257-2330. bigapplecircus.com.
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 six no-cost events we’re excited about now. You’re welcome. Family Night with ‘Gustafer Yellowgold’ FREE
WHEN: Friday, Oct. 12, 7pm WHERE: Madison Square Park, 11 Madison Ave., Flatiron District AGES: 3-8 WHAT: Gustafer Yellowgold is a multi-media performance of live music, animated illustrations, and storytelling. WANT TO GO? 212-520-7600. gustaferyellowgold.com.
The Venom Experience FREE
WHEN: Through Oct. 14: daily, 11-7pm WHERE: Sony Square NYC, 25 Madison Ave., Flatiron District AGES: All WHAT: Get behind the scenes of Venom, including original movie props and a chance to snap your pic on the motorcycle. WANT TO GO? 212-833-8800. sony.com/square-nyc.
Pickle Day FREE
WHEN: Sunday, Oct. 14, 12-5pm WHERE: Orchard Street, Orchard Street between Delancey and East Houston, Lower East Side AGES: All WHAT: Come on down to enjoy all things pickled with more than 20 picklers, 30 local eateries, specialty ice cream surprises, pickles on a stick, and a giant talking pickle mascot. WANT TO GO? pickleday.nyc.
Uni Project FREE
WHEN: Through Oct. 21: Saturday-Sunday, 11am-4pm WHERE: FDR Four Freedoms Park, 1 FDR Four Freedoms Park, Roosevelt Island AGES: All WHAT: A fun-filled weekend with offerings like a pop-up reading room, story hour, and a curated collection of books and hands-on materials. WANT TO GO? 212-204-8831. fdrfourfreedomspark.org.
Museum Makers: Designing With Data FREE
WHEN: Through Nov. 8: Thursdays, 3:30-5:30pm WHERE: New York Hall of Science, 4701 111th St., Corona, Queens AGES: 5-8, adult WHAT: Participants can ask questions, collect data, uncover patterns, and design and create their very own exhibit. WANT TO GO? 718-699-0005. nysci.org.
Saturday Morning Show FREE
WHEN: Through Dec. 15: Saturdays, 10am-12pm WHERE: Brookfield Place, 230 Vesey St., Battery Park City AGES: Newborn to 5 WHAT: Family-friendly performances include interactive sing-alongs, children’s book readings, and crafts. WANT TO GO? 212-978-1698. brookfieldplaceny.com. ›› BigAppleParent 29
Chagall and Friends Family Day
WHEN: Sunday, Oct. 21, 11am-4pm WHERE: The Jewish Museum, 1109 Fifth Ave., Upper East Side AGES: 3 and older WHAT: Families can create whimsical collage books and playful mobiles in a giant art workshop! WANT TO GO? $18; $12 seniors; $8 students; free for children 18 and younger. 212-423-3200. thejewishmuseum.org.
P.S. Art: Celebrating the Creative Spirit of NYC Kids
CRAFTY KIDS Archaeology Mondays
WHEN: Monday, Oct. 8, 3-5pm WHERE: The Jewish Museum, 1109 Fifth Ave., Upper East Side AGES: 3-8 WHAT: The Jewish Museum’s simulated archaeological dig highlights replicas from ancient to modern times in a hands-on experience. WANT TO GO? $18; $12 seniors; $8 students; free for children 18 and younger. 212-423-3200. thejewishmuseum.org.
Columbus Day Drop-In Art Workshop
WHEN: Monday, Oct. 8, 1-4pm WHERE: The Jewish Museum, 1109 Fifth Ave., Upper East Side AGES: 3 and older WHAT: Kids will discover striking portraits on view and create self-portraits or portraits of family members using a variety of painting materials. WANT TO GO? $18; $12 seniors; $8 students; free for children 18 and younger. 212-423-3200. thejewishmuseum.org.
Family Day: Build a Lego City FREE
WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 13, 11am-3pm WHERE: Center for Architecture, 536 LaGuardia Place, Greenwich Village AGES: 5-12 WHAT: Families will explore architecture, design, and construction with everyone’s favorite building material: Lego bricks! WANT TO GO? 212-358-6133. centerforarchitecture.org.
Picture This!
WHEN: Sunday, Oct. 14, 10:30am-12:30pm WHERE: The Jewish Museum, 1109 Fifth Ave., Upper East Side AGES: 3-8 WHAT: Enjoy interactive art-viewing activities and a storybook reading, followed by an opportunity to create original artworks and a concert. WANT TO GO? $25. 212-423-3200. thejewishmuseum.org.
Manga
WHEN: Sunday, Oct. 14, 2:30pm WHERE: Japan Society, 333 E. 47th St., Midtown East AGES: 3-5 WHAT: Kids will create their own characters and write a manga story. WANT TO GO? $15; free for children ages 2 or younger. 212-832-1155. japansociety.org.
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October 2018 | nymetroparents.com
WHEN: Through Oct. 21: Sunday-Thursday, 10am-5:30pm; Friday-Saturday, 10am-9pm WHERE: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 Fifth Ave., Upper East Side AGES: All WHAT: The exhibit highlights young artists and art making as a way to appreciate cultures, life experiences, and traditions across the city. WANT TO GO? $25; $17 seniors; $12 students; free for children younger than 12. 212-535-7710. metmuseum.org.
Building Blocks
WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 27, 10:30-11:45am WHERE: The Skyscraper Museum, 39 Battery Place, Battery Park City AGES: 3-8 WHAT: Using stacking blocks, kids will construct the sturdiest tower and recreate famous New York Skyscrapers. WANT TO GO? $5. 212-945-6324. skyscraper.org.
Family Sundays: Rings of Reason
WHEN: Oct. 7-28, Sundays, 1-4pm WHERE: The Rubin Museum, 150 W. 17th St., Chelsea AGES: 3 and older WHAT: Use a slice of a tree trunk to make a print, then add symbols, drawings, and writing to represent important events, people, and places in your life. WANT TO GO? $15; $10 seniors and students; free for children 12 and younger. 212-620-5000. rubinmuseum.org.
A Closer Look for Kids: Shape, Line, and Color FREE
WHEN: Oct. 6-28, Saturday-Sunday, 10:20am WHERE: The Museum of Modern Art, 4 W. 54th St., Manhattan AGES: 5-12 WHAT: Engage in lively discussions and fun activities while looking closely at cutting-edge contemporary art. WANT TO GO? 212-708-9805. moma.org.
Make It: Lightsabers
WHEN: Oct. 6-28, Saturday-Sunday, 1:30pm and 5pm WHERE: New York Hall of Science, 4701 111th St., Corona, Queens AGES: 5-12, adult WHAT: Explore light and simple circuits while creating brilliantly glowing lightsabers. WANT TO GO? $5. 718-699-0005. nysci.org.
Studio Art Sessions
WHEN: Through May 12: daily, 1-4pm WHERE: The Jewish Museum, 1109 Fifth Ave., Upper East Side AGES: 3-12 WHAT: Paint, draw, sculpt, or craft a work of art inspired by exhibitions on view. WANT TO GO? $18; $12 seniors; $8 students; free for children 18 and younger. 212-423-3200. thejewishmuseum.org.
FUN FAIRS & FESTIVALS Harlem Harvest Festival FREE
WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 6, 11am-4pm WHERE: Saint Nicholas Avenue, between 117th and 118th streets, Harlem AGES: All WHAT: Enjoy a harvest bakeoff, special presentations and music, and a kids’ zone with face painting, trampolines, and a baking workshop. WANT TO GO? 212-862-4858. harlemharvestfestival.com.
The Centennial Heritage Festival
WHEN: Oct. 6-7, times vary, check schedule for details WHERE: Bohemian National Hall, 321 E. 73rd St., Upper East Side AGES: 3 and older WHAT: This celebration of Czech heritage features a marionette production, concerts, film screenings, traditional folk songs, and an array of traditional foods and beverages. WANT TO GO? $11 and up. 800-838-3006. bohemiannationalhall.com.
Native American Heritage Celebration
WHEN: Monday, Oct. 8, 11am-2pm WHERE: Museum of the City of New York, 1220 Fifth Ave., East Harlem AGES: All WHAT: Celebrate the history of local Native American groups, hear folk stories, and create a cornhusk doll. WANT TO GO? $18; $12 students and seniors; free for ages 19 and younger. 347-441-9181. mcny.org.
Harvest Festival FREE
WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 13, 11am-1pm WHERE: Carl Schurz Park, East 87th Street and East End Avenue, Upper East Side AGES: All WHAT: Pick a pumpkin and decorate it, meet a live-action scarecrow, get your face painted, and enjoy an afternoon Halloween party in the park. WANT TO GO? 212-459-4455. carlschurzparknyc.etapwss.com.
Harvest Festival FREE
WHEN: Sunday, Oct. 14, 12pm WHERE: Randall’s Island Park, 20 Randall’s Island Park, Randall’s Island AGES: All WHAT: Celebrate fall with live musical performances, pumpkin decorating, face painting, kite flying, meet the chickens, crafts, games, and more. WANT TO GO? 212-830-7722. randallsisland.org.
Hester Street Fair 2018 FREE
WHEN: Through Oct. 27: Saturdays, 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.
ANIMAL LOVERS Family Breakfast With Animals: Red Pandas
WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 6, 9-10am WHERE: Central Park Zoo, East 64th Street and Fifth Avenue, Upper East Side AGES: 3-8 WHAT: Following a light breakfast and animal-themed activities, children and caregivers will visit the exhibits and watch the animals receive breakfast! WANT TO GO? $25-$30. 800-433-4149. centralparkzoo.com.
Junior Keepers: Red Pandas
WHEN: Sunday, Oct. 14, 9-10:30am WHERE: Central Park Zoo, East 64th Street and Fifth Avenue, Upper East Side AGES: 5-12 WHAT: Put your zoo keeping skills to the test during this hands-on, interactive program! WANT TO GO? $50-$60. 800-433-4149. centralparkzoo.com.
Halloween Howl and Healthy Hound Fair FREE
WHEN: Wednesday, Oct. 31, 12-3pm WHERE: Carl Schurz Park, East 87th Street and East End Avenue, Upper East Side AGES: All WHAT: More than 200 pups in their spookiest and silliest costumes WANT TO GO? 212-459-4455. carlschurzparknyc.etapwss.com.
