Fairfield Parent September 2016 by City Guide NY

Fairf ieldParent SEPTEMBER 2016

Bridgeport • Danbury • Darien • Fairfield • Greenwich • New Canaan • Norwalk • Ridgefield • Stamford • Westport • Wilton and more

FAIRFIELDPARENT.COM

Calm the Cafeteria Chaos

Kids can eat healthy and socialize, too. PLUS: Your Back-to-School Resource Guide

All About Gap Years

Why many grads are waiting before starting college

Should Kids Play Contact Sports? Weighing the risk of concussions

WHERE TO PICK APPLES

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NYMetroParents Helping Parents Make Better Decisions

Contents

September 2016 ›› Features 14 Cute Kids Meet the winner of our cover contest, and the rest of the finalists 16 Filling the Gap Taking a year off between high school and college can set teens up for a lifetime of success 18 Calming the Chaos of the Cafeteria How to get kids to eat a healthy lunch while chatting with friends 22 Should Your Kid Play Contact Sports? New policies are being put into place to reduce the risk of concussions in children

48 Healing Powers What it’s like to provide your child with medical marijuana in New York

Connections 6 Editor’s Note 8 New Places, New Programs 10 Quotables 13 NYMP Q&A: Walker Lamond shares ‘pearls of wisdom’ for fatherhood

Fun & Activities 12 26 29 40

DIY Corner: Sail boat for imaginary play Outing: New York City Fire Museum Family Activities Calendar Where-To Guide: Pick Your Own Apples

Directories

Family Activities CALENDAR ››

42 52 53 53 54

Back-to-School Resources Meet the Health Care Professional Open Houses Family Resource Guide and Party Planner Advertisers’ Index

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

››

ON THE COVER ›› 16 All About Gap Years 18 Calm the Cafeteria Chaos 22 Should Kids Play Contact Sports facebook.com/nymetroparents

@NYMetroParents

40 Where to Pick Apples

48 Medical Marijuana for Sick Kids?

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

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SEPTEMBER 2016 • Vol.8 • No.12

NYMetroParents Publications EDITORIAL

EDITOR’S NOTE

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR: Michael Kress

New Beginnings, Emotional Transitions

ike many parents, I feel unprepared for a new school year to begin, and less than eager to restart the cycle of lunch prep and hustling out the door every morning. Really, though, this feeling is less about the hassle and more about being forced to confront the very clear fact that my babies are no longer babies. Our youngest, not yet out of diapers and still sleeping in a crib, begins nursery school this month, while my middle daughter will be in kindergarten, starting the transition away from play-based learning to more traditional schooling. And my oldest, still so young in my mind, starts fourth grade, when, I am told, the work gets more intense and the pace quicker. Sunrise, sunset, indeed; those years certainly do swiftly fly. And so I look to parents who have older kids with a mix of awe and curiosity. While my kids are navigating preschool and the mid-elementary years, many of you are are looking at a whole new level of letting go of your precious “babies.” If you have a child beginning her senior year of high school, decisions about next year will likely consume much of your attention the next few months. But even as today’s seniors apply to and choose their colleges, many will be opting to delay actually starting that school for one year. Find out why so many grads are taking a so-called gap year, what they’re doing during that time—and why many experts are encouraging it (p. 16). Meanwhile, my family—and many of yours, I am sure—will be focused on more mundane matters, such as the aforementioned lunch prep. Despite the care I give to my kids’ meals, I’ve found pieces of my daughters’ lunches coming home uneaten, not because they weren’t hungry, but because they didn’t have time to finish. Besides eating, lunch provides valuable, much-needed social time for our kids, and we’ve got tips on how to ensure your kids can eat and gab during their fleeting cafeteria moments (p. 18). Lastly, we tackle a difficult, potentially controversial topic. In New York, medicinal cannabis— marijuana—has been legal since the start of 2016, and among the patients to whom it’s been prescribed are some children who suffer from debilitating illnesses. We speak with one mom whose daughter’s quality of life has vastly improved because of the availability of medicinal marijuana. And we explain the debate among experts about whether it’s a good idea to treat ill kids with it (p. 48). May none of us need such remedies, and may everyone have a happy and smooth start to the 2016-2017 school year! Michael Kress Editorial Director

DEPUTY EDITOR: Bethany Braun-Silva MANAGING EDITOR: Katelin Walling 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: Megan Bailey, Lauren Diaz, Melissa Wickes

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

PRODUCTION

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR: Anthony Diaz CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Jiyon Son DIGITAL CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Robert Reynolds GRAPHIC ARTIST: Oscar Osario

ACCOUNTING

CONTROLLER: David Friedman

MARKETING

HEAD OF MARKETING: Jacqueline Lachman

ADMINISTRATION

CREDIT MANAGER: Elizabeth Teagarden CREDIT ASSISTANTS: Rosa Meinhofer, Diedra Smith EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT: Barbara Byrd

Davler Media Group CEO: David L. Miller

A NYMetroParents Event

Join Us for a Day of Fun! You are invinted to a day of kid-focused fun, during which parents can accomplish all their planning for the year ahead. LI FamFest will be held Saturday, Sept. 17, from 10am-3pm at Long Island University’s Pratt Recreational Center, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville, Long Island. While parents explore more than 50 exhibitors and meet experts, their kids will be able to participate in activities such as a live reptile and wildlife show, face painting and balloon making, hip-hop dance movement, a rope obstacle course, candy making, and much more. Visit lifamfest.com for more information and to register! 6

September 2016 | fairfieldparent.com

General Manager: Thomas K. Hanlon 498 Seventh Ave., 10th Floor, New York, NY 10018 Phone: 212-315-0800; Fax: 212-271-2239 nymetroparents.com fairfieldparent.com davlermedia.com nybarbatmitzvah.com

BIG APPLE PARENT, QUEENS PARENT, WESTCHESTER PARENT BROOKLYN PARENT, ROCKLAND PARENT, BERGEN PARENT, FAIRFIELD PARENT and LONG ISLAND PARENT are published monthly by Davler Media Group, LLC Copyright © 2015, Davler Media Group, LLC No part of contents may be reproduced without prior permission from the publisher. Subscription rates per year, per publication: $39

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NEW PLACES, NEW PROGRAMS

nymetroparents.com/np-fp

The Westport Dental Associates office building

Courtesy Licenders

Who: Pediatric Dentistry @ Westport Dental Associates What’s New: An office on Riverside Avenue, at which specialty dental care for kids will be offered. At the new office a separate part of the practice will be completely devoted to children. In addition, all of the equipment will be new and stateof-the-art. Pediatric dental specialist Hannah Ahn, D.D.S., envisions the new practice as a fun environment where families can get an early start in dental care for their children. The office is scheduled to open Sept 19. Want More Info: 329 Riverside Ave., Westport; 203-635-7070; pediatricdentistryofwestport.com

Courtesy Westport Dental Associates

Pediatric Dentist Office in Westport to Open New Location

Licenders Now Offering Flat-Rate Packages Who: Licenders What’s New: A flat-rate package in which children who have lice are provided a 1-hour treatment for $249. The treatment uses the patented Air Alle device, which is FDA cleared to kill lice and eggs in one treatment. Licenders uses 100-percent all-natural products and all staff members are fully credentialed lice clinicians. Mention this article for a free screening at the Stamford salon. Call to make an appointment. Want More Info: 30 Myano Lane, Stamford; 203-961-9918; licenders.com Adie Horowitz, owner of Licenders

Who: Excel Urgent Care What’s New: Offices in Stamford and Fairfield, in which services such as X-rays, stitches, occupational medicine, and physicals are offered. The facilities also have new state-of-the-art equipment and provide patients with a number of physical exams for school, sports, camp, preemployment, firefighter and police departments, and the Department of Transportation. Excel Urgent Care will provide these exams at a discounted rate of $50 through Oct 1. The office is open seven days a week and walk-ins are welcome. Want More Info: 623 Newfield Ave., Stamford; 203-517-9000; 525 Tunxis Hill Cut Off, Fairfield; 203-870-9500; westporturgentcare.com

September 2016 | fairfieldparent.com

Courtesy Excel Urgent Care

Excel Urgent Care Opens in Stamford and Fairfield

An Excel Urgent Care office

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UOTABLES The days are hot, hot, hot; and the house is stale and messy. I am often reminded in its state something my neighbor said to me one afternoon, after I apologized for our home’s condition: ‘You are living. That’s what this is.’ —NYC mom Latonya Yvetter in a post entitled “Motherhood Right Now” on her blog blog.latonyayvette.com

in an instagram He couldn’t wait to get on and he claimed the frog right away. His eyes were big and he kept throwing his head back and looking up at the lights, bopping his head to the carrousel music. Then as soon as he got off he asked if there was a roller coaster in the park he could ride next. #boys (Posted by Manhattan mom @lilliesandleon, aka Nicole Gonzalez, who blogs at lilliesandleon.com)

PARENTING AFRICAN-AMERICAN BOYS “I see my fellow black moms hurting. I’m hurting. I see my non-black friends hurting. And I see those who are keeping silent.”

in an instagram Hidden gem in Long Island—Hempstead State Park for a lazy Sunday fishing adventure #blogger #photography

—Long Island mom Kimberly Thomas, who runs the blog valleystreammom.com in an essay on entitled “At What Age Will My Son Become a Threat?” Read it all at nymetroparents. com/kimberly-thomas

(Posted by @thatsbetsyv, a NYC mom who blogs at betsy-v.com)

“It’s okay to be scared. If we aren’t terrified about some of the things we need to do as we learn how to be a parent, we aren’t parenting well enough.” —Manhattan dad Pete Cataldo, who runs the website daddymindtricks.com, in a Huffington Post article entitled “5 Thoughts On The First Year Of Fatherhood”

September 2016 | fairfieldparent.com

MORE NYMetroParents.com HIGHLIGHTS: FREE FUN: Visit museums and zoos without paying (nymetroparents.com/free) FAIRS & FESTIVALS: Where to go in the late summer and fall (nymetroparents.com/fairs) BEAM THEM UP: All about the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum’s interactive Star Trek exhibit (nymetroparents.com/star-trek) FALL GUIDE: How to make the most of autumn (nymetroparents.com/fall-guide)

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DIY CORNER IMAGINARY PLAY

Hello, Sailor!

After a fresh batch of laundry is fluffed and folded, take your basket to the high seas. What you’ll need: • 1 40-inch stick or dowel • 1 18-inch stick or dowel • Thin cotton rope • 1 24-by-18-inch piece of fabric or bed sheet • Scissors • Hot-glue gun (optional) • Fabric scraps • 1 laundry basket 1. To make the mast and the boom, cross the short stick perpendicularly over the long stick approximately 24 inches down from one end and wrap the joint, making figure eights back and forth around the sticks, with approximately 2 feet of cotton rope. 2. To make the sail, cut your piece of fabric in half diagonally. Place the right corner of the sail where the mast and the boom meet. For a quick assembly, have an adult hot-glue the fabric edges to the mast and the boom, or tie your sail on: Use your scissors to poke holes every 3 inches along the two perpendicular edges of the fabric, approximately 1 inch in from the edge. Cut 4-inch pieces of rope and thread them through the holes and around the sticks.

3. Cut an 80-inch piece of rope and the tie strips of fabric scraps you might have every 3-5 inches along the rope. Tie the rope to the top of the mast, and let it hang down. 4. Use rope to tie the mast to the side of the basket, securing it through the holes in at least two places. Excerpted from Project Kid: Crafts That Go! by Amanda Kingloff (Artisan Books). Copyright © 2016. Photographs by Alexandra Grablewski and Amanda Kingloff

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September 2016 | fairfieldparent.com

NYMP Q&A

Rules to Live By ›› By Bethany Braun

Walker Lamond’s first book, Rules for My Unborn Son was based on his blog of a similar name. He recently released a follow-up, Rules for My Newborn Daughter, in which he shares hilarious “pearls of wisdom” such as, “Don’t pawn your grandmother’s jewelry” and “Practice safe selfies.” Do you have a favorite rule or piece of parenting advice? For you? Your kids? I think I come from the paint-inside-the-lines school of parenting. I tell my kids that if you’re the kind of person that respects dress codes and knows what the little fork is for, you’ll be given more liberty to be the life of the party. As a parent I just have to remind myself every day to be patient, kind, and silly. And not throw shoes. Do your kids follow these rules? I’m lucky if they leave the house with shoes. Have you experienced a difference in parenting boys vs. girls? Universally? No, I don’t think so. Kids learn from your example. Which is why I probably use these books more as manuals for being a better dad than I do as rulebooks for raising better kids. That being said, my son is way more susceptible to bribes. Do you think parents should collect their own sets of rules for their kids? Absolutely! These books were imagined as conversations with my own kids and are specific to my own experiences growing up. There’s plenty in there that some parents will disagree with, and I love it when readers give the rules their own spin or take to Twitter to tell me how wrong I am. I think writing down your own rules for your kids is a great way not just to keep your little angels in line, but also to pass down your own experiences and institutional knowledge about how to live a fun, fulfilling life. How was writing the book for your daughter different than writing it for your son? When I started Rules for My Newborn Daughter, I did have a nagging concern that it may not be appropriate for a man to be doling out advice to a young woman. I mean if I wanted my daughter to grow into a strong, independent woman unafraid to challenge traditional power structures and gender stereotypes, handing her a book full of rules written by a man didn’t seem like the best way to start her journey. But I think a dad has a right and a duty to tell his daughter what he expects of her. To share with her what he knows about life and how to make the best of it. And while I might not know even a fraction of what it takes to become an independent, intelligent, courteous, courageous, honest, adventurous, self-reliant, well-read, well-dressed, well-mannered young woman, I do know someone who does. Thankfully, I married her.

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Cute Kids!

››

Meet the winner of our 2016 cover contest, and take a look at all eight finalists.

rom April to June the staff here at NYMetroParents had the hard job of picking eight finalists from hundreds of adorable entries. Once we were able to narrow it down, the finalists traveled from all across the New York metro area to meet for a photo shoot at PhotoOp NYC. The finalists wore their best smiles and some seriously stylish clothes and had a blast shooting with the studio’s awesome photographers. The kids did a great job posing for the camera, but at the end of the day it was 3-year-old Carter from Suffolk County who was selected as the Grand Prize Winner. Carter and his family will enjoy a weekend trip to Great Wolf Lodge to celebrate his big win! Each finalist received a $25 gift card from Appaman, who also provided most of the clothes for the shoot, and a New York CityPASS ticket book. Plus, our fan favorite, Konstancja from Brooklyn, received a family fourpack of tickets to Sesame Place in Langhorne, PA. You’ll get to see more of these smiling cuties in the coming months. Thank you to everyone who helped make this contest a success, especially our sponsor, Barbizon.

Carter

Age: 3 Hometown: Suffolk County, NY

GRAND PRIZE WINNER

Genesis

Age: 8 Hometown: Fairfield County

Ryan

Angelina

Age: 13 Hometown: Nassau County, NY

Age: 6 Hometown: Manhattan, NY

Lucas

Age: 5 Hometown: Queens, NY

Emma

Age: 10 Hometown: Rockland County, NY

Angelina C.

