Queens Parent NYMETROPARENTS.COM FEBRUARY 2018
CAMP SPECIAL! • Why Campers Make Better Students • Find the Perfect Camp for Your Child NEW! Camps at a Glance • Transportation • Lunch • Flexible Hours • More
e Baby Love
How Infants Learn Affection
Virtual Assistants vs. Manners Do Google Home and Alexa Make Kids Rude?
HELPING PARENTS MAKE BETTER DECISIONS
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contents table of
Original photo by ›› PhotoOp NYC (photoopnyc.com) Clothing provided by Appaman (appaman.com)
february 2018
58 40
camp 16 10 Lessons Learned at Camp that Benefit Kids in School
42
20 Camp Directory 26 Camps-at-a-Glance Chart
Quotables
The best parenting quotes from the web, and how your definition of love changed after becoming a parent!
Staying Inside
Indoor fun in Queens, including hot cocoa spots, play spaces, and indoor water parks
How Babies Learn to Love
Your little one is hard-wired to adore you, and there’s plenty you can do to help build that bond.
raising kids
things to do
family life
6 Editor’s Note 8 New Places, New Programs 10 5 Things You Need to Know About Your Postpartum Body 12 A Parenting Mantra 42 How Babies Learn to Love 48 Help Your Teen Get More Exercise 52 Healthy Smiles 54 Professional Services 55 Party Central 56 Meet the Doctor and Open Houses 57 Family Resource Guide and Party Planner 57 Advertisers’ Index 58 Quotables
13 Valentine’s Day Pompom Critters
44 House Hunters
28 Family Fun a Ride Away
46 Hey Google! Can You Teach My Kid Some Manners...Please?
29 Family Activities Calendar
50 Vegan Snacks for a Super Bowl Party
40 Staying Inside
NYMetroParents
Helping Parents Make Better Decisions ON THE COVER ›› facebook.com/nymetroparents
15 Camp Special! 42 Baby Love
46 Virtual Assistants vs. Manners
@NYMetroParents Visit NYMETROPARENTS.COM for family activities updated daily and more than 2,000 parenting articles!
QueensParent
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raising kids editor’s note
FEBRUARY 2018 • Vol.23 • No.7
NYMetroParents nymetroparents.com
EDITORIAL EDITORIAL DIRECTOR: Deborah Skolnik MANAGING EDITOR: Katelin Walling DEPUTY EDITOR: Caitlin Berens SENIOR EDITOR: Bethany Braun-Silva ENGAGEMENT EDITOR: Samantha Neudorf REGIONAL EDITORS: Samantha Beranbom (Rockland); Karen Demeter (Suffolk); Whitney C. Harris (Manhattan, Westchester); Rosalind Muggeridge (Brooklyn); Dorette Saunders (Nassau); Gail Warren (Queens) DIRECTORIES EDITOR: Alice Van Dyke EDITORIAL INTERN: Caitlin Sawicki
Lots to Love On These Pages! I
To Submit Events: nymetroparents.com/submitevents
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Big Apple Parent 212-315-0800 Jeunesse Jackson, EJ Morales-Gomez, Linda Pierce Queens Parent 718-878-4860 Annene Guertin, Manager
t’s cold out there! (Those strange shuffling figures outside your window aren’t extras from The Walking Dead, btw—they’re kids whose moms dressed them in too many layers.) But here inside the offices of NYMetroParents, we’re thinking about summer. Yes, now’s the time to begin making your kids’ camp plans. Bewildered by all the choices? We’ve made it easier than ever for you to find the exact camp that you want. In addition to a comprehensive camp directory, we’ve created an ata-glance chart on page 26. Need a program that offers transportation or lunch? Flexible hours, art, or special-needs services? We break it all down for you with checkboxes—we know you’ve got better things to do than to dig around for all that info! Once you’ve settled on the best camp for your child, it’s only natural to wonder what he’ll get out of the experience. In addition to having lots of fun, he’ll learn some serious life lessons—ones that can turn him into a super student once school is back in session. We asked Stacey Ebert, a former educator, camper, and counselor herself, to share the lowdown in “10 Lessons Learned at Camp that Benefit Kids in School” (p. 16). Of course, February is a month when love is in the air, so check out my story on “How Babies Learn to Love” (p. 42). Don’t expect flowers and candy for a while, but if you know what to look for, there are all sorts of reassuring signs that your relationship with your little one is a two-way street! I’ll walk you through every sweet little milestone. If you’ve got a growing family, you may also be searching for a home to love, and live in, for many happy years to come. For most of us, it will be the largest purchase of our lives. That’s one scary commitment to make! To help you in the process, read Samantha Neudorf’s “House Hunters” story (p. 44). It gives the inside scoop from the pros on how to scope out neighborhoods, figure out how much house you can afford, show sellers you’re serious, and much more. And, in a most unlikely love story, can you get your teen to actually adore exercise? We asked trainers what it takes to get your favorite phone-obsessed couch potato up and moving (p. 48). The good news is, it’s easier than you think, as long as you’re prepared to get in the game yourself. Why wouldn’t you? It’s always a smart idea to work a little more healthy activity into your day. You’ll both look and feel better, and just in time, too—if you ask us, at least, summer is just around the corner.
Brooklyn Parent 718-878-4860 Phyllis Crupi, Selene Rodriguez Rockland Parent 845-848-8021 Cara Roteman, Jim Russo Long Island Parent, Nassau 516-883-4543 Joan Bergman, Manager Lisa Herlihy Long Island Parent, Suffolk 631-472-5437 Karen Shapiro, Gayle Sherman To Advertise: nympads@davlermedia.com DIR. OF OPERATIONS -- EVENTS: Rebecca Stolcz DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS: Ray Winn OPERATIONS COORDINATORS: Leonard Porter, Christopher Regalado DIRECTOR OF TRAFFIC: Heather Gambaro ADMINISTRATION MANAGER: Erin Jordan
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CEO: David L. Miller General Manager: Thomas K. Hanlon 498 Seventh Ave., 10th Floor, New York, NY 10018 Phone: 212-315-0800; Fax: 212-271-2239
Deborah Skolnik Editorial Director
Keep in Touch: @nymetroparents nymetroparents.com editor@nymetroparents.com
Westchester Parent 914-397-0200 Nini DeLuca, Manager Merrill Sugarman, Mary Wender
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BIG APPLE PARENT, QUEENS PARENT, WESTCHESTER PARENT BROOKLYN PARENT, ROCKLAND PARENT, BERGEN •ROCKLAND PARENT, and LONG ISLAND PARENT are published monthly by Davler Media Group, LLC Copyright © 2017, Davler Media Group, LLC No part of contents may be reproduced without prior permission from the publisher. Subscription rates per year, per publication: $39
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raising kids new places, new programs
Camp director Howard Seidman is adding add itional programming, such as field trips and live entertainment, for younger campers at Hillcrest Jewish Center Day Camp.
Courtesy Hillcrest Jew
Who: Hillcrest Jewish Center Day Camp What’s New: Expanded programming for younger campers and Israeli dodgeball for all, plus the camp celebrates its 60th anniversary this year. Summer campers ages 4-7 will enjoy half-day, age-appropriate field trips to various cultural and educational organizations. On occasion, live entertainment might be offered in lieu of the trip. The camp is also adding Israeli dodgeball for campers of all ages, which is a bit more challenging than the U.S. version, according to camp director Howard Seidman. Registration is now open for the 2018 season, which runs July 2-Aug. 24 for children ages 4-14. Want More Info: 183-02 Union Turnpike, Flushing; 718-380-4145; daycamp@hillcrestjc.org; hjcdaycamp.org
ish Center Day Camp
Flushing Day Camp Adds Activities and Celebrates 60 Years
Courtesy Rego Par
hodontics, ner of Rego Park Ort .S., the practice ow practice. the Larissa Davids, D.D to er nn sca iTero Element recently added an
Who: United Nations International School What’s New: Broadway Classroom interactive workshops, which the school added to its offerings in September. The first run of the 16-week class ended Jan. 23. It culminated in an assembly, in which students in seventh and eighth grades were able to showcase what they’ve been learning. The next scheduled Broadway workshop will be for students in fifth and sixth grades. United Nations International School is a coeducational, college-preparatory day school that serves students in pre-K to 12th grade at its campuses in Queens and Manhattan. Want More Info: Queens campus: 173-53 Croydon Road, Jamaica Estates; 718-658-6166; Manhattan campus: 24-50 FDR Drive, Kips Bay; 212-684-7400; unis.org 8
February 2018 | nymetroparents.com
l School
Jamaica Estates School Offers Broadway Workshops
In Broadway Classroom at United Natio ns International School, students learn songs and dance numb ers from past and present Broadway shows.
Courtesy United Nations Internationa
Who: Rego Park Orthodontics What’s New: An iTero Element scanner, which practice owner Larissa Davids, D.D.S., started using in November as it makes the process of making dental impressions much easier. “iTero scanner is comfortable, fast, and accurate,” Dr. Davids says. The scanner provides an immediate impression of a patient’s teeth and bite in 3-D as it scans it. The resulting model can then be used to help create an orthodontic retainer or invisible aligners. Rego Park Orthodontics serves kids and adults in its newly renovated office, which contains three treatment rooms and a large, 80-gallon fish tank in the waiting area. Want More Info: 98-41 Queens Blvd., Suite 1A, Rego Park; 718-275-2006; davidsorthodontics.com
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raising kids in the know
5 Things You Need To Know About Your Postpartum Body›› By Bethany Braun-Silva with Marianne Ryan, PT, OCS
S
o much comes with the territory of getting pregnant. Body changes such as aches and pains, acid reflux, hair growth, and of course, weight gain are all part of the deal. It would be great if these unwanted symptoms would simply go away after a woman gives birth—after all, a new mom has enough to worry about—but that’s simply just not the case. Our bodies continue to change postpartum. It’s important that we are aware of these changes and continue to take care of ourselves along with our new bundle of joy. We asked Marianne Ryan, PT, OCS, physical therapist, clinical director of Marianne Ryan Physical Therapy, and author of Baby Bod– Turn Flab to Fab in 12 Weeks Flat, what women can expect from their bodies after giving birth. Ryan runs a physical therapy practice in New York City dedicated to helping women recover postpartum, so she has plenty of advice to offer. Here, she shares five things women should know about their postpartum bodies: 1. Just because you gave birth, that doesn’t mean you lost weight. Whatever you do, don’t even think of stepping on that scale for at least 30 days after you deliver your baby. I remember breaking down into tears after I weighed myself three days after I delivered my first daughter. I had only lost a few pounds! I asked myself, ‘How can that be?’ My daughter weighed 8½ pounds and the placenta and amniotic fluid weighed about 3 or 4 pounds, so I should have weighed at least 12 pounds less, right? Wrong! Right after giving birth, your body is still going through a lot changes. The amount of fluid you retain can fluctuate hourly, especially if you are nursing. It takes a few weeks for your body to lose the excess fluid you built up during your pregnancy and for your uterus to return to normal size. So as much fun as it may seem to find out how much you weigh, don’t do it; it can drive you crazy. 2. You can exercise, just take it slow. As a general rule I advise women to protect their bodies during the first six postpartum
weeks. For example, don’t lift anything heavier than your newborn baby. If you have an older toddler, try to teach them to climb up to you while you sit on a chair or bed. After your six-week postpartum check up, you can gradually return to pre-pregnancy activities as long as you do not develop pain or have other symptoms that indicate your pelvic floor muscles have not fully recovered. 3. You might still look pregnant. This can be due to a condition called diastasis recti—it’s a separation of abdominal muscles, which can occur during pregnancy and remain afterward, resulting in a protruding belly. To keep it from getting worse, avoid activities that put pressure on your abdomen, such as getting out of bed by doing a sit up. Instead, get out of bed by rolling over onto your side and swinging your legs over the side of the bed before sitting up. And whenever you lift something heavy, such as a grocery bag or a large pot of pasta, exhale to reduce the strain on your pelvic floor and abdominal muscles. 4. You might feel a little leaky. It’s common to experience incontinence right after childbirth, but it is not normal if it continues for more than a couple of months. When you leak urine, it means there is a fault in the system that supports your bladder, and you should seek help to get it fixed. The best way to approach it is to consider going for pelvic physical therapy with a women’s health specialist. 5. Expect some pain. Pain in the back, pelvis, pelvic floor area, or abdomen is a common complaint of new moms, but it is not normal if the pain continues. Make sure to report it to your doctor or midwife. Most people assume pain is just a normal occurrence new moms have to learn to live with, but it shouldn’t be! If you have persistent pain, consider getting it treated by a women’s health care professional such as a physical therapist or chiropractor.
Marianne Ryan, PT, OCS, has mastered the highest level of advanced orthopedic manual therapy techniques. She is a thought leader in the field, known for her special knowledge in the areas of prenatal and postpartum physical therapy, TMJ, and headaches. A frequent lecturer and source for national media, she is also the author of the international best-selling book Baby Bod-Turn Flab to Fab in 12 Weeks Flat, available on amazon.com.
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February 2018 | nymetroparents.com
The Mary Louis Academy
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QueensParent 11
raising kids voices
A Parenting Mantra ››
How one mom’s newfound approach to life—discovered during pregnancy—allowed her to pursue a music career while raising a daughter in Brooklyn. By Janie Barnett
I
was pregnant when my album, Shake the Ladder, was released. Surprise! While my pregnancy wasn’t planned, my husband and I had always wanted children. So we welcomed the news, albeit with a bit of breathless naiveté. Four months into the pregnancy, we performed at a holiday party for a premier rehearsal studio in New York, with numerous appearances planned for the months ahead. At the end of the evening, exhausted, I said to my husband, “Maybe we have to rethink this schedule.” Rethink. That word was to become our mantra in the juggling of work and parenthood. Yes, there was a master plan, reflecting the needs of two freelancer parents. But executing “the plan” meant embracing a mantra, plus several other bits of wisdom: Nothing is engraved in stone. Every challenge has its unique set of choices. And…be ready to drop everything. I was offered the chance to go on tour when my daughter was just 3 months old. Would we hire a live-in nanny to help my husband? Would I take my daughter with me? We considered these options; then came another moment of recognition. Time to rethink again. That rethink came in the form of an acknowledgment: I had no interest in being away from my daughter for weeks at a time. This clarity brought a kind of relief that surprised me. I wouldn’t wrestle with this particular choice, but how would I keep my career moving forward while being a fully engaged parent? There was no single formula. My daughter loves the fact that her mom is a musician. As a little girl, when someone was singing on the radio or a CD, she would ask, “Do we know her?” But freelance life meant that my young daughter had a babysitter in place right from the beginning. The call to run to the recording studio could come at any time. The babysitter—who, more than 20 years later, I still consider part of the family—was not always available. And my husband, also a freelance musician, was often out working as well. Sometimes I brought my daughter to the studio. The rethink: Maybe my colleagues at the studio will not mind…maybe my daughter will be easy-going…maybe this can be managed in a different way than my working mother had to manage it. She came to the studio and delighted all, while Mommy put the headphones on and sang. On
Janie Barnett’s daughter, Adrienne, who is now 25
several occasions I worked in the studios during school hours, ran to pick her up from school, ate dinner and did the bedtime routine with her, then headed back to the studios for a 10pm recording session. During the elementary- and middle-school years, I came upon one of the most profound gifts to the working parent: the larger community of working families. My daughter had great friends, and those friends had great parents who “got it.” I recall an afternoon, hanging out with friends two blocks over in Brooklyn, when the stress-inducing beeper went off. Mommy was called to the studio. “Sweetie, we gotta go in to town,” I told my daughter. Her response? “Mommy, how about I stay with Barbara?” Barbara was her best friend Julia’s mommy. I teared up. My kid had figured it out. Rethink in the moment: Be flexible. Look for other ways to ride with it. Help, and be helped. Spot the people who are also rethinking every day. Love their kids as they love yours. On a late fall afternoon, walking from the subway to pick up my daughter from science club, I wrote the chorus to a new song in my head. She was 10 then, fully her own person, but she always hoped Mommy would be the one to pick her up. That afternoon I felt the surge of creativity that I knew was borne out of necessity. The old model: I need hours to do my best work, and my sitter to provide me with those indulgent hours. The rethink: Seize the moment! Flip the switch! Get on with it! It’s the advice I got from my cousin, a mathematician, who would work just one step of a proof while her infant daughter napped. Moving into high school years, one might expect that I was “cut loose” from daily hands-on parenting. Few teenage girls want their mother in the trenches with them: “Get outta my face, Mom!” But my girl? Magically, she wanted me right there with her, at least most of the time. Time to rethink again. Just keep yourself in the game, keep expanding your skills, get ready (no, it’s not too late!) for the time when you will fully step away, and have that undivided time again. As a working parent, I learned a lesson that I’ve come to understand is essential for a happy life in general—and it’s a lesson my daughter fully acknowledges she’s learned in our journey together: Be flexible, be ingenious, be ready to rethink. My daughter and I are grateful every day for the relationship that was borne from this fluidity.
Janie Barnett is a performing singer-songwriter in the Americana tradition. Her work and recent album release can be found at janiebarnett.com. She has been part of the New York recording session scene for many years, as well a producer/arranger and educator. Barnett is an Associate Professor at Berklee College of Music in Boston, while maintaining her life in Brooklyn, where her daughter, Adrienne Hanson, was raised.
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February 2018 | nymetroparents.com
things to do
diy corner
Valentine’s Day Pompom Critters V
alentine’s Day is quickly approaching, and that means hearts, candy, flowers, and cards—especially cards for your kids’ classmates. Rather than buying premade Valentine’s Day cards that are a dime a dozen (how many variations of superhero and popular cartoon Valentine’s Day puns can there really be?), try making these adorable love bugs with your kids for their friends. We’re almost positive these critters will be hanging out on desks long after the holiday has passed. Editor’s note: While this DIY calls for specific brands readily available at Michael’s stores, feel free to use your favorite brands or products that are available in your local craft store. Duration: 15 minutes or less Craft Level: Beginner Materials: Foam Heart Stickers By Creatology® Creatology™ Pom Poms, Sparkle Mix Creatology™ Assorted Wiggle Eyes Creatology™ Chenille Stems Elmer’s® Washable School Glue Artist’s Loft™ Aluminum Straight Edge Ruler Instructions: 1. Choose a large heart sticker for the Critter’s feet. Do not peel the backing paper off the sticker. Lay it flat on the table with the rounded part of the heart facing forward.
2. C hoose a large pompom and glue it to the top of the heart sticker. 3. Optional: Glue a medium pompom on top of the large pompom to create a head, separate from the body. 4. G lue two wiggle eyes to the large pompom. Tip: Another fun way to add eyes is to glue two wiggle eyes to two tiny pompoms and then glue the tiny pompoms to the large pompom. 5. C ut a piece of chenille stem about 2 inches long and fold in half. Glue two tiny pompoms to each end and then glue the folded part to the top of the large Pompom Critter’s body. Let dry. 6. O ptional: Choose a heart sticker and glue the bottom pointed end of the heart to the lower back of the body, creating a tail.
Craft and photography courtesy and reprinted with permission of Michaels // Michaels.com; share photos of your project with #MakeItWithMichaels.
QueensParent 13
CAMP MARKETPLACE
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February 2018 | nymetroparents.com
online extras Ever wonder why kids love summer camp so much? We’re sharing the inside scoop from real happy campers at ›› nymetroparents.com/camp-great There are ways to know when your child is old enough for camp. Experts share advice on how you can gauge your child's readiness at ›› nymetroparents.com/how-young
Being a camp counselor is a great first job for many kids. Learn why at ›› nymetroparents.com/counselor When you’re shopping around for a summer camp for your child, you’ll probably want to interview the camp director. Find a list of questions you should ask at ›› nymetroparents.com/camp-directors
inside
raising kids camp special
16 10 Lessons Learned at Camp that Benefit Kids in School: Sending your children to summer camp has many lasting benefits—especially when it comes to education. amp Directory: Find day camps, 20 C specialty camps, and sleepaway camps in and near Queens. 26 C amp Guide: This camps-at-a-glance chart makes it easier to find exactly what you want in a summer camp.
