Qp 0917 by City Guide NY

Queens Parent SEPTEMBER 2017

NYMETROPARENTS.COM

Back to School! After-School Activities • How much is too much? • Find the best programs

10 Tips for Easy Meal Planning Save time, money, and stress

Gifted Kids Is my child a genius or just plain smart?

HELPING PARENTS MAKE BETTER DECISIONS

QueensParent

For Your Back-to-School Needs

Have It All! Style. Selection. Convenience.

Enjoy the best from more than 50 premier shops, fine restaurants, entertainment venues, professional services and plenty of free parking.

Cord Meyer Development The Bay Terrace LLC Bell Blvd., Bayside 26th26th Ave. Ave. & Bell&Blvd., Bayside NY 11360

Visit us us at: at: http://www.bayterrace.com http://www.bayterrace.com Visit us at: http://www.cordmeyer.net

QueensParent

NYMetroParents

Helping Parents Make Better Decisions

Contents

September 2017 ››

Features

22 Cover Stars Meet the finalists and winners of our 2017 cover contest.

24 Is My Kid a Genuis? How to tell if your child is gifted, a prodigy, or just plain smart 28 10 Tips to Master Meal Planning Spend time once a week to create a menu, and you’ll save time, money, and stress. 30 Left Behind Tips to help your younger child cope when an older sibling goes to college 46 Extracurricular vs. Extra Downtime When it comes to scheduling after-school activities, how much is too much?

Connections

6 Editor’s Note 8 New Places, New Programs 12 Quotables 14 NYMP Q&A: Parenting expert Sarah Ockwell-Smith talks discipline. 20 Mommybites Tip of the Month 62 Voices: The Lesson of the Pizza Bowl Fail

Fun & Activities 10 16 18 32 35 44

Family Activities CALENDAR ››

Beat the Back-to-School Blues at LI Parents Day DIY Corner: Why Is the Sky Blue? Media Matters: Homework Helping Apps Outing: Roosevelt Island Family Activities Calendar Where-To Guide: Pick Your Own Apples

Directories

50 57 58 59 60 60 61

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

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

››

ON THE COVER ›› After-School Activities: 46 How Much is too Much? 50 Find the Best Programs 24 Gifted Kids 28 10 Tips for Easy Meal Planning facebook.com/nymetroparents

@NYMetroParents

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

180 East 79 St. Suite # 1C New York, NY 10021

114-20 Queens Blvd, Suite CS2 Forest Hills, NY 11375

Committed to providing neuropsychological and educational assessments to the children of NYC for over ten years. Our director, Dr. Sanam Hafeez, is a highly sought after expert in the field of child development and learning and a faculty member at Columbia University. She is a regular medical guest and expert contributor to the CBS news shows, Dr. Oz Show, Nancy Grace, Fox and Friends, WebMD, Yahoo! Health and Parenting, Glamour, Women’s Health Magazine and more.

Who We Help: • Learning disabilities • Autism Spectrum Disorders • Developmental Disorders and Delays • Depression, anxiety, behavioral issues, mood disorders, etc

How We Help: • Extra time and separate location on tests (City Wide, Common Core, SATs,) • IEP and 504 planning, entrance to private schools and medication management • Forensic (Injury, Child Custody, and Immigration) cases • Treatment planning based on comprehensive assessment

We accept Health Insurance GHI, UnitedHealthCare, Oxford, Cigna, MagnaCare, BlueCross BlueShield (BCBS) All Major credit cards accepted

www.ComprehendTheMind.com | 1-888-441-0015 QueensParent

SEPTEMBER 2017 • Vol.23 • No.3

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

New Beginnings, New Routines

To Submit Events: nymetroparents.com/submitevents

ere we are, another school year upon us! Some of you, I’m sure, are rejoicing at the return to routine, while others are probably misty-eyed at another summer ending. I am somewhere in between, feeling wistful at the speed with which time passes yet excited for the opportunities my kids will face in the coming academic year—not to mention the comforting (for us parents, at least) return to a full and predictable schedule. In our family, however, deciding on the kids’ schedules can be a challenge. There are so many after-school activities to choose from and my kids are excited about exploring multiple interests. There are times when I feel as if they are so busy with extracurricular programs they don’t have enough time for their homework or to study for tests—let alone to relax, play, and socialize. So for this back-to-school issue, we turned to the experts and asked: When it comes to after-school activities, how much is too much? In our seemingly over-programmed culture, the answer may surprise you (p. 46). And if you are looking for great programs in your neighborhood, check out or back-to-school directory (p. 50). For some families, this time of year marks a more dramatic transition: a child leaving for college. It’s a momentous milestone, of course, but for a younger sibling still at home, it can bring challenges and difficult emotions. To help, we look at how parents can help their younger kids navigate the new realities at home (p. 30). Also in this issue, meet our 2017 Kids Cover Contest finalists and winners (p. 22)! We received a record number of submissions this year, and choosing finalists from these amazingly cute kids was a challenge. I’m sure you’ll agree, though, that our finalists and winners are bursting with personality, flashing smiles that will light up our covers during the year ahead (including this month’s cover!). Speaking of our magazine cover, you might have noticed something different: our new logo. We love the sleek, updated look and are excited to show it off. And stay tuned for more changes, as we prepare to relaunch our website in the coming weeks! Lastly, if you’re looking for a great way to spend a Sunday this month, join us for Long Island Parents Day on Sept. 17. See p. 10 for more details on this fun, informative event for the whole family. Michael Kress Editorial Director

ADVERTISING SALES

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

PRODUCTION

DIRECTOR|PUBLISHING MANAGEMENT: Anthony Diaz DIRECTOR|DIGITAL CONTENT DEVELOPMENT: Sara Wentworth

MARKETING

MARKETING MANAGER: Jaime Graham PUBLISHING & MARKETING MANAGER: Barbara Byrd

ACCOUNTING

CONTROLLER: David Friedman

ADMINISTRATION

CREDIT MANAGER: Elizabeth Teagarden CREDIT ASSISTANTS: Rosa Meinhofer, Diedra Smith

MOMMYBITES.COM

MANAGING DIRECTOR: Rebecca Dixon 917-572-9192

Davler Media Group davlermedia.com

CEO: David L. Miller General Manager: Thomas K. Hanlon 498 Seventh Ave., 10th Floor, New York, NY 10018 Phone: 212-315-0800; Fax: 212-271-2239

Keep in Touch: 7 @nymetroparents nymetroparents.com September 2017 | nymetroparents.com 6editor@nymetroparents.com

BIG APPLE PARENT, QUEENS PARENT, WESTCHESTER PARENT BROOKLYN PARENT, ROCKLAND PARENT, BERGEN •ROCKLAND PARENT, and LONG ISLAND PARENT are published monthly by Davler Media Group, LLC Copyright © 2017, Davler Media Group, LLC No part of contents may be reproduced without prior permission from the publisher. Subscription rates per year, per publication: $39

ROBERT MANN DANCE CENTRE NOW TAKING REGISTRATIONS FOR OUR 53RD SCHOOL YEAR… Classes For All Ages & Levels Beginners To Professionals

Ballet • Pointe • Tap • Jazz • Lyrical • Contemporary Modern • Hip Hop • Musical Theatre • Acrobatics THE ROBERT MANN DANCE CENTRE HAS THE BEST & MOST SUCCESSFUL

YOUNG DANCERS PROGRAM IN NEW YORK CITY • 2½ - 3½ years old Pre-Dance • 3½ - 4½ years old First Step – Tap & Pre-Ballet • 4½ - 5½ & 5½ - 6½ years old Tap – Pre-Ballet/Jazz Combo Class

FALL REGISTRATION DATES: AUGUST 28th – AUGUST 31st • 11AM – 7PM

New This Season... • All Boys Hip Hop Class • Company Production Classes • Special Company Workshops With Guest Faculty • Bring In A Friend To Register For Classes Receive $10 Off Your Registration • If You Like Us – Write A Positive Review Receive $10 Off Your Registration

FOR INFORMATION www.robertmanndance.com Phone #: 718-225-3696 • E-Mail: robertmanndance@gmail.com QueensParent

NEW PLACES, NEW PROGRAMS

nymetroparents.com/np-qp

Who: Queens Music Academy What’s New: A location in Woodside, which opened in July and provides a performance space for students as well as classrooms for lessons. Queens Music Academy’s new location offers kids’ theater and opera classes. It also houses a grand piano and has space that can be used as a recording studio. The music school, which is also located in Sunnyside, specializes in teaching children ages 3-5, however students of all ages are accepted. Queens Music Academy encourages students to explore different instruments, have fun, and feel comfortable playing music, says owner Choi Fairbanks. Want More Info: 60-19 Roosevelt Ave., Suite 228, Woodside; and 46-01 Greenpoint Ave., Suite 2B, Sunnyside; 917-349-5477; info@queensmusicacademy.com; queensmusicacademy.com

Courtesy Queens Music Academy

Music Academy Opens Woodside Location

Queens Music Academy offers 1-on-1 and group music classes, as well as a popular rock band class.

Who: Istein Education Center What’s New: Ukulele, choir, and percussion classes, which were added in July. Ukulele class is offered three days a week for children ages 4-16. Choir classes are for children ages 4-16. Istein Education Center also offers 1-on-1 drum classes for students ages 6 and older, including adults. Students will practice on electric drums and eventually learn the entire drum set. “We are a music school, an enrichment school, an after school, and a summer school,” says director Richard Liu. “We are an all-in-one place, and that is what sets us apart from other similar schools.” Want More Info: 107-06 71st Road, Forest Hills; 718-575-8877; info@isteinny.com; isteinny.com

Courtesy Istein Education Center

Forest Hills Music School Adds Classes

Istein Education Center serves students ages 4 and older, including adults.

Who: Music Together® with Music and Me What’s New: Pajama parties for past and present families and their friends at the Bayside and Astoria locations Aug. 29 and 31, respectively. Both family pajama parties will take place from 6-6:45pm and cost $20 per family. Pre-registration is required. “Music Together® aims to make the world a better place by making it more musical. Through music and movement, we focus on strengthening communities and families,” says Nini Reid, a registered Music Together® teacher. More pajama parties will be announced in December. Want More Info: Inside Shotokai USA Karate Dojo: 208-56 Cross Island Parkway, Bayside; and inside Gym-Azing: 27-14 23rd Ave., Astoria; see website for more locations; 718-229-0033; musictogetherwithmusicandme.com

September 2017 | nymetroparents.com

Courtesy Music Together® with Music and Me

Children’s Music Organization Hosts Pajama Parties

Music Together® with Music and Me will be hosting family pajama parties in Queens.

FALL SEMESTER

Sept. 7th, 2017 to Jan. 13th, 2018

Ballet • Tap • Tippy Toes Playgroups • Summer Programs

Pre-ballet through Level Program Ages 2 to Adult

EXCITING PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES AND NEW CLASSES!

NEW for Fall 2017!!!

MUSICAL THEATRE CLASS Dancing, Singing & Acting!!! - (AGES 6-12)

NUTCRACKER auditions SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 16TH AGES 6 and UP. (Call 718 520-0207 for audition details) 70-11 Austin Street, 2nd Floor Forest Hills, NY 11375 QueensParent

Clover Prep Learning Center is the “best rated spot for learning” for students ages 2.5 to 12 years old featuring FasTracKids & JEI Learning. We offer proven programs that deliver results for realizing each student’s maximum potential. Whether it’s critical thinking, Gifted & Talented prep, math, reading, speech, science, summer camp, afterschool programs, or preschool alternative, we have the best programs for your child.

Beat the Back-toSchool Blues at LI Parents Day ››

Fun activities for kids while Mom and Dad find out about after-school programs, doctors, and other useful resources

MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE MAKE LEARNING ENGAGING & FUN! Ages 4-12

Academic Tutoring

Ages 5-10

Afterschool Homework Help

Ages 4-6

Gifted & Talented Test Prep

Ages 3-6

FasTracKids Core Science

Ages 2-4

Preschool Alternative

Ages 5-10

Mini Holiday & Summer Camp

Inquire about our free trial classes & take advantage of our free diagnostic test throughout September.

Come for a tour. REGISTRATION FOR FALL 2017 IS NOW OPEN! 192-11 Union Turnpike | Fresh Meadows, NY 11366

www.CloverPrep.com | info@cloverprep.com 718.740.7888

September 2017 | nymetroparents.com

ids may drag their feet when they bid farewell to summer and return to school, but here’s something to cheer them up this month. Our annual LI Parents Day will be held on Sunday, Sept. 17, and aims to make back-to-school season fun and exciting. While kids participate in classes and activities, parents will meet with local businesses, including after-school programs and doctors, to help make the transition to a new school year easier. This year, we also are introducing a new Special Needs Alley, a section dedicated to families of children with special needs. At LI Parents Day, kids will play in a Kids Corner and participate in activities such as a live reptile demonstration, a Zumba class, a bounce house, a robotics demonstration, and much more! While they’re busy having fun, parents can meet with more than 50 back-to-school exhibitors, including after-school programs, birthday party venues, special-needs providers, and health and wellness professionals. Tickets are $10 per family, which covers two adults and as many as four children. Every family who attends will receive a free goodie bag filled with fun samples, courtesy of exhibitors and us, NYMetroParents! LI Parents Day takes place from 11am-3pm at the Pratt Recreation Center at Long Island University, 720 Northern Blvd. in Brookville. For regular updates on exhibitors and the activity schedule, check liparentsday.com.

MUSIC

DANCE

We offer more performances than any other music school in Queens. Visit our Website and Facebook page for a schedule of Concerts and Events.

PIANO VOICE GUITAR VIOLIN BRASS WOODWINDS PERCUSSION CHORUS THEORY BALLET FLAMENCO MODERN DRAWING OIL PAINTING WATERCOLOR SCULPTURE DRAMA MUSICAL THEATER SPANISH PRE-SCHOOL MUSIC Special programs prepare students for performing arts high schools and colleges.

35-57 89th St, Jackson Heights, NY info@paconyschool.com

www.paconyschool.com (718) 639-1425 â&#x20AC;¢ (917) 774-3411 QueensParent 11

UOTABLES Perhaps I shouldn’t be so surprised that the girl who desperately wanted to live in a world of her own—but ultimately chose reality—would become the mother to a child who doesn’t see the difference between the two. —Kathy Radigan, in a post entitled “The Way My Special Daughter Told Me She Loves Me,” on her blog mydishwasherspossessed.com

in an instagram Summer reading is alive & well over here at #CampThirtymommy What are your little ones reading this summer? #AveryRoyce #LaylahJonelle (Posted by @thirtymommy, aka Scherrie D., who blogs at thirtymommy.com)

MOTHER-DAUGHTER WEEKEND

in an instagram after our school’s meet and greet picnic for the new students #iloveny #nyckids #friends #nyc #nycsummer #summer #childhoodunplugged #thisisourclassroom #nycpublicschools (Posted by @familyroadtraveled, aka Estée Pouleris, who blogs at familyroadtraveled.com)

“I once asked a friend who has three young boys, ‘Are you and your wife closer now that you have kiddos?’ He simply said, ‘Of course! It’s us against them.’ Now that I’m a mom, I know what he meant. It’s true.” —Olivia Jeanette, in a post entitled “How Our Marriage Has Changed Since Having a Baby,” on her blog oliviajeanette.com

September 2017 | nymetroparents.com

“Some days, nothing you do, or offer to do, is right. My 14-year-old daughter, Amelia, a good kid by any definition, jumps out of the car before I’ve even come to a complete stop at the home of her BFF of the week, and doesn’t look back. She stiffens a little when I hug her, remarking, ‘Mom, you’re like really close to my face right now.’ Together time is now largely limited to mani-pedis—if she can bring a friend.” —Christina Verceletto in “I Took a 14-Year-Old YouTube Addict to Niagara Falls.” Read the article at nymetroparents. com/mother-daughter-weekend.

MORE NYMetroParents.com HIGHLIGHTS: FREE FUN: Visit museums and zoos without paying (nymetroparents.com/free). FAIRS & FESTIVALS: Where to go in the late summer and fall (nymetroparents.com/fairs) GO FOR THE GOLD: Check out our interview with Olympic Gold Medalist Gabby Douglas (nymetroparents/gabby-douglas). FALL GUIDE: How to make the most of autumn (nymetroparents.com/fall-guide)

Now Enrolling 2017-2018 After School Program

$50 OFF

NOW ENROLLING 2017-2018 AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM

ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT PROGRAM

Tuition when you register before 9/7

Now Enrolling 2017-2018 Little Winner (K-2 Math / English) State Test Program (G3-5)

$100 OFF Tuition when enrolled by 9/30

OO L S UMM E

CHIN

IISTEIN STEIN

EDUCATION A ATION CENTER

MUS

107-06 71 st Rd, 2 nd Floor, Forest Hills, NY 11375

info@isteinny.com or isteinny@gmail.com

ON ALL PROGRAMS FOR SIBLINGS

718.575.8877 Visit us at: www.isteinny.com Call us at:

H SC

AFT

10% OFF

Free school Pickup • Homework Help Music • Chinese • Arts & Crafts

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

QueensParent 13

NYMP Q&A

Sarah Ockwell-Smith is a parenting expert and founder of gentleparentinginternational.com. She recently published Gentle Discipline: Using Emotional Connection—Not Punishment— to Raise Confident, Capable Kids.

F stration

Regi

Ballet Tap Jazz Hip Hop Modern l Boys Hip Hop Dr ocal temporary Creative Movement Mommy & robatics Musical Theatre Ballroom

y Newl sq. ft. 7,000

Zumba • Ballet • Tap • Ballroom • Latin

Open For Registration Tues., August 29th: 3:30-7:30pm Weds., August 30th: 3:30-7:30pm Tues., Sept. 5th: 3:30-7:30pm Weds., Sept. 6th: 3:30-7:30pm Thurs., Sept. 7th: 3:30-7:30pm

CLASSES BEGIN Sept. 11th! 188-22 Union Tpke Fresh Meadows 68-02 Metropolitan Ave Middle Village

718-479-8522

www.americandanceanddrama.net

BIRTHDAY PARTIES:

For all ages: Disco, Gymnastics, Dress Up, Princess Parties, Arts and Crafts. 1 Party at a time Huge Party Room (over 3,000 sq. ft.) Disco Laser Lights Bubble/Fog Machine Face Paintin Arts/Crafts Gymnastics Disco Dress-Up Tattoos Cotton Princess Parties - Hostesses become your favorite fairytale princess! 14

September 2017 | nymetroparents.com

›› By Bethany Braun-Silva Claire Moir Photography

Be Gentle

ears 44 Y

What are some misconceptions parents have about disciplining their kids? There are three main misconceptions parents have around child behavior and discipline. One, far too many parents expect children to act like adults. They expect quite sophisticated thought processes and neurological regulation that children just don’t have yet because their brains are not fully developed. A good example is expecting a toddler to not tantrum or to be able to calm down in the middle of a tantrum. Toddlers tantrum because they have really poor emotion regulation skills. They can’t control their emotions like we can as adults—they’re not being naughty, just being toddlers! Two, most mainstream discipline methods work on the presumption that kids need to be motivated to “do better.” In fact, most kids are motivated to do better. They don’t want to get in trouble or upset you. Most misbehave because they can’t do better. The motivation is there already, it’s the ability that is missing. Three, another problem with mainstream discipline is, it focuses strongly on punishing and shaming kids. The thing is, a major cause of poor behavior is a lack of self-esteem in kids. If they feel bad, they’ll act bad. What tips do you have for parents when they feel they are about to lose their temper? I think it’s important that we have realistic expectations of our own behavior. Everybody screws up as a parent and everybody loses their temper sometimes, including myself. Stop trying to be perfect. Accept that anger and losing control are normal parts of life as a parent and it doesn’t mean that you’re not good at it! What is important is keeping a check on your own emotions. Being mindful of how you’re feeling, trying to reduce triggers and taking a break to recharge when you feel frazzled. When you feel that you just can’t take any more, you need an emergency break from your kids. Maybe a day with friends, going for a run—whatever it is that replenishes and relaxes you. What’s your take on “time-outs?” Time-outs work on the idea that separating the child from yourself and their peers punishes them for their wrongdoing and makes them think about what they’ve done wrong. This time in quiet contemplation is meant to make the child behave more appropriately next time. Unfortunately, none of these assumptions are true. Young kids don’t have the brain development for such sophisticated thought, they don’t have a developed sense of empathy, they can’t think about future actions, and they can’t control their behavior anywhere near as much as adults think they can. Another huge problem with time-out is, kids often misbehave because they feel a disconnect with their caregivers. It makes no sense that a child who is desperate for love and attention is further separated—it just makes them feel worse, which in time will make their behavior problems escalate.

