Nassau Parent August 2018 by City Guide NY

LongIsland NASSAU EDITION

Parent NYMETROPARENTS.COM PARENTS.COM AUGUST 2018

Get Set for

SCHOOL! • Weighing Your Educational Options • Create a Homework Hot Spot • ACT or SAT? • Easy Ways to Find Scholarships

How to Talk to a Baby HELPING PARENTS MAKE BETTER DECISIONS

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contents table of

august 2018

10 21

A Blended Family

How reluctantly raising my son in two homes turned out to be a blessing in disguise

Family Activities Calendar

Find something to do with your kids every day this month, from fairs and farmers’ markets to movies and crafts

back-to-school 12 Choices, Choices, Choices

14 Create a Homework Hot Spot 16 After-School Classes & Programs

Cash for College

Ten ways to ﬁnd scholarships, grants, and ﬁnancial aid online

raising kids

things to do

family life

6 Editor’s Note 8 New Places, New Programs 9 Raising an Entrepreneur 10 A Blended Family 34 The Different Ways to Talk to a Baby 12 A Tale of Two Tests 41 Meet the Doctor 40 Party Central 42 Professional Services 45 Family Resource Guide and Advertisers’ Index 46 Quotables

21 Family Activities Calendar

38 Cash for College

33 Family Fun in Manhattan

NYMetroParents

Helping Parents Make Better Decisions ON THE COVER ›› 12 Weighing Your Educational Options 14 Create a Homework Hot Spot 34 How to Talk to a Baby 36 ACT or SAT? 38 Easy Ways to Find Scholarships facebook.com/nymetroparents

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

LongIslandParent

AUGUST 2018 • Vol.10 • No.3

raising kids editor’s note

NYMetroParents nymetroparents.com

EDITORIAL

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR: Deborah Skolnik MANAGING EDITOR: Katelin Walling ASSISTANT EDITORS: Anja Webb, Melissa Wickes

Back to School Before You Know It!

on’t hate me for stating the obvious: In just a few short weeks, these lazy, hazy days aren’t going to be so lazy anymore. Though technically it will still be summer, at least for a while, school (or “the S-word” as my daughters like to call it) will be back in session. Maybe you’ll be relieved, glad to no longer have bored children underfoot, demanding to be entertained or bickering with each other. Or perhaps like me you’ll feel as sad as the kids do, mourning the loss of blank-slate days and the endless possibilities that accompany them. It’s also fine to fall somewhere between these two extremes, wistful for all that delicious free time but glad your family will once again settle into a more predictable routine. If you’re the parent of a child in middle or high school, you know that kids in the upper grades have unique challenges. This month we’re tackling some of the major bigkid educational issues out there, offering guidance to help your year get off to a good start. Katelin Walling’s piece “Choices, Choices, Choices” on p. 16 examines the benefits of different types of schools, from public and parochial to charter and beyond, so you can determine what sort of environment will allow your child to ﬂourish. Of course, your home environment should be geared toward your student’s needs too! “Create a Homework Hot Spot” by Lambeth Hochwald (p. 18) shares easy ways to design a study space that will help your student buckle down and excel. And speaking of excelling, for parents of teens, the SAT and the ACT both loom large on the radar. Which test is best for your child to take? The expert insights in “A Tale of Two Tests” on p. 38 will assist you in coming up with the right answer. We’ll also help you tackle the exorbitant cost of higher education with “Cash for College” (p. 40). But don’t worry: We haven’t forgotten those of you with little ones. You’ll definitely want to read Melissa Wickes’ article, “The Different Ways to Talk to a Baby,” on p. 36. Child development pros share how to boost your little one’s speech development—and the way you may unintentionally be sabotaging it. And don’t miss popular kids’ musician Suzi Shelton’s essay (p. 12) about how raising a child under two roofs gave him a strong foundation. Wishing you lots of fun as you get in your last licks of summer!

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raising kids new places, new programs

There are many beneﬁts to child ren learning technology at a young age, according to owner Amy Chang.

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Who: Code Ninjas What’s New: The center, which opened its doors on July 1. Code Ninjas provides a place for children ages 7-to-14 to learn about coding and technology. As part of the curriculum, children learn how to use Java Script to build their own video games. They also have opportunities to learn about robotics drones, and many other technologies as electives. Advancement through the center’s curriculum follows the martial arts belting system in which students level up. Everyone starts off with a white-belt—taking the form of a wristband at Code Ninjas—and works their way up to a black-belt, becoming a Code Ninja with an app, which takes approximately four years. Want More Info: 613 Jericho Turnpike, Syosset; 631-760-1335; codeninjas.com

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Computer Coding and Video Game Center Opens in Syosset

Who: Lice Clinics of America What’s New: Locations in Syosset and Rockville Centre which opened last fall. Lice Clinics of America offers same-day lice removal services. Many traditional products for killing lice no longer work, as the bugs are evolving into ‘Super Lice,’ and have become resistant. The clinic’s staff is certified in using the AirAlle FDA approved device, which uses heated air to kill head lice and eggs in just 1 hour, avoiding toxins and pesticides usually found in removal methods. Clinic screenings are $25 per person, which is waived if head lice is confirmed. Treatment ranges from $99-to-$199 per person or a Do-ItYourself Lice Removal kit for $30-$50. Want More Info: 566 Merrick Road, Rockville Centre; 516-336-4099; 47 Jackson Ave., Syosset; 516-336-4099; liceclinicslongisland.com

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Who: Mathnasium What’s New: The location in Mineola which is scheduled to open Sept. 1. This will be the second location on Long Island for owner and center director Peter Abrams, who has a bachelor’s in accounting and owns the New Hyde Park location. Mathnasium offers after-school and weekend instruction to help children in first grade and older who are struggling with math. Services offered will mirror those offered in New Hyde Park, including building a math foundation, mastering computation, problem solving with whole and rational numbers for elementary school students, algebra readiness, homework help, and test prep. Want More Info: 41 Mineola Blvd., Mineola; 516-775-6284; mathnasium.com 8

August 2018 | nymetroparents.com

Courtesy Peter Abrams

Math Learning Center Opens in Mineola

After Mathnasium’s success in New Hyd e Park, owner and dire Peter Abrams knew ctor he had the capability to open another one especially in an area , where there is a com munity need

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raising kids in the know

Raising an Entrepreneur ››

Theatre Workshop INC.

Courtesy Mark Cuban, Shaan Patel, and Ian McCue

By Melissa Wickes

THEATRICAL SCHOOL FOR CHILDREN, TEENS & ADULTS ~ ALL LEVELS

From left: Shaan Patel, M.D., M.B.A., Mark Cuban, and Ian McCue, co-authors of Kid Start-Up: How You Can Be an Entrepreneur

f your child demonstrates an entrepreneurial spirit, you should encourage him to pursue that. Here are five ways you can teach your child to be an entrepreneur with help from Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks and star of the hit TV show Shark Tank, Shaan Patel, M.D., M.B.A., founder of Prep Expert, an SAT and ACT prep company that was pitched on Shark Tank in 2016, and Ian McCue, a rising senior at UNLV and the founder of Spark Skill, a technology summer camp provider. All three co-authored Kid Start-Up: How You Can Be an Entrepreneur. Be supportive of your child’s ideas. The first step to starting a business is to get feedback from as many people as possible before spending any money, according to Dr. Patel. And don’t worry that someone will ‘steal’ your kid’s idea if she asks for feedback. Chances are, even if someone wanted to ‘steal’ the idea, they won’t put in the time, effort, and passion that she would. “Ideas are cheap, execution is the hard part,” Cuban says. Instill perseverance. When running a business, you are very rarely going to do everything right the first time, McCue says. Teaching your child it is okay to fail can make him all the more successful. “You have to be willing to try a bunch of things and accept that only a few will work out,” McCue says. In teaching perseverance, you will also help your child know it may take time to get traction in a business. Teach self-control. This is important because, when starting and running your own business, you regulate your own hours, Dr. Patel says. By teaching your child self-control, even when she is a toddler being told to only eat one cookie, you are increasing the odds that she’ll one day have a higher income, better relationships, higher SAT scores, and fewer issues involving drugs and alcohol. Encourage him to pursue his hobbies. It may seem unlikely that a kid can really be a master in anything. However, kids become infatuated with things they like without even knowing they’re an expert. “My advice to all entrepreneurs is to start a business that you’re an expert in,” Dr. Patel says. Teach her to be a problem-solver. In a world where so many ideas have been thought of and so many inventions have been created, one might ask, where do you even begin brainstorming creative ideas? Look at everyday problems, no matter how small, and find a way to solve them. These challenges are familiar to us, making it easier to think of ways to fix them.

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raising kids voices

A Blended Family ››

How reluctantly raising my son in two homes turned out to be a blessing in disguise By Suzi Shelton

hen my son was just 2 years old, his father and I decided to split up. We had tried for a while to make it work, but it was clear we would all be happier apart. For me, this meant our son would live with me full time in our Brooklyn apartment, and have visitation with his dad. For his dad, splitting up meant our son would split his time equally, and live in two homes. This wasn’t something I was ready to accept. There was no way this was going to work out. It couldn’t be in the best interest of our young son. Could it? A very wise family therapist told us, “Yes, actually, it could work out.” And yes, it could be a very happy and healthy way to raise our son. As long as we were both 100 percent onboard. So, I thought long and hard about it, and decided I would get onboard. For our son. At first, it was awful. I hated having to give up Sebastian (still a baby for God’s sake) for half of the week. And overnight! I would hand him over with his little Thomas the Tank Engine backpack with tears in my eyes and a pain in my heart. I would count the hours and then minutes until he came back to me, and I would hold him so tightly when he walked in the door. Except it wasn’t actually about me. It was about Sebastian and the fact that he deserved to have quality time with his Dad. We learned (through our family therapist) how to help Sebastian make this transition easier on himself, and on us. We learned to say things like, “I can’t wait to hear what you did at Daddy’s house,” instead of, “I’ll miss you so much!” And it became our new normal for our son to live in two homes. And have two beds and two sets of toys. And, eventually, two more parents. And Sebastian was fine with this. In fact, he was more than fine. He was happy.

Our blended family (from left): Sebastian (19), Julia (3), Emma (13), and Cole (10)

The thing I didn’t really anticipate with all of this was I would meet my now husband and have another child, and his Dad would marry and do the same, and those “extra” parents and children would be part of our family, too. Our modern family had expanded and grown and there was still quite a lot of love to go around. In fact, when Sebastian was in elementary school, he and his dad wrote a poem called “Mama’s House, Daddy’s House,” which we turned into a song that I put on my second album to share our message with the world…two homes but “one heart—filled with love.” Now almost 18 years later, Sebastian’s dad and stepmom are two of my closest friends. We still share raising Sebastian, and we share raising our other children, too. My 13-year-old daughter has her own drawer of clothes at their house, and their two younger children have the same at my house. My husband and I fondly call them our “stepchildren” since there really isn’t another word for it, and you know what? It works. Our 10-year-old stepson comes over regularly after school to “hang out” and get away from his 3-year-old sister. That same 3-year-old sister calls me “Mama!,” runs into my arms when I occasionally pick her up at preschool, and loves to come over and play with our dog, Penny. They both bring me so much joy. We all decided to spend holidays together instead of alternating Sebastian between the two homes. It’s much easier this way, and actually more fun. I feel like I have four children instead of two. And when I need them, I have three other parents I can count on instead of just one. I feel lucky. I never would have imagined (way back when) that things would have turned out this way, and to be honest, I can’t imagine it any other way now.

Suzi Shelton, an award-winning singer/songwriter for the playground set, has been writing, recording, and performing music for families for more than 15 years. She is the proud mama of two and step-mama of two more. Shelton has just released her fourth solo album and is currently working on her fifth season of Sing with Suzi videos on YouTube for her preschool fans. See and hear it all at suzishelton.com.

August 2018 | nymetroparents.com

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Choices, Choices, Choices

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The New York metro area provides families with a variety of school options, allowing you to choose the best one for your child. By Katelin Walling

e all worry about whether we’re making the best choices in raising our kids, and one thing most of us fret over is whether our children are getting the best education possible that is suited to their needs. In a lot of areas in the country, traditional district public schools may be the only option for kids. But living in the New York metro area, we are #blessed with an abundance of choices in addition to great public schools, from charter and independent schools, to magnet, international, and Catholic schools. While one school option doesn’t necessarily provide a better education than another, each type has pros and cons for every individual family. It’s up to you to determine which school setting best suits your child’s needs. Read on to learn more about charter, home, independent, international, magnet, and parochial schools.

Charter Schools

“The most important concept to get is that a charter school is a public school,” says Ian Rowe, CEO of Public Prep Network, a system of three nonprofit charter schools in New York City. But charter schools often have a specific focus, one that typically responds to a need articulated by public school families. Public Prep schools, for example, are all single sex (two schools for girls and one school for boys) and have a focus in STEM education. As with public schools, charter schools are tuition-free, though students have to apply for admission. Public Prep currently admits students via a lottery system due to high demand. Charter schools, though, tend to operate with fewer regulations than traditional public schools and can set their own curriculum. But there is typically an accountability system in which charters are evaluated each year to see if they are meeting the outcomes set by the state, Rowe adds. Plus, there is a renewal process every five years to determine whether the charter is able to continue. “So, there is a much greater accountability in return for the freedoms you have,” Rowe says. 12

August 2018 | nymetroparents.com

Home Schools

There are numerous motivations for a family to decide to home-school their children, from religious and health reasons to a child’s learning style, aptitude level, or schedule (think child actors). There are also numerous options for home-schooling your child, whether you decide to take the lead in teaching, you enroll him in an online home-school program, such as the George Washington University Online High School, or you join a home-school community, such as Classical Conversations. Parents who decide to home-school rather than enroll their child in a physical school need to submit a letter of intent, an Individualized Home Instruction Plan, and quarterly reports by specific dates, according to the New York City Department of Education.

Independent Schools

Also known as private schools, independent schools are funded by tuition and charitable donations as opposed to taxpayer dollars. “It is independently funded for the most part and also independent from the state to a certain degree,” says Scott Nelson, headmaster of Rye Country Day School, a college preparatory day school in Rye. “For instance, we don’t follow the NYS testing program (regents testing program), so we have more independence as far as curriculum choices.” To enroll in an independent school, students have to fill out an application, parents and the student have an interview, and the student has to take an entrance exam, either the Independent School Entrance Exam or the Secondary School Admissions Test, according to Nelson. Though tuition is a factor in attending an independent school, many offer need-based financial aid. For instance, RCDS offers $5.5 million annually to 16 percent of students, Nelson says.

International Schools

A second private school option, international schools are typically multi-cultural and integrate those different cultures into everyday learn-

ing. “We have families who hail from all over the world…and we embrace their backgrounds,” says Emily Benson, director of admissions at International Academy of New York in Manhattan. “We celebrate different times of the year that are holidays for those different cultures, and if we don’t actually make a big celebration about it, we at least discuss it.” Many international schools are bilingual. IANY, for instance, teaches Mandarin and Spanish, and students spend almost 40 percent of their time interacting in those languages. “When we have a family coming from say Egypt, we might be studying Spanish or Mandarin, but we will ask that child how do you say this in Arabic,” Benson says of welcoming students’ cultures. “We encourage and embrace these other languages and we find that through the way we teach, our children are not only embracing different cultures...but they are also excited to share their home countries’ language and tradition.” As with other private schools, international schools have an application process, and some require testing while others do not. Many international schools also offer need-based financial aid.

Magnet Schools

Another tuition-free public school option, magnet schools are federally funded by competitive grants from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Innovation and Improvement. Over the past few years, the NYC DOE has won funding for 31 magnet schools across 12 districts in NYC, says Todd Levitt, senior director of magnet programs of NYC DOE. Due to the grants, the NYC DOE is able to offer specialized thematic programs, innovative curriculum, and diversified approaches to teaching, and provide professional development, partnerships, residencies, and extra funding to support special programs, he adds. These 31 schools have a STEAM/STEM component, and each school follows a theme (architecture, civic leadership, and global conservation to name a few). Partnerships are tailored to each

school’s individual pursuits and include Columbia University, American Ballet Theatre, Lego, CUNY, NYIT, Apple Education, and Buck Institute of Education Project Based Learning. The grants allow magnet schools to have state-of-the-art technology, purchase new art and science supplies, and provide specialty rooms like broadcast studios and STEAM labs. Though public schools, the NYC magnet schools have an application process through the NYC DOE Office of Enrollment and the magnet schools, but there is no screening or testing involved in applying. For information about open houses and school tours happening in the fall, email JGallag@schools.nyc.gov or TLevitt@schools.nyc.gov.

Parochial Schools

Catholic schools are private schools that follow a traditional curriculum but with an added religious component. Students enrolled in a Diocese of Rockville Centre school, for instance, are taught in accordance with the New York state learning standards and take the same Regents Exam and SAT as public school students, but learning is infused with a religious curriculum directed by the Diocese, according to Gary Layton, director of marketing and enrollment for DRVC. “Because we are a school that is run by a religious institution, we take a more holistic view. It is not just about educating. It is about building character, instilling values. It is about the kindness, the respect they show each other. It is about doing service projects,” Layton says. Though the schools in the Diocese are Catholic schools, teach religion courses, and prepare students for their first Holy Communion and Confirmation, not all students practice Catholicism. Those that don’t practice are required to take and pass religion classes, but are not required to participate in religious events or sacraments. DRVC requires applicants to fill out admissions paperwork, and there is a “modest tuition” that is typically supplemented by the Diocese and the Parish that runs the school, Layton says.