CAMP MARKETPLACE
10 Lessons Learned at Camp that Benefit Kids in School ››
Sending your children to summer camp has many lasting benefits—especially when it comes to education. By Stacey Ebert
A
t my sleepaway camp, Maryanne was the camp cook. From the time I was 10, she and her husband called me ‘the camper’. The nickname stuck, and it still exists at reunions and on social media messages decades later. Although I never mentioned that tidbit to my high school students (I used to be a teacher), I learned at an early age that relationships matter. Forming bonds matters. And no matter who you are, where you come from, or what position you hold (at camp, in school, or at work), interacting with people allows us to learn lessons we never knew would make such a difference in our lives. There are lessons in everything. Some of the most important ones take shape in our youth while we’re at camp, such as learning to clean up the cabin, clear the dishes, and help out a fellow camper. These, along with other camp lessons—be an
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February 2018 | nymetroparents.com
active listener, pay attention to the little things, and be excited to learn new things—influence us well beyond the camp cabins. Sometimes it’s hard for parents to send their little ones away to camp for the day, the week, the month, or the entire summer. But when they do, it’s clear that these lessons learned in the summer months will last far into kids’ adult years—and more immediately help them in the classroom. Here’s a look at some camp wisdom that can also help kids be better students:
Do unto others.
Campers and counselors share hopes, dreams, fears, challenges, struggles, wishes for the future, and much more. We all bring a different level of baggage and gifts to the table, and all of us deserve to be treated with kindness, respect, empathy, and
CAMP MARKETPLACE compassion. Camp opens minds, breaks boundaries, and enriches souls. As an educator, I taught my ninth-graders about religions and philosophies and how although each has its differences, most have something similar to the Golden Rule: Treat others as you would like to be treated. I learned that lesson at camp far before I ever set foot in a global history classroom, and my students practiced it regularly. Sometimes it meant sharing snacks with one another. Sometimes it meant stepping in when a fellow student was bullied. Sometimes it meant saying hello to a staffer who treated them with kindness. Without question, there is no expiration date on kindness and treating others with respect.
Find your creativity.
My first class at sleepaway camp was painting on rocks. Perhaps that’s not a skill I use on a daily basis, but the message behind it? Definitely. Feel the feelings, listen to your heart, create what speaks to you, and, even if you think it won’t be understood, don’t be afraid to show the world your idea or creation. Students benefit from this on a daily basis. Taking up a musical instrument when their friends’ choices are different, trying out for a school play, expressing oneself through writing, or jumping into graphic design classes are only some of the ways that creativity shines in school settings. These lessons apply in education, in the arts, in job performance, in hobbies, and in life.
Rest assured that there’s something for everyone.
I have three best friends from sleepaway camp. One loved horseback riding, one adored farming, one was a fan of arts and crafts; three of us became lifeguards; and all of us became counselors. Later in life, three of us became educators and two of us took to the creative arts. Theater arts, community service, music, sports, and internships are only some of the many avenues out there, and whether we are young or young-at-heart, there is always a place for all of us.
Practice patience, positivity, persistence, and perseverance.
These four words embody the characteristics of many of my favorite counselors, and I passed those lessons and skills on to campers when I became a counselor. Sometimes kids were homesick and a positive attitude boosted their spirits. Sometimes kids were frustrated when they tried something new, and persistence and perseverance were the lessons of the day. And sometimes some kids took longer at learning, accepting, or changing, and patience was more important than our counselors ever knew. Every day in the classroom, students put these lessons into action. They try harder at math, work diligently at acquiring a second language, and use mindfulness techniques to bring their positivity to light. We may outgrow the ability to be campers, but we never outgrow the need for these significant lessons— especially in a learning environment.
Learn new things.
I rode my first horse, became a lifeguard, and learned how to make a one-match campfire at camp. Each of these was fairly terrifying, yet today I continue to use all of these skills (well, most of them). The desire to learn things doesn’t end when the buses leave camp on the last day. From the first day of school onward, learning things is part of a student’s existence; perhaps it’s a new scientific equation, a new culinary technique, a new sport in physical education, or a new way of interpreting a classic novel. Learning new things keeps our minds open and our continued on next page ››
ARKOL NOAH’S ARATORY SCHO
PREP ARAT
FREE free Universal universal pre-k and preschool program REGISTRATION HAS STARTED
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Licensed and Nurturing Teachers Weekly Swim classes at Cross Island YMCA Pre-K Fitness Classes Music and Movement Breakfast, Lunch, and Snacks provided Interactive Computers Ask about Academics our 2018 Early Literacy Summer Camp! Learning while having FUN!
Call for a tour and visit our classrooms! 38-20 Bell Blvd. Bayside, NY 11361 For more info call: (718) 279-4251
62-48 Mt. Olivet Crescent Middle Village, NY 11379 For more info call: (347) 335-0044
www.noahsarkschool.com QueensParent 17
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perspective broadening. Whether traditional schooling, home schooling, or the learning that comes from being out in the world, the yearning for more knowledge, more culture, more skills, and more growth never fades.
Try new things, especially if they make you uncomfortable.
There was a giant rock called Geronimo on the shoreline at camp. I always thought those who climbed it and jumped off were exceptionally brave. I was petrified to try this myself, yet somehow when I wiped the foamy sea from my face and came up for air, I felt exhilarated. The idea of being afraid, taking a deep breath, and doing it anyway applies to core classes in school and far beyond. Walking into a new high school, not having any friends in your lunch period, or deciding to join the Robotics Club when everyone else is going to chorus—every day at school there’s a bit of discomfort, but applying this lesson from camp creates ease, lessens stress, and empowers youth. Later in life, my best friends from camp and I lived in other parts of the world, grew gardens, raised children, started businesses, got married, and even made new friends. Each of these things involved stepping beyond our comfort zone, yet even the bumps and bruises along the way have been incredibly worthwhile. George Addair is right: “Everything you’ve ever wanted is on the other side of fear.”
Show empathy.
At every camp I went to and worked at, at some point in the day, there was swimming of some kind—whether it meant walking down more than 200 steps to the beach or leaving the locker room, getting a buddy, and heading to the pool. The exercise it provided was good for both mind and body, but the empathy learned through swimming sessions delved deeper. Learning to swim is scary. For some campers, it’s their first time seeing open water. Some have had a traumatic experience in the water and must overcome something far more challenging than stepping their toes over the many unsteady rocks. Some take longer to learn one portion of a stroke before moving on to the next. The instructors taught all of us with ease, kindness, patience, and most importantly empathy. Throughout the school year, students put into action those life lessons: listening to understand each other, utilizing each others’ strengths, lending a hand with each others’ weaknesses, and being aware of various needs and abilities.
Diversity matters.
There were approximately 10 campers per cabin, five cabins per unit, and nearly 15 cabins that formed all of upper girls camp at my summer camp. If an outsider took a straw poll, the diversity levels would have rated off the charts. The differences made us stronger, taught us tolerance, built community, empowered empathy, encouraged perspective, raised our awareness of others’ journeys, and made us better people. School is much the same; there are as many differences as there are students in a school, from backgrounds and traditions, to interests and
hobbies, to family units and dreams for life after school. Seeing these differences as vital, enriching, and encouraging creates safe spaces, enables growth, and opens minds. A classroom has 30 different students with 30 different stories. Each peer has merit, value, and purpose. Camp teaches us to embrace them all.
Sharing is caring.
Everyone is a teacher at camp. Debbie inspired me to be a lifeguard. Katie shared her love of travel, inspiring me to go off on my own adventures. Millie taught me to cook. Krista taught me to swim and shared her snacks. Each of them, along with many others, shared their wisdom. Each camper and counselor has something to offer, creating a sense of community that in turn benefits students and schools. Campers, and later students, learn that school is a safe space where adults share wisdom and advice, and guidance comes in many forms. Some students learn best from a teacher, others confide in their coaches and advisors, some chat with the nurse, cafeteria workers, librarians, or the many others who are a part of the school setting. Students become better friends, better learners, and are more willing to put their talents out there in the world. Compassion, knowledge, and talents are shared at lunch tables, in after-school activities, and in the classroom. It truly does take a village, and embracing that mindset creates a culture of community-minded youth.
Be proud of your achievements.
As a sleepaway camper, I couldn’t wait for Sunday night’s council fire. That was when the entire girls camp got together and sang songs, and one cabin was awarded Honor Cabin. People got their swim certificates, and the whole camp celebrated newly appointed lifeguards. As an aquatics director at a day camp, I gave out swimmer of the week certificates to various campers. As a student, it feels good to have your work honored, your creations displayed, and your efforts encouraged. Success isn’t built overnight and learning to take pride in your achievements begins at camp and continues into school—and later into adulthood. At camp I learned from an early age to strive for goals, be proud of achievements, and continue reaching for the next, often seemingly unattainable, goal. My camp brochure had pictures of open water, cool cabins, enticing evening activities, animals and arts, fields and farming; it looked as if you could jump directly into all of the fun. The pictures couldn’t possibly quantify the learning that happened, all of the skills acquired, the positive experiences, or the personal growth that took place. Ask any former camper what they remember and you’ll get stories of escapades with friends, cool counselors, awesome activities, and endless fun. Ask them what they learned at camp and be prepared to settle in for an infinite list of hard skills, soft skills, and life lessons that helped turn them into the person standing in front of you today. Camp lessons aren’t scored on a rubric or a bubble sheet, on a multiple-choice assessment or in a three-page essay. These lessons stand the test of time, open minds, build bridges, impart skills and wisdom, and create communities of happy, kind, fulfilled humans. It’s hard to imagine a better score than that.
Stacey Ebert is a camper at heart who has spent more than 25 years in the camping and education industries in New York as a teacher, club advisor, counselor, and aquatics director. She is a published writer, blogger, event planner, volunteer manager, and educator always in search of joy. She loves travel, spending time outside, and is an avid yogi. She has visited more than 50 of the world’s countries, and met her Australian-born husband while on a trip in New Zealand. Check out her blog at thegiftoftravel.wordpress.com.
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February 2018 | nymetroparents.com
CAMP MARKETPLACE
HILLCREST JEWISH CENTER DAY CAMP
Celebrating 60 Years Of Camp!!!
“The Camp Where Everybody Knows Your Name” Sunday March 18th, 2018 • Open House 1-3 p.m. Starting Sunday, January 14th, 2018 The Office Will Be Open From 10am - 12pm For Tours And Registrations
Program for Children 4-14 Years Old • Extended Hours for Working Parents • Red Cross Swim Program • Sports (Basketball, Soccer, Softball, Volleyball) • Music & Arts and Crafts • Large Gymnasium & Recreation Room • Catered Kosher Lunches & PM Snacks
• End of the Summer Carnival • Day Trips (Adventureland, Laser Bounce, Splish Splash and more) • Early Morning Supervision • In Camp Overnight • Weekly Cookouts • Door to Door Transportation
rtial Full & Pa rograms Season P le Availab
LARGE INDOOR POOL!
New For 2018! Special ½ Day Trips for Younger Campers (4-7 Years Old) Like us on
Follow us on
@hjcdaycamp
183-02 Union Tpke., Flushing 11366 • hjcdaycamp.org • daycamp@hillcrestjc.org • Call 718-380-4145
QueensParent 19
Camp Directory DAY CAMPS Beth Sholom Day Camp
401 Roslyn Road, Roslyn Heights 516-621-9257 bethsholomdaycamp.com Beth Sholom Day Camp offers boys and girls, ages 3-15, the opportunity to reach their goals in a friendly, noncompetitive atmosphere. Activities include music, dance, arts and crafts, karate, as well as outdoor sports. Red cross swim instruction is offered in our three heated pools. BSDC provides door-to-door, air-conditioned transportation. Glatt Kosher lunches provided daily, and we are nut free. BSDC offers full- and mini-day nursery programs. Fifth-eighth grades participate in a camp and trip program. A CIT program is available for ninth and 10th grades. bethsholomdaycamp.com or office@ bethsholomdaycamp.com
CK Kids Summer Camps
68-02 Metropolitan Ave., Middle Village 718-366-7454 Ages: 3-16 ctkny.org jmichel@ctkny.org Don’t miss the summer fun at CK! Christ the King has four exciting summer camps to offer children of all ages. Camps appeal to all interests, including soccer, basketball, cheerleading, dance, drama, cooking, arts, water slides, and karate. On-site math and ELA programs available. Come for a week or the whole summer! All activities take place on the CK Campus. Flexible scheduling, convenient location, sibling and multiple-week discounts.
Countryside Montessori School
354 Lakeville Road, Lower Level, Great Neck 516-466-8422 cmsgn.com info@cmsgn.com Countryside Montessori school runs a summer camp during July and August for children ages 18 months to 6 years. Camp has weekly themes that revolve around the projects and discussions the children have. Toddlers have play-based mornings spent in our playground. Primary (ages 3 years and older) spends part of the mornings
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doing academics then spends afternoons in the playground while toddlers nap. Camp is a great way to acclimate your child to a school environment. Please contact us for information on enrollment at 516-4668422 or info@cmsgn.com.
Hillcrest Jewish Center Day Camp
183-02 Union Turnpike, Flushing 718-380-4145 hjcdaycamp.org daycamp@hillcrestjc.org The camp “where everybody knows your name” offers preschool, nursery, and kindergarten for ages 4-5; junior for ages 6-7; senior for ages 8-10; tween for ages 11-13; and a CIT program. The age-appropriate programs include Red Cross swim instruction, arts and crafts, outdoor play and exercise, sports, tennis, field trips, Jewish culture program, organized games and activities, and weekly cookout. Teen lounge and late night trips offered for upper campers. Fee includes transportation, hot kosher lunch and afternoon snack, trip admission fees, T-shirt, and a group picture. A partial season program is available.
Kon Gen International Preschool
196-25 42nd Ave., Bayside 718-281-2338 Kon Gen International Preschool in Bayside serves children ages 2-5. Our 20,000-square-foot child care facility is fully equipped with a professional dance studio, indoor sensory room, outdoor play area, outdoor botanical garden, and a music room. Our project-based curriculum is linked to STEM principles and engages children to explore, solve problems, and construct knowledge through hands-on investigations, including research, reflection, and response while building academic and life skills. Offering free full-day Pre-K for All Program, G&T enriched curriculum, and child care for ages 2-3.
Magic Day Camp
216-15 Peck Ave., Bayside 718-634-8109 magicdaycamp.com Magic Day Camp, “Where Every Day Is Magical,” offers children ages 4-15 adventures and activities that stimulate and motivate a young person’s mind and physical
February 2018 | nymetroparents.com
ability. We are the only traveling camp that swims every day in an Olympic country club pool, in addition to a jam-packed fun day with professional adult counselors who work with and understand children. With multiple exciting weekly trips, our rates also include door-to-door transportation, hot and cold healthy lunches, professional tennis, dance, and instructional sports programs for all children.
Mill Basin Day Camp
5945 Strickland Ave., Brooklyn 718-251-6200 millbasindaycamp.com Summers are times to spend with friends, make memories, and share experiences that last a lifetime. MBDC is dedicated to providing exciting and fulfilling camp experiences for children through fun, recreational, and safe activities. Our modern, air-conditioned, and private facility offers a wide range of activities for children entering pre-K through ninth grade. There are five individual camps, each with unique and innovative programming. Bring the family for a personal tour of the facility and discussion of the camp program.
Noah’s Ark Preparatory
38-20 Bell Blvd., Bayside 718-279-4251 62-48 Mt. Olivet Crescent, Middle Village 347-335-0044 noahsarkschool.com noahsarkpreparatory@gmail.com Noah’s Ark Preparatory Inc. strives to create a learning environment, which invites the fullest potential of each person’s gifts. Both nursery and pre-kindergarten classrooms are divided into distinct learning areas and foster in the children the love of learning. Their setting offers children the opportunity to teach themselves through their own discoveries. Noah’s Ark also offers an after-school program with bus service for ages 6-12, where time will be spent building academic skills and addressing the needs of each individual student. For further information about any of our programs, including UPK and our wonderful summer camp for ages 2-10, please call the number above.
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CAMP MARKETPLACE
Christ the King Royal's Soccer Camp For Boys & Girls Ages 7 - 16 Week #1 July 16 - July 20 Week #2 July 23 - July 27 Week #3 August 20 - August 24
Christ the King Royal's Basketball Camp
CK Kids' American Dance & Drama Camp For Girls & Boys Ages 3 - 14 July 2 - August 17
*No Camp July 4th
For Boys & Girls Ages 7 - 16 Boys Week #1 July 30 - August 3 Boys Week #2 August 6 - August 10 Boys Week #3 August 13 - August 17 Girls Week August 20 - August 24
Christ the King Royal's Cheerleading Camp For Girls Ages 7 - 16 August 20 - August 24
ALL GAMES AND CAMP ACTIVITiES TAKE PLACE ON THE CK CAMPUS Register online at www.ctkny.org CKKids@ctkny.org · 718.366.7454
68-02 Metropolitan Avenue Middle Village, NY 11379
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Oasis Day Camp
at Queensborough Community College, Bayside 646-519-5055 Library room 14 (basement) oasischildren.com bayside@oasischildren.com Oasis Camp offers programs for children 3 years to sixth grade! With facilities in Manhattan, Queens, Long Island, Westchester, and New Jersey, Oasis features mature staff with low camper-to-staff ratio and a warm environment where kids can participate in activities tailored to their interests. The Early Start camp for kids ages 3 to kindergarten offers sports, daily Red Cross swim, arts, dance, theater, and a Ready for September enrichment program. The Traditional Camp (first-sixth grades) provides campers with sports, crafts, theater, dance, and Red Cross Swim. Teen Travel has daily trips, team building, and overnights.
Samuel Field Y Day Camp
58-20 Little Neck Parkway, Little Neck 718-225-6750 x261 sfysummercamps.org agavora@sfy.org dschaefer@sfy.org For more than 60 years, the Samuel Field Y, along with our caring and dedicated staff, have provided a profound and memorable summer camp experience to thousands of children and young adults. We remain devoted to our long-standing history of delivering a nurturing place where kids can be themselves, make best friends, and grow as individuals. Beginning at age 2, campers start their journey that will eventually lead to a range of exciting activities, trips, and overnights, along with an “unplugged” outdoor camp adventure, beginning in kindergarten.
SteppingStone Day School Inc.
77-40 Vleigh Place, Kew Garden Hills 718-591-9093 steppingstonedayschool.com Since 1983, SteppingStone Day School has offered a unique, nurturing, and innovative preschool program for children of all abilities. In this enriched, culturally diverse setting, children learn to play, negotiate, and interact with others as the foundation for a strong sense of self-confidence, well-being, and tolerance is instilled. Under the guidance of skilled, certified staff members, children engage in hands-on, developmentally appropriate experiences—discovering the world around
them and cultivating a lifelong love for exploration and learning. Family participation is welcome; after care and summer program options available!
World of Discovery Day Camp
718-229-3037 worldofdiscovery.org info@worldofdiscovery.org World of Discovery Day Camp creates an environment where kids can just be kids. Since 1977, children ages 4-15 have enjoyed baseball, volleyball, basketball, gymnastics, dance and drama, carnivals, scavenger hunts, swimming, Olympic week, and trips. Counselors must meet stringent standards and all directors and assistant directors are New York state-certified and trained in CPR, first aid, and responding to emergency. All swim instructors are certified lifeguards. Door-to-door transportation is provided.
YMCA Summer Camps
ymcanyc.org/camp rho@ymcanyc.org At YMCA Summer Camps, children learn leadership skills and develop self-confidence in a safe, accepting, and stimulating environment. They also build robots, go on field trips, shoot hoops, learn to swim, make new friends, and laugh all summer long! Our creative, educational camp programming—structured around the Y’s values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility—helps campers reach their fullest potential, physically, mentally, and emotionally. With six locations in Queens, find the perfect camp for your child! Visit us at ymcanyc.org/camp to learn more today!