Learn Music

Music Classes For Children and Adults

From $99/month • Beginners to Intermediate • Includes both Private Lesson + Music Reading • Guitar, Bass, Drum, Vocal, Piano, Violin, Cello, Flute, Saxophone, Clarinet, Trumpet, and more

AfterMusicSchool From $350/month

• Serious Music Program within Academics • Common Core Preparation • Dedicated Daily Schedule for Music Class • Pick-Up & Drop-Off • Mon-Fri 3-6pm

70-68 Kissena Blvd #3F, Flushing, NY 11367 (Close to Queens College) 213-01 Northern Blvd, Bayside, NY 11361

718-224-3364 www.RhythmNY.com

Schedule your FREE-TRIAL today!

Samuel Field Y

Early Childhood Programs Programs & Classes for Two & Three Year Olds Flexible & Extended Hours • Full & Half Day Options Small Staff Ratios • Nurturing and Stimulating Environment

Samuel Field Y S

Music • Creative Arts • Learning Centers Age Appropriate STEM Activities Social Emotional Development Physical Education • Cooking & More!

58-20 Little Neck Parkway, Little Neck, NY 11362

Tricia Campo, Early Childhood Director

718.225.6750 x 246

QueensParent 15

DIY CORNER SCIENCE EXPERIMENT

Why Is the Sky Blue?

It’s a question all have asked. Let’s find the answer!

Time: 10 minutes Materials 1 clear drinking glass or small glass bowl Water Milk Spoon Eyedropper (optional) Bright flashlight Safety Tips and Setup Hints • A white LED flashlight works well with this lab, such as the flashlight in many camera phones. • It helps to see the blue color in the water if the room is darkened as much as possible. Instructions Step 1: Fill the glass or bowl with water until it is mostly full. Step 2: Put a few drops of milk into the water, and stir the water with the spoon. You can use an eyedropper for this, but, if you do not have one, just carefully and slowly pour a few drops of milk from a spoon into the water. Do not pour the milk directly from the carton, as it will likely come out too quickly. Put a little bit of milk into a small bowl, and scoop a few drops into a spoon, then into the water. Step 3: Shine the flashlight through the water. What color do you see? (The color will be fairly light.)

September 2017 | nymetroparents.com

THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE FUN Earth’s air is made of several gases. Most of it is nitrogen, about 78 percent, about 21 percent is oxygen, there is a little bit of a gas called argon, a little water vapor, and very small amounts of gases, such as carbon dioxide and others. While our eyes can’t see the individual bits of gases, called atoms or molecules, we can feel them when the wind blows. The amounts of these gases change depending on the seasons, the altitude, the weather, whether there has been a volcanic eruption, or other reasons, but these are generally the amounts we measure. The light from the Sun is made of many colors, and we can see those colors when we split the Sun’s white light using a prism. When white light hits the gas molecules, most of the light—such as the reds, oranges, and yellows—is able to move its way through the molecules and pass to the ground to your eyes. However, the blue light is scattered around by the gases. It is this scattered blue light we see as a blue sky. In this lab, the big particles of milk in the water acted like the particles of air, scattering the blue light from the flashlight. You can try playing with the amount of milk in the water and the type of flashlight until you get the easiest blue color to see.

THE HIGHLAND SCHOOL Established 1949

RK NOAH’S A OLL OO HO SCH Y SC RY ATOR RATO AR PA P REEP PR

FREE free Universal universal pre-k and preschool program Licensed and Nurturing Teachers Weekly Swim classes at Cross Island YMCA Taekwondo Music and Movement Breakfast, Lunch, and Snack provided Interactive Computers Academics Early Literacy Learning while having FUN!

• • • • • • • •

OPEN HOUSE LABOR DAY MONDAY, SEPT. 4th 9 -11 A.M. or later by appointment

Small Classes Separate Floor for Pre-K and Kindergarten After School Program Transportation Available Early Morning Drop Off Smartboard Technology Foreign Language, Music, Art Large Gymnasium and Outdoor Playing Fields Extracurricular Activities: Sports, Drama, Piano

CALL for a tour and visit our classrooms

•

38-20 Bell Blvd. Bayside, NY 11361

Mention Queens Parent for a Discount

For more info call: (718) 279-4251

62-48 Mt. Olivet Crescent Middle Village, NY 11379 For more info call: (347) 335-0044

www.noahsarkschool.com

Affordable Tuition Partial Scholarships Available Accredited By The New York State Department Of Education 193-10 Peck Ave. • Fresh Meadows, N.Y. 11365 718-357-4747 • www.thenewhighlandschool.com

QueensParent 17

Media Matters: APPS

Homework Helpers

Flocabulary: Educational Hip-Ho

Recommended age: 6+

★★★★

Catchy hip-hop songs and fun

p for K-12 (Free to try)

videos for memorable learning , Android

Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad

World Atlas HD ($1.99)

Recommended age: 8+

★★

★★★ This fab tool provides the world at your fingertips. Device: iPad Arloon Geometry ($2.99)

Recommended age: 10+

Shape up spatial skills with this★ ★ ★ ★ augmented reality tool. Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad , Windows Phone

Yup - Homework Help With Ma

(Free trial, then subscription-ba

sed)

th and Chemistry Tutors

Recommended for ages: 13+ ★ ★★★

★ Live tutors help tweens and teen s with math and science. Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad , Android In Theaters Sept. 22: The Lego Ninjago Movie Our Partner: Common Sense Media An independent nonprof it that helps families make smart media choices. Check out thousands of ratings and reviews at commonsensemedia.org

Parents need to know that The Lego Ninjago Movie is based on the funny, popular, actionpacked TV show about Lego ninjas. In this adventure, teenage warrior Lloyd (voiced by Dave Franco) must save his beloved land of Ninjago from evil warlord Garmadon (Justin Theroux), who just happens to be his father. With the help of his five friends and fellow ninjas—and under the guidance of Sensei Wu (Jackie Chan)—Lloyd sets out to defeat his bad-guy dad. Expect bloodless action and fighting and possibly some crude humor.

See more at NYMetroParents.com/media

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:

NTC.USTA.COM Flushing Meadows-Corona Park Flushing, NY 11368

September 2017 | nymetroparents.com

TINY FOOTSTEPS

NEW

1-2 YEAR OLD PROGRAM! REGISTER NOW! SPACE IS LIMITED!

FALL REGISTRATION GOING ON NOW!

Child Learning Center

718

AGES 1-5

U N D PR

A YE

-9 69- 5

Transportation Available

Monday - Friday 8:00am - 6:00pm • Extended Hours Available • Spacious Classrooms • Licensed Teachers • Warm Caring Environment • Creative Academic Programs

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

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

www.tinyfootstepsny.com • 167-01 Union Turnpike • Fresh Meadows, NY 11366

Learn Basketball

Play Basketball

Trained basketball teachers build your child's skills while he builds his own confidence. NON-COMPETITIVE BEGINNER PROGRAMS CO-ED Ages 3-4, 5-6, 7-10 • Child sensitive programs • 1 trained teacher for 5 players • Low baskets and youth size balls • Free T-Shirt. Free Graduation trophy.

Call now:

CO-ED. Ages 9-13, 11-14, 12-15 • Games and Skill Contests • Shooting Clinics • Everyone plays all the time. • Student teacher ratio: 5-1 • Free Trophy

FREE WWW.FIRSTSHOTBASKETBALL.COM TRIAL REGO PARK • BAYSIDE • JAMAICA ESTATES LESSON Register on-line at:

4 718-275-797

COMPETITIVE OLYMPIX TM & POWERBALL TRAINING

The Leading Basketball Program In Queens

FIRST SHOT BASKETBALL SCHOOL ®

Teaching Basketball and Sportsmanship Since 1997

QueensParent 19

MOMMYBITES TIP OF THE MONTH

Include the Whole Family in the Interview Process ›› Our friends at Mommybites are offering a monthly tip to help parents who employ—or are considering hiring—nannies. If possible, try to have your partner at home with you for the interview. It is always nice to have a second opinion. Also, try to schedule the interview at a time when the baby is awake. This is a good way to see how a nanny interacts with your child and how your child responds to the nanny. Open communication is key to having a successful relationship with your nanny. Be sure to be very specific with your job requirements. For example, do you want a nanny who cleans? Cooks? Can stay late? Can take vacations with you? Can also babysit in the evening? Make sure you have a detailed list of everything you are looking for in a nanny. Remember to also encourage the nanny to ask you any questions she may have.

ITHWAI RA

Braithwaite Nursery School ~ Your child will be governed only by his or her limitless imagination. ~

ery Sch

Mommybites’ mom-generated nanny board and babysitting boards have been some of the most popular child-care sites in New York City for more than 10 years! See more at mommybites.com

Safe & Nurturing Environment Story Telling & Creative Writing Music & Art Expression Literature Rich Setting Discovering Math & Science

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

OPEN ENROLLMENT FOR FALL 2017

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 20

September 2017 | nymetroparents.com

Christ the King Dance Program brought to you by

American Dance & Drama Studio

Advanced Test Preparation Grades 3-12

ELA, MATH, SHSAT, ISEE, PSAT, SAT, ACT

CLASSES OFFERED FOR AGES 2.5 & UP

boys boys hip-hop hip-hop && Break Break dancing dancing acrobatics acrobatics

Karate Karate AGES 4 & UP

Kweller Prep Queens

104-40 Queens Blvd; Suite 1C Forest Hills, NY 11375 (Queens Blvd and 69th Avenue)

Newly Expanded Facility!!!

Kweller Prep Manhattan

370 Lexington Avenue; Suite 800 New York, NY 10017 (Lexington and 41st Street)

AGES 3 & UP

A fun, creative & educational weekly culinary adventure! Builds Literacy, Science & Math Skills!

•

s of 8-10 students

•

after after school school program program K-8th Grade 3:00pm - 6:30pm

basketball Basketball && soccer soccer programs offered for ages 2.5 & up

68-02 Metropolitan Avenue, Middle Village, NY 11379

718.366.7454 | WWW.CTKNY.ORG

•

TH, H

TACHS, SHSAT

FALL, SPRING, AND SUMMER PROGRAMS

QueensParent 21

Cover Stars!

››

Meet the ﬁnalists and winners of our 2017 cover contest.

icking finalists from 2,000 cute entries was quite the challenge for the staff here at NYMetroParents. But once we managed to narrow it down, we invited the finalists to meet for a photo shoot at PhotoOp NYC. All the finalists wore their best smiles and some seriously stylish clothes (thanks, Appaman!) and had a blast shooting with PhotoOp’s awesome photographers. (Unfortunately the 10th finalist was unable to participate.) All of the kids did a great job posing for the camera, but at the end of the day it was 4-year-old Olivia from Nassau County and 11-year-old Victoria from Brooklyn who we selected as the grand-prize winners. Olivia and her family will enjoy a twonight stay at Kalahari Resort in the Poconos to celebrate her big win, while Victoria will receive a scholarship to Barbizon Modeling & Acting Studio. Plus, our Fan Favorite, Sydney, received a family pack of tickets to Sesame Place. You’ll get to see more of these adorable kids in the coming months on our magazine covers!

c Sydney

Age: 5 Hometown: Bronx Sydney loves to dance and wants to be a dentist for kids when she grows up.

FAN FAVORITE

Olivia

GRAND PRIZE WINNER (YOUNGER THAN 6 CATEGORY)

Age: 4 Hometown: Nassau County Olivia loves to swim and wants to be an ophthalmologist when she grows up.

Read more about winners and ﬁnalists and watch a super-cute video of them at nymetroparents.com/ﬁnalists. September 2017 | the nymetroparents.com

Hudson

Age: 4 Hometown: Queens Hudson loves his Thomas trains and wants to be a sanitation worker when he grows up.

Sean

Age: 5 Hometown: Suffolk County Sean loves swimming and wants to be a firefighter, police officer, lifeguard, or astronaut when he grows up.

Emma

Age: 7 Hometown: Westchester Emma loves art and playing soccer and wants to be a veterinarian when she grows up.

Sophie

Age: 9 Hometown: Manhattan Sophie loves to draw comics and play baseball.

c Cameron

Age: 6 Hometown: Manhattan Cameron loves learning and playing soccer.

Ian

Age: 10 Hometown: Rockland County Ian loves playing sports with his friends and studying math.

Victoria

Age: 11 Hometown: Brooklyn Victoria loves everything about Brooklyn and wants to be a teacher when she grows up.

GRAND PRIZE WINNER (6 AND OLDER CATEGORY) QueensParent 23

Is My Kid a Genius?

››

How to tell if your child is gifted, a prodigy, or just plain smart—and what to do about it By Amanda Marrone

ndi Stix, director of G-tec Kids, a program for gifted and talented students in New Rochelle, was teaching a math class about finding a pattern to discover the square root of any given number. The class eventually came up with a pattern, until one child proclaimed, “The pattern will work up until 10,000 and then fall apart.” Astonished, Stix says she asked how the child knew that, and he answered, “I can just see it.” He turned out to be right—a case of profound giftedness, or some may even say, a prodigy. Every child has her own talents and all children are unique in their own ways. But when it comes to cognitive development and intelligence, how do parents and educators judge whether a child is more than just your average smart kid?

Identifying Giftedness

Giftedness can present itself in early childhood, according to the National Association of Gifted Children, which lists the characteristics of gifted children, such as an excellent memory, an unusually high vocabulary or sentence structure for their age, or a highly developed curiosity. However, there are different ways to classify and identify giftedness, since every child is unique. There are many smart kids in the world; however gifted students make up only 6-10 percent of the population, according to the NAGC. Clinically, giftedness is defined as anyone with an IQ of 24

September 2017 | nymetroparents.com

130 or higher. If an IQ exceeds the 145-150 range, a person is considered profoundly gifted. Some children are gifted at just about everything. “There are a small percentage of gifted kids who excel in every subject as well as most extracurricular activities,” says Tobi J. Phillips, president and founder of Village East Gifted, a program for gifted children with locations in Huntington Station and Roslyn Heights. “They are very rare, but I do see them.” More frequently, though, giftedness presents itself in one particular field, such as music, art, or math. Therefore, one important factor in identifying giftedness is determining how a child is gifted. “Our curriculum follows Howard Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences, with the premise that students can be intelligent in different ways, such as cognitively, physically, mathematically, or musically,” Phillips says. If your child is gifted in mathematics, for example, she will display extreme excellence and interest in the subject by doing puzzles and games and logic problems in her spare time, according to a Forbes article, “How to Tell If Your Child’s Gifted.” Children who are more profoundly gifted might even begin doing algebra before kindergarten. Although there are tests to prove that a child is gifted rather than just bright, many experts in the field believe giftedness can be discovered without a test. Nevertheless, educators will administer tests

to see if a child is gifted, including the Stanford Binet (L-M), Wescher Intelligence Scale for Children, or general standardized tests such as the SAT. There are so many factors that come into play when determining whether a child is gifted, so it is important for educators and parents to see the child as a whole. Many kids can score very high on tests, but IQ is not the only factor when it comes to true giftedness, Stix says. The way a child challenges material and reacts to that material is where people see true gifted potential. Stix, therefore, is not a fan of just using tests to judge giftedness. “I am very uncomfortable with the idea of testing giftedness because you are saying on that date, on that time, and that environment will the child present themselves to meet the standards of the school,” she says. “I think the most important thing I distinguish between a gifted child and a bright child is if the child is inventing, creating, producing, designing within whatever area of expertise or passion that they have.”

In the classroom, some gifted children choose to be very polite and helpful and become the teacher’s helper, Phillips says. Since these students are usually way ahead of their classmates academically, they become a mini teacher’s assistant, helping the teacher with anything. Others quietly go along with their classmates so they can more easily assimilate with their peers, choosing to keep their giftedness a secret, Phillips says.

They remain middle-of-theroad behaviorally—not acting out and not being the teacher’s helper—while getting perfect scores on everything and not bragging about it. These children also tend not to answer all the questions, even though they know the answer, because they do not want to draw attention from their peers. However, once gifted children are put into a gifted program where the other students are at their level,

their behavior can change. Phillips tells the story of a child who was new to a gifted and talented program. He was accustomed to being the smartest child in the room and impressing everyone around him, including the adults. When he entered the class on the first day, he stood up and said he can count to 20 in Spanish, and asked if he could recite it to the class. “I said I will be happy to listen to him continued on next page ››

Social Thinking in a Social World

Do you know this child?

Behavior Issues

Although gifted children are intellectually advanced for their age, many face unique social issues. High expectations and the pressure put on gifted children can lead to stress and anxiety, writes Jennifer Murdock-Smith in “Understanding the Social and Emotional Needs of Gifted Children,” a 2013 article in Rivier Academic Journal. “Gifted children’s cognitive development also often occurs at a more advanced rate than social/ emotional development, which makes fitting in with peers difficult. This cognitive advancement can also have a corresponding high degree of moral development and sense for the need to follow rules, which can result in ‘bossiness’ and rigid behavior furthering affect peer relations,” Murdock-Smith writes in the article.

She alw ays sits alon e on the bus sat ions He inte rru pts oth er peo ple’ s con ver She isn’ t invi ted on play dat es cted cha nge He mel ts dow n wh en the re’s une xpe

The social world can be a challenging place. At Steps to Socialization, we understand that not all children process social information the same way. Some have to be taught how to think socially, step by step.

Successful Friendships are Possible! ••••••••••••••••••••

13 SOUTH BAYLES AVENUE PORT WASHINGTON, NY 516.767.0266 | www.s2sny.com QueensParent 25

‹‹ continued from previous page

when the class is over,” Phillips says. He was very quiet during the class, which Phillips says can be expected since he was now around other peers who might be more intelligent than him. At the end of class, the student again asked if he could count in Spanish, but before he even began another child blurted out, “Well, I can count to 100 in Mandarin,” followed by another who said, “I can count to 100 in Romanian, Cantonese, and Sanskrit.” The moral: It is important for gifted students to be around others of the same intellectual level, so they have the chance to be challenged in the classroom.

Beyond Just Gifted

䰀椀昀攀匀琀礀氀攀

倀䠀伀吀伀䜀刀䄀倀䠀夀匀瀀漀渀琀愀渀攀漀甀猀 ∠ 䘀甀渀 ∠ 刀攀愀氀

Raising a Gifted Child

吀爀礀䴀攀伀甀琀匀攀猀猀椀漀渀 ␀㈀㔀

挀漀甀瀀漀渀

昀漀爀瀀爀椀渀琀猀

眀眀眀⸀最氀礀瀀栀渀礀⸀挀漀洀 ∠ ‫ا‬㜀㄀㠀⸀㠀㌀㠀⸀㐀㠀㈀㜀㈀㔀㈀㔀䈀漀爀搀攀渀䄀瘀攀⸀ ⌀㈀㄀㤀䰀䤀䌀Ⰰ 一夀㄀㄀㄀㄀

What if a child’s cognitive level exceeds even giftedness? These children are extremely rare and present themselves with seemingly miraculous capabilities. These kids are generally known as prodigies. “One definition of the term prodigy is a child who has achieved an appreciable measure of adult intellectual understanding in a particular field before he or she is out of the years devoted to secondary school education,” according to the article “Prodigies of Nature” by J.S. Jenkins in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine. A prodigy will become of a master of a particular field at a young age. Mozart was considered a music prodigy and was able to identify pitch correctly and quickly without external reference by the age of 7—an extraordinarily rare ability, even for adults, Jenkins writes. Stix, who also has worked closely with some prodigies, explains: “I think prodigies, the speed they integrate at is simply much faster. The links they make in terms of integrating material is higher and their productions are most complex. It is a very difficult thing to raise a prodigy because emotionally they want to be their age level but cognitively they can be light years ahead of themselves.” Prodigies often experience a lot of loneliness because other kids cannot connect with them, Stix says. Parents raising a prodigy need to try their best to try to get their child into programs to engage with others like them, she advises.

September 2017 | nymetroparents.com

Whether someone is bright, gifted, or even a prodigy, parents need to keep in mind that every child is still an individual and parents and educators must cater to what is in the best interest of that particular person. The most important factor in helping a child is trying to keep her brain stimulated, experts say. “When a parent finds out that his or her child is gifted,” Phillips says, “I always recommend spending as much time as possible visiting science and art museums, reading classic literature and nonfiction books, traveling to historic destinations and arranging play dates with children of similar intellectual abilities and interests. If they are getting enrichment outside the classroom, they will be more patient with the standard curriculum.” For example, she continues, “If they’re in a classroom and they are assigned a book report on Charlotte’s Web, a parent should reach out to the teacher to allow the child to select a more advanced novel after she or he has completed the assignment based on Charlotte’s Web.” Whether it is signing the child up to be in a gifted and talented program or speaking to an educator to ensure the appropriate measures are taken within the regular school environment, it is important that giftedness is not ignored, experts agree. By enriching a child or putting him in a gifted program, a child will be given the tools to thrive.