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LongIslandParent 13

Create a Homework Hot Spot

››

Kids need a dedicated space to get their homework done. But what if the space you’ve carved out for them isn’t so ideal? Read on for some quick and easy fixes. By Lambeth Hochwald

f it seems like your kids find any excuse not to sit down and do their homework, it could be their workstation is lacking in the right light, the right inspiration, or even the right chair. “As parents, getting our kids to focus on homework can be a daily grind,” says Lisa Sugarman, a nationally syndicated opinion columnist and parenting expert. “But by creating a space that entices our kids to sit down and dig into their work, we’re setting them up for success without anyone kicking and screaming along the way. And that means less stress for us and for our kids.” It’s very important to pick a quiet spot without any distractions like TV, devices of any sort, and toys. “Tell your kids that it’s their spot to do their work,” Sugarman says. “Giving your kids ownership of their homework area is a really big deal to a kid. Next, always make sure to help them get invested in the space by encouraging them to help shop for the items they’d like and then set it up and get it organized together.” Now that you know why your kids need a dedicated homework station, read on as Annie Draddy, a professional organizer and co-founder of Henry & Higby, a professional organizing company in New York City, shares 10 ways to get your kids to actually sit down and get their work done—plus products that will help enhance their space. We promise that your kids will thank you later!

Make the space appealing.

Once you’ve carved out a room or space in your home that works for your child and is intended just for homework, make it aesthetically pleasing by adding decorative items such as a colorful accent rug, bookends, and a funky desk lamp that matches their personality. “It doesn’t matter if this spot is in a communal room of the home or a desk in their own room, provided it feels personal to them,” Draddy says. “Ultimately, the goal is to get them to work in a proper set-up with a table and chair instead of doing their homework on the couch. This way they establish good habits and 14

August 2018 | nymetroparents.com

can properly work on their handwriting and other skills.” Desk Pick: Kids Navy Blue Campaign Desk, $399 (crateandbarrel.com)

Select a good desk chair.

The goal here: to select a desk chair that’s as comfortable as it is supportive. “You don’t want a lousy chair to be the reason that your kids are doing their homework in front of the TV,” Draddy says. Chair Picks: Rockin’ Roller Desk Chair, $149 (pbteen.com)

Make it easy to keep a shipshape desk.

Although it may seem obvious, keeping a trash or recycling can near your child’s desk is a win-win. “Not only will this encourage him to throw out old papers, but also—perhaps with a little coaxing—purge the garbage from his backpack on a regular basis,” Draddy says. Bonus points if you encourage your child to routinely empty that trash on her own as part of her chores. Trashcan Pick: Pink or Gray Trash Can, $39 (potterybarnkids.com)

Post important notices.

By hanging up a corkboard for your kids to pin papers, reminders, and a calendar, you’re keeping important information within sight. “This is a space that should be within reach of their desk so they can easily add/remove important items on a regular basis,” Draddy says. “It can also give them a chance to decorate and personalize their space—and maybe even sketch out a dream board, which will hopefully inspire them to keep using it!” Corkboard Pick: Zig Zag Cork Board, $12.99 (containerstore.com)

Keep supplies close at hand.

Stowing supplies within reach of your child’s desk is one of the biggest keys to your kid’s productivity. “There needn’t be twelve trips around the house looking for the tools they need to complete each project,”

Draddy says. It’s easy: Just keep pens, pencils, erasers, Post-Its, highlighters, three-ring binder paper, graph paper, rulers, and a pencil sharpener within easy reach. “If desk space is an issue, consider making your own mobile supply station that can be easily wheeled in and out of the space when it’s homework time,” she says. “A version of this caddy can also be made for the road if your children won’t always be home when it comes time for homework.” Caddy Pick: Acrylic Accessory Drawers, $12.99-$13.99 (containerstore.com)

life skill that will bode them well in life after school, too.” Timer Pick: Time Timer Original 8 Inch, 60 Minute Visual Analog Timer, $24.99 (amazon.com)

helps kids keep their notes organized whether on their desk or in their book bag,” Draddy says. Color-Coded File Pick: White, Pool Blue + Aqua Letter Size File Folders, $15 (poppin.com)

Encourage color-coding.

Behold the power of the in-box.

Color-coded file folders can be vital to keeping organized. Encourage your child to stow all science papers in a green folder, English compositions in their blue folder, French worksheets in a red folder, and so on. “This

With school comes tons of assignments and papers that need to stay organized. “Consider setting up an ‘in’ and ‘out’ bin where your kids can put assignments that need to be done and others that are already completed,”

Draddy says. “This makes it easier to remember that everything in the ‘out’ bin needs to be packed in their backpacks and returned to school the next day.” For papers your kids want to keep for future nostalgia, consider keeping these in bins. By doing this, your house will stay streamlined too. Storage Picks: Archival Album & Scrapbook Storage Box, $17.99 (containerstore.com) Lambeth Hochwald is a New York Citybased journalist covering trends, relationships, and life in New York City.

AFTER-SCHOOL MARKETPLACE

Embrace your label maker.

It’s time to dust off your label maker and use it to help your kids stay organized. “Label everything on your supply containers/caddy,” Draddy says, adding that this includes recent tests, papers, and assignment sheets as well as bins containing supplies. “This will help teach your children how to maintain their space and hopefully put an end to the continuing cycle of them asking where to put their supplies when they are done with their homework,” Draddy adds. Label Picks: Simply Remarkable Reusable Chalk Labels, $9.95 or Brother P-Touch PTD 210 Easy-to-Use Label Maker, $24.99 (both on amazon.com)

Corral those cords.

As your kids get older, homework will often require the use of technology, whether that’s a laptop, iPad, or other plug-ins, all of which means cord and charging chaos. “Keep your kids’ homework space tidy from the cord clutter by using some of those ingenious products and hacks to help cables stay neat and handy for when it’s time to plug in and charge,” Draddy says. Cord Storage Pick: Cable Twisters, $9.99 (containerstore.com)

Time it right.

If assignments need to be timed, give your kids the tools to manage their own time by keeping a clock or timer on their workspace. “Setting time limits for each subject can help them stay on track,” Draddy says. “This is a LongIslandParent 15

AFTER-SCHOOL CLASSES & PROGRAMS Bailey-Woods Institute

190 Landford Drive, Elmont 646-327-8080; 917-283-8727 At Bailey-Woods kids will explore their interests, learn social skills, and have fun! We offer Drama, Dance, Culinary Arts, Academics, Introductory Volleyball, Woodworking, and lots of free play! Private and group tutoring available all year. For more information, call 917-283-8727.

Code Ninjas

613 Jericho Turnpike, Syosset 631-760-1335 codeninjas.com Ever feel like coding is boring? Sitting there listening on and on while someone else tells you what to do? Why not experience hands-on fun instead? Code Ninjas has different programs tailored to your interests. We have drones. We have beginning Javascript. We have Minecraft and Roblox world creation. We have game building sessions. And best of all our drop-in programs are year-round, so no need to wait until fall to join.

Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery & Aquarium

1660 Route 25A, Cold Spring Harbor 516-692-6768 cshfishhatchery.org info@cshfishhatchery.org Join us for a fun-filled hour of nature activities (fish feeding included). Using live animals, crafts, stories, and games we guide you and your little ones through nature adventures sure to last a lifetime. Juice and snack available to all participants. Ages 2-5 at the Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery & Aquarium Pollywog Adventures program. Catch & Keep Trout Fishing: spaces available on a firstcome, first-served basis. Bring your own fishing equipment or rent from the Hatchery. Call us for details and registration information for Pollywog Adventures and fishing.

Countryside Montessori School

354 Lakeville Road, Lower Level, Great Neck 516-466-8422 cmsgn.com info@cmsgn.com Countryside Montessori School was founded in 1998. We were founded with the aim of providing a high quality early childhood education based on the philosophy, methods, and techniques developed 100 years ago by educational pioneer and Nobel Prize nominee Dr. Maria Montessori. Our children become responsible for their own learning and their own behavior. They learn to respect themselves and others. Everything in our school is designed to encourage and aid the child’s natural curiosity.

Drama Kids

Locations throughout North Nassau County 516-360-5026 dramakids.com/ny6 Drama develops kids. Build confidence and have fun! Drama Kids offers exciting programs for children ages 4-18. Kids have tons of fun and develop

August 2018 | nymetroparents.com

important self-confidence, self-esteem, and verbal communication skills that will help them personally and academically. Activities include mini scripts, speaking skills, creative movement, character analysis, improvisations, performances, and everyone’s favorite theater games. If you want your child to get a jump on achievement, enroll today—space is limited! The difference is dramatic!

Eye Level

Eye Level Hicksville 760 S. Broadway, Hicksville 516-597 5300, Jyoti Dhingra Eye Level Williston Park 61 Hillside Ave., Williston Park 516-747-7700, Alida Vucemilovich Eye Level New Hyde Park Coming Soon! 1 Jericho Turnpike, New Hyde Park 516-775-1000, Min Bittaf myeyelevel.com Many parents today are facing educational challenges and looking for answers to help their children succeed academically. Whether the immediate goal is for early learning, remedial education, or academic advancement, Eye Level is the answer. Eye Level offers math and English programs for ages 3-14. Our instructors tailor a curriculum by understanding the learning abilities of the student. With ongoing guidance, each student will set attainable goals and learn at a comfortable pace. With each success, the student grows more self-confident, self-motivated, and self-directed in the quest for knowledge.

Great Play of Syosset

180 Michael Drive, Syosset 516-364-1500 greatplay.com/syosset info@syosset.greatplay.com Our mission is for every child to develop a love of physical activity that will lead to an active, healthy, and confident life. Starting with our Great Start program (6 months to 3½ years). Through “directed play” children build confidence, self-esteem, and social skills, with a strong physical foundation; making them ready for our preschooler programs (ages 3½-5½). Through games and instruction, preschoolers develop fundamental motor skills, along with sport skills, giving them all they need to progress into our school-aged programs (ages 4½10), which offer a full range of fun programs.

Hofstra University Continuing Education Saturday Classes for Young People and Precollegiate Career Discovery Institute

516-463-7400, Jessica Dease, program director ce.hofstra.edu/youth jessica.dease@hofstra.edu Saturday Classes for Young People wants your child to love learning. Our small classes provide individual attention and help encourage students’ curiosity. Winter and summer programs are six weeks, while spring and fall sessions run eight weeks. There are many classes to choose, including reading, math, writing, STEM/STEAM, cartooning,

theater, art, video game development, Minecraft, and swimming. Your child will love learning on a “grown-up” college campus in first-rate facilities. For middle and high school students, we offer the Precollegiate Career Discovery Institute in which they explore future jobs in many topics.

Hofstra University Museum

112 Hofstra University, Hempstead 516-463-5672 hofstra.edu/museum Free family fun at the Hofstra University Museum! More than just a museum! Engage! Pick up an Art Quest in the exhibition, Romare Bearden: Storyteller and solve puzzles related to Bearden’s art. Discover! Borrow an activity-filled Let’s Explore Backpack to explore the outdoor sculpture and take home your own artwork. Funding provided by Bethpage Federal Credit Union. Enjoy! Become a detective and use The Great Art Caper to solve a mystery about the outdoor sculptures on campus. All activities are for children ages 5-12 with an adult companion.

Huntington Ballet Academy at Huntington Center for Performing Arts

310 New York Ave., Huntington 631-271-4626 huntingtoncenteronline.com/category/ballet huntingtoncenter@yahoo.com The school follows the American Ballet Theatre® National Training Curriculum and is divided by levels of study based upon proficiency. Study of Ballet, Conditioning, and Character Dance begins at age 4½. In addition to Ballet, Pointe, Modern, and Classical Variations are offered for ages 11 and older. The curriculum provides a safe, nurturing environment in which to master this challenging, beautiful art form. Students are encouraged to audition for productions produced by LI Ballet Theatre, which is also in residence at Huntington Center.

Huntington Center for Performing Arts

310 New York Ave., Huntington 631-271-4626 huntingtoncenteronline.com huntingtoncenter@yahoo.com Musical Theater for ages 6-12. Workshops are offered for 10 weeks in fall and spring. Our musical theater workshops offer training in various skills needed to participate in a musical theater production. The program begins with auditions for a selected Broadway musical, however all participants are given speaking, singing, and dancing opportunities. During the rehearsal period students are taught vocal technique, acting skills, and appropriate movement necessary to tell the story through words and music. The objective is to build confidence and discipline in each child.

Joffrey Ballet School

434 Sixth Ave., 5th Floor, Manhattan 888-438-3808 joffreyballetschool.com The Joffrey Ballet School offers classes in Musical Theater, Hip-Hop, Jazz, Contemporary Ballet,

and more. We specialize in dancers ranging in age from 2-18. We also offer superb adult evening dance fitness classes. The Musical Theater classes for kids are instructed by actual Broadway stars. Come and experience our more than 60 years of excellence in dance training. You will love the way we care for your child’s dance training. Come and grow with us.

students 2-3.3 years offers your little one a positive first school experience! Taught by a certified teacher, small student-to-teacher ratio, caring and creative teachers, and two hours of pure fun! Not potty trained, not a problem! Our 3-hour program is sold out! Spots are limited in our 2-hour program, Monday and Wednesday from 10am-12pm. Call to secure your spot today! 516-409-4558.

Key to My Art Inc.

Lice Clinics of America: Long Island

10 W. Oak St., Amityville 131 Main St., East Rockaway 877-539-2278 keytomyart.com/nymetroparents.html info@keytomyart.com Key to My Art is owned and operated by a New York state-certified art teacher who believes anyone can create art if they want to. We teach your child how to work with different materials and mediums, while using a variety of techniques and styles. Your child will learn to give critique and look at the work of their peers, as well as expand on their skills. We offer art classes for all ages and abilities.

Kidville Wantagh

Willow Wood Shopping Center 1183 Wantagh Ave., Wantagh 516-409-4558 kidville.com/wantagh Enrollment is now open for our Kidville University 2018-2019 school year at Kidville Wantagh! This beginner separation preschool program for

47 Jackson Ave., Syosset 516-336-4099 566 Merrick Road, Rockville Centre liceclinicslongisland.com Let us check your kids’ hair for critters as they head back to school. We remove lice in just 1 hour! All lice and eggs—even Super Lice— are eliminated in a single, 1-hour treatment. No need for your child to sit still for 2-3 hours of combing or return for additional visits. Our treatments are affordable, starting at $99, and never more than $199. No toxic chemicals! Call us 24/7. Appointments available seven days a week; we can even handle your after-hours emergency!

Lice Tamers Inc.

900 Walt Whitman Road, Suite LL2, Melville 631-479-2595 licetamers.com licetamers@gmail.com Head lice infestations can be trau-

matic for families. At Lice Tamers we can help relieve some of the stress. It is important to check your children before school starts. Owned and operated by a medical professional, Lice Tamers offers same-day lice treatment and head checks at our comfortable, child-friendly treatment center or in the comfort of your home. All of our products are safe and non-toxic. Lice Tamers is dedicated to dispelling the myths surrounding head lice. Be sure to stop by before or after school for a quick lice check.

LIU Post Center for Gifted Youth

Dr. Lynne Manouvrier, director LIU Post, Brookville 516-299-2160 liu.edu/giftedyouth The Long Island University program for gifted children was established in 1979 in response to the recognition of society’s special responsibilities for children with demonstrably superior intellectual ability. The LIU Center for Gifted Youth brings together two important elements of education for the gifted: extraordinary teachers recruited from leading schools in the metropolitan area and university-level facilities. These factors, combined with an administrative and psychological team schooled in the needs of gifted children, give the program at LIU Post unique strengths in producing positive benefits for young people admitted to the program.

Long Island Whole Child Academy

175 Wolf Hill Road, Melville 347-668-3676 liwholechild.org info@liwholechild.org After-school and weekend Enrichment Classes are open to gifted, twice exceptional, and all students. Flight Team: Become familiar with ﬂying our professional-grade ﬂight simulator. Martial Arts: Students use their bodies and sense of self through martial arts techniques, developing self-confidence, self-respect, social cognition skills, and muscle tone. Science of Magic: Learn the science behind magic tricks and perform your own. Makers Space: Create, plan, dig, and build, using a variety of materials and tools. Readers/Writers Workshop: Students create wondrous stories from even our most reluctant readers and writers.

M.A.T.S.S. Kids’ Gym & Early Childcare Education Center A Rainbow Of Programs Under One Roof!

2629 Grand Ave., Bellmore 516-221-1330 171 Eileen Way, Syosset 516-496-7765 matsskidsgym.com Infant, Toddler, and Separation classes bridge development to a comprehensive Early Childhood Education-Nursery School-Gym Program. After-school classes provide movement, continued on next page ››

AFTER-SCHOOL MARKETPLACE

LongIslandParent 17

‹‹ continued from previous page gymnastics, sports, and enrichment instruction for on-site center children and community school-age children (7 months to 12 years). Summer Day Camp, Holiday Mini-Camps, weekend birthday party, and Friday “Kids’ Night Out” events provide a yearround place to play and celebrate! Full day care available at our Syosset Center. Extended day available. Diapers welcome. Dedicated teachers and staff are NYS-, CPR-, and first aid-certified. Since 1985: A Rainbow of Programs to Play, Learn, and Grow!

Music Together

Various locations; find the location near you: musictogetherli-queens.com While the big kids head back to school this fall, have some family-style, music-makin’ fun with your little ones. Once a week for 10 weeks, you’ll sing, dance, and play with your baby, toddler, or preschooler in a play-based, developmentally appropriate musical environment. Some centers offer classes for the big kids, too! Founded in 1987, Music Together is a research-based program. Each family receives a CD or download set and songbook, so you can continue the fun at home. Find a location near you in Queens or on Long Island: musictogetherli-queens.com.

Northwell Health Ice Center

200 Merrick Ave., East Meadow 516-441-0070 northwellhealthicecenter.com Looking for a way to keep your youngster active now that summer vacation is over? Learn to skate classes at Northwell Health Ice Center offer something for everyone—from first steps on the ice to mastering advanced techniques. We offer Young Beginner classes for kids ages 2–5 and Group

Lesson programs for ages 6 and older. Fall learn to skate classes start in late September. Visit northwellhealthicecenter.com to learn more.

