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Westchester

Parent NYMETROPARENTS.COM FEBRUARY 2018

CAMP SPECIAL! • Why Campers Make Better Students • Find the Perfect Camp for Your Child NEW! Camps at a Glance • Transportation • Lunch • Flexible Hours • More

e

Baby Love

How Infants Learn Affection

Virtual Assistants vs. Manners Do Google Home and Alexa Make Kids Rude?

HELPING PARENTS MAKE BETTER DECISIONS

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contents table of

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

by Appaman (appaman.com)

february 2018

66 46

camp 16 10 Lessons Learned at Camp that Benefit Kids in School

48

20 Camp Directory 30 Camps-at-a-Glance Chart

raising kids

things to do

6 Editor’s Note 8 New Places, New Programs 10 5 Things You Need to Know About Your Postpartum Body 12 A Parenting Mantra 48 How Babies Learn to Love 54 Help Your Teen Get More Exercise 58 Healthy Smiles 62 Party Central 63 Professional Services, Open Houses, and Meet the Doctor 64 Family Resource Guide & Party Planner 65 Advertisers’ Index 66 Quotables

9 Warm Up at Westchester Parents Day! 13 Valentine’s Day Pompom Critters

Quotables

The best parenting quotes from the web, and how your definition of love changed after becoming a parent!

Staying Inside

Indoor fun in Westchester County, including hot cocoa spots, play spaces, and indoor water parks

How Babies Learn to Love

Your little one is hard-wired to adore you, and there’s plenty you can do to help build that bond.

family life 50 House Hunters

34 Family Fun in Manhattan 37 Family Activities Calendar

52 Hey Google! Can You Teach My Kid Some Manners...Please?

46 Staying Inside

56 Vegan Snacks for a Super Bowl Party

NYMetroParents

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

15 Camp Special! 48 Baby Love

52 Virtual Assistants vs. Manners

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

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raising kids editor’s note

FEBRUARY 2018 • Vol.17 • No.6

NYMetroParents nymetroparents.com

EDITORIAL EDITORIAL DIRECTOR: Deborah Skolnik MANAGING EDITOR: Katelin Walling DEPUTY EDITOR: Caitlin Berens SENIOR EDITOR: Bethany Braun-Silva ENGAGEMENT EDITOR: Samantha Neudorf REGIONAL EDITORS: Samantha Beranbom (Rockland); Karen Demeter (Suffolk); Whitney C. Harris (Manhattan, Westchester); Rosalind Muggeridge (Brooklyn); Dorette Saunders (Nassau); Gail Warren (Queens) DIRECTORIES EDITOR: Alice Van Dyke EDITORIAL INTERN: Caitlin Sawicki

Lots to Love On These Pages!

I

To Submit Events: nymetroparents.com/submitevents

ADVERTISING SALES

Big Apple Parent 212-315-0800 Jeunesse Jackson, EJ Morales-Gomez, Linda Pierce

t’s cold out there! (Those strange shuffling figures outside your window aren’t extras from The Walking Dead, btw—they’re kids whose moms dressed them in too many layers.) But here inside the offices of NYMetroParents, we’re thinking about summer. Yes, now’s the time to begin making your kids’ camp plans.

Bewildered by all the choices? We’ve made it easier than ever for you to find the exact camp that you want. In addition to a comprehensive camp directory, we’ve created an ata-glance chart on page 30. Need a program that offers transportation or lunch? Flexible hours, art, or special-needs services? We break it all down for you with checkboxes—we know you’ve got better things to do than to dig around for all that info!

Once you’ve settled on the best camp for your child, it’s only natural to wonder what he’ll get out of the experience. In addition to having lots of fun, he’ll learn some serious life lessons—ones that can turn him into a super student once school is back in session.

We asked Stacey Ebert, a former educator, camper, and counselor herself, to share the lowdown in “10 Lessons Learned at Camp that Benefit Kids in School” (p. 16).

Of course, February is a month when love is in the air, so check out my story on “How Babies Learns to Love” (p. 48). Don’t expect flowers and candy for a while, but if you know what to look for, there are all sorts of reassuring signs that your relationship with your little one is a two-way street! I’ll walk you through every sweet little milestone.

If you’ve got a growing family, you may also be searching for a home to love, and live in, for many happy years to come. For most of us, it will be the largest purchase of our lives. That’s one scary commitment to make! To help you in the process, read Samantha Neudorf’s “House Hunters” story (p. 50). It gives the inside scoop from the pros on how to scope out neighborhoods, figure out how much house you can afford, show sellers you’re serious, and much more.

And, in a most unlikely love story, can you get your teen to actually adore exercise?

We asked trainers what it takes to get your favorite phone-obsessed couch potato up and moving (p. 54). The good news is, it’s easier than you think, as long as you’re prepared to get in the game yourself. Why wouldn’t you? It’s always a smart idea to work a little more healthy activity into your day. You’ll both look and feel better, and just in time, too—if you ask us, at least, summer is just around the corner.

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

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

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CONTROLLER: David Friedman

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

MOMMYBITES.COM

MANAGING DIRECTOR: Rebecca Dixon 917-572-9192

Davler Media Group davlermedia.com

Deborah Skolnik Editorial Director

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

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

Queens Parent 718-878-4860 Annene Guertin, Manager

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

Subscription rates per year, per publication: $39

Thornton-Donovan School’s Summer Challenge

CAMP OPEN HOUSE DATES: Sunday, March 04, 2018; 2:00 - 4:00PM Sunday, April 15, 2018; 2:00 - 4:00PM

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raising kids new places, new programs

Courtesy Donna Mue

Registration is open to all children enterin g third to ninth grades for The Windw ard School Summer Program 2018.

Courtesy Purchase

Who: Purchase College Learn-to-Swim Program What’s New: Synchronized swimming classes, which will be offered in the winter and spring for children and adults who are level three or higher.

Artistic Swimming: An Intro to Synchronized Swimming will be held Jan. 28-March 10 for the winter session and March 11-May 6 for the spring session (no class March 31-April 8 for spring break).

“This combination of swimming, dancing, and gymnastics is a fun way to make you a better swimmer and improve your strength and flexibility,” says Chris Klint, director of aquatics.

Want More Info: 735 Anderson Hill Road, Purchase; 914-2516546; purchasecollegeathletics.com

wim Program College Learn-to-S

Synchronized Swimming Classes Coming to Purchase

ldren and gram provides chi e Learn-to-Swim Pro t by lleg gh Co tau s ase sse rch cla Pu The lty swim , private, and specia Instructors. adults with group y fet Sa ter Wa d ss-traine American Red Cro

Who: Westchester Community College Center for the Arts What’s New: Two coding programs for teenagers age 15 and older.

Weekend Front End Coding Boot Camp is designed to teach teens HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and front-end code. It will be offered on weekends Jan. 20-28 from 9:30am-4:30pm.

Design Code Boot Camp will utilize HTML, CSS, JavaScript with a software development kit, and Photoshop to produce a website as a portfolio piece. Class will be held on Saturdays, Feb. 17-March 10 from 9:30am-4:30pm.

“Learning how to code is akin to learning how to write in the twenty-first century,” says director Sherry Mayo.

Want More Info: 196 Central Ave., White Plains; 914-606-7500; sunywcc.edu 8

February 2018 | nymetroparents.com

e Center for the Arts

Community College Adds Coding Programs for Teens

Westchester Community College Cente r for the Arts director Sherry Mayo describes coding as a “fundamen tal skill that everyone needs.”

Courtesy Westchester Community Colleg

Who: The Windward School Summer Program What’s New: An expansion to the Upper East Side, Manhattan, location, plus a 10-percent discount when you enroll siblings.

