Rp 1017 by City Guide NY

Rockland Parent OCTOBER 2017

NYMETROPARENTS.COM

7 Hottest

Birthday Trendsof 2017 Emojis, unicorns, Shopkins, and more!

Boo!

Haunted houses, corn mazes, and other Halloween activities

Teaching Kids Life Skills • Emotional intelligence • Financial literacy

HELPING PARENTS MAKE BETTER DECISIONS

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NYMetroParents

Helping Parents Make Better Decisions

Contents

October 2017 ››

Features

14 The 7 Hottest Birthday Party Trends of 2017 This year brought new movies, toys, and fun ideas for your child’s next birthday party.

20 The Importance of EQ High emotional intelligence translates to success across the board—in children academically and in adults professionally. 36 The Payoff of Teaching Kids Financial Literacy Experts discuss how parents can establish skills from a young age to ensure kids will know how to handle their money. 38 An Unimaginable Tragedy Though local infant mortality rates are lower than the national average, more babies die in their first year than most of us expect. Here’s how parents can reduce the risk. 42 Conquering Bake Sales Surviving the minefield of baking treats for your kid’s class, and tips to make allergy-free baked goods. 48 5 Tips to Cut Candy Consumption This Halloween How to control kids’ sugar intake despite their bountiful trick-or-treating hauls

Connections

6 Editor’s Note 8 New Places, New Programs 9 Check Out Our New Website! 10 Quotables 11 NYMP Q&A: Laurie Gelman talks about being the class mom and why she was fired. 50 Voices: Stop With the Trophies Already!

Fun & Activities

Family Activities CALENDAR ››

12 DIY Corner: Ring Toss Challenge 13 Media Matters: Apps to Teach 21stCentury Skills 24 Outing: Randall’s Island 26 Where-To Guide: Pick Your Own Pumpkins 27 Family Activities Calendar 34 Where-To Guide: Haunted Houses, Corn Mazes, and Pumpkin Activities

Directories

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

18 46 47 47 49

Birthday Party Directory Meet the Health Care Professional Party Central Party Planner Advertisers’ Index

››

ON THE COVER ›› 14 7 Hottest Birthday Trends of 2017 34 Boo! Haunted houses, corn mazes, and other Halloween activities Teaching Life Skills: 20 Emotional intelligence 36 Financial literacy facebook.com/nymetroparents

@NYMetroParents

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

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Being a part of a synagogue community can enrich your life like nothing else. And there are many warm and welcoming congregations in Rockland just waiting to invite you inside! Download our guide to the Rockland County Board of Rabbis synagogues at jewishrockland.org/RJI Learn more about Rockland’s vibrant and diverse Jewish community on the popular Facebook page Facebook.com/RCjewish

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RocklandParent

OCTOBER 2017 • Vol.10 • No.12

NYMetroParents nymetroparents.com

EDITORIAL EDITORIAL DIRECTOR: Michael Kress

EDITOR’S NOTE

MANAGING EDITOR: Katelin Walling DEPUTY EDITOR: Caitlin Berens SENIOR EDITOR: Bethany Braun-Silva

A Season of Celebration

ENGAGEMENT EDITOR: Samantha Neudorf

n our family, we have a birthday season: From Nov. 5 (my youngest daughter’s birthday) through Jan. 16 (mine), all five of us celebrate our special days. Sprinkle in a gaggle of other close-but-not-immediate family members—a cousin’s daughter, my brother and his son, a sister-in-law, among others—and it is a busy time. Joyful, to be sure, but even joy brings its stresses, especially when you need to plan three kids’ birthday parties over the course of almost six weeks while scheduling around a bevvy of others’ parties, not to mention Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, and New Year’s. It’s around the middle of October when my wife and I kick into planning mode, and out come the Google spreadsheets, which we use to plan the parties and coordinate gifts. And, of course, the kids themselves are old enough to be involved and have their own wishes and opinions—which seem to change daily, especially as the event gets close. To help figure out this year’s parties, Bethany Braun-Silva looked into the hottest birthday themes of 2017, and she came back with unicorns, Shopkins, Star Wars, and much more (p. 14). As our kids settle into the new school year, we’re offering articles about how to teach them essential life skills: Samantha Neudorf looks at teaching kids financial literacy (p. 36), while Katelin Walling offers a report on the value of kids’ emotional intelligence (p. 20). You can also find a round-up of apps that help kids learn 21stcentury skills (p. 13). Together, they remind us that not all crucial skills come from classroom learning, and that we parents play such an important role in readying our kids for a successful, independent adult life. October has been designated Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, so we’re offering a special report on a subject none of us wants to contemplate: Why do some babies die before they even turn 1? Stacey Pfeffer looks at local infant mortality rates and offers tips on how we can minimize the risks—and how parents who’ve experienced this horrific tragedy cope with a pain that will never go away (p. 38). This month also, of course, brings Halloween and related fall fun. Find haunted houses and other Halloween venues near you (p. 34), discover where to pick pumpkins in our region (p. 26), or plan your kids’ Halloween activities with our calendar (p. 27). Last but not least, I invite you to jump from page to screen and visit our newly relaunched website! The redesigned NYMetroParents.com makes it easier and quicker to find information and presents our content and resources in a cleaner, more attractive way on any device, all with the goal of helping you make better decisions for your kids. Find out more about the new site (p. 9), and happy clicking! Michael Kress Editorial Director

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

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

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NEW PLACES, NEW PROGRAMS

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Who: Gayle Sturmer, LCSW-R What’s New: Full-time availability at her Nyack office, which expanded from a part-time location in March. Gayle Sturmer, LCSW-R, opened her office in Nyack in September 2016. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and certified Rapid Resolution Therapist™, who also practices cognitive behavioral therapy. Sturmer has more than 25 years of experience working with children (ages 5 and older), adolescents, and adults. “I wanted to expand over here because although Nyack and some other towns in Rockland have many therapists, there aren’t many therapists who see both adults and children,” Sturmer says. “I’m happy to be here.” Sturmer also maintains an office in Tarrytown. Want More Info: 99 Main St., Office 213, Nyack and 239 N. Broadway, Suite 6, Tarrytown; 914-450-2413; gaylesturmer.com

Courtesy Nicole Calore Photography

Therapist Expands Practice in Nyack

Gayle Sturmer, LCSW-R, sees children and adults at her offices in Nyack and Tarrytown.

BACK TO SCHOOL MARKETPLACE

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October 2017 | nymetroparents.com

Check Out Our New Website!

››

The redesigned NYMetroParents.com helps you make better decisions for your family—faster and easier than ever.

s our kids were heading back to school with their new outfits and freshly chosen backpacks and lunch boxes, we here at NYMetroParents decided to get in the spirit and debut a new look of our own with the relaunch of NYMetroParents.com. The website is now cleaner, faster, easier to use, and more attractive—all to help you be a more informed parent. Our goal is to connect you seamlessly to all the relevant, useful local information and resources our site offers: business listings, kid-focused events and activities, and news and tips essential to moms and dads. Here are some of the highlights of our new site:

A cleaner look, softer color scheme, and new logo to match the new feel. We’re excited about our updated logo, which you can also find on the cover of this magazine, while our uncluttered design helps you focus on the content and information for which you’re looking with fewer distractions.

Find your region easier. We know you need to find ballet schools and pediatricians and therapists close to your home, so we’ve made it super easy to find your region’s content, via a pop-up that greets you when you arrive and/or the “My Region” option on the navigation bar. Each region has its own color scheme, adding to the vibrancy of the site and giving each region a bit of its own flavor and personality. The new “megamenu” displaying the breadth and depth of the content the site offers.

Easier, clearer navigation. Across the top of our desktop site—and in the top-right “Topics” menu on mobile—you’ll find the core types of information we provide: business and resource listings, tips about things to do, advice and news about local parenting, and a comprehensive events calendar. For a deeper dive into the site and to find more specific listings, use our new “megamenu,” the “Search Categories” link at the top left of the page (“menu” on mobile). There you will find virtually our entire catalog of listings categories, from specific sports to special needs resources to summer camp options.

You’ll see this tool throughout the site to help you find the resources you need in your area.

New ways to find businesses and resources. Connecting you with the local professionals, businesses, and resources that keep your family healthy, happy, and enriched is central to our mission. In addition to the easier navigation, you’ll find a tool throughout the site that asks you what kind of business you need and in what location—make your choices, click the arrow, and search the results to find what you’re looking for.

A better mobile experience. As parents, we’re all on the go (sometimes it seems like we’re in motion 24/7!) and using our phones to access the content and information that helps us make the decisions we need to make. To help, our new site focuses on the mobile experience, ensuring it is just as rich, easy to use, and attractive as it is on desktop. And it’s fast. Because we know you don’t have time to wait! As we all well know, being a parent requires making decisions large and small for our kids every day—no matter how busy we are. We spent the past several months designing a website to help you find what you need to make better decisions faster, easier, and more accurately and fully. We are so proud to invite you to check out the newly relaunched NYMetroParents.com today! RocklandParent

UOTABLES This was also about the point that they both started begging me to carry their treat bags. ‘I’ll carry your treat bags but that means I’m allowed to eat your candy,’ was my rule. That put a stop to the laziness real quick. —Illana Wiles, a NYC mom, in a post entitled “Halloween in NYC Gets Better Every Year” on her blog mommyshorts.com

in an instagram Morning commute. #nyckids #twins #bestfriends (Posted by @toastncandy, aka Nancy Deane, HeyMamaCo editor and New York mom).

HALLOWEEN FOR THE FRIGHTENED “If you can get kids to realize that Halloween involves fun activities that the whole family can take part in, they’ll feel more at ease about it. You can all carve pumpkins, bake cookies or make other Halloween treats, and decorate the house with items your child picked out. You can even forego trick-or-treating and just spend the evening roasting marshmallows or reading books as a family. ”

in an instagram I can’t wait to see the world with these girls but for right now, our backyard is adventure enough. (Posted by @luckypennyblog, aka Ana Fritsch, a Brooklyn mom who blogs at luckypennyblog.com).

—Samantha Neudorf, in an article entitled “Making Halloween Fun For Kids Who Are Scared.” Read it all at nymetroparents.com/scary-fun

MORE NYMetroParents.com HIGHLIGHTS: COSTUME PLANNING: What should your child be this Halloween? (nymetroparents.com/costume) GET CRAFTY: Find Spooky Art Projects at nymetroparents.com/halloween-diy. TODDLER FUN: How to trick-or-treat with your little one (nymetroparents.com/toddler-halloween) HALLOWEEN TREATS: Eyeball cake pops, monster ‘toes,’ and more at nymetroparents.com/halloween-treats

October 2017 | nymetroparents.com

BACK TO SCHOOL MARKETPLACE

NYMP Q&A

Class Mom Qualms

Join the Vicki’s Dance Studio Family!

›› By Bethany Braun-Silva

Laurie Gelman talks about her novel Class Mom and how she got fired from her class mom position after five years.

Is Jennifer Dixon (the main character) based on anyone in particular? She’s someone I just pieced together. I wish she was me, she’s so cool. The only thing that comes from reality are the emails [in the book] because I sent emails either exactly like that or very similar to my class when I was class mom. The emails in the book are hilarious. What prompted you to get so creative with them during your time as class mom? When I wasn’t class mom I would get these really boring grocery list emails that were just cut and pasted from the parent-teacher association, and I thought, “I want to do something interesting, I want people to read these, I want people to actually have fun with it,” so I decided that I would write things that would shock or awe people or make them sit up and go, “Oh my gosh, did she just write that?” It actually worked, because I had more people participating and reading every word of my emails than any other class mom, because they were excited to see what I was going to say next. But I read that this backfired on you and you got fired from the class mom position, is that true? Well to be fair, it was in my fifth year, I’d been doing it for four years and everybody loved it and it’s all good until somebody doesn’t like you. In my fifth year I upset someone or someone didn’t understand my humor, so they complained to the PTA and asked me to step down as class mom, which was very hurtful. Do you have any advice for moms who may be contemplating taking on the class mom role? I think you have to make it your own and make it fun. Make it something the parents can’t resist being a part of. I used to give awards for the quickest response time to one of my emails or the person who embodied the spirit of a class mom the most. I just made it fun for everybody. I wrote one email for the Christmas party that had to be sung to the tune of “Santa Claus is Coming to Town”. Everybody loved that because you end up humming it to yourself. I just tried to do things that piqued everybody’s interest and make it more fun for them. I think that’s the best way to be a great class mom. What’s your favorite thing about raising kids in NYC? I love the fact that we get to go to the museums, the fact that it’s a weekly thing, not a once-in-a lifetime adventure. There’s so much opportunity to experience culture and excitement and their backyard is something everyone in the world wants to see at least once. It’s really exciting to raise kids in New York. Something we started to do more of is Broadway—we are in the best place in the world to see a show and my girls love theater.

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RocklandParent 11

DIY CORNER Birthday Party Game

Ring Toss Challenge

Do you love fairground games but hardly ever get to play them? Why not create your own ring toss game at home? Invite your friends to play, then work on perfecting your aim. The game is very easy to make and will provide hours of fun for you and your friends. Make sure you store the board inside so you can use it again and again!

STEP 1

STEP 2

STEP 3

STEP 4

STEP 5

STEP 6

STEP 7

STEP 8

Difficulty Level: Easy What you will need: • Adhesive putty • Ruler • Scissors • Pencil • Paintbrushes • Paints • Large cardboard sheet Directions: 1. To make your target board, draw the outline of the board on a sheet of cardboard and add sloping flaps on either side. These will make the board stand up. 2. Carefully cut out your target board with scissors. Make sure you don’t cut off the sloping flaps! 3. Use a ruler and the tops of your scissors to score both sloping ends of the target board. Fold them back to create flaps to stand your board up. 4. It’s time to decorate the board. Paint the stand one color and each pin a different color, so they stand out. 5. Place your ring template (visit nymetroparents.com/ ring-toss to download) on a piece of cardboard and draw around it. Repeat the process to draw as many rings as you want. 6. Cut the rings out. Cut around the outside first, then place the adhesive putty underneath, pierce the center of the ring with a sharp pencil, and cut it out. 7. Paint the rings and leave them to dry. You can make them any color you like. You could even add patterns like stripes or dots to your set. 8. The ring toss board is ready. Find some friends and try it out. If you want to make things competitive, paint different point values on the pins and see who can reach 100 points first. Images and text of Out of the Box reprinted by permission of DK, a division of Penguin Random House LLC. Copyright © 2017 by Jemma Westing.

October 2017 | nymetroparents.com

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★ This Freemium slideshow tool is better on privacy tha n similar apps. Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android, Chromeboo k In Theaters Oct. 6: My Little Pony: The Movie Parents need to know that My Little Pony: The Movie is an animated adventure that continues the beloved (if heavily marketed) franchise that began with the original ’80s TV show and is still popular today thanks to shows such as Friendship Is Magic. This movie has an all-star voice cast (Zoe Saldana, Kristin Chenoweth, Emily Blunt) playing the cute, colorful ponies who live in the magical land of Equestria. When their home is threatened, the “Mane 6” set out to save Ponyville, meeting new folks and overcoming obstacles along the way. The My Little Pony franchise is known for being kid-friendly and full of messages about friendship and teamwork, so expect the same here.