Penguin Feedings FREE
WHEN: Oct. 1-Dec. 31, daily, 10:30am and 2:30pm WHERE: Central Park Zoo, East 64th Street and Fifth Avenue, Upper East Side AGES: 3-8 WHAT: When it’s time to eat, the penguins come out of their dens to bob for fish. WANT TO GO? 800-433-4149. centralparkzoo.com.
The Butterfly Conservatory: Tropical Butterflies Alive in Winter
WHEN: Oct. 6-May 27, 2019, daily, 10am-5:45pm WHERE: American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West at 79th Street, Upper West Side AGES: All WHAT: Up to 500 live butterflies housed in a vivarium WANT TO GO? $28; $22.50 students and seniors; $16.50 children ages 2-12. 212-769-5800. amnh.org. ››
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Governors Island Open Season
WHEN: Through Oct. 31: Monday-Friday, 10am-6pm; Saturday-Sunday, 10am-7pm WHERE: Governors Island, ferries leave from 10 South St., Manhattan AGES: All WHAT: Enjoy lush landscapes and a calendar full of concerts and free programming. WANT TO GO? $3; free for children younger than 13; free for all passengers Saturday-Sunday until 11:30am. 212-440-2200. govisland.com.
THE GREAT OUTDOORS SMARTY PANTS Discovery Walk for Families: Woodland Wonderland FREE
WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 6, 10am WHERE: Loeb Boathouse Express Café in Central Park, East Drive and 75th Street, Upper East Side AGES: 5-12 WHAT: A guided exploration to discover who calls the forest floor, the Lake shoreline, and the treetops their home. WANT TO GO? 212-794-6564. centralparknyc.org.
Maths Inspiration, Live on Stage!
Art on the Farm FREE
Trusty Sidekick Theater Company: Gumshoe
WHEN: Through Oct. 13: Saturdays, 2-4pm WHERE: Randall’s Island Park Alliance, 20 Randall’s Island Park, Randall’s Island AGES: 3 and older WHAT: Use the farm for inspiration for creating seasonal projects such as nature printing, watercolor painting, nature journals, and more. WANT TO GO? 212-830-7722. randallsisland.org.
Urban Farm Exploration Days FREE
WHEN: Tuesday, Oct. 2, 10am and 12pm WHERE: Baruch Performing Arts Center, 55 Lexington Ave., Kips Bay AGES: 13-17 WHAT: Inspire your students with a large venue and interactive stage show featuring some of the U.K.’s most engaging math performers. WANT TO GO? $35. 212-542-0566. momath.org. WHEN: Through Oct. 7: daily, 11am and 2pm WHERE: Henry Street Settlement Headquarters, 265 Henry St., Lower East Side AGES: 9 and older WHAT: Join Trusty Sidekick Theater Company at the historic settlement house where a clandestine game is afoot, inspired by the legacy of Lillian Wald. WANT TO GO? $20. 212-598-0400. henrystreet.org.
Family Fridays: No Duck Can Waltz!: Lewis Carroll’s Logic Puzzles with Chaim Goodman-Strauss FREE
WHEN: Through Oct. 14: Saturday-Sunday, 11am-5pm WHERE: Randall’s Island Park Alliance, 20 Randall’s Island Park, Randall’s Island AGES: 3 and older WHAT: Explore the Urban Farm’s variety of crops, fruit trees, fragrant herbs, and chickens too. Enjoy free, monthly drop-in workshop on topics ranging from gardening skills to cooking and crafts. WANT TO GO? 212-830-7722. randallsisland.org.
WHEN: Friday, Oct. 12, 6:30-8pm WHERE: National Museum of Mathematics, 11 E. 26th St., Nomad AGES: All WHAT: Come explore the ins and outs of mathematical logic, with puzzles from Lewis Carroll’s books and other absurd examples. WANT TO GO? 212-542-0566. momath.org.
Family Salt Marsh Tour FREE
Catch that Ghost: A MoMath Puzzle Hunt
WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 20, 2pm WHERE: Randall’s Island Park Alliance, 20 Randall’s Island Park, Randall’s Park AGES: All WHAT: Visit the gardens and salt marsh, with hands-on activities and nature projects. WANT TO GO? 212-830-7722. randallsisland.org.
Erie Canal Exploration Zone
WHEN: Oct. 7-28, Sundays, 12-4pm WHERE: South Street Seaport Museum, 213 Water St., Lower Manhattan AGES: 5-12 WHAT: Families can use our hands-on models to better understand the engineering marvel that is the Erie Canal. WANT TO GO? $12; $8 seniors and students; $6 children ages 2-17; free for children younger than 2. 212-732-8257. southstreetseaport.com.
Stargazing FREE
WHEN: Through Oct. 30: Tuesdays, dusk to 30 minutes before park closes WHERE: The High Line, West 12th Street, Chelsea AGES: All WHAT: Peer through high-powered telescopes to see rare celestial sights. WANT TO GO? 212-500-6035. thehighline.org. 32
October 2018 | nymetroparents.com
WHEN: Sunday, Oct. 21, 11am-5pm WHERE: National Museum of Mathematics, 11 E. 26th St., Nomad AGES: 9 and older WHAT: Teams of children and adult chaperones will explore midtown Manhattan, and use their wits and mathematical knowledge to solve a mystery! WANT TO GO? $35. 212-542-0566. momath.org.
Ripley’s Relic
WHEN: Through Dec. 31: daily, 9am-1am WHERE: Ripley’s Believe It Or Not Times Square, 234 W. 42nd St., Midtown AGES: All WHAT: Work together to unlock a series of puzzles and decipher a strange assortment of scientific symbols. WANT TO GO? $15. 212-398-3133. ripleysnewyork.com.
Monthly Youth Stamp Club FREE
WHEN: Through May 18: select Saturdays, 10-11:30am WHERE: Collectors Club of New York, 22 E. 35th St., Murray Hill AGES: 9-17 WHAT: Stamp collecting is a hobby that provides fun while offering learning opportunities about almost every imaginable topic. WANT TO GO? 212-683-0559. collectorsclub.org.
HOLIDAY FUN
MINI
MUSICIANS
Watson Adventures’ Wizard School Scavenger Hunt for Harry Potter Fans
WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 13, 10:30am-12:30pm WHERE: Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 Fifth Ave., Upper West Side AGES: 9 and older WHAT: You’ll track down serpents, Dumbledore look-alikes, and figures as scary as any Death Eater. WANT TO GO? $31-$42. 877-946-4868. watsonadventures.com.
The Laurie Berkner Band’s Monster Boogie Halloween Concert WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 20, 3pm WHERE: The Concert Hall at the New York Society for Ethical Culture, 2 W. 64th St., Upper West Side AGES: 3-8 WHAT: Kids and grown-ups are encouraged to come in costume and bring their dancing shoes! WANT TO GO? $39. 877-987-6487. ticketfly.com.
Family Build and Wear Workshop
WHEN: Sunday, Oct. 21, 10:30am-12:30pm WHERE: Center for Architecture, 536 LaGuardia Place, Greenwich Village AGES: 5-12 WHAT: Create your own architecture-inspired Halloween costume, including a crown in the form of a building spire. WANT TO GO? $6; $12 children. 212-358-6133. centerforarchitecture.org.
TNF’s Halloween Friendly Boo
WHEN: Sunday, Oct. 21, 10:30-11:30am WHERE: Riverside Park, Riverside Park at West 80th Street, Upper West Side AGES: 3-5 WHAT: Enjoy a tot-friendly trick-or-treating obstacle course, then decorate pumpkins, explore an interactive maze, and enjoy some light snacks. WANT TO GO? $13-$35. 917-830-6485. eventbrite.com.
Day of the Dead FREE
WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 27, 12pm WHERE: St. Mark’s Church in-the-Bowery, 131 E. 10th St., East Village AGES: All WHAT: Celebrate Day of the Dead with art-marking, live music, and more! WANT TO GO? manoamano.us.
Dead or Alive 2018
WHEN: Sunday, Oct. 28, 1-5pm WHERE: New York Hall of Science, 4701 111th St., Corona, Queens AGES: All WHAT: Kids can make their own fake vials of blood, construct prosthetic wounds, design their own costumes, and become zombies while learning about biological simulations. WANT TO GO? $16; $13 children, students, and seniors. 718-699-0005. nysci.org.
Spooky City: Halloween
WHEN: Wednesday, Oct. 31, 2-6pm WHERE: Museum of the City of New York, 1220 Fifth Ave., East Harlem AGES: All WHAT: Wear your costume or make a mask at the museum, then trick-or-treat on a haunted New York scavenger hunt. WANT TO GO? $18; $12 students and seniors; free for ages 19 and younger. 347-441-9181. mcny.org.
Jazzy Ash and the Leaping Lizards FREE
WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 6, 11am WHERE: David Rubenstein Atrium, 165 W. 65th St., 7th Floor, Lincoln Center AGES: 3-8 WHAT: Jazzy Ash and her band the Leaping Lizards bring children along on a swinging’ musical tour of New Orleans. WANT TO GO? 212-957-1709. lincolncenter.org.
The Sound of 100 Strings!
WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 13, 3pm WHERE: Advent Lutheran Church, 2504 Broadway, Upper West Side AGES: Newborn to 5 WHAT: Duos, trios, and quartets will be featured. WANT TO GO? $30; free for children younger than 12. mozartformunchkins.com.
The Moonlights
WHEN: Sunday, Oct. 14, 11:30am WHERE: The Jewish Museum, 1109 Fifth Ave., Upper East Side AGES: 3-8 WHAT: The Moonlights is an inspired collaboration between songwriters Rachel Loshak and Dean Jones. WANT TO GO? $18. 212-423-3200. thejewishmuseum.org.
Joey Alexander with Strings
WHEN: Oct. 19-20, Friday-Saturday, 8pm WHERE: Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Frederick P. Rose Hall, Broadway and 60th Street, Upper West Side AGES: All WHAT: The Grammy-nominated musician returns as a headliner. WANT TO GO? $40 and up. 212-258-9800. jazz.org.