The Windward School Summer Program is for students entering third to ninth grades. It offers academics in the morning and creative arts, sports, and drama activities in the afternoon.

The summer program will run July 2-27 (no class July 4) in White Plains and on the Upper East Side, Manhattan, with half-day (9am12:10pm) and full-day (9am-2:45pm) offerings.

The Windward School Summer Program provides instructional programming for children who could benefit from the school’s researchbased approach to learning.

Want More Info: 40 W. Red Oak Lane, White Plains and 212 E. 93rd St., Upper East Side, Manhattan; 914-949-6968 x1250; summerprogram@ thewindwardschool.org; thewindwardschool.org/summerprogram

ller Photography

Summer Program Expands, Offers Sibling Discount

things to do

westchester parents day

Warm Up at Westchester Parents Day! ››

Explore the hottest camps, classes, and other offerings from local businesses while your kids enjoy fun activities.

G

ot a case of the winter blahs? Here’s something that’s guaranteed to chase them away: Our annual Westchester Parents Day will be held Sunday, Feb. 4. Kids can participate in fun activities, including watching a magic show, meeting fascinating animals, playing lacrosse, and enjoying music and movement! Meanwhile, moms and dads can meet with the event’s family-friendly exhibitors, including after-school programs, birthday-party venues, and others.

Westchester Parents Day will also include the popular Camp Fair, at which parents can meet representatives from many local summer programs. Get a jump on making summer plans for your kids!

Tickets are $10 per family, which covers two adults and as many as four children. Families can also visit westchesterparentsday.com and use coupon code “WPFEB” for a free family ticket before Feb. 3. Bonus: Every family who attends will receive a free goodie bag filled with cool samples, courtesy of exhibitors and NYMetroParents.

Westchester Parents Day takes place from 11am-2:30pm at the Crowne Plaza, 66 Hale Ave., in White Plains. For regular updates on exhibitors and the activity schedule, visit westchesterparentsday.com

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Invisalign, Braces, TMJD therapy & more!

Schedule your complimentary consultation today!

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2 Overhill Rd Suite 300, Scarsdale, NY #Lovethewayyousmile WestchesterParent

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raising kids in the know

5 Things You Need To Know About Your Postpartum Body››

By Bethany Braun-Silva with Marianne Ryan, PT, OCS

S

o much comes with the territory of getting pregnant. Body changes such as aches and pains, acid reflux, hair growth, and of course, weight gain are all part of the deal. It would be great if these unwanted symptoms would simply go away after a woman gives birth—after all, a new mom has enough to worry about—but that’s simply just not the case. Our bodies continue to change postpartum.

It’s important that we are aware of these changes and continue to take care of ourselves along with our new bundle of joy.

We asked Marianne Ryan, PT, OCS, physical therapist, clinical director of Marianne Ryan Physical Therapy, and author of Baby Bod– Turn Flab to Fab in 12 Weeks Flat, what women can expect from their bodies after giving birth. Ryan runs a physical therapy practice in New York City dedicated to helping women recover postpartum, so she has plenty of advice to offer. Here, she shares five things women should know about their postpartum bodies: 1. Just because you gave birth, that doesn’t mean you lost weight. Whatever you do, don’t even think of stepping on that scale for at least 30 days after you deliver your baby. I remember breaking down into tears after I weighed myself three days after I delivered my first daughter. I had only lost a few pounds! I asked myself, ‘How can that be?’ My daughter weighed 8½ pounds and the placenta and amniotic fluid weighed about 3 or 4 pounds, so I should have weighed at least 12 pounds less, right? Wrong! Right after giving birth, your body is still going through a lot changes.

The amount of fluid you retain can fluctuate hourly, especially if you are nursing. It takes a few weeks for your body to lose the excess fluid you built up during your pregnancy and for your uterus to return to normal size. So as much fun as it may seem to find out how much you weigh, don’t do it; it can drive you crazy.

2. You can exercise, just take it slow. As a general rule I advise women to protect their bodies during the first six postpartum

weeks. For example, don’t lift anything heavier than your newborn baby. If you have an older toddler, try to teach them to climb up to you while you sit on a chair or bed. After your six-week postpartum check up, you can gradually return to pre-pregnancy activities as long as you do not develop pain or have other symptoms that indicate your pelvic floor muscles have not fully recovered.

3. You might still look pregnant. This can be due to a condition called diastasis recti—it’s a separation of abdominal muscles, which can occur during pregnancy and remain afterward, resulting in a protruding belly. To keep it from getting worse, avoid activities that put pressure on your abdomen, such as getting out of bed by doing a sit up. Instead, get out of bed by rolling over onto your side and swinging your legs over the side of the bed before sitting up. And whenever you lift something heavy, such as a grocery bag or a large pot of pasta, exhale to reduce the strain on your pelvic floor and abdominal muscles.

4. You might feel a little leaky. It’s common to experience incontinence right after childbirth, but it is not normal if it continues for more than a couple of months. When you leak urine, it means there is a fault in the system that supports your bladder, and you should seek help to get it fixed. The best way to approach it is to consider going for pelvic physical therapy with a women’s health specialist.

5. Expect some pain. Pain in the back, pelvis, pelvic floor area, or abdomen is a common complaint of new moms, but it is not normal if the pain continues. Make sure to report it to your doctor or midwife. Most people assume pain is just a normal occurrence new moms have to learn to live with, but it shouldn’t be! If you have persistent pain, consider getting it treated by a women’s health care professional such as a physical therapist or chiropractor.

Marianne Ryan, PT, OCS, has mastered the highest level of advanced orthopedic manual therapy techniques. She is a thought leader in the field, known for her special knowledge in the areas of prenatal and postpartum physical therapy, TMJ, and headaches. A frequent lecturer and source for national media, she is also the author of the international best-selling book Baby Bod-Turn Flab to Fab in 12 Weeks Flat, available on amazon.com.

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February 2018 | nymetroparents.com

IT’S A FAMILY TRADITION!

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Courtesy Janie Barnett

raising kids voices

A Parenting Mantra ››

How one mom’s newfound approach to life—discovered during pregnancy—allowed her to pursue a music career while raising a daughter in Brooklyn. By Janie Barnett

I

was pregnant when my album, Shake the Ladder, was released.

Surprise! While my pregnancy wasn’t planned, my husband and I had always wanted children. So we welcomed the news, albeit with a bit of breathless naiveté.

Four months into the pregnancy, we performed at a holiday party for a premier rehearsal studio in New York, with numerous appearances planned for the months ahead. At the end of the evening, exhausted, I said to my husband, “Maybe we have to rethink this schedule.”

Rethink. That word was to become our mantra in the juggling of work and parenthood. Yes, there was a master plan, reflecting the needs of two freelancer parents. But executing “the plan” meant embracing a mantra, plus several other bits of wisdom: Nothing is engraved in stone. Every challenge has its unique set of choices. And…be ready to drop everything.

I was offered the chance to go on tour when my daughter was just 3 months old. Would we hire a live-in nanny to help my husband?

Would I take my daughter with me? We considered these options; then came another moment of recognition. Time to rethink again.

That rethink came in the form of an acknowledgment: I had no interest in being away from my daughter for weeks at a time.

This clarity brought a kind of relief that surprised me. I wouldn’t wrestle with this particular choice, but how would I keep my career moving forward while being a fully engaged parent? There was no single formula.

My daughter loves the fact that her mom is a musician. As a little girl, when someone was singing on the radio or a CD, she would ask, “Do we know her?” But freelance life meant that my young daughter had a babysitter in place right from the beginning. The call to run to the recording studio could come at any time.