Our Partner: Common Sense Media An independent nonprof it that helps families make smart media choices. Check out thousands of ratings and reviews at commonsensemedia.org

See more at NYMetroParents.com/media BACK TO SCHOOL MARKETPLACE w e s t

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The 7 Hottest Birthday Party Trends of 2017 This year brought new movies, toys, and fun ideas for your child’s birthday party. Here are our favorites. By Bethany Braun-Silva

Su th

the Tail on the Donkey. “I found a picture of Princess Leia and my husband printed it out on nine sheets of paper that I taped together. I then covered the bulk of the poster with clear adhesive contact paper. The kids wore a C3PO mask that I made so that they couldn’t see and attempted to ‘Pin the Bun on Princess Leia.’ The bun is brown yarn wrapped and hot glued to cardboard,” she writes on her blog.

T 5 n si d o H n L fo In yo p

Courtesy Trisha Haas

Courtesy Amy Friend

We scoured the mom blogs and studied our Instagram feed in search of the trendiest kids’ birthday party themes of the year. And what did we find? Plenty of unicorns, emojis, and Shopkins, among many other fun ideas. Here are our picks for the hottest birthday party themes of 2017:

Po Unicorn Poop Cupcake Cones, a hilarious and easy-to-make treat for a memorable unicorn-themed birthday party

Unicorns A Star Wars-themed version of Pin the Tail on the Donkey

Star Wars

With the release of Rogue One: A Star Wars Movie late last year and the impending December debut of The Last Jedi, many kids will be wanting a Star Wars-themed party, complete with light sabers, storm troopers, and more. Blogger Amy Friend of DuringQuietTime.com created a Stars Wars spin on the classic Pin 14

October 2017 | nymetroparents.com

These mythical creatures are definitely having a moment this year. With the launch of the Unicorn Frappuccino at Starbucks and a unicorn horn store in Brooklyn, it seems like unicorns are everywhere, including very possibly at your little one’s next birthday party. Think pastel colors and lots of glitter to make this party extra special. You can create personalized horns for each child, or have them decorate their own as a fun activity. Trisha Haas, who blogs at momdot.com, made fun Unicorn Poop Cupcake Cones that are as easy to create as they are hilarious. You just need some cake mix, ice cream cones, and food coloring to create this one-of-a-kind-treat.

N M th is tr fo Yo ow hi te ol

Courtesy Alison Faulkner of thealisonshow.com

.’ e

MASTER JUNG & MASTER YU TRADITIONAL

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PHYSICAL FITNESS STRONG BODY! SELF-DEFENSE STRONG RESPECT MIND! CONFIDENCE YES I CAN! DISCIPLINE

Emojis

The Emoji Movie was released this summer, and since then my 5-year-old has been running around the house screaming, “We’re number two! We’re number two!” So it’s no surprise we are considering an emoji-themed party for his next birthday. One easy-todo idea is creating emojis out of clementines. It’s a healthy snack option and a creative way to let the kids make their very own emoji. Hand out clementines to each of the children and lay out permanent markers. You can hang some emoji print outs for inspiration. Less healthy but lots of fun, you can also decorate sugar cookies for fun, edible emoji. This party is also great for teens and tweens. Invite guests to play “name that movie” using only emojis. Or if you’ve got an avid texter—is there a teen who isn’t?—an emoji party is a fun way for Mom and Dad to play the “cool card.”

Courtesy Nicole Gonzalez

Sugar cookies easily become emoji cookies for a fun addition to an emojithemed party.

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GERMAN LANGUAGE CLASSES Pokémon cupcakes round out a birthday party of Pokémon-themed activities.

Pokémon

No mobile devices are necessary to have a good time at this party. Manhattan mom blogger Nicole Gonzalez of LilliesandLeon.com threw a Pokémon-themed party for her son’s 5th birthday. “Lucas is Pokémon obsessed, and we wanted his party to be simple but true to the characters and theme,” Gonzalez says. “A highlight for the kids were the Pokéball cupcakes made by Chloe Sackett.” You can also create your very own Pokémon Go hunt right in your own home, sans cellphones. Just take a cue from the game and hide cut outs around the house. You can divide up the kids into teams and award points for each Pokémon found. Nothing like an old-fashioned scavenger hunt to keep the kids entertained. continued on next page ››

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Courtesy Victoria Saley

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A fun idea for favors to top off a fun Lego-themed party

Lego

Courtesy Natalie Lesnefsky

For endless options and ways to play, Lego is the go-to toy—and it can also be the go-to option for birthday parties. Create a “bricks station” where partygoers can make an original creation to take home. And baking a Lego cake is fairly easy for the not-so-crafty parent: All you need is a cake pan, cupcake molds, and colorful frosting. Blogger Victoria Saley of www.Obseussed.com created Lego-themed party favors and put a mystery mini figurine in each one!

All ready for a Shopkins-themed birthday party

Shopkins A colorful, Hawaiian-focused Moana birthday party

Moana Thanks to Disney’s hit Moana, you can expect to see a lot of Hawaiian-themed parties this year and next. Parents can get creative by using tons of flowers for decoration as well as DIY costumes for the partygoers. Why not set up a designated area where kids can dress up like characters from the movie? Have temporary tattoos and straw skirts ready for your guests to get into the spirit. Christy Bergerson from Isty Belle Studio, a Printable Party Shop in Washington state, used pineapple blow-ups for her daughter’s Moana pool party. “I was hesitant when my daughter first said she wanted a Moana-themed birthday party, but I decided to run with it and it ended up being one of our favorite events to date!,” she says. “Playing with bright colors and tropical touches instead of going strictly character based allowed us to really create a fun, playful event with just enough elements of her favorite movie included.”

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These delicious little toys are all the rage, and since they’re food-centric, planning sweets and treats for a Shopkins party should be a breeze. Create shopping basket party favors that kids can fill themselves. Fill several bins with toys, treats, and other party favor paraphilia. Give each kid a basket and have her take a treat from each bin—it will be like they are “shopping” for their own favors. Natalie Lesnefsky of AtHomewithNatalie.com created a balloon garland over the must-have dessert table. “We were deep in the Shopkins craze over here so the party theme was a no brainer!,” she says. “It was really fun because both girls were old enough to help a lot with the party details. I had a balloon pump and they worked together to pump up almost all of the balloons... even tying them on their own! Together we created a fun balloon garland for the Dessert Table that immediately made it a party! The secret to the arch is the chicken wire! It’s awesome because it’s lightweight and moldable. All you do is hot glue clusters of balloons together, then make a tape tail and attach it to the chicken wire that you shaped and attached to the wall. (I had two nails holding it up.) Then go in and add more with tape or hot glue.”

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BIRTHDAY PARTIES 2017 Your local guide to party places, resources, and activities for kids! Birthday Party Entertainment Chocolatier Matisse

32 Orangetown Shopping Center, Orangeburg 845-365-0285 chocolatiermatisse.com chocolatiermatisse@gmail.com Chocolatier birthday parties for girls and boys ages 3 and older. Children learn how chocolate is made, make and decorate a chocolate pizza, balloon bowl filled with dipped items, candy apples, and other hand dipped goodies to take home. You pick what your guests create. Not just for kids anymore, fun for all ages. Chocolate-making classes are also offered.

Birthday Party Gifts Tilly...A Deer’s Tale

914-764-5564 tillyadeerstale.com josie42812@yahoo.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!

Toyriffic2 Toy Store

1581 Route 202, Pomona 845-362-6053 toyriffic2.com toyriffic2@aol.com Looking for the perfect birthday gift? Come visit our unique toy store in Pomona. We offer a great selection of Melissa & Doug crafts and many other quality, affordable, educational toys, crafts, games, and puzzles for kids of all ages, both boys and girls. Everything from unique stuffed animals and baby toys to cool gadgets, Playmobil® sets, robotic toys, unique board games, and on-trend

items. Come see our new store location (same shopping center, just a few stores away from the previous spot).

Birthday Party Places The Academy For Martial Arts

8 Orangetown Shopping Center, Orangeburg 845-359-4500 rocklandkarate.com Our parties are legendary! A karate party is a great way to enter the world of martial arts. It’s also a great way for experienced students to share martial arts with friends and family. And, don’t tell anyone, but it’s also great fun! At The Academy for Martial Arts, we offer a spacious, fully equipped facility; an energetic, cheerful, and professional staff; and martial arts-themed fun and games. Packages include pizza and juice boxes, plates, cups, napkins, plasticware, and table cloths. Additional options available. Give your child a party everyone will remember!

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? Then take an unforgettable trip to the moon—the Blue Moon Mexican Café, that is. Five convenient locations in Bergen and Westchester counties allow visitors of all ages to enjoy a

October 2017 | nymetroparents.com

bright and airy atmosphere. Our outgoing, child-friendly staff will put together the party of a lifetime. Your party guests will revel in a fun-filled celebration with a mouth-watering menu. Call today to find out more!

Bounce! Trampoline Sports

612 Corporate Way (off Route 303), Valley Cottage 845-268-4000 facebook.com/bouncetrampolinesports twitter.com/bouncesport bouncevalleycottage.com info@bounceonit.com There is no party place in the tri-state area like Bounce! Trampoline Sports! Guests jump on more than 10,000 square feet of trampolines, including trampoline dodgeball, slam-dunk basketball, and launching into giant foam pits! And now they can enjoy our new Bounce! Xtreme Ninja Obstacle Course. We also have a Bounce! Jr. for ages 5 and younger with a separate trampoline court, foam pit, and giant inflatable castle. Free Wi-Fi, HD television lounge, and snack and coffee bar. At Bounce! “Have Fun–Get Fit!®” Visit our website or call for party details.

Chocolatier Matisse

Dave & Buster’s

Palisades Center Mall, 4661 Palisades Center Drive, West Nyack 845-353-1555 daveandbusters.com Planning your kid’s birthday party is a piece of cake! Dave & Buster’s birthday parties are perfect for kids of all ages. With kid-friendly food to keep them fueled for fun and hundreds of games, there’s something for everyone. We’ll do the work— they’ll have a blast. Put some play in your day! Save time and book online or call us at 845348-6007. Located right on the fourth floor of the Palisades Center Mall.

Jill’s Ceramics

180 Germonds Road, West Nyack 845-623-4975 jillsceramics.com jillsceramics@aol.com Established for more than 36 years, we offer a fully equipped ceramics and plaster studio at which children and adults let their creativity run wild. Parties for kids include paper goods, a painter’s hat for the birthday child signed by their friends, and an item for each child to paint. You provide the food and drink. Walk-ins welcome as well as groups of all ages (Girl Scouts, ladies’ night, corporate, or camps). We offer the largest selection of ceramic and plaster pieces to paint and glaze or paint and take home same day, including items for holidays.

Master Jung & Yu Traditional Taekwondo

70 N. Main St., New City 845-638-4000 mytaekwondolife.com Give your child a birthday party that will change his or her life! An introductory taekwondo lesson involves stretching, kicking, relay games, board breaking, and self-defense. Celebrate your child’s birthday, but also teach

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valuable lifetime techniques. These lessons include healthy eating habits, daily exercise, respect, discipline, confidence, and appreciation of parents. Teaching martial arts is love. Parties are offered on Saturday afternoons and Sunday mornings.

Mathnasium of Nanuet

209B W. Route 59, Nanuet 845-624-MATH (6284) mathnasium.com/nanuet nanuet@mathnasium.com Let Mathnasium instructors run a memorable party for your birthday child and friends. Enjoy private use of our center for your celebration (birthday, fundraiser, baby shower, or graduation). Your party host will engage your guests in an array of age-appropriate STEM activities based on party theme (structural engineering, math by building, craft and songs, or Lego). Our all-inclusive party will take care of setup and cleanup so you can relax and enjoy the fun! Or inquire about our room rental. For more information or to book, please call 845-624-6284 or send us an email at nanuet@ mathnasium.com.

Palisades Climb Adventure

4590 Palisades Center Drive, Level 4 of the Palisades Center, West Nyack 845-727-3500 palisadesclimb.com Palisades Climb Adventure offers the world’s tallest indoor ropes challenge course. Standing 85 feet tall, it has five levels and 75 unique challenge elements to explore, climb, and conquer. More advanced athletes will find a challenge, while “just for fun” climbers will experience a sense of athletic accomplishment. Our Sky Tykes kids’ ropes course is designed for ages 2-7, 48 inches max; and our new Sky Rail attraction is now open! Both courses are available for birthday parties, other groups, and special events. Book your party today!

Sparkle Up

8 Second St., New City 845-634-0140 sparkleupparties.com sparkleup@me.com Glamour girls unite! We offer fun and exciting princess, rock star, glamour girl, and American Girl Doll themed party packages, including dress up with our amazing costumes, hairstyling, mini-manicures, sparkle tattoos, dancing, and catwalk. Teen Parties focus on skin care and makeup application. Birthday girls are free and receive a special gift. We also offer a great selection of party favors and food options. Other offerings include Girl Scout events, 1-hour play date and drop-off programs, and great kids’ haircuts, which include free mini-mani or glitter tattoo.

Tumble-Bee Gymnastics and Fitness

401 Market St., Nanuet Mall South, Nanuet 845-623-2553 tumble-beegymnastics.com Tumble-Bee Gymnastics and Fitness is more than just tumbling. We offer an education in gymnastics, fitness, and fun. Serving Rockland for more than 30 years, we offer private birthday parties, and programs for children ages 10 months to 12 years. Our preschool program offers exciting lessons and theme weeks. We teach the nationally recognized Fun & Fit Gymnastics program and International Smart Moves for our after-school program. Our staff is warm, caring, and well trained to work with your child building confidence and self-esteem to achieve success in the future.

Vicki’s Dance Studio and Kreative Kids

include Hip-Hop Dance Party & Games Mix, Jumping Gymnastics, Disney Dance Mix, and Dress-up Princess Party! We make sure the birthday child feels special and is the center of attention. Our parties are very well organized, at a price you can’t beat! Easy for the parents and fun for the children. Party packages include decorations, paper products, entertainment, and a party coordinator. Call for a party to remember.

West Rock Indoor Sports and Entertainment Complex

21 Pralle Lane, Nanuet 845-623-3636 westrockindoor.com West Rock offers the ultimate place to hold your birthday party, fundraiser, or special event. Our unique and versatile facility boasts 40-foot ceilings, 26,000 square feet of turf, two regulation-size basketball courts, six Har-Tru tennis courts, indoor bouncers, and private party room. Choose one of our specialty or sports parties. Parties can be customized to fit your child’s interests. Our themes

include “Color War” and “In It To Rock It” as well as our newest “Bubble Ball” Parties! All packages include dedicated party host(s) to ensure your child has a memorable event.

Young Chefs Academy of New City

59 S. Main St., New City 845-638-0601 newcityny.youngchefsacademy.com newcityny@youngchefsacademy.com Our exciting, new birthday party options include “Make Your Own Pizza” or “Little Princess Tea” with scones and tea sandwiches (for ages 4 and older), “Pasta Party” during which you make your own pasta and sauce from scratch, or our “Fun-to-do Fondue” with cheese and chocolate for dipping (ages 8 and older). “You provide the chef and we provide the rest.” Our parties include all invitations, paperware, and drinks. Additional goodie bags and personalized chefware available. We also offer weekly cooking classes and fun new camp programs, so check out our website for more information.

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MUSIC LESSONS piano • voice • guitar • drums • strings

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61 Maple Ave., New City 845-634-2202 vickistudio.com We offer a variety of birthday parties for boys and girls of all ages. Great party theme options

845.405.3615 • rivertownmusic.net RocklandParent 19

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Being able to discern others’ feelings and acting based on that information is part of emotional intelligence, so experts suggest parents begin clearly demonstrating empathy around elementary school-aged children to help them learn what it means to be a good friend.