Long Long Island Island Speech Speech & Myofunctional & Myofunctional Therapy Therapy

The Mary Louis Academy

TMLA +

718-640-6767 • 516-216-1791 www.LISpeechandMyo.com

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

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

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

Long Island Speech & Myofunctional Therapy 500 North Broadway, Suite 141 Jericho, NY 11752

516-597-4344

Lake Success

Speech Pathology and Swallowing Disorder Services of Long Island 444 Lakeville Road Lake Success, NY 11042

516-216-1791 • 718-640-6767

Wantagh

Speech Pathology & Swallowing Disorder Services of Nassau 3375 Park Avenue., Suite 4010 Wantagh, NY 11793

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.

516-221-3653

OPEN HOUSE Sunday, October 15, 2017 10am-3pm

SHADOW A STUDENT buddy@tmla.org

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.

ENROLL FOR 2017-2018 inspired by reggio emilia approach

P R E S C H O OL ( 2 - 5 YR S OL D) ART & C O OK I N G E N R I C H M E N T ( AL L AG E S ) M OM M Y & M E ART AN D C R AF T ( 1 2 M O - 2 . 5 YR S OL D) W E B S I T E : W W W . L I T T L E AT E L I E RY C . C O M TEL: 718.423.4223 E M A I L : I N F O @ L I T T L E AT E L I E RY C . C O M 3 9 - 1 4 2 1 0 T H S T R E E T , B AY S I D E , N Y 1 1 3 6 1

Call now to schedule a tour!

176-21 Wexford Terrace, Jamaica Estates, NY 11432 Phone: 718-297-2120 | Fax: 718-739-0037 @WEARETMLA | #HILLTOPPERNATION | TACHS #016 QueensParent 27

Courtesy Katelin Walling

FOOD & NUTRITION

10 Tips to Master Meal Planning ››

Spend the time once a week to create a menu, and you’ll save time, money, and stress when it comes to cooking dinner. By Katelin Walling

nce a week when I was growing up, my parents would have my brothers and me go through our cookbooks and cooking magazines to each pick out one meal we wanted to try and write down the ingredients we needed to buy at the grocery store for that recipe. We also had to check to see what we had in the cupboards already to avoid purchasing ingredients we had on hand. Now that I’m older and living on my own, I do the same, except I have to plan a meal for every day. So on Sunday mornings, I comb through my cookbooks, recipes torn out of magazines, and my favorite cooking blogs, and plan what I’m going to eat for the week. Why? Meal planning saves me time and money, and it can for you, too. Plus, it will save you a lot of stress, says Ruthy Kirwan, creator of PercolateKitchen.com. “Speaking to other parents who were in my position where they’re tired and they’re stressed, and they’re coming home from a long day, the kitchen and cooking and figuring out what to make for dinner is the last thing they want to do at the end of a long day,” she says. “But if you sit down for maybe five to ten minutes at the start of the week, and you look at how your schedule is, figure out what’s in your kitchen already, and then work that into a plan…[it] can save you a ton of time and stress throughout the next seven days.” Meal planning is a money-saver because “you’re not going to end up ordering in as much or doing takeout or going to whatever the closest store is that may not have the items [you need] on sale,” says Jessica Levinson, M.S., R.D.N., C.D.N. It also cuts down on food waste, Levinson adds, whether it’s picking two meals that include fresh parsley so you’re not throwing any away (or composting it) or enjoying leftovers for lunch the next day. Levinson also notes that meal planning helps to ensure you have healthy, balanced meals on the table each night, and that you have all the ingredients in the house to make those balanced meals. 28

September 2017 | nymetroparents.com

My parents got me and my brothers involved with the mealplanning process as kids—we each had to choose a recipe for the week, and more ofte n than not, I helped ma ke it. Here, my dad and I are making his fam ous biscuits, a recipe I still make today.

I’ve been a practicing meal-planner for almost 20 years and consider myself to be a bit of an expert. Keep these tips in mind when starting out, and you, too, will be an expert in no time.

Tips for Successful Meal Planning

Don’t bite off more than you can chew (pun intended!). Both Levinson and Kirwan recommend starting out by planning meals for two to three days and doing what you typically do (order takeout, cook a frozen pizza, eat leftovers) for the rest of the week. “This way you’re not overdoing it and setting yourself up for something that you can’t stick to,” Levinson says. Once you have those few days down, you can add more and eventually plan out meals for the whole week. In fact, Levinson suggests planning a night of leftovers. “If it’s a family favorite, your kids won’t be upset that they’re having baked ziti two nights in a row because some kids would have that every night if they could,” she adds. Have your schedule for the week handy. Do you have to work late one night, do the kids have after-school activities that will run close to dinnertime, is it date night for you and your partner? These are all things to take into consideration when planning meals for the week. “Be realistic about your abilities and the amount of time you have to cook, and when in doubt, don’t worry about eating leftovers or a frozen pizza,” Kirwan says. Stockpile recipes. Levinson suggests creating a board on Pinterest to pin easy, quick weeknight meals so you have a go-to database of recipes. “Same with any cookbooks you have or recipes you pull out from magazines,” she says. “This way you’re not always having to come up with something new, but you have at your fingertips a group of resources to pull recipes from.”

Chain your meals, as Kirwan says. This is essentially building one meal off of another. For example, if you make chicken enchiladas for dinner one night, cook extra chicken to use in your Alfredo dish for the next night. This way, part of your dinner is already prepped and you save time. “People think it needs to be a brandnew item every evening, and it doesn’t necessarily have to be. In fact, if it is a brand-new item every evening, then it sets you up for failure from the get-go,” Kirwan says. Keep your picky eaters in mind, but don’t make yourself crazy. Meal planning helps cut your time in the kitchen, so planning separate meals for your picky eaters is counterintuitive. Kirwan says she makes sure to have at least one thing her 3-year-old daughter enjoys and will eat on the menu, as well as something new. “She doesn’t have to eat [the new food], but she gets comfortable seeing that it’s there,” she says. And if your child only eats that one familiar thing, that’s okay, Levinson says. “Look at the week in full, and assuming that you have enough meals during the week that your kids do eat more of, if there’s one or two nights during the week that they’re not eating as much, it’s okay because it balances out,” she says. Write it down. While you may be the type of person who prefers mental notes, writing out your meal plan will help it stick with you whether it’s on a special meal planning chart, a simple calendar, or a chalk- or dry-erase board. Plus, your kids (and partner) can look at it and see what’s for dinner rather than bugging you about it (and maybe take initiative to start cooking!). Get the kids involved. Older kids, tweens, and teens can help pick out recipes to set up the weekly meal plan. “Let’s say it’s a family with three kids, so you could say, [Monday] is going to be Joe’s choice, and Tuesday night is James, and Wednesday night is the third child. Everybody can pick what they want as the meal for a night during the week,” Levinson says. A way to get younger kids involved is to let them pick an item from the produce aisle they want to try and integrating it in a meal that’s already planned. “I usually recommend planning your menu and then basing your grocery list on the menu,” Levinson says. But if you take your kids grocery shopping, “I’m a big fan of saying, pick something from the produce aisle that you want to try, and they’ll pull something from the produce aisle,” which then needs to be integrated into one of the planned meals, she adds. Don’t forget to get the kids to help you do the cooking. Kirwan says her daughter is obsessed with pizza, so Kirwan will roll out the dough and her daughter will help with adding the sauce and toppings. “The more active you get kids in the kitchen and feel like they’re a part of the meal planning process, the cooking process, I think you have a better chance of getting them to eat the things you made,” Kirwan says. Take stock of what you already have in the refrigerator and pantry. Before sitting down to plan your meals for the week, check out what you have in your fridge that needs to be used before it goes bad and see what ingredients you already have in your cupboards. “So if I have a bunch of cilantro that I used the week before,” Levinson says, “I’m going to base at least one or two meals on where can I use that cilantro so it’s not going to go bad and I don’t waste my money on throwing out food.”

And, as Jessica Jones, M.S., R.D., C.D.E., and Wendy Lopez, M.S., R.D., say in their FoodHeavenMadeEasy.com blog post, “The Ultimate Meal Planning Guide,” once you have your grocery list (based off your meal plan for the week), check to see if you have any of those ingredients in your cupboards already. This way you’ll avoid buying items you don’t need. Prep ingredients for all of your meals at the same time. “Chop all of your fruits and vegetables, cook your grains, wash your greens, and store in airtight containers,” Jones and Lopez say in their blog post. They also suggest investing in good food storage containers so your pre-prepped foods and meals don’t go bad. Plus, ingredient prep time is also a good way to get older kids involved in the process. Be ﬂexible. Sometimes life gets in the way—whether it’s an unexpected meeting, delays on public transit, or a flat tire—so learning to take things in stride with meal planning will go a long way. “In those instances I try to teach people to learn how to pivot and have things stored in the freezer for those crazy busy days,” Kirwan says, or find a new way to use those ingredients, or just make the meal the following night. As with all things in life: The more you practice, the better you’ll get, Levinson says. So don’t be too hard on yourself if the week’s menu doesn’t go exactly according to plan.

Family Owned & Operated for 61 Years!

New Jersey's Only Western Theme Park! LIVE ACTION SHOWS • TRAIN, STAGECOACH & PONY RIDE MEET LEGENDS OF THE WEST • EXPLORE FRONTIER LIFE FAMILY FUN • AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION

OPEN DAILY June 17th – Labor Day

OPEN WEEKENDS Labor Day – Columbus Day N

LESS THA M NY RS FRO

2H A CITY ARE FREE PARKIN G!

$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 QueensParent 29

Left Behind

››

In families with two children, an older sibling’s departure for college can spark mixed emotions in the younger child who remains at home. Here’s how to cope. By Bethany Braun-Silva

hen Astoria resident Sarah Richard is asked if she will miss her little sister when Sarah leaves for college next year, the 17-year-old rolls her eyes and says, “Yeah, I’m going to miss that dork.” Although it is just about a year away, the Richard girls are already contemplating Sarah’s departure. The girls have lived across the hall from one another for the past 14 years, a fact that is on 14-year-old Rebecca’s mind when she says, “I’ll be sad, for sure, but I definitely want to visit.” Even if it seems like your kids spent the past 15 years fighting over everything, this is an all-too-common feeling when one sibling leaves for college—especially for families with two children, where the younger one suddenly finds herself an “only child.” The sibling who remains at home can be left with a number of new emotions to deal with, not to mention a shift in the family dynamics and a much quieter house. These feelings can range from relief to abandonment, and will often fluctuate even after a new routine is put in place. To help with the adjustment, we’re offering tips on how to help your younger child cope when his sibling goes off to college. (Families with more than two children will face their own unique issues when the eldest leaves home, but these tips are applicable to them as well.) 30

September 2017 | nymetroparents.com

Inclusion is Key

The college application process can go on for years. With the hustle and bustle of visiting colleges, filling out applications, writing essays, and ultimately choosing a college, your younger son or daughter may end up feeling like a background player in the family. Stephanie Richard, Sarah and Rebecca’s mom, suggests including younger siblings in the process from the very beginning. “Ultimately both kids are going to eventually go to college,” she says. “We had our younger daughter create a list of questions for potential colleges while on tours for her older sister that were based on her specific interests.” This was a great way for her younger daughter to feel included in the process, Richard says, which was especially important since they dedicated quite a few family vacations to touring colleges. Parents can also opt to involve the younger sibling in minor details of the process, suggests Gayle Sturmer, LCSW-R, who practices in Nyack and Tarrytown. “Letting children contribute to brainstorming transition suggestions is empowering for the child and allows them to be part of the launching process,” she says. “The non-college bound child sometimes gets lost in the excitement and/or anxiety about the transition for the collegebound child. Having both children involved in perhaps choosing

things for the dorm room, certainly with the big freshman move into the dorm, is great way to be inclusive.”

Time for a New Routine

With one child out of the house, it is time not only to establish new family dynamics but also a new routine. Your younger child may take the transition in stride, reveling in being an “only child,” but others may struggle with it. “The key to making any transition easier for children and teens is to keep some things consistent and create some things together that are new, different, and tailored to the appeal of the younger sibling,” Sturmer suggests. Have the younger sibling decide what he wants for dinner, or what family movie she chooses to watch one night. He might get excited at the idea that there is no one there with whom he needs to negotiate these choices and that he can have his first choice pick more often now. Sturmer also suggests “creating new rituals” between parents and the child who is home. Pick a day to do something special after school, such as get frozen yogurt or go out to a favorite restaurant. “This is an opportunity to create a new dynamic between the parent and the child at home,” Sturmer says. If your child is really struggling with loneliness, it’s important to recognize the things that have not changed, the appealing things that still exist, and to create new things, Sturmer says. “Often children and teens have a view that can be distorted—an adolescent brain is working from a very different place than an adult brain—so it’s very important to try to gently acknowledge the loneliness and emphasize the things that challenge the negative thinking.” Remind younger children of all the benefits they have now that the older child is out of the house. These may include having the family car or other shared items to themselves, having more room in the house for sleepovers, and receiving more attention from parents.

Encourage Communication

If your younger child really misses having face-to-face time with her older sibling, have them schedule a digital date once a week. FaceTime or Skype is a great way to connect with your child who is away. Once a weekly date is established, this will give both siblings something to look forward to each week—after all, the child who is away at college may also be experiencing some level of homesickness, and this is a great way for her to reconnect with home. If video chat doesn’t work, “a quick text, an Instagram, Snapchat, or Facebook message goes a long way for children and adolescents. Regardless of our opinion of social media and technology, we are flooded with it and our children are tied to it. In this case, it can be used as an easy simulated ‘visit,’” Sturmer says. Parents can also help their younger children connect to their older siblings by working on creating a care package together or making plans to visit as a family. When the older one is back from college, parents can arrange for “sibling-only” outings or even nights at home. Having a child go off to college is an exciting time, but can also be fraught with a lot of different emotions for everyone in the family. “If a child (or parent) is feeling very challenged by the change in family dynamic and circumstance, consulting with a psychotherapist who is knowledgeable with this stage of life and the specific challenges the family members are experiencing is important. To wait until things escalate can be problematic and unnecessary. Sometimes just a simple consult can go a long way,” Sturmer says.

Advanced Therapies to Treat

AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER Promote a Healthy Brain... So The Body Works Better All Under One Roof!

An Arsenal of Integrative Treatments To Stimulate the Brain and Body Neurology

Integrative Medicine

Nutritional Counseling Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA) Speech & Language Therapy

Functional Neurological Therapy Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Chiropractic Care IV Therapy

Occupational Therapy Physical Therapy

Sensory Integration Therapy

Hyperbaric Oxygen Neuro Therapy Feedback Therapy

Right off LIE an Northern Sta d te

The Center For Integrative & Innovative Therapies (The CIIT Center) 131 Sunnyside Boulevard, Suite 100, Plainview, N.Y. 11803 Phone: 516-243-8660 • Toll Free: 844-313-7117 www.theciitcenter.com • Follow us on

The DanceSource Have you ever tried a Dance Class?

Our smaller classes provide more attention in class, and more detail provide for each dancer. NEW: Russian speaking teacher on Thursdays! Наши новости: Уроки Танцев на русском языке по четвергам!

The Dancesource Oﬀers

Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Gymnastics, Zumba, Hip-Hop, Classical Barata Nathyam, Modern, Ballroom (Latin & Classics), Bollywood, Georgian Dance, and Private Wedding Classes, Bat/Bar Mitzvah, Quincinera Dances, Birthday Parties Oﬀered.

Administration available after school Monday-Thursday 4:30-7:30pm | Saturday 9:30am-2pm Sunday 9:30am-12:30pm | Rental space is available.

98-11 Queens Blvd at 65th Avenue • Rego Park, NY Tel: 718-997-1278 • info@dancesource.net www.dancesource.net • Check out our website! QueensParent 31

OUTINGS: Roosevelt Island

Get Away Without Leaving NYC Explore historical sites, view art, and take a 4-minute tram to explore the island between Manhattan and Queens. ›› 2 Vanessa Petit

1 Double rows of trees narrow and frame the triangular courtyard of The Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park. 2 The Roosevelt Island Tramway takes visitors from Midtown Manhattan to Roosevelt Island in 4 minutes. 3 The Octagon Gallery serves as a lobby and art gallery inside a luxury apartment building; it originally greeted people entering the New York City Lunatic Asylum. 4 The Lighthouse was designated a New York City landmark in 1975. 5 The Fall for Arts Festival brings together artists and community members to paint large murals.

oosevelt Island, the 2-mile-long strip of land between Manhattan and Queens, makes for a great family day trip. Governor Nelson Rockefeller and Mayor John Lindsay named the island in 1973 in honor of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Families can walk or bike along both sides of the island or take the Red Bus, free transportation around the island, up and down the middle of the island on Main Street to explore its numerous parks, take in amazing city views, and learn about historical sites.

Where Else Can You Ride a Tram in the City?

The kids will love taking the 4-minute tram ride to this storied island. With one swipe of a Metrocard at East 59th Street and Second Avenue (including a free transfer to the subway or MTA buses) the Roosevelt Island Tramway climbs to 250 feet above the East River and travels along the north side of the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge (expect brief wait times due to maintenance work on both sides of the tram through the winter). The F train has a stop at Roosevelt Island as well, and starting Aug. 29 visitors can reach the island via the NYC Ferry on the Astoria Line. At the Roosevelt Island Visitor Center you can buy souvenirs, historical books about the island, and maps. 32

September 2017 | nymetroparents.com

See a Lighthouse and Enjoy Its Park

Completed in 1872 under supervising architect James Renwick Jr., the Lighthouse was built of stone quarried on the island by convict labor from the Penitentiary. It stands 50 feet tall on the northernmost point of the island and is surrounded by the East River. The Lighthouse was designated a New York City landmark in 1975, and its park includes grills and tables perfect for a picnic.

An Art Gallery With a Storied Past

South of the Lighthouse is the Octagon, first built in 1839, which originally served as the administrative center and main entrance to the New York City Lunatic Asylum—both Charles Dickens and Nellie Bly wrote about its stark conditions. After serving as a hospital and then being abandoned, the Octagon Gallery reopened in 2006 as the lobby entrance of a 500-unit residential luxury apartment building and home to a rotating art exhibit curated by the Roosevelt Island Visual Art Association. Now residents and visitors can enter the building’s original rotunda, framed by a spiral staircase, to experience the RIVAA exhibits.

The Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park

The Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park, on the southernmost tip of the island, opened in 2012. It spans 4

Courtesy Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation

By Vanessa Petit

nymetroparents.com/outings acres and celebrates the four freedoms that President Franklin D. Roosevelt spoke of in his 1941 State of the Union speech: freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, and freedom from fear. Double rows of trees narrow and frame the triangular courtyard, which contains a bust of FDR, sculpted in 1933 by Jo Davidson. The Four Freedoms Park Conservancy offers free public guided tours on the weekends, weather permitting, and events AprilOctober, including yoga in the park and playgroups for toddlers.

Family-Friendly Roosevelt Island Activities

Roosevelt Island’s diverse community is family-friendly and hosts many events. The Fall for Arts Festival on Sept. 23 brings together local and off-island artists to paint large murals tied to a central theme. Kid-friendly activities include art workshops, community mural panels to paint, and live music. Enjoy outdoor movies in the summer, a family Halloween Parade Oct. 28, and a year-round farmers’ market under the Roosevelt Island Bridge every Saturday.

Want to Go?

Address: 591 Main St., Roosevelt Island Directions: Approximately a 45-minute subway ride from Flushing Hours: The Franklin D. Roosevelt Four Freedoms Park is open April 1-Sept. 30, Wednesday-Monday, 9am-7pm, and Oct. 1-March 31, Wednesday-Monday, 9am-5pm Admission: FREE For more information: rioc.ny.gov

331 Knickerbocker Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11237 718-366-3620

56-40 Myrtle Avenue Ridgewood, NY 11385 718-456-5422

4802 Fifth Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11220 718-567-3900

10% OFF IF YOU BRING OR MENTION THIS QUEENS PARENT AD! Offer expires 9/30/17 cannot be combined with any other offer. Limit one per customer.

SEPT

12 – 3 pm

LIC Family Health Day BATTLE FOR THE

BALLOT Governors Island Nolan Park | Building 18 Open through Oct 1

nyhistory.org

Don’t miss the fun! Bring the family and spend the afternoon with us. There’ll be lots of music and lots of great-tasting healthy food. Plus fun activities for all the kids and the grown-ups that bring them. Yoga! Dance! Hula hoops! Free blood pressure screenings for the adults!

LIC Landing by COFFEED (at Hunter’s Point Park South) 52-10 Center Boulevard Long Island City, 11101 We could not present this day without the support of: LIC Landing by COFFEED, Modern Spaces, and Long Island City Partnership. Special thanks to: Long Island City School of Ballet, Long Island City YMCA, Manducatis Rustica, Queens Library, Gantry Kids, and Court 16. List in formation. Media Partner: NY Metro Parents

QueensParent 33 MSQ_LICFamily_NYMetroParents_082317_v5.indd 1

8/23/17 5:26 PM

NEW THRILLS! NEW LAUGHS! NEW YORK TO ITS CORE!