LOS Kids Concert Series: Duke Ellington and Scott Joplin
WHEN: Oct. 20-21, Saturday, 10am and 11:30am; Sunday, 10am, 11:30am, and 1pm WHERE: The Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College, 695 Park Ave., Upper East Side AGES: 3-12 WHAT: LOS Kids features fabulous music from classical to jazz and storytelling that will captivate the youngest audience members. WANT TO GO? $32 and up. 212-971-9500. littleorchestra.org. ››
‘Wow in the World’ Pop Up Party
WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 13, 11am WHERE: Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway, Upper West Side AGES: 3-12 WHAT: A live performance by The Pop Ups with games and comedy skits. WANT TO GO? $20. 503-293-9498. symphonyspace.org.
‘Rain’
WHEN: Oct. 10-14, Wednesday-Saturday, 10:30am and 12:30pm; Sunday, 12:30pm WHERE: Lincoln Center, Clark Studio Theater, 165 W. 65th St., 7th Floor, Upper West Side AGES: Newborn to 2 WHAT: This sensory experience introduces babies to a world of opportunities for connection through music, touch, and performance. WANT TO GO? $25. 212-957-1709. lincolncenter.org.
‘The Rainbow Fish’
WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 20, 11am and 2pm WHERE: Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway, Upper West Side AGES: 3-8 WHAT: A glow-in-the-dark puppetry adaptation of The Rainbow Fish. WANT TO GO? $17-$20. 212-864-5400. symphonyspace.org.
The Amazing Story Machine
SHOW TIME! Michael & the Rockness Monsters
WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 6, 11am WHERE: Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway, Upper West Side AGES: All WHAT: This rock band for kids invites crowd participation. WANT TO GO? $14-$17. 212-864-5400. symphonyspace.org.
City Parks Foundation Presents ‘Beppo the Clown’
WHEN: Oct. 3-7, Wednesday-Friday, 6pm; Saturday-Sunday, 3pm and 6pm WHERE: Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre in Central Park, West 81st Street and Central Park West, Upper West Side AGES: All WHAT: The story of a shy clown who embarks on a journey to find bravery. WANT TO GO? $15 in advance, $20 at door. 212-988-9093. cityparksfoundation.org.
Machine de Cirque
WHEN: Through Oct. 7: See website for show times WHERE: The New Victory Theater, 209 W. 42nd St., Midtown AGES: 9 and older WHAT: Watch acrobats swinging by their toes, bicycling upside-down and backwards, and flipping and flying off teeterboards. WANT TO GO? $17 and up. 646-223-3010. newvictory.org.
‘With a Little Help’ FREE
WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 13, 12pm WHERE: The Museum of Modern Art, 4 W. 54th St., Midtown AGES: 5-12 WHAT: In this series of short films, children learn how to overcome obstacles like riding a bike, making a movie, and finding their way back home, with help from those around them. WANT TO GO? 212-708-9805. moma.org. 34
October 2018 | nymetroparents.com
WHEN: Oct. 6-27, See website for schedule WHERE: The Tank, 312 W. 36th St., Midtown West AGES: 3 and older WHAT: The show features puppetry, music, and physical comedy. WANT TO GO? $20. 212-563-6269. doppelskope.com.
Neighborhood Movie Nights FREE
WHEN: Through Nov. 9: Fridays, 7-9pm WHERE: St. Paul’s Chapel, 209 Broadway, Lower Manhattan AGES: All WHAT: You’re invited to cheer along underdog athletes from movies. WANT TO GO? 212-602-0800. trinitywallstreet.org.
DreamWorks ‘Trolls’: The Experience
WHEN: Oct. 22-Jan. 6, 2019, Monday-Friday, 10am-8pm; SaturdaySunday, 9am-8pm WHERE: 218 W. 57th St., Midtown AGES: 3-8 WHAT: Primp and polish for Poppy’s Best Day Ever celebration, and more! WANT TO GO? $25. trollstheexperience.com.
‘The Wizard of Oz’
WHEN: Through Nov. 24: See website for schedule WHERE: Harlem Rep, Tato Laviera Theatre, 240 E. 123rd St., Harlem AGES: All WHAT: The classic musical is performed by a multi-racial cast. WANT TO GO? $10 and up. 212-868-4444. harlemrepertorytheatre.com.
Coming up next month: NOV. 3: Elena Moon Park and Friends at Lincoln Center, Upper West Side NOV. 8-FEB. 10, 2019: Mickey: The True Original Exhibition at 60 Tenth Ave., Chelsea NOV. 18: Hoop Dancing Demonstrations at National Museum of the American Indian, Lower Manhattan
things to do
where-to guide
October Chills & Spooky Thrills Compiled by Anja Webb
Get in the Halloween spirit and get ready for a fun-filled fall! Whether you’re looking for some ghoulish fun to scare the pants off your teens or some more light-hearted haunts for the little ones, we’ve got you covered with our ultimate Halloween guide. Keep the thrills going with escape rooms that allow you to embrace your inner Houdini and give your kids the perfect opportunity to show off their detective skills. Or, if you’d rather take it easy, try taking a family day trip to the farm for some pumpkin picking. Now if it’s already a little too chilly outside, you might want to stay indoors and go for a skate at your local roller rink instead. Whatever you’re looking for, we’ve got what you need to get ready for the Halloween season and make it a great October with your family!
PUMPKIN PICKING Hurd’s Family Farm
2187 State Route 32, Modena 845-883-7825; hurdsfamilyfarm.com Open daily, 9am-5pm U-pick pumpkins, veggies, and apples, plus family-friendly mystery corn mazes, storybook corn maze, and hayrides; big apple bounce pillow, rubber duck derby, apple launcher, cow train, giant slide, fish feeding, farm animals, nature trails, and gem mining daily. Educational school tours and birthday parties available. Check website for themed weekends, music, and special events. Find more>> nymetroparents.com/pumpkins
HALLOWEEN FOR KIDS Central Park Conservancy Halloween Parade and Pumpkin Sail
Harlem Meer, East Side from 106th to 110th streets 212-310-6600; centralparknyc.org Sunday, Oct. 28, 4-7pm After pre-registering for your ‘flotilla,’ bring your pre-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. Find more>> nymetroparents.com/Halloween
ROLLER RINKS Riverbank Skating Rink
38 W. 32nd St., 6th Floor, Midtown West 212-520-2908; exodusescaperoom.com The three rooms include Exodus, Masquerade Manor, and Hound of Baskerville. Each of the rooms is recommended for groups of two to 10 people.
679 Riverside Park 212-694-3600; parks.ny.gov/parks/93/details.aspx Situated in New York’s Riverbank State Park in Harlem, Riverbank skating rink is a covered rink open from May through October (weather permitting). With tennis and basketball courts, swimming pools, a carousel, picnic areas, a restaurant, and breathtaking views of the Hudson River, George Washington Bridge, and Palisades, the park really offers something for everyone.
Find more>> nymetroparents.com/escape-rooms
Find more>> nymetroparents.com/roller-rinks
ESCAPE ROOMS Exodus Escape Rooms
Parochial Schools and Private Schools PAROCHIAL SCHOOLS
The Epiphany School
Gramercy, Murray Hill Early Childhood Center: 152 E. 29th St. 212-725-7220 Lower School: 234 E. 22nd St. 212-473-4128 Upper School: 141 E. 28th St. 212-725-7220 theepiphanyschool.org admissions@theepiphanyschool.org Early Childhood classes at The Epiphany School utilize art, music, movement, learning centers, and socialization activities to support the growth of each child’s cognitive, linguistic, physical, and social-emotional skills. Low teacher-student ratios, bright, colorful classrooms, and an outdoor play space provide students with an inviting and comfortable environment to begin their educational journey. Graduates continue to many of NYC’s top high schools. Serving approximately 530 students of all faiths, age 2 through eighth grade, The Epiphany School provides a value-centered education that educates the whole child and inspires academic success.
First Presbyterian Church Nursery School
12 W. 12th St. 212-691-3432 fpcns.org First Presbyterian Church Nursery School was founded in 1952 in Greenwich Village. Our school offers a non-sectarian program, welcoming children and families of all configurations, religions, races, cultures, and economic backgrounds. FPCNS is dedicated to the development of the whole child in a warm and nurturing environment, offering experienced classroom teachers and specialists in studio, music, movement, gardening, and a healthy snack program. Extended day, enrichment programming, and a summer camp are available for 4s and 5s students. FPCNS has large, airy classrooms, a rooftop playground, and an indoor play space.
Mary Louis Academy: Empowering Young Women Since 1936
176-21 Wexford Terrace, Jamaica Estates 718-297-2120 tmla.org The Mary Louis Academy has established several 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 2018, 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,
36
and Math), Fine Art, Music, and Physical Education and Wellness. For more info visit: tmla.org.
Mount Saint Michael Academy
Thomas Fraher, admissions director 4300 Murdock Ave., Bronx 718-515-6400 mtstmichael.org Mount Saint Michael Academy, in the tradition of the Marist Brothers, provides a rigorous, college preparatory education to young men in sixth to 12th grades. One hundred-percent of Mount graduates gain admission to college, including top tier colleges and universities. Mount is a powerhouse in a range of sports and holds championship titles in baseball, basketball, football, lacrosse, track, and soccer. Special programs include Honors Program for top ranking students, Sports Medicine Program for students interested in careers in the medical field, and a Focus Education Program for students with learning difficulties.
PRIVATE SCHOOLS Buckley Country Day School
2 I.U. Willets Road, Roslyn 516-627-1910 buckleycountryday.com/page Buckley Country Day School is an independent, coeducational day school providing a superior elementary education to an intellectually capable and diverse student body. Buckley provides the foundation that enables our students to achieve their full potential and excel as educated, ethical, and self-confident individuals. Our graduates are well prepared for secondary schools and beyond.
The Calhoun School
Main Building third to 12th grades 433 West End Ave. 212-497-6500 Robert L. Beir Lower School Building 2.8 years to second grade 160 W. 74th St. 212-497-6550 calhoun.org Calhoun School, preschool to 12th grade, offers a hands-on “learning by doing” curriculum, embracing the individuality of our students while supporting intellectual, emotional, and social growth. At all ages, Calhoun students engage in challenging and exciting learning experiences. Whether building machines in kindergarten, researching race and identity in middle school, or creating an innovative project in Junior Workshop, students are encouraged to experiment, take risks, and pursue their passions. Calhoun graduates, supported by thoughtful college counseling, leave with both a strong academic foundation and the skills to thrive in college and beyond.
