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Camp Planner! • How Camp Preps Kids for College • Find Your Child’s Dream Camp NEW! Camps at a Glance • Transportation • Lunch • Flexible Hours • More

Ax Your Taxes Deductions Even Smart Parents Miss

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contents table of

march 2018

48 30

camp

How to Raise a Take-Charge Teen

Help your kid learn to make his own decisions instead of just following the crowd.

Family Fun in Manhattan

Two can’t-miss, family-friendly events in NYC, plus two venues to visit to make the most of your day

16 How Camp Prepares Kids for College 20 Camp Directory

28 Camps-at-a-Glance Chart

Spring Clean It!

Places in your home you should be cleaning on a regular basis, but likely aren’t

raising kids

things to do

family life

6 Editor’s Note 8 New Places, New Programs 10 5 Things Parents Should Know About Bad Behavior 12 Fear Not, Little One 45 Meet the Doctor 46 Sleep Training 101 48 How to Raise a Take-Charge Teen 50 Professional Services 51 Open Houses 52 Party Central 53 Advertisers’ Index 54 Quotables

13 Fake Fur Pom

40 Make Filing Less Taxing

30 Family Fun in Manhattan

42 Spring Clean It!

31 Family Activities Calendar 38 Spring into March

NYMetroParents

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

10 End Bad Behavior

15 Camp Planner! 40 Ax Your Taxes

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

Bar Mitzvah Bat Mi t zvah Sweet Sixteen Quinceañera

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raising kids editor’s note

MARCH 2018 • Vol.9 • No.10

NYMetroParents nymetroparents.com

EDITORIAL EDITORIAL DIRECTOR: Deborah Skolnik MANAGING EDITOR: Katelin Walling SENIOR EDITOR: Bethany Braun-Silva ENGAGEMENT EDITOR: Samantha Neudorf

Springing Forward— Confidently

REGIONAL EDITORS: Samantha Beranbom (Rockland); Karen Demeter (Suffolk); Whitney C. Harris (Manhattan, Westchester); Rosalind Muggeridge (Brooklyn); Dorette Saunders (Nassau); Gail Warren (Queens) DIRECTORIES EDITOR: Alice Van Dyke EDITORIAL INTERN: Cintia Feliz, Caitlin Sawicki To Submit Events: nymetroparents.com/submitevents

ou can feel it in the air: Spring is on its way. Sure, we may still be stepping around slush puddles, but soon enough we’ll be soaking up sunshine, and the ground—well, outside Manhattan, at least—will be a gorgeous sea of green. No matter how many times you’ve experienced this change of seasons, it always seems like a miracle. If you’re a new parent, you may be praying for another miracle: a good night’s sleep. Well, believe it or not, that too is possible. Just read Bethany Braun-Silva’s article, “Sleep Training 101,” on page 46—it examines popular techniques you can use to get your baby to settle down peacefully each evening and minimize those middle-ofthe-night tears (his and yours). It also explains why you shouldn’t despair if your baby backslides a little from time to time. Over on page 48, Christina Vercelletto’s article, “How to Raise a Take-Charge Teen,” will help you guide your older kid through an amazing transformation too—one that turns her from a wishy-washy crowd-follower into someone who makes her own decisions, regardless of what her friends do. Of course, spring isn’t just bunnies and daffodils; there’s important work to be done. For starters, you’ll need to finish your taxes (sorry!). Don’t file them until you’ve read “Make Filing Less Taxing” on page 40—we share savvy pro tips that could save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars, a big help when you’re raising a family. Spring cleaning is another chore many of us tackle right about now, and we’ll show you how to make sure you really do the job right. Just turn to page 42 for Katelin Walling’s article, “Spring Clean It!”. We asked the experts to point out all the nooks and crannies that even the most enthusiastic housecleaners (not that we know any of those!) tend to overlook. Once you’re done de-griming them, you can rest easy knowing that your house is deep-down clean for you and your kids. Just as soon as you’ve gotten your house ready for warmer weather, you’ll start thinking about summertime. Have you made your child’s camp plans yet? Starting your search now will give you the time to find a program that really resonates with your kid’s personality and brings out his full potential. Read Stacey Ebert’s wonderful piece on page 16, “How Camp Prepares Kids for College,” to learn how a positive summer experience can help your child flourish not just now, but years down the road. Then check out our amazing new camp chart on page 28. We know you’re busy, so we made it easy for you to scan different camps’ services and offerings at a glance. With so many great choices listed, you’re bound to find the ideal program. It’s just one more reason to “spring forward” with plenty of energy and optimism. Enjoy!

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

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raising kids new places, new programs Courtesy Future Star

Who: Future Stars Summer Camps at Old Westbury and Farmingdale What’s New: Web design and coding for third through ninth grades, and photography and videography for fifth to 10th grades. Children in the web design and coding programs will learn web development and coding concepts using Java Script. These programs will be available July 23-Aug. 3 in SUNY College at Old Westbury’s computer lab. Children in photography and videography will film a variety of subjects around Farmingdale State College, including sports programs and special events. These programs will be available July 16-27. The programs were added this year in part because of their popularity, according to David Stapleton, camp director. Want More Info: SUNY College at Old Westbury, 223 Store Hill Road, Old Westbury; 516-262-5008; and Farmingdale State College, 2350 Broadhollow Road, Farmingdale; 516-531-6242; fscamps.com

Day Camps in Farmingdale and Old Westbury to Offer New Programming

Campers participating in Future Stars’ photog raphy and videography sessions will learn digital pho to and video skills usi the Adobe Creative Sui ng te.

School of Horse Courtesy Thomas

Who: Thomas School of Horsemanship What’s New: Janine Innes-Ortiz, who is the new summer camp director, and STEM and trapeze programming. Innes-Ortiz started at Thomas School of Horsemanship in 1977 as a camper and has been involved with the camp ever since. “I’d like to continue on the tradition of children being able to find their strength through horses to develop that kindness and compassion and the ability to problem solve,” she says. The camp plans to expand on the existing STEM programming to offer more robotics, and will offer trapeze for the first time. Camp runs July 2-Aug. 17 for ages 3-15, and registration is now open. Want More Info: 250 Round Swamp Road, Melville; 631-692-6840; tshcamp.com

manship

Melville Horsemanship Camp Welcomes New Director, Offers New Programs

r camp will manship’s summe as School of Horse imming, and more. sw fts, Children at Thom cra and s back riding, art participate in horse

Who: Xplore Family Fun Center What’s New: The indoor play space for ages 1-12, which is slated to open in early March. The 20,000-square-foot facility will feature three huge inflatables; a 20-foot-tall soft playground with a zip line/rail, swing, bouncy web, slides, and more; 35 arcade games; and a laser maze. The facility also has a dedicated soft area for toddlers with a small merrygo-round, rotating inflatable rocket ship, and sensory activity panels. As a sister indoor play space to Safari Adventure, patrons can use memberships, punch passes, gift and arcade cards, and loyalty rewards at both facilities. Want More Info: 200 Wilson St., Port Jefferson Station; 631-743-9955; xplorekids.com; facebook.com/xploreny; instagram.com/xplorekids 8

March 2018 | nymetroparents.com

Courtesy Xplore Family Fun Center

Indoor Play Space to Open in Port Jefferson Station This Month

A sneak peak inside Xplore Family Fun Center, which is in the final stages of construction preparing for the grand opening in early March

What rights do students have? Children do have legal rights, and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act is a law designed to ensure that all students with disabilities receive a free appropriate public education that meets their unique needs and prepares them for the future. Violations can pertain to:

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raising kids in the know

5 Things Parents Should Know About Bad Behavior ››

By Bethany Braun-Silva with Catherine Pearlman, Ph.D., LCSW

arenting is easy,” said no one ever. It involves dealing with endless laundry, poop, and stomach viruses, plus making lunches, grocery shopping, cleaning up messes, and much more. It sometimes can be a thankless job, but it’s the job for which we signed up. We parent out of love, and mostly, even with the work, it’s a joy. However, there is a lot of unpleasantness that isn’t an inevitable part of the job, namely dealing with kids’ whining, complaining, tantrums, and wheedling. These button-pushing, parentprovoking behaviors are mostly learned, but they can be unlearned in a flash. When that happens, parenting becomes less like a job and a lot more fun. Here, Catherine Pearlman, Ph.D., LCSW, author of Ignore It!: How Selectively Looking The Other Way Can Decrease Behavioral Problems and Increase Parenting Satisfaction, shares five important points parents should know about kids’ annoying and attention-seeking behaviors.

“

1. Kids whine, complain, and negotiate all for one simple reason: because it works. Begging for an ice pop or complaining about having to eat broccoli tends to get the desired response. Either kids get to avoid something they don’t want to do, or they get something they desperately want, like another brownie or more screen time. If the behavior doesn’t produce these rewards, children will find other, more appropriate ways to behave. 2. Behavior that is reinforced will be repeated. Kids are smart cookies. Once they break the parenting code and figure out how to get more of what they want and less of

what they don’t, they will use these effective techniques to their advantage. Children aren’t deviant monsters; they are just learning from their parents how to work the system. If you knew what to do to get a free Frappuccino at Starbucks, wouldn’t you do it? 3. When parents change how they respond to a behavior, the behavior changes. The good news is children notice very quickly when their tried-and-true behaviors are no longer effective. If kids throw a tantrum but it gets them nothing, they decide it’s not worth it. When arguing and begging for more screen time produces no more time and no additional attention, kids give it up. 4. To avoid rewarding or reinforcing misbehavior, ignore it. Once you’ve said “no” to a pack of gum at Target or a balloon at the stationery store, ignore the whining and complaining. Also ignore it when your child tries to negotiate for fewer carrots at dinner, or burps for attention. Without any reward, kids will quickly drop these behaviors. Why would kids beg, whine, or negotiate if nothing comes of it? 5. Ignore the misbehavior, not the child. Kids still need attention, so give it to them, just not following misbehavior. Instead, catch them when they’re listening, being kind, or following directions, then reward them for those actions. An important caveat of ignoring misbehavior: Don’t ignore your child’s pain or anyone who is in pain as a result of your child’s behavior.

Catherine Pearlman, Ph.D., LCSW, is an assistant professor at Brandman University and the author of Ignore It!: How Selectively Looking The Other Way Can Decrease Behavioral Problems and Increase Parenting Satisfaction. Visit Dr. Pearlman’s website, thefamilycoach.com.

March 2018 | nymetroparents.com

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raising kids voices

Fear Not, Little One

››

How my daughter’s journey from fearless to fearful (and back again) changed the way I parent. By Whitney C. Harris

was afraid of many things as a child. From thunder and lightning to E.T. and our neighbor’s dog, I always found something to freak out about. I was leery of department stores and getting lost in their maze-like clothing racks. I was so scared of the board game Operation that I had to wear earmuffs to mask the constant buzzing sound when my older sister played with her friends. I couldn’t even look at my father’s heavy-duty liquid soap bottle because the giant greasy hands on it were totally terrifying to me. This summer my daughter turned 2 years old, and as all the parenting literature promised, she started to develop some fears herself. Despite my own experience with this, I felt helpless and perplexed. Rather than a gradual introduction to shock and fright, we’ve been dealing with the sudden appearance of fears, some from seemingly nowhere. My once-fearless toddler started clinging to me if a dad entered the playground, and crying if strangers looked at her for too long in the grocery store. The “stranger danger” was short lived, but she still gets very irritable when unfamiliar men are around. My daughter still seemed fairly intrepid this summer, swimming (with assistance from her floaties!) in the Hudson River or socializing with a new playgroup—until the smoke alarm in her bedroom went off three times in one evening. From then on, bedtime, naptime, and anything within one hour of these sacred rituals became riddled with anxiety triggers. It would start with some clinginess during her pre-bed meal, then tears while I was cleaning up, which led to protests at going upstairs and reading books, then screaming “No beep beep!” until it erupted into a full-blown meltdown on her bedroom floor. It was impossible to stop and heartbreaking to witness. My brave little girl was completely distraught, and I felt powerless to comfort her. So I learned a slightly different kind of parenting, with plenty of listening and less talking, and more creative problem solving than usual. I soon realized that my daughter desperately wanted to talk about the “beep beep,” so

I gave her every opportunity to repeat the story of what happened that night. “Beep beep. Daddy fixed it. We go outside,” she would say over and over again, recounting how the alarm blared, my husband shut it off, and then we went outside to call our local fire department just to make sure there wasn’t any carbon monoxide setting off the alarm. She wanted to put Elmo stickers on the alarm, so I found our tallest stool and managed to stick a few around its perimeter on her bedroom ceiling. Then I started pointing out all the happy beeps that we hear throughout the day. The microwave, which means her breakfast sausage is ready! My phone alarm, which means it’s time to get ready for preschool! Or the “beep beep” of her grandmother’s car just parked in our driveway, which always means a fun, lollipop-fueled visit. We even tried an at-home version of art therapy, drawing a picture of her bedroom together, her crib surrounded by books and stuffed animals, and the all-important “beep beep” at the top right-hand corner, with Elmo stickers nearby, of course. Our journey from fearless to fearful and back again just goes to show that I’ll probably never parent the same exact kid or in the same exact ways two years in a row, and that’s a good thing because it helps both me and my daughter grow. The first year was all about patience (breast-feeding, sleep regressions, and teething, for starters), but the second year has been about becoming more flexible and nimble, always ready to meet her wherever she needs me. A few weeks ago, my daughter’s bedtime routine went back to normal. She stopped talking about the “beep beep” entirely. It fell off her list of hot topics, which currently includes pigs, birthdays (dates, cakes, songs, presents, all of it), and the names of all her friends’ baby brothers and sisters. But now, instead of screaming out from her crib in fear, she’s shouting out in anger. “Put my arm under the blankie! Put my arm under!” she demands with increasing frustration. It’s been a long, cold winter. But at least she’s not afraid of Jack Frost—yet.

Whitney C. Harris is a freelance writer and NYMetroParents’ Manhattan and Westchester calendar editor. She lives in Sleepy Hollow with her husband, a toddler, and a dog.

March 2018 | nymetroparents.com

things to do

diy corner

Fake Fur Pom Look at these and tell me you don’t want them! I can’t tell you how much joy I get from wearing these furry guys on my feet every day. If you don’t feel brave enough to wear them on your shoes, sew on a jump ring and attach a key-ring finding, or even sew one onto a hair elastic for a cute ponytail bobble. Whatever you do, just get them in your life!

Things you need Felt pen or a pencil Fake fur material Compass or large roll of tape as a template Scissors Needle and strong thread Toy stuffing / wadding Small coin, 1 inch in diameter Small piece of felt 2 shoe clips Glue gun Directions 1. Draw two circles on your fur material, roughly 4¾ inches in diameter—a full roll of sticky tape is a good size to draw round. 2. Cut out the circles with scissors and put one to one side. Thread your needle with a double length of thread, leaving a thread tail of 4 inches. Tack around the edge of the fur disc, using a running stitch. 3. When you get back to where you started, go back out the disc with the needle so now you have two tail ends next to each other. Hold the disc and pull the tail ends to ruche up the disc into a pouch. 4. Put a small amount of stuffing inside the pouch so it fills out, almost into a ball shape. You can also use your fur offcuts for stuffing. 5. Pull the tail ends and tie a knot to close up the opening. 6. Thread a needle onto the tail ends and sew a few stitches to secure. Repeat steps 2-6 to make another pompom. 7. Place your small coin on the felt and draw round it to make two circles. Cut them out. Sew a shoe clip onto each felt disc. 8. Attach the back of each felt disc to the base of a pompom, using a glue gun. Hold in place until the glue dries. 9. Clip the pompoms to your favorite pair of shoes and get dancing!

Excerpted with permission from Dress You Up by Rosy Nicholas, photography by Adam Laycock; published by Quadrille April 2017; RRP $19.99 hardcover.

LongIslandParent 13

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March 2018 | nymetroparents.com

Trainin selor in

online extras The most important things kids learn at camp are the ones you can’t see. Here are 20 camp lessons we use every day ›› nymetroparents.com/camp-lessons

Summer camp can help kids become confident, independent, well-adjusted individuals. Read the benefits of camp at ›› nymetroparents.com/camp-benefits

Camp friends aren’t the only people who will have a lasting effect on your kid. Read about the special camper-counselor relationship at ›› nymetroparents.com/camper-counselor

Can you claim summer camp on your tax returns? Find out if your child’s summer camp qualifies for Child and Dependent Care Credit ›› nymetroparents.com/camp-deduction

inside

raising kids camp planner

16 How Camp Prepares Kids for College: Sending children to summer camp does more than keep them entertained—it prepares them for collegiate life. 20 Camp Directory: Find day camps, specialty camps, and sleepaway camps in and near Suffolk County. 28 C amp Guide: This camps-at-a-glance chart makes it easier to find exactly what you want in a summer camp.

How Camp Prepares Kids for College ››

Sending children to summer camp does more than keep them entertained for the season—here are 10 ways it prepares them for the transition to collegiate life. By Stacey Ebert

t age 7 I went to day camp and by 10 I began going to sleepaway camp. Summer after summer I yearned for the end of school with excitement, though always with trepidation and a dash of worry as well. But the minute I opened the car door or the bus pulled up to my camp I was home, and that feeling never waned. Eight years after my first sleepaway camp experience, I headed off to college and that same mixture of emotions came along for the ride. Drawing on my camp experience, I was happy to discover, made the transition easier. Remembering the fun that superseded the fear, the compassion that outranked the chaos, and the learning that leveled the playing field helped more than any college preparatory book I could have read or any “what to know before you go to college” podcast I could have listened to (if those had existed at the time, of course!). What my camp friends and I learned stayed with us, transferred to others, and wove itself into the fabric of our being. As a camper and counselor, camp gave me the informal credits I needed to prepare for college. Here are 10 things I learned at camp that helped with the transition:

Learn to accept change.

This is probably the most significant lesson from camp that translates to college and then to life. Learning the only things we have control over are our attitudes, outlook, and responses is not an easy feat. Our cabins were decided before we arrived, and sometimes our friends weren’t with us, or perhaps new friends left before the summer’s end. 16

March 2018 | nymetroparents.com

Counselors shifted each session, and the new ones had very different personalities than our previous leaders. We could fight these changes, be angry when they happened, and let it ruin our camp experience, or we could find a way to accept the change, experience the new, and learn and grow. In college, friendships, roommates, and even majors change. Dealing with change isn’t easy, but it’s fantastically necessary. As we progress in years, the changes we deal with get more difficult, so our ability to accept what we can’t change must grow—and camp starts that process.

Be flexible and go with the flow.

You go to canteen and it’s out of Strawberry Shortcakes that day. The cabin night you were waiting for got rained out, so now your evening activity is indoors in the lodge. These things happen. Camp teaches us to go with the flow—our tongues turning blue from a new favorite popsicle, wearing pajamas to evening program instead of wearing layers to the beach, and empathizing with a friend while focusing on having fun with new ones for the duration of camp. That flexibility is necessary in the college stages and beyond. Sometimes our choices are taken away, sometimes the abroad program is unavailable, and sometimes we can’t get into that last class needed to complete our major until the following semester. Camp teaches us to let go; that the more relaxed we can be, the easier the shifts will become; and that the more flexible we are, the better it is for our health and well-being.

Embrace and learn from diversity.

At some point in every camp experience, we meet people who are different from us. Showing interest in those differences makes us better people, and learning from those differences widens our comfort zones and broadens our minds. Cabin and unit mates come from many backgrounds and all bring something different to the table. As the number of people with whom we interact increases, the amount of diversity we encounter grows. We meet people on day one of camp, and by day three we feel as if we’ve known them forever. Camp facilitates ease in meeting new people, lessens the fear in that meeting, and manages to make connecting with strangers more amazing than scary. Having that confidence in making new friends makes it much easier to do the same at freshman orientation. At camp and at school, we spend time with people, and we learn their desires and struggles, likes and dislikes, and upbringings and dreams of what’s to come. Camp and college provide an opportunity to make those strangers become fast friends, take notice of and embrace the differences, and learn more about the world around us.

