Qp 0817 by City Guide NY

QueensParent AUGUST 2017

NYMETROPARENTS.COM

Organize

Your Home • 8 Hacks for Taming the Mess • What to Do With Kids’ Artwork

How to Turn After-School Activities Into College Scholarships! Reasons to

Relax

Why Me Time Is Good for Your Health

HELPING PARENTS MAKE BETTER DECISIONS

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ociates

RE-INVENTED. 1 Tooth + 1 Dental Visit _______________ (by Age 1)

0 Cavities

50-02 5TH STREET, SUITE B | LONG ISLAND CITY, NY 11101 | 718.530.6539 2

August 2017 | nymetroparents.com

QueensParent

NYMetroParents Helping Parents Make Better Decisions

Contents

August 2017 ››

Features

12 Battling Burnout How me time benefits your physical and mental health, as well as your relationships 16 Easy Home Organization Hacks for Families One mom offers tips for taming the mess and getting your home in order.

20 Hang, Store—or Toss? Ideas for organizing and displaying kids’ artwork 22 DIY Your Home Three projects to make your decor uniquely you, plus an easy way to clean crayon and pencil marks off your walls 42 From Extracurricular to Extra Cash How to turn your kids’ after-school passion into a college scholarship 48 The Dangers of Dry & Secondary Drowning What to watch out for even after children leave the pool

50 Bring Shake Shack to Your Kitchen Rather than wait on line for what feels like hours, you can make the NYC chain’s customer favorites at home.

Connections

6 Editor’s Note 8 New Places, New Programs 10 Quotables 11 NYMP Q&A: Lyss Stern, founder of Divalysscious Moms, talks reclaiming your identity after giving birth. 58 Voices: What Potty Training Taught Me

Fun & Activities

Family Activities CALENDAR ››

26 Outing: Wild West City 29 Family Activities Calendar 40 Where-To Guide: Pick Your Own Berries

Directories 54 55 56 56 57

Professional Services Party Central Meet the Health Care Professional Family Resource Guide and Party Planner Advertisers’ Index

ON THE COVER ›› Organize Your Home: 16 8 Hacks for Taming the Mess 20 What to Do With Kids’ Artwork 12 Reasons to Relax 42 How to Turn After-School Activities Into College Scholarships facebook.com/nymetroparents

@NYMetroParents

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

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AUGUST 2017 • Vol.23 • No.2

NYMetroParents nymetroparents.com

EDITORIAL EDITORIAL DIRECTOR: Michael Kress MANAGING EDITOR: Katelin Walling

EDITOR’S NOTE

DEPUTY EDITOR: Caitlin Berens SENIOR EDITOR: Bethany Braun-Silva ENGAGEMENT EDITOR: Samantha Neudorf

Hack Your Home Organization

erhaps you’re one of those people whose home seems immaculate and clutterfree every moment of every day, even as the kids run around being, well, kids. I, most decidedly, am not. Despite our efforts to keep some semblance of order and to teach our kids to clean up after themselves and put stuff away when they’re done with it, our house seems consistently overrun with toys large and small, notes home from camp or school, books strewn about, and of course, artwork everywhere. If your house is anything like mine, read on as we bring you our first-ever Home Issue. In these pages, find easy-to-do hacks for home organization (p. 16), tips for what to do with all that kids’ artwork (p. 20), and DIY projects to make your home feel more uniquely your own (p. 22). I’ve always found late August to be a good time for home projects. Summer is winding down, and my mind is on my kids’ school year ahead—a time to take stock, literally and figuratively, and get organized. It’s also a time for figuring out the kids’ after-school activities and classes. In recent years, mine have participated in a mix of gymnastics, drama, academic enrichment, and chess programs. For younger kids like mine, these are fun activities that build skills and character. For older kids, though, they can be even more rewarding and lucrative, even life-changing, as high school seniors seek scholarships to help with college costs. If your August to-do list includes gearing up for college applications—and figuring out how to pay for it all—check out Samantha Neudorf ’s report on how to turn your child’s extracurricular activities into scholarship money (p. 42). In the meantime, though, there’s plenty of time left to enjoy summer—safely, of course. I love swimming with my kids, but I must admit to feeling a bit of relief when it’s time to pack up and head home; there are so many potential dangers at the pool that I sometimes find it hard to relax. Recent headlines have reminded me, however, that the danger is not over just because a child is no longer in the water. Dry drowning and secondary drowning (related but different syndromes) happen in the hours or even days after a child has gulped water accidentally, and they can potentially be fatal. Learn more about these conditions, including how to prevent them, recognize the signs, and react if you suspect your child has them (p. 48). For fun beyond the pool, find the best activities in the region with our calendar (p. 29), or check out our report on Wild West City in Stanhope, NJ (p. 26). And finally, don’t forget to take time for yourself. Katelin Walling explores the importance of me time to your health and well-being (p. 12)—so if you need an excuse to take a run or relax in a coffeeshop, now you have it! Michael Kress Editorial Director

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REGIONAL EDITORS: Samantha Beranbom (Rockland); Karen Demeter (Suffolk); Rosalind Muggeridge (Brooklyn); Jamie McGillian (Westchester); Dorette Saunders (Nassau); Emma Steven (Manhattan); Gail Warren (Queens) DIRECTORIES EDITOR: Alice Van Dyke EDITORIAL INTERNS: Jamie Bonchick, Julia Hyman, Amanda Marrone

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QueensParent

NEW PLACES, NEW PROGRAMS

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Who: Kweller Prep What’s New: An after-school program for students in fifth through seventh grades, which is scheduled to start Sept. 12 at the Queens and Manhattan locations. The new program will concentrate on helping students with their English language arts and math homework, in hopes of building a strong foundation in preparation for specialized high school entrance exams. Kweller Prep offers tutoring and educational programs for Hunter College High School, specialized high schools, and SAT exams. Want More Info: 104-40 Queens Blvd., Suite #1C, Forest Hills; 1-800-631-1757; info@kwellerprep.com; kwellerprep.com

Courtesy Kweller Prep

Kweller Prep to Offer AfterSchool Program in Forest Hills

Kweller Prep serves students in the third through 12th grades.

Forest Park Carousel

Forest Park Carousel Adds New Ride Who: Forest Park Carousel by NY Carousel What’s New: The Frog Hopper, a mini-drop tower ride for children, which debuted July 1. Guests must be at least 42 inches tall to enjoy the ride alone. Children between 36 and 42 inches tall may ride with one accompanying adult, who can ride for free. “The Frog Hopper has been a big huge hit with all of our guests,” says David P. Galst, managing director of NY Carousel. “The free-fall feeling of the Frog Hopper surprises all of our riders, causing unexpected laughs and screams.” Want More Info: Inside Forest Park: Woodhaven Boulevard and Forest Park Drive, Woodhaven; 718-7882676; info@nycarousel.com; forestparkcarousel.com The Frog Hopper at Forest Park Carousel is a mini-drop tower ride for children.

August 2017 | nymetroparents.com

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UOTABLES Be easy on yourself postpartum. Ask for help. Call upon your village. Allow yourself to process all the feelings that come up. There is no rulebook. Practicing gratitude every day will help you keep things in perspective. My dear friend always says, “It’s like a hurricane in a teacup.” This phase feels like 1000 years when you are in it but I promise you it will pass. It gets easier. —Lindsey Bliss, in the “Honest Motherhood” series on theglow.com

in an instagram Saturdays. (Posted by @kaityvelez, aka Kaity Velez, co-founder of wellroundedny.com)

A SPECIAL MILESTONE

in an instagram When your friends force you on a ride.. what the heck #yolo Thanks @Lunaparknyc for hosting us (Posted by @mamidoesitall, aka Karen Angustia, who blogs at mamidoesitall.com)

“My son—he is exactly like me, we are kindred spirits and he drives me up the wall. We butt heads, we argue, we never see eye-to-eye which doesn’t make any sense because we are so damn alike. I guess you could say it literally does feel like we are two positive sides of a magnet trying to come to together yet repelling each other at the same time.” —Katie Smith, in a post entitled “It’s Not Easy When Your Child is Just Like You,” on mom.me

August 2017 | nymetroparents.com

“My son has autism and, at age 13, recently saw a movie in a theater for the first time. It is not something I thought would work for him—until now.” —Manhattan mom Dana Greenberg in an article entitled “Taking a Child with Autism to the Movies: 5 Tips From a Mom Who’s Been There.” Read the whole thing at nymetroparents.com/autism-movies.

MORE NYMetroParents.com HIGHLIGHTS: SAND & SURF: Find the best beaches near you at nymetroparents.com/beaches. LUNCH TO GO: Discover the perfect picnic spot at nymetroparents.com/picnic. SUMMER FUN: See 100 things to do in NYC this summer at nymetroparents.com/summer-fun. KEEP ‘EM SAFE: Learn tips for keeping kids safe at amusement parks at nymetroparents.com/park-safety.

NYMP Q&A

Motherhood is Fabulyss ››

The Mary Louis Academy

TMLA +

By Bethany Braun-Silva

Lyss Stern is the founder of Divalysscious Moms, a networking company for moms in New York City. Stern recently wrote the book Motherhood is a B#tch! 10 Steps to Regaining Your Sanity, Sexiness, and Inner Diva. Why do you think it’s so important for moms to reclaim their identity after giving birth? Being a mom is wonderful but that’s only part of what defines me. Motherhood should be added onto everything else a woman was before she became a mom. Of course, if you want to take a pause from work and you want to change careers or be a stay-at-home mom that’s 100-percent great with whatever you choose to do, but at the end of the day, moms, especially new moms, shouldn’t lose sight of who they were before they had a kid. So what are some things moms can do to get their mojo back? If you can get an hour of exercise a day or an hour to yourself a day, that’s ideal. Everyone can carve out five to 10 minutes a day whether it is going to your local coffee shop and having a cup of coffee with a girlfriend or locking yourself in the bathroom for 10 minutes and reading a magazine. For me, I take a bubble bath and I light some candles; that is my time. Go sit quietly for 10 minutes and meditate. Go for a long walk in the park, whatever it may be, do something just for you, and it doesn’t have to cost any money. Just hit the pause button, just take a moment to breathe, and you will start to feel a little bit better every time you do that because we take on so much. It’s great how you take ownership of the word b#tch. Can you tell our readers what being a b#tch means to you? In the book, we spell it out for you. “B” stands for, be the person you want to be. “I,” identify with that. “T,” take time out for yourself. “C,” care for yourself. “H,” ask for the help. We spell the word b#tch for you by giving you ways to make yourself stronger: to empower yourself to be the best you can be, to learn to say the word “no,” to practice self-care, to ask for help. I talk about it in the book, but when I first started off 13 years ago, I thought I was Wonder Woman. I had black hair and blue eyes, and I thought I could have it all. I could have the career and have these kids and do it all by myself. But here I am, 13 years later, and it was a wakeup call for me because I can’t do this all by myself. I want ask for help, I want to delegate, I want to take time for myself, I want to be the woman I visualize myself as. And I think that if all moms took a moment to realize this, we will be much better off.

At The Mary Louis Academy, you will find your own voice—distinctive, confident, intelligent, creative, and empowered—a voice that will be one of your greatest assets in life.

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Please pre-register for our open house at tmla.org

VISIT OUR WEBSITE www.tmla.org

The Mary Louis Academy is sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Brentwood, New York. Accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and Chartered by the State of NY.

176-21 Wexford Terrace, Jamaica Estates, NY 11432 Phone: 718-297-2120 | Fax: 718-739-0037 @WEARETMLA | #HILLTOPPERNATION | TACHS #016 QueensParent 11

FOCUS ON: ME TIME

Battling Burnout

››

Why spending 15-20 minutes every day doing something for yourself will benefit your physical and emotional health, as well as your relationships with your partner and children By Katelin Walling

our kids left their shoes in the middle of the entryway, and your first reaction is to lose your cool and yell at them. You’re pulling away from your partner because you feel like he isn’t doing his fair share of household chores. Your mental, physical, and emotional health is crumbling because you consistently feel stressed out. If any of these scenarios sound familiar to you but you’re not sure why you’re feeling this way, I have two words for you: caregiver burnout. Yes, it’s a very real thing. And the antidote to caregiver burnout? Me time. “The way I like to put it often is, if you don’t put on your oxygen mask first, you can’t really help anyone around you. So to some degree women often do feel responsible and even guilty and push themselves to be there for everybody else in their lives,” says Gail Saltz, M.D., a Manhattan-based psychiatrist and author of The Power of Different. And to do so with maximal effort and without staying attuned to their own emotional or physical needs, they can become very depleted and unable to care for themselves and for others, she says.

August 2017 | nymetroparents.com

Health Benefits of Me Time

“Me time is recovery time, it’s recoup time, it’s regeneration time,” says Elizabeth Lombardo, Ph.D., author of Better Than Perfect: 7 Strategies to Crush Your Inner Critic and Create a Life You Love. “When you continually do something—even if it’s something you enjoy doing—if you keep doing it and pushing yourself without ever taking a step back, that’s like training for a marathon and running 100 miles a day. You can’t do that. Your body can’t handle it,” she says. So how, exactly, does me time positively affect physical and mental health? Overall, it relieves stress, which can: Boost the immune system. Based on research in the field of psychoneuroimmunology (the study of the effect of the mind on health and resistance to disease), when we are stressed out, we’re more likely to get sick because our immune system doesn’t function as well, according to Dr. Lombardo.

Help prevent and relieve chronic pain. Constant stress is also likely to cause aches and pains, Dr. Lombardo says. When she first started her private practice in psychology (she also has a background in physical therapy), Dr. Lombardo worked exclusively with those who had chronic pain known as medically unexplained pain. “The majority of those people had something in common, which was they took care of a whole lot of other people and did not have a lot of me time. They didn’t allow their bodies to rest and recoup, and they pushed it to the limit until their bodies finally said, if you’re not going to listen to me, I’m going to make you listen to me, and they developed chronic problems,” she says. Lead to better overall health. Moms who don’t take any time for themselves tend to forgo exercise and may skip doctors visits. “Physically you don’t have cardiovascular health and all that goes with it, you don’t go to the doctor and do preventative health care, you don’t go to the doctor and catch things in early stages that maybe can be dealt with as opposed to waiting,” Dr. Saltz says. Prevent negative thinking. “When we are at heightened levels of stress without coming down, it affects our ability to think and we tend to use cognitive distortion. We tend to think in more negative ways,” Dr. Lombardo says. “We personalize that our kid doesn’t pick up their shoes and get more upset about it than we need to.” Cause more positive emotions and prevent unhealthy habits. “I think for moms the biggest issue becomes depression or anxiety related to feeling that they have not done anything to meet their own emotional needs,” Dr. Saltz says. When we experience negative emotions, Dr. Lombardo says, we tend to turn to alcohol, retail therapy, and what she likes to call Ben & Jerry’s therapy to squelch those feelings. Lead to a better night’s sleep. Constant stress can lead to trouble sleeping, which affects mental and physical health, Dr. Lombardo says. “I don’t know about you, but when I don’t get enough sleep, I can’t think straight and I’m frankly not a very nice person, and that can affect our mental health,” she says.