October 2018 | nymetroparents.com
Dwight School
291 Central Park W. 212-724-6360 dwight.edu admissions@dwight.edu Founded in 1872, Dwight is a leading nursery to 12th grade private school dedicated to igniting the spark of genius in every child. Dwight’s nurturing preschool is the ideal environment for children to have their first classroom experience as early as 3 months–2½ years. Dwight has one of the lowest student-teacher ratios among NYC independent schools and the first in the Americas to offer the comprehensive International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum for students ages 3-18. Through a global network, students travel and participate in enriching exchange programs at Dwight campuses around the world.
The École
111 E. 22nd St. 646-410-2238 einy.org; admissions@theecole.org The École (formerly École Internationale de New York) is an intimate, independent French-American school located in New York’s vibrant Flatiron District. The École offers an academic bilingual program in French and English from nursery-eighth grade offering Mandarin and Spanish as a foreign language. The École is fully accredited by the French Ministry of Education and is affiliated with the Mission Laïque Française. A faculty of certified teachers from France and the United States work to instill the rigor of the French curriculum and the American emphasis on independent thinking.
Epiphany Community Nursery School
510 E. 74th St. 212-737-2977 ecnsnyc.org Since 1975, the core philosophy of Epiphany Community Nursery School centers on positive self-image, curiosity, strong educational curriculum, creativity, and independence. Bright, spacious classrooms are filled with books, toys, and manipulatives to facilitate cognitive growth. With a private rooftop playground, large indoor playroom, and fully equipped gym, there is plenty of room to play. Curriculum is flexible and recognizes the importance of each child as a distinct personality. ECNS is an interdenominational, melting pot school for all children ages 2-5, regardless of race, religion, ethnic origin, or family circumstances.
The Ideal School of Manhattan
Upper West Side 212-769-1699 theidealschool.org; dbyrnes@idealschool.org On any given day at The IDEAL School of Manhattan, students may present on a civil rights leader, partic-
ipate in a dance workshop, showcase their writing, enjoy Riverside Park, build a robot, perform in a musical, or visit the Met. IDEAL is New York’s only kindergarten to 12th independent inclusion school. Here, we celebrate the tremendous social, emotional, and academic growth born in a diverse and nurturing educational community. IDEAL’s name reflects our core values of Inclusion, Diversity, Excellence, Acceptance, and Leadership. Schedule your visit today to experience this unique school theidealschool.org/ admissions/open-houses.
International Academy of New York
4 E. 90th St. (150 W. 83rd St. for 201819 only-during renovations) 212-641-0260 ianyc.org; info@ianyc.org The International Academy of New York is a bilingual, multi-cultural, diverse nursery-eighth grade school developing culturally astute and confident students with fluency in Mandarin or Spanish, and exceptional literacy and math skills. IANY delivers personal attention to each student, nurturing their intellectual, physical, creative, social, and emotional development, teaching them the skills to contribute and thrive in today’s world. Now accepting applications for pre-nursery (2s) through fourth grade (adding a grade each year through eighth grade). Financial aid available.
The Montessori School of New York International
347 E. 55th St., Sutton Place 212-223-4630 montessorischoolny.com In a lovingly, thoughtfully-prepared environment, children explore academic dimensions at their own pace and interest level, helping them grow in self-esteem and independence. Classes are equipped with didactic Montessori materials that encourage absorption of concepts through play, leading children to become well-rounded and confident. Program includes science, music, foreign language, musical theatre, swimming, dance, yoga, and chess. Children do extremely well academically, and are prepared for admission to gifted programs. A unique summer program, staffed by year-round teachers, offers continued learning and outdoor activities, ranging from theme-based trips to sports.
Nord Anglia International School New York 44 E. 2nd St. 212-600-2010 nordangliaeducation.com/our-schools/ new-york info@ny.nae.school Nord Anglia International School New York is a truly international school with a highly personalized approach to learning, for ages 2-14. We recognize that all children are unique and as such, our classes are small
enough to provide each child with a tailored and well-rounded academic and personal experience, where friends from all over the world are made for life. We enrich our curricula with world leading programs through our collaborations with Juilliard, MIT, and UNICEF to give our students access to the latest thinking from the world’s leading educators.
Pusteblume International Preschool and Afterschool Programs
244 W. 14th St. 212-206-1137 pusteblumenyc.org info@pusteblumenyc.org Pusteblume International Preschool provides children with a fun and community-oriented multicultural environment. Our preschool program welcomes families with children from ages 2-5 of all international backgrounds who are interested in having their child learn German, Spanish, or both, in a language immersion classroom. Our after-school programs and holiday camps welcome children from other schools and also offer activities for school-age children (ages 6-12). Pusteblume International Preschool is directed by Friends of the German International School of New York, Inc., a non-profit, 501(c)(3) corporation.
Sara Curry Day School
93 St. Mark’s Place 212-777-9774 saracurrydayschool.org Children in The Sara Curry Day
School are focused, relaxed, communicative, and engaged. This is done through emotional education, and self-directed learning. They learn to reflect on their feelings before they act, and to understand the feelings of others. Conflict is an opportunity to discuss feelings, recognize patterns, and find communal solutions. In self-directed learning children learn what motivates and excites them. Projects do not come from the top down, but from children’s ideas. Children grow to be fulfilled as individuals and as unique and important members of the group.
Wetherby–Pembridge School
7 E. 96th St. 646-213-3400 Ages: 3-14 wetherby-pembridge.org info@whetherby-pembridge.org A British independent school for boy and girls ages 3-14, our school vision is to awaken curiosity, cultivate high standards, and celebrate successes. We combine the merits of single-sex and coeducation in a unique provision that is both family-friendly and educationally sound. Our curriculum is based on the rigorous English National Curriculum but is enriched by New York City’s educational practice and infused with our three school values of respect, responsibility, and resilience.
Incredible things happen when children love to
Learn. Join us for an open house this fall! RSVP: calhoun.org/visit
160 West 74th Street
Preschool – 12th Grade calhoun.org
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raising kids baby
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‘Sharental’ Advisory ››
Posting about your little one’s life on social media is big-time fun—but is it smart? And safe?
I
n parenthood, there are moments of mayhem we don’t want anyone else to see and moments we want to highlight on Instagram—and, if we’re being honest, moments of mayhem that are totally worthy of a post on Instagram. If this is something you know all too well, welcome to ‘sharenthood.’ It is no secret that as we scroll through our various social media feeds, most (if not all) of what we see is staged. Everyone has a different motive for posting their children on social media, and some choose to keep their babies off Facebook and Instagram completely. The 38,000-follower Instagram account @thispugslife, winner of The Ellen DeGeneres Show’s Ellen Rate My Baby, began as an account showcasing Charlie, a black pug. Account creator Meredith Kreuger’s daughter was added to the mix when she was born. “Followers tell me all the time that the two of them make them smile and make them happy,” Kreuger says. “My goal is to make people laugh via Instagram and blogging. I love captioning photos and I love to write!” There are parents who post pictures to keep their families in the loop, some who use Instagram as a scrapbook of sorts, others who are aiming to send a greater message, and in some cases, to receive a sense of validation. This all leads us to the question: to post or not to post?
Why Sharent?
Mac & Mia, an online children’s clothing service, surveyed 2,000 new parents about how they felt when it came to posting their babies on social media. The survey concluded there are two types 38
October 2018 | nymetroparents.com
By Dasha Kofman
of parents: those who claim they use social media to keep friends and family involved and develop content for future scrapbooking projects (87 percent) and those who have no shame in saying ‘it just feels good to show off my kid’ (13 percent). Although parents link their posting motives to being about their kids, it turns out it’s more about appeasing themselves, according to Ida Jeltova, Ph.D., a licensed psychologist in Rockland and Bergen counties with more than 14 years of clinical experience working with children, youths, and families. “Social media provides a perception, if not actual validation, of ‘my child is liked and doing well. I am a good parent’,” she says. There is a small population of parents who are competitive due to insecurity, Dr. Jeltova adds, which forces the child to develop an extension of parental ego and self-esteem. “The parent needs the child to be liked to feel likeable themselves,” she says. At the end of the day, every parent is different, and there’s nothing wrong with feeling validated, whether you’re helping others by sending a message or it gives you an extra boost—as long as it’s all in good spirit.
Sending a Message
A national survey conducted by Edison Research, as a part of Minute Maid’s this is GOOD campaign, revealed that 94 percent of sharents stage their social media posts. Although this might seem shocking, it is important to remember that social media is meant for an audience and the photos are staged to project a motive, whether it’s clear or ambiguous.
For example, the Instagram account @papaanddaddy, which has 44,600 followers, is clear in its message and role in the social media world: to normalize same-sex parenting. “There’s a lot of work left to be done in normalizing same-sex parenting. This is our small way of paying it forward,” says James Loduca, one of the dads behind the account. “At the end of the day, representation matters. It’s hard to dream about what you can’t see. As kids, there weren’t gay families represented in media. We want to do our part to change that for generations to come.”
But Be Conscious of Cyber Bullying
Christine Di’Amore, a Youtuber with nearly 300,000 subscribers, is best known for her videos about makeup and lifestyle. Despite her Internet presence, she has chosen to keep her daughter out of the public eye for now. “While hateful comments don’t hurt me, a lot of people who aren’t conditioned to the harsh world that social media can be (like my daughter) might be more affected by those words, regardless of how ridiculous or untrue they are,” Di’Amore says. “If my daughter does come across any negative comments, she knows I will have a conversation with her and try to help her understand the psyche behind those who bully others, and the reason they want to bring others down to their level.” As children grow older and have more access to the Internet they will come to realize cyber bullies are everywhere. While their hurtful comments can be ignored, they might be hard to brush off. On the flip side, being exposed to cyber bullying at a young age can help children understand how to deal with it as they enter their teenage years. “Another reason for not sharing that I often hear is a desire to protect the child’s privacy. The child has the right to be growing up in a protected, emotionally safe environment,” Dr. Jeltova says. “Having his or her images posted is inviting feedback and judgment and potentially jeopardizes the privacy and emotional safety.” When you place yourself in the public eye, whether it’s to express a message to thousands of followers or you’re sharing your child’s preschool graduation, there is a safety concern and a leeway for hatred. “There are a ton of people out there that are looking to do harm in a variety of ways,” says Amaliya Makarovskaya, a Manhattan mom of two. “I find that there is very little to be gained from social media in general, especially through my kids posts.” Circling back to the Mac & Mia survey, 42 percent of parents say they have planned posts of their children in advance and have spent up to 2 hours to get the perfect shot. As with all things when it comes to parenting, it’s ultimately up to you to weigh the pros and cons of sharing snapshots of your children on social media, but think beyond safety and look into your true motive for posting a photo of your child. Remember: There is a definitive line between remembering a moment and wasting time. Dasha Kofman, a senior at Binghamton University, was a summer 2018 editorial intern for NYMetroParents.