The Importance of EQ

››

High emotional intelligence translates to success across the board—in children academically and in adults professionally. Here’s how you can help your child succeed in all development stages. By Katelin Walling

motional intelligence (EQ) is a hot topic these days, from the slew of articles discussing characteristics of those with high emotional intelligence to the business articles revealing the emotional-intelligence job skills everyone needs to be successful. And members of Bachelor Nation will undoubtedly remember the showdown between Corinne Olympios and Taylor Nolan on Nick Viall’s season of ABC’s The Bachelor, when Nolan told Olympios she lacked emotional intelligence. But what exactly is emotional intelligence, and how can parents ensure their children have a high level? We spoke to experts to get a clear picture of EQ, its benefits to children, and how parents can help children build their emotional intelligence skills.

Emotional Intelligence Explained

Psychologists John D. Mayer, Ph.D., and Peter Salovey, Ph.D., first coined the term emotional intelligence in the ’90s. Their 20

October 2017 | nymetroparents.com

definition of EQ is “the ability to monitor one’s own and others’ feelings and emotions, to discriminate among them, and to use this information to guide one’s thinking and action.” This is the definition the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence uses, says Kathryn Lee, M.A., director of RULER for Families at the center. (RULER is an acronym for the building blocks of emotional intelligence: recognizing, understanding, labeling, expressing, and regulating emotions.) Meanwhile, The Center for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning combines social and emotional intelligences and divides those into five skill areas: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision making, according to Jennifer Miller, M.Ed., who formerly worked with CASEL and is currently an expert contributor for NBC’s Parent Toolkit and creator and author of the blog Confident Parents, Confident Kids.

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Keeping these two definitions in mind, Lee and Miller say a child has a good EQ level if she is able to: name her feelings and moods, respond flexibly to changes in her environment, show empathy toward others, appraise how others are feeling, recover more quickly from upset or disappointment, and manage emotions in a challenging environment (calm herself down, articulate what she’s feeling, and move forward).

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Benefits of Emotional Intelligence

While kids will utilize emotional intelligence skills in everyday life and social interactions, building those skills can help children be more successful academically and, later on, professionally. Schools with a focus on social-emotional learning had an 11-percent advantage on high-stakes achievement tests as compared to schools without such a focus, according to a 2011 meta-analysis published in the journal Child Development, which looked at the effectiveness of 213 school-based social and emotional learning programs. “That’s pretty significant when you look at moving the needle on academic performance,” Miller says. A 20-year retrospective study published in the American Journal of Health in 2015 compared the social-emotional competencies in children as kindergarteners and again as 25-year-olds. The study found that for every point increase in the person’s original score, he was 54 percent more likely to graduate from high school, twice as likely to attain a college degree, and 46 percent more likely to have a full-time job at the age of 25. As children become members of the workplace of today and the future, they are required to be critical, creative, and innovative thinkers. Employers require employees that are able to collaborate, work in teams, and understand cross-cultural communications in a global economy, including perspective taking, empathy, and social awareness, Miller says. “You go down the list of social-emotional competencies, and they have become the foundation of what employers are looking for in the workforce, so it is absolutely critical in looking to the future,” she says.

How to Help Kids Build Emotional Intelligence

Since social-emotional intelligence is a set of skills, “they can be learned at any point. You’re not born with it, it’s not static, it’s dynamic,” Miller says. “There is not a kid in the world that doesn’t need support in this area. As they develop, they are working on their skills, so [support] is critical. It’s not a low income issue, it’s not a cultural issue, it’s very much every child needs to understand and relate to each other effectively.” So how can parents help their children build social-emotional skills? Miller and Lee share their tips for various stages of development.

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Toddlers and Pre-K

Build your child’s feeling-word vocabulary. Help her learn to identify and name how she is feeling. “Even preschoolers can use words like frustrated, lonely, or surprised—and when they are able to name their feelings, they become more able to understand and work with their feelings,” Lee says. One way parents can help their toddler or pre-K age child is to separate him from the situation to take stock of his feelings. Lead “a young child into a safe space—in other words not in a public forum where a bunch of people are looking at them where they can get even more upset because they’re humiliated by the social context,” Miller says. “Walk them to a safe place where they can calm down, you can model breathing, help them breathe, and continued on next page ››

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then give them words to ask them whether you’re right about their feelings. It seems like you’re really frustrated, is that right? It seems like you’re angry, like you’re hurt, is that right?” This very brief statement about what he is feeling and experiencing can help him begin to name and label those feelings.

Elementary School

Cultivate friend-making skills. Pre-K to second-grade children are beginning to create genuine friendships, but they’re new to creating friendships, Miller says. “Children need a lot of help in figuring out how to be a good friend and to have friends,” she says. “At the beginning of the school year, you can practice making introductions if they’re nervous about not knowing other kids, and you can do that with stuffed animals or action figures that they play with: Hi, I want to introduce you to Betsy Bear. It’s nice to meet you, this is so-and-so.” Demonstrate empathy. “In elementary school, friends become increasingly important. Elementary school-aged children learn to identify and become attuned to peers’ facial expressions and perspectives. So parents can support their children by helping them learn how to understand others’ feelings, and to empathize with them, creating the basis for becoming a true friend,” Lee says. In the home, where emotions are okay to talk about and explore, Lee recommends parents try to model empathy by saying, I wonder how your friend’s doing. She looked a little sad when she was here the other day—have you noticed that? or Gosh, I remember his parents are separated. I wonder if there is anything we can do to show our love and support for him? “Helping your child learn to develop an empathic frame for their experience can really mean a lot for a child during those elementary school years,” Lee says. Practice self-management techniques. Third- through sixthgraders start to encounter more complicated social problems, such as bullying. So, Miller says, their self-management skills become really important. To help your child become a responsible decisionmaker, discern what her values are, and act responsibly in social environments, Miller suggests practicing these scenarios with your child at home: how to deal when she is picked on, help her practice ways to respond to bullies whether she is the one being bullied or witnessing it, what to do when her friend is being bullied, when to disengage and not be an audience giving the bully power.

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Kids at this age can also become very performance oriented, worried about how teachers and peers are judging them, whether it’s sports or academic. Because of this pressure, Miller says kids need really good coping skills. Talk to your child about dealing with frustration, persisting toward a goal when the outcome isn’t perfect immediately, and dealing with feelings of embarrassment or humiliation in front of peers when he doesn’t first succeed.

Middle School

Explore morals and ethics. In middle school, kids’ moral and ethical development begins, and awareness starts to shift from “me and my accomplishments to an awareness of one’s membership in a larger community and humanity,” Lee says. “So parents exploring those topics with their middle-schoolers helps support their efforts to develop this larger vision and to formulate their own values.” Talk and listen. “I think a critical aspect of being a middleschool parent is keeping the lines of communication open,” Miller says. At this age, kids are in the throes of puberty, and part of it is parental pushback and pushing boundaries. So talk about those boundaries and discuss why they are important, she says. “Kids are learning and caring more about social justice as it relates to the world and as it relates to them, and so they want to know why.” When you are open with your child, she will come to you on her own time. You may not talk about little issues, “but when the big issues come up, they come to you, not somebody else,” Miller adds.

High School

Give your teen space to create an identity. “High-schoolers are really working hard at creating their own identity and independence, so sometimes they’re going to need more alone time and time with their friends and away from you. I think it’s a tough time to create independence when you are still dependent in a household,” Miller says; so allow your teen space to develop his self-identity. Miller also suggests telling your teen stories from her childhood when she demonstrated strength and perseverance. “I think it’s really helpful because at the time when social pressure is at it’s height and they’re trying to figure out who they’re going to be in all of it, you want them to feel strong and feel like they can stand their ground if they need to,” she says. While giving your teen space to cultivate independence, stay connected to him and keep the relationship strong. “Parents can support their high-schooler’s development by thoughtfully thinking issues through with them, by encouraging the ability of their teen to think critically in their decision-making. If we can recognize that this is a time when kids naturally begin to differentiate themselves from other adults, often including their parents, then we can avoid taking it personally and arguing,” Lee advises. “This is a healthy development—a necessary part of formulating their own identities.” As with most life skills, parents are their children’s first and main teachers. So to help your child build her emotional and social skills, you have to demonstrate and build these skills yourself. As Miller says, “Every human being can continue to hone their social and emotional competence.”

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OUTINGS: Randall’s Island

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Explore Nature and Get in the Game on Randall’s Island

T ra ca L

Hit a hole-in-one, explore an urban farm, check out bee hotels, and more between the boroughs. ›› By Sabrina Sooknanan

Courtesy Randall’s Island Park Alliance

Sabrina Sooknanan

Vincent LaForet

1 Hit a hole-in-one on the island’s 36-hole miniature-golf course. 2 Decorate pumpkins, enjoy live music, and watch the Randall’s Island Chef Showdown at the Harvest Festival. 3 The Urban Farm is an educational stop at which families can learn about sustainable gardening practices. 4 Randall’s Island is home to more than 60 playing fields, so you can cheer on a local team or play ball. 5 Randall’s Island is home to six bee hotels.

andall’s Island Park, a multifaceted public park covering most of a 480-acre island in the East River between East Harlem, the South Bronx, and Astoria, Queens, is home to a variety of facilities, activities, and natural areas for every member of the family to enjoy.

Farm in the City

The Urban Farm gives families the opportunity to plant, harvest, and compost. It offers lessons on sustainable gardening practices such as rainwater capture, soil fertility, pollination, and botany. Your family can catch a glimpse of this year’s flock of chickens, the only known rice paddies in New York, an apple orchard, greenhouses, and a berry patch at this seasonal attraction.

Explore Themed Gardens

Check out five themed gardens created using native species and sustainable practices, including the Rock Garden and the Waters Edge Garden. The White Garden is composed of plants with flowers or foliate in various tones of white. The Hell Gate Wildflower Meadow provides food and shelter for various

October 2017 | nymetroparents.com

pollinators and other insects, while the Freshwater Wetlands Wildflower Meadow contains unusual native plants. There are also six bee hotels on the island. The park also has a variety of natural areas to explore, including freshwater wetlands, a tidal salt marsh, an urban forest, and nearly 5 miles of coastal upland habitat. Most are accessible via the almost 8 miles of bike and pedestrian pathways that run throughout the park and along the waterfront.

Play Sports (or Cheer on a Local Team)

Randall’s Island is home to more than 60 playing fields. Families and friends can come out to play and enjoy a good game of soccer, softball, lacrosse, rugby, and more. Randall’s Island Park Alliance works with local schools and communitybased organizations to make sure the fields are available for NYC children and adult leagues and teams, so you can cheer on your favorite local team or toss a ball around. The park is also home to Icahn Stadium, a 400-meter running track used to accommodate local, national, and international track and field events.

In m p p C th 5

A D H 1 F

Become the Next Tennis Star

The Sportime Tennis Center offers many resources for families, such as 20 indoor and outdoor courts: 10 Har-Tru clay and 10 Deco-Turf hard tennis courts, a training and fitness center, locker rooms, a café, a pro shop, and meeting and event facilities. Tennis programs, athletic training, and youth camps are available for all ages and levels.

We Grow Fun

Hit a Hole-in-One

The Golf Center includes an indoor-outdoor, two-tier driving range with 80 stalls, a 36-hole miniature golf course, batting cages, golf lessons, and free Wi-Fi. Head to the kid-friendly Liquid Bread Beer Garden and Grill for a bite afterward.

e Courtesy Randall’s Island Park Alliance

Celebrate the Harvest

In addition to the yoga, tours, birding, workshops, and outdoor movie nights on the island, the Harvest Festival on Oct. 15 promises free fall fun. There will be live music, face painting, and pumpkins for kids to decorate, as well as the Randall’s Island Chef Showdown, during which three chefs will be judged on their creations using the Urban Farm’s harvest. Run the River 5K on Oct. 28 also includes a children’s fun run.

Old Fashioned Family Fun Daily 9am – 5pm through October

Pumpkin Fiesta Weekends! Farm to Table Café Menu

Weekend Pony Rides

U-Pick Apples & Pumpkins • Famous Cider Donuts

Over 25 Activities Including:

Want to Go?

Address: 20 Randall’s Island Park Directions: Approximately a 40-minute drive from New City Hours: Park: daily, 5am-12am; Urban Farm: Saturday-Sunday, 11am-5pm through Oct. 15 For more information: 212-830-7722 or randallsisland.org

• Hayrides • Cornmazes • Bouncy Pillow • Gem Mining • Cow Train Rides • Giant Slide • Pedal Karts • Animals

Hurds Family Farm

2187 State Rte. 32, Modena 12548 • 845-883-7825 (Just 5 minutes off NYS Thruway, Exit 18, New Paltz)

HurdsFamilyFarm.com

We Love Kids & Know How to Care for Them!

We are located on the corner of Oak Tree Rd & Rte 303.

Most Insurance is Welcome & Maximized.

$0 cleaning with most insurances.

$59 children’s cleaning, exam, X-rays and fluoride for non-insured patients 140 Oak Tree Road, Tappan, NY 10983

845-367-4866 SmileMoreKidz.com

Appointments 8am-7pm & on Saturdays! RocklandParent 25

WHERE-TO GUIDE

nymetroparents.com/where-to

Pick Your Own Pumpkins ››

Research by Lindsay Roussin

You can paint them, carve them, bake with them, and decorate with them! This fall, get out and pick your own pumpkins, then playfully master them into crafts or treats. Many pumpkin patches offer fun autumn activities, such as hayrides, corn mazes, and farm stands with fresh fruits, vegetables, and delicious pastries. Spooky or silly, picking your own pumpkin is definitely one thing: fun for the whole family. As always, confirm details ahead of time. friendly mystery corn mazes, storybook corn maze, hayrides, big apple bounce pillow, rubber duck derby, apple launcher, cow train, giant slide, fish feeding, farm animals and nature trails, and gem mining daily. Educational school tours and birthday parties available. Check website for themed weekends, music, and special events.

Bergen County, NJ

Demarest Farms

Dr. Davies Farm

306 Route 304, Congers 845-268-7020; drdaviesfarm.com Pick your own pumpkins and apples through the first weekend in November, daily, 10am-4pm. Hayrides to the pumpkin fields offered on weekends (weekdays by appointment); $5 per person. Farmers market with homegrown and local produce open daily. Large field with picnic areas.

Westchester County

Hilltop Hanover Farm and Environmental Center

1271 Hanover St., Yorktown Heights 914-962-2368; hilltophanoverfarm.org U-pick pumpkins and vegetables through the fall, Saturdays and Sundays, 10am-4pm. Organic practice. Three hiking trails on-site. Guided tours available. Free parking. Farm stand with farm-grown produce, seasonal vegetables, herbs, cut flowers, honey, grains, and maple syrup; open Fridays, 1-6pm, and Saturdays, 10am-4pm. Bring your own bags.

Outhouse Orchards

139 Hardscrabble Road, North Salem 914-277-3188; outhouseorchardsny.com Pick your own pumpkins and apples through mid-October, daily, 9am-5pm. 26

Stuart’s Fruit Farm

62 Granite Springs Road, Granite Springs 914-245-2784; stuartsfarm.com Pick your own pumpkins and apples through November, daily, 10am-5pm. School tours available weekdays in October. Group tours available through the barn, cider mill, and cold storage, ending with a chance to pick apples or pumpkins. Cash and check only. Bakery open daily with pies, apple cider, apple cider doughnuts, muffins, scones, and other treats for sale. Corn maze open daily, 10am-5pm. Wilkens Fruit & Fir Farm

1335 Whitehill Road, Yorktown Heights 914-245-5111; wilkensfarm.com Pick your own pumpkins in October, Friday-Sunday, 10am-4:30pm. Bakery and Appleseed Gift Shop on-site, plus a Farm Market with pre-picked farm produce, snacks, apple cider, and more.