The babysitter—who, more than 20 years later, I still consider part of the family—was not always available. And my husband, also a freelance musician, was often out working as well. Sometimes I brought my daughter to the studio. The rethink: Maybe my colleagues at the studio will not mind…maybe my daughter will be easy-going…maybe this can be managed in a different way than my working mother had to manage it. She came to the studio and delighted all, while Mommy put the headphones on and sang. On

Janie Barnett’s daughter, Adrienne, who is now 25

several occasions I worked in the studios during school hours, ran to pick her up from school, ate dinner and did the bedtime routine with her, then headed back to the studios for a 10pm recording session.

During the elementary- and middle-school years, I came upon one of the most profound gifts to the working parent: the larger community of working families. My daughter had great friends, and those friends had great parents who “got it.”

I recall an afternoon, hanging out with friends two blocks over in Brooklyn, when the stress-inducing beeper went off. Mommy was called to the studio. “Sweetie, we gotta go in to town,” I told my daughter. Her response? “Mommy, how about I stay with Barbara?”

Barbara was her best friend Julia’s mommy. I teared up. My kid had figured it out. Rethink in the moment: Be flexible. Look for other ways to ride with it. Help, and be helped. Spot the people who are also rethinking every day. Love their kids as they love yours.

On a late fall afternoon, walking from the subway to pick up my daughter from science club, I wrote the chorus to a new song in my head. She was 10 then, fully her own person, but she always hoped Mommy would be the one to pick her up. That afternoon I felt the surge of creativity that I knew was borne out of necessity.

The old model: I need hours to do my best work, and my sitter to provide me with those indulgent hours. The rethink: Seize the moment! Flip the switch! Get on with it! It’s the advice I got from my cousin, a mathematician, who would work just one step of a proof while her infant daughter napped.

Moving into high school years, one might expect that I was “cut loose” from daily hands-on parenting. Few teenage girls want their mother in the trenches with them: “Get outta my face, Mom!” But my girl? Magically, she wanted me right there with her, at least most of the time. Time to rethink again. Just keep yourself in the game, keep expanding your skills, get ready (no, it’s not too late!) for the time when you will fully step away, and have that undivided time again.

As a working parent, I learned a lesson that I’ve come to understand is essential for a happy life in general—and it’s a lesson my daughter fully acknowledges she’s learned in our journey together: Be flexible, be ingenious, be ready to rethink. My daughter and I are grateful every day for the relationship that was borne from this fluidity.

Janie Barnett is a performing singer-songwriter in the Americana tradition. Her work and recent album release can be found at janiebarnett.com. She has been part of the New York recording session scene for many years, as well a producer/arranger and educator. Barnett is an Associate Professor at Berklee College of Music in Boston, while maintaining her life in Brooklyn, where her daughter, Adrienne Hanson, was raised.

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February 2018 | nymetroparents.com

things to do

diy corner

Valentine’s Day Pompom Critters V

alentine’s Day is quickly approaching, and that means hearts, candy, flowers, and cards—especially cards for your kids’ classmates.

Rather than buying premade Valentine’s Day cards that are a dime a dozen (how many variations of superhero and popular cartoon Valentine’s Day puns can there really be?), try making these adorable love bugs with your kids for their friends. We’re almost positive these critters will be hanging out on desks long after the holiday has passed.

Editor’s note: While this DIY calls for specific brands readily available at Michael’s stores, feel free to use your favorite brands or products that are available in your local craft store.

Duration: 15 minutes or less Craft Level: Beginner Materials: Foam Heart Stickers By Creatology® Creatology™ Pom Poms, Sparkle Mix Creatology™ Assorted Wiggle Eyes Creatology™ Chenille Stems Elmer’s® Washable School Glue Artist’s Loft™ Aluminum Straight Edge Ruler Instructions: 1. Choose a large heart sticker for the Critter’s feet. Do not peel the backing paper off the sticker. Lay it flat on the table with the rounded part of the heart facing forward.

2. C hoose a large pompom and glue it to the top of the heart sticker.

3. Optional: Glue a medium pompom on top of the large pompom to create a head, separate from the body.

4. G lue two wiggle eyes to the large pompom.

Tip: Another fun way to add eyes is to glue two wiggle eyes to two tiny pompoms and then glue the tiny pompoms to the large pompom.

5. C ut a piece of chenille stem about 2 inches long and fold in half. Glue two tiny pompoms to each end and then glue the folded part to the top of the large Pompom Critter’s body.

Let dry.

6. O ptional: Choose a heart sticker and glue the bottom pointed end of the heart to the lower back of the body, creating a tail.

Craft and photography courtesy and reprinted with permission of Michaels // Michaels.com; share photos of your project with #MakeItWithMichaels.

WestchesterParent 13

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February 2018 | nymetroparents.com

online extras Ever wonder why kids love summer camp so much? We’re sharing the inside scoop from real happy campers at ›› nymetroparents.com/camp-great There are ways to know when your child is old enough for camp. Experts share advice on how you can gauge your child's readiness at ›› nymetroparents.com/how-young

Being a camp counselor is a great first job for many kids. Learn why at ›› nymetroparents.com/counselor When you’re shopping around for a summer camp for your child, you’ll probably want to interview the camp director. Find a list of questions you should ask at ›› nymetroparents.com/camp-directors

inside

raising kids camp special

16 10 Lessons Learned at Camp that Benefit Kids in School: Sending your children to summer camp has many lasting benefits—especially when it comes to education. amp Directory: Find day 20 C camps, specialty camps, and sleepaway camps in and near Westchester County.

30 C amp Guide: This camps-at-a-glance chart makes it easier to find exactly what you want in a summer camp.

10 Lessons Learned at Camp that Benefit Kids in School ››

Sending your children to summer camp has many lasting benefits—especially when it comes to education. By Stacey Ebert

A

t my sleepaway camp, Maryanne was the camp cook. From the time I was 10, she and her husband called me ‘the camper’. The nickname stuck, and it still exists at reunions and on social media messages decades later. Although I never mentioned that tidbit to my high school students (I used to be a teacher), I learned at an early age that relationships matter.

Forming bonds matters. And no matter who you are, where you come from, or what position you hold (at camp, in school, or at work), interacting with people allows us to learn lessons we never knew would make such a difference in our lives.

There are lessons in everything. Some of the most important ones take shape in our youth while we’re at camp, such as learning to clean up the cabin, clear the dishes, and help out a fellow camper. These, along with other camp lessons—be an active listener, pay attention 16

February 2018 | nymetroparents.com

to the little things, and be excited to learn new things—influence us well beyond the camp cabins. Sometimes it’s hard for parents to send their little ones away to camp for the day, the week, the month, or the entire summer. But when they do, it’s clear that these lessons learned in the summer months will last far into kids’ adult years—and more immediately help them in the classroom. Here’s a look at some camp wisdom that can also help kids be better students:

Do unto others.

Campers and counselors share hopes, dreams, fears, challenges, struggles, wishes for the future, and much more. We all bring a different level of baggage and gifts to the table, and all of us deserve to be treated with kindness, respect, empathy, and compassion.

Camp opens minds, breaks boundaries, and enriches souls. As

an educator, I taught my ninth-graders about religions and philosophies and how although each has its differences, most have something similar to the Golden Rule: Treat others as you would like to be treated. I learned that lesson at camp far before I ever set foot in a global history classroom, and my students practiced it regularly. Sometimes it meant sharing snacks with one another.

Sometimes it meant stepping in when a fellow student was bullied.

Sometimes it meant saying hello to a staffer who treated them with kindness. Without question, there is no expiration date on kindness and treating others with respect.

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SPECIALIzINg IN PIANO, KEYBOARDS AND VOICE Ages 2 - 4 with parent participation.

