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Rockland Parent NYMETROPARENTS.COM PARENTS.COM JANUARY 2018

Education Special

• Why Babies Need Books • The Hot Tech Trend in Learning • Should School Start Later?

Family Life

Choosing Your Kids’ Guardian

Don’t Tell!

The 5 Big Secrets of Girlhood

HELPING PARENTS MAKE BETTER DECISIONS

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A PROGRAM OF

92Y Set on the pristine Henry Kaufmann Campgrounds Jewish culture, jewish music, Shabbat Programming Camp Yomi strikes a harmonious balance between nature and innovation—and gives campers access to the latest resources Three large pools of varying depths and an awesome water slide Film making, Art, Theater, jewelry making, ceramics Virtual reality climbing tower with zip line Archery range Baseball fields, soccer fields, basketball courts, tennis courts, floor hockey court, sand volleyball and 5 gaga pits STEM programming in collaboration with New York Academy of Science Electives Weekly special events And more...

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contents table of

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

by Appaman (appaman.com)

january 2018

50 34

education

Quotables

The best parenting quotes from the web, and your New Year’s parenting resolutions!

Wintry Family Fun

Where to ski, snowboard, and ice-skate, plus kid-friendly museums and day trips in the area.

16 Baby Needs Books!

18 The Buzz on Blended Learning

40

22 Should School Start Later?

24 Education Resources

Choosing a Guardian for Your Child

Take these steps to make sure your child is always cared for, now and in the future.

raising kids

things to do

family life

6 Editor’s Note 8 5 Things You Didn’t Know About Girlhood 10 To Test or Not to Test?

46 Meet the Doctor 47 Party Central 47 Meet the Camp Director 48 How to Resist Peer Pressure 49 Party Planner 49 Advertisers’ Index 50 Quotables

12 Dynamite Dinner Table Conversation Jar

36 Creating a ‘Yes’ Space

26 Family Fun in Manhattan

38 Food and Drink Hacks for Parents

29 Family Activities Calendar

40 Choosing a Guardian for Your Child

34 Wintry Family Fun 42 How to Get Your Kids to Be Active This Season 44 A Family Vacation at Mohonk Mountain House

NYMetroParents

Helping Parents Make Better Decisions ON THE COVER ›› facebook.com/nymetroparents

8 Don’t Tell: The 5 Big Secrets of Girlhood 15 Education Special

40 Family Life: Choosing Your Kids’ Guardian

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

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PLAY! www.palisadescenter.com

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Our Resolution: More Solutions

JANUARY 2018 • Vol.11 • No.6

NYMetroParents nymetroparents.com

EDITORIAL EDITORIAL DIRECTOR: Deborah Skolnik MANAGING EDITOR: Katelin Walling DEPUTY EDITOR: Caitlin Berens

A

s surely as New Year’s Eve involves a dropping ball and confetti, it brings with it something else: resolutions. I bet you have a few, and so do I, such as to give my two teenage daughters a bit more freedom (I’ll try!), figure out my new Instant Pot (honest!), and lose 15 pounds (who am I kidding?).

We here at NYMetroParents have made a resolution too, and it’s one we think you’ll really like: to serve your needs better than ever. We know that parenting is more than a verb; it’s an identity. And so we’re taking a holistic approach to parenting, with the aim of helping you make better decisions across all areas of your life.

The changes start right on our table of contents, where you’ll see stories grouped into the three main “buckets” of parenting: Things to Do, Raising Kids, and Family Life. Some of our longstanding sections have been freshened up, too. Q-and-A is now In the Know (p. 8), giving you the inside scoop on some of parenting’s hottest topics. Quotables has moved to the back of the magazine (p. 50), and features sound bites from parents right in your area.

Our Outings page has been renamed Family Fun in Manhattan (p. 26)—there’s no better way to plan your next city trip! And the Where-To Guide (p. 34) now offers a greater range of suggestions for seasonal activities.

You’ll also find a more varied and robust selection of articles. We’ll address your legal and financial needs going forward, starting with Samantha Neudorf’s story about how to choose a legal guardian for your children (p. 40). We’ve also got great advice for your home—Katelin Walling explains how to create “yes spaces,” kid-friendly areas filled with safe stuff to play with and explore (p. 36).

Babies and teens will now be a regular focus of ours, and are featured in this month’s education theme. Turn to page 16 for my article about why it’s so important to read to your infant right from the start. And if your teenagers, like mine, shout “five more minutes!” every time you try to get them to wake up for class, you’ll appreciate our special report on school start times on page 22. One big takeaway: Early classes may go against adolescents’ biology and their best interests too. And don’t miss Ellen Horafas’s essay explaining why it may be short-sighted to opt out your children from state tests (p. 10).

Just as few people can achieve their New Year’s resolutions without a little help, I couldn’t possibly put together this wonderful magazine without the help of my team.

That’s why they’re all pictured below.

Best wishes for a happy, healthy, and not-too-hectic 2018, from our family to yours.

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 INTERN: Jordan Laird To Submit Events: nymetroparents.com/submitevents

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

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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

Clockwise from top left: Katelin Walling, Caitlin Berens, Bethany Braun-Silva, Deborah Skolnik, and Samanth a Neudorf

Keep in Touch: @nymetroparents nymetroparents.com editor@nymetroparents.com

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

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raising kids in the know

Things You 5Didn’t Know

About Girlhood

››

By Bethany Braun-Silva with Katie Hurley, LCSW

I

t’s hard to ignore the news as of late. Every day new cases of sexual harassment make headlines, social feeds are flooded with #metoo posts, and Time Magazine just named “The Silence Breakers” as its Person of the Year. More and more women are feeling empowered to speak up and stand up and, of course, we want to get that message across to our girls, too.

However, this empowerment may come with consequences, says Katie Hurley, LCSW. In her book NO MORE MEAN GIRLS: The Secret to Raising Strong, Confident, and Compassionate Girls, she cautions against letting our girls grow up too early. “Skipping over the development of crucial social-emotional skills in the name of creating a generation of supergirls doesn’t actually empower our girls,” she writes. “In fact, it does the opposite: It creates a culture of cutthroat competition.” Hurley adds a further warning: “When we fast-track girls through developmental levels without considering the potential consequences, we set girls up for negative behaviors and friendship fails.”

Below, Hurley shares five things everyone needs to know about girls and girlhood.

1. A girl’s social world plays a crucial role in her day-to-day life.

Whether your daughter has two close friends or 10 besties, she’s enmeshed in her social world. Young girls leave the parental orbit once they enter school, and they look to their peers to make sense of the world around them when they are away from Mom and Dad. So while a playground argument might not sound like a big deal to you, this kind of micro-stressor can make or break a day for your daughter.

2. Risk aversion is on the rise.

With all the pressure to be the best at everything and find a passion, young girls feel like they’re under a microscope. This fuels perfectionism, which leads to fear of failure and risk aversion. If you

suspect that your daughter plays it safe, she probably does, and she may need your encouragement to branch out and take chances.

3. Your daughter needs you more than you know.

When Hurley asks girls what they want or need most from their parents, the No. 1 answer is uninterrupted 1-on-1 time. They might roll their eyes, slam their doors, or keep quiet at times, but girls crave guidance and input from their parents, and time spent having fun.

4. Girls’ sensitivity is at an all-time high.

Middle childhood is a time of rapid growth, both physically and emotionally, and this makes girls vulnerable to emotional upheaval. Joking about “girl drama” and being sarcastic often makes girls feel ashamed and guilty. Proceed with caution and empathize often to help the girl in your life to thrive.

5. Girls know more about the world than you think.

They piece together information about the modern world from a variety of sources. Hurley has had many girls confess they binge-watched 13 Reasons Why (a controversial series about a teen’s suicide) or set up Snapchat and Instagram accounts on a friend’s phone. Sometimes they keep these activities secret to avoid disappointing their parents, since they crave parental approval. Couple that with intense pressure to fit in and peer pressure to keep up with technology, and the result is a recipe for very young girls dipping their toes into murky water with limited information.

Talk openly and honestly with your daughter about modern girlhood to help her navigate these tricky topics and work through big emotions.

Katie Hurley, LCSW, is a child and adolescent psychotherapist, parenting expert, and author of The Happy Kid Handbook and No More Mean Girls (TarcherPerigee; on sale Jan. 30). She is also the founder of Girls Can! empowerment groups for girls between ages 5-11.

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January 2018 | nymetroparents.com

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raising kids voices

To Test or Not to Test?

››

Few parents like the current system of state standardized tests. But here’s why the solution may not be as simple as just opting your child out. By Ellen Horafas

D

addy, nooooo…..why?!” My 13-year-old daughter’s voice was cracking. “Please. Please!”

When it registered that her father wasn’t going to give in, her pleading had switched from lighthearted to desperate.

When he finally walked away, Amanda ran to her room, sobbing, slamming the door so hard that the family cat, on the couch 50 feet away, jumped.

If you’re guessing that the cause of Amanda’s meltdown was a parental decision that she perceived to be unfair, you’re sort of right. Her dad, the night before her eighth grade New York State English Language Arts (ELA) exams were to begin on March 28, was refusing to sign the form that was her ticket out of the tedious, three-day test and into the auditorium, where most of her friends, apparently, would be.

The school districts on Long Island lead the way in Common Core test refusals in the New York metro region. A Newsday survey of the 124 school systems across Long Island showed that fully half—52 percent—of the third- to eighth-grade students eligible to take the ELA tests did not. In some districts in Suffolk County, where we live, the numbers topped 80 percent last month.

My husband was one of many in our town who didn’t like the content or the implementation of the Common Core Standards—and hated the intense test prep that came with it. So he signed Amanda out of the tests in sixth and seventh grade. I did tell him then that I thought it might be a mistake.

Standardized testing was unlikely to disappear anytime soon. And before you know it, our daughter will be taking the SATs, and maybe other college entrance exams as well. The more practice she had with the admittedly unpleasant experience of preparing for and sitting through them, the better, it seemed to me. Then there was the fact that life is littered with interminable tasks you can’t just opt out of.

In turn, he reminded me of the son of one of our friends who was totally stressed about what would happen if he “failed.”

And of the third-grade girl down the block who had been in tears at the bus stop, as she had gotten the idea that if she

didn’t do well, her beloved teacher would be fired. Indeed, I could see both sides of the argument, and I pick my battles.

Amanda was signed out.

Interestingly, in elementary school, such tests were a non-issue for Amanda. They were annoying, sure, but in the same way that having to play kickball in the gym on a rainy day was. She was able to deal with them and quickly forget them. But now, she looked at them as a form of torture that all the good parents were swooping in and saving their kids from. My husband, meanwhile, had seen that opting her out hadn’t improved her grades, inspired her to learn for learning’s sake, or made her more relaxed throughout the school year. What it had done, he only just realized the night the door was slammed, was make her feel entitled to avoid what she didn’t want to do.

But, oh, she fought. She fought with the skill of a lawyer and the fervor of, well, a 13-year-old.

She first tried logic: “A person, even a young person like me, should always stand up for what she believes in!”

She used her dad’s own words against him: “You told everybody the tests were a waste of time!”

She invoked practicality: “I could do all my homework in the auditorium, all my projects, everything, for the next two weeks. Think how easy school nights would be!”

And, in a last-ditch attempt, Amanda appealed to her Daddy: “You know how you said you feel bad for me that I have to wait until seventh period for lunch every day? The kids who take the test have to wait even longer. I’ll be soooooo hungry.

I’ll be fainting!”

In the end, it failed, all of it.

We passed two miserable nights of bitter complaining. “See this bruise on my leg? It’s from being in that chair all those hours. I hope you’re happy!”

Will putting her back into the state-test stream be to her advantage? To ours? To anyone’s? We’re holding our breath.

The math tests are coming in May.

Ellen Horafas is a Long Island mom of three, whose kids have all gotten to an age where they no longer appreciate being named in her prose.

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January 2018 | nymetroparents.com

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things to do

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Dynamite Dinner Table Conversation Jar Sometimes sitting at the dinner table can feel like sitting behind an interrogation table. Your grown-ups constantly asking, “How was your day?” only to be met with the ever-popular response, “Fine.” This Dynamite Dinner Table Conversation Jar game will blast your conversation skills to the next world, making you the talk of the table. Not only will you get to tell everyone the coolest tricks you did for the day, but you’ll start connecting with your family in a whole new way!

What You Need Recycled glass jar Permanent markers Popsicle sticks How to Make Ahead 1. Color a creative pattern on the outside of a clean glass jar using permanent markers. You can be as creative as you want: make a rainbow, make stripes, make a funny face, add a super-powered symbol…really, the sky is the limit.

2. Once you have covered your entire jar, set it to dry while you prepare your conversation starters.

3. On each of your Popsicle sticks, write simple word clues or questions to help you the next time you are stuck and don’t know what to talk about (ideas listed below). When you have enough choices, add your Popsicle sticks to your jar and place it in the middle of your dinner table.

How to Use This Tool At your next family meal, when your adults ask, “What did you do today?” instead of saying, “Nothing,” you can pull a prompt from the jar and get the conversation rolling. Never again feel like you are at a loss for words or worried about what to talk about when you have company over.

Sample Conversation Starters Let’s learn about your day. Today, what is your favorite… subject in school? game you played at recess? book you read? thing you did with a friend? part of the day? WHY? 12

January 2018 | nymetroparents.com

Let’s learn more about everyone. What is your favorite... food? movie? song? color? game? WHY? Let’s learn about your dreams. What would you do if... you had a million dollars? you had to move to a new state? your friend switched schools? you lost your two front teeth? WHY? Let’s learn about your struggles. Today, what is your… biggest worry? worst memory? scariest moment? WHY? Challenge Make your own conversation starters. Use cardstock paper and pens to write out some funny questions or jokes to get the conversation going with your family.

Train Your Adult Have you ever felt like the cat’s got your tongue? Adults use that phrase when kids suddenly go quiet. Your grown-up wants nothing more than to understand you, and some days that seems impossible when all of their questions are met with roadblocks. I know you have a lot to say, but you just aren’t sure how to access all the awesome things you want to tell your adults. Instead of leaving adults baffled at your silence, give them this super-secret tool to get you talking and sharing all the cool things you have to say, and give them a sneak peek into your world.

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by Dayna Abraham. Excerpted from The Superkids Activity Guide to Conquering Every Day by Dayna Abraham with permission of the publisher.