Ulster County

Hurd’s Family Farm

2187 State Route 32, Modena 845-883-7825 information@hurdsfamilyfarm.com hurdsfamilyfarm.com U-pick pumpkins, veggies, and apples through October, daily, 9am-5pm. Family-

October 2017 | nymetroparents.com

244 Wierimus Road, Hillsdale 201-666-0472; demarestfarms.com Pumpkin and apple picking in the fall, weekends and holidays, 9:30am-4:30pm, weekdays, 9:30am-4:30pm (group picking during the week by appointment only). Hayrides to the orchard. Store on-site open daily, 8am-6:30pm.

Secor Farms

85 Airmont Ave., Mahwah 201-529-2595; secorfarms.com Pick your own pumpkins through October. Hay maze, corn maze, millet maze, apple cider doughnuts, pies, animal farm, and flower garden. Hayrides offered weekdays, 3-5pm, and weekends, 10am-4:30pm. Farm stand open daily, 8am-6pm. Visit Facebook page for most up to date info.

Morris County, NJ

Alstede Farms

84 County Route 513 (Old Route 24), Chester GPS Address: 1 Chester Field Drive (farm is across the street) 908-879-7189; alstedefarms.com Pick your own pumpkins and gourds through mid-November, daily, 9am-6pm; apples, peaches, raspberries, and other vegetables through October. Pony and wagon rides and moon bounce open daily. Hayrides, corn maze, corn kingdom, friendly farm animals, and giant hay bale pyramid offered daily.

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

Ideas When You Need Them:

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Turn the page for details on Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze (No. 8 on our list).

OCTOBER

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CALENDAR

Editor’s Hot Tickets

Must-Sees in NYC

We Can’t Believe It’s FREE!

Holiday Fun, Browse & Buy

Smarty Pants, The Great Outdoors

Fun Fairs & Festivals, Show Time!

EDITOR’S HOT TICKETS

Our calendar is full of great ideas. First, here are the nine 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!

Warwick Applefest

WHEN: Sunday, Oct. 1, 10am-5pm WHERE: Village of Warwick, Downtown District, Warwick AGES: All WHAT: The historic Village of Warwick will host more than 200 craft and food vendors, a variety of free live stage performances including music and dance groups, carnival rides for children, and an apple pie baking contest. WHY WE LOVE IT: Experience the extraordinary variety of Warwick’s apples, culture, and entertainment. WANT TO GO? Free admission; $15 wristbands for unlimited rides. 845987-8300. warwickapplefest.com.

11th Annual Pearl River Day Festival

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 7, 11am-6pm WHERE: Pearl River Chamber of Commerce, Downtown District, Pear River AGES: All WHAT: Featuring more than 150 vendors, the day will be filled with family-friendly entertainment including music, demonstrations, shopping specials, food, and informational booths. Kids’ activities include bounce attractions, face painting, paint a pumpkin, balloon twisting, and bingo. WHY WE LOVE IT: A great way to start off the month! WANT TO GO? $15 per child. pearlriverny.org.

October 2017 | nymetroparents.com

Allendale Festival Day & Car Show

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 7, 10am-4pm WHERE: Allendale Chamber of Commerce, West Allendale Avenue, Allendale, NJ AGES: All WHAT: Enjoy live music and entertainment, vendors, exhibits, community organizations, food, giveaways, games, face painting, pumpkin painting, obstacle course, petting zoo, and more. WHY WE LOVE IT: Fun for the whole family! WANT TO GO? 201-825-1011. allendalechamber.com.

Open Cock-Pit Weekend

WHEN: Oct. 7-8, Saturday-Sunday, 10am-4pm WHERE: Aviation Hall of Fame, 400 Fred Wehran Road, Teterboro, NJ AGES: All WHAT: Sit in as a pilot and get the feel of flying with fully open cockpits in very rare helicopters and aircrafts. The museum also contains a number of unique exhibits. WHY WE LOVE IT: Future aviators will love peeking into the past! WANT TO GO? $10; $8 seniors and children. 201-288-6344. njahof.org.

Get weekend activities delivered to you!

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So You Think You Can Dance Season 14 Tour

WHEN: Tuesday, Oct. 10, 8pm WHERE: Bergen Performing Arts Center, 30 N. Van Brunt St., Englewood, NJ AGES: 9 and older WHAT: The high-energy dance tour will highlight the audience’s favorite numbers from season 14, along with some new surprises. WHY WE LOVE IT: Now you can see your favorite dancers in person! WANT TO GO? $39 and up. 201-227-1030. bergenpac.org.

Sloth Day

WHEN: Sunday, Oct. 15, 11am-3pm WHERE: Bergen County Zoo, Van Saun County Park, Paramus, NJ AGES: All WHAT: Come hang out with a Linne’s two-toed sloth and join the staff for keeper chats, children’s crafts, and story times featuring our favorite sloth. WHY WE LOVE IT: Because sloths! WANT TO GO? $8; $5 children. 201-262-3771. co.bergen.nj.us.

Goblin Parade FREE

WHEN: Sunday, Oct. 22, 11am WHERE: Congers Lake Memorial Park, Gilchrest Road, Congers AGES: 3-12 WHAT: Enjoy hayrides, costume judging, a bouncy house, and more. WHY WE LOVE IT: No tricks here, this event is a real treat! WANT TO GO? 845-639-6200. town.clarkstown.ny.us.

Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze

WHEN: Oct. 1-Nov. 25, see website for times WHERE: Van Cortlandt Manor, 525 S. Riverside Ave., Croton-on-Hudson AGES: All WHAT: Meander through a historic, 18th-century riverside landscape and discover a breathtaking display all made of jack-o’-lanterns. WHY WE LOVE IT: A truly spooktacular Halloween event! WANT TO GO? $20; $16 children ages 3-17; Friday-Saturday: $25; $20 children ages 3-17. 914-631-8200. hudsonvalley.org.

Weekly Drop-In at Rockland Baby Café FREE

WHEN: Through Jan. 31, 2018: 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. WHY WE LOVE IT: A great opportunity for new moms to learn, connect, and share. WANT TO GO? 914-922-2240. rocklandgov.com.

WE CAN’T BELIEVE IT’S FREE

Think a freebie has to be ho-hum? Don’t let the price tag (or lack of one) fool you. Here are the five no-cost events we’re excited about now. You’re welcome. Holistic Moms Network (Rockland/Orange): Healing Power of Breathing Out FREE

WHEN: Tuesday, Oct. 17, 11am-12:30pm WHERE: Shining Mountain Children’s Center, 11 Beckett Court, Monsey AGES: Adult WHAT: Betsy Thomason, author of Just Breathe Out, will present a BreatheOutDynamic system, which helps resolve muscle pain, increases strength and energy, encourages better sleep, decreases anxiety, and instructs how to accomplish activities of daily living more effectively. WANT TO GO? 845-425-7243. shiningmtnforkids.com.

Baby Signs with Miss Fran FREE

WHEN: Through Oct. 19: Thursdays, 10:30-11am WHERE: Haverstraw King’s Daughters Public Library, Main Library, 10 W. Ramapo Road, Garnerville AGES: Newborn to 2 WHAT: A unique hands-on class in which children learn signs so they can communicate before they can talk. This fun, interactive class features music with guitar, songs, puppets, instruments, movement, sign language, and laughter. Registration required. WANT TO GO? 845-786-3800. hkdpl.org.

Munchkin Mondays FREE

WHEN: Monday, Oct. 23, 11am WHERE: Palisades Center, 1000 Palisades Dr., West Nyack AGES: 3-5 WHAT: Have fun at Palisades Center with activities, prizes, food, and drinks. WANT TO GO? 845-348-1005. palisadescenter.com.

Face Painting FREE

WHEN: Oct. 7-Dec. 30, Saturdays, 2-4pm WHERE: Dave & Buster’s, 4661 Palisades Center Drive, West Nyack AGES: All WHAT: Join in for face painting on Saturdays. WANT TO GO? 845-353-1555. daveandbusters.com/west-nyack.

K’tanim FREE

WHEN: Through April 22, 2018: Sundays, 9:30-10:30am WHERE: The Reform Temple of Rockland, 330 N. Highland Ave., Upper Nyack AGES: 3-5, adult WHAT: Learn about Sukkot in this fun, interactive learning experience. WANT TO GO? 845-358-2248. rtrny.org. ››

RocklandParent 29

Kindergarten Play Day and Information Session FREE

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 21, 10am-12pm WHERE: Blue Rock School, 110 Demarest Mill Road, West Nyack AGES: 3-5 WHAT: Prospective students can enjoy a fall harvest-themed morning with Blue Rock School’s kindergarten staff that includes storytelling, crafts, homemade snacks, and outdoor play, while parents learn about the campus. WANT TO GO? 845-535-3353. bluerockschool.org.

Prenatal Class FREE

SMARTY PANTS

WHEN: Thursday, Oct. 26, 5-6pm WHERE: Crystal Run Healthcare, 2 Centerock Road, West Nyack AGES: All WHAT: Learn invaluable information on how to care for your child, what to expect in the first weeks and months. WANT TO GO? 845-348-1100. crystalrunhealthcare.com.

Open House at Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory

A Distant Embrace FREE

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 7, 10am-4pm WHERE: Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, 61 Route 9W, Palisades AGES: All WHAT: Enjoy a lab tour and hands-on earth science demonstrations. Learn from world-renowned researchers about their latest discoveries. WANT TO GO? $5 suggested donation. 845-365-8998. openhouse.ldeo.columbia.edu.

Loyal to the Crown: British Art from the George Way Collection FREE

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 14, 2-4pm WHERE: The Orangetown Historical Museum & Archives, The Depew House, 196 Chief Bill Harris Way, Orangeburg AGES: 9 and older WHAT: On display will be a magnificent collection of original art, objects, and artifacts from the 16th and 17th centuries. WANT TO GO? 845-398-1302. orangetownmuseum.com.

Graphic Novel Book Club FREE

WHEN: Sunday, Oct. 15, 2-3pm WHERE: Haverstraw King’s Daughters Public Library, Main Library, 10 W. Ramapo Road, Garnerville AGES: 9-12 WHAT: Explore the stories and how graphic novels are created and learn how to draw the characters. The first meeting will focus on Out from Boneville by Jeff Smith. Registration required. WANT TO GO? 845-786-3800. hkdpl.org.

The Burning of Kingston

WHEN: Oct. 13-15, Friday, 5:30pm-7:45pm; Saturday, 10am-8pm; Sunday, 9am-12:30pm WHERE: Various venues, see website for addresses, Kingston AGES: All WHAT: A weekend-long celebration of American history, bravery, sacrifice, and resilience. Visit the website for a complete event schedule. WANT TO GO? $5 Revolutionary Express. 845-481-4550. burningofkingston.com.

Science in Action FREE

WHEN: Oct. 5-19, Thursdays, 5-6pm WHERE: Haverstraw King’s Daughters Public Library, Main Library, 10 W. Ramapo Road, Garnerville AGES: 9-12 WHAT: Participate in fun chemistry, physics, and technology experiments to discover more about the world around you. Registration required. WANT TO GO? 845-786-3800. hkdpl.org. 30

October 2017 | nymetroparents.com

WHEN: Oct. 8-Nov. 19, Monday-Friday, 10am-4pm; Saturday-Sunday, 1-4pm WHERE: Rockland Center for the Arts, 27 S. Greenbush Road, West Nyack AGES: All WHAT: Hudson Valley artist Robert Hite grew up in Virginia but has traveled the world. Much of his photographic work juxtaposes the artificial and the natural and play with architectural scale. WANT TO GO? 845-358-0877. rocklandartcenter.org.

Dwellings Exhibition FREE

WHEN: Oct. 8-Nov. 19, Monday-Friday, 10am-4pm; Saturday-Sunday, 1-4pm WHERE: Rockland Center for the Arts, 27 S. Greenbush Road, West Nyack AGES: All WHAT: All exhibits explore the house form as an expression of sustainability, social structure and societal class, and family communication. These exhibitions explore issues of local knowledge, memory, environment, and domicile as living art. WANT TO GO? 845-358-0877. rocklandartcenter.org.

THE GREAT OUTDOORS Hawks Over the Hudson FREE

WHEN: Sunday, Oct. 1, 12-4pm WHERE: State Line Lookout, Palisades Interstate Parkway, approximately 2 miles north of Exit 2, Alpine, NJ AGES: All WHAT: Features live birds of prey at 1pm and 2:30pm. Visitors will also be able enjoy activities and exhibits and stop by an ongoing hawk watch. WANT TO GO? 201-768-1360. njpalisades.org.

Farm Animal Day

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 7, 11am-3pm WHERE: Bergen County Zoo, Van Saun County Park, Paramus, NJ AGES: All WHAT: Learn about farm animals through chats, crafts, artifacts, and stories. Meet some farm animals that call the Bergen County Zoo home. WANT TO GO? $8; $5 children. 201-262-3771. co.bergen.nj.us/parks.

CityBound Must-Sees in

N Y C

Animal Superstitions

WHEN: Sunday, Oct. 15, 10am WHERE: Hudson Highlands Nature Museum, Outdoor Discovery Center, Muser Drive, Cornwall AGES: All WHAT: Halloween lore is filled with animals such as spooky owls, creepy spiders, black cats, and vampire bats to name a few. Learn how some of the most popular animal superstitions came to be, discover which stories are true and which are fiction, and meet some of the animal characters in these stories. WANT TO GO? $8; $5 children. 845-534-5506. hhnaturemuseum.org.

Barry Ritter

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 14, 9am-12pm WHERE: Christ Church, 5 New St., Sparkill AGES: All WHAT: Come help Keep Rockland Beautiful with a fun-filled morning of environmental stewardship. Join the Sparkill Creek Watershed Alliance to clean up the Sparkill Creek and remove litter from the area. WANT TO GO? 845-708-9164. keeprocklandbeautiful.org.

Courtesy Summer on the Hudson

Sparkill Creek Watershed Alliance Cleanup FREE

Autism Speaks Walk FREE

WHEN: Oct. 1-31, Monday-Friday, 3-5pm; Saturday-Sunday, 10am-4pm WHERE: Secor Farms, 85 Airmont Ave., Mahwah, NJ AGES: All WHAT: Enjoy the day with a hayride to the pumpkin patch and corn maze with a scenic ride of the farm. After, visit and feed the animals at the petting zoo, and little ones will have fun working their way through a hay maze and playing with toy tractors in the corn box. WANT TO GO? Hayrides: $4 per person; pumpkins: $0.65 per pound. 201-529-2595. secorfarms.com.

Hither and Yon! Let your kids go medieval for the day at the Medieval Festival at Fort Tryon Park. Aside from costumes, bountiful cuisine, and courtly gestures (jesters, too!), the child-friendly offerings include magic and puppet shows, juggling lessons, and arts and crafts. There will even be a joust between four knights on horseback to conclude the afternoon. Oct. 1, 11:30am-6pm. Age: All. FREE. Fort Tryon Park, 741 Fort Washington Ave., Washington Heights. 212-795-1600. whidc.org.