Age: 4 Hometown: Westchester County, NY

Konstancja

Age: 7 Hometown: Brooklyn, NY

FAN FAVORITE

Courtesy David Hamburger

Filling the Gap

››

Many high school graduates are opting to take a year “off” before starting college. But far from doing nothing, they are participating in programs and gaining experiences that set them up for success in college and provide a lifetime of benefits. By Lauren Diaz New York City native and Columbia University graduate David Hamburger (left) volunteered for a nonprofit called Pencils of Promise during his gap year. He traveled on behalf of the organization to visit rural schools in northern Laos.

hen Malia Obama announced her decision to defer her acceptance to Harvard University for a year, she became the poster child for a growing trend. The Associated Press reports that Malia is one of an estimated 30,000-40,000 students each year who choose to take an academic break before attending college—a number that is steadily rising, according to the American Gap Association, which tracks this data. After spending 13 years in the educational system, many students are now electing to take a year off from school to do a variety of activities and programs—known as a gap year—and are coming back to start college with a new perspective and maturity. There are many options for those looking for a rewarding, meaningful gap year, including travel or study abroad and volunteering or working here in the United States in virtually any setting imaginable. When many of us imagine gap years, we tend to think of expensive programs abroad or at sea, but many teens opt for volunteering or working instead. Students can either invest money in a program or spend the time gaining work experience and saving money for tuition. When it comes to managing college applications, they can either apply to college and defer matriculating for a year, or wait to apply during their gap year after mulling it over. There is something formative out there for every student. David Hamburger, a New York City native and Dalton School alumnus, deferred his 2011 admission to The University of Chicago in order to devote himself to a year of service work for 16

September 2016 | fairfieldparent.com

multiple organizations. Hamburger volunteered at Habitat for Humanity during the fall while also working for an educational development nonprofit called Pencils of Promise. As a volunteer at the relatively new organization, Hamburger was given a great amount of responsibility, which led to an internship with its International Programs team in the spring of his gap year. At 18, Hamburger was responsible for spearheading an overhaul of Pencils of Promise’s data storage, supervising four junior interns, and training new hires. After applying to Columbia University during the fall of his gap year, Hamburger was admitted for the fall semester of 2012. By 19, he entered Columbia with a level of real-world work experience practically unheard of for his age.

The Benefits of Taking a Gap Year

While gap years may be relatively new in the broader culture, they have long been a staple of Jewish education, with schools encouraging students to study in Israel for a year before heading to college. Dorothy Denburg, director of college counseling at Heschel High School, a Jewish day school in Manhattan, NY, reports that approximately a third of her students chose to defer college last year. “There are so many options for different structured programs for them,” she says, adding that when she previously worked for a college, 90 percent of the students she saw taking a gap year were Jewish, and most of them had spent their year on a wide variety of programs based in Israel. The motivation, Denburg says, is to “spend a year in Israel but not necessarily in

study” and to “go to college with a year of maturity under your belt,” a sentiment that is quickly gaining ground among students and educators far beyond the Jewish community. A huge benefit of taking a gap year is the life or work experience that comes with it. Contrary to some people’s misperceptions, “it is very often our strongest students who will choose to take a gap year”—not to improve anything specific academically but to foster their own “intellectual and personal growth,” notes Jessica Landis, a guidance counselor at King School, an independent school in Stamford. That includes self-discovery, which can be achieved richly and deeply from gap-year experiences. “It’s so much better if you take time to get to know yourself in a different situation outside of the academic world,” since you “learn so much more about yourself when you’re actually participating as opposed to just sitting in a classroom learning,” says Susan Avery, a guidance counselor at Harvest Collegiate High School, a Manhattan, NY, public school. Another, often vital reason to take a gap year is to take a breather. Thinking back to her time working at private schools, Avery says the “level of stress seen on children was astounding.” A gap year is “the single best thing a kid can do for themselves after spending 13 years in school.” Hamburger agrees, adding that it is especially important for students dealing with a physical or mental illness. “One thing I observed at college is how difficult it can be for people that aren’t 100-percent [well] to make it through a semester,” he says, adding that “it paid dividends” for his peers who took time off as a “chance to recharge.”

engaged in during my gap year continued at Columbia,” he says. From his gap year Hamburger attained lifelong friends, a great mentor, the initiative to participate in a future study abroad program, and an established interest in international education. He also considers his work at Pencils of Promise to be “among the most substantial and important work I’ve ever done in my professional life” and believes the experience ultimately led him to attaining his current postgraduate Fulbright-Nehru fellowship.

Formula for a Successful Gap Year

Hamburger argues that in order to have a successful gap year, a teenager must “be devoting him or herself to something he or she is interested in or cares about.” Keep yourself busy, and maintain good communication with your parents, he advises. While he thinks almost everyone would benefit from a gap year, he also believes those students who are able to take initiative, are struggling with an illness, have a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” or are lacking in maturity would glean the most from taking a year off, while those hoping to just take an unstructured vacation would not do as well. Taking a gap year is a highly personal and complicated decision that can only be made by the student. The role of a parent is similar to that of the guidance counselor: listen, guide, and support. Avery points out that we do not even know what Malia Obama is doing with her gap year yet, but “the fact that the Obamas are 100-percent behind their daughter taking an academic breather just truly makes my heart joyful because it sends such an important message that everybody needs to slow the heck down.”

Debunking the Case Against Gap Years

The low number of students taking gap years in years past can in some ways be attributed to societal pressures and common misconceptions. For many high school students, immediate college enrollment seems like the necessary next step in a strict path. There has been an ingrained fear of facing social ridicule and alienation, falling behind, and ultimately failing professionally as a result of taking a year off. Landis says she recognizes many students fear condemnation from their peers but countered that “once those students talk about what their plans are, what they’ll be doing with that time, I think a lot of students actually look back and say ‘Wow. I wish I had considered doing that a little bit more.’” Students tend to fear being left behind, since most of their former classmates will be sophomores while they are in their first years, but “that’s ok,” Landis says. “You have done something equally valuable that will also have a really positive impact on your future.” Avery agrees, saying “there’s no such thing as graduating on time. People just want to know that you went to college.” A huge misconception plaguing high school seniors is the notion that gap years are only for the affluent. “So is money a problem?” Avery says, “Well, no, because you’re not spending. You’re not paying college tuition when you’re on a gap year.” There are certainly students who spend the year in programs for which they need to pay, Avery says, recalling a student who did a semester at sea. But money is not a prerequisite, and there are many tuitionfree ways to spend a productive gap year. For “kids who need to just stop the carousel of academics and jump off and go do something different,” Avery says, “there are always options.” Hamburger personally found no disadvantages in his gap year, saying it was a “tremendous year of growth” that set him up for the “next four years and beyond.” “Legitimately, every activity I

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FOOD & NUTRITION

Calming the Chaos of the Cafeteria ›› Some children forgo eating at lunchtime to be social. Here’s how to get your kids to eat a healthy lunch while chatting with their friends. By Nimali Fernando, M.D., MPH, and Melanie Potock, M.A., CCC-SLP

hances are it’s been a while since you’ve ordered “hot lunch” in the school cafeteria. Whether you send a homepacked lunch with your child or they order lunch, eating in the cafeteria can be overwhelming at first. Coach Mel [Melanie Potock, M.A., CCC-SLP ] had a client who called it the “caféFEAR-ia” because the whole experience was a bit scary for him. Imagine being a brand-new kindergartner, toting your sparkly new Disney princess lunch box down the school hallway, when you turn and enter utter chaos. Older kids tower over you as you cross the sea of tables and try to find where you are supposed to sit for the next 20 minutes. Irritating fluorescent lights flicker while children chatter, teachers clap loudly to insist on silence, and rebellious kids ignore the adult plea and pop potato chip bags open with a bang! Metal lunch boxes clang as hungry tykes unpack a multitude of tins, cartons, juice boxes, and squeezable thingamajigs. The display on the tables is like a giant fire sale. Now picture the typical metal cafeteria table with benches made to fit the average fifth-grader. Your kindergartner’s feet are

September 2016 | fairfieldparent.com

dangling and there’s no backrest. She has to balance while her elbows hunch up practically to shoulder level in order to stabilize herself on the table edge, her little eyes barely able to see past the barrage of sandwich bags and containers spread before her. In an effort to ensure that their kids eat anything at all, well-meaning parents pack lunch boxes filled to the brim, typically with seven to eight different options. She sits and tries to ignore the boy next to her who keeps elbowing her in the ribs as he turns to talk to his friend on the other side of her—and turns back to eat—and then turns back to his friend. By the time she gets out all the containers you’ve packed, plus the juice box straw finally unwrapped and poked hard enough that juice squirts her in the face, five minutes have gone by. She’s holding up her other hand to signal the teacher, “Can you please open this lid?” but there are three other kids who need help first. Meanwhile, that nice girl who played with her at the craft table this morning wants to chat—and she just wants to make friends. Maybe she’ll get a few containers open and swig down that juice, but now her mind is on recess. Here’s the biggest dilemma:

RP Fairfield Parent half sept.qxp_Layout 1 8/16/16 7:11 AM Page 1

For most kids, their priority during that very quick lunch is to visit with their friends and get a few bites of food in in the process. However, teachers and the parents have a different priority for lunchtime: They want kids to have a nutritious meal so they are well fueled and ready to learn in the afternoon.

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Solutions to the Chaos

If your school cafeteria resembles the picture we’ve painted above, and you want to rest assured that your child gets a healthy lunch in her belly, here are six solutions to finding some calm in the chaos:

Fun For The whole Family

Send one easy-open container plus a drink. Bento boxes are all the rage nowadays. For many families, there is just enough time to get lunches packed and to grab them on the way out the door in the morning. The solution is a one-piece bento with an easyopen lid. Bentos are not as overwhelming as a lunch box filled to the brim with individual plastic bags, containers, and drippy fruit cups with tricky foil lids. Our favorites are EasyLunchboxes (the best-selling lunch-box system on Amazon) and the Yumbox (yumboxlunch.com). Both offer easy-open lids and compartments that are just the right size for kids. The Yumbox can be ordered with different trays that fit inside the box itself. Our favorite tray has five compartments each marked with a food group: Protein, Vegetables, Fruit, Dairy, and Grains to ensure a balanced lunch every time you pack.

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Pack “grab and gab” food. Cut fresh fruit, veggies, sandwiches, cheese, etc., small enough so that kids can grab a piece without having to look down, and continue to gab with their friends across the table. Using a cookie cutter to create food in a fun shape like a dinosaur keeps the eating on track for some kids. But for kids who tend to eat a sandwich and skip the other items, try cutting the sandwich into small pieces so the child alternates grabbing a variety of foods, much like a mini-smorgasbord. Remember, you don’t need to send a whole sandwich when sending half leaves room in little bellies for other key food groups. Include a power-packed smoothie that you made the night before. Freeze it directly in a cup or Mason jar with a lid and be sure to include a wide straw. Wrap some rubber bands around the continued on next page ››

COACH MEL’S TIP: WHAT’S THE STAR OF YOUR CHILD’S LUNCH? As a speech-language pathologist, I teach the parents engaged in lunch-box dinners with their child to practice this little script: “I’ve got ____ in my lunch!” In all my years of sitting in school cafeterias and listening to young kids, it’s always the first thing they say to each other. It’s their traditional conversation starter, usually accompanied by them proudly holding up the celebrity food—the star of the lunch box. I can attest that I hear just as many kids enthusiastically say, “I have fruit today!” as “I have chips today!” Try for the veggies. It’s really OK—it’s just as cool to have vegetables cut up into stars or other fun shapes so they can announce, “I have CUCUMBER STARS today!” Better yet, get the kids involved packing the lunches and creating fun shapes so they can exclaim, “I made carrot triangles for lunch!”

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›› continued from previous page

jar for added grip and to keep little hands from getting too chilly. By the time your child opens her lunch, the smoothie will be the perfect consistency, plus it helps to keep the lunch cold. Pack last night’s dinner for lunch. If your child has a favorite healthy dinner, find ways to pack it in his lunch the next day. Use insulated containers to keep soups, stews, or pasta warm for lunchtime. Using leftovers can save time packing lunch in the morning, too. Pack a waste-free lunch. A lunch-box system means that you won’t be throwing away plastic bags every day. Use brightly colored cloth napkins and stainless steel water bottles to make lunch even more fun. Use lunch packing as a chance to show kids that they help to reduce, reuse, and recycle. Start weekly lunch-box dinners at home. For kids transitioning to school lunch, introduce once-a-week lunch-box dinners where the entire family pretends to eat in the school cafeteria. At the entrance to the kitchen or dining area, one parent stashes a large bin, just like the kids will find at school. Each member of the family has their own distinct lunch box thrown into the bin, along with a few “old” random empty lunch boxes, so kids can practice digging down to the bottom to find their own. Once everyone is seated at the table, the child can practice the fine motor skills of unzipping zippers, unfastening Velcro flaps, and opening up containers. Choose a lunch box that is easy to open and pack it with “grab and gab” food, just like you would in the cafeteria.

Once the meal is over, everyone latches their lunch box and puts it back in the bin, just like at school.

Phasing in New Foods

When packing lunch, parents pray that their child will “just eat something!” But at the end of the day, especially if the child is a picky eater, parents sigh as they open the lunch-box latch and see that lunch has barely been touched. What can a parent do at home to encourage kids to eat lunch, even when they eat only five to 15 different foods and are hesitant to try anything new? Here are some tips to encourage young eaters to explore beyond their preferred foods: Begin with exposure. Kids may need to see a new food multiple times before they may even consider trying it. That means they need to see it at school, too. If you’re thinking, “But he won’t eat it, so why pack it?” remember that the first step is helping your hesitant eater get used to the presence of that food in his lunch box again and again. Food doesn’t have to be eaten to serve a purpose in food education, and it doesn’t have to be a large quantity of food when first introduced. Give kids ownership in the lunch-packing process. All kids like predictability and being a part of the process. Ask them to help with choosing, preparing, and packing lunch items. They are more likely to enjoy food when they are involved. Include a favorite, but just enough. Most of us eat our favorite foods first, so be sure to include your child’s preferred food, but

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not too much. Provide just enough so that you won’t be worried that they are starving, but not so much that the other lesspreferred choices don’t stand a chance. No comments, please! When the lunch box comes home, resist the urge to unpack it immediately. Give everyone a chance to breathe, especially those kids with sensory challenges who have difficulty with transitions from one environment to another. When you eventually open it, don’t comment about the contents. Say nothing, positive or negative. For many kids, it creates too much focus on whether they ate or not. For now, just wash it out and set it on the counter for your child to pack again later that evening. If your child mentions the food or requests it again, that’s the time to respond with a positive comment. Be careful not to say things like, “See, I knew you would like it!” You may mean well, but a child will typically interpret that as “See, I was right and you weren’t.” Try stating something positive, such as, “Pomegranates are one of my favorites—I like how they crunch and squirt at the same time in my mouth!” Make a lunch-packing roadmap. Skip the filler foods such as pretzels and chips and pack a balanced lunch by including items from all five food groups: proteins, grains, dairy, fruits, and vegetables. Use the chart below to keep you on track and have plenty of options that are frozen or shelf-stable in case you run out of fresh. A handful of frozen edamame or dried fruit can be a great stand-in for fresh vegetables or fruit in a pinch. Whether you have a selective eater or a “foodie” with a palate that rivals a Top Chef, have all the kids in your family create a packing map and be responsible for their own lunch packing. Kids can choose foods from each group while the parent provides the healthy food options and keeps the kitchen stocked! Remember, it starts with exposure and builds from there.

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Excerpt from Raising a Healthy, Happy Eater: A Stage-by-Stage Guide to Setting Your Child on the Path to Adventurous Eating, copyright © Nimali Fernando and Melanie Potock 2015. Reprinted by permission of the publisher, The Experiment. Available wherever books are sold. theexperimentpublishing.com.

