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Brooklyn Parent NYMETROPARENTS.COM PARENTS.COM MARCH 2018

Camp Planner! • How Camp Preps Kids for College • Find Your Child’s Dream Camp NEW! Camps at a Glance • Transportation • Lunch • Flexible Hours • More

Ax Your Taxes Deductions Even Smart Parents Miss

End Bad Behavior In ONE Surprising Step

HELPING PARENTS MAKE BETTER DECISIONS

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SUMMER GROWTH SPURT Usdan is an award-winning day camp for students ages 4-18 to explore music, dance, theater, visual arts, sports and more on our Long Island campus in the woods. JOIN US FOR AN OPEN HOUSE: Sunday, March 18 or Sunday, April 15. Reservations required. Visit usdan.org/visit.

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AWESOME CAMPS FOR AWESOME KIDS Transportation Available

Congregation Beth Elohim welcomes campers from all backgrounds!

CALL FOR MARCH OPEN HOUSE DATES Family Day • 1:00 - 6:00 pm (including family swim, sports, arts & crafts, a movie and pizza

ELEMENTARY DAY CAMP

(Entering K - 4th grade)

swim (on site pool), gymnastics, sports, maker’s space, art, nature, circus arts,

HA’GEEMNASIA

(Entering K - 4th grade) Unique Israeli-style Hebrew immersion camp. Activities include Israeli culture, art, dance, cooking, swimming, sports, and

MOVIN’ ON TRAVEL CAMP

CELEBRATING OUR 40TH SUMMER IN PARK SLOPE! For more information, please contact: Bobbie Finkelstein, Director of Youth Services

(Entering 4th – 9th grade) Independence in a safe and structured

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LEARN MORE: CBEBK.ORG BrooklynParent

contents table of

march 2018

50 28

camp

How to Raise a Take-Charge Teen

Help your kid learn to make his own decisions instead of just following the crowd.

Family Fun a Ride Away

Plan a day trip to get out of the city—two can’t-miss venues in Bergen County, NJ and more.

18 How Camp Prepares Kids for College 22 Camp Directory

26 Camps-at-a-Glance Chart

Spring Clean It!

Places in your home you should be cleaning on a regular basis, but likely aren’t

raising kids

things to do

family life

6 Editor’s Note 8 New Places, New Programs 10 5 Things Parents Should Know About Bad Behavior 12 Fear Not, Little One 48 Sleep Training 101 50 How to Raise a Take-Charge Teen 54 Meet the Doctor 55 Open Houses 56 Professional Services and Party Central 57 Advertisers’ Index 58 Quotables

14 Fake Fur Pom

42 Make Filing Less Taxing

28 Family Fun a Ride Away

44 Spring Clean It!

29 Family Activities Calendar

52 Top ‘o the Morning to Ya!

40 Spring into March

NYMetroParents

Helping Parents Make Better Decisions ON THE COVER ›› facebook.com/nymetroparents

10 End Bad Behavior

17 Camp Planner! 42 Ax Your Taxes

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

BrooklynParent

raising kids editor’s note

MARCH 2018 • Vol.14 • No.8

NYMetroParents nymetroparents.com

EDITORIAL EDITORIAL DIRECTOR: Deborah Skolnik MANAGING EDITOR: Katelin Walling SENIOR EDITOR: Bethany Braun-Silva ENGAGEMENT EDITOR: Samantha Neudorf

Springing Forward— Confidently

REGIONAL EDITORS: Samantha Beranbom (Rockland); Karen Demeter (Suffolk); Whitney C. Harris (Manhattan, Westchester); Rosalind Muggeridge (Brooklyn); Dorette Saunders (Nassau); Gail Warren (Queens) DIRECTORIES EDITOR: Alice Van Dyke EDITORIAL INTERN: Cintia Feliz, Caitlin Sawicki To Submit Events: nymetroparents.com/submitevents

ou can feel it in the air: Spring is on its way. Sure, we may still be stepping around slush puddles, but soon enough we’ll be soaking up sunshine, and the ground—well, outside Manhattan, at least—will be a gorgeous sea of green. No matter how many times you’ve experienced this change of seasons, it always seems like a miracle. If you’re a new parent, you may be praying for another miracle: a good night’s sleep. Well, believe it or not, that too is possible. Just read Bethany Braun-Silva’s article, “Sleep Training 101,” on page 48—it examines popular techniques you can use to get your baby to settle down peacefully each evening and minimize those middle-ofthe-night tears (his and yours). It also explains why you shouldn’t despair if your baby backslides a little from time to time. Over on page 50, Christina Vercelletto’s article, “How to Raise a Take-Charge Teen,” will help you guide your older kid through an amazing transformation too—one that turns her from a wishy-washy crowd-follower into someone who makes her own decisions, regardless of what her friends do. Of course, spring isn’t just bunnies and daffodils; there’s important work to be done. For starters, you’ll need to finish your taxes (sorry!). Don’t file them until you’ve read “Make Filing Less Taxing” on page 42—we share savvy pro tips that could save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars, a big help when you’re raising a family. Spring cleaning is another chore many of us tackle right about now, and we’ll show you how to make sure you really do the job right. Just turn to page 44 for Katelin Walling’s article, “Spring Clean It!”. We asked the experts to point out all the nooks and crannies that even the most enthusiastic housecleaners (not that we know any of those!) tend to overlook. Once you’re done de-griming them, you can rest easy knowing that your house is deep-down clean for you and your kids. Just as soon as you’ve gotten your house ready for warmer weather, you’ll start thinking about summertime. Have you made your child’s camp plans yet? Starting your search now will give you the time to find a program that really resonates with your kid’s personality and brings out his full potential. Read Stacey Ebert’s wonderful piece on page 18, “How Camp Prepares Kids for College,” to learn how a positive summer experience can help your child flourish not just now, but years down the road. Then check out our amazing new camp chart on page 26. We know you’re busy, so we made it easy for you to scan different camps’ services and offerings at a glance. With so many great choices listed, you’re bound to find the ideal program. It’s just one more reason to “spring forward” with plenty of energy and optimism. Enjoy!

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

PRODUCTION

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

MARKETING

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

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

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MANAGING DIRECTOR: Rebecca Dixon 917-572-9192

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Deborah Skolnik Editorial Director

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

Keep in Touch: @nymetroparents nymetroparents.com editor@nymetroparents.com

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BrooklynParent

raising kids new places, new programs

March 2018 | nymetroparents.com

Courtesy Max Adventu

Who: Max Adventures What’s New: Three birthday party packages, including Adventure, Adventure Deluxe, and Grand Luxury. Adventure and Adventure Deluxe packages are 2-hour parties for up to 15 attendees, while the Grand Luxury package is a 3-hour party for up to 30 guests. All packages are for children ages 1-17, and activities vary based on package chosen. Plus, all parties are 100-percent private. The highlight of Adventure Deluxe and Grand Luxury parties at Max Adventures, according to owner Alex Reyzin, is they include add-ons such as Laser Maze, Virtual Reality, and glow-in-the-dark party, which can also be added on to the Adventure package for a fee. “When lights are off and special effect is on, the whole place will glow,” Reyzin says. Want More Info: 2378 Flatbush Ave., Marine Park; 718-676-9577; maxadventuresny.com

res

Marine Park Party Place Offers Three New Birthday Packages

When customers cho ose party packages wit h the glow-in-the-dark everything at Max Adv feature included, entures glows from the walls to the utensils.

BrooklynParent

raising kids in the know

5 Things Parents Should Know About Bad Behavior ››

By Bethany Braun-Silva with Catherine Pearlman, Ph.D., LCSW

arenting is easy,” said no one ever. It involves dealing with endless laundry, poop, and stomach viruses, plus making lunches, grocery shopping, cleaning up messes, and much more. It sometimes can be a thankless job, but it’s the job for which we signed up. We parent out of love, and mostly, even with the work, it’s a joy. However, there is a lot of unpleasantness that isn’t an inevitable part of the job, namely dealing with kids’ whining, complaining, tantrums, and wheedling. These button-pushing, parentprovoking behaviors are mostly learned, but they can be unlearned in a flash. When that happens, parenting becomes less like a job and a lot more fun. Here, Catherine Pearlman, Ph.D., LCSW, author of Ignore It!: How Selectively Looking The Other Way Can Decrease Behavioral Problems and Increase Parenting Satisfaction, shares five important points parents should know about kids’ annoying and attention-seeking behaviors.

“

1. Kids whine, complain, and negotiate all for one simple reason: because it works. Begging for an ice pop or complaining about having to eat broccoli tends to get the desired response. Either kids get to avoid something they don’t want to do, or they get something they desperately want, like another brownie or more screen time. If the behavior doesn’t produce these rewards, children will find other, more appropriate ways to behave. 2. Behavior that is reinforced will be repeated. Kids are smart cookies. Once they break the parenting code and figure out how to get more of what they want and less of

what they don’t, they will use these effective techniques to their advantage. Children aren’t deviant monsters; they are just learning from their parents how to work the system. If you knew what to do to get a free Frappuccino at Starbucks, wouldn’t you do it? 3. When parents change how they respond to a behavior, the behavior changes. The good news is children notice very quickly when their tried-and-true behaviors are no longer effective. If kids throw a tantrum but it gets them nothing, they decide it’s not worth it. When arguing and begging for more screen time produces no more time and no additional attention, kids give it up. 4. To avoid rewarding or reinforcing misbehavior, ignore it. Once you’ve said “no” to a pack of gum at Target or a balloon at the stationery store, ignore the whining and complaining. Also ignore it when your child tries to negotiate for fewer carrots at dinner, or burps for attention. Without any reward, kids will quickly drop these behaviors. Why would kids beg, whine, or negotiate if nothing comes of it? 5. Ignore the misbehavior, not the child. Kids still need attention, so give it to them, just not following misbehavior. Instead, catch them when they’re listening, being kind, or following directions, then reward them for those actions. An important caveat of ignoring misbehavior: Don’t ignore your child’s pain or anyone who is in pain as a result of your child’s behavior.

Catherine Pearlman, Ph.D., LCSW, is an assistant professor at Brandman University and the author of Ignore It!: How Selectively Looking The Other Way Can Decrease Behavioral Problems and Increase Parenting Satisfaction. Visit Dr. Pearlman’s website, thefamilycoach.com.

March 2018 | nymetroparents.com

ENROLL YOUR CHILD TODAY APPLICATIONS ARE DUE APRIL 2, 2018 Enroll online at www.hydebrooklyn.org Email your application to enroll@hydebrooklyn.org Mail your application to Attn: Enrollment HYDE Leadership Charter School-‐Brooklyn 330 Alabama Avenue Brooklyn, New York 11207 Fax your application to 718.495.5827 Drop off your application in the main office at HYDE-‐Brooklyn JOIN US FOR AN INFORMATION SESSION ENGLISH Wednesday, March 28, at 9:30 A.M. OTHER LANGUAGES Saturday, March 3, at 10:00 A.M. Wednesday, March 28, at 5:30 P.M. CALL US WITH QUESTIONS AT 718.495.5620

Hyde Leadership Charter School – Brooklyn is located in Community District 19 (CSD19) with a unique focus on Character Education. Our mission is to develop the deeper character and unique potential of every student. Using the Hyde Process for family-based character education, Hyde Leadership Charter School – Brooklyn unites parents, teachers and students in helping each student achieve his or her best academically and in sports, the arts, and the community. Rigorous learning attitudes, leadership skills and a social conscience lay the foundation for each student’s success in college and fulfillment in life. Hyde Leadership Charter School – Brooklyn has a clear educational philosophy in that we believe that character education should permeate every aspect of the school. Accordingly, Hyde-Brooklyn is guided by the Hyde 5 Words and Principles. The 5 Words & Principles are character culture mandates of the Hyde model in addition to serving as components of a well rounded education. Hyde Leadership Charter School-Brooklyn has many signature practices that are fundamental components to the school community. Beginning the day with "Hyde Huddle" as the start and culmination to each school day.

It works as an opportunity to build support and community through sharing, read alouds, goal setting and student generated feedback. Discovery Group is an integral part of the Hyde School experience. Discovery Groups provide essential opportunities to explore and make personal connection to the Hyde's 5 Words and Principles. It also provides a place where negative attitudes are confronted and opportunities for learning amongst members within the community. Lastly, School Meeting is the spirit of the school. It is the time dedicated to building and strengthening the school's culture and community. Most importantly, it is a time to celebrate and recognize students for their academic and behavioral growth and achievements. Hyde-Brooklyn works with families, communities, and other partners to ensure that students have equal access to programs to help them succeed. HydeBrooklyn works with all students including English Language Learners and students with disabilities. Our goal is to ensure that all students achieve in all their subjects and have access to a rigorous education that leaves them well prepared for college and careers.

BrooklynParent 11

raising kids voices

Fear Not, Little One

››

How my daughter’s journey from fearless to fearful (and back again) changed the way I parent. By Whitney C. Harris

was afraid of many things as a child. From thunder and lightning to E.T. and our neighbor’s dog, I always found something to freak out about. I was leery of department stores and getting lost in their maze-like clothing racks. I was so scared of the board game Operation that I had to wear earmuffs to mask the constant buzzing sound when my older sister played with her friends. I couldn’t even look at my father’s heavy-duty liquid soap bottle because the giant greasy hands on it were totally terrifying to me. This summer my daughter turned 2 years old, and as all the parenting literature promised, she started to develop some fears herself. Despite my own experience with this, I felt helpless and perplexed. Rather than a gradual introduction to shock and fright, we’ve been dealing with the sudden appearance of fears, some from seemingly nowhere. My once-fearless toddler started clinging to me if a dad entered the playground, and crying if strangers looked at her for too long in the grocery store. The “stranger danger” was short lived, but she still gets very irritable when unfamiliar men are around. My daughter still seemed fairly intrepid this summer, swimming (with assistance from her floaties!) in the Hudson River or socializing with a new playgroup—until the smoke alarm in her bedroom went off three times in one evening. From then on, bedtime, naptime, and anything within one hour of these sacred rituals became riddled with anxiety triggers. It would start with some clinginess during her pre-bed meal, then tears while I was cleaning up, which led to protests at going upstairs and reading books, then screaming “No beep beep!” until it erupted into a full-blown meltdown on her bedroom floor. It was impossible to stop and heartbreaking to witness. My brave little girl was completely distraught, and I felt powerless to comfort her. So I learned a slightly different kind of parenting, with plenty of listening and less talking, and more creative problem solving than usual. I soon realized that my daughter desperately wanted to talk about the “beep beep,” so

I gave her every opportunity to repeat the story of what happened that night. “Beep beep. Daddy fixed it. We go outside,” she would say over and over again, recounting how the alarm blared, my husband shut it off, and then we went outside to call our local fire department just to make sure there wasn’t any carbon monoxide setting off the alarm. She wanted to put Elmo stickers on the alarm, so I found our tallest stool and managed to stick a few around its perimeter on her bedroom ceiling. Then I started pointing out all the happy beeps that we hear throughout the day. The microwave, which means her breakfast sausage is ready! My phone alarm, which means it’s time to get ready for preschool! Or the “beep beep” of her grandmother’s car just parked in our driveway, which always means a fun, lollipop-fueled visit. We even tried an at-home version of art therapy, drawing a picture of her bedroom together, her crib surrounded by books and stuffed animals, and the all-important “beep beep” at the top right-hand corner, with Elmo stickers nearby, of course. Our journey from fearless to fearful and back again just goes to show that I’ll probably never parent the same exact kid or in the same exact ways two years in a row, and that’s a good thing because it helps both me and my daughter grow. The first year was all about patience (breast-feeding, sleep regressions, and teething, for starters), but the second year has been about becoming more flexible and nimble, always ready to meet her wherever she needs me. A few weeks ago, my daughter’s bedtime routine went back to normal. She stopped talking about the “beep beep” entirely. It fell off her list of hot topics, which currently includes pigs, birthdays (dates, cakes, songs, presents, all of it), and the names of all her friends’ baby brothers and sisters. But now, instead of screaming out from her crib in fear, she’s shouting out in anger. “Put my arm under the blankie! Put my arm under!” she demands with increasing frustration. It’s been a long, cold winter. But at least she’s not afraid of Jack Frost—yet.

Whitney C. Harris is a freelance writer and NYMetroParents’ Manhattan and Westchester calendar editor. She lives in Sleepy Hollow with her husband, a toddler, and a dog.

March 2018 | nymetroparents.com

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BrooklynParent 13

things to do

diy corner

Fake Fur Pom Look at these and tell me you don’t want them! I can’t tell you how much joy I get from wearing these furry guys on my feet every day. If you don’t feel brave enough to wear them on your shoes, sew on a jump ring and attach a key-ring finding, or even sew one onto a hair elastic for a cute ponytail bobble. Whatever you do, just get them in your life!

Things you need Felt pen or a pencil Fake fur material Compass or large roll of tape as a template Scissors Needle and strong thread Toy stuffing / wadding Small coin, 1 inch in diameter Small piece of felt 2 shoe clips Glue gun Directions 1. Draw two circles on your fur material, roughly 4¾ inches in diameter—a full roll of sticky tape is a good size to draw round. 2. Cut out the circles with scissors and put one to one side. Thread your needle with a double length of thread, leaving a thread tail of 4 inches. Tack around the edge of the fur disc, using a running stitch. 3. When you get back to where you started, go back out the disc with the needle so now you have two tail ends next to each other. Hold the disc and pull the tail ends to ruche up the disc into a pouch. 4. Put a small amount of stuffing inside the pouch so it fills out, almost into a ball shape. You can also use your fur offcuts for stuffing. 5. Pull the tail ends and tie a knot to close up the opening. 6. Thread a needle onto the tail ends and sew a few stitches to secure. Repeat steps 2-6 to make another pompom. 7. Place your small coin on the felt and draw round it to make two circles. Cut them out. Sew a shoe clip onto each felt disc. 8. Attach the back of each felt disc to the base of a pompom, using a glue gun. Hold in place until the glue dries. 9. Clip the pompoms to your favorite pair of shoes and get dancing!

Excerpted with permission from Dress You Up by Rosy Nicholas, photography by Adam Laycock; published by Quadrille April 2017; RRP $19.99 hardcover.

March 2018 | nymetroparents.com

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March 2018 | nymetroparents.com

C w yo ca ››

online extras The most important things kids learn at camp are the ones you can’t see. Here are 20 camp lessons we use every day ›› nymetroparents.com/camp-lessons

Summer camp can help kids become confident, independent, well-adjusted individuals. Read the benefits of camp at ›› nymetroparents.com/camp-benefits

Camp friends aren’t the only people who will have a lasting effect on your kid. Read about the special camper-counselor relationship at ›› nymetroparents.com/camper-counselor

Can you claim summer camp on your tax returns? Find out if your child’s summer camp qualifies for Child and Dependent Care Credit ›› nymetroparents.com/camp-deduction

inside

raising kids camp planner

18 How Camp Prepares Kids for College: Sending children to summer camp does more than keep them entertained—it prepares them for collegiate life. amp Directory: Find day camps, 22 C specialty camps, and sleepaway camps in and near Brooklyn. 26 C amp Guide: This camps-at-a-glance chart makes it easier to find exactly what you want in a summer camp.