Don’t be afraid to be yourself.

We all have strengths and weaknesses, successes and failures, likes and dislikes, dreams and aspirations, and things that bring us utter peace. If all of those were the same for our bunkmates, camp would be boring. I loved swim and arts and crafts. One of my best friends could spend her entire day at farm, while the other two practically lived at the barn with the horses. There were those who took to the talent show, while others shied away from the spotlight. There were those who were leaders and others who were not. All of us had a safe place to grow at camp. University campuses and courses widen that playing field too, but those of us who went to camp learned at an

early age that we could be ourselves and be proud of who we are. It’s those lessons we reach for in the dorm room during moments that are coupled with the fear that we might not be enough.

Everyone gets homesick.

Perhaps it happened after you read a letter or email from home. Perhaps it happened after visiting day. Perhaps it happened after a bad dream, or when you fell off a horse, got your first tick, or had that first bellyache at camp. At one point or another, all of us had a twinge of homesickness. But at camp there was often someone with a friendly shoulder, an ear to lend, or open arms for a hug that lessened the ick and reminded us we could get through. Homesickness happens at college, too, but at camp we learned there’s another side, another day, and always someone to help, whether it’s your roommate, a friend, a professor, or an advisor. And sometimes we’re even better equipped to handle homesickness in college because we remember what it felt like at camp and how we overcame it. Feeling homesick happens to the most popular kid, the best athlete, and everyone in between. Homesickness is real, but it’s manageable. I learned that lesson at camp.

Respect yourself and others.

Camp provides us freedoms we might not have at home while encouraging us to make good choices, take care of ourselves, and use good judgment. These lessons continue after we leave the grounds in August. Camp discourages bullying, teaches us to speak up for fellow campers and ourselves, and reminds us that although we’re away from home and school our character still counts and our actions have consequences. College life comes with privileges of freedoms, new people and attitudes, and many of the same continued on next page ››

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LongIslandParent 17

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choices as camp. Remembering the advice of camp counselors from our youth who constantly reminded us to respect ourselves stays with us and often pops up in critical moments when we have difficult choices to make.

Share your skills and your stuff.

Jill always brought the coolest clothes and stuff to camp. No one knew more about all things agricultural than Erin. Mr. Bill could fix everything, and his wife made the best iced tea in the world (well, according to us). Carolyn showed us how to make a onematch fire, and Maryanne introduced us to our favorite crumb cake recipe. Some people shared stuff, some shared knowledge, and others shared experiences—and it all mattered. Those who had something to share felt good knowing they were able to help someone else. Those who benefited from the generosity felt a connection, a boost in positivity, and often a desire to continue to pay it forward. College is much the same. Sometimes it’s as simple as sharing a pizza, lending out a sweatshirt, copying class notes for a sick friend, or explaining a statistics problem at 3am to your stressed out roommate. At camp we borrowed clothes, lent encouragement, and shared our knowledge. It was never about who had or knew the most or the best of anything; it was about those with the biggest hearts, the kindest ears, and the ability to be there. It mattered then, and it will continue to matter throughout college and the years thereafter.

Everyone has something to teach and to learn.

Trish the nurse taught me how to safely remove a tick. Mr. Bill showed me how to chop down a tree. Laura taught us to sing our hearts out. Millie taught us to cook, Adrienne showed us how to make our well-worn beaded camp bracelets, and I stayed up nights studying lifeguarding with Jackie. We all pitched in and we all offered up what we knew. But it was more than just tangible things: Krista taught me to deal with change, campmates taught me the magic of friendship, and hundreds of counselors taught me kindness, courage, resilience, and perseverance. College was no different. We learn from our professors, our advisors, our friends, our surroundings, and often locals and strangers. Having an open mind, acknowledging that lessons come in all forms,

having willingness to share what we know, and showcasing the ability to listen and share—camp introduced us to these lessons, and for that we are forever grateful.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

The road from Girls’ Camp to Boys’ Camp was covered by the trees’ canopy and lined with shrubbery. At night, there were parts of the path where you could barely see the glow of the stars. Whenever we had events at Boys’ Camp, fear of that dark set in. Erin was always there with a hand to lend. If she walked in the middle of the road, anyone whose arms or hands were intertwined with hers was safe from the brush and the creatures of the night. In college, I never would have gotten through statistics without the help of my science- and mathminded friends. When the methods were confusing and laden with frustration, those friends stepped in to lend a hand. Camp taught us not to be afraid to ask for help, whether we needed a hug when we were sad, a boost to reach the top of the rope, a spot with that back-handspring, a buddy for swim, or a friend with whom to walk home. Later in life, we were filled with the knowledge that asking for help only made us stronger, and we were often prepared to lend a hand when asked.

Face your fears.

Nature’s creepy crawlies wound their webs in all sorts of knobby corners at camp, and our bathrooms were outside. Then there was the swim test in the first days of the season. Camp taught us the need to face our fears in order to conquer them, to not get swallowed up by those emotions, and to always offer to help others face their own fears. As our worlds grow, often so do our fears. College finds us in new spaces, with new people and new experiences. Each time we try to push past that comfort zone, there’s fear. Camp reminds us that those fears (whether of failure or spiders) are normal, don’t make us any “less,” and are conquerable. Jackie got back on the horse after she was thrown off, Jill got back in a canoe after she busted her foot, and I jumped off of the biggest rock I’ve ever seen. We knew the future was full of unknowns, failures were bound to happen, and obstacles would most certainly pop up, but we also knew all those things we had to overcome were manageable.

Stacey Ebert is a camper at heart who has spent more than 25 years in the camping and education industries in New York as a teacher, club advisor, counselor, and aquatics director. She is a published writer, blogger, event planner, volunteer manager, and educator always in search of joy. She loves travel, spending time outside, and is an avid yogi. She has visited more than 50 of the world’s countries, and met her Australian-born husband while on a trip in New Zealand. Check out her blog at thegiftoftravel.wordpress.com.

CAMP MARKETPLACE O L D W E S T B U RY · FA R M I N G DA L E · S T. J O S E P H ’ S · S O U T H A M P TO N

since 1980

WEEKLY SESSIONS 20+ sports, s.t.e.a.m. & specialty programs 516.876.3490 · fscamps.com 18

March 2018 | nymetroparents.com

CAMP MARKETPLACE

The #1 Summer STEM Camp for Ages 7–18 Empower your child to take their STEM skills to the next level. From coding and game development to robotics and design, your child will develop in-demand skills and ignite lifelong passions—all within a fun, inclusive environment. Get ready for the best summer ever!

CAMPS & ACADEMIES

Held at 150 Prestigious Universities Stony Brook University | NYIT - Old Westbury Adelphi | Queens College | NYU | Columbia

Get a brochure and ﬁnd a camp near you! iDTechCamps.com | 1-844-788-1858

LongIslandParent 19

Camp Directory DAY CAMPS

Camp W - Where Friendships are Made 121 Wolf Hill Road, Melville 631-692-6222 campwdaycamp.com info@campwdaycamp.com Camp W is a traditional and affordable day camp for children ages 4-14. Campers enjoy exciting camp activities including sports, swimming, creative arts, computers, rocketry, and cooking. Unique schedules with an all-elective afternoon gives children an amazing summer experience! Our small camper-to-staff ratio allows us to really get to know all campers. It’s a place where everyone becomes a family. Transportation, discounts, before and after care are available. We have created an atmosphere where each and every camper builds confidence and self-esteem in an exciting and nurturing environment.

Camps ‘R’ Us Where Summer Vacation Is Our Job Locations in Baldwin, Bellmore, East Rockaway, Farmingdale, Hicksville, Saint James, Syosset, Valley Stream, and West Islip 516-935-CAMP (2267) campsrus.org info@campsrus.org At Camps ‘R’ Us, we strive to provide the very best summer day camp experience available, with award-winning programming, including sports, arts and crafts, gaming, gaga, go-karts, swimming, bowling, trips, and special events. Our campuses are hosted by some of the top private schools on Long Island, and feature premier indoor and outdoor facilities and equipment. Our highly-experienced and expertly-trained staff members are among the best and brightest in camping. Combine that with our unique affordability, and Camps ‘R’ Us has earned the reputation as one of the best summer camps on Long Island.

Future Stars Summer Camps

The College at Old Westbury, Old Westbury 516-876-3490 Farmingdale State College 2350 Broadhollow Road, Farmingdale St. Joseph’s College

155 W. Roe Blvd., Patchogue fscamps.com Future Stars Summer Camps offer weekly sports, STEAM, and specialty camp programs at three outstanding collegiate locations (The College at Old Westbury, Farmingdale State College, and St. Joseph’s College Patchogue). Programs are offered to boys and girls entering kindergarten-ninth grades. Future Stars programs help campers improve their skills in their chosen activities, and a balanced day ensures the perfect blend of instruction and fun. Stop by open house events to view the facilities, meet the staff, and take advantage of enrollment savings. See you in the summer!

Kenwal Day Camp

100 Drexel Ave., Melville 631-694-3399 kenwaldaycamp.com Kenwal Day Camp, the “camp that cares,” fosters a positive attitude and high self-esteem in its campers, ages 3-15, who participate, have fun, and try their best. Situated on 20 magnificent acres, with nature trails, a manmade lake, and the finest facilities and equipment. Small group size ensures campers hours of exploration, excitement, and maximum attention from our staff. Activities include inflatable water park, mini golf, arts and crafts, sports, theater, dance, swimming, zip lines, go-karts, rope rappelling, and special events. We provide an atmosphere filled with memories that your child will cherish forever.

Kids Country Day Camp

37 Crystal Brook Hollow Road, Mount Sinai 631-331-5351 kidscountrydaycamp.com Ten acres of indoor and outdoor adventure, sports, activities, and special events. Children ages 3-12 take part in more than 50 fun, exciting activities including field and court sports, arts and crafts, dance, karate, talent show, giant water slide, sprinkler park, pedal karts, and challenge course. Camp program includes eight weeks excluding July 4 holiday. Various combinations of weeks and days available. Activity hours are

March 2018 | nymetroparents.com

9am–4pm. Extended care from 7am–6pm. Rates include lunch, snack, refreshments, towel service, arts and crafts and activity materials, sports equipment, two camp shirts, and accident insurance.

Long Island Voyager’s Day Camp

516-238-4586 livoyagersdaycamp.com livoyagersdaycamp@gmail.com Long Island Voyager’s Day Camp is an exciting, action-packed, and safe summer experience, for boys any girls ages 4-14. We offer activities that include swimming, sports, arts and crafts, rock climbing, gymnastics, talent shows, and special events, plus amazing adventure trips to Splish Splash, Adventureland, Boomers, museums, iMax theaters, Fire Island, Bayville Adventure Park, aquariums, and Chocolate Factory! Our staff is CPR-, first aid-, and AED-certified. Lifeguards and nurse on staff and licensed. CIT program is available. Free transportation in Suffolk and Nassau counties.

Quinipet Camp and Retreat Center

99 Shore Road (4 Rocky Point Road), P.O. Box 549, Shelter Island Heights 631-749-0430 quinipet.org quinipet@nyac.com Established by the Methodist Church in 1947, Quinipet is built upon the rocks of faith, courage, love, humility, and honesty, creating a foundation that welcomes campers from all walks of life, faith, and church affiliation. Our day and overnight programs provide all the fun of a traditional summer camp at our amazing beachfront setting on Shelter Island! Waterfront activities, sports, arts and crafts, music and theater, nature discovery, camp fires, and Leader-In-Training program. Register online for Overnight Camp (ages 7-17), Day Camp (ages 5-14), and Community Sailing (ages 9-15) at quinipet.org.

St. Patrick Youth Community Summer Camp

St. Patrick Church, Smithtown 631-360-0185 stpatsyouth.com spyouth@optonline.net

Camp St. Patrick now celebrates more than 30 years of safe summer fun. With one of the best counselor-to-camper ratios, we pride ourselves as one of the safest camps in Suffolk County. Coed programs for ages 3-15. Travel to various spots on the island, with affordable two-, three-, or five-day options. Before care begins at 7:30am, camp hours from 9am-4pm, and after care until 6pm. We offer flexible camp schedules, from one-seven weeks. Sports camps, Vacation Bible School, and other options are also available.

Thomas School of Horsemanship Summer Day Camp

250 Round Swamp Road, Melville 631-692-6840 tshcamp.com tsh@tshcamp.com For more than 70 years Thomas School of Horsemanship has been a day camp where children expand their knowledge of horses and participate in the daily activities a traditional camp offers. Each day our campers attend riding, horse science, instructional swim, free swim, sports, art, theater, and STEM. Each week we host an exciting special day that includes friendly competition and team spirit. We feel passionately about children having fun-filled days while learning some of life’s most important lessons: responsibility, caring, kindness, and critical thinking.

YMCA of Long Island

855-2YMCALI (296-2254) Camp Locations: Bay Shore, East Hampton, Glen Cove, Holtsville, Huntington, and Patchogue ymcali.org/summer-day-camp tamar.simpson@ymcali.org YMCA Summer Day Camp offers children positive developmental experiences and encourages them to forge bonds with each other and with staff, building confidence through skill-building activities suited to their age. Each of our Ys offers a robust and fun-filled summer day camp program. Please check your local branch for specific offerings and pricing. You can also view a camp brochure with full program descriptions at ymcali.org. continued on page 22 ››

CAMP MARKETPLACE

QUINIPET Camp & Retreat Center

SHELTER ISLAND, NEW YORK Established by the Methodist Church in 1947, Quinipet is built upon the rocks of Faith, Courage, Love, Humility and Honesty, creating a foundation that welcomes campers from all walks of life and faiths.

OVERNIGHT CAMP

Week-Long Sessions! Ages 7 and up! Waterfront Activities • Sailing • Arts & Crafts • Sports & Games Music & Theatre • Creative Worship • Camp Fires • Nature Discovery Special Days & Events • Leader-In-Training Program

DAY CAMP

Week-Long Sessions (Monday-Friday) 9:00 am - 4:00 pm, Ages 5-14

COMMUNITY SAILING

eventh S r u O nd Year a g din Expan ion iss Our M

Camp Clio

a seriously fun place for adopted children... Youths and Teens Camp Clio

(Ages 9 - 12)

July 1 to July 21, 2018 (1, 2, or 3 weeks) Held at Camp Claire Lyme, CT

Camp Clio Teen

(Ages 13 - 16)

July 1-6 or July 7-13, 2018 (1 or 2 weeks) Held at Middlesex County Camp Moodus, CT

Week-Long, Half Day Sessions (Monday-Friday AM or PM), Ages 9-15 FOR MORE INFO VISIT QUINIPET.ORG OR CALL (631) 749-0430

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

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

LongIslandParent 21

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CAMP OUTINGS

@ Play Amusements

229 NY-110, Farmingdale 631-815-5355 atplayamusement.com info@playamusement.com Come to @ Play Amusements this summer, where the sun always shines! @ Play Amusements is the ideal place for your next camp trip. Fully air-conditioned with a restaurant on premises. Activities for all ages include Laser Tag, Carousel, Tea Cup Ride, Bumper Cars, Himalaya Coaster Rides, Inflatable Zone, Adventure Maze, Toddler Center, and Ultimate Arcade! Organized check-in and personalized service have made us a premier choice for camps and groups. Come out of the heat and rain and step into the fun.

SLEEPAWAY CAMPS

Camp Clio

DOROTHY P. FLINT NASSAU COUNTY 4-H CAMP 4-H Co-Ed Sleepaway Camp Making Memories and Friendships That Last a Lifetime

Held at Camp Claire 15 Oakland Ave., Lyme, CT Middlesex County Camp 298 E. Haddam Moodus Road, Moodus, CT 212-472-5207 campclio.org Camp Clio and our new Camp Clio Teen offer a unique experience for adopted children (ages 9-12) and teens (ages 13-16). Camp Clio campers and counselors (themselves adopted and serving as role models) share the intimacy and safety of being with other adopted friends, providing the opportunity to share feelings and adoption stories with others who understand adoption without explanation because they are “just like me”—all in a fun camp environment. Camp Clio Teen: July 1-13. Camp Clio Youth: July 1-21. Campers may come for one or more sessions. Scholarships available.

Camp Huntington

Located at 3186 Sound Avenue, Riverhead, NY Visit us online at www.ccenassau.org or call (516) 433-7970 ex. 11

OPEN HOUSE: April 7th • May 5th • May 19th • 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. 22

March 2018 | nymetroparents.com

56 Bruceville Road, High Falls 855-707-2267 camphuntington.com dfalk@camphuntington.com Camp Huntington, a coed, residential summer camp for children and young adults with autism, and related developmental and learning disabilities, and ADD. Ability levels mild to moderate-severe. Located in High Falls in the beautiful Catskill Mountain region, the camp provides therapeutically and instructionally designed recreation programs in summer

and certain weekends during the year. Programs offer structured daily activities designed to be safe, learning-based, fun, and rewarding. Positive reinforcement motivates children to be happy and participate meaningfully. Activities encourage improvement in self-management and independence, and advancement in social and life skills. camphuntington.com.

Dorothy P. Flint 4-H Camp

3186 Sound Ave., Riverhead 516-433-7970 x11 ccenassau.org; lfg38@cornell.edu Dorothy P. Flint 4-H Camp in Riverhead is a coed, recreational, eight-week sleepaway camp. A three-day, two-night “mini camp” is also offered. Stay-over weekends are available! We are located on 140-acres of woodland, farmland, and beachfront on the Long Island Sound. The location includes a 10-acre working farm, swimming, kayaking, adventure course, nature-science education center, horseback riding, archery, arts, and sports. The atmosphere fosters independence, leadership development, and self-esteem. We are a “cellphone -free” camp! Accredited by the American Camp Association and operated by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Nassau County.

Quinipet Camp and Retreat Center

SPECIALTY CAMPS

iD Tech Camps

1-844-788-1858 idtech.com iD Tech is the world’s No. 1 summer STEM program for ages 7-18 held at 150 prestigious

universities including Stony Brook University, NYIT-Old Westbury, Adelphi, Queens College, NYU, and Columbia. With world-class instructors and innovative courses in coding, game development, robotics, and design, our programs instill in-demand skills that embolden students to shape the future. Learn more at iDTech.com

Art League of Long Island Summer Art Adventure

30 DeForest Road, Dix Hills 631-462-5400 Summer Pre-College Portfolio Development 107 E. Deer Park Road, Dix Hills artleagueli.org; info@artleague.org Summer Art Adventure offers kids and teens ages 5-14 fun and creative activities in a variety of visual arts mediums led by certified art professionals. Flexible options allow kids ages 5-10 to join one or all of five weekly themed sessions. Pre-teens and teens ages 11-14 can participate in one or both two-week sessions. Summer Pre-College Portfolio Development is geared to teens ages 15-18 interested in pursuing careers in art and design. Participants can enroll in one or both three-week sessions.

Camp Clio

Camp Huntington

Ability levels mild to moderate-severe. Located in High Falls in the beautiful Catskill Mountain region, the camp provides therapeutically and instructionally designed recreation programs in summer and certain weekends during the year. Programs offer structured daily activities designed to be safe, learning-based, fun, and rewarding. Positive reinforcement motivates children to be happy and participate meaningfully. Activities encourage improvement in self-management and independence, and advancement in social and life skills. camphuntington.com.

Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery & Aquarium Nature Summer Camp

1660 Route 25A, Cold Spring Harbor 516-692-6768 cshﬁshhatchery.org steved@cshﬁshhatchery.org Give your young explorers, pre-K to 12th grades, a summer surrounded by nature. Encourage their love of science with handson activities, nature crafts, live animals, and outdoor adventure nature camps. Expeditions to nearby salt marsh, ponds, and woodlands. 2018 programs: Close Encounters of the Natural Kind, Curious Naturalists, Field Explorers, Junior Biologists, Turtle Trackers, Fly Fishing, Orienteering, Outdoor Photography Fun, Oobleck!, Cool Experiments for a Hot Day, Pond Adventures, Salt Marsh Exploration, Naturalists-in-Training (CIT) Program. One- to four-day camps are available. Summer fun at a great price! Prepare to get wet and muddy!

CAMP MARKETPLACE

Summer Program for the Gifted Challenging Creative Enriching CAMP

Grades K – 8

3, 4 & 5 Day Workshops

June 25th – August 31st

Enriching brilliant minds every day… in every way.

Is your child

GIFTED? Year-Round Enrichment

All Subject Areas Ages 2-16

Classes Offered 7 Days a Week Nassau & Suffolk Locations

631-549-2313

www.VillageEastGifted.com

SAINT PATRICK’S SUMMER CAMP #forthekids

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory DNA Learning Center

1 Bungtown Road, Cold Spring Harbor 516-367-5170 dnalc.org; dnalc@cshl.edu The Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory DNA Learning Center is the world’s first science center devoted entirely to genetics education. Each summer since 1985 our laboratory classrooms have filled with students participating in five-day science camps. We offer fun and challenging programs for science enthusiasts entering sixth through 12th grades. Guided by our experienced educators, students use sophisticated laboratory and computer equipment to perform experiments several grade levels ahead of their peers. continued on next page ››

Kiddie Camp Ages 3-5

EN ROLL NOW FOR: Spring Dek Hockey Summer Baseball, Softball & Lacrosse Summer Hoops Team - Boys & Girls

Main Camp Ages 6-12

Teen Travel Ages 13-15

St. Patrick Enrichment Center

Before & After Care (7:15 AM - 5:45 PM) Enrichment Programs Ages 3-12 Mommy & Me ~ Separation Program Kindergarten Readiness Program Tutoring K-12th grade SAT Preparations ~ Study Skills Catholic High School Entrance Exam Classes

631-360-0185 www.stpatsyouth.com Saint Patrick R.C. Church 280 E. Main St., Smithtown

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CAMP MARKETPLACE

LIU POST’S CENTER FOR GIFTED YOUTH SUMMER 2018 MONDAY - FRIDAY PROGRAM July 2-27, 2018 | 9:00am to 3:30pm

Are You the Parent of a Gifted Child?

LIU Post’s Center for Gifted Youth

announces its 38th annual summer program for gifted children. The summer

program runs on Monday to Friday from July 2-27. The program is open to gifted children entering grades 2-8 in September 2018. The program expands students’ knowledge, develops creative and critical thinking skills, and offers children the opportunity to learn in an exciting and accepting environment.

For information call 516-299-2160 liu.edu/post/giftedyouth Now find us on Facebook

INQUIRE ABOUT TRANSPORTATION!

Admission is highly selective and enrollment is limited.

GREAT DEALS?

Multiple locations in Nassau and Suffolk counties 888-909-2822 destinationscience.org Destination Science kids experience “Aha!” moments of understanding, creativity, and curiosity while engineering, building, experimenting, and playing with astonishing gadgets and fantastic gizmos. Our top notch, enthusiastic educators make STEM learning an adventure! Build Soccer-Bots and Rube Cube Goldberg-like contraptions; roller coasters, carnivals, and marine explorers; build and train four robots and engineer with techno toys; build a dinosaur roverbot and launch to a fantastical planet. 2018 topics: Science Makers and Inventors Camp, Amusement Park Science Camp, Transforming Robots Camp, and Rovers Rocketing to Space Camp.

East End Arts School

Saving money on a New York City family day is easy!

LIU Post • College of Education, Information and Technology • 720 Northern Blvd. • Brookville, NY 11548-1300 liu.edu/post/giftedyouth • Dr. Lynne Manouvrier, Director

LOOKING FOR

‹‹ continued from previous page

Destination Science - The fun science day camp for curious kids 5 to 11!

Draw, Paint, Collage, Craft, Sculpt & more! Cityguideny.com has coupons and discounts for Agesattractions, 2 thru HS! NYC sightseeing restaurants, stores and more. Great New York deals, SPEND YOUR savings, special offersCHand ILD'S PECIand deep discounts—forSyou AL DAY! your family—are yours with just a click of the mouse.

141 E. Main St., Riverhead 631-369-2171 eastendarts.org education@eastendarts.org Campers learn and grow creatively in the arts this summer! East End Arts School offers nine weeks of camp each summer; two weeks of Renaissance Kids Camp for ages 5-8 and seven weekly camps for ages 9-14, in both fine arts and music. Our professional instructors teach in small group sizes allowing for personal mentoring and our setting is homelike, with comfortable, air-conditioned rooms and fenced-in, park-like grounds for outdoor play. Each camp concludes with performances and exhibits. Enroll and pay in full by May 1 and receive a 5-percent discount!

Eglevsky Ballet

LOOKING FOR

Saving money on a New York City family day is easy!

GREAT DEALS? Cityguideny.com has coupons and discounts for NYC sightseeing attractions, restaurants, stores and more. Great New York deals, savings, special offers and deep discounts—for you and your family—are yours with just a click of the mouse.

March 2018 | nymetroparents.com

700 Hicksville Road, Suite 102, Bethpage 516-746-1115 eglevskyballet.org Eglevsky Ballet, under the artistic direction of Maurice Brandon Curry, provides professional caliber training for students of all ages and abilities. Eglevsky presents an annual production of The Nutcracker, two summer intensives, master classes, performing opportunities, and community education. The July Summer Intensive is geared toward serious dancers. This is a

full-day program, with classes in ballet, pointe, variations, modern, jazz, character, Pilates, and pas de deux. Housing is available. The August Summer Intensive is a half-day program, Monday-Friday, and focuses on development of ballet fundamentals.

Great Strides Long Island

41 Coram-Swezeytown Road, Middle Island 631-786-9708 greatstridesli.org julie@greatstridesli.org Great Strides offers equestrian activities for children and adults of all ages and abilities. Our equine friends can help us face all of life’s challenges with strength and confidence. Our programs are hosted on a beautiful 15-acre ranch featuring three outdoor rings and a heated indoor arena. We offer a warm, friendly environment supervised by seasoned, certified instructors. Offering summer programs, a week-long introduction to horses in July and August. Private lessons are available for English and Western students. Ask about our Mommy and Me, birthday parties, and Therapeutic Riding. Call 631786-9708 for more information.

Kenwal Day Camp

100 Drexel Ave., Melville 631-694-3399 kenwaldaycamp.com Kenwal’s “Extreme Teens Travel Program” is the perfect blend of outdoor camp activities, as well as overnight and local travel experiences. The program creates an opportunity for campers in seventh to 11th grades, to enjoy an unforgettable summer on the road with their peers. Additionally, “Extreme Teens” will enjoy the comforts of home during camp days and local day trips. Our Extreme Teen program is a chance for campers to be active, confident, resilient, unplug from technology, develop lifelong skills, grow more independent, learn social skills, and make true friends.

Key to My Art Inc.

10 W. Oak St., Amityville 631-608-9048 131 Main St., East Rockaway keytomyart.com/nymetroparents.html info@keytomyart.com Not looking to commit to an entire summer of camp? Kids love art? We offer two sessions a day. 10am-12pm for ages 5-7 and 1-3pm for ages 8 and older. You

choose your days! Each week is a different theme, different projects each day! Drawing, painting, sculpture, and collage—your child will get their hands on all different materials! Run by a NYS-certified art teacher, all artistic assistants are friendly and love working with children! The more you book, the more you save. Save up to 25 percent! Call or email for more information: 631-608-9048; info@ keytomyart.com; keytomyart.com.

LIU Post Center for Gifted Youth

Dr. Lynne Manouvrier, director LIU Post, Brookville 516-299-2160 liu.edu/giftedyouth The Long Island University program for gifted children was established in 1979 in response to the increasing recognition of society’s special responsibilities for children with demonstrably superior intellectual ability. The LIU Center for Gifted Youth brings together two important elements of education for the gifted: extraordinary teachers recruited from leading schools in the metropolitan area and university-level facilities. These two factors, combined with an administrative and psychological team schooled in the needs of gifted children, give the program at LIU Post unique strengths in producing positive benefits for young people admitted to the program.

Long Island High School for the Arts Summer Arts Academy: sixth to 12th grades 239 Cold Spring Road, Syosset 516-622-5678 nassauboces.org/lihsa The Long Island High School for the Arts offers a four-week Summer Arts Academy that promises to be a rewarding experience for all aspiring artists in sixth through 12th grade. The program offers students professional-level classes designed to provide challenging artistic opportunities taught by practicing artists. Students have the choice to focus on one of LIHSA’s major disciplines: Theatre, Music, Dance, Fine Art, Digital Media, Special Effect, or Filmmaking. For more information or to find out what’s new for summer 2018, please call 516622-5678. Open house April 28.

Long Island Whole Child Academy Mentoring Scientific Minds Summer STEM Program 175 Wolf Hill Road, Melville

347-668-3676 liwholechild.org info@liwholechild.org Looking for an exciting, flexible addition to your child’s summer adventure? Mentoring Scientific Minds3 offers three, two-week sessions guaranteed to engross the most curious minds. Build submersible ROVs, “see” underwater; study rescued sunken treasures; and learn orienteering and survival skills outdoors at Environmental Boot Camp. Join our Flight Team to fly any airplane to any airport in the world with our own “Captain Joe,” and flight simulator. Build mini drones and robots, and learn electronics and engineering at our own Makers’ Space. Call now for information: 347-558-3676.

Mad Science of Long Island

Call for locations throughout Long Island: 855-264-1672 madscienceli.com info@madscienceli.com Mad Science will have children experiencing science in a whole new light this summer with fun and interactive activities. The camps will be running throughout Long Island with weekly full- and halfday themed sessions such as Secret Agent Lab, Robotics Lab, Robot Engineers, Advanced Robotics, Brixology, Science in Motion, Crazy Chemworks and NASA Space Explorers!

CAMP MARKETPLACE

LONG ISLAND HIGH SCHOOL FOR THE ARTS

CAMPAIGN FOR THE

long island high school for the

arts

Theatre JULY 2-27 Music Dance GRADES 6-12 Fine Art Digital Media Special Effects Filmmaking

OPEN HOUSE APRIL 28

10 am - 2 pm

516.622.5678 • 239 Cold Spring Rd., Syosset LIHSA is a program of Nassau BOCES

Mid Island Aero Camp Aero Camp at Mid Island Air Services

101 Herring Drive (MacArthur Airport), Ronkonkoma 631-588-5400 midislandair.com For children in sixth to 12th grades, who want to have a great summer experience with an opportunity to pilot an airplane. Bravo Camp, (sixth-eighth grades, July 9-13, $629) and Alpha Camp (ninth to 12th grades, Aug. 6-10, $829) offer a thrill of a lifetime. Campers have classroom instruction, a simulator flight, aircraft flight(s), and a variety of airport tours, which may include corporate aircraft, TSA, Fire Rescue, Control Tower, and Aviation Museum. Monday-Friday, 9am-3pm. An optional flight day is offered for those who desire more flight time. Our Aero Club meets once a month from 5:30-7pm, allowing students the opportunity to “talk aviation” with other students their age. continued on next page ››

10 Acres of Indoor and Outdoor Adventure, Sports, Activities and Special Events!

●Athletic Fields ●Sports Courts ●Playgrounds ●Challenge Course ●Karate ●GoPro Photography ●RC Cars/Drones ●Pedal Kart Track

●Dance ●Giant Slide ●Sprinkler Park ●Slip-N-Slide ●Carnival ●Talent Show ●Glow Party ●and Much More

OPEN HOUSE: SAT. MARCH 24th 11AM –2PM Ages 2 -12 Yrs ● 2 - 8 Weeks ● Flexible Day/Week Scheduling Full Day 9am - 4pm ● Early Drop-off & Late Pick-up Half Day Program Also Available (Ages 2 to 5yrs.)

KidsCountryDayCamp.com

631-331-5351

37 Crystal Brook hollow Rd. Mount Sinai, NY 11766

LongIslandParent 25

CAMP MARKETPLACE

Renaissance Summer ARTS CAMPS 2018 Art, Music, Performance, and More!

Renaissance Kid Camp Weekly Arts Camps Ages 5-8 Our Rich, Multi-Cultural World

Ages 9-14 Immerse yourself in Arts & Music

July 16 - 27

July 9 - August 19

Pay in full by May 1st, 2018 and receive a 5% discount To Register, Call 631-369-2171 or visit eastendarts.org

‹‹ continued from previous page

Music Together

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

Posey School

Children’s Summer Camp Art, Dance & Acting Classes Monday through Friday • 9am-noon For children ages 3-5 and 6-9

Week 1 • July 9-13 • Wild, Wild West Week 2 • July 16-20 • New York, New York! Week 3 • July 30-August 3 • African Safari Week 4 • August 6-10 • The Forest Week 5 • August 13-17 • Sea Cruise $250/week

Call Today 631.757.2700 57 Main Street, Northport Village, NY 11768 www. PoseySchool.com • poseyschoolofdance@gmail.com

57 Main St., Northport 631-757-2700 poseyschool.com poseyschoolofdance@gmail.com Children will study dance (ballet, tap, and creative movement), Fine Art from the MET, theater, and acting! Monday-Friday from 9am-12pm. Themes for the weeks are: week one, July 9-13, Wild, Wild West; week two, July 16-20, New York, New York; week three, July 30-Aug. 3, African Safari; week four, Aug. 6-10, The Forest; week five, Aug. 13-17, Sea Cruise. Children will spend time outdoors and indoors in our beautifully air-conditioned studios creating art, dancing, and expressing themselves through theater and acting! $250 per week.

Posey School – Dance Intensive

THOMAS SCHOOL OF HORSEMANSHIP SUMMER CAMP HAS IT ALL!

Traditional Day Camp PLUS a Full Riding Program

For boys & girls ages 3-15

(631) 692-6840 TSHCamp.com 26

March 2018 | nymetroparents.com

Melville, NY

57 Main St., Northport 631-757-2700 poseyschool.com poseyschoolofdance@gmail.com Improve your dance technique quickly over the summer with Dance Intensive for ages 10 and older. Placement auditions held on the first day. Study real ballet, non-competition dance. Daily schedule includes ballet, pointe, pre-pointe, variations, modern and contemporary, jazz, tap, hip-hop, yoga and Pilates, composition, and dance making. Monday-Friday, 9am-3pm. Week one: July 9-13; week two: July 16-20; week three: July 30-Aug. 3; week four: Aug. 6-10; week five: Aug. 13-17. Students will advance at least one level during the summer intensive.

Nationally recognized curriculum taught by master teachers. Large, beautiful, air-conditioned studios. $495 per week.

School of Rock Port Jefferson

4837 Nesconset Highway, Port Jefferson Station 631-476-7625 locations.schoolofrock.com/ portjefferson portjefferson@schoolofrock.com School of Rock is the national leader in performance-based music education. Our popular summer camps will get your child rocking! We offer four distinct one-week camps created to teach music, build confidence, and create memories. Historically designed for kids ages 9-18 with some experience on their instrument (guitar, bass, vocals, drums, keys, or horns), this year we are also offering AC/DC for Beginners ages 7 and older with very minimal experience. All camps culminate in a live rock show at a local venue! Sign up. Plug in. Rock out!

Spin DJ Academy

202 Merrick Road, 2nd Floor, Rockville Centre 16 Broadway, Amityville 631-608-8858 spindjcademy.com Spin DJ Camp is an interactive DJ education camp teaching campers everything they need to be the life of the party in a social and creative setting! Our two-week camp program includes DJ and Music Production classes using the hottest gear, a fun and social group environment, and special guest DJs to inspire. At the end of each session students will create a live performance, recorded DJ set, and live video!

St. Patrick Youth Community Summer Camp

St. Patrick Church, Smithtown 631-360-0185 stpatsyouth.com spyouth@optonline.net Camp St. Patrick offers Summer Sports Camps. Each summer we are fortunate to have Dave Shouler direct our Summer Basketball clinics. Coach Dave is a local high school basketball coach who engages your child in skills, drills, games, and scrimmages. Perfect for those who want to learn the nuances of basketball or hone their skills. Great prep for school tryouts or CYO. Bring your friends! We also offer Dek Hockey and LAX clinics during the summer. Call us for more information at 631-360-0185.

Studio E Art Classes

565 Route 25A, Miller Place 631-744-4001 studioeartclass.com/parties studioeartclass.com/childrens-camps Studio E offers art enrichment camps to three age groups: children (ages 5-8), tweens (ages 9-12), and teens (ages 13-17). Topics include pottery, hand-building, painting, drawing, sketching, collage, and illustration. Studio E Art Camps provide small group instruction. Camps meet Tuesdays-Fridays for half days. Pay per week! All camps are taught by a New York state-certified art teacher and assistant teachers. Camps start at only $175 per week. Save 15 percent by registering before May 1. Visit studioeartclass.com/ childrens-camps to register.

Thomas School of Horsemanship Summer Day Camp

250 Round Swamp Road, Melville 631-692-6840 tshcamp.com; tsh@tshcamp.com For more than 70 years Thomas School of Horsemanship has been a day camp where children expand their knowledge of horses and participate in the daily activities a traditional camp offers. Each day our campers attend riding, horse science, instructional swim, free swim, sports, art, theater and STEM. Each week we host an exciting special day that includes friendly competition and team spirit. We feel passionately about children having fun-filled days while learning some of life’s most important lessons: responsibility, caring, kindness, and critical thinking.

Usdan Summer Camp for the Arts

185 Colonial Springs Road, Wheatley Heights 631-643-7900 usdan.org Usdan Summer Camp for the Arts, the nation’s pre-eminent arts day camp, offers more than 70 programs of study in the arts— visual art, dance, music, theater, writing—and arts-related fields— nature, chess, and recreational arts. Each summer, more than 1,500 students ages 4-18 are immersed in art and nature and surrounded by friends who share their interests and enthusiasm. Transportation is provided in air-conditioned buses departing from throughout the New York metro and Long Island areas. Two-, three-, four-, and seven-week sessions are offered from June 25-Aug. 10.

Village East Gifted Camp ThinkTank Summer Academic Program

Village East Gifted of Huntington 33 Walt Whitman Road, Huntington Station 631-549-2313 Village East Gifted of Roslyn 216 Willis Ave., Roslyn Heights villageeastgifted.com info@villageeastgifted.com Village East Gifted® summer program “Camp ThinkTank”, is an academic summer program for the gifted learner. We offer three- and four-day and evening workshops for participants in first-sixth grades. Using its trademarked teaching approach, one or more of the following curriculum areas are covered in each workshop: Civil Engineering and Infrastructures, Cultural Geography, Human Civilization and Achievements, STEAM, Anatomy-Physiology-Pathology, Architectural Symbolism and Design, Philosophy and Artistic Expression, Culinary Science and Techniques, Entrepreneurship, Marketing and Animal Studies, and Statistical Game Design. Multiple workshops and sibling discounts are available.

Village East Gifted Camp ThinkTank Summer “STREAM” Program

Village East Gifted of Huntington 33 Walt Whitman Road, Huntington Station 631-549-2313 Village East Gifted of Roslyn 216 Willis Ave., Roslyn Heights villageeastgifted.com info@villageeastgifted.com Village East Gifted® summer “STREAM” program (incorporating art and writing). “Camp ThinkTank,” is a summer steam program for the gifted learner. We offer three- and four-day workshops for participants in first-sixth grades. Using its trademarked teaching approach, one or more of the following curriculum areas are covered in each workshop: Civil Engineering and Infrastructures, Microbiology, Robotics, Electrical Engineering, 3D Design and Printing, Human Civilization and Achievements, Anatomy-Physiology-Pathology, Structural Symbolism, Robotics, Coding and Arduino Boards, Culinary Science and Techniques, Animal Studies, Earth Science, Statistical Game Design, and CAD Architecture.