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inside

raising kids education special

16 Baby Needs Books!: It’s never too soon to raise an eager reader. he Buzz on Blended Learning: 18 T This bold approach integrates technology with traditional teaching. hould School Start Later?: Early 22 S classes can harm teens’ health and academic performance.

24 E ducation Directory: Academic enrichment, schools, and special education services in Rockland County.

Baby Needs Books!

››

It’s never too soon to raise an eager reader—these early steps are the way to start.

W

hen my older daughter was born, I ran out and bought a bunch of things I assumed were necessities, such as a wet-wipe heater (which only made the wipes a smidge warmer than they already were) and a rattle (even though Clara’s little hands were in mittens to prevent her from accidentally scratching herself).

“She doesn’t need that stuff,” my mom laughed. “She just needs food and shelter and love.”

Experts would agree, but they’d probably add one more item to that short list: books. That’s right—even the very smallest children can benefit profoundly from story time. Snuggling over a good read actually helps your baby learn to read you and vice versa, and can yield a host of brain-boosting benefits, both now and later. Here are some reasons to start amassing a kiddie library, and using it daily.

0-6 Months: Building Bonds

At the very beginning of life, “reading time is really about bonding with a parent or caregiver,” says Rina P. Collins, owner of Book Nook, an early literacy studio with two Manhattan locations. Set aside time once or twice a day to break out 16

January 2018 | nymetroparents.com

By Deborah Skolnik

a book. It’s also a chance for you to practice your reading technique. Not only do you have to get used to reciting aloud (it can take a while not to feel silly saying things like “and then the bunny went to the market!”) but “you’re learning how to hold your baby in the crook of one arm while holding the book with the other,” notes Pam Allyn, founding director of LitWorld, a global literacy initiative.

Your child may not spend lots of time checking out the book’s pages—he isn’t even focusing that well yet—but he’s looking at the faces you make, and starting to associate them with emotions.

He’s also listening. “You’re transmitting the grammatical structures and rhythm of language,” Allyn says. Go for books that are rich in sounds, such as Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. Also select some books with black-and-white contrast, since that’s what infants see best. One great choice: Hello Baby by Roger Priddy.

Around 4 months, your baby can see pictures more clearly, Collins notes. She’s mesmerized by other babies’ faces, so try reading Global Babies by The Global Fund for Children or a similar book. “And as your baby gets more accustomed to the rhythms of

language, he’ll enjoy texts that have an element of repetition,” says Roslyn Haber, Ed.D., associate professor of education at Touro Graduate College of Education in Manhattan. Nursery-rhyme books are great choices now, as are other books with repetitive turns of phrase. “We started reading Eric Carle’s Brown Bear, Brown Bear a lot at this point,” Collins says.

Rest assured, all this reading is doing lots of good. According to a study presented last spring at the Pediatric Academic Societies meeting, reading to babies as young as just 6 months of age results in more robust vocabularies and better early literacy skills by age 4. The more vividly parents share books, the better: “We asked whether they were engaging in reading that involved talking about the pictures and emotions, and having a conversation around the story,” says Carolyn Cates, the study’s lead author. So go ahead— comment on the characters, make funny faces as you read, and modulate your voice up and down.

7-12 Months: Tactile Readers

Speaking of vocabulary, the second half of the first year is a great time to start building your baby’s knowledge of words. “We put out lots of board books that just had pictures and basic words, like ‘mommy’ or ‘daddy,’” Collins says. Roger Priddy’s First 100 Words Lift-the-Flap introduces vocabulary staples while also satisfying curious little fingers. In fact, you may notice your child starting to handle books a lot more around this time—“my son liked taking his finger and rubbing the page and moving his hand all around it,” Collins remembers. Dr. Haber agrees: “this is a very exploratory stage. It’s great to get books that have a lot of tactile fabrics in them,” she says.

By this point, you’ve probably figured out reading to your baby is a way of getting to know her personality. Does he act excited when you pull out a book about dinosaurs? Disinterested in the book about cats? Her expressions, gestures, and even the sounds she makes will provide clues. Since he can see colors very well now, the bright hues of Sandra Boynton’s Moo, Baa, La La La! may appeal to him. Rich language patterns may grab her attention too—at least for a short while. A book such as More More More Said the Baby by Vera B. Williams fits the bill.

Once your baby starts to crawl, put books in baskets, so they’ll be at eye level, Allyn recommends. If he shows a preference for certain subjects, stick with them (“Oh, you liked that book about trucks? Let’s get another book about them!”). As she nears her first birthday, your little one will also have a better understanding of the overall concept of a story, so feel free to try a book with more of a plot, such as Ezra Jack Keats’s The Snowy Day. Another major concept your child is starting to grasp is the idea that he belongs to a family. Try reading some stories that highlight family relationships, such as the Max and Ruby series by Rosemary Wells, featuring brother-and-sister rabbits. “Max and Ruby are recurring characters in the books, so you and your baby can keep reading about them as your child gets older,” Allyn points out.

Also highlight books that talk about where its main character fits into the world, for example The New Baby by Mercer Mayer. Talk to your baby about how there are many different types of families.

And make sure to throw in some books just for silly fun: Allyn is a big fan of Acoustic Rooster by Kwame Alexander, chronicling the adventures of a jazz-loving rooster and his barnyard band.

13-18 Months: Pages and Passions

“One to two years of age is when children’s language is absolutely exploding,” Allyn says. Your baby can appreciate continuity, so

introduce her to authors you can return to again and again. These include Mo Willems, author of the acclaimed Pigeon series, and Charlotte Zolotow, who wrote The Seashore Book and dozens of others. “Your child is ready to have books that have multiple sentences, are longer, and have more advanced pictures,” Collins says. Rhyming books, such as Big Red Barn by Margaret Wise Brown, may capture his attention. Tickle your baby’s funny bone by making exaggerated expressions and noises—you may be rewarded with some extra enthusiasm and delicious giggles. Where your baby used to be cradled in your arms for story time, she may happily settle into your lap. Make it easy for him to pick up books on his own, too; Collins recommends using low dish-display shelves and filling them with kiddie volumes.

Try finding books that relate to something your child loves in real life: If she’s a fan of unicorns, for example, read her a storybook that features one. And be prepared to let your little one take the lead—she may no longer be content to have you hold the book, insisting she keep a grip on it and turn the pages instead.

“Be really patient,” Allyn advises. “It’s important that she learns how books work—even if that means [she is] turning the pages backwards as well as forwards.”

With all his squirminess, your child may often be reluctant to go to bed. Make books your secret weapon. Soothing titles such as Night-Night, by Leslie Patricelli, and DK Publishing’s Baby Touch and Feel Bedtime can become part of your evening or naptime rituals. The comforting images and soothing words, read in a soft voice, might just do the trick and help your child (and you!) catch some much-needed zzz’s.

19-24 Months: Read It Again, Mom!

Since you’ve exposed your baby to so many wonderful books by now, don’t be surprised if she has a favorite or two—and wants you to read them again and again. Oh, and again. Yes, it can test your patience a little, but it’s really a good thing for your budding reader. “It links that book to comfort and familiarity,” Dr. Haber says. Don’t be surprised, either, if your child picks up a book and throws it down, or even hurls it several feet across the room. It doesn’t mean your little one is destined to grow up to be the terror of the local library! “At this time, he’s exploring space, and throwing the book is part of that,” Dr. Haber explains. Instead of scolding him, you can calmly tell him to treat books with care. “You can pick the book back up and say, ‘That’s the book about the bird taking a vacation! Should we read it again?’” Dr. Haber suggests.

Of course, it’s good to introduce new books whenever you can.

At this age, they can have simple lessons, such as Please and Thank You by Richard Scarry and the old favorite, The Cat in the Hat

by Dr. Seuss. Sing-song books, with hand gestures you can try together, will often be a big hit too—read The Wheels on the Bus

by Jerry Smith. Almost any book can inspire some back-and-forth now. Try pointing to a duck or house and asking your child what it is; she may surprise you with a one-word answer you can expand on (“Right! That’s the duck who likes to play in the mud!”)

Just as your child may be mimicking some of your day-to-day activities, he may now mirror the way you read. “Many kids this age start trying to hold a book and read it aloud to their stuffed animals,” Allyn says. Your little one may “read” by babbling, using the same inflections you sometimes do during story time. It’s hilarious to watch, and touching, too. After all, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. And it shows that when it comes to a healthy love of reading, you and your child are on the same page.

RocklandParent 17

Jordan Laird

In math class, a fifth-grade student at St. Ann in East Harlem works on a Google Chromebook in i-Ready at the technology station. Behind him, Phil Biondo teaches students at his teacher instruction station. The timer on the board signals when to rotate stations.

The Buzz on Blended Learning

››

This bold approach integrates technology with traditional teaching. By Jordan Laird

O

n the fourth floor of an old building in East Harlem, Phil Biondo is teaching fifth-grade math. One group of students works diligently in their workbooks on one side of the room, occasionally discussing questions or asking Biondo for clarification.

A second group of students is taught by Biondo himself, at the front of the classroom. A third group of students, directly across the room from the first, wears headphones and works online on Google Chromebooks, using a learning program called i-Ready.

Behind Biondo, a digital timer is set for 30 minutes. When it goes off, the students rotate between the three ‘stations.’

Biondo remains seated and quickly begins teaching the next group’s lesson.

Class at St. Ann looked very different four years ago, before Principal Hope Mueller came on board and instituted a blended learning program—one in which a portion of learning is done online, and data generated is used to track students’ progress and refine lesson plans and other teaching strategies. At the time of her arrival, Mueller says, the school was plagued by behavioral problems, and test scores were stagnant. “The faculty and I recognized something wasn’t working and we kind of brainstormed and thought about the fact that we were not meeting the needs of every child,” she shares.

Mueller had gone to a few conferences and heard about blended learning and how the teaching style could possibly help students, 18

January 2018 | nymetroparents.com

so the faculty agreed to try it. At first the school made do with its limited tech gear, but soon won a grant for equipment (including the Chromebooks), better Wi-Fi, and staff support.

The new strategy has paid off. In its first year after implementing blended learning, St. Ann saw a 28-percent increase in the number of students passing the state English Language Arts test and a 5-percent rise in those passing the state math exam, far exceeding Mueller’s goal of a 3-percent increase in both areas. In addition, “we saw behavior concerns drop to almost nothing,” she says. “We saw morale go through the roof with everybody in the community, and enrollment go up for the first time since 2006.” Last year, St. Ann was one of 11 schools to win a Blackboard award for outstanding schools in New York City. It was also named one of the 85 schools in the country worth visiting by gettingsmart.com, a design firm focused on innovations in learning.

A Rich Blend

Kimberly Greene, Ed.D., an associate professor of education at Brandman University in Irvine, CA, and an expert on educational technology, says blended learning is “where there is a formal electronically mediated component. It’s a formal component, not the occasional ‘here, watch this video and we’ll talk about it in class.’”

In other words, tech is integral to the teaching process.

A growing number of schools are adopting some type of blend-

ed approach. According to a 2015 report by the Center for Digital Education, 41 percent of K-12 schools surveyed offered blended and virtual (online) learning classes, and 55 percent of K-12 schools surveyed provided personalized learning, which is learning tailored to an individual student’s particular needs. Personalized learning goes hand in hand with blended learning.

“A lot of times I think about blended learning as a way to allow computers to do what computers do well, which is delivery of standardized lessons in some ways, and using data to personalize but [also] to free teachers to do what only humans can do,” says Michael Horn, co-author of the book Blended. “And that’s, you know, spend a lot more time on rich feedback. The point of blended learning is to increase the quality of those human interactions.”

St. Ann utilizes quite a bit of data to personalize lessons for its students. Using the i-Ready software, teachers can check students’ progress on virtual lessons as frequently as desired. The program automatically uses the data to personalize the lessons each student receives next. The teachers use that data to create their own lesson plans as well, and to decide how to group students for station rotation.

“Before we had this [approach], basically how you get data from students [is] you’re giving them quizzes or tests or you’re seeing how they act during class, seeing if they can answer questions. But this gives us data on how they’re doing each day in real time,” says Karen Doyle, St. Ann’s Blended Learning Coordinator and a STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) teacher.

While St. Ann utilizes the station rotation model of blended learning, this is just 1 of 3 major blended-learning approaches used in K-12 education. In 2013, when the Center for Digital Education surveyed schools that have embraced digital learning in some way, it found that roughly equal percentages of respondents used station rotation (38 percent); a “flipped” classroom model, in which instruction is offered outside the classroom—often online—and projects traditionally considered to be homework are done during class time (43 percent); or a mixture of online and traditional classes (43 percent).

Challenging Changes

Although blended learning can be beneficial, it also can be tricky to implement. “One of the most important things I will tell teachers… is that they need to walk around their rooms first thing and find the [electrical] outlets,” Mueller says. If a school’s building is old, as St. Ann’s is, many of the outlets may not work. In some of St. Ann’s classrooms, the only functional outlet was located where the teacher’s desk had always been, which meant that the desk had to be moved to make room for the Chromebook cart.

Even harder than rearranging furniture, however, was reframing staffers’ mindset as to what instruction could look like. “In the beginning, I was the one always complaining, ‘I can’t do this, I’m not a technology person,’” says first-grade teacher Stephanie Gueits-Marrero. “So for me, it was challenging to transition to this blended learning.”

Doyle adds that it’s also very difficult for teachers to carve out time to plan for blended learning. “You have to invest a lot of time and planning up front, and in the very first year we really didn’t have extra time built into the schedule,” Doyle notes.

She explains faculty has to spend ample amounts of time sifting through student data on the computer software, then must come up with lesson plans for every group they’re going to see in their station rotation.

Last of all, schools may struggle with the price tag for the necessary tech tools. “One of the other most difficult things [was that we had to] get this new infrastructure, these Chromebooks. We continued on next page ››

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Jordan Laird

‹‹ continued from previous page

Two kindergarteners at St. Ann focus on their lessons in i-Ready.

got a grant that was very substantial,” Mueller says. “If we didn’t have that support from the Archdiocese and these generous donors, we would not have been able to do what we’ve done.”

Remarkable Ripple Effects

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Despite the challenges, St. Ann’s faculty wouldn’t go back to a traditional curriculum. “No. I think I like this way of teaching better,” says Gueits-Marrero—this despite her early resistance. “I think it’s more fun for the students too. They’re not stationed at one desk all day long. It’s helping them. The scores show their improvement.”