Young People’s Day Camp of Queens
800-856-1043 queenscamp.com Since 1972, our family-run camp has provided safe, fun-filled summers for thousands of Queens youngsters. YPDCQ is accredited by the American Camp Association. YPDCQ provides a dynamic, diversified, and professionally supervised program enabling children to see, try, and experience many activities. Activities include swimming, sports, arts and crafts, music and dance, nature science, academics, educational and recreational field trips as well as many other special events. Ages 4-15. Free transportation. Ask about our Premium Enrichment Programs. New for 2018: robotics, sibling discounts, special union rates!
SPECIALTY CAMPS All Star Studios
108-21 72nd Ave. (4th floor), Forest Hills 718-268-2280 allstarstudiosnyc.com allstarstudios@gmail.com Sign up now for summer and fall classes— limited space available. All Star Studios’ program is designed to encourage and educate students on how to increase flexibility, improve coordination, focus on muscle strengthening, build poise, and have fun. All instructors have experience in both teaching and performing, to teach students the skills needed to pursue a career as a true artist as well as the compassion to help push them toward their goals, build their self-confidence, and encourage a healthy, active lifestyle. Visit allstarstudiosnyc.com.
ARTS DANCE MUSIC CAMP of Rego Park
98-11 Queens Blvd. (at 65th Ave.), Rego Park/Forest Hills 718-997-1278 dancesource.net info@dancesource.net info@vartamusic.com The Arts Dance Music Camp enters its second year of activities, hosted by The DanceSource. We invite campers between the ages of 8 and 16. This six week “bring-your-own-lunch” camp will run from July 9- Aug. 17. The hours will be Monday-Friday, 9am-4:30pm, with optional early arrivals and late pickups. We will offer arts, dance, and music, bringing in new instructors, new crafts, and new art forms to our palate. You can sign up for single days, single weeks, or the full sixweek program.
Camp Clio
Held at Camp Claire 15 Oakland Ave., Lyme, CT Middlesex County Camp 298 E. Haddam Moodus Road, Moodus, CT 212-472-5207 campclio.org Camp Clio and our new Camp Clio Teen offer a unique experience for adopted children (ages 9-12) and teens (ages 13-16). Camp Clio campers and counselors (themselves adopted and serving as role models) share the intimacy and safety of being with other adopted friends, providing the opportunity to share feelings and adoption stories with others who understand adoption without explanation because they are “just like me”—all in a fun camp environment. Camp Clio Teen: July 1-13. continued on page 24 ››
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February 2018 | nymetroparents.com
CAMP MARKETPLACE
YMCA
SUMMER CAMPS
Camp Clio
eventh S r u O nd Year a g din Expan ion iss Our M
a seriously fun place for adopted children... Youths and Teens
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE
Camp Clio
(Ages 9 - 12)
July 1 to July 21, 2018 (1, 2, or 3 weeks) Held at Camp Claire Lyme, CT
10%
Early Bird Discount
Camp Clio Teen
ENDS APRIL 21
(Ages 13 - 16)
July 1-6 or July 7-13, 2018 (1 or 2 weeks) Held at Middlesex County Camp Moodus, CT
ymcanyc.org/camp
NEW YORK CITY’S YMCA
Offering Classes in: Ballet Tap
Jazz/Contemporary Hip Hop Acrobatics
NURSERY SCHOOL & PRE K:
• • • • • • • •
AM/PM Classes 3 Day PM Nursery Level Classes Available Program encourages socialization and diversity Multicultural curriculum Small group hands on instruction Music & Movement Outdoor Play Area Indoor Gym Program
NEW
Summer Dance Intensive
Register NOW
For SUMMER 2018!!!
ALL STAR STUDIOS 108-21 72nd Ave (4th floor) Forest Hills, NY 11375 718-268-2280 allstarstudiosnyc@gmail.com allstarstudiosnyc.com
Come Try Our NEW Improv Dance Class!
Music Program
2018
for PM Classes Included
Summer Programs!!! Call for information
SPECIAL ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS Pre-K OPTIONAL ADDITIONAL HOUR
Contact us: 718-268-7980 | Email: nurseryschool@thecitg.org citgnurseryschool.org | 50 Ascan Avenue, Forest Hills
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Camp Clio Youth: July 1-21. Campers may come for one or more sessions. Scholarships available.
own website based off their own name and also receive an email address off their own website. Contact us now to register!
dren, give the program at LIU Post unique strengths in producing positive benefits for young people admitted to the program.
The Church-in-the-Gardens Nursery School
ISTEIN Education Center
Nina’s Tutoring Center
50 Ascan Ave., Forest Hills 718-268-7980 citgnurseryschool.org nurseryschool@thecitg.org Our nursery and pre-K programs reflect research that encourages learning through hands-on activities. This summer we are offering two programs for children ages 3-4 (nursery students entering pre-K, and pre-K students entering kindergarten). For July we will be having a summer co-op playgroup twice a week for halfday sessions. In August we are having a transitional class for those students entering our nursery. Please call 718-268-7980 or email us at nurseryschool@thecitg.org for more information.
Cunningham Tennis
196-00 Union Turnpike, Fresh Meadows 718-740-6800 cunninghamtennis.com Facebook: @cunninghamtennis Instagram: @cunninghamtennis info@cunninghamtennis.com Cunningham Tennis Summer Day Camps offer an active, healthy, and fun experience, rain or shine! Our campers will experience professional tennis instruction, sports (swimming, soccer, and basketball), arts and crafts, and educational enrichment. Educational activities are overseen by a NYS-certified teacher and will focus on math and language arts. Field trips are scheduled every two weeks, including to the US Open. Lunch is provided in our air-conditioned clubhouse and transportation is available upon request. Our staff, made up of USPTA-certified coaches and NYS-certified teachers, have passed background checks by the NCSI.
iCodingClub
35-30 Francis Lewis Blvd., Suite 204, Flushing 949-303-9986 icodingclub.com info@icodingclub.com iCodingClub recognizes the importance of the way the world is becoming. Technology is everywhere and it has only just begun. With our summer program, students will create and manage their own websites by code. After learning the fundamentals of web design and front end development, students will be able to continue learning on their own even after the summer program. All students leave our program with their
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107-06 71st Road, 2nd floor, Forest Hills 718-575-8877 isteinny.com info@isteinny.com ISTEIN Summer Day Camp offers academics, music and arts, and Chinese in a creative methodology. In the morning, our program focuses on academic enrichment in math, reading, writing, science, and social studies all aligned to the common core standards. Our classes are taught by licensed and experienced NYS-certified teachers with more than 15 years of experience. In the afternoon, our students learn music and Chinese through singing, dancing, and acting. Our safe and clean facility offers various activities including computers, games, arts and crafts, movies, and field trips every Friday.
JEI Learning Centers
Auburndale: 347-408-4098 Floral Park: 718-347-3138 jei.com JEI Learning Centers have helped children achieve academic success around the world since 1977. We offer a variety of academic enrichment and tutoring programs for children in pre-K through ninth grade, including math, problem solving, English, reading, and writing. Our program is designed to elevate each student’s abilities to the next level and beyond. JEI’s scientific diagnostic system pinpoints the missing links in learning and prescribes individual study programs based on specific needs. Our curriculum is aligned with the Common Core Standards. Call for information about our mini-break and summer programs.
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 increasing 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 two factors, combined with an administrative and psychological team schooled in the needs of gifted chil-
February 2018 | nymetroparents.com
8702 Grand Ave., Elmhurst 718-205-7508 92-22 Corona Ave., Elmhurst 718-606-1056 tutornina@hotmail.com We tutor kids in kindergarten to 12th grades. For the past nine years, we have provided quality education that helps kids excel in school. Our excellent, highly dedicated, and experienced tutors are very competent. We specialize in homework help and offer critical thinking and writing classes. We help improve skills in math, ELA, science, and social studies. We also have an intensive preparation program for ELA, math, and science, citywide and statewide exams. We opened our second branch on Corona Avenue to serve our community better. Please call to find out more about the programs we run throughout the year.
Rose Academy of Ballet
70-11 Austin St., Forest Hills 718-520-0207 roseacademyofballet.com racademyofballet@gmail.com Located in the heart of Forest hills, our dance program combines movement and music, while always leaving space for personal creativity. Students gain physical strength, flexibility, confidence, and an increased body awareness, all while exploring dance and having fun. We offer dance classes for ages 2 through adult. Join us for ballet, tap, musical theater, dance teams, and toddler groups. Don’t miss out on our flexible and fun dance camp. Early bird discounts and extended care are available! Registration is now open.
Soccer Friends USA Inc.
106-06 Queens Blvd., 3rd Floor Gym, Forest Hills 718-261-2403; 347-756-2568 (para Español) soccerfriendsusa.com soccerfriendsusa@hotmail.com SFUSA offers two types of soccer summer camps. The first option is a drop-off summer camp that can be booked on a weekly or daily basis. The second option is our Flexible Class Pass. You will have the entire six-week season to use up the number of classes you purchase. Go to the beach, hang out with family and friends—you will still have time to attend your classes and not worry about make-ups.
CAMP MARKETPLACE
Countryside Montessori School An Education Where Children Thrive Under the Guidance of Great Teacher in an Environment that Stimulates Creativity and Individual Potential!
The DanceSource Have you ever tried a Dance Class?
A proven system celebrating over 100 years of practice, research and worldwide recognition • Our fully equipped spacious classroom offer the most enriched curriculum available for 18 months - 6 years. • Fully affiliated with the American Montessori Society since 1998. • Early drop-off and Extended day available. Register Now for Summer Camp
354 Lakeville Road Great Neck, NY 516-466-8422 Visit our website: www.CMSGN.com
Our smaller classes provide more attention in class, and more detail provide for each dancer.
The Dancesource Offers
Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Gymnastics, Zumba, Hip-Hop, Classical Barata Nathyam, Modern, Ballroom (Latin & Classics), Bollywood, Georgian Dance, and Private Wedding Classes, Bat/Bar Mitzvah, Quincinera Dances, Birthday Parties Offered.
Administration available after school Monday-Thursday 4:30-7:30pm | Saturday 9:30am-2pm Sunday 9:30am-12:30pm | Rental space is available.
98-11 Queens Blvd at 65th Avenue • Rego Park, NY Tel: 718-997-1278 • info@dancesource.net www.dancesource.net • Check out our website!
LIU POST’S CENTER FOR GIFTED YOUTH
FALL 2017 AND SPRING 2018 SATURDAY PROGRAM Oct 7th – Dec 16th and Feb 3rd – April 28th, 2018 for students entering grades K-8
Are You the Parent of a Gifted Child?
Specialized Sports Program Specialized Sports Program • Gymnastics • Karate • Swimming • Music Specialized Sports Program • Gymnastics • Karate • Swimming • Music
LIU Post’s Center for Gifted Youth
Established in 1978 • Ages 4-15 Established in 1978 • Ages 4-15 Reasonable Tuition Established in 1978 • Ages 4-15 Reasonable Tuition Certified Teachers • 2-8Tuition Week Program Reasonable Certified Week Program Program CertifiedTeachers Teachers •• 2-8 2-8 Week
students’ knowledge, develops creative and critical thinking skills, and offers children the opportunity to learn in an exciting and accepting environment.
• Private Outdoor Pool • Small Groups • Trips • Gymnastics Karate Swimming • Music •• Private Pool •• •Free Small Groups • Trips Dance •Outdoor Arts &•Crafts Transportation • Private Outdoor Pool • Small Groups • Trips • Dance • Arts & Crafts • Free Transportation • Dance • Arts & Crafts • Free Transportation
Bayside • 718-229-3037 Visit us at: www.worldofdiscovery.org Bayside •• 718-229-3037 Bayside 718-229-3037
Visit Visitus usat: at: www.worldofdiscovery.org www.worldofdiscovery.org
announces its 37th annual fall and spring program for gifted children. The fall
program runs on Saturdays from October 7th to December 16th and the spring program runs on Saturdays from February 3rd to April 28th. The program is open to gifted children entering grades K-8 in September 2017. The program expands
For information call 516-299-2160 liu.edu/post/giftedyouth Now find us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
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
QueensParent 25
All Star Studios allstarstudiosnyc.com
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ISTEIN Education Center isteinny.com
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Mill Basin Day Camp millbasindaycamp.com
Dance
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Magic Day Camp magicdaycamp.com
Arts & Crafts
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Kon Gen International Preschool
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iCodingClub icodingclub.com
JEI Learning Center Floral Park jeifloralpark.com
Special Needs
Music
Day Trips
Swimming
Sports
Theater
STEAM/Robotics
Academic Enrichment
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JEI Learning Center Auburndale-Whitestone auburndale.jeilearning.com
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Countryside Montessori School cmsgn.com
Hillcrest Jewish Center Day Camp hjc.org
Half-Day
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Clover Prep - FasTracKids & JEI Learning Center - Fresh Meadows cloverprep.com
Cunningham Tennis cunninghamtennis.com
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dancesource.net
CK Kids ctkny.org
PROGRAMS:
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Arts Dance Music Camp of Rego Park
Camp Clio campclio.org
Flexible Scheduling
Extended Hours
Lunch
Transportation
Camp Guide
SERVICES:
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February 2018 | nymetroparents.com
Noah’s Ark Summer Camp noahsarkschool.com Oasis Camp in Bayside Queens oasischildren.com
Dance
Arts & Crafts
Special Needs
Music
Academic Enrichment
Day Trips
Swimming
Sports
Theater
STEAM/Robotics
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YMCA Summer Camps ymcanyc.org
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The Church-in-the-Gardens Nursery School citgnurseryschool.org
Young People’s Day Camp of Queens queenscamp.com
Half-Day
Flexible Scheduling
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Soccer Friends USA soccerfriendsusa.com
World of Discovery Day Camp worldofdiscovery.org
PROGRAMS:
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Rose Academy of Ballet roseacademyofballet.com Samuel Field Y Summer Camp sfysummercamps.org
Extended Hours
Lunch
Transportation
Camp Guide
SERVICES:
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8 CAMP MARKETPLACE
SOC SOCCER • Dedicated Party Pros • 100% Private Parties • Giant Indoor Inflatables • We Clean Up!
BounceU of College Point
Ages 18 Months & Up
Year-Round Soccer Program General Classes After School Summer Camp Futsal League Travel Team Birthday Party All Girls Class Soccer in Spanish
13225 14th Avenue • College Point, NY 11356 (718) 747-5867 • BounceU.com/college-point-ny QueensParent 27
things to do
outbound
Family Fun a Ride Away Courtesy Minnesota Children’s Museum
Courtesy Cup O’ Fun Cafe
On Long Island…
Long Island Children’s Museum
Cup O’Fun Cafe
This 40,000-square-foot museum is a destination for nearly 250,000 children and adults each year and offers educational and cultural experiences through events, activities, and 14 interactive exhibits (including a new traveling exhibit, Dinosaurs: Land of Fire and Ice™ through May 13). The LICM Theater offers live, family-focused performances with Q-and-A sessions, photo-ops, and meet-and-greets after each show. Visit it: 11 Davis Ave., Garden City; 516-224-5800; licm.org
A visit to this indoor play space will please both parents and young kids alike—while children run around the more than 8,000-squarefoot facility, parents can enjoy a cup of coffee or snack in the café. Cup O’Fun Café has a BEAM virtual playground, a miniature rock wall, a multi-level climbing unit with slides, a train table, a special area for infants, and more. Visit it: 6 Rockaway Ave., Valley Stream; 516-872-2600; cupofuncafe.com
Courtesy The Maritime Aquarium
Courtesy Campgaw Mountain
and bey ond !
Campgaw Mountain
The Maritime Aquarium
Ski, snowboard, or go tubing at this mountain destination that has equipment rentals and instruction for all ages. Enjoy gliding down a snowy hill and simply ride your tube back up via a surface lift. Campgaw Mountain offers a variety of terrain for all abilities as well as short lift lines and uncrowded trails—perfect for families. Open through March 31 (weather-dependent). Visit It: 200 Campgaw Road, Mahwah, NJ; 201-327-7800; skicampgaw.com
A visit to the Maritime Aquarium is an opportunity to get up close to marine life such as harbor seals, sea turtles, crabs, and lobsters. Curious kids can learn more about creatures such as stingrays, jellyfish, and sharks through touch experiences and the whole family can enjoy a film on the large IMAX® screen. Visit It: 10 N. Water St., Norwalk, CT (Metro-North New Haven Line); 203-852-0700; maritimeaquarium.org
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February 2018 | nymetroparents.com
Ideas When You Need Them:
Sign up for our FREE newsletter & never hear “I’m bored!” again. We email the top kids’ events every Thursday—just in time to make weekend plans!
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Turn the page for details on ‘The Gruffalo Live’ (No. 5 on our list).
FEBRUARY
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WANT US TO INCLUDE YOUR EVENT?
nymetroparents.com/submitevent UPDATED DAILY AT nymetroparents.com/calendar EDITOR: GAIL WARREN qpcal@davlermedia.com
CALENDAR
30
Editor’s Hot Tickets
35
Smarty Pants
31
We Can’t Believe It’s FREE!, Special Needs
36
Animal Lovers, Holiday Fun
32
Crafty Kids, On Screen
37
Movers & Shakers
38
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Dance Party, Mini Musicians
Little Foodies, Once Upon a Time
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Show Time!
EDITOR’S HOT TICKETS
Our calendar is full of great ideas. First, here are the eight events we consider can’t-miss—the ones we’re taking our own kids to. Consider it your cheat sheet to the best of what’s great this month!
1
Piano Battles
WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 3, 8pm WHERE: Kupferberg Center For The Performing Arts, 153-49 Reeves Ave., Flushing AGES: 5 and older WHAT: Part serious classical recital, part toungue-in-cheek performance by two classy pianists, this is a unique concert that pleases both the ear and the eye. All members of the audience are invited to vote on the pianists’ performances and will eventually crown the winner. WHY WE LOVE IT: You get to decide who will win this classical music battle! WANT TO GO? $30. 718-793-8080. kupferbergcenter.org.
Musica Reginae Presents: An Evening of Romantic Opera and Song
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WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 10, 7:30pm WHERE: The Church in the Gardens, 50 Ascan Ave., Forest Hills Gardens AGES: 13 and older WHAT: Enjoy performances of beloved opera songs, duets, and love songs performed by Metropolitan Opera soprano Melissa Citro, Barbara Podgurski, and guest artists to be announced. Works include Strauss’ Four Last Songs, and works by Puccini, Verdi, Wagner, and many others to be announced. Reception to follow. WHY WE LOVE IT: The perfect evening to celebrate Valentine’s Day a few nights early. WANT TO GO? $20. 718-894-2178. musicareginae.org. 30
February 2018 | nymetroparents.com
3
Saturday Movie at St. Albans: ‘Selma’ FREE
WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 17, 2pm WHERE: St. Albans Library, 191-05 Linden Blvd., St. Albans AGES: 5 and older WHAT: The Civil Rights Act of 1964 legally desegregated the South, but discrimination was still rampant in certain areas, making it very difficult for blacks to register to vote. In 1965, an Alabama city became the battleground in the fight for suffrage. WHY WE LOVE IT: Despite violent opposition, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his followers pressed forward on an epic march. WANT TO GO? queenslibrary.org.
Lunar New Year Parade FREE
WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 17, 11am WHERE: Union Street and 37th Avenue, 36-99 Union St., Flushing AGES: All WHAT: Celebrate the Year of the Dog in the most diverse community in New York City. Expect vibrant costumes, floats, joyful dancing, and traditional Chinese celebrations. WHY WE LOVE IT: Flushing is home to Queens’ first and largest Chinatown neighborhood. WANT TO GO? eventbrite.com.
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‘The Gruffalo Live’
WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 17, 2pm WHERE: Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Blvd., Flushing AGES: 3-8 WHAT: Join Mouse on a daring adventure through the deep, dark wood in Tall Stories’ magical, musical adaptation of the classic picture book by Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler. WHY WE LOVE IT: Songs, laughs, and lots of fun. WANT TO GO? $14; $8 children. flushingtownhall.org.