I Spy Trail

WHEN: Oct. 14-Nov. 1, daily, 11am-4pm WHERE: Tenafly Nature Center, 313 Hudson Ave., Tenafly, NJ AGES: 3-12 WHAT: Walk one of Tenafly Nature Center’s trails and be transported into the pages of I Spy. Follow funny and clever rhymes as you try to spot the bats, ghosts, and ghouls that are hidden all over. WANT TO GO? $10. 201-568-6093. tenaflynaturecenter.org. ››

Courtesy the Laurie Berkner Band/Jayme Thornton

Public Hayrides

Get swept up by the playful spirit of medieval times.

Meg Banks

WHEN: Sunday, Oct. 22, 9am WHERE: Palisades Credit Union Park, 1 Palisades Credit Union Park Drive, Pomona AGES: All WHAT: Start a team, join a team, or come on your own. Walk and fundraise together to enhance the lives of people living with autism. WANT TO GO? 845-300-9003. autismspeakswalk.org.

New York kids will rock out at Laurie’s only NYC concert stop this fall!

Monster Boogie Catch award-winning and best-selling children’s music star Laurie Berkner in concert at the New York Society for Ethical Culture on the Upper West Side. The Laurie Berkner Band’s Monster Boogie Halloween Concert promises 90 minutes of your favorite Laurie Berkner Band songs. Little kids and the young elementary set will love spending a Saturday afternoon rocking to “Rocketship Run,” “The Airplane Song,” and “We Are The Dinosaurs.” Oct. 28, 2pm doors, 3pm show. Age: 4-8. $39 and up; free for children younger than 1 on adult’s lap. 2 W. 64th St., Upper West Side. nysec.org. RocklandParent 31

WHERE: Memorial Park at Van Neste Square, East Ridgewood Avenue, Ridgewood, NJ AGES: All WHAT: A fun celebration for all. Weather permitting. WANT TO GO? Free admission. 201-445-2600. experienceridgewood.com.

Halloween Parade FREE

HOLIDAY FUN

The Great Pumpkin Carving

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 21, 1-3pm WHERE: Tenafly Nature Center, 313 Hudson Ave., Tenafly, NJ AGES: All WHAT: Come carve locally sourced, small farm pumpkins with staff educators, and enjoy a campfire and s’mores. Registration required. WANT TO GO? $15 per pumpkin. 201-568-6093. tenaflynaturecenter.org.

Boo at the Zoo

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 21, 10:30am-3pm WHERE: Trailside Museums and Zoo, Bear Mountain State Park, Bear Mountain AGES: All WHAT: Make spooky snacks for the black bears and watch as the zookeepers let the bears loose to enjoy the tasty Halloween decorations. Touch animal skulls, see stuffed specimens, make crafts, and more. WANT TO GO? $10 parking; $1 suggested donation. 845-786-2701. trailsidezoo.org.

Monster Hunt FREE

WHEN: Wednesday, Oct. 25, 6-8pm WHERE: Haverstraw King’s Daughters Public, Main Library, 10 W. Ramapo Road, Garnerville AGES: 5-12 WHAT: Children solve clues that lead to the monster’s lair. Registration required. WANT TO GO? 845-786-3800. hkdpl.org.

Nyack Halloween Parade FREE

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 28, 5:30-7:30pm WHERE: Downtown Nyack, Main Street and North Broadway, Nyack AGES: All WHAT: Come for this fun-filled event, featuring marching bands, festooned fire trucks, and more. Registration required to be eligible for prizes. WANT TO GO? 845-353-2221. nyackchamber.org.

Haunted Forest

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 28, 4:30-7:30pm WHERE: Tenafly Nature Center, 313 Hudson Ave., Tenafly, NJ AGES: 3-12 WHAT: Environmental Educators will lead small groups to visit the haunts of nocturnal forest denizens. Enjoy snacks and crafts around the campfire. WANT TO GO? $16. 201-568-6093. tenaflynaturecenter.org.

Halloween Trunk or Treat FREE

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 28, 1pm WHERE: Zukor Park, 31 Zukor Road, New City AGES: 3-8 WHAT: Come celebrate safely. WANT TO GO? 845-639-2000. newcitychamber.com.

Halloween Haunted Harvest

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 28, 1-4pm 32

October 2017 | nymetroparents.com

WHEN: Sunday, Oct. 29, 2pm WHERE: Village of Suffern, Lafayette Avenue to the Gazebo, Suffern AGES: All WHAT: Kids can enjoy treats, refreshments, and a costume contest. WANT TO GO? 845-357-7943. suffernvillage.com.

David Caserta’s Haunted Illusions

WHEN: Sunday, Oct. 29, 3pm WHERE: Bergen Performing Arts Center, 30 N. Van Brunt St., Englewood, NJ AGES: All WHAT: Featured on NBC’s America’s Got Talent, David Caserta has made people levitate, disappear, and reappear right before the audience’s eyes. WANT TO GO? $19-$39. 201-227-1030. bergenpac.org.

Halloween Family Movie Night: ‘The Watcher in the Woods’ FREE

WHEN: Tuesday, Oct. 31, 6:30-8pm WHERE: Haverstraw King’s Daughters Public Library, Main Library, 10 W. Ramaapo Road, Garnerville AGES: All WHAT: Watch a family movie on Halloween. WANT TO GO? 845-786-3800. hkdpl.org.

BROWSE & BUY Suffern Farmers’ Market

WHEN: Through Oct. 28: Saturdays, 8:30am-1pm WHERE: Lafayette Avenue, between Orange and Wayne avenues, Suffern AGES: All WHAT: A market with food and craft vendors, children’s activities, and more. WANT TO GO? Prices vary. suffernchamber.org.

Clarkstown Farmers’ Market

WHEN: Through Oct. 28: Saturdays, 9am-1pm WHERE: Traphagen Park, 131 Germonds Road, West Nyack AGES: All WHAT: The newest market to open in Rockland County. WANT TO GO? Free admission. 845-323-3658. town.clarkstown.ny.us.

Piermont’s Down to Earth Farmers Market

WHEN: Through Nov. 19: Sundays, 9:30am-3pm WHERE: M&T Bank Parking Lot, Piermont Avenue and Ash Street, Piermont AGES: All WHAT: Featuring local farmers and area food makers, who source locally. WANT TO GO? Prices vary. 914-923-4837. downtoearthmarkets.com.

Ridgewood Farmers’ Market

WHEN: Through Nov. 26: Sundays, 9am-3pm WHERE: Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce, Train Station Parking Lot, Ridgewood, NJ AGES: All WHAT: Celebrating 17 years with farm-to-table produce and more. WANT TO GO? Free admission. experienceridgewood.com.

Nyack Farmers’ Market

WHEN: Through Nov. 30: Thursdays, 8am-2pm WHERE: Main Street Parking Lot, 119 Main St., Nyack AGES: All WHAT: Some of the greatest vendors come together in the center of Nyack. WANT TO GO? Free admission. 845-353-2221. nyackchamber.com.

FUN FAIRS & FESTIVALS SHOW TIME! New City Street Fair FREE

WHEN: Sunday, Oct. 1, 10am-5pm WHERE: Downtown New City, Main Street and Congers Road, New City AGES: All WHAT: Hundreds of unique vendors, music, food, crafts, jewelry, and more. WANT TO GO? 845-548-0133. newcitychamber.com.

Fall Fair

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 7, 10am WHERE: Green Meadow Waldorf School, 307 Hungry Hollow Road, Chestnut Ridge AGES: All WHAT: Featuring carefully curated vendors from around the region, hayrides, face painting, caramel apples, pumpkin carving, and more. WANT TO GO? Free admission. 845-356-2514. gmws.org.

Nyack Famous Street Fair FREE

WHEN: Sunday, Oct. 8, 10am-5pm WHERE: Downtown Nyack, Main Street and Broadway, Nyack AGES: All WHAT: More than 300 booths including arts, crafts, retail items, home decor, commercial booths, and festival foods. WANT TO GO? 201-666-1340. pjspromotions.com.

Country Fair

WHEN: Sunday, Oct. 8, 9am-5pm WHERE: Adorno Fathers, 575 Darlington Ave., Ramsey, NJ AGES: All WHAT: Spend a fun day with more than 125 exhibitors selling sports collectibles, antiques, jewelry, and more. Plus, fun activities for kids. WANT TO GO? Free parking. jcpromotions.info.

Fall Festival

WHEN: Oct. 7-9, Saturday-Monday, 9am-5pm WHERE: Sugar Loaf Arts and Crafts Village, 1371 Kings Highway, Chester AGES: All WHAT: A fun weekend of street vendors, live music, food, crafts, a beer garden, and family-friendly fun in this quaint hamlet. WANT TO GO? Free admission. 848-467-8427. sugarloafnewyork.com.

Great Fall Festival

WHEN: Sunday, Oct. 15, see website for times WHERE: Flat Rock Brook Nature Center, 443 Van Nostrand Ave., Englewood, NJ AGES: All WHAT: A day full of fun family festivities including barbecue, live bluegrass music, games, crafts, pumpkin painting, and scavenger hunt. WANT TO GO? $15; $10 children ages 6-17; free for children younger than 6. 201-567-1265. flatrockbrook.org.

‘Peppa Pig’s Surprise!’

WHEN: Monday, Oct. 9, 3pm and 6pm WHERE: Bergen Performing Arts Center, 30 N. Van Brunt St., Englewood, NJ AGES: 3-5 WHAT: Peppa and George know that Mummy Pig and Daddy Pig have a big surprise for them, but what is it? Join the family and the rest of their friends in an all-singing, all-dancing adventure full of songs, games, and surprises. WANT TO GO? $19.50 and up. 201-227-1030. bergenpac.org.

Pumpkin Picking Movie Night

WHEN: Oct. 6-20, Fridays, 7:15pm WHERE: Demarest Farm, 244 Werimus Road, Hillsdale AGES: All WHAT: Movie-goers will take a tractor-pulled hayride to the pumpkin patch where they will watch the movie on large, outdoor screen. Also enjoy any size pumpkin that you pick, two petting zoos, adventure playground, corn box, photo display area, and a crooked house village. WANT TO GO? $16; free for children younger than 2. 201-666-0472. demarestfarms.com.

The Classic 1922 Horror Fantasy Film: ‘Nosferatu’

WHEN: Friday, Oct. 27, 8pm WHERE: Nyack High School, 360 Christian Herald Road, Nyack AGES: 13 and older WHAT: Nosferatu is considered a horror-fantasy masterpiece and is an adaptation of the original Dracula story by Bram Stoker. Adding to the experience will be Ben Model, one of the nation’s leading silent film accompanists. WANT TO GO? $20; $10 students. 855-278-7762. artsrock.org.

[Trapped]

WHEN: Oct. 27-29, Friday, 7pm; Saturday, 1pm and 7pm; Sunday, 1pm WHERE: Porch Light’s Youth & Family Productions, 555 Broad St., Glen Rock AGES: 9 and older WHAT: [Trapped] is an interactive escape room in which participants are locked into a seemingly harmless room. They must find and follow a set of clues in order to get out. As the night continues, things get stranger, creepier, and more mysterious, leaving teens to wonder if it is all part of the game, or did things just get real? WANT TO GO? See website for updated information. 201-857-3520. porchlightproductions.org.

Kids’ Movie Night

WHEN: Through Dec. 17: Sundays, 5:30pm WHERE: Harry’s Burritos, 90 Main St., Nyack AGES: All WHAT: See animated films for kids every Sunday night at Harry’s Burritos. Parents receive happy hour pricing on meals and drinks. WANT TO GO? Prices vary. 845-353-5220. harrysburritos.com.

Nanuet-West Nyack Rotary Fall Festival

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 21, 11am-5pm WHERE: Nanuet Outdoor Education Center, 135 Convent Road, Nanuet AGES: All WHAT: Come join for fall-themed food and drinks, arts and crafts, and more. WANT TO GO? Free admission. 845-627-4889. facebook.com.

5th Annual Fall Festival

WHEN: Sunday, Oct. 22, 12-4pm WHERE: Heritage of West Nyack, 131 Germonds Road, West Nyack AGES: All WHAT: Step back in time and see how militia men and camp followers of the American Revolutionary War lived in the 1770s. WANT TO GO? Free parking. 845-639-2056. heritageofwestnyack.org.

Coming up next month: NOV. 12: Laps for Literacy Mall Walk at Palisades Center, West Nyack NOV. 19: Holiday Boutique at Piermont Train Station Museum, Piermont NOV. 19: 5K Turkey Trot & Fun Run at Tenafly Nature Center, Tenafly, NJ

RocklandParent 33

WHERE-TO GUIDE

Haunted Houses, Corn Mazes, and Pumpkin Activities ›› Research by Melissa Wickes

Tom Nycz/Historic Hudson Valley

Whether you’re looking for something spooky or just outdoor fall fun this Halloween season, these haunted houses, corn mazes, pumpkin blazes, and autumn activities are sure to make this Halloween one to remember.

The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze features more than 7,000 illuminated jack-o’-lanterns at Van Cortlandt Manor in Croton-on-Hudson.

Annual Halloween Parade Main Street and South Broadway, Downtown Nyack 845-353-2221 This annual event doesn’t include a corn maze, jack-o’-lanterns, or haunted house, but since it’s the largest Halloween parade outside of NYC, it still deserves a place in our roundup. The parade will begin at 5:30pm, but festivities will begin at 3pm. Expect marching bands, stilt walkers, and floats. The Orchards of Concklin 2 S. Mountain Road, Pomona 845-354-0369; orchardsofconcklin.com The children’s activities at this orchard include a half-acre mini corn maze and haunted house, as well as inflatable slides and bouncers. This season’s pickyour-own schedule includes McIntosh on Sept. 17, Red Delicious on Sept. 24, and Empire and Cortland on Oct. 34

1. Dates are approximate and weather permitting. Pick a pumpkin or two to take home and make your own jacko’-lantern. Plus, apple cider and cider doughnuts are available. Pure Terror Scream Park 299 Museum Village Road, Monroe 845-391-0071; pureterror.com For Halloween freaks who can’t get enough, Pure Terror Scream Park offers six haunted houses for the price of one—past attractions have included clowns and a slaughterhouse. Best for pre-teens; supervision required for children younger than 10.

Bergen County, NJ Abma’s Farm Market and Garden Center 700 Lawlins Road, Wyckoff 201-891-0278; abmasfarm.com This 34-acre farm dates back to the

October 2017 | nymetroparents.com

1790s; the homestead and outbuildings are well preserved and kept in their original state. Take part in daytime or nighttime hayrides, pony rides, and petting zoo activities. Pick pumpkins from the patch and check out the market for apple cider doughnuts. On Sept. 30, certain activities such as hayrides, build a barnyard animal, pony rides, and more will donate 100 percent of the proceeds to Tackle Kids Cancer. Halloween Haunted Harvest East Ridgewood Avenue and Oak Street, Ridgewood experienceridgewood.com Join the Ridgewood Chamber of Commerce at Van Neste Square in Memorial Park on Saturday, Oct. 28 from 1-4pm (weather permitting) for activities such as the haunted Halloween hay maze, parades, and arts and crafts.

nymetroparents.com/where-to Saddle River Youth Theatre’s ‘Poe’s Phantoms’ Archer Hall, 37 E. Allendale Ave., Allendale 201-825-8805; sryt.info Saddle River Youth Theatre presents Poe’s Phantoms for the Halloween Season, in which six haunted tales are brought to life at the John Fell House Historic Site Oct. 20-21. Recommended for children 8 and older.