She describes one of her success stories, a student who came into her first-grade class on a pre-kindergarten level in reading and a low kindergarten level in math. But by the end of the school year, she was already on a second-grade reading level. Gueits-Marrero says this student is continuing to do well now.

Camron Campbell, a 14-year-old eighth-grader, is also benefiting tremendously from the new approach. “It’s a little emotional for me because my son struggled so long and felt so bad about himself,” says his mother, Antonia Campbell, remembering the years before the curriculum switch. Now, however, Camron “has just been excelling with this blended learning,” she says.

In fact, Principal Mueller says the new style of instruction has improved the climate of the entire school, and the surrounding community. Students and parents now trust the faculty and staff more. Because of the improved school climate, Mueller says faculty members have started facilitating after-school extracurricular activities, despite the fact that St. Ann is not able to pay them a salary for doing so.

“The goal originally was just to help the kids academically,” she notes.

“And it changed everything. If we had not started with blended learning, I don’t think any of these things would have happened.”

Blended Learning Gone Bad

St. Ann has had tremendous success with blended learning, but when schools don’t implement the approach properly, they run the risk of having it backfire. One common mistake some schools make, Horn says, is assuming technology has replaced the teacher and that the majority of a student’s day will be spent on the computer.

Another way schools get blended learning wrong “is they’re using it more as maybe a replacement for a textbook,” Horn explains. “But they’re not really personalizing that learning, and developing strong cultures around starting to help students own what they’re doing and why.” Horn also stresses spending time up front to design the model, and giving teachers adequate professional development.

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January 2018 | nymetroparents.com

St. Ann has hosted more than 200 visitors from across the country who want to see its award-winning blended learning program in action. Mueller says one common misconception among visiting educators is that if teachers are using learning centers, and one center is computer-based, it constitutes blended learning. But “without the data driving both the technology and the teacher-led instruction, it’s not quite the blend,” Mueller says.

“You’ve got to have a sense of who your students are so that you’re meaningfully able to design how the experience will be for that group,” Dr. Greene adds. “You can’t just design a great blended learning opportunity and then use it with everybody and expect it’s always going to be amazing. It’s got to have flexibility.

What is the intention of the learning, and how does it best serve this group of students I’m working with?”

Jeffrey Tsang, founder of the education consulting firm Building Blocks Education, which implements blended learning programs in schools, contends that “the challenge is getting to the right ‘why.’” He worries a lot of schools will get into blended learning just because the technology is there or because they believe it will make it cheaper to run the school, or easier for teachers. None of these, Tsang feels, are particularly compelling rationales. “Ultimately, once schools and districts get to a place of ‘I think we should use technology because it’ll improve learning and improve the student learning experience,’ I think that’s where you get to better models and better implementation,” he says.

What’s Coming Next?

Jordan Laird

Tsang suspects the next big shift for education will be to put students in charge of what they learn, and how. He thinks that if schools could combine internal motivation with individualized learning styles, it would transform learning into something driven by students in ways that are much more effective for them.

Horn believes there will be more movement toward the notion of mastery learning—a model in which students advance not because it’s time for the whole class to move on, but because they’ve truly mastered something. This may eventually involve doing away with traditional assessments. Horn also predicts a move toward “more thoughtful and coherent interweaving of rigorous curriculum with really rich projects. Meaning, students can learn knowledge on the computer, but it’ll be much more rigorous curriculum than some of the online programs we’ve seen so far, that sometimes are flimsy. And then giving students more time to dive into rich, complicated, multi-day projects with their peers.” No matter which direction blended learning takes in the future, it’s clear that innovation will be integral to the mix.

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RocklandParent 21

Should School Start Later?

››

Early classes can harm teens’ health and academic performance—here’s a look at the movement to push back that first bell. By Christina Vercelletto

W

e tried sending the dog in to lick him awake. We tried threats, bribes, and a liberal dose of guilt, too (I’d burst into tears at fairly regular intervals). We set progressively earlier alarms, before calling that experiment a failure at 4:55am. But nothing my husband or I did could get our son, Charles, on the 6:50am high school bus more often than a few times a month. So there I’d be, driving him to school, sweaty and breathless, careening into the parking lot when first period was half over. (I usually drove him, because when my husband did, he’d bellow at him the whole way. I got his frustration, believe me, but was afraid he’d get in an accident.)

For four years this went on, until, blessedly, my son graduated last June—but not before having to take night-school classes for habitually failing first period. A mere month after those insanely stressful mornings finally ended, Charles began working a shift that starts at 9:30am. He gets up on his own at 8:00, fixing himself eggs and toast. He leaves promptly at 8:45am every day, allowing a little extra time for traffic.

Really? I thought.

As mystifying as it seemed to me at first, my experience, it turns out, squares with science. Research has shown that early school start times (7:21am at our Long Island high school, for example) simply don’t mesh with teenage biology, and that starting even just 60 minutes later has positive effects on mental and physical health, and on academic performance, too. Yet the vast majority of public schools, including in our area, resist making the change.

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January 2018 | nymetroparents.com

Rude Awakenings

Despite their appearance, high school kids are just that—kids who are still growing. Adolescents need 8½-9½ hours of sleep a night, an almost laughable number when compared with dayto-day reality. Ruth Angstadt’s son, Kurt, a 10th-grader at West Babylon High School in Suffolk County, is a prime example.

“He has soccer practice after school, then dinner and hours of homework. By the time he showers and winds down, it’s after eleven. Midnight is not unheard of,” she laments. Kurt is up at 6:15am (5:45am if he needs to get to school early for extra help). Do the math.

Contrary to the assumption that teens are just being, well, teens by refusing to budge from bed, it has much more to do with biology than rebellion. A shift in their internal clocks at puberty signals the sleep hormone melatonin to kick in later at night. That’s why the seemingly simple solution of enforcing an earlier bedtime doesn’t really work. That internal shift makes it hard for teens to fall asleep before 11pm, or wake up much before 8am. They may get in bed and turn off the light at your insistence, but in all likelihood, they’re not sleeping.

“The fact that these circadian rhythm shifts appear in adolescent mammals as well as adolescent humans suggests that there’s more to the story here than irresponsibility,” says Stacy Simera, communications director for StartSchoolLater.net.

The Benefits of Later Start Times

Why Don’t More Schools Make a Change?

Like so many other things having to do with public school sysTeens need enough sleep, not only to stave off the grumpies, but tems, the current situation is largely driven by budgets. The start also to effectively learn once they get to school. Schools with the times of high schools, middle schools, and elementary schools first period bell ringing at 8:30am or later—which eliminates more have to be staggered in order to keep the number of buses and than 85 percent of U.S. public high schools, according to federal drivers—and costs—to a minimum. And high schools tend to start data from the 2015-16 school year—wind up with better attenearliest, often to allow the youngest students to wait at the bus dance and graduation rates. One study comparing schools in seven stop in broad daylight and to have teens back home before their states, including New York, found that instituting an 8:30am start little brothers and sisters arrive, an arrangement some working increased attendance rates from 90 to 94 percent and graduation parents depend on. rates from 79 to 88 percent. These schools’ students have more Aside from increased transportation costs, rejiggering the start downtime too, according to a separate study recently published times of a district’s schools would mean renegotiating contracts, in December in the journal Sleep Health. It found that when high not only with transportation providers, but with teachers and school classes started at 8:30am or later, teens spent 46 more minschool staff, including sports coaches. utes in bed, on average, compared with peers whose schools startAnother consideration: The traffic that school buses and traveled between 7 and 7:30am. ing school sports teams would face if their schedule were closer to Meanwhile, a study of middle-school students in North Carorush hour. “As it was, it would take Joey an hour to get back when lina found that a one-hour delay in start time increased math test his away volleyball games ended at four. Imagine if they ended at scores by 3.3 percentile points and reading test scores by 3.7 points. five?” says Marie Iorio, a mom of “As someone who has studied two in New Hyde Park in Naseducational interventions, I trusau County. A situation like that ly believe that this is the single Despite their appearance, high school kids could hamper a child’s participaeasiest and least expensive way are just that—kids who are still growing. tion in extracurriculars or sports, to improve student outcomes,” which—who knows?—could be said the study’s author, Santa Adolescents need 8½-9½ hours of sleep a the thing that makes or breaks Clara University economist Teny night, an almost laughable number when their college applications.

M. Shapiro.

Other parents are simply neuIn fact, none other than the compared with day-to-day reality. tral on the issue. “I have mixed American Academy of Pediatfeelings about late start,” says rics released a policy statement Gina Seymour, the library media in 2014 saying that “insufficient specialist at Islip High School. “Yes, the kids are tired, but as a sleep in adolescents [is] an important public health issue that signifimom I do like to see my children off to school before I leave for cantly affects the health and safety, as well as the academic success, work, rather than leave with them still in bed.” of our nation’s middle and high school students.” The following year, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urged Continued Clock-Watching education policymakers to start school later. “Getting enough While the premise of later school start times for teens is widely sleep is important for students’ health, safety, and academic perforaccepted by those familiar with the facts, there’s another stummance,” stated Anne Wheaton, the lead author and epidemiologist bling block to overcome: human nature. People, parents included, in the CDC’s Division of Population Health. tend to rally around causes that affect them directly. That means Both the CDC and the AAP noted that sleep-deprived teens not that hard-won advocates graduate along with their kids every four only have poorer educational outcomes, but also are more prone years, so it’s a constant battle for groups such as Start School Later to car accidents, obesity, and depression. to keep re-educating parents and maintain the grassroots pressure.

None of this is to say, of course, that opening high schools an Success Stories hour later is the lone magic bullet to kids’ sleep issues and school The realization is spreading that it’s harmful to force teens to success. And some kids fare better than others with the current rise with the birds. Some schools have adopted later start times, arrangement. Jennifer Geddes, a mom of two teens in Manhatthough there’s no hard data on the trend. “Unfortunately, it is tan, is one of the lucky ones. Her daughter’s high school starts at very difficult to track how many schools are talking about chang8:30am. But while Geddes says the late start is great, “Fiona could ing or have changed start times because there is no mandatory start earlier than that,” she shares. “She’s up and ready to go well reporting. Our lack of tracking start times reflects our level of sysbefore she has to leave.” temic lack of awareness,” Simera says.

Barring a sweeping change to start times, what are families to do?

But the Glen Falls School District is one that made the switch.

Promoting good sleep-hygiene habits for kids, such as avoiding cafIn 2013, the high school pushed back its start time from 7:45am feine in the evening, shutting down electronics before getting into to 8:25am, and saw better student outcomes. The South Orangebed, and keeping to roughly the same sleep schedule on weekends, town Central School District is another that opted to try a later will help them regardless of when school begins. That, combined start. “Our high school and middle school went from a 7:30am with continuing efforts to educate parents, school boards, and polstart to 8:15. It’s soooo much better,” says Stephanie Mullen, a iticians on the benefits of letting teens sleep later, may ultimately mom of three in Blauvelt. “Teens are not adults, and there’s no yield eye-opening results for our chronically weary kids. point in forcing them to adapt to an adult schedule.” At Islip High School in Suffolk County, upperclassmen can opt out of first Christina Vercelletto is a former editor at NYMetroParents, Parenting, Scholastic Parent & period and come in 40 minutes later, provided they’ll have enough Child, and Woman’s Day. She lives on Long Island with her kids, a chiweenie, Pickles, and a credits to graduate, which most do.

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RocklandParent 23

raising kids directory

Education Resources Top area schools and academic services to help you make the best decisions for your child

Academic Enrichment and Educational Services Huntington Learning Center

58 E. Route 59, Nanuet 845-624-6800 23 Jefferson Ave., Westwood, NJ 201-664-2000 75 N. Maple Ave., Ridgewood, NJ 201-447-1200 huntingtonhelps.com Huntington Learning Center is the premier tutoring and test prep provider for kindergarten to 12th grades. Founded in 1977, its mission is to give every student the best education possible. The company prides itself on personalized attention and proven results with individualized programs taught by certified teachers at accredited centers. Areas of instruction include phonics, reading, writing, vocabulary, math, science, ACT, SAT, PSAT, high school entrance exams, and state and other standardized exams. To learn more and locate a center near you, visit huntingtonhelps.com.

Mathnasium of Nanuet

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Mathnasium’s unique teaching method is designed to help students reach their full potential, and boost confidence. As your child gears up for success, Mathnasium is ready to assist year-round with math gaps and enrichment, homework, and test preparations (Common Core Assessments, Regents, Terra Nova, ACT, SAT, ASVAB, and GRE/GMAT). We make math fun, but most of all we make math make sense.

Preschools Deborah Koenig Early Childhood Center at JCC Rockland

450 W. Nyack Road, West Nyack 845-501-4100 jccrockland.org/dkecc dkecc@jccrockland.org The Deborah Koenig Early Childhood Center at JCC Rockland is committed to providing excellent care and education to our diverse community in Rockland County. We believe that our children are precious, and we support your efforts to provide them with a

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bright start. We partner with our families to encourage creativity, curiosity, and imagination, and to build trusting relationships. Our mission is the same as yours; for your child to grow and develop in an environment that is safe, warm, and stimulating. Registration is ongoing for infants through pre-K.

special talents and abilities. Phonemic awareness skills, social, cognitive, and fine and gross motor skills are introduced through a creative curriculum. A wonderful place for preschoolers to learn, grow, and have fun!

Kreative Kids

Blue Rock School

61 Maple Ave., New City 845-634-2202 vickistudio.com Kreative Kids is a toddler and nursery program for boys and girls ages 16 months to 4 years (diapers welcomed)! Classes are divided by age. We offer arts and crafts, music with instruments, singing, creative movement, tumbling, story time, snack time, and early learning skills. Our professional staff balances active and quiet activities, as they provide comfort and love to each child, making separating from parents easy. Classes are kept small to provide individualized attention. We also offer flexible, extended hours to fit your work schedule.

The Lindgren Nursery School and Camp

211 Irving Ave., Closter, NJ 201-768-3550 lindgrenschool.com It is our mission to engage young children in direct and meaningful experiences with the natural world and other people. We encourage questions and exploration. We invite free expression through language, songs, drama, art, play, and invention at all levels. We value individuality and teach respect for others.

Our campus includes seven classrooms, 3½ acres of gardens, play areas, and farm animals.

Daily program is a balance of indoor and outdoor free-play, teacher directed experiences, and small group activities. Full- and half-day programs, before- and after-care, and summer camp available.