Stars of Tomorrow

171 Eileen Way, Syosset 516-932-9173 stars-of-tomorrow.com “Stars of Tomorrow” was chosen for a very specific reason. Success doesn’t happen overnight. It takes hard work, discipline, and confidence. Students work with top instructors and are challenged. Classes are limited in size. Students are prepared for auditions and focus is on work and coaching, not costumes and glitzy productions. All shows are open classrooms in which every student is featured. Students are required to attend classes in a uniform shirt. This is effective in eliminating competition and puts everyone on an even playing field especially when meeting industry professionals.

Sylvan Learning Centers of Mineola and Huntington

393 Jericho Turnpike, Mineola 516-743-9943 1160 E. Jericho Turnpike, Huntington 631-424-5600 sylvanlearning.com sylvanlearning@optonline.net At Sylvan of Huntington and Mineola, every child’s learning plan is unique. Sylvan’s diagnostic assessments help us to uncover your child’s specific strengths and can enable us to create a plan just for them! If you are looking to enhance your child’s skills in reading, writing, mathematics, or STEM concepts, then Sylvan is here to help. Our certified teachers are able to challenge your child in a number of ways unique to their specific skill set. Enrichment enables children to explore their talents and build confidence!

TAS New York: Theory of Arts and Sciences

Village East Gifted: Enrichment Center for the Gifted Learner

Temple Sinai of Roslyn Religious School

YMCA of Long Island

153 S. Broadway, Hicksville 1915 Deer Park Ave., Deer Park 1-888-827-8188 tasnewyork.com Here education matters. The No. 1 learning center in New York. We offer after-school programs, private and group tutoring, kids and adult art classes, computer coding, SAT and ACT prep, Create and Meditate sessions, and summer camp! We believe that every student has a unique gift to share. Classes are geared toward providing a friendly environment to learn and excel. We offer classes on creativity and art to all ages. Meditation is an important ingredient in our programs to creatively engage your mind and build a rewarding learning environment. Call today!

425 Roslyn Road, Roslyn Heights 516-621-8016 mysinai.org cantorelenaschwartz@mysinai.org Finally, a Religious School your children will love! Temple Sinai Religious School is committed to providing families with the richest, most creative Jewish learning opportunities, in ways that are relevant to today’s young learners! We offer ﬂexible models that fit the needs of our families, including options for children with special needs. All of our programs deliver the perfect combination of Jewish learning and fun. Under the direction of Cantor-Educator Elena Schwartz, Temple Sinai Religious School prepares children to take an active role in the future of the larger Jewish Community.

Village East Gifted of Huntington 33 Walt Whitman Road, Huntington Station 631-549-2313 Village East Gifted of Roslyn 216 Willis Ave., Roslyn Heights 631-549-2313 villageeastgifted.com info@villageeastgifted.com Village East Gifted® is a highly rigorous, creative, and engaging academic enrichment program for gifted students ages 2-16. Its curriculum includes Latin, writing, geography, global studies, world history, STEM, advanced linguistics, SAT vocabulary enrichment, public speaking, art, and creative problem solving. Gifted pre-K and kindergarten (ages 4-5) is offered as well. More than 1,200 students have enrolled in the program since its inception, all of whom have placed in the 90th percentile or higher on national tests with IQ scores between 130 and 155. 855-2YMCALI (296-2254) Locations: Bay Shore, East Hampton, Glen Cove, Holtsville, Huntington, and Patchogue ymcali.org; tamar.simpson@ymcali.org YMCA of Long Island works daily to improve lives through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. Each year, we serve more than 65,000 people island-wide of all ages and backgrounds. Our locations in Bay Shore, East Hampton, Glen Cove, Huntington, Holtsville, and Patchogue provide programs and services for youth, teens, adults, and seniors including state-of-the-art fitness centers, group exercise classes, pristine pools, youth and teen programs, cultural arts programs, family activities, preschool, before- and after-school programs, and summer day camp for children ages 3-15 with all interests!

AFTER-SCHOOL MARKETPLACE

KIDVILLE UNIVERSITY

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August 2018 | nymetroparents.com

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AFTER-SCHOOL MARKETPLACE COLD SPRING HARBOR FISH HATCHERY HAT ATCHERY AT T RY Y & AQUARIUM

PARENT & ME POLLYWOG ADVENTURES Classes begin September 2018 ~ REGISTER TODAY!

•  Crafts •  Stories •  Games •  Fish Feeding Wednesdays & Thursdays 10am • Ages 2-5

SaturdayThe Best Learning Day Of The Week!

Enroll thru August

BIRTHDAY PARTIES! P PAR PA ARTIES S!

SUMMER CAMPS

CELEBRATE WITH US! Explore the aquarium, feed fish & enjoy a live animal presentation!

Pre-K thru HS

Bringing NYC Arts Training Experience to Long Island

“Training for Life” Huntington Ballet Academy ENROLL NOW for Fall Classes Age 4 thru Professional Levels

Saturday Classes for Young People and the Precollegiate Career Discovery Institute offers classes in a variety of subjects from academics to video game development. Register today!

516-463-7400 ce.hofstra.edu/youth

Dreams Start Here

LIU POST’S CENTER FOR GIFTED YOUTH

FALL 2018 AND SPRING 2019 SATURDAY PROGRAM Oct 6th – Dec 15th, 2018 & Feb 2nd – April 27th, 2019 for students entering K in Sept. 2018

American Ballet Theatre National Training Curriculum 631-271-4626 www.HuntingtonBallet.com

Are You the Parent of a Gifted Child?

LIU Post’s Center for Gifted Youth

Classes • Holiday Workshops Camp • Private Parties Girl Scouts • Fundraisers

announces its 38th annual fall and spring program for gifted children. The fall

DAY! ENROLL TOt Ca mp Summer Ar24 thru 8/ Fall Art Classes

CREATIVE WAY TO SPEND YOUR CHILD’S SPECIAL DAY!

Ages 2 thru HS!

10 Oak Street, Amityville 131 Main Street, East Rockaway

program runs on Saturdays from Oct. 6th to Dec. 15th, 2018 and the spring program runs on Saturdays from Feb. 2nd to April 27th, 2019. The program is open to gifted children entering grades K-8 in September 2018. The program expands

students’ knowledge, develops creative and critical thinking skills, and offers children the opportunity to learn in an exciting and accepting environment.

For information call 516-299-2160 liu.edu/post/giftedyouth Now find us on Facebook

Admission is highly selective and enrollment is limited.

LIU Post • College of Education, Information and Technology • 720 Northern Blvd. • Brookville, NY 11548-1300 liu.edu/post/giftedyouth • Dr. Lynne Manouvrier, Director

LongIslandParent 19

AFTER-SCHOOL MARKETPLACE

“A uniquely engaging experience for children of all ages!” - USA TODAY

Aug 29th & Aug 30th

“I’ve seen it and it’s amazing! I could FEEL the energy in the room.” - MacaroniKid

“One of the most innovative brands in youth fitness worldwide.” - International Health Raquet & Sportsclub Association

“A new and dramatically improved improved approach to kids’ fitness that makes learning new skills fun and easy!” - Small Business Opportunities

9/2/18

180 Michael Dr • Syosset, NY 11891 • 516-364-1500 greatplay.com/syosset ACTIVITIES

EVENTS

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NYMetroParents Enriching brilliant minds every day… in every way. Academic Enrichment in All Subj bjject Are reas Classes Offere red 7 Day ayys a We a W ek

•

Ages 2-16

Nassau & Suffolk L Lo ocat ations

631-549-2313 • www.VillageEastGifted.com 20

August 2018 | nymetroparents.com

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EVENTS

Ideas When You Need Them:

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

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Turn the page for details on ‘Aladdin’ (No. 5 on our list).

AUGUST

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EDITOR: KAREN DEMETER suffolkcal@davlermedia.com

CALENDAR 28

Mini Musicians, Show Time!

Smarty Pants

Crafty Kids

Little Foodies, Fun Fairs & Festivals, Special Needs

Animal Lovers, Once Upon a Time, Kindness Cruscaders

Movers & Shakers

On Screen

The Great Outdoors, Browse & Buy

Editor’s Hot Tickets

We Can’t Believe It’s FREE!

EDITOR’S HOT TICKETS

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

The Jim Jester Show FREE

WHEN: Friday, Aug. 3, 10:30am WHERE: Rock Hall Museum, 199 Broadway, Lawrence AGES: All WHAT: With a trunk full of props and a looping machine, Jester Jim takes the stage and starts his show. Young and old will be glued to his every sound as he performs his amazing beatbox intro. WHY WE LOVE IT: This is not your ordinary juggling show! It’s magic, it’s comedy, it’s out of this world! WANT TO GO? 516-239-1157. toh.li.

International Concert Series FREE

WHEN: Through Aug. 5: See website for dates, 8pm WHERE: Eisenhower Park, Eisenhower Park, Parking Field 6/6A, East Meadow AGES: All WHAT: Presented by the Nassau County Department of Parks, Recreationv and Museums in recognition of the county’s ethnic diversity, this month’s theme is Chinese-American Night. Bring a folding chair or blanket. WHY WE LOVE IT: It’s like having a round trip ticket to concerts around the world! WANT TO GO? 516-572-0200. nassaucountyny.gov/parks.

‘Freckleface Strawberry: The Musical’

WHEN: Through Aug. 8: See website for exact days and times WHERE: BroadHollow Theatre, 700 Hempstead Turnpike, Elmont AGES: All WHAT: Based on the beloved New York Times best-selling book, this is a fun and touching musical specifically created to perform for young audiences. WHY WE LOVE IT: A great way to teach kids to “love the skin they’re in!” WANT TO GO? $11-$13. 631-581-2700. broadhollow.org. 22

August 2018 | nymetroparents.com

Ice Skating FREE

WHEN: Through Aug. 15: 12-1pm WHERE: Newbridge Road Park (Arena), 2600 Newbridge Road, Bellmore AGES: 5-17 WHAT: Youngsters can enjoy free ice-skating and free skate rentals. WHY WE LOVE IT: It’s a chill way to cool off on a hot day! WANT TO GO? 516-783-6181. toh.li.

Danny Weinkauf & His Red Pants Band

WHEN: Thursday, Aug. 16, 11:30am and 2pm WHERE: Long Island Children’s Museum, 11 Davis Ave., Garden City AGES: All WHAT: Rock out with Grammy-winning They Might Be Giants bassist Danny Weinkauf and his Red Pants Band as they perform their fun repertoire that is sure to please both young and old. WHY WE LOVE IT: The band has performed its fun and catchy brand of intelligent pop rock everywhere from NYC parks and museums to Lollapalooza and all around the USA. WANT TO GO? $9 with museum admission: $13; free children younger than 1. 516-224-5800. licm.org.

‘Madagascar’

WHEN: Aug. 10-19, Friday, 7pm; Saturday-Sunday, 11:30am and 2pm WHERE: Long Island Children’s Museum, 11 Davis Ave., Garden City AGES: All WHAT: Follow all of your favorite crack-a-lackin’ friends as they escape from their home in New York’s Central Park Zoo and find themselves on an unexpected journey to the madcap world of King Julien’s Madagascar. WHY WE LOVE IT: This is absolutely the musical adventure of a lifetime! WANT TO GO? $12. 516-224-5800. plazatheatrical.com.

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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.

Giant Game Day FREE

Dance Visions NY

WHEN: Sunday, Aug. 19, 2pm WHERE: Sands Point Preserve, 127 Middle Neck Road, Sands Point AGES: All WHAT: The company of 16 dancers will perform a combination of choreographer Isadora Duncan’s works as well as original site-specific contemporary works. WANT TO GO? $15 per car. 516-571-7901. sandspointpreserve.org.

58th Annual Scottish Festival and Highland Games

WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 25, 8am-5pm WHERE: Old Westbury Gardens, 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury AGES: All WHAT: It is believed that the games were begun by the ancient highland chieftains to help them select the strongest men for their armies. Don’t miss the Grand Opening Ceremony at 12:30pm as the bagpipers march down the North Lawn to open the games. WHY WE LOVE IT: Frankly, we can’t get enough of highland dancing, kilts, and bagpipes! Who could ask for anything more? WANT TO GO? $20; $18 seniors; $10 children 7-17; free children 6 and younger. 516-252-3392. oldwestburygardens.org.

SUMAQ Peruvian Food Festival

WHEN: Aug. 25-26, Saturday-Sunday, 11am-8pm WHERE: Cradle of Aviation Museum, Charles Lindbergh Boulevard, Garden City AGES: All WHAT: SUMAQ Peruvian Food Festival has become one of the most anticipated culinary events of the year, attracting food enthusiasts from all over the tri-state area! More than 20 food vendors, a mixture of local and award-winning chefs from Peru, will be participating in this year’s festival. WHY WE LOVE IT: You have the opportunity to learn cooking techniques from top chefs while sampling the best of Peruvian cuisine. WANT TO GO? $15; $7 children younger than 13. 516-572-4111. Sumaqpff.org.

Elephant & Piggie’s ‘We Are in a Play!’

WHEN: Aug. 22-31, see website for select times; no performances Aug. 26-27 WHERE: Long Island Children’s Museum, 11 Davis Ave., Garden City AGES: All WHAT: Elephant and Piggie storm the stage in a rollicking musical romp filled with plenty of pachydermal peril and swiney suspense perfect for young audiences. WHY WE LOVE IT: Carefully cautious Gerald and spirited playful Piggie share a day where anything is possible in an imaginative exploration of the meaning of friendship. WANT TO GO? $9 with museum admission: $13; free children younger than 1. 516-224-5800. licm.org.

WHEN: Friday, Aug. 3, 5:30pm WHERE: Freeport Public Library, 144 W. Merrick Road, Freeport AGES: 9-12 WHAT: Come play games such as Uno with cards bigger than your head or Jenga with a tower that’s taller than you are. Snacks will be served. WANT TO GO? 516-379-3274. freeportlibrary.info.

Back to School Kids’ Event FREE

WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 11, 12-4pm WHERE: Broadway Commons, Center Court near Ikea, 358 N. Broadway (Route 106/107), Hicksville AGES: All WHAT: Join us for a fun afternoon with a bounce house, face painting, and balloon animals. Show this listing for one free cotton candy (limited to the first 250 people). WANT TO GO? 516-621-1446. specialtyconnections.com.

‘Funny Girl’ FREE

WHEN: Thursday, Aug. 16, 7pm WHERE: Stewart Manor Country Club, South Salisbury Avenue, Garden City AGES: 9 and older WHAT: The glorious story of how Fanny Brice, one of the most celebrated entertainers of her time, rises to become a Ziegfeld Star! Bring a chair or blanket. WANT TO GO? 516-328-7540. plazatheatrical.com.

Nature Sunday: Beautiful Butterflies FREE

WHEN: Sunday, Aug. 26, 12pm WHERE: Planting Fields Arboretum, 1395 Planting Fields Road, Oyster Bay AGES: 3-12 WHAT: Learn about the fascinating world of butterflies with one of our outdoor educators who will lead you on a scientific exploration uncovering the caterpillars and butterflies that make their home within the sensory garden. Registration required. WANT TO GO? 516-922-8678. plantingfields.org.

Kids Movie Wednesdays FREE

WHEN: Aug. 1-29, see website for schedule. WHERE: Island Trees Public Library, 38 Farmedge Road, Island Trees AGES: 3-12 WHAT: Beat the heat and enjoy our series of family friendly films influenced by our Summer Reading theme, “Libraries Rock!” WANT TO GO? 516-731-2211. islandtreespubliclibrary.org. ››

LongIslandParent 23

Inbeon Con

WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 25, 10am-6pm WHERE: Hofstra University Students Center, East Circle, Hempstead AGES: All WHAT: Get inspired with your love of art, anime, comics, cosplay, and gaming. Meet local artists, costume designers, animators, and game developers. Learn how to build amazing worlds and take your craft to the next level! WANT TO GO? $15. 516-380-5900. inbeoncon.com.

Chess

SMARTY PANTS Singin, Swingin Sharks

WHEN: Thursday, Aug. 2, 3:30pm WHERE: Freeport Public Library, 144 W. Merrick Road, Freeport AGES: 5-8 WHAT: Discover why sharks are the top predators in the ocean, thanks to their amazing super-senses. Get your bite on as you touch a real shark jaw and excavate a shark tooth to embellish a necklace. WANT TO GO? $1 materials fee. 516-379-3274. freeportlibrary.info.

‘Motiv8’: 8 Ways to Rock Your Own World FREE

WHEN: Thursday, Aug. 2, 7pm WHERE: Mid Island Y JCC, 45 Manetto Hill Road, Plainview AGES: 9 and older WHAT: Based on her inspiring book, Motiv8, Sheira Brayer delivers a dynamic, interactive, multimedia-based program that helps moms and their daughters reduce stress, boost confidence, improve communication, and feel better in their own skin. WANT TO GO? 866-599-8783. tsvf.org.

Doodle Bots for TWEENS FREE

WHEN: Monday, Aug. 6, 3pm WHERE: Floral Park Library, 17 Caroline Place, Floral Park AGES: 9-12 WHAT: Participants will explore playing with variables (weight of materials and drawing implements) while making their very own drawing machines. Registration required. WANT TO GO? 516-326-6330. floralparklibrary.org.

The Long Island Retro Gaming Expo

WHEN: Through Aug. 25: Saturdays, 10am WHERE: Island Trees Public Library, 38 Farmedge Road, Island Trees AGES: All WHAT: Join your neighbors for friendly chess matches. This is a family program and children are free. WANT TO GO? $8 for eight sessions; $2 for walk-ins; free for children. 516-731-2211. islandtreespubliclibrary.org.