‘Broadway Valentine’
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WHEN: Feb. 17-18, Saturday, 8pm; Sunday, 3pm WHERE: Queens Theatre, 14 United Nations Ave. S., Flushing AGES: All WHAT: Created exclusively for Queens Theatre, Broadway Valentine is a jubilant celebration of the greatest love songs ever written for the Broadway stage performed by real-life couple Broadway singers. WHY WE LOVE IT: Nothing displays the glory of a Broadway musical quite like the exhilaration of romantic love. WANT TO GO? $20 and up. 718-760-0064. queenstheatre.org.
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WHEN: Feb. 9-19, Thursday-Monday, see website for times WHERE: The Theater at Madison Square Garden, 4 Pennsylvania Plaza, Midtown, Manhattan AGES: All WHAT: Jump to the beat with your friends on Sesame Street! Introducing an all-new, interactive show that unfolds on one of the world’s most famous streets at the funniest, furriest party in the neighborhood. WHY WE LOVE IT: Check out the pre-show experience for the opportunity to tour the on-stage neighborhood. WANT TO GO? $15 and up. 800-844-3545. sesamestreetlive.com.
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WHEN: Friday, Feb. 23, 8pm WHERE: Queensborough Performing Arts Center, 222-05 56th Ave., Bayside AGES: 5 and older WHAT: Performers with boundless energy, bring more than 2,000 years of Chinese circus traditions, in a range of demanding performances that are a refreshing alternative to the Western tradition. WHY WE LOVE IT: These fearless performers bring a new spellbinding show that defy gravity and execute breathtaking feats. WANT TO GO? $38 and up. 718-279-3006. queensoratorio.org.
WE CAN’T BELIEVE IT’S FREE Think a freebie has to be ho-hum? Don’t let the price tag (or lack of one) fool you. Here are the five no-cost events we’re excited about now. You’re welcome. Take Your Child to the Library Day FREE
Broken Heart Week: Love Me Not Karaoke FREE
WHEN: Wednesday, Feb. 14, 4pm WHERE: Woodhaven Library, 85-41 Forest Parkway, Woodhaven AGES: All WHAT: Sing a love song to a loved one or sing a lonely song for a lonely heart. WANT TO GO? 718-849-1010. queenslibrary.org.
Flushing Lunar New Year Pre-Parade Reception FREE
WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 17, 9:30-10:30am WHERE: St. George’s Episcopal Church, 135-32 38th Ave., Flushing AGES: All WHAT: Flushing’s Lunar New Year Parade is a huge draw each year, with vibrant costumes, floats, dancing, and traditional Chinese celebrations. Gather at St. George’s Church to connect and stay warm with hot coffee and refreshments before heading to the parade site. WANT TO GO? 646-820-5163. flushingfantastic.nyc.
Farmy Flicks FREE
‘Sesame Street Live! Let’s Party!’
The New Shanghai Circus
use the chalkboard/whiteboard to create or write. Younger children can enjoy playdough, crawl through the tunnel, and play with toys. WANT TO GO? 718-831-8636. queenslibrary.org.
WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 3, 10am-4pm WHERE: Glen Oaks Library, 256-04 Union Turnpike, Glen Oaks AGES: All WHAT: Do a scavenger hunt together, play board games, work on a puzzle, build a Lego creation, color with a friend, make your own bookmark, and
WHEN: Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2pm WHERE: Queens County Farm Museum, 73-50 Little Neck Parkway, Floral Park AGES: 3-8 WHAT: Bring the little ones to catch a mooo-vie in the barn. Visit the farm animals before the screening of Maya the Bee. WANT TO GO? 718-347-3276. queensfarm.org.
Guess What Stand Up Comedy Brunch Show FREE
WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 17, 1pm WHERE: Creek and Cave Comedy Show, 10-93 Jackson Ave., Long Island City AGES: 3-12, adult WHAT: Join Paul and Dorothy for some PG comedy fun when they host some of the best comedians from the biggest clubs in NYC. Brunch menu available for purchase. WANT TO GO? facebook.com/guesswhatpg.
SPECIAL NEEDS Mornings @ MoMI
WHEN: Through Feb. 24: Saturday, 9:30-10:30am WHERE: Museum of the Moving Image, 36-01 35th Ave., Astoria AGES: All WHAT: Families on the autism spectrum can enjoy access to the museum including refreshments before it opens to the general public. Explore the exhibitions and participate in art making projects. Reservations required. WANT TO GO? $5; free for children younger than 3. 718-777-6888. movingimage.us.
Autism Spectrum Tour: The Discovery Squad FREE
WHEN: Through Sept. 1: Saturdays, 9-10am WHERE: American Museum of Natural History, 79th Street and Central Park West, Upper West Side, Manhattans AGES: 5-17 WHAT: Families with members on the autism spectrum can attend a 40-minute tour led by specially trained guides, then spend some time exploring the Discovery Room before the museum opens to the public. WANT TO GO? 212-769-5100. amnh.org. ›› QueensParent 31
groups. The workshop is a fast-moving, enjoyable introduction to storytelling in theater using games, freeze frames, and well-known tales. WANT TO GO? $8; $5 children. flushingtownhall.org.
LEGO Building Club FREE
WHEN: Through Feb. 21: Wednesdays, 4pm WHERE: Bellerose Library, 250-06 Hillside Ave., Bellerose AGES: 5-12 WHAT: Children in kindergarten-sixth grades have fun with Legos. WANT TO GO? 718-831-8644. queenslibrary.org.
CRAFTY KIDS Groundhog Day Drop-In Craft FREE
WHEN: Thursday, Feb. 1, 12-7pm WHERE: Glen Oaks Library, 256-04 Union Turnpike, Glen Oaks AGES: All WHAT: Will the groundhog see his shadow, or will there be four more weeks of winter? Families can decide while they have fun making a groundhog craft to take home. WANT TO GO? 718-831-8636. queenslibrary.org.
Lunar New Year: Year of the Dog FREE
WHEN: Friday, Feb. 2, 4pm WHERE: Arverne Library, 312 Beach 54th St., Arverne AGES: 5-12 WHAT: Children will make special decorations to welcome in the Chinese New Year and make their own new year banners with Chinese calligraphy. WANT TO GO? 718-634-4784. queenslibrary.org.
Art for Families: Step Inside: Living with Sculpture
WHEN: Feb. 10-17, Saturdays, 10:30am WHERE: The Noguchi Museum, 9-01 33rd Road, Long Island City AGES: 5-12 WHAT: Parents will engage with their children in discussions about art in the galleries, and work together or individually to make their own works of art. Reservations required. WANT TO GO? $10 families with up to four members. 718-204-7088. noguchi.org.
Sculpture: Build Up!
WHEN: Feb. 11-18, Sundays, 10:30am WHERE: The Noguchi Museum, 9-01 33rd Road, Long Island City AGES: 3-5 WHAT: Parents will learn strategies for engaging their children during museum visits while exploring art materials and The Noguchi Museum galleries as a family. Reservations required. WANT TO GO? $10 families with up to four members. 718-204-7088. noguchi.org.
‘The Gruffalo Live’ Interactive Art Workshop
WHEN: Feb. 17-18, Saturday-Sunday, 3:45pm WHERE: Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Blvd., Flushing AGES: 3-8 WHAT: Find out how to create a story in pictures, how to create a character using your body, and then tell your own story in small 32
February 2018 | nymetroparents.com
Hear That?: Let the Music Move You
WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 24, Sundays, 10:30am WHERE: The Noguchi Museum, 9-01 33rd Road, Long Island City AGES: 3-5 WHAT: Parents will learn strategies for engaging their children during museum visits while exploring art materials and The Noguchi Museum galleries as a family. Reservations required. WANT TO GO? $10 families with up to four members. 718-204-7088. noguchi.org.
ON SCREEN Movie Night: ‘The Lego Ninjago Movie’ FREE
WHEN: Thursday, Feb. 1, 4pm WHERE: Woodhaven Library, 85-41 Forest Parkway, Woodhaven AGES: All WHAT: Lloyd Garmadon is a teenage ninja who attempts to accept the truth about his villainous father, while a new threat emerges to endanger his homeland. Light snacks provided or bring your own. WANT TO GO? 718-849-1010. queenslibrary.org.
‘The Daniela Gioseffi Story’
WHEN: Monday, Feb. 12, 4pm WHERE: St. John’s University, 8000 Utopia Parkway, Jamaica AGES: 13 and older WHAT: An inspiring film on the life and work of author and activist Daniela Gioseffi. Produced and directed by prize-winning filmmaker Anton Evangelista, the documentary explores the life and work of this acclaimed leader in the fight for civil rights, democratic equality, and climate justice. WANT TO GO? $20. 718-990-5892. stjohns.edu.
Children’s Movie Night: ‘My Little Pony: The Movie’ FREE
WHEN: Thursday, Feb. 15, 3:30pm WHERE: Queens Village Library, 94-11 217th St., Queens Village AGES: 3-12 WHAT: In this animated musical feature, Twilight Sparkle, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Rarity embark on an epic journey to save Ponyville from a dark force. Along the way, the Mane 6 meet new friends and face exciting challenges as they travel beyond Equestria to defeat the evil Storm King and his minion unicorn Tempest Shadow. WANT TO GO? 718-776-6800. queenslibrary.org.
Children’s Friday Matinee FREE
WHEN: Feb. 2-23, Fridays, 3:30pm WHERE: Mitchell-Linden Library, 31-32 Union St., Flushing AGES: 3-12, adult WHAT: Kids and their parents will enjoy screenings of Despicable Me 3 on Feb. 2; Tangled on Feb. 9; The Princess and the Frog on Feb. 16; and Brave on Feb. 23. WANT TO GO? 718-539-2330. queenslibrary.org.
WHEN: Through June 30: daily, 2pm WHERE: New York Hall of Science, 47-01 111th St., Corona AGES: All WHAT: From the Great Wall of China and the world’s tallest buildings to underwater robots, solar cars and smart, sustainable cities, this film celebrates the human ingenuity behind engineering marvels big and small. WANT TO GO? $6; $5 children with admission: $16; $13 children ages 2-17; free for children younger than 2. 718-699-0005. nysci.org.
Behind the Screen
WHEN: Year-round: Wednesday-Thursday, 10:30am-2pm; Friday, 10:30am-8pm; Saturday-Sunday, 11:30am-7pm WHERE: Museum of the Moving Image, 35-01 35th Ave., Astoria AGES: All WHAT: The core exhibition of the museum is a one-of-a-kind experience that immerses visitors in the creative and technical process of producing, promoting, and presenting films, television shows, and digital entertainment. WANT TO GO? $15; $11 seniors with ID; $7 children ages 3-17; free for children younger than 3. 718-777-6888. movingimage.us. ››
Your child will be governed only by his or her limitless imagination. • Our focus is on the total child, academically and socially.
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‘Dream Big: Engineering Our World’
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WHEN: Through Feb. 28: Wednesdays, 4:15pm WHERE: Kew Gardens Hills Library, 72-33 Vleigh Place, Flushing AGES: All WHAT: Weekly movie sessions for families, caregivers, and children to enjoy. Watch A Dog’s Purpose on Feb. 7; Beauty and the Beast on Feb. 14; Tales of Beatrix Potter on Feb. 21; and My Little Pony on Feb. 28. WANT TO GO? 718-261-6654. queenslibrary.org.
B
Family Movie Time FREE
• Reading Readiness, Comprehension, and Phonics are a major component of our program. • Staffed by two Certified Early Childhood Teachers with 28 years experience.
Safe & Nurturing Environment Story Telling & Creative Writing Music & Art Expression Literature Rich Setting Discovering Math & Science Spacious Outdoor Play Area
• Student to Teacher Ratio 3:1
Mornings: Monday - Friday 9:00 - 12:00 Flexible Schedule Choose Your Days! Lynne Braithwaite, Director
Whitestone, New York Call for a Visit: 718-767-2776
braithwaitenurseryschool.com
Childhood Atropine for Myopia Progression Study
Is your child nearsighted? Are they 3 to 16 years of age? If so, your child may be eligible to par�cipate in a study evalua�ng the use of inves�ga�onal eye drops to slow the progression of nearsightedness. This study involves 17 office visits over 4 years with compensa�on of up to $1,080 for office visits. Par�cipants may also receive an allowance for glasses or contact lenses.
(212) 938 4052 | clinicresearch@sunyopt.edu | sunyopt.edu/CVRC | 33 West 42nd St New York (between 5th and 6th Ave) Jan 24, 2018
QueensParent 33
MINI
MUSICIANS Romantic Rococo & Beatles Baroque FREE
DANCE PARTY
43rd Annual Thunderbird American Indian Dancers’ Dance Concert and Pow-Wow
WHEN: Feb. 2-11, Friday, 8pm; Saturday, 3pm and 8pm; Sunday, 3pm WHERE: Theater for the New City, 155 First Ave., East Village, Manhattan AGES: 5 and older WHAT: Featuring dances, stories, and traditional music from Native Peoples of all ages from the Northeast, Southwest, and Great Plains regions. WANT TO GO? $12; $1 kids’ matinee tickets. 212-254-1109. theaterforthenewcity.net.
Lezginka Dance Company of Daghestan
WHEN: Sunday, Feb. 11, 3pm WHERE: Queensborough Performing Arts Center, 222-05 56th Ave., Bayside AGES: 5 and older WHAT: A thrilling program of fiery dances representing the numerous people inhabiting the mountain country of Daghestan, Russia. Erupting into a frenzy of turns in the air in an instant, Lezginka’s colorful costumes, wild acrobatics and even swordplay make this special event a cultural highlight of the season. WANT TO GO? $35 and up. 718-279-3006. queensoratorio.org.
Chinese Music and Dance with Chinese Theater Works FREE
WHEN: Friday, Feb. 16, 4pm WHERE: Pomonok Library, 158-21 Jewel Ave., Flushing AGES: 5-12 WHAT: Children will be mesmerized by ethnic and classical traditions of Chinese dance and music rarely seen outside China. WANT TO GO? 718-591-4343. queenslibrary.org.
‘A Ballerina’s Tale’ Film Screening FREE
WHEN: Wednesday, Feb. 21, 3-5pm WHERE: Queensboro Hill Library, 60-05 Main St., Flushing AGES: 5-17 WHAT: Celebrate Black History Month with a viewing of A Ballerina’s Tale, the story of Misty Copeland’s rise to the top of the competitive ballet world. WANT TO GO? 718-359-8332. queenslibrary.org.
The Beauty of Ballet FREE
WHEN: Sunday, Feb. 25, 1pm and 3pm WHERE: Queens Theatre, 14 United Nations Ave. S., Flushing AGES: 3 and older WHAT: How do ballerinas dance on their toes and spin and turn without getting dizzy? Those questions and more will be answered during the performance by advanced students from the School of American Ballet. WANT TO GO? Call for reservations. 718-760-0064. queenstheatre.org.
Dance Gala of Lunar New Year FREE
WHEN: Sunday, Feb. 25, 2-4pm WHERE: Flushing Library, 41-17 Main St., Flushing AGES: 5-12 WHAT: Dance together with New Star Arts Center. They practice dance as a way to introduce Chinese culture to American audiences, as well as a means to keep traditions alive in the Chinese community. WANT TO GO? 718-661-1200. queenslibrary.org. 34
February 2018 | nymetroparents.com
WHEN: Friday, Feb. 2, 7:30pm WHERE: Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Blvd., Flushing AGES: 9 and older WHAT: A delightful evening of music featuring beloved classics including Villa-Lobos’s Bachianas Brasileiras No. 9, Tchaikovsky’s Variations on a Rococo Theme, and music by The Beatles in the Baroque styles of Handel, Bach, Vivaldi, and more by Peter Breiner. Presented by The Queens Symphony Orchestra. WANT TO GO? flushingtownhall.org.
Inspirations and Tributes: An African American Lineage
WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 3, 2pm WHERE: The New York Philharmonic, Merkin Concert Hall, 129 W. 67th St., Upper West Side, Manhattan AGES: All WHAT: A musical program exploring how composers influence and pay tribute to each other. Attendees are invited to arrive at 12:45pm to take part in YPC Overtures, when children meet Philharmonic musicians and try out orchestral instruments. WANT TO GO? $15 and up. 212-875-5656. nyphil.org.
Frances England
WHEN: Sunday, Feb. 4, 11:30am and 2pm WHERE: Long Island Children’s Museum, 11 Davis Ave., Garden City, Long Island AGES: 3-8 WHAT: Frances England frames her music in ways both children and parents can appreciate and her sparkly, acoustic pop sound is catchy and heartfelt. WANT TO GO? $4 with museum admission: $13; free children younger than 1. 516-224-5800. licm.org.
Campbell Brothers
WHEN: Friday, Feb. 9, 8pm WHERE: Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Blvd., Flushing AGES: 9 and older WHAT: Featuring pedal steel guitarist Chuck Campbell with his brothers Darick Campbell on the lap steel guitar and Phil Campbell on electric guitar, along with Phil’s son Carlton on the drums and Katie Jackson’s gospel vocals to introduce audiences to Sacred Steel: African-American gospel music. WANT TO GO? $16; $10 students. flushingtownhall.org.
Studio PSK: Polyphonic Playground
WHEN: Through Feb. 11: Tuesday-Wednesday and Friday-Sunday, 10am6pm; Thursday, 10am-9pm WHERE: The Museum of Arts and Design, 2 Columbus Circle, Columbus Circle, Manhattan AGES: All WHAT: Part of the Sonic Arcade: Shaping Space with Sound exhibit, this climbing frame aspect has swings, a slide, monkey bars, and pads act as a giant 3-D synthesizer for anyone who interacts with it. WANT TO GO? $16; $14 seniors; $12 students; free for children younger than 18. 212-299-7777. madmuseum.org.
Eric Alexander Quartet
WHEN: Friday, Feb. 23, 8pm WHERE: Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Blvd., Flushing AGES: 9 and older WHAT: Tenor saxman Eric Alexander performs with his mentor and veteran pianist Harold Mabern, who is joined by John Webber on bass and Joe Farnworth on drums. WANT TO GO? $16; $10 students. flushingtownhall.org.
SMARTY PANTS Winter Family Gardening: Tabletop Gardening
WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 3, 11am WHERE: Queens Botanical Garden, 4350 Main St., Flushing AGES: 3-12, adult WHAT: Did you know you can garden in the winter, too? Participants will learn about different way to grow plants and even plant a few to take home. Class concludes with a visit to the greenhouse. WANT TO GO? $10. 718-886-3800. queensbotanical.org.
Take Your Child to the Library Day Science Lab FREE
WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 3, 11am-12:30pm WHERE: Central Library, 89-11 Merrick Blvd., Jamaica AGES: 5-12 WHAT: This Saturday Science Lab focuses on the library and the experience of taking your child to the library. WANT TO GO? queenslibrary.org.
STEM Night: Engineering FREE
WHEN: Friday, Feb. 9, 5:30-8pm WHERE: New York Hall of Science, 47-01 111th St., Corona AGES: 9 and older WHAT: Middle school, high school, and college students can learn about career opportunities in the engineering field. The evening includes hands-on activities, career conversations with experts in the field, and networking with STEM professionals. Reservations required. WANT TO GO? 718-699-0005. nysci.org.
More Than Just a Dinosaur
WHEN: Feb. 6-10, Tuesday-Friday, 10:15am and 12pm; Saturday, 11:30am and 2pm WHERE: Long Island Children’s Museum, 11 Davis Ave., Garden City, Long Island AGES: 3-8 WHAT: Did you know dinosaurs might still be here today? Learn how to use this explorative study of dinosaurs to apply scientific questioning to all aspects of living with YouTube star and author Dustin Growick, who is known as “The Dinosaur Whisperer.” WANT TO GO? $9 with museum admission: $13; free children younger than 1. 516-224-5800. licm.org.