Your Me Time Benefits Everyone in Your Life

Burning out affects more than just physical and mental health; it affects relationship health, too. “When we have that time to ourselves, we can be close to our true self, and that true self is the person who has less stress, is compassionate and loving,” Dr. Lombardo says. “When you are your true self, you are a lot more fun to be with, you are a lot more forgiving.” Mia Redrick, The Mom Strategist™ and author of Time for Mom-Me: 5 Essential Strategies for a Mother’s Self-Care and Time for Mom-Me: 365 Daily Strategies for a Mother’s Self-Care, adds that when you spend time “dating yourself” (something her mother made her promise to do every week as a mom), you become clear about what’s good for you—what you really want and need in life—and truly knowing yourself adds value to yourself. “I think that one of the greatest assets is being a parent that has added value to herself and therefore you can add value to that parent-child relationship. Imagine that because you are connected to who you are, your kids now know the things that make you happy and fulfilled,” Redrick says. Another thing to consider is children constantly observe their parents. “If you think about how you want your children to be

when they become parents, my guess is we all want our kids to be healthy, well-rounded parents. …So it’s really modeling positive behavior for them to be able to see that Mom gets time for herself,” Dr. Lombardo says. “And that’s a good thing.” Plus, not taking me time is unhealthy for the parent-child relationship “in terms of being so enmeshed with your child and promoting the idea that your child can’t be okay without you,” according to Dr. Saltz. “You want a child to be able to separate and feel that they can be independent and they’re okay.” As for how me time benefits relationships between partners? For moms who don’t have me time, “their primary relationship may start to decline, their sexual relationship may start to decline. Particularly, moms can become so focused on children that spouses can feel like, hey, there’s nothing going on between us—anything from strain to feeling disconnected and feeling like, [she’s] not in love with me anymore, or even feeling like, [I’m] not in love with [her] anymore. So time must be taken to maintain a healthy primary relationship,” Dr. Saltz says. Dr. Lombardo shares a story about one of her clients. He and his wife were having issues, and they had young children. For their anniversary, he got a hotel room for one night and had her stay there alone. “Honestly it’s the best thing he could have done for their marriage,” Dr. Lombardo says. “To realize that he understood she just needed some time to herself, and he was not only okay with it, he made sure it happened. I’m not saying it saved their marriage, but it did a lot.”

“Finding” Time for Me Time

“Before we even talk about finding time, we have to talk about giving yourself permission,” Dr. Lombardo says. “Because here’s the thing: We all have the same amount of time, we all know that. So if something is so important to you, you’re going to do it. No one says, I haven’t brushed my teeth all month because I just couldn’t find the time. So the first thing is to realize why it’s important to you personally, but also to your kids.” Once you’ve given yourself permission to take me time—and we’re only talking 15-20 minutes a day—a good next step is to figure out the best time, Dr. Saltz says. Is it when your partner is home to care for your young child, or if you want to do something with your spouse, can a grandparent or babysitter care for your child? For Redrick, finding that time comes from implementing three techniques: Mirroring: When you’re doing something for yourself, have your kids do that same thing for themselves. For instance, tell your kids, Mommy is going to read a book to herself for two minutes, and you’re going to read a book to yourself for two minutes. “I did this with my kids when they were very young. As they got older, the time grew, but as a result of that, I could always read for myself, by myself every single day,” Redrick says. Blending: When Redrick does something for her kids, she looks for an opportunity to do something for herself during that time. “I do something for myself every day because it’s tied to me doing something for my kids. For example if I push them on the swing, I do a squat for myself. If I sign them up for an activity, I can write my book while they’re in their class or practice. I always look for opportunities to do things for me and advance me while I’m doing things for them and advancing them.” continued on next page ››

QueensParent 13

‹‹ continued from previous page

DIPP: Delegate household chores or tasks to family members to create more time for yourself, even something as simple as “having the kids do the dishes so you can read a book,” Redrick says. Incorporate others in your space. “Maybe, if you’ve got young children, you have a mother’s helper—a 13- to 15-year-old that comes over to your house so that you can make some calls if you’re trying to start a business while she reads to your kids for an hour, or something like that. Maybe its grandparents who ritualistically commit to coming over to get the kids so you can take a bath alone without the kids knocking on the door,” she says. Plan time for yourself. It’s impossible to make time for you if you don’t plan it. You don’t get the support you need if you don’t plan it. Purge your calendar and get rid of activities that no longer add value to your life. “I think so many moms are really good at addition and not great at subtraction. We just add and add and add. And then you try to figure out why you’re feeling overwhelmed, why there’s no room for me time—it’s because we’re connected to so many things,” Redrick says.

Suggestions for Me Time

Now that you know why taking me time is important and how you can find the time, the next step is to figure out what you want to do during your alone time. “Once you identify [what you want to do], figure out how can you do it. So if someone says to me, oh, I just want to go to the beach and get away for five days. Okay, maybe you can’t do that, but maybe you can do part of that. So if you live near a beach, you can go for a walk down there. If it’s just sitting in the warmth, maybe it’s taking 20 minutes [to sit] in a hot tub or getting in the warm bath. So just looking at what do you want to do and looking at ways to do it,” Dr. Lombardo says. If you’re stumped and need an idea to kick-start your me time, try: Indulging in self-care. Take a nap, meditate, or do guided visualization “where you can kind of go on a metal vacation,” Dr. Lombardo says (you can find free guided visualization videos on YouTube). Or splurge a little and get a massage or a mani/pedi. Doing something small and inexpensive. “A lot of people think me time has to be expensive. It doesn’t have to be,” Redrick says. “I initially would just go to a coffee shop and enjoy a cup of coffee and read a book to myself, or I would go to the bookstore and spend some time alone, or I would go to a park with a picnic blanket and snack that I like and I could spend some time just to hear myself think.” Reading a book or magazine. “I had one client who was talking about how she had a stack of magazines that built up over three years. She had three kids and she had the magazines, but hadn’t read any of them,” Dr. Lombardo says. “And just the thought of sitting down with her feet up without anyone asking her for anything for 10 minutes was all she wanted, and that’s so easy to do.” Signing up for a class or activity. Just because you say you’ll take me time, it doesn’t mean you’ll always commit to yourself and actually take it—something inevitably will come up. “If you find you’re one of those people and you have all the support in the world, then what you do is you commit in advance with an activity,” Redrick says, “So I would book a concert series six weeks out, and I knew I would go because I paid in advance, or a cooking

August 2017 | nymetroparents.com

class, or a yoga class, or Zumba. Commit with your dollars to a class that has a date and that will get you out of the house.” Engaging your creative side. Whether it’s music, journaling, painting, knitting, writing, or drawing, your creative talents can be utilized during me time. Dr. Lombardo has a client who, when they were talking about musical instruments, said she used to play the guitar and wished she had never stopped. When Dr. Lombardo asked why she didn’t play now, “she looked at me like I was crazy and said, ‘I don’t have any time!’ And I said, ‘What if you took 15 minutes once a week to play the guitar. What would that be like for you?’ And she just became dreamy, just that thought to her was so wonderful,” Dr. Lombardo says. Going to the gym or for a walk. “I think exercise is a biggie because it really helps with mood, it helps with mental health and physical health. So that’s an important thing to try to be doing,” Dr. Saltz says. “But if you don’t find exercise to be pleasurable, then it is important to have times when you’re picking something that you do enjoy.”

Overcoming the Mom Guilt

While the idea of taking me time is well and good, what about that ever-lingering feeling of mom guilt and the fear of being on the receiving end of mom shaming? “When people are concerned about being judged by other people, what they really are is judging themselves. Because if you aren’t judging yourself, if you are one hundred-percent fine with it, then another mother could say some comment or remark like, oh, it must be nice to be able to do that, and it doesn’t hurt,” Dr. Lombardo says. Moms feel guilty about spending time alone because they have a perfectionistic expectation of themselves and they shouldn’t need me time, according to Dr. Lombardo. “In psychology we talk about should-ing all over yourself. I shouldn’t do this. I shouldn’t do that. That’s ridiculous, and it’s so harmful psychologically, it’s so harmful physically, it’s so harmful socially,” she adds. “We are such an all-or-nothing society—you’re either selfish or selfless, but there’s a lot in between. So realizing that it’s not being selfish, it’s practicing good self-care. You can’t consistently be a great mom if you’re so overwhelmed you’re not taking time for yourself. We have needs like rest, we have needs like having fun…and we really need to take care of those needs. You can take care of yourself and that doesn’t make you selfish. It makes you human.” On the other hand, “if you’re so overwhelmed with guilt that you can’t take 15 minutes to go take a bath or to read a book, I would be concerned that either you have separation anxiety from your child, or your child is having something going on that makes it feel like you can’t leave. Maybe they have an issue that needs attending to or you have an issue going on that needs attending to,” Dr. Saltz says. “It should be okay to take 15 minutes to do something relaxing or engaging that doesn’t include your child.” And if that mom guilt does start to creep in when you’re doing something for yourself, just remember: “We’re human. Everyone needs time for themselves, it’s just part of they way we’re made up,” Dr. Lombardo says. “Remind yourself, I’m being a really good mom by taking this time for myself because I can be much more engaged with my children. I can be more present.” This is the first in a two-part series on me time. Next month: Why downtime is important for kids—and how to balance it with their busy after-school activities schedules.

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A pill organizer makes for great hair tie storage.

Use food containers to store craft supplies.

Easy Home Organization Hacks for Families

Recycle shoeboxes to organize messy drawers.

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Clutter is a fact of life for most parents. One mom offers tips for taming the mess and getting your home in order.

Hack #1: Baskets

By Jennifer Garry

Let’s be honest: When you have kids, you accumulate an abundance of stuff. From products to soothe and comfort them as babies to itty bitty figures and the countless toy houses that go with them when they’re a little older, it can get really tough to tackle clutter. While I can be the queen of messes, sometimes I go on epic decluttering sprees that leave me feeling much more sane and in charge of my surroundings—even if neither of those things is actually true. In the spirit of helping a mother out and making you feel more sane and in charge, I’m sharing eight super-simple organization tricks that my sister and I swear by.

In my house, there are baskets everywhere. We have shelves filled with them. They’re in our cabinets and under side tables. They’re next to my girls’ desks and all over our basement. The reason? They offer an incredibly easy way to contain similar items and hide things that look messy. Toys are sorted into different categories and the baskets are put onto our shelves. Things my daughters need to put away are in baskets next to their desks. Smaller baskets hold like food items to make it easier to grab and go. And I love the look of nice, cozy blankets stored in a basket instead of haphazardly strewn over chairs. Baskets can also be a great way to store puzzles and card games, which brings me to our next hack…

Hack #2: Storing Board Games I won’t lie to you—our board game situation was the bane of my existence for a while. I cringed any time one of the girls asked to play a game because I knew that getting a board game out was going to require some serious Tetris skills and would more likely than not end with me getting hit in the head with flying game pieces. That is until I made the (brilliant) decision to store all of our board games sideways instead of lying them flat and on top of one another. This way, when someone wants to play a game, all you have to do is slide it out of its slot. There’s no delicate balancing act or cursing or crawling on the floor looking for tiny pieces. Pro tip: You might want to secure boxes with a rubber band if you store them this way to make sure the tops don’t slide off. 16

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Hack #4: Food Containers for Craft Supplies Like dress up, craft supplies are another area that gets unruly really quickly. For one, I’m kind of a craft supply hoarder. Aside from typical things such as crayons, markers, and glue, I keep an assortment of things that may otherwise have found their way into the garbage. I love seeing what creative ways my daughters find to use things such as bottle caps or a pair of jeans that got too tattered to wear anymore. (The jeans were turned into a pretty cool throw pillow by my tween.) The problem? With so many random things on hand, it can be difficult to corral them and then store everything neatly—until my repurposed craft supplies inspired me to repurpose containers to hold them in. Now I clean and save takeout containers or any other plastic containers our food comes in (hummus containers, for instance, are a great size for holding tiny beads) and store craft supplies in those. Not only is it cheap and eco-friendly, but it keeps things contained and makes it easier to stack them inside our craft closet.

Hack #5: Pill Organizer for Hair Ties Hack #3: Kids Dress Up Outfits I don’t know about you, but I’m a saver. If I think my kids will get use out of it, it stays. That means we have a ragtag collection of old Halloween costumes, party props, and dress up clothes exploding all over the place. While I’ve yet to tackle our mess, I absolutely love how my sister organized my niece’s dress up. With nothing more than a hanging rod and a shelf, not only does her dress up look nice, but it’s organized in a way that’s manageable for my niece and makes choosing things much less overwhelming than digging through an enormous mound (which is our current situation). The baskets up top keep all of the loose accessories together and out of view.

Another kids organization problem always making me crazy is hair ties—especially the teensy, tiny hair ties required for babies’ fine hair and for securing small braids and ponytails. They’re so small they’re hard to keep track of to begin with. Add in varying sizes and kids who get very specific about what color is allowed to grace their head each day and you have yourself a situation that can easily suck up more of your precious morning time than you’d like. Pill organizers have completely changed that for me. The small compartments are the perfect size for sorting hair ties of different colors, sizes, and materials. It makes it easier to find what you’re looking for and helps limit choices if your daughter has to pick them out herself. It’s essential to note that, obviously, this is not a great idea if you regularly use pill organizers for actual medicine. I wouldn’t want my daughter feeling comfortable sorting through one for hair ties if there were organizers elsewhere in the house containing medicine that she might find and feel free to explore.

Hack #6: Shoeboxes for Storage This one is similar to baskets, but it’s a free, ecofriendly version for spots that don’t need to look pretty. You can, however, make them pretty if you need to with a coat of paint or some scrapbook paper. My kids’ dressers always drive me crazy. They’re constantly digging and pulling things out of there so that it becomes impossible to find anything really quickly. To combat that, I’ve started using shoeboxes to keep smaller items together. I fill open shoeboxes with underwear, socks, tights, and bathing suits to make them easier to find. I can’t even tell you how much time this one little tip saves me. I also use shoeboxes for crayons, markers, colored pencils, and stickers. It’s so much easier than trying to keep them in the boxes they typically come in. My girls generally destroy those pretty quickly. continued on next page ››

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Hack #7: Toilet Paper Tubes for Cords I realize this one sounds a little insane at first, but hear me out. We had tangled messes of power cords and wires for all of our technological devices spread all over the house. My husband solved the tangling problem with Velcro strips, which at least helped tame them into little circles. But there was still the problem of having cords all over the house and constantly being unsure of where to find the particular one we needed. Enter toilet paper tube organization! Once the cords are wrapped into tight circles and secured with Velcro, they fit perfectly into toilet paper tubes—which fit nicely into shoeboxes. Now, we line up toilet paper tubes inside of a shoebox (which is so easy to tuck into cabinets and out of sight) and store a cord in each tube. Pro tip: Use washi tape to make labels for each of your cords to make finding them even easier.

Hack #8: Wine Crates for Storage Sometimes it’s nice to switch things up a bit. My sister scored a bunch of wine crates for free at a local liquor store. Like baskets and shoeboxes, they are a great way to contain things, but they add a different kind of visual feel. While baskets can almost melt into the background and go unnoticed, wine crates are a little unexpected and add a cool touch. They’re also nice and sturdy, which comes in handy if little people are going to be sorting through them. If you have any hacks for organizing your home that you swear by, I’d love to hear them. I’m all for anything that makes life easier Jennifer Garry is a freelance writer and Westchester mom. She writes the blog CuddlesandChaos.com.

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Haeley Giambalvo of Design Improvised

A child hangs her artwork in frames her parents have hung on the wall for this purpose.