Kids & Family Programs: Imagination Station Sundays

WHEN: Through Aug. 26: Sundays, 12-4pm WHERE: Old Westbury Gardens, 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury AGES: All WHAT: This changing discovery space provides children with an opportunity to build, observe, ponder, and foster their young minds. WANT TO GO? 516-252-3392. oldwestburygardens.org.

Chess Club for Kids FREE

WHEN: Through Aug. 27: Mondays, 6:30pm. No class Aug. 13 WHERE: Floral Park Library, 17 Caroline Place, Floral Park AGES: 9-12 WHAT: Chess can raise your IQ, exercise both sides of your brain, improve your memory, increase problem-solving skills, reading skills, and power of concentration, and teach planning and foresight. WANT TO GO? 516-326-6330. floralparklibrary.org.

Teen Coding Club FREE

WHEN: July 26-Aug. 30, see website for exact dates WHERE: Freeport Memorial Library, 144 W. Merrick Road, Freeport AGES: 9-17 WHAT: Are you the next Mark Zuckerberg or Bill Gates? We meet every week and work together to learn basic concepts that help demystify computer programming. Requirement: Wi-Fi enabled laptop. WANT TO GO? 516-379-3274. freeportlibrary.info.

WHEN: Aug. 11-12, Saturday, 10am-10pm; Sunday, 10am-5pm WHERE: Cradle of Aviation Museum, Charles Lindbergh Boulevard, Garden City AGES: 3 and older WHAT: Get ready to play all your retro favorites, browse retro gaming vendors, participate in panel discussions, bring your best cosplay, enter tournaments, and win prizes! WANT TO GO? $22; $12 children 4-12 years. See website for discounts packages. 516-572-4111. liretro.com.

Our Backyard: Seasonal Water Exhibit

TR’s Laboratory Explorers FREE

Traveling Exhibit: Hands-On Harley-Davidson™

WHEN: Sunday, Aug. 19, 11am WHERE: Sagamore Hill NHS, 20 Sagamore Hill Road, Oyster Bay AGES: 5-12 WHAT: Join a scientific expedition across the park to learn about the local flora, fauna, and bacteria, learn how to take samples and “leave no trace” on the environment, and gain hands-on experience using a microscope. Please arrive 30 minutes before the start time and wear high socks, long pants, and sturdy shoes. Registration required. WANT TO GO? 516-922-4788. nps.gov/sahi. 24

August 2018 | nymetroparents.com

WHEN: Through Aug. 31: Tuesday-Sunday, 10am-5pm WHERE: Long Island Children’s Museum, 11 Davis Ave., Garden City AGES: All WHAT: There are plenty of interactive elements including a pirate ship wheel, a hand pump to create summer showers on demand, a “fishing” setup, evaporation art, and even a boat race option. WANT TO GO? $13; $12 seniors; free for children younger than 1. 516224-5800. licm.org. WHEN: Through Sept. 2: Tuesday-Sunday, 10am-5pm WHERE: Long Island Children’s Museum, 11 Davis Ave., Garden City AGES: All WHAT: Visitors this summer can explore a pretend motorcycle dealership while learning about the people, places, and processes that make a community work. Using activities that promote STEM themes, this interactive exhibit provides hands-on opportunities to dream, build, and ride. WANT TO GO? $14; $13 seniors; free for children younger than 1. 516224-5800. licm.org.

Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney: Sculpture Exhibition

WHEN: Through Sept. 30: daily, 11:30am-3:30pm WHERE: Planting Fields Arboretum, 1395 Planting Fields Road, Oyster Bay AGES: All WHAT: More than 30 of Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney’s sculptures and drawings will be featured. The artist is best known as the founder of the Whitney Museum of American Art, and had a significant career as a sculptor. WANT TO GO? $5. 516-922-8678. plantingfields.org.

Seashell...Nature’s Inspired Design Exhibition

WHEN: Through Dec. 28: See website for schedule WHERE: Garvies Point Museum, 50 Barry Drive, Glen Cove AGES: All WHAT: In celebration of the museum’s 50th anniversary, join for a exhibit of exquisite seashells from around the world. WANT TO GO? $4; $2 children 5-12. 516-571-8010. garviespointmuseum.com.

LITTLE FOODIES Mmmm Milkshakes

WHEN: Wednesday, Aug. 1, 5pm WHERE: Freeport Public Library, 144 W. Merrick Road, Freeport AGES: 9-17 WHAT: Make your own delicious chocolate or vanilla shake for those hot summer days. Make it even better by adding toppings such as M&Ms, Reese’s Pieces, chocolate syrup, whipped cream, and more. WANT TO GO? $1 materials fee. 516-379-3274. freeportlibrary.info.

Keyboard Sandwiches FREE

WHEN: Thursday, Aug. 2, 12pm WHERE: Island Trees Public Library, 38 Farmedge Road, Island Trees AGES: 9 and older WHAT: Each patron will make a keyboard using two full sandwiches. WANT TO GO? 516-731-2211. islandtreespubliclibrary.org.

Eat Up! Victory Gardens

WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 11, 10:30am WHERE: Old Westbury Gardens, 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury AGES: All WHAT: Discover tasty delights growing in our garden beds! Concoct and sample a simple recipe full of delicious seasonal flavors. WANT TO GO? $12; $7 children 7-17; free children younger than 7. 516-252-3392. oldwestburygardens.org.

Learn to Decorate a Ladybug Cake

WHEN: Wednesday, Aug. 29, 7pm WHERE: Wantagh Public Library, 3285 Park Ave., Wantagh AGES: 9 and older WHAT: Join Chef Mary as she teaches you how to decorate a beautful ladybug cake. WANT TO GO? $5 by check only. 516-221-1200. wantaghlibrary.org.

Kids in the Kitchen

WHEN: Through Aug. 31: Fridays, 11:30am WHERE: Long Island Children’s Museum, 11 Davis Ave., Garden City AGES: 3-8 WHAT: Little chefs use real cooking tools (with some help from adults) as they make kid-friendly snacks from start to finish. WANT TO GO? $13; free for children younger than 1. 516-224-5800. licm.org.

FUN FAIRS & FESTIVALS Showtiques Craft Fair FREE

WHEN: Sunday, Aug. 5, 11am-6pm WHERE: Massapequa Park Street Fair, Park Boulevard and Front Street, Massapequa Park AGES: All WHAT: The festival provides several different attractions and activities making it a fun-filled weekend for the entire family. WANT TO GO? 201-737-9000. showtiques.com.

St. Rocco’s Feast: The Best Feast in the East FREE

WHEN: Aug. 1-5, Wednesday-Sunday, 6-10pm WHERE: The Church of St. Rocco, 18 3rd St., Glen Cove AGES: All WHAT: Fun for the whole family with delicious food, raffles, thrill and kiddy rides, games, and entertainment! WANT TO GO? 516-676-2482. stroccoglencove.com.

BeachFeast

WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 18, 12-5pm WHERE: North Hempstead Beach Park, 175 W. Shore Road, Port Washington AGES: All WHAT: Enjoy delicious food and drinks on the beach. Vendors offer a variety of foods to tempt every palate. WANT TO GO? $10 cash parking fee; $7 debit or credit card. 516-8696311. northhempsteadny.gov.

Long Beach Art Craft and Gift Fair FREE

WHEN: Aug. 25-26, Saturday-Sunday, 10am WHERE: Long Beach Boardwalk, 1 Long Beach Blvd., Long Beach AGES: All WHAT: Enjoy a day outdoors with products made by skilled artisans, food, music, and fun. WANT TO GO? 516-442-6000. nassaucountycraftshows.com.

Bellmore Summer Festival FREE

WHEN: Sunday, Aug. 26, 8am-5pm WHERE: Bellmore Train Station Parking Lot, Bellmore Train Station, Bellmore AGES: All WHAT: You’ll find household treasures, food items, books, jewelry, and more offered by numerous vendors. WANT TO GO? 516-785-5709. fairsandfestivals.net.

SPECIAL NEEDS Sensory Bounce

WHEN: Through Aug. 6: Mondays, 6-8pm WHERE: Bounce! Trampoline Sports, 310 Michael Drive, Syosset AGES: All WHAT: The Bounce! staff members have received sensitivity training and have experience working with special needs children and adults. WANT TO GO? $12 per hour. 516-762-1300. bouncesyosset.com.

Sensory Sensitive Sundays

WHEN: Through Oct. 7: Sundays, 9-11am WHERE: Chuck E. Cheese’s, 162 Fulton Ave., Hempstead AGES: All WHAT: Chuck E. Cheese’s is open 2 hours early on the first Sunday of each month, specifically for children with autism and other special needs. WANT TO GO? Cost varies. 516-483-3166. chuckecheese.com. ›› LongIslandParent 25

MOVERS & SHAKERS Gospel Skate Night

WHEN: Friday, Aug. 3, 9:30pm-12am WHERE: United Skates of America Inc., 1276 Hicksville Road, Seaford AGES: All WHAT: End of summer bash featuring NYC’s best kept secret DJ Tony Tone. Fee includes admission, skate rental, and unlimited pizza and soda. WANT TO GO? $14 skaters; $8 non-skaters. 516-795-7454. unitedskates.com.

Family Fun: Tai Chi FREE

WHEN: Through Aug. 8: Wednesdays, 6:30pm WHERE: Freeport Public Library, 144 W. Merrick Road, Freeport AGES: All WHAT: Tai chi is a traditional Chinese exercise renowned meditative benefits that is practiced worldwide. Bring water and wear comfortable clothes. WANT TO GO? 516-379-3274. freeportlibrary.info.

Youth Golf Lessons

WHEN: Through Aug. 11: Saturdays, 10-11am and 11:30am-12:30pm WHERE: Merrick Road Golf Course, 2550 Clubhouse Road, Merrick AGES: 5-17 WHAT: Ball striking, golf training, and etiquette. The first session is for beginners and the second or intermediate levels. WANT TO GO? $20. 516-868-4650. toh.li.

Cowboy Mounted Shooting Show

Tai Chi in the Gardens

WHEN: Through Aug. 29: Sundays and Wednesdays, 10:30am WHERE: Old Westbury Gardens, 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury AGES: All WHAT: Sessions are taught by a professional tai chi instructor, and are designed for all experience levels. WANT TO GO? $18. 516-252-3392. oldwestburygardens.org.

Half-Price Night

WHEN: Through Aug. 29: Wednesdays, 6-9pm WHERE: United Skates of America Inc., 1276 Hicksville Road, Seaford AGES: All WHAT: Come down and check out all our specials and a night of skating ! WANT TO GO? $6.25 admission per person; $5 skate or roller blade rental. 516-795-7454. unitedskates.com.

Oyster Bay Walking Tour FREE

WHEN: Through Sept. 2: Saturdays-Sundays, 2pm WHERE: Sagamore Hill NHS, 20 Sagamore Hill Road, Oyster Bay AGES: All WHAT: Join a park ranger on an easy 1½-mile stroll through time as you learn about Theodore Roosevelt, his family, and his presidency. WANT TO GO? 516-922-4788. nps.gov/sahi.

WHEN: Sunday, Aug. 12, 11am WHERE: Old Bethpage Restoration Village, 1303 Round Swamp Road, Old Bethpage AGES: All WHAT: Cowboy mounted shooting is based on the reenactment of historic shooting events held at Wild West Shows in the late 19th century. WANT TO GO? Check website for cost. 631-930-9054. obvrnassau.com.

Polo at Bethpage State Park

Zumba

Old Time Base Ball

WHEN: Through Aug. 27: Mondays, 7:45pm WHERE: Island Trees Public Library, 38 Farmedge Road, Island Trees AGES: 13 and older WHAT: Zumba dance routines feature a fusion of Latin and International music, combined with fast and slow rhythms to tone and sculpt the body and mind. Wear sneakers and bring water. WANT TO GO? $16 for eight sessions. 516-731-2211. islandtreespubliclibrary.org. 26

August 2018 | nymetroparents.com

WHEN: Through Oct. 14: Sundays, 3pm WHERE: Bethpage State Park, 99 Quaker Meeting House Road, Farmingdale AGES: All WHAT: An afternoon of excellent polo games at Bethpage State Park. WANT TO GO? $10; $5 children younger than 12; $8 vehicle fee. 631669-1000. bethpagepolo.com. WHEN: Through Nov. 3: Saturdays, 11am WHERE: Old Bethpage Restoration Village, 1303 Round Swamp Road, Old Bethpage AGES: 5 and older WHAT: Watch as teams from the 1864 league play base ball (as it was spelled then) following the rules and customs of the 19th century in vintage uniforms. WANT TO GO? See website for cost. 631-930-9054. obvrnassau.com. ››

ON SCREEN 7th Annual Long Beach International Film Festival

WHEN: Aug. 1-4, check website for times WHERE: Allegria Hotel, 80 W. Broadway, Long Beach AGES: All WHAT: Enjoy feature-length films, documentaries, and animated movies WANT TO GO? Varies; based on screening selected. 212-205-6635. longbeachfilm.com/home.

‘Niagara’ FREE

WHEN: Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2pm WHERE: Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Suite 1, Port Washington AGES: 13 and older WHAT: Niagara was one of the biggest box office hits of the year. WANT TO GO? 516-767-1384. landmarkonmainstreet.org.

Fridays at the Movies FREE

WHEN: Through Aug. 10: Fridays, 3pm WHERE: Floral Park Library, 17 Caroline Place, Floral Park AGES: Newborn-5 WHAT: All children 9 and younger must be accompanied by an adult or teen. WANT TO GO? 516-326-6330. floralparklibrary.org.

Summer Kids Movie Series FREE

WHEN: Through Aug. 16: Tuesday-Wednesday, 10am WHERE: Franklin Square Bow-Tie Cinemas, 989 Hempstead Turnpike, Franklin Square AGES: 3-8 WHAT: See Smurfs: The Lost Village on Aug. 1; Kung Fu Panda 3 on Aug. 7-8; and Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs 2 on Aug 14-15. WANT TO GO? 516-775-3257. franklinsquarepl.org.

‘Some Like It Hot’ FREE

WHEN: Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2pm WHERE: Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Suite 1, Port Washington AGES: 13 and older WHAT: After a murder, a saxophone player and his buddy escape from Chicago. WANT TO GO? 516-767-1384. landmarkonmainstreet.org.

The Ultimate Indoor Entertainment Center!

(631) 815-5355

A Day of Anime FREE

WHEN: Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2:30pm WHERE: Freeport Public Library, 144 W. Merrick Road, Freeport AGES: 9-17 WHAT: Anime shows such as My Hero Academia and One Punch Man WANT TO GO? 516-379-3274. freeportlibrary.info.

Themed Parties! Private Party Rooms!

Kids’ Movies FREE

WHEN: Through Aug. 29: Wednesdays, 2pm WHERE: Island Trees Public Library, 38 Farmedge Road, Island Trees AGES: 5-8 WHAT: Monster High Boo York on Aug. 1; Sing on Aug. 8; Lemonade Mouth on Aug. 15; Rags on Aug. 22; and Hannah Montana The Movie on Aug. 29. WANT TO GO? 516-731-2211. islandtreespubliclibrary.org.

Family Movie Nights FREE

WHEN: Through Aug. 30: Thursdays, 8pm WHERE: Eisenhower Park Field 2, Park Boulevard, East Meadow AGES: All WHAT: Families can enjoy watching The Lego Ninjago Movie on Aug. 2; Ferdinand on Aug. 9; Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle on Aug. 16; Daddy’s Home on Aug. 23; and The Greatest Showman on Aug. 30. WANT TO GO? 516-572-0200. nassaucountyny.gov/parks.

Adventure Maze • Ultimate Arcade • Bumper Cars Himalaya Roller Coaster • Tea Cup Ride • Carousel Laser Tag • Inflatable Zone • Toddler Center & More! www.atplayamusement.com • 229 Broadhollow Rd, RTE 110, Farmingdale

LongIslandParent 27

The Doobie Others Concert FREE

WHEN: Thursday, Aug. 23, 8pm WHERE: Echo Park, 399 Nassau Blvd., West Hempstead AGES: All WHAT: The Doobie Others will be “Takin’ it to the Streets” with the hits of the Doobie Brothers. WANT TO GO? 516-483-7400. toh.li.

Music In The Garden: Citigrass

MINI

MUSICIANS Paradigm: A Variety Band FREE

WHEN: Sunday, Aug. 5, 1pm WHERE: North Hempstead Beach Park, 175 W. Shore Road, Port Washington AGES: All WHAT: Come enjoy the music of Paradigm. WANT TO GO? 516-869-6311. northhempsteadny.gov.

Nitework Band: Concert: 60s Tunes FREE

WHEN: Monday, Aug. 6, 7:30pm WHERE: Mary Jane Davies Green, Plandome Road, near Town Hall, Manhasset AGES: All WHAT: Perhaps you’ll hear several of your favorite ‘60s tunes! WANT TO GO? 516-869-6311. northhempsteadny.gov.

Village Pops Concerts On the Green FREE

WHEN: Through Aug. 8: Wednesdays, 7:30pm WHERE: Farmingdale Village Green Gazebo, Main Street, Farmingdale AGES: All WHAT: This band plays everything from patriotic songs to the smooth sultry songs of the Piano Man Billy Joel. WANT TO GO? 516-267-5120. michelegrande.com.

Music In The Garden: Bedlam Swing

WHEN: Friday, Aug. 10, 7pm WHERE: Planting Fields Arboretum, 1395 Planting Fields Road, Oyster Bay AGES: All WHAT: Within the general spectrum of jazz, Bedlam Swing plays a wide variety of tunes ranging from unique takes on standards to original compositions. WANT TO GO? $30. 516-922-8678. plantingfields.org.