St. Catharine Early Childhood Center

517 Western Highway, Blauvelt 845-359-4330 stcatharineprek.org Our program provides an opportunity for young children to join together in a loving, nurturing, educational, and fun environment.

Each child is introduced to a full curriculum of early learning in a center-based setting.

Hands-on activities and participation in all areas provide the perfect setting for young children to develop and grow. Each child is recognized as a unique individual with many

January 2018 | nymetroparents.com

Private Schools 110 Demarest Mill Road, West Nyack 845-627-0234 bluerockschool.org Blue Rock School is the Lower Hudson Valley’s only progressive school, serving students in kindergarten through eighth grade. We offer a unique educational experience based on a hands-on and holistic approach that nurtures children’s innate love of learning, enabling them to follow their own natural curiosity and develop as independent thinkers. At Blue Rock, class sizes are small and students engage in a challenging and creative academic curriculum which is infused with the arts, nature, and play.

Green Meadow Waldorf School

307 Hungry Hollow Road, Chestnut Ridge 845-356-2514 gmws.org Green Meadow Waldorf School in Chestnut Ridge offers Parent and Child classes for babies and toddlers age 3 and younger; serves children from nursery to 12th grade; and runs popular summer programs. Founded in 1950, we are one of the oldest, largest Waldorf schools in the U.S., with approximately 375 students. Green Meadow students go on to top colleges and fulfilling careers, and are known for their resilience and creativity.

Visit gmws.org to see how we are transforming education.

The Lindgren Nursery School and Camp

211 Irving Ave., Closter, NJ 201-768-3550 lindgrenschool.com It is our mission to engage young children in direct and meaningful experiences with the natural world and other people. We encourage questions and exploration. We invite free expression through language, songs, drama, art, play, and invention at all levels. We value individuality and teach respect for others. Our campus includes seven classrooms, 3½ acres of gardens, play areas, and farm animals. Daily program is a balance of indoor and outdoor free-play, teacher directed experiences, and

small group activities. Fulland half-day programs, beforeand after-care, and summer camp available.

Young World Day School

585 Wyckoff Ave., Mahwah, NJ 201-327-3888 youngworlddayschool.org director@ywdschool.org Young World Day School provides a safe, nurturing environment in which ordinary kids do extraordinary things. An experienced staff utilizes an interdisciplinary approach to learning using individualized instruction, cooperative learning, and small group instruction. The school includes a traditional preschool, beginning with a 2-year-old program, a Montessori school for toddlers and ages 2.9-5 and a transitional and traditional kindergarten—all with low pupil-to-teacher ratios. The primary school for first-fifth grades is comprised of small, mixed-age classrooms providing individualized instruction, so students learn at a rate appropriate to their ability. Morning and afternoon extended care available.

Special Needs Huntington Learning Center

58 E. Route 59, Nanuet 845-624-6800 23 Jefferson Ave., Westwood, NJ 201-664-2000 75 N. Maple Ave., Ridgewood, NJ 201-447-1200 huntingtonhelps.com Huntington Learning Center is an accredited tutoring and test prep leader for kindergarten to 12th grades, since 1977.

Huntington’s certified teachers provide individualized instruction in phonics, reading, writing, math, science, study skills, and executive functioning skills, and prepare students for the SAT, ACT, and state and standardized exams. Huntington helps students at all levels achieve results by building their skills, confidence, and motivation. According to one parent: “In just four months, I have seen incredible improvements in Jessica’s grades and confidence.” To learn more about Huntington’s programs and find the center near you, please visit huntingtonhelps.com.

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Mrs. Feeney and her staff are celebrating another fabulous Get activities, year educating andadvance nurturing thenotice children on in our community

in group discussions Registration for Sept 2018 Openparticipate House Tues, Jan 23rd - 6:30pm-8pm and receive special notices.

Wed, Jan 24th - 9am-11am

Tues, Jan 16th - 6:30pm-8pm Wed, Jan 17th - 9am-11am (Snow date Thurs, Jan 18th 9am-11am & 6:30pm-8pm)

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(Snow date Thurs, Jan 25th 9am-11am & 6:30pm-8pm)

Readiness Skills • Half Day and Full Day Including: Math, Science, Reading, History, www.facebook.com/nymetroparents Sessions for 3-5 yr olds.

Religion, Fine & Gross Motor Skills • Extended Care Technology Touch Screen Tablets, Smart Boards

Fun

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St. Catharine

Early Childhood Center 517 Western Highway • Blauvelt

NYMetroParents 845-359-4330

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things to do

city bound

N Y C

Kids can check out and climb aboard real sea vessels.

Welcome to the Boat Show

All aboard! The Progressive New York Boat Show at the Javits Center will please nautical novices and enthusiasts alike. The show, which originated in 1905, has boats of all sizes, from luxury motor yachts and stunning sailboats to performance boats and inflatables. Enjoy workshops and seminars, plus a touch-a-boat tour for families with working vessels from the New York Fire Department. Kids can climb aboard, chat with captains, and take pictures at the helm. Jan. 24-28, Wednesday-Friday, 12-9pm; Saturday, 10am-9pm; Sunday, 10am-6pm. Age: All. $16; free for children younger than 13. Javits Center, 625 W. 34th St., Hell’s Kitchen. nyboatshow.com.

Grammy nominated songwriter and cartoonist Morgan Taylor will present his animated characters and sing original songs at the Gustafer Yellowgold Show at Symphony Space. Families will dig live music, hand drawn on-screen animations, and vivid storytelling featuring Gustafer—a friendly creature who came to Earth from the sun and is living an explorer’s life in a slightly psychedelic version of the Minnesota woods. Jan. 20, 11am. Age: All. $17. Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway, Upper West Side. 212864-5400. symphonyspace.org.

26

Gustafer and Morgan © Erin Patrice O’Brien

Sing “Strawberry Love” at the Gustafer Yellowgold Show

Catch tunes from the new album, Brighter Side, plus old favorites.

January 2018 | nymetroparents.com

Courtesy New York Botanical Garden

W he hile y re ou , v ’r isit e …

New York Botanical Garden During any given season, guests young and young-at-heart can appreciate the beauty of nature at the 250-acre New York Botanical Garden. There are family programs, indoor and outdoor exhibits, and a 50-acre native forest to satisfy any nature lover.

Visit it: 2900 Southern Blvd., Bronx; 718-817-8700; nybg.org.

Can’t-miss event: Holiday Train Show through Jan. 15 Directions: Approximately a 40-minute drive from New City Courtesy Children’s Museum of the Arts

Courtesy Progressive Insurance New York Boat Show/Mike Sheehan

Family Fun in Manhattan

Children’s Museum of the Arts

Stop by the Children’s Museum of the Arts for family-friendly and accessible art exhibits as well as hands-on art classes for children as young as 10 months up to teens—you can also create together during Saturday Family Studios.

Visit it: 103 Charlton St., Greenwich Village; 212-274-0986; cmany.org Can’t-miss event: New Year’s Eve Celebration on Dec. 31, 10am-3pm (Celebrate at 12pm!)

Directions: Approximately a 50-minute drive from New City

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RocklandParent 27

Mitzvah Market magazine Your Source for Ideas & Inspiration

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Mıtzvah Market 2017-2018

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Turn the page for details on ‘Pinkalicious The Musical’ (No. 2 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

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JANUARY CALENDAR 30

Editor’s Hot Tickets

31

We Can’t Believe It’s FREE!

32

Show Time!, Animal Lovers, Smarty Pants

33

Browse & Buy, The Great Outdoors

1

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!

1

Create Your Year: Hello 2018

WHEN: Jan. 6-7, Saturday-Sunday, 10am-1pm WHERE: Wave Hill, West 249th Street and Independence Avenue, Bronx AGES: All WHAT: Check out a farmer’s monthly seed calendar explaining what fruits and vegetables to plant when. Then create an abundant garden or personal vision for your very own calendar.

WHY WE LOVE IT: A healthy activity to get them thinking about fruits and vegetables.

WANT TO GO? $8; $4 children. 718-549-3200 x3200. wavehill.org.

2

‘Pinkalicious The Musical’

WHEN: Sunday, Jan. 7, 1:30pm and 4:30pm WHERE: Mayo Performing Arts Center, 100 South St., Morristown, NJ AGES: 3-8 WHAT: A girl finds herself in a colorful predicament after her indulgence in too many pink cupcakes causes a severe case of Pinkititis!

WHY WE LOVE IT: One of our favorite books, set to music, in living color!

WANT TO GO? $12-$15. 973-539-8008. mayoarts.org.

Primitive Living Skills Workshops

WHEN: Saturday, Jan. 13, 2-4:30pm WHERE: The Nature Place Day Camp, 285 Hungry Hollow Road, Chestnut Ridge AGES: 9 and older WHAT: An immersive, hands-on weekend program, designed to 30

January 2018 | nymetroparents.com

3

build a foundation in ancestral skills such as shelter building, water procurement, fire building, and methods of obtaining food.

WHY WE LOVE IT: A fun way to get back to the basics.

WANT TO GO? $45. 845-356-1234. thenatureplace.com.

4

5th Annual Puppet Festival Featuring the Tanglewood Marionettes

WHEN: Sunday, Jan. 14, 2pm WHERE: Ritterhausen Theater at BOCES, 131 N. Midland Ave., Nyack AGES: All WHAT: Milk and Cookies Playhouse presents the awardwinning production of The Dragon King with colorful sea creatures in an exciting adventure.

WHY WE LOVE IT: It will dazzle both children and adults.

WANT TO GO? $18. 855-278-7762. artsrock.org.

All Sports Day

5

WHEN: Monday, Jan. 15, 9am-3pm WHERE: West Rock Indoor Sports Complex, 21 Pralle Lane, Nanuet AGES: 5-12 WHAT: Come and enjoy a fun-filled day of sports, inflatables, arts and crafts, and activities. Counselors will create teams to compete in relay races, kickball, dodge ball, basketball, soccer, and more.

WHY WE LOVE IT: The best way to spend a day off from school!

WANT TO GO? $50 full day; $30 half day. 845-623-3636. westrockindoor.com.

Get weekend activities delivered to you!

nymetroparents.com/register ››

6

Parents’ Night Out

WHEN: Sunday, Jan. 21, 5:30-9pm WHERE: Tenafly Nature Center, 313 Hudson Ave., Tenafly, NJ AGES: 3-8 WHAT: Children will participate in fun activities while parents enjoy some time to relax or have an evening out. Activities will include crafts, a night hike, trail games, animal encounters, and a campfire with s’mores. Layers and winter gear recommended.

WHY WE LOVE IT: Evening fun for everyone!

WANT TO GO? $35; $25 per additional sibling. 201-568-6093. tenaflynaturecenter.org.

All Aboard with Thomas and Friends

WHEN: Through Jan. 21: Saturday-Sunday, see website for times WHERE: New York Botanical Garden, 2900 Southern Blvd., Bronx AGES: Newborn to 5 WHAT: Join Thomas on a sing-along adventure, in which kids will help discover the steps to grow a beautiful garden.

WHY WE LOVE IT: Cinders and Ashes! A fun-filled day for the little engineer.

WANT TO GO? $30; $18 children ages 2-12; $10 for children younger than 2. 718-817-8700. nybg.org.

7

Winter Hike & Bonfire FREE

WHEN: Sunday, Jan. 28, 6:30pm WHERE: Closter Nature Center, 154 Ruckman Road, Closter, NJ AGES: All WHAT: Bundle up and join a naturalist led hike on the trails of the 136-acre wooded nature center. The hike will end with a bonfire and marshmallows.

WHY WE LOVE IT: A fresh air treat in the winter!

WANT TO GO? 201-750-2778. closternaturecenter.org.

8

Beginner Ski & Snowboard Lessons

9

WHEN: Jan. 1-31, Saturday-Sunday and holidays, 10am, 12pm, and 2pm WHERE: Mount Peter, 40 Ski Lane, Warwick AGES: All WHAT: Each group lesson is 1-hour long and taken at the base of the mountain. It is an introduction to equipment, sliding movements, basic balance and stance, stopping, and direction changes. Free with purchase of lift ticket.

WHY WE LOVE IT: It’s time to hit the slopes!

WANT TO GO? $54; $49 children ages 5-11. 845-986-4940. mtpeter.com.

10

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.

Winter Tales with Chuck Stead FREE

WHEN: Saturday, Jan. 13, 12-1pm WHERE: The Nature Place Day Camp, 307 Hungry Hollow Road, Chestnut Ridge AGES: All WHAT: Master storyteller Chuck Stead spins funny, poignant, outrageous, and true stories of his childhood and growing up in the nearby Ramapo Mountains. When the weather turns cold and winter has really set in, Stead tells his Winter Tales: stories that sparkle and glimmer like the snow and ice of January.

WANT TO GO? 845-356-1234. thenatureplace.com.

Camp Open House FREE

WHEN: Saturday, Jan. 13, 1-4pm WHERE: The Nature Place Day Camp, 307 Hungry Hollow Road, Chestnut Ridge AGES: All WHAT: Take a tour of camp, meet staff, and learn all about the ins and outs of the summer program. Call to set up an appointment.

WANT TO GO? 845-356-1234. thenatureplace.com.

Escape the Room FREE

Winter Wonderland

WHEN: Through Jan. 28: Friday, 4-10pm; Saturday-Sunday, 10am-10pm WHERE: Van Saun Park, 216 Forest Ave., Paramus, NJ AGES: All WHAT: Featuring open air ice-skating, a kids zone ice rink, hospitality tent, children’s games and activities, unlimited carousel rides, zoo events, food trucks an indoor/outdoor beer garden and the Bergen County Express Train Ride.

WHY WE LOVE IT: Enjoy the rink after the holidays!

WANT TO GO? $13; free for children 3 and younger. bergencountywinterwonderland.com.

WE CAN’T BELIEVE IT’S FREE

WHEN: Monday, Jan. 15, 3pm WHERE: Rose Memorial Library, 79 E. Main St., Stony Point AGES: 13-17 WHAT: Can you solve the mystery and escape the room in time? Work with your guests to discover the dark secret of Dr. Gravely’s retreat by finding clues and solving puzzles. Registration required.

WANT TO GO? 845-786-2100. rosememoriallibrary.org.

Coloring Club FREE

WHEN: Jan. 3-31, Wednesdays, 10:30am-12pm WHERE: Haverstraw King’s Daughters Public Library, Main Library, 10 W. Ramapo Road, Garnerville AGES: All WHAT: Relax while you color. “Inky Treasure” coloring pages and pencils will be provided.