Westchester County The Great Jack O’Lantern Blaze 525 S. Riverside Ave., Croton-On-Hudson 914-366-6900 hudsonvalley.org/events/blaze Thousands travel to Van Cortlandt Manor each year for this massively popular event, which features more than 7,000 illuminated jack-o’-lanterns, plus themed areas such as Jurassic Park and the Undersea Aquarium. Sound effects and synchronized lighting make it even more impressive; parents who are Howard Stern fans will love that the original soundtrack is provided by the show’s own Richard Christy, a self-described Halloween fanatic. The Haunt at Rocky Ledge 1446 Old Orchard St., West Harrison hauntatrockyledge.com Started in the mid-1980s (and known in the 2000s as Haunted Dead End on Gainsborg Avenue), the original haunted house has grown into two houses on 5 acres of land, complete with a haunted trail, woods, and a corn maze. The scares you’ll experience come from humans, not machines: The event employs actors to create them, and some have been with the event for more than 20 years. Jay Ghoul’s House of Curiosities 635 S. Broadway, Tarrytown 914-631-4481; visitsleepyhollow.com Fans of classic monster movies will love touring this gothic Lyndhurst mansion, which pays homage to The Mummy, The Phantom of the Opera, and Bride of Frankenstein through actor performances and decorations. Designed for adults and teens, it is also suitable for younger children. Outhouse Orchards 139 Hardscrabble Road, North Salem 914-277-3188; outhouseorchardsny.com After visiting this family-owned farm

(lovingly called ‘home of the happy apple’) for your munching and baking needs, learn about them as you help your kids navigate through the corn maze. The map provides interesting facts about apples, as well as hidden puzzle clues. Scared by the Sound, Rye Playland 1 Playland Parkway, Rye 914-813-7010; ryeplayland.org The park closes down its rides for this event, back for its 18th year. More than 100 actors help to make the crypt walk, morgue, and haunted wine cellar creepy without lots of gore; don’t miss the giant outdoor graveyard behind the haunted house. No matinee shows this year.

Museum of Natural History 22nd Annual Halloween Celebration Central Park West at 79th St., Upper West Side 212-769-5100; amnh.org Technically this isn’t a haunted house, but we’ll let that slide: It’s a chance to experience the Halloween version of one of NYC’s most iconic buildings. Magic, zombie shows, origami, and trick-ortreating are some of the top attractions; be sure to say hello to Clifford and Curious George if you see them roaming the halls!

Schuyler Farms 1124 Route 29, Schuylerville 518-695-5308; schuylerfarms.com Corn maze enthusiasts will love this 7-acre version, which is open during the day as a ‘regular’ maze for $8 and at night as the ‘Field of Screams’ for $14, which features masked men and ghouls around every turn. This year’s maze theme is Charlotte’s Web. Remember to bring a flashlight!

Rise of the Jack O’Lanterns’ Night of 1,000 Jack O’Lanterns Governors Island; ferry departs from 10 South St., Lower Manhattan 516-252-3392; therise.org For its Governors Island debut, this event features more than 1,000 handcarved glowing pumpkins and live carving demonstrations for one weekend only (Oct. 26-29). The adventure begins with a ferry ride from Manhattan to the island, where visitors will follow the jack-o’lantern walking trail. Look out for the dozens of intricately carved pumpkins weighing more than 100 pounds.

Manhattan

Brooklyn

Central Park Conservancy Halloween Parade and Pumpkin Sail 14 E. 60th St., Upper East Side 212-310-6600; centralparknyc.org After pre-registering for your ‘flotilla,’ bring your pre-carved pumpkin or jacko’-lantern for a sunset journey across the Harlem Meer (Note: Arrive early before it reaches capacity!). Other festive activities include spooky mask making and live carving demonstrations, as well as arts and crafts.

Ghouls and Gourds at Brooklyn Botanic Garden 150 Eastern Parkway, Prospect Heights 718-623-7200; bbg.org While pumpkin-related crafts are involved, there’s so much to do at this annual 6-hour celebration. Enjoy book signings from renowned authors and illustrators, waltz with woodland creatures, and witness a flying flea circus. Costumes are essential: You’ll want to wear them to the day’s closing parade. Festivities will take place Oct. 28 at 12pm.

Haunted High Line Halloween West 14th Street to West 17th Street, Chelsea 212-206-9922; thehighline.org The haunted house at this event is actually a haunted train tunnel, created by puppet master Ralph Lee (Fun fact: Lee is responsible for turning the Greenwich Village Halloween Parade from a community event to the festival of today). Other memorable events include meeting ghosts from the West Side’s industrial past, and creating kites out of fears to be set free.

Gravesend Inn Haunted Hotel 186 Jay St., Dumbo 718-260-5588; gravesendinn.org Produced by City Tech’s theatrical troupe, Theatreworks, as its annual fall production, this visually stunning haunted house is high-tech as well; sensors react to visitors’ movements from Oct. 19 through Halloween. Find the full guide at ›› nymetroparents.com/haunted-houses

The Payoff of Teaching Kids Financial Literacy ››

Experts discuss how parents can establish skills from a young age to ensure kids will know how to handle their money. By Samantha Neudorf

hough teenagers may be successfully juggling AP classes, extracurricular activities, and standardized tests, they are failing at a vital subject necessary for life: financial literacy. A study released by the Program for International Student Assessment in May found that 1 in 5 teenagers in the U.S. lacks basic financial literacy skills, which is approximately 22 percent of the country’s teenage population. PISA surveyed 15-year-olds from 15 countries to test how well they understand financial concepts, products, and risks, and the U.S. ranked seventh overall, while China secured first place, followed by Belgium and Canada. Unfortunately, financial literacy skills are often not taught at school, so it is up to parents to equip their children with the knowledge and tools to be able to manage their money wisely. These conversations should not just take place during high school either. Experts say financial literacy skills should be instilled from a young age—even as young as 3. Here, financial experts share their strategies for teaching kids money skills for life.

Ages 3-6

Learn your 1, 2, 3s. Your child may learn how to count by the time she is 3 years old and start to grasp the idea that you need 36

October 2017 | nymetroparents.com

money to pay for items while shopping. Jean Chatzky, financial editor of NBC’s Today Show, says she had discussions about money with her kids when they were young. For example, she explained that one particular brand of orange juice was cheaper than another, so that’s why she bought it. “It’s just a running dialogue where you talk about money,” Chatzky says. In learning that you need money to buy goods, this might also be the age your child understands how to count coins and dollars and may even begin to receive an allowance for doing chores.

Elementary School

Give cash rewards for chores. When your child reaches elementary school, he may begin to take on more chores, such as folding laundry and putting it away or feeding a pet, and receive an allowance in cash to be able to see money as a tangible asset. This is a fundamental way to teach him how to earn and save money, and he will be able to physically see and count his cash. Chatzky recommends having two different jars: one for saving and one for spending money. (Some experts recommend adding a third jar, for money to be given to charity.) “So much of our money these days is invisible with Venmo and direct deposit,”

Chatzky says. “It’s important that kids actually see and use money before transitioning into electronic spending.” Differentiate between credit and debit cards. Though it may seem kids are too young to learn this, it is an opportune time to teach them the difference between credit and debit cards. Gregg Murset is the founder of BusyKid.com—an app to keep track of your child’s chores and allowance—and a certified financial planner based in Arizona. He says parents can create a teachable moment while waiting in line at a grocery store to compare the two types of cards. “That’s an easy way to teach them, and your cards are right there in your wallet,” Murset says. Open a savings account for your child, and have her go with you to learn how to deposit money into the account. Roy Paul, executive director of Cents Ability—a New York City-based nonprofit dedicated to teaching students from low-income families financial literacy— expressed the importance of teaching kids how to save allowance. “It really helps them understand how to take that money and put it into an institution that will protect it,” Paul says. “That’s also a good time to explain how interest works, and that when you put this money into an account, it will grow over a period of time.”

Middle School

Get them involved. Middle school is the time when your child can learn about the value of real world items, such as the property value of your house and how much bills cost. This is also the age when he might receive his first debit card and learn how to deposit and withdraw money. Discuss needs vs. wants. Have a conversation about discerning the difference between needs versus wants. Do you absolutely need a new pair of shoes or do you just want it? Asking questions like this establishes a foundation to be able to analyze whether spending hard-earned money on an item (especially material) is truly worth it. Talk about saving for college. If your child wants to go to college, it is important for her to understand how expensive tuition will be and that saving for it should start now. “A lot of kids, poor and wealthy, do not really have an understanding of how you pay for college, from the savings that happens on the parents’ ends to taking out loans and borrowing money,” Paul says. This is also a good opportunity to talk to your child about loans—that they’re not free money and they have to be paid back with an interest rate.

High School

Have them start “adulting.” High school students will soon enough become full-fledged adults and should begin taking on more responsibilities. Many high school-aged kids may get their licenses, so this can be an opportunity to send them out to run errands at the grocery store, or even have them pay for gas or oil changes to get the experience of making everyday transactions independently. Think about the big picture. Paul shared that Cents Ability teaches kids a 50-30-20 rule to manage their money. From each paycheck, 50 percent of it should go to absolute needs such as bills, rent, car insurance, etc.; 30 percent can go to miscellaneous items such as a vacation or clothes; and 20 percent should be saved in a bank account. Make an investment. Stocks are an equity investment, and when you invest in one, there is a chance that it will yield a higher return over time. Murset advises teens buy stocks as a first step

in learning how to invest money, even if it is just $20. “The best learning is done by doing,” Murset says, “Just jump in and buy some [stocks] and start watching them grow.” Speak with a professional together. It’s okay to ask for help when you do not know the answer to your child’s question. Paul recalls a time when his mother set up an appointment for the two of them to speak with her tax accountant to learn about interest rates for college. “If parents do not know the answers to these questions, they should not feel embarrassed about it,” Paul says. “If you have someone who does your taxes every year, ask them to take a few extra minutes to explain these concepts to your kids. Most of them are happy to do it.”

THE ALLOWANCE DEBATE While whether kids should receive an allowance at all is a debate in itself, parents who are pro-allowance typically fall between two sides of the spectrum. Some believe allowance should be earned by doing chores and others say it should just be given and it is up to the child to manage his own money. There is even debate on whether kids should receive money electronically or as cold hard cash. Gregg Murset, founder of BusyKid.com, is a proponent of the idea you have to do something in order to earn your money. “You need to challenge them by providing different opportunities for them to make money, and challenge them with these concepts we’ve been talking about: saving, sharing, and spending,” Murset says. Murset’s app BusyKid allows parents to assign chores to their kids, and the kids can see how close they are to “payday” and decide how to budget their money. “It doesn’t make sense to give kids $20 at the end of the week when they just sit around and watch Netflix,” Murset says. “We need to teach kids what we do every day: We work, earn some money, save some, share some with charity or people we care about, and then spend the rest.” Rather than using cash, Murset says kids should learn how to use debit cards or phones to pay because most forms of payment have shifted over to technology. “One thing that drives me nuts is when people say, ‘Kids don’t know how to balance a checkbook these days.’ Well, no one really uses checkbooks anymore,” Murset says. “We have to change our mindset and teach kids in a way that makes sense.” Roy Paul, executive director of Cents Ability, agrees that kids should earn money through work, but should receive cash to be able to see their money in their hands. “We really want young people to turn into responsible adults to understand the concept of hard work and what they should get in return because those trickle down into fundamental beliefs about the workplace and to work hard for money,” Paul says. However, Jean Chatzky, financial editor of the NBC’s Today Show, has a viewpoint that is more in the middle of these two ideologies and favors giving kids cash. She believes kids should not be paid for doing chores because she says they are tasks that should just get done without a monetary incentive. Instead, kids should be given money to buy things that parents no longer want to pay for, which will teach kids how to save and budget within reason. “You shouldn’t give them so much that they can buy as much as they want,” Chatzky says. As with all things when it comes to raising kids, ultimately it is up to you whether your child receives allowance, for what, and how. Where do you stand on this debate? RocklandParent 37

Courtesy Stacey Follman

PREGNANCY AND INFANT LOSS AWARENESS MONTH

Photos of Aaron Follman and his mom, Stacey Follman, from his too-short life. Aaron died from a genetic disorder days shy of his 8-month birthday.

An Unimaginable Tragedy

››

Though local infant mortality rates are lower than the national average, more babies die in their first year than most of us expect. Here’s a look at this tragedy and what parents can do to reduce the risk. By Stacey Pfeffer

tacey Follman, a Westchester mom, had a healthy pregnancy, with everything progressing normally and as she and her doctors expected. But when her son Aaron Ross Follman was born on May 21, 2002, and taken to the neonatal intensive care unit immediately, she knew something obviously was wrong. Aaron had a seizure shortly after delivery and hardly moved or cried. It took the doctors 10 days to figure out he suffered from a rare congenital disorder called Zellweger’s Syndrome. The doctors expected Aaron to have a life expectancy of about 12 months. He died just a few days short of his 8-month birthday on Jan. 16, 2003. Nothing can prepare parents for losing a baby. Follman believed Aaron would live longer despite being told he probably would die within a year. “We were buying him new pajamas because he was growing,” she says. “We had faith that he was going to live until the day he died.” It’s a heartbreak that will never go away. Most parents thankfully do not have to face the horrors of losing a baby, and it’s difficult to imagine the pain endured by that small minority of parents who, like Follman, never see their babies make it to their 1st birthday. Despite its advanced health care system, America still lags behind other industrialized nations in its infant mortality rate (IMR), 38

October 2017 | nymetroparents.com

which is defined as “the death of a child under the age of 1— from birth through 364 days,” explains Deborah E. Campbell, M.D., the director of neonatology at The Children’s Hospital at Montefiore in the Bronx. The reasons for this are complicated and varied, and with October designated as Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month, it’s a moment to try to understand why some babies die in the first year, how our area compares to the nation as a whole, and what parents can do to minimize the risk.

Understanding the Statistics

Experts break down the IMR into two categories: neonatal mortality, which occurs the first 28 days after birth, and post-neonatal mortality (29-364 days). “Most infant deaths take place in the neonatal period,” says Dr. Campbell, who lost a baby herself many years ago. The IMR does not include miscarriages or stillbirths. Although the U.S. is a developed nation, 25 other industrialized nations do a better job at keeping babies alive in the first year of life. While these statistics are startling for expectant parents, the relatively good news for New Yorkers is the IMR in New York City and the surrounding areas is at a historic low. In 2013, the most recent year IMR statistics are available, our area’s IMR averaged

nearly 30 percent lower than the overall U.S. rate of 6 deaths per 1,000 live births (see sidebar on p. 40 for details). The three leading causes of infant death in our region were prematurity, birth defects or congenital diseases—such as Aaron’s Zellweger’s Syndrome—and cardiovascular disease. Other infant death causes include babies born to a mother with an underlying medical condition and babies who die from sudden infant death syndrome or accidental suffocation while sleeping, usually with other family members, Dr. Campbell explains.

PROVIDING KID APPROVED DENTAL CARE!