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Fairf ieldParent 21

Should Your Kid Play Contact Sports? ››

As our understanding of concussions grows, policies are being put in place to keep young athletes safe. But some still wonder whether certain sports can ever be considered safe for kids. By Melissa Kagan

t’s a question more and more parents are asking these days: “Should I let my kid play football?” Or maybe it’s soccer, lacrosse, ice hockey, or some other contact sport. Their concern with these activities can be summed up in one word: concussions. For most kids, playing sports is fun, social, and challenging. Sports are also an excellent way to teach teamwork, competitiveness, and responsibility, while helping kids grow stronger and stay fit. But at the same time, a growing body of research has focused on the dangers of concussions and head injuries in youth sports, and the conversation has escalated over the past few years. Lawsuits by former pro-football players with lingering health problems and Will Smith’s 2015 movie Concussion have brought the topic of sportsrelated head injuries into the spotlight. In some ways, this extra attention is great for young athletes. And yet, in other ways it’s holding them back, as some parents wonder whether contact sports are safe in any capacity.

When Can Kids Start Playing Again?

Discussion about the risk of sports-related brain injury leads to heightened awareness. Many families and coaches now better understand the signs and symptoms of concussions. They’re seeking care when necessary, taking precautions, and following the proper re22

September 2016 | fairfieldparent.com

turn-to-play guidelines (a set of criteria detailing when someone can return to the field after a concussion)—all positive developments. Concerns over athletes returning to play too quickly have led legislators in almost all states to pass laws stating that no player may return to play the same day of getting a concussion and that the athlete must be cleared by an appropriate health care professional before she is allowed to return to play in games or practices. The laws typically also mandate that players, parents, and coaches receive education on the dangers of concussions and recognizing their signs and symptoms. The return-to-play protocol is significant for athletes of all ages and competitive levels because the long-term effects of concussions in children can be considerable. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a six-step program, allowing approximately 24 hours for each step. If any symptoms return during this process, it’s a sign of incomplete recovery and the young athlete should wait an additional 24 hours before attempting that step again. Generally speaking, symptoms should improve within a week to 10 days, but a doctor should re-evaluate athletes with persistent symptoms. “There’s a rare condition called ‘second’ impact in which a second concussion occurs before a first concussion has properly

healed,” according to Jay Selman, M.D., chief of neurosurgery and consultant to the Traumatic Bain Injury Unit at Blythedale Children’s Hospital in Valhalla, NY. “This causes rapid and severe brain swelling and a vast majority of these cases end in death.” The first step in the AAP’s protocol is for the child to rest—physically, as well as cognitively. “Relative cognitive rest involves minimizing potential cognitive stressors, such as schoolwork, but this also includes video games,” Dr. Selman says. “Modified school assignments shouldn’t result in your child playing Xbox all afternoon.” After that, the steps call for the child to slowly and methodically return to activities.

New Policies

Another result of the public discussion about concussions is that Pop Warner, the country’s largest youth football organization, announced in May that it will ban kickoffs in games starting this fall, the latest attempt to reduce the risk of head blows that can lead to concussions. The elimination of kickoffs will apply to the three youngest Pop Warner divisions, which include players ages 5-10. It will possibly expand to older kids in the near future, once the results of the change have been reviewed. Instead of kickoffs, the ball will be placed at the 35-yard-line at the beginning of each half and after each score. Pop Warner will also reduce the amount of contact time in practice in all age groups, to 25 percent from 33 percent. Because the number of children who sustain concussions is on the rise, youth recreation programs and many school districts are responding with stricter policies to ensure safer play. For example last winter, the Westchester County Concussion Task Force unveiled a list of best practices for concussion management

for high school and youth sports. The 10-point plan focuses on improving collaboration between school officials when treating head injuries. It also stresses the importance of parent education about concussions and how to identify symptoms. The task force’s goal is to get schools caught up on the latest, rapidly evolving science of head injury protocol and concussion treatment. Many advocacy groups encourage parents to have their children evaluated before the playing season begins to establish a baseline measure of brain function. One such test, called the Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing (ImPACT), evaluates memory, motor speed, and reaction time. Athletes take the test at the start of the season and periodically thereafter, and again if they’re injured. continued on next page ››

RETURN-TO-PLAY STEPS This is an example of a what a typical return-to-play plan looks like: 1. T he athlete must observe complete physical and cognitive rest while symptoms are present. 2. O nce the athlete has stopped showing any symptoms, he or she can progress to light aerobic activity. 3. P rovided symptoms don’t return, activity may increase to sportspecific exercises without head impact. 4. The athlete may advance to more complex, non-contact drills. 5. The athlete may advance to full-contact practice. 6. The athlete may advance to normal game play.

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An exciting two-day, family-friendly nature festival celebrating the fall season and annual hawk migration at Audubon Greenwich’s Quaker Ridge. Come and enjoy live raptor shows, guided hikes, games, crafts, a climbing wall, eco-friendly exhibitors, and delicious food.

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Interested Sponsors & Exhibitors, please call Michelle at 203-930-1350

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September 2016 | fairfieldparent.com

‹‹ continued from previous page

Paralyzed by Fear

The recent attention to the dangers of concussions has led some parents to say they are now paralyzed with fear and are choosing to keep their kids out of sports entirely. Lisa, a mother of two in Scarsdale, NY, is relieved that neither of her boys has asked to play football. “I would be fine with flag football but I would be entirely opposed to tackle football,” she says. “Although, my 13-year-old son, who, like many boys his age, has suffered from one concussion already from soccer. So now I’m rethinking soccer as well. I’m starting to question the safety of any sport at this point.” There is a middle ground that some experts are advocating. Instead of kids avoiding sports entirely, these advocates believe in setting a minimum age for when kids should be allowed to start playing contact sports. Bennet Omalu, M.D., a forensic pathologist and leading expert in the growing field of concussion research, wrote an op-ed piece last year for The New York Times saying that children should be prevented from playing football and other high-impact contact sports before the age of 18. “Our children are minors who have not reached the age of consent,” Dr. Omalu wrote. “It is our moral duty as a society to protect the most vulnerable of us. The human brain becomes fully developed at about 18 to 25 years old. We should at least wait for our children to grow up, be provided with the information and education on the risk of play, and let them make their own decisions. No adult, not a parent or a coach, should be allowed to make this potentially life-altering decision for a child.” Other experts in the field propose that tackle football, heading in soccer, and full-body checking in ice hockey not start until kids are 14, largely because their brains and bodies are still developing and are therefore more vulnerable to serious injury. “Nothing magic happens when an athlete turns 14,” Dr. Selman says. “There are big 14-year-olds who develop earlier and then there are 14-year-olds who look like they are 10. But by the time teens are juniors or seniors in high school, the difference in size between the athletes isn’t quite as dramatic.”

When to Quit

There is no set number of concussions that determine when a young person should give up playing contact sports. The circumstances that surround each individual injury, such as how the injury occurred and the duration of symptoms, are very important and must be factored in when assessing an athlete’s risk for—and potential long-term consequences from—experiencing additional and potentially more serious concussions. The decision to quit certain sports is a decision best reached after a complete evaluation by your child’s primary care provider and consultation with a physician or neuropsychologist who specializes in treating sports concussions. It’s not an easy decision to make. Ultimately, it is up to parents to make informed choices based on their individual circumstances about whether to let children play contact sports. And above all, it is critical for parents and coaches to arm themselves with proper concussion knowledge, the right equipment, good training, an understanding of the symptoms of a concussion, and a healthy attitude about sports should they let their kids participate. Melissa Kagan is the former editor-in-chief of the now-defunct lifetimemoms.com. She is currently a freelance writer whose work has been featured in Mommy Poppins, Westchester Magazine and Westchester Family. She lives in Pelham, NY, with her husband and two children.

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OUTINGS: New York City Fire Museum

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New York’s Bravest 1

Courtesy New York City Fire Museum

Housed in a 1904 firehouse, this must-see museum tells the history of the FDNY. ›› By Melissa Wickes 3

1 This 1912 American LaFrance Tractor-Steamer, a coal-fired steam engine drawn by a gasoline powered front-drive tractor, was dubbed “Old 93” upon its retirement in 1933 when it was then used as a parade vehicle. 2 The New York City Fire Museum is housed in the former quarters of Engine Company No. 30, a 1904 Beaux-Arts firehouse. 3 The Brooklyn Company Engine No. 8 is a steam engine pumper made by American LaFrance in 1901 and was drawn by three horses. 4 Framed documents and works of art illustrate firefighting in the volunteer period in the Romance of Firefighting exhibit. 5 This permanent memorial to the 343 firefighters lost on 9/11 was designed by Jude Amsel and is made of tiles with the names and images of each firefighter.

The New York City Fire Museum is the official museum of the Fire Department of the City of New York. Housed in the former quarters of Engine Company No. 30, the museum is a tribute to firefighting and takes visitors through the history of techniques, equipment, and more. Upon entering, guests are greeted by a fire truck—fun for kids to climb on and perfect for a photo op.

Permanent Exhibits

Firefighting on Parade displays beautifully crafted machines and artifacts used by volunteer firefighters who marched in the firefighter parades. Paintings and illustrations depicting volunteer firefighters at work are shown in Romance of Firefighting, which honors the venerable New Yorkers who risk their lives to keep the city safe. Check out the evolution of the fire engine from the steam engine to the motorized machine in Fire Apparatus. A 26

September 2016 | fairfieldparent.com

crowd favorite is Tools and Uniforms, which shows how significantly firefighting gear has changed throughout the last 30 years, from breathing masks to protective garments to tools. The 9/11 Memorial Room is the first permanent memorial recognizing the 343 members of the FDNY who sacrificed their lives on Sept. 11. The exhibit includes a black marble and tile memorial showing pictures of the firefighters who lost their lives, cases displaying tools used and items recovered, and a computer station at which visitors can browse profiles of the fallen.

Fire Safety Education Program

In collaboration with the FDNY, the museum operates a fire safety program, which teaches participants about fire prevention in homes and how to escape a fire. After classroom training, students go through a simulated fire in a mock home environment. The simulation consists of a

tour through four rooms and common fire hazards are explained. A bedroom is then filled with theatrical smoke and a firefighter teaches the children how to escape.

Remembering 9/11

The NYC Fire Museum will hold a 9/11 Memorial Ceremony on Sept. 11, at 1pm, which will be led by the FDNY commissioner, with songs and a speech made by the museum director.

Details

Address: 278 Spring St., Manhattan, NY Directions: Approximately a 45-minute drive from Fairfield Hours: Daily, 10am-5pm Admission: $8; $5 students, seniors, and children ages 2-12; free with ID: FDNY, NYPD, DSNY, PANYNJ, Active U.S. Military, and Merchant Marine For more information: 212-352-3117 or nycfiremuseum.org

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EDITOR’S HOT TICKETS

Our calendar is full of great ideas. First, here are the 10 events we consider can’t-miss—the ones we’re taking our own kids to. Consider it your cheat sheet to the best of what’s great this month!

Family Sunset Cruise

Peace Day Celebration FREE

WHEN: Friday, Sept. 2, 6:30pm WHERE: Maritime Aquarium, 10 N. Water St., Norwalk AGES: 5 and older WHAT: Catch the sunset while also observing the sound’s wildlife. Book your tickets by calling or visiting the website. WHY WE LOVE IT: This may be the last sunset we enjoy before the days get shorter! WANT TO GO? $29.95. 203-852-0700. maritimeaquarium.org.

WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 17, 2-3pm WHERE: Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton AGES: All WHAT: In recognition of the International Day of Peace, visitors make origami cranes, a symbol of peace, and then display them all in the Children’s Library. WHY WE LOVE IT: The world can always use a little more peace. WANT TO GO? 203-762-3950. wiltonlibrary.org.

Norwalk Seaport Association Oyster Festival

The Tiny Miracles Foundation’s WILD Family Event

WHEN: Sept. 10-11, Saturday-Sunday, 11am-8pm WHERE: Veteran’s Memorial Park, Seaview Avenue, Norwalk AGES: All WHAT: Family-friendly fun will be available at the Kid’s Cove all weekend with circus acts, clowns, cartoon character meet-and-greets, music, and other performances under the big tent. WHY WE LOVE IT: This annual festival has a range of activities and entertainment that the whole family will enjoy. WANT TO GO? $12; $5 children ages 5-12; free for children younger than 5. 203-838-9444. seaport.org.

Grandparents’ Weekend Discount

WHEN: Sept. 10-11, Saturday-Sunday, 10am-5pm WHERE: Maritime Aquarium, 10 N. Water St., Norwalk AGES: All WHAT: Celebrate Grandparent’s Day all weekend with free admission for each grandparent per child’s ticket. WHY WE LOVE IT: A great way to spend time with Grandma and Grandpa! WANT TO GO? $22.95; $20.95 children ages 13-17; $15.95 children ages 3-12; free for grandparents with child’s ticket. 203-852-0700. maritimeaquarium.org.

September 2016 | fairfieldparent.com

WHEN: Sunday, Sept. 18, 4:30-7pm WHERE: Beardsley Zoo, 1875 Noble Ave., Bridgeport AGES: All WHAT: Enjoy private access to the zoo, viewing all exhibits and unlimited carousel rides. WHY WE LOVE IT: Proceeds go toward the Tiny Miracles Foundation, a nonprofit that supports families with premature infants in Fairfield County. WANT TO GO? $10; free for children younger than 3. 203-394-6563. ttmf.org.

Lauren DiNardo Fashion Show

WHEN: Thursday, Sept. 22, 6:30pm WHERE: Ridgefield Playhouse, 80 E. Ridge Ave., Ridgefield AGES: All WHAT: Lauren DiNardo presents a high-energy inspirational evening, where a few surprise guests rock the runway. WHY WE LOVE IT: Funds benefit The Resiliency Center of Newton: a nonprofit for families and individuals affected by the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School. WANT TO GO? $25. 203-438-5795. ridgefieldplayhouse.org.

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CityBound

Sheffield Island Lighthouse Ferry

WHEN: Through Sept. 25: daily, 11am, 2pm, and 3:30pm WHERE: Sheffield Island Lighthouse, 4 N. Water St., Norwalk AGES: All WHAT: Visitors take a 45-foot catamaran for a cruise to the island then tour the lighthouse, observe wildlife in their natural habitat in the Stewart B. McKinney National Wildlife Refuge, play on the lawns around the lighthouse, and look for seashells. WHY WE LOVE IT: A short but very scenic vacation! WANT TO GO? $22; $12 children ages 4-12; $5 for children younger than 4. 203-838-9444. seaport.org.

Stream Hunters

WHEN: Sunday, Sept. 25, 4:30-6pm WHERE: Stamford Museum & Nature Center, 39 Scofieldtown Road, Stamford AGES: 5 and older WHAT: Join museum staff and explore Poorhouse Brook for the amphibians, macroinvertebrates, and fish that call it home. WHY WE LOVE IT: You’ll be amazed at what lives beneath the rocks and leaves of the stream. WANT TO GO? $8. 203-322-1646. stamfordmuseum.org.