BEST SUNDAY with the

FAMILY LIU - POST CAMPUS 720 NORTHERN BLVD, BROOKVILLE

Fun Activities

Unique Classes

Free Treats & Goodie Bags

Visit LIParentsDay.com and use code “NYMP” for your FREE family ticket! F E AT U R I N G

N IK WA L L E N DA

LINCOLN CENTER OCTOBER 27 – JANUARY 7, 2018 F O R T I C K E T S : B I G A P P L E C I R C U S .C O M 34

September 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!

nymetroparents.com/register

Turn the page for details on Get Hooked (No. 5 on our list).

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

nyme

com/c

ents. ropar

WANT US TO INCLUDE YOUR EVENT?

nymetroparents.com/submitevent UPDATED DAILY AT nymetroparents.com/calendar EDITOR: GAIL WARREN qpcal@davlermedia.com

SEPTEMBER CALENDAR

Editor’s Hot Tickets

We Can’t Believe It’s FREE!

Show Time!, Smarty Pants

Fun Fairs & Festivals, Once Upon a Time

Crafty Kids, Mini Musicians

Movers & Shakers

Holiday Fun, Dance Party

On Screen

EDITOR’S HOT TICKETS

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

Q-Boro Crawl LIC: A Benefit for The Queens Book Festival

Saturday Sculpture Workshops: End of Summer Jam with Devin Garcia FREE

WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 9, 4pm WHERE: LIC Landing, 52-10 Center Blvd., Long Island City AGES: All WHAT: An al fresco dinner that brings friends and families together to celebrate creativity and community. Come dressed in white, bring a favorite culinary dish and table decor, and don’t forget a pop of color. Live entertainment and music provided. WHY WE LOVE IT: This self-catered dinner will be as fantastic as you allow your imagination to carry you. WANT TO GO? $45 and up. 718-786-5300. eventbrite.com.

WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 23, 12-3pm WHERE: Socrates Sculpture Park, 32-01 Vernon Blvd., Long Island City AGES: 5-12 WHAT: Create wild and whimsical musical instruments from everyday objects and participate in an improvised concert right inside the education area. WHY WE LOVE IT: What better way to celebrate an amazing season of arts, crafts, and fun? WANT TO GO? 718-956-1819. socratessculpturepark.org.

LI Parents Day

Smithsonian Museum Day Live! FREE

WHEN: Sunday, Sept. 17, 11am-3pm WHERE: LIU Post Campus, 720 Northern Blvd., Brookville, Long Island AGES: All WHAT: LI Parents Day is a fun day for the whole family! Kids can play in the Kids Corner and participate in fun, educational events. Parents can meet with exhibitors and professionals who specialize in family programs. Use the code “NYMP” for free tickets when registering online. WHY WE LOVE IT: It’s discovery and fun all in one place, in one afternoon! WANT TO GO? $10. 212-315-0800. liparentsday.com. 36

September 2017 | nymetroparents.com

WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 23, 2:30-4:30pm WHERE: Queens Historical Society, 143-35 37th Ave., Flushing AGES: All WHAT: This late 18th-century Long Island half-house style structure is honored as becoming the first NYC landmark in Queens County. See changing exhibitions and a period room displaying furnishings of the Victorian era. WHY WE LOVE IT: Free? Yes, please! WANT TO GO? 718-939-0647. queenshistoricalsociety.org.

Get Hooked FREE

WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 23, 11am-2pm WHERE: Randall’s Island Park, Base of the 103rd Street Bridge, Randall’s Island AGES: 9 and older WHAT: At this annual festival, children have the opportunity to learn about the wildlife living in the waters surrounding Randall’s Island. Activities include catch and release fishing, games, and arts and crafts. WHY WE LOVE IT: Go fish! WANT TO GO? 212-860-1899. randallsisland.org.

35th Annual Queens County Fair

WHEN: Sept. 23-24, Saturday-Sunday, 11am-6pm WHERE: Queens County Farm Museum, 73-50 Little Neck Parkway, Floral Park AGES: All WHAT: This traditional county fair boasts blue ribbon competitions in produce, livestock, and arts and crafts. Plus pie eating and corn husking contests, carnival rides, midway games, live music, and food vendors. WHY WE LOVE IT: An experience the family won’t soon forget! WANT TO GO? $10; $5 for children 12 and younger. 718-347-3276. queensfarm.org.

2017 World Maker Faire

WHEN: Sept. 23-24, Saturday-Sunday, 10am-6pm WHERE: New York Hall of Science, 47-01 111th St., Corona AGES: All WHAT: Featuring projects with social impact and making for good, health care and food, alongside the latest developments from core pillars of the Maker Movement such as microelectronics, 3-D printing, drones, robotics, and more. WHY WE LOVE IT: Hundreds of “makers” will present fun and unusual creations celebrating arts and technology. WANT TO GO? $45; $30 children ages 3-17. 718-699-0005. nysci.org.

Village Day Fall Festival

WHEN: Sunday, Sept. 24, 12-4pm WHERE: Sands Point Preserve, 127 Middle Neck Road, Sands Point AGES: All WHAT: Celebrate the fall harvest season with outdoor activities for children of all ages, including a petting zoo, pumpkin painting for budding artists, award-winning artisanal cheeses, farm picked vegetables, and other fun events. WHY WE LOVE IT: Can’t wait to do the hayride—it’s a bale of fun! WANT TO GO? $20 per car. 516-571-7901. thesandspointpreserve.com.

Let’s Go Mets

WHEN: Wednesday, Sept. 27, 7:10pm WHERE: Citi Field, 126-01 Roosevelt Ave., Flushing AGES: All WHAT: Enjoy the final game of the season when the Amazin’s take on the Atlanta Braves. WHY WE LOVE IT: It ain’t over til it’s over, and we still believe. WANT TO GO? $12 and up. 718-507-8499. mets.com.

14 Sculptures On the Rock 2017 FREE

WHEN: Through Oct. 9: daily, see website for times WHERE: Rockaway Beach Boardwalk on Shore Front Parkway, Beach 73rd to Beach 108th streets, Rockaway Beach AGES: All WHAT: This public art exhibition features 16 sculptures, 15 artists, and 14 sites that celebrate the spirit and beauty of the Rockaways. Arts and cultural events, special programs, and tours will be offered free to the public. WHY WE LOVE IT: An opportunity to experience the Rockaway art scene. WANT TO GO? 718-945-3131. 14sculptors.com.

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. Community Days FREE

WHEN: Sunday, Sept. 3, 11am-6pm WHERE: The Noguchi Museum, 9-01 33rd Road, Long Island City AGES: All WHAT: The Noguchi Museum celebrates its neighbors by offering this annual series with special programming and activities. Features an open studio arts and craft session, a gallery talk, and tour. WANT TO GO? 718-204-7088. noguchi.org.

World’s Fair History Tour FREE

WHEN: Sunday, Sept. 10, 11am and 1pm WHERE: Flushing Meadows Corona Park, 14 United Nations Ave. S., Flushing AGES: All WHAT: Hear the stories behind the Unisphere, New York State Pavilion, Hall of Science, the Queens Zoo Aviary, the Carousel, and more. WANT TO GO? 718-352-1769. nycgovparks.org.

14 Sculptors On the Rock 2017 Lecture Series: Anne Stanner’s ‘Rockaway Wave’ and Rockaway’s History FREE

WHEN: Thursday, Sept. 14, 6pm WHERE: Peninsula Library, 92-25 Rockaway Beach Blvd., Rockaway AGES: All WHAT: A multimedia presentation will be led by Rockaway historians Marty Nislick and James Supple and highlight Anne Stanner’s sculpture “Rockaway Wave,” which is part of the On the Rock exhibition. WANT TO GO? 212-360-8114. nycgovparks.org.

Great Websites for Kids FREE

WHEN: Sept. 7-28, Thursdays, 3:30pm WHERE: Peninsula Library, 95-25 Rockaway Beach Blvd., Rockaway Beach AGES: 9-12 WHAT: Don’t miss this educational children’s website series. Registration required. WANT TO GO? 718-634-1110. queenslibrary.org.

LIC Flea & Food Market FREE

WHEN: Through Sept. 30: Saturday-Sunday, 11am-6pm WHERE: Fifth Street and 46th Avenue, Long Island City AGES: All WHAT: This market is a fun and vibrant weekend destination for the entire family, with more than 80 vendors who offer unique goods and the best in food, jewelry, fashion, furniture, art and crafts, antiques, and more. WANT TO GO? 718-224-5863. licflea.com. ›› QueensParent 37

WHAT: A world-class juggling show full of jaw-dropping stunts, exciting audience participation, and hilarious physical comedy. WANT TO GO? Entertainment is free; fee for rides and attractions. 718788-2676. forestparkcarousel.com.

37th Annual Antique Motorcycle Show

WHEN: Sunday, Sept. 17, 11am-4pm WHERE: Queens County Farm Museum, 73-50 Little Neck Parkway, Floral Park AGES: All WHAT: This show will include a display of various makes and models of motorcycles that have been out of production for 10 years or more. Music, farmhouse tours, hayrides, and food will provide fun for the entire family. WANT TO GO? $7. 718-347-3276. queensfarm.org.

SHOW TIME! The Magic of Rogue

WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 9, 2pm and 4pm WHERE: Forest Park Carousel, Woodhaven Boulevard and Forest Park Drive, Woodhaven AGES: All WHAT: As seen on America’s Got Talent, Rogue brings a combination of magic and comedy. With tons of audience interaction, this show is a mixture of music, flowers, fire, and animals. WANT TO GO? Entertainment is free; fee for rides and attractions. 718788-2676. forestparkcarousel.com.

‘Princess Particular’

WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 9, 2:30pm WHERE: The Little Secret Theatre, 44-02 23rd St., Long Island City AGES: 3-8 WHAT: Can you imagine what it’s like to be a princess, but want to be something else? See this littlest royal fusspot and all her family and friends in this delightful musical. WANT TO GO? $15; $10 children. 718-392-0722. secrettheatre.com.

Bonkerz The Clown

‘Pirate Pete’s Parrot’

WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 23, 2:30pm WHERE: The Secret Theatre, 44-02 23rd St., Long Island City AGES: 3-8 WHAT: The play revolves around Pirate Pete, a lovable rogue on a mission to find his beloved runaway parrot. This show promises music, mischief, and a boatload of laughs for children and adults. WANT TO GO? $15; $10 children; $40 for family four-pack. 718-3920722. secrettheatre.com.

Movements Dance Company of Jamaica

WHEN: Sept. 30-Oct. 1, Saturday, 7pm; Sunday, 4pm WHERE: York College, 94-45 Guy Brewer Blvd., Jamaica AGES: All WHAT: With an exciting mix of established favorites and new works, this promises to be one of the most powerful statements of the work of Movements Dance Company of Jamaica. Presented by Jamstar Enterprises in celebration of Projects Jamaica Arts Up! Jamaica campaign. WANT TO GO? $30 and up. 718-262-2840. yorkpac.com.

SMARTY PANTS

WHEN: Sunday, Sept. 10, 2pm and 4pm WHERE: Fantasy Forest Amusement Park at Flushing Meadows Corona Park, 5351 111th St., Corona AGES: All WHAT: This wise-cracking Brooklyn clown is proud to cross the borough border and bring his show to Queens. He’ll make jokes, clown around, and do some magic. WANT TO GO? Entertainment is free; fee for rides and attractions. 718788-2676. nycgovparks.org.

Vet Tech 101

Guess What Family Comedy Show FREE

Stillness in Queens

WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 16, 1pm WHERE: The Creek and the Cave Comedy Club, 10-93 Jackson Ave., Long Island City AGES: All WHAT: A stand up comedy show for kids (and their adults). Watch NYC comics do their PG best and in between kids can go on stage and tell a joke. WANT TO GO? 718-706-8783. creeklic.com.

The Amazing Michael’s Juggling Show

WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 16, 2pm and 4pm WHERE: Forest Park Carousel, Woodhaven Boulevard and Forest Park Drive, Woodhaven AGES: All 38

September 2017 | nymetroparents.com

WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 2, 9am WHERE: Alley Pond Environmental Center, 228-06 Northern Blvd., Douglaston AGES: 9-12 WHAT: All animals need care that goes beyond basics like food and water. Students can learn the specialized skills needed to keep animals healthy. Registration required. WANT TO GO? $25. 718-229-4000. alleypond.com. WHEN: Friday, Sept. 15, 8pm WHERE: Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Blvd., Flushing AGES: 13 and older WHAT: An experimental video and sound art performance exploring the beauty and quietude of everyday life in Queens. Come and experience the borough in a new way, with an evening of stillness, by engaging in this multi-dimensional dialogue between video and sound. WANT TO GO? $16; $10 students. 718-463-7700. flushingtownhall.org.

Alley ECOclub: Elemental Energy

WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 16, 12:30pm WHERE: Alley Pond Environmental Center, 228-06 Northern Blvd., Douglaston

AGES: 5-12 WHAT: Come learn about renewable energy and leave with lots of hightech, eco-friendly giveaways. Registration required. WANT TO GO? $25. 718-229-4000. alleypond.com.

APEC Adventure Time: Hermit Crabs

AGES: All WHAT: A family-friendly celebration of people participating, wearing costumes, making floats, and displaying art while celebrating the boardwalk and Rockaway community. WANT TO GO? 718-318-4000. nycgovparks.org.

WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 23, 1:30pm WHERE: Alley Pond Environmental Center, 228-06 Northern Blvd., Douglaston AGES: Newborn to 5 WHAT: Observe these tiny critters and learn about the seashore. This class focuses on a science theme and includes live animal guests, art projects, trail walks, and stories. Registration required. WANT TO GO? $18. 718-229-4000. alleypond.com.

Brooklyn Book Festival Children’s Day FREE

The Children’s Garden

Worlds Fair Nano

Eloise at the Museum

ONCE UPON A TIME

WHEN: Sept. 16-30, Saturdays, 2pm WHERE: Queens Botanical Garden, 43-50 Main St., Flushing AGES: 3-12 WHAT: A fun and exciting experience in which kids spend time planting, playing, observing, and learning in a nurturing environment. Each session incorporates the garden as a resource to support nature discovery, hands-on time in the garden, thematic activities, art, and science investigations. WANT TO GO? $20 per class. 718-886-3800. queensbotanical.org. 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. WANT TO GO? $21; $16 seniors; $13 students; $6 children ages 5-13; free for children 4 and younger. 212-873-3400. nyhistory.org.

Mandarin Classes for Preschoolers FREE

WHEN: Sept. 11-Dec. 4, Mondays, 3:30pm WHERE: North Forest Park Library, 98-27 Metropolitan Ave., Forest Hills AGES: 3-5 WHAT: Bilingual Birdies will teach 45-minute classes in English and Mandarin with live music, movement, dance, puppetry, and games. WANT TO GO? 718-261-5512. queenslibrary.org.

FUN FAIRS & FESTIVALS African Film Festival Inc.’s 10th Annual Family Fun Day Celebration FREE

WHEN: Sunday, Sept. 10, 11am-5pm WHERE: Governors Island, Ferries leave from Brooklyn Bridge Park Pier 6, Brooklyn Heights, Brooklyn, and 10 South St., Financial District, Manhattan AGES: All WHAT: Enjoy a day of free activities including storytelling, doubleDutch, dance and drum, needlepoint, and short films—all celebrating Africa and the diaspora. WANT TO GO? 212-440-2200. govisland.com.

Poseidon’s Parade FREE

WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 16, 12-4pm WHERE: Rockaway Beach Boardwalk, Beach 106th Street and Shorefront Parkway, Rockaway Beach

WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 16, 10am-4pm WHERE: MetroTech Commons, MetroTech Walk and Lawrence Street, Downtown Brooklyn, Brooklyn AGES: All WHAT: Children’s Day is a free, day-long celebration of books and authors for children, families, guardians, and educators. WANT TO GO? 718-802-3830. brooklynbookfestival.org. WHEN: Sept. 16-17, Saturday-Sunday, 9am-6pm WHERE: Brooklyn Expo Center, 72 Noble St., Greenpoint, Brooklyn AGES: All WHAT: Get inspired at a festival packed with tech, music, food, and more. WANT TO GO? $45 and up; free for children 10 and younger. 718-7753315. worldsfairusa.com/nano.

Storytime in the Park FREE

WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 16, 12-2pm WHERE: Socrates Sculpture Park, 2-01 Vernon Blvd., Long Island City AGES: All WHAT: Begin with traditional storytime, reading children’s books. Then, everyone gets a chance to be an author or an illustrator by participating in interactive storytime, where the adventure is up to you. WANT TO GO? 212-360-8172. cityparksfoundation.org.

Little Naturalist Storytime: Biggest, Strongest, Fastest

WHEN: Sunday, Sept. 17, 1:30pm WHERE: Alley Pond Environmental Center, 228-06 Northern Blvd., Douglaston AGES: 5-8 WHAT: Learn some facts about nature’s record holders and read a book about different animal friends. Class will include time with the animals, a craft, and nature walk. Registration required. WANT TO GO? $21. 718-229-4000. alleypond.com.

Toddler Tales: Look Who’s Talking on the Farm

WHEN: Sunday, Sept. 17, 1:30pm WHERE: Alley Pond Environmental Center, 228-06 Northern Blvd., Douglaston AGES: 3-5, adult WHAT: Encourage a child’s love of reading by listening to a nature-related story. Create a nature craft, meet some of APEC’s animals, and enjoy a nature walk. Registration required. WANT TO GO? $21. 718-229-4000. alleypond.com.

Story Time FREE

WHEN: Sept. 6-Dec. 27, Wednesdays, 10:15am WHERE: Arverne Library, 312 Beach 54 St., Arverne AGES: 3-5 WHAT: Develop early literacy skills, experience picture books, enjoy favorite songs, learn delightful fingerplays, and play movement games. WANT TO GO? 718-634-4784. queenslibrary.org. ›› QueensParent 39

Kew Gardens Community Arts Day 2017 FREE

WHEN: Sunday, Sept. 17, 11am-5pm WHERE: Kew Gardens, Lefferts Boulevard and Austin Street, Kew Gardens AGES: All WHAT: Celebrate the diversity of Queens artists at this show, which will showcase an eclectic mix of fine art. The entire neighborhood will be turned into an art experience, bringing together talented Queens painters, photographers, glassmakers, potters, jewelry artists, illustrators Sidewalk Chalk artists, and more. WANT TO GO? 917-881-3358. kewgardensarts.com.

Mini Maracas

CRAFTY KIDS

Saturday Sculpture Workshops: Faces of Astoria with Astoria Ally Alliance FREE

WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 2, 12-3pm WHERE: Socrates Sculpture Park, 32-01 Vernon Blvd., Long Island City AGES: 5-12 WHAT: Astoria Ally Alliance will be facilitating and welcoming the creation of self-portraits and other visual expressions of identity, in order to display them in the Socrates education area as a one-day installation and celebration of community diversity. WANT TO GO? 718-956-1819. socratessculpturepark.org.

Open Studio: Printmaking

WHEN: Sunday, Sept. 3, 11am-1pm WHERE: The Noguchi Museum, 9-01 33rd Road, Long Island City AGES: 3-12, adult WHAT: Open Studio encourages families to explore the galleries and make art in response to their experiences. WANT TO GO? $10 for families with up to 4 members. 718-204-7088. noguchi.org.

Saturday Sculpture Workshops: Clay Sculpture with The Noguchi Museum FREE

WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 9, 12-3pm WHERE: Socrates Sculpture Park, 32-01 Vernon Blvd., Long Island City AGES: 5-12 WHAT: Join Noguchi Museum educator Harumi Ori for a clay workshop and consider the possibilities and limitations of sculpting with clay. Find natural materials at Socrates and embrace the earth while creating a entirely organic sculpture. WANT TO GO? 718-956-1819. socratessculpturepark.org.

Saturday Sculpture Workshops: Meadow Mazes with Free Style Arts Association FREE

WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 16, 12-3pm WHERE: Socrates Sculpture Park, 32-01 Vernon Blvd., Long Island City AGES: 5-12 WHAT: Create artistic pathways over the rolling fields of Socrates, similar to the style of medieval meditation mazes. Using bundles of colored rope, participants will be able to create their own unique patterns, link to others, and then walk the maze in reflection. WANT TO GO? 718-956-1819. socratessculpturepark.org. 40

September 2017 | nymetroparents.com

WHEN: Sept. 19-29, daily, 2:30-4pm WHERE: Long Island Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Museum, 11 Davis Ave., Garden City AGES: All WHAT: Shake, rattle, and roll your way to create your own colorful maraca to take home. WANT TO GO? $13; $12 seniors 65 and older; free for children younger than 1. 516-224-5800. licm.org.