Hang, Store—or Toss? A simple kids’ art wall, using wire and clothespins

Kids love to create, and create, and create some more. Here’s how to display and organize all that artwork—and when it’s okay to make it disappear. By Bethany Braun-Silva

et’s face it, there’s only so much room on the fridge, and hanging macaroni art or finger paintings on the living room wall might not be to your design taste. No judgment, it’s not mine either. So what do we do with the countless art projects our kids create in camp, in school, at after-school programs, at friends’ houses, and at home? Sure, we can toss some of it, but we naturally want to keep a lot of it, albeit without creating clutter. Luckily, there are some fun ways to display and store your kids’ artwork, all while getting them involved in the process, too.

Let Your Child Decide

Kids love to show off what they’ve learned and accomplished, and that’s why a DIY gallery wall is a great way to give them some ownership of their space and their artwork. Hang several empty frames of various shapes, sizes, and colors in your child’s room. Then give her some blue tacky or scotch 20

August 2017 | nymetroparents.com

tape and let her decide which of her masterpieces to display. The artwork can easily be swapped out, and older pieces can be moved to storage (or recycled!). If you don’t have a ton of wall space, leave it to Target to sell the perfect solution. The Loft by Umbra Kids Art Display & Storage frame allows you to store artwork right in the frame: Your child can pick a piece of artwork to display while storing several other pieces behind it, and she can switch it out when ever she feels like it. It’s a space-saving lifesaver! Another easy way for kids to display their own art is by hanging a wire and attaching some clothespins to it. Haeley Giambalvo, a DIY expert and founder of the blog designimprovised.com writes, “The art wall has become a rotating display in the playroom. It is right by their table so the girls can hang up something on their own once they are done.” It’s a simple and fun way to display kids’ art.

New Yorkers know apartment space is sacred, simply because we don’t have a lot it. And even in the ‘burbs, plenty of us find extra wall space is at a premium. We turned to Sharon Lowenheim, a certified personal organizer and founder of Organizing Goddess, to give us some advice on how to display our kids’ art when we don’t have a lot of room to do so. “First, you need to decide how much space you are willing to devote to storing your child’s art,” Lowenheim says. Once you decide if it’s a little or a lot, she suggests you “buy a portfolio or plastic bin of the appropriate size, and then make sure that you don’t exceed that space. This will require you to continually make decisions about what stays and what goes.”

Don’t Be Afraid to Throw It Away

Throwing away your child’s art is usually harder on the parents than it is on the kids—cue the mom guilt! But unless it’s a particularly special or important project, your child will probably not be all that attached to it. After all, they create so much! Talk with your child about recycling his art instead of throwing it away. This might make the conversation a little easier and also help to teach him about repurposing items and the process of recycling. “We always involved our daughter in making the decision about what would be displayed and what would go directly into the recycle bin. Small children are very passionate about recycling and will understand that what doesn’t get kept should be recycled,” Lowenheim says. “It’s important for your child to learn that not everything can be saved, and that decision-making about what to keep is important at every stage of life,” she adds. If throwing your kid’s art away just simply isn’t your style you always have the option of gifting it to friends or relatives. Sending several pieces to Grandma and Grandpa is a great way to free up space in your house, while at the same time deepening their relationship with their grandkids and reminding them just how important they are to your kids.

they can be viewed at any time or put into a photo album that is easily accessible when you’re feeling nostalgic. Or, if you have a digital photo frame, you can display your child’s art on rotation. • Make your own storage binder using clear sheet protectors. Much like a photo album, you and your children can go through it together and see their progress through the years. For larger artwork and projects, Bonnie Dewkett of The Joyful Organizer suggests, “For three-dimensional pieces of art, the easiest thing to do is take a photo of your child with the piece; keep it [the project] for a little while, and then dispose of it. I usually suggest moving it to another area of the house, such as the garage, after a period of time. If it’s not missed, you can easily get rid of it.” Courtesy makelifelovely.com

Solutions for Small Spaces

A binder in which you can neatly store kids’ art.

As much as we want to honor our kids’ work by keeping and displaying it, it is also important for children to understand organization and tidiness, and how to know when to keep and when to throw away certain items. Letting your little Picasso curate her own bedroom gallery might have you well on your way to a more organized home.

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Turn to Tech

These days, there are tons of ways to store your kids’ art and schoolwork on the web. Apps like Keepy allow you to store, save, and even privately share your children’s artwork and schoolwork. All the photos you take of your child’s work is uploaded to the cloud, which is backed up on Keepy’s own server to insure your stuff is always safe. Similarly, the app Art My Kid Made is like an Instagram for kids’ art. Parents take a photograph of the artwork, upload it, tag it, and share. You can also upload to other social networks through the app, and there is even an option to print.

Storage Ideas

After putting pieces on display for a certain period, it might be time to put them away to make room for newer pieces of artwork from the creation machines all children are. Here are some great ways to store your kids’ art: • Souvenarte Books (souvenartebooks.com) will make a coffee table book of your child’s art. “It’s a great way to honor your child’s creations without having to save them all,” Lowenheim says. • Snap a photo. Even without a dedicated app, photos of kids’ art can be uploaded to the family computer, where

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DIY CORNER

DIY Your Home

Make your decor uniquely you with these projects from “Make It Yours,” “Rag Rugs, Pillows, & More,” and “Sunshine Spaces.” Plus, an easy way to clean crayon and pencil marks off your walls. Time: 1 hour Difficulty: • Learn: How to decoupage wood surfaces Remix: Use this decoupage technique for keepsake wooden boxes or recipe boxes Materials Wood panel, 18-by-24-inch with 2-inch cradle 400-grit sandpaper (optional) Rag Rubbing alcohol (optional) Base coat paint (optional) Foam brush, 4-inch (10cm) Laser printer

Message Board

As an anti-list maker and avid forgetter-of-all-things, I’ve had to change my ways now that I’ve got a toddler in tow. I wanted a message board that looked good whether it’s blank or packed with messages, so I worked up this project. These wood panels are available in many sizes in art stores and their depth allows you to rest a chalk marker on the top for writing. Remember that you must use photocopies from a laser printer. (An inkjet print will bleed when it hits the liquid Mod Podge.) You can just bring the book to the copy shop or lay the template directly on the copy glass. Because you don’t glue the graphics down until later, you can move them around until you get the composition you want.

August 2017 | nymetroparents.com

Graphics (visit nymetroparents. com/message-board to download) White paper (standard weight, not cardstock) Scissors Scrap paper Mod Podge Chalk marker

Directions 1. Prep the wood panel if it is rough by sanding with 400-grit sandpaper. Cleaning off wood with a wet cloth will raise the grain. Best to use a soft rag that is either dry or moistened with rubbing alcohol that evaporates quickly. Prime and paint the panel a solid color if you like, using a large foam brush. 2. Apply a coat of Mod Podge to the surface and sides of the wood panel with a foam brush and allow it to dry. 3. Photocopy the graphics provided or design your own. Use a laser printer to print the images on white paper and then cut out the graphics with scissors. 4. Position graphics in place to create a composition. I chose to space the graphics at least 2 inches inside the perimeter of the panel and then space them evenly from one another, but you could bunch them together as well. My composition means I will be writing my list over the graphics, but I chose this design so the board would still look interesting when there was no writing on it at all. 5. Place one of the graphics facedown on scrap paper and use foam brush to coat it with Mod Podge. Then quickly place graphic back in position. Use foam brush to coat the front of the graphic with Mod Podge, stroking from center to edges. This will adhere the graphic and ensure a smooth surface. 6. Repeat step 5 until all the graphics are adhered in position. 7. Paint several coats of Mod Podge over the entire surface and set it aside to dry for at least 24 hours. 8. Use a chalk marker to write your messages and wipe them off with a damp cloth when needed.

Reprinted from Yellow Owl Workshop’s Make It Yours. Copyright © 2017 by Christine Schmidt. Photographs copyright © 2017 by Aubrie Pick. Published by Clarkson Potter/Publishers, an imprint of Penguin Random House, LLC.

Hiding Space

How much do kids love a hiding space? For that matter, how much do adults love one, too? I love it when my kids create their own spaces to hide in, but I don’t love the mess left afterwards. I feel like I’m folding up sheets and putting away cushions for days. This is a hiding spot you can make that is somewhat more permanent, and can be quickly collapsed and put away for another day. It can also be moved outdoors and lined with blankets and a few cushions, to provide a comfy, shaded reading / napping / tea-party spot for both kids and adults alike. You Will Need: Scrap paper 4 10-foot lengths of white fabric, about 4 feet wide (I used varying weights but all lightweight fabrics, such as gauze or poplin) Acrylic paints: grey, mustard, pale pink, navy (or use fabric paints if you have them) Wide paintbrushes

Scissors Pins Sewing machine and thread Retractable knife 20 feet of ¾-inch wide flexible cream-colored irrigation tubing 3 irrigation tubing joiners Tape measure and pencil 26 feet of 1/8-inch rope or cord, cut into four equal lengths

Directions: 1. Cover the work area with some scrap paper, then place your first length of fabric on top. Have all your paints ready. 2. Using a wide paintbrush, paint large waves and swirls on the fabric. If you don’t have enough space to lay the whole fabric length on the table, paint sections and then, when it’s dry, move the fabric along to the next blank spot. 3. Use a variety of shapes and colors, keeping the pattern fairly simple. Repeat the process with the remaining three lengths of fabric.

4. When the painted fabric lengths are completely dry, cut them in half lengthways so you end up with eight pieces, 10 feet long and 2 feet wide. At the top of each piece, fold over 2 inches of fabric to create a loop for the tubing. Pin and sew. If you like, hem the bottom of each length (I didn’t, but I’m lazy). 5. Cut the irrigation tubes into one 3-foot, 3-inch, one 6-foot, 8-inch, and one 9-foot, 10-inch lengths. Join the ends of the 6-foot, 8-inch length together with tubing joiners to form a hoop. Repeat for the 9-foot, 10-inch length. 6. Feed the 3-foot, 3-inch length of tube through the loops at the top of each fabric length, ensuring the painted side of the fabric is facing outwards. Fasten with a joiner. 7. Place the hoops in order of size, starting with the smallest in the center (the smallest hoop will have all the fabric attached). Using a tape measure, measure and mark eight equally distanced spaces around the hoops: 3-foot, 3-inch hoop = 5 inches; 6-foot, 6-inch hoop = 10 inches; 9-foot, 10-inch hoop = 15 inches. 8. Align the ends of the four lengths of rope, then fold them in half and tie in a knot at the folded end, leaving loops at the top for hanging. Tie the eight ends of rope at the marked spaces on the hoops, starting at the top hoop and moving down to the next marked line on the next hoop, so the rope stays in line. Leave 8 inches of rope between the top knot and the smallest hoop, 10 inches between the small and medium hoop, and 12 inches between the medium and largest hoop. Trim any excess rope. Hang from the nearest shady spot using a lasso knot.

Excerpted with permission from Sunshine Spaces by Beci Orpin, published by Hardie Grant Books April 2017, RRP $24.99.

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Braided Rug

Braided rag rugs have been popping up all over social media recently as a fun way to upcycle old T-shirts into something both beautiful and useful. One of the greatest draws is that you don’t need much specialist equipment. In fact, you probably have everything you need at home already! As long as you choose colors you love then it is very difficult to go wrong with the design and the only slightly tricky part is the sewing together of the braid. My main advice if you decide to give this project a go, is to take your time when sewing everything together to make sure that the rug lies perfectly flat in the end. Materials Assorted fabrics (I used 14 T-shirts to make a rug 45-by33½ inches) Fabric scissors Bag clip or clothespin/peg

Ruler or tape measure Pins Needle and thread (I used button or extra-strong thread) Color Palette: Assorted colors

Tip: I like to use at least four “neutral” colors (here I’ve used two whites, light and dark gray, and navy) to ground the color scheme. I mainly use solid colors (as opposed to patterned T-shirts) to create a bold palette. Before turning your T-shirts into fabric yarn, place them next to each other to make sure the colors complement each other. If any of the fabrics look out of place, choose a different color to replace them.

Directions 1. Choose 14 plain T-shirts in various colors for your rug. Turn all the T-shirts into balls of fabric yarn (visit nymetroparents.com/ braided-rug for a step-by-step guide). 2. Choose the three colors you would like at the center of your rug. I recommend choosing at least one “neutral” color to start with. Tie the ends of the three yarns together to form a knot. Weigh down the knot with something heavy to make the braiding easier.

August 2017 | nymetroparents.com

Tip: Before braiding, think through how you would like your rug to look. Braiding similar shades together creates a bold color band in the rug, while mixing different colors together creates a “speckled” look. Do not overanalyze your design—if you are happy with the colors you’ve chosen, then it is hard to go wrong. The colors naturally blend together as one braided color ends and the next yarn is added in. 3. Braid the three yarns together, making sure to keep the braid fairly loose. Secure the braid as you go using a clip or clothespin/peg. As you braid, try to tuck in any seams so that they are on the underside of the braid—the tidier you can keep the top of the braid, the neater your rug will look. During braiding, the fabric strands will get tangled in a counter-braid further down the yarn, so untangle them from time to time. Wind the braid into a ball as you go. 4. When your first ball of yarn is coming to an end, attach the next ball. If you are unsure which color to choose next, unwind the ball of braid and lay it out on the floor in a loose coil to see how the rug is shaping up. Keep braiding until you are happy with the size of the rug, then cut the yarns and tie the end of the braid in a knot. 5. Carefully wind the braid into a large ball. The end of the braid that you would like on the outside of your rug should be at the center of the ball. Before you start assembling the rug: The hardest part of this project is achieving a rag rug that lies perfectly flat. When sewing your braid together, make sure you leave enough excess braid around any curves in the rug. This will prevent your rug from curling up like a bowl. 6. Place the beginning of the braid upside down (you will be sewing on the slightly messier side) and measure 22 inches from the end of the braid. Bend the braid back on itself (all the time keeping the braid facing downward) and pin the bend in the braid together to make sewing easier. 7. Starting at the bend in the braid, sew the two inner edges of the braid together tightly so that the stitches are not visible from the neat side of the braid (fortunately it doesn’t matter what it looks like from the back!). When you reach the knotted end of the braid, cut off the knot and sew the loose edge on top of the bend in the braid (still on the underside) to secure it in place. 8. Continue sewing the braid together in a clockwise direction. It is extremely important that you feed the braid loosely around the corners (so that there is excess braid around any curves) or the rug will curl up. It helps to lay your rug on the floor every now and then to make sure that it is lying flat. 9. Continue sewing your braid in a clockwise direction until you are happy with the size of the rug. It is best to attach the end of your braid to the curved corner of the rug rather than a long, straight edge so that it blends in. Trim the end of the braid and overlap it with the braid inside. Sew it on top to secure the rug. Tip: If you find that your finished rug does not lie flat, stretching the rug out and attaching nonslip backing may fix the problem. Otherwise, lightly dampening the rug, then steaming it flat with an iron can help.

Images and text excerpted from Rag Rugs, Pillows, & More by Elspeth Jackson ($19.95) with permission of CICO Books. Photographs by Emma Mitchell.