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raising kids home
Make sure to put child-proof latches on all cabinets and drawers containing hazardous materials, such as household cleaners, to keep your toddler safe.
Baby Proof ing 2.0
››
How to update your safety measures at home once your baby becomes a toddler
W
hen your little one starts walking and begins exploring in greater depth, you may start to wonder what the next step is for child proofing your living space. It’s a good question to ask yourself: “As you prepare your home for the toddler stage, every part of the home should be reviewed to ensure the safety of your newly and very mobile little one,” says Geneuviève Thibault, founder of bblüv, a baby and toddler accessory retailer. “As your toddler grows and develops strength and ability, some tools, such as gates and play yards, can become obsolete as they triumphantly climb right over them. Now, the little things we can easily overlook, like outlet covers, cabinet door locks, door handles, potentially hazardous house plants, pets, and cleaning products, become critically important as your toddler expands and explores his environment.” With this in mind, here are five areas of your home that you’ll want to scrutinize.
Bathroom
There are so many things a child could get into—and make a major mess with—in a bathroom, from lipstick to toilet-paper rolls. “The toddler stage finds little ones still testing every object with their hands and mouth,” Thibault says. As a result, parents should lock all cabinets with a child-proof latch to keep any cleaners and medications out of reach. It’s also important to keep your poisons and sharps “well out of reach…high up above the reach of the child,” in case someone forgets to relock the cabinet after use, says Carolyn Ziegler, a child proofer with 35 years of experience and 40
October 2018 | nymetroparents.com
By Anja Webb
founder of Dreambaby, a child safety company. There’s another potential danger lurking in your bathroom: the toilet. Besides the obvious sanitary issues surrounding children playing in the toilet, they could also drown, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The water may seem shallow enough to us, but it’s the perfect height and depth for a toddler to fall in face first and get stuck with his head underwater. “You have to be very careful that your child does not have access to the toilet,” Ziegler says. “There are a number of products that can be used to close your toilet and make sure it is fully closed.” You can either purchase a latch specifically for the toilet, or use a childproof safety lock like the ones on your cabinets.
Windows
Nearly 5,000 children fall out of windows annually, with urban children being the most frequently affected, according to the CPSC. Though most modern homes have windows with screens and locks, those measures just simply aren’t enough. Screens are meant to stop insects, not children, so they are not a means of preventing falls. “When living in an apartment you need to understand the height of your apartment. You do not want children to have access to fall out of those windows,” Ziegler says. “So you must make sure you have a restrictor on [windows] so they will only open four inches, no more. You want to be able to make sure you can get a bit of fresh air, but the children are secured within.” Though there’s no substitute for parental supervision, parents
can’t keep a watchful eye 24/7. “Window and door alarms also alert parents quickly to potential dangers and are especially helpful during times when parents are sleeping,” Thibault recommends. “Avoid putting shelves or climbable furniture under windows.” Falling isn’t the only window-related danger for children. A study by the Center for Injury Research and Policy shows that nearly 17,000 children younger than 6 are hospitalized annually for injuries caused by window blinds, which can be a potential strangulation hazard. “Many blinds have got long cords,” Ziegler says. “Make sure you keep those well out of reach of children.” In order to prevent injury, replace traditional blinds with cordless blinds, or get a retrofitting kit that allows you to tie up cords in spaces that are out of reach of children. And don’t let renting inhibit your toddler proofing. “If you can’t screw things in because you’re renters, don’t do it. There are plenty of products that are adhesive, or work on handles that you can slide over,” according to Ziegler.
Furniture
The CPSC advises parents anchor all furniture to the wall, or secure it with anti-tip brackets. This includes dressers, entertainment sets, televisions, and any furnishings with drawers. Additionally, to reduce risk of any of these items toppling over, be certain to use all products according to manufacturer instructions. Even if your furniture is safely mounted, children can climb up shelves, according to anchorit.gov. To discourage children from scaling furnishings in an attempt to reach appealing objects, never store toys, remote controls, or other desirable items on top of tall furniture.
Kitchen
Just like the bathroom, the kitchen is filled with potential hazards. As always, you’ll want to secure all cabinets and drawers with childproof latches, but that’s not all. “One of the things I try to encourage parents to do is actually do most of the cooking while the child is asleep so you haven’t got all of this buzzing activity, sharp knives, hot stoves, ovens, and everything at the same time,” Ziegler advises. Of course, on a busy day it’s not always convenient to wait until nighttime to prepare dinner or do the week’s meal prep. When waiting isn’t an option, try to cook on the back burners so children can’t reach up and grab anything. Additionally, “make sure you always turn [pots’ and pans’] handles inwards,” Ziegler says.
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Heating System
We all know how cold it can get in New York when winter rolls around. However, radiators may be a potential hazard. “Parents with radiators can install covers that are both functional and fashionable,” Thibault says. These covers can prevent children from coming into direct contact and sustaining serious burns. Also begin educating your children about the risk of injury from burns. “Start teaching them the word ‘hot’ very early,” Ziegler advises. “You need to sound a little alarming when you say the word. You need to start instilling the understanding of hot. You don’t want them to be touching that hot radiator and getting that burn.” And though a nice hot bath may seem ideal after a day in the snow, keep your water heater set to lower than 120 degrees Fahrenheit. “A lot of water that comes out of your tap is very, very hot and a child can be scalded by it,” Ziegler warns. “Make sure that if there is a temperature gauge that you can vary, bring it down.” If you’re not sure if an area of your home is fully toddler proofed, you may need a change of perspective. “Check out your home from your toddler’s viewpoint,” Thibault advises. “What looks interesting but is potentially dangerous?” This could point out any aspects of child proofing you might have overlooked.
EVERY WEEK IS FIRE PREVENTION WEEK
LOOK. LISTEN. LEARN. Be aware. Fire can happen anywhere
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FIRE PREVENTION WEEK™ BigAppleParent 41
raising kids teen
Teen Milestones You Need to Know ›› This tumultuous time of life is full of firsts—here’s how to roll with some of your child’s big changes.
I
t seems like only yesterday your child was a baby and you were cooing over his every breakthrough. From first smile to first laugh to first wobbly step, your days were filled with scrapbook-stuffers and Insta-worthy occasions. Guess what? As your child enters the teen years, she’ll be launching into a period of all-new milestones. No, they’re (mostly) not so cute—no need to pull out that scrapbook again!—but they are important signs that he’s growing up and branching out in healthy new ways. While children develop at their own pace, we asked leading experts to identify some of the leaps forward you might experience soon, and offer advice to help you cope with the challenges they may present.
Peer-Group Preference
Remember the good old days when your child wanted you to accompany her everywhere, and fought with her siblings and even your partner for the right to sit next to you at dinners out? Steel yourself: Your days at the top of the A-list may be numbered. “One [milestone] I think is common is shifting to your peer group instead of your family as a source of guidance and companionship,” says Rachel Annunziato, Ph.D., an associate professor of clinical psychology at Fordham University in the Bronx. “That can be hard for us as parents, but it can be a normal part of adolescent development,” Dr. Annunziato says. Teens “are being given more autonomy, and it’s a time when there’s more experimenting. It’s more of a chance to socialize on their own terms.” Your best response? Give your child some of the space he’s craving. “This is where they are working things out in a way that will be helpful before going into the college environment,” Dr. Annunziato explains. It doesn’t mean you have to retreat entirely— plan parent-kid activities scheduled around his other obligations. 42
October 2018 | nymetroparents.com
By Deborah Skolnik
“I sometimes call it ‘calendaring backwards,’ where you set up the stuff that’s fixed and you can’t change in the calendar, and then put in the stuff that you want to prioritize,” says Mark Bertin, M.D., a developmental pediatrician in Pleasantville and author of How Children Thrive and Mindful Parenting for ADHD.
Social Calendar Commandeering
It can be a little distressing when your child’s social plans no longer include you. But if you’re at least consulted, you’re better off than many parents! That’s because the day may come when your kid makes plans for herself without asking your permission at all. (It may happen sooner in the city and in areas where there’s good public transportation.) In part, your child has become his own social director because he’s developing a better sense of time management. But for you it can be “very fear-inducing,” Dr. Annunziato says, especially if your child’s plans involve new friends you haven’t met yet. Your greatest ally, she says, is social media; thanks to it you may have more of an opportunity to get to know your kids’ friends’ parents, not to mention the friend herself. Alternatively, you can suggest the kids come over before going out. Don’t be afraid to nix a plan that seems unsafe or involves unsavory people, or a locale or return time that breaks family rules.
Extreme Embarrassment
Times were, you could be yourself around your child and his friends. Doing your victory dance at sports games will send her into a red-faced tizzy. And singing? Don’t even try. Why are you suddenly such a disgrace, no matter what you do? “That sense of being embarrassed by your parents is kind of exactly what you’d expect from teens. It’s because of the kind
of tightrope they’re trying to walk, of staying connected to their parents—which you know is still the goal even though they’re trying to become individuals—while also becoming more and more involved with their peers for support,” Dr. Bertin says. “That sense of embarrassment is probably just a natural reflection of a situation that’s confusing to them. They’re trying to be their own person and that puts them in a situation where they’re still connecting to you and connecting to their social group and trying to find a place that fits for all of that.” Again, the solution is to give your child some space (and tone down any of your embarrassing behaviors). Of course, adds Dr. Bertin, “know as a parent that there are still going to be times when you need to set a boundary and do something even if it’s embarrassing,” such as being stricter than everyone else’s parents (according to your child).
