Brooklyn Parent - December 2016

BrooklynParent DECEMBER 2016

NYMETROPARENTS.COM

Staging a Holiday Classic

Behind the scenes at a local Nutcracker production

Weird Behavior Explained Why kids do the strangest things

Staycation Inspiration

Seven fun-filled itineraries for local family fun

CUT YOUR OWN CHRISTMAS TREE • MANNERS & ETIQUETTE SCHOOLS

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Contents

December 2016 ››

22

Features

12 Upholding a Holiday Tradition A behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to put on a performance of The Nutcracker

12

14 Minding Their Manners It may seem quaint, but etiquette schools for kids are thriving.

16 Make Your Own Hot Cocoa Three recipes that use favorite flavor combinations 18 Kids Do the Weirdest Things Some of your child’s strangest behaviors and habits, explained by experts 22 A Staycation a Day Ideas for six fun-filled family days around the New York metro area 42 Travel Back in Time...

16 historical locations in the New York metro area to visit with your kids

18

16

46 Get as Good as You Give How to indulge in gift-giving instincts without spoiling your kids

Connections

6 Editor’s Note 8 Quotables 9 Voices: Pride and Fear 11 NYMP Q&A: Risa Klein, a certified nurse midwife, talks midwifery

Fun & Activities

Family Activities CALENDAR ››

Original photo by PhotoOp NYC (photoopnyc.com) Clothing provided

by Appaman (appaman.com)

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10 10 24 27 40

Media Matters: Virtual Stocking Stuffers DIY Corner: Christmas Crackers Outing: Vanderbilt Museum Family Activities Calendar Where-To Guide: Cut Your Own Christmas Tree

Directories 23 48 49 49 49 50

Winter Break Activities #SnapShot2016 Meet the Health Care Professional Open Houses Family Resource Guide Advertisers’ Index

››

ON THE COVER ›› 12 Staging a Holiday Classic 14 Manners & Etiquette Schools 18 Weird Behavior Explained

facebook.com/nymetroparents

@NYMetroParents

22 Staycation Inspiration

40 Cut Your Own Christmas Tree

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

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BrooklynParent

5

DECEMBER 2016 • Vol.13 • No.5

NYMetroParents Publications EDITORIAL

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR: Michael Kress

EDITOR’S NOTE

MANAGING EDITOR: Katelin Walling DEPUTY EDITOR: Caitlin Berens

‘No Feet in Soup’

O

ne of my kids compulsively put her feet on everything, to the point where I had to institute a rule that’s become infamous in our household: “No feet in soup.” Another one can’t go more than a few minutes without her fingers in her belly button. I am sure many of you are nodding knowingly, since my kids are hardly unusual, even if the particulars differ person to person. Let’s face it: Kids do weird stuff, even they can’t explain why they do it. So we turned to the experts and asked them to explain kids’ unusual habits, from putting things up their noses to stripping in public to finding potty humor irresistible (p. 18).

Usually, these odd-but-normal behaviors fade as kids get older and move on to the next mysterious habit. But learning to navigate the world can be difficult for many children. Enter manners and etiquette schools. You may have thought these were a thing of the past, but they’re alive and well in our region. And while they still teach kids the basics—sitting and eating properly at the dinner table, making eye contact and conversing with adults, and so on—many also ready their students for a world where so much communication happens via social media, texts, and email. Megan Bailey takes a look at today’s manners and etiquette programs and how participants benefit from them (p. 14).

Holidays are, of course, a good time for kids to remember their manners, between the festive dinners and the presents for which they need to say thank you. It’s one of my favorite times of year, as I look forward to Hanukkah lights and my kids’ winter break. I often find, however, that I can’t decide what to do as a family, even when we are all eager for a fun outing. To help out, Bethany Braun-Silva offers seven “staycation” itineraries around the region (p. 22).

Even though I don’t celebrate Christmas myself, I’ll admit to loving the lights, decorations, and general vibe the season brings. I’ll also make another admission: I’ve never seen The Nutcracker. Not by design, nor by opposition to it—it’s just never happened. So I was fascinated to read what it takes to mount a local production of this holiday classic in Samantha Neudorf’s behind-the-scenes look (p. 12).

Whatever your plans this December, and whatever holiday(s) you celebrate, may the month—and the new year ahead—be filled with joy, peace, and health for all of you.

SENIOR EDITOR: Bethany Braun-Silva ASSISTANT EDITOR: Samantha Neudorf REGIONAL EDITORS: Karen Demeter (Fairfield, Suffolk); Rosalind Muggeridge (Brooklyn); Jamie McGillian (Westchester); Samantha Beranbom (Rockland); Dorette Saunders (Nassau); Emma Steven (Manhattan); Gail Warren (Queens) DIRECTORIES EDITOR: Alice Van Dyke EDITORIAL INTERNS: Jonathan Perry, Kathryn Sheridan

ADVERTISING SALES Big Apple Parent 212-315-0800; Fax: 212-271-2239 Jeunesse Jackson, Linda Pierce Queens Parent 718-878-4860 Annene Guertin, Ellen Klein Westchester Parent 914-397-0200 Nini DeLuca, Manager Randi Shulman, Merrill Sugarman, Mary Wender Brooklyn Parent 718-878-4860 Phyllis Crupi, Ellen Klein, Selene Rodriguez Rockland Parent 845-848-8021 Cara Roteman, Jim Russo Fairfield Parent 914-397-0200 Judy Samuels, Randi Shulman Long Island Parent, Nassau 516-883-4543 Joan Bergman, Manager, Dani Pollack Long Island Parent, Suffolk 631-472-5437 Lisa Herlihy, Karen Shapiro To Advertise: nympads@davlermedia.com DIR. OF OPERATIONS -- EVENTS: Rebecca Stolcz DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS: Ray Winn OPERATIONS COORDINATORS: Ray C. Guédez, Leonard Porter DIRECTOR OF TRAFFIC: Heather Gambaro TRAFFIC MANAGER: Alexis Brower ADMINISTRATION MANAGER: Erin Jordan

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The NYMetroParents

Caring Kids AWARDS

So many children and teenagers dedicate time to helping in our communities, and plenty of families do volunteer work together. If this describes your kids or your family, enter The NYMetroParents Caring Kids Awards, and be eligible to win a $500 gift card!

Here’s how it works: • Go to nymetroparents.com/caring-kids between Nov. 1 and Nov. 30.

• Follow the directions there to tell us—in 75 words or less—about your child’s or your family’s community service efforts and the impact this volunteer work has on others. If you’d like, you can upload a photo or link to a video of them volunteering.

• Eight Caring Kids will each receive a $500 gift card and a letter of commendation, and many more will be featured in our magazine and/or website.

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December 2016 | nymetroparents.com

MARKETING

HEAD OF MARKETING: Jacqueline Lachman

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UOTABLES Their quirks are the things that are important to me. Not photos of them looking perfect. …

When they were ready to go out that door, I was pretty sure that my heart might literally burst. My girls felt completely comfortable with themselves and completely beautiful.

What better gift is there to give them?

—Westchester mom Jennifer Garry, in a post entitled “School Picture Day Rebellion,” on her blog cuddlesandchaos.com

in an instagram Writing workshop at school ... I love every minute that I get to spend with my girls.

(Posted by @3citygirlsnyc, aka Nilsa K, who blogs at 3citygirlsnyc.wordpress.com)

A SPECIAL MILESTONE “My son has autism and, at age 13, recently saw a movie in a theater for the first time. It is not something I thought would work for him—until now.”

in an instagram It’s so nice here, Mama! Can I take a nap? deitar no chão sujo do parquinho, né?

Tão gostoso

(Posted by @blogmeandthecity, aka NYC mom Fernanda Seelos, who blogs at blogmeandthecity.com)

“Every mother should know she is not alone in this. It is going to take some getting used to. Everyone struggles at first—everyone—even if they don’t admit it.”

—Kate Bingham-Smith, in a post on scarymommy.com entitled “What Every Mother Should Know.”

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December 2016 | nymetroparents.com

—Manhattan mom Dana Greenberg in an article entitled “Taking a Child with Autism to the Movies: 5 Tips From a Mom Who’s Been There.” Read the whole thing at nymetroparents.com/autism-movies.

MORE NYMetroParents.com HIGHLIGHTS: SEE THE WINDOWS: Find department-store holiday displays at nymetroparents.com/windows.

CHOO CHOO! See where to find holiday train shows at nymetroparents.com/holiday-trains.

COLD & FLU SEASON: Learn how to avoid common childhood illnesses at nymetroparents.com/prevent.

HIT THE ICE: Find ice-skating rinks near you at nymetroparents.com/ice-skating.

VOICES

Pride and Fear

››

The intense, mixed emotions of being the wife of a police officer. By Bethany Braun-Silva

D

uring Spirit Week at my son’s school, students were asked to dress up as what they wanted to be when they grew up. My son chose to be a baseball player, and I figured we would see lots of other ballplayers, along with plenty of doctors and superheroes. But that wasn’t the most popular choice among kids at his school—not even close.

As we approached the school, I noticed dozens of kids dressed as police officers, which surprised me. Boys and girls, younger as well as older kids, all decked out in navy blue uniforms and badges. I had a sense of pride, and I smiled at the innocence of these kids’ desires to serve and protect. I also got a rush of anxiety because, should these young children still want to be cops when they actually do grow up, they are in for a rough road. It’s a tough life, and police officers and their families need a lot of support—not to mention, it’s scary as all get out.

My husband is a New York City police officer, and he is very dedicated to his job. He takes it seriously; he does it with pride and rarely complains. With two young boys at home and a demanding job with even more demanding hours, the fact that my husband doesn’t complain isn’t just worth mentioning, it’s a feat in itself.

As a cop’s wife who also works, it has been tricky managing our schedules. He works nights, and so, between work and parenting duties, I sometimes go several days without interacting with my husband face to face. This is the norm, and the boys and I have grown accustomed to missing him and spending weekends without him. We try to capitalize on any time off my husband has by spending quality time together and doing fun things as a family.

However, with the recent bombings and ever-present threats in New York City, we’ve had even less time together than usual, since he has been working tons of overtime. As for me? I am more anxious than ever about his career given the current climate and recent police shootings.

At home, we talk about these things in private. Our sons are 4 and 1 and best left out of conversations about the dangers of their father’s job, at least for now. However, one day in the near future we will have to sit them down and explain the reality of being a police officer. We will have to tell them that police officers sometimes make the ultimate sacrifice in order to protect the people of their community. That sometimes officers make bad decisions. That while it is a noble, selfless profession, many officers misunderstand the responsibility they have to protect and serve.

In lieu of those talks, right now we have a strict family rule of saying “I love you” and giving hugs and kisses when Daddy leaves for work. It’s a great tradition that I’m sure many families enjoy, but in our home, as in many law-enforcement families, it is not to be missed, even on the busiest days. That’s the strange reality of living with a police officer. He might not come home after his shift. He might not come home ever again. That truth is something I carry with me always, but am sadly reminded of it more frequently of late.

We live in scary times and part of me just wants to run away from it all and move to a more serene environment—somewhere with a backyard and a garden, where I can give my kids a more innocent upbringing. But that’s out of the question given my husband’s job. Plus, the reality is there are dangers everywhere. I support my husband in his career, just as he supports me in mine.

Whatever happens, we will get through it as a family.

With all that being said, life is otherwise great. Our boys are happy and healthy, and I have pretty much adjusted to the demands of being a police officer’s wife. It’s unfortunate that we live with the ever-present knowledge of potential tragedy in our lives, but that just comes with the territory. On the other side of it, we have our own personal hero who protects and serves us daily.

My boys and I couldn’t be prouder.

BrooklynParent

9

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In Theaters Dec. 21: Sing

Our Partner: Common Sense Media An independent nonprof it that helps families make smart media choices.

Check out thousands of ratings and reviews at commonsensemedia.org

Parents need to know that Sing is an animated comedy that looks like a mash-up between Zootopia and American Idol. In a world in which animals walk, talk, wear clothes, and— yes—sing, Buster, a koala (voiced by Matthew McConaughey), proposes to host a singing competition in a last-ditch effort to save his theater. Animals from near and far gather to vie for the prize money, including a gorilla trying to get out of his father’s gang (Taron Egerton), a suburban mama pig (Reese Witherspoon), and even a gambling mouse (Seth MacFarlane). Some of the humor might not be appropriate for the littlest kids, but overall Sing looks like a movie that kids and parents will be able to enjoy together.

See more at NYMetroParents.com/media

DIY CORNER HOLIDAY FUN

Christmas Crackers

Making your own crackers is fun and easy, and it means you can put your own choice of novelties and silly handwritten jokes inside.

Make the crackers from colorful wrapping paper and trim them with sequins or glitter finished with pretty bows. Or throw in some confetti to add a fun element to your New Year’s Eve party.

You will need: • Cardboard toilet rolls • 8-by-8-inch piece of paper per cracker • Pencil • Ruler • Scissors

• Glue or sticky tape • Snaps for crackers (you can find these on Amazon.com) • Gifts, paper hats, and jokes • 8 inches of ribbon (¼-inch wide) per cracker • Sequin trim

Directions: 1. Lay the cardboard roll in the center of the paper and mark the position of each end using a pencil. Set the roll aside.

2. Using the marks made on the paper as a guide, fold the paper, right sides together, and press the folds flat. Using a ruler, mark out lines along the fold approximately ¾ inch apart, stopping approximately 1 inch in from the outside edge of the paper.

3. Use scissors to cut along the marked lines to create slits in the paper. Repeat steps 2 and 3 on the other side.

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December 2016 | nymetroparents.com

4. Now unfold the paper and lay it flat, wrong side facing up. Place the cardboard roll on top. Apply a dab of glue or use a small piece of double-sided tape to hold the paper on the roll. Wrap the paper around the roll as tightly as you can. Apply glue along the whole edge of the paper and press firmly in place. Allow to dry completely.

5. Push the cracker snap through the open end of the roll. This is also the time to insert any small gifts or trinkets, a paper hat, and a joke or other motto.

6. Cut the ribbon in half and tie a length of ribbon around one end of the cracker. Tie in a knot. Repeat at the other end. Trim the ends of the ribbon on the diagonal with scissors to prevent them fraying.

7. Measure the circumference of the cracker and cut three lengths of sequin trim to fit. Glue the sequin trim in rows around the cracker. Allow glue to dry completely.

Crackers Safety: Crackers snaps are a low-risk fire hazard and must always be used with adult supervision. Never pull a snap on its own.

Visit nymetroparents.com/crackers for step-by-step photos.

Excerpted from My First Christmas Craft Book, Cico Kidz, $14.95; rylandpeters.com.

Photography by CICO Books 2016.

NYMP Q&A

What a Midwife Does ››

By Bethany Braun-Silva

When your little angel thinks he’s a daredevil...

Risa Klein is a certified nurse midwife with an office on Manhattan’s Upper East Side.

She was the “birth consultant” for the feature films Baby Mama and Laze.

Are there any misconceptions about midwives you want to set straight? Midwives are very smart. We go through very rigorous academic accredited midwifery schools. Sometimes people think midwives only do home-births for impoverished, poverty-stricken people around the world, and that’s really not true. Midwives serve women of all socio-economic backgrounds and what we do is we pride ourselves on understanding what is normal for each woman we see. We also do GYN-care, conscious conception planning, and contraceptive planning. Basically, midwives have a holistic view of the process of birth and childbirth is just an organic, natural process. Midwives see it as normal, it’s not a disease; it’s nothing to be afraid of.

Can any woman see a midwife during her pregnancy? We take care of healthy, low-risk women. We don’t take care of women with pre-existing conditions, such as diabetes, liver disease, or other metabolic diseases. We could co-manage women, but for the most part we take care of healthy women, but we are educated and experienced to screen for other risk factors. So many women think, “Oh, I’ll be safer with an OB,” but if there’s a true medical issue, then we will refer, consult, and collaborate with an obstetrician, with a perinatologist, or with a genetic counselor. So what I could share is that a lot of people don’t understand the magnitude of experience midwives have in terms of understanding the medical piece of it, and knowing when to and how to recognize if there is a challenge, and when to consult and co-manage.

Any tips for woman to help make pregnancy an easier, more enjoyable process? Many women are working very hard, and they’re going up and down stairs and going to the gym, but unbeknownst to them, they’re throwing themselves into pre-term labor and their waters are breaking early because they’re doing too much. So I really encourage women to go slow. My phrase is, “be boring.” Modify work, go in late, work from home, do what you can so you can enjoy the last few weeks and not risk a premature labor. In our country we have very high infant morbidity and mortality, and it’s truly something that I believe could be avoided with positive communication about eating well, having protein in the diet, making sure a woman’s blood volume stays high, and getting enough rest. If a woman is dizzy by exercising and running around and forgetting to eat or drink, those all set up for preterm labor contractions.

Better have a good pediatrician.

Make sure your kids are covered.

Contact Affinity Health Plan at 866.247.5678 (TTY 711) to obtain more information about Child Health Plus, a free or low-cost health insurance program sponsored by New York State for kids under the age of 19.

To learn more about applying for health insurance, including Child Health Plus and Medicaid through NY State of Health, The Official Health Plan Marketplace, visit nystateofhealth.ny.gov or call 855.355.5777.

AffinityPlan.org/CHP BrooklynParent 11

Samantha Neudorf

Julieta Cervantes

The party scene from the Westchester Ballet Company’s 2015 production of The Nutcracker

Logrea Dance Academy students rehearse the finale from The Nutcracker in October.