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Yo da no ha tu ev em ne in ta so ou go be ou

How Camp Prepares Kids for College ››

Sending children to summer camp does more than keep them entertained for the season—here are 10 ways it prepares them for the transition to collegiate life. By Stacey Ebert

t age 7 I went to day camp and by 10 I began going to sleepaway camp. Summer after summer I yearned for the end of school with excitement, though always with trepidation and a dash of worry as well. But the minute I opened the car door or the bus pulled up to my camp I was home, and that feeling never waned. Eight years after my first sleepaway camp experience, I headed off to college and that same mixture of emotions came along for the ride. Drawing on my camp experience, I was happy to discover, made the transition easier. Remembering the fun that superseded the fear, the compassion that outranked the chaos, and the learning that leveled the playing field helped more than any college preparatory book I could have read or any “what to know before you go to college” podcast I could have listened to (if those had existed at the time, of course!). What

March 2018 | nymetroparents.com

my camp friends and I learned stayed with us, transferred to others, and wove itself into the fabric of our being. As a camper and counselor, camp gave me the informal credits I needed to prepare for college. Here are 10 things I learned at camp that helped with the transition:

Learn to accept change.

This is probably the most significant lesson from camp that translates to college and then to life. Learning the only things we have control over are our attitudes, outlook, and responses is not an easy feat. Our cabins were decided before we arrived, and sometimes our friends weren’t with us, or perhaps new friends left before the summer’s end. Counselors shifted each session, and the new ones had very different personalities than our previous leaders. We could fight these changes, be angry

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CAMP MARKETPLACE

N U F E R R E E H

when they happened, and let it ruin our camp experience, or we could find a way to accept the change, experience the new, and learn and grow. In college, friendships, roommates, and even majors change. Dealing with change isn’t easy, but it’s fantastically necessary. As we progress in years, the changes we deal with get more difficult, so our ability to accept what we can’t change must grow—and camp starts that process.

Be flexible and go with the flow.

You go to canteen and it’s out of Strawberry Shortcakes that day. The cabin night you were waiting for got rained out, so now your evening activity is indoors in the lodge. These things happen. Camp teaches us to go with the flow—our tongues turning blue from a new favorite popsicle, wearing pajamas to evening program instead of wearing layers to the beach, and empathizing with a friend while focusing on having fun with new ones for the duration of camp. That flexibility is necessary in the college stages and beyond. Sometimes our choices are taken away, sometimes the abroad program is unavailable, and sometimes we can’t get into that last class needed to complete our major until the following semester. Camp teaches us to let go; that the more relaxed we can be, the easier the shifts will become; and that the more flexible we are, the better it is for our health and well-being.

S M T R M A T U S S

Embrace and learn from diversity.

At some point in every camp experience, we meet people who are different from us. Showing interest in those differences makes us better people, and learning from those differences widens our comfort zones and broadens our minds. Cabin and unit mates come from many backgrounds and all bring something different to the table. As the number of people with whom we interact increases, the amount of diversity we encounter grows. We meet people on day one of camp, and by day three we feel as if we’ve known them forever. Camp facilitates ease in meeting new people, lessens the fear in that meeting, and manages to make connecting with strangers more amazing than scary. Having that confidence in making new friends makes it much easier to do the same at freshman orientation. At camp and at school, we spend time with people, and we learn their desires and struggles, likes and dislikes, and upbringings and dreams of what’s to come. Camp and college provide an opportunity to make those strangers become fast friends, take notice of and embrace the differences, and learn more about the world around us.

Don’t be afraid to be yourself.

We all have strengths and weaknesses, successes and failures, likes and dislikes, dreams and aspirations, and things that bring us utter peace. If all of those were the same for our bunkmates, camp would be boring. I loved swim and arts and crafts. One of my best friends could spend her entire day at farm, while the other two practically lived at the barn with the horses. There were those who took to the talent show, while others shied away from the spotlight. There were those who were leaders and others who were not. All of us had a safe place to grow at camp. University campuses and courses widen that playing field too, but those of us who went to camp learned at an early age that we could be ourselves and be proud of who we are. It’s

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BrooklynParent 19 BP 1-2p Camp 3-18.indd 1

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those lessons we reach for in the dorm room during moments that are coupled with the fear that we might not be enough.

Everyone gets homesick.

Perhaps it happened after you read a letter or email from home. Perhaps it happened after visiting day. Perhaps it happened after a bad dream, or when you fell off a horse, got your first tick, or had that first bellyache at camp. At one point or another, all of us had a twinge of homesickness. But at camp there was often someone with a friendly shoulder, an ear to lend, or open arms for a hug that lessened the ick and reminded us we could get through. Homesickness happens at college, too, but at camp we learned there’s another side, another day, and always someone to help, whether it’s your roommate, a friend, a professor, or an advisor. And sometimes we’re even better equipped to handle homesickness in college because we remember what it felt like at camp and how we overcame it. Feeling homesick happens to the most popular kid, the best athlete, and everyone in between. Homesickness is real, but it’s manageable. I learned that lesson at camp.

Respect yourself and others.

Camp provides us freedoms we might not have at home while encouraging us to make good choices, take care of ourselves, and use good judgment. These lessons continue after we leave the grounds in August. Camp discourages bullying, teaches us to speak up for fellow campers and ourselves, and reminds us that although we’re away from home and school our character still counts and our actions have consequences. College life comes with privileges of freedoms, new people and attitudes, and many of the same choices as camp. Remembering the advice of camp counselors from our youth who constantly reminded us to respect ourselves stays with us and often pops up in critical moments when we have difficult choices to make.

Share your skills and your stuff.

Jill always brought the coolest clothes and stuff to camp. No one knew more about all things agricultural than Erin. Mr. Bill could fix everything, and his wife made the best iced tea in the world (well, according to us). Carolyn showed us how to make a one-match fire, and Maryanne introduced us to our favorite crumb cake recipe. Some people shared stuff, some shared knowledge, and others shared experiences—and it all mattered. Those who had something to share felt good knowing they were able to help someone else. Those who benefited from the generosity felt a connection, a boost in positivity, and often a desire to continue to pay it forward. College is much the same. Sometimes it’s as simple as sharing a pizza, lending out a sweatshirt, copying class notes for a sick friend, or explaining a statistics problem at 3am to your stressed out roommate. At camp we borrowed clothes, lent encouragement, and shared our knowledge. It was never about who had or knew the most or the best of anything; it was about those with the biggest hearts, the kindest ears, and the ability to be there. It mattered then, and it will continue to matter throughout college and the years thereafter.

Everyone has something to teach and to learn.

Trish the nurse taught me how to safely remove a tick. Mr. Bill showed me how to chop down a tree. Laura taught us to sing our hearts out. Millie taught us to cook, Adrienne showed us how to make our well-worn beaded camp bracelets, and I stayed up nights studying lifeguarding with Jackie. We all pitched in and we all offered up what we knew. But it was more than just tangible things: Krista taught me to deal with change, campmates taught me the magic of friendship, and hundreds of counselors taught me kindness, courage, resilience, and perseverance. College was no different. We learn from our professors, our advisors, our friends, our surroundings, and often locals and strangers. Having an open mind, acknowledging that lessons come in all forms, having willingness to share what we know, and showcasing the ability to listen and share—camp introduced us to these lessons, and for that we are forever grateful.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

The road from Girls’ Camp to Boys’ Camp was covered by the trees’ canopy and lined with shrubbery. At night, there were parts of the path where you could barely see the glow of the stars. Whenever we had events at Boys’ Camp, fear of that dark set in. Erin was always there with a hand to lend. If she walked in the middle of the road, anyone whose arms or hands were intertwined with hers was safe from the brush and the creatures of the night. In college, I never would have gotten through statistics without the help of my science- and math-minded friends. When the methods were confusing and laden with frustration, those friends stepped in to lend a hand. Camp taught us not to be afraid to ask for help, whether we needed a hug when we were sad, a boost to reach the top of the rope, a spot with that back-handspring, a buddy for swim, or a friend with whom to walk home. Later in life, we were filled with the knowledge that asking for help only made us stronger, and we were often prepared to lend a hand when asked.

Face your fears.

Nature’s creepy crawlies wound their webs in all sorts of knobby corners at camp, and our bathrooms were outside. Then there was the swim test in the first days of the season. Camp taught us the need to face our fears in order to conquer them, to not get swallowed up by those emotions, and to always offer to help others face their own fears. As our worlds grow, often so do our fears. College finds us in new spaces, with new people and new experiences. Each time we try to push past that comfort zone, there’s fear. Camp reminds us that those fears (whether of failure or spiders) are normal, don’t make us any “less,” and are conquerable. Jackie got back on the horse after she was thrown off, Jill got back in a canoe after she busted her foot, and I jumped off of the biggest rock I’ve ever seen. We knew the future was full of unknowns, failures were bound to happen, and obstacles would most certainly pop up, but we also knew all those things we had to overcome were manageable.

Stacey Ebert is a camper at heart who has spent more than 25 years in the camping and education industries in New York as a teacher, club advisor, counselor, and aquatics director. She is a published writer, blogger, event planner, volunteer manager, and educator always in search of joy. She loves travel, spending time outside, and is an avid yogi. She has visited more than 50 of the world’s countries, and met her Australian-born husband while on a trip in New Zealand. Check out her blog at thegiftoftravel.wordpress.com.

March 2018 | nymetroparents.com

CAMP MARKETPLACE

Camp Clio

eventh S r u O nd Year a g din Expan ion iss Our M

YMCA

SUMMER CAMPS FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE

a seriously fun place for adopted children... Youths and Teens Camp Clio

Held at Camp Claire Lyme, CT

10%

Early Bird Discount ENDS APRIL 21

(Ages 9 - 12)

July 1 to July 21, 2018 (1, 2, or 3 weeks)

Camp Clio Teen

(Ages 13 - 16)

July 1-6 or July 7-13, 2018 (1 or 2 weeks) Held at Middlesex County Camp Moodus, CT

NEW YORK CITY’S YMCA

ymcanyc.org/camp

Academy of Early Education

Fall Enrollment Pre-K For All Summer Camp Late & Early Care Children learn as they play. Most importantly, in play, children learn how to learn. Come find out why our preschool graduates are reading by the time they enter kindergarten. Open daily from 6:30AM - 6:30PM

412 Kings Highway • Brooklyn, NY 11223 718-627-7340 • www.TheLearningExperience.com Academy of Early Education

BrooklynParent 21

Camp Directory DAY CAMPS Aviator Sports and Events Center

3159 Flatbush Ave. Jason Vasquez, Youth Programs director 718-758-7510 jason@aviatorsports.com Jenna Jones, Hospitality Department manager 718-758-7549 jenna@aviatorsports.com aviatorsports.com/summer-day-camps Aviator Sports Summer Day Camp is a traditional summer camp located within Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn. The camp is divided into four divisions: Junior Camp, Younger Division, Older Division, and Teen Division. Campers will have 15 peers within their coed group, with two general counselors, one head counselor, and overseen by a division leader. Our dedicated and highly trained staff will ensure each camper a safe and fulfilling summer experience through low camper-to-staff ratios and individualized attention. Groups follow a daily rotating schedule of five activities a day.

CBE KIDS CAMP Elementary and Travel camps

274 Garfield Place, Park Slope 718-768-3814 cbebk.org/camp bfinkelstein@cbebk.org CBE Kids Camps offer campers a summer of new experiences! The Elementary Division (ages 4½-9) includes swimming, sports, music, gymnastics, arts and crafts, nature, and circus arts. Movin’ On, CBE’s Travel Camp, uses the Temple House as a base for daily trips in and around Manhattan, two overnights, electives, and special events. Ha’Geemnasia, CBE KIDS Hebrew Camp, offers native Hebre-speaking counselors. Hebrew is integrated into the daily activities such as swim, sports, art, cooking, and dance. Transportation is available.

The Learnatory

St. Francis College, 180 Remsen St. 347-787-0435 thelearnatory.org dthompson@thelearnatory.org The Learnatory Summer Camp is the fast track to developing kids for 21st century success! Academic growth, personal development, and professional preparation are all rolled in to one fun-filled summer of excitement at The Learnatory! From math to music, reading to robotics, summertime becomes a memorable experience for kids ages 7-17 as they do new things, make new friends, and

keep their minds sharp. Your child could kickstart a pathway to success with more than 30 innovative courses that are so much fun, they won’t even notice they’re learning!

The Learning Experience

412 Kings Highway 718-627-7340; 845-608-4251 thelearningexperience.com/our-centers/ny/ brooklyn/brooklyn brooklyn@tlechildcare.com The Learning Experience in Brooklyn is now enrolling campers ages 6 weeks to 8 years for Summer Camp “Safari at TLE.” This summer our purpose built Savanna will include learning through fun expeditions, field excursions, and water hole events. We are also enrolling for our fall semester using a proven curriculum to unlock your child’s world through reading in a safe, secure, and fun place with an award-winning staff. We offer Pre-K for All as well as early and late programs. Visit us at thelearningexperience.com/our-centers/ny/ brooklyn/brooklyn.

Be part of the spirit that has kept us growing for 27 years!

Smart Start Early Learning Center

8411 Fort Hamilton Parkway 718-921-1868 smartstart@verizon.net Summer Fun at Smart Start is an extension of our preschool program with the addition of water play and fun outdoor activities. Enrollment options include our regular school day program (8:30am-3pm), our full-time program (7am-6:30pm), and a five-week, part-time (9am-12pm) summer program. Your child’s day will be filled with fun and learning. Activities include art, music, movement, outdoor playtime, and center time. Smart Start Early Childhood Center Inc. is licensed for children ages 2-5. Call 718-9211868 for further information or check us out on the web at smartstartecc.com.

Stepping Stones Nursery School

5945 Strickland Ave. 718-251-6200 millbasindaycamp.com Summers are times to spend with friends, make memories, and share experiences that last a lifetime. MBDC is dedicated to providing exciting and fulfilling camp experiences for children through fun, recreational, and safe activities. Our modern, air-conditioned, and private facility offers a wide range of activities for children entering pre-K through ninth grade. There are five individual camps, each with unique and innovative programming. Bring the family for a personal tour of the facility and discussion of the camp program.

245 86th St., Bay Ridge 718-630-1000 Stepping Stones-The Next Step 9321 Ridge Blvd. 718-630-1001 steppingstones86.com steppingstones86@aol.com Stepping Stones believes in engaging every child in large and small muscle activities, sensory and discovery exploration, social interaction, and creative expression for ages 2-9. Join us for a fun summer camp at which your child will be creating fun activities, traveling on local trips, going to the park, playing with water in our playground, and participating in themed lessons and enrichment classes including yoga, science, and no-bake cooking. Stepping Stones is open from 7am-6:30pm from July 2-Aug. 24.

The Park Slope Day Camp

Treasure Island

Mill Basin Day Camp

Ronny Schindler, executive director 718-788-7732 parkslopedaycamp.com For 27 years, Park Slope Day Camp has been providing Brooklyn families with a safe, nurturing, and unique day camp experience. Located in Park Slope, Windsor Terrace, Carroll Gardens, and Bay Ridge, we offer a wide variety of activities and options including traditional, circus, soccer, and travel camps. Flexible and accommodating schedules for parents; professional management; enthusiastic, caring, and well-trained staff; air-conditioned buses; transportation to and from camp in most Brooklyn locations; and accredited by American Camp Association.

347 74th St. (corner of 4th Avenue and 74th Street) 718-238-7676 silbekidz@aol.com Treasure Island provides each camper with a nurturing, supportive, intellectually stimulating environment that promotes learning and exploration; builds self-esteem and self-confidence; empowers each child; promotes socialization, kindness, and empathy; builds upon the diversity of our campers; and encourages campers to be independent and unique individuals. Campers explore exciting themes and enjoy enrichment experiences such as Kindermusik, cultural dance program, and the creative movement program continued on page 24 ››

March 2018 | nymetroparents.com

CAMP MARKETPLACE

SMART START

Early Childhood Center, Inc. 8411 Fort Hamilton Pkwy. Brooklyn, NY 11209 718-921-1868 Fax-718-921-6713

FREE Full Day D.O.E. Pre-K For All! Our curriculum helps children understand and develop skills which will enable them to succeed and make sense of the world through: Dramatic Play, Free Play, Outdoor Play, Arts, Crafts, Music, and Movement while incorporating: Literacy, Math, Science, and Social Studies Child Centered, Certified Teachers, Extended Hours, Year Round Care

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››

Free Full Day U.P.K. Program for All Call for Information!

BROOKLYN’S MUSIC EDUCATION CHOICE

FOR T ODAY ’S MODERN FAMILY Fun and exciting group piano, music composition & production, and performance/band classes for ages 5 to adult.

enroll today !

718.576.3514

94 LUQUER ST. BROOKLYN, NY 11231

keyl ab.nyc BrooklynParent 23

‹‹ continued from page 22

“Jump for Joy.” Outdoor water play is an essential part of the camp experience. Maria Nogueria, director.

Urban Explorers Day Camp

38-32 Flatlands Ave. 718-951-9732 urbanexplorers.nyc admin@urbanexplorers.nyc Urban Explorers has more than 40 years of experience providing fun-filled, educationally sound programs geared toward a child’s learning and socialization. Each day provides new and exciting activities, each week new and exciting trips. Research shows that program diversity naturally enhances a child’s curiosity and innate ability to learn. This leads to our belief that the more children explore, the faster they discover themselves. If you live anywhere in Brooklyn, the Rockaways, or near the Brooklyn-Queens border, we will gladly provide free door-todoor transportation.

YMCA Summer Camps

bit.ly/2FgUwLs ymcanyc.org/camp rho@ymcanyc.org At YMCA Summer Camps, children learn leadership skills and develop self-confidence in a safe, accepting, and stimulating environment. They also build robots, go on field trips, shoot hoops, learn to swim, make new friends, and laugh all summer long! Our creative, educational camp programming—structured around the Y’s values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility—helps campers reach their fullest potential—physically, mentally, and emotionally. With six locations in Brooklyn, find the perfect camp for your child! Visit us at ymcanyc.org/camp to learn more today!

SLEEPAWAY CAMPS Camp Clio

Held at Camp Claire 15 Oakland Ave., Lyme, CT Middlesex County Camp 298 E. Haddam Moodus Road, Moodus, CT 212-472-5207 campclio.org Camp Clio and our new Camp Clio Teen offer a unique experi-

ence for adopted children (ages 9-12) and teens (ages 13-16). Camp Clio campers and counselors (themselves adopted and serving as role models) share the intimacy and safety of being with other adopted friends, providing the opportunity to share feelings and adoption stories with others who understand adoption without explanation because they are “just like me”—all in a fun camp environment. Camp Clio Teen: July 1-13. Camp Clio Youth: July 1-21. Campers may come for one or more sessions. Scholarships available.

Camp Huntington

56 Bruceville Road, High Falls 855-707-2267 camphuntington.com dfalk@camphuntington.com Camp Huntington, a coed, residential summer camp for children and young adults with autism, and related developmental and learning disabilities, and ADD. Ability levels mild to moderate-severe. Located in High Falls in the beautiful Catskill Mountain region, the camp provides therapeutically and instructionally designed recreation programs in summer and certain weekends during the year. Programs offer structured daily activities designed to be safe, learning-based, fun, and rewarding. Positive reinforcement motivates children to be happy and participate meaningfully. Activities encourage improvement in self-management and independence, and advancement in social and life skills. camphuntington.com.