HOW TO REMOVE CRAYON AND PENCIL MARKS FROM WALLS If you have little ones running around your house, it is a sure bet that one day you will be dealing with a crayoned or penciled masterpiece on a wall! Rest assured, there is a super-simple solution that will have you wiping it right off. Yield: Varies Ingredients: Lemon essential oil Directions: On a damp cloth or sponge, add a few drops of lemon essential oil. Gently rub the crayon or pencil marks until they disappear. That’s it! Easy, right? Did you know... Lemon oil can help in conquering allergies. Lemon oil can also be used as a safe and natural furniture polish. Diffused lemon oil can help purify the air that you breathe every day.

Excerpted from Natural Solutions for Cleaning & Wellness by Halle Cottis with permission of publisher. Cover and book design by Page Street Publishing Co.

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$5.00 OFF FAMILY OF 4 ADMISSION WITH PRINTOUT OR MENTION OF NYMETROPARENTS. OFFER EXPIRES COLUMBUS DAY, 2017 QP

(973) 347-8900 WildWestCity.com 50 LackawannA Dr. Stanhope, NJ 07874

• Brand new state-of-the-art facilities • Dimensions over 10,000 sq ft. • Indoor / Outdoor Playgrounds • Meals Included

QueensParent 25

OUTINGS: Wild West City

nymetroparents.com/outings

Get a Taste of the Wild West

Step back in time to the 1800s at this western-heritage theme park in Stanhope, NJ. ›› By Caitlin Berens

Joyce Bambach

Courtesy Wild West City

Regina Hartman

Courtesy Wild West City

1 Wild West City’s Main Street is a bustling strip with shops, museum-quality exhibits, and live-action shows. 2 Guests best keep their wits about them when riding on the horse-drawn stagecoach—they might be stopped by bandits. 3 Guests of all ages can learn about life in the 1800s from living history stations including a mountain man, blacksmith, and school marm. 4 Some of Wild West City’s live-action shows and special events encourage child participation. 5 Guests

can mine for gold like the real ’49ers at Egan’s Mine #1.

o be transported to the wild west one just needs to drive to New Jersey. Wild West City, located in Stanhope, NJ, features live-action shows, stagecoach rides, and family-friendly events. The western-heritage theme park is a recreation of life in the 1800s in Dodge City, KS. It opened in 1957 and has been family-owned and -operated by the Stabile family since 1963. “For the cost of about a movie you can come and be entertained all day,” says Mary Stabile Benson, park manager of Wild West City.

Nonstop Action on Main Street

There are 22 daily live-action shows on Main Street, some of which encourage child participation—like when the sheriff needs help to capture the notorious Jesse James. Visitors can also catch a glimpse of competing cowboys, the Pony Express, cancan girls, and more. Beyond the re-enactments, Main Street has reproductions of period buildings that include museum-quality exhibits with farming tools, a large collection of Native American art and artifacts, and more. Just be sure to behave, or you might find yourself in one of Wild West City’s circa-1890 jail cells. Main Street also has an old-time candy store, 26

August 2017 | nymetroparents.com

spots for lunch and snacks, a photo center at which visitors can dress in western garb, and places to buy clothing and souvenirs.

Hop Aboard a Stagecoach

Step aboard a horse-drawn stagecoach for a ride around Wild West City—but keep an eye out for bandits. Along the route guests will get to see a one-room schoolhouse, a chapel, and may even meet a mountain man. “We have a variety of living history stations,” Benson says. “You can go and watch the blacksmith make tools, and you can talk to the mountain man and learn about survival skills. You can talk to the school marm about lessons back in the 1800s or the chuck wagon [cook] about...how they made meals while they were out on the range.” Train and pony rides are also available.

Hands-On Experiences

Try to strike it rich while panning for gold at Egan’s Mine #1. Swirl dirt in a gold pan like the real ’49ers and you just might find a nugget that glistens like real gold. For some fun in the shade, visitors can aim for a holein-one at the 18-hole miniature golf course. A visit to the Barnyard Zoo will introduce

guests to the animals found on a typical pioneer farm including Billy the goat. The zoo also has a calf and sheep as well as egg-laying Rhode Island Reds (a breed of chicken).

Wild West Events

Wild West City has several entertaining and interactive events including band performances and Wild West Dress-Up Day. Visitors can learn about Chuck Wagon Camp Cooking Aug. 18-20, and Cowboy Larry’s Wild West Show, Aug. 5-6, will showcase rope spinning, bullwhip demonstrations, and trick riding. The popular Native American Intertribal Dancers will return in September.

Want to Go?

Address: 50 Lackawanna Drive, Stanhope, NJ Directions: Approximately a 1-hour, 10-minute drive from Flushing Hours: Daily through Sept. 4, 10:30am6pm; weekends only Sept. 5-Oct. 9 Admission: $17.25; $15.25 children ages 2-11; $13.50 seniors ages 62 and older; $4 per person for select attractions (miniature golf, stagecoach, train, and pony rides); special rates for groups of 20 or more and school groups For more information: wildwestcity.com

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• Science & Explorations • Themes Aligned with Common Core • Large Indoor/Outdoor Playground

• Free Potty Training • Hot Meals Prepared Daily • HRA & ACS Vouchers Accepted

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FALL REGISTRATION HAS BEGUN!

Discover new friends and ways to PLAY at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, home of the US Open! REGISTER NOW AT:

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Our focus is on the total child, academically and socially. Reading Readiness, Comphrension and Phonics are a major component of our program. Staffed by two Certified Early Childhood Teachers with 27 years experience. Student to Teacher Ratio 3:1

Spacious Outdoor Play Area

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Mornings: Monday to Friday 9:00 - 12:00 • Flexible Schedule – Choose Your Days! Call for a Visit 718-767-2776 • Lynne Braithwaite / Director • Whitestone, New York Braithwaitenurseryschool.com 28

August 2017 | 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 27th Annual Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival (No. 2 on our list).

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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

Editor’s Hot Tickets

Animal Lovers

We Can’t Believe It’s FREE!

Fun Fairs & Festivals, On Screen

Mini Musicians, Smarty Pants

Little Foodies

Dance Party, Special Needs

Once Upon a Time, Crafty Kids

Show Time!, Movers & Shakers

EDITOR’S HOT TICKETS

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

Music in the Garden: Samba New York! FREE

WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 5, 4pm WHERE: Queens Botanical Garden, 43-50 Main St., Flushing AGES: All WHAT: Jam with Samba New York! as it performs and dances to joyful music inspired by the famous samba schools of the Rio Carnaval in Brazil. WHY WE LOVE IT: Get a little taste of Rio right in Queens. WANT TO GO? 718-886-3800. queensbotanical.org.

27th Annual Hong Kong Dragon Boat Festival FREE

WHEN: Aug. 12-13, Saturday-Sunday, 9am-5pm WHERE: Meadow Lake at Flushing Meadows Corona Park, 53-51 111th St., Flushing AGES: All WHAT: This year’s festival will draw more than 200 teams competing from around the world, a day of dragon boat racing on Meadow Lake, featuring an opening parade, cultural performances, and a variety of ethnic food. WHY WE LOVE IT: One of the largest dragon boat festivals in the United States. WANT TO GO? 718-767-1776. hkdbf-ny.org.

Kew Gardens Festival of Cinema

WHEN: Aug. 4-13, daily, see website for times WHERE: Various locations throughout Queens, see website for addresses, Queens AGES: 5 and older WHAT: More than 100 remarkable short and feature length films from all genres, including horror, comedy, sci-fi, fantasy, animation, plus a Q-and-A and panels with filmmakers. See website for program details and schedule. WHY WE LOVE IT: Independent films from around the world comes to the world’s borough! WANT TO GO? $16. kewgardensfestivalofcinema.com.

August 2017 | nymetroparents.com

Jazzmobile Block Party FREE

WHEN: Thursday, Aug. 17, 4-8:30pm WHERE: Louis Armstrong House Museum, 34-56 107th St., Corona AGES: All WHAT: Don’t miss the grand finale to the summer season, this party is loaded with live jazz and fun activities for the entire family. WHY WE LOVE IT: A celebration so big it shuts down 107th Street! WANT TO GO? 718-478-8274. louisarmstronghouse.org.

Queens VillageCon, a Comic Convention FREE

WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 26, 10am WHERE: Queens Village Library, 94-11 217th St., Queens Village AGES: All WHAT: Meet local artists, illustrators, and representatives from the favorite comic stores from all over NYC. WHY WE LOVE IT: Features local comic book artists displaying their work. WANT TO GO? 718-776-6800. queenslibrary.org.

Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day

WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 26, 9:30am WHERE: USTA Billie Jean King Tennis Center, Flushing Meadows Corona Park Road, Flushing AGES: All WHAT: The day features a ticketed Stadium Show and concert preceded by a free Grounds Festival, which includes interactive games, face painting, music, and tennis clinics, along with a chance to get up close and personal with the biggest stars of tennis. WHY WE LOVE IT: This is the largest, single-day grassroots tennis and entertainment event in the world. WANT TO GO? $10 and up. 718-760-6200. arthurashekidsday.com.

WHAT: Enjoy an evening of music, games, inflatables, face painting, and more. WANT TO GO? 718-235-4100. nycgovparks.org.

Reading Room FREE

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. Katz Concert Series: A Midsummer’s Enchanted Evening FREE

WHEN: Wednesday, Aug. 2, 7pm WHERE: Great Lawn at St. John’s University, 8000 Utopia Parkway, Jamaica AGES: All WHAT: Enjoy an evening of enchanting arias and songs sung by tenor Christopher Macchio, plus Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 5, performed by the Queens Symphony Orchestra. WANT TO GO? 718-990-5892. queensbp.org/katzconcerts.

Community Day FREE

WHEN: Wednesday, Aug. 16, 5-8pm WHERE: Highland Park, Jamaica Avenue and Elton Street, Cypress Hill, Brooklyn AGES: Newborn to 5

WHEN: Through Aug. 19: Saturdays, 12-1pm WHERE: Bryant Park, 42nd Street between Fifth and Sixth avenues, Midtown, Manhattan AGES: 3-12 WHAT: Summer program featuring music, magic, and visits from favorite literary characters. Shows include Hula-Hooping, bubbles, a clown from the Big Apple Circus, Erin Lee and the Up Past Bedtime Band, and Clifford the Big Red Dog. WANT TO GO? 212-768-4242. bryantpark.org.

New York Junior Tennis Community Tennis Program FREE

WHEN: Aug. 1-31, Monday-Friday, see website for times WHERE: See website for locations across the five boroughs, New York City AGES: 5 and older WHAT: Free tennis program that runs during the summer in multiple locations across the five boroughs. Registration is made in person on the day, and child must be present. WANT TO GO? nyjtl.org.

City Parks Foundation Free Summer Sports FREE

WHEN: Through Aug. 31: See website for registration and activity times WHERE: Various parks across the five boroughs, New York City AGES: 5-17 WHAT: This free sports program provides tennis, golf, soccer, track and field, and fitness instruction and use of equipment for more than 14,000 New York City children during the summer months. Lessons for kids are offered at all skill levels on a first-come, first-served basis. WANT TO GO? 212-353-9585. cityparksfoundation.org. ››

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

• • • • • • • •

ASK ABOUT OUR 2017 HALF DAY UPK CLASSES!

NEW for FALL 2017!

Music Program for PM Classes Included

SPECIAL ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS: Cooking • Science & Discovery • Yoga • Magic Show Early Childhood Rock N’ Roll/Hip-Hop Performance

OPTIONAL ADDITIONAL HOUR:

Specialized instruction in Art, Music & Movement, Science, Math and Literacy available for enrolled Pre-K students

CONTACT US: 718-268-7980 | EMAIL: NURSERYSCHOOL@THECITG.ORG CITGNURSERYSCHOOL.ORG | 50 ASCAN AVENUE, FOREST HILLS QueensParent 31

Long Island Scottish Festival and Highland Games

WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 26, 8am-5pm WHERE: Old Westbury Gardens, 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury AGES: All WHAT: With bagpipes, caber tossing, and highland dancing, the Scottish Fames is one of the highlights of the season. WANT TO GO? $20; $18 seniors; $8 children ages 7-17; free for children younger than 7. 516-333-0048. oldwestburygardens.org.

Kids Food Festival 2017

FUN, FAIRS & FESTIVALS 4th Annual International Day of Friendship FREE

WHEN: Sunday, Aug. 6, 1-5pm WHERE: Borough Hall, 209 Joralemon St., Downtown Brooklyn, Brooklyn AGES: All WHAT: Join Borough President Adams and delegations from around the world for the 4th Annual International Day of Friendship at Brooklyn Borough Hall and Columbus Park. The day will include a Unity Parade of flags, cultural performances, a global village, international cuisine, giveaways, and a cultural talk-back session. WANT TO GO? 718-802-3530. brooklyn-usa.org.

Junction Boulevard Festival FREE

WHEN: Sunday, Aug. 6, 10am-6pm WHERE: Junction Boulevard, between Roosevelt and 35th avenues, Corona AGES: All WHAT: A day of fun for the entire family with games, food, music, and more. WANT TO GO? clearviewfestival.com.

Taiwan: A World of Orchids

WHEN: Aug. 18-20, Friday-Sunday, 9am-5pm WHERE: Queens Botanical Garden, 43-50 Main St., Flushing AGES: All WHAT: Visitors enjoy a stunning display, including more than 250 pots containing exquisite Taiwanese orchids and a weekend-long celebration of Taiwanese culture. WANT TO GO? $6; $4 seniors and students with ID; $2 children ages 4-12; free for children 3 and younger. 718-886-3800. queensbotanical.org.

Steinway Street Festival FREE

WHEN: Sunday, Aug. 20, 10am-6pm WHERE: Steinway Street, between 28th and 34th avenues, Astoria AGES: All WHAT: Enjoy carnival games, food, music, rides, and a variety of vendors. WANT TO GO? clearviewfestival.com.

Annual Honey Harvest Festival

WHEN: Wednesday, Aug. 23, 1-3:30pm WHERE: Voelker Orth Museum, Bird Sanctuary, and Victorian Garden, 149-19 38th Ave., Flushing AGES: All WHAT: See how a beekeeper harvests honey, make bee-inspired art, taste honey, and learn what makes a bee-friendly garden. Plus enjoy house punch made from grapes from the garden. WANT TO GO? $5; $8 families. 718-359-6227. vomuseum.org.

August 2017 | nymetroparents.com

WHEN: Aug. 26-27, Saturday-Sunday, 10am-4pm WHERE: Location TBA, see website for address AGES: All WHAT: Come and celebrate the joy of cooking and eating at this fun food festival just for kids and their families. Full lineup to be announced, but expect workshops, demos, performances, and tasty treats. WANT TO GO? $25 workshop admission. 212-768-4242. kidsfoodfestival.com.

ON SCREEN

Movies on the Green Sponsored by Sunrise Chevrolet of Forest Hills FREE

WHEN: Wednesday, Aug. 2, 8pm WHERE: The Shops at Atlas Park, 8000 Cooper Ave., Glendale AGES: All WHAT: Enjoy an outdoor movie on the Center Green. Bring a chair or blanket and enjoy the show. Refreshments are available to purchase. Watch Tangled on Aug. 2; The Nut Job on Aug. 9; Norm of the North on Aug. 16; Finding Dory on Aug. 23; and The Jungle Book on Aug. 30. WANT TO GO? 718-326-3300. shopatlaspark.com.

Movie Night Across from Golden Pond: ‘Space Jam’ FREE

WHEN: Friday, Aug. 4, 7:30pm WHERE: Crocheron Park, 35th Avenue and Corbett Road, Bayside AGES: All WHAT: Basketball great Michael Jordan tries to save Bugs Bunny from aliens plotting to kidnap him. WANT TO GO? 718-729-8567. hiptohip.org.