CAMP MARKETPLACE

Aero Camp Bravo July 9th - 13th Grades 6-8 | $629

Aero Camp Alpha August 6th - 10th Grades 9-12 | $829

Sixth optional flight day available. Satisfies BSA Aviation Merit Badge. Now offering longer simulator and aircraft flight times. To learn more about this great program, contact Mid Island Flight School at 631-588-5400 or visit www.midislandair.com

9 Fun-Filled Weeks - Build Your Custom Camp Schedule

Pre-K through 10th Grade, Travel Camp, C.I.T. Program & Equestrian Camp

OPEN HOUSE DATES: April 14 & May 19 541 Long Beach Road  Saint James, New York, 11780 (631) 686-1640  WWW.KNOXSCHOOL.ORG LongIslandParent 27

Art League of Long Island artleagueli.net

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Camp St. Patrick stpatsyouth.com Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery & Aquarium cshfishhatchery.org

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory

Destination Science: The FUN Science Day Camp For Curious Kids 5-11!

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destinationscience.org East End Arts eastendarts.org fscamps.com

Future Stars Summer Camps: Patchogue

fscamps.com

Great Strides Long Island greatstridesli.org

Kenwal Day Camp kenwaldaycamp.com

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Key to My Art keytomyart.com Kids Country Day Camp kidscountrydaycamp.com Knox Summer Adventures knoxschool.org

Long Island Voyagers Day Camp livoyagersdaycamp.com

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Long Island Whole Child Academy liwholechild.org Mid Island Flight School midislandair.com 28

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Future Stars Summer Camps: Farmingdale

Habitots Kids Club habitotschildcare.com

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DNA Learning Center dnalc.org

gershsummerprogram.com

Challenge Courses

Camp Clio campclio.org

Gersh Academy at West Hills Day Camp

Fine Arts

Special Needs

Nature/Petting Zoo

CIT

(Counselor-in-Training)

Travel

Horseback Riding

Competitive Sports

Theater

STEAM/Robotics

PROGRAMS: Scholarship

Flexible Scheduling

Extended Hours

Lunch

Transportation

Camp Guide

SERVICES:

March 2018 | nymetroparents.com

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Quinipet Camp & Retreat Center quinipet.org

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School of Rock portjefferson.schoolofrock.com Studio E Art Classes LLC studioeartclass.com

Sylvan of Huntington sylvanlearning.com

Usdan Summer Camp for the Arts usdan.org

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Village East Gifted Camp ThinkTank

villageeastgifted.com YMCA of Long Island ymcali.org

Challenge Courses

Fine Arts

Special Needs

Nature/Petting Zoo

Posey School of Dance poseyschool.com

tshcamp.com

CIT

Picasso Kidz picassokidz.com

Thomas School of Horsemanship

(Counselor-in-Training)

Travel

Competitive Sports

Theater

STEAM/Robotics

Scholarship

Flexible Scheduling

Extended Hours

Lunch

Transportation

New York Dance Theatre ohmanballet.org

PROGRAMS: Horseback Riding

Camp Guide

SERVICES:

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8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 CAMP MARKETPLACE

Destination Science The fun science day camp for curious kids 5-11!

Save $30/wk! Ends 3/31/18

11 Long Island Locations destinationscience.org 888-909-2822

Great Strides believes in the magic of the horse-human experience. Beautiful 15 acre ranch, 3 outdoor rings and a heated indoor arena! We offer a warm, friendly and safe horse experience supervised by seasoned, certified instructors.

Riding Lessons Summer Programs Therapeutic Riding l

Mommy and Me Birthday Parties Scouting Activities

41 Coram-Swezeytown Road, Middle Island, NY 11953 631.786.9708 | greatstridesli.org | Julie@greatstridesli.org like us on facebook Great Strides Long Island at Saddle Rock Ranch

LongIslandParent 29

things to do

city bound

N Y C

Family Fun in Manhattan Malcolm Pinckney

Courtesy VStar Entertainment Group

W he hile y re ou , v ’r isit e …

The whole patrol shows up for some live action fun!

Who Let the Pups Out?

Riverside Park

Neighboring the Hudson River, this park stretches from 72nd to 158th streets with nature-friendly areas, including the Bird Sanctuary, Garden People’s Garden, Mount Tom, and Cherry Walk. Kids can enjoy visiting one of more than 15 playgrounds throughout the park, from Hippo Playground to Dinosaur Playground and Neufeld (Elephant) Playground. Visit it: Riverside Drive and 72nd to 158th streets, Upper West Side; 212-873-3070; riversideparknyc.org Can’t-miss event: TNF’s Annual Easter Egg Hunt & Bunny Fun on March 24, 9:30am-3pm Directions: Approximately a 1-hour, 20-minute drive or a 1½-hour LIRR and subway ride from Huntington

The production is inspired by the poem “Wynken, Blynken and Nod.”

Sleep No More

What happens when we go to sleep? Where can our imaginations take us? Spellbound Theatre’s ‘Wink’ at Symphony Space is a highly creative and multi-disciplinary performance that explores dreams from the perspective of a young child and her bear. Blending shadow puppetry, physical theater, and animation, this unique show is a captivating journey designed to engage and inspire the very youngest audience members. March 24, 11am and 2pm. Age: 2-7. $17 and up. Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway, Upper West Side. symphonyspace.org.

March 2018 | nymetroparents.com

Amanda Gentile

Mitchell Zachs Photography

Fans of the TV show will flip when they see PAW Patrol Live! The Great Pirate Adventure on stage. It’s Pirate Day in Adventure Bay, and Mayor Goodway is getting ready for a big celebration. But first, Ryder and his team of pirate pups must rescue Cap’n Turbot from a mysterious cavern. When they do, they also discover a secret pirate treasure map. The PAW Patrol sets out over land and sea to find the treasure for Mayor Goodway’s celebration before Mayor Humdinger finds it first. The pups will need all paws on deck for this pirate adventure, including some help from the newest pup, Tracker. The 85-minute show includes a 15-minute intermission. And expect plenty of impressive music, choreography, lights, and special effects. March 22-25, see website for times. Age: All. $30 and up. The Theater at Madison Square Garden, 4 Pennsylvania Plaza, Midtown. pawpatrollive.com.

Irish Arts Center

Explore Irish heritage at this arts and cultural center with programs in music, dance, language, literary arts, and theater. Kid-friendly programs include Introductory Step Dance, during which families learn the reel and the jig, and Bagpipes: Traditional Irish Music for Kids to learn how to play these Irish pipes. Visit it: 553 W. 51st St., Hell’s Kitchen; 212-757-3318; irishartscenter.org Can’t-miss event: Annual St. Patrick’s Open Day on March 11, 12pm Directions: Approximately a 1½-hour drive or LIRR and subway ride from Huntington

Ideas When You Need Them:

Sign up for our FREE newsletter & never hear “I’m bored!” again. We email the top kids’ events every Thursday—just in time to make weekend plans!

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Turn the page for details on ‘Popovich Comedy Pet Theater’ (No. 5 on our list).

MARCH

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ents. ropar

WANT US TO INCLUDE YOUR EVENT?

nymetroparents.com/submitevent UPDATED DAILY AT nymetroparents.com/calendar

EDITOR: KAREN DEMETER suffolkcal@davlermedia.com

CALENDAR

Editor’s Hot Tickets

We Can’t Believe It’s FREE!, Mini Musicians

Smarty Pants, Special Needs, Animal Lovers

Holiday Fun, Show Time!

Movers & Shakers, Once Upon a Time

Crafty Kids, The Great Outdoors

EDITOR’S HOT TICKETS

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

The Lively Arts Presents Colors of India

‘Spherus’

WHEN: Saturday, March 3, 7pm WHERE: Suffolk County Community College Van Nostrand Theatre, 1001 Crooked Hill Road, Brentwood AGES: 5 and older WHAT: This intimate version of the Bollywood dance spectacular is based on the concept of ancient India’s transition into modern India. WHY WE LOVE IT: The program features brilliant dancers and opulent costumes. WANT TO GO? $18; $10 for children younger than 17. 631-851-6589. sunysuffolk.edu.

WHEN: Sunday, March 18, 4pm WHERE: Staller Center - Stony Brook University, 100 Nicolls Road, Stony Brook AGES: 5 and older WHAT: This mini circus stars international juggling champion Greg Kennedy and an acrobatic duo of aerial artists. WHY WE LOVE IT: Geometry and physics are used to create groundbreaking magic. WANT TO GO? $20. 631-632-6000. stallercenter.com.

Marble Roller Coaster FREE

‘Popovich Comedy Pet Theater’

WHEN: Tuesday, March 6, 4pm WHERE: Westhampton Free Library, 7 Library Ave., Westhampton Beach AGES: 5-12 WHAT: Use STEM skills to create a marble roller coaster using paper plates and paper towel tubes. Library card required. WHY WE LOVE IT: A clever use for paper towel tubes! WANT TO GO? 631-288-3335. westhamptonlibrary.net.

The Spring I Love Chocolate Fest

WHEN: March 17-18, Saturday-Sunday, 10am-6pm WHERE: East Wind Long Island, 5720 Route 25A, Wading River AGES: All WHAT: Featuring more than 50 chocolate exhibits with everything from decadent truffles and handcrafted chocolates to unusual treats. WHY WE LOVE IT: There will be live music and entertainment by local performers and a visit with the Easter Bunny. WANT TO GO? $20; free for children younger than 4. 631-488-0521. lovechocolatefest.com. 32

March 2018 | nymetroparents.com

WHEN: Sunday, March 18, 2pm WHERE: Suffolk County Community College, 1001 Crooked Hill Road, Brentwood AGES: 3 and older WHAT: A unique blend of comedy and juggling skills of circus veteran Gregory Popovich and the extraordinary talents of his performing pets. WHY WE LOVE IT: Many of the animals have been rescued from shelters. WANT TO GO? $15; $10 for children younger than 17. 631-851-6589. sunysuffolk.edu.

Goat on a Boat: World Puppetry Day/Puppets Around the World

WHEN: Saturday, March 24, 11am WHERE: Bay Street Theater, 1 Bay St., Sag Harbor AGES: Newborn to 5 WHAT: Make your own shadow puppet and perform in a Shadow Puppet Circus. WHY WE LOVE IT: A great way to celebrate World Puppet Day! WANT TO GO? $15. 631-725-9500. baystreet.org.

Easter Egg Hoppening

WHEN: Saturday, March 24, 9-11am WHERE: Heritage Trust, 633 Mount Sinai Coram Road, Mount Sinai AGES: Newborn to 5 WHAT: Children will go on an Easter egg hunt in the park and enjoy refreshments. Registration required. WHY WE LOVE IT: The Easter Bunny will be available to take pictures! WANT TO GO? $10. 631-509-0882. msheritagetrust.org.

‘Awesome Allie: First Kid Astronaut’

WHEN: March 30-April 8, daily, 11am WHERE: Cradle of Aviation Museum, Charles Lindbergh Boulevard, Garden City AGES: All WHAT: Allie was a normal kid, but now she’s headed into outer space WHY WE LOVE IT: Kids will have fun and learn fascinating science facts! WANT TO GO? $15; $13 seniors and for children 12 and younger. 516572-4066. cradleofaviation.org.

WE CAN’T BELIEVE IT’S FREE

Think a freebie has to be ho-hum? Don’t let the price tag (or lack of one) fool you. Here are the five no-cost events we’re excited about now. You’re welcome. ‘The Gingerbread Man and the Leprechaun Loose at School’ Storytime FREE

MINI

MUSICIANS ‘Hair’ in Concert: 50th Anniversary Celebration

WHEN: March 9-10, Friday-Saturday, 8pm WHERE: Patchogue Theater for Performing Arts, 71 E. Main St., Patchogue AGES: 9 and older WHAT: Don’t miss the concert version of the hit Broadway musical. WANT TO GO? $25 and up. 631-207-1313. patchoguetheatre.com.

Sing & Drum With Your Child Month

WHEN: March 7-14, Wednesdays, 4:45-5:30pm WHERE: Port Jefferson Village Center, 101-A E. Broadway, Port Jefferson AGES: 3-8 WHAT: Sing, dance, and drum with your child in this program with Music Together - Rhythm Kids presented by Lyrical Children. Reservations required. WANT TO GO? $10 suggested donation; free for new families. 631-2084003. lyricalchildrenmusic.yourvirtuoso.com.

Sing With Your Child Month: Babies

WHEN: March 1-15, Thursdays, 9-9:45am WHERE: Marchand’s School of Dance, 691 New York 25A, Miller Place AGES: Newborn to 2 WHAT: Music Together presented by Lyrical Children hosts this program to sing, dance, jam, and have fun making music with your baby. Reservations required. WANT TO GO? $10 suggested donation; free for new families. 631-2084003. lyricalchildrenmusic.yourvirtuoso.com.

Doherty’s Devils FREE

WHEN: Saturday, March 17, 11am WHERE: Barnes and Noble, 600 Smith Haven Mall, Lake Grove AGES: Newborn to 5 WHAT: A leprechaun is causing trouble, but Gingerbread Man saves the day. WANT TO GO? 631-724-0341. barnesandnoble.com.

WHEN: Sunday, March 18, 1pm WHERE: Westhampton Free Library, 7 Library Ave., Westhampton Beach AGES: 9 and older WHAT: Enjoy an afternoon of traditional Irish music. Library card required. WANT TO GO? 631-288-3335. westhamptonlibrary.net.

CEED Spring Equinox Festival FREE

Sing With Your Child Month

WHEN: Sunday, March 18, 2-6pm WHERE: Center for Environmental Education & Discovery, 287 S. Country Road, Brookhaven AGES: All WHAT: Enjoy nature crafts, live animals, food, live music, and more. WANT TO GO? 631-403-7639. ceedli.org.

WHEN: March 1-19, Mondays and Thursdays, 10:15am-12pm WHERE: Our Redeemer Lutheran Church, 269 Main Road, Aquebogue AGES: 3-5 WHAT: Come sing, dance, jam, and have fun making music with your child with Music Together presented by Lyrical Children. Reservations required. WANT TO GO? $10 suggested donation; free for new families. 631-2084003. lyricalchildrenmusic.yourvirtuoso.com.

Annual Egg Hunt FREE

A Whale of a Weekend: African Drumming, Dancing and Gospel Concert FREE

WHEN: Saturday, March 24, 12-2pm WHERE: Belmont Lake State Park, 625 Belmont Road, North Babylon AGES: Newborn to 5 WHAT: Children are welcome to hunt for eggs and meet with the Easter Bunny. WANT TO GO? 631-667-5055. nysparks.com.

Tabletop Game Night FREE

WHEN: Saturday, March 31, 6pm WHERE: Barnes and Noble, 600 Smith Haven Mall, Lake Grove AGES: All WHAT: Invite your family and friends for a fun night of tabletop gaming. WANT TO GO? 631-724-0341. barnesandnoble.com.

Treasure That Trash FREE

WHEN: March 10-April 15, Sunday-Friday, 10am-4pm WHERE: Ward Melville Heritage Organization, 97P Main St., Stony Brook AGES: All WHAT: Artists offer a new meaning to “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” WANT TO GO? 631-689-5888. wmho.org.

WHEN: Sunday, March 25, 1-3pm WHERE: Southampton Historical Museum, 17 Meeting House Lane, Southampton AGES: All WHAT: The Southampton Historical Museum is proud to present two musical acts from Long Island-born jazz vocalist Taylor Burgess, followed by a performance by King’s Chapel, Shower of Blessings Gospel. Sponsored by the Southampton African American Museum. WANT TO GO? 631-283-2494. southamptonhistory.org.

Singer Songwriter Night

WHEN: Thursday, March 29, 7-10pm WHERE: Main Street Gallery, 213 Main St., Huntington AGES: 9 and older WHAT: Singer-songwriters of all skill levels are invited to hone their craft, sing their songs, play, and talk about their original music. WANT TO GO? $5 suggested donation; $10 donation to perform. 631271-8423. huntingtonarts.org. ›› LongIslandParent 33

Penguin Egg Hunt

WHEN: March 31-April 1, Saturday-Sunday, 10am-1pm WHERE: Long Island Aquarium, 431 E. Main St., Riverhead AGES: Newborn to 5 WHAT: Share the egg-citement at this annual Egg Hunt with prizes including a free birthday party and Family Fun Center vouchers. WANT TO GO? $29.50; $22.50 children ages 3-12. 631-208-9200. longislandaquarium.com.

HOLIDAY FUN Shamrock Necklaces FREE

WHEN: Monday, March 12, 4pm WHERE: Westhampton Free Library, 7 Library Ave., Westhampton Beach AGES: 5-8 WHAT: Make a shamrock necklace. Westhampton Free Library Card required. WANT TO GO? 631-288-3335. westhamptonlibrary.net.

St. Patricks Day Paint Event

WHEN: Friday, March 16, 5:30-7pm WHERE: Key to My Art, 10 W. Oak St., Amityville AGES: 5 and older WHAT: Drop off or paint with the kids. WANT TO GO? $20. 631-608-9048. keytomyart.com.

St. Patrick’s Day

WHEN: March 17-18, Saturday-Sunday, 1-5pm WHERE: Maritime Explorium, 101 E. Broadway, Port Jefferson AGES: 3-12 WHAT: Make Leprechaun traps and see if you can catch the little green man. WANT TO GO? $5. 631-331-3277. maritimeexplorium.org.

Egg-cellent Celebration

WHEN: Saturday, March 31, 1-2pm and 3-4pm WHERE: The Whaling Museum & Education Center, 279 Main St., Cold Spring Harbor AGES: 3-8 WHAT: Discover egg-laying creatures, see a scrimshawed Ostrich egg, and go on an egg hunt. The first session is for ages 2-4 and second is for ages 5-7. WANT TO GO? $12 parent-child pair, $4 sibling. 631-367-3418. cshwhalingmuseum.org..

Spring Egg Hunt

WHEN: Saturday, March 31, 10am-5pm WHERE: Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery & Aquarium, 1660 Route 25A, Cold Spring Harbor AGES: Newborn to 5 WHAT: Kids can gather spring eggs. Bring a basket or other container. WANT TO GO? $6; $4 children ages 3-12; free for children younger than 3. 516-692-6768. cshfha.org.

Breakfast with the Easter Bunny

WHEN: Saturday, March 31, 9am-12pm WHERE: Vanderbilt Museum, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport AGES: All WHAT: Join the Easter Bunny and Li’l Chick for a buffet, then go on an egg hunt and watch a special Planetarium show. Children are encouraged to bring Easter baskets and bonnets. Registration required. WANT TO GO? $35; $18 children. 631-854-5579. vanderbiltmuseum.org. 34

March 2018 | nymetroparents.com

SHOW TIME! Goat on a Boat: ‘The Puppet Princess’

WHEN: Saturday, March 10, 11am WHERE: Bay Street Theater, 1 Bay St., Sag Harbor AGES: Newborn to 5 WHAT: Princess Willow will meet and enchant young ones with her tales. WANT TO GO? $15. 631-725-9500. baystreet.org.

‘Legion of Villains’

WHEN: Through March 17: Saturdays, 2pm WHERE: BayWay Arts Center Children’s Theatre, 265 E. Main St., East Islip AGES: 3-12 WHAT: The villains of storybooks have to team up to save the day. WANT TO GO? $11. 631-581-2700. broadhollow.org.