Free Concert In The Park: The Hambones FREE

WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 11, 6pm WHERE: Planting Fields Arboretum, 1395 Planting Fields Road, Oyster Bay AGES: All WHAT: The Hambones will perform a retrospective on Bob Dylan, touching on various periods of his staggering catalogue. WANT TO GO? FREE parking, no reservations needed. 516-922-8678. plantingfields.org. 28

August 2018 | nymetroparents.com

WHEN: Friday, Aug. 24, 7pm WHERE: Planting Fields Arboretum, 1395 Planting Fields Road, Oyster Bay AGES: 13 and older WHAT: Citigrass, based in New York City, specializes in a kind of “urban bluegrass,” which blends rock, jazz, and even classical influences with traditional bluegrass to create a hot, modern sound that attracts a much wider audience than most bluegrass acts. WANT TO GO? $30. 516-922-8678. plantingfields.org.

SHOW TIME! ‘My Son The Waiter: A Jewish Tragedy’

WHEN: Aug. 2-5, see website for times WHERE: Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Suite 1, Port Washington AGES: All WHAT: This hilarious and poignant story is universal in its message: the journey to follow one’s dream, and the parents who suffer through it. WANT TO GO? $44 and up. 516-767-1384. landmarkonmainstreet.org.

‘Pinocchio’

WHEN: Tuesday, Aug. 7, 11am WHERE: NYCB Theatre at Westbury, 960 Brush Hollow Road, Westbury AGES: All WHAT: Everyone’s favorite puppet begins his adventure with a trip to the Land of the Toys, meets a singing and dancing cat and fox, and is saved by the magical Blue Fairy! WANT TO GO? $19.50 and up. 516-334-0800. thetheatreatwestbury.com.

Eli Zion Concert FREE

WHEN: Tuesday, Aug. 7, 8pm WHERE: Rock Hall Museum, 199 Broadway, Lawrence AGES: All WHAT: Join Eli Zion as we celebrate a night of Jewish music. WANT TO GO? 516-239-1157. friendsofrockhall.org.

Mom’s Night Out

WHEN: Thursday, Aug. 9, 8pm WHERE: Madison Theatre at Molloy College, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre AGES: Adult WHAT: The Ultimate Live Stand-up Comedy Show, for moms, by moms! Don’t miss this outrageous night of laughter and fun, featuring four national headliners. WANT TO GO? $25 and up. 516-323-4444. madisontheatreny.org.

Madison Theatre Summer Intensive Showcase

WHEN: Aug. 10-12, Friday, 7pm; Saturday, 2pm and 7pm; Sunday, 3pm WHERE: Madison Theatre at Molloy College, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre AGES: All WHAT: See the Musical Theatre Summer Intensive Showcase performed

Get weekend activities delivered to you!

by students ages 12-17 who were taught by Broadway professionals throughout their five-week program. WANT TO GO? $15. 516-323-4444. madisontheatreny.org.

nymetroparents.com/register ››

Aladdin’

WHEN: Through Aug. 16: See website for exact days and times WHERE: BroadHollow Theatre, 700 Hempstead Turnpike, Elmont AGES: All WHAT: Welcome to Agrabah, City of Enchantment and the fantastic tale of the street rat who became a prince. WANT TO GO? $11 in advance; $13 after advance closes. 631-581-2700. broadhollow.org.

The Greatest Piano Men: From Beethoven to Billy!

WHEN: Friday, Aug. 17, 8pm WHERE: NYCB Theatre at Westbury, 960 Brush Hollow Road, Westbury AGES: 13 and older WHAT: Celebrating the hits of Elton John, Billy Joel, Little Richard, Ray Charles, Jerry Lee Lewis, Stevie Wonder, Beethoven, Mozart, Chopin, Scott Joplin, and George Gershwin. WANT TO GO? $13 and up. 516-334-0800. thetheatreatwestbury.com.

Theater In The Park: ‘Wizard Of Oz’ FREE

‘Funny Girl’ FREE

WHEN: Wednesday, Aug. 22, 6:30pm WHERE: Chelsea Mansion, 34 Muttontown Lane, East Norwich AGES: 9 and older WHAT: The award-winning score features such standards as “Don’t Rain on My Parade,” “People,” and “I’m the Greatest Star.” Bring a blanket or chair. WANT TO GO? 516-571-8551. plazatheatrical.com.

Theater in the Park ‘Funny Girl’ FREE

WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 25, 6pm WHERE: Planting Fields Arboretum, 1395 Planting Fields Road, Oyster Bay AGES: All WHAT: The glorious story of Fanny Brice, one of the most celebrated entertainers of her time, rises to become a Ziegfeld star! Bring a lawn chair or blanket. WANT TO GO? 516-922-8678. plantingfields.org.

Improv for Tweens FREE

WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 18, 6pm WHERE: Planting Fields Arboretum, 1395 Planting Fields Road, Oyster Bay AGES: All WHAT: Join Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tinman, and the Cowardly Lion as they come to life in a stage adaptation featuring the music of the MGM movie. Bring a lawn chair or blanket. WANT TO GO? 516-922-8678. plantingfields.org.

WHEN: Tuesday, Aug. 28, 5:30pm WHERE: Freeport Public Library, 144 W. Merrick Road, Freeport AGES: 9-12 WHAT: Improvisational theater is a fantastic tool to help you learn to react and respond to unexpected situations. It is also an enjoyable way to see if you’re up for the challenge of thinking fast and acting out. WANT TO GO? 516-379-3274. freeportlibrary.info.

‘Funny Girl’

WHEN: Friday, Aug. 31, 6pm WHERE: Planting Fields Arboretum, 1395 Planting Fields Road, Oyster Bay AGES: All WHAT: The guys have a lively, fresh, very funky approach to kids music! Lots of crowd interaction, instruments, hands-on drumming, sing-alongs, adventurous stories, and catchy original songs. WANT TO GO? 516-922-8678. plantingfields.org. ››

WHEN: Sunday, Aug. 19, 2pm WHERE: The Showplace at the Bellmore Movies, 222 Pettit Ave., Bellmore AGES: Adult WHAT: The glorious story of how Fanny Brice, one of the most celebrated entertainers of her time, rises to become a Ziegfeld Star! WANT TO GO? Reserved Seating: $28; $20 seniors. 516-599-6870. plazatheatrical.com.

Family Fun Night: Strummin’ & Drummin’ FREE

‘Thoroughly Modern Millie’

WHEN: Aug. 4-19, check website for exact dates and times WHERE: BroadHollow Theatre at Elmont, 700 Hempstead Turnpike, Elmont AGES: 13 and older WHAT: This high-spirited musical romp is a delightful valentine to the long-standing spirit of New York City and the people who seek to discover themselves there. WANT TO GO? $29, early discounts available. 516-775-4420. broadhollow.org.

‘Madagascar’

WHEN: Aug. 10-19, Friday, 7pm; Saturday-Sunday, 11:30am and 2pm WHERE: Long Island Children’s Museum, 11 Davis Ave., Garden City AGES: 3-12 WHAT: Follow all of your favorite crack-a-lackin’ friends as they escape from their home in New York’s Central Park Zoo and find themselves on an unexpected journey to the madcap world of King Julien’s Madagascar. WANT TO GO? Reserved seating tickets: $12. 516-599-6870. plazatheatrical.com.

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LongIslandParent 29

Summer Campfire FAMILY Paint event!

WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 11, 3:30-5pm WHERE: Key to My Art East Rockaway!, 131 Main St., East Rockaway AGES: 5 and older WHAT: Summer campfire in two parts! You paint one half, your partner paints the other half! No experience necessary! Price includes all supplies and step by step instruction. Registeration required. WANT TO GO? $20 per painter. 516-218-2920. https://gal.re/RroKHSHn8N.

Nature Sunday: Oh Van Gogh Landscapes FREE

CRAFTY KIDS Made with Love FREE

WHEN: Wednesday, Aug. 1, 11:30am WHERE: Floral Park Library, 17 Caroline Place, Floral Park AGES: 13 and older WHAT: No instructor is present, but participants help each other make items for charity. WANT TO GO? 516-326-6330. floralparklibrary.org.

Kids Workshop FREE

WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 4, 9am-12pm WHERE: Home Depot, 600 Hempstead Turnpike, Elmont AGES: 5-12 WHAT: Kids learn to build or create a useful, fun product. Workshops teach children do-it-yourself skills and tool safety, and instill a sense of pride and accomplishment WANT TO GO? 516-488-8500. homedepot.com.

Family Sundays

WHEN: Through Aug. 5: Sundays, 1pm WHERE: Nassau County Museum of Art, 1 Museum Drive, Roslyn Harbor AGES: All WHAT: Be inspired by the works in the exhibition explore new art materials, and talk about and make art together. WANT TO GO? $12; $8 seniors; $4 students and children ages 4-12. 516-484-9337. nassaumuseum.org.

Children’s Exhibition Program at Coe Hall: Make Your Own Sculpture

WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 11, 12pm WHERE: Planting Fields Arboretum, 1395 Planting Fields Road, Oyster Bay AGES: 3 and older WHAT: Learn about the Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney: Sculpture exhibit. Children will make their own sculpture to take home. All supplies are provided; parent supervision required. WANT TO GO? $5; free children younger than 12. 516-922-8678. plantingfields.org. 30

August 2018 | nymetroparents.com

WHEN: Sunday, Aug. 12, 12pm WHERE: Planting Fields Arboretum, 1395 Planting Fields Road, Oyster Bay AGES: 5-12 WHAT: An educator will display Van Gogh’s landscape paintings, and discuss with the children how he made them! Kids will also have fun with paints. WANT TO GO? $8 parking fee. 516-922-8678. plantingfields.org.

Romare Bearden: Storyteller FREE

WHEN: Through Aug. 17: Tuesday-Friday, 11am-4pm WHERE: Emily Lowe Gallery, Hofstra University Museum, 112 Hofstra University Museum, Hempstead AGES: 9 and older WHAT: Through his innovative works of art, Bearden communicated his ideas and thoughts about everyday African-American life in 20th-century America. WANT TO GO? 516-463-5672. hofstra.edu.

Crafty Toddlers FREE

WHEN: Through Aug. 21: Tuesdays, 10am WHERE: Freeport Public Library, 144 W. Merrick Road, Freeport AGES: 2, adult WHAT: A story and craft program for 2-year-olds and an accompanying adult. WANT TO GO? 516-379-3274. freeportlibrary.info.

Crafts For Kids FREE

WHEN: Through Aug. 26: Saturday-Sunday, 11am-3pm WHERE: Lakeshore Learning Store, 2079 Hillside Ave., New Hyde Park AGES: 3-8 WHAT: Kids will have a ball making exciting crafts that they can use or display. Every craft is educational and fun. WANT TO GO? 516-616-9360. lakeshorelearning.com.

Slime Workshop

WHEN: Through Aug. 27: Mondays, 10am-12pm WHERE: The Lanyard Ladies, 433 Merrick Road, Oceanside AGES: 5-17 WHAT: Join in for slime making with many colors to choose from. Add sparkles, gems, rubberbands, beads, and more. Includes a slice of pizza and juice. WANT TO GO? $35. 516-578-2248. thelanyardladies.com.

The Art of Sagamore Hill FREE

WHEN: Friday, Aug. 31, 11am WHERE: Sagamore Hill NHS, 20 Sagamore Hill Road, Oyster Bay AGES: All WHAT: Join a volunteer for a in-depth presentation on the paintings, sculpture, and other works of art inside the Roosevelt Home as well as the artists who created them. WANT TO GO? 516-922-4788. nps.gov/sahi.

ANIMAL LOVERS

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Bideawee Presents Read to Dogs FREE

WHEN: Friday, Aug. 3, 3pm WHERE: Wantagh Public Library, 3285 Park Ave., Wantagh AGES: 5-12 WHAT: Bideawee’s Read to Dogs program invites reluctant readers to practice reading skills. WANT TO GO? 516-221-1200. wantaghlibrary.org.

Petting Zoo FREE

WHEN: Monday, Aug. 13, 10am and 11:15am WHERE: Freeport Public Library, 144 W. Merrick Road, Freeport AGES: All WHAT: Get up close with the cute and interesting animals of Green Meadows Farm Petting Zoo. Registration required, everyone welcome! WANT TO GO? 516-379-3274. freeportlibrary.info.

Meet the Animals FREE

WHEN: Wednesday, Aug. 22, 4:30pm WHERE: Freeport Public Library, 144 W. Merrick Road, Freeport AGES: All WHAT: Learn about the different classes of animals and their characteristics. Meet cold-blooded reptiles, furry mammals, and cool feathered birds in this extraordinary presentation. WANT TO GO? 516-379-3274. freeportlibrary.info.

Owl Discovery FREE

WHEN: Wednesday, Aug. 29, 5:30pm WHERE: Freeport Public Library, 144 W. Merrick Road, Freeport AGES: 5-8 WHAT: Meet live owls and get an in-depth look into the fascinating world of these common, but seldom seen, local inhabitants. WANT TO GO? 516-379-3274. freeportlibrary.info.

ONCE UPON A TIME Skippyjon Jones Visits Manhasset Storytime FREE

WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 4, 12pm WHERE: Barnes and Noble: Manhasset, 1542 Northern Blvd., Manhasset AGES: 3-8 WHAT: Come meet Skippyjon Jones, the Siamese kitten with the overactive imagination who thinks he is El Skippito, a superhero Chihuahua! We’ll read stories of his many adventures and you can take a picture with him. WANT TO GO? 516-365-6723. barnesandnoble.com.

Sunday Morning Storytime FREE

WHEN: Through Aug. 26: Sundays, 10:30am WHERE: Barnes and Noble: Manhasset, 1542 Northern Blvd., Manhasset AGES: 3-5 WHAT: What exciting adventures will your children discover in the pages of a book this week? WANT TO GO? 516-365-6723. barnesandnoble.com.

Weekly Storytime FREE

WHEN: Through Aug. 30: Wednesday-Thursday, 10am WHERE: Barnes and Noble: Country Glen Center, 91 Old Country Road, Carle Place AGES: 3-5 WHAT: Join for our weekly story time! WANT TO GO? 516-741-9850. barnesandnoble.com.

KINDNESS CRUSADERS Sean and Kyle’s 2nd Annual Lemonade Stand for Answer the Call 2018

WHEN: Friday, Aug. 3, 2-5pm WHERE:, 325 Cartwright Blvd, Massapequa Park AGES: All WHAT: Six-year-old Sean Griffin and his 4-year-old brother Kyle made news when their charity lemonade stand and Facebook fundraiser event raised $7,000 for Answer the Call last summer. Answer the Call believes it is our civic duty to support the families of New York City police officers, firefighters, Port Authority police, and EMS personnel who have been killed in the line of duty. WANT TO GO? Donations requested. 917-209-1599. https://facebook. com/donate/1805620216203084/?fundraiser_source=external_url.

Blood Pressure Screening FREE

WHEN: Tuesday, Aug. 14, 11am-2pm WHERE: Port Washington Public Library, 1 Library Drive, Port Washington AGES: Adult WHAT: High blood pressure usually has no symptoms and is called the “silent killer.” Have your blood pressure checked by a clinical nurse. WANT TO GO? 516-883-4400. pwpl.org.

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Kickoff 25th Anniversary FREE

WHEN: Wednesday, Aug. 15, Registration: 7am; program: 7:30am WHERE: Crest Hollow Country Club, 8325 Jericho Turnpike, Woodbury AGES: 13 and older WHAT: The Making Strides Kickoff is a great opportunity to learn about starting a team or making a difference for those facing breast cancer. The kickoff will help you be the most successful team leader you can possibly be. WANT TO GO? 631-300-3167. makingstrideswalk.org/long island.

Chris Pepe in Concert with Special Guests a Second Life & King Fisher

WHEN: Sunday, Aug. 26, 6pm WHERE: Landmark on Main Street, 232 Main St., Suite 1, Port Washington AGES: 13 and older WHAT: A fundraiser for The FOXG1 Research Foundation, which helps those who are born with FOXG1 Syndrome, a condition characterized by impaired development and structural brain abnormalities. Real estate personality and musician Chris Pepe hosts the concert to benefit the organization. WANT TO GO? See link for tickets. 516-767-1384. landmarkonmainstreet.org. ›› LongIslandParent 31

Bird & Butterfly-Friendly Gardens

WHEN: Through Sept. 29: Tuesday-Saturday, 10am-4pm WHERE: Garvies Point Museum, 50 Barry Drive, Glen Cove AGES: All WHAT: Our gardens are full of mostly native flowers that attract bees, butterflies, moths, hummingbirds, and songbirds. Make sure to visit the bird and butterfly-friendly gardens during the height of bloom. WANT TO GO? $4; $2 for children younger than 12. 516-571-8010. garviespointmuseum.com.

BROWSE & BUY Seasonal Farmstand FREE

THE GREAT OUTDOORS Listen up Storybook Strolls: ‘Bringing Down the Moon’ by Jonathan Emmett

WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 4, 10:30am WHERE: Old Westbury Gardens, 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury AGES: 3-5 WHAT: Open your ears to classic and modern tales while strolling the gardens, then create a unique take home craft. WANT TO GO? $12; $10 seniors; $7 children ages 7-17; free for children younger than 7. 516-252-3392. oldwestburygardens.org.

Garvies Point Museum Day

WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 4, 10am-4pm WHERE: Garvies Point Museum, 50 Barry Drive, Glen Cove AGES: All WHAT: Hands-on nature programs and crafts, guided tours of the native butterfly- and bird-friendly gardens, beginner’s bird watching, insect study, live animal presentation, Garvies Family Cemetery tour, films, and more! WANT TO GO? $5 per person ages 5 and older. 516-571-8010. garviespointmuseum.com.

Busy at the Bee Yard Maintenance Sessions

WHEN: Through Aug. 12: Sundays, 10am WHERE: Sands Point Preserve, 127 Middle Neck Road, Sands Point AGES: 9 and older WHAT: These sessions involve hands-on participation on beekeeping techniques. As a precaution, wear long sleeves, long pants, closed shoes, and tie up long hair. Hats and gloves are recommended. Aug. 12. WANT TO GO? $10 per car. 516-571-7901. sandspointpreserve.org.