Installation: A Memory of Astoria
WHEN: Through Feb. 11: Wednesday-Thursday, 10:30am-5pm; Friday, 10:30am-8pm; Saturday-Sunday, 10:30am-6pm WHERE: Museum of the Moving Image, 35-01 35th Ave., Astoria AGES: All WHAT: This is an impressionistic portrait of the blocks surrounding the museum. Wube walked the neighborhood to observe the area’s confluence of cultures, focusing on everyday moments, sights, and sounds. The exhibit reveals the diverse and rapid changes throughout Astoria. WANT TO GO? $15; $11 seniors and students with ID; $7 children ages 3-17; free for children younger than 3. 718-777-6888. movingimage.us.
Celebrate Black History Month: George Washington Carver Workshop
WHEN: Tuesday, Feb. 20, 1pm WHERE: Queens Botanical Garden, 4350 Main St., Flushing AGES: 5-12 WHAT: Called the “Wizard of Tuskegee,” Dr. George Washington Carver made significant contributions in the field of botany. Learn how plants played a very important role in his early life and later achievements. Students will follow in Dr. Carver’s steps, using plants to paint and to create a healing lotion to take home. Registration required. WANT TO GO? $6. 718-886-3800. queensbotanical.org.
Go-Bot Races: Special Program for Winter Recess
WHEN: Friday, Feb. 23, 1pm WHERE: Alley Pond Environmental Center, 228-06 Northern Blvd., Douglaston AGES: 5-12 WHAT: Children will explore their inner scientist with this fun-filled, hands-on experimenting class. They will be challenged to form a hypothesis based on the materials of the day, then draw conclusions based on their experimentations. Registration required. WANT TO GO? $24. 718-229-4000. alleypond.com.
Alley ECOclub: Microscopic Studies (Mammals Edition)
WHEN: Sunday, Feb. 25, 12:30pm WHERE: Alley Pond Environmental Center, 228-06 Northern Blvd., Douglaston AGES: 9-12 WHAT: Hidden in spaces too small to see are worlds within worlds of biological life. Come learn about the tool that allows us to see these worlds. Registration required. WANT TO GO? $25. 718-229-4000. alleypond.com.
Geometric Figurative Works: Art Exhibit
WHEN: Through April 14: Monday-Friday, 9:30am-5pm; SaturdaySunday, 10am-6pm WHERE: New York Hall of Science, 47-01 111th St., Corona AGES: All WHAT: Karl Szilagi creates visual puzzles that use black and white geometric patterns to create figurative images. His art explores how we perceive patterns as both flat and three-dimensional at the same time. WANT TO GO? $16; $13 seniors and children ages 2-17. 718-699-0005. nysci.org. ›› QueensParent 35
WHAT: Pick up your passport and get ready to meet live animals as you “travel around the world” at APEC. At the culmination of the program, each participant will receive a hardcover souvenir book. Registration required. WANT TO GO? $16. 718-229-4000. alleypond.com.
I Heart Worms
WHEN: Thursday, Feb. 22, 1pm WHERE: Queens Botanical Garden, 4350 Main St., Flushing AGES: 5-12, adult WHAT: This unique hands-on workshop introduces kids to the life of red wiggler worms used for indoor composting. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Registration required. WANT TO GO? $10. 718-886-3800. queensbotanical.org.
ANIMAL LOVERS NY Aquarium: Discovering Coral Reefs FREE
WHEN: Friday, Feb. 2, 4pm WHERE: Richmond Hill Library, 118-14 Hillside Ave., Richmond Hill AGES: 5 and older WHAT: Find out why corals and the reefs they form are important homes for fish and many other aquatic animals. Discover the diversity of life on the reef as we investigate bio-facts, meet a live reef animal, and learn about how animals live and grow in this underwater habitat. WANT TO GO? 718-849-7150. queenslibrary.org.
Winter Bird Walk for Beginners FREE
WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 3, 9:30am WHERE: Alley Pond Environmental Center, 228-06 Northern Blvd., Douglaston AGES: 9 and older WHAT: Walk around Oakland Lake accompanied by Nancy Tognan of the Queens County Bird Club to look for ducks, coots, grebes, swans, geese, and more. Bring binoculars if you have them. Registration required. WANT TO GO? 718-229-4000. alleypond.com.
Sweet Treats for the Animals
WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 10, 10:30am WHERE: Alley Pond Environmental Center, 228-06 Northern Blvd., Douglaston AGES: 3-8, adult WHAT: Celebrate Valentine’s Day by making tasty treats for APEC’s animals. After making something yummy for the rabbits and birds, children will make a snack of their own to enjoy together. Registration required. WANT TO GO? $21. 718-229-4000. alleypond.com.
APEC Adventure Time: Feathered Friends
Ocean Odyssey
WHEN: Through March 31: Sunday-Thursday, 10am-10:30pm; FridaySaturday, 10am-12am WHERE: National Geographic Encounter, 226 W. 44th St., Times Square, Manhattan AGES: 5 and older WHAT: This immersive entertainment experience takes families on a simulated underwater adventure to witness Pacific Ocean life firsthand. Meet sea lions, humpback whales, and great white sharks, plus a stunning coral reef. WANT TO GO? $39.50; $36.50 seniors; $32.50 children younger than 12. 646-308-1337. natgeoencounter.com.
HOLIDAY FUN Urban Stages Presents ‘The Gates of Equality’ FREE
WHEN: Thursday, Feb. 1, 6pm WHERE: South Hollis Library, 204-01 Hollis Ave., South Hollis AGES: All WHAT: This dramatic presentation tells about the life of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. through his speeches, press conferences, and fictional narrative. WANT TO GO? 718-465-6779. queenslibrary.org.
Saturday Family Matinee: ‘Henry Box Brown’
WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 10, 2pm WHERE: Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning, 161-04 Jamaica Ave., Jamaica AGES: All WHAT: Gospel, R&B, bluegrass, and original spirituals with an infusion of American folk music weave together to tell this true story of a Virginia slave in the 1850s who shipped himself to freedom in a box. WANT TO GO? $10; $5 children. jcal.org.
WHEN: Sunday, Feb. 11, 1:30pm WHERE: Alley Pond Environmental Center, 228-06 Northern Blvd., Douglaston AGES: Newborn to 2, adult WHAT: Enjoy a hands-on experience learning about birds, nests, feathers, and eggs. Each class focuses on a different science theme and includes live animal guests, art projects, trail walks, and stories. Registration required. WANT TO GO? $18. 718-229-4000. alleypond.com.
Chinese New Year Temple Bazaar
APEC Animals Around the World
WHEN: Wednesday, Feb. 14, 3:30pm WHERE: Queens Village Library, 94-11 217th St., Queens Village AGES: 5-12 WHAT: Children are welcome to make a Valentine’s Day card. WANT TO GO? 718-776-6800. queenslibrary.org.
WHEN: Wednesday, Feb. 21, 10:30am WHERE: Alley Pond Environmental Center, 228-06 Northern Blvd., Douglaston AGES: 5-8 36
February 2018 | nymetroparents.com
WHEN: Feb. 10-11, Saturday-Sunday, 11am WHERE: Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Blvd., Flushing AGES: All WHAT: For centuries, people in China have celebrated the Lunar New Year in temple fairs. Enjoy live performances, traditional crafts, and food to celebrate the Year of the Dog. WANT TO GO? $5. flushingtownhall.org.
Valentine’s Day Cards FREE
Lunar New Year Celebration FREE
WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 17, 12-4pm WHERE: Queens Botanical Garden, 4350 Main St., Flushing AGES: 5 and older WHAT: Celebrate the Year of the Dog with crafts and performances. Learn about the lucky plants of Lunar New Year, from chrysanthemums to jade plants, and find out more about these auspicious beauties. Visit the plant sale and buy your own to take home. WANT TO GO? 718-886-3800. queensbotanical.org.
African-American History Month: Bios & Beats FREE
WHEN: Wednesday, Feb. 21, 4:30pm WHERE: Flushing Library, 41-17 Main St., Flushing AGES: 5-12 WHAT: Celebrate leading African-American music legends through picture book biographies. Then children will listen to pieces of their music and let the beats inspire free-flowing drawings. WANT TO GO? 718-661-1200. queenslibrary.org.
Black History Month Performance FREE
WHEN: Friday, Feb. 23, 4pm WHERE: Arverne Library, 312 Beach 54th St., Arverne AGES: 5-12 WHAT: Children will dress up as a famous African-American to highlight his or her accomplishments, and recite sections of Martin Luther King Jr.’s I Have a Dream speech. WANT TO GO? 718-634-4784. queenslibrary.org.
Black History Month FREE
WHEN: Feb. 2-23, Fridays, 4pm WHERE: Peninsula Library, 92-25 Rockaway Beach Blvd., Rockaway AGES: 5-12 WHAT: Celebrate Black History Month by playing fun, educational games and exploring historical events and figures. Registration required. WANT TO GO? 718-634-1110. nycgovparks.org.
MOVERS & SHAKERS Long Island Nets vs. Raptors 905
WHEN: Tuesday, Feb. 6, 7pm WHERE: NYCB LIVE, home of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, 1255 Hempstead Turnpike, Uniondale, Long Island AGES: All WHAT: Long Island Nets take on the Raptors 905. Pre-paid parking will be available for $5 on Ticketmaster. Parking for this event is $5 upon arrival. WANT TO GO? $25. 516-231-4848. nycblive.com.
Music and Movement
WHEN: Wednesday, Feb. 14, 11:30am WHERE: Long Island Children’s Museum, 11 Davis Ave., Garden City, Long Island AGES: 3-5 WHAT: Enjoy creative movement exercises and interactive sing-alongs that get little bodies moving to the rhythm. WANT TO GO? $13; free children younger than 1. 516-224-5800. licm.org.
Long Island Nets vs. Wisconsin Herd
WHEN: Friday, Feb. 23, 7pm WHERE: NYCB LIVE, home of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, 1255 Hempstead Turnpike, Uniondale, Long Island AGES: All WHAT: Long Island Nets take on the Wisconsin Herd. Parking for this event is $5 upon arrival. WANT TO GO? $25. 516-231-4848. nycblive.com.
Ping Pong Game Time FREE
WHEN: Through Feb. 27: Tuesdays, 4pm WHERE: Glen Oaks Library, 256-04 Union Turnpike, Glen Oaks AGES: 5-17 WHAT: Let’s play pingpong. Children younger than 13 should be accompanied by a parent or guardian. WANT TO GO? 718-831-8636. queenslibrary.org.
Public Ice-Skating
WHEN: Through Feb. 28: Monday-Tuesday, 10am-2:30pm; Wednesday-Thursday, 10am-10pm; Friday-Saturday, 10am-11pm; Sunday, 10am-9pm WHERE: Wollman Rink, 59th Street and Central Park South, Central Park, Manhattan AGES: All WHAT: This outdoor rink offers an amazing view of the Manhattan skyline, plus a skating school, a hockey program, and birthday party offerings on the ice. Check out the nearby carousel for $3 a ride in between skates. WANT TO GO? Monday-Thursday: $12; $5 seniors; $6 for children 11 and younger; Friday-Sunday and holidays: $19; $9 seniors; $6 for children 11 and younger. 212-439-6900. wollmanskatingrink.com.
Ice-Skating Season
WHEN: Through April 1: daily, 8:30-12am WHERE: The Rink at Rockefeller Center, 600 Fifth Ave., Midtown, Manhattan AGES: All WHAT: Take a skate around the outdoor rink before stopping by the many shops and restaurants at Rockefeller Center. Skate lessons are offered as well. WANT TO GO? $25; $15 seniors and for children younger than 11. 212332-7654. therinkatrockcenter.com.
Wii Game Challenge FREE
WHEN: Through June 13: Wednesdays, 3pm WHERE: Bayside Library, 214-20 Northern Blvd., Bayside AGES: 9-17 WHAT: Play and challenge friends with Mario Kart, Just Dance, or other Wii games in the collection. WANT TO GO? 718-229-1834. queenslibrary.org. ››
New York Open
WHEN: Feb. 11-18, daily, see website for times WHERE: NYCB LIVE, home of the Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum, 1255 Hempstead Turnpike, Uniondale, Long Island AGES: All WHAT: The arrival of this ATP World Tour event will add another major tennis event to the New York sports calendar, and marks the first time in its 45-year history that the Coliseum will play host to a sanctioned tennis tournament. WANT TO GO? $18.50 and up. 516-231-4848. nycblive.com. QueensParent 37
ONCE UPON A TIME StART: Story + Art
LITTLE FOODIES Kids in the Kitchen: Strawberry Chocolate Valentine Delight
WHEN: Friday, Feb. 16, 11:30am WHERE: Long Island Children’s Museum, 11 Davis Ave., Garden City, Long Island AGES: 3-8 WHAT: Little chefs use real cooking tools with some help from adults as we make easy, yummy, kid-friendly snacks from start to finish. WANT TO GO? $5 with museum admission: $13; free children younger than 1. 516-224-5800. licm.org.
Young Chefs: Amazing Appetizers
WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 17, 10:30am WHERE: Alley Pond Environmental Center, 228-06 Northern Blvd., Douglaston AGES: 9-12 WHAT: Young chefs will use their creative culinary skills to create savory vegetarian breakfast muffins and strawberry shortcake kabobs. Registration required. WANT TO GO? $24. 718-229-4000. alleypond.com.
Family Cooking Class
WHEN: Sunday, Feb. 18, 11am-1pm WHERE: Queens Botanical Garden, 4350 Main St., Flushing AGES: 5 and older WHAT: A farm-to-table cooking experience to introduce your family to all aspects of cooking. Enjoy a tasty treat that you make for lunch. Registration required: WANT TO GO? $15; $12 children. 718-886-3800. queensbotanical.org.
Kidz Kitchen: Home Tweet Home
WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 24, 11am WHERE: Alley Pond Environmental Center, 228-06 Northern Blvd., Douglaston AGES: 5-8 WHAT: Meet Luna the Lovebird then make an edible birdhouse for you and a yummy treat to show some love to the birdies on your street. Registration required. WANT TO GO? $22. 718-229-4000. alleypond.com.
Bon Appétit
WHEN: Feb. 16-May 13, Monday-Friday, 9:30am-5pm; SaturdaySunday, 10am-6pm WHERE: New York Hall of Science, 4701 111th St., Corona AGES: All WHAT: This fun and interactive exhibition helps visitors explore their own personal eating habits, as well as the eating habits of other cultures. Visitors can discover topics such as physical activity versus food intake, the workings of the digestive system, creating a balanced diet, and the origin of foods that populate grocery store shelves. WANT TO GO? $16; $13 children, students, and seniors. 718-699-0005. nysci.org. 38
February 2018 | nymetroparents.com
WHEN: Tuesday, Feb. 13, 11:30am WHERE: Long Island Children’s Museum, 11 Davis Ave., Garden City, Long Island AGES: 3-8 WHAT: Join us each week as we read childhood classics and introduce new favorites, followed by a take-home, book-inspired craft. WANT TO GO? $4 with musuem admission: $13; free children younger than 1. 516-224-5800. licm.org.
Toddler Tales: ‘Guess How Much I Love You?’
WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 17, 1:30pm WHERE: Alley Pond Environmental Center, 228-06 Northern Blvd., Douglaston AGES: 3-5, adult WHAT: Share the sweet story of Little and Big Nutbrown Hare. Encourage a child’s love of reading by listening to a nature-related story specifically chosen for the littlest nature lovers. Registration required. WANT TO GO? $21. 718-229-4000. alleypond.com.
Storytime and Craft for Families FREE
WHEN: Wednesday, Feb. 21, 1pm WHERE: Queens Botanical Garden, 4350 Main St., Flushing AGES: 3-12, adult WHAT: Bring your little gardeners and nature lovers for a relaxing winter afternoon featuring nature-inspired stories, followed by a botanically themed craft activity. WANT TO GO? 718-886-3800. queensbotanical.org.
Pete the Cat Party FREE
WHEN: Thursday, Feb. 22, 2:30pm WHERE: Queensboro Hill Library, 60-05 Main St., Flushing AGES: 3-8 WHAT: Come along and join the fun with the coolest blue cat in books! Read some Pete the Cat stories, make some Pete the Cat crafts, and be cool, just like Pete. WANT TO GO? 718-359-8332. queenslibrary.org.
Toddler & Preschool Playdate FREE
WHEN: Through Feb. 22: Thursdays, 4:30pm WHERE: Queens Village Library, 94-11 217th St., Queens Village AGES: Newborn to 5 WHAT: Children and their caretakers can drop in for circle time, story, and open play. Come join this great opportunity for socialization and early literacy developement. WANT TO GO? 718-776-6800. queenslibrary.org.
Library Lover’s Month FREE
WHEN: Feb. 1-22, Thursdays, 4pm WHERE: Peninsula Library, 92-25 Rockaway Beach Blvd., Rockaway AGES: 5-12 WHAT: Kids can show their love at the library and have some fun with library-themed games, followed by an interactive group project. Registration required. WANT TO GO? 718-634-1110. nycgovparks.org.
Emerging Readers’ Storytimes FREE
WHEN: Feb. 2-23, Fridays, 4pm WHERE: Pomonok Library, 158-21 Jewel Ave., Flushing AGES: 3-8 WHAT: Special storytimes that celebrate Library Lovers Month. Hear Elephant and Piggie on Feb. 2; Pinkalicious on Feb. 9; Amelia Bedelia on Feb. 16; and Pete the Cat on Feb. 23. WANT TO GO? 718-591-4343. queenslibrary.org.
SHOW TIME Santiago Cruz: ‘Tour Interplantario’
WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 17, 8pm WHERE: Kupferberg Center for the Performing Arts, 153-49 Reeves Ave., Flushing AGES: 5 and older WHAT: Relive all the inspiration of this Latin Grammy-nominated artist in this unique show. WANT TO GO? $29 and up. 718-793-8080. kupferbergcenter.org.
‘Marvel Universe Live! Age of Heroes’
WHEN: Feb. 22-25, Thursday-Sunday, see website for times WHERE: Barclays Center, 620 Atlantic Ave., Prospect Heights, Brooklyn AGES: All WHAT: Marvel fans won’t want to miss this live, action-packed battle to defend the universe from evil. This all-new show unites Spider-Man, the Avengers, the Guardians of the Galaxy, and Doctor Strange in a race against time to recover the Wand of Watoomb before Loki gains control. This ancient artifact would allow Loki to achieve his eternal quest to crown himself ruler of the universe. WANT TO GO? $15 and up. 718-933-3000. barclayscenter.com.
Teatro Lirico D’Europa: ‘Madama Butterfly’
WHEN: Sunday, Feb. 25, 3pm WHERE: Queensborough Performing Arts Center, 222-05 56th Ave., Bayside AGES: 9 and older WHAT: Madama Butterfly has survived the test of time, through an entire century of being the most performed opera in the United States, and one of the top five in the rest of the world. The drama, accompanied by Puccini’s emotionally charged musical score, portrays the dangers of misguided love, and a brave pursuit of a better life. WANT TO GO? $35 and up. 718-279-3006. queensoratorio.org.
‘Tall Ships & Pirates Tales by Science Tellers’ FREE
WHEN: Wednesday, Feb. 28, 4pm WHERE: Baisley Park Library, 117-11 Sutphin Blvd., Jamaica AGES: 5-12 WHAT: Set sail on a thrilling action-packed adventure about a crew of quirky pirates marooned on a deserted island. Throughout the story, volunteers from the audience will help us explore the incredible science behind clouds, flash paper, air pressure, inertia, explosions, and more. WANT TO GO? 718-529-1590. queenslibrary.org.
Teknopolis 2018
WHEN: Feb. 26-March 9, Monday-Friday, 9:30am and 11:15am WHERE: BAM Fisher, Fishman Space, 321 Ashland Place, Fort Greene, Brooklyn AGES: 5 and older WHAT: BAM’s tech takeover returns for its second year, featuring installations by digital artists and technologists that build innovative bridges between the arts and technology. WANT TO GO? $10. 718-636-4100. bam.org/kids.