Goat on a Boat: ‘Little Red Ridinghood’

WHEN: Saturday, March 17, 11am WHERE: Bay Street Theater, 1 Bay St., Sag Harbor AGES: Newborn to 5 WHAT: Find out what happens when Little Red gets mixed up with Porquoi the pig who is in the wrong story. WANT TO GO? $15. 631-725-9500. baystreet.org.

‘Aladdin’

WHEN: March 24-31, Saturdays, 2pm WHERE: BroadHollow Theatre, 265 E. Main St., East Islip AGES: All WHAT: All of your favorite characters from Agrabah are here in a musical adventure filled with magic, mayhem, and flying carpet rides. WANT TO GO? $13. 631-581-2700. broadhollow.org.

‘The Wedding Singer’

WHEN: March 24-April 14, Saturdays, 8pm; Sundays, 2:30pm WHERE: BayWay Arts Center, 265 E. Main St., East Islip AGES: 9 and older WHAT: It’s 1985 and rock star wannabe Robbie Hart is the life of the party until his own fiancée leaves him at the altar. WANT TO GO? $25. 631-581-2700. broadhollow.org.

‘The Adventures of Peter Rabbit’

WHEN: March 10-April 14, Saturdays, 11am WHERE: Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson AGES: 3-8 WHAT: Peter, Flopsy, Mopsy, Cotton-Tail, Benjamin Bunny, and the McGregors, come to life in this delightful adaption. WANT TO GO? $10. 631-928-9100. theatrethree.com.

Kids Performing for Kids: ‘Seussical Jr.’

WHEN: March 17-April 29, Saturdays, 2pm; Sundays, 11am; WHERE: Smithtown Center for the Performing Arts, 2 E. Main St., Smithtown AGES: 3-12 WHAT: Dr. Seuss’ best-loved characters cavort in an unforgettable musical. WANT TO GO? $15. 631-724-3700. smithtownpac.org.

SMARTY PANTS Teens: Dungeons & Dragons FREE

WHEN: Saturday, March 10, 2-5pm WHERE: East Hampton Library, 159 Main St., East Hampton AGES: 13-17 WHAT: Sign up online or with a YA Librarian. WANT TO GO? 631-324-0222. easthamptonlibrary.org.

March Math Madness!

WHEN: March 10-11, Saturday-Sunday, 1-5pm WHERE: Maritime Explorium, 101 E. Broadway, Port Jefferson AGES: 3-12 WHAT: Children particpate in math games, activities and art. WANT TO GO? $5. 631-331-3277. maritimeexplorium.org.

Lighthouse Designer: Teen Drop-Off Program

WHEN: Wednesday, March 14, 4-5pm WHERE: The Whaling Museum & Education Center, 279 Main St., Cold Spring Harbor AGES: 9-17 WHAT: See some whale blubber and whale oil from the museum’s collection, then create a desk-top lighthouse-complete with tea light. WANT TO GO? $12. 631-367-3418. cshwhalingmuseum.org.

Pi Day Celebration FREE

WHEN: Friday, March 16, 6pm WHERE: Westhampton Free Library, 7 Library Ave., Westhampton Beach AGES: 9 and older WHAT: Celebrate Pi Day with Randall DiGiuseppe of the Custer Institute to discuss the magic of numbers, starting with pi. Library card required. WANT TO GO? 631-288-3335. westhamptonlibrary.net.

Engineer’s Club

WHEN: Saturday, March 31, 10-11am WHERE: Children’s Museum of the East End, 376 Bridgehampton-Sag Harbor Turnpike, Bridgehampton AGES: 5-8 WHAT: During this workshop, kids will enjoy a series of STEM-based activities including popsicle stick bridges and household chemistry. WANT TO GO? $12. 631-537-8250. cmee.org.

SPECIAL NEEDS ‘Keep the Change’

WHEN: Sunday, March 11, 1pm WHERE: Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington AGES: 9 and older WHAT: Forced to attend a support group for people on the autism spectrum, David falls in love with Sarah, who challenges his identity. WANT TO GO? $16. 631-423-7611. cinemaartscentre.org.

‘Perfectly Normal for Me’

WHEN: Sunday, March 11, 3:30pm WHERE: Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington AGES: 5 and older WHAT: At a unique after-school dance program in Queens, kids with a variety of physical and developmental challenges pair with teen volunteers. WANT TO GO? $16. 631-423-7611. cinemaartscentre.org.

Bowling Buddies

WHEN: Sunday, March 18, 1:15-2:30pm WHERE: Strike 10 Lanes, 849 Long Island Ave., Deer Park AGES: 5 and older WHAT: Increase your bowling skills. Includes two games, shoes, and a snack. WANT TO GO? $10. 631-351-8672. nyfriendshipcircle.com.

Soccer Stars

WHEN: March 11-25, Sundays, 1:15-2:30pm WHERE: The Chai Center, 501 Vanderbilt Parkway, Dix Hills AGES: All WHAT: Children with special needs can learn soccer and socialization skills. WANT TO GO? $18. 631-351-8672. nyfriendship.com.

Zumba For All Abilities

WHEN: March 5-26, Mondays, 5:45-6:30pm WHERE: The Chai Center, 501 Vanderbilt Parkway, Dix Hills AGES: 5 and older WHAT: Those with special needs will be partnered with teen volunteers. Must be registered on website nyfriendship.com. WANT TO GO? $15. 631-351-8672. thechaicenter.com.

ANIMAL LOVERS Disney Nature Film Festival: ‘Monkey Kingdom’ FREE

WHEN: Sunday, March 11, 1-2:30pm WHERE: Brentwood Public Library, 34 Second Ave., Brentwood AGES: 3-8 WHAT: Travel the globe following different animal families. WANT TO GO? 631-273-7883. brentwoodnylibrary.org.

Winter Playdate On The Farm

WHEN: Through March 15: Wednesday-Thursday, 10:30-11:30am WHERE: Suffolk County Farm and Education Center, 350 Yaphank Ave., Yaphank AGES: Newborn to 5 WHAT: Activities include sensory stations and visits with animals. Call to register. WANT TO GO? $10; $5 siblings; free for siblings younger than 1. 631852-4600. ccesuffolk.org.

Disney Nature Film Festival: ‘Bears’ FREE

WHEN: Sunday, March 25, 1-2:30pm WHERE: Brentwood Public Library, 34 Second Ave., Brentwood AGES: 3-12 WHAT: Travel the globe flowing different animal families. WANT TO GO? 631-273-7883. brentwoodnylibrary.org.

Spring Break: Trout Feeding Demonstrations

WHEN: Thursday, March 29, 1pm and 3pm WHERE: Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery & Aquarium, 1660 Route 25A, Cold Spring Harbor AGES: All WHAT: Watch the trout jump and splash as they devour food. WANT TO GO? $6; $4 children ages 3-12; free for children younger than 3. 516-692-6768. cshfha.org.

Spring Break: Live Animal Encounters

WHEN: Thursday, March 29, 2pm WHERE: Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery & Aquarium, 1660 Route 25A, Cold Spring Harbor AGES: All WHAT: Learn about the Hatchery’s reptiles and amphibians. WANT TO GO? $6; $4 children ages 3-12; free for children younger than 3. 516-692-6768. cshfha.org. ›› LongIslandParent 35

ONCE UPON A TIME Dr. Seuss Birthday Celebration FREE

WHEN: Friday, March 2, 6:30pm WHERE: Barnes and Noble, 600 Smith Haven Mall, Lake Grove AGES: Newborn to 5 WHAT: Families can enjoy storytime, games, and activities. WANT TO GO? 631-724-0341. barnesandnoble.com.

‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar’ Storytime FREE

MOVERS & SHAKERS Irish Dancers

WHEN: Sunday, March 4, 1-4pm WHERE: Walt Whitman Birthplace State Historic Site, 246 Old Walt Whitman Road, Huntington AGES: All WHAT: Enjoy a performance of Irish dancing by teachers and students from the Mulvihill-Lynch Studio of Irish Dance. WANT TO GO? $9. 631-427-5240. waltwhitman.org.

Goat on a Boat: The Bambini Ball

WHEN: Sunday, March 4, 3-5pm WHERE: Bay Street Theater, 1 Bay St., Sag Harbor AGES: Newborn to 5 WHAT: Goat on a Boat presents its annual Family FUNdraiser. Wear your most festive attire and join in for puppet making, a puppet show, a performance by Jester Jim, penny raffle items, a cake walk, and dancing. WANT TO GO? $15. 631-725-9500. baystreet.org.

Visionary Boards

WHEN: Wednesday, March 21, 5pm WHERE: Westhampton Free Library, 7 Library Ave., Westhampton Beach AGES: 9-17 WHAT: Participants will discuss goal setting and self-development, then learn how to create a bullet journal and vision board. Library card required. WANT TO GO? 631-288-3335. westhamptonlibrary.net.

Celebrate the UN World Water Day

WHEN: March 24-25, Saturday-Sunday, 1-5pm WHERE: Maritime Explorium, 101 E. Broadway, Port Jefferson AGES: 3-12 WHAT: Explore and discover the wonders of water and its impact on Earth. WANT TO GO? $5. 631-331-3277. maritimeexplorium.org.

Parents and Babies Meditation Class

WHEN: Saturday, March 3, 11am WHERE: Barnes and Noble, 600 Smith Haven Mall, Lake Grove AGES: Newborn to 5 WHAT: Storytime featuring this classic tale. Activities to follow. WANT TO GO? 631-724-0341. barnesandnoble.com.

‘The Magician’s Hat’ Storytime FREE

WHEN: Tuesday, March 6, 11am WHERE: Barnes and Noble, 600 Smith Haven Mall, Lake Grove AGES: Newborn to 5 WHAT: An inspiring storytime about kids who reach down into a magician’s hat and discover something better than they could ever imagine: books that help them become whatever they want to be. Activities to follow. WANT TO GO? 631-724-0341. barnesandnoble.com.

Little Fishies: One Fish, Two Fish!

WHEN: Wednesday, March 7, 9-10am WHERE: The Whaling Museum & Education Center, 279 Main St., Cold Spring Harbor AGES: 3-5 WHAT: Celebrate Dr. Seuss’s birthday with a special program. Enjoy listening to the story One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish, then go on a scavenger hunt, eat a snack, and create a special “fishy” craft. WANT TO GO? $12; $4 each sibling. 631-367-3418. cshwhalingmuseum.org.

Reading is Fundamental Night FREE

WHEN: Thursday, March 8, 6-7:30pm WHERE: Riverhead Free Library, 330 Court St., Riverhead AGES: Newborn to 5 WHAT: Come out for an evening of stories, games, and crafts. Each child will leave this program with a free book. WANT TO GO? 631-727-3228. riverheadlibrary.org.

Free Snack & Storytime FREE

WHEN: Saturday, March 10, 11am-3pm WHERE: Ooh La La Boutiques, 306 Main St., Huntington AGES: 3-8 WHAT: Listen to a reading of Cookies For Dinner by local author Holly Nichole Zarcone. There will be cookies and milk and a book signing. WANT TO GO? 631-987-7566. cookiesfordinnerbook.com.

Poetry Night: People’s State of the Union Part of the Hamptons Arts Network Open House Weekend

WHEN: Through June 21: Thursdays, 10:30-11:30am WHERE: Kadampa Meditation Center Long Island, 282 New York Ave., Huntington AGES: 3-5, adult WHAT: Relax and enjoy guided meditations with your baby. WANT TO GO? $5. 631-549-1000. meditationonlongisland.org.

WHEN: Friday, March 23, 6pm WHERE: Parrish Art Museum, 279 Montauk Highway, Watermill AGES: 5 and older WHAT: Come listen to live poetry based on real-life stories. WANT TO GO? $12. 631-283-2118. parrishart.org.

Warrior Courses Wednesdays

WHEN: Tuesday, March 27, 11am WHERE: Barnes and Noble, 600 Smith Haven Mall, Lake Grove AGES: Newborn to 5 WHAT: The Duckling asks for a cookie and gets it. How do you think Pigeon feels about that? Find out at storytime with activities to follow. WANT TO GO? 631-724-0341. barnesandnoble.com.

WHEN: Through Dec. 31: Wednesdays, 6-8pm WHERE: Sky Zone Mount Sinai, 269 Route 25A, Mount Sinai AGES: 9 and older WHAT: Run the course as many times as you like. WANT TO GO? $20. 631-938-1420. skyzone.com/mountsinai. 36

March 2018 | nymetroparents.com

‘The Duckling Gets a Cookie!?’ Storytime FREE

CRAFTY KIDS Hands-On Art

WHEN: Thursday, March 8, 4:30-5:30pm WHERE: Long Island Museum, 1200 Route 25A, Stony Brook AGES: 5-8 WHAT: Visit the student art exhibition Colors of Long Island and create your own colorful masterpiece. Registration required. WANT TO GO? $10. 631-751-0066. longislandmuseum.org.

Museum Adventures

WHEN: Thursday, March 15, 4:30-5:30pm WHERE: Long Island Museum, 1200 Route 25A, Stony Brook AGES: 5-8 WHAT: Visit Jane Peterson: At Home and Abroad to learn how the artist’s travels influenced her work. Registration required. WANT TO GO? $10. 631-751-0066. longislandmuseum.org.

Open House at the Art League of Long Island FREE

WHEN: Sunday, March 18, 10am-2pm WHERE: Art League of Long Island, 107 E. Deer Park Road, Dix Hills AGES: 3 and older WHAT: Tour the studios, see art in action with live painting, drawing, and ceramics demonstrations. Learn about the Summer Art Adventure Program for kids and teens and enjoy a hands-on art activity. WANT TO GO? 631-462-5400. artleagueli.net.

Melted Crayon Art FREE

WHEN: Monday, March 19, 4pm WHERE: Westhampton Free Library, 7 Library Ave., Westhampton Beach AGES: 9-12 WHAT: Participants will create colorful and unique works of art by using recycled crayons. Westhampton Free Library Card required. WANT TO GO? 631-288-3335. westhamptonlibrary.net.

In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lamb FREE

WHEN: Monday, March 19, 7-8pm WHERE: Brentwood Public Library, 34 Second Ave., Brentwood AGES: 5-8 WHAT: March comes in like a lion and out like a lamb. In this program, children make both a lion and a lamb craft. WANT TO GO? 631-273-7883. brentwoodnylibrary.org.

Scrimshaw Art FREE

WHEN: Saturday, March 24, 11am-1pm WHERE: Southampton Historical Museum, 17 Meeting House Lane, Southampton AGES: All WHAT: Children view examples of real scrimshaw art made by whale-men and then create their own versions of scrimshaw art to bring home. WANT TO GO? 631-283-2494. southamptonhistory.org.

Long Island’s Best: Young Artists at the Heckscher Museum

WHEN: March 17-April 15, Wednesday-Friday, 10am-5pm; Saturday-Sunday, 11am-5pm WHERE: Heckscher Museum of Art, 2 Prime Ave., Huntington AGES: All WHAT: View juried artwork from high school students across Nassau and Suffolk counties. It is the only juried competition on Long Island that culminates in a professionally mounted museum exhibition. WANT TO GO? $8; $5 students; free for children younger than 10. 631351-3250. heckscher.org.

THE GREAT OUTDOORS Girl Scout Day

WHEN: Saturday, March 10, 2pm WHERE: Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery & Aquarium, 1660 Route 25A, Cold Spring Harbor AGES: 5-17 WHAT: Celebrate the birthday of Girl Scouts of America. All Girl Scouts wearing their uniforms will receive a free hatchery tour with paid admission. WANT TO GO? $6; $4 children ages 3-12; free for children younger than 3. 516-692-6768. cshfha.org.

Hiking for the Green

WHEN: Saturday, March 17, 10:30am-12pm WHERE: Sherwood-Jayne Farm, 55 Old Post Road, East Setauket AGES: All WHAT: Take a peaceful hike along the fields and trails of this historic farm, and look for the beginnings of spring green emerging in the woodlands. WANT TO GO? $8. 631-692-4664. preservationlongisland.org.

Cruising the Island: Long Island’s Maritime Heritage FREE

WHEN: Saturday, March 24, 2pm WHERE: Southampton Historical Museum, 17 Meeting House Lane, Southampton AGES: 9 and older WHAT: Tara Rider, a lecturer at the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences at Stony Brook University and a New York Humanities Council Public Scholar, explores the ways in which the waters have helped to create our culture as well as the land we live on. WANT TO GO? 631-283-2494. southamptonhistory.org.

Spring Break: Backyard Birds

WHEN: Friday, March 30, 11am-3pm WHERE: Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery & Aquarium, 1660 Route 25A, Cold Spring Harbor AGES: All WHAT: Learn which birds can be found in your backyard as you look for feathered visitors on-site. Make a bird feeder and create a bird’s nest. WANT TO GO? $6; $4 children ages 3-12; free for children younger than 3. 516-692-6768. cshfha.org.

High Arts Showcase XIV JOURNEY Student Art Show FREE

WHEN: March 9-31, Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm; Saturday, 12-4pm WHERE: Main Street Gallery, 213 Main St., Huntington AGES: All WHAT: High Arts Showcase is the Huntington Arts Council’s annual student exhibit featuring the artwork of students in 11th and 12th grades attending one of the council’s JOURNEY Program partner schools. The opening reception takes place on March 9 from 6-8pm. WANT TO GO? 631-271-8423. huntingtonarts.org.

Coming up next month: APRIL 8: On the Water Series: Working the Waters at The Whaling Museum & Education Center, Cold Spring Harbor APRIL 13-14: You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown at the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center, Westhampton APRIL 20-22: Fling Into Spring Carnival at Heritage Park, Mount Sinai

LongIslandParent 37

things to do

where-to guide

Spring into March ✿ Compiled by Samantha Neudorf

✿

Spring is just around the corner and there are so many ways to enjoy the (hopefully) warmer weather, even if it’s still cold. One of our favorite late winter/early spring activities is maple sugaring—after all, there’s nothing quite like making your own maple syrup straight from the tree. This is also a great time of the year to get back outside and help out around your community by volunteering. Or, if it is still too cold to be outside, you can take an educational trip to a museum or bookstore. Here’s to a new season!

MAPLE SUGARING Hoyt Farm 200 New Highway, Commack 631-543-7804; smithtownny.gov Maple Sugaring: Through March 11: Sundays, 1:30-3pm Native American and Colonial techniques will be demonstrated to produce maple syrup. Visitors will learn how to make equipment, identify and tap trees, and get to taste the syrup. $3; no reservations required.

VOLUNTEER

✿✿

Habitat for Humanity of Suffolk 643 Middle Country Road, Middle Island habitatsuffolk.org Habitat for Humanity of Suffolk recruits volunteers ages 16 and older to pitch in building houses for underprivileged families. Teens ages 16-17 must have an adult present. School-aged children can prepare and serve morning refreshments to work crews, help prepare and deliver lunches to the construction sites, assist new homeowners with seasonal cleanups, and assemble housewarming gift baskets. Enterprising families can also organize fundraising campaigns to raise money for building supplies. For volunteer information, call 631-422-4828 x100 or email outreach@habitatsuffolk.org. Find more>> volunteer opportunities on Long Island at nymetroparents.com/volunteer. Linda Burke

Find more>> maple-sugaring activities on Long Island at nymetroparents.com/maple-sugaring.

✿

The Hallockville Museum Farm grounds feature 19 historic houses, barns, and outbuildings.

✿ BOOKSTORES Book Revue 313 New York Ave., Huntington 631-271-1442; bookrevue.com Founded in 1977 and voted best bookstore of 2015, Book Revue is Long Island’s largest independent bookstore, with a large selection of children’s books at up to 50 percent off. Stop by on Thursdays for Toddler Time, which features crafts, sculptures, singing, and dancing, as well as live guitar once a month.

✿

Find more>> kids’ bookstores on Long Island at nymetroparents.com/bookstores.