Upholding a Holiday Tradition

››

A behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to plan, choreograph, and perform The Nutcracker, a beloved holiday show. By Samantha Neudorf

A

t 1pm on a recent Saturday, Beth Fritz-Logrea ushers all of her ballet students into the studio to begin rehearsing the snow scene from Act I of The Nutcracker. The girls stand in position and Fritz-Logrea walks up to them to go over placement on the stage at Logrea Dance Academy in Ossining. Each girl is given a number, which corresponds to a marker on the stage designating where she should stand. Twenty minutes after first inviting the students in, they’re all in place and Fritz-Logrea walks to the front of the studio, sits in a director’s chair, and cues her husband, Jean Logrea, to start the music from the top of the snow scene. Rehearsal has begun.

The Nutcracker is a holiday tradition that kids and adults look forward to each year. First performed at the Imperial Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia, in 1892, the ballet is Alexandre Dumas père’s adaptation of the story The Nutcracker and the Mouse King, written by E.T.A. Hoffmann. Despite those roots, it was not until 1964 that The Nutcracker gained popularity. That’s when George Balanchine—considered by many as the “Father of American Ballet”—debuted his rendition of the ballet at New York City Center.

In Balanchine’s words, his Nutcracker was to be “full-length and expensive,” according to Vanity Fair. He envisioned a grandiose tree for the background, and somehow managed to get a $40,000 tree commissioned to make the magic of The Nutcracker feel as real as possible.

That magic, as well as the tradition of this ballet, are still very much alive and well today—at major venues such as Lincoln Center as well as at regional and local theaters seemingly everywhere. No matter where it is produced, the grace and 12

December 2016 | nymetroparents.com

beauty on display is the result of countless hours of hard work by dedicated dancers, many of them teens at local high schools.

A Ballet Family

Westchester Ballet Company’s version of this classic has been the responsibility of co-directors Jean Logrea and Beth Fritz-Logrea since they became owners of the dance troupe in 1985. A year later, they founded the Logrea Dance Academy and named it the official school of the Westchester Ballet Company.

Though Fritz-Logrea stopped personally performing in the production 25 years ago, she is both the choreographer and director of the show. Her husband has played the role of Uncle Drosselmeyer for the past 31 years, while their son, Nick, will be performing in his 25th Nutcracker show in several different roles: the butler in the party scene, the Mouse King, the Arabian pas de deux, and a soloist for the company’s Ukranian variation—an added scene that is not usually performed in other Nutcracker productions.

Nick says the best part about performing each year is being on stage. “There’s something about being on stage and being in front of a large group of people and performing for them then getting the satisfaction of them applauding you at the end,” Nick says.

“It’s a big adrenaline rush, something that I’ve loved from the very beginning.”

Balancing High School with Rehearsal

Back at rehearsal, there are nearly 28 girls who have been cast in the snow scene, divided into two groups, each of which will perform at two of the four shows. Fritz-Logrea runs through the

scene with the first cast for the first time this season. All of these dancers are wearing pointe shoes and are between ages 11-18, including the dance studio’s three graduating seniors: Charlotte Chandler, Clare Hammonds, and Molly Powers.

These three girls have been dancing for 15 years and have been performing in the Westchester Ballet Company’s Nutcracker for 10-12 years each. Powers and Chandler first started out as mice and Hammonds was a page; this year, they each have three roles—Chandler, a 17-year-old from Cross River, is a snow soloist, Chinese soloist, and the Dew Drop Fairy; Hammonds, a 17-yearold from Ossining, is a snow soloist, in the gigue variation, and is the flower soloist; Powers, a 17-year-old from Hawthorne, is a party scene guest, in the snow scene, and is a flower soloist.

The teens dance ballet six days a week, which is how they’ve grown close to one another. “We’re all such good friends and the community surrounding us helps to put on the performance,” Hammonds says. “That plays a huge part in performance week for us.”

The most challenging part for these seniors is juggling college applications and extracurricular activities with dance rehearsals six days a week. Saturday rehearsals for The Nutcracker are four hours long.

“This teaches you time management because you’re here so often, but you need to focus on your studies, too,” says Powers, a member of the National Honor Society at her school.

The end of the snow scene transitions into one in which Clara, the main character, travels to the Land of Sweets with the Nutcracker Prince. Clara is played by 14-year-old Rylee Carpenter of Ossining. She has played Clara for the past three years, and aspires to perform on Broadway when she is older.

“I love being able to act, especially doing Clara,” Carpenter says.

“I love the feeling of acting and dancing because it just lets me express myself more.” She also takes theater and singing lessons in addition to dance.

Tim Bohrman, a 14-year-old from Carmel, is Logrea Dance Studio’s oldest boy, and has been dancing for 10 years. He will play Fritz, the lead soldier, and the Chinese soloist in this year’s performance, and this is his first year as a soloist. “A lot of the guy parts are a lot of fun because there’s usually a lot of cool jumps and turns,” he says.

Bohrman started taking ballet after his older sister—who is now 20 and a trainee with the Orlando Ballet Company in Florida— started taking lessons. Though Bohrman also takes modern and tap at the dance studio, he says his favorite dance is ballet and intends to join a ballet company, just like his older sister.

Planning the Production

To mount an ambitious production such as The Nutcracker, the Logreas start thinking about the show as early as late July or early August. Right after their spring season is over in May, they sit down and discuss which dancers are returning and start calling guest dancers to see if they will be available.

Auditions for this year’s Nutcracker were held in midSeptember, and are typically open to whoever would like to be a part of it. Students at Logrea Dance Studio are not required to participate in The Nutcracker, and they are also not guaranteed a role just because they are a part of the company. Rehearsals begin a week after auditions and run until performance week—Dec. 16-18 this year.

In order to ensure the production is staged as planned, there are also many logistics to be considered. Westchester Ballet Company

board members must consult with the performance venue—the Westchester County Center in White Plains—and the county Parks and Recreation department to take care of contracts. They also have to coordinate with the stage crew at Westchester County Center about technicalities such as lighting and set changes.

The Logreas are able to bring in guest dancers from ballet companies around the world because of the connections they have made over the years as ballet dancers themselves. Beth and Jean met when they both danced at the Graz Opera House in Austria.

There are usually four to five guest dancers who perform in their show, and the Logreas say it is good experience for their students to see what it is like to dance among a professional. “[To see] how they carry themselves on and off the stage, how they prepare for the production in the warm-up class, how early they arrive to the theater—it’s just good for the kids to witness,” Logrea says.

Keeping the Magic Alive

After the Mouse King is slayed on stage during the performance, a screen comes down, the Nutcracker Prince comes to life, and Drosselmeyer introduces him to Clara. The music crescendos, the lights dim, and dry ice blocks are placed to create the illusion of a dreamlike fog—then the snow scene begins. Nick says that is his favorite scene from the show.

“I know dancers that have graduated from us and have come back to watch… they still say to this day that they always cry during the beginning of the snow scene,” Nick says. “I still get chills every time that music comes up.”

Logrea recalls a time when a college student visited Westchester and watched the show—particularly the transition into the snow scene. “He said, ‘I’ve never seen anything like that before, and I will never forget that in my life,’” Logrea says.

It’s what every Nutcracker performer everywhere hopes for, performance after performance of this holiday-season tradition.

WHERE TO SEE PERFORMANCES OF THE NUTCRACKER IN BROOKLYN Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker Kings Theatre 1027 Flatbush Ave., Flatbush Dec. 3, 3pm Tickets start at $32. kingstheatre.com.

The Colonial Nutcracker Walt Whitman Theatre at Brooklyn College 2900 Campus Road, Flatbush Dec. 11, 2pm $15. brooklyncenter.org.

GK Arts Center 29 Jay St., Dumbo Dec. 8-11 and 15-18, times vary $20-$59, $10 children younger than 12. gkarts.org.

The Hard Nut BAM Howard Gilman Opera House Peter J Sharp Building 30 Lafayette Ave., Fort Greene Dec. 10-18, times vary $25 and up. bam.org.

Dancewave’s Holiday Fiesta: Nutcracker Sweet!

P.S. 133, 610 Baltic St., Park Slope Dec. 10-11, 3pm and 5pm $12 in advance; $18 at the door; free for children younger than 3. dancewave.org.

Williamsburg Northside School Theater 152 N. 5th St., Williamsburg Dec. 11, 2pm $25. ajkunbt.org.

BrooklynParent 13

Courtesy Fleur de Lis Academy

Students at Fleur de Lis Academy in Norwalk, CT, prepare for the day’s lesson.

Minding Their Manners

››

It may seem quaint in today’s world, but etiquette schools for kids are thriving nonetheless. By Megan Bailey

I

t seemed to be that whenever 5-year-old Belle sat down for dinner, most of it would end up on the floor rather than in her mouth. She overlooked the fork and knife and used the tools she was born with—her fingers. As a result, Belle’s parents got tired of crawling under the table to pick up whatever they’d had for dinner that night. But they couldn’t seem to get Belle to stop, so they turned to some outside help.

That’s right: We’re talking etiquette school. Belle’s mom, Anne, decided to enroll her in a dining course at Beaumont Etiquette in Manhattan.

Not wanting it to feel like a punishment, Anne set out to make sure Belle saw it as a fun and light-hearted activity. When the day came to start, Anne made it a big deal for Belle, dressing her daughter in a cute party dress, letting her put on some makeup, and getting her excited about using fancy tableware.

During class time, Beumont’s founder and director, Myka Meier, taught Belle the basics of mealtime etiquette, including where your napkin goes, when to use a fork and a spoon, and how you shouldn’t put your feet up while eating.

Today, Anne is happy to report, Belle’s food now reaches her mouth instead of the floor, she utilizes her silverware, and she even stirs her mother’s tea on a regular basis. “Do you think Myka would be proud that I did this?” Belle will ask Anne from time to time. Or she will turn to her little brother and say, “Good, Jack.

You’re eating over the plate!”

“She picked up some things from it, and I think it was a great thing, and I know she had fun doing it,” Anne says. “It was more of a fun activity than a class.”

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December 2016 | nymetroparents.com

In our fast-paced world, in which families are eating together less often and informality seems to rule the day, it may seem as if manners and etiquette are a thing of the fabled past. But Belle is far from the only area child who’s learned a thing or two from a program like Beaumont’s. Schools, classes, and private teachers dedicated to spreading the gospel of good manners are still thriving in 2016.

“I think we’re all seeing a big increase in business because it’s becoming almost trendy again, it’s becoming cool,” Meier says. “I think the millennial generation and onward have a lot of new challenges in everyday life, and we have to cater to the changes that are happening around us.”

Manners vs. Etiquette

To understand what goes on in these programs, it’s helpful to define some terminology, starting with the fact that manners and etiquette are not, in fact, the same thing.

“Good manners never change,” says Michelle Sperry, founder and director of Fleur de Lis Academy in Norwalk, CT. “For example, 100 years ago it wasn’t okay to bonk someone over the head and take their food. And, it still isn’t okay to do that.”

Etiquette, on the other hand, is culturally specific, dependent on time and place. “Etiquette is a set of rules,” Sperry continues. “It changes with each era, style, demographic, etc. For example, 100 years ago people used to eat with their hands. Now, we eat with forks and knives, although in some cultures they still eat with their hands. But, nonetheless, these things will change.”

Manners, then, are basic social skills, such as holding the door for someone or sharing toys with friends, while etiquette programs cover modern American norms, which can include making eye contact with others or shaking hands.

“All parents want their child to be successful. However, success is not only measured in academia, but through the way we teach our children to show courtesy, respect, honesty, and politeness,” says Dianne Marsch, founder and director of the Etiquette School of Manhattan.

Today’s Needs

Most parents who send their children to these programs have modest goals, seeking attainable improvements in their kids’ behavior. “Most of the time the parents just want the kids to listen a little bit more, to chew their food with their mouths closed—it’s mainly that. If these things are not addressed now, later on they will be harder to learn,” says Arely Mendoza-Cantos, founder and director of Always Gracious, a manners and etiquette school for Long Island youth. “I find that young kids are really eager to please their parents and show their manners.”

Many programs today include classes on digital etiquette—how to behave online, and how and when to put the device down and be present in the real world. “We have social media, and children especially are on computers all day and that sometimes is their preferred method of communication,” Meier says. “So, I found that they were losing really basic social skills.”

Despite the emphasis on technology and digital media, many of the schools find their more traditional classes, especially those covering mealtime behavior, are the most popular. Educating today’s youth on how to communicate clearly—face-to-face and through their screens—how to conduct themselves in professional settings, and how to act at the dinner table are skills that can have an impact on their future and ultimately give them an advantage over those who have not been brushing up.

“It’s interesting, a kid in our very modern world who has great social skills and great manners and great etiquette really stands out, because for most kids the bar is so low when it comes to social skills,” says Faye de Muyshondt, founder and director of the Manhattan etiquette school Socialsklz:-). “Parents are always trying to give our kids the competitive edge, but really the competitive edge in the modern world is an awesome set of social skills and a great foundation of manners and etiquette in life, because most kids don’t have it.”

With the introduction of social media and the rise of technology, there is a newfound urgency to etiquette education. “Is it okay to text someone who’s more senior than you and use emojis? Is it okay to still be writing old-fashioned thank you letters?

Just going over and making it a bit more relevant to today— that’s the whole point of it—for it to be practical etiquette that they use every day,” Meier says.

Despite our digital world’s dizzying pace of change, knowing how to chew your food politely or conduct yourself during an interview are skills that are ultimately timeless. On the other hand, maybe putting our pinkies up and carrying a handkerchief are, indeed, a bit outdated. The key is to find the balance, and today’s schools understand the difference.

“The more students we can teach all of these social, communication, and leadership skills to, it can change an entire generation,” Marsch says. “And I love every day that I can teach and make a difference in the life of someone.”

A GLIMPSE INSIDE LOCAL MANNERS AND ETIQUETTE PROGRAMS Alice Austen House 2 Hylan Blvd., Staten Island 718-816-4506 info@aliceausten.org aliceausten.org The Alice Austen House isn’t primarily focused on etiquette, but there is a reason its programs include this topic: Austen, a prolific photographer in the early years of the medium, lived for many years with Gertrude Tate, who taught etiquette and manners. Family courses are offered at the house or programs can be set up in schools and can focus on social etiquette, communication skills, or table manners.

Always Gracious: The Academy of Etiquette 516-593-3817 alwaysgracious@optonline.net alwaysgracious.com Long Island’s Always Gracious has no set location, offering its programs—which include social etiquette, table etiquette, and image and style classes—in a family’s home, or for groups of 10 or more participants, on-site at a school or office. Lessons are also offered for the Spanishspeaking community.

Beaumont Etiquette 5 Columbus Circle, #1701, Manhattan 212-390-1557 info@beaumontetiquette.com beaumontetiquette.com Beaumont Etiquette offers training one-on-one or in small groups and customizes courses based on a survey parents or guardians fill out about their child when they enroll. Beaumont Etiquette also offers online courses for children. In addition to classes on social skills and American dining manners, among others, its roster covers international dining and travel etiquette.

Etiquette School of Manhattan 101 W. 23rd St., Suite 525, Manhattan 877-506-2663 dianne@etiquetteschool.org nyc.etiquetteschool.org At the Etiquette School of Manhattan, founder and director Dianne Marsch mostly avoids classrooms and teaches her courses at restaurants, in private groups, or in schools. In addition to programs about dining, basic manners, and social skills, the school offers classes that include parents and grandparents as well as a Nanny Educational Etiquette Certification program (also taught in Spanish). Marsch also works with many low-income families and at-risk kids, teaching them the skills they need to transition into adulthood.

Fleur de Lis Academy 327 Main Ave., Norwalk, CT 203-210-7155 enrollmanners@gmail.com fleurdelisacademy.com Fleur de Lis Academy runs several programs, one of which is First Impressions, covering manners and etiquette. It offers classes, private and semi-private lessons, workshops, leadership training, in-school sessions, and other programs.

Socialsklz:-) 250 W. 85th St., Suite 1B, Manhattan 212-579-5300 info@socialsklz.com socialsklz.com Socialsklz:-) offers many public workshops and caters to our digital age (hence the emoticon and slang in the title). It offers a wide range of courses, from basic workshops to technology courses to CAMPsocialsklz:-).

Megan Bailey is a former NYMetroParents intern.

BrooklynParent 15

FOOD & NUTRITION

Make Your Own Hot Cocoa

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Four hot chocolate recipes that use favorite flavor combinations. By Chelsie Jangord Nothing makes us enjoy winter more than coming in from the cold and enjoying a nice, steamy cup of hot cocoa. While these recipes call for specific vegan ingredients, feel free to use what you have in your cupboard.

Orange Hot Chocolate Makes 2-3 cups

Ingredients 3 cups non-dairy milk 2 Tbsp. cocoa powder 2 Tbsp. sugar 1 tsp. vanilla 1/ 3 cup vegan chocolate chips Zest and juice of 1 orange Instructions In a saucepan over low heat, whisk together milk, cocoa powder, sugar, vanilla, orange juice, and zest. Once thoroughly combined and heated, pour into mugs and top with Dandies Mini Marshmallows. Enjoy!

Pumpkin Spice Hot Cocoa Mix

Yields: Approximately 3 cups of dry mix Ingredients Dandies Pumpkin Marshmallows 1 cup cocoa powder 1 bag of vegan chocolate chips, frozen 3 Tbsp. pumpkin pie spice 1 Tbsp. cornstarch ½ cup powdered sugar Instructions Add frozen chocolate chips (it is very important that they’ve been thoroughly frozen) to a food processor and blend until chips have turned into a fine powder. In a mixing bowl whisk together chocolate chip powder, cocoa powder, pumpkin pie spice, powdered sugar, and cornstarch. Fill a Mason jar with cocoa mix and top with Pumpkin Dandies to make a great gift that will stay good for up to a month.

To make a cup of a hot cocoa, bring 1½ cups of non-dairy milk to a boil, add 3-4 Tbsp. of mix, and stir. Reduce heat and let simmer, stirring often to remove any clumps. Taste as you go: If you like your cocoa on the sweeter side, add an extra tablespoon of mix. Top with Pumpkin Dandies and enjoy!