Moving Image Studio: Puppet Workshop

WHEN: Sept. 2-30, Saturday-Sunday, 11am WHERE: Museum of the Moving Image, 35-01 35th Ave., Astoria AGES: 3-12, adult WHAT: Participants can create their puppets and animation inspired by The Jim Henson Exhibition. Activities include animating puppet faces, paper bag puppets, mixed up monster game, and coloring. WANT TO GO? $15; $11 seniors; $7 children ages 3-17; free for children younger than 3. 718-777-6888. movingimage.us.

Memories of Migration: Making a Talking Family Story Quilt FREE

WHEN: Sept. 16-Oct. 28, Saturdays, 2:30pm WHERE: Fresh Meadows Library, 193-20 Horace Harding Expressway, Fresh Meadows AGES: All WHAT: A special workshop to share migration stories creatively. Participants will take home a variety of new skills along with the artwork they create. WANT TO GO? 718-454-7272. queenslibrary.org.

MINI

MUSICIANS Hands-On History: Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Concert

WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 2, 1-4pm WHERE: King Manor Museum, 150-03 Jamaica Ave., Jamaica AGES: 3-12, adult WHAT: An indoor folk concert starring Larry Moser and Mary Nagin. Learn about early music and hear the sounds of the fiddle and hammered dulcimer. WANT TO GO? $5; $3 seniors; free for children younger than 16. 718206-0545. kingmanor.org.

Enchanted Formosa

WHEN: Friday, Sept. 8, 7:30pm WHERE: Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Blvd., Flushing AGES: 13 and older WHAT: Travel over a hundred years of Taiwanese history, from the Qing imperial erato the current republic regime. Singer-songwriter Yu-Wei Hsieh and band bring a spectacular concert that combines folk, pop, and alt-rock. WANT TO GO? $10. 718-463-7700. flushingtownhall.org.

Bang on a Can Music Series: Trina Basu and Arun Ramamurthy Quartet

WHEN: Sunday, Sept. 10, 3-4pm WHERE: The Noguchi Museum, 9-01 33rd Road, Long Island City AGES: All WHAT: A musical dialogue between improvisational string tradition, the rhythmic and melodic concepts of South Indian classical music, and the harmonic language of Western classical, jazz, and folk music. WANT TO GO? $10; $5 seniors and students; free for children younger than 12. 718-204-7088. noguchi.org.

Full Moon Drumming Workshop: Juan Gutiérrez

WHEN: Wednesday, Sept. 13, 7pm WHERE: Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Blvd., Flushing AGES: 13 and older WHAT: Celebrate the full moon with a drum circle in the garden with master drummers from Puerto Rico. Bomba and plena drums provided. WANT TO GO? $25. 718-463-7700. flushingtownhall.org.

José Conde Electric & Ola Fresca

WHEN: Friday, Sept. 22, 8pm WHERE: Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Blvd., Flushing AGES: 13 and older WHAT: Featuring original music rhythmically rooted in Cuba exploring the crosscurrents of salsa, timba, funk, rock, Afro beat, and Haitian compas. WANT TO GO? $16; $10 students. 718-463-7700. flushingtownhall.org.

Saturday Sing-Along

WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 23, 10:30am WHERE: Alley Pond Environmental Center, 228-06 Northern Blvd., Douglaston AGES: 3-8 WHAT: Enjoy live music, meet live animals featured in the songs, and make an instrument to play at home. Registration required. WANT TO GO? $18. 718-229-4000. alleypond.com.

Florence Price: Classical Music Revolutionary FREE

WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 23, 3pm WHERE: Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Blvd., Flushing AGES: 5 and older WHAT: The story of trailblazing composer Florence Price, the first black female composer to have a work premiered by a major American orchestra. WANT TO GO? 718-463-7700. flushingtownhall.org.

Bayo Fayemi Group

WHEN: Friday, Sept. 29, 6pm WHERE: King Manor Museum, 150-03 Jamaica Ave., Jamaica AGES: All WHAT: Bayo Fayemi is a guitarist, bandleader, and composer who honed his skills in the York College Big Band, before joining several ensembles around NYC. Join these local musicians for an evening highlighting jazz that originated right here in Queens. WANT TO GO? $15; $10 students and seniors. 718-206-0545. kingmanor.org.

The World Is Sound

WHEN: Through Sept. 30: Monday and Thursday, 11am-5pm; Wednesday, 11am-9pm; Friday, 11am-10pm; Saturday-Sunday, 11am-6pm WHERE: The Rubin Museum, 150 W. 17th St., Chelsea, Manhattan AGES: All WHAT: Featuring work by more than 20 artists, the exhibit showcases onsite commissions juxtaposed with historical objects from the museum’s collection. The museum itself will be turned into a musical instrument. WANT TO GO? $15; $10 students and seniors; free for children younger than 12. 212-620-5000. rubinmuseum.org.

MOVERS & SHAKERS NY Road Runners Open Run FREE

WHEN: Through Sept. 30: Saturdays, 9am WHERE: Astoria Park, 20-57 Astoria Park S., between running track and comfort station, Astoria AGES: All WHAT: This community-based initiative empowers local volunteers to bring runs to their neighborhood park. The course is 2½-3 miles. Leave your valuables at home because bag check is not provided. Open to all experience levels, walkers, strollers, and dogs. WANT TO GO? 646-404-4103. nyrr.org.

Zip, Jump & Climb at Atlas Park

WHEN: Through Oct. 9: Thursday, 4-10pm; Friday, 4-10:30pm; Saturday, 12-10:30pm; Sunday, 12-7pm WHERE: The Shops at Atlas Park, 8000 Cooper Ave., Glendale AGES: All WHAT: NYC’s only Zipline Attraction with Zip Lining, Rock Climbing, and Extreme Air Jump! No need for a cape or superhuman powers to fly! WANT TO GO? $10. 718-326-3300. shopatlaspark.com.

The Amazing Maize Maze Sponsored by Con Edison

WHEN: Sept. 23-Oct. 29, daily, 11am-4:30pm WHERE: Queens County Farm Museum, 73-50 Little Neck Parkway, Floral Park AGES: All WHAT: Kids and adults will have fun finding their way out of this 3-acre corn labyrinth. The adventure begins with a “Stalk Talk” to prepare participants for the challenge. WANT TO GO? $10; $5 children ages 4-11; free for children 3 and younger. 718-347-3276. queensfarm.org.

Girls Basketball Clinic FREE

WHEN: Through Nov. 10: Fridays, 5-7pm WHERE: Lost Battalion Hall Recreation Center, 93-29 Queens Blvd., Rego Park AGES: 12-17 WHAT: Instructors will teach participants the basic rules and fundamental skills of the sport in preparation for a 2018 winter basketball tournament. WANT TO GO? 718-393-7370. nycgovparks.org.

Public Skating

WHEN: Through Dec. 23: Monday-Friday, 9am-5:15pm; Friday, 7-9:50pm; Saturday-Sunday, 12-4:45pm; Saturday, 8-9:50pm WHERE: World Ice Arena, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, 131st Street and Avery Avenue, Flushing AGES: All WHAT: Participants will love ice-skating at the World Ice Arena. WANT TO GO? $6 weekdays; $9 weekends; $5 skate rental. 718-7609001. worldice.com. ››

QueensParent 41

West Indian American Day Parade and Carnival FREE

WHEN: Monday, Sept. 4, 11am-6pm WHERE: Eastern Parkway, between Utica and Underhill avenues, Crown Heights/Prospect Heights, Brooklyn AGES: All WHAT: Tons of food vendors, parade floats, calypso and soca rhythms, steel drums and stepping, plus some crazy costumes, make the West Indian American Day Carnival a vibrant celebration. WANT TO GO? 718-467-1797. wiadca.com.

Grandparents’ Day Celebration

WHEN: Sunday, Sept. 10, 10:30am WHERE: Alley Pond Environmental Center, 228-06 Northern Blvd., Douglaston AGES: 3-8, adult WHAT: Enjoy a relaxing nature walk, share a special story, meet cuddly animal guests, and create a memorable craft together. Registration required. WANT TO GO? $18. 718-229-4000. alleypond.com.

HOLIDAY FUN The Amazing Captain Faust FREE

WHEN: Monday, Sept. 4, 2pm and 4pm WHERE: Forest Park Carousel, Woodhaven Boulevard and Forest Park Drive, Woodhaven AGES: All WHAT: Come see this Coney Island performer’s slight-of-hand tricks and illusions that will leave guests in awe. WANT TO GO? Entertainment is free; fee for rides and other attractions. 718-788-2676. forestparkcarousel.com.

Mets vs. Philadelphia Philles

WHEN: Monday, Sept. 4, 1:10pm WHERE: Citi Field, 126-01 Roosevelt Ave., Flushing AGES: All WHAT: Celebrate the last holiday of the summer. Enjoy America’s pastime and cheer on the Amazin’s as they take on their NL rivals. WANT TO GO? $15 and up. 718-507-8499. mets.com.

Omar’s Summer Send-Off Party

WHEN: Monday, Sept. 4, 2-6pm WHERE: Fantasy Forest Amusement Park at Flushing Meadows Corona Park, 5351 111th St., Corona AGES: All WHAT: Celebrate the holiday weekend with live DJ music, dance contests, fun games, and magic shows. Omar Olusion’s unique mix of creativity, passion, amusement, and magic will keep guests of all ages on their feet and entertained. WANT TO GO? Entertainment is free; fee for rides and attractions. 718788-2676. nycgovparks.org.

Blue Star Museums FREE

WHEN: Through Sept. 4: See website for museum times WHERE: Various museums in New York City and Long Island, see website for addresses AGES: All WHAT: Blue Star Museums offers free admission to the nation’s activeduty military personnel and their families. See the website for a complete list of museums. WANT TO GO? 202-682-5606. arts.gov/bluestarmuseums. 42

September 2017 | nymetroparents.com

DANCE PARTY Circus Amok FREE

WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 2, 3pm WHERE: Socrates Sculpture Park, 32-01 Vernon Blvd., Long Island City AGES: All WHAT: Circus Amok provides free public art addressing issues of social justice to audiences of all ages. WANT TO GO? 718-956-1819. socratessculpturepark.org.

Making Moves Dance Festival

WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 16, 2-7pm WHERE: Jamaica Center Performing Arts Center, 153-10 Jamaica Ave., Jamaica AGES: All WHAT: Program features an afternoon outdoor presentation, which encourages public participation, and an evening stage presentation featuring commissioned original work by emerging choreographers. WANT TO GO? $10. 718-658-7400. jcal.org.

Ballet Folklórico Mexicano de Nueva York Presents Festival del Huapango FREE

WHEN: Sunday, Sept. 17, 3pm WHERE: Socrates Sculpture Park, 2-01 Vernon Blvd., Long Island City AGES: All WHAT: The Huapango Festival is Mexico’s second most important music, song, and dance event after the Guelaguetza. WANT TO GO? 212-360-8172. cityparksfoundation.org.

ON SCREEN Saturday Afternoon Movie FREE

WHEN: Saturdays, Sept. 9-30, 12pm WHERE: Glen Oaks Library, 256-04 Union Turnpike, Glen Oaks AGES: 13 and older WHAT: Watch Everybody Loves Somebody on Sept. 9; Gifted on Sept. 16; Going In Style on Sept. 23; and The Longest Ride on Sept. 30. WANT TO GO? 718-831-8636. queenslibrary.org.

‘Power Rangers’ FREE

WHEN: Friday, Sept. 22, 1:30pm WHERE: Briarwood Library, 85-12 Main St., Briarwood AGES: 13 and older WHAT: Follows five ordinary teens who must become something extraordinary when they learn that their small town of Angel Grove— and the world—is on the verge of being obliterated by an alien threat. WANT TO GO? 718-658-1680. queenslibrary.org.

Behind the Screen

WHEN: Through Dec. 31: Wednesday-Thursday, 10:30am-2pm; Friday, 10:30am-8pm; Saturday-Sunday, 11:30am-7pm WHERE: Museum of the Moving Image, 35-01 35th Ave., Astoria AGES: All WHAT: The museum’s dynamic core exhibition features more than 1,400 historical objects, art works, video clips, and interactive experiences that show how moving images are made, marketed, and exhibited. Visitors can create their own short animations, star in their own Video Flipbook, experiment with sound effects, and film music. WANT TO GO? $15; $11 seniors with ID; $7 children ages 3-17; free for children younger than 3. 718-777-6888. movingimage.us.

The Jim Henson Exhibit

WHEN: Through Dec. 31: Wednesday-Thursday, 10:30am-2pm; Friday, 10:30am-8pm; Saturday-Sunday, 11:30am-7pm WHERE: Museum of the Moving Image, 35-01 35th Ave., Astoria AGES: All WHAT: A permanent exhibition devoted to Jim Henson. This dynamic visitor experience features nearly 500 artifacts from Jim Henson’s remarkable and unparalleled television and film career, and his transformative impact on popular culture. WANT TO GO? $15; $11 seniors and students with ID; $7 children ages 3-17; free for children younger than 3. 718-777-6888. movingimage.us.

Video Arcade: Changing Exhibitions Gallery

WHEN: Through Jan. 15, 2018: Wednesday-Thursday, 10:30am-2pm; Friday, 10:30am-8pm; Saturday-Sunday, 11:30am-7pm WHERE: Museum of the Moving Image, 35-01 35th Ave., Astoria AGES: All WHAT: A popular culture phenomenon and a vital force in the entertainment industry. This arcade allows visitors to play 23 of the era’s most beloved games in their original form. WANT TO GO? $15; $11 seniors with ID; $7 children ages 3-17; free for children younger than 3. 718-777-6888. movingimage.us.

‘Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Secret Ocean 3D’

WHEN: Through June 30, 2018: daily, 11am and 1pm WHERE: New York Hall of Science, 47-01 111th St., Corona AGES: All WHAT: A breakthrough look at a secret world within the ocean that is perhaps the biggest story of all: that the smallest life in the sea is the mightiest force on which we all depend. Cousteau invites viewers to dive into this whole new world that will leave them in awe of the beauty and diversity of the oceans. WANT TO GO? $6; $5 children with admission: $16; $13 children ages 2-17; free for children younger than 2. 718-699-0005. nysci.org.

‘Journey To Space 3D’

WHEN: Through June 30, 2018: daily, 12pm WHERE: New York Hall of Science, 47-01 111th St., Corona AGES: All WHAT: A celebration of space exploration, a tribute to international cooperation in space research, and a vision toward a manned mission to Mars within a generation. Narrated by Sir Patrick Stewart. WANT TO GO? $6; $5 children with admission: $16; $13 children ages 2-17; free for children younger than 2. 718-699-0005. nysci.org.

‘Dream Big: Engineering Our World’

WHEN: Through June 30, 2018: daily, 2pm WHERE: New York Hall of Science, 47-01 111th St., Corona AGES: All WHAT: From the Great Wall of China and the world’s tallest buildings to underwater robots, solar cars and smart, sustainable cities, this film celebrates the human ingenuity behind engineering marvels big and small. WANT TO GO? $6; $5 children with admission: $16; $13 children ages 2-17; free for children younger than 2. 718-699-0005. nysci.org.

Coming up next month: OCT. 5-8: Queensboro Dance Festival at The Secret Theatre, Long Island City OCT. 14: Imagine Science Film Festival Screening at New York Hall of Science, Corona OCT. 29: Children’s Fall Festival at Queens County Farm Museum, Floral Park

QueensParent 43

WHERE-TO GUIDE

nymetroparents.com/where-to

Pick Your Own Apples

››

Research by Jaime Bonchick and Amanda Marrone

Bite into crunchy, juicy, just-picked apples this month! A day trip to a local orchard yields fresh fruit to take home by the bucket, sweet pastries and baked goods (apple cider doughnuts, please!), and lots of kid-friendly perks, from hayrides to petting zoos. Grown-ups: Some farms even serve up hard cider and homemade wines! Note: Dates are projected and availability is subject to change. We recommend calling ahead before visiting these locations. Apple, pumpkin, winter squash, and raspberry picking, daily, 9am-6pm, through Thanksgiving. Hayrides, 5-acre corn maze, wooden toys, and picnic area. Farmers market with pre-picked fruits and vegetables, roasted corn, homemade pies, jams, and snacks. Call for availability. Wickham’s Fruit Farms 28700 Route 25, Cutchogue 631-734-6441 wickhamsfruitfarm.com Apple picking through September into mid-October, Monday-Saturday, 9am4pm. Closed Sunday. Also offers U-pick blackberries and pumpkins. Hayrides in October on Saturdays and Columbus Day, 9am-4pm.

Westchester County

Long Island Hank’s Pumpkin Farm 240 Montauk Highway, Water Mill Farm stand: 324 County Road 39, Southampton 631-726-4667hankspumpkintown.com Apple and pumpkin picking early September through late October, daily, 9:30am-6pm. Corn maze, wagon rides, face painting, farm stand, and roasted corn shack with sweet corn, pies, doughnuts, candy apples, apple cider, and kettle corn. Farm stand open through mid-September. Hayden’s Orchard 561 Hulse Landing Road (near Wildwood State Park), Wading River 631-929-1115 Pick-your-own nectarines through late September, peaches through mid-October, and apples through late October. Call for availability. Open daily, 9am-5pm.

Lewin Farms 812 Sound Ave., Wading River Second location: Fresh Pond Avenue, Baiting Hollow 631-929-4327; lewinfarm.com Apple picking late August through early October, weekends, 9am-4:30pm. Pumpkin picking late September through October. Farm open Monday-Sunday, 9am-5pm. Milk Pail Farm & Orchard 50 Horsemill Lane, Watermill 631-537-2565; milk-pail.com Apple and pumpkin picking from Labor Day through late October, Friday-Sunday and holidays, 10am-5:30pm. The Country Store offers cider, doughnuts, muffins, pies, cookies, and more. Seven Ponds Orchard 65 Seven Ponds Road, Water Mill 631-726-8015

September 2017 | nymetroparents.com

Harvest Moon Farm and Orchards 130 Hardscrabble Road, North Salem 914-485-1210 harvestmoonfarmandorchard.com Apple picking begins in early September after Labor Day (call for availability). Fresh pies, doughnuts, produce, and local honey, local dairy products, and maple syrup for sale, as well as New York state wines and spirits and the farm’s own hard cider. Open daily, 8am-6pm. Outhouse Orchards 139 Hardscrabble Road, North Salem 914-277-3188 outhouseorchardsny.com Apple picking Sept. 1-Nov. 1, daily, 9am5pm while supplies last. Fresh cider for sale, hayrides, and corn maze on-site, and a pick-your-own pumpkin patch. Wilkens Fruit & Fir Farm 1335 White Hill Road, Yorktown Heights 914-245-5111; wilkensfarm.com Apple picking through mid-October, daily, 10am-4:30pm. Farm market with apple cider, baked goods, pre-picked produce, and gifts.

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

late August through the end of October, along with pears and raspberries, MondayThursday, 9am-12pm (closed Tuesdays); Friday-Sunday, 9am-5pm. Vegetable and flower gardens available for picking and cutting. Cash or check only. Karabin Farms 894 Andrews St., Southington 860-620-0194 karabinfarms.com Apple and pumpkin picking

on weekends (Friday-Monday) September-October, 9:30am-4pm. Store open daily with farm-raised beef products, chicken, pork, vegetables, and eggs available for sale. Call for updates on hours. Rogers Orchards 336 Long Bottom Road, Southington

2876 Meriden-Waterbury Turnpike, Southington 860-229-4240 rogersorchards.com Apple picking Labor Day weekend through October, Friday-Sunday and holiday Mondays, 10am-5pm. Apple cider doughnuts, pies, and local products available at on-site farm store; open daily, August through mid-May.

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

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

Hartford County Dondero Orchards 529 Woodland St., South Glastonbury 860-659-0294 donderoorchards.com Pick-your-own peaches and plums through September; apples and pears through October, Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm, and SaturdaySunday, 8am-6pm, during the fall. Bakery with doughnuts, pies, and other baked goods. Greenhouse with flowers and mulch. Easy Pickin’s Orchard 46 Bailey Road, Enfield 860-763-FARM (3276) easypickinsorchard.com Pick-your-own apples from

QueensParent 45

FOCUS ON: ME TIME

Experts say there are many benefits to children of participating in after-school activities—but that me time is also essential for kids’ healthy development.