WHEN: Through Nov. 4: Wednesday-Friday, 11am-3pm; Saturday-Sunday, 11am-5pm WHERE: Queens County Farm Museum, 73-50 Little Neck Parkway, Floral Park AGES: All WHAT: Find out what’s ‘growing on’ at Queens Farm, including more than 50 varieties of vegetables. Buy farm fresh eggs and produce, and get tips on how to make easy, nutritious meals for the family. WANT TO GO? 718-347-3276. queensfarm.org.

Rockville Centre Farmers Market FREE

WHEN: Through Nov. 18: Sundays, 7am-12pm WHERE: Rockville Centre Railroad Station, Municipal Lot #12, Sunrise Highway and Long Beach Road, Rockville Centre AGES: All WHAT: View an array of produce and products, including fresh fruits and vegatables, jams, jellies, cakes, and coffee. WANT TO GO? 631-323-3653. longislandgrowersmarket.com.

Garden City Farmers Market FREE

WHEN: Through Nov. 20: Tuesdays, 7am-1pm WHERE: Behind State Supreme Court, 101 County Seat Drive, Mineola AGES: All WHAT: Pick from an assortment of fruits, vegetables, eggs, soaps, oils, pickles, juices, breads, and more. WANT TO GO? 631-323-3653. longislandgrowersmarket.com.

Empire State Market FREE

WHEN: Through Dec. 23: Sundays, 8am-4pm WHERE: NYCB LIVE, Home of The Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, 1255 Hempstead Turnpike, Uniondale AGES: All WHAT: Empire State Market will feature hundreds of vendors offering new and collectible goods, including jewelry, apparel and fashion accessories, household items, various artwork and crafts, and food. WANT TO GO? 516-231-4848. nycblive.com.

Bug Safari

WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 18, 11am WHERE: Old Westbury Gardens, 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury AGES: 5-8 WHAT: Hunt elusive grasshoppers, butterflies, predatory insects, and other creepy, crawly creatures in the gardens. Bring a butterfly net and collecting jars. WANT TO GO? $12; $7 children 7-17; free children younger than 7. 516-252-3392. oldwestburygardens.org. 32

August 2018 | nymetroparents.com

Coming up next month: SEPT. 15: Kidstock at Clark Botanic Garden, Albertson SEPT. 21-29: Pinkalicious at Long Island Children’s Museum, Garden City SEPT. 23: Mid-Autumn Moon Festival at Planting Fields, Oyster Bay

things to do

city bound

N Y C

Family Fun in Manhattan

Brett Deutsch

The Central Park Conservancy

W he hile y re ou , v ’r isit e …

This high-octane band will meet and match your child’s energy level!

The Charles A. Dana Discovery Center is located on the north end of Central Park.

Get Ready to Jam!

Charles A. Dana Discovery Center in Central Park

Families will get a breathtaking view of the late summer sky through powerful telescopes.

Twinkle, Twinkle

Ever wonder exactly where are we among the stars in the Milky Way? Do we hold a special place among the planets, stars, and galaxies in the universe? Brian Abbott and Jillian Bellovary guide families from Earth to the most distant objects in the observable universe at Astronomy Live: The Grand Tour of the Universe at the American Museum of Natural History on the Upper West Side. Aug. 28, 6:30pm. Age: 9 and older. $15; $13.50 seniors and students. Central Park West and 79th Street, Upper West Side. amnh.org.

Located on the northern shore of the Harlem Meer, this discovery center is Central Park’s newest building and the first to be built primarily as a visitor center. The center offers a variety of community programs and free education, as well as the opportunity to borrow discovery kits, take an official Central Park tour, and learn all about the park. The Charles A. Dana Discovery Center is also home to the catch-and-release fishing program and allows visitors to borrow fishing poles. Visit it: West 110th Street, between Malcom X Boulevard and Fifth Avenue, Harlem Can’t-miss event: Harlem Meer Performance Festival: Calpulli Mexican Dance Company: Aug. 5, 2pm Directions: Approximately a 1-hour drive from Garden City

Jim McDonnell

Erika Kapin for the Intrepid Museum

The guitar-wielding Captain Jam and his live band of musicians, storytellers, and dancers take the stage and invite the audience to join a musical adventure—even giving children the chance to come up on stage, play a drum solo, or sing in a microphone at FunikiJam’s Totally Awesome Summer. By the end of the show, imagination, live music, colorful costumes, and lots of audience interaction will have helped Captain Jam complete the three-part FunikiJam mission: to have fun, jam, and celebrate summer around the world. Aug. 12 and 26, 11am. Age: 3-8. $30. Actors Temple Theatre, 339 W. 47th St., Midtown. funikijam.com/offbroadway.

The Coney Island boardwalk has food options and fun for the whole family.

Coney Island Beach and Boardwalk

Between the beach, Luna Park, the boardwalk, the food, and more, Coney Island is the perfect city summer destination. There is no shortage of fun at the seaside amusement park, filled with rides for all ages. Visit the New York Aquarium this summer to view the newly rebuilt Shark exhibit or enjoy a hotdog on the boardwalk. Visit it: West 10th to West 12th streets, Coney Island, Brooklyn Can’t-miss event: Coney Island Sand Sculpting Contest: Aug. 18, 12pm Directions: Approximately a 1-hour drive from Garden City LongIslandParent 33

raising kids baby

Sponsored by

The Different Ways to Talk to a Baby There’s more than one method to building up your little one’s speech skills.

alking to your baby can be fun, but it’s not all fun and games. Everything you say to an infant (and even a toddler) inﬂuences the way and the speed at which he learns to speak. Narrating what you do every day, singing, reading, speaking in “baby talk,” asking questions, facilitating conversations, and virtually any noises you make when you are around your infant affects her speech development as well as other skills. In all, babies and toddlers need to hear more than 20,000 words a day, according to Krysti Maloney, M.S., CCC-SLP, speech-language pathologist and supervisor at The Suffolk Center for Speech. Clearly you need to talk a lot to your little one. But how should you speak, exactly? Whether you use nonsense words like “ittle-widdle,” sing-song speech, or address her like she is a full-grown adult, each of these approaches has a different impact on your child’s speech development. Certain methods such as baby-babble may come more naturally, while tactics like narrating what you’re doing may feel forced or uncomfortable at first. However you talk to your baby, it is important to recognize the benefits and disadvantages of each method—and know when and how to use each. 34

August 2018 | nymetroparents.com

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By Melissa Wickes

Don’t Be Afraid of ‘Parentese’

Many experts have weighed in on the topic of baby talk, saying the best way to teach adult language to a baby is to speak to him as though he is a grown-up. However, ‘parentese’ (also known as infant-directed speech or ‘motherese’), a sing-song voice that puts emphasis on certain sounds, may be the best way to help a baby learn how to speak, according to a new Rutgers UniversityNewark study on infant-directed speech. Parentese refers to the ﬂuctuating speech patterns people use when speaking to babies, according to Corie Viscomi, M.A., CCC-SLP, director and speech-language pathologist at The Speech Studio in Chappaqua. While it may be second nature to speak to your baby in this cutesy, fun manner, you are actually facilitating speech development in doing so. This speech pattern makes it easier for babies to determine which words are the most important to the meaning of what you are saying because you are placing emphasis on the key words in the sentence. “Changing the emphasis, speed, and pitch is a very good thing for infants because it helps kids differentiate between your words and background noise,” Viscomi says. “Motherese tells babies

what words to pay attention to and breaks down speech a little more, and infants need that.” This form of speech will generally fade out gradually in accordance with the baby’s speech development, according to Viscomi, so there’s no need to determine a set time to stop speaking this way. While changing intonation and melody when speaking, using elongated vowels and consonants, and changing pitches, it is important to remember to speak with precise pronunciation and accurate grammar, according to Maloney. Part of speaking in parentese, according to Viscomi, is using a lot of repetition. Lisa Orban, mother of five and author of It’ll Feel Better when it Quits Hurting, found that using repetitive phrases such as ‘Who’s a good baby?’ or ‘Where’s the baby?’ were helpful in teaching her children to talk, but not accompanied by any sort of baby-talk. “I used conversational English with them throughout their infancy going forward and never ‘dumbed down’ my speaking around them,” Orban says. By the time her children entered preschool, Orban says they each had a far wider vocabulary than their peers and had an easier time determining words through context. “They also had a more nuanced understanding of humor and sarcasm, much higher than their age level,” she says. Still, Megan Carolan, mother and director of policy research at the Institute for Child Success in Jersey City, NJ, emphasizes the fact that using baby talk is okay. “Babies babble as they start finding their own abilities and they eventually try to imitate sounds,” Carolan says. “Cooing back and forth with them, especially when they are very little and just starting these noises, is a great contribution to their language development. It’s good to incorporate real words that they might hear more often (bottle, milk, crib, toy) alongside the cute versions like ‘baba.’ It doesn’t need to be one or the other.”

Avoid the Temptation of Telegraphic Speech

Telegraphic speech refers to the way children begin to speak—in shortened phrases, using only nouns and verbs, and omitting the “small words” such as adjectives and articles that make the sentence grammatically correct, according to Viscomi. Examples of telegraphic speech include “more cookie,” “mommy help,” and “doggie run.” “Parents can be tempted to speak the same way to toddlers, assuming that it is easier for them to learn language this way,” Viscomi says. “This is not the case! Young children learn language by hearing language, so it is important to model grammatically correct sentences but in a simple way.” Parents who use telegraphic speech more frequently tend to have children who know fewer words and take longer to learn to speak, according to a 2015 study published in the Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing. The study observed 55 parentchild pairs in which the children were on average 3 and 4 years old. While speaking this way to your young child may feel natural, it is not recommended, especially to children with delayed language development and autism spectrum disorder.

“Telegraphic speech won’t help the child learn grammar,” Viscomi says. “Kids can’t use proper grammar unless they’re hearing it. If you use the full grammatical structure of a sentence, young kids will be provided with a better language model.”

Facilitate Conversation, Don’t Interrogate

The more words a child hears a day, the better. But this doesn’t mean putting her in front of the TV or downloading apps on his iPad. Make conversation with your child, no matter her age or stage of development. It is important to keep interactions with a child at any age as lengthy as possible, but 1- to 2-year-olds often feel interrogated when we quiz them with a bunch of questions, according to Viscomi. One way to keep the conversation going without putting pressure on your young child is to make statements instead of asking questions. For example, try saying, “Oh, this cow looks hungry, I think it’s going to eat something” as opposed to “What animal is this? What does a cow eat? What does the cow say?” (This tactic is helpful with older kids and teens as well.) “With children who are beginning to exhibit babbling, I often suggest imitating the sounds you hear them make,” Maloney says. “A ‘conversation’ made up of pure baby-babble can be a helpful learning moment—your little one will start to learn the give-andtake of conversation and be more likely to imitate things he hears you say.” Talking about what you’re doing while you’re doing it may feel silly or seem uncomfortable, but it is actually the best and easiest way to incorporate language learning into the everyday lives of kids, according to Viscomi. This kind of learning provides kids with tangible models for new concepts and vocabulary they may not have been exposed to otherwise. “Babies take in so much well before they are able to respond,” Carolan says. “If you have your child in the stroller and you’re in the grocery store, talk about walking down the aisle, picking up pasta for dinner, etc.” Facilitating open-ended conversations even before children can respond fosters language engagement, according to Carolan. It is important to be conscious of the fact that a lot of conversations young children have with adults consist of instruction: “Don’t touch that,” “No,” “Put on your coat.” Instead of leading primarily with instruction, Carolan suggests creating scenarios in which children can choose between options, such as deciding which color sweatshirt they want to wear. This not only fosters a richer vocabulary and language skills, but also self-regulation skills, she says. Reading to, singing to, talking to, and having face-to-face interaction with your child is teaching him way more than you think. Reading is such a huge ‘life hack’ for fostering language development and literacy skills,” Carolan says. “I find that when I try to make up a story off the top of my head, I freeze up. However, keeping a book in the diaper bag is so helpful. Even if we don’t read it word for word, we talk about the pictures and what’s going on.” While the words we choose and the way we use them matter, “the most important thing to remember is to talk to your child,” Maloney says.

From our sponsors: The mission of Allied Foundation is to impact and improve the health and well-being of residents within Allied Physicians Group’s geographical footprint, which currently includes Long Island (Nassau and Suffolk), Queens, Brooklyn, Richmond, Westchester, Rockland, and Orange. The Allied Foundation funds community-based strategies and initiatives, including Breastfeeding Support (toll-free Support Line: 866-621-2769; Breast Milk Depots), Community Education (free app—AlliedPG—and lectures about such topics as ADHD, managing food allergies, behavioral health, and infant CPR), Early Childhood Literacy (proud partner of Reach Out and Read and The BookFairies); and Community Service (Diaper Bank of Long Island). For more information, visit alliedfoundation.org. LongIslandParent 35

raising kids teen

A Tale of Two Tests

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The SAT and ACT for college-bound teens are more alike than different—but one may still be a better fit for your child. By Deborah Skolnik

f you have a teenager, she’s probably planning to take a standardized test for college admissions. And you almost certainly know there are two to choose between: the SAT and its slightly newer rival, the ACT. Both tests are operated by nonprofit organizations, follow a roughly similar format, and serve the same purpose: “It’s to try to estimate your potential college readiness,” says Tony DiGiacomo, Ph.D., of Novella Prep, an academic advising, college planning, standardized test prep, and tutoring company in Westchester and Fairfield counties. That being the case, could a child possibly score higher on one or the other? Is it a question even worth asking? The answer, say the people who know best, is yes. Though both tests assess scholastic skills, there are subtle differences between the two. We asked experts to share their thoughts and observations on the SAT and ACT and their design; use their insights to your child’s advantage.

SAT Savvy

The SAT is the older of the two tests, first administered to high school students in 1926. (Its letters, which originally stood for Scholastic Aptitude Test, now merely connote the brand.) But just because the SAT has a more extensive history, is it the better test for your kid? The answer: It depends. Your child may do better on the SAT if he… …attends a public school. Public schools follow the Common Core, a set of standards for teaching and testing math and English. And as it happens, “the person who revamped the SAT [most recently] was one of the key architects behind the Common Core curriculum,” says Greg Kaplan, a college counselor, author of Earning Admission and creator of CollegePath, a free and premium app that guides college-bound students with advice tailored to their interests and school goals. It should be no surprise, then, that the SAT more closely covers what public-school kids may learn in class. 36

August 2018 | nymetroparents.com

…does well with evidence-based questions. “One of the differences is the SAT allegedly gives you a little more information to use to answer some of their verbal questions,” Dr. DiGiacomo says. “Let’s say there’s a passage and a question—the ACT will tend to just ask the question, such as ‘the main character was courageous because…’ But the SAT will give you a line to look it up. They are pushing evidence-based textual understanding, the idea of being able to look it up and find it.” …has a rich vocabulary. The often-perplexing analogy questions you may remember from your own days taking the SAT are a thing of the past. The reason? “This privileged understanding of vocabulary words wasn’t a way to understand a student’s skill level,” Dr. DiGiacomo says. The SAT creators “have worked very hard to de-emphasize this. If you grow up in a lower-income household, you may not hear the same vocabulary in the home. Even if you go to the same school as a wealthier student, your overall exposure to vocabulary may be limited. But your ability to interpret and defend an argument are learned in school.” That said, the SAT “does a bit more vocabulary [than the ACT] still,” Dr. DiGiacomo notes. …is a big reader and can easily stay focused. “The reading comprehension portion on the SAT is much trickier,” Kaplan shares, so a kid who has a superior ability to pay attention to written material may distinguish himself on the SAT: “They take very boring, dense passages and use them as a pressure point to see who can get through it.” …hasn’t yet taken Algebra 2 or trigonometry. Both the SAT and the ACT cover this material, Kaplan says, “but the SAT is a more even playing field. The questions are more complex, and they require more creative thinking than the ACT questions. If I have a student who is a year behind in math I tend to recommend the SAT. It’s easier to improvise.”

ACT Insights

The ACT (its initials originally stood for American College Testing but now, like the SAT, just signify the brand) is the newer standardized test, first offered in 1959. Your child may do better on the ACT if she… …tends to work quickly. If she prides herself on her ability to get through material speedily, and prefers doing so to poring over questions at length, the ACT may suit her. “The SAT offers thirty-three percent more time per question than the ACT,” Kaplan says. But there’s a catch, he adds: “The ﬂip slide of that coin is that the SAT questions are more complex and may require more thought and analysis.” …excels in science. The ACT has a discrete section called science. But, Dr. DiGiacomo adds, “the SAT is offering a science subscore now.” While the score isn’t based on a science section per se, it’s based on similar questions to the ACT science section—“math questions using vocabulary that implies an understanding of sciences, such as orbits and velocity. But they are really at the end of the day math questions,” he explains.

…is a stickler for grammar. “The ACT is a little more focused on grammar, punctuation, and syntax,” Dr. DiGiacomo says. “The SAT might focus more on a student’s writing style and use of evidence.”

The Power of Personal Preference While the insights listed here can be helpful, nothing will inform your child better than first-hand experience. “I recommend for all students to take a real, released practice exam for both the ACT and the SAT. That way you’re

comparing apples to apples,” Kaplan says. Use a convergence chart—there are many on the web—to determine on which test your child scored higher. “Eighty percent of students have a clear-cut preference,” Kaplan adds. “That difference is worth up to one hundred points right out of the gate.” And rest assured that colleges are fine with that: “There is not one college in the U.S. that prefers one [test] over the other,” Kaplan says. No matter which test your child decides to take, Kaplan

recommends he start reading The Economist or The New Yorker. “They actually pull passages from those magazines in the reading tests,” he says. “Get familiar with the complexity of the language and the structure. Sometimes students like to prepare in a way that doesn’t involve a workbook. When you actually are studying but you don’t feel like it, I think that’s a win.” By making an informed choice, and properly preparing, your child can get a score that truly adds up to success.