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December 2016 | nymetroparents.com

Peppermint Hot Cocoa

Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate

Ingredients 1 handful of Dandies Peppermint Marshmallows 4 Tbsp. cocoa powder 2 cups non-dairy milk 4 Tbsp. sugar ½ tsp. peppermint extract Crushed peppermint candies, optional garnish Melted chocolate, optional garnish

Ingredients 3 cups non-dairy milk 1/ 3 cup natural peanut butter ¼ cup sugar 2 Tbsp. cocoa powder ¼ cup chopped dark chocolate or vegan chocolate chips 1 tsp. vanilla Handful of Dandies Mini Marshmallows

Instructions In a saucepan over medium heat, combine milk, cocoa powder, sugar, and peppermint extract. Whisk until all clumps have dissolved. Bring to a boil, then remove from heat. Optional: Dip the rim of a mug in melted chocolate, then into the crushed peppermint candies. Fill with hot cocoa, top with Peppermint Dandies Marshmallows, and enjoy!

Instructions In a saucepan over low heat, whisk together all the hot chocolate ingredients. Once thoroughly combined and heated, pour into mugs and top with Dandies. Up your game by drizzling on some additional peanut butter! The longer it sits the thicker it gets. If you prefer a thinner hot chocolate, you can add more non-dairy milk to reach the desired consistency.

Serves 2

Serves 2-3

Chelsie Jangord is the in-house chef at Dandies Marshmallows.

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Kids Do the Weirdest Things

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Some of your child’s strangest behaviors and habits, explained by experts. By Laurie Sue Brockway

W

hen my son was in kindergarten, the teacher called me in to tell me the staff was taking up a collection so that I could buy him new clothing. He’d been wearing the same clothes every day for two weeks, and the staff assumed it was because I was not able to properly clothe him. It took everything for me not to burst out laughing as I explained that my son decided he would wear only black pants and a favorite black sweatshirt—so I’d bought him five pairs of the same pants and sweatshirts and washed his clothes constantly. But I told him that it was the same outfit every day. When the teacher asked if he had other clothes, he apparently said no.

Don’t get me started on the phase in which he insisted on wearing his Superman cape to school. Or the stuffed cat that had to be with us as all times. Kids do weird things. Really weird things. We asked experts to comment on some of the unusual traits we are bound to see as our kids grow.

Toddlers

Touching everything. If you feel like smudgy fingerprints cover every surface in your home, you’re not alone. “Many toddlers learn by touching,” says Mary Ellen Renna, M.D., a pediatrician in practice in Jericho and author of 10 Steps to Almost Perfect Parenting. “They are tactile learners. They need to touch, manipulate, open, tear, and pull items. They need to see what sounds they make, how they feel, what it tastes like.”

Eating and licking gross things. Toddlers do not discriminate 18

December 2016 | nymetroparents.com

when it comes or putting things in their mouths or up to their lips—dirt and snot included. “Children are inherently curious,” says Deena Blanchard, M.D., a Brooklyn- and Manhattan-based pediatric and postpartum depression expert with Premier Pediatrics and a mom of three boys. “As they grow and explore the world they will explore with all their senses. Early exploration is often oral in nature.” That’s why parents have to make sure there are no small pieces of things on the floor or within grasp. “The good news is that as children get older these habits fade,” Dr. Blanchard says.

Flushing stuff down the toilet. Remember that time when you couldn’t find a toy or your sunglasses, and then you heard a splash? “Kids are attracted to the toilet more between ages 18 months and 2½ years, when they are developing their bathroom skills—toilet training,” Dr. Renna says. “Once they develop the aversion to their waste products, they don’t play around the toilet as much.”

Taking over cellphones. Phones and other mobile devices are very attractive because they are filled with colors and sounds, Dr. Renna says. “They also have games and songs that are entertaining.” That doesn’t mean they should play with them. “I don’t believe kids should have access to a parent’s phone,” she says. “Too much potential danger there.”

Small Children

Sticking things up their noses—and elsewhere. Kids are usually led by the desire to see how things fit into other things.

“It is rare for children to put things in various places to act out or purposely annoy their parents,” Dr. Blanchard says. “It is much more likely that they are curious about what it would feel like to put a pretzel in their nose, or if a bead could fit inside their ear.” She says to talk to children about how their bodily orifices work and explain, We only put food in our mouths and that it’s not healthy or safe for your body to put things in your nose or ear. Most children grow out of these behaviors by age 5 or 6, or after they have to see a doctor to have something removed from an ear or nose. “It’s not actually a fun experience and that works in our favor as parents,” Dr. Blanchard says.

Peeing on, or in, stuff. While dogs do it to mark their territory, kids do it to experiment and explore. “I know a 4-year-old who urinated in a backpack because he wanted to see what it felt like,” Dr. Blanchard says. To make sure it doesn’t happen again, focus on the positive and make it a teachable moment. “For example,” she says, “you can say, ‘I sometimes wonder what things may feel like too. It is important to only go pee in the potty or your pull up so we can keep the house clean.’” Also, tell children to check with you if they aren’t sure about whether they should do something.

Clinging to an object of affection. Linus isn’t the only one who likes his security blanket. “The object in some way represents the parent who the child does not want to separate from,” says Gail Saltz, Ph.D., an associate professor of psychiatry at The New York Presbyterian Hospital Weill-Cornel School of Medicine and host of “The Power of Different” podcast. “The parent can come and go, so the object provides comfort and permanence in staying with the child and being snuggled or held.” Termed a transitional object, it can be a blanket, a stuffed animal, or toy—something

that can be carried around. “Parents know if you leave it at home or it gets lost, there is hell to pay in the form of tantrums or refusal to go anywhere without it,” Dr. Saltz says.

Making animal noises and sounds. There are a number of things that inspire kids to roar, purr, or make odd or loud noises.

“It may be dramatic play, actually pretending to be an animal,” says Jephtha Tausig-Edwards, Ph.D., a New York City-based clinical psychologist. “It would not be unusual for a 3- or 4-yearold to pretend he or she was an animal until they tired of doing so.” It can also be to gain attention, or to make parents or peers laugh, she adds.

Inviting imaginary friends to dinner. Imaginary friends can be helpful to kids who have gone through trauma and can serve as allies to any child. “These friends are sometimes only in the child’s head but can sometimes be seen in great detail by the child,” Dr. Saltz says. “It may be one or multiple people, animals or fantasy beings and is often viewed in a real friend way, with discussion, shared feelings, and inclusion in family activities.” This is all a reflection of this child’s imagination and creativity, and is more likely to occur for a child who has enough unstructured play time to invent a friend, she says.

Stripping in public. “Young children can be unselfconscious about their bodies such that they may spontaneously strip off their clothing because they feel hot, or too restricted, or just like the feel of being naked—but obviously not when it’s cold out,” Dr. Tausig-Edwards says. “Sometimes, they may want to show the world their ‘big boy underpants’ or something they are proud of, which could also include genitalia if they feel this is important.” She says this behavior usually continued on next page ››

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stops due to caregiver reprimands and/or pressure from peers in social situations such as birthday parties or playdates. It should clear up completely during the first year of preschool if not before.

Drawing a masterpiece on a freshly painted wall. Remember that time when your kids unleashed their inner Michelangelos in unsolicited wall murals—furniture, upholstery, and other items?

“This behavior can be an expression of artistic impulses and/or a method of gaining our attention,” Dr. Tausig-Edwards says. Or kids just think it is a good idea at the time. She suggests hanging large sheets of butcher paper with masking or some other nonmarking tape on all four corners and then invite your children to draw only on the paper. “You will know fairly quickly whether the driver of their behavior is more of an artistic impulse or more of an attention-getting one.”

Decorating a sibling’s face with magic markers. They’re not trying to ruin their sister or brother’s good looks out of jealousy.

“It’s usually part of fun, curiosity, or an imagination game,” Dr. Blanchard says. “It’s rarely manipulative or purposefully intent on upsetting someone. Kids are fun, curious little beings. They aren’t yet fully aware of the consequences of their actions and likely have not thought it through.” While this may lead to some coloring on your baby, it also leads to a time where your child is super fun to play with and talk to, she says. “Their minds are open and the world is their oyster. Try to embrace this period and guide your child in making good choices.”

Older Kids

Refusing to talk about their day at school. Some kids just need downtime when they get home.

“As a mom of three boys, I totally understand the frustration of asking your child how was your day at school and getting back, ‘fine.’” Dr. Blanchard says. “After a long day at school kids may not be in the mood to talk or review their day.”

Try asking your child more specific questions instead of broad ones, such as: What did you eat for lunch? Or, What made you smile today?

Or wait until bedtime to chat, when kids are more relaxed.

Giving the pet a makeover. Some kids like to dress up pets like dolls and put barrettes on long-haired dogs, but Rachel Barrack, a veterinarian with Animal Acupuncture, has also seen cases of kids trying to add color. “Kids love to color with markers and crayons, but keep these away from your pets,” says Barrack, who practices in NYC. She says that body glitter and nail polish are also not safe.

Holding pets (or siblings) up like Simba. The sweet scene in the Lion King inspires kids to hold their pets up like a baby lion.

However, Barrack says, “this is not only scary for them, but you can drop them.” That goes for little sister or brother, too. “We don’t want to encourage children to do any weird things with pets,” Barrack says, suggesting pet-friendly alternative activities such as cuddling, teaching and learning new tricks, exercise, reading, and “pet-friendly” arts and crafts.

Playing with prickly things. Some foods need close parental supervision. Naresh C. Rao, D.O., FAOASM, of Sports Medicine at Chelsea, shares a cautionary tale about a 9-year-old sister and

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December 2016 | nymetroparents.com

6-year-old brother who saw a prickly pear in a grocery store. “The sister picked it up, and it felt fuzzy. She then told her brother to pick it up,” he says. “After both of them held it, they felt pain and told mom.” As it turned out, he says, “The slivers from the Prickly Pear had to be removed by a pediatric dermatologist because the spikes were so small that the doctor needed specialized equipment to have it removed from their skin.”

Creating obstacle courses. Dr. Rao, who lives in Scarsdale and was on Team USA’s sports medicine team for the 2016 Summer Olympics, has treated injuries relating to kids playing around in cars.

One 9-year-old boy decided to buckle all the seat belts in the back of mom’s minivan and swing through them like an obstacle course. “He then convinced his 11-year-old sister to join him,” Rao says. “She got through one but then got caught up in the next one. It was so tightly wrapped around her body that the latching mechanism would not release.” The seat belt needed to be cut to free her.

Tweens

Girls going gaga over male pop idols. It’s a rite of passage that harkens back beyond Elvis and the Beatles and the Backstreet Boys.

“Teen idols are often fantasy romantic partners when tweens and teens first start to have crushes,” Dr. Saltz says. “It is a safe way to express and experience romantic and sexual feelings in an exciting way.” Teens and tweens feel close to the idol by going to concerts and playing their music, which explains why parents find themselves shelling out money for tickets, T-shirts, and posters. Because adolescent brains are more primed for risk taking and emotionality, a teen may go to great lengths to be close to and experience their idol, Dr. Saltz says.

Boys using potty humor.

“Boys love potty humor—farts and poop jokes never get old— and that’s why they will read a series like Captain Underpants over and over again,” says Hillary Tubin, former literacy educator and author of Boys and Books: What You Need to Know. “Boys also love to read in the weirdest positions: standing, squeezed into a tiny space, in a fort, on their backs with their arms raised and the book high in the air, and while moving around to name a few.” She says boys are the happiest when they get to read a book such as Captain Underpants squeezed into a tiny space made into a fort, with a flashlight in hand and their favorite pet close by.

Being tied to electronic devices. The romance begins early on and by the time kids have cellphones and iPads they might as well have been born with the device firmly attached to their hand. Texting is how teens communicate. “We live in a world of constant motion and as such they grab anything to keep constantly busy,” says technology expert Donna Conroy, co-founder of House Monkey. Always monitor use, she says, and get kids to take a time-out from devices as much as possible.

Laurie Sue Brockway is a journalist and author who has written extensively on love, romance, marriage, parenting, well-being, and emotional health. Her work has appeared in hundreds of print and online publications, including Woman’s Day, Everyday Health, and The Huffington Post.

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Courtesy MSG Entertainment Courtesy Billy Beez

Courtesy Cradle of Aviation Museum

Courtesy Brooklyn Boulders

Celebrate the holidays with the beloved Radio City Rockettes and witness the iconic kickline.

Kids take in the view at Brooklyn Boulders. A Grumman F-11ATiger, one of 75 aircraft at Cradle of Aviation Museum Billy Beez’s play space will keep the kids busy for hours.

A Staycation a Day

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Ideas for seven fun-filled family days around our region. By Bethany Braun-Silva

T

here’s no better way to create lasting memories as a family than taking a trip together, especially around the holidays. As a mom of two young boys, however, I know how hard—and expensive—it can be to take a trip. The good news is you don’t need to get on an airplane or even stay at a hotel to have a memorable and exciting winter break. The New York metro area offers such a wealth of things to do with kids that there are virtually endless possibilities for a “vacation” right here at home. To help, we’ve created a list of seven great local “staycation” itineraries—a week’s worth of kid-focused fun for you and your family to enjoy this holiday season.

Brooklyn

Courtesy Stepping Stones Museum for Children

Check out Brooklyn Boulders, at which adults and kids can scale mountain-like fixtures in Boerum Hill.

You can also experience a bit of history at the New York Transit Museum in Downtown Brooklyn. Got an animal-lover on your hands? Head to Coney Island and visit the New York Aquarium to marvel at the sea turtles, sharks, seals, and more.

Fairfield County, CT

The Stepping Stones Museum for Children offers kids educational fun.

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Check out the Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk, which is home to a special “Animals Without Passports” exhibit through Jan. 2, 2017. The Stepping Stones Museum for Children, also in Norwalk, offers a great variety of activities, including Zumba® classes for kids and an Elf Workshop in which children can create their own Christmas tree ornament. Top off the day by catching a performance of The Nutcracker at The Palace in Stamford.

December 2016 | nymetroparents.com

Long Island

Garden City’s Cradle of Aviation Museum features more than 75 aircraft and spacecraft, a dozen cockpits, and 30 hands-on exhibits. You can keep the learning going with a trip to Sagamore Hill in Oyster Bay, Theodore Roosevelt’s home, which offers tours and ranger activities for kids. Kids can also enjoy troutfeeding demonstrations and tours at the Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery & Aquarium in Cold Spring Harbor and take a trip back in time at Old Bethpage Village Restoration in Old Bethpage, at which they can take part in the junior apprenticeship program, dress in authentic period clothing, and learn historic crafts.

Manhattan

Start at everyone’s favorite, the American Museum of Natural History on the Upper West Side. You can then take a short trip downtown—walk through Central Park if it’s not too cold—to experience the holiday fun

at Rockefeller Center or take in the Rockettes’ Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall. Finish up with some grub at Ellen’s Stardust Diner in Midtown, since you’re sure to be hungry.

Queens

Courtesy New York Hall of Science

Head to Corona to experience GingerBread Lane at the New York Hall of Science. It won the Guinness World Record—in 2013, 2014, and 2015—for the largest gingerbread village. You can also see a family-friendly show at Flushing Town Hall or check out the annual Holiday Market there. Next, head over to Funtopia USA for some arcade fun in Middle Village.

Kids take in the amazing feat that is GingerBread Lane at the New York Hall of Science.

Winter Break Activities BounceU

6722 Fort Hamilton Parkway (entrance on 67th Street and 9th Avenue), Dyker Heights 347-450-5867 bounceu.com/brooklyn-ny See our brand-new inflatables that will impress, amaze, and dazzle!

Make birthday parties more remarkable by adding bubbles, cotton candy, and huge balloon drop events. Birthdays happen once a year, so don’t miss out on these wonderful additions. Mom and Dad: enjoy some quiet time, or hang with friends, grab dinner or a movie, and drop the kids off at BounceU’s Parent’s Night Out, Fridays, 6:30-9pm for bouncing, sliding, and running around.

We’ll watch a movie, have a slice of pizza, a special treat, choice of drinks, and do a craft project to take home.

Brooklyn Center For The Performing Arts

2900 Campus Road 718-951-4500 brooklyncenteronline.org An annual holiday favorite, Dance Theatre in Westchester performs its family-friendly version of Tchaikovsky’s ballet set in wintry colonial Yorktown, complete with a red-coated mouse army, an enchanted nutcracker prince, and simultaneous narration to help young audience members enjoy this timeless classic. Recommended for ages 4 and older.

Kids ‘N Action

Rockland County

Head to the Palisades Center in West Nyack for some serious family fun all in one place. Kids and adults can take on the ropes course at Palisades Climb Adventure. Afterward, parents can sit back while their kids jump and play at Billy Beez, an indoor play space. Younger kids will enjoy the Ferris wheel and carousel just off the food court, while older ones can catch a movie or IMAX and go ice-skating.

Westchester County

Have a museum-filled day at the Katonah Museum of Art in Katonah or the Westchester Children’s Museum in Rye (or both!).

Afterward, head over to Ridge Hill in Yonkers for an afternoon at Legoland Discovery Center, to experience the festive creations at Bricktacular. Walk just a block or two within Ridge Hill to find a bite to eat or be truly adventurous and try indoor skydiving at iFly.

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. Younger children enjoy a unique soft play structure and a toddler section. Our birthday party packages include a personal hostess, private party room, pizza, drinks, coffee for the adults, personalized birthday cake, unlimited soft play, and rides. For more information, please call or visit our website.

Courtesy Legoland Discovery Center

Open year-round, Rolling admission Monday - Friday, 8:00 am - 6:00 pm

Kids can build and learn with Legos at Legoland Discovery Center.