SPECIALTY CAMPS Brienza’s Academic Advantage

Several locations in Brooklyn and Staten Island. Call for a location near you! 718-232-0114 brienzas.com Brienza’s Academic Advantage offers a wide variety of academic programs for students attending kindergarten through 12th grade. We specialize in reading and math tutoring along with TACHS, SHSAT, Regents, SAT, and ACT preparation. Our programs provide students with the opportunity to increase

March 2018 | nymetroparents.com

their skills and knowledge, enabling them to reach their full potential and gain motivation and confidence. Programs offered are tutoring in all subjects, test preparation courses, Mandated Summer School programs, and SETSS (P-4) services to qualified students. Call our office to speak to one of our educational specialists.

Brooklyn Music School

126 Saint Felix St. 718-638-5660 brooklynmusicschool.org contactus@brooklynmusicschool.org The Brooklyn Music School offers a diverse selection of summer programming for children ages 5 and older. Whether your child is new to music and dance or has been studying a particular instrument for some time, the Brooklyn Music School has summer programming options fit for all skill levels. From individualized instruction in private lessons to fun and engaging full-day music and dance programming to afternoon Musical Theater workshops, BMS has just the right summer activities in which all participants are sure to experience the joy of music and dance.

Camp Clio

Held at Camp Claire 15 Oakland Ave., Lyme, CT Middlesex County Camp 298 E. Haddam Moodus Road, Moodus, CT 212-472-5207 campclio.org Camp Clio and our new Camp Clio Teen offer a unique experience for adopted children (ages 9-12) and teens (ages 13-16). Camp Clio campers and counselors (themselves adopted and serving as role models) share the intimacy and safety of being with other adopted friends, providing the opportunity to share feelings and adoption stories with others who understand adoption without explanation because they are “just like me”—all in a fun camp environment. Camp Clio Teen: July 1-13. Camp Clio Youth: July 1-21. Campers may come for one or more sessions. Scholarships available.

Camp Huntington

56 Bruceville Road, High Falls 855-707-2267 camphuntington.com dfalk@camphuntington.com Camp Huntington, a coed, residential summer camp for children and young adults with autism, and related developmental and learning disabilities, and ADD. Ability levels mild to moderatesevere. Located in High Falls in the beautiful Catskill Mountain region, the camp provides therapeutically and instructionally designed recreation programs in summer and certain weekends during the year. Programs offer structured daily activities designed to be safe, learning-based, fun, and rewarding. Positive reinforcement motivates children to be happy and participate meaningfully. Activities encourage improvement in selfmanagement and independence, and advancement in social and life skills. camphuntington.com.

Chelsea Piers Sports and Entertainment Complex Summer Camps

West 23rd Street and Hudson River Park, Manhattan Field House Registration Desk: 212-336-6500 x6520 Camps: 212-336-6846 chelseapiers.com/youth chelseapiers.com/camp Located along the Hudson River, Chelsea Piers is a 28acre sports village that offers NYC’s biggest and most flexible summer camp program! For 22 summers, athletes of all ages have enjoyed the most dynamic sports curriculum available. With up to 11 weeks and 15 sports to choose from, we have a camp for every athlete and schedule. Our coaches are dedicated year-round to provide athletes with a clean, safe, friendly, and fun environment. Transportation service from many Manhattan and Brooklyn neighborhoods, and after care are available. Summer Camps run June 18-Aug. 31. Early bird pricing available through May 18.

FasTracKids

Williamsburg, Sheepshead Bay, Bay Ridge/Dyker, Park Slope

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CAMP MARKETPLACE 347-983-2229 ftkny.com Summer camp is designed for children ages 4-10. Sessions last for one week at a time. We have full- or half-day sessions available. Fast-paced, fun, and fully interactive, these learning adventures will captivate and entertain as they deliver truly meaningful lessons. Nine enrichment topics are explored. Math and English classes, as well as computers, arts and crafts, puzzles, games, and yoga are offered. Call for details!

Keylab

e 2

94 Luquer St. 718-576-3514 keylab.nyc info@keylab.nyc Keylab offers flexible scheduling and pricing for summer camps! Our camps are educational, inspiring, and fun! Booking a camp experience at Keylab is a great way to get your kids involved with music, film, podcasting, and more. Camps run Monday-Friday, 9:30am3:30pm for kids ages 6-12 of all skill levels. Book a full five-day camp, a single day, or purchase three-, five- or, 10-day camp packages. The more days you book, the better your price! Visit keylab.nyc/camps, email info@ keylab.nyc, or call 718-5763514 for more information.

Leif Ericson Day School Leif Ericson Day School’s Summer Creative Arts & Music Program (SCAMP)

1037 72nd St. 718-748-9023 Christine Hauge, principal ledsny.org Leif Ericson Day School’s Summer Creative Arts and Music Program begins its 21st year of fun June through the early August. Children in pre-K to seventh grade enjoy computers, art, music, movement, and drama. Professional, caring staff and junior counselors are enthusiastic and attentive. Limited group size allows for a more fulfilling experience. All activities are on-site. Two snacks provided daily. SCAMP hours are 9am-3pm with “Early Bird” care (8am) and “Late Bird” care (5pm) for additional fees.

Usdan Summer Camp for the Arts

185 Colonial Springs Road, Wheatley Heights 631-643-7900 usdan.org Usdan Summer Camp for the Arts, the nation’s pre-eminent arts day camp offers more than 70 programs of study in the arts—visual art, dance, music, theater, writing—and arts-related fields—nature, chess, and recreational arts. Each summer, more than 1,500 students ages 4-18 are immersed in art and nature and surrounded by friends who share their interests and enthusiasm. Transportation is provided in air-conditioned buses departing from throughout the New York metro and Long Island areas. Two-, three-, four-, and sevenweek sessions are offered from June 25-Aug. 10.

Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Zoos and Aquarium

1-800-433-4149 The Bronx Zoo: 2300 Southern Blvd., Bronx 718-220-5132 Central Park Zoo: 830 Fifth Ave., Manhattan 212-438-6583 Queens Zoo: 53-51 111th St., Corona, Queens 718-271-7361 Prospect Park Zoo: 450 Flatbush Ave., Prospect Park 718-399-7327 New York Aquarium: 602 Surf Ave., Coney Island 718-265-3457 wcs.org/summercamps Summer just got wild! Send your animal lover to summer camp at the Bronx Zoo, Central Park Zoo, Prospect Park Zoo, Queens Zoo, and the New York Aquarium! Campers will enjoy up-close animal experiences, Wildlife Theater performances, and age-appropriate, handson STEM activities. Join us at the aquarium for keeper chats, behind the scenes experiences, and exclusive early morning access to the new Ocean Wonders: Sharks! exhibit. For more information, visit our website at wcs.org/education/ programs, call 800-433-4149, or email edu@wcs.org. Use code NYMETRO for 10 percent off one week of camp!

We’re learning step-by-step at...

School Programs • Two Year Old Classes • Three Year Old Classes • Four Year Old Classes

After School Programs

Kindergarten through 5th grade

Full and Half Day Programs Available

Call Us or Come to Our

OPEN HOUSE Wednesday, April 11th at 6pm

School Session:

for more information.

September – June

Summer Session:

Open House is held at 245 86th Street, Bklyn, NY.

July – August

Please call or email us to schedule a tour to view the school.

Nursery School

245 86th street • brooklyn, ny 11209 • p.718-630-1000 • f.718-630-1446

The Next Step

9321 ridge boulevard • brooklyn, ny 11209 • p.718-630-1001

steppingstones86.com • Steppingstones86@aol.com

It's still skating season at Aviator Sports! Mention "Metro Parents" to Buy 3, Get 1 FREE! AviatorSports.com

Summer at BMS

Private Lessons • Summer Music & Dance Institute Summer Music Intensives • Summer Vocal Arts • Music Workshops

July 2 - August 25, 2018 Ages 5 and up

126 St. Felix Street • Brooklyn, NY 11217 718 - 638 - 5660 www.brooklynmusicschool.org/summer-at-bms

BrooklynParent 25

Aviator Sports Summer Day Camp aviatorsports.com

8 8 8

Brooklyn College Preparatory Center for the Performing Arts Brooklyn Music School brooklynmusicschool.org

CBE Kids Camps cbebk.org Chelsea Piers Summer Sports Camps

chelseapiers.com

Dyker Heights FasTracKids ftkny.com FasTracKids ftkny.com FasTracKids of Sheepshead Bay ftkny.com

8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8

8 8 8 8 8 8 8

Dance

Arts & Crafts

Special Needs

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Keylab keylab.nyc

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Leif Ericson Day Schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Summer Creative Arts & Music Program ledsny.org

Music

Academic Enrichment

Day Trips

8 8

8 8 8 8 8 8 8

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Mill Basin Day Camp millbasindaycamp.com

8 8 8 8

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Park Slope Day Camp parkslopedaycamp.com

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Smart Start Early Childhood Center Inc. smartstartecc.com

8 8 8

STEAM Careers in Park Slope parkslopesummercamp.com

March 2018 | nymetroparents.com

8 8

C G

8 8

Bushwick Montessori bushwickmontessori.org Camp Clio campclio.org

Swimming

Sports

8 8 8 8 8 8 8

bcprepcenter.org

Theater

STEAM/Robotics

PROGRAMS:

Half-Day

Flexible Scheduling

Extended Hours

Lunch

Transportation

Camp Guide

SERVICES:

The Learning Experience thelearningexperience.com

Treasure Island

treasureislandmyclassroomconnection.com

Ume Ume Music + Arts umeumearts.com Usdan Summer Camp for the Arts

usdan.org

8 8 8 8 8 8

Williamsburg FasTracKids STEAM Careers Camp campwilliamsburg.com

YMCA Summer Camps ymcanyc.org Young Peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day Camp ypdc.com

8 8

Dance

Arts & Crafts

Special Needs

Day Trips

Swimming

8 8

Sports

8 8 8 8 8 8

Theater

8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8

STEAM/Robotics

8 8 8 8 8 8

Half-Day

Music

The Learnatory thelearnatory.org

Flexible Scheduling

Extended Hours

8 8 8 8 8 8 8

PROGRAMS: Academic Enrichment

Stepping Stones steppingstones86.com

Lunch

Transportation

Camp Guide

SERVICES:

8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8

8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8

Want to know the best

activities for families? Subscribe to our family activity

email newsletter

NYMETROPARENTS.COM/REGISTER BrooklynParent 27

things to do

outbound

Family Fun a Ride Away

Tenaﬂy Nature Center

Courtesy Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery & Aquarium

With nearly 400 acres of forest and wetland, this nature preserve protects, improves, and restores wildlife with outdoor, seasonal activities and animal-focused programming. Families can walk on hiking trails, enjoy nature-themed stories on a StoryWalk, and participate in maple sugaring in the spring. Visitors can expect to see more than 50 species of birds, whitetailed deer, red fox, and various turtles that call the nature preserve home. Visit it: 313 Hudson Ave., Tenafly; 201-568-6093; tenaflynaturecenter.org

Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery & Aquarium Comprised of two aquariums and eight outdoor ponds, the Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery & Aquarium offers kids the opportunity to learn about preserving freshwater wildlife. Kids can feed trout, learn about freshwater reptiles and amphibians native to New York, go on a backyard bird watch, and spend time fishing. Visit It: 1660 Route 25A, Cold Spring Harbor; 516-692-6768; cshfishhatchery.org

March 2018 | nymetroparents.com

Courtesy Bergen County Zoo

Bergen County Zoo Meet with animals from North and South America, such as a Linnaeus’s two-toed sloth, Baird’s tapirs, Andean condors, South American pampas, ocelots, capybaras, and more. Families can participate in a Night Owls walk to see nocturnal animals; a Reptile Safari to get a closer look at these cold-blooded, scaly creatures; and the Wild & Crafty Zoo Tour to hear stories about animals, followed by a craft project and walk through the zoo. co.bergen.nj.us Visit it: 216 Forest Ave., Paramus; 201-634-3100; co.bergen.n

and bey ond ! Courtesy Stepping Stones Museum for Children

Courtesy Tenafly Nature Center

In Bergen County, NJ…

Stepping Stones Museum for Children For a day of play and educational activities, kids of all ages and abilities can visit this museum and participate in programs such as Explorations: Dino Stamping to be a paleontologist for a day and create their own dinosaur guide book; Storm the Castle to build a fort and catapults in an Irish castle; and storybook pajama parties. Visit the museum for Egg-straordinary Egg-stravaganza this month, just in time for Easter. Visit It: Mathews Park, 303 West Ave., Norwalk, CT (Metro-North New Haven Line); 203-899-0606; steppingstonesmuseum.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!

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Turn the page for details on Holi Hooray! (No. 1 on our list).

MARCH

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nymetroparents.com/submitevent UPDATED DAILY AT nymetroparents.com/calendar EDITOR: ROSALIND MUGGERIDGE bkcal@davlermedia.com

CALENDAR

Editor’s Hot Tickets

Show Time!

We Can’t Believe It’s FREE!, Animal Lovers

Movers & Shakers

Holiday Fun

Smarty Pants

Mini Musicians, Special Needs

Once Upon a Time, Little Foodies

Browse & Buy

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!

Holi Hooray!

WHEN: Saturday, March 3, see website for schedule WHERE: Brooklyn Children’s Museum, 145 Brooklyn Ave., Crown Heights AGES: All WHAT: Known as the Color Festival, Holi originated in India and is now enjoyed by millions of people worldwide. Join in for a celebration of springtime and play for a day of art, dance, and food. WHY WE LOVE IT: It will make you and your whole family feel like you’ve been transported to the streets of Mumbai. WANT TO GO? $11; free for children younger than 1. 718-224-5863. brooklynkids.org.

‘Shopkins Live! Shop It Up!’

WHEN: Saturday, March 3, 1pm WHERE: St. George Theatre, 35 Hyatt St., Staten Island AGES: 5 and older WHAT: The beloved Shoppies make their theatrical debut in an original new live show featuring musical performances by Jessicake, Bubbleisha, Peppa-Mint, Rainbow Kate, Cocolette, Polli Polish. WHY WE LOVE IT: Kids will love seeing their favorite toys live on stage! WANT TO GO? $38.50 and up. 718-442-2900. stgeorgetheatre.com.

The School of American Ballet Presents ‘The Beauty of Ballet’ FREE

WHEN: Sunday, March 11, 2pm WHERE: Kumble Theater, 1 University Plaza, Downtown Brooklyn AGES: 5 and older WHAT: How do ballerinas dance on their toes? How do dancers spin and turn without getting dizzy? Those questions and more will be answered during the performance of favorite ballet moments such as The Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker, and Swan Lake. Faculty member Katrina Killian

March 2018 | nymetroparents.com

and advanced students from the School of American Ballet will be featured in this enchanting introduction to the art of classical ballet. WHY WE LOVE IT: Budding ballet dancers will love this behind-thescenes look at the art of the dance. WANT TO GO? 718-951-4500. kumbletheater.org.

Simon Critchley: ‘Philosophy for Kids’ at the Tilt Kids Festival FREE

WHEN: Sunday, March 11, 2pm WHERE: Brooklyn Public Library, Central Branch, Dweck Center, 10 Grand Army Plaza, Prospect Heights AGES: 5-12 WHAT: Acclaimed philosopher Simon Critchley—along with a group of guest philosophers—will lead a series of discussions at the Brooklyn Public Library during which young thinkers will be invited to ponder timeless philosophical questions. In a concurrent seminar, they will be invited to discuss issues at the intersection of philosophy and parenting. WHY WE LOVE IT: Curiosity, imagination, and reflection will run free during these workshops. WANT TO GO? 718-230-2100. bklynlibrary.org.

Book Launch: Junot Díaz Presents ‘Islandborn’

WHEN: Tuesday, March 13, 6-8pm WHERE: Brooklyn Public Library, Central Branch, 10 Grand Army Plaza, Prospect Heights AGES: All WHAT: Lola’s teacher asks the students to draw a picture of where their families emigrated from, and all the kids are excited, except Lola. She can’t remember the Island because she left when she was just a baby. But with the help of her family and friends, and their memories, Lola’s imagination takes her on an extraordinary journey back to the Island. WHY WE LOVE IT: A relevant and timely story from bestseller and Pulitzer Prize-winner Junot Díaz, who was born in the Dominican Republic. WANT TO GO? $20-$25. 718-230-2100. bklynlibrary.org.

Luna Park 2018 Season Opening

WHEN: Saturday, March 24, 10am-8pm WHERE: Luna Park, 1000 Surf Ave., Coney Island AGES: All WHAT: Kick off the season at Coney Island’s Luna Park with games, live entertainment, and prizes. WHY WE LOVE IT: Kids get to try a traditional Brooklyn Egg Cream, made by Brooklyn Seltzer Boys. WANT TO GO? Free general admission; tickets required for some activities. 718-373-5862. lunaparknyc.com.

‘Flight School The Musical’

WHEN: Saturday, March 24, 2pm WHERE: Kingsborough Community College, The Leon M. Goldstein Performing Arts Center, 2001 Oriental Blvd., Manhattan Beach AGES: All WHAT: Based on the book Flight School from best-selling author Lita Judge, Penguin has the soul of an eagle and is ready to live on the wind. However, he wasn’t built to soar, as the other birds constantly remind him. Eventually Penguin finds his wings with the help of his friends, and is able to flip, flap, fly away. WHY WE LOVE IT: A lesson on perseverance, persistence, and friendship. WANT TO GO? $32-$37. 718-368-5596. onstageatkingsborough.org.

EGGstravaganza Breakfast with the Easter Bunny

WHEN: Saturday, March 24, 9:30am and 1pm WHERE: Staten Island Zoo, 614 Broadway, Staten Island AGES: All WHAT: This event includes a hot breakfast or lunch buffet, an Easter egg hunt, intimate animal encounters, a carousel ride with Chuck the Groundhog, a chance to take your own pictures with the Bunny, and live music. Reservations required. WHY WE LOVE IT: Explore the world of eggs made by frogs, turtles, bugs, and others zoo animals. WANT TO GO? $30; free for children 2 and younger. 718-442-3101. statenislandzoo.org.

‘A Fool’s Errand’

WHEN: March 24-25, Saturday-Sunday, 11am and 2pm WHERE: BAM Fisher, Fishman Space, 321 Ashland Place, Fort Greene AGES: 5 and older WHAT: In this physical comedy about the transformative power of friendship, an adventure unfolds from the moment clowning virtuoso Jamie Adkins falls onstage. A Fool’s Errand tests the laws of gravity, reminding us that the path to success is sometimes a wobbly rope. WHY WE LOVE IT: Kids will love the physical stunts in this family-friendly show as well as the engaging story line. WANT TO GO? $16. 718-636-4100. bam.org/kids.