Caring for kids is what we do.

Calm, comfortable dentistry for children and special needs patients.

…is math-minded “The ACT does cover a little more content than the SAT in mathematics,” Dr. DiGiacomo says—he tracks these subtle variations by creating a matrix of topical differences between the tests. If your child has studied math broadly and extensively, he may be better prepared for the multitude of math topics on the ACT. …likes the security of having a calculator by her side. “The SAT [math] has two parts—calculator and no calculator,” Dr. DiGiacomo says. By contrast, “the ACT lets you use the calculator for the entire test,” he notes. But don’t automatically assume this will always be the case: “Any given year, the College Board [which makes the SAT] and the ACT can change their policy,” he cautions.

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family life finances

Cash for College

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If your teen puts in the work, she can graduate college with minimal debt. By Barbara Russo

ollege is expensive. Even with financial aid, many students still have to take out loans to help with tuition, books, and other costs that go along with achieving a higher education. This often leaves them in debt long after they’ve graduated. Fortunately, there are many scholarship opportunities out there. The U.S. Department of Education and universities give out billions of dollars in scholarship and grant money each year, according to Debt.org. Other organizations, including private corporations and nonprofit groups, offer scholarships too. This is all money that is given to qualifying students as gifts and does not need to be paid back. The term “qualifying” can mean many different things, depending on the scholarship’s criteria. A student doesn’t necessarily have to excel at sports or academics; scholarship opportunities are available to students from a variety of backgrounds and who have a wide range of hobbies or interests. There’s an abundance of information online about these opportunities, but it can be overwhelming. The good news is, we’ve spoken to some experts and compiled a list of 10 online resources that offer different kinds of scholarships and scholarship information. Keep in mind there are many more scholarship information sites out there. No matter your child’s age, it’s worth it to start looking early so you don’t miss any deadlines—and have time to gather as much information as possible. One important tip to keep in mind before you even launch your favorite Internet browser: Write down your child’s family background and academic statistics and achievements. Almost all of these sites will require this information for setting up profiles or applying for scholarships. “You go to these scholarship search engines, and they’ll want you to enter this specific information. They ask really specific questions about your family heritage and stuff, and that’s what they’re using in their algorithms,” says Kim Stezala, The Scholarship Lady® and author 38

August 2018 | nymetroparents.com

of Scholarships 101: The Real-World Guide to Getting Cash for College. “If you just hop on the Internet and don’t have that information, it’s going to take you more time.” Now, on to our list:

Scholarships.com

One of the most popular and established scholarship search sites, it boasts more than 16 million registered users. Its free, quick profile format allows you to enter your child’s basic information to get instant match results to potential scholarship opportunities.

Fastweb.com

Owned by Monster.com, the site offers access to more than 1.5 million scholarships. It’s a free student-to-scholarship matching service that uses a quick profile format and also offers an array of college prep tools. Bonus: The site’s new Deals and Promos feature lists discounts available to students from major retailers, including Dell, J. Crew, and Ford.

Scholly

This is both a website (myscholly.com) and mobile app. Like the sites listed above, it uses the scholarship-matching platform to generate a list of scholarships suited for the individual user. The site was founded by Christopher Gray, who grew up in poverty in Birmingham, AL, and was able to win $1.3 million in scholarship money. His experience gave him the idea for Scholly, which has helped hundreds of thousands of students and families find more than $70 million in scholarship awards for college.

JLVCollegeCounseling.com

Founded by Jessica Velasco, a former college-admissions professional, the site provides free information about scholarships, college prep, admission, and financial aid. The scholarships are organized in lists

with deadlines for each month. There are also scholarships based on grade level, major, residence, hobbies, and religion. With 10 years of experience in higher education, Velasco knows how much work it takes to apply for scholarships and recommends students take the time to perfect each application. “Quality is always better than quantity,” she says. “Many times students get so caught up in sending out as many scholarship applications as possible and forget to make sure their applications are of the highest quality. In addition...students must make sure their applications are unique.”

Googling for Dollars

Stezala recommends coming up with list of traits about your teen and family background—things that go beyond academics—and using these terms in your searches. “Is either parent or a grandparent part of the military or a veteran? And is anyone in your family a member of any kind of professional organization or civic group?” Stezala poses. “I find sometimes that students make the mistake of only doing Internet searches about themselves, so the keywords that they’re using aren’t

going to peel back the layers of some of these smaller local scholarships that can really add up.”

Local Foundation Websites Some of these manage what are called donor-advised funds, Stezala says. Donors who may not want to set up their own scholarship will give their money to a community foundation, and it’s the foundation’s responsibility to collect applications. Even if they don’t give them out, these sites may have links to local scholarships, Stezala says.

The Net Price Calculator

The net price refers to the amount a student pays after receiving scholarships and other financial aid that do not need to be paid back. Hartley recommends using net price calculators to find out what your estimated price tag for college will be. Searching online for scholarships will take time, but it’s hard work that will ultimately pay off. Barbara Russo is a freelance writer who holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from the City University of New York.

Providing Services For Over 45 Years

Cappex.com

Using the popular student-scholarship match system, the free site lists thousands of private scholarships. It also provides more than $30,000 in its own unique scholarships.

Niche.com

Applicants can search by category or get matched to scholarships by creating a quick profile. The site also offers information on college rankings plus an admissions calculator.

University Websites

In many cases, a college admissions office is given a budget it can use to give varying amounts of scholarships to incoming students based on merit factors such as high test scores, good grades, or talents. Money that comes this way is renewed all four years of schooling, but each school’s application process is different. “We want students to go on the school’s websites and in the top search window type ‘scholarships,’ and it will tell you, ‘here’s how we handle scholarships, here’s how we get them out,’” says Elizabeth Hartley, owner of Scholarship Gold Consulting. Some universities, particularly prestigious ones, have endowments that can provide financial aid to students, Hartley adds. “Even if a family makes too much money to get aid to go to a local state school, they may be able to get money from a more elite school,” she says.

not-for proﬁt program that provides services for infants and children up to 11 years of age with learning language and social delays, motor impairments and

•SEIT •ABA Home Programs

•Related Services: -Speech - OT/PT - Parent Training - Family Support Services

•Special Ed Classes: - Developmental Groups (2 -3) - Pre-School (3-5) - School-Age (5-11) - Inclusion

750 Hicksville Road Seaford, NY 11783 • 516-520-6000 Funded and regulated by Nassau County (NCDOH) and Suﬀolk County (SCDOH) Department of Health, NYS, NYS ED Department

must be referred by NCDOH/SCDOH for EI and/or to the local school district for CPSE. Services are provided based on an individual child’s eligibility as established by NYS DOH and/or NYS ED department and local government at no direct cost to parents. Parents are responsible for fees/costs associated with childcare. LongIslandParent 39

PartyCentral PARTY ENTERTAINMENT CLOWNS.COM Proudly serving Westchester, Long Island, Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and the Bronx 516-577-0000; 718-971-5862 clowns.com We are a family-owned and -operated entertainment company, offering a wide range of party and entertainment services including clowns, inflatable bounce houses, characters, magicians, princesses, magic shows, face painting, and party concession rentals. MAD SCIENCE OF LONG ISLAND Call for locations throughout Long Island: 855-264-1672 madscienceli.com; info@madscienceli.com A Mad Scientist brings all the necessary equipment to you. Party packages include invitations and a take-home activity each child makes. Optional grand finales include Bubbling Potions, Rockets, and Cotton Candy. SPIN DJ ACADEMY 202 Merrick Road, 2nd floor, Rockville Centre 16 Broadway, Amityville 631-608-8858 spindjacademy.com Put together a personalized DJ dance party in your home. We’ll bring kids DJ equipment and instruments to play and create an amazing experience for your child!

PARTY PLACES @ PLAY AMUSEMENTS 229 NY-110, Farmingdale 631-815-5355 atplayamusement.com info@playamusement.com Have your next party at the newly renovated @ Play Amusements! It offers 40,000 square feet of fun ranging from 92 arcade games, inflatables, and bumper cars, to a roller coaster, carousel, disco room, and laser tag! BACH TO ROCK MUSIC SCHOOL 1015 Port Washington Blvd., Port Washington 516-441-5526 portwashington.bachtorock.com; portwashington@bachtorock.com Be a STAR at B2R! At Bach To Rock Music School, our parties will have everyone recording in a state-of-the-art studio with pro engineers. Choose from current pop and classic rock tunes, then sing on the main stage and enjoy pizza and cake! BE THE BEST SPORT 30 Beechwood Ave., Port Washington 516-453-0990

bethebestsport.org; info@bethebestsport.org Be The Best Sport provides sport birthday parties for children with special needs. Our qualified staff will make sure your son or daughter has a once in a lifetime experience! Please contact us to inquire about a birthday party! BOUNCEU FARMINGDALE 101 Carolyn Blvd., Farmingdale 631-777-JUMP (5867) bounceu.com/cities/farmingdale.ny farmingdale.ny@bounceu.com BounceU Farmingdale was voted “Best of Long Island” for Children’s Party Place and Family Amusement Center. We provide the ideal combination of inflatable structures, a clean environment, incredible customer service, and non-stop excitement in a private party atmosphere. CELEBRATIONS IN THE KITCHEN 63 E. Old Country Road, Hicksville 516-396-2193 celebrationsinthekitchen.com celebrationsinthekitchen@gmail.com The most unique, fun-filled, joyous event! We have created a true baking experience for everyone to enjoy, including sugar cookie baking, all about pizza, cupcakes from scratch, doughnuts, and chocolate and candy projects. Come in, call, or visit celebrationsinthekitchen.com for more information on parties. COLD SPRING HARBOR FISH HATCHERY & AQUARIUM 1660 Route 25A, Cold Spring Harbor 516-692-6768 cshfha.org; steved@cshfha.org Celebrate your child’s next birthday at the Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery & Aquarium! See the hatchery and aquarium’s exciting live exhibits. Feed the hungry trout and learn about fish, reptiles, and amphibians with an up-close animal encounter. GREAT PLAY OF SYOSSET 180 Michael Drive, Syosset 516-364-1500 greatplay.com/syosset; info@syosset. greatplay.com We offer customized parties for ages 1-10. Your guests will have a blast and your child will receive All-Star treatment in our amazing Interactive Gym™. HUNTINGTON CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS 310 New York Ave., Huntington 631-271-4626 huntingtoncenteronline.com; huntingtoncenter@yahoo.com Make your child’s birthday a memorable and creative event with our dance-themed birthday parties. As a special treat, a guest artist will come in costume to perform for

August 2018 | nymetroparents.com

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

your guests! INTREPID SEA, AIR & SPACE MUSEUM Pier 86, West 46th Street and Twelfth Avenue, Manhattan 646-381-5010 intrepidmuseum.org; groupsales@ intrepidmuseum.org Celebrate your child’s birthday with a one-of-a-kind party! The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum will captivate groups of all ages and interests. Choose from exciting themes, value packages, and customization options to create a birthday adventure they’ll remember forever! KEY TO MY ART INC. 10 W. Oak St., Amityville 131 Main St., East Rockaway 877-539-2278 keytomyart.com At Key to My Art, our children’s paint parties include all supplies from aprons to easels. The guest of honor picks the theme, we provide the instruction, and each guest leaves with a finished painting! THE LANYARD LADIES 433 Merrick Road, Oceanside 516-578-2248 thelanyardladies.com; info@thelanyardladies.com The Lanyard Ladies friendship bracelet and lanyard birthday parties bring the party to you, or you can come to their brand-new party place! Many amazing themes and packages to choose from. THE LITTLE LADIES CLUB 246 W. Old Country Road, Hicksville 516-939-CLUB (2582) thelittleladiesclub.com; party@thelittleladiesclub.com The Little Ladies Club has been providing glamorous makeover parties for girls since 1998! Her Majesty will be sure to receive the royal treatment! LONG ISLAND AQUARIUM 431 E. Main St., Riverhead 631-208-9200 xH2O (426) 631-208-9200 x125 longislandaquarium.com Have your child’s birthday party at the Long Island Aquarium. Party options include a choice of private rooms, select food items, and an ice cream cake. All parties get a guided tour, special seating at the Sea Lion Show, and rides on the submarine simulator! M.A.T.S.S. KIDS’ GYM & EARLY CHILDCARE EDUCATION CENTER A RAINBOW OF PROGRAMS UNDER ONE ROOF! 2629 Grand Ave., Bellmore 516-221-1330 171 Eileen Way, Syosset

516-496-7765 matsskidsgym.com; corporate@matsskidsgym.com M.A.T.S.S. Kids’ Gym offers a rainbow of themes and activities that will make your child’s next birthday party the ultimate celebration of their special day! MY GYM CHILDREN’S FITNESS CENTER 1320 Stony Brook Road, Stony Brook 631-751-KIDS (5437) mygym.com/stonybrook 128 W. Jericho Turnpike, Huntington Station 631-427-GYMS (4967) mygym.com/huntingtonstation My Gym parties include exclusive use of the gym, including a zip line, rock wall, trampoline, trapeze, climbing structures, and slides. Instructors lead your guests through action-packed activities with theme options including Superheroes, Princesses, Mickey Mouse—any theme you want. NOT JUST ART 183 South St., Oyster Bay 516-922-8300 notjustart.com; create@notjust art.com Not Just Art has oodles of excellent music, art, and science parties for ages 1-12 and beyond. Choose from our treasury of super imaginative projects or use favorite themes and activities as a creative springboard. SPIN DJ ACADEMY 202 Merrick Road, 2nd floor, Rockville Centre 16 Broadway, Amityville 631-608-8858 spindjacademy.com Customize your own DJ dance party with songs and instruments your child loves. Than head to our play space for play and pizza! THOMAS SCHOOL OF HORSEMANSHIP RIDING ACADEMY 250 Round Swamp Road, Melville 631-692-6840 tshcamp.com; tsh@tshcamp.com Birthday parties, scout parties, and class trips are always a blast at the Thomas School of Horsemanship. For groups of 14-18 children. They receive 1 hour of riding time. UNLIMITED SPORTS ACTION 30 Beechwood Ave., Port Washington 516-767-7675 unlimitedsportsaction.com info@unlimitedsportsaction.com Unlimited Sports Action offers sports birthdays for ages 2 and older. Our parties offer 1 hour of sports and activities on a climate-controlled turf field, followed by 30 minutes of food, drinks, and birthday cake in a private room.

Meet the

Health Care Professional Ehrenman & Khan Pediatric Dentistry 959 Brush Hollow Road, Suite #101, Westbury 516-333-3033 pediatricdentistlongislandny.com kidsteethli@gmail.com

Ehrenman & Khan Pediatric Dentistry cares for all of your child’s oral health needs in a fun, kid-friendly environment that includes iPads and chairside TV monitors. Drs. Ehrenman and Khan are dedicated and trained to ease dental anxieties for young children as well as patients with special needs. Their years of advanced training include hospital and sedation dentistry. Please visit kidsteeth4li.com to learn more about what Ehrenman & Khan Pediatric Dentistry has to offer!

Mesbah OB-GYN Women’s Health Care & Wellness 877 Stewart Ave., Suite 3, Garden City 516-794-1500 mesbahobgyn.com

Michael Mesbah, M.D., is board-certified with more than 20 years of private practice experience. His experience and expertise in obstetrics has made him one of the most respected physicians on Long Island. He has extensive training in gynecological surgery, and is a certified robotic surgeon. Karyn Wat, M.D., is multilingual in English, Spanish, and Chinese. She has been trained in general and high-risk obstetric care, as well as gynecological surgery. She is compassionate, dedicated, and knowledgeable in issues pertaining to teenagers, family planning, menstrual and hormonal abnormalities, and menopausal symptoms.

Merrick Pediatric Dentistry 1756A Merrick Ave., Merrick 516-547-1997 merrickpediatricdentistry.com

Dr. Rania Elbaz is a board-certified pediatric dentist. She earned her dental degree from Columbia University. She then completed her pediatric dental training at UMDNJ-New Jersey Dental School. Dr. Elbaz loves working with children and strives to create a warm and fun environment that children look forward to visiting. Dr. Elbaz sees every patient in order to ensure consistency that is so important to young children. The office welcomes and gives extra time and attention to patients with special needs. The office also participates with most major insurance plans.

Long Island Center for Speech and Myofunctional Therapy Locations across Suffolk and Nassau: East Yaphank, Farmingville, Stony Brook, Commack, Jericho, Wantagh, and Lake Success lispeechandmyo.com Nassau: 516-216-1791 • Suffolk: 631-689-6858 • Queens: 718-640-6767 Janine Stiene, speech-language pathologist, owns and operates Long Island Center for Speech and Myofunctional Therapy. With her group of therapists, she supports families and children across Long Island, specializing in PROMPT, feeding, myofunctional therapy, voice disorders, fluency, augmentative communication, articulation, auditory processing disorders, expressive and receptive language disorders (adults and children). Intensive feeding therapy for individuals who suffer from texture and consistency aversions, and FEES—Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing—are also offered. Seven affiliated offices across Long Island participate with most health insurance and offer evening and Saturday hours.

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Professional services

Your local guide to tutors, teachers, lawyers, financial planners, and other professionals. DENTISTS & DENTAL PROVIDERS CUMMINGS FAMILY DENTAL 42 High St., Huntington 631-425-1650 cummingsfamilydentistry.com cummingsfamilydentistry@aol.com At Cummings Family Dentistry, we believe that a dentist and patient become a team. We spend time listening to understand your concerns and responding with the best treatment options for you. EHRENMAN & KHAN PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY 959 Brush Hollow Road, Suite #101, Westbury 516-333-3033 pediatricdentistlongislandny.com kidsteethli@gmail.com Ehrenman & Khan Pediatric Dentistry cares for all of your child’s oral health needs in a fun, kid-friendly environment that includes iPads and chairside TV monitors. MERRICK PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY 1756A Merrick Ave., Merrick 516-547-1997 merrickpediatricdentistry.com Dr. Rania Elbaz is a board-certified pediatric dentist who loves working with children and strives to create a warm and fun environment that children look forward to visiting.