Disparities in Infant Death Rates

Infant death rates vary greatly depending on the mother’s race and ethnicity. The infant mortality rate for African-American infants in the metropolitan area was 8.3 per 1,000 births versus a rate of 3.0 among white infants in 2013. Infant mortality rates were also higher for Puerto Ricans (4.8) and other Hispanics and Latinas (4.3). Infant mortality rates likewise differ by socioeconomic status, with high-poverty areas such as the South Bronx reporting 1.9 times greater rates—5.2 per 1,000 live births compared to 2.8 in higher-income places such as the Upper East Side or Scarsdale. Dr. Campbell notes that years ago certain areas of Brooklyn had a much higher IMR but with gentrification those numbers have been dropping significantly. David Bateman, M.D., an attending neonatologist and professor of pediatrics at Columbia University Medical Center, has been treating newborns for more than four decades. In the 1980s, he practiced at Harlem Hospital and witnessed firsthand how the trifecta of AIDS, crack, and syphilis in Harlem was wreaking havoc on the IMR rates in that neighborhood. “In the past 30 years, IMR in New York City has had a threefold drop,” Dr. Bateman says. “You can look at changes in medical care, you can look at access to medical care, but it is all about poverty and the changing demographics of NYC. Our IMR has been dropping because you don’t have the same concentration of desperately poor people in NYC that you used to.” IMR tends to drop as doctors discover new ways to save infants’ lives, such as the increased availability of clean water in the first half of the 20th century and the advent of neonatal intensive care units in the 1960s and early ’70s. However, Dr. Bateman cautions, “until the social and economic problems are taken care of, the problem of high IMR is not going to go away.” There have been many studies looking at the inequity of health care delivery and how that correlates with infant mortality. “There are still women who get late or no prenatal care or have trouble accessing prenatal care, particularly minority women,” Dr. Campbell says. While the teen pregnancy rate has dropped almost 50 percent in recent years, babies born to women younger than 20 have higher infant mortality rates and their mothers are less likely to have had prenatal care. On the flip side, many studies have shown that women with advanced maternal age (defined by doctors as older than 35) also have babies who are at a higher risk of infant mortality. Other factors also play a role. Babies born to obese mothers, for instance, face higher infant mortality rates, as obesity can lead to health problems in the mother such as hypertensive disorders or preeclampsia, putting her baby at a higher risk of complications for pre-term or low birth weight. And some experts believe assisted reproductive technology may play a role in infant mortality, especially when several embryos have been implanted, Dr. Campbell says.

Minimizing the Risk of Infant Mortality

While there is no way to eliminate the risk of infant death, pregnant women can take steps to minimize the danger, starting

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with getting prenatal care; moms who do not receive prenatal care have babies that are at a higher risk of infant mortality. Doctors prescribe prenatal vitamins, recommend exercises and offer instruction on healthy pregnancy diets, and monitor the mom and baby to help ensure a successful pregnancy, delivery, and infancy. In addition, tests during the prenatal period can pinpoint a fetus’ growth and show if there are any genetic defects or other problems in utero. Doctors are regularly developing more advanced tests that can screen for a multitude of genetic disorders. When Aaron Follman was born 15 years ago, there were no genetic tests for his disease, but today, with the help of genetic counseling, expectant parents can now test for that and many other congenital diseases. Armed with this information, doctors can sometimes perform interventions in utero or soon after birth to help the baby, while parents can make informed decisions about whether to continue the pregnancy or how to care for the baby after birth. As terrifying as it is to prepare for the worst, expectant parents should learn about the differences in NICUs and what types of services are offered at different hospitals in the area. NICUs are rated on levels from 1-4, with Level 1 offering basic newborn care for healthy infants and Level 2 offering advanced newborn care for babies born at 32 weeks or more or those recovering from more serious conditions. Levels 3 and 4 are for the most complex cases, with Level 3 providing care for babies born at less than 32 weeks who may require access to pediatric sub-specialists or babies who are born with critical illnesses. Level 4 NICUs provide the most acute care. These nurseries are located in hospitals that can provide surgical repair of complex congenital or acquired conditions. If the delivery is expected to be complicated or the baby is determined to be high-risk, having access to a level 3 or 4 NICU is key. Once a baby is born, doctors obviously do everything they can to keep her healthy, and a lot of medical research focuses on keeping babies alive in this neonatal period. Parents can also take steps to maintain their baby’s overall health, including getting children immunized on schedule, experts say. Ensuring a safe sleep environment is also essential, as many babies die during their first year because of SIDS or suffocation while sleeping. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends parents follow the ABCs of safe sleep: Alone, On Back, In a Crib. That translates to having babies share a room with their parents if possible, but not in the same bed. And babies should always be put to sleep on their backs.

‘I Don’t Want Aaron to be Forgotten’

For those who have endured the loss of a baby, the grieving process varies from individual to individual. Family, friends, and community members are left to try to offer some comfort to those parents; however, even the best-intentioned efforts can sometimes cause the mourning parents pain and leave them feeling lonely. “Our society is very uncomfortable with baby loss, so people express their sympathy with platitudes such as, ‘You are young, you can have another kid,’ which really minimizes the loss,” says Marianne Walsh, a grief counselor at the Maggie Rose Perinatal Bereavement Program at Northern Westchester Hospital in Mount Kisco. Dr. Campbell echoes that sentiment, saying she often hears people say to the parents, “At least the baby didn’t live long—you didn’t have time to get too attached.” Current research on grief shows there are four stages bereaved parents generally face, Walsh says: (1) Accepting the death, (2) working through the feelings of pain and grief, (3) adjusting to life without their beloved child, and (4) continuing a bond with their 40

October 2017 | nymetroparents.com

baby, which often happens by memorializing their lost love one, whether it be through a ritual or by joining or starting a group. Follman decided to take that last route after Aaron died. To raise awareness of the disease that killed him, she created a nonprofit called the Aaron Ross Foundation (zellweger-syndrome.org). “I want people to know about Zellweger’s Syndrome and I want Aaron’s name to live on and for our nonprofit to outlive me,” Follman says. “I don’t want Aaron to be forgotten.” The process of memorializing or honoring a deceased baby has changed dramatically during recent years with the help of social media and groups such as Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, a nonprofit that provides professional-quality photographers free of charge to grieving parents to take photos of their child prior to the funeral. This remembrance photography can be a very powerful part of the healing process for grieving parents. The grieving process is not a linear progression, Walsh says, and the needs of the bereaved parents will fluctuate over time. “I often use the analogy of a roller coaster. After a while it [the grief] becomes like a kiddie roller coaster; the highs aren’t so high and the lows aren’t so low.” It is impossible to predict the duration of grieving from person to person. “Bereavement groups provide wrap-around support because when a baby dies the world stops for these families,” Walsh says. Follman says she found it very difficult to be in a bereavement group with other parents who had lost older children. For her and her husband, individual counseling was a better option, and the doctors at Mount Sinai Hospital, where she delivered, were able to put them in touch with other couples who had babies with ZS. “They were the only ones who truly understood us,” she says. After Aaron died, Follman says she felt very selfish for a long time. Despite knowing that Aaron had no quality of life, she wondered if she did the right thing by signing a “do not resuscitate” order. “In hindsight, I know I gave everything to my child. His whole life he knew people loved him,” she now says. Dr. Campbell says many parents drift in and out of support groups, often showing an elevated need for help around birthdays, the anniversary of their due dates, or family holidays. “After the funeral, everyone is around but then the world wants everything to go back to normal,” she says. “People are worried to talk to the mother about it because they don’t want her to dwell on the death. But as a mother, you are going to think about that loss every single day. And then there comes a day that you don’t think about it and then you realize you are more upset, so you beat yourself up that you forgot about your baby.” No matter how short a life the child lived, that time was still important and marks the life of a human being. “Having lost a child, even if it was a newborn or baby, still means you are a parent,” Dr. Campbell says. “You may not have that child with you physically in your arms anymore but you are still a parent and that child will always be in your head and in your heart.” Stacey Pfeffer is a writer based in Chappaqua.

Local Infant Mortality Rates The following are IMR expressed per 1,000 live births in 2013, the most recent year statistics are available: Bronx: 5.1 Brooklyn: 3.6 Manhattan: 3.7 Nassau: 4.0 Queens: 4.2

Rockland County: 4.4 Staten Island: 3.8 Suffolk: 4.8 Westchester County: 4.7 United States overall: 6.0

Sources: NYC Department of Health; March of Dimes Perinatal Stats; health.ny.gov

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FOOD & NUTRITION

Conquering Bake Sales

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Gluten-free, nut-free, vegan—with variety of dietary needs becoming more common, baking treats for your kid’s class can be a minefield. Here’s how to win the battle. By April Peveteaux

t’s hard enough to prepare food for your own family with all of their “I can’t eat anything with green stuff on it,” and “Oh, I didn’t tell you? I’m a ‘porkaterian’ now” bulls**t. Add in a few other kids to the mix, and it’s downright terrifying. So, it makes sense to just forget about this whole baking for others thing and move on. I get it. If you’re like me, you mostly ignore any and all emails that come from your child’s school for this reason, and many other good ones. You can only read about the latest pinkeye breakout so many times before you embrace the philosophy of, “Let Go and Let God.” And this is how I have mostly avoided providing baked goods for five-plus years of elementary school events! Apparently, God doesn’t want me baking for kindergarteners. Understood. But I did reconsider my no-baking policy once I learned about a newly diagnosed celiac in our community. I realized that if I

October 2017 | nymetroparents.com

didn’t provide some gluten-free chocolate chip cookies, no one would. Except for his parents, of course, but they were probably too busy freaking out about letting their little dude eat in public, much less trying to find a great gluten-free, nut-free, kosher recipe for shortbread. As I began to hear about more and more kids with food allergies and intolerances, I knew that a bake sale without options would be a very sad bake sale, indeed. All of a sudden, I wasn’t the only one walking by the rows of bento box-shaped cookies and luscious pieces of chocolate cake, crying because I would never know the feel of a pecan tart pie crust crunching all around my mouth ever again. The exclusive bake sale treats were no longer only upsetting to me—an adult who, in theory, can tolerate the pain of flaky pastry denial. I knew at that point that I must think about the children. THE CHILDREN!!!! Of course, I also wanted to eat a lemon bar that wouldn’t make

me poop my pants, but if I lost control of my bowels, at least it wouldn’t be in front of a group of 8-year-old boys during gym class. Probably. From that point on, I vowed to re-create allergyfriendly treats to offer up whenever I was called upon to do so. This, my friends, is easier said than done. That doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t do it, though.

A much more exhaustive list of allergy-friendly products lives in the resource section of [Bake Sales are My B*tch], but if you want to get started baking right away, here are a few items to consider stocking in your pantry before you put on your allergen-free apron. (Okay, that’s not a real thing, so don’t panic. Any old apron without clumps of food on it will do.)

How to Not Screw Up

Butter Substitutes

There are many ways to screw up in the kitchen, and, believe me, I’ve done most of them. We’re still trying to get that chocolatebarbecue sauce off my kitchen ceiling. It becomes very crucial to avoid screwing up, however, when you’re handling food for kids who could react badly to an allergen. Crucial. While you’re preparing these allergy-free recipes, please keep the following in mind. Wrap It for Safety You must prepare allergy-free food on clean surfaces and in clean pots, pans, and baking sheets. You absolutely cannot boil some gluten-free pasta for your mac and cheese in the same pot you just used to boil up your gluten-filled pasta. You cannot bake an egg- and dairy-free cookie on a sheet that has been habitually used to bake cookies chock-full of eggs and dairy without covering it with parchment or scrubbing it so hard you probably scrub off the nonstick surface. You can scrub pots and pans within an inch of their lives, but if they have even a crumb of allergen left over, it’s possible it will stick on your nice, allergy-free dough. You also cannot bake nut-filled cookies on the same sheet as their nutless brothers and sisters. This may sound like a pain, so I have two words that will make it much easier to keep things clean and separate: aluminum foil. Oh, and two more: parchment paper. Before you bake, cover your bakeware with aluminum foil, or parchment paper for the cookies that stick. Before you grill, place aluminum foil down on the grill that will hold your allergy-free options. If you don’t have a cutting board, or very clean surface to prepare your safe food, put down aluminum foil or parchment paper. Your new best friend is aluminum foil. Get to know him, along with his BFF, parchment paper. No Holding Hands or PDA When you’re preparing food, keep the allergens far away from the allergen-free ingredients. If they get mixed up, your allergen-free dish is toast. Don’t use the same cutting board for fish that you do for chicken, if you have a fish-allergic guest. Also, don’t think fish is a great ingredient for a school bake sale or a 6-year-old birthday party. That’s a mistake you’ll only make once. Additionally, don’t let all this hard work keeping surfaces bleached and ingredients separate go to waste by serving up all of your safe food on a platter alongside the dangerous food. Continue to keep these foods separate, using separate cooking pots, pans, and sheets, as well as separate utensils. Consciously uncouple the allergy-laden from the allergy-free foods to make sure that the end result is safe for all. Whew! That’s a lot, but if you remember to keep your allergysafe treats safe from the first time you pick up the ingredients until they are safely delivered to the sale, you’ll make a heck of a lot of kiddos happy, as well as their very anxious parents. It’s like farm to table, but without the hipster element.

Earth Balance: This vegan butter alternative comes in many forms, but you’ll most likely be picking up the baking sticks. If you’re making a soy-free treat, do not buy the buttery baking sticks, but instead pick up the soy-free version. Nutiva Organic Vegan Superfood Shortening: This soy-free, dairy-free, gluten-free, GMO (genetically modified organism)-free, fair-trade product is a combination of red palm oil and virgin coconut oil. You can find a million different coconut oils on the market, but Nutiva’s combination with palm oil makes it a better option for baking when you’re avoiding the eight main allergens. Crisco Vegetable Shortening, Butter Flavor: I grew up using Crisco butter flavor in so many family recipes that I naturally tried it first when I went about experimenting with dairy-free baked goods. While my family probably used Crisco as a butter substitute for completely different, now-defunct reasons (it was the 1980s, and butter was the enemy), it does hold up in recipes pretty well. Crisco contains soy, along with artificial flavors, so if you’re not on board with either of those, you should probably try Spectrum organic all-vegetable shortening. The main ingredient in both vegetable shortening brands is also palm oil.

Egg Substitutes

Ener-G Egg Replacer: The OG of egg replacement, Ener-G has been helping out egg-free bakers for a very long time. If you’re going to be baking egg-free a lot, I would suggest grabbing a box and going to town. Since it’s also eight main allergen-free, it’s a good substitute for the kids. Golden Flax Meal: Flax meal has become my go-to for baking without eggs. You combine 1 tablespoon of flax meal with 3 tablespoons of water per egg called for in the recipe. The key is in letting it sit for a little while before you use it. (I say at least 10 minutes, but if you have a half-hour to wait, do that for optimum egglike properties.) You can either buy the golden flaxseeds and grind them in a coffee grinder when you’re ready to use them, or buy the meal and keep it sealed up tight so it will retain its freshness. Chia Seeds: Chia seeds work in the same manner as flaxseeds, and are truly gelatinous. My only issue is if you’re creating something light in color, you can get a little black spot action in the final product. Both work well, so go with what you like. Follow Your Heart VeganEgg: What’s great about this all allergen-free product is that you can even cook this up and make an omelet if you’ve been craving one since you had to go egg-free. Baking Soda and Vinegar: I’ve used the baking-soda-andvinegar combo in a pinch and, while it didn’t seem to work as well as the magic flax meal, it’s definitely serviceable in your baked goods. Combine 1 teaspoon of baking soda and 1 tablespoon of vinegar (watch, as it will bubble up), allow to dissolve, and you have a substitute for 1 egg. continued on next page ››

RocklandParent 43

‹‹ continued from previous page

Gluten Substitutes

Cup4Cup: For baking, I’ve always loved Cup4Cup multipurpose gluten-free flour, but it will not work as a flour in the dairy-free recipes, as one of the ingredients is milk powder. I also like to use all-purpose flours so I don’t have to experiment with xanthan gum or add anything else to the mix. It makes it easier, and that makes me happier. Better Batter: Luckily, my other favorite gluten-free, allpurpose flour is dairy-free (and every other allergen-free, plus kosher), and it also gives fantastic results. It’s become one of my go-tos now that I’m experimenting with gluten- and dairy-free recipes, but it is sadly harder to find than many other popular brands. I recommend ordering online and stocking up if you’re going to be the bake-sale queen. King Arthur Gluten-Free All-Purpose: Another great gluten- and dairy-free option, I also love to use King Arthur’s recipes. It’s a solid choice, and I almost always have a box in my cupboard. Almond Meal: Only if you know there are no nut allergies around, almond meal makes for some delicious cakes. The texture is lovely and moist, and the slight nutty flavor can enhance any cake recipe. You do have to experiment with it, unlike the allpurpose flours above, but if you’re 100-percent sure that you don’t need to keep it tree nut-free, have some fun with the almond flour family.