Green Meadows Farm Easter Egg Hunt

WHEN: March 29-April 2, Thursday-Monday, 10am-4pm WHERE: Aviator Sports and Events Center, 3159 Flatbush Ave., Marine Park AGES: All WHAT: Visit Green Meadow Farms for this festive Easter Egg Hunt. Admission includes the egg hunt, photo with Whiskers the easter Bunny, a hayride, Tiny Tractors Corn Box, and Giant Hay Wagon Slide. WHY WE LOVE IT: Families can also visit the farm and enjoy activities such as pony rides and a petting zoo. WANT TO GO? $9. 718-224-5863. aviatorsports.com. ››

Taste more than 200 kosher wines!

Nosh on delicious snacks!

The Jewish Week’s

Grand Wine Tasting Event Monday March 12 | 5 - 9 p.m. City Winery, 155 Varick Street Taste over 200 kosher wines, including the winners of The Jewish Week’s recent Top 18 Kosher Wine Competition Talk to kosher wine vintners, wine experts and local retailers Order your favorite wines to enjoy at your Seder, for your simcha and all year long Get your free copy of The Jewish Week’s Kosher Wine Guide packed with wine features, as well as our Top 18 kosher wines in 10 categories, and more! For tickets, VIP Early Access & details visit http://jewishweek.timesofisrael.com/wine-tasting/

VIP/Early Access 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm $79 and then admission to the Grand Wine Tasting Private tasting capped at 125 guests with a premium wine selection.

Grand Wine Tasting 6:00pm – 9:00pm $50 The ticket price on the day of the event for the main Gand Wine Tasting will be $60.

The Jewish Week THE JEWISH WEEK MEDIA GROUP

J WMG BrooklynParent 31

ANIMAL LOVERS First Sundays

WE CAN’T BELIEVE IT’S FREE

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

WHEN: Friday, March 23, 5:30-8pm WHERE: New York Hall of Science, 47-01 111th Street, Corona, Queens AGES: 9 and older WHAT: Students in middle school, high school, and college can learn about the wide range of careers that women have conquered in STEM fields. The evening includes hands-on activities, career conversations with women leaders, and networking. Registration required. WANT TO GO? 718-699-0005. nysci.org.

She’s on Point! A Celebration of Girls in Sports FREE

WHEN: March 3-24, Saturdays, 11am-3pm WHERE: Sunset Park Recreation Center, 4200 7th Ave., Sunset Park AGES: All WHAT: She’s on Point celebrates the achievements of female athletes by introducing young girls and boys to sports. Through partnerships with local colleges and sports organizations, as well as the contributions of NYC Parks public programming staff, a variety of sports clinics and demonstrations take place, from traditional to alternative sports. WANT TO GO? 347-452-5679. nycgovparks.org.

Clay Pit Science Fair FREE

WHEN: Saturday, March 24, 1-3pm WHERE: Clay Pit Ponds State Park, 83 Nielsen Ave., Staten Island AGES: 5 and older WHAT: Conduct experiments with park rangers that can easily be replicated at home. WANT TO GO? 718-967-1976. parks.ny.gov.

Community Dance Class FREE

WHEN: Monday, March 26, 6:30pm WHERE: BRIC House Ballroom, 647 Fulton St., Fort Greene AGES: All WHAT: All ages and skill levels are welcome to join this series of community dance classes taught by Ronald K. Brown and members of his company, Evidence, A Dance Company, which blends traditional African dance with contemporary choreography and spoken word providing a unique view of human struggles, tragedies, and triumphs. WANT TO GO? 718-683-5600. bricartsmedia.org.

Immigrants: The Roots of Innovation FREE

WHEN: March 10-June 30, Saturdays, 12-3pm WHERE: Conference House, Hylan Boulevard and Satterlee Street, Staten Island AGES: 5 and older WHAT: This exhibit highlights narratives of important pioneers in the fields of maritime navigation and communication so people today can understand how our ancestors started making the world “smaller” over centuries by learning how to travel vast oceans. WANT TO GO? 718-869-6327. conferencehouse.org. 32

March 2018 | nymetroparents.com

WHEN: Sunday, March 4, 10am-4:30pm WHERE: Brooklyn Botanic Garden, 990 Washington Ave., Prospect Heights AGES: All WHAT: Programs include discovery workshops for kids, family storytime, a winter wildlife nature walk, and a tour inside the Steinhardt Conservatory featuring tropical, desert, and Mediterranean climates. After touring the garden, warm up with seasonal brunch and lunch menus in Yellow Magnolia Cafe. WANT TO GO? $15; free for children younger than 12. 718-623-7200. bbg.org.

Nature Walks with Brad Klein

WHEN: Through March 4: Sundays, 11am-12pm WHERE: Brooklyn Botanic Garden Visitor Atrium, 990 Washington Ave., Prospect Heights AGES: All WHAT: Join naturalist Bradley Klein and look for birds, mammals, and insects that remain active in winter, and observe clues hinting at life sleeping through the season. WANT TO GO? $15; free for children younger than 12. 718-623-7200. bbg.org.

Secrets of the Zoo: Migration Mystery

WHEN: Saturday, March 10, 12-4pm WHERE: Prospect Park Zoo, 450 Flatbush Ave., Prospect Park AGES: All WHAT: The weather is warming up and migratory animals are returning home but there’s a mystery at the zoo. Become a wildlife detective and help us solve where this mystery animal came from. Explore animal biofacts, practice using field-science tools, and meet a secret animal guest. WANT TO GO? $30. 718-220-5100. prospectparkzoo.com.

Breakfast with the Animals

WHEN: Saturday, March 10, 9-10:30am WHERE: New York Aquarium, Surf Avenue and West 8th Street, Coney Island AGES: Newborn to 5 WHAT: Enjoy a light morning meal of “people food” along with child-focused activities incorporating movement, discovery, crafts, and guided and free play opportunities. Education instructors help facilitate an engaging and fun experience for all. Finish the fun with an amazing animal encounter. WANT TO GO? $45; $40 members. 718-265-3474. nyaquarium.com.

Enrichment Tinkering Workshop

WHEN: Sunday, March 11, 2-4pm WHERE: Prospect Park Zoo, 450 Flatbush Ave., Prospect Park AGES: 5-17 WHAT: Step into the shoes of a keeper. Don’t miss this opportunity for you and your family to watch as your tinker creation is introduced to the animals at the zoo. This Sunday afternoon program also includes a live animal encounter. WANT TO GO? $50. 718-220-5100. prospectparkzoo.com.

Brian and His Wild Animals FREE

WHEN: Through March 11: Sundays, 12:30pm WHERE: Temple Israel, 315 Forest Ave., Staten Island AGES: All WHAT: Brian Wild and his interactive animals are coming to Temple Israel. Learn about animals and their lifestyles, and parents will receive handouts that will help them talk to their children about the Jewish value of caring for animals. This event is sponsored by the Dr. Ronald Avis Foundation for Temple Israel. WANT TO GO? 718-727-2231. templeisraelsiny.org.

Toddler Time

WHEN: March 8-29, Thursdays, 10:30am WHERE: New York Aquarium, Surf Avenue and West 8th Street, Coney Island AGES: Newborn to 5 WHAT: Enjoy exploring the world of marine animals. Children and caregivers will explore the aquarium together, participate in art activities, enjoy dramatic play, and meet some of our special animal friends at the aquarium throughout the series. WANT TO GO? $35; $30 members. 718-265-3474. nyaquarium.com.

Live Animal Adventure

Family Day: Spring Into Nowroz! Celebrate the Persian New Year

WHEN: Saturday, March 17, 1-5pm WHERE: Asia Society, 725 Park Ave., Upper East Side, Manhattan AGES: All WHAT: Nowroz, the Persian New Year, marks the beginning of spring. Discover the spirit of Nowroz with traditional music, dance, and crafts from Central Asia and Iran. WANT TO GO? $12; $5 seniors, students, and children. 212-288-6400. asiasociety.org.

43rd Annual Brooklyn St. Patrick’s Day Parade FREE

WHEN: Sunday, March 18, 1pm WHERE: Parade starts at 15th Street and Prospect Park West, 7th Avenue to Garfield Place, Windsor Terrace AGES: All WHAT: Skip the Manhattan crowds and check out this smaller St. Patrick’s Day parade. WANT TO GO? brooklynstpatricksparade.com.

WHEN: Through Dec. 31: Saturday-Sunday, 4:15pm WHERE: Brooklyn Children’s Museum, 145 Brooklyn Ave., Crown Heights AGES: All WHAT: Join a museum educator for this popular live animal show. Learn about and touch an animal from the museum’s living collection. WANT TO GO? $11. 718-224-5863. brooklynkids.org.

Bay Ridge St. Patrick’s Day Parade FREE

HOLIDAY FUN

Easter Egg Hunt

St. Patrick’s Day Parade FREE

WHEN: Sunday, March 4, 12:30pm WHERE: Parade starts at Hart Boulevard and ends at Jewett Avenue, Staten Island AGES: All WHAT: Staten Island’s St. Patrick’s Parade is a beloved tradition that turns New York City’s greenest borough even greener. WANT TO GO? silive.com.

Family Fun Series: Irish Dance

WHEN: Saturday, March 10, 4:30-5:30pm WHERE: Mark Morris Dance Center, 3 Lafayette Ave., Fort Greene AGES: All WHAT: Get ready for St. Patrick’s Day by learning the basics of Irish dance in this exciting class that uses traditional dance reels to understand the unique sounds of Irish music. WANT TO GO? $25 for a family of one to three; $30 for a family of four to six. 718-624-8400. markmorrisdancegroup.org.

WHEN: Sunday, March 25, 1pm WHERE: Parade starts at Marine Avenue, runs along 3rd Avenue, Bay Ridge AGES: All WHAT: This year marks the 25th anniversary of this popular neighborhood parade. The event was founded by the late Gene Reilly, owner of the former Lief Erickson Pub on 5th Avenue as a way to share the Celtic culture and his love of Irish Heritage. WANT TO GO? brparade.com. WHEN: Saturday, March 31, 11am-2pm WHERE: The Wyckoff House Museum, 5816 Clarendon Road, Canarsie AGES: All WHAT: Join neighbors and friends from East Flatbush Village and the office of Council Member Jumaane Williams for a community Easter Egg Hunt at the Wyckoff Farmhouse Museum. Hunt for Easter eggs, meet the Easter Bunny, and enjoy refreshments, games, and more. WANT TO GO? $5; $3 children ages 10-18; free for children younger than 10. 718-629-5400. wyckoffmuseum.org.

Egg Hunt and Easter Crafts

WHEN: Saturday, March 31, 10am-3pm WHERE: Historic Richmond Town, 441 Clarke Ave., Staten Island AGES: 3 and older WHAT: Bring an egg carton to decorate in high Victorian style, transforming it into a festive egg-holder that can hold up to six candy-filled eggs. Meet the Easter Bunny as you hunt for eggs in a Victorian town house decorated for spring. WANT TO GO? $5; $10 children. 718-351-1611. historicrichmondtown.org. ›› BrooklynParent 33

Little Orchestra Society Presents the Three C’s: Culture, Classical Music, and Composing

WHEN: March 1-29, Thursdays, 3pm and 4pm WHERE: Brooklyn Children’s Museum, 145 Brooklyn Ave., Crown Heights AGES: 3-8 WHAT: The Little Orchestra Society is in residence at Brooklyn Children’s Museum for a series of family music workshops. Each session explores music of a different culture; engages children, parents, and caregivers; and provides an introduction to world instruments. WANT TO GO? $11; free for children younger than 1. 718-735-4400. brooklynkids.org.

Lavender Blues Music & Movement

MINI

MUSICIANS The Music of Grateful Dead Featuring Stella Blues Band for Kids

WHEN: Saturday, March 3, 1pm WHERE: Brooklyn Bowl, 61 Wythe Ave., Williamsburg AGES: All WHAT: The Rock and Roll Playhouse band offers its core audience (families with children ages 10 and younger) games, movement, stories and an opportunity to rock out in an effort to educate children and explore their creativity. WANT TO GO? $14; $12 in advance. 646-560-0065. therockandrollplayhouse.com.

PS 295’s Brooklyn Boogie Brunch 2018

WHEN: Sunday, March 4, 12-4pm WHERE: Littlefield NYC, 635 Sackett St., Park Slope AGES: All WHAT: Now in its fifth year, the afternoon family event will feature music from a stellar lineup, including Capt’n Kirk Douglas of The Roots, Maimouna Youssef, Mush1 & His Flatbush Re-Boppers, Chris Lightcap, Control the Sound, and host Mike Woods of TalkBOX podcast. Enjoy a fun day planned with delicious brunch from local favorites. All proceeds support music and arts programs at PS 295 in South Slope. WANT TO GO? $20; $10 children; free for children younger than 2. 916-501-7489. littlefieldnyc.com.

The Yellow Sneaker Puppet Show

WHEN: Through March 14: Wednesdays, 10-10:45am WHERE: Blue Marble Ice Cream, 186 Underhill Ave., Prospect Heights AGES: Newborn to 5 WHAT: Kids will love this interactive sing-along with puppets, combining original songs, oldies, and traditional children’s music. Bring your little ones to sing, clap, dance, and shake their sillies out. WANT TO GO? $10; $5 siblings. 718-399-6926. bluemarbleicecream.com.

Billy Martin & the Tilt Brass Band: ‘Stridulations for the Good Luck Feast’

WHEN: Sunday, March 18, 1pm WHERE: ISSUE Project Room, 22 Boerum Place, Cobble Hill AGES: All WHAT: Drummer and educator Billy Martin will lead the first-ever kids’ performance of his legendary piece, Stridulations for the Good Luck Feast. Families build their own instruments from bamboo sticks, woodblocks, and recycled bottles, and learn about making music, connecting with others, and how to communicate using sound. WANT TO GO? $25; $10 each additional child. tiltkidsfestival.org. 34

March 2018 | nymetroparents.com

WHEN: Through April 5: Thursdays, 10:45-11:45am WHERE: Spark by Brooklyn Children’s Museum, 1 John St., Dumbo AGES: 3-5 WHAT: Kids develop an understanding of rhythm and music, build awareness and control of their body, and develop social and coordination skills. WANT TO GO? $33. 718-852-2470. brooklynkids.org/spark.

Sing-Along with Ari the Singalong Guy

WHEN: Through June 29: Fridays, 11am WHERE: The Knitting Factory, 361 Metropolitan Ave., Williamsburg AGES: Newborn to 5 WHAT: Ari leads an interactive sing-along with a rock-show feel, filled with classic songs that everyone knows, plus a few easy-to-learn originals. WANT TO GO? $10 per family. 347-529-6696. aribrand.com.

Shabbat Songs and Stories FREE

WHEN: Through June 29: Fridays, 9:30-10:15am WHERE: Kings Bay Y at Fort Greene Clinton Hill, 309 Grand Ave., Suite 1, Clinton Hill AGES: Newborn to 5 WHAT: Join every Friday morning to wrap up the week and celebrate Shabbat as a community. Neighborhood families are encouraged to join with students from the Early Childhood Programs for music, dancing, stories, and snacks. This event is open to all, regardless of background. WANT TO GO? 718-872-9445. fortgreeneclintonhilly.org.

SPECIAL NEEDS ‘A Fool’s Errand’ Relaxed Performance

WHEN: Saturday, March 24, 2pm WHERE: BAM Fisher, Fishman Space, 321 Ashland Place, Fort Greene AGES: 5 and older WHAT: In this physical comedy about the transformative power of friendship, an adventure unfolds from the moment clowning virtuoso Jamie Adkins falls onstage. Modifications include elimination of blackouts and sudden theatrical cues; moderate lighting through the performance; lower volume; and allowing for patron exits and entrances whenever needed. WANT TO GO? $16. 718-636-4100. bam.org/kids.

Hands on As We Grow

WHEN: March 11-25, Sundays, 11-11:45am WHERE: Brooklyn Children’s Museum, 145 Brooklyn Ave., Crown Heights AGES: 3-12 WHAT: Hands on As We Grow provides children with opportunities to become aware of their bodies and senses. Sensory-based activities can allow children to build self-awareness, and attention skills, improve behavior, and increase social interaction and participation in daily activities. WANT TO GO? $11; free for children younger than 1. 718-224-5863. brooklynkids.org.

SHOW TIME! Bilingual Music Show for Kids & Family

WHEN: Saturday, March 3, 3:30pm WHERE: Branded Saloon, 603 Vanderbilt Ave., Prospect Heights AGES: 3-8 WHAT: Join local mom, musician, and educator Mariana Iranzi on a adventure full of singing, moving, and fun in Spanish and English. WANT TO GO? Free for kids with adult purchase. 718-484-8704. brandedsaloon.com.

‘Robin Hood Now’

WHEN: March 3-4, Saturday-Sunday, 2:30pm WHERE: Brooklyn Arts Exchange, 421 5th Ave., Park Slope AGES: All WHAT: A female Robin Hood is inspired to become an active part in her community and creates Green Hoods for Good. Robin and her friends spring into action by inventing, recycling, creating, and more, all while trying to find a way to celebrate a park that is to be closed down. WANT TO GO? $10. 718-832-0018. sparkmovementcollective.org.

Teknopolis 2018

WHEN: Through March 9: Monday-Friday, 9:30am and 11:15am WHERE: BAM Fisher, Fishman Space, 321 Ashland Place, Fort Greene AGES: 5 and older WHAT: BAM’s tech takeover returns for its second year, featuring installations by digital artists and technologists that build innovative bridges between the arts and technology. WANT TO GO? $10. 718-636-4100. bam.org/kids.

‘Claddagh’

WHEN: Friday, March 16, 8pm WHERE: Kingsborough Community College, The Leon M. Goldstein Performing Arts Center, 2001 Oriental Blvd., Manhattan Beach AGES: 5 and older WHAT: Irish/Celtic rock group The Prodigals will have the audience dancing in this multimedia show that fuses the group’s iconic music with world-champion Irish and tap dancers and a modern-day Irish fairy tale rich in love, life, and laughter. WANT TO GO? $32-$37. 718-368-5596. onstageatkingsborough.org.

Magic at Coney

WHEN: Through March 18: Sundays, 12pm WHERE: Coney Island Museum, 1208 Surf Ave., Brooklyn AGES: All WHAT: Magical Promotions together with Coney Island USA presents an afternoon of fun and wonder for the entire family. Enjoy a magical variety show highlighting a vast array of magicians, illusionists, escape artists, and mentalists from around the world. WANT TO GO? $10; $5 for children 12 and younger. 347-699-4386. coneyisland.com.

‘PAW Patrol Live! The Great Pirate Adventure’

WHEN: March 22-25, Thursday-Monday, see website for times WHERE: The Theater at Madison Square Garden, 4 Pennsylvania Plaza, Midtown, Manhattan AGES: Newborn to 5 WHAT: It’s Pirate Day in Adventure Bay, and Mayor Goodway is getting ready for a big celebration. But first, Ryder and his team of pirate pups must rescue Cap’n Turbot from a mysterious cavern. WANT TO GO? $30 and up. 800-844-3545. pawpatrollive.com.

Tiny Tot Theater

WHEN: Through March 29: Thursdays, 9:30-10:30am WHERE: Spark by Brooklyn Children’s Museum, 1 John St., Dumbo AGES: 3-5 WHAT: Join the enchanting world of puppets and stories in this class for children and their caretakers. Along with a storyteller/puppeteer from Spellbound Theater, you and your child will explore creative play, movement, and puppet making. WANT TO GO? $36. 718-852-2470. brooklynkids.org/spark.