MUSEUMS Hallockville Museum Farm 6038 Sound Ave., Riverhead 631-298-5292; hallockville.com Hours: Self-guided walking tours of the grounds, including 28 acres of buildings, gardens, and collections, are offered weekdays, 11am4pm. Guided tours for the public are conducted Friday-Sunday, 124pm, May-December. Self-guided tours on weekdays, 10am-4pm. Admission: Self-guided tours: Free. Guided tours: $7; $5 children and seniors. The grounds feature 19 historic houses, barns, and outbuildings, including the mid-18th-century Hallock Homestead (entry into selected Hallockville buildings is by guided escort only). Visitors can experience farming on Long Island during that time period and meet Hallockville’s friendly cows, sheep, and chickens. Find more>> children’s museums on Long Island at nymetroparents.com/museums.

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Make Filing Less Taxing These smart moves can minimize your payout—or score you a sweet refund.

ax season is here again. Will you end up forking over fistfuls of cash, or hardly feeling any financial pain? The answer may depend on how savvy you are. Take advantage of all the deductions and credits you’re eligible for, and you can save up to thousands of dollars, and in some cases even get money back. Overlook these tax breaks, though, and the opposite will happen: You’ll end up forfeiting money that’s rightfully yours. A good tax professional can help make sure you’re minimizing your payout. (Tax-prep software is another popular alternative.) And be aware of the credits and deductions listed here. While they may not be a comprehensive rundown of every last way you can reduce your taxes, they’re a good start.

Getting Credit Where It’s Due

One of the best ways to minimize your tax burden is by looking for credits you’re eligible to take—these reduce the amount of taxes you owe. Listed here are some tax credits that are particularly helpful for families. The Child and Dependent Care Credit: “This is designed to provide a tax benefit for homes in which both parents work fulltime or have earned income,” says Nicholas Sher, CPA, managing director of Sher & Associates, LLC, a boutique tax planning firm 40

March 2018 | nymetroparents.com

›› By Deborah Skolnik

in midtown Manhattan. At the federal level, the credit is at least 20 percent of the first $3,000 of child care expense per child, for a maximum of two children. At the state level, you will receive a credit of at least 20 percent of the federal level. That means if you spend $3,000 on your child’s care you can save a minimum of $840 total—useful when you’re raising a family. Note: This credit is not available to a spouse who stays at home and doesn’t earn income. Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC): Didn’t have a great year financially? The EITC may be the break you need. This federal tax credit is available to people who have earned an income below a certain threshold, and it increases in relation to the amount of children in the home, up to a maximum of three kids, Sher explains. You can’t have earned very much—for instance, a married couple filing jointly, with three or more children, must have an earned income and adjusted gross income (that’s the total income you report that is eligible to be taxed, minus some adjustments you’re allowed to make) of each less than $53,930. But the credit can be sizeable: a maximum of $6,318. What’s scary is that according to Jackson Hewitt, nearly 1 in 5 eligible Americans fails to claim this tax credit, leaving up to thousands of dollars on the table. Even if you haven’t qualified for the EITC before, don’t forget to check with your tax professional to see if

you qualify this time: nearly one-third of all people who can claim it are newly eligible each year. The Saver’s Credit or Retirement Savings Contribution Credit: Have you been putting away money for your retirement? You deserve a pat on the back. And, depending on what you earn, the government wants to give you something more: a tax credit. If you’re married or filing jointly and make an income of $62,000 or less, you may be eligible for a credit of between 10-50 percent of your contributions to an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) or an employer-sponsored retirement savings program. If you’re filing as the head of household, you may be eligible for the credit if you earned $46,500 or less, Sher says.

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Making Clever Deductions

In addition to tax credits, stay on the lookout for deductions you can take. A deduction reduces your taxable income, which increases the chances of a lower overall tax bill. Read on; some of the ones listed here might apply to you. Medical expenses: Does someone in your family require extensive medical care? If your medical expenses exceed 10 percent of your adjusted gross income, you may be eligible for a deduction, says Rebecca Walser, a tax attorney, certified financial planner, and the author of Wealth Unbroken, but you must itemize your deductions in this case. New-mom gear, such as breast pumps and lactation equipment, can be included. And if you pay tuition for special education for a child with special needs, that too can be deductible if the curriculum is considered medically necessary, Sher says. (This is a highly scrutinized deduction, so check with your tax pro before you take it.) Going forward, consider funding a Health Savings Account, says Mark Kohler, a senior tax advisor with TaxSlayer, a tax preparation and financial technology company. The money you deposit in the account both grows tax-free and comes out tax-free for qualified family medical expenses. You also get a tax deduction for contributions on your tax return. Health insurance, if you’re your own boss: “If you are selfemployed you can deduct one hundred percent of the cost of health insurance for yourself,” Walser says. Moving expenses: It’s the rare family that doesn’t move at some point, but are the expenses related to a relocation deductible? It depends, Sher says. “You must move more than fifty miles away, and you must remain employed for thirty-nine weeks of the next fifty-two week period,” he explains. FYI, this is the last year that this deduction can be taken; it’s being swept away for 2018 with the new tax reforms we’ve all heard so much about. Job-hunting expenses: Like medical expenses, these need to be itemized. And you will have to have launched a truly extensive search for new employment: You aren’t eligible for a deduction unless the costs exceeded 2 percent of your AGI. New York state 529 plan contributions: “Anyone who is making a New York state 529 plan contribution should be taking the eligible deduction, which is up to ten thousand dollars for a married couple filing jointly,” Sher says. Though this account has been used to save for children’s college tuition up until now, beginning in 2018 contributions can also be used toward private school tuition. Want more pointers? Consult your favorite tax professional. He or she can help you formulate a strategy to make tax time far less taxing on your family.

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Experts suggest swapping out bath towels every few days, which means more frequent towel loads in the wash.

Spring Clean It!

››

Places in your home you should be cleaning on a regular basis, but likely aren’t—plus a few insider tips and tricks By Katelin Walling

leaning. To a lot of us, that’s as bad as a four-letter word. I was a housekeeper at an inn in high school and got the satisfaction of cleaning a space to shine, but—to this day—I have never been a fan of the actual process. Even some cleaning experts feel the same way: “I really hate cleaning,” says Melissa Maker, a Toronto, Ontario-based cleaning expert, host of the Clean My Space YouTube channel, and author of Clean My Space: The Secret to Cleaning Better, Faster—and Loving Your Home Every Day. “But I love the benefits of living in a clean space.” Heck, with kids, keeping up with the laundry is almost more than we can handle sometimes. So, if you’re like us—not fans of cleaning, but love having a clean space—you know you have to take out the broom and duster regularly to ensure your home is presentable for play dates and dinner guests without a last-minute, frenzied cleaning session. But did you know you’re likely missing some spots that should be cleaned more often than not? We got the inside scoop from cleaning experts and enthusiasts on the areas we need to pay a little more attention to when we have the cleaning products out.

March 2018 | nymetroparents.com

Remember: These aren’t commandments—we certainly aren’t likely to keep up with most of this as often as we should—just recommendations for a cleaner, healthier home.

Bathroom

The area around the toilet: “People often clean in the toilet, but they don’t clean the base or the area behind the toilet,” Maker says. “And over time, that can get really gross, especially if you have individuals in the home who stand up to pee instead of sit down to pee.” So whenever you clean the inside of your toilet, spray a disinfectant or all-purpose cleaner around the base and wipe it clean. Toilet handle: Speaking of missed spots on the toilet, do you regularly, consciously sanitize the flush handle on the toilet? Didn’t think so. Spray it with your preferred cleaner and wipe it down—but please do this before wiping the floor around the toilet, or else use a fresh cleaning cloth. Medicine cabinet: Because it’s a high-traffic area in the house we don’t typically think of cleaning, it can get quite messy, says

Christine Dimmick, author of Detox Your Home: Removing Toxins and Improving Your Life, which is set to be released in early April, and founder of The Good Home Company, a Manhattan-based home care and laundry product line that is paraben-, sulfate-, and phthalate-free. We access our medicine cabinets at least twice a day (when we’re getting ready for work and school in the morning and when we’re getting ready for bed at night), so a lot of water gets in there—and water is the first thing to grow bacteria. Dimmick suggests attacking the medicine cabinet once a month—and her all-purpose cleaners of choice are a mixture of white vinegar and water, or castile soap. And while you’re at it, check the expiration dates on your medicine and beauty products and dispose of them correctly. Ceiling vent: “If you don’t clean that, it becomes very noisy when it’s on, and it doesn’t remove moisture effectively,” Maker says. The easiest way to clean it, she adds, is to give it a quick vacuum with the brush attachment. Bath towels, bathmats, and bathrobes: While you won’t necessarily have to do two towel loads in the wash each week— let’s face it, our linen closets are overstuffed with towels and washcloths—your bath towel should be replaced halfway through the week, according to Mary Gagliardi, aka Dr. Laundry for Clorox, whose background is in textile science and research and development at Clorox. And every time you wash a load of towels, go ahead and throw in the bathrobes and bathmats because, as Gagliardi says, they’re used similarly and as often as bath towels. While you’re at it, just find all the towels currently in use in the house and add them to the wash, too—we’re looking at you, kitchen towels. Gagliardi suggests washing these in bleach to properly disinfect them, after testing the fabrics to make sure they’re bleach-fast. To test, mix 2 teaspoons of bleach with ¼ cup of water, put a drop of the solution on a hidden part of the fabric, let it sit for a minute, and rinse it and blot dry with towel. If the color didn’t change, you can use regular bleach on the item; otherwise go for color-safe bleach. Toothbrush holder: This is a small thing that is usually overlooked and it has a lot of germs around it, says Jim Ireland, founder of White Glove Elite, a cleaning service in New York City. And it’s one I can attest to after a particularly bad college roommate experience. Let’s just say I always kept my toothbrush separate. So do everyone—and your mouth—a favor and clean the toothbrush holder before it even starts to look grimy. Shower curtains / vinyl liners: Cloth shower curtains should be washed once a year to freshen them up because things can splash on them. Meanwhile vinyl shower curtains or shower curtain liners should be washed once or twice a year in the washing machine with ½ cup of bleach to keep mold and mildew under control, Gagliardi says. And go ahead and pull the curtain closed after your shower so the liner fully air-dries. This small step also keeps your bathroom looking neat.

Bedrooms

Bed sheets: You’re tossing and turning, sweating, and shedding hair and skin cells in your sleep. So regardless of whether you shower at night, sheets should be changed weekly. And in terms of washing them, Gagliardi says she believes they should be bleached—but

perform a bleach-ability test on them first! If they fail the bleachability test, then wash them in the hottest water possible to properly clean and sanitize them. While you’re at it, gather the throw blankets from the living room and wash those, too. Mattresses: Maintaining your mattress is really important; after all we spend approximately one-third of our lives sleeping! The best way to clean your mattress, Maker says, is to strip the sheets off it, sprinkle baking soda on it, let the baking soda sit for 30 minutes, and then vacuum it off. This will neutralize any odors. Once the mattress is vacuumed, place a waterproof mattress protector on it and your sheets as normal. Maker also says rotating your mattress two to four times a year is key, so why not clean it at the same time? Under the bed: It’s a big one, according to Dimmick. A lot of dust can quickly accumulate there, “and by cleaning that, you can solve a lot of your allergy issues, or not sleeping well at night,” she says. Closets: At least twice a year—but ideally after each season— go through your closets and get rid of any seasonal pieces you didn’t wear that season, suggests Tova Weinstock, aka Tidy Tova, a professional organizer and cleaning enthusiast based in New York City. For example, now that spring is upon us, go through your winter sweaters and donate the ones you weren’t compelled to wear. “Even with people I work with, if they’re debating whether to get rid of a springy shirt, I’ll say, ‘why don’t you keep it and if you don’t wear it this season, then let go of it,’” Weinstock says. Once you’ve gone through everything and the closet is empty, sweep and dust in there and then put everything back in an organized fashion—and the same goes for the drawers in your dresser. Stuffed animals: These get a lot of love from young children, so they regularly need a freshening up. These can be vacuumed or go in the washing machine (if it’s okay for the lovie) as often as you can get them away from your kids—once a year at the very least.

Common Rooms

Ceiling fans: The tops of the fan blades can get particularly dusty—out of sight, out of mind. When I moved into my first apartment in New York City, my dad, who sees all those out-ofsight places because he’s 6-foot-4, wiped down the fan blades in my room—and you wouldn’t believe the amount of caked-on dust that came off. I only wish I had known Ireland’s trick: Every few months, dampen a pillowcase, put it over each blade so the fan blade is encased, and slide the pillowcase off so the dust stays inside the pillowcase. Pet food bowls: If you feed your dog or cat wet food, chances are you regularly wash their bowls to clean off dried-on food. But what about dry food bowls? “A lot of times people have dogs where the food never gets eaten all the way or the cat food is always in there, so it’s nice if once a week you can wash them with soapy water, rinse them, and sanitize them,” Gagliardi advises. Houseplants: We don’t typically think of plants getting dusty, but they do. “We tend to overlook them until we notice them, and we tend to brush the dust off with our hands, but the oil from

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LongIslandParent 43

‹‹ continued from previous page

our hands is not friendly to plants,” Ireland says. So use a waterdampened cloth when you do your regular dusting, or regularly spray your plants. Points of contact: We’re talking all over the house here. Bathroom and kitchen cabinet handles, doorknobs, light switches, remote controls, tablets, phones, anything you and your family touch on a daily basis. These points of contact are how germs are transferred from person to person, so these are areas to be particularly mindful about cleaning, Maker says. “You can take a disinfectant and spray those points of contact as long as they don’t have electricity associated with them, you can let that product sit for a minute or two, and then wipe it,” she says. If the point of contact does have an electric component, Maker suggests spraying a cloth with a cleaner or rubbing alcohol and wiping it down. Litter boxes: While we regularly clean out the litter boxes and refresh the litter, how often do we actually wash the litter box? Probably not often enough. “We have a recommendation for deodorizing litter boxes, where you remove the cat litter and clean the litter box with soapy water, let it soak with a half cup of bleach per gallon of water for five minutes, and rinse it and let it air dry,” Gagliardi suggests. “Put the cat litter back in and that will keep litter boxes smelling much, much better.” Baseboards, crown molding, and heat registers / return vents: Dust builds up on these. Weinstock, Maker, and Gagliardi all suggest vacuuming them a few times a year with the brush attachment—or stay on top of it by cleaning them every time you vacuum the carpets.

Kitchen

Overhead exhaust: The purpose of the overhead exhaust is to suck the greasy vapor out of your kitchen, according to Maker. “On its way up, the vapor leaves behind a significant amount of grease, and as it builds up, it becomes sticky, it becomes rancid, and you really do need to give it a good clean,” she says. Maker recommends you fill up a bucket with hot water and a scoop of oxygen bleach powder, soak it for about 10 minutes, dry it, and put it back up. You may need to give it a bit of a scrub, she cautions. Potholders: “People never wash those, and they don’t necessarily hold up well to washing,” Gagliardi says. “But if they’re so dirty that you shouldn’t be using them anyway and you wash them and they don’t necessarily have good dimensional stability, then it was time to replace them.” Just be careful when laundering potholders, as they tend to bleed color. Soak them in water first to see how much color runs off; that way you won’t have dye transfer onto other items, Gagliardi advises. Under the sink: This area tends to become a hotspot for junk, cleaning products, plastic shopping bags, and sometimes bits of trash that miss the garbage can (that is, if you keep the garbage can under the sink). So every now and then, dive in and take everything out, give it a good wipe, and, as Maker recommends, “put in a shelf liner because it can become very wet under there and you can ruin the base of the cabinet.” Then put back only the items you need. Now that we think about it, tackle the cabinet under the sink in the bathroom, too. 44

March 2018 | nymetroparents.com

Garbage cans and recycling bins: We all regularly take out the garbage and recycling—at the very least when it’s trash day—but cleaning the receptacles themselves is often left undone. Gagliardi suggests disinfecting these once a month, especially if drink cans aren’t rinsed out before going in there. To keep them disinfected and deodorized, she suggests washing them with soapy water, then letting them soak in a solution of ½ cup of bleach per ¾ gallon of water for 5 minutes, rinsing it, and letting it air dry. Alternatively, Ireland suggests using a trash can as a bucket when mopping the floors, which will clean it too. Inside the microwave: When food is nuked in the microwave, it can splatter, “and most people will leave it for a week, but would you leave food stains or dried up food on your counter for a week? Probably not,” Dimmick says. She suggests cleaning the microwave daily with a mixture of vinegar and water. Meanwhile Weinstock suggests heating up water in the microwave to create a steam, which will loosen up caked-on food, making it easier to wipe off. Sponges: These can get smelly fast. Rather than throwing them out frequently, every time you run your dishwasher, Gagliardi suggests tossing them in, too. And for a deeper clean, she says you can soak them in a solution of ½ cup of bleach per gallon of water for 5 minutes, rinse them, and let them air dry. For a cleaning double-whammy, get your sponge wet and microwave it on high for 2 minutes, then carefully remove it. This deodorizes and disinfects your sponge, Ireland says, and the steam makes it easier to clean the microwave. The warming drawer in the oven: People tend to use this little drawer under the oven as storage for baking sheets and think nothing of it since it’s not being used for food. But if you remove everything, “you’ll see it’s just full of crumbs, so every now and then its important to take everything out,” Maker says. “You can use the brush attachment on the vacuum to clean it out, and once you vacuum out the crumbs, spray it and wipe it out, and replace only the items you need.” Coffee pot and coffee grinder: Ireland suggests these be cleaned once a month. Run the coffee maker with a solution that is 1 part vinegar and 4 parts water. Then, for insulated coffee urns that are difficult to clean, he suggests dropping a denture-cleaning tab in with some hot water and letting that sit overnight, while regular pots can be hand washed with dish soap. And put a handful of uncooked rice in the grinder and grind it. This will clean the blades without needing to get it wet. Refrigerator: “You can still grow bacteria in there even though it’s cold,” Dimmick says. So she cleans out her fridge once a week. “It’s also a great time to do a deep dive and look at the expiration dates on condiments,” she adds. And make sure to get under the crisper drawers. “We spend a lot of time trying to keep odors out of the refrigerator, but a lot of times there’s stuff under the crisper drawers,” Ireland adds. With all of this in mind, Weinstock suggests creating a cleaning routine or schedule that is doable for you. “Try to get in the habit of doing certain tasks every day: sweeping, doing the dishes, wiping the counters,” she says. “And then set aside the time to actually clean, otherwise it gets so overwhelming.”

Meet the

Health Care

Professional

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

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

Pediatric Dentistry of Suffolk County Dr. Mike Ioannou 2171 Jericho Turnpike, Suite 145, Commack 631-486-6364 3237 Route 112, Building 6, Suite 7B, Medford 631-320-0880; supermolar.com

Dr. Michael Ioannou, a native of Suffolk County, received his dental degree at the University of Connecticut - School of Dental Medicine, with a residency in pediatric dentistry from Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center. A friendly, patient dentist, Dr. Ioannou strives to make visiting the dentist a fun experience, all while providing exceptional dental care. He uses excellent behavioral management approaches, a child-friendly environment (TV and cartoons in all treatment rooms), and he sings to the patients! Dr. Ioannou currently participates with most insurance companies and has convenient evening and Saturday office hours.

Building Blocks Developmental Preschool 29 Pinewood Drive, Commack 631-499-1237; bbdps.com

Donna M. Charbonneau is the executive director of Building Blocks Developmental Preschool. BBDPS offers a range of programs and services to children from infancy through age 5. Currently staffed with more than 100 teachers, therapists, and paraprofessionals, including registered nurses as well as psychologists, speech and language pathologists, occupational therapists, a physical therapist, and a developmental pediatrician. Early Intervention services are provided for children younger than 3, who have developmental delays. Building Blocks Developmental Preschool continues to ensure delivery of the highest quality educational services to all students.