Plant the seed of music in your child!

Find your creativity.

My first class at sleepaway camp was painting on rocks. Perhaps that’s not a skill I use on a daily basis, but the message behind it? Definitely. Feel the feelings, listen to your heart, create what speaks to you, and, even if you think it won’t be understood, don’t be afraid to show the world your idea or creation. Students benefit from this on a daily basis. Taking up a musical instrument when their friends’ choices are different, trying out for a school play, expressing oneself through writing, or jumping into graphic design classes are only some of the ways that creativity shines in school settings. These lessons apply in education, in the arts, in job performance, in hobbies, and in life.

Rest assured that there’s something for everyone.

I have three best friends from sleepaway camp. One loved horseback riding, one adored farming, one was a fan of arts and crafts; three of us became lifeguards; and all of us became counselors. Later in life, three of us became educators and two of us took to the creative arts. Theater arts, community service, music, sports, and internships are only some of the many avenues out there, and whether we are young or young-at-heart, there is always a place for all of us.

Practice patience, positivity, persistence, and perseverance.

These four words embody the characteristics of many of my favorite counselors, and I passed those lessons and skills on to campers when I became a counselor. Sometimes kids were homesick and a positive attitude boosted their spirits. Sometimes kids were frustrated when they tried something new, and persistence and perseverance were the lessons of the day. And sometimes some kids took longer at learning, accepting, or changing, and patience was more important than our counselors ever knew. Every day in the classroom, students put these lessons into action. They try harder at math, work diligently at acquiring a second language, and use mindfulness techniques to bring their positivity to light. We may outgrow the ability to be campers, but we never outgrow the need for these significant lessons—especially in a learning environment.

Learn new things.

I rode my first horse, became a lifeguard, and learned how to make a one-match campfire at camp. Each of these was fairly terrifying, yet today I continue to use all of these skills (well, most of them).

The desire to learn things doesn’t end when the buses leave camp on the last day. From the first day of school onward, learning things is part of a student’s existence; perhaps it’s a new scientific equation, a new culinary technique, a new sport in physical education, or a new way of interpreting a classic novel. Learning new things keeps our minds open and our perspective broadening. Whether traditional schooling, home schooling, or the learning that comes from being out in the world, the yearning for more knowledge, more culture, more skills, and more growth never fades. continued on next page ››

MUSIC LAND Ages 4 - 5 with parent participation.

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WestchesterParent 17

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Try new things, especially if they make you uncomfortable.

There was a giant rock called Geronimo on the shoreline at camp. I always thought those who climbed it and jumped off were exceptionally brave. I was petrified to try this myself, yet somehow when I wiped the foamy sea from my face and came up for air, I felt exhilarated. The idea of being afraid, taking a deep breath, and doing it anyway applies to core classes in school and far beyond. Walking into a new high school, not having any friends in your lunch period, or deciding to join the Robotics Club when everyone else is going to chorus—every day at school there’s a bit of discomfort, but applying this lesson from camp creates ease, lessens stress, and empowers youth. Later in life, my best friends from camp and I lived in other parts of the world, grew gardens, raised children, started businesses, got married, and even made new friends. Each of these things involved stepping beyond our comfort zone, yet even the bumps and bruises along the way have been incredibly worthwhile. George Addair is right: “Everything you’ve ever wanted is on the other side of fear.”

Show empathy.

At every camp I went to and worked at, at some point in the day, there was swimming of some kind—whether it meant walking down more than 200 steps to the beach or leaving the locker room, getting a buddy, and heading to the pool. The exercise it provided was good for both mind and body, but the empathy learned through swimming sessions delved deeper. Learning to swim is scary. For some campers, it’s their first time seeing open water. Some have had a traumatic experience in the water and must overcome something far more challenging than stepping their toes over the many unsteady rocks. Some take longer to learn one portion of a stroke before moving on to the next. The instructors taught all of us with ease, kindness, patience, and most importantly empathy. Throughout the school year, students put into action those life lessons: listening to understand each other, utilizing each others’ strengths, lending a hand with each others’ weaknesses, and being aware of various needs and abilities.

Diversity matters.

There were approximately 10 campers per cabin, five cabins per unit, and nearly 15 cabins that formed all of upper girls camp at my summer camp. If an outsider took a straw poll, the diversity levels would have rated off the charts. The differences made us stronger, taught us tolerance, built community, empowered empathy, encouraged perspective, raised our awareness of others’

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February 2018 | nymetroparents.com

journeys, and made us better people. School is much the same; there are as many differences as there are students in a school, from backgrounds and traditions, to interests and hobbies, to family units and dreams for life after school. Seeing these differences as vital, enriching, and encouraging creates safe spaces, enables growth, and opens minds. A classroom has 30 different students with 30 different stories. Each peer has merit, value, and purpose. Camp teaches us to embrace them all.

Sharing is caring.

Everyone is a teacher at camp. Debbie inspired me to be a lifeguard.

Katie shared her love of travel, inspiring me to go off on my own adventures. Millie taught me to cook. Krista taught me to swim and shared her snacks. Each of them, along with many others, shared their wisdom. Each camper and counselor has something to offer, creating a sense of community that in turn benefits students and schools.

Campers, and later students, learn that school is a safe space where adults share wisdom and advice, and guidance comes in many forms.

Some students learn best from a teacher, others confide in their coaches and advisors, some chat with the nurse, cafeteria workers, librarians, or the many others who are a part of the school setting.

Students become better friends, better learners, and are more willing to put their talents out there in the world. Compassion, knowledge, and talents are shared at lunch tables, in after-school activities, and in the classroom. It truly does take a village, and embracing that mindset creates a culture of community-minded youth.

Be proud of your achievements.

As a sleepaway camper, I couldn’t wait for Sunday night’s council fire. That was when the entire girls camp got together and sang songs, and one cabin was awarded Honor Cabin. People got their swim certificates, and the whole camp celebrated newly appointed lifeguards. As an aquatics director at a day camp, I gave out swimmer of the week certificates to various campers. As a student, it feels good to have your work honored, your creations displayed, and your efforts encouraged. Success isn’t built overnight and learning to take pride in your achievements begins at camp and continues into school—and later into adulthood. At camp I learned from an early age to strive for goals, be proud of achievements, and continue reaching for the next, often seemingly unattainable, goal.

My camp brochure had pictures of open water, cool cabins, enticing evening activities, animals and arts, fields and farming; it looked as if you could jump directly into all of the fun. The pictures couldn’t possibly quantify the learning that happened, all of the skills acquired, the positive experiences, or the personal growth that took place.

Ask any former camper what they remember and you’ll get stories of escapades with friends, cool counselors, awesome activities, and endless fun. Ask them what they learned at camp and be prepared to settle in for an infinite list of hard skills, soft skills, and life lessons that helped turn them into the person standing in front of you today. Camp lessons aren’t scored on a rubric or a bubble sheet, on a multiple-choice assessment or in a three-page essay. These lessons stand the test of time, open minds, build bridges, impart skills and wisdom, and create communities of happy, kind, fulfilled humans.

It’s hard to imagine a better score than that.

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.

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TWIN LAKES FARM "Where Westchester Learns To Ride!"

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Girls & Boys Age 6 and Up Offering full-and half-day options Monday-Friday for campers Indoor and Outdoor Arenas • Daily Riding Instruction • Arts & Crafts Stable Management • Horsemanship • All In The Heart of Southern Westchester!