‘The Prince and the Magic Flute’

WHEN: Through April 1: Saturday-Sunday, 12:30pm and 2:30pm WHERE: Puppetworks, 338 6th Ave., Park Slope AGES: 3-8 WHAT: Enjoy this classic fairly tale as performed at the Smithsonian Institution and incuding glimpses of Mozart’s original score. Adapted for marionettes by Nicolas Coppola. WANT TO GO? $10; $9 for children younger than 12. 718-965-3391. puppetworks.org.

Little Laffs Children’s Variety Show

WHEN: Sunday, March 4, 11am WHERE: Jalopy Theatre, 315 Columbia St., Carroll Gardens AGES: 3-8 WHAT: Join this fun and entertaining variety show for kids that mixes juggling, balloon art, music, comedy, and more. WANT TO GO? $10; $5 children; $25 per family. 718-395-3214. littlelaffsny.com. ›› BrooklynParent 35

Little Makers Space

WHEN: March 1-31, Thursday-Sunday; 11am WHERE: Brooklyn Children’s Museum, 145 Brooklyn Ave., Crown Heights AGES: Newborn to 5 WHAT: Little Makers Studio is filled with activities for young artists and their caregivers to explore together. Activity stations invite tots to build and refine their motor skills, engage in sensory exploration of materials, and learn how to share with others. WANT TO GO? $11; free for children younger than 1. 718-735-4400. brooklynkids.org.

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Ice-Skating Season

Family Class with Mark Morris Dance Group FREE

WHEN: Saturday, March 3, 3-4pm WHERE: Mark Morris Dance Center, 3 Lafayette Ave., Fort Greene AGES: All WHAT: Featured repertory by Layla & Majnun (2016), taught by Brian Lawson and Nicole Sabella, and accompanied on piano by Ai Isshiki. WANT TO GO? 718-624-8400. markmorrisdancegroup.org.

WHEN: Through April 2: Monday-Thursday, 9am-5:15pm; Friday, 9am-9pm; Saturday, 11:30am-9pm; Sunday, 11:30am-5:15pm WHERE: Le Frak Center at Lakeside, Prospect Park, Parkside/Ocean avenues entrance or Lincoln Road/Ocean Avenue entrance, Prospect Lefferts Gardens AGES: All WHAT: The Samuel J. and Ethel LeFrak Center at Lakeside is now open for a full season of ice-skating. In addition to public ice-skating, the LeFrak Center features figure skating, ice hockey, and curling, indoor and outdoor dining at Bluestone Café, and an array of special events and public recreational programming. WANT TO GO? $6 weekdays; $9 weekends and holidays; $6 skate rentals. 718-462-0010. lakesidebrooklyn.com.

Sundays@Senesh

The Little People Party Open Play

SEA (Singular Extreme Actions)

Block Party Exhibit

WHEN: Through March 25: Sundays, 9am-12pm WHERE: Hannah Senesh Community Day School, 342 Smith St., Carroll Gardens AGES: Newborn to 5 WHAT: Bring the little ones to this Sunday morning programming and indoor playspace that includes a full-size, sunlit gym play area that encourages exploration, interaction, and discovery. WANT TO GO? $5. 718-858-8663. hannahsenesh.org. WHEN: March 2-25, Fridays, 7:30pm; Saturdays, 5pm; Sundays, 3pm WHERE: STREB Lab for Action Mechanics, 51 N. 1st St., Williamsburg AGES: All WHAT: Created by Elizabeth Streb, this daredevil event nimbly weaves dance, athletics, cirque acrobatics, and Hollywood-style stunt work into one amazing live performance. WANT TO GO? $29; $25 in advance. 718-384-6491. streb.org.

Storytime & Sensory Lounge

WHEN: Through March 28: Wednesdays, 10-11am WHERE: Spark by Brooklyn Children’s Museum, 1 John St., Dumbo AGES: 3-5 WHAT: Children and caregivers explore their senses in this interactive class that includes song, storytelling, dramatic role-play, and an art project with different materials to explore every week. WANT TO GO? $36. 718-852-2470. brooklynkids.org/spark.

Lavender Blues Music & Movement

WHEN: Through March 29: Thursdays, 10:45-11:45 am WHERE: Spark by Brooklyn Children’s Museum, 1 John St., Dumbo AGES: Newborn to 5 WHAT: Teaching musician Lavender Blues explores music, movement, and rhythm with children in this jam session. During this class, kids develop an understanding of rhythm and music, build awareness and control of their body, as well as develop social and coordination skills. WANT TO GO? $36. 718-852-2470. brooklynkids.org/spark. 36

March 2018 | nymetroparents.com

WHEN: Through June 1: Monday-Friday, 10am-5pm WHERE: The Backyard, 196 N. 14th St., Williamsburg AGES: Newborn to 5 WHAT: The Little People Party is a children’s entertainment company with a current pop up tot party held at an indoor soccer field. The giant, enclosed, Astroturf-covered field is decked out with games and toys for kids and the bar sells refreshments for the adults. WANT TO GO? $20. 646-707-4372. facebook.com/thelittlepeopleparty. WHEN: Through June 30: Tuesday-Wednesday and Friday-Sunday, 10am-5pm; Thursday, 10am-6pm WHERE: Brooklyn Children’s Museum, 145 Brooklyn Ave., Crown Heights AGES: All WHAT: Experience a real Brooklyn block party. Come hang out on the stoops at this cultural celebration featuring street games such as hopscotch, jump rope and skelly, sidewalk chalk drawing, mixing tunes at a DJ booth, “grilling” some summer treats, and getting to know your neighbors. This exhibit features photographs by local artist Anderson Zaca, who has been documenting block parties in New York since 2005. WANT TO GO? $11; free for children younger than 1; pay as you wish on Thursdays, 2-6pm. 718-735-4400. brooklynkids.org.

New York Road Runners Open Run FREE

WHEN: Through Dec. 18: Tuesdays, 7pm WHERE: Brooklyn Bridge Park, Pier 6, Atlantic Avenue and Furman Street, Brooklyn Heights AGES: All WHAT: Open Run is a community-based initiative that empowers local volunteers to bring free weekly runs to local neighborhood parks all over NYC. All runs are directed by volunteers, and courses are usually between 2½-3 miles. Open to all ages, experience levels, walkers, strollers, and dogs. WANT TO GO? 718-222-9939. brooklynbridgepark.org.

SMARTY PANTS International Women’s Day

WHEN: Thursday, March 8, see website for schedule WHERE: Brooklyn Children’s Museum, 145 Brooklyn Ave., Crown Heights AGES: All WHAT: Join this event to celebrate the social, economic, cultural, and political achievement of women. WANT TO GO? $11; free for children younger than 1. 718-224-5863. brooklynkids.org.

Art Adventures

WHEN: Through March 28: Wednesdays, 11:15am-12:15pm WHERE: Spark by Brooklyn Children’s Museum, 1 John St., Dumbo AGES: 3-5 WHAT: Each week children and caregivers explore art in the SPARK studio, experiment with materials, discover hidden objects from the BCM collection on scavenger hunt challenges, and create masterworks in this class. Registration required. WANT TO GO? $36. 718-852-2470. brooklynkids.org/spark.

French for Little Ones at SPARK by BCM

WHEN: Through March 30: Fridays, 10:45-11:45am WHERE: Spark by Brooklyn Children’s Museum, 1 John St., Dumbo AGES: 3-5 WHAT: Immerse your little one in this language discovery class. Through song, theatrical play, and movement, children and caregivers become familiar with French vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammar. Registration required. WANT TO GO? $36. 718-852-2470. brooklynkids.org/spark.

Color Cove

WHEN: Through March 31: Tuesday-Sunday 12-4pm WHERE: Brooklyn Children’s Museum, 145 Brooklyn Ave., Crown Heights AGES: All WHAT: Color Cove is a place where children can release their inner artist by using a variety of art materials including paint and stickers. The entire room is their canvas and they can let their imaginations run wild. WANT TO GO? $11; free for children younger than 1. Pay as you wish on Thursdays, 2-6pm. 718-735-4400. brooklynkids.org.

From Fulton Ferry: Building Downtown Brooklyn WHEN: Through March 31: Tuesday-Friday, 10am-4pm; Saturday-Sun-

day, 11am-5pm WHERE: New York Transit Museum, Boerum Place and Schermerhorn Street, Downtown Brooklyn AGES: All WHAT: Using archival photographs and objects from the museum’s extensive collection, this exhibit celebrates centuries of investment and innovation in transportation that made the evolution of Downtown Brooklyn possible, and explores transportation’s key role in the commercial and residential development of Brooklyn and the Greater New York region. WANT TO GO? $10; $5 children ages 2-17. 718-694-1600. nytransitmuseum.org.

Songs For Extraordinary People

WHEN: Saturday, March 3, 4pm WHERE: Barbès, 376 9th St., Park Slope AGES: 9 and older WHAT: Author and composer Michael Hearst, along with his five-piece

band, presents this highly geeky A/V presentation of some of the most fascinating individuals in the world. WANT TO GO? $10 suggested donation. 347-422-0248. barbesbrooklyn.com.

Train Operators Workshop

WHEN: Through June 30: Saturday-Sunday, 3:30-4:30pm WHERE: New York Transit Museum, Boerum Place and Schermerhorn Street, Downtown Brooklyn AGES: 9-17 WHAT: Drop by the computer lab to take control of a NYC subway car and operate it over virtual miles of track in an incredibly realistic game. WANT TO GO? $10; $5 seniors and children ages 2-17. 718-694-1792. nytransitmuseum.org.

Brooklyn Block Lab and Studio

WHEN: Through June 30: Thursday-Sunday, see website for times WHERE: Brooklyn Children’s Museum, 145 Brooklyn Ave., Crown Heights AGES: 3-8 WHAT: In the museum’s new second floor studio, which focuses on art and architecture, visitors of all ages develop their engineering skills as they engage in open block play with large Imagination Playground blocks and table top sized Kapla Planks and Magnatiles, as well as artist James Paulius’ house-shaped wooden blocks and pegs from his installation Sky Village. WANT TO GO? $11; free for children younger than 1. 718-224-5863. brooklynkids.org.

Waterfront Exhibition

WHEN: March 1-Dec. 31, Tuesday-Thursday, 11am-6pm; Friday-Saturday, 11am-8pm; Sundays, 11am-6pm WHERE: Brooklyn Historical Society Dumbo, 55 Water St., Dumbo AGES: All WHAT: Waterfront is an exhibition and multimedia experience for all ages that brings to life the vibrant history of Brooklyn’s coastline through stories of workers, artists, industries, activists, families, neighborhoods, and ecosystems. WANT TO GO? $10; $6 seniors and teachers; free for members and students of all ages. 917-775-4636. brooklynhistory.org/dumbo.

Holding History

WHEN: March 5-Dec. 31, Sundays, 11am WHERE: Brooklyn Children’s Museum, 145 Brooklyn Ave., Crown Heights AGES: 3-8 WHAT: Children will learn about the history of artifacts from the museum’s collection through this tactical investigation and by relating them to their own lives. WANT TO GO? $11. 718-735-4400. brooklynkids.org. ›› BrooklynParent 37

LITTLE FOODIES Family Food Fest

WHEN: Sunday, March 4, 12-5pm WHERE: Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge, 333 Adams St., Downtown Brooklyn AGES: All WHAT: Join this interactive food experience for the whole family including hands-on cooking classes, knife skills workshops (yes, for kids too!), interactive food activities, and chef demos from authors and bloggers such as Caroline Campion, Kathy Brennan, Jenny Rosenstratch, and Katie Workman. WANT TO GO? $40. 347-699-6040. familyfoodfest.com.

Maple Syruping Saturdays FREE

ONCE UPON A TIME Story Museum

WHEN: Through March 1: Thursdays, 3:30-4:30pm WHERE: Historic Richmond Town, 441 Clarke Ave., Staten Island AGES: Newborn to 5 WHAT: Children and caregivers join together to explore a world filled with the magic of stories, crafts, music, dancing, and singing. WANT TO GO? $4. 718-351-1611. historicrichmondtown.org.

Drag Queen Story Hour

WHEN: Saturday, March 10, 11am-12pm WHERE: Brooklyn Children’s Museum, 145 Brooklyn Ave., Crown Heights AGES: All WHAT: Join this monthly Drag Queen Story Hour, an interactive art and story time program that celebrates the uniqueness of all kids and families. WANT TO GO? $11. 718-224-5863. brooklynkids.org.

An Evening with Chelsea Clinton

WHEN: Sunday, March 11, 5pm WHERE: Brooklyn Public Library, Central Branch, 10 Grand Army Plaza, Prospect Heights AGES: All WHAT: Chelsea Clinton will be reading her picture book, She Persisted Around the World: 13 Women Who Changed History, and will be joined with illustrator Alexandra Boiger and their editor Jill Santopolo. WANT TO GO? $12.50-$40. 718-230-2100. bklynlibrary.org.

Tiny Tot Theater

WHEN: Through March 29: Thursdays, 9:30-10:30am WHERE: Spark by Brooklyn Children’s Museum, 1 John St., Dumbo AGES: 3-5 WHAT: Join the enchanting world of puppets and stories in this class for children and their caretakers. Along with a storyteller/puppeteer from Spellbound Theatre, you and your child will explore creative play, movement, and puppet making. Registration required. WANT TO GO? $36. 718-852-2470. brooklynkids.org/spark.

Drop-in Art, Poems, and Stories

WHEN: Through June 25: Mondays, 4pm WHERE: Stories Bookshop + Storytelling Lab, 458 Bergen St., Park Slope AGES: 5-12 WHAT: Kids read a book and make a craft inspired by it. The story and project change each week, and throughout the year kids will explore a range of subjects, styles, and materials. WANT TO GO? $15. 718-369-1167. storiesbk.com. 38

March 2018 | nymetroparents.com

WHEN: March 17-10, Saturdays, 1-3pm WHERE: Clay Pit Ponds State Park, 83 Nielsen Ave., Staten Island AGES: All WHAT: Learn about the process of making maple syrup from tap to table. Help identify which trees to tap, drill holes, hammer in spouts, and collect sap to cook up at the Nature Center. Tastes provided. WANT TO GO? 718-967-1976. parks.ny.gov.

Passover Matzah Factory

WHEN: March 11-25, Sundays, 1-2:30pm WHERE: Jewish Children’s Museum, 792 Eastern Parkway, Crown Heights AGES: 3-8 WHAT: The annual Model Matzah Bakery is back. Kids cut, thresh, and grind wheat into flour, then race against the clock as they mix, punch, roll, and bake their very own matzah to take home. WANT TO GO? $13. 718-907-8833. jcm.museum.

Bon Appétit

WHEN: Through May 13: Monday-Friday, 9:30am-5pm; SaturdaySunday, 10am-6pm WHERE: New York Hall of Science, 4701 111th St., Corona, Queens AGES: All WHAT: This fun and interactive exhibition helps visitors explore their own personal eating habits, as well as the eating habits of other cultures. Visitors can discover topics such as physical activity versus food intake, the workings of the digestive system, creating a balanced diet, and the origin of foods that populate grocery store shelves. WANT TO GO? $16; $13 children, students, and seniors. 718-6990005. nysci.org.

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BROWSE & BUY Brooklyn Flea

WHEN: Through March 31: Saturday-Sunday, 11am-6pm WHERE: Industry City, 241 37th St., Sunset Park AGES: 3-12 WHAT: For the holidays and the winter months the flea returns to their Brooklyn digs at Industry City. Find 50 vendors from Brooklyn Flea, plus 10 Smorgasburg vendors. WANT TO GO? Free admission. 201-417-6423. brooklynflea.com.

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Down to Earth McGolrick Park Farmers Market FREE

WHEN: Through April 29: Sundays, 10am-4pm WHERE: Park Church Co-Op, 129 Russell St., Greenpoint AGES: All WHAT: Shop for local foods at the indoor McGolrick Park Farmers Market located in the basement of the Park Church Co-Op just outside McGolrick Park. Find regional farmers and local food makers. WANT TO GO? 914-923-4837. downtoearthmarkets.com.

Farmer’s Market FREE

WHEN: Through Dec. 31: Saturdays, 8am-4pm WHERE: Grand Army Plaza, Prospect Park West and Grand Army Plaza, Park Slope AGES: All WHAT: Grand Army Plaza is Greenmarket’s flagship Brooklyn market, and the second largest market in the program behind Union Square. View an array of farm fresh products and to participate in the programming and cooking demonstrations that take place every Saturday. WANT TO GO? 718-965-8945. prospectpark.org.

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EVENTS

FOR YOUNG FAMILIES

Check our activities targeted just for you and your families.

Bonus: Local organizations can post their events on mommybites.com/newyork

Get on the list for newest offerings

Coming up next month: APRIL 14: Get Up, Stand Up! at BAM Fisher, Fishman Space, Fort Greene APRIL 28: Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts Presents Step Afrika! at Kumble Theater, LIU Brooklyn Campus, Downtown Brooklyn

mommybites.com/newyork Connecting moms and moms-to-be with parenting resources, education, and support since 2006

APRIL 28-29: Sakura Matsuri at Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Prospect Park

BrooklynParent 39

things to do

where-to guide

Spring into March ✿ ✿

Spring is just around the corner and there are so many ways to enjoy the (hopefully) warmer weather, even if it’s still cold. One of our favorite early spring activities is maple sugaring—after all, there’s nothing quite like making your own maple syrup straight from the tree and not the store. This is also a great time of the year to get back outside and help out around your community by volunteering. Or, if it is still too cold to be outside, you can take an educational trip to a museum or bookstore. Here’s to a new season!

MAPLE SUGARING Greenburgh Nature Center 99 Dromore Road, Scarsdale 914-723-3470; greenburghnaturecenter.org Maple Sugaring Party: Sunday, March 4, 11am-3pm Celebrate the end of winter and the peak of the maple-sugaring season. Featured events include sap collection demonstrations, depictions of Native American and Colonial style sugaring sites, porridge making, maple crafts, and treats. Register and pre-pay online by March 4 for special rates: $5 for members, $10 for non-members; $8 for members day of, $15 for non-members day of.

VOLUNTEER

Find more>> volunteer opportunities in Brooklyn at nymetroparents.com/volunteer.

Find more>> maple-sugaring activities in Brooklyn at nymetroparents.com/maple-sugaring.

✿

✿✿

Partnerships for Parks 212-360-1399; cityparksfoundation.org Partnership for Parks helps New Yorkers work together to make neighborhood parks thrive. The public-private program has a diverse, growing network of dedicated park volunteers and groups, and it provides opportunities for them to celebrate their parks (such as volunteering for It’s My Park Day), become more effective leaders in their communities, and work with government officials to affect decisions about their parks. There are various volunteer opportunities for all age and interest levels. For more information, email info@cityparksfoundation.org.

Courtesy New York Transit Museum

Compiled by Samantha Neudorf

Kids can get behind the wheel of a vintage bus in the On the Streets exhibit at the New York Transit Museum in Downtown Brooklyn.