Pediatric Immediate Care 150 E. Sunrise Highway, Suite 105, North Lindenhurst 631-956-PEDS (7337) 1077 W. Jericho Turnpike, Smithtown 631-864-PEDS (7337) 698 Manhattan Ave., Brooklyn 718-389-PEDS (7337); pediatricimmediatecare.com

Pediatric Immediate Care is a team of hearts where kids come first. State-of-the-art medical office equipment allows us to deliver your test results during your visit. Kid-friendly; walk-ins welcome; most insurance plans accepted. Complete pediatric and adolescent care, as well as baby, camp, school, and sports physicals. Certified urgent care recommended by Urgent Care Association of America. Thirty years of dedication to our patients. The offices are open seven days a week including holidays, 8am-11pm.

Long Island Center for Speech and Myofunctional Therapy Locations across Suffolk and Nassau: East Yaphank, Farmingville, Stony Brook, Commack, Jericho, Wantagh, and Lake Success lispeechandmyo.com Nassau: 516-216-1791 • Suffolk: 631-689-6858 • Queens: 718-640-6767 Janine Stiene, speech-language pathologist, is owner and operator of Long Island Center for Speech and Myofunctional Therapy. Along with her group of therapists, she supports families and children across Long Island, specializing in PROMPT, feeding, myofunctional therapy, voice disorders, fluency, augmentative communication, articulation, auditory processing disorders, and expressive and receptive language disorders (adults and children). Intensive feeding therapy for individuals who suffer from texture and consistency aversions, and FEES— Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing—are also offered. There is a total of seven affiliated offices across Long Island, all participating with most major health insurance companies and offering evening and Saturday hours.

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Sleep Training 101

››

How to get your infant to sleep through the night—and deal with sleep regression when it happens By Bethany Braun-Silva

hen I was pregnant with my first child the number of people who told me, “You will never sleep again,” was overwhelming. Cut to six years, a second child, and many sleepless nights later—though I’m sure I have actually slept—and I am, indeed, pretty darn tired. Fatigue certainly comes with the parenting territory, especially in the first few months of bringing home your newborn. But getting consistent sleep is extremely important, not only for your baby, but for you as a parent, too. That’s why sleep training your baby once she’s a few months old—that is, teaching her to fall asleep and stay asleep on her own—is a great way to ensure everyone is well rested, and, in turn, happy. There are several sleep-training techniques, but ultimately all of them lead to restful nights for the whole family.

Sleep-Training Methods Explained

You may have heard of the “Cry It Out” and “Ferberizing” sleep-training methods. Those are two of the most well-known approaches, but many different variations have been developed. Each technique involves a few (or a lot of) tears, and all differ slightly in terms of how present you are supposed to be and how much you comfort your child as he falls asleep and when he wakes up. Ingrid Prueher, founder of Ingrid Baby Sleep Whisperer (ingridbabysleepwhisperer.com) and a Fox & Friends sleep expert, 46

March 2018 | nymetroparents.com

works with individual families to create a method that works for them, while other experts, such as Denise Stern, baby nurse, postpartum care expert, and founder of Let Mommy Sleep (an overnight, in-home, infant care service), use a practice called sleep helping. “It is a simple way to say that we very gradually increase feeding during the day while gradually decreasing feeds overnight,” Stern says. Whichever method you choose, take comfort in knowing a good night’s sleep isn’t too far off. Here is a cheat-sheet of common sleep-training methods that may work for your family: Cry It Out or CIO: This method involves going through a bedtime routine with your baby, then placing her in her crib, leaving the room, and not coming back until the morning—as long as your infant is safe. This will be, by far, the method that produces the most tears, although it has recently been deemed harmless by the American Academy of Pediatrics. Ferberizing: Developed by Richard Ferber, M.D., this technique is considered a gentler version of CIO. With this method, you check on your infant and console him after a few minutes of crying, increasing the amount of time between your visits to his room to check on him. The Chair Method: Parents who practice this approach go through the normal bedtime routine, place their baby in the crib,

and then sit in a chair next to the crib until she falls asleep. They do not console her with words or cuddles, only with their presence. Each night they move the chair farther and farther from the crib until they are out of the room. The Pick Up Put Down Method or PUPD: This gentle method allows parents to pick up their crying baby, soothe him, and then place him in his crib to sleep, repeating this all night until, eventually, baby sleeps through. The Fading Sleep Training Method: With this technique parents continue to help their baby fall asleep by rocking or feeding. Each day they do less and less to soothe their baby in the hopes that she will begin to soothe herself. This is a great option for parents who prefer a method with less crying.

Getting Started

It’s important not to rush sleep training. For his first few months of life, tend to your baby when he cries and soothe him with feedings, diaper changes, or cuddles. Before sleep training your infant, Prueher suggests that: • You have approval from your pediatrician • Your baby weighs close to 16 pounds •Y our little one is close to 4 months of age. This is when a child’s biological clock forms, and you can use a biological sleep schedule as part of the process of teaching her to become an independent sleeper. If you can check off all three of those things, you can start sleep training your baby. “Lovingly teaching a child to sleep independently is about empowering the child to do what they have been born to do on their own. Children are born being able to sleep independently,” Prueher says. “In some cases, new parents just don’t know how to put a child to sleep and they feel their role as parents includes closing their child’s eyes for them. So, they resort to rocking, feeding to sleep, driving around, using a stroller during all sleep times.” But it doesn’t have to be that way. Babies are programmed to self-soothe; they just need a little push to get started. One of the most important things for parents to remember before getting started is, no matter what sleep-training method is used, there will be tears. But “sleep training should never be traumatizing, produce throwing up sessions, or make you feel like you are hurting your child,” Prueher says. Creating a plan and feeling secure in it will reduce the number of tears your child (and you) may shed. Like Prueher, Stern insists you get the “okay” from your pediatrician before starting to sleep train. Your baby needs to be able to go at least 8 hours without a feeding, and babies who were premature or who are gaining weight more slowly are not good candidates for sleep training at 4 months old. “A good rule of thumb is that when a baby is able to take in twenty-eight to thirty-two ounces between the hours of six am and ten pm, that’s usually enough to satiate them through the night, but it’s crucial to have baby’s primary care physician agree that it’s appropriate to begin sleep training,” Stern says. Remember: Just because you have successfully sleep trained your baby, it doesn’t mean he won’t wake up once or twice (or more) throughout the night. “It is very common for baby to

have periods of wakefulness and times when they need parents’ help,” Stern says.

Sleep Regression Tips and Tricks

If your baby, who was successfully sleeping through the night, starts waking more often, or staying awake for an extended period of time or for what seems to be no reason, she may be experiencing sleep regression. This can throw parents for a loop and often make them feel overwhelmed in having to go back to square one. Alice R., a Brooklyn mom, went through this when her son was 9 months old. “Ryan had been sleeping through the night since we sleep trained him at four months old,” she says. “We had five months of bliss, and then it was like we were hit with a bomb. He was waking up a few hours after being put down and nothing we did worked.” Alice says she felt desperate and contacted a sleep expert for advice. Two weeks after starting the sleep training process all over again, Ryan resumed sleeping through the night. “The Golden Rule for regression is consistency, consistency, consistency,” Stern says. “Simply continuing the methods that your child is already familiar with is the best way to minimize regression. It’s important to remember, too, that babies are smart. If you hold them to sleep for a few nights during illness, for example, that does not mean they forgot how to sleep independently when it’s time for them to go back to sleep in the crib.” While sleep regression may seem like it occurs out of the blue, chances are there is a very good reason your child is waking. Teething and physical milestones (sitting up, crawling, and standing), and general alertness all contribute to sleep regression. “No matter if they are ‘good’ or ‘bad’ sleepers, all little ones will wake when they’re experiencing teething pain or illness. Babies who are just learning to crawl and stand will also have fun in the overnight hours practicing their new skills,” Stern says. “In fact, many little ones just learning to walk will pull themselves up to a standing position in the crib and then call out to mom or dad because they are ‘stuck’ in the standing position!” If your baby is not sick, it’s okay to not rush into her room when she wakes in the middle of the night. Giving her a chance to fall asleep on her own, again, just reinforces the sleep training. In addition to maintaining normal bedtime routines, here are simple tips to combat sleep regression: • Provide extra comfort at bedtime in case separation anxiety is causing your child to wake up. • Remove all distractions, as lights and mobiles are not so useful during a period of sleep regression. • Make sure the room is a comfortable temperature, between 68 and 72 degrees. • Don’t form new “bad” habits such as rocking your baby or bringing him into bed with you. Remember this is a shortterm phase. Each family is different, and it is important to stay in tune with your baby’s needs, as they may change. Sleep training, whichever method you choose, is a great way to maintain a happy and healthy household. “We know the benefits of sleep can help our children live happier and healthier lives, so let’s make sleep a priority,” Prueher says. “It’s the best gift you can give your child, it will reward them forever.”

From our sponsors: The mission of Allied Foundation is to impact and improve the health and well-being of residents within Allied Physicians Group’s geographical footprint, which currently includes Long Island (Nassau and Suffolk), Queens, Brooklyn, Richmond, Westchester, Rockland, and Orange. The Allied Foundation funds community-based strategies and initiatives, including Breastfeeding Support (toll-free Support Line: 866-621-2769; Breast Milk Depots), Community Education (free app—AlliedPG—and lectures about such topics as ADHD, managing food allergies, behavioral health, and infant CPR), Early Childhood Literacy (proud partner of Reach Out and Read and The BookFairies); and Community Service (Diaper Bank of Long Island). For more information, visit alliedfoundation.org. LongIslandParent 47

raising kids teen

How to Raise a Take-Charge Teen ›› Help your kid learn to make his own decisions instead of just following the crowd.

lexa, 14, never had any interest in sports. Or gym, or even kicking a ball around the yard. Her mom, Laura Valsamachi, kept encouraging her to try something. Once she got into high school, a new option presented itself: golf. Alexa agreed to try it. She liked that it wasn’t a team sport, and the fact that it was walk-on, so her lack of athletic ability wouldn’t be on display during a tryout. Valsamachi completed the registration form, and Alexa took it to school the morning of the sign-up deadline. And she brought it back that afternoon. “Julia’s not doing it,” the Long Island freshman said, without looking at her mom. “Who’s Julia? And so what?” Valsamachi asked. “Julia, the one I told you is kind of popular?” Alexa reminded her. “She said she would do golf with me, but now she’s not, so…” Her voice trailed off, her earbuds went in, and that was that. While some teens seem to have no problem deciding what they want to do and sticking to it, plenty more struggle to think independently and make choices for themselves. Wanting the approval of others is natural to some extent, even for grownups, but needing it can be crippling. If your kid seems to show a tendency toward flip-flopping, read on for the lowdown on how to guide him or her toward confident decision-making.

The Why Behind Wishy-Washy Behavior

Is it typical for teens to be followers, changing their mind about extracurricular activities, clothes, hairstyles, and even what after48

March 2018 | nymetroparents.com

By Christina Vercelletto

school jobs to apply for, based on what their peers are doing? In many cases, it’s not a sign of a long-term problem, but more of a phase. “A lot of this is normal and even developmentally healthy behavior,” insists Robi Ludwig, Psy.D., a psychotherapist in New York City. “Teens are still discovering who they are and what’s important to them, so changing what they want and how they want to present themselves is all a part of this,” she explains. Anecdotally, at least, girls seem more vulnerable than boys to deferring to friends on anything and everything. “Most teenage girls want to be part of the pack. They want to blend in rather than stand out,” says Susan Groner, “The Parenting Mentor” and New York City-based author of Parenting: 101 Ways to Rock Your World. “While this may seem silly to us, there’s nothing wrong with it. You don’t need to worry that she’ll be like this forever. It’s a phase.” (If your child resists making any independent decisions at all, though, “there could be a mood or self-esteem issue going on,” cautions Dr. Ludwig, and in that case, checking in with a therapist would be a good idea.)

Encouraging Independence

Of course teens are not, as a group, big on taking what adults say as gospel. But there are ways we can get our teens to see the benefits of making their own decisions. Share a story of a time when being a follower backfired. Use articles, stories about people your child knows (with their

permission), and yes, even “when I was your age” stories to get your point across without being too heavy-handed about it, Dr. Ludwig recommends. After the golf incident, Valsamachi shared a personal story with Alexa that seemed to strike a chord: When she’d been a high-school senior, her best friend Maureen had decided that college was a waste of time, and had opted to go straight to work. Valsamachi, used to walking in lockstep with her BFF, decided to forgo college too. “I wound up getting my degree much later, but still wonder how my life would have been different,” she says. “Oh, and I haven’t spoken to Maureen since 1989.” Valsamachi resisted the urge to point out “Just like Julia and golf!” at the end of her story. It was just put out there for Alexa to interpret as she would. “And she did seem to absorb it, at least a little,” Valsamachi says. Keep it neutral. The main thing to guard against, says Dr. Ludwig, is coming across as preachy. Keep a neutral tone. “Teens who feel criticized or are concerned that they would disappoint their parents are often less comfortable sharing their thoughts,” agrees Wendy L. Moss, Ph.D., co-author, with Donald A. Moses, M.D., of Raising Independent, Self-Confident Kids. Be nonjudgmental. It often isn’t easy, but it can pay off. Rose Koehler’s daughter, Emily, wanted to apply to be a page at their local library on Long Island, but a friend convinced her to work with her at a fast-food restaurant instead. “Now, my daughter, who hates noise, rushing, and has been known to burst into tears if a soda splatters on her, working in a fast food restaurant…I knew this would not end well,” Koehler shares. “But I also knew that demanding she stick with her original plan wouldn’t either.” So Koehler stayed supportive, asking a question about the job now and then, but keeping it neutral. After about five weeks, Emily quit—but the page job had already been filled. “I just gave her a hug and said nothing. Definitely not ‘I told you so!’” Koehler says. While Emily never came out and said she should have made the decision that felt right to her in the first place, Koehler feels the lesson stuck. “She doesn’t seem as quick to yield to her friends’ opinions anymore,” she says.

You don’t need to discourage your teen from posting a picture or a comment he thinks will get a lot of positive attention, as long as it doesn’t hurt him in the short or long term, Dr. Ludwig says. “Connect it to long-term goals he may have for himself. If he posts in a certain way, explain how this can send the wrong message and hurt him down the line.” She also advises encouraging teens to think like a publicist. This is a concept most high-schoolers can readily grasp. If you were in charge of managing a client’s reputation, would you post this? Lynne Lincoln, a mother of two teens in New Rochelle, recalls the time her 16-year-old son, Daniel, posted several #foodstagram shots of the burger chain Shake Shack while on an outing to the city with a group of friends. When he came home starving, Lincoln asked, “I thought you had Shake Shack?” Daniel clarified: “Oh, I gave it to Ryan. I don’t eat that stuff. I would have rather had pizza, but nobody is going to follow an account that posts rando pizza. It’s hard to get melted cheese not to look gross.” Groner says what’s important is that teens are able to separate their online lives from their real ones. If they snap a selfie in front of the now-famous statue of the little girl down on Wall Street, say, did they take the time to think about the art? “Next time your child posts, ask him about the experience,” she suggests. That will give you an idea of whether the experience drove the popular post, or the other way around. At the end of the day, Dr. Ludwig notes, the best thing you can do to help your child with decision-making—or anything, really— is to tune in to his needs. “Just plug into your child…Let them know you’re on their side and there for them if they need you,” she says. Christina Vercelletto is a former editor at NYMetroParents, Parenting, Scholastic Parent & Child, and Woman’s Day. She lives on Long Island with her kids, a chiweenie, Pickles, and a 20-pound calico, Chub-Chub.

ACTIVITIES

EVENTS

Let him practice. Have your teen be a part of the decision-making process for family matters, such as planning a vacation, choosing a family car, or even figuring out how to assist an aging grandparent. What you’re trying to do, Dr. Moss explains, is guide your child toward minimizing impulsive decisions in favor of the one that is actually best for the situation. And like any other learned skill, that takes practice. Brainstorm. “Crowd-sourcing” potential solutions to a problem your teen is having by bringing in the whole family—even favorite aunts, uncles, and cousins—lets him know that “family is like a team, stronger than any one member,” Dr. Moss says. What that does is shift the focus off of “mom or dad know best,” so your child is less likely to feel defensive. By seeing that her ideas are as good as anyone else’s, she’ll start to build confidence, and, over time, be less apt to fall into a “what they’re thinking must be better than what I’m thinking” mentality.

The Social Media Aspect

Social media doesn’t seem to make it any easier to convince a teen to think independently. After all, accruing likes and positive comments is the name of the game. But that in itself isn’t necessarily bad. “We all want to get positive responses to what we present to the world,” Dr. Ludwig notes.

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Professional services

Your local guide to tutors, teachers, lawyers, financial planners, and other professionals. DENTISTS & DENTAL PROVIDERS CUMMINGS FAMILY DENTAL 42 High St., Huntington 631-425-1650 cummingsfamilydentistry.com cummingsfamilydentistry@aol.com At Cummings Family Dentistry, we believe that a dentist and patient become a team. We spend time listening to understand your concerns and responding with the best treatment options for you. PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY OF SUFFOLK COUNTY DR. MIKE IOANNOU 2171 Jericho Turnpike, Suite 145, Commack 631-486-6364 3237 Route 112, Building 6, Suite 7B, Medford 631-320-0880 supermolar.com mikeioannou@hotmail.com Dr. Michael Ioannou, a native of Suffolk County, strives to make visiting the dentist a fun experience, all while providing exceptional dental care. He uses excellent behavioral management approaches, a child-friendly environment (TV and cartoons in all treatment rooms), and he sings to the patients! SUFFOLK PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY 8 Medical Drive, Port Jefferson Station 631-928-8585 6144 Route 25 A, Suite D20, Wading River 631-929-7575 750 Roanoke Ave., Riverhead 631-727-8585 suffolkpediatricdentistry.com infoportjeff@suffolkpediatricdentistry.com For 40 years, we have provided dental care that’s friendly, gentle, and compassionate. We provide preventive and comprehensive treatment for infants, children, and adolescents including sedation and general anesthesia dentistry. We strive to help our patients develop good oral hygiene habits, and beautiful healthy smiles.

DOCTORS & MEDICAL PROVIDERS LONG ISLAND CENTER FOR SPEECH AND MYOFUNCTIONAL THERAPY Locations across Suffolk and Nassau: East Yaphank, Farmingville, Stony Brook, Commack, Jericho, Wantagh, and Lake Success lispeechandmyo.com Suffolk: 631-689-6858 Nassau: 516-216-1791 Queens: 718-640-6767 Janine Stiene, speech-language pathologist, along with her group of therapists, supports families and children across Long Island, specializing in PROMPT, feeding, myofunctional therapy, voice disorders, fluency, augmentative communication, articulation, auditory processing disorders, and expressive and receptive language disorders. PEDIATRIC IMMEDIATE CARE 150 E. Sunrise Highway, Suite 105, North Lindenhurst 631-956-PEDS (7337) 1077 W. Jericho Turnpike, Smithtown 631-864-PEDS (7337) 698 Manhattan Ave., Brooklyn 718-389-PEDS (7337) pediatricimmediatecare.com Pediatric Immediate Care is a team of hearts where kids come first. Stateof-the-art medical office equipment allows us to deliver your test results during your visit. Kid-friendly; walkins welcome; most insurance plans accepted. FINANCIAL PLANNING & INSURANCE NEW YORK LIFE ALISON HACKETT 516-864-3576 newyorklife.com ahackett@newyorklife.com As your local New York Life agent, I will work with you to identify your goals and customize the best products in college funding, retirement planning, mortgage protection, life insurance, and long-term care insurance. Protect what matters most.