WANT TO GO? 845-786-3800. hkdpl.org.

Weekly Drop-In at Rockland Baby Café FREE

WHEN: Through Jan. 31: Tuesdays, 10:30am-12:30pm WHERE: Rockland Baby Café, 14 S. Main St., Spring Valley AGES: Newborn to 2, adult WHAT: Meet and talk to new moms, learn how to make breast-feeding easier, make sure your baby is latching and gaining well, and get tips on pumping, going back to work, and other parenting topics.

WANT TO GO? 914-922-2240. rocklandgov.com. ›› RocklandParent 31

ANIMAL LOVERS PAWS for Reading FREE

SHOW TIME! ‘B-The Underwater Bubble Show’

WHEN: Sunday, Jan. 14, 2pm and 5pm WHERE: Bergen Performing Arts Center, 30 N. Van Brunt St., Englewood, NJ AGES: 3-12 WHAT: B-The Underwater Bubble Show takes place in colorful underwater world of Bubblelandia. After a long day of meetings and deadlines, Mr. B finds himself transported to a magical world that’s inhabited by seahorses, dragon fish, starfish, mermaids, and more. Follow him through his imaginary journey in this underwater world where fantasy becomes reality.

WANT TO GO? $19-$39. 201-227-1030. bergenpac.org.

Family Film Friday FREE

WHEN: Friday, Jan. 26, 4:30pm WHERE: Rose Memorial Library, 79 E. Main St., Stony Point AGES: All WHAT: Stop by the library after school for an afternoon matinee.

WANT TO GO? 845-786-2100. rosememoriallibrary.org.

WHEN: Saturday, Jan. 6, 10:30am-12pm WHERE: Haverstraw King’s Daughters Public Library, Main Library, 10 W. Ramapo Road, Garnerville AGES: 5-12 WHAT: Sign up for a 15-minute session to read 1-on-1 to a therapy dog.

WANT TO GO? 845-786-3800. hkdpl.org.

Winter Survivors

WHEN: Saturday, Jan. 6, 3-4pm WHERE: Tenafly Nature Center, 313 Hudson Ave., Tenafly, NJ AGES: 3-8 WHAT: Explore the various methods animals use to survive the cold winter months. See and feel real fur, discover how blubber works, and meet some live animals to better understand the adaptions they have developed for survival. Registration is recommended.

WANT TO GO? $10; $30 per family. 201-568-6093. tenaflynaturecenter.org.

Bird Brick Builder

WHEN: Sunday, Jan. 21, 1-3pm WHERE: Tenafly Nature Center, 313 Hudson Ave., Tenafly, NJ AGES: 5-8 WHAT: Children will receive a nature-themed Lego set and instructions to put together and bring home. After, meet one of the resident owls and learn about the birds that make their homes at TNC. Registration required.

WANT TO GO? $25. 201-568-6093. tenaflynaturecenter.org.

Children’s Shakespeare Theatre Presents ‘Antony and Cleopatra’ WHEN: Jan. 19-27, Friday, 8pm; Saturday, 7pm WHERE: Tappan Manse Barn, 32 Old Tappan Road, Tappan AGES: 9 and older WHAT: Come see the Rogues of Children’s Shakespeare Theatre as they tackle this complex tapestry of history, love, and sorrow.

WANT TO GO? $15; $12 seniors; $10 children. 845-920-6573. antonycleopatracst.brownpapertickets.com.

Disney’s ‘Frozen’ Sing-Along

WHEN: Sunday, Jan. 28, 1pm and 4pm WHERE: Bergen Performing Arts Center, 30 N. Van Brunt St., Englewood, NJ AGES: 3-8 WHAT: Everyone’s favorite royal sisters are back on the big screen in this instant animated classic. Anna and Elsa will be on hand to lead the audience in a sing-along and will be available for photos before the show.

WANT TO GO? $15-$25. 201-227-1030. bergenpac.org.

Family Movie FREE

WHEN: Jan. 15-29, Mo ndays, 5-7pm WHERE: Haverstraw King’s Daughters Public Library, Village Branch, 85 Main St., Haverstraw AGES: All WHAT: Families are welcome to come watch movies on the big screen.

WANT TO GO? 845-429-3445. hkdpl.org.

‘The Hollywood Special FX Show’

WHEN: Wednesday, Jan. 31, 7pm WHERE: Mayo Performing Arts Center, 100 South St., Morristown, NJ AGES: 9 and older WHAT: From gruesome sci-fi monsters to huge explosions, get close to the action in this interactive, action-packed family show in which special effects experts take you behind the scenes of your favorite action films.

WANT TO GO? $20-$40. 973-539-8008. mayoarts.org.

32

January 2018 | nymetroparents.com

SMARTY PANTS Public Planetarium Show

WHEN: Sunday, Jan. 14, 2-4pm WHERE: Town of Ramapo Challenger Center, 225 Route 59, Airmont AGES: 5 and older WHAT: Following a 1-hour planetarium show that includes a full-dome video, participants will take part in a 1-hour hands-on astronomy-related project in the center’s activity room. Reservations are required.

WANT TO GO? $10; $5 seniors and for children younger than 9. 845357-3416. lhvcc.com.

Public Space Mission

WHEN: Sunday, Jan. 21, 2-5pm WHERE: Town of Ramapo Challenger Center, 225 Route 59, Airmont AGES: 5 and older WHAT: Small teams of space adventurers will conduct research, perform scientific experiments, and even deploy a probe. Tasks are detailed enough to feel real and challenging, simple enough for kids to do, and fun. Reservations are required.

WANT TO GO? $10; $5 seniors and for children younger than 9. 845357-3416. lhvcc.com.

Family Storytime with Mr. Burr FREE

WHEN: Jan. 5-26, Tuesdays, 10:30-11:15am WHERE: Haverstraw King’s Daughters Public Library, Main Library, 10 W. Ramapo Road, Garnerville AGES: 3-8 WHAT: Have fun with Mr. Burr as he plays his guitar and sings songs.

WANT TO GO? 845-786-3800. hkdpl.org.

Friday Fun FREE

WHEN: Jan. 5-26, Fridays, 4-5pm WHERE: Haverstraw King’s Daughters Public Library, Village Branch, 85 Main St., Haverstraw AGES: 5-12 WHAT: Different programs take place every week, including Builder’s Club, games, 3-D fun with 3-D pens, PS4, Code Club, and Science Squad.

WANT TO GO? 845-429-3445. hkdpl.org.

Family Weekend Series: Ready for Robots

WHEN: Saturday, Jan. 27, 10am-12:30pm WHERE: Liberty Science Center, Liberty State Park, 222 Jersey City Blvd., Jersey City, NJ AGES: 3-12 WHAT: Learning about science and technology concepts. Explore how robots of all shapes and sizes respond to their environments in a handson introduction to robotics. Reservations are required.

WANT TO GO? $25. 201-200-1000. lsc.org.

BROWSE & BUY Warwick Handmade Market

WHEN: Sunday, Jan. 14, 10am-3pm WHERE: Janice Brigante Design Studio, 7 West St., 2nd Floor, Warwick AGES: 13 and older WHAT: A collaboration of local makers selling handcrafted goods including, clothing, accessories, agrisculpture, jewelry, skincare, apothecary, ceramics, and art located in a Soho loft type design studio.

WANT TO GO? Free admission. warwickcc.org.

Ramsey’s Indoor Winter Market

WHEN: Through March 25: Sundays, 10am-2pm WHERE: Ramsey Farmers’ Market, Eric Smith School, 73 Monroe St., Ramsey, NJ AGES: All WHAT: More than 30 local farmers and food purveyors offer fresh, local, seasonal produce, including organic, artisan breads and fine cheeses, fresh fish directly from the Hampton Bays, hummus, guacamole made on-site, gluten-free baked goods, and organic prepared foods.

WANT TO GO? Free admission. 201-675-6866. ramseyfarmersmarket.org.

Palisades Winter Farmers’ Market

WHEN: Through March 31: Saturdays, 9am-1pm WHERE: Palisades Community Center, 675 Oak Tree Road, Palisades AGES: 3-17 WHAT: Housed in a charming historic schoolhouse, stock up on just picked veggies and locally made artisinal specialties. There is also a craft table for kids.

WANT TO GO? Free admission. 845-359-3988. palisadesfm.org.

Nyack Indoor Farmers’ Market

WHEN: Through April 30: Thursdays, 8am-2pm WHERE: Nyack Center, 58 Depew Ave., Nyack AGES: All WHAT: Locally produced food, fresh produce, baked goods, and more.

WANT TO GO? Free admission. 845-358-2600. nyackchamber.org.

Clarkstown’s Indoor Farmers Market

WHEN: Through May 12: Saturdays, 10am-1pm WHERE: Congers Community Center, 6 Gilchrest Road, Congers AGES: All WHAT: Enjoy fresh produce and goodies even when it’s cold out. Find baked goods, pickles, produce, vegetables, jams, eggs, meats, and more.

WANT TO GO? Free admission. town.clarkstown.ny.us.

THE GREAT OUTDOORS Aldo Leopold Birthday Hike

WHEN: Sunday, Jan. 7, 3-4:30pm WHERE: Tenafly Nature Center, 313 Hudson Ave., Tenafly, NJ AGES: All WHAT: Enjoy the season with a guided walk along one of the center’s trails with an Environmental Educator and celebrate enviromentalist Aldo Leopold.

WANT TO GO? $6. 201-568-6093. tenaflynaturecenter.org.

Animal Tracks and Traces

WHEN: Sunday, Jan. 28, 10am WHERE: Hudson Highlands Nature Museum’s Outdoor Discovery Center, Muser Drive, Cornwall AGES: All WHAT: Join a naturalist on a wintry walk to discover secrets in the snow left by winter active animals. Go on a track hunt, learn how to identify animal tracks, and create a track shirt. Bring a plain white pre-washed T-shirt.

WANT TO GO? $7; $5 children. 845-534-5506. hhnaturemuseum.org.

Blue Wolf Moon Hike FREE

WHEN: Wednesday, Jan. 31, 8pm WHERE: State Line Lookout, Palisades Interstate Parkway Exit 2, Alpine, NJ AGES: 9 and older WHAT: Park staff will lead a special night hike through the trails. If the skies are clear, the trails will be lit by the full moon. The route is approximately 2 miles in 1½ hours, over moderate hiking trails. Bring a flashlight.

WANT TO GO? 201-768-1360. njpalisades.org.

Public Skating Sessions

WHEN: Through March 3: Monday-Tuesday, 10am-1:30pm; Friday, 8-9:30pm; Saturday, 10am-9:30pm; Sunday, 10am-7:30pm WHERE: Bear Mountain Ice Rink, Bear Mountain Ice Rink State Park, Bear Mountain AGES: All WHAT: Lace-up for the season and enjoy skating outdoors.

WANT TO GO? $5; $4 children ages 4-11; $4 skate rentals; $10 parking fee. 845-786-2701. bearmountainicerink.com.

Ski, Snowboard, and Tubing Season

WHEN: Jan. 1-March 31, Monday-Thursday, 2-8pm; Friday, 1-10pm; Saturday-Sunday, 8:30am-8pm WHERE: Campgaw Mountain, 200 Campgaw Road, Mahwah, NJ AGES: All WHAT: Enjoy a variety of skiing and snowboarding for all abilities with short lift lines and uncrowded trails. Equipment rentals and instruction for all ages available.

WANT TO GO? See website for rates and packages. 201-327-7800. skicampgaw.com.

Coming up next month: SELECT DATES FEB. 4-MARCH 25: Maple Sugaring at Tenafly Nature Center, Tenafly, NJ FEB. 10: Milk and Cookies Playhouse Presents The Grand Falloons at the Nyack Center, Nyack FEB. 17: Outragehiss Pets at The Nature Place, Chestnut Ridge

RocklandParent 33

Wintry things to do

where-to guide

❆ ❅

Family Fun

Compiled by Samantha Neudorf

Just because it’s cold doesn’t mean you and your family have to sacrifice having fun this winter! There are plenty of seasonal things to do, including skiing and snowboarding, ice-skating, visiting museums, and even going on a family day trip. Make warm memories even if it’s chilly out there. Don’t forget to bundle up!

Day Trips Stamford Museum & Nature Center 39 Scofield Town Road, Stamford, CT 203-322-1646; stamfordmuseum.org Hours: Monday-Saturday, 9am-5pm; Sunday, 11am-5pm Admission: $10; $8 seniors; $5 children ages 4-17; free for children 3 and younger Located on 112 acres in North Stamford, this sanctuary supports a working farm with heritage breed animals kids can visit, plus an organic vegetable garden and open pastures, nature center, and the Edith & Robert Graham Otter Pond.

Find more>> winter day trips in the New York metro area at nymetroparents.com/winter-trips.

MUSEUMS

Belleayre Mountain 181 Galli Curci Road, Highmount 845-254-5600; belleayre.com Features 51 trails, parks, and glades. Offers ski and snowboard lessons for kids ages 4-6, 7-12, and 13 and older.

Round-trip bus service from NYC via Adirondack Trailways (trailwaysny.com) includes lift ticket and luggage lock-up.

Rental equipment is available for all ages. There is an on-site nursery for children ages 6 months to 6 years old.

Find more>> mountains in the New York metro area at nymetroparents.com/ski.

ICE-SKATING

❆

Bear Mountain State Park Ice Rink Palisades Parkway/Route 9W North, Bear Mountain 845-786-2701; bearmountainicerink.com Hours: Monday-Tuesday, 10-11:30am and 12-1:30pm; Friday, 8-9:30pm; Saturday-Sunday, 10-11:30am, 12-1:30pm, 2-3:30pm, 4-5:30pm, 6-7:30pm, and 8-9:30pm (last session is on Saturdays only). See website for additional holiday schedule information.

Price: $5; $4 children ages 4-11; $2 non-skaters and seniors; free for children ages 3 and younger. $4 skate rental. $5 skate sharpening. $10 parking on weekends and holidays.

❄

Town of Ramapo Challenger Center 225 Route 59, Airmont 845-357-3416; lhvcc.com Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30am-5:30pm; weekend hours depend upon when missions and planetarium programs are scheduled— check website for details Admission: $10 per public mission and planetarium show; $5 seniors and children ages 8 and younger (when accompanied by a paying adult) Part of the Challenger Learning Center Network, the Challenger Center offers an interactive learning experience in science, technology, engineering, and math through performing tasks of real scientists, engineers, researchers, and astronauts. One of 4 Challenger Centers in the New York metro area, it’s the only center that offers space missions and planetarium shows to the public.