Medieval fun in 2016

Gallop Into History Get your armor ready, saddle up your horse, and gallop up to Fort Washington for the popular Medieval Festival at Fort Tryon Park. Great fun for families, there are performances, processions, music, food and drink, and medieval wares to buy. The main event is the armed combat and jousting competition in which wannabe Jon Snows will show you how it was done in olden times. A living history lesson for all ages. Sep. 18; 11:30am-6pm. Age: All. Fort Tryon Park, 741 Fort Washington Ave., Fort Washington. 212-7951600. whidc.org. Courtesty New Victory Theater

Courtesy WHIDC

Must-Sees in N Y C

Giant Pumpkin Weigh Off FREE

WHEN: Sunday, Sept. 25, 10am-3pm WHERE: Ballard Park, Main Street, Ridgefield AGES: All WHAT: Giant pumpkins weighing up to 2,000 lbs. are brought in by truck and placed on a scale for a weight contest to win cash prizes. Other festivities include farm stands and homemade baked goods, children’s crafts and activities, shopping, a pumpkin carving demonstration, music, and food trucks. WHY WE LOVE IT: A festive event for the season! Perhaps one is “The Great Pumpkin”! WANT TO GO? 203-438-5992. business.destinationridgefield.com.

Sign, Say, and Play FREE

Go 20,000 leagues under Times Square with this eye catching new production

WHEN: Sept. 9-30, Fridays, 10:30-11:15am WHERE: Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton AGES: Newborn to 5 WHAT: The workshop sessions will focus on mealtime, bedtime, bath time, and getting dressed. Register for each session separately. WHY WE LOVE IT: Children learn a new language best when they are very young. WANT TO GO? 203-762-3950. wiltonlibrary.org. ››

Find The Original Nemo The New Victory Theater opens its new season with a production of the Jules Verne science fiction classic, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. The atmospheric production has eye-catching special effects and uses multimedia and projections to bring the sea to the stage. Kids will learn about the infamous Captain Nemo and the tale of the Nautilus. For ages 8 and older due to complex story. Sep. 30-Oct. 10; see website for show times. $16-$38. New Victory Theater, 229 W. 42nd St., Times Square Theater District. 646-223-3010. newvictory.org. Fairf ieldParent 31

SHOW TIME! First County Bank Summer Concert Series

WHEN: Wednesday, Sept. 7, 7:30-9:30pm WHERE: Calf Pasture Beach, 69 Calf Pasture Beach Road, Norwalk AGES: All WHAT: Summertime performs “Golden Oldies.” WANT TO GO? $10 parking fee without Norwalk beach pass. 203-8547806. norwalkct.org.

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. Pre-K Zumba FREE

WHEN: Friday, Sept. 9, 11am-12pm WHERE: Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton AGES: 3-5 WHAT: Parents and children will have fun in this extremely interactive and easy-to-follow Latin-inspired Zumba Kids class. Registration required. WANT TO GO? 203-762-3950. wiltonlibrary.org.

Pajamas, Birthdays, and Shabbat FREE

WHEN: Friday, Sept. 16, 5:30pm WHERE: Temple Sholom, 300 E. Putnam Ave., Greenwich AGES: Newborn to 5 WHAT: Join this Friday night Shabbat filled with ruach (spirit), singing, and dancing. A family-friendly dinner will be held afterward. WANT TO GO? 203-869-7191. templesholom.com.

Cho’s Taekwondo Open House FREE

WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 17, 10am-1pm WHERE: Cho’s Taekwondo, 5 Oak St., Greenwich AGES: All WHAT: There will be fun activities, games, snacks, and free taekwondo lessons for all. WANT TO GO? 203-661-8611. chos-taekwondo.com.

Adulting 101: Introduction to Sewing FREE

Jay and Ray ‘Going Back to School’

WHEN: Sunday, Sept. 11, 3pm WHERE: The Palace Theatre, 61 Atlantic St., Stamford AGES: 3-8 WHAT: Jason Pharr and Ray Bryant will be joined by special guests. WANT TO GO? $30 and up. 203-325-4466. palacestamford.org.

Joshua Davis

WHEN: Sunday, Sept. 11, 8pm WHERE: Ridgefield Playhouse, 80 E. Ridge Ave., Ridgefield AGES: All WHAT: Joshua Davis, a finalist on NBC’s The Voice, writes songs that blend the roots of American music with rock ‘n’ roll and vintage soul. WANT TO GO? $25. 203-438-5795. ridgefieldplayhouse.org.

Vivaldi Sing FREE

WHEN: Tuesday, Sept. 13, 7:15pm WHERE: First Congregational Church, 108 Sound Beach Ave., Old Greenwich AGES: 13 and older WHAT: The Greenwich Choral Society launches its 2016-2017 season. WANT TO GO? 203-622-5136. greenwichchoralsociety.org.

Eric Hutchinson with Great Caesar and Skout

WHEN: Wednesday, Sept. 14, 8pm WHERE: Ridgefield Playhouse, 80 E. Ridge Ave., Ridgefield AGES: All WHAT: Eric Hutchinson returns to the road with brand-new tour. WANT TO GO? $35. 203-438-5795. ridgefieldplayhouse.org.

Itty Bitty Special: Puppet Playtime FREE

WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 17, 10am WHERE: Westport Library, 20 Jesup Road, Westport AGES: Newborn to 5 WHAT: Songs, stories, and a puppet parade with a Master Puppeteer. WANT TO GO? 203-291-4800. westportlibrary.org.

WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 24, 2pm WHERE: Westport Library, 20 Jesup Road, Westport AGES: 9-17 WHAT: A new series to develop life skills in young adults, starting with basic hand sewing. WANT TO GO? 203-291-4800. westportlibrary.org.

Joan Crowe’s Jesters of Jive: Blues, Jazz, Swing, & Comedy FREE

Writing the College Essay: From Blank Page to Story FREE

Yellow Dress Performance FREE

WHEN: Tuesday, Sept. 27, 7pm WHERE: Westport Library, 20 Jesup Road, Westport AGES: 13-17 WHAT: Learn how to draft a college essay with former college admissions officer Amy Estersohn. WANT TO GO? 203-291-4800. westportlibrary.org. 32

September 2016 | fairfieldparent.com

WHEN: Sunday, Sept. 18, 2pm WHERE: Westport Library, 20 Jesup Road, Westport AGES: All WHAT: Joan Crowe with the Jesters of Jazz open the 2016-2017 season. WANT TO GO? 203-291-4800. westportlibrary.org.

WHEN: Thursday, Sept. 29, 7-8:30pm WHERE: Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton AGES: 13 and older WHAT: This one-woman play is based on the stories of victims of dating violence. Reservations required. WANT TO GO? 203-762-3950. wiltonlibrary.org.

ANIMAL LOVERS Dragons: Real or Myth

WHEN: Through Sept. 5: daily, 10am-5pm WHERE: Maritime Aquarium, 10 N. Water St., Norwalk AGES: All WHAT: You can find dragons living today on land and in the sea, as you’ll discover in this exhibit. WANT TO GO? $19.95; $17.95 children ages 13-17; $12.95 children ages 3-12; free for children younger than 3. 203-852-0700. maritimeaquarium.org.

‘Flutter Zone’ Butterfly Exhibit

WHEN: Through Sept. 5: daily, 10am-5pm WHERE: Maritime Aquarium, 10 N. Water St., Norwalk AGES: All WHAT: Features dozens of varieties of vibrant butterflies flying freely. WANT TO GO? $19.95; $17.95 children ages 13-17; $12.95 children ages 3-12; free for children younger than 3. 203-852-0700. maritimeaquarium.org.

Beloved Camels at Beardsley Zoo

WHEN: Through Sept. 5: 9am-4pm WHERE: Beardsley Zoo, 1875 Noble Ave., Bridgeport AGES: All WHAT: Toby and Goliath are back at the zoo and are joined by Noah. WANT TO GO? $15; $12 children ages 3-11; $5 camel rides; free for children younger than 3. 203-394-6563. beardsleyzoo.org.

Feeding Time Program for Families

WHEN: Sunday, Sept. 11, 8-10am WHERE: Maritime Aquarium, 10 N. Water St., Norwalk AGES: 5 and older WHAT: Feeding the turtles, horseshoe crabs, and rays, and more. WANT TO GO? $50; $25 children ages 5-12. 203-852-0700. maritimeaquarium.org.

Animal Feedings at Earthplace

WHEN: Through Jan. 1, 2018: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 11am; Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, 4pm WHERE: Earthplace, 10 Woodside Lane, Westport AGES: All WHAT: Join Earthplace staff in the Animal Hall and Connecticut Birds of Prey exhibit for scheduled feeding times. On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, watch the animals in Animal Hall get fed. On Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, it’s time to feed the Birds of Prey. WANT TO GO? $7; $5 children ages 1-12. 203-227-7253. earthplace.org. ››

Quality Instruments are Easier to Play! Our Back to School Rental Special:

VIOLIN, VIOLA, CELLO, BASS 4-Month Trial Starting at $10 per month

Birds of Prey Day

WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 17, 10:30am-12pm WHERE: Connecticut Audubon Society, 2325 Burr St., Fairfield AGES: 5 and older WHAT: Meet and learn about bird ambassadors. Registration required. WANT TO GO? $8. 203-259-6305. ctaudubon.org.

Penguin Plaza

WHEN: Through Sept. 30: daily, 9am-4pm WHERE: Beardsley Zoo, 1875 Noble Ave., Bridgeport AGES: All WHAT: Three males and one female will play in a temporary exhibit. WANT TO GO? $15; $12 children ages 3-11; free for children younger than 3. 203-394-6563. beardsleyzoo.org.

Animals Without Passports Special Exhibit

WHEN: Through Jan. 2, 2017: daily, 10am-5pm WHERE: Maritime Aquarium, 10 N. Water St., Norwalk AGES: All WHAT: Learn the challenges of humpback whales’ 3,000-mile migration. WANT TO GO? $19.95; $17.95 children ages 13-17; $12.95 children ages 3-12; free for children younger than 3. 203-852-0700. maritimeaquarium.org.

403 East Putnam Ave.

Greenwich/Cos Cob 203-661-9500

25 Davenport Ave.

Westport

203-227-9577 www.atelierconstantinpopescu.com Email: atelierstrings@aol.com

Music School at Greenwich/Cos Cob Location Fairf ieldParent 33

Girls Who Code Club FREE

WHEN: Sunday, Sept. 25, 1-3pm WHERE: Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton AGES: 9-17 WHAT: Girls participate in project-based activities in a fun and creative environment. WANT TO GO? 203-762-3950. wiltonlibrary.org.

Ogden House Tours

WHEN: Sept. 1-25, Thursdays, 1-4pm WHERE: Ogden House, 1520 Bronson Road, Fairfield AGES: All WHAT: Learn fascinating information and tidbits on the history of the house, its intriguing two hearths, and the everyday tasks and chores that kept the Ogden family busy. WANT TO GO? $5; $3 children. 203-259-1598. fairfieldhs.org.

SMARTY PANTS Electric Paris

WHEN: Through Sept. 4: Tuesday-Sunday, 10am-5pm WHERE: Bruce Museum, 1 Museum Drive, Greenwich AGES: All WHAT: Electric Paris is the first exhibition to explore the ways in which artists responded to oil and gas lamps and electric lighting. WANT TO GO? $7; $6 children; free for children younger than 5. 203869-0376. brucemuseum.org.

Mega Making Exhibit

WHEN: Through Sept. 5: daily, 10am-5pm WHERE: Stepping Stones Museum for Children, 303 West Ave., Norwalk AGES: Newborn to 5 WHAT: Using real tools, makers explore art, textiles, construction, woodworking, tinkering, and gadgets, and a variety of materials, techniques, and projects. WANT TO GO? $15; free for children younger than 1. 203-899-0606. steppingstonesmuseum.org.

Author Meet and Greet with Carolyn Eckert: ‘Your Idea Starts Here’ FREE

WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 17, 12-3pm WHERE: Fairfield University Bookstore, 1499 Post Road, Fairfield AGES: 9 and older WHAT: The book provides 77 mind-expanding ways to unleash your creativity. WANT TO GO? 203-255-7756. fairfieldbookstore.com.

Science Sunday: Flora and Fauna

WHEN: Sunday, Sept. 18, 1-3pm WHERE: Bruce Museum, 1 Museum Drive, Greenwich AGES: 5 and older WHAT: Participants explore simple science concepts inspired by the museum’s collections. WANT TO GO? $7; $6 students; free for children younger than 5. 203869-0376. brucemuseum.org. 34

September 2016 | fairfieldparent.com

Bruce Beginnings FREE

WHEN: Sept. 6-27, Tuesdays, 11-11:45am and 1-1:45pm WHERE: Bruce Museum Seaside Center, 1 Museum Drive, Greenwich AGES: 3-5 WHAT: Explore the museum’s collections through picture books and hands-on activities. WANT TO GO? 203-869-0376. brucemuseum.org.

Electricity Exhibit

WHEN: Through Nov. 6: Tuesday-Sunday, 10am-5pm WHERE: Bruce Museum, 1 Museum Drive, Greenwich AGES: All WHAT: This exhibit, developed by The Franklin Institute, will show how your own body can become a battery. It brings the science and history of electricity to life through engaging hands-on interactives including Plasma Tubes, Jumping Rings, Solenoid, and Jacob’s Ladder. WANT TO GO? $7; $6 children; free for children younger than 5. 203-869-0376. brucemuseum.org.

Treasures of the Peabody: 150 Years of Exploration and Discovery

WHEN: Through Jan. 8, 2017: Tuesday-Saturday, 10am-5pm; Sunday, 12-5pm WHERE: Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History, 170 Whitney Ave., New Haven AGES: All WHAT: Learn the Peabody’s story, beginning with the founding of Yale in 1701 and the early evolution of science in America, to the expeditions and cutting-edge research that curators are leading today. WANT TO GO? $6-$13. 203-432-5050. peabody.yale.edu.

Rising Tides Exhibition Opens

WHEN: Through Feb. 28, 2017: daily, 10am-4pm WHERE: Fairfield Museum and History Center, 370 Beach Road, Fairfield AGES: All WHAT: Discover the Fairfield shoreline’s long history of coastal resilience through photographs, artifacts, and documents. Examine how climate change presents new challenges for the future. WANT TO GO? $5; $3 for children younger than 12. 203-259-1598. fairfieldhistory.org.

ONCE UPON A TIME! Read to Me Storytime FREE

WHEN: Wednesday, Sept. 7, 10:30-11am WHERE: Fairfield Museum and History Center, 370 Beach Road, Fairfield AGES: Newborn to 5 WHAT: Enjoy stories relating to the Fabulous Animals exhibition. WANT TO GO? 203-259-1598. fairfieldhistory.org.

Happy Birthday Roald Dahl FREE

WHEN: Tuesday, Sept. 13, 3-4pm WHERE: Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton AGES: 3-8 WHAT: Celebrate the 100th birthday of Roald Dahl. WANT TO GO? 203-762-3950. wiltonlibrary.org.

Kids’ Story Time: ‘Harold and the Purple Crayon’ FREE

WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 17, 4-4:30pm WHERE: Fairfield University Bookstore, 1499 Post Road, Fairfield AGES: 9 and older WHAT: A story, simple craft, and a little Starbucks snack. WANT TO GO? 203-255-7756. fairfieldbookstore.com.

SPECIAL NEEDS

Reading to Rover FREE

Special Olympics Connecticut’s Unified Sports Fall Festival FREE

WHEN: Sept. 9-23, Fridays, 4-4:45pm WHERE: Westport Library, 20 Jesup Road, Westport AGES: 5-12 WHAT: For independent readers to practice reading aloud. First-come, first-served. WANT TO GO? 203-291-4800. westportlibrary.org.