Real Romance
Sure, your child may have given a valentine to Jane a few years ago, and then had a crush on another girl the next year. But sometime in your kid’s mid-teens, you may start to realize that you’re no longer his main squeeze. “Certainly [there’s] more interest in dating; that will start around then, whether it’s with the opposite sex or the same sex,” Dr. Annunziato says. While pairing off can stem from genuine interest, it can also be a result of dating pressure. How do you help your child resist the urge to follow the crowd in forming couples? “To the extent you can, keep communication open,” Dr. Annunziato recommends. Let your child know she can always come to you for guidance. As for when to allow your child to date, Dr. Annunziato says it’s all a matter of individual maturity—make sure he understands what it means, and is prepared for potentially getting hurt. And set ground rules and stick to them.
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Philosophical Pushiness
Your child’s been learning a lot in school, and from you, lately. “Maybe empathy for others is changing and increasing,” Dr. Annunziato says. “This is a time when moral reasoning really amps up and cognitively a lot is happening.” These changes may manifest themselves in strident ways: Your child could proclaim that meat is murder or argue with your politics heatedly. This is a positive transformation, Dr. Annunziato says. “It’s great to foster teens’ expression...to teach them how to respectfully disagree,” she explains. Acknowledge your teen’s opinions, and accommodate his wishes whenever possible without necessarily backing off of your viewpoints.
A Tradition of Excellence for Age 2 through Grade 8 www.TheEpiphanySchool.org (212) 473-4128
Future-Facing Planning
No one’s saying your child didn’t plot out her future when she was younger. Perhaps she planned on being a rock star, but now her dreams may come down to earth and start taking on a more realistic slant—she may say she wants to become a physician or a mechanical engineer. Teens “begin to become more goal oriented,” Dr. Annunziato says. “I think that it’s something that I am seeing even younger, and it lasts into the college years.” As teens’ sense of time becomes refined and their cognitive skills develop, planning for the future seems more doable. “If someone is showing an interest in [their future], run with it, make sure their plans make sense, let them take the lead if they’re showing maturity in that way,” Dr. Bertin says. But not all kids will be laser-focused on their life after school, he cautions.” And don’t be disappointed if your child’s desire ultimately peters out: “A lot of us are a lot different in college than in high school... Things are going to keep changing,” he says—an apt description of the teen years.
M e t r op ol i t a n M u s i c A c a d e m y
Take Private Instrumental Lessons At Your Home this summer! (Studio locations also available) All Areas of Manhattan & Brooklyn. Violin-Viola-Cello-Piano-Flute-Clarinet Fully customizable programs with certified teachers! (Ongoing Enrollment) Commitment to Excellence Register for classes and lessons and begin your musical journey with MetMA! Visit www.MetMA.org to REGISTER ONLINE. Mention “MetroParent” and receive 15% tuition discount
For more info: info@MetMA.org
646-470-7246
BigAppleParent 43
family life finances
Saving for Retirement
››
IRAs and 401Ks can be overwhelming for many. Fear not: We’re here to help!
W
hether you’re just starting your career, switching jobs, or you’ve been working for three decades, making sure you’re saving for retirement is one of the most important things you can do to set yourself up for the future. And the sooner you start saving, the better off you’ll be financially. After all, of those who participated in the Charles Schwab 2018 401K Participant Survey, 60 percent said their 401K will be their main source of income in retirement. In that same survey, though, 40 percent said saving enough money for a comfortable retirement was their most significant source of financial stress. And with all of the savings options available, you may be feeling the stress too. It can be difficult to navigate what retirement savings vehicle is best for you, especially if financial knowledge isn’t your strong suit. The two most-common ways to save for retirement are a 401K and an Individual Retirement Account. Both are great tax-advantaged options, but it is a common misconception that you have to choose one. Those who are aggressively saving for retirement may have both a 401K and an IRA.
What is a 401K?
A 401K is an employer-sponsored program that allows eligible employees of a company to save and invest a percentage of their own salary for retirement without paying taxes on it, according to Rosanna Guardavaccaro, financial advisor with Strategies for Wealth in Rye Brook and The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America. This savings plan allows you to put away up to $18,500 each year. Only an employer can sponsor a 401K for its employees, and this includes if you work for yourself. 44
October 2018 | nymetroparents.com
By Melissa Wickes
If you are lucky enough to work for a company that offers a 401K, especially one that will make a matching contribution, Daniel D’Ordine, CPF, founder of DDO Advisory Services in Rhinebeck, suggests contributing at least the matching percentage, if it’s financially feasible for you to do so. For example, if your employer will make a matching contribution of up to 6 percent of your salary, you should contribute 6 percent of your salary. There are a handful of benefits to a 401K. “Contribution limits are so high that you can really lower your current income tax bill by taking money and putting it into your 401K,” D’Ordine says. If you live in a high tax area, this is especially valuable because you are lowering your tax bracket by contributing to your 401K. For example, if you pocket $12,000 of your paycheck, you will have to pay up to 40 percent of taxes on that amount. However, if you put that same $12,000 into your 401K, it’s tax-free money and you have the opportunity to have a portion of that matched by your company (aka free money). Another advantage is a 401K is ‘automated invisible savings,’ D’Ordine says. “Once you can adjust to this slight reduction in your paycheck, the savings are happening automatically,” he says. “You forget about it and it takes away the emotional component of saving.” Another great benefit of investing in a 401K is dollar-cost averaging, which means you are investing a fixed dollar amount on a regular schedule and any market fluctuations will not affect this investment, D’Ordine says. Should your salary or your financial situation change, you can change your investment contributions on a quarterly or yearly basis, depending on your company’s policy.
What is an IRA?
Hurd’s Family Farm
An IRA is a mini-federal retirement account you can set up on your own, without sponsorship from an employer, according to D’Ordine. An investment custodian, bank, mutual fund company, or advisor can help you set up a traditional or Roth IRA. With both IRAs, you can put away up to $5,500 each year, plus an additional $1,000 if you are older than 50. The difference between the two is in contributions. When you contribute to a traditional IRA, you can claim the contribution on your tax return. This means you will pay taxes on the money when you retire, Guardavaccaro says. But you might not get the full amount back in your refund. If your employer offers a retirement plan and your income exceeds certain levels, your deduction may be limited; if your employer doesn’t offer a plan, your deduction is allowed in full, according to the Internal Revenue Service. Roth IRA contributions are not tax-deductible, and you will receive that sum of money tax-free when you retire. If your modified adjusted gross income (the total income you report that is eligible to be taxed, minus some adjustments you can make) is more than $120,000 as a single or $189,000 as a couple, you may no longer qualify for an IRA. It’s best to consult your accountant or tax advisor if you think this may be the case.
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Choosing a Retirement Fund
Determining which plan is best for you is easier than you may think. If your company will match any amount of your 401K contribution, D’Ordine suggests to do that. A matching contribution should be your number-one priority when determining how to invest for your future since it is a 100-percent return on investment. Many people believe 401Ks are not the most beneficial options due to fees and investment selections, however having access to one is actually a huge benefit of working for a company, D’Ordine says. “Put in enough to get your match, and if you don’t love the idea of solely investing in a 401K, invest in other stuff as well,” D’Ordine says. While most large companies offer 401K plans, some ‘mom and pop shop’ businesses may not, D’Ordine says. However, this doesn’t mean your boss doesn’t have a retirement plan in place. Some small business owners may put away money for employees in their own plan. Things get a little more jumbled when your company doesn’t match or doesn’t begin to match until after a few years of employment, or if your company doesn’t offer a 401K. At that point, look into an IRA. When opening an IRA, whether traditional or Roth, D’Ordine suggests working with an investment professional who can give you advice, as well as a CPA who can double check all of the numbers for you. It is important to know the difference between an investment shop, which can help you set up your plan, and someone who is in the business of giving tax advice because there is a huge tax component to investing for retirement, according to D’Ordine. An IRA is a great option for anyone, whether your company offers a 401K plan or not, so why not have both if you can afford it?
Is it okay to have neither?
“Retirement is an important goal and individuals should continuously save for it,” Guardavaccaro says. This is, of course, subject to the individual, the time she is at in her life, and where she currently stands in the economic ecosystem, D’Ordine says. If you are saving toward a shorter-term goal (a down payment on a house), it may be best for you to stop 401K contributions for that period of time. “Bite the bullet for those couple of years, pay the taxes, and throw all of your money into that goal,” D’Ordine says. A lot of companies will allow you to pause your 401K or adjust your contribution, according to D’Ordine. Your IRA is up to your discretion as far as changing contributions and pausing. The most important thing is making choices about where your money goes that make sense for you.
Creative and positive learning environment !
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NON-PROFIT GERMAN AND SPANISH LANGUAGE IMMERSION PRESCHOOL AND AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM
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ellen robbins Modern Dance Technique, Improvisation, Composition. Ages 5 - Teens Classes meet in: Soho & Chelsea
212-254-0286
www.ellenrobbinsdance.com BigAppleParent 45
PartyCentral
Your local guide to entertainers, party places, activities, and other resources. PARTY ENTERTAINMENT
BOLD ARTS
419-349-2465 bold-arts.com chelsea@bold-arts.com BOLD Arts offers fun and personalized dance birthday parties for children ages 4 and older! You provide the space and BOLD will provide a memorable, high-energy dance party. BOLD Birthdays are a unique way to celebrate with dance and friends.
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.
CONFETTI GRACE
confettigrace.org Confetti Grace DIY subscription boxes contain supplies to create two gifts and cards. Craft with friends “Let’s Confetti” party for eight or more guests! 20 percent of profits go to charity.
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 super heroes to pirates and tea parties, there’s something for everyone.
FROGGLE PARTIES
1732 First Ave., Suite 20955 646-480-0570 frogglepartytime.com frogglepartytime.com/video As seen on TV! We offer heaps of kids’ party packages from hilarious clowns and party performers, to mesmerizing magicians, puppet shows, balloon twisters, face painting, games, dancing, bubble parties, characters, super heroes, princesses, pirates, and fairies! Get a $20 discount when you quote NYMETRO.