✿

MUSEUMS

BOOKSTORES Greenlight Bookstore 686 Fulton St., Fort Greene 632 Flatbush Ave., Prospect Lefferts Gardens 718-246-0200; greenlightbookstore.com As Fort Greene’s first independent bookstore, Greenlight was built by two women determined to make a career out of books, along with the help of artisans, contractors, and friends who shared their enthusiasm. The shop hosts Saturday story times hosted by authors at 11am, and young reader book groups for children ages 8-14.

✿

Find more>> kids’ bookstores in Brooklyn at nymetroparents.com/bookstores.

New York Transit Museum 99 Schermerhorn St., Downtown Brooklyn 718-694-1600; nytransitmuseum.org Hours: Tuesday-Friday, 10am-4pm; Saturday-Sunday, 11am-5pm Admission: $10; $5 children and seniors; seniors free on Wednesdays At the largest museum in the U.S. dedicated to urban public transportation history, galleries showcase the tale of building NYC’s 113-year-old subway system. Housed underground in an authentic 1936 subway station in Downtown Brooklyn, the Transit Museum’s working platform level spans a full city block and is home to a rotating selection of 20 vintage subway and elevated cars dating back to 1907. Find more>> children’s museums in Brooklyn at nymetroparents.com/museums.

Boys & Girls Ages 4-14 Free Door-To-Door Transportation Sports Instruction, Arts & Crafts Weekly Educational Field Trips Weekly Instructional Swimming Experienced Professional Staff

OPEN HOUSE: Sat., March 24, 2018 10:00am - 4:00pm

@ URBAN EXPLORERS HEADQUARTERS Refreshments, free camp raffles & takeaways for the kids!

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has over 40 Years of Day Camp Experience providing fun-filled, educationally sound programs geared toward a child’s learning & socialization. Each day provides new & exciting activities; each week new & exciting trips. Research shows that program diversity naturally enhances a child’s curiosity & innate ability to learn. This leads to our belief that the more children explore, the faster they discover themselves. If you live anywhere in Brooklyn, the Rockaways or near the Brooklyn-Queens border, we will gladly provide FREE door-todoor transportation.

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Museum Of Natural History Museum Of The Moving Image NY Hall Of Science Botanical Gardens Bronx Zoo Adventureland Amusement Park NY Mets DJ Dance Parties Movies White Post Farms

Lets Have FUN this summer! Call us to make your child an URBAN EXPLORER!

3832 Flatlands Ave • Brooklyn, NY 11234 718-951-9732 • www.urbanexplorers.nyc BrooklynParent 41

family life finances

Make Filing Less Taxing These smart moves can minimize your payout—or score you a sweet refund.

ax season is here again. Will you end up forking over fistfuls of cash, or hardly feeling any financial pain? The answer may depend on how savvy you are. Take advantage of all the deductions and credits you’re eligible for, and you can save up to thousands of dollars, and in some cases even get money back. Overlook these tax breaks, though, and the opposite will happen: You’ll end up forfeiting money that’s rightfully yours. A good tax professional can help make sure you’re minimizing your payout. (Tax-prep software is another popular alternative.) And be aware of the credits and deductions listed here. While they may not be a comprehensive rundown of every last way you can reduce your taxes, they’re a good start.

Getting Credit Where It’s Due

One of the best ways to minimize your tax burden is by looking for credits you’re eligible to take—these reduce the amount of taxes you owe. Listed here are some tax credits that are particularly helpful for families. The Child and Dependent Care Credit: “This is designed to provide a tax benefit for homes in which both parents work fulltime or have earned income,” says Nicholas Sher, CPA, managing director of Sher & Associates, LLC, a boutique tax planning firm 42

March 2018 | nymetroparents.com

›› By Deborah Skolnik

in midtown Manhattan. At the federal level, the credit is at least 20 percent of the first $3,000 of child care expense per child, for a maximum of two children. At the state level, you will receive a credit of at least 20 percent of the federal level. That means if you spend $3,000 on your child’s care you can save a minimum of $840 total—useful when you’re raising a family. Note: This credit is not available to a spouse who stays at home and doesn’t earn income. Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC): Didn’t have a great year financially? The EITC may be the break you need. This federal tax credit is available to people who have earned an income below a certain threshold, and it increases in relation to the amount of children in the home, up to a maximum of three kids, Sher explains. You can’t have earned very much—for instance, a married couple filing jointly, with three or more children, must have an earned income and adjusted gross income (that’s the total income you report that is eligible to be taxed, minus some adjustments you’re allowed to make) of each less than $53,930. But the credit can be sizeable: a maximum of $6,318. What’s scary is that according to Jackson Hewitt, nearly 1 in 5 eligible Americans fails to claim this tax credit, leaving up to thousands of dollars on the table. Even if you haven’t qualified for the EITC before, don’t forget to check with your tax professional to see if

you qualify this time: nearly one-third of all people who can claim it are newly eligible each year. The Saver’s Credit or Retirement Savings Contribution Credit: Have you been putting away money for your retirement? You deserve a pat on the back. And, depending on what you earn, the government wants to give you something more: a tax credit. If you’re married or filing jointly and make an income of $62,000 or less, you may be eligible for a credit of between 10-50 percent of your contributions to an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) or an employer-sponsored retirement savings program. If you’re filing as the head of household, you may be eligible for the credit if you earned $46,500 or less, Sher says.

Making Clever Deductions

BRINGING WORLD-CLASS PERFORMANCES HOME

Spring 2018

Family Series

FLIGHT SCHOOL THE MUSICAL

“

March 24 at 2 p.m.

HOW I BECAME A PIRATE April 21 at 2 p.m.

” “

A charming adaptation! – The New York Times

Health insurance, if you’re your own boss: “If you are selfemployed you can deduct one hundred percent of the cost of health insurance for yourself,” Walser says.

”

– Dallas Morning News

In addition to tax credits, stay on the lookout for deductions you can take. A deduction reduces your taxable income, which increases the chances of a lower overall tax bill. Read on; some of the ones listed here might apply to you. Medical expenses: Does someone in your family require extensive medical care? If your medical expenses exceed 10 percent of your adjusted gross income, you may be eligible for a deduction, says Rebecca Walser, a tax attorney, certified financial planner, and the author of Wealth Unbroken, but you must itemize your deductions in this case. New-mom gear, such as breast pumps and lactation equipment, can be included. And if you pay tuition for special education for a child with special needs, that too can be deductible if the curriculum is considered medically necessary, Sher says. (This is a highly scrutinized deduction, so check with your tax pro before you take it.) Going forward, consider funding a Health Savings Account, says Mark Kohler, a senior tax advisor with TaxSlayer, a tax preparation and financial technology company. The money you deposit in the account both grows tax-free and comes out tax-free for qualified family medical expenses. You also get a tax deduction for contributions on your tax return.

Swashbuckling adventure!

Photo: Courtesy of Vital Theatre Company

Meet the Cast After the Shows! All tickets: $12

(718) 368-5596 www.OnStageAtKingsborough.org

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Moving expenses: It’s the rare family that doesn’t move at some point, but are the expenses related to a relocation deductible? It depends, Sher says. “You must move more than fifty miles away, and you must remain employed for thirty-nine weeks of the next fifty-two week period,” he explains. FYI, this is the last year that this deduction can be taken; it’s being swept away for 2018 with the new tax reforms we’ve all heard so much about. Job-hunting expenses: Like medical expenses, these need to be itemized. And you will have to have launched a truly extensive search for new employment: You aren’t eligible for a deduction unless the costs exceeded 2 percent of your AGI. New York state 529 plan contributions: “Anyone who is making a New York state 529 plan contribution should be taking the eligible deduction, which is up to ten thousand dollars for a married couple filing jointly,” Sher says. Though this account has been used to save for children’s college tuition up until now, beginning in 2018 contributions can also be used toward private school tuition. Want more pointers? Consult your favorite tax professional. He or she can help you formulate a strategy to make tax time far less taxing on your family.

Cityguideny.com has coupons and discounts for NYC sightseeing attractions, restaurants, stores and more. Great New York deals, savings, special offers and deep discounts—for you and your family—are yours with just a click of the mouse. BrooklynParent 43

family life home

Experts suggest swapping out bath towels every few days, which means more frequent towel loads in the wash.

Spring Clean It!

››

Places in your home you should be cleaning on a regular basis, but likely aren’t—plus a few insider tips and tricks By Katelin Walling

leaning. To a lot of us, that’s as bad as a four-letter word. I was a housekeeper at an inn in high school and got the satisfaction of cleaning a space to shine, but—to this day—I have never been a fan of the actual process. Even some cleaning experts feel the same way: “I really hate cleaning,” says Melissa Maker, a Toronto, Ontario-based cleaning expert, host of the Clean My Space YouTube channel, and author of Clean My Space: The Secret to Cleaning Better, Faster—and Loving Your Home Every Day. “But I love the benefits of living in a clean space.” Heck, with kids, keeping up with the laundry is almost more than we can handle sometimes. So, if you’re like us—not fans of cleaning, but love having a clean space—you know you have to take out the broom and duster regularly to ensure your home is presentable for play dates and dinner guests without a last-minute, frenzied cleaning session. But did you know you’re likely missing some spots that should be cleaned more often than not? We got the inside scoop from cleaning experts and enthusiasts on the areas we need to pay a little more attention to when we have the cleaning products out.

March 2018 | nymetroparents.com

Remember: These aren’t commandments—we certainly aren’t likely to keep up with most of this as often as we should—just recommendations for a cleaner, healthier home.

Bathroom

The area around the toilet: “People often clean in the toilet, but they don’t clean the base or the area behind the toilet,” Maker says. “And over time, that can get really gross, especially if you have individuals in the home who stand up to pee instead of sit down to pee.” So whenever you clean the inside of your toilet, spray a disinfectant or all-purpose cleaner around the base and wipe it clean. Toilet handle: Speaking of missed spots on the toilet, do you regularly, consciously sanitize the flush handle on the toilet? Didn’t think so. Spray it with your preferred cleaner and wipe it down—but please do this before wiping the floor around the toilet, or else use a fresh cleaning cloth. Medicine cabinet: Because it’s a high-traffic area in the house we don’t typically think of cleaning, it can get quite

messy, says Christine Dimmick, author of Detox Your Home: Removing Toxins and Improving Your Life, which is set to be released in early April, and founder of The Good Home Company, a Manhattan-based home care and laundry product line that is paraben-, sulfate-, and phthalate-free. We access our medicine cabinets at least twice a day (when we’re getting ready for work and school in the morning and when we’re getting ready for bed at night), so a lot of water gets in there—and water is the first thing to grow bacteria. Dimmick suggests attacking the medicine cabinet once a month—and her all-purpose cleaners of choice are a mixture of white vinegar and water, or castile soap. And while you’re at it, check the expiration dates on your medicine and beauty products and dispose of them correctly. Ceiling vent: “If you don’t clean that, it becomes very noisy when it’s on, and it doesn’t remove moisture effectively,” Maker says. The easiest way to clean it, she adds, is to give it a quick vacuum with the brush attachment. Bath towels, bathmats, and bathrobes: While you won’t necessarily have to do two towel loads in the wash each week—let’s face it, our linen closets are overstuffed with towels and washcloths—your bath towel should be replaced halfway through the week, according to Mary Gagliardi, aka Dr. Laundry for Clorox, whose background is in textile science and research and development at Clorox. And every time you wash a load of towels, go ahead and throw in the bathrobes and bathmats because, as Gagliardi says, they’re used similarly and as often as bath towels. While you’re at it, just find all the towels currently in use in the house and add them to the wash, too—we’re looking at you, kitchen towels. Gagliardi suggests washing these in bleach to properly disinfect them, after testing the fabrics to make sure they’re bleach-fast. To test, mix 2 teaspoons of bleach with ¼ cup of water, put a drop of the solution on a hidden part of the fabric, let it sit for a minute, and rinse it and blot dry with towel. If the color didn’t change, you can use regular bleach on the item; otherwise go for color-safe bleach.

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Toothbrush holder: This is a small thing that is usually overlooked and it has a lot of germs around it, says Jim Ireland, founder of White Glove Elite, a cleaning service in New York City. And it’s one I can attest to after a particularly bad college roommate experience. Let’s just say I always kept my toothbrush separate. So do everyone—and your mouth—a favor and clean the toothbrush holder before it even starts to look grimy. Shower curtains / vinyl liners: Cloth shower curtains should be washed once a year to freshen them up because things can splash on them. Meanwhile vinyl shower curtains or shower curtain liners should be washed once or twice a year in the washing machine with ½ cup of bleach to keep mold and mildew under control, Gagliardi says. And go ahead and pull the curtain closed after your shower so the liner fully air-dries. This small step also keeps your bathroom looking neat.

Bedrooms

Bed sheets: You’re tossing and turning, sweating, and shedding hair and skin cells in your sleep. So regardless of whether you shower at night, sheets should be changed weekly. And in terms of washing them, Gagliardi says she believes they should be bleached—but perform a bleach-ability test on them first! If they fail the bleachability test, then wash them in the hottest water possible to properly

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ACTIVITIES

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EVENTS

‹‹ continued from previous page

clean and sanitize them. While you’re at it, gather the throw blankets from the living room and wash those, too.

dampened cloth when you do your regular dusting, or regularly spray your plants.

Mattresses: Maintaining your mattress is really important; after all we spend approximately one-third of our lives sleeping! The best way to clean your mattress, Maker says, is to strip the sheets off it, sprinkle baking soda on it, let the baking soda sit for 30 minutes, and then vacuum it off. This will neutralize any odors. Once the mattress is vacuumed, place a waterproof mattress protector on it and your sheets as normal. Maker also says rotating your mattress two to four times a year is key, so why not clean it at the same time?

Points of contact: We’re talking all over the house here. Bathroom and kitchen cabinet handles, doorknobs, light switches, remote controls, tablets, phones, anything you and your family touch on a daily basis. These points of contact are how germs are transferred from person to person, so these are areas to be particularly mindful about cleaning, Maker says. “You can take a disinfectant and spray those points of contact as long as they don’t have electricity associated with them, you can let that product sit for a minute or two, and then wipe it,” she says. If the point of contact does have an electric component, Maker suggests spraying a cloth with a cleaner or rubbing alcohol and wiping it down.

Under the bed: It’s a big one, according to Dimmick. A lot of dust can quickly accumulate there, “and by cleaning that, you can solve a lot of your allergy issues, or not sleeping well at night,” she says. Closets: At least twice a year—but ideally after each season— go through your closets and get rid of any seasonal pieces you didn’t wear that season, suggests Tova Weinstock, aka Tidy Tova, a professional organizer and cleaning enthusiast based in New York City. For example, now that spring is upon us, go through your winter sweaters and donate the ones you weren’t compelled to wear. “Even with people I work with, if they’re debating whether to get rid of a springy shirt, I’ll say, ‘why don’t you keep it and if you don’t wear it this season, then let go of it,’” Weinstock says. Once you’ve gone through everything and the closet is empty, sweep and dust in there and then put everything back in an organized fashion—and the same goes for the drawers in your dresser. Stuffed animals: These get a lot of love from young children, so they regularly need a freshening up. These can be vacuumed or go in the washing machine (if it’s okay for the lovie) as often as you can get them away from your kids—once a year at the very least.

Common Rooms

Ceiling fans: The tops of the fan blades can get particularly dusty—out of sight, out of mind. When I moved into my first apartment in New York City, my dad, who sees all those out-ofsight places because he’s 6-foot-4, wiped down the fan blades in my room—and you wouldn’t believe the amount of caked-on dust that came off. I only wish I had known Ireland’s trick: Every few months, dampen a pillowcase, put it over each blade so the fan blade is encased, and slide the pillowcase off so the dust stays inside the pillowcase. Pet food bowls: If you feed your dog or cat wet food, chances are you regularly wash their bowls to clean off dried-on food. But what about dry food bowls? “A lot of times people have dogs where the food never gets eaten all the way or the cat food is always in there, so it’s nice if once a week you can wash them with soapy water, rinse them, and sanitize them,” Gagliardi advises. Houseplants: We don’t typically think of plants getting dusty, but they do. “We tend to overlook them until we notice them, and we tend to brush the dust off with our hands, but the oil from our hands is not friendly to plants,” Ireland says. So use a water46

March 2018 | nymetroparents.com

Litter boxes: While we regularly clean out the litter boxes and refresh the litter, how often do we actually wash the litter box? Probably not often enough. “We have a recommendation for deodorizing litter boxes, where you remove the cat litter and clean the litter box with soapy water, let it soak with a half cup of bleach per gallon of water for five minutes, and rinse it and let it air dry,” Gagliardi suggests. “Put the cat litter back in and that will keep litter boxes smelling much, much better.” Baseboards, crown molding, and heat registers / return vents: Dust builds up on these. Weinstock, Maker, and Gagliardi all suggest vacuuming them a few times a year with the brush attachment—or stay on top of it by cleaning them every time you vacuum the carpets.

Kitchen

Overhead exhaust: The purpose of the overhead exhaust is to suck the greasy vapor out of your kitchen, according to Maker. “On its way up, the vapor leaves behind a significant amount of grease, and as it builds up, it becomes sticky, it becomes rancid, and you really do need to give it a good clean,” she says. Maker recommends you fill up a bucket with hot water and a scoop of oxygen bleach powder, soak it for about 10 minutes, dry it, and put it back up. You may need to give it a bit of a scrub, she cautions. Potholders: “People never wash those, and they don’t necessarily hold up well to washing,” Gagliardi says. “But if they’re so dirty that you shouldn’t be using them anyway and you wash them and they don’t necessarily have good dimensional stability, then it was time to replace them.” Just be careful when laundering potholders, as they tend to bleed color. Soak them in water first to see how much color runs off; that way you won’t have dye transfer onto other items, Gagliardi advises. Under the sink: This area tends to become a hotspot for junk, cleaning products, plastic shopping bags, and sometimes bits of trash that miss the garbage can (that is, if you keep the garbage can under the sink). So every now and then, dive in and take everything out, give it a good wipe, and, as Maker recommends, “put in a shelf liner because it can become very wet under there and you can ruin the base of the cabinet.” Then put back only the items you need. Now that we think about it, tackle the cabinet under the sink in the bathroom, too.