Contact Us: 960 California Road Bronxville, NY 10708 (914) 961-2192 • Camp@TwinLakesFarm.com • www.TwinLakesFarm.com A Facility of the County of Westchester Department of Parks and Recreation

WestchesterParent 19

Camp Directory DAY CAMPS Acres of Adventure Summer Camp at Ann and Andy

2170 Saw Mill River Road, Elmsford 914-592-3027 annandandychildcare.com Ann and Andy, family-owned and -operated since 1973, offers a wide variety of fun activities for children ages 2 months to 14 years. We are licensed by NYSOCFS and the Health Department. We have an extensive campus, and offer flexible schedules, reasonable rates, nutritious lunches, a caring staff, individualized attention, and age-appropriate field trips. Join us for a wonderful school experience. We also have a tween travel camp for ages 11-14. We offer customized schedules, individualized attention, and hot lunches daily, as well as barbecue Fridays. All buildings are air-conditioned. Come see how much we care, and become part of our family.

Alcott Montessori School

535 Broadway, Dobbs Ferry 914-693-4443 27 Crane Road, Scarsdale 914-472-4404 46 Fox Meadow Road, Scarsdale 914-725-7551 alcottschool.org/why-alcott/ alcott-home-page Alcott School’s Summer Fun program offers a variety of schedules for children ages 2-5.

The program is designed to be an enjoyable summer experience for the child attending for the first time or for the experienced preschooler. Weekly themes are incorporated into outdoor play, science and nature exploration, water play in sprinklers and water tables, open-ended art, tricycle riding, and group games. The multicultural program is enriched by early childhood music and nature specialists and staffed with experienced head teachers, assistants, and summer counselors.

Visit us at alcottschool.org.

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Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester Camp Adventure

351 Main St., Mount Kisco 914-666-8069 bgcnw.com Summer Adventure Club is a fouror eight-week camp for children entering first-ninth grades. Located on 12 acres in Mount Kisco, the camp offers on-site swimming, sports, outdoor games, arts and crafts, digital arts, game room, and dance. Campers enjoy special programming (STEM, inflatable waterslides, petting zoo, and Camp Olympics), and trips (Playland, adventure ropes course, and more).

Camp includes snack and lunch (prepared by Ladle of Love). New for seventh-ninth grades: Adventure Travel Camp will feature three trips per week. Camp hours: 9am4pm; early and late care available.

Call to register.

Camp Pinebrook

Jesse Gallop, director 1000 Pinebrook Blvd., New Rochelle 914-813-8700 camppinebrook.com jesse@camppinebrook.com Camp Pinebrook is a full-service camp for ages 4-8, infused with Jewish values and Shabbat programming, and is situated in 15 wooded acres in lower Westchester. We have outdoor and indoor activities including both instructional and free swim daily, athletics, arts and crafts, science, and music.

Our instructional swim program has a ratio of three campers per lifeguard/certified swim instructor.

Camp Pinebrook has two pools, athletic fields, a sports court, an amphitheater, and indoor air-conditioned activity space. Included in tuition is door-to-door transportation, towel service, and lunch.

Camp Ramaquois

30 Mountain Road, Pomona 845-354-1600 ramaquois.com Camp Ramaquois is “a day camp as complete as sleepaway camp,” situated on 44 acres in Rockland County. From adventurous

February 2018 | nymetroparents.com

activities to creative arts and athletic activities, boys and girls ages 3-15 experience a traditional day camp program filled with a variety of stimulating activities. Facilities include a 5-acre crystalline lake; nine heated swimming pools; a splash park; tennis, basketball, and volleyball courts; hockey rinks; ball fields; soccer fields; a petting zoo; and special events. Many air-conditioned buildings. Visit us on our website or call for a personal tour.

Challenge Camp

Schechter Westchester 555 W. Hartsdale Ave., Hartsdale 914-779-6024 challengecamps.com info@challengecamps.com Open the door to a delightful and meaningful summer of fun and learning for your bright, curious child! Challenge Camp is celebrating our 38th year of offering summer enrichment learning opportunities for bright, curious children ages 4-15. STEM and Arts courses ranging from 3-D printing, coding, cooking, drones, and magic to Minecraft, photography, robotics, theater, and many options in between. Including sports, swimming, and fencing! An ACA-accredited day camp. Join us at our picturesque location in Hartsdale.

Bus transportation and early or extended day options. For more information call 914-779-6024 or visit challengecamps.com.

The Chapel School Summer Program

172 White Plains Road, Bronxville 914-337-3202 thechapelschool.org info@thechapelschool.org We continue to add new programs to The Chapel School Summer Camps. TCS now has a morning and afternoon camp with a fullday option for our popular Care Bear Camp for ages 3-6. New to TCS are Explorer Camp for ages 7-12, HS Test Prep and Sports Program, and Guitar and Suzuki Strings Camps. Returning camps include sports (basketball, baseball, tennis, and soccer), cooking,

art, cartooning, musical theater, Mad Science, and robotics. Families can customize their summer schedules registering for one week or all nine weeks, morning, afternoon, or all day.

Corbin’s Crusaders Day Camp For boys and girls ages 3½–14

471 North St., Greenwich, CT 212-875-8174 Westchester Office 5 Eagles Bluff, Rye Brook Manhattan - Main Office 351 E. 74th St., 5th Floor corbinscrusaders.com info@corbinscrusaders.com In search for the perfect sports and adventure day camp with a traditional camp feel? Look no further! Join Corbin’s Crusaders Day Camp! Experience a summer alive with weekly tournaments and hidden adventure. Located at a beautiful 38-acre campus in Greenwich, CT. offering professional, dedicated, and enthusiastic instruction in various sports including baseball, soccer, basketball, lacrosse, tennis, and swimming. Our adventure program includes hiking, waterslides, skateboarding, and archery! Doorto-door transportation available from Manhattan, Westchester, and Connecticut; daily nutritious meals; and flexible schedules. Join us for one week or the entire summer.

Partial weeks available.

Creative Corner of Larchmont

7 Addison St., Larchmont 914-833-2880 creativecornerlarchmont.com creativecornerlarchmont@gmail.com Back by popular demand: Preschool Summer Warm-Up. June pre-camp programs. Workshops on June 7, 8 and 15, 9:30-11:30am.

Week 1: June 11-14, 10:30am– 12:30pm; week 2: June 18-21, 10:30am–12:30pm; week 3: June 25-28, 9:15–11:15am. Each week your child will create art based on a theme. Each day will include a snack and story. For ages 3-4. July weekly camp, July 9-Aug. 2, Monday-Thursday, 10:30am-12:30pm continued on page 22 ››

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for ages 3-5. Art Pals, July 10-Aug. 2, 9:30-10:15am. August weekly camp, Aug. 6-30, 9:30-11:30am for ages 4 and older. Check our website or call for details!

Easter Seals New York Project Explore

70 Columbus Ave., Valhalla 914-328-1578 eastersealsny.org We serve children with and without disabilities in inclusive, integrated, small classrooms. We offer high-quality full- and parttime programs, school year and year-round, for children ages 18 months to 5 years, from 8:30am2:30pm. Before- and after-school care, vacation clubs during school breaks, and summer camp are available options. We follow the Creative Curriculum™ that is aligned with the NYS Common Core Learning Standards. We have special classes in art, music, and science, including interactive SMART Board activities. Our master teachers are New York state-certified in early childhood and special education. NAEYC accredited.

The Goddard School®

1 Jackson Ave., Hastings-on-Hudson 914-478-1390 goddardschool.com At The Goddard School®, summer is full of fun and learning! Energetic teams of teachers plan developmentally appropriate activities to instill a lifelong love of learning.

Children are exposed to exciting learning opportunities in a safe and secure environment. Children march in playground parades, learn about creepy crawlies, send letters to pen pals, and enjoy splish-splash days. To discover how Goddard can make this summer your child’s best learning experience yet, visit goddardschool.com.