Gazillion Bubble Show
WHEN: Through Feb. 25: Friday, 7pm; Saturday, 11am, 2pm, and 4:30pm; Sunday, 12pm and 3pm WHERE: New World Stages / Stage 2, 340 W. 50th St., Midtown West, Manhattan AGES: All WHAT: Got bubbles? Families will get a kick out of watching bubbles expand, float, and take over the room at this Gazillion Bubble Show featuring so much more than soap spheres. WANT TO GO? $55-$75; $20 lap seat tickets for children younger than 2. 212-239-6200. gazillionbubbleshow.com.
Coming up next month: MARCH 10: The Dragon King by Tanglewood Marionettes at Flushing Town Hall, Flushing MARCH 24-25: Broadway Kids at Queens Theatre, Flushing Meadows Corona Park MARCH 31: Barnyard Egg Hunt at Queens County Farm Museum, Floral Park
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things to do
where-to guide
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Staying
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Inside
Compiled by Samantha Neudorf
With temperatures dropping and snow falling, who actually wants to be outside? Cozy up with some hot chocolate or tea, or spend the rest of this short month exploring an indoor play space. If you still want a taste of winter without worrying about the weather, visit an indoor ice-skating rink (it’ll probably be warmer inside than the temperature outside!). And if you are not a fan of winter, you can even pretend it’s summer at one of these indoor water parks in the Northeast. Stay warm!
INDOOR PLAY SPACES BounceU of College Point Whitepoint Center, 132-25 14th Ave., College Point 718-747-5867; bounceu.com Kids will love the obstacle course and numerous inflatables. Parents will love the early weekend hours. It also offers a Cosmic Open Bounce when kids can jump around in the dark. It’s a great way to burn off some steam. Reservations required. Find more>> indoor play spaces in Queens at nymetroparents.com/indoor-play-spaces.
HOT CHOCOLATE SPOTS Martha’s Country Bakery 70-28 Austin St., Forest Hills; 718-544-0088 36-21 Ditmars Blvd., Astoria; 718-545-9737 41-06 Bell Blvd., Bayside; 718-225-5200 marthascountrybakery.com Hours: Sunday-Thursday, 6am-12am; Friday-Saturday, 6am-1am Carries a variety of eight herbal teas, a chai tea, and chai latte. It also serves a homemade hot chocolate, blended from melted Hershey’s chocolate and steamed milk. Seasonal flavor varieties include peanut butter and pumpkin hot chocolates. In addition to beverages, Martha’s offers desserts and pastries. Find more>> hot chocolate spots in Queens at nymetroparents.com/hot-chocolate.
World Ice Arena 131-35 Avery Ave., Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Flushing 718-760-9001; worldice.com Hours: Year-round: Monday-Thursday, 10:30am-5:15pm; Friday, 9am-5:15pm and 7-9:50pm; Saturday, 12-4:45pm and 8-9:50pm; Sunday, 12-4:45pm. Opens at 11am on summer weekdays. Price: $7 weekdays; $10 weekends (starting Friday at 7pm) and holidays, including school vacation weeks. $6 skate rental. Find more>> indoor ice-skating rinks in Queens at nymetroparents.com/ ice-skating.
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Courtesy Sahara Sam’s Oasis
INDOOR ICE-SKATING RINKS
Kids of all ages can enjoy floating through Lizard Lagoon at Sahara Sam’s Oasis.
INDOOR WATER PARKS Sahara Sam’s Oasis 535 N. Route 73, West Berlin, NJ 856-767-7580; saharasams.com Hours: Thursday-Friday, 4-9pm; Saturday-Sunday, 10am-7pm. See website for updates. Admission: $39.99; $34.99 in advance; $32.99 for a halfday ticket; free for seniors older than 65 and for children 2 and younger. Even when it’s snowing outside, it is always a balmy 84 degrees inside Sahara Sam’s in West Berlin. Eleven water rides make Sam’s 58,000 square feet chock-full of fun. Lizard Lagoon is the hangout for the little ones, while teens will love The Flow Rider, the only indoor surfing simulator in New Jersey. Find more>> indoor water parks in the New York metro area at nymetroparents.com/indoor-water-parks.
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How Babies Learn to Love
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The good news: Your little one is hard-wired to adore you. The better news: There’s plenty you can do to help build that bond. By Deborah Skolnik
T
hroughout my first pregnancy, I dreamed of the moment I’d welcome my newborn. We’d cuddle and look into each other’s eyes adoringly, just like in the diaper commercials. And when my daughter finally arrived, that’s exactly what happened—on my end. I gazed at her lovingly, but she gave me a blank stare, showing me about as much affection as if she were a strange cat I’d bumped into on the sidewalk. I had to laugh. Why had I expected more? Babies and parents share the sweetest relationship, but it isn’t instantaneous. It takes time for the relationship to flourish, deepening through little interactions that build closeness. How does your baby’s love grow? We asked experts to share their insights, plus offer advice about what you can do to help things along.
All Set to Attach
Your little one may not seem smitten with you at first sight, but he’s built to feel close to you. “Babies are hard-wired to attach to their parents, or to one or two primary caregivers who are reliable,” says Rahill Briggs, founder of pediatric behavioral health services at Montefiore Medical Group in the Bronx and national director of HealthySteps, a program aimed at ensuring babies and toddlers have nurturing care. Scientifically, it makes sense: Your baby seeks a close tie to a caring adult or two because it’s essential for her survival. 42
February 2018 | nymetroparents.com
And if you happen to be your baby’s biological mom, you’ve got a head start on being his true love. That’s because he already recognizes you on a couple of very fundamental levels, says Erica Komisar, LCSW, author of Being There: Why Prioritizing Motherhood in the First Three Years Matters. “Babies can hear your voice in utero, and so they recognize your voice [after birth], and they can recognize your smell,” she says. “And once they connect with you [or dad, if he’s the primary caregiver], and they make contact with your eyes, it’s only your eyes that they seek.”
Feeding the Feelings
One of the best ways to build attachment and affection in your baby is through doing something that already comes naturally: feeding her. As you hold your little one and look deeply into each other’s eyes while she nurses or drinks from a bottle, it sparks serious chemistry, literally, sending a lovey-dovey hormone called oxytocin flowing through both your bodies. “That hormone is critical,” Komisar says. Created in the right side of the brain, oxytocin especially surges in your baby when you hold him on your left side. He uses his left-side visual field then, which actually is wired, crisscross fashion, to his right brain. (This also makes it a great idea to cradle your baby on your left side whenever you can.)
Of course, this loving eyeful only happens if you’re actually focused on your baby during feeding sessions. Komisar warns against letting your attention wander too often to the TV or your favorite tech tools. When you focus on a screen instead of your child, “you’re basically not doing what nature intended…the fact that we’ve manipulated the situation now to look at phones and iPads [while feeding] is very strange,” she says. And if you aren’t breast-feeding, Komisar suggests taking off your shirt for feeding anyway, when possible, since skin-to-skin contact is another cue for your and your baby’s bodies to produce oxytocin.
In fact, Komisar believes that early smiles are more than just the gas pains they’re commonly chalked up to: “Babies have emotions from the very beginning,” she says. “You can see from the very start a kind of joyful connection between mothers and babies. The idea is that from the earliest moments, a baby can smile at a mother and resonate with a mother, and a mother can resonate with a baby.” Whenever you do see that smile, it’s bound to spur your own affection: “For a parent who’s just been through those first two months of a newborn and is barely sort of hanging on, that social smile can be like the key to keep going,” Briggs says.
Needy but Nice
Preferred People
Attending to your baby’s other needs, namely for diaper changes and bathing, is another great way to build attachment. “Human babies so desperately need caregivers to love them, and to be reliable and consistent and empathetic,” Briggs says. “Babies are then just built to return that affection, as long as it’s a secure attachment relationship, and the primary caregiver has been relating in a way that’s reliable and empathetic and consistent and warm.” This doesn’t mean that you must slavishly attend to your baby’s every whimper: “We know that actually babies don’t want that,” Briggs says. “They want some downtime and they seem to need some resting time. But being reliably empathic and pretty consistent means that when your baby lets out a really big cry, the one that means ‘I am so starving and my diaper is wet,’ that you respond.” The empathy aspect is major, Briggs adds. “By that, we mean that what a parent does in response to her baby is related to what the baby did.” So try to mirror your baby’s emotions; if she’s crying, make a sad face and say, “Aw, sweetie, I know you’re tired!” rather than rolling your eyes or trying hard to cheer her up. She’ll sense that you really ‘get’ her—and don’t you feel closest to the people who really get you?
Talking the Talk
Speaking of, well, speaking, it’s super-important to talk or vocalize to your baby. He’s heard your voice since before birth, and gets all warm and fuzzy-feeling at its comforting tones. So do you; it’s the third cue to the brain to produce oxytocin. And you don’t always have to use words; cooing, singing, and making other affectionate sounds all create that baby-mommy love. When you speak to your child, Komisar recommends using “Motherese,” the high-pitched, sing-songy tones people so often use in addressing babies. “It’s a very healthy thing,” she says. “It has something to do with the intonations…it tends to grow the right brain of the baby.” In fact, she says, one sign that a mother may have postpartum depression is if she refuses to speak in Motherese, and instead only addresses her baby in flat, adult-sounding tones.
Little Signs of Love
Of course, having shown your baby love without bounds, you’d like at least a little reassurance that it’s a two-way street. How can you tell whether or not she’s as into you as you are into her? At the beginning, the signs may be subtle—she may seek out your gaze or even imitate some of your expressions. And then, by around 2 or 3 months of age (or even sooner), you’ll see more definite proof: She’ll smile at you.
Around 8 months of age, your baby’s behavior may abruptly change. Try to let your neighbor hold him, and he’ll fuss and reach back to you instead. This is the start of what’s known as stranger anxiety. “You’ll be like, ‘Where did that baby go that I used to be able to pass off to anybody in my office?’” Briggs says. This phenomenon peaks at around 15 months, then begins to fade out by 18 months. The flip side of this fear of unfamiliar people is love for immediate family: Clearly, your baby feels you and your partner are his ‘special people,’ and draws a line between you and the rest of the adults out there. At the same time, your child may start showing affection for her most special friends. It’s wonderful to watch her face light up when you bump into a pal from the park, or when your sitter shows up at your doorstep after a weekend away. Overjoyed facial expressions may be accompanied by happy-sounding vocalizations or generalized, delighted wiggliness. Either way, there’s no doubt your child now has a group that she considers her posse.
Rescue Me!
Strangers aren’t the only things that will spook your baby as he nears his first birthday. Other scary-seeming things may set him off now too, like the loud siren of a passing fire engine or the sight of a large dog as you’re walking down the street. His reaction? He’ll look for you, or cry and reach out to you. This, too, is a form of showing love. “There could be alternative attachment figures around, such as aunts and grandmothers, but when the baby is in distress, he’ll reach back for the mother,” Komisar says. “So you know that if your baby reaches back for you or looks for you when she’s in distress that she needs you, loves you, and is calling for you. It’s your eyes and your smell that she’s seeking.”
Smooches and Swag
By the time your baby celebrates her first birthday, you may see some of the classic signs of love—she’ll come in for a great big hug with those deliciously chubby little arms, or lean on in and plant a wet one on you (or even on grandma or grandpa, if nicely asked). And, as he starts walking and nears his second birthday, you may find yourself on the receiving end of more than just an embrace. Take your baby to a park, and she just may pick a flower and bring it to you. “It’s hard to know whether it’s a present of love or whether it’s just saying ‘Hey, look at this really pretty thing I found and let’s talk about it,’” Briggs says. Of course, if you’re like most parents, you’ll see it as a gift—why not? It’s just one of many signs that the baby you love so much is growing up to be a loving human being.
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family life finances
House Hunters
››
What first-time homebuyers need to know to navigate the market and find the right home By Samantha Neudorf
W
hen you hear the word “home,” you may recall fond memories from your childhood, such as gathering together for Thanksgiving, waking up to the smell of breakfast on weekends, or cozying up on the couch to watch a movie. Home may be a state of mind, but a house is where all of those memories are made. Now that you’re a parent, you may be looking for a house of your own—one where your children will take their first steps, and, many years later, return with their own families. Real estate shopping can be a tricky process, but by doing some homework (see what we did there?) in advance, you can avoid many common newbie mistakes. Here’s how to navigate the market to ensure you will find the perfect home to grow your family.
Figure Out Your Finances
Though it’s tempting to begin looking at houses right away, it’s not the best idea—later on you may realize you’ve fallen in love with a house you can’t afford. Greg McBride, the chief financial analyst for Bankrate, an online tool to compare financial rates, 44
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says the biggest mistake prospective homebuyers make is looking at properties before reviewing their finances. “That’s a recipe for trouble,” he says. “Instead, it pays to know how much you can afford and get pre-approved for a loan amount. That sets boundaries around your shopping.” The first step is to request your credit score from each of the three major credit bureaus: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. An ideal score is one that’s higher than 700—it makes you attractive to lenders and could help you get a lower interest rate on a mortgage. Getting your scores early on helps you know where you stand, and also gives you the opportunity to dispute any errors on your credit reports before beginning the mortgage application process with a mortgage lender. The next step is to pick a mortgage lender. This can be a bank or a credit union—and does not have to be one at which you have an account. McBride advises shopping around for a lender to find the best rate; you can do this by using tools such as the Bankrate search engine to compare prices in your area. Once you settle on a lender, request a pre-approval letter—this
shows home sellers you are a serious buyer and will able to be approved for a loan. After you decide on a house, place an offer, and the offer is accepted, it is important to know you are not obligated to the mortgage lender who gave you the pre-approval letter. In fact, it’s smart to put in applications with one or two other lenders at the same time, to figure out which one will give you the best price. “That can really give you an apples-to-apples comparison of who’s offering the best deal, both in terms of interest rate as well as the fees that are being charged,” McBride says. So how much house can you afford? In terms of the mortgage itself, the rule of thumb is to pay no more than 30 percent of your gross monthly income, which would include property taxes, property insurance, and any homeowner dues. When choosing the mortgage loan duration, most lenders recommend a 30-year loan to keep payments manageable while saving money for other things. “It’s better to keep your payments lower so you still have enough breathing room in your monthly budget to be able to save money for other purposes, such as emergencies, retirement, and your kids’ education,” McBride says. “You don’t want to be house-rich and cash-poor.” The loan may take 30-45 days to be approved, and in the meantime, you will need to pay for a home inspection, home appraisal, title work, and closing costs. Once you own the home and begin making mortgage payments, other fees will include principal and interest on the mortgage, property tax, property insurance, homeowners insurance, and utilities.
Know Your Neighborhood
Finding the right neighborhood for you and your family is crucial before settling on a home, because this will set the tone for your living situation. Jamie Marcantonio, a real estate broker for Coldwell Banker in Suffolk County, recommends researching neighborhoods and visiting them to get a feel for it. “I always emphasize that [prospective homebuyers] check every single town that they’re looking in and make sure that the school system is highly rated,” Marcantonio says. “That seems to be a real hot button for first-time homebuyers.” Visit the neighborhood and take mental notes of what you observe, and keep it in mind when viewing homes. For example, is there a lot of traffic on the main road? Is public transportation readily available? Are there a lot of parks? Is the area close to something undesirable, like a wastewater plant or high-tension wires? Another big decision is figuring out whether you want to raise your family in the city or the suburbs. Many first-time homebuyers in the greater New York area are looking to move away from the city and into a suburb. Deciding which town is best can be challenging, but there’s help. Suburban Jungle Realty, for instance, is a real estate advisory firm that connects homebuyers free of charge to “suburb strategists,” who then pair them with towns outside of the city. “Our strategists make sure you’re looking in the right places, asking the right questions,” says Alison Bernstein, Suburban Jungle Realty’s founder. The strategists also provide information, talk about the intangibles, and get homebuyers thinking about the right questions, such as what day cares are nearby? Can I get live-in help if I’m a stay-at-home mom? What kinds of restaurants are in the area? Where are your favorite places to take your own kids?
Choose a Home
After figuring out what type of home is in your price range, and what town, city, or neighborhood you want to live in, the fun part is going to showings and attending open houses. Marcantonio says finding the right broker is key to finding the right home. She advises homebuyers to interview realtors in person to decide who will be a good fit personality-wise and will be most attentive to their needs. “Go to open houses to see these brokers in real time,” Marcantonio says. “Watch how they’re interacting, interfacing, and what kind of information they are giving.” Once you find the right broker for you, sit down with them and begin a dialogue about what exactly you are looking for: Do you want a ranch- or colonial-style house? How many bedrooms and bathrooms do you need? Are you hoping for a large or small yard? When deciding whether you want to buy something on the lower end that will need renovations down the line or something that’s move-in ready, Marcantonio advises to think about whether you have the money to do renovations and if you are emotionally ready to go through with waiting for the work to be done—it’s not always as fun and easy as some well-loved TV shows make it seem. “Many people think ‘I’ll get a fixer upper, I’ll save money there,’ and in the long run they sometimes end up spending more money because they begin to take walls down and run into more expenses,” Marcantonio says. Remember that it’s okay to not feel pressured to find a dream house to show off. At the end of the day, a house provides shelter, but the memories you create and share with your family there is what makes it a home.
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QueensParent 45
Courtesy Google
family life home
Hey Google! Can You Teach My Kid Some Manners…Please? ››
Smart home devices have many advantages, but are they turning our children into brats? By Bethany Braun-Silva
J “
ust Google it,” my husband said when, last year, I asked him what day of the week Christmas fell on. Before I could whip out my phone and start typing, I heard my 5-year-old say, “Hey Google, what day is Christmas this year?” This is our life these days. We were recently gifted a Google Assistant, or Google Home device, an internet-connected speaker that does everything from play music to sync our calendars to answer any question, no matter how random. Within seconds Google replies with an answer, and we are on to the next thing. No “thank you” needed—it is, after all, a virtual assistant that’s plugged into our wall. But it didn’t escape me that if my husband had answered the question, I would have at least tossed a “Thanks, babe,” his way. This got me thinking about my kids. They are absolute sponges, picking up new phrases and mannerisms every day—from TV shows, videos on their iPad, and me and my husband. I, of course, want them to be polite and considerate kids who grow up to be 46
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polite and considerate adults. I started to wonder: Should I make them say “thank you” to the tech device that sits on top of our family desk? Amazon’s Alexa, Google Home, and Apple’s Siri will answer any question regardless of whether it’s asked politely. Kids can even be intentionally rude to the device, calling it a “jerk” or “stupid,” with no repercussions of hurt feelings or a scolding from Mom or Dad. However, it is a device, not a person, so I find myself torn on this issue.
Technology and Our Society
I’ve heard many times throughout the years that technology is ruining our social interactions. In fact, it’s contributing to the lack of empathy we see online—especially with kids and teens. “When social media relationships replace real-time, real-life, in-person human relationships, problems arise…That’s because when interacting with others from behind a keyboard, the communication rules are different—easier…You can say what you
want without having to witness firsthand the emotional fallout of poor choices or unkind words, even those that are misspoken,” according to “Is Technology Dehumanizing Our Society?,” an article published on dialogmagazine.com. This lack of human interaction is the norm these days. Internet trolls run rampant. I hardly know anyone who prefers talking on the phone rather than texting. And now, with these in-home devices, tech is literally everywhere. But even if this is the norm, should it be?
The Pros
Paulina R., a mom from Forest Hills, isn’t too worried about the social side effects that smart home devices may have on her kids. “The benefits far outweigh the potential drawbacks,” she says. “My kids use our Alexa like a modern-day library. They absorb so much information from that little machine, it’s incredible.” Meanwhile, Manhattan mom Vanessa McDaniels has found another advantage to her family’s Google Home device. “When my two boys get into an argument over who wants the iPad or who gets to pick the family movie, we ask Google to flip a coin,” she says. Arguments are settled in mere seconds, which makes for a much more peaceful household. Similarly, many parents of children with special needs praise virtual assistants such as Alexa and Google Assistant. “While on the one hand kids using Alexa may develop an attitude, there are also ways that creators, such as myself, are using Alexa to help children lead better lives,” says Daphne Mallory, a virtual reality screenwriter and producer. She recently developed the Alexa skill Autism Help, which is designed to help parents teach social, verbal, and functional skills to children with autism. “It may be easier and less stressful for children on the autism spectrum to interact with Alexa and learn skills, than solely with a parent or other adult,” she explains. “That’s the benefit of voice interface technology and how we can use Alexa in a positive way.”