My First Book Club FREE

WHEN: Tuesday, Sept. 27, 4:30pm WHERE: Westport Library, 20 Jesup Road, Westport AGES: 5-8 WHAT: Discuss The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes. WANT TO GO? 203-291-4800. westportlibrary.org.

Terrific Tales for Twos and Three FREE

WHEN: Sept. 13–Nov. 15, Tuesdays, 10:15-10:45am WHERE: Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton AGES: 2-3 WHAT: Children sing songs, listen to stories, and enjoy playtime. WANT TO GO? 203-762-3950. wiltonlibrary.org.

Books for Babies FREE

WHEN: Sept. 14–Nov. 16, Wednesdays, 10:15-10:45am WHERE: Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton AGES: Newborn to 1 WHAT: There will be singing, playing, and enjoying gentle stories. WANT TO GO? 203-762-3950. wiltonlibrary.org.

Wonderful Ones and Twos FREE

WHEN: Sept. 14–Nov. 16, Wednesdays, 11-11:30am WHERE: Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton AGES: 1-2 WHAT: The emphasis is on books, with some songs and toy time. WANT TO GO? 203-762-3950. wiltonlibrary.org.

WHEN: Sept. 10-11, Saturday-Sunday, 10am WHERE: Scalzi Park, 100 Bridge St., Stamford AGES: All WHAT: The public is invited to cheer on the athletes and witness inspiring athletic accomplishments and great displays of sportsmanship and teamwork. WANT TO GO? 203 230 1201. soct.org.

Sensory-Friendly Morning

WHEN: Sunday, Sept. 18, 8am-12pm WHERE: Maritime Aquarium, 10 N. Water St., Norwalk AGES: All WHAT: Guests with sensory-processing differences will be offered a fun, comfortable, and accepting environment. Lights in the aquarium will be lower, and music and other sounds will be turned down or off. WANT TO GO? $22.95; $20.95 children ages 13-17; $15.95 children ages 3-12. 203-852-0700. maritimeaquarium.org.

TDF Autism Theatre Initiative: ‘The Lion King’

WHEN: Sunday, Sept. 25, see website for times WHERE: Minskoff Theatre, 200 W. 45th St., Midtown, Manhattan, NY AGES: All WHAT: The hugely popular Autism Theatre Initiative’s season begins with the The Lion King. Its mission is to make theater accessible to children and adults on the autism spectrum, and their families. WANT TO GO? See website for prices. 212-912-9770. tdf.org.

FAP Moms Networking and Support Group FREE

WHEN: Monday, Sept. 26, 7:30-9pm WHERE: Pizza Post, 522 E. Putnam Ave., Greenwich AGES: All WHAT: Share, chat, eat, laugh, cry, relax, and have fun in the company of people who understand what you are talking about. WANT TO GO? 203-661-8510. autisticadults.net. ››

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AGES: 5 and older WHAT: The Atacama Ensemble showcases Latin American and Andean music. All members have mastered multiple instruments and are outstanding classical and folkloric musicians. WANT TO GO? 203-862-6750. curiosityconcerts.org.

Music for Youth’s Free Young Persons’ Concert FREE

WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 24, 2pm WHERE: Pequot Library, 720 Pequot Ave., Southport AGES: 5 and older WHAT: Music for Youth and Pequot Library will present the talented violinists Luosha Fang and Eunice Kim at their opening concert. A violin workshop will start at 1:15pm in the children’s library before the concert. WANT TO GO? 203-259-0346. pequotlibrary.org.

Open House and Ribbon Cutting FREE

MINI

MUSICIANS Concert Series FREE

WHEN: Thursday, Sept. 1, 7-9pm WHERE: Mathew’s Park, 295 West Ave., Norwalk AGES: All WHAT: Winter’s Heat performs a Led Zeppelin tribute. WANT TO GO? 203-853-0600. ctgay.org.

Families Singing For Families Benefit Concert

WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 17, 4:30-6pm WHERE: Fairfield Grace United Methodist Church, 1089 Fairfield Woods Road, Fairfield AGES: All WHAT: Sing, dance, play, and make music with teachers and graduated students. Proceeds benefit the outreach classes in Bridgeport. WANT TO GO? $30 per family. 203-256-1656. mtfcinfo.com.

SOWE Music Fest

WHEN: Monday, Sept. 19, 11am-7pm WHERE: Harbor Island Park, 123 Mamaroneck Road, Mamaroneck, NY AGES: All WHAT: A celebration with food, music, and entertainment, which include 15 bands, games, and lots of activities for the kids. WANT TO GO? $50; free for children younger than 12. 917-733-3900. sowemusicfestival.com.

Ukulele Meet-Up FREE

WHEN: Thursday, Sept. 22, 7:30pm WHERE: Westport Library, 20 Jesup Road, Westport AGES: 9 and older WHAT: An informal group for ukulele lovers and novices with musician Bryan Garbe. WANT TO GO? 203-291-4800. westportlibrary.org.

Atacama Ensemble FREE

WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 24, 3pm WHERE: Western Middle School, 1 Western Jr. Highway, Greenwich 36

September 2016 | fairfieldparent.com

WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 24, 9am-12:30pm WHERE: Suzuki Music School of Westport, 246 Post Road E., Westport AGES: All WHAT: Parents and children are invited to the school’s open house and ribbon cutting of a new building. WANT TO GO? 203-227-9474. suzukischools.org.

THE GREAT OUTDOORS The Art and Elegance of Composting FREE

WHEN: Thursday, Sept. 8, 7pm WHERE: Westport Library, 20 Jesup Road, Westport AGES: 9 and older WHAT: Learn fun, easy ways to transform food and yard waste into food for your plants with Rebecca Louie. WANT TO GO? 203-291-4800. westportlibrary.org.

Passport To Space: Martian Tracks (Jupiter Joe)

WHEN: Friday, Sept. 9, 7pm WHERE: Stamford Museum & Nature Center, 39 Scofieldtown Road, Stamford AGES: 5 and older WHAT: Start by enjoying an astronomy presentation, followed by a visit to view the night sky through a 22-inch telescope. WANT TO GO? $5; $3 for children younger than 12. 203-322-1646. stamfordmuseum.org.

Bird Walk FREE

WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 10, 9am WHERE: Connecticut Audubon Society, 2325 Burr St., Fairfield AGES: 9 and older WHAT: Families are invited to hike the trails and learn about the fall bird migration. Registration required. WANT TO GO? 203-259-6305. ctaudubon.org.

Go Outdoors with Van Gogh

WHEN: Sept. 10-11, Saturday-Sunday, 10am-1pm WHERE: Wave Hill, West 249th Street and Independence Avenue, Bronx, NY

AGES: All WHAT: This annual outdoor painting project uses watercolors and pencils. WANT TO GO? $8; $2 children ages 6-18; free for children younger than 6. 718-549-3200. wavehill.org.

Welcome Back BBQ FREE

WHEN: Sunday, Sept. 11, 12pm WHERE: Temple Shalom, 259 Richards Ave., Norwalk AGES: All WHAT: Come for a barbecue to see old friends and meet new ones. Bring lawn chairs or a blanket. WANT TO GO? 203-866-0148. templeshalomweb.org.

Honey Day

WHEN: Sunday, Sept. 25, 1-4pm WHERE: Ogden House, 1520 Bronson Road, Fairfield AGES: All WHAT: Learn about beekeeping, and enjoy sun tea and refreshments. Make family-friendly crafts and learn about the colonial kitchen garden. WANT TO GO? $5; $3 children; free for children younger than 5. 203259-1598. fairfieldhs.org.

SM&NC Sunday Farm Market

WHEN: Through Oct. 9: Sundays, 10am-2pm WHERE: Stamford Museum & Nature Center, 39 Scofieldtown Road, Stamford AGES: All WHAT: The market will have eggs, wool, and syrup that come directly from the farm, as well as other vendors and their produce. WANT TO GO? Free with museum admission: $10; $5 children ages 4-17; free for children younger than 4. 203-322-1646. stamfordmuseum.org.

Marine Life Study Cruises

WHEN: Sept. 10–Oct. 30, Saturday-Sunday, 1pm WHERE: Maritime Aquarium, 10 N. Water St., Norwalk AGES: 5 and older WHAT: Aquarium educators put participants to work in collecting and examining animals from all levels of the water column. WANT TO GO? $29.95. 203-852-0700. maritimeaquarium.org.

LITTLE FOODIES Cupcake Club FREE

WHEN: Friday, Sept. 9, 4-5pm WHERE: Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton AGES: 5-8 WHAT: Follow step-by-step instructions to decorate a fancy cupcake. Tickets will be given out at 3:45 the day of the program. WANT TO GO? 203-762-3950. wiltonlibrary.org.

Treats and Eats: Make Your Own Butter

WHEN: Sunday, Sept. 11, 12:30pm WHERE: Stamford Museum & Nature Center, 39 Scofieldtown Road, Stamford AGES: All WHAT: Learn the process of making and churning your own butter. WANT TO GO? $10; $5 children ages 4-17; free for children younger than 4. 203-322-1646. stamfordmuseum.org.

Treats and Eats: Apple Cidering on the Meadow

WHEN: Sunday, Sept. 18, 12:30pm WHERE: Stamford Museum & Nature Center, 39 Scofieldtown Road, Stamford AGES: All WHAT: Enjoy apple cider demonstrations. WANT TO GO? $10; $5 children ages 4-17; free for children younger than 4. 203-322-1646. stamfordmuseum.org.

Treats and Eats: Make Your Own Pizza Dough

WHEN: Sunday, Sept. 25, 12:30pm WHERE: Stamford Museum & Nature Center, 39 Scofieldtown Road, Stamford AGES: All WHAT: Create your own pizza dough. WANT TO GO? $10; $5 children ages 4-17; free for children younger than 4. 203-322-1646. stamfordmuseum.org. ››

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Pre-K Weekend Workshop: Monster Mash Up

WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 17, 3-4pm WHERE: Westport Arts Center, 51 Riverside Ave., Westport AGES: 3-5 WHAT: Design your own monsters using shapes and color. It’s a great introduction to using a ruler and practicing precision cutting. WANT TO GO? $30. 203-222-7070. westportarts.z2systems.com.

CRAFTY KIDS Crafty Fridays: Perler Beads FREE

WHEN: Friday, Sept. 2, 10:30am-12pm WHERE: Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton AGES: 5-8 WHAT: Make coasters, key chains, a three-dimensional camera-shaped box, as well as other designs. Registration required. WANT TO GO? 203-762-3950. wiltonlibrary.org.

Afternoon Studios

WHEN: Monday, Sept. 5, 2-4pm WHERE: Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum, 258 Main St., Ridgefield AGES: All WHAT: Add text-based art celebrating the things you did this summer to the collaborative installation in the Education Center. WANT TO GO? $10; free for children younger than 18. 203-438-4519. aldrichart.org.

Pieced Paper Animals

WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 10, 10am-2pm WHERE: Westport Arts Center, 51 Riverside Ave., Westport AGES: 5-12 WHAT: Drop in to develop your understanding of spatial relationships while creating an animal or creature of your choice out of colorful papers. WANT TO GO? $25. 203-222-7070. westportarts.z2systems.com.

Let’s Make Something: Friendship Bracelets FREE

WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 10, 2-3pm WHERE: Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton AGES: 5-12 WHAT: Use a variety of macramé techniques using different colored embroidery floss. Tickets will be handed out on a first-come, first-served basis starting at 1:45pm. WANT TO GO? 203-762-3950. wiltonlibrary.org.

Art Exploration: Bubble Wrap Bumblebee Hive

WHEN: Tuesday, Sept. 13, 10-11am WHERE: Westport Arts Center, 51 Riverside Ave., Westport AGES: 3-5 WHAT: Focus on using tools such as rollers and paintbrushes, as you create your own painted bumblebee hive complete with thumb print bumblebees. WANT TO GO? $25. 203-222-7070. westportarts.z2systems.com. 38

September 2016 | fairfieldparent.com

Saturday ArtLab: Plexi Printing

WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 17, 9am-12pm WHERE: Westport Arts Center, 51 Riverside Ave., Westport AGES: 5-12 WHAT: Discover mono-printing techniques in this workshop during which you paint an image on plexi glass before printing it on paper. WANT TO GO? $40. 203-222-7070. westportarts.z2systems.com.

Third Saturdays FREE

WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 17, 10am-12pm and 1-3pm WHERE: Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum, 258 Main St., Ridgefield AGES: 3-8 WHAT: Engage in art-making activities inspired by each of the artists in the galleries, ranging from mixed-media collages to sculpture. WANT TO GO? 203-438-4519. aldrichart.org.

Art Adventures: New Art

WHEN: Sunday, Sept. 25, 1-3pm WHERE: Bruce Museum, 1 Museum Drive, Greenwich AGES: 5 and older WHAT: Participants make crafty, fun, creative works of art, inspired by the museum’s collections and exhibitions. WANT TO GO? $7; $6 students; free for children younger than 5. 203869-0376. brucemuseum.org.

MOVERS & SHAKERS 10th Annual CancerCare® Fairfield Walk/Run for Hope

WHEN: Sunday, Sept. 11, 9am WHERE: Jennings Beach, 880 S. Benson Road, Fairfield AGES: All WHAT: Walk or run to celebrate survivors, support those facing cancer and remember those lost while raising funds for CancerCare’s free, professional support services. WANT TO GO? $40 minimum donation; $20 minimum donation per child. 203-663-2189. community.cancercare.org/walkct.

Family Day: Community Activation

WHEN: Sunday, Sept. 11, 1-4pm WHERE: Bruce Museum, 1 Museum Drive, Greenwich AGES: All WHAT: Families will learn how they can get involved within their communities with special organizations. WANT TO GO? $7; $6 students; free for children younger than 5. 203869-0376. brucemuseum.org.

New Haven Grand Prix

WHEN: Friday, Sept. 16, 4-10pm WHERE: Downtown New Haven, Chapel Street, New Haven AGES: All

Curtain Call, Inc. Performance Classes in cooperation with The City of Stamford

WHAT: Watch riders enjoy an evening street festival, and witness stunts by Mike Steidley. Proceeds benefit CCAP, which connects youth with cycling to build health, personal values, and a lifelong love of the sport. WANT TO GO? $50; free for children younger than 19 and for spectators. ctcyclingadvancement.org.

For more than 25 years, Stamford’s longest-running, professionally operated, non-profit, theatre has offered year-round classes and educational programs for young and old!

Autism SpecRun

WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 24, 7:30-11am WHERE: Great Hollow Lake, Wolfe Park, 454 Purdy Hill Road, Monroe AGES: All WHAT: Benefit The Autism Project, one of the leading providers in Fairfield and New Haven counties of affordable comprehensive program services for children with an autism spectrum disorder and their families. WANT TO GO? $35; $20 children; $25 students. 203-365-8522 x229. kc-autism.org.

‘Octonauts’ Adventure Weekend

WHEN: Sept. 24-25, Saturday-Sunday, 10am-5pm WHERE: Maritime Aquarium, 10 N. Water St., Norwalk AGES: Newborn to 5 WHAT: Meet and pose for pictures with Captain Barnacles, the polar bear costume character of the popular Disney Junior TV show The Octonauts. WANT TO GO? $22.95; $20.95 children ages 13-17; $15.95 children ages 3-12. 203-852-0700. maritimeaquarium.org.