Milk Substitutes

The trouble with milk substitutes in baking is the lack of eight main allergen-free options if (and this is a pretty big if) you have a coconut problem. While rice milk fits the bill, it is not as rich and appropriate for baking as coconut milk cream and coconut milk are. Soy milk and nut milks are also great substitutes, but have the obvious problem of being in the eight main allergen family. I generally recommend coconut cream and coconut milk regardless, as a coconut allergy as part of a tree-nut allergy is so incredibly rare. And when it comes to baked goods, coconut milk does have the best result in a recipe. Still, be sure you know the specifics of any allergies kids may have before you start to mix up your eight main allergen-free brownies. One more note for the bake-sale bakers: If you’re preparing food for a party, bake sale, or anywhere that you will be dropping off and not sticking around to explain what’s up with your cookies, label your treats. Let the dairy-free know if something is safe to eat by being very clear with your packaging. After all, what’s the point of making allergy-friendly treats if no one knows about it? (Note to parents of the severely allergic: You still don’t want to risk homemade treats from someone’s kitchen unless you’ve had a very detailed convo and know without a doubt that they’re safe for your kiddo. But you knew that already, I’m sure.) Now, stock up on your cellophane and decorative twine . . . it’s bake sale time!

Snickerdoodles

G, D, P, TN, S, E, F, SF (8/8) Another benefit to growing up in 1980s Oklahoma is that my mom and grandmother often used oleo instead of butter. If you don’t know what oleo is, just know that you could totally substitute Earth Balance or butter-flavored vegetable shortening and be in business. The point is, this is my mom’s recipe, which is naturally dairy-free, since she used that super-trendy oleo. I’ve made it gluten-free and egg-free, as 44

October 2017 | nymetroparents.com

well. You can always use butter, regular flour, and 2 eggs, if you’re not entertaining any allergic types. Prep time: 15 minutes • Chill time: 3 hours • Cook time: 8 minutes • Makes: 24 servings 2 tablespoons golden flax meal 1 cup Earth Balance or butter-flavored vegetable shortening 1¾ cups sugar 1¾ cups all-purpose gluten-free, dairy-free flour 2 teaspoons cream of tartar 1 teaspoon baking soda ½ teaspoon salt 2 teaspoons cinnamon 1. In a small bowl, whisk together flax meal and 6 tablespoons water. Allow to stand for 10 minutes. 2. Using an electric mixer or stand mixer, cream butter substitute or shortening and 1½ cups sugar. Add flax meal and water mixture and combine well. Add flour, cream of tartar, baking soda, and salt, and mix well. 3. Transfer dough to refrigerator and chill for 3 hours or more. 4. Preheat oven to 400°F and prepare baking sheet by lightly spraying with vegetable oil spray. 5. In a small bowl, combine cinnamon and the remaining ¼ cup sugar well. 6. Remove chilled dough from refrigerator and roll dough into balls 1½ to 2 inches in diameter. Roll balls in cinnamon and sugar mixture and place on baking sheet. 7. Bake for 8 minutes, or until edges are golden brown.

Popcorn Balls

G, D, P, TN, S, E, F, SF (8/8) This is my grandmother’s recipe that my mother always made as well, and now I’m carrying on this naturally gluten-free, dairyfree, and every other “-free” treat. If you use butter to shape the balls, this recipe will no longer be dairy-free. Getting out the candy thermometer may seem like a pain, but it’s 100 percent worth it to get the precise temperature for this recipe. For holiday bake sales, you can add a few drops of food coloring to get the right holiday hue. I like to dress up popcorn balls with a chocolate drizzle or a quick roll in crushed candies. If those ingredients float your boat, I suggest you do the same. Prep time: 10 minutes • Cook time: 20 minutes • Makes: 12 balls 12 cups plain popped corn 2 cups sugar ½ cup corn syrup 1 teaspoon apple-cider vinegar ½ teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Vegetable oil or Earth Balance 1. Place popcorn in a large bowl and set aside. 2. In a medium saucepan, combine sugar, 1½ cups water, corn syrup, vinegar, and salt and heat on medium-high heat. Continue stirring occasionally until candy thermometer reads 240°F (hard-ball stage). Stir in vanilla and combine well. 3. Pour mixture over popcorn and mix well. 4. Working quickly, use vegetable oil or butter substitute on your hands to help shape popcorn into 3-inch balls. Place balls on a baking sheet and allow to cool. Caution: Mixture will be hot; do not let little hands help with this step.

Cupcake Bowls with Fruit Filling

G, D, P, TN, S, E, F, SF (8/8) A festive-looking and allergy-friendly dessert, cupcake bowls are also an incredibly easy treat to make for a crowd. Heck, I even employ the kids when I’m making cupcake bowls, because I know that they’ll enthusiastically dig into the cupcake tops, because they want to eat the pieces that “fall off” during the process. I prefer to fill these up with mixed berries and a sprig of mint with a drizzle of chocolate sauce on top, or a crumble of the leftover cupcake tops. But you do you. Prep time: 15 minutes • Cook time: 30 minutes • Makes: 24 cupcakes Cupcakes 1½ cups all-purpose gluten-free, dairy-free flour 1 cup sugar 3 tablespoons cocoa powder 1 teaspoon baking soda ½ teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon apple-cider vinegar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 5 tablespoons vegetable oil Filling 3 cups mixed fresh berries ½ cup sugar Chocolate sauce and mint sprigs (optional) 1. Preheat oven to 350°F and line 2 muffin pans with paper cupcake liners. 2. Make the cupcakes: In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Set aside. 3. In a medium bowl, mix together vinegar, vanilla, oil, and 1 cup water. 4. Create a well in the dry ingredients and pour in wet ingredients, and combine. Pour batter into muffin pans. 5. Bake for 30 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean from center of test cupcake. 6. Remove from oven and allow to cool for 15 minutes. 7. Make the filling: In a medium saucepan, combine berries, sugar, and 1⁄4 cup water, and mix well. Bring mixture to a boil and allow it to boil for 5 minutes, stirring regularly. Remove from heat and set aside to cool. 8. Remove cupcakes from liners and line up on a serving platter. 9. Using a small ice cream scoop or large spoon, scoop out the center of the cupcakes and set aside the crumbs. 10. Evenly distribute the berry mixture inside each “bowl.” 11. Drizzle with chocolate sauce and add a sprig of mint, if desired, or crumble leftover cupcake crumbs on top and serve. Fun Tip: Fill these up with ice cream of your choice and add fruit on top with chocolate syrup for cupcake sundaes at your next birthday party.

Recipe Key Gluten (G), Dairy (D), Peanuts (P), Tree Nuts (TN), Soy (S), Egg (E), Fish (F), and Shellfish (SF)— means it is free of these allergens. Reprinted from Bake Sales are My B*tch by April Peveteaux. Copyright (c) 2016 by April Peveteaux. By permission of Rodale Books. Available wherever books are sold.

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Clemente Orthodontics 603 S. Route 304, New City 845-638-6646 60 W. Ridgewood Ave., Ridgewood, NJ 201-447-2888; clementeorthodontics.com

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At Clemente Orthodontics, our patients receive the benefit of experience, quality, and energy that comes with a multigenerational team. Dr. Michael Clemente and his daughters, Dr. Nicole Clemente and Dr. Marissa Clemente, work together seamlessly to care for your orthodontic needs. They run a state-of-the-art practice with digital X-rays, private treatment rooms, impression-free Invisalign, and a highly experienced staff. They are an Invisalign Super Elite Premier provider, offering Invisalign and Invisalign Teen as treatment options. Consultations are complimentary.

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

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 DrKastin09@yahoo.com

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

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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.

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.

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.

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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 Espanol.

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. Dental Wellness of Suffern—let them create the smile you were born to have.

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

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.

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.

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5 Tips to Cut Candy Consumption This Halloween

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How to control kids’ sugar intake despite their bountiful trick-or-treating hauls

s kids collect pounds of candy this Halloween, this can leave parents playing the candy police, using their best bargaining skills, or just navigating meltdowns. Childhood weight and health expert Thea Runyan, co-founder and head of content and counseling at Kurbo Health, shares these tips to keep kids’ candy consumption under control after trick-or-treating.

Pick Your Favorites

The ritual of sorting and trading candy collected from a night of trick-or-treating is a huge part of Halloween fun. This year, instead of keeping all of the candy, when the sorting is done, ask your kids to choose 20-40 of their favorite pieces and consider doing something else with the rest.

Leave Your Candy for the Switch Witch

A very popular solution to getting rid of extra candy is to leave it outside for the Switch Witch. In the middle of the night, the candy gets taken away and is replaced with a present. This present will vary based on the age of the child, but books, gift cards, and small toys are popular options.

October 2017 | nymetroparents.com

Donate Your Candy

Another popular solution to getting the extra candy out of the house is to donate it. Kids enjoy donating their candy to troops overseas, homeless shelters, and cancer programs that provide candy for chemotherapy patients. Consider starting a donation program at your kids’ school and have other students participate. Another option: See if a local dentist will buy your kids’ candy; many already run candy buy-back programs.

Hand Out Candy You Don’t Like

This is what I do. To resist temptation while I am handing out candy to trick-or-treaters (or before Halloween when it is sitting in my pantry), I buy my least-favorite candy. Then I pick my favorites from my kids’ trick-or-treat collection.

Hand Out Non-Food Items

Parents often think this will make their house unpopular, but my experience is quite the opposite. Kids are accumulating so much candy, so getting a Halloween toy or game is a fun change. Sugarless gum is also a guilt-free choice that is popular with all age groups.

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The Wholeness Center................................................. 25 Tumble-Bee Gymnastics.............................................. 17 West Rock Tennis Club................................................ 13 Young Chefs Academy................................................. 17

CAMPS Academy for Martial Arts.............................................. 13 German Language School Westwood.......................... 15 Kreative Kids & Vicki’s Dance Studio............................11 Mathnasium of Nanuet................................................... 8 Rivertown Music........................................................... 19 West Rock Tennis Club................................................ 13 Young Chefs Academy................................................. 17

Clarkstown Theatre Company ..................................... 41

RELIGIOUS Congregation Shaarey Israel.......................................... 7 Jewish Federation of Rockland County.......................... 5

RESTAURANT / FOOD SERVICES Blue Moon Mexican Café............................................. 41

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FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT / EVENTS / OUTINGS Bounce! Trampoline Sports ......................................... 45 Dave & Busters - West Nyack...................................... 41 Hurd’s Family Farm ..................................................... 25 New City Chamber of Commerce................................... 7 Palisades Center ......................................................... 52

Dave & Busters - West Nyack...................................... 41 Palisades Center ......................................................... 52

RETAIL Kagan Realty / Toyriffic................................................. 39 Palisades Center ......................................................... 52 Sparkle Up ................................................................... 22

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Danceworks.................................................................. 21

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Master Jung & Yu Traditional Taekwondo.................... 15

New City Chamber of Commerce................................... 7

Palisades Climb Adventure............................................. 5 Tumble-Bee Gymnastics.............................................. 17

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Crystal Run Healthcare............................................ 2, 47

Jill’s Ceramics............................................................... 41

Dental Wellness of Suffern................................. 7, 46, 47

Kreative Kids & Vicki’s Dance Studio............................11

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

Master Jung & Yu Traditional Taekwondo.................... 15

Mathnasium of Nanuet................................................... 8

Rockland Behavioral Health......................................... 39

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Prime Time for Kids Erly Learning Center.................... 17

Smile More Dentistry.............................................. 25, 46

West Rock Tennis Club................................................ 13

Rivertown Music........................................................... 19

Smith’s Little Smiles Pediatric Dentistry................. 39, 46

Tumble-Bee Gymnastics.............................................. 17

Tenafly Pediatrics................................................... 41, 46

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Young Chefs Academy................................................. 17

The Wholeness Center................................................. 25

Clarkstown Theatre Company ..................................... 41

SPORTS Academy for Martial Arts.............................................. 13 Bounce! Trampoline Sports ......................................... 45

RocklandParent 49

VOICES

Stop With the Trophies Already! ››

One mom offers a plea for kids to be awarded trophies only when they’ve accomplished something that deserves the recognition. By Karen J. Bannan

y kids are 12 and 8. They have been playing sports since they were little. They aren’t superstars, and yet we have more than 20 trophies sitting in our home. Trophies that take up room, gather dust, and are pretty much meaningless. We’ve got trophies for kindergarten Catholic Youth Organization basketball, our beach club’s swim team, the National PTA Reflections contest, a first-grade soccer tournament, and cheerleading. Last month the girls and I cleaned their rooms. All those trophies ended up sitting in the hallway of our upstairs. The girls didn’t want them cluttering up their shelves. “Mommy,” they said, “we don’t need them.” No kidding, I thought. No kidding. I have been against giving out trophies since we got the first shiny plastic and stone monstrosity complete with a little soccer ball. (That one was for participating in a local peewee soccer program that didn’t even have games!) My biggest complaint has always been that trophies should be for real accomplishments. Big wins. Amazing feats of prowess, academic or athletic. You don’t need a trophy to commemorate 10 weeks of kindergarten sports skills classes! I’m not the only one who feels this way. Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison created a firestorm when he posted on Instagram about taking away trophies his little ones got. The photo was accompanied by this post: “I came home to find out that my boys received two trophies for nothing, participation trophies! While I am very proud of my boys for everything they do and will encourage them till the day I die, these

trophies will be given back until they EARN a real trophy. I’m sorry I’m not sorry for believing that everything in life should be earned and I’m not about to raise two boys to be men by making them believe that they are entitled to something just because they tried their best… cause sometimes your best is not enough, and that should drive you to want to do better…not cry and whine until somebody gives you something to shut u up and keep you happy. #harrisonfamilyvalues” I totally agree and wish others did, but alas, I am in the minority. For example, a few years ago I ran our elementary school’s Reflections program and I championed phasing out the trophies. We could give out ribbons and medals, I said. It would be cheaper, I said. It didn’t fly. The trophies were ordered, and I silently cursed the fact that I would have another four of them in my house. (My kids tend to do well at those types of contests.) But I digress, as usual. When my kids handed over their shiny loot I took to the Internet to find out if I could recycle them. Yes, I discovered, there are companies that will recycle trophies, but I couldn’t find any close by. Today I posted on Facebook and a friend sent me a link about a place way out east that takes them and refurbishes them for charities. It’s about an hour away from my home, but it may be worth the trip just to get them out of my sight. In the meantime, I know I am blessed that my kids are able to be involved with sports and contests to earn trophies at all. There are many children who don’t have the same opportunities. Does that earn me a medal?

Karen J. Bannan is a Long Island writer who blogs at naturalaspossiblemom.com, where this post first appeared.

October 2017 | nymetroparents.com

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