March 2018 | nymetroparents.com

FOOD & NUTRITION THE FOOD WIZARD FOR KIDS Serving all of Long Island 631-606-2680 thefoodwizardforkids.com info@thefoodwizardforkids.com Making food and nutrition fun for the whole family. Available for speaking engagements. Also provides workshops for kids, family night dinners, and healthy weight counseling. LITTLE VICKY’S 631-338-1722 littlevickys.com littlevickys@yahoo.com Little Vicky’s products are small batched with only the finest, natural ingredients. Real food, no junk. Products include Honey Butter, Garlic Honey, and Honey Lemonade sold at all Best Markets throughout Long Island and select Stop & Shops. LEGAL SERVICES LAW OFFICES OF ANDREW COHEN 250 W. 57th St., Suite 1216, Manhattan 212-244-0595 1100 Franklin Ave., Suite 305, Garden City 516-877-0595 amcohenlaw.com ac@amcohenlaw.com The Law Offices of Andrew M. Cohen can help you achieve your objectives through careful special needs legal planning, regardless of the size of your estate. All clients are provided with high quality service at a reasonable cost. LAW OFFICES OF BRAD H. ROSKEN, P.L.L.C. 534 Broadhollow Road, Suite 275, Melville 631-379-9569 specialedcounselor.com brad@specialedcounselor.com Brad H. Rosken is an experienced trial attorney. He’s also a parent of a child with special needs. He knows how far to push a school district to obtain the maximum that your child is entitled to under law.

LICE FAIRY LICEMOTHERS 2463 S. Long Beach Road, Oceanside 866-561-0492 1755 Deer Park Ave., Deer Park 866-561-0492 679 Glen Cove Ave., Glen Head 866-561-0492 fairylicemothers.com fairylicemothers@gmail.com Our treatment centers are kid-friendly and our products are 100-percent non-toxic. Treatments include two free re-checks. Whether or not you use our service, we are here to help you. SPECIAL NEEDS ALTERNATIVES FOR CHILDREN 1116 Main Road, Aquebogue 631-722-2170 600 S. Service Road, Dix Hills 631-271-0777 14 Research Way, East Setauket 631-331-6400 168 Hill St., Southampton 631-283-3272 alternatives4children.org Licensed day care, EI/Preschool Special Education evaluations provider for eligible children. Early childhood professionals create a natural learning environment, promoting a child’s cognitive, social, and emotional development. DR. ELLEN T RICHER, EDUCATION CLINICIAN & COUNSELOR Convenient Long Island locations 347-668-3676 etrdream@aol.com We co-develop strategies to improve executive functioning, sensory processing, and social cognition challenges, and provide enrichment opportunities to engage and motivate highly capable yet underachieving children. LAW OFFICES OF ANDREW COHEN 250 W. 57th St., Suite 1216, Manhattan 212-244-0595 1100 Franklin Ave., Suite 305, Garden City 516-877-0595 amcohenlaw.com; ac@amcohenlaw.com

The Law Offices of Andrew M. Cohen can help you achieve your objectives through careful special needs legal planning, regardless of the size of your estate. All clients are provided with high quality service at a reasonable cost. LAW OFFICES OF BRAD H. ROSKEN, P.L.L.C. 534 Broadhollow Road, Suite 275, Melville 631-379-9569 specialedcounselor.com brad@specialedcounselor.com Brad H. Rosken is an experienced trial attorney. He’s also a parent of a child with special needs. He knows how far to push a school district to obtain the maximum that your child is entitled to under law. LITTLE OPTICS INC. 192-07 Union Turnpike, Fresh Meadows, Queens 53-15 Roosevelt Ave., Woodside, Queens 718-468-7500; hablamos Español littleopticsinc@yahoo.com We provide eyeglasses and professional eye care for children, including infants and young adults. We also alleviate any self-esteem issues associated with the stigma of wearing glasses. When your child leaves Little Optics, rest assured they will feel confident. LONG ISLAND CENTER FOR SPEECH AND MYOFUNCTIONAL THERAPY Locations across Suffolk and Nassau: East Yaphank, Farmingville, Stony Brook, Commack, Jericho, Wantagh, and Lake Success lispeechandmyo.com Suffolk: 631-689-6858 Nassau: 516-216-1791 Queens: 718-640-6767 Janine Stiene, speech-language pathologist, along with her group of therapists, supports families and children across Long Island, specializing in PROMPT, feeding, myofunctional therapy, voice disorders, fluency, augmentative communication, articulation, auditory processing disorders, and expressive and receptive language disorders. THERAPY & COUNSELORS DR. ELLEN T RICHER, EDUCATION CLINICIAN & COUNSELOR Convenient Long Island locations 347-668-3676 etrdream@aol.com

We co-develop strategies to improve executive functioning, sensory processing, and social cognition challenges, and provide enrichment opportunities to engage and motivate highly capable yet underachieving children. TUTORS & TEST PREP ST. PATRICK YOUTH COMMUNITY: ST. PATRICK TUTORING CENTER St. Patrick Church, Smithtown 631-724-1261 stpatsyouth.com spyouth@optonline.net St. Patrick Tutoring Center is here to assist your learner from kindergarten to 12th grades with Catholic Entrance Exam Prep, SAT, Regents, or daily schoolwork. ST. PATRICK YOUTH COMMUNITY: YOUTH ENRICHMENT LEARNING CENTER St. Patrick Church, Smithtown 631-724-1261 stpatsyouth.com spyouth@optonline.net St. Patrick Youth Enrichment and Learning Center provides programs for your child ages 1½ to sixth grade. A faith-based program offers a loving, caring environment. SYLVAN LEARNING CENTER OF HUNTINGTON 1160 E. Jericho Turnpike, Huntington 631-424-5600 sylvanlearning.com sylvanlearning@optonline.net Sylvan of Huntington offers personalized tutoring programs in reading, writing, mathematics, and SAT/ACT prep. Sylvan will help identify the right program for your child and exactly where your child needs to start to get the best results. Village East Gifted - Enrichment Center for the Gifted Learner VILLAGE EAST GIFTED OF HUNTINGTON 33 Walt Whitman Road, Huntington Station 631-549-2313 Village East Gifted of Roslyn 216 Willis Ave., Roslyn Heights 631-549-2313 villageeastgifted.com info@villageeastgifted.com Village East Gifted provides afterschool enrichment and private tutoring. Enriching every qualified, gifted child. We are also a John Hopkins CTY info and SAT testing center.

OPENHOUSES 2018 Camps ‘R’ Us Where Summer Vacation Is Our Job

Locations in Baldwin, Bellmore, East Rockaway, Farmingdale, Hicksville, Saint James, Syosset, Valley Stream, and West Islip 516-935-CAMP (2267) campsrus.org; info@campsrus.org Join us for an open house in Bellmore, Hicksville, St. James, and Syosset on March 10 from 12:30-2:30pm; Baldwin and West Islip on March 11 from 11:30am1:30pm; Valley Stream on March 11 from 11am-1:30pm; Farmingdale on March 18 from 10:30am12:30pm; East Rockaway on March 18 from 10am-1pm.

Cold Spring Harbor Fish Hatchery & Aquarium: Nature Summer Camp 1660 Route 25A, Cold Spring Harbor 516-692-6768 cshfishhatchery.org steved@cshfishhatchery.org Give your young explorer a summer surrounded by nature at our summer science and outdoor nature camps for ages pre-K through teens. Call us to learn more and schedule a personal tour.

Future Stars Summer Camps

The College at Old Westbury, Old Westbury 516-876-3490 Farmingdale State College 2350 Broadhollow Road, Farmingdale St. Joseph’s College 155 W. Roe Blvd., Patchogue fscamps.com Stop by Future Stars Summer Camps Open Houses on Saturdays, March 17 or April 28 from 9:30am-12:30pm.

Kenwal Day Camp

100 Drexel Ave., Melville 631-694-3399 kenwaldaycamp.com Visit Kenwal to meet with our directors and tour our beautiful 20acre campgrounds. Sundays from 12-3pm, through June, or call for a personal tour. Lock in discounted rates through Summer 2020!

Kids of Mount Sinai and Miller Place

37B Crystal Brook Hollow Road, Mount Sinai 631-331-5351; kidsofmountsinai.com 43 Echo Ave., Miller Place 631-403-4790; kidsofmillerplace.com Kids Country Day Camp 37 Crystal Brook Hollow Road, Mount Sinai 631-331-5351; kidscountrydaycamp.com

Join us for a Kids Country Day Camp and Kids of Mount Sinai school open house March 24, April 21, May 19, or June 9 from 11am-2pm.

Knox School Summer Adventures

541 Long Beach Road, St. James 631-686-1600 x414 knoxschool.org/summer-programs/ summer-adventures ndezenzo@knoxschool.org Join us for an open house April 14 or May 19 from 10am-1pm.

Long Island High School for the Arts Summer Arts Academy: sixth to 12th grades

239 Cold Spring Road, Syosset 516-622-5678 nassauboces.org/lihsa Nassau BOCES Long Island High School for the Arts invites all students with artistic talent, passion, and ambitions to an open house on April 28 from 10am-2pm.

Long Island Voyager’s Day Camp

516-238-4586 livoyagersdaycamp.com livoyagersdaycamp@gmail.com Join us at our open house on March 24 from 12-2pm at Adventureland, 2245 Broad Hollow Road (Route 110), Farmingdale. Registered campers receive $100 off of tuition and a day bracelet!

Quinipet Camp and Retreat Center

99 Shore Road (4 Rocky Point Road), P.O. Box 549, Shelter Island Heights 631-749-0430 quinipet.org; quinipet@nyac.com Join is for an open house Saturdays, April 14, May 12, and June 16. All open houses are from 2-4pm.

Trinity Regional School

1025 5th Ave., East Northport 631-261-5130 trinityregional.org Join us for an open house every Wednesday, Jan. 31-March 28 from 9-11am. Join the Trinity family; you will be glad you did.

Usdan Summer Camp for the Arts

185 Colonial Springs Road, Wheatley Heights 631-643-7900; usdan.org Join new families interested in learning more about Usdan. Meet with our admissions counselors and tour the campus. Refreshments, warm drinks, information, and 2018 registration available. Sundays, March 18, April 15, or May 20, from 11am-2pm.

LongIslandParent 51

PartyCentral PARTY ENTERTAINMENT THE FOOD WIZARD FOR KIDS Serving all of Long Island 631-606-2680 thefoodwizardforkids.com info@thefoodwizardforkids.com Try a healthy twist on birthday parties! The Food Wizard for Kids provides birthday party workshops for younger children. Kids discover new foods through fun activities including taste tests and art projects. MAD SCIENCE OF LONG ISLAND Call for locations throughout Long Island: 855-264-1672 madscienceli.com; info@madscienceli.com A Mad Scientist brings all the necessary equipment to you. Party packages include invitations and a takehome activity each child makes. Optional grand finales include Bubbling Potions, Rockets, and Cotton Candy. PARTY PLACES @ PLAY AMUSEMENTS 229 NY-110, Farmingdale 631-815-5355 atplayamusement.com; info@playamusement.com Have your next party at the newly renovated @ Play Amusements! It offers 40,000-square-feet of fun ranging from 92 arcade games, inflatables, and bumper cars to a roller coaster, carousel, disco room, and laser tag! BOUNCEU FARMINGDALE 101 Carolyn Blvd., Farmingdale 631-777-JUMP (5867) bounceu.com/cities/farmingdale.ny farmingdale.ny@bounceu.com BounceU Farmingdale was voted “Best of Long Island” for Children’s Party Place and Family Amusement Center. We provide the ideal combination of inflatable structures, a clean environment, incredible customer service, and non-stop excitement in a private party atmosphere. CELEBRATIONS IN THE KITCHEN 63 E. Old Country Road, Hicksville 516-396-2193 celebrationsinthekitchen.com celebrationsinthekitchen@gmail.com The most unique, fun-filled, joyous event! We have created a true baking experience for everyone to enjoy, including sugar cookie baking, all about pizza, cupcakes from scratch, doughnuts, and chocolate and candy projects. Come in, call, or visit celebrationsinthekitchen.com for more information on parties. COLD SPRING HARBOR FISH HATCHERY & AQUARIUM 1660 Route 25A, Cold Spring Harbor 516-692-6768 cshfha.org; steved@cshfha.org Celebrate your child’s next birthday at the Cold Spring 52

March 2018 | nymetroparents.com

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

Harbor Fish Hatchery & Aquarium! See the hatchery and aquarium’s exciting live exhibits. Feed the hungry trout and learn about fish, reptiles, and amphibians with an up-close animal encounter.

Picasso Kidz puts the “ART” in pARTy! Birthdays at Picasso Kidz are truly unique and memorable. We have many packages and options to choose from for ages 2-17.

HUNTINGTON CENTER FOR PERFORMING ARTS 310 New York Ave., Huntington 631-271-4626 huntingtoncenteronline.com huntingtoncenter@yahoo.com Make your child’s birthday a memorable and creative event with our dance-themed birthday parties. As a special treat, a guest artist will come in costume to perform for your guests!

SAFARI ADVENTURE 1074 Pulaski St., Riverhead 631-727-4386 thesafariadventure.com dan@thesafariadventure.com Safari Adventure is Long’s Island’s premier family fun center and birthday party place. Fun for the whole family with inflatables, four-level soft playground, arcade, interactive floor games, and a full cafe!

KEY TO MY ART INC. 10 W. Oak St., Amityville 631-608-9048 keytomyart.com At Key to My Art, our children’s paint parties include all supplies from aprons to easels. The guest of honor picks the theme, we provide the instruction, and each guest leaves with a finished painting!

SOUTH SHORE RECREATION 1132 Penatiquit Ave. 631-860-3126 southshorerecreation.com Kids are going gaga for the hottest new party on Long Island! Party at our location or we can come to you! Our fantastic coaches will run the gaga games so you can host the best party you’ve ever had!

LONG ISLAND AQUARIUM 431 E. Main St., Riverhead 631-208-9200 xH2O (426); 631-208-9200 x125 longislandaquarium.com Have your child’s birthday party at the Long Island Aquarium. Party options include a choice of private rooms, select food items, and an ice cream cake. All parties get a guided tour, special seating at the Sea Lion Show, and rides on the submarine simulator!

STUDIO E ART CLASSES 565 Route 25A, Miller Place 631-744-4001 studioeartclass.com/parties Studio E Art Classes offers two economical party options! “The Bash” starting at only $290 and “The Extravaganza” starting at only $420! View details at studioeartclass.com/parties.

MY GYM CHILDREN’S FITNESS CENTER 1320 Stony Brook Road, Stony Brook 631-751-KIDS (5437) mgym.com/stonybrook 128 W. Jericho Turnpike, Huntington Station 631-427-GYMS (4967) mygym.com/huntingtonstation My Gym parties include exclusive use of the gym, including a zip line, rock wall, trampoline, trapeze, climbing structures, and slides. Instructors lead your guests through action-packed activities of your choice from Gazillion Bubbles to sports, with multiple theme options. NOT JUST ART 183 South St., Oyster Bay 516-922-8300 notjustart.com; create@notjust art.com Not Just Art has oodles of excellent music, art, and science parties for ages 1-12 and beyond. Choose from our treasury of super imaginative projects or use favorite themes and activities as a creative springboard. PICASSO KIDZ, CREATIVE ART STUDIO FOR CHILDREN 72 Broadway, Greenlawn 631-261-5500 picassokidz.com picassokidzart@gmail.com

THOMAS SCHOOL OF HORSEMANSHIP RIDING ACADEMY 250 Round Swamp Road, Melville 631-692-6840 tshcamp.com; tsh@tshcamp.com Birthday parties, scout parties, and class trips are always a blast at the Thomas School of Horsemanship. For groups of 14-18 children. They receive one hour of riding time. THE VILLAGE ARTIST 630 New York Ave., Huntington 631-271-0715 thevillageartist.com; lori@thevillageartist.com Create art for your next birthday party! The Village Artist Fine Arts Center is proud to host your next birthday party. Enjoy a fun and creative time with your family and friends including an art project of your choice. WHAT’S COOKING? 30 E. Main St., Oyster Bay 516-922-COOK (2665) whatscookingny.com; info@whatscookingny.com Martha Stewart, Newsday, and News 12 boast What’s Cooking? is a No. 1 Choice Birthday Party Place where children can explore their creativity in culinary arts. Funtastic cookie, cupcake, Cupcake Wars, chocolate, or pizza party can be customized in our spacious party room making your party memorable!

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

classes

health

@ Play Amusements....................................................... 9

East End Arts................................................................. 26

C.I.I.T. Center................................................................ 45

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory DNALC........................ 22

Goldfish Swim School ..................................................... 9

Pediatric Dentistry of Suffolk County......................... 3, 45

Goldfish Swim School ..................................................... 9

Great Strides Long Island.............................................. 29

Pediatric Immediate Care........................................ 39, 45

Key to My Art................................................................. 24

Music Together, LLC...................................................... 21

LIU Center for Gifted Youth........................................... 24

music

Northwell Health Ice Center / NY Islander....................... 7

Mid Island Air - Aero Camp............................................ 27

East End Arts................................................................. 26

Studio E Art Classes...................................................... 14

Northwell Health Ice Center / NY Islander....................... 7

Music Together, LLC...................................................... 21

Thomas School of Horsemanship................................. 26

Quinipet Camp & Retreat Center................................... 21

School of Rock - Port Jeff.............................................. 27

camps Camp Clio...................................................................... 21 Camp Huntington........................................................... 21 Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory DNALC........................ 22 Destination Science....................................................... 29

St. Patrick Youth Community......................................... 23

performing arts / acting

Studio E Art Classes...................................................... 14

Nassau Boces Educational Foundation......................... 25

Village East Gifted......................................................... 23

Posey School of Dance................................................. 26

YMCA of Long Island..................................................... 19

play spaces

Dorothy P Flint 4-H Camp............................................. 22

dance

East End Arts................................................................. 26

Posey School of Dance................................................. 26

Future Stars - Old Westbury.......................................... 18 Great Strides Long Island.............................................. 29

developmental

ID Tech Camps.............................................................. 19

Building Blocks Developmental Preschool.................... 45

Kenwal Day Camp......................................................... 17

C.I.I.T. Center................................................................ 45

Key to My Art................................................................. 24

Janine Stiene Suffolk Center for Speech................. 39, 45

Kids Country Day Camp................................................ 25

Young Peoples Day Camp - LI...................................... 56

Knox School (The) - Summer Adventures..................... 27 LI Voyagers Day Camp.................................................. 14

education

LIU Center for Gifted Youth........................................... 24

Building Blocks Developmental Preschool.................... 45

Mid Island Air - Aero Camp............................................ 27

Kids Country Day Camp................................................ 25

Music Together, LLC...................................................... 21

Knox School (The) - Summer Adventures..................... 27

Posey School of Dance................................................. 26

LIU Center for Gifted Youth........................................... 24

Quinipet Camp & Retreat Center................................... 21

Nassau Boces Educational Foundation......................... 25

School of Rock - Port Jeff.............................................. 27

Village East Gifted......................................................... 23

@ Play Amusements....................................................... 9

special events All Kids Fair..................................................................... 7 Northwell Health Ice Center / NY Islander....................... 7

special needs Andrew M. Cohen, Esq.................................................... 9 Building Blocks Developmental Preschool.................... 45 Camp Huntington........................................................... 21 C.I.I.T. Center................................................................ 45 Janine Stiene Suffolk Center for Speech................. 39, 45 Pediatric Dentistry of Suffolk County......................... 3, 45 Pediatric Immediate Care........................................ 39, 45 YMCA of Long Island..................................................... 19

St. Patrick Youth Community......................................... 23

sports

Studio E Art Classes...................................................... 14

family entertainment / events / outings

Thomas School of Horsemanship................................. 26

@ Play Amusements....................................................... 9

Usdan Summer Camp for the Arts................................... 2

All Kids Fair..................................................................... 7