ABC Infant & Toddler Center ABC’s goal is to provide safe, age-appropriate and stimulating programs for children up to five years old, while fulfilling their need to laugh, learn, play, make new friends and discover new things.

Providing quality child care since 1993. Child Care for Infants & Toddlers, ages 3 - 24 months

ABC Child Center

Child Care and Preschool for children ages 2 - 5 years

Full Day, Half Day Programs & Drop-off Care Available 109 Nassau Avenue, Greenpoint - Brooklyn, NY (718) 389-9004 • www.abcchildcenter.com For more information or to schedule a tour email us at info@abcchildcenter.com

BrooklynParent 23

OUTINGS: Vanderbilt Museum

nymetroparents.com/outings

Mansion, Museum, and Planetarium 1

2

4

Courtesy Vanderbilt Museum

William K. Vanderbilt II, who was an ocean and natural world enthusiast, posthumously helped to turn his sprawling estate into a museum for marine-life and natural history. ›› By Melissa A. Kay

3

5

1 Winter is a festive time at the mansion. 2 The museum is home to numerous pieces of fine art. 3 The Vanderbilt’s Charles and Helen Reichert Planetarium offers fun and educational programs for kids and adults. 4 William K. Vanderbilt II collected tools from expeditions around the world, which can be seen in exhibits in the museum. 5 The mansion is a “living museum,” which can be toured regularly.

Vanderbilt Museum is a wonderful educational experience and an interesting and exciting combination of mansion, marine and natural history museum, planetarium, and park.

Year-Round Fun

The mansion offers an intimate glimpse into the life of a renowned family from the Jazz Age through the end of World War II. Set atop 43 breathtaking acres, see the SpanishRevival style mansion and its distinctive architecture. Check out oceanic expeditions, global journeys, islands, marine life, bird and insect life, and more in the many exhibits at the museum. Specimens in the exhibits show the artisanal talents of Asian, Pacific, and African cultures including their artifacts, clothing, and utensils. The Reichert Planetarium is one of the most advanced in the country. Visitors can see seasonal shows and special features created for families and school audiences under the 60-foot dome.

The $4 million makeover has revealed new seating, a renovated lobby, and a gift shop.

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December 2016 | nymetroparents.com

December Highlights

Come to Vanderbilt to hear live Beatles music in the planetarium. On Dec. 11 from 7-8:30pm, The Liverpool Shuffle, a Long Island Beatles tribute band, will play songs beloved by generations under the dome. Tickets are $20 for adults in advance or $25 at the door. Kids ages 5-15 pay $15 and kids ages 5 and younger may attend for free. While the band plays, a montage will be projected into the planetarium’s dome, featuring 1960’s photos, news clippings, pop-culture iconic moments, and more. On various dates in December, see Laser Holidays, an all-ages program featuring laser lights and digital artwork set to holiday music. The kids will enjoy the music in an exquisite venue with family and friends.

Annual Events

Through Jan. 2, 2017, come to the planetarium to see Long Island Skies.

Following the program, and weather permitting, the planetarium staff will open

the Observatory. One World, One Sky depicts Sesame Street’s Elmo and Big Bird, who discover that they see the same stars as their friend Hu Hu Zhu, who lives in China. Night Sky, Live! features lectures by an astronomy educator who will use the planetarium’s Starball to show viewers what the Long Island night sky will look like on the very day they visit the venue.

Details

Address: 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport Directions: Approximately an hour drive from Midwood Hours: Through April 10, 2017: Museum: Tuesday, Saturday, and Sunday, 124pm (the last mansion tour is at 4pm); planetarium: Tuesday, Friday-Sunday, see website for show times.

Admission: $7; $6 students with ID and seniors ages 62 and older; $3 children 12 and younger. Planetarium show and mansion tours: an additional $5 each per person.

For more information: 631-854-5579 or vanderbiltmuseum.org

We’re learning step-by-step at...

Charter School

646 Fifth Avenue, Brooklyn, New York www.hccs-nys.org • 718.499.0957 Grades PRE-K to Eight

School Programs

• Two Year Old Classes • Three Year Old Classes • Four Year Old Classes

Open House Dates: December 8th, 2016 @ 6 pm • February 9th, 2017 @ 6 pm • March 11th, 2017 @ 10 am

Kindergarten through 5th grade

Full and Half Day Programs Available School Session:

FOR SUMMER & FALL

2017 ENROLLMENT

INFORMATION

September – June

Summer Session:

ON

OPEN HOUSE

July – August

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

www.STEPPINGSTONES86.com

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

Goal: To provide students with a rigorous classical education rich in challenging content.

• Partnership with Teachers College Columbia University, The Greek Government, The Sports and Arts Foundation, The Brooklyn Public Library, The Urban Advantage STEM Program, The NYC Ballet, Carnegie Hall Kids, Project Green Brooklyn Botanic Garden.

• NYSED REWARD SCHOOL and High Performance School 2016-2017 • Universal PreK Programs • Received the 2016 Building Brooklyn Award for Community and Culture • NYS and NYC Winners of The National History Day Fair 2015 and 2016 • Paideia Seminars • Regents Courses: Algebra, Earth Science and Greek • Studio in a School Art Residency • Enrichment classes in Greek and Latin • Junior National Honor Society, Student Government and Community Service Projects • NFTE (Network for Teaching Entrepreneurship) • Book Clubs, Chess Fridays, Athletic Clubs, Mighty Milers, Greek Dance Troupe, Science Olympiad, Math Olympiad, NYC Spelling Bee and Geography Bee

Described by SKI Magazine as

“A True Family Mountain”

Where Midweek Skiing is

AFFordAble!

$25

Lift tickets Monday-friday (Excludes All Holiday Periods)

or Join Us for a Weekend!

In addition to skiing we also offer:

TUbing

Enjoy 2 hours of screaming good fun for $20

Learn More at: www.Skibutternut.com

22 Trails | 11 Lifts | 100% Snowmaking | Lesson | Rentals | Ski & Stay Pkgs | A FUN Family Mountain An easy drive from the NY Metro area into the Berkshires | 380 State Rd., Great Barrington, MA 01230 | (413) 528.2000

BrooklynParent 25

BAR/BAT MITZVAHS ❖ SWEET SIXTEENS ❖ WEDDINGS

FEBRUARY 12 MANHATTAN | 12-4PM Hilton Midtown 1335 Avenue of the Americas

FREE TICKET With Online Registration & be entered to win a FitBit

CelebrateShowcase.com $10 at the door

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December 2016 | nymetroparents.com

Ideas When You Need Them:

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

nymetroparents.com/register

Turn the page for details on Macy’s Santaland (No. 8 on our list).

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

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nyme

com/c

ents. ropar

DECEMBER CALENDAR

28 Editor’s Hot Tickets 30 We Can’t Believe It’s FREE!,

Smarty Pants

WANT US TO INCLUDE YOUR EVENT?

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

34 Movers & Shakers,

Dance Party

31 Animal Lovers

36 Crafty Kids,

Show Time!

32 The Great Outdoors,

Little Foodies

37 Once Upon a Time 38 Holiday Fun

33 Mini Musicians

39 Browse & Buy

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

1

‘Snowkus Pocus’

WHEN: Friday, Dec. 2, 8pm WHERE: Center for the Arts/College of Staten Island, Williamson Theatre, 2800 Victory Blvd., Building 1P, Staten Island AGES: All WHAT: Feel the warm glow of winter’s end as the aerial acrobatics snow ballet melts your heart.

WHY WE LOVE IT: Be blown away when the icy north wind battles Jack Frost in an epic and humorous snowball fight.

WANT TO GO? $28. 718-982-2787. cfashows.com.

Fort Hamilton Holiday Market & Tree Lighting Spectacular FREE

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WHEN: Friday, Dec. 2, 4-9pm WHERE: 101st Street and Fort Hamilton Parkway, Bay Ridge AGES: All WHAT: Enjoy this exclusive and diverse holiday experience at the military base and explore unique gifts created by local artisans and artists, traditional food, carousel, Santa, and more. Registration required.

WHY WE LOVE IT: The tree lighting will be at 5:30pm!

WANT TO GO? 718-630-4771. hamilton.armymwr.com.

3

Sinterklaas (St. Nicholas Day)

WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 3, 12-4pm WHERE: Wyckoff Farmhouse Museum, 5816 Clarendon Road, Canarsie AGES: All WHAT: Explore New York City’s oldest house and learn how the Dutch tradition of Sinterklaas evolved into the American tradition of Santa Claus with traditional music, treats, stories, and crafts.

WHY WE LOVE IT: A fun way to learn about the tradition behind Santa!

WANT TO GO? $5; $3 for children younger than 10. 718-629-5400. wyckoffmuseum.org.

BAMkids Music Series: Soul Inscribed

4

WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 3, 10:30am and 2pm WHERE: BAMcafé, 30 Lafayette Ave., Fort Greene AGES: 5-12, adult WHAT: Fusing poetic hip-hop lyrics and soulful vocals with funk and dub-influenced production, artists Baba Israel (emcee/ production), Duv (vocalist), Sean Nowell (saxophone, flute), and Yako 440 (instrumentation/production) spin a dance party for the whole family.

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December 2016 | nymetroparents.com

6 WHY WE LOVE IT: Hip-hop dancer Ken Fury will join to showcase his skills, while also giving volunteers from the audience the chance to explore theirs.

WANT TO GO? $10. 718-636-4100. bam.org/kids.

5

Christmas in Richmond Town & Traditional Tree Lighting

WHEN: Sunday, Dec. 4, 11am-7pm WHERE: Historic Richmond Town, 441 Clarke Ave., Staten Island AGES: All WHAT: Hosted by The Women’s Auxiliary of Historic Richmond Town, experience a winter extravaganza that will offer shoppers special holiday gifts and handmade decorations as they soak in the seasonal festivities.

WHY WE LOVE IT: Ornaments, crafts, baked goods, and Mrs. Claus’ Attic Treasures will all be available in the Third County Courthouse.

WANT TO GO? $2; free for children 6 and younger. 718-351-1611. historicrichmondtown.org.

’The Colonial Nutcracker’

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WHEN: Sunday, Dec. 11, 2pm WHERE: Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts, Walt Whitman Theatre, 2900 Campus Road, Flatbush AGES: 5 and older WHAT: An annual holiday favorite, Dance Theatre in Westchester performs its family-friendly, full-length version of Tchaikovsky’s ballet set in wintry colonial Yorktown, complete with a red-coated mouse army, an enchanted Nutcracker Prince, and simultaneous narration to help young audience members enjoy this timeless classic.

WHY WE LOVE IT: It’s a must-see every year.

WANT TO GO? $15. 718-951-4500. brooklyncenter.org.

Get weekend activities delivered to you!

BROOKLYN

ARTS

nymetroparents.com/register ››

CENTER for the PERFORMING

AT BROOKLYN COLLEGE

7

‘Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: the Musical’

WHEN: Dec. 1-18, Wednesday-Sunday, see website for times WHERE: The Theater at Madison Square Garden, 4 Pennsylvania Plaza, Midtown, Manhattan AGES: All WHAT: A stage production of the classic, animated TV special featuring Santa and Mrs. Claus, Hermey the Elf, Bumble the Abominable Snow Monster, Clarice, Yukon Cornelius, and, of course, Rudolph.

WHY WE LOVE IT: Happiness is being able to revisit your childhood with your kids!

WANT TO GO? 212-465-6741. theateratmsg.com.

Dance Theatre in Westchester

THE COLONIAL NUTCRACKER Sun, Dec 11 at 2pm Recommended for ages 5 and up

Tickets: $15

Macy’s Santaland FREE

WHEN: Through Dec. 24: daily, 9am-9pm WHERE: Macy’s Herald Square, 151 W. 34th St., Midtown, Manhattan AGES: All WHAT: Come and meet the man with the white beard and enter the North Pole recreated on 34th Street. There are real-life elves, animatronic displays, and the famous windows to excite your little ones.

WHY WE LOVE IT: Santaland is a magical place and is much more than a photo opportunity with Old St. Nick.

WANT TO GO? 212-695-4400. macys.com/santaland.

8

9

The New York City Ballet Performs George Balanchine’s ‘The Nutcracker’

WHEN: Through Dec. 31: see website for show times WHERE: David H. Koch Theater, Lincoln Center, 10 Lincoln Center Plaza, Upper West Side, Manhattan AGES: 5 and older WHAT: Tchaikovsky’s beloved melodies will transport you to a magical world in which mischievous mice besiege a battalion of soldiers, and an onstage blizzard leads to an enchanted Land of Sweets.

WHY WE LOVE IT: A New York holiday tradition—the original and the best!

WANT TO GO? $40 and up. 212-496-0600. nycballet.com. ››

HELP WANTED! NYMetroParents is looking for experienced temporary help in our midtown Manhattan office.

Projects Include: • • • •

Data Entry Customer Service Operations/Ad Hoc Projects Magazine/Flyer Distribution

Flexible Schedules & Earn Extra Income!

Please email resume or work history to:

projectwork@davlermedia.com

BrooklynCenter.org or 718-951-4500 2

Whitman Theatre at Brooklyn College to Flatbush Avenue / on-site paid parking available

Supported by:

SMART START Early Childhood Center, Inc.

8411 Fort Hamilton Parkway Brooklyn, NY 11209 Phone 718-921-1868 Fax 718-921-6713

Register Now! Full /School Day Sessions Available

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

BrooklynParent 29

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.

5th Annual Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony FREE

WHEN: Tuesday, Dec. 6, 7-8:30pm WHERE: Owl’s Head Park, 68th Street and Bliss Terrace, Bay Ridge AGES: All WHAT: Join the Owl’s Head Park Horticulture Group for its annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony. Christmas music will be provided by the Guild for Exceptional Children Chorus and free hot cocoa offered

by Bay Ridge Manor, plus a visit from Santa Claus.

WANT TO GO? 718-748-9522. facebook.com/owlsheadvolunteers.

’Bethlehem on Broadway’ FREE

WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 17, 11am-4pm WHERE: Times Square Church, 237 W. 51st St., Times Square AGES: All WHAT: For one day only, West 51st Street will be turned into the village of Bethlehem, complete with live animals, shepherds, magi, and a live nativity. The immersive theatrical experience will bring the birth of Christ to life with a cast of more than 100 actors and will include new musical arrangements of traditional Christmas carols, as well as original songs.

WANT TO GO? 212-541-6300. tscnyc.org.

Brooklyn’s Largest Menorah Lighting FREE

WHEN: Dec. 24-31, see website for times WHERE: Grand Army Plaza, Prospect Park West and Grand Army Plaza, Park Slope AGES: All WHAT: Every night of Hanukkah is celebrated with live music, hot latkes, and gifts for children.

WANT TO GO? 866-736-8224. chabadparkslope.com.

Holiday Windows FREE

WHEN: Through Dec. 31: window opening dates vary, check store websites for details WHERE: Various stores, between 34th and 61st streets, Sixth and Third Avenues, Midtown, Manhattan AGES: All WHAT: Every year each of the big Manhattan department stores unveil bigger and better holiday windows, designed to draw in the crowds and get you into the holiday spirit. The famous ones are of course Macy’s, Bloomingdale’s, Saks Fifth Avenue, Barneys New York, Bergdorf Goodman, Lord & Taylor, Tiffany & Co., and Henri Bendel.

WANT TO GO? macys.com; bloomingdales.com; saksfifthavenue.com; barneys.com; bergdorfgoodman.com; lordandtaylor.com; tiffany.com; henribendel.com.

Neighborhood Christmas Lights FREE

WHEN: Dec. 1-Jan. 1, 2017: lights are usually turned on after sunset WHERE: 11th to 13th avenues and from 83rd to 86th streets, Dyker Heights AGES: All WHAT: This neighborhood holiday light extravaganza is an annual holiday tradition for many New Yorkers. An unspoken competition among the home owners in the neighborhood has inspired huge lawn ornaments and motorized displays, making for a truly lavish holiday spectacle.

WANT TO GO? facebook.com.

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December 2016 | nymetroparents.com

SMARTY PANTS City of Science: Staten Island FREE

WHEN: Sunday, Dec. 4, 10am-4pm WHERE: South Shore YMCA, 3939 Richmond Ave., Staten Island AGES: All WHAT: Enter City of Science, a buzzing metropolis of science, technology, engineering, and mathematical possibilities. Featuring aweinspiring, interactive demonstrations and larger-than-life activities, this indoor exhibition unleashes everyone’s inner scientist.

WANT TO GO? 212-348-1400. worldsciencefestival.com.

Chess Classes with Chess at Three

WHEN: Through Dec. 7: Wednesdays, 3:30-5:30pm WHERE: Stories Bookshop + Storytelling Lab, 458 Bergen St., Park Slope AGES: 3-17 WHAT: Learn the stories behind why all those chess pieces move the way they do and more.

WANT TO GO? $40 per class. 718-369-1167. storiesbk.com.

Historic New York: Monuments of Prospect Park FREE

WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 10, 1pm WHERE: Grand Army Plaza, Prospect Park West and Grand Army Plaza, Park Slope AGES: 9 and older WHAT: Urban Park Rangers specialize in the interpretation of historic turning points, both natural and man-made, in our city’s long history.

Historic New York programs highlight the history and architecture of selected neighborhoods or parks.

WANT TO GO? 718-965-8951. nycgovparks.org.

Photography Scavenger Hunt FREE

WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 17, 1pm WHERE: Herbert Von King Park, Clifton Place and Marcy Avenue, Bedford-Stuyvesant AGES: 5 and older WHAT: Urban Park Ranger hiking guides will introduce you to the hidden gems of New York City. On the hike, you may explore nature, discover our city’s urban forests, or just unplug from the world to clear your head. Bring your own digital camera or smartphone.

WANT TO GO? 212-360-2777. nyc.govparks.org.