The Cons
Even with the best of intentions, though, parents can find themselves at odds with their kids’ behavior when it comes to these devices. McDaniels is a bit worried about how their smart device may affect the way her children act outside the house. “The Google Home device answers our kids whether they are rude or not,” she says. “I’m concerned that this might get repeated with a family member or even a teacher one day.” And McDaniels recently caught her 6-year-old son Connor hitting the device when it didn’t understand his question. “We talked to him about his behavior and explained that that’s not how we treat things in our house,” she says. “But there was this thought in the back of my head that even though this behavior is totally unacceptable, we were essentially talking about something inanimate.” There’s also the issue of safety. Who’s to say these devices can’t get hacked or steal personal information? Certainly if a smart device resides in your kids’ room, there might be some cause for concern when it comes to privacy. “Google’s activities may affect the ads you get, the deals you are exposed to, the purchases you make, the discounts you receive, the entertainment and news you see, and your very sense that surveillance is natural. Plus, Google is only one of a gaggle of large companies involved in these sorts of activities—all the while seemingly hoping we don’t understand and are too resigned to push back,” writes Joseph Turow in an article titled “Google Still Doesn’t Care About Your Privacy” on fortune.com.
Manners and the Machine
So, is there a risk of these smart home devices making kids less empathetic—or even more demanding? “Devices are not turning kids into brats. Devices are merely tools,” says Donna Volpitta, Ed.D., founder of the Center for Resilient Leadership and a former special education teacher. “However, with the increase in technology and devices, parents need to be more and more mindful about the way they are parenting. Currently, there is a wide misuse of these devices, which puts kids at risk in many ways, including being at risk of becoming brats.” Lilian Rincon, product management director for the Google Assistant, is being more mindful by changing how she speaks to the assistant. “In my house, we say things like, ‘Ok Google, please tell me the weather’ and try to remember to say ‘thank you’ when we get the answer. We don’t always remember, and it’s definitely a balance, but I think my kids learn from how we talk to the assistant, and it has made an impact,” she says. “There’s always some level of risk with new technology and children learning about it at younger and younger ages, but as a parent I can model the behavior I want them to replicate, similar to how we do in real relationships with people.” Paulina takes a similar approach to ensuring her kids learn manners: “That’s something they will learn from my husband and me, and I don’t think my kids will grow up to be rude just from using Alexa,” she says. “Teaching manners is the parent’s job, and we need to adapt our parenting to these modern times.” Dr. Volpitta also suggests using the following tips to stop kids’ bratty behavior toward the devices—and toward other people: • S et limits and stick to them: It is our job, as parents, to establish and enforce rules and boundaries, and it’s our children’s job (whether we like it or not) to test those rules and boundaries. If you see your child pushing the limits as far as rude behavior is concerned, step in and explain why that behavior is unacceptable. If the behavior was toward a smart device, remove the device to be used another time. If it was directed at a person, have them apologize. • Enforce privilege guidelines: Using any kind of technology for fun is a privilege, not a right. “When kids are acting responsibly, they are able to earn privileges and use devices. When they are being brats, they should not be able to use devices,” Dr. Volpitta says. • Show you won’t give in to whining: Kids should accept the consequences of acting in a negative manner toward the devices, so stand your ground if your child starts to whine or bargain to use the virtual assistant before they’ve earned the privilege again. So like everything in our tech-crazy world, in-home devices come with pros and cons. My kids will continue to emulate what they see and hear, so my husband and I will start saying “please” and “thank you” to our Google Assistant to set a good example. Though while my kids were out of the house the other day, I did ask it a bunch of questions, both appropriate and inappropriate—in the name of research, of course. One was, “Hey Google, what makes you happy?” It replied, “I’m happy when I can help out.” Maybe the device can teach my kids some manners after all. QueensParent 47
raising kids teen
Help Your Teen Get More Exercise ›› Most adolescents are a lot less active than they should be—get yours moving with these expert-approved tips. By Deborah Skolnik
T
he teenage years. What do you think of when you hear that phrase? Probably kids growing like weeds and busily exploring new things, and, because of this, being more active than they’ll ever be again. But research released last June shows that this just isn’t true, at least not these days. The study, part of the National Health and Nutrition Examination survey, found something alarming: Physical activity peaks at age 6, then declines throughout childhood. Just how steeply does daily exercise decrease? By age 19, the average teen is as sedentary as a 60-year-old. Blame the tech revolution for a lot of this, says Jane Diamond, a master personal trainer and certified health and wellness coach. Kids aren’t outside all day until dinner, the way that we, or our parents, were as kids. “Our society has changed into an information society,” she says. “We sit at computers, we play games, and we’re on our phones. Kids come home from school and go onto Facebook and Snapchat.” Add in a lot of scheduled time for things like after-school help, homework, and instrument lessons, and it’s easy to see why today’s teens aren’t movers and shakers, at least in the physical sense. 48
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But it doesn’t have to be that way. With a little prodding from you, your teen can adopt a more active lifestyle, one that will serve her well throughout her life. We asked exercise pros how to make it happen.
Household Help
There’s plenty you can do around the house to encourage your teen to exercise. “Create an environment that reflects the change you want,” Diamond says. Steps like these can make a big difference: Lead by example. Show your teen that you embrace workouts. Keep an exercise bag at the door for trips to the gym, tennis lessons, or whatever physical activity you pursue. Invite him to come along with you whenever possible. If he can’t accompany you, make a point of letting him see you come home feeling energized and raring to go. “A little bit of that does sink in,” Diamond says. Load up your video game console with active games. “There are so many that make you exercise or dance,” Diamond says. And
get in the game yourself. Tell your teen, “I want to play too!” If it’s a competitive game, throw down a challenge to amp up the excitement factor and keep the activity going longer. Wean from the screen. While workout-based video games are fine in moderation, try limiting the number of hours your teen spends on optional, nonacademic screen time. Designate certain times of day, such as mealtimes, to be phone-free, so she gets used to the idea of letting go of her trusty device. And make certain areas of your house no-phone zones—especially the bedrooms. Your teen may end up getting more sleep at night, which will give her more energy to exercise during the day. Commercial-cize with your kids. When you do watch TV together, exercise together each time a commercial comes on, says Len Saunders, author of Keeping Kids Fit, who organizes programs on a national level for school-age kids regarding health and fitness. “If you watch a lot of TV, this can accumulate to a lot of exercise,” he says. Create a mini indoor gym. “For about fifty dollars, you can get all the equipment you need,” Diamond says. She recommends buying an exercise ball, a jump rope, carpet sliders, and a couple of sets of small weights. These are all easy to use, and there’s an abundance of videos and articles on the web to show you all the things you can do with them. Dole out some old-fashioned chores. Make your teen responsible for physical tasks around the house, such as sweeping the walkways, vacuuming the carpets, or mopping the kitchen floor. These responsibilities will get him off the sofa and onto his feet. Create an exercise chart for the whole family, with built-in rewards for your teen. Set the goal of an hour a day of physical activity for each of you, and have your child mark her progress. The incentive can be anything that you know motivates her, such as extra allowance money or the chance to get you to finance her Friday night out with her pals.
Take It Outside
Have your teen walk the dog if you own one and your neighborhood is safe for a solo excursion. One recent study published in the journal BMC Public Health found that dog owners walk 22 more minutes per day than people without pooches. Plan active outings—and tell your teen to invite a friend. Hiking in a state park with Mom and Dad? Lame. Hiking in a state park with Mom, Dad, and Hailey from bio class? Way cool. Pals are everything to kids at this age, so provide a chance for some buddy time along with exercise. “They’ll do a lot more when they’re with their own peers,” Liang notes. Run errands without using a car, bus, or subway. If your destination is within walking distance, go on foot or by bicycle. “If you own bikes, get bike baskets so it’s easy to take purchases home,” Lopez says, “and if you’re going on foot, take along backpacks.” Don’t be discouraged by bad weather. “There are so many wonderful indoor exercise facilities,” Diamond says. “There are places that you can go that have indoor skating, indoor rock climbing, basketball courts, tennis, and squash.”
Whichever strategy or strategies you use, set aside regular time for exercise, and make it a habit. “We didn’t wake up at age 2 able to go to the bathroom and brush our teeth on our own,” Diamond observes. “Someone taught us day in and day out. We practiced for years until it became so routine that we didn’t even think about it anymore, and exercise needs to become a habit, too.” With your help, your teen will get moving in the right direction, one healthy step at a time.
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There are even more opportunities for exercise outside the house. Get your teen up, out, and at ’em with these tips. Have the right outdoor equipment on hand, says Nedra Lopez, co-owner of P.E. Club on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Hang a basketball hoop above your garage if you live in a house, and challenge your child to a quick game after school Over 100 (or head to the nearest public court to do the same). Buy a To register go to: Speakers set of orange cones for your yard or take them to the park and www.YoungChildExpo.com More than 80 use them to play a simple game: Line up all the cones on one or call 212-787-9700, ext. 333 Conference side of a patch of lawn, and challenge your kid to see which Sessions of you can pick up and rearrange the cones on the other side Early Bird & Group Discounts Available Full Day & Half Day the fastest. Lopez is also a fan of resistance parachutes—small Workshops parachutes you strap around your waist that catch the wind as Presented by 40 Exhibitors & Over you run, creating muscle-building resistance. Want more fun? 1000 Attendees Invest in an agility ladder, which is a ladder-like device you lay on the ground. Play hopscotch with it, or check out YouTube videos of beginner agility ladder drills. Sign up together for an athletic event for charity, says Sandra2018_YCE_NYMP_1.6th ad.v1.indd 1 Saving money on a 1/9/18 1:16 PM LOOKING FOR Liang, a trainer at Crunch in Manhattan. It can be as simple as a New York City family day is easy! walk or as ambitious as a 5K you train for together, “and it also introduces your child to volunteer work,” Liang adds. Cityguideny.com has coupons and discounts for NYC sightseeing attractions, restaurants, Revisit your favorite childhood games. “Whether you played stores and more. tennis or racquetball or something else, explore them together,” Great New York deals, savings, Lopez says. It’s a great opportunity for you to teach your child a special offers and deep discounts—for you sport you know, and it’s quality bonding time, too.
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family life food & nutrition
Vegan Snacks for a Super Bowl Party ›› Three affordable, easy-to-make vegan treats that will appeal to everyone
N
ow that we know the New England Patriots and the Philadelphia Eagles will huddle up for Super Bowl LII, which will air on NBC Feb. 4, we’re thinking about what delicious treats we’ll be making for our viewing parties—and how to accommodate all tastes and dietary needs. These recipes from Frugal Vegan by Katie Koteen and Kate Kasbee are vegan (of course), nut-free, and can be made gluten-free if not already; are affordable and easy to make; and will even appeal to meat-eaters. So enjoy watching the QBs throw the pigskin without any actual pigskins.
BBQ Chickpea Sliders
Nut-free, soy-free Splurge: Roasted sunflower seed topping Serves 4-6 • 15 minutes to prepare Though they first debuted at White Castle, sliders have evolved to include pretty much anything served on a tiny bun. We took a plantbased approach with this recipe by using nothing but chickpeas, BBQ sauce, and a few seasonings to create the savory, delicious filling on these bad boys. If it fits in your budget, don’t skimp on the Pineapple Slaw. It adds just the right amount of sweetness and crunch for an irresistible party snack or summery dinnertime dish. Ingredients 1 (15-oz.) can chickpeas, rinsed and drained ½ cup BBQ sauce ½ tsp. garlic powder ½ tsp. chili powder Salt, to taste 12 whole-wheat slider buns 1 cup Pineapple Slaw (p. 143 in Frugal Vegan, or your favorite coleslaw recipe) Roasted sunflower seeds, for serving, optional Directions Add the chickpeas, BBQ sauce, garlic powder, and chili powder to a saucepan. Cook over medium heat for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring constantly and smashing about half of the chickpeas with the back 50
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of a fork or slotted spoon. Add water 1 tablespoon at a time if the mixture starts sticking to the bottom of the saucepan. Remove from heat and season with salt to taste. To assemble, spread a spoonful of the BBQ chickpeas on the bottom portion of a whole-wheat slider bun. Top with a scoop of Pineapple Slaw, and sprinkle with roasted sunflower seeds for some extra crunch, if desired.
Twice-Baked Potato Bites
Nut-free, soy-free, gluten-free Splurge: Use fresh chives in place of dried Serves 4-6 • 60 minutes to prepare Bust out the melon baller. You’ve got tiny potatoes to scoop out and that’s the perfect tool for the job. If you don’t have a baller, any small spoon will work. When it comes time for scooping, be sure to wait until the potatoes are cool before you scoop. Those little spuds can really hold their heat. Ingredients 2 lbs. red new potatoes (about 14), halved 1 tbsp. olive oil Coarse salt and ground pepper ¾ cup Vegan Sour Cream (p. 167 in Frugal Vegan, or your favorite recipe) 2 tbsp. chives, plus more for garnish Directions Preheat the oven to 450ºF. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.
Cut a thin slice off the bottom of each of your halved potatoes, so they sit flat. In a large bowl, toss the potatoes with oil; season with salt and pepper and arrange bottom-side down on the baking sheet. Bake until tender, 30 to 35 minutes. Let them cool on the sheet. When the potatoes are cool enough, scoop out about a teaspoon from the center of each potato and place in a medium bowl. Add vegan sour cream and chives, and mash; season with salt and pepper. Stuff the potatoes with the filling. Bake the potatoes until lightly browned, about 15 minutes.
Sun-Dried Tomato White Bean Hummus Taste more than 200 kosher wines!
Nosh on delicious snacks!
The Jewish Week’s
Grand Wine Tasting Event Nut-free, soy-free Splurge: none Serves 4-6 • 5 minutes to prepare If you’ve ever made or eaten traditional hummus, you know it’s made from a blend of chickpeas and tahini. But we like to break the rules, so we made it with white beans. The result is an ultra-creamy spread that offers a nice change of flavor from the stuff you’re used to. If you can find them, we recommend buying your sun-dried tomatoes in a package, rather than a jar. They’re way less messy and typically more affordable than the varieties swimming in olive oil. If you do buy sun-dried tomatoes in a jar, be sure to drain them thoroughly before chopping. Ingredients 1 (15-oz.) can white beans, drained and rinsed ½ lemon, juiced 2 garlic cloves, minced ¼ cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped ¼ cup olive oil ¼ tsp. salt 1/ tsp. pepper 8 Directions Combine the white beans, lemon juice, garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, olive oil, salt, and pepper in a food processor. Blend until the hummus is completely smooth. Adjust seasonings to taste. Transfer the hummus to an airtight container and chill in the refrigerator until ready to eat. Serve with sliced veggies, pita chips, or slathered on your favorite bagel.
Monday March 12 | 5 - 9 p.m. City Winery, 155 Varick Street Taste over 200 kosher wines, including the winners of The Jewish Week’s recent Top 18 Kosher Wine Competition Talk to kosher wine vintners, wine experts and local retailers Order your favorite wines to enjoy at your Seder, for your simcha and all year long Get your free copy of The Jewish Week’s Kosher Wine Guide packed with wine features, as well as our Top 18 kosher wines in 10 categories, and more! For tickets, VIP Early Access & details visit http://jewishweek.timesofisrael.com/wine-tasting/
VIP/Early Access 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm $79 and then admission to the Grand Wine Tasting Private tasting capped at 125 guests with a premium wine selection.
Grand Wine Tasting 6:00pm – 9:00pm $50 The ticket price on the day of the event for the main Gand Wine Tasting will be $60.
The Jewish Week THE JEWISH WEEK MEDIA GROUP
Reprinted with permission from Page Street Publishing. Photography by Allie Lehman. Cover design by Mette Hornung Rankin.
J WMG QueensParent 51
raising kids dental health
Healthy Smiles
››
Local dentists and orthodontists answer frequently asked questions about kids’ dental health.