Find more>> kid-friendly museums in Rockland County at nymetroparents.com/museums.

34

SKI AND SNOWBOARD

January 2018 | nymetroparents.com

Find more>> ice-skating rinks in Rockland County at nymetroparents.com/ice-skating.

❆❆

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RocklandParent 35

Courtesy Anna Ruth Myers, RIE® Associate

family life home

This example of a fenced off “yes” space for a mobile infant or young toddler includes a small cozy corner, a firm cushion for climbing, and a variety of easy-to-find play objects such as a colander, woven basket, silicone bowls, and metal cups.

Creating a ‘Yes’ Space

››

Making part of your home into a safe-play zone will help your child’s development. And it’s easier than you think—read on for expert tips. By Katelin Walling

N

“

o, don’t touch that.”

“That’s not a toy.”

“Don’t do that. It’s not safe.”

Sometimes it feels like we are constantly telling our kids not to do something when it comes to play time at home, whether it’s because we’re afraid of them getting hurt, are anxious they’ll misplace our keys or iPhone, or nervous they’ll break our favorite lamp (à la Brother in The Berenstain Bears and the Truth).

One way some parents are combating all the ‘no’s said to young children? They’re creating a safe play environment in the home, which stems from Magda Gerber’s Educaring® approach to parenting— responding to a young child respectfully. Gerber studied under Emmi Pikler, M.D., in Hungary, learning about the Pikler approach to parenting, and brought the concept to the United States. A safe play environment is an area in the home in which a child can play without interruption and is 100-percent safe from harm.

“Magda Gerber’s definition is the best way to describe it: If you got locked out of your apartment for a day, you would come back to find that your baby is physically unharmed,” says Deborah

36

January 2018 | nymetroparents.com

Carlisle Solomon, author of Baby Knows Best: Raising a Confident and Resourceful Child the RIE® Way. “The baby is obviously going to be upset, or hungry, or in need of a diaper change, but physically will have come to no harm. So there’s nothing in the environment that can cause danger.”

A safe play environment is also commonly referred to as a “yes” space in an effort to counteract all of the times a child hears ‘no’ in her life. “You have a space that just says ‘yes’ to the child,” says Anna Ruth Myers, founder of The Nurtured Child, a Brooklyn-based educational facility offering RIE®-certified classes that teach parents about Educaring®, as well as how to care for children in a respectful way. “The child is able to touch everything and move freely and not be restricted by the environment. The environment doesn’t say ‘no,’ and you don’t have to say ‘no’ while the child is there.”

Benefits of a “Yes” Space

Having a safe play environment in the home gives children unfettered playtime, which has numerous developmental benefits.

It gives a child time to explore the world on her own,

says Johanna Herwitz, Ph.D., a licensed clinical psychologist, RIE® Mentor, Pikler-trained specialist, and founder of Mindful Parenting New York City. “The child gets to have a physical [and] a mental space to do her own thing, and she can play with whatever she wants to,” Dr. Herwitz says. “She gets to make choices, she gets to follow her own interests.”

Infants learn through their senses, Myers adds. So having the space to explore freely—to touch things with their hands, move their bodies, and mouth toys that are safe—allows their development to naturally progress as fully as possible.

A child will start to develop the ability to focus. Playing without interruption “supports the child to develop a long attention span,” Solomon says. “If a baby or toddler is frequently being interrupted, they don’t have opportunities to focus in on something for long periods of time.”

It helps the child build self-confidence. By having a “yes” space, the parent begins to develop basic trust in the child’s abilities to solve problems, be interested, and learn, which gives the child space to do those things. And that’s how the child develops self-confidence, according to Dr. Herwitz.

“Playing really helps a child learn how to solve problems, how to be tenacious, how to overcome challenges,” Solomon adds.

“When things are difficult, they keep on going and see if they can figure it out. And all of those skills are going to be useful to them when they go to school.”

A child is more likely to cooperate outside of the “yes” space. When a child is given room to do the things he wants to within reason and make his own decisions, his autonomy is satisfied. “I think that when that autonomy is satisfied, then the child is more likely to cooperate and to go along with things that may or may not be his first choice,” Dr. Herwitz says.

A “yes” space also benefits parents: It allows them to relax knowing they can use the bathroom, answer the door, or make a meal without worrying about the safety of their child. “I find that when I’m with children and we’re in a safe space and I’m observing them or just being with them, it feels so much more comfortable for me than if a child is in a space where the outlet isn’t covered or if there’s something on the table [they shouldn’t play with]…my attention is [on] thinking about those things, [so] that I can’t fully enjoy being with a baby like I can in a safe space,” Myers says.

How to Create a “Yes” Space

The Space The most important aspect of a safe play environment is it needs to be gated off in some way, according to Myers. “In order to make a space one hundred-percent safe, [it needs] to have a way that you can close it off from the rest of the environment, but know that your child can be safely in that space and not risk coming out of it when you aren’t expecting,” she says. A pack and play is enough space for an infant until she begins rolling over and needing more space for movement, while a “fenced in” area of a family room or a separate room with baby gates will work for crawlers and toddlers.

“Over the years, I’ve found that parents are sometimes resistant to this because they don’t like the look of gates or they feel like it’s imprisoning their child,” Solomon says. She recalls a time a friend called for advice. “Her son was always at her feet crawling after her, and she said. ‘I’m afraid I’m going to step on him. I give him the run of the whole house, why does he always have to be with me?’,” Solomon says. She replied that the whole house was overwhelming to the child and he didn’t feel secure. She advised her friend put up a gate or corral, put a few toys in the enclosed area, and spend some

time with the child in the enclosure to endear him to the space.

“And so she did, and it made a big difference for both of them.

Some parents don’t understand that what looks like a prison to us, to the child provides a sense of security,” Solomon says.

Dr. Herwitz adds that ideally the enclosed space should be in an area where the child can hear and see what’s going on around her so she doesn’t feel isolated from the rest of the house, and where the parent can easily hear and see what’s going on with the child.

The enclosed area should also be clean, there shouldn’t be furniture the child can climb or standing lamps that could fall over, and if there are low shelves in the area that they are bolted to the wall. Solomon also suggests parents crawl around on the ground to look at the space from the child’s point of view to see if there is any potential danger.

The Toys In terms of play objects to have in the space, Gerber taught that passive toys make for active babies. When a toy lights up and makes sounds, the child doesn’t have to do much to play with it, but when a play object is open-ended (aka passive), the child uses his imagination to activate it. Keep in mind that some play objects might not be obvious to adults. Solomon, for example, had a basket of caps from glass milk bottles in a class. “One toddler picked up two of them, put one on each ear, and was wandering around the room for twenty minutes pretending they were a headset and he was Buzz Lightyear,” she says. “When he was done with them, another child picked one up and she used it as a cup, pretending to drink.

That’s what I mean about the toys being open-ended.”

For 2- to 3-month-olds, the first plaything is their hands.

After they’ve discovered their hands, infants are ready for soft play objects, such as a soft cotton napkin, a little silicone bowl, a soft ball, and other soft objects that are easy to grasp and not too heavy, as the child is still integrating her reflexes and might accidentally hit herself with the object.

As the child gets older, more objects should be introduced into the environment. “Some of them might be soft, some might be a little more firm, but then there are also things in the child’s environment that don’t change shape or properties, if that makes sense,” Myers says. “So you might have little silicone bowls, but then you would also maybe have a little wooden pinch bowl, or maybe a little metal condiment bowl. You would have objects that repeat on the same concept but are different materials and have different properties so the child can see how their actions change or don’t change with materials.”

Myers suggests some materials stay the same as the child gets older because he’ll play with them in an increasingly sophisticated way, while also introducing new, more advanced objects.

Dr. Herwitz recommends play objects have a balance between dramatic play (dolls and items that can be used for dress up), fine motor skills (baskets and bags into which objects can be sorted), and gross motor skills (things that are safe for toddlers to climb on).

The Play Time The best time to put a child in the safe play environment is when she is well-rested, fed, clean, has all her basic needs met, and has had some time with the parents. Time spent in the space should also increase with age, according to Dr. Herwitz, as an infant won’t be able to play on his own for as long as a toddler could.

While ideally your child would have a “yes” space from infancy through the time she has learned the limits and rules of the home environment as a whole, Myers says it’s never too late to create a “yes” space for a young child.

RocklandParent 37

family life food & nutrition

Food and Drink Hacks for Parents

Four handy tips to make mealtime with kids easier

G

etting your kid to put her toys away. Convincing your toddler to stay in his big-kid bed when it’s time to go to sleep. Figuring out what’s causing the meltdown in the grocery store and fixing the problem. There are a lot of situations with raising kids that can be a struggle, but one thing that doesn’t have to be? Meal and snack time—at least not with these practical hints for parents. From mess-free ways to enjoy yogurt and juice boxes to tricks to get your kids to eat most, if not all, of their food, mealtime just got a little bit easier thanks to this dad of two.

Excerpted from LIFE HACKS FOR PARENTS by Dan Marshall.

Copyright © 2017. Reprinted by permission of Harper Design, an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers

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January 2018 | nymetroparents.com

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RocklandParent 39

family life finances

Choosing a Guardian for Your Child

››

Take these steps to make sure your child is always cared for, now and in the future. By Samantha Neudorf

A

s a loving parent, you want your child to be well cared for at all times. Though we don’t like to dwell on it, that means asking yourself some tough questions. What if you and your partner pass away or become incapacitated while your child still a minor? Or if your child has special needs or a mental illness, and can’t manage his affairs even as an adult? That’s why appointing a legal guardian is so crucial: It ensures that a child is in good hands for as long as he needs supervision, whether that’s temporarily or indefinitely.

Guardianship falls into three categories in New York state: guardianship of a child who may lose both parents, guardianship of a child with special needs after he turns 18, and guardianship of an incapacitated adult. Here’s what you need to know about each type.

Minor Considerations

Ideally, as soon as a couple learns they’re pregnant, they should see an attorney. She can help them draft a will that specifies how their assets will be distributed in the event of their death, as well as who 40

January 2018 | nymetroparents.com

will be the guardian of their child until his 18th birthday. If you didn’t already take this step it’s not too late, but it’s still a good idea to do this as soon as possible.

Jules Haas, an attorney who specializes in estate planning, says parents usually nominate a close relative to be their child’s guardian. It could be an aunt, uncle, grandparent, or other relation—someone who would have the child’s best interests in mind. If you have few relatives, or aren’t close with them, you might ask a good friend to assume the guardianship role instead.

“There’s a lot that needs to be considered through your will,” Haas says. “The most important thing is that it’s better to figure it out and put something in writing than leave it up to the laws of the state of New York.” If you leave no directions, the state will pick a guardian for your child—and it may not be the person you would have preferred.

Once both parents are deceased, the nominated guardian needs to fill out an application to Surrogate’s Court. After it is approved, the individual becomes the legal guardian of the minor child. This process can take a few months, as the court reviews the documents.

In certain scenarios, complications can arise—say, if your nominated guardian has a prior conviction that may disqualify her from court approval, or if family members fight for custody.

Fortunately, problems like these are uncommon.

Special Needs, Special Arrangements

Some children with special needs require guardianship even into adulthood. Happily, there’s a way to make sure they’re still properly cared for once they reach age 18, and beyond. Parents can apply in Surrogate’s Court for something called an Article 17-A guardianship, which allows them to continue to make financial and health care decisions for their adult child.

The process involves presenting medical certifications from either two doctors or a doctor and a psychologist, proving that the individual has a developmental disability. Next, the paperwork is filed with the court. More often than not, the application is approved and the child’s biological parents are awarded guardianship.

Andrew Cohen, Esq., an attorney with offices on Long Island and in Manhattan who specializes in estate planning, special needs law, and guardianship, says parents can file for guardianship under Article 17-A themselves, though they can hire legal representation if they prefer. Either way, it’s a step that shouldn’t be overlooked. “Parents who have a child on the autism spectrum automatically presume, because their child is nonverbal or really cannot advocate for himself, that they would be able to continue to make decisions [for their child] into adulthood,” Cohen says. “But the reality is they’re not granted that automatic authority.”

Article 17-A Guardianship can become complicated if parents have separated or divorced. In this instance, they must decide if they will both become legal guardians, or if one parent will be the primary guardian and the other a secondary decider. “These are things that all have to be taken into consideration when parents have the best interest of their child in their hearts, but don’t necessarily see eye-to-eye on their child’s care,” Cohen says.

Of course, parents themselves may not be able to oversee their adult child’s care for his entire lifetime. If there are no relatives or friends who can succeed them in the role, parents may appoint a nonprofit organization to be their child’s guardian. The arrangement, called a corporate guardianship, would be specified in the parents’ will and would have to be approved by a court guardianship proceeding.

Appointing a Guardian for an Adult

A final type of guardianship, Article 81 guardianship, applies to an incapacitated adult who needs help taking care of personal and/ or financial needs under the Mental Hygiene Law. To qualify as incapacitated, the person’s cognitive function must inhibit him from making sound decisions. While in elderly people this may be due to dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, in younger people the cause may be other mental illnesses, substance or alcohol abuse, or certain medications. If your child turns 18 and she has a mental illness, you can apply to be her guardian to help make decisions on her behalf. This type of guardianship needs to be applied for in Supreme Court.

Article 81 guardianship can be fairly expensive and timeconsuming to attain, but it’s worth it, Cohen says. “The guardian would be appointed with certain powers vested by the court that will properly protect that person from doing harm to themselves or others,” he says.

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things to do

winter activities

How to Get Your Kids to Be Active This Season

››

Wet clothes and cumbersome equipment might make winter play intimidating, but getting your kids active in the snow is worth it. By Susan Bartell, Psy.D.

W

inter can be a dreary time of year, promoting indoor, sedentary activity. This is the main reason that kids and adults tend to gain weight during these months.

Winter is also sometimes associated with feelings of sadness or depression, which may be alleviated by sunlight and enough physical activity. Therefore, despite the challenges of cold, wet weather, winter is the perfect time to encourage your kids to try outdoor activities such as ice-skating, skiing, snowboarding, sledding, or snow-shoeing, to keep them active and energized through even the coldest days.