MYSTERY & MAYHEM
212-260-2295 mysteryandmayhem.com mitzvahzoe@aol.com Mystery & Mayhem offers hilarious, interactive, age-appropriate dress-up mystery parties in which guests ages 8-18 become suspects in a crime. Choose from five mysterious, winning dramas, or a Nancy Drew, Sherlock Holmes, or Harry Potter theme.
PARTY PLACES BROADWAY DANCE CENTER CHILDREN AND TEENS 37 W. 65th St., 3rd floor
46
212-582-9304 broadwaydancecenter.com Broadway Dance Center Children & Teens loves a good dance party! Your birthday dancer and guests are sure to love these birthday parties set in our beautiful, spacious studios. Choose a theme and party package. Come celebrate with us!
CHELSEA PIERS SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT COMPLEX
646-381-5010 intrepidmuseum.org groupsales@intrepidmuseum.org Celebrate your child’s birthday with a one-of-a-kind party! The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum will captivate groups of all ages and interests. Choose from exciting themes, value packages, and customization options to create a birthday adventure they’ll remember forever!
JCC OF MID-WESTCHESTER
West 23rd Street and Hudson River Park Field House Registration Desk: 212-336-6500 x6520 chelseapiers.com/birthday 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!
999 Wilmot Road, Scarsdale 914-472-3300 jccmw.org Have your child’s next party at the JCC of Mid-Westchester. Entertain up to 20 children with a sports or gymnastics party, or a fun and fantastic pool party!
CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF THE ARTS
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.
103 Charlton St. 212-274-0986 cmany.org/about/birthdays-rentals/birthdays Art-filled parties begin with time to explore the museum’s hands-on workshops. Experienced teaching artists lead children in your choice of private workshop. Parties end with food and cake.
EPIPHANY COMMUNITY NURSERY SCHOOL
JODI’S GYM
510 E. 74th St. 212-737-2977 ecnsnyc.org Let ECNS ETC. help you plan your child’s next birthday party. Children ages 2-10 love our gymnastics parties. Start with 45 minutes in our 2100-square-foot, fully equipped, child-friendly gymnasium with our gym coaches, followed by 45 minutes in our private party room.
JUST KIDDING AT SYMPHONY SPACE
FUNFIT BLOOMING BRANCHES SPECIFIC SPORTS
KATE TEMPESTA’S URBAN GOLF ACADEMY
FUNFUZION AT NEW ROC CITY
THE LITTLE GYM
550 W. 110th St. 646-580-3758 funfitnyc.com info@funfitnyc.com FunFit parties are customized for the birthday child. Children will be entertained by participating in age-appropriate, high-energy, sport games and FunFit activities led by our expert coaches. 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
at GSM, 74 Warren St. 212-731-0668 gallitheaternyc.com galliny@gmail.com Party with the Galli Theater New York and experience the magic of live theater for your special event! Your child loves the theater and would love to be on stage? Allow your child to experience the most amazing theater party in town!
INTREPID SEA, AIR & SPACE MUSEUM
Pier 86, West 46th Street and Twelfth Avenue
October 2018 | nymetroparents.com
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. 917-270-7257 ktuga.com/birthday-parties mari@ktuga.com KTUGA’s parties are customized to your child’s interests. Think Pirate Golf Fun to Princess Castle Chipping. Ideal for ages 3-8. Select from different activities to highlight our golf games including storytelling, shadow screen play, and music and movement. 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!
MARTIAL ARTS FAMILY STUDIO
290 Mulberry St. 646-460-3770 martialartsfamilystudio.com info@martialartsfamilystudio.com At Martial Arts Family Studio we will be delighted to organize your child’s birthday party so you can focus on your guests. We offer music theater puppets-based birthday parties for the little ones and dance or martial arts birthday parties for older kids.
NY CAKE
118 W. 22nd St. 212-675-2253 nycakeacademy.com info@nycakeacademy.com Have a Unicorn themed adventure or take off with a galaxy cake that everyone will talk about for weeks to come. Let NY Cake Academy take care of everything for you.
PALISADES CLIMB ADVENTURE
4590 Palisades Center Drive, Level 4 of the Palisades Center, West Nyack 845-727-3500 palisadesclimb.com Palisades Climb Adventure offers the world’s tallest indoor ropes challenge course with 75 unique challenge elements. Our Sky Tykes kids’ ropes course is designed for ages 2-7. Both courses are available for birthday parties. Book your party today!
PIER 62 CAROUSEL
Pier 62 at Hudson River Park (by Chelsea Piers) 718-788-2676 pier62carouselnyc.com info@nycarousel.com Give your child the best birthday with our VIP Birthday Party Package at Hudson River Park’s whimsical carousel on the water!
SEAGLASS CAROUSEL AT THE BATTERY
Water Street and State Street 718-788-2676 seaglasscarousel.nyc/birthdays info@nycarousel.com Celebrate your next birthday at SeaGlass Carousel! VIP Birthday Packages start at $535 within your own exclusive party area. Book online: seaglasscarousel.nyc/birthdays.
USTA BILLIE JEAN KING NATIONAL TENNIS CENTER
Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, Flushing 718-760-6200 x0 ntc.usta.com Birthday party packages include one hour of court time with drills and games organized by our USTA Pro staff and one-hour private room for pizza.
Want more parenting tips, tools & resources... NYMetroParents.com Helping parents make better decisions
PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Your local guide to tutors, teachers, lawyers, financial planners, and other professionals LEGAL SERVICES ANDREW COHEN, ESQ., LAW OFFICES OF ANDREW M. COHEN 250 W. 57th St., Suite 1216 212-244-0595 1100 Franklin Ave., Suite 305, Garden City 516-877-0595 amcohenlaw.com ac@amcohenlaw.com The Law Offices of Andrew M. Cohen can help you achieve your objectives through careful special needs legal planning, regardless of the size of your estate. All clients are provided with high quality service at a reasonable cost. SPECIAL NEEDS
LITTLE OPTICS INC. 192-07 Union Turnpike, Fresh Meadows 53-15 Roosevelt Ave., Woodside 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. THERAPY & COUNSELORS MR. SPEECH PATHOLOGY 347-399-4836 mrspeechpathology.com info@mrspeechpathology.com Eugene Chuprin is a bilingual (EnglishRussian) speech-language pathologist conducting evaluations and providing therapy in the New York City area. His specialty is treating pediatrics with language disorders, articulation disorders, and stuttering.
ANDREW COHEN, ESQ., LAW OFFICES OF ANDREW M. COHEN 250 W. 57th St., Suite 1216 212-244-0595 1100 Franklin Ave., Suite 305, Garden City 516-877-0595 TUTORS & TEST PREP amcohenlaw.com SCIENTIA TUTORING ac@amcohenlaw.com servicing Brooklyn and Manhattan The Law Offices of Andrew M. scientia.brooklyn@gmail.com Cohen can help you achieve your Experienced, understanding, compasobjectives through careful special sionate, independent school teachers needs legal planning, regardless of offer support for Spanish, Latin, French, the size of your estate. All clients are provided with high quality service at a English, essays, literature, physics, biology, chemistry, algebra, and geometry-all levels. reasonable cost. Helping parents make better decisions
Want more activities to do this fall…
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Photo Credit: Jaqlin Medlock
Register Now! Fall 2018
Anne Easterling Freifelder
328 E 61st St, New York, NY 10065 (917) 281-1030 info@theballetclub.com www.theballetclub.com
...all about ballet.
BigAppleParent 47
OPENHOUSES 2018 Buckley Country Day School
2 I.U. Willets Road, Roslyn 516-627-1910 buckleycountryday.com Join us on Sunday, Oct. 14 at 2pm for our first fall open house. Learn about programs offered at Buckley, a coeducational independent day school serving 350 children, toddler through eighth grades.
Dwight School
291 Central Park W. 212-724-6360 dwight.edu; admissions@dwight.edu Join us! Preschool open houses: Oct. 16, 17, 23, and 24 from 9-10:30am. Lower School; Oct. 3, 17, and 24 from 8:45-10:30am. Middle and Upper School: Oct. 3 and 16 from 6-7:30pm. Quest Information Session: Oct. 9 at 5pm.
The École
The Montess ori School of New York Internationa l
Apply now for January 2019 admission
111 E. 22nd St. 646-410-2238 einy.org; admissions@theecole.org School tours will be held Tuesdays, Oct. 2 and 23 at 8:15am. Those not able to attend, please contact Mireille Desalm, director of admissions, to schedule a private tour.
The Ideal School of Manhattan
Wisdom through Knowledge
Upper West Side 212-769-1699 theidealschool.org; dbyrnes@idealschool.org Sign up for a Tuesday Talk and Tour or an open house. Lower School open house: kindergarten-fifth grade; Thursday, Oct. 11 at 9am. Upper School open house: sixth to 12th grades; Thursday, Oct. 18 at 9am.
Where Learning Comes To Life! Nursery through Junior High (Ages 2 - 14) • Summer Day Camp • Partial and Extended Day for Working Parents (8am-6pm) • Excellent placement record for Specialized High schools and gifted programs • Accelerated Track for Gifted Children
King School
1450 Newfield Ave., Stamford, CT 203-322-3496 x350 kingschoolct.org/visit Join us for an open house Oct. 14 (sixth to 11th grades) or Nov. 4 (pre-K to fifth grades), both from 1-4pm.
montessorinyc@aol.com | ww w .montess or is choolny.com
347 East 55t h Street • 212-223-4630
Non-profit educational, non-denominational & non-discriminatory
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. 14 from 10am-3pm. Pre-register at tmla.org.
Metropolitan Music Academy
646-470-7246 metropolitanmusicacademy.org; info@metropolitanmusicacademy.org MetMA is offering a free trial lesson for piano students (all ages and levels; new students only). Limited opportunity based on teacher availability. Simply fill out an online application to sign up!
Mount Saint Michael Academy
MOUNT SAINT MICHAEL ACADEMY 4300 Murdock Avenue │Bronx, NY 10466 (718) 515-6400 │www.mtstmichael.org
Thomas Fraher, admissions director 4300 Murdock Ave., Bronx 718-515-6400 mtstmichael.org Join us for an open house on Sunday, Oct. 28. Arrive any time between 12-3pm.