Antique Auto Show

WHEN: Sunday, Sept. 25, 9am-5pm WHERE: Mystic Seaport, 75 Greenmanville Ave., Mystic AGES: All WHAT: Take a free ride in one of the antique automobiles on display. A parade of vehicles begins at 4pm. WANT TO GO? $26; $17 children ages 6-17; free for children younger than 6. 860-572-5331. mysticseaport.org.

Itsy Bitsy Playgroup FREE

WHEN: Sept. 7-28, Wednesdays, 10:30-11:30am WHERE: Temple Sholom, 300 E. Putnam Ave., Greenwich AGES: Newborn to 2 WHAT: This free drop-in playgroup provides moms and their babies the opportunity to bond during music time, gross motor play, and more. WANT TO GO? 203-869-7191. templesholom.com.

CLASSES SEPTEMBER THRU DECEMBER

Study acting for the stage, TV and film, dance, improv, musical theatre AND MORE! Specialized classes for kids five and up, teens and adults. We can even design a class for your school, business or civic group.

203-329-8207 x16 curtaincallinc.com

Sterling Farms Theatre Complex 1349 Newfield Ave. Stamford, CT 06905

*Open Houses in Sept. Music School from Birth to age 14

Movement and Dance for Little Ones FREE

WHEN: Sept. 12–Nov. 14, Mondays, 11-11:30am WHERE: Wilton Library, 137 Old Ridgefield Road, Wilton AGES: Newborn to 5 WHAT: Children and their caregivers are invited to join a fun time of moving, singing, and playing instruments. No registration required. WANT TO GO? 203-762-3950. wiltonlibrary.org.

Coming up next month: OCT. 2: The New England Chowdafest at Sherwood Island State Park, Westport OCT. 8: Hansel and Gretel at the Downtown Cabaret Theatre, Bridgeport OCT. 6: Odd Squad Live! at The Palace Theatre, Stamford

Locations convenient to Darien, Fairfield, Greenwich, Norwalk, Westport, Weston, Wilton & NYC. ENROLL TODAY FOR SAVINGS!

203-854-9797

*musicforchildrenCT.com

Fairf ieldParent 39

WHERE-TO GUIDE

nymetroparents.com/where-to

Pick Your Own Apples ››

Research by Megan Bailey, Lauren Diaz, and Melissa Wickes

Bite into crunchy, juicy, just-picked apples this month! A day trip to a local orchard yields fresh fruit to take home by the bucket, sweet pastries and baked goods (apple cider doughnuts, please!), and lots of kid-friendly perks, from hayrides to petting zoos. Grown-ups: Some farms even serve up hard cider and homemade wines! Note that dates are projected and availability is subject to change. We recommend calling ahead before visiting these locations. 860-229-4240; rogersorchards.com Apple picking Labor Day weekend through October, Friday-Sunday, 10am-5pm. Apple cider doughnuts, pies, and local products available at on-site farm store; open daily, August through mid-May. Litchfield County

Averill Farm 250 Calhoun St., Washington Depot 860-868-2777; averillfarm.com Pick-your-own apples mid-August to Thanksgiving on a scenic family farm; pickyour-own pears through early October. Open 9:30am-5:30pm daily. Pre-picked fruit, apple cider, hard cider, doughnuts, jams, jellies, honey, and flowers available on the farm through November.

Fairfield County

Hartford County

Beardsley’s Cider Mill & Orchard, LLC 278 Leavenworth Road (Route 110), Shelton 203-926-1098; beardsleyscidermill.com Farm opens in September; check the website for exact opening date. Apple picking: 10am-5pm weekends. Cash or check only. Dwarf apple trees for easy picking. Cider press on location. Farm store with apple cider and doughnuts, maple syrup, local honey, pumpkin cheesecake, fruit butter, jams, and jellies.

Easy Pickin’s Orchard 46 Bailey Road, Enfield 860-763-3276 (FARM); easypickinsorchard.com Pick-your-own apples, pears, and raspberries, Monday-Thursday, 9am-12pm (closed Tuesdays); Friday-Sunday, 9am5pm. Vegetable and flower gardens available for picking and cutting. Cash or check only.

Silverman’s Farm 451 Sport Hill Road, Easton 203-261-3306; silvermansfarm.com Apple picking through mid-October, 9:30am-4:30pm daily. Pumpkins available mid-September to October. Animal petting park, farm market, greenhouse, and tractor rides through October.

September 2016 | fairfieldparent.com

Karabin Farms 894 Andrews St., Southington 860-620-0194; karabinfarms.com Apple and pumpkin picking on weekends (Friday-Monday) through October, 9:30am-4pm. Store open daily with farmraised beef products and eggs available for sale. Call for updates on hours. Rogers Orchards 336 Long Bottom Road, Southington 2876 Meriden-Waterbury Turnpike, Southington

Ellsworth Hill Orchard & Berry Farm 461 Cornwall Bridge Road (Route 4), Sharon 860-364-0025; ellsworthfarm.com Apple picking through early November; call for hours. Blueberries and raspberries available for picking while they last. Family-fun hayrides, corn maze, and apple cider for tasting. Pre-picked fruit and vegetables, fresh-baked pies, fresh pretzels, apple cider vinegar, jam, honey, maple syrup, freshly ground peanut butter and cider doughnuts available for purchase. Interactive train display in store area. March Farm 160 Munger Lane, Bethlehem 203-266-7721; marchfarms.com Apple and pumpkin picking through October, 10am-5pm daily. Farm market with homegrown fruits and vegetables. Bakery with cider doughnuts and other baked goods and specialty items. Picnic areas, animal yard, hayrides, corn maze, and farm hiking trails. Find the full guide at ›› nymetroparents.com/apples

Easton Country Day School , VA

OPEN HOUSE SAT. SEPT 10TH! 12:00pm-2:00pm

Balloons • Goodie Bags • Register for Classes • Take Mini-Classes for Ages 3-7

Placement Classes for Ages 8+ • Refreshments • Nutcracker Characters - JOIN US!

Dance Education of the Highest Standard. Pre-Ballet, Ballet, Pointe, Creative, Jazz, Modern Ages 3 through 10

Alan Woodward, Director Moira Murphy Wright, Asst. Director 42 Halley Court, Fairﬁeld, CT 06825

Fall Classes Begin Sept 12th

203.384.2492 We nurture caring, responsible, accomplished human beings!

Come and see our small, friendly high school, where the academics fit your individual needs, from tutorial all the way to college credit courses! See how comfortable and personal high school can be!

The Little Phoenix

Our Pre-School & Day Care 203-268-5073

Easton Country Day School does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, sex or national origin. Easton Country Day School is an equal opportunity institution.

ctdanceschool@aol.com www.ctdanceschool.org

Do you need a location for his 7th birthday party?

ResouRces ARticles

Find everything you need, faster at

STRONG

BEGINNINGS BRIGHT FUTURES

Wilton Family YMCA 404 Danbury Road, Wilton, CT www.wiltonymca.org Fairf ieldParent 41

Back-to-School All Natural Lice Removal Service

203-702-3379 theliceladyofct.com Our proven effective technique combined with our pesticide-free, eco-friendly, all-natural lice treatment products actually kills nits, as well as live lice. This is why we are Connecticut’s premier lice removal salon. We are the only service that guarantees all nits will be dead! This is the key to a successful lice removal service. We are pediatrician-recommended, with same-day appointments and a 100-percent guarantee! Our clients may return to work or school immediately after our treatment. Come visit our beautiful, clean, child-friendly salon!

Apple Blossom School and Family Center

440 Danbury Road, Wilton 203-493-4003 appleblossomschool.org appleblossomschool.org@ gmail.com admissions@ appleblossomschool.org The Apple Blossom School and Family Center is a Waldorf school specializing in ages newborn to 7 years. Our programs support the healthy development of the young child by educating through play, artistic activities, and outdoor activities. Emphasis on nurturing each child’s natural sense of wonder and joy, and comradeship for their fellow playmates, allows the full development of kindness, confidence, and mastery skills. We offer parent and child classes from newborn to 3 years, a flexible under-3 nursery, a preschool for ages 3-4, mixed-age kindergarten, and an Extended Care Program until 4pm.

Atelier Constantin Popescu/ Riverside School of Music

Cos Cob, Greenwich Shop 401-403 E. Putnam Ave., Cos Cob 203-661-9500 Westport Shop 25 Davenport Ave., Westport 203-227-9577 atelierconstantinpopescu.com

atelierstrings@aol.com Have you rented your violin, viola, cello, or double bass yet? Atelier Constantin Popescu and Riverside School of Music are located at 401-403 E. Putnam Ave. in Cos Cob, Greenwich. The finest European-made stringed instruments for professionals, students, and collectors are offered for sale and rental. The sounds produced by these instruments are fit for concert halls. You can rent our fine quality stringed instruments starting at prices as low as $10 per month, and take private lessons in the music school. Atelier is a full-service instrument store and workshop offering utmost attention to detail.

Bounce! Danbury

21 Prindle Lane, Danbury 203-942-2449 bouncedanbury.com info@bouncedanbury.com Bounce! Danbury combines the best of all the Bounce! facilities! Two trampoline bungee jumps, a huge main jump court with additional dodgeball courts, five foam pits, two Ninja style Bounce! Xtreme obstacle courses, an enormous separate Bounce! Jr. Zone with its own mini slam dunk basketball hoop, a laser light extravaganza for Jump n Glow, multiple party rooms of every size with glow-in-the-dark themes, a parent lounge area with nine TV viewing options streamed right to your cellphone, and a spectacular mezzanine observation deck with 40 charging stations and an arcade with an array of challenging video games.

CompuChild

719 Post Road E., Westport 203-921-7905 westporttechedu.com fairfield@compuchild.com CompuChild has meticulously developed a Robotics program for kids ages 4–13 so they will enjoy each step and be challenged every time. We also prepare teams for First LEGO League, giving students an opportunity to demonstrate

September 2016 | fairfieldparent.com

The annual guide to schools, resources, programs, & activities for kids!

their learning. We help students enhance creativity, critical thinking, and love for computers in a positive way by offering programs in a computer language: Python, WEB, and Scratch. We teach students to develop computer games and graphic designs. We are known as the “One Stop Shop for STEM.”

Connecticut Dance School

42 Halley Court, Fairfield 203-384-2492 ctdanceschool.com Connecticut Dance School, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization, is dedicated to providing dance education of the highest standard to the Connecticut community. The CDS faculty includes specialists in the teaching of young children using the Royal Academy syllabus. This combines creative dance in a positive learning environment and a pre-ballet curriculum, with training in strength and flexibility.

Curtain Call Inc.

1349 Newfield Ave., Stamford 203-329-8207 x16 Administration: 203-329-8207 Box Office: 203-461-6358 curtaincallinc.com brian@curtaincallinc.com Curtain Call Inc. is Stamford’s longest-running, nonprofit theater providing year-round performances and classes. Classes are available for ages 5 through adult after school, evenings, and weekends in acting for the stage, TV and film, comedy, improv, musical theater, Broadway tap, and Shakespeare. Full-day vacation programs are also available for ages 6-16. Our faculty consists of area professionals dedicated to arts education. We can also design a workshop for your before- or after-school program, business, or civic group. Call 203-329-8207 x16 or visit curtaincallinc.com. “Where acting out is encouraged!”

Downtown Cabaret Theatre

263 Golden Hill St., Bridgeport 203-576-1636

mycabaret.org Join the Downtown Cabaret Theatre and its award-winning professional Children’s Theatre for its 2016-2017 season: Hansel and Gretel, Frosty the Snowman, Fancy Nancy, Little Red Riding Hoods, and Cinderella. Don’t forget to BYOB and picnic to this cabaret-style seated venue. See all five of these shows for only $90 ($40 per person savings!) Learn more here: mycabaret.org.

Easton Country Day School

660 Morehouse Road, Easton 203-268-5530 eastoncountryday.org Easton Country Day School uses its small size and a unique, individual educational approach to ensure each child not only achieves academic excellence in a safe and loving environment, but also learns those skills necessary to be a caring and responsible citizen, from preschool to 12th grade. ECDS offers rigorous academics shaped to the individual child in a familial environment that encourages accomplishment, responsibility, and acceptance of diversity. Come and see our small, friendly high school, where the academics fit your individual needs. We also offer day care for ages 3 months and older.

Excel Urgent Care of Fairfield and Stamford

Westport Urgent Care excel-urgentcare.com Excel Urgent Care of Fairfield and Stamford, and Westport Urgent Care, provide prompt access to trusted physicians and compassionate care when you need it. Our team delivers state-of-the-art care with a community feel. Most insurance accepted. When you have a non-life-threatening illness or injury, our skilled providers will diagnose and treat your condition with minimal wait times. The next time you or your child needs a physical, visit Excel Urgent Care of Fairfield and Stamford or Westport Urgent Care.

No appointment is necessary, but feel free to check in online. Open seven days a week!

Five Mile River Nursery School

5 Pennoyer St., Rowayton 203-838-4266 fivemilerivernurseryschool.com director@fmrns.com Five Mile River Nursery School offers preschool and enrichment programs for children ages 2-5. FMRNS is the only nationally accredited, private preschool in the Norwalk and Darien areas. Our mission is to provide a warm, nurturing, and engaging atmosphere that allows children to be creative and adventurous learners. Highly qualified, experienced, caring teachers offer individualized attention, while focusing on the development of the whole child: intellectual, social, creative, and physical. NAEYC accredited. Committed to health, only serving organic foods. For more information: 203-8384266, director@fmrns.com, fivemilerivernurseryschool.com.

Flash Pointe Dance

1657 Post Road, Fairfield 203-259-1600 flashpointedance.com Ready to be inspired by the best? Join our remarkable faculty and explore jazz, contemporary, lyrical, musical theater, tap, modern, classical and contemporary ballet, break, hip-hop, Latin, story ballet, and preschool combo classes. Our programs are designed to motivate the novice and recreational dancer, and to inspire and push the intermediate or advanced dancer, with training appropriate for college or professional-bound dancers. Classes conducted in our environmentally friendly facility for preschool through adult students. New adult dancer? Try our three classes for $5 card.

Great Beginnings Montessori School

148 Beach Road, Fairfield 203-254-8208 Pre-K to sixth grade greatmontessori.com admin@greatmontessori.com Individualized instruction is a standard of Montessori education. Each child learns and

develops at her or his own pace through the use of materials and lessons introduced by the certified teacher. The integrated and comprehensive curriculum is introduced sequentially and at the developmental level of each individual child, allowing each student to work to capacity at their ability level in order to develop their fullest potential. Great Beginnings Montessori is enrolling for 2016-2017. Contact the school to schedule an appointment to visit and observe in our classrooms, 203-254-8208, admin@ greatmontessori.com.

Jump Off Indoor Trampoline Park & Fun Zone

280 Garfield Ave., Stratford 203-989-3357 jumpoffct.com jumpoffct@gmail.com Jump Off is the coolest new place for family fun and amazing parties—13,000-square-feet of connected, world-class trampolines in a 27,500-squarefoot, brand-new facility! Trampolines galore: Get ready for dodge ball, air dunk, jumpin foam pit or air bag, balance on our slack line, and gladiator on with our battle beam. Our Play Zone includes three floors of an indoor playground with slides, tubes, ball pits, bazookas, a waterbed, inflatables, and toddler area. Animal rides on wheels, Game Zone with prizes. Book parties early!