Extracurriculars vs. Extra Downtime ›› When it comes to scheduling your kids’ after-school activities, how much is too much? By Rosalind Muggeridge

or most of my childhood, my extracurricular schedule consisted of riding my bike to the local YMCA every Saturday morning for a swimming lesson. I’m pretty sure my mom and dad never asked themselves if they were scheduling too much or too little for me. And yet it’s a question parents these days seem to grapple with constantly. I always thought finding the right balance with my own children would be clear, but I can’t deny the pressure I sometimes feel when I hear about my kids’ friends and their weekly schedules: acting class, guitar, gymnastics, tennis, dance, Mandarin. To shed some light on this issue, I turned to local experts who support parents as they navigate matters like this.

What the Research Says

To discuss the balance between scheduled activities and unscheduled me time for kids, it’s important first to ask: Are today’s kids actually overscheduled—or does it just feel that way? A recent paper in the journal Social Policy Report reviewed the research and found more than 80 percent of American children take part in some extracurricular activity, including sports, lessons, or clubs. Approximately 7 million of those are enrolled in after-school programs and many more participate in clubs and organizations such as Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Girls Inc., according to the report. Even though those numbers may seem high, the same report shows children and adolescents spend an average of only five hours per week participating in organized activities. So, although extracurricular activities get a lot of attention, other activities—screen time, chores, spending time with friends and family, working, and doing homework—occupy as much (and often more) time than organized activities. In other words, it may make more sense to worry about your child’s screen time than about the hours he spends at after-school programs. 46

September 2017 | nymetroparents.com

There are, however, cases where overscheduling poses problems for kids. The same research suggests there may be a point of diminishing returns for a small number of young people with very high levels of involvement—meaning, some kids who participate in a multitude of extracurricular activities may see fewer advantages as they take on more and more. For instance, the educational benefits of playing sports seem to level off when kids participate in more than two competitive team sports. Danis Copenhaver, M.D., F.A.A.P., a pediatrician at South Slope Pediatrics in Brooklyn, looks for telltale signs to make sure her young patients aren’t overscheduled. “I make a point to ask every patient and family about mealtimes and sleep,” she says. “A huge red flag for me is if meals are always eaten on the go and if bedtime is inconsistent or very late. In pre-teens and teenagers, I try and assess if they are enjoying the activities they are involved in. Sometimes they will answer honestly in the exam room and it’s the first time the parents are hearing about it. That can lead to a discussion about prioritizing time out of school for family, friends, sports, and activities.” Overall, however, concerns about overscheduling seem to be overblown. Despite what we so often hear in the media, the research shows that only a small number of young people (between 3 and 6 percent) are very highly scheduled, spending 20 or more hours a week taking part in these activities. The same research also points to evidence that kids who participate in organized activities do better than those who don’t. These young people are more likely to have higher academic achievement, finish school, do well in college, be well-adjusted, smoke less, use drugs less often, and interact more with parents. There are fewer overbooked young children now than there used to be, Dr. Copenhaver says. “Parents value and protect the free play time that these younger children need,” she adds, noting, however, that this often

The Benefits of Downtime

Even if kids may not, for the most part, be overscheduled, there are many studies emphasizing the pluses of unscheduled free time for children as well as adults. A 2012 report by Mary Helen Immordino-Yang of the University of Southern California showed that when we are resting, our brains are not actually idle and downtime is essential to many of our mental processes. The report examined related research showing this relaxed time is an opportunity for the brain to make sense of what it has recently learned. Kids need to play and explore, says Sharon Peters, who founded the Brooklyn-based marriage and family counseling practice Parents Helping Parents. She is a big proponent of building downtime into a family’s schedule. For more than 20 years, she has been supporting parents as they raise their children. She also draws from her own personal experiences as a mother of five children, several of whom have special needs. “All group settings or one-on-one lessons with a teacher are demanding in ways that individual time isn’t,” she says. Young kids can’t simply roam the streets alone, Peters notes, but it’s essential to fit into their schedules the type of play that encourages exploration and independence. “A great way to incorporate this for younger children is finding a safe space for them to wander and make decisions on their own,” she says. Her comment rings true for me personally, as I’ve noticed my 2-year-old is at his most relaxed and engaged when he is wandering through Prospect Park in Brooklyn with me following a few feet behind him. Downtime benefits kids of all ages, according to Dr. Copenhaver. “In younger children ages 2-5 unstructured play time encourages imagination and cooperation. It can also allow them time

to rest and recharge, avoiding becoming overstimulated and cranky,” she says. Me time also has specific benefits for older children. “In schoolaged kids, I find that non-scheduled downtime allows them to more deeply explore their likes and develop their talents,” Dr. Copenhaver says. “Some kids develop a love of reading, others find that they still enjoy playing at the park, while others take the time to participate in preparing meals for their family.” She adds that in teens, stress levels

decrease and sleep duration and quality usually benefit first from non-scheduled down time.

Finding the Right Balance

Given what we know about the positives of extracurricular activities and also the benefits of downtime, how do we go about finding what works for us? Here are some tips for ensuring your kids experience the right mix of enriching activities and nourishing downtime. Create a schedule that works for your family. Because many

children spend too much time using mobile devices and watching TV, the American Association of Pediatrics recommends maintaining at least one hour of physical activity a day and limiting screen time to two hours a day, according to Melanie Wilson-Taylor, M.D., F.A.A.P., also of South Slope pediatrics. “Oftentimes parents are busy with work or taking care of younger children and there can be pressure to make sure that kids are kept busy,” she says. “Many parents often feel the continued on next page ››

Is your child gifted?

Enriching brilliant minds every day… in every way. A

depends on the age of the child. “The pre-teen and teenage crowd tends to be more over-scheduled, due to the pressures of school and extracurricular demands.”

DEMI

E X YEARS - OF E CE LLENC

QueensParent 47

AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES MARKETPLACE

Now Registering

for Fall at our BAYSIDE and Manhasset Locations.

Get Ready for Pre-School Ages 8 months to 3 years Where Children and GroWn-Ups learn and play ToGeTher

Mommy & Me, Partial Separation, Separation, Infant Class, ABC Enrichment Classes Narrow Age Span Maximum 10 Children Per Class • ARTS & CRAFTS • MUSIC • STORIES

• CREATIVE MOVEMENT • PLAY TIME • SNACK

(516) 433-0003

VISIT WWW.JUSTWEETWO.COM E-MAIL – INFO@JUSTWEETWO.COM OTHER LOCATIONS: MANHASSET, PLAINVIEW, BKLYN HTS., N. STAMFORD, GREENWICH, PARK SLOPE

‹‹ continued from previous page

need to compete and make sure their child has access to every extracurricular activity in order to be a better candidate for the next level of school.” Carefully consider what activities are right for your child. Dr. Wilson-Taylor recommends parents ask their child if she enjoys the activity and to consider whether there are true benefits—academic, social, personal development—in it. She cautions that sometimes the amount of time a child spends in an activity is reasonable but the type of activity may not fit the personality of the child. Parents should consider whether their child prefers group or individual activities, for instance, or whether the child will experience undue anxiety of performing in an end-of-year production or recital. “Parents should also be mindful about how extracurricular activities affect the behavior and self-worth,” Dr. Wilson-Taylor says. “If the child is focused on always winning and values themselves based on their ability to succeed in the activity, caregivers should re-evaluate the importance of that activity.” One good rule of thumb she tells her patients: Due to a limited attention span, structured activities for children younger than 6 should be limited to 30 minutes at a time. Older children can tolerate activities that are an hour or two. Look out for the red ﬂags. According to Dr. Wilson-Taylor, temperament and age play a big part in judging whether a child is overscheduled. Some children like participating in activities outside of school or on the weekends and thrive on constantly doing something. Other children are homebodies or prefer unstructured activities. She cautions that “an overscheduled child has more tantrums prior to the activity, may take a long time to get ready, and may outright say ‘no’ to going. Older children may exhibit poor sleep patterns the night before in anticipation of participating in the event the next day. They also may seem more isolated from friends or family because they are always ‘doing something.’” Parents should be concerned if they notice a child is clingier to caregivers, his grades are dropping, or her homework is getting squeezed into small gaps of free time—in the car, on the bus, waking up early before school. “If not attended to, young kids communicate discomfort one way or the other and raise the flag. This could be acting out in school or more tantrums at home,” Peters says. Children may also exhibit stress-induced physical symptoms, some of which can mimic actual illness. “When a child’s day is scheduled down to the minute, they can become stressed, and sometimes manifest physical symptoms of that stress,” Dr. Copenhaver says. “Stomach aches, headaches, and fatigue are common symptoms that children present to my office with, and the problem is sometimes an overloaded schedule without enough down time.” In her practice, she also sees teens complaining of fatigue, and often finds out they are sleeping fewer than five hours a night because of their busy school and after-school schedules. Trust your gut. “Like everything connected to parenting,” Peters says “this issue is very individual to each family.” Ultimately, she says, parents know their children—and since each situation and child is different, parents must rely on their instincts to decide when their child needs fewer after-school activities and more me time. The bottom line: You probably don’t need to worry that your child is overscheduled or that the number of activities in which he participates will have a negative impact on him. However, me time remains an essential part of everyone’s life and plays an important role in children’s development—so make sure to schedule some unscheduled time into your child’s life regularly. This is the second in a two-part series about the importance of downtime. To read last month’s article on me time for moms, see nymetroparents.com/mom-time.

September 2017 | nymetroparents.com

AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES MARKETPLACE

Our students typically achieve

2+ GRADE LEVEL INCREASES

Offering Classes in: SAVE $100

in 3 months.

WHEN YOU CALL BEFORE 10/1/17*

*In Math and Reading

Our program offers: Free consultation Comprehensive academic evaluation Personalized tutoring Highly qualified teachers Flexible payment options for all budgets BALDWIN

Reading - Writing - Math - Study Skills - Spelling Vocabulary - Phonics - Algebra - Geometry Trigonometry - Pre-Calculus - Calculus Earth Science - Biology - Chemistry - Physics

Test prep

SAT - PSAT/NMSQT - ACT - State Tests Advanced Placement (AP) - SSAT - ISEE SHSAT - TACHS - HSPT - GED - ASVAB

(516) 867-4041

718-358-7900

(845) 624-6800

NANUET

WESTWOOD (201) 664-2000

(718) 597-1500

BAYSHORE

SCARSDALE

EAST NORTHPORT

RIDGEWOOD

PLAINVIEW

LYNBROOK

UPPER WEST SIDE

SMITHTOWN

(631) 968-5100

CARLE PLACE (516) 747-5600

FLUSHING

Tutoring

(914) 946-7800 (516) 568-1900

(631) 462-8900 (212) 362-0100

(201) 447-1200 631-360-0422

EASTCHESTER

MANHASSET

PATCHOGUE

STATEN ISLAND

ENGLEWOOD

MASSAPEQUA PARK

PARK SLOPE

YORKTOWN HEIGHTS

(914) 722-6100 (201) 871-2211

(516) 365-4455 (516) 799-9500

(631) 289-4900 (718) 230-4600

BRONX

(516) 681-0400

BAY RIDGE

(718) 491-0900

718-697-0500

(914) 245-8882

1.800.CAN.LEARN

www.HuntingtonHelps.com

Â©2017 Huntington Mark, LLC. Independently Owned and Operated. SAT and Advanced Placement (AP) are registered trademarks of the College Board. PSAT/NMSQT is a registered trademark of the College Board and the National Merit Scholarship Corporation. ACT is a registered trademark of ACT, Inc. None of these entities endorses or was involved in the production of the program.*Offer valid for Academic Evaluation, new students only. Not valid with any other offer. Grade level results are based on cumulative average grade level increase in reading and math for 17,445 students from 2010 to 2014 using the full set of available student data.

Immerse. Make. Inspire

Ballet Tap

Jazz/Contemporary Hip Hop Acrobatics

Summer Dance Intensive

NOW

for Fall 2017

ALL STAR STUDIOS 108-21 72nd Ave (4th floor) Forest Hills, NY 11375 718-268-2280 allstarstudiosnyc@gmail.com www.allstarstudionyc.com

Come Try Our NEW Improv Dance Class!

robomindtech@gmail.com 718-264-7626 (ROBO) 185-10 Union Turnpike Fresh Meadows, NY 11366

Summer Registration Now Open! > LEGO Science & Robotics Programs (K-8) > Video Game Design & Animation (Grade 3-8) > Robotics Competition Training > Coding Programs

R CALL for a TOU !! of our SCHOOL!

> Group Programs: STEM Field Trips & Workshops

Call for a FREE Trial Class Time

OPEN HOUSE

9/10 Sunday 1-2pm (Free Trial) RVSP via email or Phone

Home to NYC FIRST Lego League & National World Robot Olympiad Champions QueensParent 49

Back-to-School

The annual guide to schools, resources, programs, & activities for kids! 82nd Street Academics

81-10 35th Ave., Jackson Heights 718-457-0429 x200 or x201 82ndst.com Most students who fail would have easily succeeded with a little extra support. 82nd Street Academics has the best track record with homework completion and correction for the past 15 years. We tackle homework together with 10-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio. We add hot meals and plenty of ways to keep students motivated as well! Your child deserves the best after-school academic development and After-School Achievement Club at 82nd Street Academics. Call 718-457-0429. 81-10 35th Ave., Jackson Heights.

All My Children Daycare and Nursery School

Various locations; call for information or check us online Queens: 347-708-7827 Manhattan: 212-419-5416 Brooklyn: 347-708-7827 allmychildrendaycare.com info@allmychildrendaycare.com All My Children Daycare is the eco-friendly choice for your infant or young child. We have various locations throughout Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens to accommodate your needs. AMC offers a holistic approach to education inspired by nature, and our staff is highly trained. Growth and development of the child as a whole is our No. 1 goal. We also offer a broad range of content on our website for parents. Call to inquire about registration or schedule a tour of a facility near you: 212-466-6262 or email: info@allmychildrendaycare.com.

All Star Studios

108-21 72nd Ave. (4th floor), Forest Hills 718-268-2280 allstarstudiosnyc.com allstarstudios@gmail.com Sign up now for fall classes— limited space available. All Star

Studios’ program is designed to encourage and educate students on how to increase flexibility, improve coordination, focus on muscle strengthening, build poise, and have fun. All instructors have experience in both teaching and performing, to teach students the skills needed to pursue a career as a true artist as well as the compassion to help push them toward their goals, build their self-confidence, and encourage a healthy, active lifestyle. Visit allstarstudiosnyc.com.

American Dance & Drama

188-22 Union Turnpike, Fresh Meadows 68-02 Metropolitan Ave., Middle Village 718-479-8522 americandanceanddramastudio.com American Dance & Drama Studio is the original neighborhood school that was established more than 44 years ago at the same location. We offer quality teaching and an extremely professional staff, while maintaining a fun and exciting environment. Come visit our new, multi-level, high-tech studios—the largest in Queens at 7,000-squarefeet! We offer classes for ages 2 through adults in all types of dance, as well as gymnastics, drama, Zumba, belly dance, and singing. Call now to find out about registration dates!

The Bay Terrace at Bayside

bayterrace.com Get ready for back to school at The Bay Terrace. The Bay Terrace Shopping Center, located on Bell Boulevard and 26th Avenue in Bayside has been proudly serving the Bayside area and surrounding neighborhoods for more than 50 years. With an excellent mix of shops, restaurants, and services for the community, including the newly renovated Loews Movie Theatre, Ben’s Deli, Home Goods, and Sephora (coming soon!),

September 2017 | nymetroparents.com

the beautiful and inviting outdoor atmosphere is what makes The Bay Terrace Shopping Center a perfect place to visit.

Braithwaite Nursery School

160-21 13 Ave., Whitestone 718-767-2776 9am-12pm (Prime Time for Little Ones) braithwaitenurseryschool.com Lynne and Ron Braithwaite, certified teachers, have been operating the Braithwaite Nursery School for 14 years, serving children ages 2-4 in a safe and nurturing environment. Our goal is to foster a love of learning through varied experiences. A Green Schoolyard gives children the opportunity to observe and appreciate their environment. Seasonal changes and migrating birds introduce a love of science. We focus on the total child, academically and socially. Reading readiness, art, music, math, and science are an everyday part of our program in an exciting fun way. Your child will be governed only by his or her limitless imagination.

Christy’s Gymnastics

150-50 14th Road, Whitestone 718-767-0123 christysgymnastics.net Christy’s Gymnastics was founded in 1984 as a full-service gymnastics facility. We provide a safe and exciting environment for children to improve their skills and build self-esteem. Our staff is our school’s greatest asset, and includes certified physical education teachers, internationally renowned coaches, and former gymnasts. Our program includes Wee Tumbles classes ages 2-3, junior gym for ages 3-5, a recreational program for ages 6 to high school, and competitive teams. In addition to our many gymnastic programs, Christy’s also hosts birthdays parties, cheerleading workshops, and Parkour workshops.

The Church-in-the-Gardens Nursery School

50 Ascan Ave., Forest Hills 718-268-7980 citgnurseryschool.org nurseryschool@thecitg.org New for this fall we will have a half-day free pre-K program. Our early childhood programs reflect research that encourages learning through play and handson activities. Each individual child is supported as he or she becomes a successful, lifelong learner. We offer a diversified, multicultural program; a printrich environment; hands-on, developmentally-appropriate small group instruction; a music and movement program that promotes fine and gross motor skills; and reinforced acceptance of others through teaching the basic strategies for coping with issues that may arise when our students enter elementary school. All programs offer enhanced enrichment throughout the school year.

CK Kids

68-02 Metropolitan Ave., Middle Village 718-366-7454 ctkny.org CK Kids offers families one location for all of their educational and leisure activities. We offer a variety of programs for children ages 2½-18. Dance, karate, hip-hop, acrobatics, and cooking classes are offered for boys and girls of all ages and skill levels. Our soccer and basketball clinics develop players’ individual skills in a non-competitive setting. Our educational support programs for kindergarten to 12th grades are designed to review and reinforce subject matter and skills necessary to achieve success. On-site parking, reasonable prices, and flexible scheduling!

Clover Prep Learning Center 192-11 Union Turnpike, Fresh Meadows 718-740-7888

cloverprep.com cloverprep@gmail.com Clover Prep Learning Center is the “best rated spot for learning” for students ages 2½-12, featuring FasTracKids and JEI Learning. We offer proven programs that deliver results for realizing each student’s maximum potential. Whether it’s critical thinking, gifted and talented test prep, math, reading, science, summer camp, after-school programs, or preschool alternative, we have the best programs for your child. Most importantly, we make learning engaging and fun!

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 Comprehensive Consultation Psychological Services, P.C. is a group of school and neuro-psychologists, who diagnose and assess a variety of conditions in children and adults. We perform neuropsychological, educational, speech, and language and psychiatric evaluations to help you understand your child’s strengths and weaknesses, and plan for their educational success and emotional well-being. Who we help: Children and adults with learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD/ADD), memory and processing deficits, developmental disorders (speech delay, motor and adaptive delays), depression, anxiety, behavioral issues, and mood disorders.

Cookie’s Kids The Kids’ Department Store Queens: 166-21 Jamaica Ave. (at 168th Street) 718-291-7700 Brooklyn: 265 Livingston St. 718-797-3300 510 Fulton St. 718-797-3300 982 Flatbush Ave. 718-287-2300 Bronx: 1534 Westchester Ave. 718-991-9500 576 Melrose Ave. 718-585-0800

cookieskids.com marvin@cookieskids.com Sept. 7 marks the beginning of school for most NYC students, and record numbers of kids are going back in clothing and uniforms from Cookie’s Kids. With an unbeatable selection of uniforms, including hard-to-find sizes, Cookie’s Kids has earned its reputation as the premier school uniform supplier in New York City. The retailer’s updated selection of clothing, backpacks, accessories, and a full-service shoe department has made it a destination for the latest trends. Add in everyday low prices, and it is clear why Cookie’s Department Stores are the city’s backto-school superstores.

Countryside Montessori School

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

AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES MARKETPLACE

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

68-05 Fresh Meadow Lane, Fresh Meadows

(718) 762-1218

(718) 939-8687

NOW REGISTERING FOR SEPTEMBER 2017 CLASSES!!!