Totally Tots Studio Program: Meet the Artist

WHEN: Through Dec. 28: Wednesdays, 10am-1pm WHERE: Brooklyn Children’s Museum, 145 Brooklyn Ave., Crown Heights AGES: 3-8 WHAT: Each week, children are introduced to an artist and an activity inspired by their techniques, materials, and ideas. Activities invite young artists to build and refine their fine motor skills; engage in sensory exploration of materials; and learn how to share with others in this open art studio.

WANT TO GO? $11. 718-224-5863. brooklynkids.org.

Train Operators School

WHEN: Through Dec. 31: Saturday-Sunday, 1:30pm and 3:30pm WHERE: New York Transit Museum, Boerum Place and Schermerhorn Street, Boerum Hill 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 this realistic game.

WANT TO GO? $7; $5 seniors and children ages 2-17. 718-694-1792. nytransitmuseum.org.

Brooklyn Block Lab & Studio

WHEN: Through Dec. 31: Thursday-Sunday, see website for times WHERE: Brooklyn Children’s Museum, 145 Brooklyn Ave., Crown Heights AGES: 3-8 WHAT: Visitors of all ages develop their engineering skills as they engage in open block play with large Imagination Playground blocks and tabletop-sized Kapla Planks and Magnatiles, as well as artist James Paulius’s 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.

ANIMAL LOVERS The Butterfly Conservatory

WHEN: Dec. 10-May 28, 2017: daily, 10am-5:45pm WHERE: The American Museum of Natural History, 200 Central Park W., Upper West Side, Manhattan AGES: All WHAT: One of the museum’s most popular, annual events, this exhibit features up to 500 live, iridescent, tropical butterflies from the Americas, Africa, and Asia.

WANT TO GO? $27; $22 seniors and students; $16 children ages 2-12; free for children younger than 2. 212-769-5100. amnh.org.

Experience BounceU, where you get to bounce, play, and party. BounceU is where birthdays come to life!

BROOKLYN’S BESTEST Private Birthday Parties Field Trips & Team Parties

NOW OFFERING Day Off Day Camp Summer Camp

Call to reserve your's today!

BounceU of Brooklyn • 347-450-5867 • Bounceu.com/Brooklyn-NY 6722 Ft. Hamilton Pkwy. 2nd Floor • Brooklyn, NY 11219

Tutoring Club of Bay Ridge

Beastly Feast with Santa

WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 10, 9:30-11am and 1-2:30pm WHERE: Staten Island Zoo, 614 Broadway, Staten Island AGES: All WHAT: Bring the whole family to this fun event, which includes a breakfast or lunch buffet; intimate animal encounters, including a sloth, groundhog, ferret, bird, turtle, lizard, and snake; rides on the carousel with Chuck the Groundhog; and holiday-themed activities and crafts.

WANT TO GO? $10; $7 seniors; $6 children ages 3-14; free for children 2 and younger. 718-442-3101. statenislandzoo.org.

Kid Fun Days

WHEN: Dec. 28-29, Wednesday-Thursday, 12-3pm WHERE: Staten Island Zoo, 614 Broadway, Staten Island AGES: All WHAT: Visit the zoo for activities, fun crafts, a wildlife movie, and animal presentations. Meet in the Tropical Forest, Africa Wing, and Reptile Wing, where you will see animals that live in warmth year-round.

WANT TO GO? $8; $5 children ages 3-14. 718-442-3101. statenislandzoo.org. ››

7811 3rd Ave. Ground Fl. Brooklyn, NY 11209

Featuring Tutoring for: • Math

- NY State Math Tests (All grades)

• Algebra

- NY State ELA Tests (All grades)

• Geometry

- Regents Exams (All Tests)

• Trigonometry

- SHSAT, TACHS, HSPT, & ISEE Tests

• Beginning Reading • Reading

- SAT Tests

• Writing

- K, 1st, and 5th Grade Gifted and Talented Tests

• Chemistry • Biology

- GED

• Earth Science

- Nursing and EMT Test Prep

• Homework Help

- Armed Forces Test Prep

Packages of Classes Available in either single subject or multi-subject groups Contact John or Bruni McCauley - See contact list below

Phone: (718) 748-8867

Fax: (718)748-8868

Email: BayRidgeNY@TutoringClub.com

BrooklynParent 31

Free Family Day FREE

WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 17, 1-4pm WHERE: The Wyckoff House Museum, 5816 Clarendon Road, Canarsie AGES: All WHAT: Visit the Wyckoff Farmhouse for engaging, kid-friendly tours, hands-on activities, and scavenger hunts. If the weather’s nice, bring a picnic and enjoy our grounds before or after your visit to the house.

WANT TO GO? 718-629-5400. wyckoffmuseum.org.

Shayne Dark Exhibit

THE GREAT OUTDOORS Our Solar System FREE

WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 3, 1pm WHERE: Fort Greene Park, Myrtle Avenue and Washington Park, Fort Greene AGES: 5 and older WHAT: Urban Park Rangers will be your guides to the solar system, discussing the science, history, and folklore of the universe.

WANT TO GO? 347-559-5142. fortgreenepark.org.

Outdoor Skills: Shelter Building FREE

WHEN: Sunday, Dec. 4, 1pm WHERE: Prospect Park Audubon Center, Lincoln Road and Ocean Avenue, Flatbush AGES: 8 and older WHAT: Learn tips and tricks that will enhance your knowledge of the natural world, and might just save your life. Whether you are preparing for an extended journey through the woods or just want to be more prepared for any situation, an outdoor skills program is the perfect fit for you.

WANT TO GO? 718-287-3400. prospectpark.org.

Candlelight Tours

WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 10, 5pm WHERE: Historic Richmond Town, 441 Clarke Ave., Staten Island AGES: All WHAT: Visitors of all ages take a journey through 300 years of tradition as they discover how America’s most festive season came to be.

WANT TO GO? $24; $12 for children 12 and younger. 718-351-1611. historicrichmondtown.org.

Astronomy: The Geminids Meteor Shower FREE

WHEN: Sunday, Dec. 11, 7pm WHERE: Salt Marsh Nature Center, East 33rd Street and Avenue U, Marine Park AGES: 5 and older WHAT: See one of the best meteor showers in the heavens, producing up to 120 multi-colored meteors per hour at its peak, which is predicted to take place on Dec. 14.

WANT TO GO? 718-421-2021. nyc.govparks.org.

Greenbelt Peepers

WHEN: Through Dec. 15: Thursdays, 9:45am WHERE: Greenbelt Nature Center, Blood Root Valley, 700 Rockland Ave., Staten Island AGES: 2 and younger WHAT: Through hands-on activities, crafts, and stories, kids and their caregivers will become familiar with the sights and sounds of the forest.

WANT TO GO? $3. 718-351-3450. nycgovparks.org.

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December 2016 | nymetroparents.com

WHEN: Through July 31, 2017: Tuesday-Friday, 8am-4:30pm; Saturday-Sunday, 10am-4:30pm WHERE: Brooklyn Botanic Garden, 900 Washington Ave., Prospect Heights AGES: All WHAT: Shayne Dark is known for making complex sculptures from tree branches, trunks, and roots that evoke nature while taking on majestic new forms. In July 2016, the artist worked on the grounds of Brooklyn Botanic Garden to create a new site-specific, large-scale installation on Cherry Walk.

WANT TO GO? $12; free for children younger than 12. 718-623-7200. bbg.org.

LITTLE FOODIES Santa Brunch

WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 3, 10:30am and 1pm seatings WHERE: t.b.d. Brooklyn, 224 Franklin St., Greenpoint AGES: All WHAT: Santa’s coming to Greenpoint for a fun time. The brunch includes an all-you-can-eat homemade pancake brunch with Santa, music with Rock’n’Lolo, arts and crafts, Queen Elsa, and photos with Santa.

WANT TO GO? $20; $10 for children younger than 1. 347-599-1410. townsquareinc.com.

Brunch with Santa

WHEN: Sunday, Dec. 11, 9-11am and 12-3pm WHERE: Aviator Sports and Events Center, 3159 Flatbush Ave., Marine Park AGES: All WHAT: This event features a full brunch menu, arts and crafts, cupcake decorating, and a picture with Santa. Registration required.

WANT TO GO? $22; $20 children ages 3-13; free for children younger than 3. 718-758-7565. aviatorsports.com.

Babies Who Brunch

WHEN: Through Dec. 18: Sundays, 10am-3pm WHERE: Oleanders, 160 N. 12th St., Williamsburg AGES: 3-8, adult WHAT: The restaurant’s private dining room will be converted to a playroom for the weekly brunches with toys including art easels, bead mazes, foam puzzle mats, Disney Princess dolls, and Marvel action toys available to keep little ones’ minds and hands active.

WANT TO GO? $24.95. 718-218-7500. oleandersnyc.com.

Science Inspires Art: Food

WHEN: Through Feb. 26, 2017: Monday-Friday, 2-5pm; SaturdaySunday, 11am-3pm WHERE: New York Hall of Science, 47-01 111th St., Corona, Queens AGES: All WHAT: This juried exhibition includes more than two dozen images of art that reflect on the topic of food from all angles: from the historical record to the elite haute-cuisine of today’s “molecular gastronomy.”

WANT TO GO? $15; $12 children ages 2-17, students, and seniors.

718-699-0005. nysci.org.

MINI

MUSICIANS Get The Wiggles Out! Sing-Along

WHEN: Through Dec. 10: Saturdays, 11am WHERE: Tot Town, 636 Classon Ave., Crown Heights AGES: All WHAT: Jump, shake, and wiggle in this class with free movement, classic tunes, and a live acoustic guitarist.

WANT TO GO? $20 per family. 347-533-6440. tottownbk.com.

43rd Annual Merry Tuba Christmas FREE

WHEN: Sunday, Dec. 11, 3:30pm WHERE: Rockefeller Center Plaza, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, Midtown, Manhattan AGES: All WHAT: Every year since 1974, tuba players have gathered on The Rink at Rockefeller Center to play Christmas carols and other crowd favorites. Sing-along and enjoy the holiday sound of hundreds of low brass.

WANT TO GO? rockefellercenter.com.

Family Concert: The Knights

WHEN: Sunday, Dec. 11, 2pm WHERE: BRIC Media House, 647 Fulton St., Fort Greene AGES: 5 and older WHAT: In December, The Knights will present a specifically Brooklynflavored “Schubertiade.” Inspired by Schubert’s own intimate, salon evenings of music, poetry, song, and art, the orchestra curates a special program celebrating Brooklyn artists.

WANT TO GO? $12; $10 in advance. 718-683-5600. bricartsmedia.org.

Rock and Roll for Kids

WHEN: Through Dec. 18: Sundays, 11am WHERE: Brooklyn Bowl, 61 Wythe Ave., Williamsburg AGES: Newborn to 5 WHAT: The Rock and Roll Playhouse workshops are a unique, interactive, and educational live music experience for children set in the remarkable Brooklyn Bowl venue.

WANT TO GO? $10. 718-963-3369. brooklynbowl.com.

The Little People Party

WHEN: Through Dec. 19: Mondays, 3-5pm WHERE: The Pitch, 196 N. 14th St., Williamsburg AGES: 3-5 WHAT: The Little People Party takes place every Monday at The Pitch, NYC’s largest indoor soccer specific field in Williamsburg. There will be an open play session and a sing-along hosted by different guest musicians each week.

WANT TO GO? $10 per child. 646-707-4372. facebook.com/thelittlepeopleparty.

Singalongs

WHEN: Through Dec. 31: Monday-Friday, 10:30am WHERE: The Dean Street, 755 Dean St., Prospect Heights AGES: Newborn to 5 WHAT: Enjoy these weekday sing-alongs featuring a different favorite local musician each day, including Rolie Polie Guacamole and the Dirty Sock Funtime Band.

WANT TO GO? $8 per family. 718-783-3326. deanstreetbrooklyn.com. ››

Neighborhood Family Concerts FREE

WHEN: Through Dec. 17: Saturdays, 4pm WHERE: Bargemusic, 334 Furman St., Brooklyn Heights AGES: All WHAT: Walk across the gangplank of a renovated coffee barge for a one-hour, family-friendly performance, including a Q-and-A session with the musicians.

WANT TO GO? 718-624-4924. bargemusic.org. n Us For Come Joi , and music ga yo a, b m kid‛s zu redited cc A C Y E NA Program!

Brandenburgers Holiday Concert

WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 17, 2pm and 7pm WHERE: The Old Stone House, Washington Park, Third Street and 5th Avenue, Park Slope AGES: All WHAT: House band, the Brooklyn Brandenburgers, performs its popular annual holiday concert.

WANT TO GO? $10. 718-768-3195. oldstonehouse.org.

Registration for September 2017 will take place in January.

Please call for details.

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

BrooklynParent 33

season. If you’re not skating, there’s also food, drink, Le Carrousel, and shopping to enjoy.

WANT TO GO? Free entry, skate hire starts at $20. wintervillage.org.

Wollman Rink Public Skating

MOVERS & SHAKERS NYRR Jingle Bell Jog & Reindeer Run

WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 3, 8:30-10am, see website for session times WHERE: The Nethermead at Center Drive, Prospect Park, Park Slope AGES: 7-12, adult WHAT: More than 5,000 runners, including children of all ages and abilities, will don antler headbands, jingle bells on their sneakers, and other holiday gear as they participate in the annual NYRR Jingle Bell Jog. As part of the 4-mile benefit race, NYRR is also hosting the “Reindeer Run,” a nearly ¾-mile race for children.

WANT TO GO? $50 for Jingle Bell Jog; free for Reindeer Run. nyrr.org.

National Double Dutch League’s 2016 Double Dutch Holiday Classic

WHEN: Sunday, Dec. 4, 1-4pm WHERE: The Apollo Theater, 253 W. 125th St., Harlem, Manhattan AGES: 9 and older WHAT: The Super Bowl of Double Dutch comes to Harlem for this annual event, now in its 25th year. This year’s participants come from Africa, Belgium, Dominican Republic, France, Japan, Trinidad, and the U.S. to compete for the grand prize.

WANT TO GO? $20. 800-653-8000. apollotheater.org.

Story Drama

WHEN: Through Dec. 13: Tuesdays, 3:10-4pm WHERE: Plymouth Church School, 75 Hicks St., Brooklyn Heights AGES: 3-5 WHAT: Each class begins with physical and vocal theater warm ups that will get children ready for the day’s theatrical exploration. Students will have the ability to act and speak as the characters in the story, helping them gain confidence standing in front of their peers.

WANT TO GO? $35 per day. 347-762-9475. treasuretrunktheatre.com.

New York Road Runners Open Run FREE

WHEN: Through Dec. 27: 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.

WANT TO GO? 718-222-9939. brooklynbridgepark.org.

Bank of America Winter Village

WHEN: Through March 5, 2017: daily, 8am-10pm WHERE: Bryant Park, 40th Street between Fifth and Sixth avenues, Midtown, Manhattan AGES: 5 and older WHAT: Not just for tourists, a festive skate during the holiday season is a fun NYC treat. It does get crowded so make your reservations early in the 34

December 2016 | nymetroparents.com

WHEN: Through March 10, 2017: Monday-Tuesday, 10am-2:30pm; Wednesday-Thursday, 10am-10pm; Friday-Saturday, 10am-11pm; Sundays, 10am-9pm WHERE: Trump Wollman Rink, 59th Street and Central Park South, Central Park, Manhattan AGES: All WHAT: Don’t miss a skate around the rink with the amazing view of the Manhattan skyline in front of you. Central Park’s famous rink is a tourist favorite, but worth doing even if you are a local. There is also a carousel to ride on in between skates with a $3 fee.

WANT TO GO? Monday-Thursday: $12; $6 for children ages 11 and younger; $5 seniors. Friday-Sunday and holidays: $19; $9 seniors; $6 for children 11 and younger. 212-819-8165. wollmanskatingrink.com.

Ice-Skating

WHEN: Through March 26, 2017: Monday-Thursday, 9am-5:15pm; Friday, 9am-9pm; Saturday, 11:30am-9pm; Sunday, 11:30am-5:15pm WHERE: Prospect Park Lakeside, Parkside/Ocean avenues entrance or Lincoln Road/Ocean Avenue entrance, Brooklyn AGES: All WHAT: The Samuel J. and Ethel LeFrak Center at Lakeside is now open for its first full season of ice-skating. In addition to public iceskating, 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.

The Rink at Rockefeller Center

WHEN: Through April 1, 2017: 8:30am-10pm, see website for session times WHERE: The Rockefeller Center, 600 Fifth Ave., Midtown, Manhattan AGES: All WHAT: The most famous rink in NYC. Skate around this landmark and get in the seasonal mood.

WANT TO GO? $25-$32; $15 seniors and for children 11 and younger; $12 skate rental. 212-938-0005. therinkatrockcenter.com.

DANCE PARTY ‘Hip Hop Nutcracker’

WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 3, 2pm and 7pm WHERE: United Palace Theatre, 4140 Broadway, Washington Heights, Manhattan AGES: 5 and older WHAT: The show features the music from Tchaikovsky’s famous ballet alongside different hip-hop styles of music and dancing, including breaking, popping, and locking. It features a special guest “King of Rap” Kurtis Blow, who charted the first rap gold record with The Breaks in 1980.

WANT TO GO? $10 and up. 212-568-1157. unitedpalace.org/upca.

Moscow Ballet’s ‘Great Russian Nutcracker’

WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 3, 3pm WHERE: Kings Theatre, 1027 Flatbush Ave., Flatbush AGES: 5 and older WHAT: Direct from Russia, the classic Great Russian Nutcracker will entertain the whole family this Christmas. Experience the exceptional dancing of a company of almost 40, a 60-foot growing Christmas tree, spectacular handmade costumes, and stunning sets hand-painted in Russia.

WANT TO GO? $35 and up. 845-469-2287. kingstheatre.com.