Hudson Country Montessori School

340 Quaker Ridge Road, New Rochelle 914-636-6202 hudsoncountry.org Programs for campers ages 18 months to 12 years are offered.

The program features a full range of recreational activities, special events and trips, swim instruction, sports, and a splash-and-slide zone.

Hudson has extended hours options for campers ages 18 months to 12 years, an optional catered lunch program, and an air-conditioned facility.

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Iona College Day Camp

The Milestone School

715 North Ave., New Rochelle iona.edu/about/iona-in-community/ summer-camp.aspx mreddington@iona.edu This summer children ages 5-13 will enjoy exciting, fun-filled days at the Iona College Day Camp. Our state-of-the-art athletic facilities and pristine college campus serves as the setting for an exciting summer.

Your child will experience two periods of swimming daily led by members of our Iona college swim team. Our goal is to not only teach your children how to swim but to have them excel at swimming.

Other activities include sports, dance, art, and music. Contact us at mreddington@iona.edu.

70 W. Broad St., Mount Vernon 914-667-3478 themilestoneschool.com Summer at Milestone is an eightweek program with two-week sessions, full-day from 9am-5pm, or half-day from 9am-12pm, for children ages 2-8. A typical day for campers includes water play, outdoor play, arts and crafts, music, yoga, story time, cooking, and an introduction to reading through our phonics-based program.

Children ages 4 and older enjoy outings in and around Westchester County. Biweekly themes guide a wide array of indoor and outdoor activities, which encourage and promote learning through play, exploration, and fun.

Jodi’s Gym

Mosholu Day Camp

25 Hubbels Drive, Mount Kisco 914-244-8811 244 E. 84th St., Manhattan 212-772-7633 jodisgym.com Jodi’s Gym has been providing New York kids the highest level of fun and fitness for more than three decades! A step-by-step, no-fail approach ensures that every child feels a sense of accomplishment.

From the tiniest tumblers to advanced gymnasts (ages 9 months to 12 years), there is something for everyone. Programs include parent and child gym classes, gymnastics (ages 3-12 years), Ninja Challenge, Music Together, summer and holiday break camps, free playtime and perks for members, play groups, private lessons, and the best birthday parties ever.

261 Arden Valley Road, Southfields 845-243-0751 mosholudaycamp.com Mosholu Camps offer parents a quality program at a low cost.

With a strong emphasis on developing new relationships and experiences, our traditional camp day is filled with dynamic activities. Located at Lake Cohasset in Harriman State Park, our staff is a spirited group of creative counselors, who offer encouragement and motivation to help strengthen the camper’s self-opinion, while developing their social, athletic, and academic skills.

Campers participate in an array of activities such as swimming, music, arts, trips, archery, boating, dance, and sports. At Mosholu, we make memories!

Kids’ B.A.S.E. & The Little School

Squire Camps Inc.

307 Mamaroneck Road, Scarsdale 914-472-5409 kbls.org The Little School Summer Enrichment Program provides a preschool experience for ages 3-4. We create a climate of learning and fun, which will further the development of each child socially, physically, and creatively. We strive to help each child adjust easily, strengthen values of cooperation, and have a positive group experience. Little School children swim and receive instruction during the week at the Scarsdale Pool. In everything we do, we promote each child’s positive self-image through a variety of age-appropriate physical and creative activities.

February 2018 | nymetroparents.com

at Maria Regina High School, Hartsdale 914-328-3798 squirecamps.com squirecamps@gmail.com Celebrating our 45th year and proud winner of the Westchester County Inspectors Choice Award!

Matt Davanzo operates Squire Advantage Camps, a distinctive camp for children in kindergarten-ninth grades at the Maria Regina High School in Hartsdale. Campers design their own custom schedules from more than 50 exciting activities including robotics, art, cooking, swimming, computers, photography, Legos, and sports. All courses are taught by certified teachers in air-conditioned classrooms. Squire also

operates an All-Sports and Tennis Academy. Hot lunch, T-shirt, early drop-off included. Transportation; extended day; and three-, four-, or seven-week sessions available. June 25-Aug. 10. Contact us now for the best summer ever!

Thornton-Donovan School

100 Overlook Circle, New Rochelle 914-632-8836 td.edu Founded in 1969, the Summer Challenge has been a source of joy, entertainment, enlightenment, and playful fun for boys and girls ages 3½-14. Stop by and see our sports field, basketball court, and new playground! Door-todoor transportation and lunch are included. With an instructional pool on-site, swim instruction and recreational swim are major components of the program.

White Plains Family YMCA

250 Mamaroneck Ave., White Plains 914-949-8030 whiteplains.ymca-cnw.org hbell@ymca-cnw.org zswierat@ymca-cnw.org Whether your child is a nature enthusiast, an aspiring chef, or an athlete, we’ve got the camp for you! With locations at the White Plains YMCA Camp Combe and our Community Camp—both in Northern Westchester—our camps provide an environment where your child can grow and learn, and maybe one day be one of our counselors! All camps have inclusion specialists on staff. Swimming lessons, field trips, STEM, art, and zip lining! The Y turns nobody away for financial need—we are here for our community!

SLEEPAWAY CAMPS Campus Kids Weekday Sleep-Away Camp

973-845-9260 campuskids.com Campus Kids is the weekday sleepaway camp: Monday-Friday at camp and home with the family on weekends. Transportation is included from Westchester and Rockland counties. Enroll for two or more weeks. Each camper chooses his or her activities every day, including sports, fine arts, performing arts, and swimming. Located on the beautiful rural campus of Blair Academy, Blairstown, NJ. Councontinued on page 24 ››

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ROCK BAND (7+) ROCK CITY WORLD TOUR (KIDS 4-6)

ELECTRONIC MUSIC PRODUCTION (7+) RECORD A STUDIO DEMO (7+) B2R GLEE CLUB (7+) Private Lessons and Group Classes Available All Summer

CAMP REGISTRATION IS OPEN! CAMP STARTS JUNE 25TH For children in kindergarten through 7th grade

8:00am—4:00pm $395/week Extended (Additional Cost) 4:00pm—6:30pm $100/week

REGISTER BEFORE FEB. 28TH FOR EARLY BIRD PRICING! (Contact the Y for info)

Activities we will provide: STEM (Science Programs), Arts and Crafts, Sports (Soccer, Basketball), Instructional Swimming, Field trips to Bear Mountain, New Roc City, Maritime Aquarium and more! *SPACES ARE LIMITED*

The Family YMCA, with all inclusive memberships!

Plus… swimming lessons & summer camp.

Whiteplains.ymca-cnw.org | 914.949.8030 WestchesterParent 23

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selors (all college age or older) are fun, safety-conscious, and focus on each camper’s needs. Private camp tours given on weekends yearround, by appointment. ACA- accredited every summer since 1991.

SPECIALTY CAMPS Bach To Rock Mamaroneck

130 Mamaroneck Ave., Mamaroneck 914-341-1457 mamaroneck.b2rmusic.com mamaroneck@bachtorock.com B2R’s summer camp has a unique approach that makes it possible for students with no previous musical training to be rocking out in a matter of hours. B2R teachers transform music instruction into a joyous and exciting team activity.

Our youngest rock stars go on a global musical vacation in Rock City World Tour through instrument exploration and imagination.

For the more mature rock ‘n’ roller there are opportunities to join a band or vocal ensemble and learn all about electronic music production in the state-of-the-art B2R studios!

Belle School of Music

1088 Central Park Ave., Scarsdale 283 Tarrytown Road, White Plains 1537 Central Park Ave., Yonkers 914-961-5511 belleschool.com Bridge the gap between June and September and add a musical dimension to your child’s summer!