• Classes for Children 2 Years - 5 Years

• Experienced & Caring Certified Multi-Lingual Staff

• Full, 3 Day & Half Day Sessions

• NYC Licensed Premises

• Extended Hours for Working Parents (7:30am - 6:00pm)

• Convenient Curbside Drop-off

• Hot Catered Meals and Snacks

• ACD Vouchers Welcome

Diapers Optional!!! 2-year olds always welcome OVER 40 YEARS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD SAYS IT ALL!

visit us at www.jackandjillschools.com

RingSport

Thai Boxing

The Crayon Box Preschool

44-10 192nd St., Flushing 718-888-9341 crayonboxpreschool.com Children at The Crayon Box are encouraged to learn by doing. The curriculum is planned by creative and dedicated professionals. Children experience the fun of learning by participating in activities designed to stimulate growth in a wide range of areas, including social and cognitive development and gross and fine motor skills. Now offering the Teddy Tennis Program. We invite you to come see us and decide if The Crayon Box Preschool is right for your child’s first educational experience. continued on next page ››

CHILDREN & TEENS PROGRAMS AGES 7 - 13 YEARS

» Confidence » Self-defense and Self-awareness » Stress release » Fitness » Respect for others » Improve hand-eye coordination » An outlet for creativity

RingSport Thai Boxing Contact us: (718) 357-4813 Email: ringsportmuaythai@gmail.com ringsportthaiboxing.com 12-64 150th Street, Whitestone, NY 11357 QueensParent 51

‹‹ continued from previous page

The DanceSource

98-11 Queens Blvd. (at 65th Avenue), Rego Park/Forest Hills 718-997-1278 dancesource.net info@dancesource.net The DanceSource will be open and ready for registration on Sept. 4 from 10am-6pm. We’ll gladly set up your dancer in the right class and level, and find a budget suitable for you. We offer ballet, tap, gymnastics, modern, hip-hop, ballroom, belly dance, Baratanathyam, Bollywood, Kathak, and Georgian. Private classes are scheduled by appointment. Your dancers may come to us once a week, twice a week, or as many times as they can fit into their schedule. We hire NYC’s best instructors, and the first lesson is a free!

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.

First Shot Basketball School

718-275-7974 firstshotbasketball.com firstshotbball@aol.com First Shot provides a healthy, pressure-free environment teaching children ages 3-15 how to play basketball. Experienced, caring coaches work in small classes geared to specific ages and skills. Your child will learn the basics, sharpen his or her skills, understand the game, and come

away feeling positive about his or her performance and ability to play with friends in the schoolyard. We teach the value of good sportsmanship, setting goals, and teamwork. With lots of encouragement we build confidence and make it fun for everyone. Register at firstshotbasketball.com or call 718-275-7974.

Happy Days Children’s Wear Inc.

Serving Brooklyn, Queens, Manhattan, and Staten Island 56-40 Myrtle Ave., Ridgewood 718-456-5422 331 Knickerbocker Ave., Brooklyn 718-366-3620 4802 Fifth Ave., Brooklyn 718-567-3900 Happy Days Children’s Wear, in business for more than 30 years, is the one stop for all your children’s needs. We carry everything you need from newborn through teenage clothes, including a full line of layette. A full line of school uniforms is available all year long. We also have a juvenile furniture department. We look forward to assisting you with all of your back to school needs.

The Highland School

193-10 Peck Ave., Fresh Meadows 718-357-4747 thenewhighlandschool.com Highland is an independent, non-sectarian school serving pre-K through eighth grades in Fresh Meadows. All grades enjoy a well-rounded program, incorporating academics with specialty classes in gym, music, art, and computers. Early morning and after-school hours meet the needs of working parents. The quality education allows students to reach their own levels of success in an enriching and nurturing environment.

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 Hug Music’s mission is to nurture a love for music by promoting students’ musical growth and important life skills. We offer programs to all individuals including children with special

September 2017 | nymetroparents.com

needs. Our signature Hug Melody classes are for children ages 6 months to 4 years. Chorus Group is for ages 4-7 years. We also offer private and duo lessons on piano, guitar, voice, and music therapy. Music therapy is effective for children with special needs (autism, ADHD, etc.) to improve important learning skills. Register for the fall semester today!

Huntington Learning Center

35-30 Francis Lewis Blvd., Flushing 718-358-7900 huntingtonhelps.com Huntington Learning Center is an accredited, K-12th tutoring and test prep leader. Its certified teachers provide individualized instruction in phonics, reading, writing, math, science, study skills, and executive functioning skills. Huntington also helps students prepare for the SAT, ACT, High School Entrance Exams, and other state and standardized exams. Huntington students achieve results at all skill levels. According to one parent: “In just four months I have seen incredible improvements in Jessica’s grades and confidence. She actually went up two grade levels!” Huntington offers convenient 1-on-1 tutoring programs. Call today!

ISTEIN Education Center

107-06 71st Road, 2nd Floor, Forest Hills 718-575-8877 isteinny.com info@isteinny.com ISTEIN after-school program is a different kind of extended day after-school program with featured music programs, Chinese language class, multi-interest activities, plus free school pickup. Enrolling kindergarten-sixth grades only. Our program is designed not only to help your children with their homework but offer them the opportunity to expand their knowledge, create friendships, and have fun. We also offer rigorous academic enrichment in our State Test Prep (third-sixth grades), and Little Winner Program (kindergarten-second grade). Our staff is comprised of professional teachers and assistants whose goal is to make sure your child has a rewarding experience.

Ivy Day School

65-01 Kissena Blvd., Flushing 718-460-6366 70-44 Kissena Blvd., Flushing 718-880-1888 104-70 Queens Blvd., Forest Hills 718-997-1997 ivydayschool.com dinam@ivydayschool Books and blocks, music and dance, art and creativity! At Ivy Day School (three locations), we provide our decade-long standard of academic excellence to children ages 2-5. We envision students will develop essential skills for a lifetime of achievements via fun, stimulating activities. We teach English, math, science, foreign language, social studies, music, and dance in our state-of-theart facility, along with access to indoor and outdoor playgrounds. Your children are our priority and we strive to enrich their minds and bodies in a safe and nurturing environment.

Jack & Jill Nursery Schools

43-23 Colden St., Flushing 718-762-1218 Jack & Jill Nursery School II 68-05 Fresh Meadow Lane, Fresh Meadows 718-939-8687 jackandjillschools.com With Flushing and Fresh Meadows locations, Jack & Jill is celebrating 43 years of excellence in early childhood education. We are a family-owned and -operated preschool offering a genuine, caring, and nurturing homeaway-from-home environment for children ages 2-5. Full-day or part-time classes available for ages 2, 3, and 4 with extended hours from 7:30am-6pm. We are proud to celebrate our free full-day UPK with the NYC Department of Education for children born in 2013 from 9am-3:20pm. If not yet registered, inquire about our waiting list for September UPK classes for kids born in 2013.

JEI Learning Centers

Auburndale: 347-408-4098 Floral Park: 718-347-3138 Fresh Meadows: 718-740-7888 Great Neck: 516-482-2234 Rego Park: 718-441-3762 Forest Hills: 917-702-8505 jei.com JEI Learning Centers have helped children achieve academic

success around the world since 1977. We offer a variety of academic enrichment and tutoring programs for children in pre-K through ninth grade, including math, problem-solving, English, reading, and writing. Our program is designed to elevate each student’s abilities to the next level and beyond. JEI’s scientific diagnostic system pinpoints the missing links in learning and prescribes individual study programs based on specific needs. Our curriculum is aligned with the Common Core Standards. Call us for more information.

Just Wee Two

Bayside, Manhasset, Plainview, plus Brooklyn and Connecticut 516-433-0003; 800-404-2204 justweetwo.com This specially developed program, for children ages 8 months through 3½ years and their parents, provides an environment that enables grown-ups to share the joy of a child’s early learning. Classes are limited to 10 children. Toddlers enjoy arts and crafts, creative movement, stories, and play time. Children develop a sense of confidence and increase their communication and social skills. We also offer partial separation, separation, and enrichment classes with an emphasis on reading readiness. We are now registering for fall sessions.

Kent Prep

194-11A Northern Blvd., Bayside 718-423-5757 kentprep.com Looking for a program that will help your child prepare for NYC’s Gifted and Talented entrance exam and other standardized tests? Experienced and certified teachers work with students in interactive classroom environments to prepare students with test-taking techniques and practice. Small group classes for pre-kinders to second graders are offered Monday-Saturday. For more information, email us at info@kentprep.com or call 718-423-5757 to speak to an admissions counselor.

Kweller Advanced Test Preparation

104-40 Queens Blvd., Suite 1C, Forest Hills 370 Lexington Ave., Suite 800, Manhattan

kwellerprep.com. info@kwellerprep.com Kweller Prep offers advanced test preparation in small group settings for students in third to 12th grades. Our instructors provide mentorship and academic support and customize classes based on each student’s needs. Kweller Prep specializes in competitive middle school, high school, and college entrance exam preparation. Programs are offered for several exams including ELA, MATH, Hunter, SHSAT, PSAT, and SAT. Class sizes are limited to 10 students max. Office: 1-800-631-1757. Email: info@kwellerprep.com. Register for classes online at kwellerprep.com.

Little Atelier of Young Children Inc.

39-14 210th St., Bayside 718-423-4223 littleatelieryc.com info@littleatelieryc.com Little Atelier is a program dedicated to early childhood education. We offer Preschool (ages 2-5), Art and Cooking enrichment classes (all ages), and Mommy and Me (ages 12 months to 2½ years). We are inspired by Reggio Emilia philosophy, and through fun and creative learning, we strive to elicit children’s deep and sustained inquiry. Our environment is warm and family-like, and the teachers are NYS-certified professionals. September is Mommy-and-Me promotion month, and we offer free sessions for Mommy-and-Me classes. Please check our website and make a reservation asap!

LIU Post Center for Gifted Youth

Dr. Lynne Manouvrier, director LIU Post, Brookville 516-299-2160 liu.edu/giftedyouth The Long Island University program for gifted children was established in 1979 in response to the increasing recognition of society’s special responsibilities for children with demonstrably superior intellectual ability. The Long Island University Center for Gifted Youth brings together two important elements of education for the gifted: extraordinary teachers recruited from leading high schools, middle continued on next page ››

AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES MARKETPLACE

NURSERY SCHOOL & PRE K:

• • • • • • • •

AM/PM Classes 3 Day PM Nursery Level Classes Available Program encourages socialization and diversity Multicultural curriculum Small group hands on instruction Music & Movement Outdoor Play Area Indoor Gym Program

NEW for FALL 2017!

m Music Progra s for PM Classe Included

2017 UPK HALF DAY SESSIONS AVAILABLE

SPECIAL ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS Pre-K OPTIONAL ADDITIONAL HOUR

BIRTHDAY PARTIES!

The Junior Gym Program (3 ½-5yrs plus) Rising Stars (Boys & Girls) - 6-10 yrs Gym Time - 6 yrs and older The Cleanest State of the Art Gym Competitive Teams Accomplished Credentialed Staff You’ve Ever Seen!!!

WEE TUMBLE - 18 mos-3yrs plus A fun filled learning experience in which parents are true partners in fitness and skill development

718-767-0123

150-50 14th Rd. Whitestone • www.christysgymnastics.net FREE PARKING • Christine Phillips/Owner & Director

Astoria • Bayside • Forest Hills • Glendale Schedule your FREE Trial Class Today! Weekday & Weekend Fall, Winter, Spring & Summer Sessions

718.229.0033 • MusicTogetherwithMusicandMe.com QueensParent 53

‹‹ continued from previous page

schools, and elementary schools in the metropolitan area and university-level facilities. These two factors, combined with an administrative and psychological team schooled in the needs of gifted children, give the program at LIU Post unique strengths in producing positive benefits for young people admitted to the program.

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 Speech Pathology and Swallowing Disorder Services of Long Island. 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.

Mary Louis Academy: Empowering Young Women Since 1936 176-21 Wexford Terrace, Jamaica Estates 718-297-2120 tmla.org The Mary Louis Academy is proud to announce the establishment of several new and exciting initiatives designed to provide young women with increased opportunities to achieve academic success, develop leadership skills, set career goals, and form strategies to achieve those goals. Successful completion of a program, all of which begin September 2017, will be

recognized at graduation with a special designation certificate. The academic concentrations will include: Pre-Med, Dual-Language/International Studies Program, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math), Fine Art, Music, and Physical Education and Wellness. For more info, visit tmla.org.

Music School of New York City In-Home Music Lessons throughout Queens

917-710-7175 musicschoolofnyc.com info@musicschoolofnyc.com Music School of New York City blends old-world values and classical traditions, with an innovative teaching style designed for children of the 21st century. Our fantastic team of all-star teachers is the best in NYC, with degrees from Juilliard, Moscow Conservatory, and more. Offering in-home private instruction in piano, violin, voice, and guitar, we specialize in establishing a love of music and great technique in all our students, from beginner through advanced. We prepare students for all auditions and competitions. Call today to set up a free trial lesson!

Music Together

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

Music Together® With Music and Me Licensed Provider of Music Together® Since 2003 Astoria, Bayside, Forest Hills, and Glendale 718-229-0033 Astoria at Gym-Azing! Bayside at Bay Terrace Karate Center, Upper Level Baybridge

September 2017 | nymetroparents.com

Commons Shopping Center Forest Hills at the Reform Temple of Forest Hills Forest Hills at the Church-in-the-Gardens Glendale at Tiger Schulmann’s Glendale musictogetherwithmusicandme.com info@musictogetherwithmusicandme.com Since 2003, we have provided the gold standard Music Together® music and movement program for children and their grown-ups who love to dance, sing, learn, and play! Thousands of families with babies, toddlers, and preschoolers have experienced our classes with highly-trained, registered Music Together® teachers. Families value the positive effects on speech, articulation, fine and gross motor skills, prelinguistic skills, rhythm, tone, and socialization. Fall, winter, spring, and summer. Schedule your free trial class today. Visit musictogetherwithmusicandme. com for more information.

winds; dance instruction in ballet, folk dance, modern, and flamenco; and art instruction. We also offer Dalcroze, music, and movement for preschoolers. Drama program and Spanish for kids available. Adults are also welcome. We prepare music, art, and dance students for special high schools (LaGuardia, Frank Sinatra, etc.), and pre-college and college auditions.

Noah’s Ark Preparatory

Queens Music Academy

38-20 Bell Blvd., Bayside 718-279-4251 62-48 Mount Olivet Crescent, Middle Village 347-335-0044 noahsarkschool.com noahsarkpreparatory@gmail.com Noah’s Ark Preparatory Inc. strives to create a learning environment, which invites the fullest potential of each person’s gifts. Both nursery and pre-kindergarten classrooms are divided into distinct learning areas and foster in the children the love of learning. The setting offers children the opportunity to teach themselves through their own discoveries. Noah’s Ark also offers an after-school program with bus service for ages 6-12, during which time will be spent building academic skills and addressing the needs of each individual student. Please call for further information about all of our programs, including UPK.

Performing Arts Conservatory of New York 35-57 89th St., Jackson Heights 718-639-1425 917-774-3411 paconyschool.com info@paconyschool.com We offer music instruction in piano, violin, guitar, voice, and

Queens Dance Academy

79-31 Myrtle Ave., Glendale 718-366-5226 QDA has been serving the community for 38 years, and offers dance classes for all ages, including ballet, tap, jazz, hip-hop, and more. We aim to teach technique, teamwork, and self-expression all while having fun! Regular and competition classes available. Sign up now. Come join our award-winning team and become part of the family that is Queens Dance Academy. 46-01 Greenpoint Ave., Suite 2B, Sunnyside 347-699-6641 60-19 Roosevelt Ave., Suite 228, Woodside 347-762-0228 queensmusicacademy.com info@queenmusicacademy.com Queens Music Academy provides high quality music instruction for all instruments, levels, and ages. It also offers rock band, orchestra, innovative art classes, and creative Lego workshops throughout the year.

Rhythm NY

213-01 Northern Blvd., Bayside 70-68 Kissena Blvd., 3F, Flushing 718-224-3364 rhythmny.com jackkim@rhythmny.com Rhythm NY has been serving its community with valuable musical instruction and resources. It offers various music classes for children and adults, beginners to advanced musicians. With a mixture of instrumental, ensemble, and ear-training curriculum, the students will be able to imagine, communicate, and create music they want. Hello Music, its signature program, combines both Music Reading and Instrumental Private Lessons, exposing students to master and understand

true mechanics behind music and instrumental performances. Hello Music is designed for children and teenagers, ages 4 and older.

RingSport Thai Boxing

12-64 150th St., Whitestone 718-357-4813 ringsportthaiboxing.com ringsportmuaythai@gmail.com We offer an all-embracing kids and teens program for ages 7-13. Our classes provide students with a great cardio workout while learning the basic techniques of Thai Boxing. We provide fun and interactive classes. The main goal for our students is to increase their level of self-confidence and achieve self-discipline, while maintaining respect for themselves, their family, and peers. For more information, you can visit us at our website: ringsportthaiboxing.com.

Robert Mann Dance Centre

214-10 41st Ave., Bayside 718-225-3696 robertmanndance.com dmamann@aol.com Since 1965, we have stressed the importance of quality dance education and meeting the needs of both our students and the dance community. We offer classes for all ages, with several programs specially designed for children ages 1.6-7. Our dance center has an excellent reputation in the dance world because of its professional excellence and dedicated teaching staff. Every member of the teaching staff has been personally selected by Mr. Robert Mann. They are professional dancers and highly-skilled dance educators dedicated to their students and the teaching profession.

RoboMindTech S.T.E.M. Education Center Creativity, Science, Robotics & L-E-G-O Learning Fun

185-10A Union Turnpike, Fresh Meadows 718-264-ROBO (7626) robomindtech.com robomindtech@gmail.com Science, technology, creativity, and L-E-G-O learning fun! RoboMindMech is an award winning STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) education center that integrates the motivational

effects of robotics, video game design, 3-D modeling, coding, and Lego® creative play into unique, hands-on curriculum designed to inspire young minds. We offer after-school programs, on-site field trips and group programs, off-site school programs, birthday parties, and robotics competition training. Home to NYC FIRST Lego League and National World Robot Olympiad Champions. Call to RSVP for our open house!

Rose Academy of Ballet

70-11 Austin St., Forest Hills 718-520-0207 roseacademyofballet.com racademyofballet@gmail.com Our dance program allows students to develop dance technique, while always leaving space for personal creativity. Our ballet classes feature professional instruction and live accompaniment. Our level ballet and level tap students make up our student dance company, which has several performance opportunities each year. Established in 2006, Rose Academy of Ballet has a place for all who appreciate a fun, classical approach to dance training and dance education. Classes include Tippy Toes (age 2), Pre-Ballet (ages 3-5), Level Ballet (ages 6-18), Wiggle Scribble Playgroup (ages 15-32 months), and our new musical theater class.

Samuel Field Y Early Childhood Programs

58-20 Little Neck Parkway, Little Neck 718-255-6750 x246 sfy.org tcampo@sfy.org Our Early Childhood Programs are designed for children ages 2-5 and their families, and include Nursery School, Not Quite Nursery, Childcare, and Summer Camp. We offer flexible scheduling with full- and part-time options. Our programs provide young children an opportunity to play, explore, and engage in multi-faceted learning activities under the guidance of professionally-trained teachers. We also provide a caring atmosphere in which children thrive socially and emotionally and where families feel welcome.

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 is a yearround soccer program for children ages 18 months to 16 years. We emphasize fun and learning in our full-service soccer school. We have fun-filled programs for our Queens community. We offer after-school programs, private groups, skill clinics, birthday parties, summer camps, futsal leagues, competitive travel teams, Spanish language learning classes, all-girls classes, and our ever-popular general classes. All programs are offered at the best indoor and outdoor locations in Central Queens year-round!

Tiny Footsteps

167-01 Union Turnpike, Fresh Meadows 718-969-5500 tinyfootstepsny@yahoo.com Tiny Footsteps is the place to be for kids ages 1-5! Our hands-

on curriculum is theme based allowing for student growth, exploration, and creativity. Students are prepared academically and socially for the big step into elementary school. All of our educators are dedicated to the profession of early childhood with extensive experience. Nutritious, kosher meals are prepared on-site three times daily. Free pre-K for all for children born in 2013. Various schedules and transportation are available for busy parents. Call 718-9695500 for more information.

United Nations International School

173-53 Croyden Road, Jamaica Estates 718-658-6166 unis.org rsorrentini@unis.org The UNIS Queens campus provides an intimate learning environment, promoting individualized academic development, personal growth, and a passion for learning. Inspired by the principles of the United Nations, students become active and continued on next page ››

AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES MARKETPLACE

HUG MUSIC

MUSIC THERAPY Improve attention, communication Social, ﬁne-motor and music skills. Private, Duo & Social Skills Group PIANO, GUITAR, UKULELE & VOICE Private and Duo classes ; Annual student recital 5-week package available for new students HUG MELODY®: Music Groups for 6 mo to 4 yrs old REGISTER TODAY FOR FALL SEMESTER

HUG MUSIC Forest Hills HugMusicNY.com 718.487.4309 contact@hugmusicny.com

SOC SOCCER Ages 18 Months & Up

Year-Round Soccer Program General Classes After School Summer Camp Futsal League Travel Team Birthday Party All Girls Class Soccer in Spanish

QueensParent 55

‹‹ continued from previous page

Register for Fall Classes NOW! September – June • Space limited-Register NOW! • Inquire about joining our award winning competition team

Queens Dance Academy

79-31 Myrtle Avenue • 718-366-5226 QueensDanceAcademy@gmail.com

• Dedicated Party Pros • 100% Private Parties • Giant Indoor Inflatables • We Clean Up!