WHEN: Sunday, Dec. 4, 2pm and 3pm WHERE: Staten Island Children’s Museum, 1000 Richmond Ave., Staten Island AGES: All WHAT: Flamenco thrills audiences with the rich holiday customs of the Spanish-speaking world, from Argentina and Mexico to Colombia, Cuba, and Puerto Rico. Flamenco Vivo highlights the diversity of national traditions of music, carols, and dance, while also reflecting the broad influence of Spanish culture throughout the Americas.

WANT TO GO? $8; free for children younger than 1. 718-273-2060. sichildrensmuseum.org.

HOLIDAY TRAIN SHOW® November 19 – January 16 NYC’s Favorite Train Show is New and Bigger Than Ever!

Insertion date: DECEMBER 01, 2016 Size: 3.55" x 4.7" 4C MAG

Navidad Flamenca Dance Performance

‘The Nutcracker’

WHEN: Sunday, Dec. 11, 2pm WHERE: WNS Theater, 152 N. 5th St., Williamsburg AGES: All WHAT: Begin the holiday season with Ajkun Ballet Theatre’s magical Nutcracker suite, filled with great dancers and adorable children from the Brooklyn community.

WANT TO GO? $25. 646-368-9800. ajkunbt.org.

The New York Theatre Ballet: Keith Michael’s ‘The Nutcracker’

WHEN: Dec. 10-11, Saturday-Sunday, 11am, 1pm, and 3:30pm WHERE: Florence Gould Hall, 55 E. 59th St., Upper East Side, Manhattan AGES: 3 and older WHAT: Keith Michael’s reimagined version of Nutcracker, performed

by New York Theatre Ballet, is a favorite introduction to the story for little ones.

WANT TO GO? $34; $24 children ages 12 and younger. 800-6538000. nytb.org.

Founding Sponsors VICTORIA and ROBERT ZOELLNER

Sponsors LuEsther T. Mertz Charitable Trust

Brooks Brothers

JUST 20 MINUTES ON METRO-NORTH FROM GRAND CENTRAL GET TICKETS AND LEARN MORE ABOUT NYBG’S ANNIVERSARY AT NYBG.ORG/125

Dances Patrelle Presents ‘The Yorkville Nutcracker’

WHEN: Dec. 8-11, Thursday-Friday, 7pm; Saturday, 2pm and 7pm; Sunday, 12pm and 5pm WHERE: The Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College, 695 Park Ave., Upper East Side, Manhattan AGES: All WHAT: Set in 1895, it takes the audience on a tour of Olde New York, including a holiday party at Gracie Mansion, dancing at the Crystal Palace in the New York Botanical Garden, and skating in Central Park.

WANT TO GO? $45 and up. 212-772-4448. dancespatrelle.org.

‘The Nutcracker’

WHEN: Friday, Dec. 16, 7pm WHERE: On Stage at Kingsborough, 2001 Oriental Blvd., Manhattan Beach AGES: 9 and older WHAT: Be transported by this stunning full-scale production, with Tchaikovsky’s wondrous score, choreography by world-renowned Marius Petipa and The Mariinsky’s Vasily Vainonen, and 40 of Russia’s brightest ballet stars in glorious costumes.

WANT TO GO? $30-$37. 718-368-5596. onstageatkingsborough.org. ››

NBG-0044-TrainShow_NyMetroParents_3.55x4.7_Dec01_v1.indd 1

11/9/16 11:13 AM

Lois A. Jackson, D.D.S., P.C. and Associates

Pediatric Dentistry 505 LaGuardia Place, New York • 212.995.8888 16 Court Street, Suite 2211, Brooklyn • 718.855.8833 BrooklynParent 35

SHOW TIME! Sundog Theater Presents ‘Politics in the Land of Oz’

CRAFTY KIDS

WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 3, 12:15pm WHERE: Staten Island Children’s Museum, 1000 Richmond Ave., Staten Island AGES: All WHAT: Join this performance of an original play by Sundog Theater.

WANT TO GO? $8; free for children younger than 1. 718-273-2060. sichildrensmuseum.org.

Events for Youth & Families: Tim Kubart’s Midwinter Celebration Concert FREE

WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 10, 11am WHERE: BRIC Media House, 647 Fulton St., Fort Greene AGES: 5 and older WHAT: A hands-on workshop for families to work together on a creative art project. From silent movies to mosaic plaque creations, these projects will celebrate the notion of home and more. Registration required.

WANT TO GO? 718-683-5600. bricartsmedia.org.

WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 3, 1pm WHERE: Brooklyn Public Library, Central Branch, 10 Grand Army Plaza, Prospect Heights AGES: All WHAT: Along with his “Sunny Side Up” co-host Chica the Chicken, Tim sings songs, performs sketches, and celebrates everyday moments for a national audience of kids and their caregivers on the only live morning show for preschoolers each day.

WANT TO GO? 718-230-2100. bklynlibrary.org.

13th Annual Holiday Craft Workshop

Little Laffs Children’s Variety Show

Futuremaps

Events for Youth & Families: Navidad Flamenca by Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana FREE

FamJam: Green Screen Holiday Cards FREE

WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 10, 1pm WHERE: Greenbelt Nature Center, Blood Root Valley, 700 Rockland Ave., Staten Island AGES: 9 and older WHAT: Come to the nature center for this annual craft workshop, in which participants create winter-inspired handmade pieces using natural objects. Registration required.

WANT TO GO? $12. 718-351-3450. nycgovparks.org.

WHEN: Dec. 3-11, Saturday-Sunday, 1:30pm WHERE: New York Transit Museum, Boerum Place and Schermerhorn Street, Brooklyn Heights AGES: 5-17 WHAT: How might bus and subway routes take a different shape in the future? Look at some new and great ideas from engineers and city planners, and then design a city map for the New York City of tomorrow.

WANT TO GO? $7; $5 children ages 2-17. 718-694-1600. nytransitmuseum.org.

T Train Time Capsules

WHEN: Dec. 17-18, Saturday-Sunday, 1:30pm WHERE: New York Transit Museum, Boerum Place and Schermerhorn Street, Brooklyn Heights AGES: All WHAT: Make a time capsule and store away memories of the opening of the Second Avenue Subway.

WANT TO GO? $7; $5 children ages 2-17. 718-694-1792. nytransitmuseum.org.

Clay Day

WHEN: Through Dec. 31: Wednesdays, 1:30-4:30pm WHERE: Staten Island Children’s Museum, 1000 Richmond Ave., Staten Island AGES: All WHAT: A clay workshop in which kids get the chance to create something out of air-dry clay.

WANT TO GO? $2 with admission: $8; free for children younger than 1.

718-273-2060. statenislandkids.org.

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December 2016 | nymetroparents.com

WHEN: Sunday, Dec. 4, 11am WHERE: Jalopy Theatre, 315 Columbia St., Carroll Gardens AGES: 3-9 WHAT: Check out this fun and entertaining monthly 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.

WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 10, 1pm WHERE: Brooklyn Public Library, Central Branch, 10 Grand Army Plaza, Prospect Heights AGES: All WHAT: Navidad Flamenca is an hour-long program that highlights the rich holiday customs of the Spanish-speaking world, from Argentina and Mexico to Colombia, Cuba, and Puerto Rico. Incorporating live music, dance, and carols, the show highlights diverse traditions united by a single language, and reflects the influence of the Hispanic culture across the Americas.

WANT TO GO? 718-230-2100. bklynlibrary.org.

‘Peter and the Wolf’ with Isaac Mizrahi

WHEN: Dec. 3-11, see website for show times WHERE: Guggenheim Museum, 1071 Fifth Ave., Upper East Side, Manhattan AGES: 5 and older WHAT: Isaac Mizrahi narrates Sergei Prokofiev’s charming children’s classic in a show that has become a holiday tradition. The story brings 30 minutes of suspense, including a happy ending, and allows the young and young-at-heart to hear and learn the various instruments in the orchestra.

WANT TO GO? $40. 212-423-3587. guggenheim.org.

Events for Youth & Families: ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’ FREE WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 17, 1pm WHERE: Brooklyn Public Library, Central Branch, 10 Grand Army Plaza, Prospect Heights AGES: All WHAT: The classic, animated television special comes to life in this

faithful stage adaptation in which Charlie Brown, Snoopy, and the rest of the Peanuts gang discover the real meaning of Christmas.

WANT TO GO? 718-230-2100. bklynlibrary.org.

‘Hansel and Gretel’

WHEN: Through Dec. 18: Saturday-Sunday, 12:30pm and 2:30pm WHERE: Puppetworks, 338 6th Ave., Park Slope AGES: 3-8 WHAT: Take the kids to the classic Brothers Grimm fairy tale with songs by Humperdinck. Adapted for marionettes by Nicolas Coppola.

WANT TO GO? $10; $9 for children younger than 12. 718-965-3391. puppetworks.org.

‘Young Charles Dickens’

WHEN: Dec. 2-18, Thursday-Saturday, 7pm; Wednesday and Sunday, 3pm WHERE: The Clurman Theatre at Theatre Row, 410 W. 42nd St., Times Square Theater District, Manhattan AGES: 9 and older WHAT: Based on the book A Boy Called Dickens by Deborah Hopkinson, this is the true story of how 12-year-old Charles Dickens found his calling.

WANT TO GO? $25-$45. 212-573-8791. nycchildrenstheater.org.

Spellbound Theatre: ‘The Last Coin’

WHEN: Sunday, Dec. 18, 10am and 11:15am WHERE: The Old Stone House, Washington Park Third Street at 5th Avenue, Park Slope AGES: All WHAT: When the page of a book is irreparably torn, a storyteller and her loyal stage manager must find another way to share their story of the three princes on a quest to determine which of them will be their kingdom’s next ruler.

WANT TO GO? $15. 718-768-3195. oldstonehouse.org.

Shadow Box Theatre Presents: ‘Big Annie’

WHEN: Dec. 8-23, Monday-Friday, 10:30am WHERE: P.S. 3, 50 Jefferson Ave., Bedford-Stuyvesant AGES: 3-8 WHAT: A tall tale starring Big Annie, a Creole flatboat captain and larger-than-life American heroine. With her amazing strength and the power and rhythm of the American work song sung by the children, she pulls a boatload of toys through a terrible storm one Christmas Eve long ago.

WANT TO GO? $15. 212-724-0677. shadowboxtheatre.org.

ONCE UPON A TIME Eco Art Social: Storymaking With Clay FREE

WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 17, 1pm WHERE: Greenbelt Nature Center, Blood Root Valley, 700 Rockland Ave., Staten Island AGES: 3-5 WHAT: Hear traditional nature mystery folktales from throughout the world. Then, using story prompts, imagine a tale and build clay sculptures to use during your own storytelling to the audience around our fireplace.

WANT TO GO? 718-351-3450. nycgovparks.org.

Story Drama

WHEN: Through Dec. 19: Fridays, 4-4:50pm WHERE: Who’s On First?, 46 1st Place, Carroll Gardens AGES: 3-5 WHAT: Favorite children’s stories will lead the dramatic adventures for the class.

WANT TO GO? $30 per day. 347-762-9475. treasuretrunktheatre.com.

Drop-In Art-Making and Storytelling

WHEN: Through Dec. 20: Tuesdays, 11am-12pm WHERE: Stories Bookshop + Storytelling Lab, 458 Bergen St., Park Slope AGES: 3-5 WHAT: Join this drop-in for art-making and storytelling activities.

WANT TO GO? $10. 718-369-1167. storiesbk.com.

Tots Time Plus

WHEN: Through Dec. 31: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11am WHERE: Staten Island Children’s Museum, 1000 Richmond Ave., Staten Island AGES: 3-5 WHAT: Your preschooler will create artwork, sing-along, and listen to stories.

WANT TO GO? $5 per child with admission: $8; free for children younger than 1. 718-273-2060. statenislandkids.org.

Storytime Depot

WHEN: Dec. 3-31, Saturday-Sunday, 11:30am-12pm WHERE: New York Transit Museum, Boerum Place and Schermerhorn Street, Brooklyn Heights AGES: Newborn to 5 WHAT: Start off weekend mornings this month with a reading of some favorite transportation tales.

WANT TO GO? $7; $5 children ages 2-17. 718-694-1600. nytransitmuseum.org. ›› BrooklynParent 37

‘The Three Bears Holiday Bash’

WHEN: Through Dec. 30: see website for show dates and times WHERE: Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre in Central Park, West 81st Street and Central Park West, Upper West Side, Manhattan AGES: All WHAT: Drawing from the stories of Hanukkah, the Night Before Christmas, and Kwanzaa, The Three Bears Holiday Bash is a great way to get into the holiday spirit.

WANT TO GO? $10; $7 children. cityparksfoundation.org.

New Year’s Eve (Day) Party!

HOLIDAY FUN The Greenbelt Gingerbread Man

WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 3, 11am WHERE: Greenbelt Nature Center, Blood Root Valley, 700 Rockland Ave., Staten Island AGES: 3-8 WHAT: The Gingerbread Man is a classic folk tale that is well suited to the holidays. Listen to the story, make a craft to take home, and then go for a hike, keeping an eye out for any of the animals the Gingerbread Man met during his forest adventure. Registration required.

WANT TO GO? $5. 718-351-3450. nycgovparks.org.

Golem

WHEN: Sunday, Dec. 4, 3pm WHERE: On Stage at Kingsborough, 2001 Oriental Blvd., Manhattan Beach AGES: 9 and older WHAT: Celebrate Hanukkah with this high-energy klezmer sextet.

Golem is known for its theatricality and fearlessly wild energy, combined with a boundless love of tradition. Join the group for a unique Hanukkah concert filled with beloved favorites as well as original material in Yiddish, Russian, English, and French.

WANT TO GO? $30-$37. 718-368-5596. onstageatkingsborough.org.

‘The Snowman’

WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 17, 11am and 1pm WHERE: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1000 Fifth Ave., Upper East Side, Manhattan AGES: 5 and older WHAT: Enjoy this British Christmas tradition and discover the magical story of the snowman who comes to life and flies to the North Pole to meet Santa. This Academy Award-nominated classic features a lush score, performed live by the Mannes Orchestra, and the timeless song, “Walking in the Air.” WANT TO GO? $50. 800-965-4827. metmuseum.org.

‘A Christmas Carol the Musical’

WHEN: Through Dec. 30: see website for dates and times WHERE: The Players Theatre, 115 Macdougal St., Greenwich Village, Manhattan AGES: 5 and older WHAT: Follow along with Ebenezer Scrooge as he is visited by four ghosts, and see what happens when he gets a glimpse of his own future if he doesn’t change his life. Will Scrooge catch the holiday spirit and save himself in the process?

WANT TO GO? $32 and up. 917-863-7113. scroogeinthevillage.com.

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December 2016 | nymetroparents.com

WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 31, 1-3pm WHERE: Staten Island Children’s Museum, 1000 Richmond Ave., Staten Island AGES: All WHAT: Count down to the new year and enjoy entertainment, music, crafts, snacks, and drinks.

WANT TO GO? $8; free for children younger than 1. 718-273-2060. sichildrensmuseum.org.

‘Radio City Christmas Spectacular’ Featuring The Rockettes

WHEN: Through Jan. 2, 2017: see website for show times WHERE: Radio City Music Hall, 1260 Sixth Ave., Midtown, Manhattan AGES: 5 and older WHAT: Celebrate the holiday season in a way that only Radio City can deliver, with this celebrated Christmas spectacle in an iconic venue.

Be wowed by favorite numbers that only the Rockettes can perform, including The Parade of the Wooden Soldiers and The Living Nativity.

WANT TO GO? $46 and up. 866-858-0007. radiocitychristmas.com.

2016 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree FREE

WHEN: Dec. 1-Jan. 7, 2017: daily, 5:30am-12am WHERE: Rockefeller Center, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, Midtown, Manhattan AGES: All WHAT: The king of Christmas trees in NYC. More than half a million people pass by the tree every day during the holidays!

WANT TO GO? 212-632-3975. rockefellercenter.com.

Origami Holiday Tree

WHEN: Through Jan. 8, 2017: daily, 10am-5:45pm WHERE: The American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West and 79th Street, Upper West Side, Manhattan AGES: All WHAT: For a Christmas tree that is truly unique, look no further than the delightfully decorated Origami Holiday Tree at the American Museum of Natural History. Nimble fingered volunteers began folding in July to complete nearly 1,000 creations that will be displayed on the tree.

WANT TO GO? $22; $17 students and seniors; $12.50 children ages 2-12; free for children younger than 2. 212-769-5100. amnh.org.

GingerBread Lane

WHEN: Through Jan. 15, 2017: Monday-Friday, 9:30am-5pm; Saturday-Sunday, 10am-6pm WHERE: New York Hall of Science, 47-01 111th St., Corona, Queens AGES: All WHAT: Marvel at the homemade gingerbread houses made entirely of edible gingerbread, royal icing, and candy. The winner of the 2015 Guinness World Record for the largest gingerbread village is drafted, designed, baked, planned, built, and decorated by chef Jon Lovitch over the course of an entire year.

WANT TO GO? $15; $12 seniors and children ages 2-17. 718-699-0005. nysci.org.

BROWSE & BUY Brooklyn Holiday Book Fair

WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 3, 11am-4pm WHERE: The Old Stone House, 336 3rd St., Park Slope AGES: All WHAT: Join this annual fair featuring rare, vintage, and out-of-print books from independent booksellers all over Brooklyn. Get to know your local booksellers and jump-start your holiday shopping.

WANT TO GO? Free admission; book prices vary. 718-768-3195. oldstonehouse.org.

Holiday Open House

WHEN: Thursday, Dec. 8, 4-5:30pm WHERE: Greenlight Bookstore, 686 Fulton St., Fort Greene AGES: All WHAT: Customers of all ages are welcome into the bookstore for a special day to kick off the holiday season with the community. Enjoy a 20-percent discount on purchases in the bookstore all day, gift recommendations from booksellers, and complimentary cider and cookies.