Children’s Films FREE

WHEN: Through Aug. 9: Wednesdays, 3pm WHERE: Douglaston Little Neck Library, 249-01 Northern Blvd., Little Neck AGES: All WHAT: Watch Max 2: White House Hero on Aug. 9. WANT TO GO? 718-225-8414. queenslibrary.org.

Movies Under the Stars Presents ‘Zootopia’ FREE

WHEN: Monday, Aug. 14, 7:30pm WHERE: George Seuffert Bandshell, Woodhaven Boulevard and Forest Park Drive, Woodhaven AGES: All WHAT: From the largest elephant to the smallest shrew, the city of Zootopia is a mammal metropolis in which various animals live and thrive. In a city of anthropomorphic animals, a rookie bunny cop, and a cynical con artist fox must work together to uncover a conspiracy. WANT TO GO? 718-235-4100. nycgovparks.org.

Outdoor Movie Night FREE

WHEN: Through Aug. 20: Sundays, 8:30pm WHERE: Randall’s Island Park, Field 81, Randall’s Island AGES: 9 and older WHAT: Catch outdoor movies surrounded by great views from Randall’s Island every other Sunday. Watch A League of Their Own on Aug. 6 and Motorcycle Diaries on Aug. 20. WANT TO GO? 212-860-1899. randallsisland.org.

Family Movie: ‘Rock Dog’ FREE

WHEN: Monday, Aug. 21, 3pm WHERE: Briarwood Library, 85-12 Main St., Briarwood AGES: All WHAT: A Tibetan mastiff living in a remote mountain community dreams of being a rock star. But when he heads to the big city to seek his fortune, his unprotected flock of sheep are preyed upon by a hungry wolf. WANT TO GO? 718-658-1680. queenslibrary.org.

Central Astoria Movies on the Waterfront FREE

WHEN: Aug. 7-21, Mondays, 8:30pm WHERE: Astoria Park, Shore Boulevard, Astoria AGES: All WHAT: Enjoy a fun evening of cinema classics. Watch School of Rock on Aug. 7; Toy Story 3 on Aug. 14; and Titanic on Aug. 21. WANT TO GO? 718-728-7820. nycgovparks.org.

Movie Screening: ‘Dolphin Tale’ FREE

WHEN: Monday, Aug. 28, 2pm WHERE: East Flushing Library, 196-36 Northern Blvd., Flushing AGES: All WHAT: A young boy befriends an injured dolphin that lost its tail in a crab trap. Later, the boy convinces the locals to help build the dolphin a prosthetic tail. WANT TO GO? 718-357-6643. queenslibrary.org.

Movies Under the Stars Presents ‘Jungle Book’ FREE

DANCE PARTY Victory Dance

WHEN: Through Aug. 3: Thursdays, 7pm WHERE: The Duke on 42nd Street, 229 W. 42nd St., Times Square, Manhattan AGES: 9 and older WHAT: A series of shows specifically curated to introduce younger audiences to the incredible artistry and diversity of dance in New York City. Each evening will feature a unique program of three different companies. WANT TO GO? $10. 646-223-3065. newvictory.org.

INSITU Site-Specific Dance Festival FREE

WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 5, 12-7pm WHERE: LIC and Astoria waterfront parks, Hunters Point Park, Gantry Plaza State Park, Queensbridge Park, Socrates Park, Astoria and Long Island City AGES: All WHAT: INSITU invites residents and audiences to discover LIC through dance and strengthen community bonds. This unique festival features outdoor dance performances by 24 professional NYC-based dance companies and community workshops. WANT TO GO? insitudancefestival.com.

Battery Dance Festival FREE

WHEN: Aug. 13-18, Sunday-Friday, 7-9pm WHERE: Robert F. Wagner Park, 20 Battery Place, Lower Manhattan, Manhattan AGES: 9 and older WHAT: New York’s longest running public dance festival features dance companies from around the world with diverse dance backgrounds and styles. Enjoy international dance performances in the scenic setting of Wagner Park. WANT TO GO? 212-219-3910. batterydance.org.

Dance at Socrates FREE

WHEN: Aug. 5-19, Saturdays, 4pm WHERE: Socrates Sculpture Park, 32-01 Vernon Blvd., Long Island City AGES: All WHAT: Norte Maar returns for its fifth season bringing dancemakers and their companies to a main stage set on the East River waterfront. This choreographic residency in the park is dedicated to the creation and presentation of dance. WANT TO GO? 718-956-1819. socratessculpturepark.org.

SPECIAL NEEDS

WHEN: Monday, Aug. 28, 7:30pm WHERE: George Seuffert Bandshell, Woodhaven Boulevard and Forest Park Drive, Woodhaven AGES: All WHAT: This live-action/CGI film that tells the story of Mowgli, an orphaned human boy who, guided by his animal guardians, sets out on a journey of self-discovery while evading the threatening Shere Khan. WANT TO GO? 718-235-4100. nyc.gov/parks.

Colonial Craft Corner

Summer Family Movie FREE

Sensory Sensitive Sundays

WHEN: Aug. 2-30, Wednesdays, 3:30pm WHERE: Glen Oaks Library, 256-04 Union Turnpike, Glen Oaks AGES: All WHAT: Enjoy these family-friendly films, including Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb on Aug. 2; Storks on Aug. 9; The Peanuts Movie on Aug. 16; Sing on Aug. 23; and Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters on Aug. 30. WANT TO GO? 718-831-8636. queenslibrary.org.

WHEN: Sunday, Aug. 27, 10am WHERE: Queens Historical Society at Kingsland Homestead, 143-35 37th Ave., Flushing AGES: 5-12 WHAT: This is an educational event designed for students with special needs. Children will learn about the toys and games from colonial times, play with Jacob’s Ladders, and get to make their very own cornhusk dolls. WANT TO GO? $20. 718-939-0647. queenshistoricalsociety.org. WHEN: Sunday, Aug. 6, 9-11am WHERE: Chuck E. Cheese’s, 40-24 College Point Blvd., Flushing AGES: 3-12 WHAT: Children with autism and other special needs can enjoy food, games, and more with reduced lighting and noise led by a trained and caring staff the first Sunday of every month. WANT TO GO? Prices vary. 718-321-0400. chuckecheese.com. ›› QueensParent 33

CRAFTY KIDS

Saturday Sculpture Workshops: Constellation Poetry with Carolyn Ferrucci FREE

WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 5, 12-3pm WHERE: Socrates Sculpture Park, 32-01 Vernon Blvd., Long Island City AGES: 5-12 WHAT: Using simple writing and drawing prompts, participants will observe their surroundings and create constellations based on what they see, hear, and remember. Connecting their different constellations to each other using string, they will create their own mini-galaxy. WANT TO GO? 718-956-1819. socratessculpturepark.org.

Little Makers: Sidewalk Chalk

ONCE UPON A TIME Storytime & Craft FREE

WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 12, 2pm WHERE: Queens Botanical Garden, 43-50 Main St., Flushing AGES: 3-8 WHAT: Bring your little nature lovers to QBG for a relaxing afternoon featuring nature-inspired stories, followed by a botanically themed craft activity. WANT TO GO? 718-886-3800. queensbotanical.org.

Preschool Dance Party FREE

WHEN: Through Aug. 18: Fridays, 11:30am WHERE: Elmhurst Library, 86-07 Broadway, Elmhurst AGES: 3-5 WHAT: A story plus music and fingerplays to get the youngest book lovers moving to the summer reading beat. WANT TO GO? 718-271-1020. queenslibray.org.

Storytime in the Park FREE

WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 19, 12-2pm WHERE: Socrates Sculpture Park, 2-01 Vernon Blvd., Long Island City AGES: All WHAT: Begin with traditional storytime, reading children’s books that explore the joy of art and creativity, with some even written by Queens authors. Then, everyone gets a chance to be an author or an illustrator by participating in interactive storytime. WANT TO GO? 212-360-8172. cityparksfoundation.org.

stART (Story + Art)

WHEN: Through Aug. 31: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11:30am WHERE: Long Island Children’s Museum, 11 Davis Ave., Garden City AGES: 3-5 WHAT: Join in each week as children listen to the reading of childhood classics and new favorites; followed by literature-inspired activities and crafts. WANT TO GO? $3 with museum admission: $13; $12 seniors 65 and older; free for children younger than 1. 516-224-5800. licm.org.

August 2017 | nymetroparents.com

WHEN: Sunday, Aug. 6, 10:30am WHERE: New York Hall of Science, 47-01 111th St., Corona AGES: Newborn to 5 WHAT: Kids can get ready for summer fun as they make their own sidewalk chalk and use it to make colorful designs. WANT TO GO? $8 with admission: $16; $13 seniors and children ages 2-17. 718-699-0005. nysci.org.

Garden Creativi-Teas

WHEN: Through Aug. 9: Wednesdays, 1-3:30pm WHERE: Voelker Orth Museum, Bird Sanctuary, and Victorian Garden, 149-19 38th Ave., Flushing AGES: All WHAT: An afternoon of creativity, nature, and iced tea. The program will be held indoors if it rains. WANT TO GO? $5; $8 per family. 718-359-6227. vomuseum.org.

Art for Tots: Action Art That Moves You

WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 12, 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.

Origami: Summertime is Funtime! FREE

WHEN: Through Aug. 15: Tuesdays, 4pm WHERE: Central Library, 89-11 Merrick Blvd., Jamaica AGES: 5-12 WHAT: Create works of art while learning the ancient art of origami. WANT TO GO? 718-990-0700. queenslibrary.org.

Saturday Sculpture Workshops: Tie-Dyeing Super Heroes with Chakaia Booke FREE

WHEN: Wednesday, Aug. 16, 12-3pm WHERE: Socrates Sculpture Park, 32-01 Vernon Blvd., Long Island City AGES: 5-12 WHAT: Using traditional tie-dyeing techniques and letter and number stencils, participants will create their own super hero T-shirt. Wrap, tie, twist, and compose a super hero message emblem on helping the community and uniting the world. WANT TO GO? 718-956-1819. socratessculpturepark.org.

Saturday Sculpture Workshops: Whatever Floats Your Boat with Ian Gerson FREE

WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 19, 12-3pm WHERE: Socrates Sculpture Park, 32-01 Vernon Blvd., Long Island City AGES: 5-12 WHAT: Participants will make miniature toy boats and rafts from a variety of materials and set them to sail in Hallets Cove. Learn about the local water quality and history of New York City’s waterfronts, and create floatable sculptures equipped with wind-up propellers, sails, and other methods to make them move. WANT TO GO? 718-956-1819. socratessculpturepark.org.

Saturday Sculpture Workshops: Geological Pets with Aiysha Mayfield FREE

WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 26, 12-3pm WHERE: Socrates Sculpture Park, 32-01 Vernon Blvd., Long Island City AGES: 5-12 WHAT: Explore the park’s geological topography and transform rock samples into pet rocks to take home. WANT TO GO? 718-956-1819. socratessculpturepark.org.

Queens Botanical Garden Activity Table

WHEN: Through Aug. 27: Saturday-Sunday, 2-4pm WHERE: Queens Botanical Garden, 43-50 Main St., Flushing AGES: All WHAT: While visiting the garden, stop by the activity table to create something beautiful. WANT TO GO? $6; $4 seniors and students with ID; $2 children ages 4-11; free for children 3 and younger. 718-886-3800. queensbotanical.org.

Little Makers: Bubbles

WHEN: Sunday, Aug. 27, 10:30am WHERE: New York Hall of Science, 47-01 111th St., Corona AGES: Newborn to 5 WHAT: Discover new tools to make bubbles of all sizes. Design and make your own bubble-making tool from everyday objects and materials. WANT TO GO? $8 with admission: $16; $13 seniors and children ages 2-17. 718-699-0005. nysci.org.

ANIMAL LOVERS Bat Walk

WHEN: Thursday, Aug. 17, 7:15pm WHERE: Old Westbury Gardens, 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury AGES: All WHAT: Bat biologist Maria Armour from Bridgewater State University will lead a walk through the gardens to listen and look for bats while she discusses bat ecology and conservation. WANT TO GO? $12; $10 seniors; $7 children ages 7-17; free for children 6 and younger. 516-333-0048. oldwestburygardens.org.

Bug Safari

WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 19, 11am WHERE: Old Westbury Gardens, 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury AGES: All WHAT: Hunt elusive grasshoppers, butterflies, predatory insects, and other creepy, crawly creatures in the gardens. Bring a butterfly net and collecting jars. WANT TO GO? $12; $10 seniors; $7 children ages 7-17; free for children 6 and younger. 516-333-0048. oldwestburygardens.org.

Angry Birds Universe

WHEN: Aug. 1-27, Monday-Friday, 9:30am-5pm; Saturday-Sunday, 10am-6pm WHERE: New York Hall of Science, 47-01 111th St., Corona AGES: All WHAT: Build and race handheld vehicles, learn about the creation of the Angry Birds video game, and discover real bird characteristics such as egg sizes and wingspan lengths. WANT TO GO? $16; $13 children ages 2-17. 718-699-0005. nysci.org.

Whale and Dolphin Adventure Cruises

WHEN: Through Aug. 31: Wednesday-Friday, 1-4pm WHERE: Riis Landing, Beach 169th Street and Rockaway Point Boulevard, Breezy Point AGES: All WHAT: Set sail in search of whales and dolphins by hopping aboard The American Princess for a wonderful adventure. WANT TO GO? $48; $43 seniors; $33 children ages 5-12; free for children younger than 5. 718-474-0555. americanprincesscruises.com.

Queens Zoo Quests

WHEN: Through Sept. 4: Wednesday-Sunday and holidays, 11am-3pm WHERE: Queens Zoo, 53-51 111th St., Corona AGES: All WHAT: Learn about amazing animals, the importance of conservation, and ways to enjoy the outdoors in this program sponsored by Bank of America. Look for a Quests leader in an orange T-shirt to begin your adventure. WANT TO GO? $8; $5 children ages 3-12; free for children 2 and younger. 718-271-1500. queenszoo.com. ››

QueensParent 35

A Morning of Music with Darlene Graham FREE

WHEN: Thursday, Aug. 17, 10:30am WHERE: Alley Pond Park, 76th Avenue and Springfield Boulevard, Douglaston AGES: Newborn to 5 WHAT: Darlene Graham entertains children of all ages with her interactive and exciting performance. WANT TO GO? 718-352-4793. nycgovparks.org.

Waterfront Concert Series FREE

MINI

MUSICIANS Jazz at Socrates: A Tribute to Louis Armstrong FREE

WHEN: Thursday, Aug. 3, 6:30pm WHERE: Socrates Sculpture Park, 32-01 Vernon Blvd., Long Island City AGES: All WHAT: Trumpeter Joey Morant returns for an encore edition of his tribute to Louis Armstrong tribute. A native of Charleston, SC, Morant works in settings from duets to big bands and orchestras, including the Harlem Blues & Jazz Band. WANT TO GO? 718-956-1819. socratessculpturepark.org.

WHEN: Aug. 3-17, Thursdays, 7:30pm WHERE: Astoria Park, Shore Boulevard, Astoria AGES: All WHAT: This popular series continues with a variety of musical performances. Fleur Seufe performs jazz and swing on Aug. 3; DB Rielly & Band performs country music on Aug. 10; and A Decade of Soul performs motown music on Aug. 17. WANT TO GO? 718-728-7820. nycgovparks.org.