Nord Anglia International School New York 466 Grand Street, NYC abronsartscenter.org
Celebrating 22 years of innovative dance education! After school dance classes Modern Ballet
Pointe Teen Company
for youth and teens.
A place to discover...
48
October 2018 | nymetroparents.com
212 598 0400 photo- Stacie Joy
Pusteblume International Preschool and Afterschool Programs
244 W. 14th St. 212-206-1137 pusteblumenyc.org; info@pusteblumenyc.org Prospective parents are invited to visit and learn about Pusteblume on Tuesday, Oct. 16 from 6-8pm.
Wetherby–Pembridge School
Join us for a free trial class!
Performance Workshops
44 E. 2nd St. 212-600-2010 nordangliaeducation.com/our-schools/new-york; info@ny.nae.school Contact us for a private tour. You will meet the principal and the director of admissions, observe students in classes and activities, and speak with teachers, students, and senior staff.
7 E. 96th St. 646-213-3400 Ages: 3-14 wetherby-pembridge.org; info@whetherby-pembridge.org Join us for an open house on Oct. 11 from 5:30-7pm, Oct. 23 from 9-10:30am, or Oct. 27 from 10am-12pm.
raising kids ad index NYMetroParents.com features more than 20,000 businesses serving the NY metropolitan area! JCC of Mid-Westchester .............................................21 Jodi’s Gym ...................................................................23 Little Gym .....................................................................5 USC Gymnastics .........................................................23
birthday / party services
Big Apple Parent Party Planner ...................................49 Bold Arts .....................................................................22 Confetti Grace ............................................................25 Epiphany Community Nursery School ........................25 FunFit Kids ..................................................................19 Intrepid Sea Air and Space Museum ............................3 Jodi’s Gym ..................................................................23 Little Gym .....................................................................5 Martial Arts Family Studio ............................................21 Mystery & Mayhem .....................................................25 NY CAKE ....................................................................22 Palisades Climb Adventure..........................................23 USTA BJK National Tennis Center ................................7
camps
Bold Arts .....................................................................22 Chelsea Piers ...............................................................2 Children’s Museum of The Arts....................................25 East Village Dance Project .........................................48 Intrepid Sea Air and Space Museum ............................3 Jodi’s Gym ..................................................................23 Kate Tempesta’s Urban Golf Academy .......................25 Little Gym .....................................................................5 Montessori School of NY International .......................48 Nord Anglia International School ................................13 Pusteblume International School ................................45 The Ecole ....................................................................16 USTA BJK National Tennis Center ................................7
child care / day care
Kumon Manhattan .......................................................52 Manhattan Charter School ..........................................39 Mary Louis Academy (The) ......................................... 11 Montessori School of NY International .......................48 Mount Saint Michael Academy ...................................48 New York City Education Consulting ..........................45 Nord Anglia International School ................................13 Pusteblume International School ................................45 Sara Curry Day School ...............................................37 The Ecole ....................................................................16 The Epiphany School ..................................................43 Wetherby-Pembridge School ......................................15 Children’s Museum of The Arts....................................25 Galli Theater ................................................................25 Hurd’s Family Farm ....................................................45 Inn at East Hill Farm (The) .........................................48 Intrepid Sea Air and Space Museum ............................3 New York Botanical Gardens - Spooky Pumpkin Gardens .....7 Palisades Climb Adventure..........................................23
Creative Steps Early Care & Education Center ..........41 Metropolitan Music Academy ......................................43 The Ecole ....................................................................16
education
Buckley Country Day School ........................................9 Calhoun School ...........................................................37 Creative Steps Early Care & Education Center ..........41 Dwight School .............................................................17 Epiphany Community Nursery School ........................25 First Presbyterian Church Nursery .............................39 Ideal School (The) ......................................................14 International Academy of New York ............................16
914-235-7100
www.davescast.com
fitness
Cho Elite Taekwondo ...................................................43 JCC of Mid-Westchester .............................................21
music
Metropolitan Music Academy ......................................43
performing arts / acting
religious
developmental
COMPLETE CARNIVAL & PARTY PLANNING
Hurd’s Family Farm ....................................................45 Inn at East Hill Farm (The) .........................................48
classes
Ballet Club (The)..........................................................47 Capezio ......................................................................37 East Village Dance Project .........................................48 Ellen Robbins Dance ..................................................45
CARNIVALS & INFLATABLES CHARACTER SHOWS FAIRYTALE PRINCESS PARTIES THEME PARTIES SHOWS & ATTRACTIONS
family travel
Galli Theater ................................................................25
dance
100+ CHARACTERS, INTERACTIVE DJ’S FACE PAINTERS & MAGICIANS SUPERHEROES PHOTO BOOTHS NEW! TREASURE ISLAND “ZOOBOTS”
family entertainment / events / outings
Creative Steps Early Care & Education Center ..........41 Mommybites ................................................................51 Sara Curry Day School ...............................................37 Ballet Club (The)..........................................................47 Bold Arts .....................................................................22 Chelsea Piers ...............................................................2 Children’s Museum of The Arts....................................25 East Village Dance Project .........................................48 Ellen Robbins Dance ..................................................45 Ideal School (The) ......................................................14 International Academy of New York ............................16 JCC of Mid-Westchester .............................................21 Kate Tempesta’s Urban Golf Academy .......................25 Kumon Manhattan .......................................................52 Martial Arts Family Studio ............................................21 Metropolitan Music Academy ......................................43 NY CAKE ....................................................................22 Pusteblume International School ................................45
PARTY PLANNER
play spaces
FAMILY RESOURCE GUIDE MUSIC INSTRUCTION
Epiphany Community Nursery School ........................25 First Presbyterian Church Nursery .............................39 JCC of Mid-Westchester .............................................21 Mary Louis Academy (The) ......................................... 11 Mount Saint Michael Academy ...................................48 The Epiphany School ..................................................43
GUITAR LESSONS
In your home - Acoustic or electric
Teaching in NYC since 2006 Gain a strong foundation in the fundamentals of music Discovery and exploration over rote learning Experienced with special needs such as ADHD, autism
retail
Capezio ......................................................................37 NY CAKE ....................................................................22
special events
info@
acrobatics / gymnastics
Visit my website, or email:
russellhollandguitar.com
National Fire Protection Association ...........................41 New York Botanical Gardens - Spooky Pumpkin Gardens .....7
special needs
FunFit Kids ..................................................................19
sports
Chelsea Piers ...............................................................2 Cho Elite Taekwondo ...................................................43 FunFit Kids ..................................................................19 Kate Tempesta’s Urban Golf Academy .......................25 Martial Arts Family Studio ............................................21 Palisades Climb Adventure..........................................23 USC Gymnastics .........................................................23 USTA BJK National Tennis Center ................................7
theater
Galli Theater ................................................................25 Mystery & Mayhem .....................................................25
tutors
Kumon Manhattan .......................................................52 New York City Education Consulting ..........................45
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
BigAppleParent 49
raising kids quotables
What do you think your kids will be for Halloween? “My six-year-old son, Dillon, and four-year-old son, Reed, can’t get enough of Star Wars. My husband and I are trying to influence them to dress up as a member of the Resistance, but it is looking more likely that Dillon will be a Tusken Raider and Reed will be Darth Vader!” —Felicia Soler, Westchester County
“My five-year-old daughter is obsessed with Cookie Monster (second year in a row), so she will probably wear that costume again. My seven-year-old son is thinking of being a character from his favorite video game, Fortnite.” —Karen Ann, Rockland County
“Last year, for my daughter’s first Halloween, she was a peapod. This year I was thinking some kind of a woodland animal like a fox or a raccoon. I asked my three-year-old niece what Baby Gigi should be and she said a witch. When I said I wasn’t sure about that one, she said a pumpkin without hesitation. So a pumpkin it is!” —Amy Elliott, Brooklyn
“My daughter is four and she wants to be a fairy.” —Cathy Como-Marcotrigiano, Queens
“A giraffe. We already have the costume because I was so excited.” —Leslie Brachfeld Sanchez, Manhattan
Ultimately, my goal is for my girls to know that their ideas and creations are loved and valued. Whether it be a drawing, a dance move, a song they made up, or a funny-looking batch of peanut butter cookies. — Ilana Wiles, in a post entitled “Encouraging Creativity and Confidence in My Girls” on mommyshorts.com
“Stop putting kids first. Imagine a relationship that centers on the two of you, and all the stability and care your kids will take from that. Accept that a truly wonderful relationship only multiplies the love available to your kids— not robs them of some of yours. Because in those families, there is all the more love to go around.” — Emma Johnson, in a post entitled “Why Single Parents Should Put Their Kids Second When Dating” on wealthysinglemommy.com
50
October 2018 | nymetroparents.com
“Since my one-year-old son loves airplanes, he will most likely be dressed as a pilot. My daughter? Definitely Peppa Pig! She loves everything Peppa, especially ‘Princess Peppa.’” —Vanessa Gordon, Suffolk County
“Seriously, any Fortnite character.” —Chrissy MonteMastro, Nassau County
YOU SNOOZE OR YOU LOSE “Anyone with a toddler who woke up a little too early, stayed up a little too late, or missed a nap knows the dreaded consequences: whines that escalate into ear-shattering screams that make you want to run away and join the circus — if that were an option. One simpler remedy is adequate sleep. In about a third of all-cases, sleep-deprived behavior is often misdiagnosed as ADHD.” —Rebecca Kempton, JD, in an article entitled “10 Ways Good Sleep Habits Make Kids Smarter, Happier, and Healthier.” Read the whole story at nymetroparents.com/sleep-habits.
More NYMetroParents.com Highlights: NO BOO-BOOS: Learn how to have a safe and healthy Halloween (nymetroparents.com/safe-Halloween) HOMEWORK HELPERS: Five apps that make schoolwork simpler (nymetroparents.com/homework-apps) PAY? NO WAY!: When to visit NYC’s museums, zoos, and gardens admission free (nymetroparents.com/free-admission) TABLE TALK: Simple ways to reclaim dinnertime (nymetroparents.com/dinner)
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