WANT TO GO? Free admission; book prices vary. 718-246-0200. greenlightbookstore.com.

Greencycle Holiday Swap

WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 10, 11am-3pm WHERE: Brooklyn Public Library, Greenpoint Branch, 107 Norman Ave., Greenpoint AGES: All WHAT: Bring clean, gently used, and working items at this holiday swap.

WANT TO GO? $5 suggested donation. 347-987-2765. townsquareinc.com.

The 2016 Holiday Handmade Cavalcade FREE

WHEN: Dec. 5-11, Monday-Sunday, 10am-7:30pm WHERE: Chelsea Market, 75 Ninth Ave., Chelsea, Manhattan AGES: All WHAT: Come and shop for unusual and unique holiday gifts from the best of Etsy vendors across the tri-state.

WANT TO GO? 917-463-3833. handmadecavalcade.com.

Grand Central Terminal’s Annual Holiday Fair FREE

WHEN: Through Dec. 24: Monday-Friday, 10am-8pm; Saturday, 10am-7pm; Sunday, 11am-7pm

WHERE: Grand Central Terminal, Vanderbilt Hall, 89 E. 42nd St., Midtown, Manhattan AGES: All WHAT: Stop by the longest running indoor holiday market in New York City and pick up some gifts (including some treats for yourself!).

WANT TO GO? 212-340-2583. grandcentralterminal.com.

Columbus Circle Holiday Market FREE

WHEN: Through Dec. 24: Monday-Saturday, 10am-9pm; Sunday, 10am-8pm WHERE: Columbus Circle, south west entrance of Central Park, Midtown, Manhattan AGES: All WHAT: Shop for gifts, including artisan food and drink and designer jewelry, at this holiday market that pops up on the corner of Central Park for another year.

WANT TO GO? 212-529-9262. urbanspacenyc.com.

Union Square Holiday Market FREE

WHEN: Through Dec. 24: daily, see website for times WHERE: Union Square, 33 E. 17th St., Union Square, Manhattan AGES: All WHAT: It’s one of the most popular holiday shopping destinations with unusual vendors, unique gifts, socially conscous goods, and food and drink.

WANT TO GO? 212-529-9262. urbanspacenyc.com.

Bank of America Winter Village Holiday Shops FREE

WHEN: Through Jan. 2, 2017: daily, 11am-8pm WHERE: Bryant Park, 40th Street between Fifth and Sixth avenues, Midtown, Manhattan AGES: All WHAT: European-style, open air market full of gift ideas from artisan jewelry and kids toys to decor and food.

WANT TO GO? wintervillage.org.

SPECIAL NEEDS ‘Mother Africa: My Home’: Autism Friendly

WHEN: Friday, Dec. 16, 7pm WHERE: New Victory Theater, 229 W. 42nd St., Theater District, Manhattan AGES: 3 and older WHAT: This holiday season, visit Cape Town’s largest township, Khayelitsha, for a unique circus spectacular. Lighting and sound elements have been adapted to accommodate sensory sensitivity needs.

WANT TO GO? $20-$55. 646-223-3010. newvictory.org.

Coming up next month: JAN. 8: Brooklyn Three Kings Parade along Graham Avenue, Williamsburg JAN. 16: Brooklyn Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at Brooklyn Academy of Music, Fort Greene JAN. 22: Lunar Year Celebration at the Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts, Flatbush

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WHERE-TO GUIDE

nymetroparents.com/where-to

Cut Your Own Christmas Tree

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Research by Jonathan Perry and Kathryn Sheridan

Bring holiday cheer and family bonding from the farm to your home by cutting your own Christmas tree this winter. Head to your local tree farm and spend a few fun hours seeking out your family’s perfect tree, then cut it yourself. You can also load up on some festive wreaths, garlands, and baked goods to make the holiday merry and bright! As always, call ahead of time to confirm hours and tree availability before planning your adventure.

Santa’s Christmas Tree Farm 30105 Main Road, Cutchogue 631-734-8641 santaschristmastreefarm.com Thanksgiving weekend through December (until inventory sells out), daily, 9am6pm; call to check availability. Tools and assistance provided. Santa appearances on weekends. Christmas shop on premises.

Shamrock Christmas Tree Farm 20685 Main Road, Mattituck 631-298-4619; 631-298-4118 shamrockchristmastreefarm.com Nov. 25-Dec. 24, daily, 9am-5pm. Tools and assistance provided. Pre-cut trees, handmade wreaths, and crafts also available. Santa appearances on weekends, 12-5pm. Shamrock Express train rides (weather permitting) and a fire pit to enjoy while you’re waiting for your ride. No pets allowed.

Long Island Carter Christmas Tree Farm 123 N. Country Road, Miller Place 631-331-4699; cartertreefarm.org Through Dec. 18, weekends, 9am-4:30pm.

Saws are provided or bring your own.

Pre-tagging trees is available starting Nov. 19. Also offers tree-wrapping services.

Dart’s Christmas Tree Farm 2355 Main Bayview Road, Southold 631-765-4148; dartstreefarm.com Nov. 25-Dec. 24, daily, 9am-5pm. Offers hayrides, hot chocolate, snacks, handmade wreaths, tree-cutting supplies, and friendly elves to cut and carry your tree. Visits from Santa on weekends in the afternoon. Dogs on leashes are welcome.

Elwood Pumpkin Farm 1500 E. Jericho Turnpike, Huntington 631-368-8626; elwoodpumpkinfarm.com/ elwood-christmas-tree-farm Nov. 25-Dec. 24; weekends, 10am-dusk (to cut your own) or 7pm (to purchase precut); weekdays, 3pm-dark (to cut your own)

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or 7pm (to purchase pre-cut). Bring your own saw to cut your tree. Staff will help you tie your tree to your car (no charge).

Grandpa Tony’s Tree Farm 305 Weeks Ave., Manorville 516-639-3587 Nov. 27-Dec. 24, daily, 8am-4:30pm. Call to schedule an appointment.

Matt’s Christmas Tree Farm 309 Weeks Ave., Manorville 631-874-6260 mattschristmastreefarm.com Nov. 25-Dec. 24, daily, 8am-4:30pm. Bow saws and netting available. Trailer rides back from the field. Loading and tying assistance provided. Candy canes available for kids. Leashed dogs welcome. Potted trees also available.

Mike’s Christmas Tree Farm 323 Weeks Ave., Manorville 631-874-3551; mikestreefarm.com Nov. 25-Dec. 24, daily, 8am-4:30pm.

Fresh wreaths also available. Tree wrapping and saws provided.

New Jersey Morris County

Hidden Pond Tree Farm 4 West Field Road, Mendham 973-865-6362 hiddenpondtreefarm.com Nov. 25-Dec. 20, Tuesday-Sunday, 9am5pm. Pre-cut trees also available. All trees grown at the farm are pesticide-free.

Refreshments available. Free hay rides (weather permitting). Marshmallow roasting around the bonfire and free hot chocolate on weekends. Christmas shop with wreaths, greenery, centerpieces, and other decorations. After the first weekend, call for updates on availability before visiting.

Rolling Green Farm 61 Hacklebarney Road, Long Valley 908-879-7457 Nov. 25-Dec. 24, Black Friday and weekends, 10am-5pm. Cut your own trees.

Wreaths, tree sprays, and antiques for sale in the shop.

Sussex County

Warren County

Country Heritage Farm 129 Plains Road, Augusta 973-875-5590 countryheritagefarm.com Nov. 25-Dec. 18, weekends, 9am-4pm. Saws provided.

Christmas shop with decorations, ornaments, wreaths, holly, tree stands, and garland on-site. Hayride to haul tree back from field provided.

Evergreen Valley Christmas Tree Farm 77 Jackson Valley Road, Washington 908-835-0557 evergreenvalleychristmastrees.com Nov. 25-Dec. 24, Friday-Saturday, 10am-sundown; Sunday-Thursday, 12pm-sundown.

Tools and assistance provided.

Wagon rides and hot chocolate available on weekends. Pets on leashes allowed.

Giordano’s Tree Farm 350 Route 94 S. (at Hilltop Drive), Newton 908-231-8847 giordanostreefarm.com Dec. 3-4, Saturday-Sunday, 8:30am-dark. Saws and tree wrapping provided. Santa visits. Ten-foot trees available.

More than 1,000 trees up to 9 feet tall, dozens of trees as tall as 20 feet. All trees are $42. Assistance is available for wrapping and tying to car.

Baling available.

Holiday Tree Farm 44 Augusta Hill Road, Augusta 973-948-7488 holidaytreefarmnj.com Nov. 25-Dec. 18, Friday-Sunday, 9am-5pm. Saws provided.

Christmas shop on premises with wreaths for sale.

Shale Hills Farm 98 Pond School Road, Sussex 973-875-4231 shalehillsfarm.com Nov. 25-Dec. 24, weekends only, 10am-dark. Santa appearances throughout the day.

Christmas movies in the hayloft and a petting zoo full of animals in the barn.

Stonerow Tree Farm 242 Wykertown Road, Branchville 973-875-7968 (farm) 973-948-6463 (office) stonerowfarm.com Information was not available at press time; please call to confirm.

Wyckoff’s Christmas Tree Farm, LLC 249 County Road 519, Belvidere 908-475-4508; wyckoffs.com Nov. 25-Dec. 24, daily, 8am4:30pm. Country gift shop with holiday decorations open 9am-4:30pm weekends only. Hayrides on weekends only, weather permitting.

Thousands of trees available.

Leashed dogs welcome.

Middlesex County

Barclay’s Tree Farm 35 Orchardside Drive, Cranbury 609-799-1855 barclaystreefarm.com Nov. 25-Dec. 25, weekends, 9am-5pm. Tools and assistance provided. Fresh plain or decorated wreaths and tree stands for sale. Leashed dogs allowed.

Simonson Farms Two locations: 260 Dey Road and 120 Cranbury Neck Road, Cranbury 609-799-0140 simonsonfarms.com Nov. 25-Dec. 23, weekdays, 12-4:30pm (or dark), and weekends, 9am-4:30pm (or dark). Saws provided and free netting is available. Santa visits on the weekends of Nov. 24-Dec. 16. Wreaths available for purchase.

Southeast New York Westchester County

Stuart’s Farm 62 Granite Springs Road, Granite Springs 914-245-2784 stuartsfarm.com Nov. 25-Dec. 24, Wednesday-Sunday, 9am-5pm. Handsaws and baling available.

Wreaths, garland, and roping for sale. Bakery is open with hot and cold cider, fruit pies, fresh apple cider doughnuts, jams, and jellies. Leashed dogs welcome.

Wilkens Fruit and Fir Farm 1335 White Hill Road, Yorktown Heights 914-245-5111 wilkensfarm.com Nov. 26 until they run out of trees, 10am-4pm daily. Each family member gets a free cup of hot cider while you choose and cut your own tree. There is a farm market, bakery, and gift shop on-site with roping, wreaths, tree stands, and decorations for sale.

Orange County

Emmerich Tree Farm 101 Sleepy Valley Road, Warwick 845-986-0151 emmerichtreefarm.com Nov. 25-Dec. 20, weekends, 9am-5pm. Free trimming, drilling, shaking, and baling available. Wagon rides to the fields, hot chocolate and cookies by the bonfire. Hot dogs by Pippy’s Food Truck. Wreaths for sale.

Graney Tree Farm 24 Lang Drive, Pine Bush 845-361-3022 Information not available at press time; please call to confirm.

Manza Family Farm 730 Route 211, Montgomery 845-692-4364 manzafamilyfarm.net Nov. 25-Dec. 24, daily, 8am5pm. Roping available. Pre-cut trees and wreaths for sale; gift shop on premises. Sled rides and pony rides on weekends from 11am-3pm (one free with each tree purchase). Santa and his elf on-site during all December weekends from 11am4pm. Free candy canes and coloring books for kids.

Pine View Farm 575 Jackson Ave., New Windsor 845-564-4111 pineviewfarmny.com Dec. 10-18, Saturday-Sunday, 9am-4pm. Five fields from which to choose a tree. Tools, baling, and assistance provided. Homemade wreaths and Christmas decorations for sale starting Dec. 3-4, 9am-4pm.

Free candy canes and coloring books for kids.

Stone Oak Farm 207 Stony Bar Road, Slate Hill 845-355-4751 845-537-9060 (cell) stoneoaktreefarm.com Nov. 26-Dec. 24, weekends, 10am-dusk, other times by appointment. Barn with fireplace and free hot chocolate and candy canes for children. Fresh wreaths for sale. Three types of trees: white spruce, blue spruce, and Canaan fir. All trees are $52. Dogs are welcome.

Putnam County

Hardwick Tree Farm 213 Wood St., Mahopac 845-528-5814 Nov. 25-Dec. 18, Saturdays and Sundays, and Black Friday. 9amdusk. Saws and baling provided.

Free hot cider and cookies.

Find the full guide at ›› nymetroparents.com/xmastrees

Steve Turner

The Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum illustrates the splendor of the Gilded Age.

Travel Back in Time…

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16 historical locations in the New York metro area that are perfect for an educational day trip

L

ooking for fun day trips that will keep you and your kids entertained while learning during the fall and on weekends?

We’ve compiled a chronological list of 16 historic places in the New York metro area that offer plenty of fun while keeping the kids engaged.

Historic Richmond Town

441 Clarke Ave., Staten Island 718-351-1611 historicrichmondtown.org Hours: 1-5pm Wednesday-Sunday Guided Tours: Wednesday-Friday, 2:30pm; Saturday-Sunday, 2pm and 3:30pm Admission: $8; $6 seniors and students ages 12-17; $5 children ages 4-11; free for children younger than 4; free every Friday, and for members and active duty military with ID Richmond Town was settled in the late 16th and early 17th centuries as a crossroads settlement among the scattered farms of Staten Island. Now a living history village, the site covers 50 acres and features more than 30 historic structures, including homes and commercial and civic buildings, as well as a historical museum.

All buildings are original and more than half of them remain in the same spot they were built. (One home is 350 years old!) At Decker Farm, the oldest continually operating farm in New York, take a self-guided tour and enjoy the organic, seasonal produce sold at the farm stand.

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By Karen Demeter

Queens County Farm Museum

73-50 Little Neck Parkway, Floral Park 718-347-3276 queensfarm.org Farmhouse tours: 11am-4pm Saturday-Sunday (call to confirm) Outdoor visiting: 10am-5pm daily, year-round Admission: FREE, except during public events The museum occupies the largest remaining tract of undisturbed farmland in the city (47 acres) and is the longest continuously farmed site in New York state. The site includes historic farm buildings, livestock, farm vehicles, and an orchard and herb garden. Organized group visits must pre-register and pay a fee.

Lefferts Historic House

Prospect Park, Brooklyn 718-789-2822 prospectpark.org Hours: Nov. 3-Jan. 1, 2017: Saturday-Sunday, 12-4pm Admission: $3 suggested donation This home is located in the park’s Children’s Corner, near the carousel and the Prospect Park Zoo. Families learn about life in colonial times through the homestead’s working gardens, historic artifacts and documents, period rooms, and exhibits. Visitors can try using traditional tools, churn butter, make candles, and play with old-fashioned toys.

My IDNYC card helps us easily access city resources, from the library to the city hospital. I can get discounts on groceries, medicine, and movie tickets.

Take a docent-led tour of the Bush-Holley House, a National Historic Landmark.

Bush-Holley House

39 Strickland Road, Cos Cob, CT 203-869-6899; hstg.org Hours: March-December: Wednesday-Sunday, 12-4pm; JanuaryFebruary: Saturday-Sunday, 12-4pm; docent-led tours at 1pm, 2pm, and 3pm or by appointment.

Admission: $10; $8 students and seniors; free for children younger than 7 and members Prosperous merchants built this home in 1730; it was later used as a boarding house and gat hering place for prominent American artists and arbiters. A National Historic Landmark, it is one of 18 museums participating in the Connecticut art trail.

SIGNING UP IS QUICK AND EASY! IMMIGRATION STATUS DOES NOT MATTER. CALL 311 (TRS 711) OR VISIT NYC.GOV/IDNYC

8 million New Yorkers

1 card for all of us

Philipsburg Manor

381 N. Broadway, Sleepy Hollow 914-366-6900 (914-631-3992 on weekends) hudsonvalley.org Hours: Wednesday-Sunday and holidays, admission by timed tours only: 10:30am, 12pm, 1:30pm, and 3pm. Also at 11am, 12:30pm, 2pm, and 3:30pm on Saturdays and Sundays.

Admission: $12; $10 seniors; $6 children ages 3-17; free for children younger than 3 and members Take a guided tour of the 300-year-old manor house, barn, and gristmill to experience what life was like for Dutch farmers living in the 18th century. Visitors learn how to thresh wheat, see how the rushing waters of the nearby river worked the mill, and learn about Northern slaves who worked the farm during this period.

The 1750 Ogden House & Gardens

1520 Bronson Road, Fairfield, CT 203-259-1598; fairfieldhistory.org Guided tours: June-September, Sundays 1-4pm and by appointment.

Admission: $5; $3 students ages 6-22 and seniors; free for children younger than 6 and members This mid-18th-century farmhouse provides a glimpse into the life of a middle-class colonial family. David Ogden built the house in 1750, and various members of the Ogden family lived there for the next 125 years. The Fairfield Museum and History Center, which operates the Ogden House, is located at 370 Beach Road (about a 10-minute drive) and is open 10am-4pm daily. continued on next page ››

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‹‹ continued from previous page

Old Bethpage Village Restoration

1303 Round Swamp Road, Old Bethpage 516-572-8400; nassaucountyny.gov Hours: 10am-4pm Wednesday-Sunday; last ticket sold at 3pm Admission: $10; $7 children ages 5-12, seniors, and volunteer firefighters; free for children younger than 5 This 209-acre recreated village allows visitors to experience a typical, rural Long Island farm village complete with homes, farms, and businesses. The site hosts old-time “base-ball” tournaments throughout the year.