Garbage cans and recycling bins: We all regularly take out the garbage and recycling—at the very least when it’s trash day—but cleaning the receptacles themselves is often left undone. Gagliardi suggests disinfecting these once a month, especially if drink cans aren’t rinsed out before going in there. To keep them disinfected and deodorized, she suggests washing them with soapy water, then letting them soak in a solution of ½ cup of bleach per ¾ gallon of water for 5 minutes, rinsing it, and letting it air dry. Alternatively, Ireland suggests using a trash can as a bucket when mopping the floors, which will clean it too. Inside the microwave: When food is nuked in the microwave, it can splatter, “and most people will leave it for a week, but would you leave food stains or dried up food on your counter for a week? Probably not,” Dimmick says. She suggests cleaning the microwave daily with a mixture of vinegar and water. Meanwhile Weinstock suggests heating up water in the microwave to create a steam, which will loosen up caked-on food, making it easier to wipe off. Sponges: These can get smelly fast. Rather than throwing them out frequently, every time you run your dishwasher, Gagliardi suggests tossing them in, too. And for a deeper clean, she says you can soak them in a solution of ½ cup of bleach per gallon of water for 5 minutes, rinse them, and let them air dry. For a cleaning double-whammy, get your sponge wet and microwave it on high for 2 minutes, then carefully remove it. This deodorizes and disinfects your sponge, Ireland says, and the steam makes it easier to clean the microwave. The warming drawer in the oven: People tend to use this little drawer under the oven as storage for baking sheets and think nothing of it since it’s not being used for food. But if you remove everything, “you’ll see it’s just full of crumbs, so every now and then its important to take everything out,” Maker says. “You can use the brush attachment on the vacuum to clean it out, and once you vacuum out the crumbs, spray it and wipe it out, and replace only the items you need.” Coffee pot and coffee grinder: Ireland suggests these be cleaned once a month. Run the coffee maker with a solution that is 1 part vinegar and 4 parts water. Then, for insulated coffee urns that are difficult to clean, he suggests dropping a denture-cleaning tab in with some hot water and letting that sit overnight, while regular pots can be hand washed with dish soap. And put a handful of uncooked rice in the grinder and grind it. This will clean the blades without needing to get it wet. Refrigerator: “You can still grow bacteria in there even though it’s cold,” Dimmick says. So she cleans out her fridge once a week. “It’s also a great time to do a deep dive and look at the expiration dates on condiments,” she adds. And make sure to get under the crisper drawers. “We spend a lot of time trying to keep odors out of the refrigerator, but a lot of times there’s stuff under the crisper drawers,” Ireland adds.

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With all of this in mind, Weinstock suggests creating a cleaning routine or schedule that is doable for you. “Try to get in the habit of doing certain tasks every day: sweeping, doing the dishes, wiping the counters,” she says. “And then set aside the time to actually clean, otherwise it gets so overwhelming.”

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Sleep Training 101

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How to get your infant to sleep through the night—and deal with sleep regression when it happens By Bethany Braun-Silva

hen I was pregnant with my first child the number of people who told me, “You will never sleep again,” was overwhelming. Cut to six years, a second child, and many sleepless nights later—though I’m sure I have actually slept—and I am, indeed, pretty darn tired. Fatigue certainly comes with the parenting territory, especially in the first few months of bringing home your newborn. But getting consistent sleep is extremely important, not only for your baby, but for you as a parent, too. That’s why sleep training your baby once she’s a few months old—that is, teaching her to fall asleep and stay asleep on her own—is a great way to ensure everyone is well rested, and, in turn, happy. There are several sleep-training techniques, but ultimately all of them lead to restful nights for the whole family.

Sleep-Training Methods Explained

You may have heard of the “Cry It Out” and “Ferberizing” sleep-training methods. Those are two of the most well-known approaches, but many different variations have been developed. Each technique involves a few (or a lot of) tears, and all differ slightly in terms of how present you are supposed to be and how much you comfort your child as he falls asleep and when he wakes up. Ingrid Prueher, founder of Ingrid Baby Sleep Whisperer (ingridbabysleepwhisperer.com) and a Fox & Friends sleep expert, 48

March 2018 | nymetroparents.com

works with individual families to create a method that works for them, while other experts, such as Denise Stern, baby nurse, postpartum care expert, and founder of Let Mommy Sleep (an overnight, in-home, infant care service), use a practice called sleep helping. “It is a simple way to say that we very gradually increase feeding during the day while gradually decreasing feeds overnight,” Stern says. Whichever method you choose, take comfort in knowing a good night’s sleep isn’t too far off. Here is a cheat-sheet of common sleep-training methods that may work for your family: Cry It Out or CIO: This method involves going through a bedtime routine with your baby, then placing her in her crib, leaving the room, and not coming back until the morning—as long as your infant is safe. This will be, by far, the method that produces the most tears, although it has recently been deemed harmless by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Ferberizing: Developed by Richard Ferber, M.D., this technique is considered a gentler version of CIO. With this method, you check on your infant and console him after a few minutes of crying, increasing the amount of time between your visits to his room to check on him. The Chair Method: Parents who practice this approach go through the normal bedtime routine, place their baby in the crib,

and then sit in a chair next to the crib until she falls asleep. They do not console her with words or cuddles, only with their presence. Each night they move the chair farther and farther from the crib until they are out of the room. The Pick Up Put Down Method or PUPD: This gentle method allows parents to pick up their crying baby, soothe him, and then place him in his crib to sleep, repeating this all night until, eventually, baby sleeps through. The Fading Sleep Training Method: With this technique parents continue to help their baby fall asleep by rocking or feeding. Each day they do less and less to soothe their baby in the hopes that she will begin to soothe herself. This is a great option for parents who prefer a method with less crying.

Getting Started

It’s important not to rush sleep training. For his first few months of life, tend to your baby when he cries and soothe him with feedings, diaper changes, or cuddles. Before sleep training your infant, Prueher suggests that: • You have approval from your pediatrician • Your baby weighs close to 16 pounds •Y our little one is close to 4 months of age. This is when a child’s biological clock forms, and you can use a biological sleep schedule as part of the process of teaching her to become an independent sleeper. If you can check off all three of those things, you can start sleep training your baby. “Lovingly teaching a child to sleep independently is about empowering the child to do what they have been born to do on their own. Children are born being able to sleep independently,” Prueher says. “In some cases, new parents just don’t know how to put a child to sleep and they feel their role as parents includes closing their child’s eyes for them. So, they resort to rocking, feeding to sleep, driving around, using a stroller during all sleep times.” But it doesn’t have to be that way. Babies are programmed to self-soothe; they just need a little push to get started. One of the most important things for parents to remember before getting started is, no matter what sleep-training method is used, there will be tears. But “sleep training should never be traumatizing, produce throwing up sessions, or make you feel like you are hurting your child,” Prueher says. Creating a plan and feeling secure in it will reduce the number of tears your child (and you) may shed. Like Prueher, Stern insists you get the “okay” from your pediatrician before starting to sleep train. Your baby needs to be able to go at least 8 hours without a feeding, and babies who were premature or who are gaining weight more slowly are not good candidates for sleep training at 4 months old. “A good rule of thumb is that when a baby is able to take in twenty-eight to thirty-two ounces between the hours of six am and ten pm, that’s usually enough to satiate them through the night, but it’s crucial to have baby’s primary care physician agree that it’s appropriate to begin sleep training,” Stern says. Remember: Just because you have successfully sleep trained your baby, it doesn’t mean he won’t wake up once or twice (or more) throughout the night. “It is very common for baby to

have periods of wakefulness and times when they need parents’ help,” Stern says.

Sleep Regression Tips and Tricks

If your baby, who was successfully sleeping through the night, starts waking more often, or staying awake for an extended period of time or for what seems to be no reason, she may be experiencing sleep regression. This can throw parents for a loop and often make them feel overwhelmed in having to go back to square one. Alice R., a Brooklyn mom, went through this when her son was 9 months old. “Ryan had been sleeping through the night since we sleep trained him at four months old,” she says. “We had five months of bliss, and then it was like we were hit with a bomb. He was waking up a few hours after being put down and nothing we did worked.” Alice says she felt desperate and contacted a sleep expert for advice. Two weeks after starting the sleep training process all over again, Ryan resumed sleeping through the night. “The Golden Rule for regression is consistency, consistency, consistency,” Stern says. “Simply continuing the methods that your child is already familiar with is the best way to minimize regression. It’s important to remember, too, that babies are smart. If you hold them to sleep for a few nights during illness, for example, that does not mean they forgot how to sleep independently when it’s time for them to go back to sleep in the crib.” While sleep regression may seem like it occurs out of the blue, chances are there is a very good reason your child is waking. Teething and physical milestones (sitting up, crawling, and standing), and general alertness all contribute to sleep regression. “No matter if they are ‘good’ or ‘bad’ sleepers, all little ones will wake when they’re experiencing teething pain or illness. Babies who are just learning to crawl and stand will also have fun in the overnight hours practicing their new skills,” Stern says. “In fact, many little ones just learning to walk will pull themselves up to a standing position in the crib and then call out to mom or dad because they are ‘stuck’ in the standing position!” If your baby is not sick, it’s okay to not rush into her room when she wakes in the middle of the night. Giving her a chance to fall asleep on her own, again, just reinforces the sleep training. In addition to maintaining normal bedtime routines, here are simple tips to combat sleep regression: • Provide extra comfort at bedtime in case separation anxiety is causing your child to wake up. • Remove all distractions, as lights and mobiles are not so useful during a period of sleep regression. • Make sure the room is a comfortable temperature, between 68 and 72 degrees. • Don’t form new “bad” habits such as rocking your baby or bringing him into bed with you. Remember this is a shortterm phase. Each family is different, and it is important to stay in tune with your baby’s needs, as they may change. Sleep training, whichever method you choose, is a great way to maintain a happy and healthy household. “We know the benefits of sleep can help our children live happier and healthier lives, so let’s make sleep a priority,” Prueher says. “It’s the best gift you can give your child, it will reward them forever.”

From our sponsors: The mission of Allied Foundation is to impact and improve the health and well-being of residents within Allied Physicians Group’s geographical footprint, which currently includes Long Island (Nassau and Suffolk), Queens, Brooklyn, Richmond, Westchester, Rockland, and Orange. The Allied Foundation funds community-based strategies and initiatives, including Breastfeeding Support (toll-free Support Line: 866-621-2769; Breast Milk Depots), Community Education (free app—AlliedPG—and lectures about such topics as ADHD, managing food allergies, behavioral health, and infant CPR), Early Childhood Literacy (proud partner of Reach Out and Read and The BookFairies); and Community Service (Diaper Bank of Long Island). For more information, visit alliedfoundation.org. BrooklynParent 49

raising kids teen

How to Raise a Take-Charge Teen ›› Help your kid learn to make his own decisions instead of just following the crowd.

lexa, 14, never had any interest in sports. Or gym, or even kicking a ball around the yard. Her mom, Laura Valsamachi, kept encouraging her to try something. Once she got into high school, a new option presented itself: golf. Alexa agreed to try it. She liked that it wasn’t a team sport, and the fact that it was walk-on, so her lack of athletic ability wouldn’t be on display during a tryout. Valsamachi completed the registration form, and Alexa took it to school the morning of the sign-up deadline. And she brought it back that afternoon. “Julia’s not doing it,” the Long Island freshman said, without looking at her mom. “Who’s Julia? And so what?” Valsamachi asked. “Julia, the one I told you is kind of popular?” Alexa reminded her. “She said she would do golf with me, but now she’s not, so…” Her voice trailed off, her earbuds went in, and that was that. While some teens seem to have no problem deciding what they want to do and sticking to it, plenty more struggle to think independently and make choices for themselves. Wanting the approval of others is natural to some extent, even for grownups, but needing it can be crippling. If your kid seems to show a tendency toward flip-flopping, read on for the lowdown on how to guide him or her toward confident decision-making.

The Why Behind Wishy-Washy Behavior

Is it typical for teens to be followers, changing their mind about extracurricular activities, clothes, hairstyles, and even what after50

March 2018 | nymetroparents.com

By Christina Vercelletto

school jobs to apply for, based on what their peers are doing? In many cases, it’s not a sign of a long-term problem, but more of a phase. “A lot of this is normal and even developmentally healthy behavior,” insists Robi Ludwig, Psy.D., a psychotherapist in New York City. “Teens are still discovering who they are and what’s important to them, so changing what they want and how they want to present themselves is all a part of this,” she explains. Anecdotally, at least, girls seem more vulnerable than boys to deferring to friends on anything and everything. “Most teenage girls want to be part of the pack. They want to blend in rather than stand out,” says Susan Groner, “The Parenting Mentor” and New York City-based author of Parenting: 101 Ways to Rock Your World. “While this may seem silly to us, there’s nothing wrong with it. You don’t need to worry that she’ll be like this forever. It’s a phase.” (If your child resists making any independent decisions at all, though, “there could be a mood or self-esteem issue going on,” cautions Dr. Ludwig, and in that case, checking in with a therapist would be a good idea.)

Encouraging Independence

Of course teens are not, as a group, big on taking what adults say as gospel. But there are ways we can get our teens to see the benefits of making their own decisions. Share a story of a time when being a follower backfired. Use articles, stories about people your child knows (with their

permission), and yes, even “when I was your age” stories to get your point across without being too heavy-handed about it, Dr. Ludwig recommends. After the golf incident, Valsamachi shared a personal story with Alexa that seemed to strike a chord: When she’d been a high-school senior, her best friend Maureen had decided that college was a waste of time, and had opted to go straight to work. Valsamachi, used to walking in lockstep with her BFF, decided to forgo college too. “I wound up getting my degree much later, but still wonder how my life would have been different,” she says. “Oh, and I haven’t spoken to Maureen since 1989.” Valsamachi resisted the urge to point out “Just like Julia and golf!” at the end of her story. It was just put out there for Alexa to interpret as she would. “And she did seem to absorb it, at least a little,” Valsamachi says. Keep it neutral. The main thing to guard against, says Dr. Ludwig, is coming across as preachy. Keep a neutral tone. “Teens who feel criticized or are concerned that they would disappoint their parents are often less comfortable sharing their thoughts,” agrees Wendy L. Moss, Ph.D., co-author, with Donald A. Moses, M.D., of Raising Independent, Self-Confident Kids. Be nonjudgmental. It often isn’t easy, but it can pay off. Rose Koehler’s daughter, Emily, wanted to apply to be a page at their local library on Long Island, but a friend convinced her to work with her at a fast-food restaurant instead. “Now, my daughter, who hates noise, rushing, and has been known to burst into tears if a soda splatters on her, working in a fast food restaurant…I knew this would not end well,” Koehler shares. “But I also knew that demanding she stick with her original plan wouldn’t either.” So Koehler stayed supportive, asking a question about the job now and then, but keeping it neutral. After about five weeks, Emily quit—but the page job had already been filled. “I just gave her a hug and said nothing. Definitely not ‘I told you so!’” Koehler says. While Emily never came out and said she should have made the decision that felt right to her in the first place, Koehler feels the lesson stuck. “She doesn’t seem as quick to yield to her friends’ opinions anymore,” she says.

You don’t need to discourage your teen from posting a picture or a comment he thinks will get a lot of positive attention, as long as it doesn’t hurt him in the short or long term, Dr. Ludwig says. “Connect it to long-term goals he may have for himself. If he posts in a certain way, explain how this can send the wrong message and hurt him down the line.” She also advises encouraging teens to think like a publicist. This is a concept most high-schoolers can readily grasp. If you were in charge of managing a client’s reputation, would you post this? Lynne Lincoln, a mother of two teens in New Rochelle, recalls the time her 16-year-old son, Daniel, posted several #foodstagram shots of the burger chain Shake Shack while on an outing to the city with a group of friends. When he came home starving, Lincoln asked, “I thought you had Shake Shack?” Daniel clarified: “Oh, I gave it to Ryan. I don’t eat that stuff. I would have rather had pizza, but nobody is going to follow an account that posts rando pizza. It’s hard to get melted cheese not to look gross.” Groner says what’s important is that teens are able to separate their online lives from their real ones. If they snap a selfie in front of the now-famous statue of the little girl down on Wall Street, say, did they take the time to think about the art? “Next time your child posts, ask him about the experience,” she suggests. That will give you an idea of whether the experience drove the popular post, or the other way around. At the end of the day, Dr. Ludwig notes, the best thing you can do to help your child with decision-making—or anything, really— is to tune in to his needs. “Just plug into your child…Let them know you’re on their side and there for them if they need you,” she says. Christina Vercelletto is a former editor at NYMetroParents, Parenting, Scholastic Parent & Child, and Woman’s Day. She lives on Long Island with her kids, a chiweenie, Pickles, and a 20-pound calico, Chub-Chub.

Let him practice. Have your teen be a part of the decision-making process for family matters, such as planning a vacation, choosing a family car, or even figuring out how to assist an aging grandparent. What you’re trying to do, Dr. Moss explains, is guide your child toward minimizing impulsive decisions in favor of the one that is actually best for the situation. And like any other learned skill, that takes practice. Brainstorm. “Crowd-sourcing” potential solutions to a problem your teen is having by bringing in the whole family—even favorite aunts, uncles, and cousins—lets him know that “family is like a team, stronger than any one member,” Dr. Moss says. What that does is shift the focus off of “mom or dad know best,” so your child is less likely to feel defensive. By seeing that her ideas are as good as anyone else’s, she’ll start to build confidence, and, over time, be less apt to fall into a “what they’re thinking must be better than what I’m thinking” mentality.

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The Social Media Aspect

Social media doesn’t seem to make it any easier to convince a teen to think independently. After all, accruing likes and positive comments is the name of the game. But that in itself isn’t necessarily bad. “We all want to get positive responses to what we present to the world,” Dr. Ludwig notes.

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family life food & nutrition

Ultimate Green Smoothie and Oat and Kale Breakfast Biscuits

Top o’ the Morning to Ya!

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Three easy green breakfasts kids will actually enjoy

ids can be fussy about fruits and vegetables, and we know how challenging it is to make sure they are eating the suggested amount of each every day. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and an optimal time to get in those fruits and veggies. Here are three easy green recipes from Eat More Greens by Zita Steyn to get them excited about breakfast. Bonus: They can’t be pinched if they eat this on St. Patrick’s Day!

Ultimate Green Smoothie

If you are not one for green smoothies in general, you should try this one. It is quite delicious and very virtuous. It helps having a highspeed blender, but if you don’t, just keep blending until the mixture is smooth. You will need to soak the almonds overnight, and if you struggle to buy frozen mango or pineapple, peel and chop up the fruit the night before and freeze it. Serves 2 to 3 Ingredients 1 lemon 1½ cups coconut water, preferably raw 3/ -inch piece ginger, peeled 8 and coarsely chopped Handful of almonds, soaked overnight, or for at least 6 hours, and rinsed

Big handful of kale, thick stalks discarded, leaves coarsely chopped or torn 1 tsp. green powder of your choice (optional) 1 ripe medium banana, cut or broken into chunks 1½-1¾ cups frozen fruit

Directions 1. Cut the lemon in half then cut a thick slice off one half. Chop this up roughly and place in a blender. Squeeze the juice from the remaining lemon halves and add, together with the coconut water, ginger, and almonds, to the blender. Blend until smooth. 2. Add the rest of the ingredients and blend until smooth and creamy. If your blender allows for the use of a tamper, it is a good idea to press the frozen fruits down into the blade to avoid uneven blending. 52

March 2018 | nymetroparents.com

Chard and Feta Savory Muffins

These muffins (not the eggs-Benedict-kind, but the Americanbaked-goods-kind) are great to take along to a picnic or as an after-school snack. Look for traditionally made, soft cooking chorizo that has no added nasties, and choose the mild version if you are feeding youngsters. If you are vegetarian, leave out the chorizo and fry the onion and chard in a little butter or coconut oil, but add another tsp of smoked paprika powder and perhaps a little more cayenne pepper. Makes 12 Ingredients 7 oz. traditionally made cooking chorizo (the soft kind), casings removed and broken into small pieces 1 medium onion, finely chopped 10½ oz. rainbow or Swiss chard, stalks chopped into small dice, leaves shredded into bite-size pieces Generous 2 cups whole-wheat spelt flour 1 Tbsp. baking powder 1½ tsp. smoked paprika

½ tsp. cayenne pepper (omit if using spicy chorizo or cooking for children) 1 cup parsley, leaves only, finely chopped 3 medium eggs 5/ cup whole milk or milk substitute 8 2 Tbsp. butter, coconut oil, or ghee, melted, plus extra for greasing Scant 12/3 cups feta cheese, crumbled Sea salt

Directions 1. S auté the chorizo in a hot, dry frying pan until the fat starts to render, then add the onion and cook until soft and translucent. Scrape the mixture into a bowl. 2. Add the chard stalks to the pan with a small pinch of salt. Cook until tender, for 5-10 minutes, depending on size. If they are drying out, add a splash or three of water to the pan. Add the chard leaves and cook for about a minute, or until wilted. 3. T ip all the chard into a food processor or onto a cutting board, and chop finely. Add this to the chorizo and onion mix, then set aside to cool. 4. P reheat the oven to 350°F and grease a 12-hole muffin tray or 2 smaller cupcake trays. 5. W hisk the flour, baking powder, and spices in a bowl and stir in the parsley. 6. W hisk the eggs, milk, and melted fat in a separate bowl or measuring cup, and pour into the dry ingredients along with the cooled chorizo and chard mixture, and the feta. Using a large spoon, mix only until just combined; do not overmix. Spoon into the greased muffin pans. 7. B ake in the oven for 25 minutes until golden and a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean (allowing for patches of melted feta). Let cool in the trays for a couple of minutes before turning out onto wire racks to cool completely.