Sara Ysaac-Garcia, DMD Board Certified Pediatric Dentist

We welcome Dr. Helen Kim, DDS

Trumbull 999 Silver Lane Suite 2D | 203-590-1588 Seymour 56 Garden St 2nd Floor | 203-590-1578 www.ilovemypediatricdentist.com

Insurance friendly! Convenient hours!

Just Wee Two

Locations in Greenwich, Stamford, and Westchester County 800-404-2204 justweetwo.com info@justweetwo.com Just Wee Two is a fun-filled program for young children ages 8 months to 3½ years and their moms (dads, grandparents, etc.). Through our 1½-hour classes and activities such as music, arts and crafts, playtime, stories, and snack, children are encouraged to explore, discover, interact, and enjoy this special time in their lives. Celebrate summer with Just Wee Two’s six-week parent-child program. We also offer partial separation classes, and 2-hour separation classes focused on music, art, and drama. continued on next page ››

Fairf ieldParent 43

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Landmark Preschool

Redding (Georgetown) Campus 20 Portland Ave., Redding (20 months-5s) Kimberly Swabsin: 203-544-8393 Ridgefield Campus 223 W. Mountain Road Landmark Preschool (1s-4s) Ridgefield Academy (2s-Eighth Grade) David Suter: 203-894-1800 x112 Westport Campus 11 Burr Road, Westport (2s-5s) Gretchen Sabek: 203-226-6982 landmarkpreschool.org ridgefieldacademy.org With more than 40 years of experience educating young children, Landmark Preschool is a place at which learning is a joyful experience! With locations in Redding (Georgetown), Ridgefield, and Westport, as well as Bedford, NY, Landmark’s balanced curriculum offers early exposure to literacy, math, and science concepts through play. Children also experience world language, art, music, gym, and technology each week. Extended hours are offered before and after the school day. CAIS accredited. For tuition information and to schedule a visit, please contact the campus nearest you.

Now Open In Danbury! SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE! · · · · · · · · · · · ·

Trampoline Bungee Jumps Dual Xtreme Ninja Obstacle Courses Five Foam Pit Areas Multiple Slam Dunk Basketball Lanes Trampoline Dodgeball Courts Enormous Main Jump Court Separate Bounce! Jr. Area for 5 and Under Multiple Party Rooms of All Sizes State of the Art Arcade Parent Lounge with TV Viewing & Free Wi-Fi Lofted Mezzanine Viewing Area with Charging Stations Fitness Classes, Gymnastics Training & Toddler Time

203-942-2449 www.bouncedanbury.com info@bouncedanbury.com 21 Prindle Lane in Danbury, Connecticut Facebook https://www.facebook.com/BounceDanbury/ Twitter and Instagram: @bouncedanbury

BOX OFFICE

WEBSITE

203.576.1636

MYCABARET.ORG SEE ALL 5 SHOWS AND SAVE UP TO $40/PERSON!

DON’T FORGET TO BYOB & PICNIC!

Hansel & Gretel Oct 8 - 30 Frosty the Snowman Nov12 - 29 Fancy Nancy Jan 7 - Feb 12 Little Red Riding Hoods Feb 25 - Apr 2 Cinderella Apr 15 - May 21

All Natural Lice Removal 203-702- 3379 All natural approach 100% Guaranteed

Pediatrician recommended Same day service available! All of our products are natural, safe, and non toxic. Kids love our clean and warm spa for treatment.

www.liceladyct.com

By Appointment Only in Brookfield Ct. AKA: THELICELADYOFCT.COM

September 2016 | fairfieldparent.com

Literakid

Serving Fairfield County 203-241-1522 literakid.com Literakid offers modern language classes to students of all ages and levels. Our teachers are native speakers. We offer on-site instruction throughout Fairfield County. Our focus is on enabling children to practice their listening and speaking skills in a modern, immersion-based environment. Activities include listening to music, movement, singing, dramatic play, puppets, dancing, story telling, games, puzzles, arts and crafts, poems, and rhymes to captivate and involve your child. Our teaching style is fun, multi-sensory, and highly interactive!

Little Friends Child Care & Preschool

25 Valley Drive, Greenwich 203-861-6549

littlefriendsgwc.com verna@littlefriendsgwc.com Family-owned and -operated, Little Friends of Greenwich, run by Verna Esposito, offers child care and early childhood education for ages 6 weeks to 5 years. “We provide a safe, loving, and fun environment for children,” Esposito says. “We follow the National Association for the Education of Young Children guidelines.” Open Monday-Friday, 6:30am6:30pm. Year-round rolling admissions. Ongoing summer programs.

Mary Ann Hall’s MUSIC FOR CHILDREN & Beyond™

Locations in Fairfield and Manhattan 203-854-9797 musicforchildrenct.com Our music school grows your child, from infancy through age 14! Children learn the FUN-damentals of music in a dynamic, nurturing environment filled with song, dance, rhythms, dramatic musical, and instrument play. Babies “take flight and find delight.” Toddlers, 2s, and 3s read, create rhythms, act out songs…CDs and songbooks included. Fours start piano lessons, 5s continue growth in singing, reading, piano, and ukulele play. Six-7s add recorder. Music Theater begins at age 7. Children continue to hone talents and skills through our advanced Kaleidoscope Theater, ages 10-14. Rave reviews! We promise the best.

Mathnasium

Mathnasium of Fairfield 1700 Post Road, Fairfield 203-259-MATH (6284) fairfield@mathnasium.com mathnasium.com/fairfield Mathnasium of Greenwich 407 E. Putnam Ave., Cos Cob 203-861-MATH (6284) greenwich@mathnasium.com mathnasium.com/greenwich Mathnasium of Darien 15 Corbin Drive, Darien 203-655-MATH (6284) darien@mathnasium.com mathnasium.com/darien Mathnasium is a unique learning center specializing in a math-only curriculum that is tailored specifically to each

student, and employs a variety of learning modalities to help develop “Number Sense.” A student with Number Sense gains a deep understanding of math, and will be able to solve problems quickly and accurately without having to go through tedious drills and memorization. Kids don’t hate math; they hate being frustrated and confused by math.

Music Together of Fairfield County

76 Walbin Court, Fairfield 203-256-1656 ctmusictogether.com Music Together is an international, award-winning program with more than 2,000 locations in 40 countries. Nurture your child’s natural enthusiasm for music and movement by registering for our classes! Music Together is a researched approach to music and movement, committed to helping families and caregivers discover the pleasure and educational value of informal musical experiences. We offer mixed-age, baby, and “Rhythm Kids” classes for children ages newborn to 7! Share your love of music with your children and join us today! Fall registration is now open.

MY SMILE Orthodontics Dr. Maria Karayiannis, D.M.D.

865 River Road, Suite 307, Shelton 203-538-5014 72 Park St., Suite 97, New Canaan 731 Main St., Unit 104, Monroe mysmilect.com Dr. Karayiannis graduated from McGill University from which she received her B.S. in physiology, as well as her D.M.D. Dr. Karayiannis moved to Long Island to further her dental education at Stony Brook University where she received her A.E.G.D., and her post-graduate certificate in orthodontics. A free consultation will give you the opportunity to learn more about orthodontics and Invisalign®. State-of-the-art equipment, including the iTero® scanner for digital impressions, keep patients more comfortable while delivering precise imagery quick! Children and adults welcome.

Trusted and experienced—you will love your smile.

Andrew J. Parker, M.D.

Parker Ear, Nose and Throat 148 East Ave., Suite 2-I, Norwalk 203-866-8121 611 Post Road E., Westport 49 Locust Ave., Suite 104, New Canaan parkerent.com Dr. Parker’s expertise and extensive training in pediatric ENT is your assurance that he is the right doctor to help you make important decisions about your child’s ears, tonsils, and adenoids. He and his friendly, professional staff, are ready to help care for your child at their three convenient offices in Norwalk, Westport, and New Canaan. Please call the office for an appointment or go online at parkerent.com. When you’re at the office, please pick up a complimentary copy of “What Every Parent Should Know About Tonsils, Adenoids and Ear Tubes.”

Pediatric Dentistry @ Westport Dental Associates

22 Imperial Ave., Westport 203 635-7070 pediatricdentistryofwestport.com drahn@westportdental.com Dr. Ahn graduated from Columbia University College of Dental Medicine and completed her pediatric specialty training at Columbia University Medical Center/New York Presbyterian Hospital. As a board-certified pediatric dentist, Dr. Ahn’s goal is to provide exceptional and professional dental care in a fun, friendly environment. She believes that a lifetime of healthy, bright smiles starts at an early age and encourages parents to start their children’s dental care at the age of 1. She is excited to become a part of the Westport community and is looking forward to meeting your children’s dental needs.

IT’S GREAT TO SKATE!

LEARN TO SKATE

Classes Start in September Enroll now & Save!

continued on next page ››

Times & Days • Professional Coaches • All Age Levels • Hope Street Café is

always open for delicious snacks or dinner For more info:

1063 Hope St. Stamford, CT 06907

203-968-9000

www.StamfordTwinRinks.com

DENTISTRY FOR CHILDREN Board Certified Pediatric and Orthodontic Specialists Most insurance accepted with no out-of-pocket expense for check-ups*

Open 7 days Why Dental Care Kids: Creating Your Child’s Healthy Dental Future Because we make dental visits Educational, Fun & Caring, your kids have healthy teeth now, and this positive experience will lead to a lifetime of better dental health!

Ridgefield Playhouse

80 East Ridge, Ridgefield 203-438-5795 The Ridgefield Playhouse is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) with the mission to present a variety of performing arts to the community and the surrounding area. The Playhouse presents

• Convenient Classes

Schedule your kids back-to-school check-ups now! IV Sedation for high fear and special needs children

*As long as you are eligible, have met all deductibles, have benefits remaining and have a UCR or equivalent plan

Fairf ieldParent 45

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national and local acts and is the cultural hub for the town of Ridgefield. Along with hosting award-winning musicians, Broadway stars, and presenting our entertaining conversations series with renowned personalities, the playhouse is the place for families seeking live entertainment for their young children through our Ridgefield Academy Family Series.

Riverbrook Regional YMCA

404 Danbury Road, Wilton 203-762-8384 wiltonymca.org cfreedman@riverbrookymca.org At the Wilton Family YMCA Nursery School, we provide a safe, nurturing environment for children ages 3-5 to learn, grow, and develop social skills. Our comprehensive curriculum is designed for discovery, choice, and problem-solving. Each of our preschool programs includes art, science, music, fitness, outdoor play, healthy snacks, and circle time, in addition to math and reading readiness skills to help kids prepare for kindergarten. A full Y National Swim Instruction Program is included in the classes! We adhere to the CT Early Learning and Development standards and are state-licensed.

Sara Ysaac-Garcia, D.M.D.

Board-certified pediatric dentist 999 Silver Lane, Trumbull 203-590-1588 56 Garden St., 2nd floor, Seymour 203-590-1578 ilovemypediatricdentist.com After earning her doctor of dental medicine degree, Dr. Sara completed a postgraduate residency at Sacred Heart Hospital in Allentown, PA. She then practiced dentistry in community health centers, and was a clinical instructor at the University of Connecticut Health Center Advanced Education in General Dentistry. Dr. Sara received her postgraduate certificate in pediatric dentistry from the University of Connecticut Health Center, and is now a diplomat of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. Most of all, she cherishes the relationships she’s formed with her pediatric patients.

Silverman’s Farm

451 Sport Hill Road, Easton 203-261-3306 silvermansfarm.com Pick-Your-Own Apples is open! We’ll take you into the orchard from 9am-4:30pm daily. Our fall festival weekends will be in full swing during September and October. Jump into the cereal bowl, guess the weight of your perfect pumpkin, enjoy kettle corn, or good eats from one of our favorite vendors such as Mike at The Local Meatball! Our Animal Farm is open daily from 9am-5pm. It’s 5 acres of fun. From bunnies to buffalo, our barnyard friends are excited to meet you! Check on Facebook to see what’s happening. Hope to see you at the Farm!

Sky Zone Trampoline Park

13 Francis J. Clarke Circle, Bethel 203-428-4080 skyzone.com/bethel events.bethel@skyzone.com 360 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, Norwalk 203-939-7222 skyzone.com/norwalk events.norwalk@skyzone.com We’re the inventors of “fun fitness” and the makers of trampolines as far as the eye can see. For a unique and memorable birthday party, celebrate your special day at Sky Zone Trampoline Park! Soar higher than ever before as you bounce across our patented, all-trampoline, walled, playing courts. Experience the weightlessness of bouncing, flipping, and landing in a pit filled with 10,000 foam cubes. Show off your dunk skills at our Sky Slam court or hone your dodgeball skills on our Ultimate Dodgeball courts!

St. Vincent’s Special Needs Services

95 Merritt Blvd., Trumbull 203-386-2715 stvincentsspecialneeds.org St. Vincent’s Special Needs Services is a trusted provider of lifelong education and therapeutic services. Our special education school for children, ages 3-21, is an alternative placement option for children with developmental disabilities, special health care needs, and autism

September 2016 | fairfieldparent.com

spectrum disorders. Physical, occupational, speech-language, and aquatic therapies are all offered as part of each student’s individualized education plan. Parent education and transition support services, adult day and work services, and residential placements are also available.

Stamford Twin Rinks

1063 Hope St., Stamford 203-968-9000 stamfordtwinrinks.com Stamford Twin Rinks boasts two NHL regulation-sized ice-skating rinks and regular, year-round public skating sessions. Extensive hockey and skating programs, and summer camps for all ages and abilities are conducted by professional and qualified instructors. Skate Zone Pro Shop offers expert skate sharpening and a full line of hockey and skating equipment. Four themed and decorated birthday party rooms and hostess services are available for parties. Twin Rinks is also the home of the Springdale Figure Skating Club, Springdale Ballet Academy, Center Ice Bar & Grill, and Hope Street Café.

The Visual Mixing Bowl

Serving Fairfield County, CT 203-981-3019 thevisualmixingbowl.com thevisualmixingbowl@gmail.com The Visual Mixing Bowl is a special needs culinary experience. Designed with a passion for food, we promote independence in the kitchen through creatively crafted recipes and unique modifications that are tailored to each student. Our focus is on the individual. We build recipes and modifications to adapt to the student’s unique needs and abilities. While we make the accommodations needed, we include the parents and others in the student’s close circle to create a team with the same goal in mind-independence.

Westport Dance Center

15 Ketchum St., Westport 203-293-4355 westportdancecenter.com dancincookie07@yahoo.com The mission of Westport Dance Center is to provide high quality dance instruction in a

safe and nurturing environment while fostering self-confidence, poise, and discipline. WDC offers training for dancers of all levels, aiming to instill an appreciation of the arts along with a focus on overall wellness. Classes are designed to meet the needs of experienced dancers training within WDC Company as well as recreational dancers interested in taking fewer classes for fun. Under the direction of Lisa Zadravec and Nikki Claxton, WDC cultivates camaraderie and determination through dance.

Westport’s Academy of Dance

345 Post Road W., Westport 203-226-9987 westportdance.com Westport’s Academy of Dance has been teaching classical ballet, modern, jazz, tap, and hip-hop to children and teens for more than 40 years. Our program includes classes for all ages and levels of ability. Registration is currently open for our 2016-2017 season, and a consultation and tour of our newly renovated studios is available by appointment. Please visit our website for more information, and to view photo and video galleries. All those passionate about dance are welcome to join our online forum “Body, Spirit, and Grace Through Dance” at westportdance.com/blog.