Complement your child’s summer with music programs specially designed to match the pace of summertime and the more joyful, festive feeling of your child. Summer is a great time to either start your child’s musical education or continue their enrichment. From a minimal time commitment to more extensive summer programs, we offer a wide range of summer classes that will help your child continue to enhance their music education and ensure continuity of learning.

Camp Clio

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).

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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.

Cardinal Baseball Camp

Greenwich High School 203-869-3736 cardinalbaseballcamp.com cardinalbbcamp@aol.com Cardinal Baseball Camp, L.L.C. will be in session at Greenwich High School for its 17th consecutive summer. Greenwich High School baseball coach, Mike Mora, and his staff provide a fun learning environment, while stressing the fundamentals of baseball. Coach Mora is a member of the University of Vermont Hall of Fame (class of ’94) and played six years of professional baseball.

Skills and drills begin at 9am and a game is played daily from 10:45am-12pm. Camp dates are June 25-July 27 Monday-Friday (excluding July 4). Pricing and more information can be found at cardinalbaseballcamp.com or by calling 203-869-3736.

Chelsea Piers Connecticut Sports Camps

1 Blachley Road, Stamford, CT 203-989-1100 chelseapiersct.com/camp Chelsea Piers offers the area’s most flexible day camps for kids ages 3-18. Sign up for one, two, or more weeks and your children will enjoy expert instruction in sports including Gymnastics, Swimming, Soccer, Tennis, Basketball, Squash, Dance, Ice Hockey, and Ice-Skating, in our state-of-the-art, air-conditioned facilities. Summer Camp 2018 runs June 18-Aug. 31. Camp offerings include half-day programs for preschoolers, recreational full-day camps, and intensive sport-specific training for competitive athletes. Bus transportation available to full-day campers, with stops in Pelham, Mamaroneck, and Rye from July 2-Aug. 24 (camp weeks 3-10).

February 2018 | nymetroparents.com

The Children’s Jewish Education Group: SUNY Purchase

914-864-1267 cjeg.org Do you want a Jewish education for your child without joining a synagogue? CJEG is a community-based school that emphasizes Jewish cultural studies, including Jewish tradition, history, and holidays, for children in kindergarten-seventh grade. We offer a professional teaching staff supported by a parent co-op administration. Private or group bar and bat mitzvah lessons are also available. Classes are held Sunday mornings at the SUNY Purchase campus. For more information, please visit our website, cjeg.org, or call 914-200-1520.

Computer Adventures – Bits, Bytes & Bots: Summer Camp

605 Millwood Road (Route 133), Mount Kisco 914-218-8175 computeradventures.com/ summer-camps westchester@computeradventures.com We offer weeklong technology camp sessions for children ages 6-16 from June 25-Aug. 24. Our leading edge technology topics include Virtual Reality Apps Creation, 3-D Game Development, Build A Computer, 3-D Modeling and Printing, and other topics on coding and programming languages, game design, animation, graphics, robotics, Minecraft, and electronics. Our unique curriculum teaches logic, problem-solving, critical thinking, and storytelling in addition to the technical skills. Our interactive classes promote confidence, creativity, socialization, collaboration, risk-tasking, and perseverance in a safe environment.

Curtain Call Inc.

1349 Newfield Ave., Stamford, CT 203-329-8207 x16 curtaincallinc.com Summer is a time for kids to act out—and what better way than in Curtain Call’s full-day Summerstock Workshop Programs (for ages 6-16), and our Summer Youth Theatre (for students entering fourth grade to age 21)? Our professional facilities and faculty provide the perfect creative environment for students of diverse backgrounds and experience! Curtain Call is the

nonprofit theatrical production company in residence at The Sterling Farms Theatre Complex, providing year-round stage performances and educational programs sentence in cooperation with the City of Stamford.

Dance Cavise Studios

273 Halstead Ave., Mamaroneck 914-381-5222 dancecavise.com joe@dancecavise.com jamie@dancecavise.com fancyd@optonline.net Dance Cavise Studios is excited to introduce an all-new Camp Cavise!

Six weeks, five days a week, June 25-Aug. 3. Camp Cavise will bring an NYC style Intensive Dance Program to Westchester. Advanced dancers study all disciplines of dance from classical ballet, pointe, and modern to jazz, hip-hop, and tap, taught by experts in their field.

Beginner and intermediate programs with themes and additional fun for dancers ages 3-13, and advanced level program for dancers ages 10-18 are offered. One-tosix week programs are available.

Call the studio to audition for the advanced program.

Dicker Reading Center of Westchester

75 Brook St., Scarsdale 914-472-0600 dickerreading.com Our ongoing and summer revolutionary reading program will teach any child to read, even children diagnosed with a learning disability, dyslexia, ADD, or ADHD. Whether your child is reading above, below, or at grade level, they will accomplish three to six years of reading achievement in just one year. Parents will see immediate improvement in reading achievement, comprehension, and vocabulary development. More than 10,000 children from preschool to 12th grade have accomplished these remarkable results. Your child’s grades, confidence, and self-esteem will soar as he or she learns to love reading and school.

Fin 2 Swim

858-539-3209 fin2swim.com info@fin2swim.com Can your child really swim?

Has she had lessons for several summers but still won’t put her head under water? Does he run continued on page 26 ››

CAMP MARKETPLACE

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

Featuring over twenty subjects for ages 6 to 16, MacInspires Summer Enrichment turns inspiration into life-changing talents!

Choose from 5 Summer Sessions, 9:30 to Noon, 1:00 to 3:30 or both.

Summer Enrichment begins June 25th and ends August 24th.

(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

MACINSPIRES LARCHMONT - 1923 PALMER AVE - 914.630.7338 MACINSPIRES GREENWICH - 37 W PUTNAM AVE - 203.531.5720

WestchesterParent 25

99 Dromore Road, Scarsdale 914-813-1280 greenburghnaturecenter.org Send your child on an outdoor adventure during their school breaks! Our winter, spring, and summer camps allow kids to learn about and connect with the natural world by encouraging the spirit of discovery. Activities include immersive interactions with our animals, crafts, and games.

Ready for an adventure? Visit our website for details and registration: greenburghnaturecenter.org.

151 Crotona Ave., Harrison 914-835-0010 isggymnastics.com Gymnastics classes, summer camp, cheerleading tumbling, birthday parties—ISG has got it all! From babies-teenagers, beginner-advanced, we have the program that’s right for you! You’ll flip over this professional facility with certified instructors for all levels. And ISG is a fun-filled, unique way to celebrate a birthday complete with trampoline, balance beams, bars, vault, tumbling, and air castle. All ages, 1 through teens. Age-appropriate program and equipment.

Fun for all!

Gymcats Gymnastics Summer Camp

Kinetic Sports Club

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and jump in without knowing how to save himself? Let us help you! One-on-one private lessons will have your child swimming independently from one side of the pool to the other in approximately six weeks. Don’t miss this limited opportunity! Lessons are held in Bergen, Rockland, and Westchester counties, from midJune through July, and in the Hamptons in August. Call now to reserve your time slot.

French-American School of New York (FASNY) French Ski Trip, Winter and Spring Break Camps Nursery to Fifth Grade Winter Spring Break Camps: Larchmont Campus, 111 Larchmont Ave., Larchmont February Ski Camp Gore Mountain 914-413-3665 fasny.org/camps camps@fasny.org This French immersion camp offers fun activities for children age 3-11 including music in French, cooking, arts and crafts, plus field trips and special events once a week. February camp: Feb. 20-23, for nursery through fifth grades. Spring camp: April 9-20, for nursery through fifth grades.