For many kids, traditional winter sports are very different from their usual activities, because winter sports tend to be slippery and cold. But don’t let this be a deterrent. Instead, be prepared. Your child is more likely to enjoy herself if she has the correct clothing for the experience. For example, if you are going ice-skating for the first time, don’t underestimate the importance of gloves, warm socks, and a waterproof jacket and pants. These will keep your child comfortable even with many falls, which will help her to stick with the activity until she feels a sense of mastery.

Equipment is also important—because if it doesn’t fit well, your child will not have a successful experience. It can take multiple trips to the rental table in order to finally find the right fit, requiring a huge effort and lots of patience from you—I know this from many years of winter sports’ experiences with my three kids!

Like me, many parents find winter sports equipment to be cumbersome, complicated, and a bit intimidating. I am always

exhausted by the time I finally get my kids dressed, equipped, and ready to go. But, in the end it is definitely worth it—the sense of accomplishment that comes with trying a new activity is a wonderful feeling for most children.

So, they’re bundled up and ready to go…but still reluctant?

Since kids learn by example and feel more secure when they are not alone, one of the best ways to encourage your child to participate is to do the activity with them, or get an older sibling or babysitter to do so. If it really is too difficult to have someone else participating with your child, then be sure to stand and watch the entire time. Take pictures, call out encouraging words, point out every improvement, and downplay each mistake or fall. This is not the time to go inside for a cup of hot coffee. Stick it out with your child—it will be worth it!

Finally, in some cases, the best way to encourage your child to try a new activity is to hire a pro. Your child may feel more secure and ready to continue if a professional teaches him the best way to get up when he falls as well as the basic moves necessary to feel accomplished. This is particularly true with skiing and snowboarding—two sports that demand a certain level of technique mastery in order to feel any success. Most mountains offer group classes that are very reasonably priced and really get your child moving. The bonus to these classes is you can go inside for your cup of coffee and to rest for a little while before having to take all that equipment off your child.

Susan Bartell, Psy.D., is a Long Island-based, nationally recognized child psychologist, speaker, and award-winning author. Her latest book is The Top 50 Questions Kids Ask. You can learn more about Dr. Bartell at drsusanbartell.com.

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January 2018 | nymetroparents.com

MORE IDEAS FOR OUTDOOR WINTER ACTIVITIES

Planning an Activity or Event for Children or Families?

Get FREE Exposure on

NYMetroParents If all else fails, some good, old-fashioned snow angels will get your kids active outside.

If plummeting downhill or racing around the rink isn’t your child’s idea of a good time—trust us, there are some kids who prefer not to be daredevils!—you may be looking for other ideas to get them active outside in the cold months. Try one of these winter activities for a few hours, then come inside and warm up with a steaming cup of hot cocoa or cider.

Take a hike. Bring the binoculars and look at the birds or hanging icicles. Take a magnifying glass and prove that there are no two snow crystals exactly alike. See how many different evergreens you can find. Start a species library at home throughout the winter. Get a good stroller workout with the baby. Take a walk with the dog. Look for different animal tracks in the snow.

Go to the playground. There are probably other kids there braving the cold, and the equipment may be used in new ways. Besides, the landing is so much softer in the snow.

Build snow sculptures. Go beyond snowmen to buildings, cars, animals, or team logos. Add food coloring to water, put it in a spray bottle and paint the sculptures. Instead of snowballs, put water in ice cube trays, muffin tins, or old yogurt cups. Add food coloring and freeze them in the freezer or outside. Then take them outside and build something wacky and wonderful.

Blow ice bubbles. While the water is not yet frozen, blow bubbles and watch as they freeze.

Play new games. Have a game of bowling with snowballs. Play horseshoes by burying a water bottle in the snow so the neck sticks out and throw some horseshoes around it. Have a “dog sled race” where children load up their sleds with toys, sticks, or rocks and see who can pull them the fastest. Try a polar bear “swim” where each child gets a bag of swim goggles, a towel, an adult swimsuit, and maybe flippers; see how fast they can pull on all the swim gear over their outer clothes, throw the towel around their necks, and pretend to “swim” around a tree. Put the items back in the bag and let two more children have a swim race. Give each swimmer a medal, like a pinecone on a string.

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things to do

family travel

A Family Vacation at Mohonk Mountain House This legendary resort in New Paltz offers multigenerational fun.

I

t was a brisk November weekend, but we were there to celebrate: Two of our group of nine—including three generations—were celebrating milestone birthdays. We’d headed to Mohonk Mountain House in New Paltz because we wanted the whole family, ages 6 to 70-something-we-won’tpublish, to have a ball. We had high hopes, and the 145-year-old family resort exceeded our expectations. We danced, we ate, we hiked, and then we ate some more.

Want a great family weekend? Here’s why Mohonk Mountain House may be the destination for you: It’s like a cruise ship on land. If you’ve ever cruised the high seas, you’ve probably had your choice of activities from

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January 2018 | nymetroparents.com

››

By Lisa Tucker

dawn to midnight, you’ve eaten so many cupcakes and miniquiches your belly hurt, and you’ve discovered something new every day. That’s Mohonk, but without the queasy stomach or the lifeboat drills. There’s no shortage of things to do, nooks and crannies to explore, and quiet places to sit and look out at the scenery.

Speaking of scenery... We are talking gorgeous, people.

As in, this is the place for fall leaf peeping. It’s gorgeous in winter, too, and in summer you can splash and boat in a giant lake. Get ready to fill up your phone—you’ll want to snap dozens of photos of your little ones out in nature. (I know, right?)

If you have the energy after all that food, start hiking. There are acres and acres of trails, from a lazy walk around the lake to a climb to a pretty tower with amazing views. If you don’t feel like walking, saddle up. The on-site stables offer trail rides and lessons, too. Feeling super daring? Throw some tomahawks. Yes, even this middle-aged mom in clogs and a cardigan took out some aggression with a sharp, spiraling axe. I even hit the target once.

Imagine that.

Ready to rest? The rooms at Mohonk Mountain House are generously sized, but nothing out of the ordinary. What makes them special are the amenities: Our room had a giant balcony overlooking the lake. The kids’ room boasted a fireplace. The bathrooms are large and well-stocked. And the mountain air adds that little touch of fairy dust, which, combined with all that food and the tomahawk throwing, sends you right off to dreamland.

A few things you should know if you go to Mohonk Mountain House: • Book ahead. Waaaay ahead. While we were checking in, one couple arrived to celebrate their anniversary, and they asked to be switched from a room with twin beds. (I know. Ugh.) Nothing doing; every bed in the place was taken. And, when we say “book ahead,” we don’t mean only rooms. When we called the week before our trip to make appointments for trail rides through the stables and treatments at the awardwinning spa, they were totally booked up. Not a single appointment. Not one.

• B ring your dancing (and hiking, and riding) shoes. At night, we particularly enjoyed the square dancing and the cover bands.

• L et the little ones run wild. Well, maybe not wild, but one thing that’s nice about this place is you feel safe and secure. The kids can go up to the buffet or to the game room by themselves. You can sit and have another glass of wine. It’s all good.

• Plan to leave late. Even though checkout is in the morning, you can still use the facilities all day long. Enjoy the pool and the library, pick up some gift shop swag, and put the kids in their PJ’s for the ride home. They’ll be dreaming of their next trip to Mohonk.

Lisa Tucker is a travel writer, novelist, law professor, and mom. When she’s not traveling the world, she follows the United States Supreme Court like most people follow their favorite sports teams.

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And if you’re hungry... Scratch that. There is no way to be hungry at Mohonk Mountain House. Every meal boasts a giant buffet, or two—or nine. There are carving stations. There are soup stations. There are omelette stations. There are cupcake and bruschetta and guacamole stations. And, if you have the type of kid who’s into a limited color palette on his plate, there’s an all-beige station of chicken fingers and mac and cheese. At night, you can order off a three-course menu, and we’re talking gourmet choices. The five adults in our group chowed down on seared ahi, pappardelle with some kind of crazy delicious ragu, hangar steak, lobster bisque, and venison loin. And don’t even get me started on brunch. You’ll stay for hours. You’ll eat way more than the daily recommended allowance. You’ll run extra miles on the treadmill the following week. Take my word for it.

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RocklandParent 45

Meet the

Health Care Professional Dental Wellness of Suffern Sherri Alpert, D.D.S. 2 Executive Blvd., Suite 307, Suffern 845-918-1801 dentalwellnessofsuffern.com dentalwellness@optonline.net

Bobby Crohn, D.D.S., Monroe Dental Office 400 State Route 17M, Suite 2, Monroe 845-782-0189 monroedentaloffice.com monroedental@optonline.net

Dental Wellness of Suffern provides natural, effective, quality dental care for your family, making your visit enjoyable, comfortable, and relaxing. A parent herself, Dr. Alpert enjoys working with children who are apprehensive about the dentist, creating a fun environment with magic tricks, interactive Wii games, a wall mural, and a Find the Dental Helpers game. Author of two books, Cassandra Gets Her Smile Back and Attack of the Sugar Bugs, Dr. Alpert makes visiting the dentist fun. She offers state-of-the art treatment for dental implants, crowns, and other dental treatments.

Dr. Crohn graduated from SUNY Stony Brook with a degree in biology. He received his Doctor of Dental Surgery from the University at Buffalo in 1992, and he completed his general practice residency at Danbury Hospital in 1993. Dr. Crohn has done extensive additional training in implant dentistry including training with Dr. Nick Elian at Vistara Institute, DentalXP Symposiums, and training at Zimmerman Institute. Dr. Crohn is a Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists. He offers state-of-the art treatment including on-site cone beam 3-D imaging.

Marita Smith, D.D.S. Smith’s Little Smiles Pediatric Dentistry 5C Medical Park Drive, Pomona 845-414-9626 smithslittlesmiles.com drsmith@smithslittlesmiles.com

Kastin Orthodontics 6 Medical Park Drive, Pomona 845-354-7233 kastinorthodontics.com drkastin09@yahoo.com

Dr. Marita Smith is a board-certified pediatric dentist dedicated to providing excellent dental care for children from infancy through adolescence in a warm and friendly environment. As a mother of two, Dr. Smith knows how important it is for a child to be comfortable and stress-free during their dental visits. Dr. Smith places great focus on prevention and her goal is to keep your child’s smile healthy! Most insurances accepted. Evening and Saturday hours and 24-hour emergency service available. Se habla Español.

Tenafly Pediatrics 74 Pascack Road, Park Ridge, NJ 201-326-7120 Offices also in Tenafly, Fort Lee, Clifton, Paramus, and Oakland, NJ tenaflypediatrics.com

Dr. David Schaumberger is one of the pediatricians working out of our newly expanded Park Ridge office. As someone who lives nearby, he enjoys working in Northern Bergen and Rockland counties. Dr. Schaumberger completed his pediatric residency from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York and has been working at Tenafly Pediatrics since 2001.

On a personal note, he enjoys ethnic cuisine and spending time with his three children. Tenafly Pediatrics is a recent Angie’s List Winner with offices conveniently located throughout Bergen County.

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January 2018 | nymetroparents.com

With 16 years of orthodontic experience, Dr. Brett Kastin prides his practice on conservative early treatment and cost-free childhood dental monitoring, enabling the most effective treatment possible, as well as being a knowledgeable, compassionate clinician and friend. He utilizes state-of-the-art materials and customized treatment planning for every patient to ensure the highest quality of care.

Dr. Kastin is a certified Invisalign® provider, has been president of the Rockland County Dental Society since 2006, and was voted Rockland’s “Top Orthodontist” by the dentists of Rockland County for the past 10 years. Initial exams are complimentary, as are children’s recall appointments.

Crystal Run Healthcare 2 Centerock Road, West Nyack 845-348-1100 crystalrunhealthcare.com

Crystal Run Healthcare is a premier multispecialty group medical practice with more than 400 providers, offering the convenience of Primary Care and nearly 50 medical specialties, all under one roof. Our 70,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art West Nyack facility offers patients easy access to quality health care by way of more than 20 medical and surgical specialties, including Adolescent Medicine, Pediatrics, Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, including Urogynecology. In addition, our innovative facility boasts an Infusion Center, Urgent Care, diagnostic testing services, on-site laboratory services, Diagnostic Imaging, and Women’s Imaging—making it a one-stop health care destination for all. We are here to meet the needs of every family member, regardless of age or medical condition. Crystal Run also has offices in Haverstraw, Stony Point, and Suffern.

Smile More Kidz Meet Your Smile Team 140 Oak Tree Road, Tappan 845-367–4866 smilemorekidz.com

At Smile More Kidz, we are part of a local tradition of providing your children with the very best that dentistry has to offer in a friendly, comfortable setting.

Our entire team understands how children develop and learn and will make the extra effort to make sure nervous kids feel comfortable and respected. We offer 8am–7pm and Saturday appointments so our patients don’t have to miss school for their care, something our team feels strongly about. We believe in building a foundation for a lifetime of healthy smiles by making every visit to our office a fun and informative experience.

A&R Advanced Dental Group, Anna Alekseyeva, D.D.S., Roman Izmailov, D.D.S. 5C Medical Park Drive, Pomona 845-364-9400; aradvanceddental.com

At A&R Advanced Dental Group, patient satisfaction and comfort is our No. 1 priority. We are a cutting edge practice that delivers state-of-the-art dental care to our patients. Dr. Roman Izmailov and Dr. Anna Alekseyeva have more than 30 years of experience in all phases of dentistry, including high quality and affordable dental implants, zirconia crowns, porcelain veneers, fixed bridges, root canal treatments, teeth whitening, and composite fillings. Evening appointments are available and we accept most insurances.

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

BIRTHDAY GIFTS TILLY...A DEER’S TALE 914-764-5564 tillyadeerstale.com Tilly...A Deer’s Tale is about a real deer that lives in upstate New York and faces challenges after an accident.

This powerful story is meant to inspire children living with physical challenges or limitations. The book makes a great birthday gift!

PARTY PLACES ABRAKADOODLE ART STUDIO FOR KIDS 53 Prospect Place, Hillsdale, NJ 201-383-0027 abrakadoodle.com/nj04 Facebook: abrakadoodlenj04 Instagram: abrakadoodlenorthjersey kroberts@abrakadoodle.com

Paint, slime, draw, fun, clay, and glitter are all the cool things we do at our studio! Abrakadoodle has been serving the community for more than 11 years offering arty parties for ages 3 and older.