Winston Preparatory School

57 W. Rocks Road, Norwalk 203-229-0465 901 Route 10 E., Whippany, NJ winstonprep.edu Winston Preparatory School is an innovative day school for students in fourth through 12th grades with learning differences such as dyslexia, nonverbal learning disabilities, and executive functioning difficulties. We do this through a process that understands each student, individualizes a program to meet their needs, and builds a powerful sense of community. We call this process the Continuous Feedback System. This system is designed to deeply understand each student’s specific learning profile including their strengths and potential.

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gentler hands to guide. sharper minds to educate and empower. At St. Vincent’s Special Needs Services we see abilities, not disabilities, and act upon our mission to create opportunities for the children and adults in our care to live, learn, work and play in the community. We use the latest technology and provide individualized education plans to meet the unique needs of each person we serve to help them be as independent as possible. • Birth-to-three early intervention • Private school with individualized therapies for children ages 3-21 with multiple developmental disabilities, autism, and complex medical needs • Adult day & supported employment programs • Residential group homes for children and adults Call (203) 375-6400 for more information.

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Courtesy Melissa Hilt

Healing Powers

››

What it’s like to provide your child with medical marijuana in New York. By Madeleine Burry

wice a day—once with breakfast, and once again at dinner— Melissa Hilt administers medicine to her 9-year-old daughter, Haley. Hilt uses a syringe to measure out a precise dosage, and gives it to Haley mixed in her food. It’s a normal, everyday scene for a child who needs medication, with one big difference: The medicine Haley is ingesting is a coconut oil compound that contains extract from the marijuana plant. A resident of East Schodack in Rensselaer County, Haley is among the first New York residents to take advantage of the state’s recent legalization of medical marijuana. Haley has severe intractable epilepsy. She can’t walk or talk, and is incontinent. Her first seizure was at 4 weeks old; since then, she seized at least once daily. But in the months since Haley’s prescription for medical marijuana was filled, she’s improved tremendously. “Within 24 hours of her first dose,” Hilt says, Haley “was more alert, bright in the best way.” She has just two or three seizures each week, compared to the seven to 10 she experienced prior to the drug. Before she began taking medical marijuana, “we were never really sure what Haley knew, and what she didn’t.” Now, she’s able to communicate using an eye gaze computer. Hilt describes Haley as making “huge, huge gains” due to the medication. Haley can now stand on her feet and even ride a tricycle at school. In fact, “she loves to stand with support and dance,” her mom says. With the help of a walker-like device, Haley can walk down the hallways at school. Haley is able to legally take medical marijuana thanks to New York’s legalized medical cannabis program, which took effect at the beginning of this year. New York joins the District of Columbia and 24 other states—including Connecticut and New Jersey— which have passed laws allowing use of marijuana in some form for medical purposes. The new laws, in addition to those in a handful of states that have legalized or reduced punishment for recreational marijuana use, come as public opinion has shifted dramatically. A 2015 survey from the Pew Research Center found that 53 percent of people believe marijuana should be legalized. That may seem like a slim majority—and it is—but just a decade ago, in 2006, a similar survey from Pew found that only 32 percent believed marijuana should be legalized.

Risks, Side Effects—And Benefits

Still, if you came of age in the unequivocal “Say no to drugs” era, when marijuana was labeled a gateway drug, the idea of children being prescribed medical marijuana may cause trepidation. Hilt, however, has no regrets or reservations about the treatment method for Haley. Side effects are familiar to Haley: Steroid injections caused a heart murmur; a special high-fat diet aimed at reducing seizures caused Haley to go into liver failure; benzodiazepine, a tranquilizer used to reduce seizures, “zombified” Haley. Once, a medication caused her to sleep for 72 hours straight. In contrast, the coconut oil compound that’s used as a delivery agent for the cannabis treatment 48

September 2016 | fairfieldparent.com

Haley Hilt, a 9-year-old whose quality of life has improved dramatically since she started taking medical marijuana after it was legalized in New York

can sometimes cause Haley to get constipated. “When you’re looking at the side effects of the other medications that are out there, it’s nothing in comparison. Honestly, part of me wishes I could have tried it before we put her little body through all of these horrible things, to see if it would have worked then,” Hilt says. The American Academy of Pediatrics sounds a more cautionary note. In a policy statement issued in March 2015, the AAP points out that there is ample documentation on “the adverse effects of marijuana” on adolescents as well as a lack of “published studies on the use of medicinal marijuana or pharmaceutical cannabinoids in pediatric populations.” As well as all the well-known side effects— including reduced attention span, short term memory, coordination, and judgment—the AAP also points out that “new research has also demonstrated that the adolescent brain, particularly the prefrontal cortex areas controlling judgment and decision-making, is not fully developed until the mid-20s, raising questions about how any substance use may affect the developing brain.” Still, while opposing medical marijuana outside of the oversight and regulation of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, “the AAP recognizes that marijuana may currently be an option for cannabinoid administration for children with life-limiting or severely debilitating conditions and for whom current therapies are inadequate.” Against this backdrop of increased accessibility of medical marijuana, at least in some states, the federal government continues to classify marijuana as a Schedule I drug, alongside LSD, heroin, and ecstasy. The Drug Enforcement Agency defines these drugs as having “no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.” These Schedule I drugs are considered “the most dangerous.” It’s an undeniably complex landscape, and this, perhaps, is why New York’s medical marijuana program has been implemented with tight regulations. Stephen Dahmer, M.D., the Chief Medical Officer at Vireo

Health of NY, one of five organizations approved to dispense medical marijuana in the state, agrees that there are undeniable risks involved with medical marijuana. “Any physician that reads the literature about children or anyone under 21 and THC [a part of the marijuana plant] knows that caution has just been amplified a thousandfold,” he says. But for children such as Haley—people with intractable disease and extreme pain and discomfort—these risks may be worth it. “When these children arrive at our dispensary, this is one of their last hopes,” Dr. Dahmer says.

New York’s Cautious, Medical-Led Program

How do children—or any patients—get to Vireo or the other dispensaries in New York? The journey isn’t easy. The first New York dispensaries opened in January 2016. You may be imagining storefronts festooned with decorative marijuana leaves, Mason jars stuffed full of pot, boxes of pre-rolled joints, or plastic-wrapped cannabis-laced cookies, brownies, and other edibles. Erase that image: New York’s implementation of legalized medical cannabis differs sharply from states with more lenient, and lower regulated, programs (ahem, California). In New York state, no wink-wink, nudge-nudge diagnosis will get you access to medical marijuana. The program is tightly regulated and cautious. Dr. Dahmer describes New York’s program hewing “very closely to a medical model.” Vireo’s work with doctors, and the state’s program, mimics the general practices that govern doctors’ habits and style, Dr. Dahmer says. “Anything we do—in our practice, and oftentimes in our lives—is done with a lot of caution. We want to always take the safest route…and make sure that our patients are protected and that some unforeseen circumstance doesn’t catch us by surprise.”

OPEN HOUSE JANUARY 7, 2017 2 PM – 4 PM

Haley’s Path to Medical Marijuana

In her two daily doses, Haley takes what is known as a “high CBD, low THC” strain of marijuana. CBD, which stands for cannabidiol, is non-psychoactive, and cultivated for its pain-relieving, antiinflammatory qualities, while THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is the mind-altering part of the marijuana plant. Put another way, THC is the part of the marijuana plant that makes you feel stoned while CBD is the medicinal part of the plant. Several years ago, Hilt became interested in the possibility of medical marijuana as a treatment option for Haley: Her family doctor had watched a special about Colorado’s Stanley brothers, famous for creating a high CBD, low THC strain called Charlotte’s Web, that reduced its namesake’s seizures. This prompted Hilt to begin researching how high CBD strains could help people with epilepsy. A registered nurse, Hilt read the research carefully, and then began lobbying at the capital. For more than six months, “we were lobbying and trying to get senators to listen to us and support our cause,” Hilt remembers. Hilt and her daughter were there the day the program passed, and when the program went live on a Friday, Haley was certified the following Wednesday. Because Haley was on a form of benzodiazepine that’s affected by CBD, Haley had to decrease her dosage of benzodiazepine before she could begin taking medical marijuana. She began taking the high CBD, low THC strain in February. The transformation has been huge: “She is soaring,” says Hilt. “Haley is doing phenomenally.”

What’s Next?

Medical cannabis remains—even after legalization in many states— in a complicated position. Laws differ from state to state, even in continued on next page ››

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Get advance notice on activities, participate in group discussions and receive special notices. Melissa Hilt holds Haley in the New York State Senate chambers on the day that legislators voted to legalize medical cannabis.

ones that have legalized the plant. Federally, it remains illegal, www.facebook.com/nymetroparents even if the government’s guidance is essentially to prosecute major offenses (drugged driving or possession on federal property, for instance) and to allow states to enforce their own regulation. That makes for an uneasy balancing act, with results that can be frustrating. For one, medical marijuana, still illegal federally, is not covered by insurance. Hilt pays for Haley’s prescription—which costs nearly $400 a month—with the help of fundraising done by her church and community. Beyond the expense, Hilt chafes at the federal government’s slow move to reclassification, which would allow drug trials, and feels frustrated that truly sick people cannot get access to a potentially helpful drug. “It’s almost like we’re being held hostage to the pharmaceutical companies when there’s this plant out there that can really and truly help so many people.” And while the AAP opposes legalization, concerned that it will increase children and teen’s access to the drug, the organization also advocates for studying the impact of new laws, and calls for marijuana to be reclassified as a Schedule II drug (a classification that includes Adderall, OxyContin, cocaine, and methamphetamine, among others). This classification would allow “research and development of pharmaceutical cannabinoids and supports a review of policies promoting research on the medical use of these compounds.” Dr. Dahmer says he is also “interested in helping to support or promote research,” especially given the tremendous impact he sees daily on children and their families. For parents whose children face one of the 10 eligible conditions, Hilt’s advice is twofold. First, educate yourself. “That’s the number one recommendation I have for other parents,” Hilt says. Dig into the slim research currently available, review anecdotal evidence, and reach out to dispensaries for

their insights. And then, “Fight for your kid.” Medical marijuana is “not something our government should say we can or can’t have. This is something our physicians should determine, not the government. Call your legislators, call your senator, and tell them, I want this available for myself, for my children, for whomever.”

A SNAPSHOT OF NEW YORK’S MEDICAL MARIJUANA LAW

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Only some conditions are eligible for a prescription: Only 10 conditions (as well as several associated conditions) make patients eligible for a medical marijuana prescription. They are: • Cancer • HIV infection or AIDS • Multiple sclerosis • Spinal cord injury with spasticity • Epilepsy • Inflammatory bowel disease • Neuropathy • Huntington’s disease • Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) • Parkinson’s disease A stringent registration process: Even patients who suffer from those conditions do not have an easy path to a prescription. Only registered doctors—who meet certain set criteria, and have taken a four-hour class—can register with New York’s Medical Marijuana Program and prescribe marijuana. Fewer than 600 doctors had done so by mid-July, according to the state. Patients have to either find one of these doctors (there is a registry, but doctors are not required to add their names to it and some prefer to keep their participation quiet) or ask their doctor to join the program. Only then can patients get a prescription. Currently, there are more than 5,000 patients certified. Licensed pharmacists: Only licensed pharmacists can fill prescriptions; currently, there are five medical marijuana dispensaries in the state, each with four or five locations. Saving money on a New York City Extract only: New York limits the forms medical cannabis can family day is easy! take. There is no form of regulated, medical marijuana available for sale in the state that can be smoked or eaten (no medical cannabis brownies). Instead, it is sold in forms such as pills, vaporizers ingested via inhaler, and oils.

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Madeleine Burry is a Brooklyn-based freelance writer and editor, covering everything from parenting to open data to workplace productivity. She’s held staff positions at Parents.com, Scholastic, and About.com. You can follow her on Twitter @lovelanewest.

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Dr. Karayiannis graduated from McGill University where she received her B.S. in physiology, as well as her D.M.D. Dr. Karayiannis moved to Long Island to further her dental education at Stony Brook University where she received her A.E.G.D., and her post-graduate certificate in orthodontics. A free consultation will give you the opportunity to learn more about orthodontics and Invisalign®. State-of-the-art equipment, including the iTero® scanner for digital impressions, keeps patients more comfortable while delivering precise imagery quick! Children and adults welcome. Trusted and experienced—you will love your smile.

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After earning her doctor of dental medicine degree, Dr. Sara completed a postgraduate residency at Sacred Heart Hospital in Allentown, PA. She then practiced dentistry in community health centers, and was a clinical instructor at the University of Connecticut Health Center Advanced Education in General Dentistry. Dr. Sara received her postgraduate certificate in pediatric dentistry from the University of Connecticut Health Center, and is now a diplomat of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. Most of all, she cherishes the relationships she’s formed with her pediatric patients.

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Dr. Ahn graduated from Columbia University College of Dental Medicine and completed her pediatric specialty training at Columbia University Medical Center, New York Presbyterian Hospital. As a board-certified pediatric dentist, Dr. Ahn’s goal is to provide exceptional and professional dental care in a fun, friendly environment. She believes that a lifetime of healthy, bright smiles starts at an early age and encourages parents to start their children’s dental care at the age of 1. She is excited to become a part of the Westport community and is looking forward to meeting your children’s dental needs.

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440 Danbury Road, Wilton 203-493-4003 appleblossomschool.org appleblossomschool.org@gmail.com admissions@appleblossomschool.org Call for a tour and discover what the Apple Blossom School and Family Center in Wilton has to offer.

Connecticut Dance School

42 Halley Court, Fairfield 203-384-2492 ctdanceschool.com Open house Sept. 10! Join us for balloons, goodie bags, class registration, mini-classes for ages 3-7, placement classes for ages 8 and older, refreshments, and Nutcracker characters.

The D’Valda & Sirico Dance and Music Centre 1580 Post Road, Fairfield 203-255-9440; dvaldaandsirico.com Joins us for Free Dance Day on Sept. 10! 1580 Post Road Fairfield, 203-255-9440.

Easton Country Day School

660 Morehouse Road, Easton 203-268-5530; eastoncountryday.org Visit us during our open house Feb. 8, 2017. Come and meet teachers, students, and parents.

Five Mile River Nursery School

5 Pennoyer St., Rowayton 203-838-4266 fivemilerivernurseryschool.com director@fmrns.com Join us for an open house Jan. 7 from 2-4pm. Learn about our preschool programs for ages 2-5.

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57 W. Rocks Road, Norwalk 203-229-0465 901 Route 10 E., Whippany, NJ winstonprep.edu Come to an open house on Sept. 8 at 9:30am, Sept. 21 at 6pm, or Oct. 19 at 6pm to learn more about our educational philosophy and tour our school. Visit our website to sign up, winstonprep.edu/apply-now.

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

HILLSDALE • MONTVALE

SEPTEMBER 2012

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

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LongIslandParent Parent SPETEMBER 2012

Class Is In!

After-School Activities

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Resource Guide

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SLOW DOWN!

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

How to Manage Kids’ Schedules

What Makes a Good Mentor?

+ 174 Family

+ 130 Family

(see our calendar, p. 26)

(see our calendar, p. 32)

Events

Plus: Learning to Let Go

Vaccines at Every Age Plus: Journaling for Your Child

Where-To Guide: Berry Picking

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Dinosaur Fun

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

NYMetroParents

Helping Parents Make Better Decisions

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W E S T P O R T F A M I LY C O U N S E L I N G

Powerful tools for positive thinking and behavior