Fort Montgomery State Historic Site

690 Route 9W, Fort Montgomery 845-446-2134; palisadesparksconservancy.org Hours: Mid-April through Oct. 31: Wednesday-Sunday, 9am5pm; November-March: by appointment Admission: FREE; $3 per person for group tours This scenic spot overlooking the Hudson River was the site of a revolutionary battle fought on Oct. 6, 1777. American Patriots, outnumbered 3-to-1, lost the battle to the British.

Visitors learn more about this military post at the site’s museum, which displays artifacts, weapons, and large-scale models of the fort and the attack as well as a 15-minute movie recreating the battle.

Van Cortlandt Manor

525 S. Riverside, Croton-on-Hudson 914-366-6900 (914-271-8981 on weekends) hudsonvalley.org Guided tours: July 1-Aug. 28: Friday-Sunday. Admission by timed tours only: 10:30am, 12pm, 1:30pm, and 3pm. Groups by reservation March-August and mid-November-December.

Admission: $12; $10 seniors; $6 children ages 3-17; free for children younger than 3 and members Visit the home of a prominent New York family that settled here after the American Revolution. In addition to seeing period furnishings, you can watch costumed guides demonstrate oldfashioned trades such as blacksmithing, open-hearth cooking, spinning, and other crafts of the period. Visit the Ferry House, built before 1750, to see what a rural tavern was like for travelers during the late 18th to early 19th centuries. The tour also addresses social issues such as religion and slave emancipation.

Built between 1804 and 1808, Boscobel is considered one of the finest examples of Federal-style architecture in New York.

Boscobel House & Gardens

The Dyckman Farmhouse is an extraordinary reminder of early Manhattan and an important part of its diverse Inwood neighborhood.

Dyckman Farmhouse

4881 Broadway (at 204th Street), Inwood 212-304-9422; dyckmanfarmhouse.org Hours: Thursday-Saturday, 11am-4pm; Sunday, 11am-3pm; December-February: Friday-Saturday, 11am-4pm, other times by appointment only Admission: Donation based for museum; free for garden In the children’s book The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton, a home in the country watches over time as a city is built around and above her. The little pink farmhouse is eventually picked up and moved out into the country again. The Dyckman Farmhouse also witnessed a transition from farmland to city but amazingly survived the wrecking ball, becoming a museum in 1916.

Visitors can now take a self-guided tour of this Dutch Colonialstyle farmhouse and learn who lived there and how it survived when others houses of its time did not. Call if you have a group of six or more.

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1601 Route 9D, Garrison 845-265-3638; boscobel.org Hours: Nov. 1-Dec. 31: Wednesday-Monday, 9:30am-4pm; April 1-Oct. 31: Wednesday-Monday, 9:30am-5pm. Guided tours offered November-December, 10am-3pm, and AprilOctober, 10am-4pm Admission: $17; $14 seniors 62 and older; $8 children ages 6-14; free for children younger than 6 and members; $45 for a family of four This Federal-style home with scenic views of the Hudson River was conceived by States Morris Dyckman, a Loyalist who made his fortune working for British quartermasters during the Revolutionary War. The home was completed by his wife Elizabeth after Dyckman died in 1806. Boscobel was originally built 15 miles away in Montrose but, to avoid demolition, was taken apart and painstakingly put back together in its present location. Entrance to the house by guided tour only.

Walt Whitman Birthplace

246 Old Walt Whitman Road, Huntington Station 631-427-5240; waltwhitman.org Hours: Winter-June 15: Wednesday-Friday, 1-4pm; SaturdaySunday, 11am-4pm; June 15-Labor Day: Monday-Friday, 11am-

Karen M. Sharman

4pm; Saturday-Sunday, 11am-5pm. Group tours by appointment (call two weeks in advance).

Admission: $6; $5 seniors, veterans, and groups; $4 students; free for children younger than 6 and members Legendary poet Walt Whitman was born in 1819 at this Long Island farmhouse, which is now the only New York State Historic Site listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It contains many portraits of Whitman as well as his original letters, manuscripts, artifacts, and a rare recording of his voice. The house hosts poetry readings, lectures, concerts, and other special events throughout the year.

“It is a beautiful spot, capable of being made a little paradise,” Washington Irving once wrote of Sunnyside. He designed the house and grounds himself.

718-885-1461; bpmm.org Hours: Mansion: Wednesday and Saturday-Sunday, 12-4pm yearround. Guided tours at 12:15pm, 1:15pm, 2:15pm, and 3:15pm.

Admission: $5; $3 students and seniors; free for children younger than 6. Gardens and grounds open year-round 8:30am to dusk and admission is free.

Thomas Pell bought this land from Native Americans as part of a 9,000-acre tract. The estate was reduced to 200 acres and eventually bought by Robert Bartow in 1836. The Grecian-style home with Greek Revival interiors became a museum in 1946. It is the last surviving architecturally important house overlooking Long Island Sound, out of more than a dozen that once existed.

Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum

295 West Ave., Norwalk, CT 203-838-9799; lockwoodmathewsmansion.com Guided tours: April to early January, Wednesday-Sunday at 12pm, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm Admission: $10; $8 seniors; $6 for students ages 8-18; free for children younger than 8 and members This Second Empire-style mansion with Victorian-era furnishings and interiors was once home to the Lockwood family and, several years later, the Mathews family. Now a National Historic Landmark, it has survived threats from bankruptcy, demolition, and I-95, and it stands today adjacent to the Stepping Stones Museum for Children.

Washington Irving’s Sunnyside

Richard Warren

3 W. Sunnyside Lane, Irvington 914-366-6900 (914-591-8763 on weekends); hudsonvalley.org Guided tours: May 1-Nov. 13: Wednesday-Sunday, 10:30am, 11am, 11:30am, 12:30pm, 1:30pm, 2pm, 2:30pm, 3pm, and 3:30pm; weekends: every half hour, first tour starts at 10am, last tour starts 3:30pm. Admission by timed tour only. Group tours by reservation through December.

Admission: $12; $10 seniors; $6 children ages 3-17; free for children younger than 3 and members A costumed guide leads a tour through the home of the man who wrote The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Rip Van Winkle. Many of the furnishings in the house are original, making it one of the more authentic examples of 19th century life nearby.

During the summer at Westbury Gardens, kids can enjoy the great outdoors.

Old Westbury Gardens

Visitors are invited to tour the Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum and admire its mid19th-century furnishings, or stroll around the grounds and the formal terraced garden behind the house.

Bartow-Pell Mansion Museum 895 Shore Road, Bronx

71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury 516-333-0048; oldwestburygardens.org Hours: Until Nov. 22: Saturday-Sunday, 10am-4pm; Westbury House open 11am-4pm; April 25-Oct. 31: 10am-5pm daily (except Tuesdays); house open 11am-4:30pm. Guided tours are given every half hour (based on volunteer availability), call for start times.

Admission: $12; $10 seniors older than 62 and students with vaild ID; $7 children ages 7-17; free for children younger than 7 and members.

This Gold Coast mansion, located on the North Shore of Long Island, was occupied by the Phipps family for more than 50 years. It sits on 200 acres of formal gardens and is now a cultural destination spot for family programs and events, summer pop concerts, the annual Scottish Games, and educator-led talks and tours.

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Get as Good as You Give!

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We all want to grant our kids’ every wish, especially during the holidays—but is showering them with presents really best? How to model the spirit of giving without spoiling your child, make generosity a part of your family’s routine, and bring smiles to their faces. By Katelin Walling

B

efore families sit down for Thanksgiving dinner, stores put out holiday decorations. With all the hype and commercialism of the extended season, it’s hard to not feel pressure to get your children the most extravagant gifts.

“One kid can’t have a better Christmas than the other one, so you keep upping the ante. The pressure is so much. I start getting a stomachache, like, in November,” said comedian Louis C.K., talking about buying gifts for his daughters in his appearance on the nowdefunct The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on NBC on Jan. 6, 2014.

“I actually do think that one Christmas with nothing would make [my kids] more generous, more cautious, and smarter people, so it would actually be good parenting to have one Christmas where [they] get nothing,” he said of not wanting to give in to the contagious gift-buying frenzy. “But I can’t do it. I can’t do what’s right for my kids.”

You don’t need to go to the extreme measure of refraining from giving your children gifts this holiday season to encourage them to be more grateful, more generous beings.

Understand how we got to ‘affluenza.’

Entitled children are not born, they’re made, according to Wednesday Martin, Ph.D., a social researcher with a background in anthropology and author of Primates of Park Avenue, who lives in New York City.

Our modern culture is a time of “ecological relief,” Dr. Martin says—meaning we’re not foraging for food, hunting prey, or primarily occupied with matters of survival. “One of the things that means is, that to a completely unprecedented extent, we can invest really heavily in each and every child we have versus the way it was in our evolutionary prehistory when humans had to balance care for their offspring with care for themselves,” Dr. Martin says. “They were always playing the numbers game—how much attention can I give this child without dying myself?”

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“Affluenza”—which “is characterized by a sense of entitlement, an inability to delay gratification, an exaggerated belief in the ability to control one’s life, and a diminished capacity for empathy and compassion,” according to Josh Glawe, LCSW, who provides individual, family, marital, and group therapy in Parsippany, NJ— also stems from the fact that we, as primates, give gifts because we live to make social connections, Dr. Martin says.

“We long to belong. We long to build connections and cement relationships, and gifts are one of the ways that we do that. By giving something to someone we say, ‘I value you. I like you. You mean something to me.’ But now, because we live in a state of ecological relief, sometimes we give really lavish gifts,” Dr. Martin says. “And we know that most people around the holiday, no matter what their financial situation, give to the outer extent that is possible for them.”

Counteract the ‘gimmes.’

Glawe says the most important step to guard against the escalating effects of entitlement is to recognize the problem and work toward a more balanced view of the role of money and material items to your child, as well as within the family as a whole. Once this has been determined, there are a few easy things you can do with your children to help them become more gracious.

Name your blessings. Beyond counting your blessings, naming them is a great way to reflect on the things you’re grateful for each day. “There are so many ways that you can do that,” says Andrea Reiser, a Westport, CT-based happiness coach and co-author of Letters From Home: A Wake-Up Call for Success and Wealth.

Reiser suggests you write your blessings down once a week; go around the dinner table and have each family member mention a few things they’re grateful for. Or participate in the “100 Days of Happiness” (100happydays.com) challenge by capturing images

of things that make you happy or that you’re grateful for 100 days in a row—71 percent of people who tried have cited “lack of time” as the main reason they were unable to complete the challenge. Let’s instill in our kids that making time for happiness is a worthwhile priority!

Show gratitude every day. Be a grateful parent and tell your children why you’re grateful for them. “It models what gratitude is and it also helps them build self-esteem because they realize you love them for certain skills, qualities, and characteristics, and it makes them feel good to know they’re appreciated,” Reiser says.

Parents should also model gratitude by saying “thank you” sincerely and often in your everyday life. “Yes, the grocery store cashier is paid to ring up your order, but say ‘thank you’ to that person just for the interaction that you’ve had with them,” Reiser suggests.

Help children express gratitude. Unfortunately, thank-you notes have largely disappeared from our culture, Reiser says.

“There are so many ways you can make it easier for kids to send thank-you notes, even if it’s a thank-you email, to make the child acknowledge that they received something from someone else and show that they appreciate it,” she adds.

Create a form note for younger kids on which they fill in the blanks for who gave them the gift, what they received, and sign it or maybe draw a picture. Take older kids shopping for their own stationery to send handwritten notes. And remember: A phone call to the giver is a simple way to say thank you, especially in this age of texts.

“I think that gratitude is such a great solution because it kind of counteracts the ‘gimmes’,” Reiser adds. “Really instilling gratitude in kids and living it yourself as a model goes so far to change the entitlement culture.”

Indulge your gift-giving instincts.

So, how can you indulge in some of your gift-giving instincts without spoiling your kids?

Give the gift of time. We live in a very fast-paced, hyped-up culture, so we give lavish gifts because it’s the most efficient way to say “I love you,” Dr. Martin says. But the most extravagant, most precious gift you can give your child? Your time.

Dr. Martin suggests you give children gift certificates, such as 1 hour of arts-and-crafts with Mommy or the opportunity to help Daddy make dinner. Or give a board game, which is something that will facilitate everyone spending time together, and then commit to a family game night once a week.

“As your child is opening a gift, talk about how using it will allow you to spend time together,” Dr. Martin says. “What you’re modeling is that a gift is a route to a social and personal connection.”

Spend money doing rather than having. “I’m huge into giving kids experiences rather than material stuff—spending time instead of spending money, and also asking relatives to do the same,” Reiser says. “It’s so much more meaningful and lasting to have experiences together.”

A 2014 study by Amit Kumar, Matthew A. Killingsworth, and Thomas Gilovich titled “Waiting for Merlot” found that experiential purchases (spending money on doing) tends to provide longer-lasting happiness than material purchases (spending money on having). So you’ll be happier buying experiences for you and your child, and your child will be happier because you’ll be spending time with him.

Set realistic expectations. The only way to prevent your children from feeling extreme disappointment when they don’t get everything they want is to talk about expectations beforehand. “I grew up celebrating Hanukkah, and we did not get a gift every night for the eight days of Hanukkah, but we knew that up front,” Reiser says.

“Maybe the first and fourth and eighth nights my mom would give us a gift. We didn’t know exactly what nights to expect them, but we knew we weren’t getting something every night, and it just made it more realistic.”

Once you’ve set expectations with your child, share with relatives and ask them to follow suit with you. Reiser adds that there may be some initial disappointment, but you have to remind the child that you discussed expectations beforehand and to appreciate the things they were given.

While it may not be easy during the holidays, Reiser suggests asking your child to participate in purchasing the newest gadget or fashion accessory they want. “Then, they have a little more investment in it, and it’s more rewarding when they finally get to that point where they’ve saved up enough to be able to buy it,” she says.

Keep the charitable feeling year-round.

“In general, I don’t believe that kids act selfishly because they genuinely don’t care about others. It’s more that they aren’t really sure how to help others and give back because they aren’t being taught,” says Todd Patkin, author of Finding Happiness: One Man’s Quest to Beat Depression and Anxiety and—Finally—Let the Sunshine In. “Ultimately, raising children who understand the value of giving back—and whose lives reflect that knowledge—is one of the most philanthropically-minded things parents can do.”

The best way to teach your children is to set an example for them.

Whether it’s donating time, money, or items to an organization, or simply a random act of kindness such as helping an older person with their groceries or taking homemade soup to a sick friend, showing your kids that you take a little time every day to be kind to someone is “going to go just as far as going to a soup kitchen but in a different way that’s profound,” Dr. Martin says.

And if you see something happening in a charitable way, Resier says you should point it out to your children so they have real life experiences within their own community.

After showing your children a few ways you give back, get them involved in giving back, too—just keep them interested. Use your kids’ interests to focus on what they might want to do, whether it’s supporting a charitable foundation monetarily or volunteering, Reiser suggests. If your child likes animals, volunteer at the local humane society; if she loves reading, take her to buy and donate books to a literacy foundation.

One way Reiser kept her four sons interested in donating money when they were young was to connect the act to baseball. Each child picked a baseball statistic to follow for the family’s favorite team, the Boston Red Sox. “One of them would pledge one dollar each time Big Papi (David Ortiz) hit a home run. Another might give 50 cents for each strikeout during the month of August. It was a fun way to incorporate an interest of theirs and keep them engaged on how much money we were donating,” Reiser says.

Again, setting expectations is key. “At the end of the day, kids are still kids. You can’t expect them to always want to donate their toys,” Patkin says. “Be conscious of your children’s ages and capabilities, and (without being too quick to exclude them from an activity or event that might not be ‘fun’ from start to finish) keep in mind that your budding philanthropists are still kids.”

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#SnapShot nymetroparents Usdan Summer Camp for the Arts ›

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Lois Jackson, D.D.S., P.C. and Associates 16 Court St., Suite 2211; 718-855-8833 505 LaGuardia Place, Suite L4, Greenwich Village near Washington Square Park 212-995-8888; lajacksondds@aol.com

PROFESSIONAL To be in this section, call 212-315-0800 or email nympads@davlermedia.com

Dr. Lois Jackson is very experienced in pediatric dental care for children, adolescents, and patients with special needs. She is the president of the New York State Association of Pediatric Dentists.

To give back to the community, Dr. Jackson volunteers and supports numerous civic and cultural organizations. She is a member of the Board of Directors for the Camp Brooklyn (sending children to camp), Flatbush Development Corporation, East Midwood Jewish Center, and Fisk Terrace Neighborhood Association. Dr. Jackson was a Nickelodeon Parents’ Pick for Best Dentist for two years running!

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

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

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.

OPENHOUSES 2016 Leif Ericson Day School

1037 72nd St. 718-748-9023 Christine Hauge, principal ledsny.org Visit our Open School Night for new families on Wednesday, Jan. 18 from 7-8:30pm, and our open house on Sunday, Feb. 12 from 2-4pm.

Smart Start Early Learning Center 8411 Fort Hamilton Parkway 718-921-1868 smartstart@verizon.net Smart Start is a child-centered

learn-through-play preschool.

Our goal is to meet the needs of the whole child. Call for a tour to visit our school.

Usdan Summer Camp for the Arts 185 Colonial Springs Road, Wheatley Heights 844-824-9790 usdan.com Young artists flourish at Usdan.

Be part of a Usdan for a visit and information session: Nov. 20, Dec. 3, Jan. 8, Feb. 5, March 5, April 2, and May 7.

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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. Kidfriendly; 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.

FAMILY RESOURCE GUIDE

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.

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