‘Smile In My Heart’

WHEN: Aug. 22-23, Tuesday-Wednesday, 11:30am WHERE: Long Island Children’s Museum, 11 Davis Ave., Garden City AGES: All WHAT: Suzi Shelton returns to LICM to perform songs with guitarist Greg Mayo and drummer Dan Weiner. They will be singing songs from Suzi’s latest album, Smile In My Heart, along with some of her old favorites. WANT TO GO? $9 with museum admission: $13; $12 seniors 65 and older; free for children younger than 1. 516-224-5800. licm.org.

Katz Concert Series: Yesterday & Today FREE

WHEN: Sunday, Aug. 6, 6pm WHERE: Juniper Valley Park Track and Field, Lutheran Avenue between Juniper Boulevard and 71st Street, Middle Village AGES: All WHAT: Rock out with this Beatles tribute band as it performs The Beatles’ greatest hits. WANT TO GO? 718-393-7370. queensbp.org/katzconcerts.

Hot Jazz/Cool Garden: Brianna Thomas

WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 12, 2pm WHERE: Louis Armstrong House Museum, 34-56 107th St., Corona AGES: All WHAT: Brianna’s singing is deeply enriched by an understanding of the masterful voices of jazz past. WANT TO GO? $20. 718-478-8274. louisarmstronghouse.org.

Bang on a Can Music Series: Alsarah & the Nubatones

WHEN: Sunday, Aug. 13, 3-4pm WHERE: The Noguchi Museum, 9-01 33rd Road, Long Island City AGES: All WHAT: The Noguchi Museum partners with Bang on a Can to present an innovative performance series held in the museum’s outdoor sculpture garden. Alsarah is a Sudanese-born singer, songwriter, and ethnomusicologist. WANT TO GO? $10; $5 seniors and students; free for children younger than 12. 718-204-7088. noguchi.org.

Trout Fishing Musical Fun

WHEN: Aug. 16-17, Wednesday-Thursday, 11:30am WHERE: Long Island Children’s Museum, 11 Davis Ave., Garden City AGES: All WHAT: Trout Fishing rocks out on the LICM stage with its eclectic folk/ rock family music. WANT TO GO? $9 with museum admission: $13; $12 seniors 65 and older; free for children younger than 1. 516-224-5800. licm.org.

August 2017 | nymetroparents.com

SMARTY PANTS Summer ArtLab: The Math of Mandalas

WHEN: Thursday, Aug. 3, 2pm WHERE: Long Island Children’s Museum, 11 Davis Ave., Garden City AGES: 5-17 WHAT: Traditionally, mandalas are used in cultures around the world to promote relaxation and healing. Learn about the important role math plays in the creation of mandalas, and create your own one-of-akind mandala. WANT TO GO? $3 with museum admission: $13; $12 seniors 65 and older; free for children younger than 1. 516-224-5800. licm.org.

Taking it to the Streets: 1950s NY through the Lens of Flushing Photographer Frank Oscar Larson

WHEN: Through Aug. 6: Saturday-Sunday, 12-5pm WHERE: Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Blvd., Flushing AGES: All WHAT: Before cellphones documented nearly every aspect of daily life, street photographers captured the humble, the mundane, and the ordinary. WANT TO GO? $5. 718-463-7700. flushingtownhall.org.

Millions: Migrants and Millionaires Aboard the Great Liners, 1900-1914

WHEN: Through Aug. 11: Wednesday-Sunday, 11am-5pm WHERE: South Street Seaport Museum, 12 Fulton St., South Street Seaport, Manhattan AGES: All WHAT: An exhibit exploring the different lives and experiences of the extraordinarily wealthy first-class traveling passengers and third-class immigrants sailing the seas to America in the early 20th century. WANT TO GO? $12. 212-748-8600. southstreetseaportmuseum.org.

Summer ArtLab: Written in the Stars

WHEN: Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2pm WHERE: Long Island Children’s Museum, 11 Davis Ave., Garden City AGES: 5-8 WHAT: Learn about the 12 zodiac constellations, then make a “telescope” to view your own constellation. WANT TO GO? $3 with museum admission: $13; $12 seniors 65 and older; free for children younger than 1. 516-224-5800. licm.org.

Monarch Larva Monitoring Project

WHEN: Aug. 4-18, Fridays, 11am WHERE: Long Island Children’s Museum, 11 Davis Ave., Garden City AGES: 3-12 WHAT: Each Friday morning, take a walk through our Milkweed Garden and see how the plants grow and are a habitat for visiting monarchs. WANT TO GO? $13; free children younger than 1. 516-224-5800. licm.org.

Green Teens

WHEN: Aug. 1-22, Tuesdays, 11am WHERE: Long Island Children’s Museum, 11 Davis Ave., Garden City AGES: 3-12 WHAT: Explore the worlds of science and nature with the Green Teens this summer in the backyard. WANT TO GO? $13; free children younger than 1. 516-224-5800. licm.org.

Pond Life

WHEN: Sunday, Aug. 27, 10:30am and 1:30pm WHERE: Alley Pond Environmental Center, 22806 Northern Blvd., Douglaston AGES: 3-8 WHAT: Learn more about pond life, meet live pond animals, and take a hike to the pond for a fun scavenger hunt. Registration required. WANT TO GO? $21. 718-229-4000. alleypond.com.

Children Sing and Celebrate Around the World FREE

WHEN: Thursday, Aug. 31, 3pm WHERE: Bellerose Library, 250-08 Hillside Ave., Bellerose AGES: All WHAT: Learn about the great variety of ways that people sing and celebrate around the world in this interactive program. WANT TO GO? 718-831-8644. queenslibrary.org.

Drones: Is the Sky the Limit?

WHEN: Through Sept. 1: Monday-Friday, 10am-5pm; Saturday-Sunday, 10am-6pm WHERE: Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, Pier 86, West 46th Street and 12th Avenue, New York Harbor, Manhattan AGES: 5 and older WHAT: This large-scale exhibition will reveal the history of drone technology, from its modern-day origins in World War I and its military development to its current applications in solving complex humanitarian challenges. WANT TO GO? $33; $31 seniors; $24 children ages 2-12; free for children 4 and younger. 877-957-7447. intrepidmuseum.org.

LITTLE FOODIES Eat Up! What’s Cookin’ in the Gardens: Tomatoes

WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 12, 12pm WHERE: Old Westbury Gardens, 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury AGES: All WHAT: Discover tasty delights growing in our garden beds! Concoct and sample a simple recipe full of delicious seasonal flavors. WANT TO GO? $12; $10 seniors; $7 children ages 7-17; free for children 6 and younger. 516-333-0048. oldwestburygardens.org.

Little Makers: Ice Cream Sunday

WHEN: Sunday, Aug. 13, 10:30am WHERE: New York Hall of Science, 47-01 111th St., Corona AGES: Newborn to 5 WHAT: Families will invent their own flavor as they shake up a small batch of healthy, homemade ice cream. WANT TO GO? $8 with admission: $16; $13 seniors and children ages 2-17. 718-699-0005. nysci.org.

Young Chefs: Healthy Cauliflower Rice & ChocolateDipped Fruit Cones

WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 19, 10:30am WHERE: Alley Pond Environmental Center, 22806 Northern Blvd., Douglaston AGES: 9-12 WHAT: Cauliflower rice is a healthy rice substitution that is surprising delicious and very easy to make. Then, young chefs will create a tasty fruit dessert. Registration required. WANT TO GO? $24. 718-229-4000. alleypond.com.

Honey Tastings

WHEN: Sunday, Aug. 20, 10am-4pm WHERE: Wave Hill, West 249th Street and Independence Avenue, Bronx AGES: All WHAT: Taste the liquid and creamed honeys produced locally. Sample a few, then purchase your favorite to take home. WANT TO GO? $8; $4 children. 718-549-3200. wavehill.org.

Kids in the Kitchen

WHEN: Through Aug. 25: Fridays, 11:30am-12pm WHERE: Long Island Children’s Museum, 11 Davis Ave., Garden City AGES: 3-5 WHAT: Create tasty treats, take home recipes, and enjoy your yummy creations at the end of each class. WANT TO GO? $5 with museum admission: $13; $12 seniors 65 and older; free for children younger than 1. 516-224-5800. licm.org. ››

Eloise at the Museum

WHEN: Through Oct. 9: Tuesday-Thursday and Saturday, 10am-6pm; Friday, 10am-8pm; Sunday, 11am-5pm WHERE: New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park W., Upper West Side, Manhattan AGES: All WHAT: A celebration of the feisty charm and audacious spirit of Eloise, who continues to be a picture book superstar more than 60 years after her debut. WANT TO GO? $21; $16 seniors; $13 students; $6 children ages 5-13; free for children 4 and younger. 212-873-3400. nyhistory.org. QueensParent 37

rock legends, They Might Be Giants, and Bill Childs, creator and host of the hit radio show for kids Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child. Audience participation, singing, dancing, and fun for all ages. The CityParks PuppetMobile will also be performing. WANT TO GO? summerstage.org.

Disney’s ‘The Little Mermaid’

WHEN: Aug. 3-13, Wednesday-Saturday, 8pm; Sunday, 2pm WHERE: St. Gregory Theatre, 242-20 88th Ave., Bellerose AGES: All WHAT: In a magical kingdom beneath the sea, the beautiful young mermaid Ariel longs to leave her ocean home to live in the world above. Based on the Hans Christian Andersen fairytale. WANT TO GO? $18; $15 seniors and students; $9 for children 12 and younger. 718-989-2451. sgtg.org.

SHOW TIME! ‘Shrek: The Musical’

WHEN: Tuesday, Aug. 1, 11am WHERE: NYCB Theatre at Westbury, 960 Brush Hollow Road, Westbury AGES: All WHAT: The tale of an unlikely hero who finds himself on a lifechanging journey alongside a wisecracking donkey and a feisty princess who resists her rescue. WANT TO GO? $19.50 and up. 516-247-5213. venue.thetheatreatwestbury.com.

Plaza Theatrical Presents ‘Madagascar’ FREE

WHEN: Wednesday, Aug. 2, 6pm WHERE: Highland Park, Jamaica Avenue and Elton Street, Cypress Hill, Brooklyn AGES: Newborn to 5 WHAT: Enjoy a live performance from Plaza Theatrical Productions of this popular comedy adventure. Bring a blanket or low chair. WANT TO GO? 718-235-4100. nycgovparks.org.

Shakespeare In The Park: ‘Measure for Measure’ FREE

WHEN: Thursday, Aug. 3, 7:30pm WHERE: Crocheron Park, 35th Avenue and Corbett Road, Bayside AGES: All WHAT: The Duke of Vienna’s puritanical deputy Angelo is tasked with cleaning up a city out of control. Shakespeare’s dark comedy examines the danger of placing power in the wrong hands. WANT TO GO? 718-729-8567. hiptohip.org.

Shakespeare In The Park: ‘Henry IV’ FREE

WHEN: Sunday, Aug. 6, 5pm WHERE: Socrates Sculpture Park, 32-01 Vernon Blvd., Long Island City AGES: All WHAT: From the taverns of London to the palaces of Vienna, Shakespeare invites us into the personal trials and triumphs of the common people and their all-too-human leaders. Features madcap capers and epic battles, mistaken identity, and unexpected marriages, and a vibrant cast of unforgettable characters, including the iconic Falstaff. WANT TO GO? 718-956-1819. socratessculpturepark.org.

SummerStage Family Day: They Might Be Giants and Bill Childs FREE

WHEN: Saturday, Aug. 12, 2-5pm WHERE: Rumsey Playfield, Mid-Park at 72nd Street, Central Park, Manhattan AGES: All WHAT: This year’s SummerStage family day features indie and kids 38

August 2017 | nymetroparents.com

Comedy Magic Show FREE

WHEN: Thursday, Aug. 24, 3pm WHERE: Sunnyside Library, 43-06 Greenpoint Ave., Long Island City AGES: 5-12 WHAT: Join Adam Auslander in this fun-filled family literacy event that promotes reading in the summer, and enjoy an hour filled with laughter and excitement. WANT TO GO? 718-784-3033. queenslibrary.org.

MOVERS & SHAKERS Summer Playstreets Program 2017 FREE

WHEN: Through Aug. 10: Monday-Thursday, 11am-4pm WHERE: Various venues citywide, see website for addresses, New York City AGES: All WHAT: The Police Athletic League will close off streets and use playgrounds and parks throughout New York City to provide children with safe, supervised places to enjoy outdoor summer activities. Kids can take part in double Dutch jump rope, hopscotch, nok hockey, and basketball, along with music, arts and crafts, and dance. WANT TO GO? 212-477-9450. palnyc.org.

Mounted Cowboy Shooting Match

WHEN: Sunday, Aug. 13, 11:30am-1:30pm WHERE: Old Bethpage Village Restoration Fairgrounds, 1303 Round Swamp Road, Old Bethpage AGES: All WHAT: The show is based on the historical re-enactment of shooting events held at Wild West Shows during the 19th century. WANT TO GO? $10; $7 children ages 5-12; free for children younger than 5. 516-572-8400. islandlongriders.com.

Kayaking from Socrates Sculpture Park Beach at Hallets Cove FREE

WHEN: Sunday, Aug. 13, 1-5pm WHERE: Socrates Sculpture Park - LIC Boathouse, 32-01 Vernon Blvd., Long Island City AGES: All WHAT: A comfortable introduction for families to kayaking on a short trip to the shallow waters of Hallets Cove. Children must have a parent or guardian present, and life preservers are available for the family pets to join in the fun. WANT TO GO? 718-228-9214. licboathouse.org.

Let’s Go Mets: Free T-Shirt Friday

WHEN: Aug. 4-18, Fridays, 7:10pm WHERE: Citi Field, 126-01 Roosevelt Ave., Flushing AGES: All WHAT: Enjoy America’s pastime and cheer on the Amazin’s as the team takes on its NL rivals. All fans in attendance will receive a Mets T-shirt. WANT TO GO? $25 and up. 718-507-8499. mets.com.

Music and Movement

WHEN: Aug. 2-30, Wednesdays, 11:30am WHERE: Long Island Children’s Museum, 11 Davis Ave., Garden City AGES: 3-5 WHAT: Enjoy creative movement exercises and interactive sing-alongs that get little bodies moving to the rhythm. WANT TO GO? $13; $12 seniors 65 and older; free for children younger than 1. 516-224-5800. licm.org.

R CALL for a TOU !! L! of our SCHOO

Coming up next month: SEPT. 10: Grandparents’ Day Celebration at Alley Pond Environmental Center, Douglaston SEPT. 23-24: World Maker Faire at New York Hall of Science, Corona SEPT 23-24: 35th Annual Queens County Fair at Queens County Farm Museum, Floral Park

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WHERE-TO GUIDE

nymetroparents.com/where-to

Pick Your Own Berries

››

Research by Jaime Bonchick and Amanda Marrone

Enjoy the sweet fruits of summer by picking your own berries at a local farm! Kids will love plucking fresh strawberries, blackberries, and even cherries straight from the bush. Many of these farms also have farm stands at which you can purchase pre-picked fruits, baked goods, and fresh juices. Want even more farm fun? Lots of our picks offer hayrides and activities to keep kids busy after they’ve collected their basket of fruit. Note: Dates and availability are projected. We recommend calling ahead before visiting these farms. apples, blueberries, blackberries, tomatoes, and raspberries daily through October. Farm stand with pre-picked produce open daily, 9am-6pm.