BounceU of College Point 13225 14th Avenue • College Point, NY 11356 (718) 747-5867 • BounceU.com/college-point-ny

Nurture a love of music! Rated Top 20 in NY! Queens Music Academy, since 2009 Lessons, Classes, Camps, Bands Classical, Rock, Jazz All instruments and skill levels Register in Sunnyside or Woodside Call now – 917-349-5477 Rated in “Top 20” by Expertise.com As featured on NY-1 TV

queensmusicacademy.com info@queenmusicacademy.com

thoughtful world citizens. The curriculum includes English, math, social studies, science, modern languages, music, art, drama, design and technology, and physical education. Critical and creative thinking, hands-on learning, and presentation skills provide a balanced education.

USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center

Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, Flushing Register now at: ntc.usta.com We offer year-round tennis programs for all ages and levels. Our programs teach the necessary techniques, tactics, sports conditioning, and strategy geared to maximize learning while having fun. As players develop, they are advanced to more challenging groups. We accept junior players ages 4-10 for the Ten-and-Under-Tennis Program. Children ages 10 and older can enroll in our Junior Development Programs. The more advanced player can be invited to participate in our Tennis Academy, an intensive training program for more serious players. Enrollment and more detailed information is available online at ntc.usta.com.

Vienna Music

41-08 Bell Blvd., 2nd Floor, Bayside 718-423-1688 jchar@viennamusicny.com With a top-notch facility and our talented and experienced instructors, Vienna Music provides the most suitable and professional environment for music development. We provide programs that accommodate students of all ages and levels: One-on-one music lesson in piano, violin, viola, cello, flute, clarinet, saxophone, guitar, and vocal; KidsDo-Re-Mi for children younger than 5; and music theory class prepares students for NYSSMA exam and Royal Music Exam. Call now to RSVP your trial lesson.

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® is a highly rigorous, creative and engaging academic enrichment program for gifted students ages 3-16. Its curriculum includes Latin, writing, geography, global studies, world history, STEM, advanced linguistics, SAT vocabulary enrichment, public speaking, art, and creative problem solving. Gifted pre-kindergarten (ages 3-4) is offered as well as parallel classes for bright children not classified as gifted. More than 400 students have enrolled in the program, all of whom have placed in the 90th percentile or higher on national tests with IQ scores between 130 and 155.

Vincent Smith School

322 Port Washington Blvd., Port Washington 516-365-4900 vincentsmithschool.org Located in Port Washington, the Vincent Smith School is a private, independent day school serving students in Nassau, Suffolk, and Queens Counties in New York since 1924. The school is well known for its programs for students in first through 12th grades with ADHD and learning disabilities such as dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, auditory processing disorders, and language (expressive or receptive) processing disorders. Emphasis is placed on academic excellence, differentiated instruction, strong hometo-school connection, and college and career counseling in small supportive classes.

4XHHQV3DUHQW +HOSLQJ 3DUHQWV 0DNH %HWWHU 'HFLVLRQV

SALES OPENING

MAGAZINES • WEBSITES • SOCIAL MEDIA • EMAIL send resumé to dmgsales@davlermedia.com 56

September 2017 | nymetroparents.com

OPEN HOUSES 2017 American Dance & Drama

188-22 Union Turnpike, Fresh Meadows 68-02 Metropolitan Ave., Middle Village 718-479-8522 americandanceanddramastudio.com Join us for our open registration days between 3:30-7:30pm on Tuesday, Aug. 29; Wednesday, Aug. 30; Tuesday, Sept. 5; Wednesday, Sept. 6; or Thursday, Sept. 7. Call for more information.

The Highland School

193-10 Peck Ave., Fresh Meadows 718-357-4747 thenewhighlandschool.com Highland School, a non-sectarian, independent pre-K, kindergarten, and elementary school, will host an open house for prospective families on Labor Day, Sept. 4, from 9-11am, or later by appointment.

C on t u s to a c t v i s it a cla s s!

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 Hug Music will host open house registration on Saturdays, Sept. 2 and 9 from 9am-3pm. Please contact us for more information.

Music Together® With Music and Me Licensed Provider of Music Together® Since 2003 Astoria, Bayside, Forest Hills, and Glendale

718-229-0033 Astoria at Gym-Azing! Bayside at Bay Terrace Karate Center, Upper Level Baybridge Commons Shopping Center Forest Hills at the Reform Temple of Forest Hills Forest Hills at the Church-in-the-Gardens Glendale at Tiger Schulmann’s Glendale musictogetherwithmusicandme.com info@musictogetherwithmusicandme.com Call or click to schedule a free trial class with your family at one of our open house classes and get ready to make Music Together® with Music and Me!

Rhythm NY

213-01 Northern Blvd., Bayside 70-68 Kissena Blvd., 3F, Flushing 718-224-3364 rhythmny.com; jackkim@rhythmny.com Rhythm NY will host open houses on Sundays this fall from 9am2pm. Sign-up is required, please visit our website.

RoboMindTech S.T.E.M. Education Center Creativity, Science, Robotics & L-E-G-O Learning Fun

185-10A Union Turnpike, Fresh Meadows 718-264-ROBO (7626) robomindtech.com; robomindtech@gmail.com Join us for an open house and free trial class at our Fresh Meadows location on Sunday, Sept. 10 from 1-2pm. RVSP via email or phone.

Rose Academy of Ballet

70-11 Austin St., Forest Hills 718-520-0207 roseacademyofballet.com; racademyofballet@gmail.com We will have ongoing open house registration for our fall programs. On Saturday, Sept. 16 we will be having Nutcracker auditions for children ages 6 and older. Call 718-520-0207 for details.

Discover the joy of making music together with your family! Find a location near you in Long Island or Queens: www.MusicTogetherLI-Queens.com

QUEENS CAMPUS K - 8

OPEN HOUSE

Friday, October 6, 2017, 9:00 am Thursday, November 2, 2017, 6:00 pm Wednesday, December 6, 2017, 9:00 am RSVP rsorrentini@unis.org

• Rigorous academic curriculum • Multicultural music, art, and drama programs • French & Spanish taught from Kindergarten • Environmental Center • Flexible after-care and after school activities

173-53 Croydon Rd. Jamaica Estates, NY 11432 718-658-6166 | www.unis.org

QueensParent 57

Professional services

Your local guide to tutors, teachers, lawyers, financial planners, and other professionals DENTISTS & DENTAL PROVIDERS AVENUE ORTHODONTICS 150-33 14th Ave., Suite 100, Whitestone 718-767-8400 avenueortho.com Dr. Eleni Michailidis and Dr. Abraham Chahine are highly trained orthodontic specialists. Schedule a complimentary consultation at Avenue Orthodontics to learn about the options available for your entire family. DOCTORS & MEDICAL PROVIDERS 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. FAMILY TRAVEL ROSHNI CRUISE PLANNERS AN AMERICAN EXPRESS TRAVEL REPRESENTATIVE 718-997-8888 iwantyoutotravel.com rkarnavat@cruiseplanners.com Specializing in customized vacation packages for families or groups to any destination, worldwide. Please contact Roshni at 718-997-8888 or rkarnavat@cruiseplanners.com for a free quote. 58

LEGAL SERVICES THE LAW OFFICES OF JOSEPH H. NIVIN, P.C. 118-35 Queens Blvd., Suite 1220, Forest Hills 347-642-0376 153-01 Jamaica Ave., Suite 201, Jamaica The Chanin Building 122 E. 42nd Street, 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

September 2017 | nymetroparents.com

53-15 Roosevelt Ave., Woodside 718-468-7500 Hablamos Español littleopticsinc@yahoo.com We provide eyeglasses and professional eye care for children, including infants and young adults. We also alleviate any self-esteem issues associated with the stigma of wearing glasses. When your child leaves Little Optics, rest assured that they will feel confident. LONG ISLAND CENTER FOR SPEECH AND MYOFUNCTIONAL THERAPY Locations across 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.

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.

ex pl or e

FOREST PARK CAROUSEL Woodhaven Boulevard and Forest Park Drive, Woodhaven 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. 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. 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 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. 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. 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!

Limited Space! As low as $15/week.

c r e at e

allmychildrendaycare.com 347.708.7827 Call Today!

p la y Visit our blog at allmychildrendaycare.com/blog. A great interactive resource for parents of young children.

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

learn

Private Tuition & Government Subsidized Programs.

SERVING FLUSHING, REGO PARK, FOREST HILLS AND JAMAICA SINCE 1994

QueensParent 59

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.

FAMILY RESOURCE GUIDE To advertise: 212-315-0800 or nympads@davlermedia.com TUTORS

SELF STORAGE Rock Solid Storage

TUTORS

TUTORING MATH 1+2=3 N.Y.S. Certified teacher who is patient and caring now tutoring math (all levels/all exams)

I can help you pass any exam! NOW 5X5 ONLY $30 10X10 $195 STORAGE ROOM

$1 A DAY! // REGULAR RATE: $45 OFFER EXPIRES: 09/15/2017

! FREE

1 MONTH + USE OF MOVING TRUCK

OFFER EXPIRES: 09/15/2017

FREE PICK-UP (BY AVAILABILITY) INQUIRE ABOUT OUR MOVING SERVICES

After School - Homework Help Math, English & Writing Enrichments SHSAT & SAT - Summer & Fall Private Tutoring (One-on-one, small group) Gifted and Talented Test Prep Reading Club

CALL: 718.217.8900 184-08 JAMAICA AVE / HOLLIS QUEENS, NY

NY 11364 enue Bayside 214-18 73rd Av .com w.topprepedu Website: ww 330-0665 8-8673 | 929TEL: 718-92 pprepedu.com Email: info@to

To Advertise Call 212-315-0800 60

September 2017 | nymetroparents.com

Call Anita at 917-754-6678 A2+B2=C2

PARTY PLANNER A Favor To Remember Favors, Candy Wrappers & Invitations for all occasions

We offer a variety of personalized products and designs, unique favors, candy bar wrappers, personalized ribbons, invitations, gift wrapping, and much more for all occasions and events!

www.afavor2remember.com Visit us online or call: 718-869-2631

AD INDEX

NYMetroParents.com features more than 20,000 businesses serving the NY Metropolitan area!

ACROBATICS / GYMNASTICS All Star Studio............................................................... 49 Christy’s Gymnastics.................................................... 53 DanceSource (The)...................................................... 31 BIRTHDAY / PARTY SERVICES American Dance & Drama............................................ 14 BounceU - College Point.............................................. 56 Christy’s Gymnastics.................................................... 53 Music Together, LLC..................................................... 57 Music Together with Music and Me ............................. 53 Queens Parent Party Planner ...................................... 60 Soccer Friends, USA Inc.............................................. 55 USTA BJK National Tennis Center............................... 18 CAMPS All My Children Day Care............................................. 59 All Star Studio............................................................... 49 American Dance & Drama............................................ 14 Christ the King Continuing Education........................... 21 Clover Prep Learning Center........................................ 10 Countryside Montessori School.................................... 26 Crayon Box (The)......................................................... 49 First Shot Basketball..................................................... 19 Hug Music..................................................................... 55 IStein............................................................................ 13 Ivy Day School.............................................................. 13 Jack -N- Jill Nursery..................................................... 51 JEI Learning Center ..................................................... 64 KENT Prep................................................................... 48 Kweller Prep................................................................. 21 Little Atelier of Young Children Inc................................ 27 Music Together with Music and Me ............................. 53 Music Together, LLC..................................................... 57 Noah’s Ark.................................................................... 17 Performing Arts Conservatory.......................................11 Queens Dance Academy.............................................. 56 Queens Music Academy............................................... 56 Rhythm NY................................................................... 15 Robert Mann Dance Centre ........................................... 7 RoboMindTech.............................................................. 49 Rose Academy of Ballet................................................. 9 Soccer Friends, USA Inc.............................................. 55 The Church-in-the-Gardens Nursery School................ 53 Tiny Footsteps.............................................................. 19 USTA BJK National Tennis Center............................... 18 Vienna Music................................................................ 45 YM-YWHA - Samuel Field: Early Childhood................. 15 CHILD CARE / DAY CARE 82nd Street Academic.................................................. 59 All My Children Day Care............................................. 59 Braithwaite Nursery School ......................................... 20 Christ the King Continuing Education........................... 21 Clover Prep Learning Center........................................ 10 Crayon Box (The)......................................................... 49 Ivy Day School.............................................................. 13 Jack -N- Jill Nursery..................................................... 51 JEI Learning Center ..................................................... 64 Little Atelier of Young Children Inc................................ 27 Noah’s Ark.................................................................... 17 The Church-in-the-Gardens Nursery School................ 53 Tiny Footsteps.............................................................. 19 CLASSES 82nd Street Academic.................................................. 59 DanceSource (The)...................................................... 31 Just Wee Two............................................................... 48

Music School of New York City .................................... 48 Performing Arts Conservatory.......................................11 Queens Dance Academy.............................................. 56 Queens Music Academy............................................... 56 Rhythm NY................................................................... 15 RoboMindTech.............................................................. 49 United Nations Int’l School - Queens............................ 57 Vienna Music................................................................ 45 Village East Gifted........................................................ 47 DANCE All Star Studio............................................................... 49 American Dance & Drama............................................ 14 DanceSource (The)...................................................... 31 Queens Dance Academy.............................................. 56 Robert Mann Dance Centre ........................................... 7 Rose Academy of Ballet................................................. 9 DEVELOPMENTAL C.I.I.T. Center......................................................... 31, 60 Comprehensive Consultation Psychological.................. 5 Huntington Learning Center......................................... 49 Janine Stiene Suffolk Center for Speech................ 27, 60 Louis Mora, Ph.D.......................................................... 60 Village East Gifted........................................................ 47 EDUCATION 82nd Street Academic.................................................. 59 All My Children Day Care............................................. 59 Braithwaite Nursery School ......................................... 20 Clover Prep Learning Center........................................ 10 Comprehensive Consultation Psychological.................. 5 Countryside Montessori School.................................... 26 Crayon Box (The)......................................................... 49 Highland Elementary School........................................ 17 Huntington Learning Center......................................... 49 IStein............................................................................ 13 Jack -N- Jill Nursery..................................................... 51 JEI Learning Center ..................................................... 64 KENT Prep................................................................... 48 Kweller Prep................................................................. 21 Little Atelier of Young Children Inc................................ 27 Mary Louis Academy (The)........................................... 27 Noah’s Ark.................................................................... 17 New-York Historical Society......................................... 33 RoboMindTech.............................................................. 49 Steps To Socialization.................................................. 25 The Church-in-the-Gardens Nursery School................ 53 Tiny Footsteps.............................................................. 19 United Nations International School - Queens............. 57 Village East Gifted........................................................ 47 YM-YWHA - Samuel Field: Early Childhood................. 15 FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT / EVENTS / OUTINGS Big Apple Circus .......................................................... 34 New-York Historical Society......................................... 33 The Bay Terrace at Bayside........................................... 2 Wild West City.............................................................. 29 FAMILY TRAVEL Wild West City.............................................................. 29 FITNESS American Dance & Drama............................................ 14 Christy’s Gymnastics.................................................... 53 First Shot Basketball..................................................... 19 RingSport Muay Thai.................................................... 51 Robert Mann Dance Centre ........................................... 7 Rose Academy of Ballet................................................. 9

HEALTH Affinity Health Plan....................................................... 63 C.I.I.T. Center......................................................... 31, 60 Comprehensive Consultation Psychological.................. 5 Louis Mora, Ph.D.......................................................... 60 Mount Sinai Queens LIC Family Health Day ............... 33 MUSIC Hug Music..................................................................... 55 Ivy Day School.............................................................. 13 Just Wee Two............................................................... 48 Music School of New York City .................................... 48 Music Together with Music and Me ............................. 53 Music Together, LLC..................................................... 57 Performing Arts Conservatory.......................................11 Queens Music Academy............................................... 56 Rhythm NY................................................................... 15 Vienna Music................................................................ 45 PERFORMING ARTS / ACTING American Dance & Drama............................................ 14 Rose Academy of Ballet................................................. 9 RELIGIOUS Mary Louis Academy (The)........................................... 27 RESTAURANT / FOOD SERVICES The Bay Terrace at Bayside........................................... 2 RETAIL Cookie’s Department Stores........................................... 3 Happy Days Children’s Wear....................................... 33 The Bay Terrace at Bayside........................................... 2 SERVICES Glyph Creative Studio................................................... 26 SPECIAL EVENTS Big Apple Circus .......................................................... 34 Glyph Creative Studio................................................... 26 Mount Sinai Queens LIC Family Health Day ............... 33 New-York Historical Society......................................... 33 SPECIAL NEEDS C.I.I.T. Center......................................................... 31, 60 Comprehensive Consultation Psychological.................. 5 Hug Music..................................................................... 55 Huntington Learning Center......................................... 49 Janine Stiene Suffolk Center for Speech................ 27, 60 Louis Mora, Ph.D.......................................................... 60 Steps To Socialization.................................................. 25 SPORTS Christ the King Continuing Education........................... 21 Christy’s Gymnastics.................................................... 53 First Shot Basketball..................................................... 19 Mary Louis Academy (The)........................................... 27 RingSport Muay Thai.................................................... 51 Soccer Friends, USA Inc.............................................. 55 USTA BJK National Tennis Center............................... 18 YM-YWHA - Samuel Field: Early Childhood................. 15 THEATER The Bay Terrace at Bayside........................................... 2 TUTORS Clover Prep Learning Center........................................ 10 IStein............................................................................ 13 JEI Learning Center ..................................................... 64 KENT Prep................................................................... 48 Kweller Prep................................................................. 21

QueensParent 61

VOICES

The Lesson of the Pizza Bowl Fail ››

Accustomed to doing so much for her son, who has cerebral palsy, a mom realizes he’s old enough to start making some of his own decisions. By Ellen Seidman

ax snookered me into getting him pizza the other night. I’d promised him frozen yogurt, but I hadn’t had time to eat dinner after I got home from work and said I wanted to grab a slice first. “I want pizza!” he announced, even though he’d already had dinner. And so he had pizza as an appetizer for his dessert, or something like that. Pizza is not an easy food for Max to eat; because it’s thick and chewy, it can pose a choking hazard. At home, we shred it with Tiny Bites Food Shears. When we’re out, I use a knife and fork then dump the pieces into a bowl for Max to scoop out, with a square of tacky Dycem, a non-slip material, beneath it for stability. And so I asked the guy at the counter for a fork and knife and carved up a slice. Just as I was about to slide the bits into a bowl, Max pointed to the paper plate. “Max, it’s easier to eat from the bowl,” I pointed out. “No!” said Max. He wanted to eat the pizza off the plate. So I slid it over to him, then watched in awe as Max speared the pieces and chewed them well. As I sat there, it occurred to me that I don’t always know what

is best for Max, especially as he’s getting older—both because he is evolving, and because he can now tell me what’s best for him. This is a hard thing to wrap your head around when you have done so much for your child over the years: the therapies, doing exercises at home, the specialist appointments, modeling how to move and talk and play, yet more therapies, pushing to get him into programs. So. Much. Pushing. And while there is only so much you can do to help your child develop, you take heart in knowing that you are doing everything within your powers. And then one day you are in a pizza joint and discover that your boy is reaching the point where you realize he is capable of copiloting his present—and future. Yes, he has been voicing opinions and preferences for years, but he hasn’t had much to say about his physical challenges until now. And he is telling you what he wants and needs, and you should listen. I have no idea what it feels like to have cerebral palsy and fingers that don’t easily bend. If Max is telling me that picking up pieces of pizza is easier done from a plate than a bowl, who am I to disagree? And that, my friends, is the lesson of the pizza bowl fail—and win.

Ellen Seidman blogs at lovethatmax.com, where this essay first appeared. It is reprinted with permission.

September 2017 | nymetroparents.com

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

Better have a good pediatrician. Make sure your kids are covered. Call 866.247.5678 (TTY 711) To learn more about applying for health insurance, including Child Health Plus and Medicaid through NY State of Health, The Official Health Plan Marketplace, visit nystateofhealth.ny.gov or call 855.355.5777.

AffinityPlan.org/CHP QueensParent 63

hJ EI

ics & conf m e iden ad c

e skyrocket w i t

Pre-K through High School Boost conďŹ dence and grades Do more than just drills

Advance academic skills Develop critical thinking & problem solving skills

CONTACT US: Auburndale Floral Park Forest Hills Fresh Meadows Great Neck Rego Park 200-13 32nd Ave 256-10 Union Tpke 112-28 Queens Blvd 192-11 Union Tpke 485 Great Neck Rd 98-00 62nd Dr (347) 408-4098 (718) 347-3138 (718) 268-2890 (718) 740-7888 (516) 482-2234 (718) 441-3762 64

September 2017 | nymetroparents.com