DOCTORS & MEDICAL PROVIDERS 3D MATERNITY IMAGING 1300 Union Turnpike, New Hyde Park 516-326-0011 3dmaternity.com We are committed to providing a memorable experience for expecting parents and their families. We take pride in knowing we produce quality 3-D images and capture amazing moments such as yawning, smiling, even thumb-sucking. ADVANTAGE CARE HEALTH CENTER 189 Wheatley Road, Brookville 230 Hanse Ave., Freeport 516-686-4400 advantagecaredtc.org Advantage Care Health Centers and The Fay J. Lindner Center are Long Island’s premier Federally Qualified Health Care Centers. We provide comprehensive medical, dental, and mental and behavioral health services to children and adults. LONG ISLAND CENTER FOR SPEECH AND MYOFUNCTIONAL THERAPY Locations across Suffolk and Nassau: East Yaphank, Farmingville, Stony Brook, Commack, Jericho, Wantagh, and Lake Success lispeechandmyo.com Nassau: 516-216-1791 • Suffolk: 631-689-

6858 • Queens: 718-640-6767 Janine Stiene, speech-language pathologist, along with her group of therapists, supports families and children across Long Island, specializing in PROMPT, feeding, myofunctional therapy, voice disorders, fluency, augmentative communication, articulation, auditory processing disorders, and expressive and receptive language disorders.

FOSTER CARE & ADOPTION BERKSHIRE FARM CENTER & SERVICES FOR YOUTH 535 Broad Hollow Road, Suite B30, Melville 631-420-4444 berkshirefarm.org Berkshire Farm Center & Services for Youth helps children find safety and comfort in the homes of foster parents. Become a foster parent and give the gift of family!

LEGAL SERVICES ANDREW COHEN, ESQ., LAW OFFICES OF ANDREW M. COHEN 1100 Franklin Ave., Suite 305, Garden City 516-877-0595 250 W. 57th St., Suite 1216, Manhattan 212-244-0595 amcohenlaw.com ac@amcohenlaw.com The Law Offices of Andrew M. Cohen can help you achieve your objectives through careful special needs legal planning, regardless of the size of your estate. All clients are provided with high quality service at a reasonable cost. LAW OFFICES OF BRAD H. ROSKEN, P.L.L.C. 534 Broadhollow Road, Suite 275, Melville 631-379-9569 specialedcounselor.com brad@specialedcounselor.com Brad H. Rosken is an experienced trial attorney. He’s also a parent of a child with special needs. He knows how far to push a school district to obtain the maximum your child is entitled to under law.

LICE FAIRY LICEMOTHERS 2463 S. Long Beach Road, Oceanside 866-561-0492 1755 Deer Park Ave., Deer Park 866-561-0492 679 Glen Cove Ave., Glen Head 866-561-0492 fairylicemothers.com fairylicemothers@gmail.com Our treatment centers are kid-friendly and our products are 100-percent non-toxic. Treatments

August 2018 | nymetroparents.com

include two free re-checks. Whether or not you use our service, we are here to help you. LICE CLINICS OF AMERICA: LONG ISLAND 47 Jackson Ave., Syosset 566 Merrick Road, Rockville Centre 516-336-4099 liceclinicslongisland.com Lice Clinics of America will remove lice in just 1 hour! All lice and eggs—even Super Lice— are eliminated in a single, 1-hour treatment. Affordable treatments; no toxic chemicals. LICE TAMERS INC. 900 Walt Whitman Road, Suite LL2, Melville 877-237-LICE (5423) licetamers.com; licetamers@gmail.com Lice Tamers offers same-day lice treatment and head checks at our comfortable, child-friendly treatment center or in the comfort of your home. All of our products are safe and non-toxic.

SPECIAL NEEDS ANDREW COHEN, ESQ., LAW OFFICES OF ANDREW M. COHEN 1100 Franklin Ave., Suite 305, Garden City 516-877-0595 250 W. 57th St., Suite 1216, Manhattan 212-244-0595 amcohenlaw.com; ac@amcohenlaw.com The Law Offices of Andrew M. Cohen can help you achieve your objectives through careful special needs legal planning, regardless of the size of your estate. All clients are provided with high quality service at a reasonable cost. DR. STEVE IMBER, PSYCHOEDUCATIONAL CONSULTANTS Serving Nassau and Suffolk counties, as well as the five boroughs of NYC 61-43 186th St., Fresh Meadows 516-273-1961 Sprout Building 166 Valley St., Providence, RI 401-421-4004 dr-imber.comscimber1@aol.com Dr. Imber has more than 40 years of experience consulting, evaluating, and advocating for children, adolescents, and adults with various disabilities including autism (e.g. Asperger’s syndrome), attention deficit disorders, intellectual disabilities, emotional and behavioral disorders, and learning disabilities. LIFE’S WORC THE FAMILY CENTER FOR AUTISM 1501 Franklin Ave., Garden City 516-741-9000 familycenterforautism.org The Family Center for Autism provides services and support for people with autism and their families. Programs include insurance services; birthday parties; art, music,

sports, and culinary classes; camps; parent and sibling programs; social events; vocational programs; and behavior intervention. LITTLE OPTICS, INC. 192-07 Union Turnpike, Fresh Meadows, Queens 53-15 Roosevelt Ave., Woodside, Queens 718-468-7500; hablamos Español littleopticsinc@yahoo.com We provide eyeglasses and professional eye care for children, including infants, and young adults. We also alleviate any self-esteem issues associated with the stigma of wearing glasses. When your child leaves Little Optics, rest assured they will feel confident.

LONG ISLAND CENTER FOR SPEECH AND MYOFUNCTIONAL THERAPY Locations across Suffolk and Nassau: East Yaphank, Farmingville, Stony Brook, Commack, Jericho, Wantagh, and Lake Success lispeechandmyo.com Nassau: 516-216-1791 • Suffolk: 631-6896858 • Queens: 718-640-6767 Janine Stiene, speech-language pathologist, along with her group of therapists, supports families and children across Long Island, specializing in PROMPT, feeding, myofunctional therapy, voice disorders, fluency, augmentative communication, articulation, auditory processing disorders, and expressive and receptive language disorders. LAW OFFICES OF BRAD H. ROSKEN, P.L.L.C. 534 Broadhollow Road, Suite 275, Melville 631-379-9569 specialedcounselor.com brad@specialedcounselor.com Brad H. Rosken is an experienced trial attorney. He’s also a parent of a child with special needs. He knows how far to push a school district to obtain the maximum your child is entitled to under law. STEPS TO SOCIALIZATION 13 S. Bayles Ave., Port Washington 516-767-0266 Steps to Socialization was created to help children who have difficulty socializing. We teach children how to think socially, step by step. Working in small groups, we cover a variety of topics, including how to establish and maintain friendships and initiating and maintaining conversations.

TUTORS & TEST PREP EYE LEVEL NASSAU Eye Level Hicksville 760 S. Broadway, Hicksville 516-597 5300, Jyoti Dhingra Eye Level Williston Park 61 Hillside Ave., Williston Park 516-747-7700, Alida Vucemilovich

Eye Level New Hyde Park: Coming Soon! 1 Jericho Turnpike, New Hyde Park 516-775-1000, Min Bittaf myeyelevel.com Eye Level offers math and English programs for ages 3-14. Whether the immediate goal is for early learning, remedial education, or academic advancement, Eye Level is the answer. MATHNASIUM LEARNING CENTERS Five Towns 414 Central Ave., Cedarhurst 516-569-1500 Great Neck 11 Great Neck Road, Great Neck 516-482-MATH (6284) Lynbrook 381 Sunrise Highway, Lynbrook 516-881-7997 New Hyde Park 810 Jericho Turnpike, New Hyde Park 516-616-MATH (6284) Roslyn 217A Mineola Ave., Roslyn Heights 516-484-MATH (6284) mathnasium.com Students go to Mathnasium year-round to catch up, keep up, and get ahead in math. Our instructional approach goes beyond traditional math tutoring to develop understanding and build a love for math. SYLVAN LEARNING CENTERS OF MINEOLA AND HUNTINGTON 393 Jericho Turnpike, Mineola 516-743-9943 1160 E. Jericho Turnpike, Huntington

631-424-5600 sylvanlearning.com sylvanlearning@optonline.net Sylvan of Mineola and Huntington offer personalized tutoring programs in reading, writing, mathematics, and SAT and ACT prep. Sylvan will help identify the right program for your child and exactly where your child needs to start to get the best results. TAS NEW YORK: THEORY OF ARTS AND SCIENCES 153 S. Broadway, Hicksville 1915 Deer Park Ave., Deer Park 1-888-827-8188 tasnewyork.com Here education matters. The No. 1 learning center in New York. We offer after-school programs, private and group tutoring, kids and adult art classes, computer coding, SAT and ACT prep, Create and Meditate sessions, and summer camp! VILLAGE EAST GIFTED: ENRICHMENT CENTER FOR THE GIFTED LEARNER Village East Gifted of Huntington 33 Walt Whitman Road, Huntington Station 631-549-2313 Village East Gifted of Roslyn 216 Willis Ave., Roslyn Heights 631-549-2313 villageeastgifted.com; info@villageeastgifted.com Village East Gifted provides after-school enrichment and private tutoring. Enriching every qualified, gifted child. We are also a John Hopkins CTY info and SAT testing center.

OPEN HOUSES 2018 Long Island Whole Child Academy

175 Wolf Hill Road, Melville 347-668-3676 liwholechild.org; info@liwholechild.org Visit Long Island Whole Child Academy to meet with our director, tour our facility, and learn more about our 2018-2019 academic year. Call to register for upcoming open houses.

Village East Gifted: Enrichment Center for the Gifted Learner

Village East Gifted of Huntington 33 Walt Whitman Road, Huntington Station 631-549-2313 Village East Gifted of Roslyn 216 Willis Ave., Roslyn Heights 631-549-2313 villageeastgifted.com; info@villageeastgifted.com Register your child for a free trial class in August, followed by a tour of our facility and an evaluation with our director.

Long Island Speech & Myofunctional Therapy 718-640-6767 • 516-216-1791 www.LISpeechandMyo.com

Licensed Speech Pathologists & Myofunctional Therapists Specializing in the Treatment and Correction of: • Language Disorders • Memory & Auditory Processing Difficulties • Fluency • • Voice Disorders • Motor Planning Disorders • Deviate Swallowing • Tongue Thrust • • Feeding & Swalling Problems /Aversions • Thumb Sucking • Articulation Disorders • Oral Facial Muscle Weakness •

Specialized Therapy Approaches Including Including: PROMPT Therapy • Individual FEEDING Therapy Augmentative Communication Evaluations & Therapy

“FEES”...Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing Participating with most Major Health Insurance Companies

Jericho

500 North Broadway Suite 141

Lake Success 444 Lakeville Road Suite 202

Wantagh

3375 Park Avenue Suite 4010

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Winston Preparatory School

30 Deforest Road, Dix Hills 212-719-5598 x2213 126 W. 17th St., Manhattan 646-638-2705 901 Route 10 E., Whippany, NJ 973-500-6480 57 W. Rocks Road, Norwalk, CT 203-229-0465 Transitions 240 Madison Ave., 14th Floor, Manhattan 646-869-4600 winstonprep.edu/our-campuses/li; liadmissions@winstonprep.edu Register for an open house to learn about our educational philosophy and participate in a Q-and-A session. Thursdays, Aug. 2 and 9 at 9:30am; Tuesday, Aug. 7 at 7 pm.

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Joffrey Ballet School.......................................................11

Huntington Center of Performing Arts ............................19

CodeNinjas.....................................................................11 Great Play of Syosset.....................................................20 Key To My Art ................................................................19 Kidville - LI .....................................................................18 Music Together LLC .........................................................7

Music Together LLC .........................................................7

developmental Hagedorn Little Village School.......................................39

performing arts / acting

Janine Stiene Suffolk Center for Speech..................41, 43

Huntington Center of Performing Arts ............................19

Law Offices of Brad H Rosken.........................................7

Joffrey Ballet School.......................................................11

Variety Child Learning Center...........................................5

play spaces

camps CodeNinjas.....................................................................11 Countryside Montessori School......................................20 Eye Level Learning Center - Corporate............................5 Lice Clinics of America...................................................29 LIU Center for Gifted Youth............................................19 M.A.T.S.S........................................................................17 Music Together LLC .........................................................7

child care / day care M.A.T.S.S........................................................................17

classes CodeNinjas.....................................................................11 Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery .................................19 Eye Level Learning Center - Corporate............................5

education Countryside Montessori School......................................20 Law Offices of Brad H Rosken.........................................7

religious

LIU Center for Gifted Youth............................................19

Temple Sinai of Roslyn...................................................15

M.A.T.S.S........................................................................17 Temple Sinai of Roslyn...................................................15

retail

Village East Gifted .........................................................20

Kidville - LI .....................................................................18 Once Upon A Child...........................................................7

family entertainment / events / outings @ Play Amusement........................................................27

special events

Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery .................................19

Hofstra University Museum............................................27

Hofstra University Museum............................................27 Northwell Health Ice Center/ NY Islander.......................13

financial planning / insurance

Hagedorn Little Village School.......................................39

Affinity Health Plan.........................................................47

Janine Stiene Suffolk Center for Speech..................41, 43 Law Offices of Brad H Rosken.........................................7

Hofstra University Continuing Education........................19

health

Hofstra University Museum............................................27

Affinity Health Plan.........................................................47

Joffrey Ballet School.......................................................11 Key To My Art ................................................................19 Kidville - LI .....................................................................18 LIU Center for Gifted Youth............................................19

special needs Ehrenman & Khan Pediatric Dentistry......................37, 41

Great Play of Syosset.....................................................20

Huntington Center of Performing Arts ............................19

@ Play Amusement........................................................27

Variety Child Learning Center...........................................5

Ehrenman & Khan Pediatric Dentistry......................37, 41

sports

Fidelis Care New York .....................................................2

Northwell Health Ice Center/ NY Islander.......................13

Lice Clinics of America...................................................29 Lice Tamers......................................................................7

theater

Merrick Pediatric Dentistry..........................................3, 41

Stars Of Tomorrow............................................................9

Meshab OB-GYN............................................................41

Northwell Health Ice Center/ NY Islander.......................13

tutors

Stars Of Tomorrow............................................................9

home services

Eye Level Learning Center - Corporate............................5

Village East Gifted .........................................................20

Lice Tamers......................................................................7

Village East Gifted .........................................................20

LongIslandParent 45

raising kids quotables

How did you feel when you were chosen as a f inalist in our cover contest? “I was very happy and excited to be able to come.” —Daniella, 14, Suffolk

“Excited. I’ve never done this before and I think it’s really exciting.” —Brielle, 12, Rockland

“I felt great! I mean, I was excited for this!” —Chazz, 12, Manhattan

“Excited!” —Sophia, 4, Rockland

“I don’t know.” —Aaliyah, 4, Rockland

[Ran away] —Jaden, 3, Manhattan

“I felt excited because this is something I wanted to do for a while. I like acting and modeling and this stuff. So I was super happy when I found out I won.”

“I hope that you look at today, tomorrow, and the rest of your life seeking out the nothing moments. I hope we can all realize that the nothing moments are what we are going to be holding onto during our last few years. We aren’t going to care about how much money we made or how many small wonders we photographed. But we will remember the sound of our children’s’ laughter and how good we made people feel. I wish for you a lifetime of nothing.”

—Dillon, 11, Westchester

“I felt happy.” —Samantha, 6, Nassau

“I was excited.” —Scarlett, 4, Queens Check out our upcoming September issue to find out who the Grand Prize winners are!

Thriving in College “Teens may think that heading off to college will be four years of partying. But what they might not realize is college can be one of the most stressful times of their lives. To ensure your teen is successful in college and beyond, spend the summer preparing him to effectively deal with stress, handle the anxiety that comes with it, and learn from it to reduce stress in the future.” —Licensed clinical psychologist Lata McGinn Ph.D., in an article entitled “How Can I Help Prepare My Teen for Stress in College?” Read the whole story at nymetroparents.com/college-stress

More NYMetroParents.com Highlights:

—Vera Sweeney, in a post entitled “The Nothing Moments” on ladyandtheblog.com

SUMMER FUN: See the top 100 summer activities in the NY metro region at nymetroparents.com/summer-100

“I start each day with the best intentions. I’m going to apply all those expert parenting tips I’ve read. I’m going to be present. Mindful. Patient. And…then the kids wake up.”

GIDDYUP: Where to go horseback riding in the NYC area (nymetroparents.com/horseback)

—Ilana Wiles, in a post entitled “A Day Inside Mom’s Brain,” on mommyshorts.com

August 2018 | nymetroparents.com

GIVE A LISTEN: Podcasts to help you navigate parenting’s ups and downs (nymetroparents.com/podcasts) PLAY IT SAFE: Learn how to keep your family out of the ER in the summer months (nymetroparents.com/ summersafety)

Social Media Icons 2017:

BECAUSE TRUST IS IMPORTANT Child Health Plus offers the benefits kids need for a healthier future.

Call 866.247.5678 (TTY 711) AffinityPlan.org/CHP To learn more about applying for health insurance, including Child Health Plus and Medicaid through NY State of Health, The Official Health Plan Marketplace, visit nystateofhealth.ny.gov or call 855.355.5777.

SOMETHING for the

WHOLE FAMILY LIU - PRATT CENTER, 11AM–3PM BROOKVILLE

Activities Fun Un ique Classes

Unique Classes

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