BLUE MOON MEXICAN CAFÉ 7-27 Pondfield Road, Bronxville 914-337-4000 42 Kinderkamack Road, Woodcliff Lake, NJ 201-782-9500 23 E. Palisade Ave., Englewood, NJ 201-541-0600 327 Franklin Ave., Wyckoff, NJ 201-891-1331 595 Broadway, Norwood, NJ 201-784-3311 bluemoonmexicancafe.com Looking to spice up your child’s next birthday party without sending your savings south of the border? Your party guests will revel in a fun-filled celebration with a mouth-watering menu. Call today to find out more!

Camp Ramaquois

Meet the

Director Deer Mountain Day Camp

63 Call Hollow Road, Pomona 845-354-2727 deermountaindaycamp.com info@deermountaindaycamp.com Explore talents, unlock creativity, learn new skills. Find passions, make true friends, shine as you! Our story began in 1956, when the Katz family founded the camp, a legacy continued today by second generation owners and directors, Roberta and Carol Katz. Under our insightful watch, campers (ages 3-15) open up as themselves and have a blast as they enjoy a sleepaway camp’s range of activities, facilities, and staff—each program crafted to meet their ages and developmental levels—in a day camp setting. Activities include swimming, sports, fine and performing arts, outdoor adventure, nature, waterfront, discovery, science, and special events.

30 Mountain Road, Pomona 845-354-1600 ramaquois.com Arthur Kessler has spent his entire professional life having a tremendous impact on the camping industry. Kessler’s camping experience developed from camper to owner and director of Tunis Lake, and now Ramaquois. Throughout the years, Kessler has been known for setting the standards in camping.

In 2005, he, along with his wife, received the highest honor as inductees to the Legends of Camping.

Kreative Kids & Vicki’s Dance Studio

61 Maple Ave., New City 845-634-2202 vickistudio.com Vicki is the owner and director of Vicki’s Dance Studio & Kreative Kids, and has been offering toddler and preschool dance, gymnastics, musical theater, summer programs, and birthday parties for more than 25 years. Vicki maintains a fun-filled learning atmosphere in all her programs. The Summer Multi-Arts program is an outstanding part-time program for the child who wants to do a little bit of everything, and for the parent who doesn’t want to spend a fortune. Everyone who participates in any of her programs from ages 16 months to adult will have a wonderful, personalized experience.

RocklandParent 47

raising kids teens

How to Resist Peer Pressure

››

Five strategies for teens to not succumb to their friend’s latest risky ideas By the staff at CANDLE of Rockland

I

t can happen before you know it: One minute your child is hanging out with friends, the next she is doing something completely out of character—something she knows is wrong, such as drinking, smoking, or doing drugs—and it’s all because of peer pressure.

Peer pressure is a problem as old as time. While it affects people of all ages, children (especially teenagers) are more susceptible to the powers of group persuasion, largely because they have not yet developed the skills to refuse it.

Teaching your child peer pressure refusal skills is an important first step in helping him make the right choices, even when others around him aren’t doing the same.

Occasionally one strategy isn’t enough to turn away peer pressure.

In such a case, your child may have to use multiple strategies to avoid a dangerous situation. Here are five peer pressure refusal strategies that your teen can mix and match to help her make healthy choices:

Suggest a Better Idea

Sometimes all it takes is one good idea to get you off the hook.

If a friend suggests doing something you know is wrong, offer an alternate activity that will appeal to him.

For example, if your friend asks you to climb onto the school roof with him because he’s bored, suggest heading to the basketball courts for a game instead. If your friend wants to hang out in a place where you know there will be alcohol, invite her to your house to eat pizza and play video games. Often, people will take the opportunity to do the right thing if they are given the chance. The trick, of course, is to make the new idea interesting. You wouldn’t want to suggest that your friend help you do your chores instead of going to a party.

Ignore

This can be a great strategy, especially when it comes to kids you don’t know well. When someone is trying to pressure you into an unsafe or unwanted activity, you don’t owe that person an explanation for why

you don’t want to participate. In fact, if you try to explain yourself the other person may take it as an invitation to try to convince you otherwise. Ignore them and walk away. Or perhaps ignore and suggest a better idea.

Another great place to use ‘ignore’ is in the classroom. For example, if a student is trying to engage you in conversation while the teacher is talking, ignoring and pretending that you didn’t hear that student can be an effective way to keep out of trouble.

Walk Away

When the peer pressure is too much to handle or you don’t trust yourself to keep saying no, walk away and remove yourself from the situation. When you walk away from peer pressure you immediately eliminate the ability of others to affect you—and you just might be walking toward more positive friends and opportunities.

Say No

It’s hard to say no to your friends. The pressure to fit in is what makes peer influence so effective. That being said, saying no can still be an effective way to shut down an uncomfortable request. If you choose to say no as your strategy, say no with conviction. Leave no doubt in the other person’s mind that you mean it and will not be convinced otherwise. Saying no is about making it abundantly clear that you flatly refuse to participate. That’s it. End of discussion.

Make an Excuse

Maybe you have basketball practice. Perhaps you have to watch your little sister after school, or maybe your mom told you to be home by 6pm, and she’ll ground you for life if you aren’t. All of these excuses are perfectly good reasons for not smoking, drinking, or doing drugs.

Ask your parent or guardian if you can use him or her to help you get out of an unsafe situation in the future. “My mom will kill me if I’m not home” is universal excuse that any kid can understand.

Community Awareness Network For A Drug-Free Life And Environment Inc. (CANDLE) was founded as a nonprofit organization in 1982. Its mission is to prevent substance abuse and violence among youth. For more information, visit candlerockland.org.

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January 2018 | nymetroparents.com

PARTY PLANNER

To advertise: 845-848-8021 or nympads@davlermedia.com

Jill’s Ceramics

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raising kids ad index NYMetroParents.com features more than 20,000 businesses serving the NY metropolitan area! acrobatics / gymnastics

dance

Crystal Run Healthcare ............................................ 2, 46

Tumble-Bee Gymnastics .............................................. 13

Danceworks .................................................................. 41

Dental Wellness of Suffern ..................................... 14, 46

Kreative Kids & Vicki’s Dance Studio ........................... 47

Hudson Valley Psychotherapy ...................................... 41

birthday / party services Academy for Martial Arts .............................................. 11

developmental

Blue Moon Mexican Café ............................................. 27

Hudson Valley Psychotherapy ...................................... 41

Master Jung & Yu Traditional Taekwondo .................... 27 Palisades Climb Adventure........................................... 11 Rockland Parent Party Planner .................................... 49 Tumble-Bee Gymnastics .............................................. 13 West Rock Tennis Club................................................. 25

camps Academy for Martial Arts .............................................. 11 Camp Huntington.......................................................... 21 Camp Ramaquois ................................................... 20, 47 Deer Mountain Day Camp ............................................ 47 JCC of Rockland............................................................. 3 Kreative Kids & Vicki’s Dance Studio ........................... 47 Lindgren School & Camp.............................................. 14 Mathnasium of Nanuet ................................................. 27 West Rock Tennis Club................................................. 25 Young World Day School .............................................. 19

Huntington Learning Center ......................................... 11

education Blue Rock School ......................................................... 13 Green Meadow Waldorf School .................................... 52 Huntington Learning Center ......................................... 11 JCC of Rockland............................................................. 3

Smith’s Little Smiles Pediatric Dentistry ........... 21, 46, 47 Spots OT ...................................................................... 41 Tenafly Pediatrics ................................................... 19, 46

restaurant / food services Blue Moon Mexican Café ............................................. 27 Palisades Center ........................................................... 5

retail

Mathnasium of Nanuet ................................................. 27

Palisades Center ........................................................... 5

St. Catharine Early Childhood Center .......................... 25

Tilly...A Deer’s Tale........................................................ 27

Young World Day School .............................................. 19

family entertainment / events / outings ArtsRock of Rockland ................................................... 14 Palisades Center ........................................................... 5

fitness Academy for Martial Arts .............................................. 11 Danceworks .................................................................. 41 JCC of Rockland............................................................. 3

St. Catharine Early Childhood Center .......................... 25

Master Jung & Yu Traditional Taekwondo .................... 27

Kreative Kids & Vicki’s Dance Studio ........................... 47

Smile More Dentistry .............................................. 13, 47

Lindgren School & Camp.............................................. 14

child care / day care

classes

Kastin & Newman Orthodontics.................................... 46

Palisades Climb Adventure........................................... 11 Tumble-Bee Gymnastics .............................................. 13

special events ArtsRock of Rockland ................................................... 14 Lindgren School & Camp.............................................. 14

special needs Camp Huntington.......................................................... 21 Huntington Learning Center ......................................... 11 Spots OT ...................................................................... 41 Tumble-Bee Gymnastics .............................................. 13

sports Academy for Martial Arts .............................................. 11 Master Jung & Yu Traditional Taekwondo .................... 27

Mathnasium of Nanuet ................................................. 27

health

Palisades Climb Adventure........................................... 11

Tumble-Bee Gymnastics .............................................. 13

Clemente Orthodontics ................................................ 27

West Rock Tennis Club................................................. 25

RocklandParent 49

raising kids quotables

What is your parenting resolution for 2018?

“We are resolving to not put off our adventures for another day!”

—Anna Novak, Warwick, of tinsparrowstudio.com

My resolution is to give my 12-year-old daughter a little more independence as she matures into a young lady. I also want to teach both her and my 9-year-old son more life skills, like how to make basic meals for themselves for the days I don’t feel like cooking. Which are most days

.

—Kimberly Thomas, Valley Stream, creator of the blog valleystreammom.com

“My main resolution is that I want to be more of a YES parent.

I don’t want to let my boys do whatever the heck they want, but I do want to actually consider their requests before I give them the answer that’s most convenient for me. I want them to have the kind of fun that they want, but that can’t happen unless I encourage and allow it.”

—Rhianon Hoffman, the Bay Ridge mom behind brooklynboymom.com

in an instagram So many photos from our Statue of Liberty trip last week, but one of my faves is the view of downtown NYC from Lady Liberty’s pedestal. #statueofliberty #familytravel #travelwithkids #nycviews #nyc #nycskyline #takeyourkidseverywhere #nyckids #thisis8 #nycwithkids #ladyliberty #oneworldtrade (Posted by @globetrottingmommy, aka Lyla Gleason, who blogs at globetrottingmommy.com)

Out of all the people in my life, I get to choose one person to spend my life with. I get to choose one person to love. I get to choose one person to be my partner in everything. ...I have to remember not to take him for granted.

I have to remember to show him the love that I have for him. I have to remember that he was here before the kids.

—Lili Rasprasith, in a post entitled “I Put My Husband Before My Kids, And This Is Why” on scarymommy.com

“Leta skipped out as she was overcome by the excitement of it all, by the idea of reaching this milestone in her life. She asked me how badly it was going to hurt over the next few days, and because she was still so excited I lied and told her that she’s only going to feel a little pain when the truth is SHE WILL WANT TO CLAW HER OWN FACE OFF.” —Heather Armstrong, in a post entitled “My kid got braces and all I got was a broken heart” on her blog dooce.com

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January 2018 | nymetroparents.com

“I am going to try to limit time in front of my phone or computer while my kids are in the same room. As a work-from-homemom, this will be extremely difficult, however I currently find myself demonstrating screen habits that I do not want to pass along to them! And I want to make sure they know that THEY are my number one priority.”

—Rebecca Dixon, Manhattan, managing director of mommybites.com

“My resolution is to spend more time playing games with my kids. By games, I mean board games, and as a family. In recent years we’ve become so digital, and my kids, who are 7 and 11, need time to ‘play’ together and with my husband and me. Our goal is to disconnect from devices and have good old-fashioned game nights where we play Monopoly or Trouble with our kids.”

—Erin Baker, Eastchester, co-founder of emmawestchester.com

A New Year’s Promise “Being a good parent doesn’t require you to do everything perfectly. Like your child, you are a work in progress. Give yourself credit for the good, and forgive yourself for your parenting imperfections. Seek help and support when you need it—and make smaller, more manageable resolutions.”

—Long Island-based psychologist Susan Bartell Psy.D., in an article entitled “Resolutions Revisited.” Read the whole story at nymetroparents.com/resolutions.

More NYMetroParents.com Highlights: WINTER FUN: See the top 100 winter activities in the NY metro region at nymetroparents.com/winter-activities.

CELEBRATE THE NEW YEAR: How to make resolutions kids can keep (nymetroparents.com/kid-resolutions)

We've got everything for a…

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! NYMetroParents.com is parents' Party Central—one-stop shopping for the best in: H Party Places (for the trendiest, newest, or most classic locale) H Entertainers (clowns, balloon twisting, magicians, spa parties & so much more!)

H Gift-Giving (from charitable ideas to the best presents for every age) H At-Home Party Themes (think pirates, princesses, superheroes, Harry Potter…)

H Planning Help H Tips & Tricks from the Pros (…and parents who’ve been there!)

Bergen•RocklandParent NORTH

HILLSDALE • MONTVALE

SEPTEMBER 2012

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

NYMETROPARENTS.COM

LongIslandParent Parent SPETEMBER 2012

Class Is In!

After-School Activities

✓ ❑ ✓ ❑

Resource Guide

✓ ❑ ✓ ❑

SLOW DOWN!

NYMETROPARENTS.COM

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

How to Manage Kids’ Schedules

What Makes a Good Mentor?

+ 174 Family

+ 130 Family

(see our calendar, p. 26)

(see our calendar, p. 32)

Events

Events

Plus: Learning to Let Go

Vaccines at Every Age Plus: Journaling for Your Child

Where-To Guide: Berry Picking

•

Dinosaur Fun

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

NYMetroParents Helping Parents Make Better Decisions

©DYANA VAN CAMPEN

We teach students to think for themselves.

Waldorf students are creative, curious, confident, well-rounded people who make a difference in the world. We offer an innovative, affordable Nursery-12th grade education.

Monthly Saturday Japanese Kindergarten シュタイナー教育 日本語土曜日幼稚園開校

Monthly classes from November 25, 2017–May 5, 2018. 8 classes for $520.

For children ages 4-7. 9am-12:30pm.

Join us for Japanese nursery songs and rhymes, Waldorf crafts, traditional snacks, and time in nature on our wooded, 11-acre campus. Contact Aya Yanagi with questions or to register: ayanagi@gmws.org.

Friday 1/19 Introductory Session for Prospective Parents, 9-11am Join us to learn more about Waldorf Education. The morning includes a short video, a campus tour, and a Q&A with our Administrator and several faculty members. To register, contact Melissa McDonagh: 845.356.2514 x302 or mmcdonagh@gmws.org.

845.356.2514

gmws.org