Dutchess County Greig Farm 223 Pitcher Lane, Red Hook 845-758-1234; greigfarm.com Open daily, 8am-8pm Pick your own blueberries in July; blueberries and blackberries in August; and apples in September. Nursery and garden shop on-site. Kids can feed goats and visit the koi fish pond behind Grandiflora Nursery. The Hudson Valley Farmers Market at the Grieg Farm is open every Saturday, 10am-3pm, offering local vegetables, fruits, eggs, cheeses, meats, fish, flowers, and more from local Hudson Valley Farms.

Long Island Patty’s Berries and Bunches 410 Sound Ave., Mattituck 631-298-4679 pattysberriesandbunches.com pattysberriesandbunches@gmail.com Open daily, 9am-6pm (U-pick closes at 5:30pm) Pick your own strawberries in June; raspberries and blueberries July through mid-August; and blackberries through August. Seasonal pre-picked flowers and homemade ice cream for sale. Seven Ponds Orchard 65 Seven Ponds Road, Water Mill 631-726-8015 Open daily, 9am-6pm Pick your own raspberries and blackberries July-November, blueberries also available. Apple picking begins the end of August and continues through November. Also offers on-site market with baked goods and jams, children’s play area, and corn maze. Wickham Farms 28700 Main Road (Route 25), Cutchogue 631-734-6441; wickhamsfruitfarm.com 40

August 2017 | nymetroparents.com

Open Monday-Saturday, 9am-4pm; farm stand open Monday-Saturday, 9am5pm; tours are available by appointment Monday-Friday. Pick your own raspberries and blueberries in July; raspberries, cherries, blackberries, and peaches through August; apples and pumpkins in September and October. (Note: Berry seasons may be early this year due to weather conditions.) Windy Acres 3810 Middle Country Road, Calverton 631-727-4554 Open Saturday-Sunday, 10am-4:30pm Pick your own blackberries, peaches, and nectarines through August. Also has a farm stand with pre-picked fruits and vegetables, jams, and pies.

Orange County Ochs Orchard 4 Ochs Lane (off Reservoir Road, Route 94), Warwick 845-986-1591; ochsorchard.net Open daily, 9am-5pm (subject to availability) Pick your own strawberries, peaches,

Ulster County Jenkins-Lueken Orchards Route 299 West, New Paltz 845-255-0999; jlorchards.com Open daily, 9am-6pm Pick your own raspberries in mid-July and August; blackberries will be available in midAugust. Blueberries also available. On-site store with pre-picked veggies, local maple syrup, baked goods, snacks, and cider. Kelder’s Farm & U-Pick 5755 Route 209, Kerhonkson 845-626-7137; kelderfarm.com Open daily, 10am-6pm Pick your own blueberries, raspberries, red currants, blackberries, melons, grapes, apples, pumpkins, and a variety of vegetables through October. Petting zoo, mini-golf, hayrides, jumping pillow, and picnicking available, as well as an on-site store with pre-picked produce, ice cream, honey, maple syrup, jams and jellies, and more. Find the full guide at ›› nymetroparents.com/berries

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Lilianne Gering will be attending Muhlenberg College this fall as a double major in business and dance.

From Extracurricular to Extra Cash ››

Whether your kid is committed to sports, the arts, or even community service, here’s how to turn that passion for after-school activities into a college scholarship By Samantha Neudorf

enna Turato, a rising junior at Molloy College in Rockville Centre, knew she wanted to go to college at a young age and knew she could use softball to get there. Turato began playing softball when she was in third grade and watched her older sister play softball and receive a scholarship to college, so she seized the opportunity once it was her turn to apply. An accounting major who lives in her hometown of Garden City South, Turato currently is a pitcher for the Molloy Lions softball team and receives a $7,000 scholarship each year for athletics and academics. “I realized how much softball could really make a difference in my college experience,” Turato says. It’s no secret college is expensive—and, with tuition costs rising, continually getting more out of reach for many families, especially low-income ones. Overall college enrollment declined by 3 percent between 2008 and 2013, falling from 68.6 percent to 65.9 percent, according to an annual survey from the U.S. Census Bureau. The most dramatic decline happened among low-income families, dropping from 55.9 percent to 45.5 percent. 42

August 2017 | nymetroparents.com

Many families may not be able to afford college without assistance, and this is where scholarships for academics or afterschool activities can help to make it more attainable—and even, in some cases, tuition free. (These are separate from the need-based financial and student loans many families rely on to afford college.) Alexandra Timoshenko graduated from Long Island Lutheran High School in Brookville in June and will be attending Molloy College in the fall to study music therapy. She is enrolled in the dual-degree honors program and was awarded a full-tuition scholarship because of her committed involvement in afterschool activities. In fact, Timoshenko received full-tuition scholarships at all of the schools she applied to, including Belmont University, the State University of New York at Fredonia, and Seton Hill University. In high school, Timoshenko was captain of the cross-country and track teams and participated in the jazz ensemble and band, along with a band program outside of school. On top of that, she took numerous Advanced Placement and honors courses and graduated as salutatorian of her class. She attributes her success in

obtaining the scholarship to her work ethic. “Everything I did I poured myself into one hundred percent, and all that hard work paid off,” Timoshenko says. Lilianne Gering, a recent graduate from Sacred Heart Academy in Hempstead, was awarded various scholarships to attend Muhlenberg College in Allentown, PA, in the honors program as a double major in dance and business. Gering received merit scholarships, dance talent scholarships, and a scholarship from the Italian Genealogical Group for research on her Italian heritage. In total, she was awarded $38,000. “I was very excited and also a little shocked because I figured I’d get [scholarships], but I was surprised at how much I got,” she says. Gering started taking dance lessons when she was little and was a part of the Spotlight Dance Studio in Wantagh for 15 years, where she did ballet, pointe, tap, hip-hop, jazz, lyrical, and kickline. Along with dancing there six days a week and teaching classes, she performed in her school’s production of The Nutcracker during each of her four years there. With two other girls, Gering was co-president of the production in her senior year, as well as the choreographer, director, and a lead role. Gering advises students who are interested in applying for talent scholarships to become very involved with the activities about which they are passionate and to take on leadership positions in high school. “Colleges really want to see students who have leadership potential and the ability to lead and take on new roles within their school,” she says.

The Journey to a Scholarship

No one says it’s easy to earn these scholarships, as these successful teens’ stories attest. All require a strong commitment and passion—not just for the activities themselves but also for the sometimes-arduous college recruitment and scholarship application processes. In order for Turato to have been recruited to play softball at Molloy, she played on a travel team and at recruiting tournaments, to which college coaches are invited in order to decide who will receive offers and scholarships. According to National Collegiate Athletic Association rules, only Division I and II schools offer athletic scholarships; Division III schools do not. For fine arts areas such as dance, theater, music, and art, students must submit a sample of their work or audition in person. Gering attended an in-person audition to be considered for a dance scholarship at Muhlenberg. Dance scholarships range from $1,000 to $4,000 a year at Muhlenberg and vary at other schools. When applying for merit-based scholarships, students must follow detailed instructions for submitting the required documents, such as a resume, essay, and transcript. Students should speak to their guidance counselor or teacher for recommendations on scholarships for which they should apply. John Rodis, music department chair at Long Island Lutheran High School, teaches AP Music Theory and symphonic band and prepares students for college through his program. His students follow the New York State School Music Association track, which is the New York affiliate of the National Association for Music Education to evaluate student musicians from elementary through high school. Rodis helps his students prepare for the final level of NYSSMA, which is to audition for the all-state level. Passing this level means that the student is able to read college-level music. When students go through this program with Rodis, they have more opportunities to apply for music scholarships.

“These NYSSMA pieces themselves are great vehicles for college auditions,” Rodis says. “If the opportunity [to apply for a scholarship] presents itself to you, you will be prepared.”

A College’s Decision

Colleges, of course, factor in grades and standardized test scores when making admissions decisions, but they also review an applicant’s resume to be considered for various scholarships the institution offers. Marguerite Lane, the director of admissions at Molloy College, says an applicant’s activity involvement comes into consideration if a student did average on SAT or ACT scores. “The reality is that the students who are the busiest are usually the ones that are the most successful, even in their academic subjects,” Lane says. “They learn very valuable time management skills at a young age that will be very transferable for when they come to college.” And it’s not just sports and the arts that can win a committed high school student tuition relief for college. Many schools also offer community service-based scholarships. Molloy’s range from $2,000 to $5,000 per year and are awarded to students who have served their schools and communities. “We are a mission-based institution and we recognize that [community service is] that component that’s equally as important [as academics],” Lane says. Manhattanville College in Purchase offers community service scholarships starting at $2,000 as well. Nikhil Kumar, vice president of undergraduate enrollment management at Manhattanville, says students with more extracurricular activities on their resumes are favored because national data proves those students are likely to be involved and engaged on campus. “Some would argue that you learn just as much outside of the classroom, if not more, just by having those kinds of experiences,” Kumar says. “It’s teaching you life lessons and humility to give back and get involved.” Involvement in an extracurricular activity in high school does not just translate into potential scholarships; it may also help students transition into college life because they can make friends with people from that same group or team. “It helps them adapt to their new environment,” Kumar says. Kumar suggests applicants research the college and engage with the admissions office or faculty in their area of interest. For example, Turato kept in contact with Molloy coaches and made herself visible at recruiting tournaments while on her travel team. An institution tends to be more interested in a student if that student shows an interest in that institution, Kumar says. “It shows what we call demonstrated interested, and that always weighs heavily in the admissions process.”

Other Scholarship Sources

When seeking scholarships, Lane advises students to find opportunities beyond the colleges, such as scholarships offered by nonprofit and community organizations. “Students don’t realize that if they sit down and take the time to write that five hundred- or one thousand-word essay, it can really help offset their college education costs,” Lane says. “It’s really wellworth applying for as many scholarships as they are qualified for because those independent scholarships can really help them, even if it’s with books for the semester or travel expenses.” continued on next page ››

QueensParent 43

AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES MARKETPLACE ‹‹ continued from previous page

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Some of Lane’s suggestions include researching Awana clubs, Knights of Columbus, local churches and foundations, and opportunities from parents’ employers for scholarships. When applying, she also says students should thoroughly explain how deeply they have been involved in outside activities. For example, if a student volunteered at a church, it is better to specify how many hours for however many months she did so, rather than just saying she did volunteer work generally. “Show the level of commitment and how it impacts your life and how that has made you ready for college and for life,” Lane says. All that effort and passion for after-school activities just may pay off and make college more financially attainable.

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There are many types of scholarships out there to apply for, if you do your research. Here are the requirements that are typically needed for any type of scholarship: • Essay • Letters of recommendation • Resume • Test scores • Transcript Performing arts scholarships, including dance, music, art, and theater, require all of the above, but also: • Audition video (if you cannot attend in-person) • Portfolio of work

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August 2017 | nymetroparents.com

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QueensParent 47

The Dangers of Dry & Secondary Drowning ››

What to watch out for even after children leave the pool By Stacey Pfeffer

here’s nothing better than swimming in a cool pool during the scorching days of summer. But parents can be forgiven for being wary after reading recent headlines about children who’ve died from a condition called secondary drowning—including a Texas toddler, Frankie Delgado, who lost his life a full week after getting knocked over by a wave at the beach. How can this happen? And more importantly, how can parents make sure their little ones are safe after exiting the water? While secondary and dry drowning make up only 1-2 percent of all drowning deaths, it’s important for parents to know the symptoms, because they can be life-threatening. Secondary drowning and dry drowning are two similar but technically different conditions that can affect anyone, although children are especially vulnerable. As the names imply, both affect their victims after they’ve left the pool, usually with no idea anything is wrong. Symptoms of dry drowning typically occur immediately after any incident in the water, while secondary drowning usually begins later, within one to 24 hours after exiting the water—but it can progress over one to two days, or, as in Frankie Delgado’s case, several days. “Children are more prone to dry and secondary drowning because of their small size, stature, and immature gag reflex,” says Robert Glatter, M.D., an emergency physician at Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan. Toddlers, especially, may be at heightened risk because they don’t know to keep their mouths closed or how to blow bubbles in the water.

Symptoms

Secondary drowning happens when someone inadvertently swallows too much water and it goes into his lungs. Patients suffering from secondary drowning may feel tired after a short period in the water, have a dry cough, and complain of chest pain. These symptoms can progress over a longer period of time as the child loses oxygen in his blood, a condition known as hypoxia, according to Dr. Glatter. While many pools post rules prohibiting horseplay and dunking other people in the water, parents should emphasize this safety lesson to all children because just a few mouthfuls of water 48

August 2017 | nymetroparents.com

accidentally swallowed can lead to water entering the lungs. Symptoms of dry drowning are much more profound and develop suddenly, with a spasm of the vocal cords causing them to snap shut. The child cannot get any air in or out and her breathing will sound high-pitched. Wheezing often occurs due to a blockage in the airway and she may turn blue as well. “This child should be taken to the emergency room immediately so that he or she does not asphyxiate,” Dr. Glatter says.

Treatment

While there are no medications for secondary or dry drowning, the treatment is close observation. If necessary, a breathing tube may have to be inserted if oxygen levels drop. Parents should keep a close eye on their child for 24 hours after he may have swallowed water during swimming or had any difficulty breathing in the water. If symptoms do develop, bring your child to the emergency room immediately instead of a doctor’s office or urgent care facility. In the ER, she will have access to an immediate chest X-ray, IV placement, and advanced airway support such as a breathing tube or respirator.

Prevention

The vast majority of children recover from dry or secondary drowning, despite the terrifying headlines about toddler deaths. However, the best way to avoid these conditions altogether is to teach kids water safety and to remain constantly vigilant as caregivers. Babies as young as 6 months can begin taking water safety classes. Children should never swim alone, and parents or caregivers should keep a close eye on them at all times. Dr. Glatter also warns parents to not use their phones or any social media while your child is in or near the water. As tempting as it may be to take a video of your child enjoying pool time, he says, “it’s a diversion, and parents must remain cognizant of the risk of secondary and dry drowning. Take all of that attention and focus on your child and remember that drownings can even occur in shallow water—including bathtubs, sinks, toilet bowls, and small plastic pools.” Stacey Pfeffer is a writer based in Chappaqua.