F
rom the time we were young children, our parents took us to the dentist every 6 months for regular checkups and cleanings. Now that we’re parents, we’re doing the same for our children to ensure they have healthy pearly whites from the time their baby teeth grow in through the time they leave the nest. As with most things medical-related, it can be confusing what the latest recommendations are when it comes to oral health and how to help our children. So in honor of National Children’s Dental Health Month, we compiled some of the best advice we’ve received from dentists, orthodontists, and even a psychologist in the New York metro area to keep your kids’ smiles healthy and happy. Here’s what they had to say:
Good Habits Start in Infancy
Before your child has any teeth, you should wipe the mouth and gums with moist gauze or a soft wet washcloth after feedings and before bedtime. Once the first tooth comes in, you should use a small, soft bristled, age-appropriate toothbrush to clean the teeth two times per day: in the morning after breakfast and in the evening before bedtime. The last thing to touch a child’s teeth before bed should be a toothbrush. At first, no toothpaste is necessary; simply wet the toothbrush 52
February 2018 | nymetroparents.com
with water. For children younger than 3, a rice-sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste should be used; for children ages 3-6, use a pea-sized amount. It is best if a parent assists children preschool-age and younger in brushing. Take care to brush on the inside and outside of each tooth and the tongue, if possible. In order to maximize the beneficial effect of fluoride—a mineral that helps prevent tooth decay by making enamel more resistant to acids and harmful bacteria—your child should not rinse after brushing his teeth. Flossing should be initiated when adjacent tooth surfaces cannot be cleansed with a toothbrush. Kid’s flossers are an excellent aid in flossing children’s teeth. Evidence shows that in order to succeed in preventing oral disease, interventions must begin at infancy. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry suggests that your child should have a comprehensive oral exam, an assessment for oral diseases, caries risk assessment, dietary recommendations, and oral hygiene instructions by the time she reaches her first birthday. Good oral hygiene practices that are implemented very early on can have a positive outcome on her overall well-being. —Marita Smith, D.D.S., board-certified pediatric dentist and owner of Smith’s Little Smiles Pediatric Dentistry in Pomona
Know When Thumb Sucking Gets a Thumbs Down
on. However, laser treatment is not a common treatment, and only select offices have this equipment. Thumb sucking is okay as long as the habit stops after 5 years —Renuka Bijoor, D.D.S., a board-certified pediatric dentist at of age. After 5 years of age, the child’s permanent teeth will Briarcliff Pediatric Dentistry in Briarcliff Manor begin erupting—the first molars, the incisors on the lower arch—and thumb sucking will cause the child to develop an Got Braces? Be Proud! anterior open bite, where the teeth in the front do not come In our society, particularly in the adolescent age group, together and, as a result, the tongue has a lot more space to how people look really relates directly to their popularity. thrust forward. Because of this, the child may also develop And a good chunk of kids want to be popular. Their selfspeech impediments, since they cannot pronounce certain consciousness comes from the fear of whether they will be sounds due to the teeth not closing correctly and the tongue popular because now there’s something making them look thrusting forward. different. I think some kids take advantage of this by pointing If your child breaks the thumb-sucking habit by age 5 without out these differences and bullying those children with braces. any orthodontic intervention, the open bite will usually close on A lot of people get braces and want to hide them—a fact that its own by age 10 or 11, depending on the severity. our culture has embraced and addressed by coming up with Another thing is the upper arch will form in a v-shaped arch— invisible options such as Invisalign. kind of elongated forward—because of the constant pressure of We want kids to be proud and show their braces off. There is a the thumb on the upper teeth. That creates a cross bite, or scissor Twitter account (@GirlsWithBraces) where there are pictures of bite, in the back. girls with big smiles showing off their braces. Their approach is A cross bite needs to be corrected by expanding the arch with having braces is a positive thing rather than one that should make a special appliance called a palate expander. The palate expander you hide in fear. could also be used in combination with a habit-breaking appliance If a kid gets braces and approaches it with fear and wants to to correct both problems. hide, other kids pick up on that fear and that’s where a lot of the To break the thumb-sucking habit, the first recommendation teasing really comes in and it really is to talk to the child and erodes their self-esteem. encourage the child to $4.66: the average amount the — Jill M. Emanuele, Ph.D., a clinical minimize the habit as much psychologist at the Anxiety and Mood as possible. For example, it tooth fairy paid per tooth in late Disorders Center for the Child Mind shouldn’t be done for the 2016 through early 2017, according Institute in Manhattan whole day. Some kids don’t do it during the day because to Delta Dental Plans Association’s Learn What to Do If There’s a they’re involved in activities, national poll Dental Emergency at School and when they go to sleep, First, try not to panic too much they start sucking their as you approach your child. thumb. It still needs to be Oftentimes there is a lot of bleeding if the injury involves the broken in that case. mouth. The oral tissues are highly vascular, so profuse bleeding If that doesn’t work, they can always go to the orthodontist, is common. If the school nurse has not done so already, place an who can talk to the child. Sometimes kids forget they need to ice pack on the injury and apply light gauze pressure to the site of work on breaking the habit, and parents are so caught up with injury. This will usually control the bleeding, and the ice will help their work that they also forget, so what I advise is to put up with any swelling. If the injury involves the mouth or jaw, call your sticky notes all over as reminders for the child to take their child’s dentist right away. You may want to call your dental office thumb out of their mouth. Some parents also try thumb guards. as you head to the school so they are prepared to see your little As a last resort, there are habit-breaking appliances the one as soon as possible. orthodontist can cement in the child’s mouth. They come in If there is general head trauma, and your child is complaining different forms to prevent either tongue thrusting or thumb of headache, dizziness, or disorientation, take your child to the sucking. They have a roller that prevents the thumb from getting emergency room immediately to rule out a concussion. into a secure position in the mouth, and that will break the habit. If a permanent tooth has been knocked out of your child’s —Larissa Davids, D.D.S., orthodontist and owner of Rego Park Orthodontics mouth, do everything you can to locate the tooth. Try not to in Rego Park handle the tooth by the root. Make no attempt to clean the tooth if there is visible dirt or debris. Place the tooth in a cup of milk There’s Lots to Love About Laser Treatments or a “tooth saver solution” if the school nurse has it. The most Laser treatment is a method of handling delicate procedures ideal scenario is to place the tooth back in the socket if your child in children as young as 2-3, such as cavities and lip ties, which allows, but we often find that the parent and child are too nervous happen when the upper lips of infants are tethered to the upper to do so, and that is okay. Take your child and the tooth to your gums from birth. It can be used in multiple procedures in children dentist as soon as possible. Time really is important in this case; without instilling any trauma like anesthesia shots. For example, the sooner the tooth is re-implanted and stabilized, the better the dentists can use laser treatment in place of the conventional drill prognosis. If the tooth is a baby tooth, it will not be re-implanted. when treating cavities, eliminating the need for anesthesia shots You still want to have your child examined, and take the baby and making your child’s experience the least invasive and painful tooth with you, if you have it. Your pediatric dentist will evaluate as possible. The laser can remove tooth decay without touching the other teeth for any signs of mobility or damage as well as the tooth, and it numbs the tooth as an added bonus for your evaluate the jaws and bite to rule out a fracture. child’s comfort level. Another added bonus is that the treatment —Mahnaz Khan, D.D.S., a board-certified pediatric dentist at is shorter and less dramatic, which gives the patient a healthy Ehrenman & Khan Pediatric Dentistry in Westbury experience and prevents a fear of the dentist from developing early QueensParent 53
Professional services
Your local guide to tutors, teachers, lawyers, financial planners, and other professionals LICE
DENTISTS & DENTAL PROVIDERS AVENUE ORTHODONTICS 150-33 14th Ave., Suite 100, Whitestone 718-767-8400 avenueortho.com Dr. Eleni Michailidis and Dr. Abraham Chahine are highly trained orthodontic specialists. Schedule a complimentary consultation at Avenue Orthodontics to learn about the options available for your entire family. REGO PARK ORTHODONTICS LARISSA DAVIDS, D.D.S 98-41 Queens Blvd., Suite 1A, Rego Park 718-275-2006 davidsorthodontics.com Rego Park Orthodontics welcomes children and adults of all ages for a free orthodontic exam and consultation. The office is equipped with the most recent digital technology to make the experience of orthodontic treatment as relaxed as possible. DOCTORS & MEDICAL PROVIDERS 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 Queens: 718-640-6767; Nassau: 516-216-1791; Suffolk: 631-689-6858 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. LEGAL SERVICES THE LAW OFFICES OF JOSEPH H. NIVIN, P.C. 118-35 Queens Blvd., Suite 1220, Forest Hills 347-642-0376 153-01 Jamaica Ave., Suite 201, Jamaica The Chanin Building 122 E. 42nd St., Suite 2100, Manhattan nivinlaw.com; jhnivin@nivinlaw.com The Law Offices of Joseph H. Nivin, P.C. focuses on family and matrimonial law, including both contested and uncontested matrimonial proceedings, custody, visitation, orders of protection, child support, spousal maintenance, and paternity. 54
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 nontoxic. Treatments include two free re-checks. Whether or not you use our service, we are here to help you. PHOTOGRAPHY GLYPH CREATIVE STUDIO, MARIANA MARTINIS 2525 Borden Ave. 718-838-4827; glyphny.com At Glyph Creative Studio, we would love to capture your family’s exciting and precious moments of life in a fun, beautiful, and very spontaneous way. SPECIAL NEEDS HUG MUSIC, CREATIVE & NURTURING MUSIC LESSONS FOR EVERYBODY MUSIC LESSONS AND MUSIC THERAPY 112-01 75th Ave., Lower Level, Forest Hills 718-487-4309 hugmusicny.com; contact@hugmusicny.com We offer various fun and nurturing music classes, including music lessons on multiple instruments, music therapy for children with special needs, and baby-toddler music classes. LITTLE OPTICS INC. 192-07 Union Turnpike, Fresh Meadows 53-15 Roosevelt Ave., Woodside 718-468-7500; Hablamos Español littleopticsinc@yahoo.com We provide eyeglasses and professional eye care for children, including infants and young adults. We also alleviate any self-esteem issues associated with the stigma of wearing glasses. When your child leaves Little Optics, rest assured that they will feel confident. 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; Queens: 718-640-6767 Nassau: 516-216-1791; Suffolk: 631-689-6858
February 2018 | nymetroparents.com
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. 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. SPECIALTY APPAREL BRAVO! DANCE BOUTIQUE 108-12 72nd Ave., Forest Hills 718-309-9787 bravodanceboutique.com bravodanceboutique@gmail.com Bravo! Dance Boutique understands the value of community. Our mission is to be able to provide local families the convenience of obtaining dance apparel at competitive prices. THERAPY & COUNSELORS COMPREHENSIVE CONSULTATION PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES, P.C. 114-20 Queens Blvd., Suite CS 2, Forest Hills 180 E. 79th St., Suite 1C, Manhattan 1-888-441-0015; comprehendthemind.com Dr. Sanam Hafeez, an expert in diagnosing and treating all childhood psychological and learning conditions, has a refreshing approach: direct, warm, and competent. These qualities have made her sought after in the field of neuropsychology and child development. TUTORS & TEST PREP 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.
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. POPARAZZI BALLOONS & EVENT SPACE 61-19 Fresh Pond Road, Middle Village 347-204-5252 poparazzievents.com Follow us on Instagram: @poparazziballoons poparazziballoons@yahoo.com Making magic happen with balloons! Turn your dream party into a reality with POParazzi! We custom design your ideas to create the ultimate experience. PARTY PLACES AMERICAN DANCE & DRAMA 188-22 Union Turnpike, Fresh Meadows 718-479-8522 68-02 Metropolitan Ave., Middle Village americandanceanddramastudio.com We are one of Queens’s largest and most exciting birthday party locations, offering dress-up, disco, and gymnastics parties. We also offer bubbles and fog machines, cotton candy, plus crazy craft and princess parties!
Your local guide to entertainers, party places, activities, and other resources.
BOUNCEU OF COLLEGE POINT Whitepoint Center, 13225 14th Ave., College Point 646-883-JUMP (5867) bounceu.com/college-point-ny collegepoint.ny@bounceu.com BounceU of College Point is where birthdays come to life! We provide the ultimate private party and play experience. Come celebrate with us today! 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, chocolate, and candy projects. Come in, call, or visit celebrationsinthekitchen.com for more information on parties. MUSIC TOGETHER® WITH MUSIC AND ME Celebrating our new look with our new name! Wendy DeAngelis, center director (Mommy, Music & Me Inc. since 2003) Gym-Azing in Astoria Shotokai USA Karate in Bayside The Reform Temple of Forest Hills in Forest Hills The Church in The Gardens in Forest Hills Tiger Schulmann’s MMA in Glendale 718-229-0033 musictogetherwithmusicandme.com info@musictogetherwithmusicandme.com We provide unique birthday party musical experiences for first through sixth birthdays. Call us to customize your child’s musical birthday. We can also come to your space.
POPARAZZI BALLOONS & EVENT SPACE 61-19 Fresh Pond Road, Middle Village 347-204-5252 poparazzievents.com Follow us on Instagram: @poparazziballoons poparazziballoons@yahoo.com Our enchanting, multi-level venue hosts all types of celebrations. Call us or stop by an open house and start planning your next event. SOCCER FRIENDS USA INC. 106-06 Queens Blvd., 3rd Floor Gym, Forest Hills 718-261-2403; 718-261-2400; 347-756-2568 (para Español) soccerfriendsusa.com; soccerfriendsusa@hotmail.com Soccer Friends USA wants to celebrate your child’s next birthday party with you! We offer soccer parties for children ages 2 and older at several fantastic locations. USTA BILLIE JEAN KING NATIONAL TENNIS CENTER Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, Flushing 718-760-6200 x0 ntc.usta.com Birthday party packages include 1 hour of court time with drills and games organized by our USTA Pro staff and 1 hour private room for pizza. WHAT’S COOKING? 30 E. Main St., Oyster Bay 516-922-COOK (2665) whatscookingny.com info@whatscookingny.com Martha Stewart, Newsday, and News 12 boast What’s Cooking? is a No. 1 Choice Birthday Party Place where children can explore their creativity in culinary arts. Funtastic cookie, cupcake, Cupcake Wars, chocolate, or pizza party can be customized in our spacious party room making your party memorable!
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SALES OPENING MAGAZINES • WEBSITES • SOCIAL MEDIA • EMAIL send resumé to dmgsales@davlermedia.com
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Health Care
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Bar Mitzvah Bat Mi t zvah Sweet Sixteen Quinceañera
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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 Queens: 718-640-6767 • Nassau: 516-216-1791 Suffolk: 631-689-6858 Janine Stiene, speech-language pathologist, is owner and operator of Long Island Center for Speech and Myofunctional Therapy. Along 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, and 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. There is a total of seven affiliated offices across Long Island, all participating with most major health insurance companies and offering evening and Saturday hours.
OPENHOUSES 2018 Countryside Montessori School • Venues • Favors • Invitations • Food Samples
• Photographers • Décor • DJs and Entertainment • Judaica
Uniondale, Long Island Long Island Marriot Sunday, March 18th Get your FREE family ticket online at CelebrateShowcase.com Tickets purchased at the door are $10
354 Lakeville Road, Lower Level, Great Neck 516-466-8422 cmsgn.com info@cmsgn.com Join us for an open house for admission for the 2018-19 school year. Come into the classrooms and speak with our teachers on March 11 and May 6.
Hillcrest Jewish Center Day Camp
183-02 Union Turnpike, Flushing 718-380-4145 hjcdaycamp.org daycamp@hillcrestjc.org Starting on Sunday, Jan. 14 the office will be open from 10am12pm for Sunday tours and registrations. Call 718-380-4145 or email us for more information.
Kon Gen International Preschool
196-25 42nd Ave., Bayside 718-281-2338 Please join us for our open house
56
February 2018 | nymetroparents.com
on Wednesday, Feb. 7 from 6-8pm. Tour our facility, learn about or programs, and participate in classroom activities.
Magic Day Camp
216-15 Peck Ave., Bayside 718-634-8109 magicdaycamp.com Come to our open house session on Sunday, Feb. 18 starting at 1pm at Jib Lanes. Summer magic is here with swimming daily and several trips each week!
Samuel Field Y Day Camp
58-20 Little Neck Parkway, Little Neck 718-225-6750 x261 sfysummercamps.org agavora@sfy.org; dschaefer@sfy.org Join the Samuel Field Y for its first Summer Camp and Nursery School Open House of 2018 at the Spring Carnival on Sunday, Feb. 25 from 1-3:30pm.
FAMILY RESOURCE GUIDE To advertise: 212-315-0800 or nympads@davlermedia.com
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raising kids ad index
NYMetroParents.com features more than 20,000 businesses serving the NY metropolitan area! acrobatics / gymnastics All Star Studio ....................................... 23
birthday / party services BounceU - College Point ...................... 27 Christ the King Continuing Education ... 21 Cunningham Tennis ................................ 5 DanceSource (The) .............................. 25 Soccer Friends, USA Inc. ..................... 27 YM-YWHA - Samuel Field ................... 21
Stepping Stone Day School.................... 9 The Church-in-the-Gardens Nursery School ..................................... 23 World of Discovery Camp ..................... 25 YMCA of Greater New York .................. 23 YM-YWHA - Samuel Field ................... 21 Young People’s Day Camp - Queens ... 59
child care / day care Braithwaite Nursery School ................. 33 Kon Gen International Preschool............ 7 Mommybites ......................................... 41 Noah’s Ark Preparatory ....................... 17 The Church-in-the-Gardens Nursery School ..................................... 23
Young People’s Day Camp - Queens ... 59
religious
education
Mary Louis Academy (The)....................11
Braithwaite Nursery School ................. 33
research
Christ the King Continuing Education ... 21 Countryside Montessori School ............ 25 iCoding Club ........................................... 9 ISTEIN .................................................. 14 JEI Learning Systems Inc. - Queens .... 60 Kon Gen International Preschool............ 7
SUNY College of Optometry................. 33
special events Jewish Week (The) ............................... 51 Young Child Expo ................................. 49
special needs
Noah’s Ark Preparatory ....................... 17
Janine Stiene Suffolk Center for Speech ...................................... 45, 56 Stepping Stone Day School.................... 9 Young Child Expo ................................. 49
Stepping Stone Day School.................... 9
sports
Hillcrest Jewish Center Day Camp ....... 19
iCoding Club ........................................... 9 LIU Center for Gifted Youth .................. 25 Steps To Socialization ...........................11
Success Academy .................................. 2 The Church-in-the-Gardens Nursery School ..................................... 23 Young Child Expo ................................. 49
iCoding Club ........................................... 9
dance
fitness
Christ the King Continuing Education ... 21 Cunningham Tennis ................................ 5 Hillcrest Jewish Center Day Camp ....... 19 Magic Day Camp .................................... 3 Mary Louis Academy (The)....................11 Mill Basin Day Camp ............................ 19 Soccer Friends, USA Inc. ..................... 27 World of Discovery Camp ..................... 25 YMCA of Greater New York .................. 23 YM-YWHA - Samuel Field ................... 21 Young People’s Day Camp - Queens ... 59
camps All Star Studio ....................................... 23 Camp Clio ............................................. 23 Christ the King Continuing Education ... 21 Countryside Montessori School ............ 25 Cunningham Tennis ................................ 5 DanceSource (The) .............................. 25
ISTEIN .................................................. 14 JEI Learning Systems Inc. - Queens .... 60 Kon Gen International Preschool............ 7 Magic Day Camp .................................... 3 Mill Basin Day Camp ............................ 19 Noah’s Ark Preparatory ....................... 17 Oasis Children Services ....................... 14 Rose Academy of Ballet ....................... 14 Soccer Friends, USA Inc. ..................... 27
classes
LIU Center for Gifted Youth .................. 25 Mary Louis Academy (The)....................11
All Star Studio ....................................... 23 Christ the King Continuing Education ... 21 DanceSource (The) .............................. 25 Rose Academy of Ballet ....................... 14
Magic Day Camp .................................... 3 Mill Basin Day Camp ............................ 19 Rose Academy of Ballet ....................... 14 World of Discovery Camp ..................... 25
developmental
health
Janine Stiene Suffolk Center for Speech ...................................... 45, 56 Stepping Stone Day School.................... 9 Steps To Socialization ...........................11 YMCA of Greater New York .................. 23
Rego Park Orthodontics ......................... 7 Steps To Socialization ...........................11 SUNY College of Optometry................. 33
music Hillcrest Jewish Center Day Camp ....... 19
tutors ISTEIN .................................................. 14 JEI Learning Systems Inc. - Queens .... 60
QueensParent 57
raising kids quotables
How did your definition of love change after becoming a parent? “Becoming a mom taught me to love from a different part of who I was before my kids were born. Before I became a mom I thought I knew the boundaries of my heart. From the moment I found out I was pregnant and then first saw my children, I knew that this kind of love is totally different than any other love I’ve felt before and that love truly is limitless, life altering, boundless, and completely unconditional.” —Monica Shulman, artist and photographer, Lower Hudson Valley
“Before becoming a parent, I have to admit that my idea of love was fickle, superficial, and often materialistic. After having children, my definition of love became seriously unconditional because even though my little ones do & say things that may hurt me, I still care about them immensely and want to continue protecting and nurturing them. My parental love is selfless and my whole being is devoted to my children. This kind of love is physical and emotional and encompasses my life and affects every decision I make.” —Scherrie Donaldson, aka @thirtymommy, East Flatbush, Brooklyn
“...I came around to the front of the stroller, grabbed his legs and as words started to come out of my mouth, I felt my eyes fill with hot tears and my voice catch in my throat. I barely managed to say, “You are making mommy very sad” before the tears started cascading down my face.” Anyone else have experience with raising a strongwilled child?
“Love means catching throw up in your hands. Love means staying up with a sick child. Love means making four different sandwiches for four children. Love means that your favorite present is the one they chose from the boutique at school. Love means your favorite days are the ones where you see how proud they are of themselves and their accomplishments. Love means helping them through difficult times with a smile even though it breaks your heart. Love means my heart grew every time I had another child and that my life is full of love every day.”
(Posted by @brooklynboymom, aka Rhianon Hoffman)
—Rima Potter, Port Jefferson
in an instagram
I swear our emotions and psyches are inextricably linked with our children’s in some deep, cosmic way. What they feel, we feel. What they experience, we experience. We may not feel or experience what they do to the same degree or with the same intensity, but parental empathy is real. And it’s freaking exhausting. —Annie Reneau in a post entitled “We Feel Our Kids’ Feelings, And It’s Exhausting,” on scarymommy.com
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February 2018 | nymetroparents.com
“Having kids unlocked an entire new compartment in my heart for love. I tell them every second that I get that I love them and mean it sincerely. My heart feels full now and I am so happy to experience the love of a mother. It truly has no bounds.” —Suzanne Cohen, aka @gothamlove, Manhattan
Young Love “My son’s first crush was Victoria. It was love at first sight when they met in kindergarten and it continued in elementary school. Then Titanic came out and their relationship tanked too—until my son declared his affection on national television. During an appearance on the show Kids Say the Darndest Things, he said in the cutest little 6-year-old voice that he loved Victoria, but then explained: ‘She dumped me…because she loves Leonardo DiCaprio.’” —Laurie Sue Brockway in an article entitled “How to Handle Your Child’s First Crush;” read the whole thing at nymetroparents.com/first-crush.
More NYMetroParents.com Highlights: CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY: February is Black History month. Find where you can celebrate at nymetroparents. com/black-history. DISCOVER HISTORY: Check out historical locations in and around New York City at nymetroparents.com/ historical-places
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