Oat and Kale Breakfast Biscuits

rinse) and blitz until very fine. Add the rest of the flakes and pulse a few times until the larger flakes are broken down slightly. Add the baking powder, baking soda, nutmeg, and salt, and pulse to mix. 4. Add the cubed butter or coconut oil and pulse until the mixture resembles wet sand. Add the cooled kale and onion mixture, the chia seed gel, apple puree, and egg, and process until the mixtures comes together. It should be a little on the sticky side. 5. Using a spatula, scrape the dough out onto the lined baking sheet. Form into a square about ¾ inch thick, then score into 9 smaller squares, leaving them joined together. Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes until golden, rotating the sheet halfway through cooking. 6. Carefully slide a spatula under the biscuits to loosen them from the baking parchment, then separate the pieces using a knife, move them apart a little to give them some room and return to the oven for another 10-12 minutes, to crisp the edges. 7. Remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack. Serve with butter, hollandaise, and poached eggs for breakfast.

Recipes excerpted with permission from Eat More Greens by Zita Steyn, photography by Nassima Rothacker; published by Quadrille Publishing March 2017, RRP $24.99 hardcover.

Always on the look-out for interesting meals to start the day with, I regularly make this for my family and friends. Nutritious, filling, and different yet familiar, it ticks all the boxes for a special breakfast dish. Being gluten-free, it is a very crumbly biscuit, but no less delicious for it. Instead of the kale and nutmeg, you could add lots of finely chopped chives and cayenne pepper, or a little goat cheese and chopped thyme leaves. Roughly chopped black olives and finely chopped rosemary make a good addition, too. Makes 9 smallish biscuits Ingredients A little olive oil 1 small onion, diced 3½ oz. kale, stalks removed, roughly chopped 2 cups oat flakes (certified gluten-free if you are sensitive) 1 tsp. baking powder ½ tsp. baking soda ½ tsp. freshly grated nutmeg

Large pinch of sea salt 1 Tbsp. chia seeds, mixed with 2 Tbsp. water and stirred until a thick gel forms ½ cup cold butter (or firm coconut oil, hardened in the refrigerator), cut into small cubes ¼ cup apple puree or applesauce 1 egg, lightly whisked

Directions 1. P reheat the oven to 350°F and line a medium baking sheet with baking parchment. 2. Heat the olive oil in a pan, add the onion, and sweat over gentle heat until soft and translucent. Add the kale and sauté until tender and cooked, then process in a food processor, or chop very finely by hand, press out any moisture and set aside to cool completely. 3. Spoon half the oat flakes into the food processor (no need to

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

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Meet the

Health Care Professional Pediatric Immediate Care 698 Manhattan Ave. 718-389-PEDS (7337) 150 E. Sunrise Highway, Suite 105, North Lindenhurst 631-956-PEDS (7337) 1077 W. Jericho Turnpike, Smithtown 631-864-PEDS (7337); pediatricimmediatecare.com

Dr. Charlot Cascya - Allergy and Asthma Care of Brooklyn 10 Plaza St. E., Suite 1E 311 Saint Nicholas Ave., Ridgewood 347-564-3211 brooklynallergydr.com

Park Slope Kids Dental Care 150 4th Ave. 718-488-0200 parkslopekidsdental.com

Brooklyn Family Orthodontics Alexis K. Fermanis, D.D.S., M.S. 142 Joralemon St., 6B, Brooklyn Heights 73 8th Ave., at Union Street, Park Slope 718-395-6582; bkfamilyortho.com

Pediatric Immediate Care is a team of hearts where kids come first. State-of-the-art medical office equipment allows us to deliver your test results during your visit. Kid-friendly; walk-ins welcome; most insurance plans accepted. Complete pediatric and adolescent care, as well as baby, camp, school, and sports physicals. Certified urgent care recommended by Urgent Care Association of America. Thirty years of dedication to our patients. The offices are open seven days a week including holidays, 8am-11pm.

At Park Slope Kids Dental Care, children who are first seen for a friendly examination and cleaning are able to enjoy the dental experience and build a bond of trust with us. A customized dental plan that includes prevention, growth development, and possible treatment is created to fit your child’s specific dental needs. We are committed to giving children the best possible experiences at our office to help set them up for a lifetime of good oral health.

Dr. Cascya Charlot is an award-winning, Harvard Medical School-trained physician who is board-certified in pediatric and adult allergy and immunology. She is the chief of pediatric allergy at Methodist Hospital in Park Slope, and medical director of Allergy and Asthma Care of Brooklyn, in Park Slope and Williamsburg. She evaluates patients for a wide variety of allergic conditions including asthma, eczema, food allergies, sinusitis, and environmental allergies. Throughout her career, she has received numerous accolades including the prestigious Patients’ Choice “Most Compassionate Doctor” award in 2012 and 2013.

QueensParent

SALES OPENING Dr. Alexis Fermanis is an orthodontic specialist who practiced

MAGAZINES WEBSITES SOCIAL in Brooklyn for 10 •years before starting•Brooklyn FamilyMEDIA Orthodontics•inEMAIL 2014. She issend a nativeresumé New Yorker enjoys running and traveling in her free time. Dr. toand dmgsales@davlermedia.com Fermanis believes that a beautiful smile makes a great first impression and she is passionate about providing that to her patients. She is active in her alumni societies and local dental organizations, and regularly attends continuing education classes so she can provide the most successful results for her patients.

BrooklynParent

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

March 2018 | nymetroparents.com

OPENHOUSES 2018

Mitzvah Market magazine

A. Fantis Parochial School

Pre-K3 through eighth grade, including UPK Theodore G. Tasoulas, principal 195 State St. afantis.org Join us for one of our open houses: Wednesday, March 14 at 9am or Wednesday, March 28 at 6pm.

Aviator Sports and Events Center

Your Source for Ideas & Inspiration

Chelsea Piers Sports and Entertainment Complex Summer Camps

West 23rd Street and Hudson River Park, Manhattan 212-336-6846 chelseapiers.com/camp Join us for an open house and sample classes at the Sky Rink on March 3 from 12:30-2:30pm, the Field House on March 24 from 12:302:30pm, and the Golf Club on April 28 from 12-2pm. Please RSVP.

Mill Basin Day Camp

5945 Strickland Ave. 718-251-6200 millbasindaycamp.com Join us for an open house on March 10 or 25 from 11am-2pm.

The Park Slope Day Camp

Ronny Schindler, executive director 718-788-7732 parkslopedaycamp.com Join us for an open house on March 3 or March 24.

Stepping Stones Nursery School

245 86th St., Bay Ridge 718-630-1000 Stepping Stones-The Next Step 9321 Ridge Blvd. 718-630-1001 steppingstones86.com; steppingstones86@aol.com Join us for an open house on Wednesday, April 11 at 6pm.

Urban Explorers Day Camp

38-32 Flatlands Ave. 718-951-9732 urbanexplorers.nyc admin@urbanexplorers.nyc Join us for an open house on Saturday, March 24 from 10am-4pm. Refreshments, free camp raffles, and takeaways for the kids!

Usdan Summer Camp for the Arts

185 Colonial Springs Road, Wheatley Heights 631-643-7900 usdan.org Join new families interested in learning more about Usdan. Meet with our admissions counselors and tour the campus. Refreshments, warm drinks, information, and 2018 registration available. Sundays, March 18, April 15, and May 20 from 11am-2pm.

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Davler Media Group Fax: 212.271.2239 • Call: 914.290.4716 Email: Distribution@davlermedia.com 498 Seventh Ave., 10th Floor New York, NY 10018 BrooklynParent 55

Professional PartyCentral services

Your local guide to tutors, teachers, lawyers, financial planners, and other professionals DOCTORS & MEDICAL PROVIDERS PEDIATRIC IMMEDIATE CARE 698 Manhattan Ave. 718-389-PEDS (7337) 150 E. Sunrise Highway, Suite 105, North Lindenhurst 631-956-PEDS (7337) 1077 W. Jericho Turnpike, Smithtown 631-864-PEDS (7337) pediatricimmediatecare.com Pediatric Immediate Care is a team of hearts where kids come first. State-ofthe-art medical office equipment allows us to deliver your test results during your visit. Kid-friendly; walk-ins welcome; most insurance plans accepted. SPECIAL NEEDS LITTLE OPTICS INC. 192-07 Union Turnpike, Fresh Meadows, Queens

53-15 Roosevelt Ave., Woodside, Queens 718-468-7500; Hablamos Español littleopticsinc@yahoo.com We provide eyeglasses and professional eye care for children, including infants and young adults. We also alleviate any self-esteem issues associated with the stigma of wearing glasses. When your child leaves Little Optics, rest assured they will feel confident. THERAPY & COUNSELORS MR. SPEECH PATHOLOGY 347-399-4836 mrspeechpathology.com info@mrspeechpathology.com Eugene Chuprin is a bilingual (English-Russian) 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.

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

CLOWNS.COM Proudly serving Westchester, Long Island, Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and the Bronx 516-577-0000; 718-971-5862 clowns.com We are a family-owned and -operated entertainment company, offering a wide range of party and entertainment services including clowns, inflatable bounce houses, characters, magicians, princesses, magic shows, face painting, and party concession rentals. PARTY PLACES ART FUN STUDIO 547 92nd St. 718-680-0508 artfunstudio.com alla@artfunstudio.com Canvas and ceramic painting art studio in Brooklyn. Plan a child’s budget-friendly birthday party or adult’s Sip and Paint event, check our classes or just walk in for spontaneous fun! Seventy five-star reviews on Google and Yelp. Fun and creative packages for all ages. AVIATOR SPORTS AND EVENTS CENTER 3159 Flatbush Ave. 718-758-7551 aviatorsports.com/birthday-parties There are 11 birthday party packages at Aviator Sports that make it easy to create a memorable birthday party for children. All parties include a private party room throughout the duration of the party, and a dedicated party host!

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347-450-5867 bounceu.com/brooklyn-ny BounceU, the premier birthday party and play experience in all of Brooklyn. We’re a 30,000-square-foot indoor recreational facility with “YUGE” inflatable play equipment. Helping parents make better decisions CHELSEA PIERS SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT COMPLEX Be Social West 23rd Street and Hudson River Park, Manhattan Field House Registration Desk: 212-336-6500 x6520 chelseapiers.com/youth Why cross the bridge for your next birthday party? Because Chelsea Piers parties are action-packed, entertaining, and hassle-free, with more sports, activities, and fun than any other party venue in NYC! FAIRYTALE ISLAND 7110-3rd Ave. 646-667-9096 facebook.com/fairytaleislandplayground; icecream124@hotmail.com Fairytale Island provides a high-quality, safe, and amazing indoor space for hosting birthday parties. This environment will also encourage social, emotional, language, cognitive, and physical skill development. KIDS ‘N ACTION 1149 McDonald Ave. 718-377-1818 kidsnaction.com; steven@kidsnaction.com Fun and thrills are what your kids will have at Kids ‘N Action. Kids never get bored enjoying our thrilling indoor roller coaster, amusing winding train, exciting go-karts, and action-filled arcade games. Parties include unlimited soft play and rides.

March 2018 | nymetroparents.com

raising kids ad index NYMetroParents.com features more than 20,000 businesses serving the NY metropolitan area! birthday / party services

Keylab............................................................................ 23

Aviator Sports Recreation.............................................. 25

Rab’s Country Lanes....................................................... 9

Llingsworth Music.......................................................... 51

Smart Start.................................................................... 23

Usdan Summer Camp for the Arts................................... 2

camps Aviator Sports Recreation.............................................. 25

The Learning Experience - Brooklyn............................. 21

Brooklyn Music School.................................................. 25

dance

Camp Clio...................................................................... 21

Usdan Summer Camp for the Arts................................... 2

Camp Huntington........................................................... 23 Chelsea Piers................................................................ 19 FasTracKids Brooklyn / Staten Island........................... 16 Leif Ericson Day School................................................ 16 Mill Basin Day Camp....................................................... 5 Park Slope Day Camp................................................... 60 Rab’s Country Lanes....................................................... 9 Smart Start.................................................................... 23 Stepping Stones Preschool........................................... 25 The Learnatory................................................................ 7 The Learning Experience - Brooklyn............................. 21 Treasure Island.............................................................. 23

performing arts / acting On Stage at Kingsborough............................................ 43 Usdan Summer Camp for the Arts................................... 2

developmental YMCA of Greater New York........................................... 21 Young People’s Day Camp - Brooklyn........................... 13

education

religious Congregation Beth Elohim............................................... 3 Leif Ericson Day School................................................ 16

Brienza’s Academic Advantage..................................... 15 Congregation Beth Elohim............................................... 3 FasTracKids Brooklyn / Staten Island........................... 16 Hyde Brooklyn Charter School...................................... 11 Leif Ericson Day School................................................ 16 Stepping Stones Preschool........................................... 25 The Learning Experience - Brooklyn............................. 21

retail Llingsworth Music.......................................................... 51 Pediped........................................................................... 8

special events Jewish Week (The)........................................................ 31

Treasure Island.............................................................. 23

special needs

Usdan Summer Camp for the Arts................................... 2

family entertainment /

Camp Huntington........................................................... 23

YMCA of Greater New York........................................... 21

events / outings

Urban Explorers ............................................................ 41

Young People’s Day Camp - Brooklyn........................... 13

child care / day care Mommybites.................................................................. 41

Llingsworth Music.......................................................... 51 On Stage at Kingsborough............................................ 43 Rab’s Country Lanes....................................................... 9

Smart Start.................................................................... 23

fitness

Stepping Stones Preschool........................................... 25

Mill Basin Day Camp....................................................... 5

Treasure Island.............................................................. 23

health

classes

Allergy & Asthma Care of Brooklyn......................... 51, 54

Brienza’s Academic Advantage..................................... 15

Brooklyn Family Orthodontics........................................ 54

Brooklyn Music School.................................................. 25

sports Aviator Sports Recreation.............................................. 25 Chelsea Piers................................................................ 19 Mill Basin Day Camp....................................................... 5 YMCA of Greater New York........................................... 21 Young People’s Day Camp - Brooklyn........................... 13

theater On Stage at Kingsborough............................................ 43

Park Slope Kids Dental Care................................... 15, 54 Pediatric Immediate Care........................................ 45, 54

tutors

Congregation Beth Elohim............................................... 3

music

Brienza’s Academic Advantage..................................... 15

Hyde Brooklyn Charter School...................................... 11

Brooklyn Music School.................................................. 25

FasTracKids Brooklyn / Staten Island........................... 16

Chelsea Piers................................................................ 19

BrooklynParent 57

raising kids quotables

What has been your luckiest parenting moment? “Getting pregnant in the first place. I struggled with infertility for years and was smack dab in the middle of IVF when I became pregnant with our son. I never felt luckier than in that moment.” —Amy Edlestein, Nassau County

“Every day with my kids feels a little bit lucky and a little bit crazy. We are lucky to go on so many adventures in Brooklyn and discover new parts of our borough every week. The craziness of being a large family is so worth it.” —Tracy R., Park Slope

“I don’t know if I believe in luck as much as I believe that everything happens for a reason. I’m grateful for my family every day and always remind my children to count their blessings.” —Penny Ramirez, New Rochelle

“Getting pregnant with twins!! Some people might have totally freaked out but they run in my family, so I felt so lucky to carry on that family tradition with my own brood. My girls are definitely my good luck charms.” —Amanda Jenkins, Forest Hills, Queens

in an instagram The graduating class of The Highland School in Fresh Meadows, Queens, got a chance to visit with Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb of the Today Show.

But here’s what I’m beginning to realize, or rather, what I need to realize. Moms are not machines. We can’t go and go and go without stopping or we will break. And there is no free replacement if we do. I may want to hang those picture frames or shred those bills tonight when the have-tos of my day are done. But honestly, what I need to do is to sit on the couch, curl up next to my sweet dog, and watch some Netﬂix. —Janene Dutt in a post entitled “If You Feel Like You Didn’t Do Enough Today, Remember This,” on scarymommy.com

March 2018 | nymetroparents.com

“I feel lucky for my family and extended family who live in the area. Without them I don’t know how I would handle this whole parenting thing. It truly takes a village.” —Susan Klinger, Manhattan

The Joys of Daylight Savings “There’s nothing better than dining al fresco, in my opinion, whether it’s at a restaurant that has outdoor seating, in a backyard (if you’re lucky enough to have one), or on a building’s rooftop terrace. I really love spreading out a blanket and dining among nature (and other picnickers) at the local park.” —Katelin Walling in an article entitled “Daylight Saving Time: 5 Ways to Take Advantage of an Extra Hour of Sunlight;” read the whole thing at nymetroparents.com/daylight-savings.

More NYMetroParents.com Highlights: GO FOR A SPIN!: Check out some awesome carousels in the NYC area at nymetroparents.com/carousels CELEBRATING WOMEN: March is Women’s History Month. Find where you can celebrate at nymetroparents. com/womens-history. SPRING IS HERE! Discover 100 things to do in our area this season (nymetroparents.com/spring) CELEBRATE ST. PATRICK’S DAY: Make this delicious and healthy Shamrock Shake (nymetroparents.com/shamrock)

Bar Mitzvah Bat Mi t zvah Sweet Sixteen Quinceañera

Party Planning?

Check off your entire to-do list in ONE DAY!

• Venues • Favors

• Invitations • Food Samples

• Photographers • Décor

• DJs and Entertainment • Judaica

Uniondale, Long Island • Long Island Marriott • Sunday, March 18th • 12 - 4 PM

Get your FREE family ticket online at CelebrateShowcase.com Tickets purchased at the door are $10