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FOOD & NUTRITION

Bring Shake Shack to Your Kitchen ››

Rather than wait on line for what feels like hours, you can make the NYC chain’s customer favorites at home. The ShackBurger

Okay, here’s our sacred cow! Makes 4

Most likely the reason you have this book in your hands—our version of the great American cheeseburger. Like all deceptively simple things, it took us years to get it right, but now you can master burger perfection in five minutes. 4 hamburger potato buns 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted 4 tablespoons ShackSauce (recipe on p. 52) 4 pieces green leaf lettuce

8 ¼-inch slices ripe plum tomato 1 pound very cold ground beef, divided into 4 pucks ½ teaspoon Our Salt & Pepper Mix (recipe on p. 52) 4 slices American cheese

1. H eat a cast-iron griddle over medium-low heat until warm. Meanwhile, open the hamburger buns and brush the insides with the melted butter. A soft brush is helpful here. Place the buns buttered side down on the griddle and toast until golden

August 2017 | nymetroparents.com

brown, 2-3 minutes. Transfer buns to a plate. Spoon the ShackSauce onto the top bun. Add a piece of the lettuce and two slices of tomato. 2. I ncrease the heat to medium and heat the griddle until hot, 2-3 minutes. 3. E venly sprinkle a pinch of Our Salt & Pepper Mix on top of each puck of meat. 4. P lace the pucks on the griddle, seasoned side down. Using a large, sturdy metal spatula, firmly smash each puck into a 1/ 3-inch-thick round patty. Pressing down on the spatula with another stiff spatula helps flatten the burger quickly. Evenly sprinkle another big pinch of Our Salt & Pepper Mix. 5. Cook the burgers, resisting the urge to move them, until the edges beneath are brown and crisp, and juices on the surface are bubbling hot, approximately 2½ minutes. Slide one of the spatulas beneath the burger to release it from the griddle and scrape up the caramelized browned crust. Use the other spatula to steady the burger and keep it from sliding. Flip the burgers. Put the cheese on top and cook the burgers 1 minute longer for medium. Cook more or less depending on your preference. 6. Transfer the cheeseburgers to the prepared buns and enjoy.

‘Shroom Burger Makes 4

We knew that our idea of a community gathering place meant we wanted to offer our vegetarian guests more than just fries to munch on. We set out to create a vegetarian experience even meat eaters would crave. Hence the ’Shroom Burger’s crispy mushroom halves surrounding a creamy, cheesy filling. After it became so popular, we created the Shack Stack, piling a ’Shroom Burger atop a ShackBurger, so our meat-loving friends can get in on the ’Shroom action. For the mushroom caps: 4 4-inch portabello mushroom caps ¼ cup canola oil ½ teaspoon kosher salt 1/ 8 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1½ cups flour 3 eggs 2 cups panko breadcrumbs For the filling: 1½ cups grated muenster ½ cup grated cheddar ½ teaspoon minced onion

1/ 8 teaspoon minced garlic ¼ teaspoon flour 1 egg yolk 1 pinch cayenne

To cook and assemble the mushroom burgers: Canola oil for deep-frying Kosher salt 4 tablespoons ShackSauce (recipe on p. 52) 4 hamburger potato buns, toasted 4 pieces green leaf lettuce 8 ¼-inch slices ripe plum tomato

1. For the mushroom caps, preheat the oven to 375°F. Put mushroom caps on a medium baking pan. Rub caps all over with the oil, then season both sides with the salt and pepper. Arrange mushrooms gill side down in a single layer and roast until tender, 30-35 minutes. Remove from the oven and set aside to cool. Slice mushrooms in half horizontally. 2. Put the flour in a wide dish, beat the eggs in another wide dish, and put the panko in a third wide dish and set aside. 3. For the filling, mix together the muenster and cheddar cheeses, onion, garlic, flour, egg yolk, and cayenne in a medium mixing bowl. Set aside. 4. Shape the filling into four equal disks, ½ inch smaller in diameter than the mushroom caps. Place cheese disks on gill side of each mushroom cap, cover with other half of cap, cut side down, and gently press together to secure the filling. 5. Dredge the stuffed mushroom caps in the flour, then dip in the beaten egg, coating them completely, then dredge in the panko. Set prepared mushrooms on a plate and refrigerate while heating the oil to deep-fry them. 6. To cook the mushroom burgers, pour the oil into a deep, wide pot to a depth of 3 inches. Heat over medium heat until the oil reaches a temperature of 350°F on a candy thermometer. Deep-fry the prepared mushrooms, one or two at a time, until golden brown and crisp all over, 3-4 minutes. Transfer mushrooms with a slotted spoon to drain on paper towels. Season with salt. 7. Spoon the ShackSauce onto the top bun. Add a piece of lettuce and two slices of tomato. 8. Transfer the mushroom burgers to the prepared buns. Enjoy! continued on next page ››

QueensParent 51

‹‹ continued from previous page

Jack & Jill Nursery Schools “Providing peace of mind for over 40 years.” 43-23 Colden Street, Flushing

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Our Salt & Pepper Mix

We mix ½ cup kosher salt with ½ teaspoon freshly ground pepper and use that mixture to season our burgers as they cook. You’ll see we call for a pinch or two of the mixture in every recipe.

ShackSauce

Makes approximately ½ cup Long ago we threw away the key to the secret recipe for ShackSauce; but we promise to get you really close with ingredients easily found in your kitchen. ½ cup Hellman’s mayonnaise 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard ¾ teaspoon Heinz ketchup

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August 2017 | nymetroparents.com

¼ teaspoon kosher dill pickling brine Pinch of cayenne pepper

Put all ingredients in a small mixing bowl and stir until well combined. Sauce will keep, covered, in the refrigerator for up to one week.

Cheese Sauce

Makes approximately 6 cups 1 tablespoon canola oil ½ onion, peeled and sliced ½ inch thick 6 thin slices jalapeño 2 teaspoons whole black peppercorns

½ teaspoon kosher salt 1 tablespoon white wine vinegar 2 teaspoons white wine 2 cups heavy cream 2 cups grated American cheese 2 cups grated cheddar

1. Heat the oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onions, jalapeños, peppercorns, and salt, and cook, stirring often, until the onions are translucent, approximately 5 minutes. Add the vinegar and wine, and cook until the liquid has almost completely evaporated, approximately 5 minutes. Stir in the cream. Remove the pan from the heat and let the cream steep for 30 minutes to build flavor. 2. Return the saucepan to the stove and heat over medium heat until very warm (don’t let it come to a boil). 3. Meanwhile, put the American and cheddar cheeses into a large heatproof bowl. Pour the hot cream through a strainer (to remove the solids) over the cheeses, stirring until the cheese melts and the sauce is smooth, approximately 3 minutes. Sauce will keep, covered and refrigerated, for up to one week. You can easily reheat the sauce in a microwave or over a pot of gently simmering hot water.

Reprinted from Shake Shack. Copyright © 2017 by Shake Shack Enterprises, LLC. Principal photographs copyright © 2017 by Christopher Hirsheimer. Published by Clarkson Potter/Publishers, an imprint of Penguin Random House, LLC.

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QueensParent 53

Professional services

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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 contested and uncontested matrimonial proceedings, custody, visitation, orders of protection, child support, spousal maintenance, and paternity. 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 as-

August 2017 | nymetroparents.com

sociated 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 Nassau and Suffolk: 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. STEPS TO SOCIALIZATION 13 South 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. LOUIS E. MORA, PH.D., PSYCHOLOGIST P.C. 70 Glen Cove Road, Suite 201, Roslyn Heights 347-740-5690 lmoraphd.com Dr. Mora specializes in psychological testing. This includes neuropsychological testing, giftedness examinations, and evaluating for the presence of psychological disorders. 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. WOMEN’S HEALTH VIVAEVE 888-749-7888 Main Office: 108-16 63 Road, Forest Hills Surgical Center: 25-15 Crescent St., Astoria vivaeve.com; info@vivaeve.com VivaEve specializes in providing comprehensive counseling and UFE (Uterine Fibroid Embolization) procedures to women looking for a medically advanced, safe alternative to the major surgery commonly used to treat fibroids.

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. PARTY PLACES @ PLAY AMUSEMENTS 229 NY-110, Farmingdale 631-815-5355 atplayamusement.com info@playamusement.com Have your next party at the newly renovated @ Play Amusements! It offers 40,000 square feet of fun, ranging from 92 arcade games, inflatables, bumper cars, and roller coaster to a carousel, disco room, and laser tag! 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! 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 cookie baking and decorating, cupcakes “from scratch,” muffin and scone baking, and brownies. Come in, call, or visit celebrationsinthekitchen. com for more information on parties. FANTASY FOREST AMUSEMENT PARK Fantasy Forest Amusement Park at the Flushing Meadows Carousel 111th Street and 55th Avenue, Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, next to the Queens Zoo fantasyforestnyc.com; info@nycarousel.com Ready for a thrilling and fun birthday party? Our package includes private seating area, unlimited rides, games, goodie bags, and a host to help. FOREST PARK CAROUSEL Woodhaven Boulevard and Forest Park Drive, Woodhaven

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

forestparkcarousel.com info@nycarousel.com Enjoy a classic carousel-themed birthday party. Includes 2 hours in VIP party tent, unlimited rides, games, goodie bags, and a host to help.

516-488-3414 thinkertots.com thinkertotsnhp@gmail.com We can custom design your party with open playtime and music or you can rent out our location. We provide theme paper goods.

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 1st through 6th birthdays. Call us to customize your child’s musical birthday. We can also come to your space.

USTA BILLIE JEAN KING NATIONAL TENNIS CENTER Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, Flushing 718-760-6200 x0; ntc.usta.com Birthday party packages include one hour of court time with drills and games organized by our USTA Pro staff and one hour private room for pizza.

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 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. THINKERTOTS 222-14 Union Turnpike, Bayside 718-740-1616 1818 Jericho Turnpike, New Hyde Park

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. WHEEL FUN RENTALS - FLUSHING MEADOWS CORONA PARK Flushing Meadows Corona Park at David Dinkins Circle Meridian Road 929-343-2366 Flushing Meadows Corona Park at North Meadow Lake, Meadow Lake Road West: 917-231-5519 Jacob Riis Park, 157 Rockaway Beach Blvd.: 917- 231-6229 wheelfunrentals.com Wheel Fun Rentals is the perfect place for birthday parties! Kids and adults can explore the area on one of our specialty bikes-or go on a Surrey Scavenger Hunt!

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Meet the Health Care

Louis E. Mora, Ph.D., Psychologist P.C. 70 Glen Cove Road, Suite 201, Roslyn Heights 347-740-5690 lmoraphd.com

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

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.

Dr. Mora works with children and adults. He specializes in psychological testing, which helps improve diagnosing and treatment planning. Such testing includes neuropsychological testing, giftedness examinations, and evaluating for the presence of psychological disorders. This includes evaluating for ADHD and possible consequences of head injury. He has years of experience doing such testing with various populations. He earned his doctorate in clinical psychology and postdoctoral education in forensic psychology from St. John’s University. He is also an adjunct professor of psychology at St. Francis College.

Dr. Michael Gruttadauria, The Center for Integrative and Innovative Therapies (The CIIT Center) 131 Sunnyside Blvd., Suite 100, Plainview 516-243-8660 theciitcenter.com

Dr. Michael Gruttadauria leads the operations at an advanced treatment center for autism spectrum disorder called The CIIT Center. The CIIT Center’s mission is to approach each child with autism as a total entity by enhancing the biomedical, neurological, nutritional, electrical, and immune system of each of our patients and combining this with occupational, physical, and speech therapies, along with applied behavioral analysis. Our comprehensive approach starts with identifying the underlying factors that may be holding the child back, not just treating their symptoms. This gives each child every opportunity to reach their potential.

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August 2017 | nymetroparents.com

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ACROBATICS / GYMNASTICS

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Music School of New York City ..............49

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RESTAURANTS /

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C.I.I.T. Center...................................19, 56 Janine Stiene Suffolk Center for Speech........................................53, 56

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USTA BJK National Tennis Center.........28

LIC Dental Associates .............................2

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Crayon Box (The)...................................39

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Ivy Day School........................................25

CHILD CARE / DAY CARE

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Just Wee Two.........................................44

All My Children Day Care.......................46

Jack -N- Jill Nursery...............................52

Music School of New York City ..............49

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KENT Prep.............................................46

Music Together, LLC...............................53

IStein......................................................45

Christ the King Continuing Education.....45

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Crayon Box (The)...................................39

Mary Louis Academy (The)..................... 11

Rhythm NY.............................................27

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QueensParent 57

Melissa Errico

VOICES What Potty Training Taught Me ›› Why the biggest lesson from potty training was for me, not my son By Emma Steven

ver since I got pregnant with my first child I’ve been a parenting book junkie. Books on pregnancy, birth, newborns, sleep, child development, baby-led weaning, traditional weaning, toddler behavior, gentle parenting, traditional discipline—you name it, I’ve read it. My husband rolls his eyes when another Amazon box arrives. “Another parenting book?” he’ll say, before I explain why I need this particular book and how it will change our lives. My friends laugh because whatever the parenting challenge, I’ve usually read a few books about it and can quote them. I can’t solve the particular problem, but boy do I know a few opinions on what we could do. Unfortunately this obsession has yet to turn me into the perfect parent. So when it came to potty training—one of the most dreaded times in toddlerhood—everyone was expecting me to line up some good reading material. “What do the books say?” my husband asked whenever the topic came up. “I don’t know...” I said, for the first time in my parenting life. Perhaps it was because I’d just had another baby, or perhaps it was because I just wasn’t ready for potty training myself. For the first time I didn’t deal with a parenting question by buying a book. I didn’t know what to do; there were so many books, not to mention blogs, videos, and storybooks for kids—how was I to choose? Why were there so many different methods? Why do people need potty training consultants for something that should be so simple? It was overwhelming. My Amazon cart stayed empty. Then my son turned 2. I half-heartedly read a couple of online articles about potty training readiness. But instead of researching the subject thoroughly I did nothing. I bought a potty seat and showed him how to use it. He got the hang of it but showed zero interest. “He’ll do it when he’s ready,” I told my mom. “Eighteen-yearolds don’t wear diapers after all.” So we waited...and waited. I offered to buy him underwear: no interest. I offered a special treat if he potty trained: cue tantrums. I asked him if he wanted to be a big boy and say goodbye to diapers. He said no, he wanted to be a baby and wear diapers forever. His third birthday came and went. His friends all potty trained one by one. The other moms discussed different methods and what worked for them. Still he wasn’t interested. I began to

despair. I knew that he could do it if he wanted, but he didn’t. “What if he’s never ready?” I wept to my husband. “He’s nearly 4!” I shrugged off the disapproving comments in mom forums about the topic of “late” training. I ignored a potty training consultant who told me that kids have to potty train between the ages of 2-3 or face long-term problems. I refused to try and force him, as was suggested by some of these “experts.” Everyone had a piece of advice to give me. “Read him potty stories,” his preschool teachers said at parent-teacher conferences. We had a dozen. “Go underwear shopping,” said other moms. We had drawers of unwanted underwear. I realized that half of my anxiety stemmed from the fact he had always been the first of his friends to hit milestones. Was my competitiveness and anxiety causing his reluctance? He certainly couldn’t care less that he wasn’t potty trained. The mere discussion of it would result in tantrums and tears. So we waited some more. I decided to focus on what he wanted, rather than what he was “supposed” to be doing. Then one day, when he was 3 years and 8 months old, I told him casually we were about to run out of diapers. “Okay,” he said. A few days later he came out of his room asking to sit on the potty. I cheered and did a special dance. Two more days passed and instead of peeing on the floor, he said, “I need to go potty” and ran back to the bathroom. Something had shifted. A week later I told him we’d run out of diapers, and within three days he was trained, day and night, with no fuss, and no need for big rewards. I can count the number of accidents he’s had since then on two hands. My gut instinct had been right all along. When people ask me what method I used I shrug and say, “I didn’t. I just waited until he was ready and he did it.” It took me three years and nine months to realize that the parenting expert who has the most to teach me about my son is my son.

Emma Steven is a writer and NYMetroParents’ Manhattan calendar editor. She lives in Manhattan with her husband, two toddlers, and two cats.

August 2017 | nymetroparents.com

When your little angel thinks heâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a daredevil...

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