Kids in fourth-eighth grades can join a sleepaway ski trip to Gore Mountain from Feb. 18-23.

Future Stars Summer Camps Purchase College

Purchase College, 735 Anderson Hill Road, Purchase 914-273-8500 fscamps.com Weekly day sessions for ages 4-16, June 19-Aug. 25 at state-ofthe-art facilities in the heart of Westchester. Our staff and limited enrollment allow each camper the opportunity to maximize their skill development. Campers can choose and combine weeks from 19 individualized specialty programs: Tennis, Soccer, Basketball, Baseball, Lacrosse, Football, Multi-Sports, Field Hockey, Cheerleading, Volleyball, Circus Arts, Magic, Softball, Diving, Horseback Riding, Swim, Academic, STEAM Education, and Rising Stars (our youngest campers).

Supervised swimming is included, as is instructional swim for Rising Stars. Lunch option and door-todoor transportation from most of Westchester available.

Greenburgh Nature Center

1 Odell Plaza, Yonkers 914-965-7676 gymcats.net GymCats Summer Camp program offers quality instruction for boys and girls ages 4-12, including beginner through advanced gymnastics, sports performance, tennis, arts and crafts, trips, games, and special themed days. We have a low student-to-teacher ratio, campers are grouped by age, and our facility is fully air-conditioned.

Full-, half-, and extended-days are available. Our program enriches development by providing attitudes and skills that carry over to many of life’s activities. Our goal is to provide a safe, fun, and fit camp experience.

Hoff-Barthelson Music School

25 School Lane, Scarsdale 914-723-1169 goo.gl/8mX6sZ hb@hbms.org Hoff-Barthelson Music School has provided the ideal setting for a stimulating, challenging, and enjoyable summer for more than 40 years! The exceptional faculty, boasting some of the top performers and music educators in the country, provide a quality summer experience of music, arts and crafts, and musical theater for second through 10th graders. The curriculum includes instrumental classes, chamber music, a variety of ensembles, visual arts, and musical theater workshops. Students at all levels of advancement receive instruction in a program individually tailored to their needs and interests.

ISG Gymnastics

Annie Pipia and Joann Distler, directors

872 Pelham Parkway, Pelham Manor 914-738-4000 kineticsportsclub.com Our camp program is enthusiastic, encouraging, and sensitive with staff that will help your camper experience sportsmanship and good social dynamics in a fun, safe environment. We use fun, fitness, and friendships to create great memories. We help your camper learn, participate, and succeed in all sports and activities. Counselors and coaches create a safe environment. We have a new water park along with an indoor soccer field, basketball court, and indoor pool.

Come meet our sports director to see why families love our camp.

LinguaKids®, L.L.C.

2005 Palmer Ave., Larchmont 914-525-0328 linguakids.com LinguaKids® offers French and Spanish classes for children starting at 6 months old. LinguaKids®’ teachers are all friendly, energetic, native speakers who completely immerse the children in language and culture. Children are engaged in a multi-sensory approach, combining songs, movement, arts and crafts, games, storytelling, and role-playing, to make learning fun and enjoyable. Camp classes are available starting the last week of June.

The Little Gym

777 White Plains Road, Scarsdale 914-722-0072 tlgscarsdaleny.com 2121 Broadway, 2nd Floor (between 74th and 75th streets), Upper West Side, Manhattan 212-799-1225 tlgupperwestsideny.com

207 E. 94th St. (between Second and Third avenues), Upper East Side, Manhattan 212-787-1124 tlguppereastsideny.com 28 Franklin Turnpike, Waldwick, NJ 201-445-4444 tlgwaldwicknj.com Since 1977, The Little Gym has been promoting the healthy and successful physical and mental development of children. Its “Anytime Summertime Kids Fun” includes parent-and-child classes (ages 4 months to 3 years), preschool and kindergarten classes (ages 3-6 years), and grade school gymnastics (non-competitive only!) for beginner, intermediate, or advanced gymnasts. The Little Gym also offers its world-renowned “Anytime Summertime Kids Fun” camp for children ages 3-9 years, with flexible scheduling to work around your summer plans. Its unique theme-based curriculum takes children on weekly adventures. Half-day and full-day sessions available.

MacInspires

1923 Palmer Ave., Larchmont 914-630-7338 larchmont@macinspires.com 37 W. Putnam Ave., Greenwich, CT 203-531-5720 sayhello@macinspires.com macinspires.com education@macinspires.com Featuring more than 20 subjects for ages 6-16, many new for 2018, MacInspires Summer Enrichment turns inspiration into life-changing talents! Choose from five summer sessions, 9:30am-12pm, 1-3:30pm, or both. Students who register for both have an hour for lunch provided by MacInspires!

Summer Enrichment begins June 25 and ends Aug. 24. MacInspires Summer Enrichment is held at our Makerspaces complete with six activity zones: a Tinker Studio, Microcontroller Zone, Audio and Video Area, Fab Lab, Robotics Table, and Computer Tables! Both Makerspaces have outdoor activity zones nearby for outdoor experiments and making!

Music Conservatory of Westchester 216 Central Ave., White Plains 914-761-3900 musicconservatory.org Come play music, sing, act, and create your own masterpiece!

Summer Music & Arts at

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February 2018 | nymetroparents.com

CAMP MARKETPLACE

For grades K-6

SummeratMCW.org

June 25 - July 27, 2018

PIANO, VIOLIN, GUITAR, VOICE & MORE MUSICAL THEATRE ARTS & CRAFTS DANCE & MOVEMENT *NEW Middle School Programs Coming!

-Half, Full and Extended Day Options Flexible Sessions June 25th - August 17th 914. 761. 3900

216 Central Ave. White Plains, NY 10606 musicconservatory.org

THE WINDWARD SCHOOL

OPEN HOUSE FEB 3RD 1-4 PM!

2018

Summer Program July 2 – July 27, 2018 (no class July 4)

Enriching & Fun Half-Day and Full-Day Sessions for Grades 3–9 In Westchester and Manhattan

Winner 2017 Inspectors Choice Award!

Summer 2018 Camp Sessions: June 25th - July 20th | July 23rd - August 10th

Offering Stimulating Courses Like...

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thewindwardschool.org/summerprogram summerprogram@thewindwardschool.org • 914.949.6968, ext. 1250

...and many more!

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‹‹ continued from page 26

the Music Conservatory of Westchester is fun and engaging for children while providing the highest quality arts instruction.

The summer program offers flexible half-, full-, and extendedday options for individual twoweek sessions from June 25-Aug. 17 for kindergarten-sixth grades.

Students learn piano, guitar, violin, voice, and musical theater while participating in arts and crafts, creative movement, and more! New musical programs for middle school students to be announced. Call 914-761-3900 or visit summeratmcw.org for more information!

Musical Munchkins

167 Scarsdale Road, Tuckahoe 914-771-7000 musicalmunchkins.com Musical Munchkins, Westchester’s original early childhood music program is celebrating more than 30 years of makin’ music and memories. We continue delighting our youngest musicians and their families with the wonderful world of mommy-n-me music. Our curriculum, filled with awesome activities, is geared to children ages 6 months to 4 years. Instruments, creative movement, inventive props, puppets, books, and games help captivate and enrich children with a love of music. Our nurturing teachers capture everyone’s hearts, while stimulating kids’ developing brains. Visit our website. Schedule a free trial class.

Pine Brook Fitness

130 Rhodes St., New Rochelle 914-636-1019 pinebrookfitness.com Join us for our amazing rock climbing or tennis camps! We offer summer camps as well as holiday vacation camps during the school year. Campers are grouped according to age and skill level to maximize their potential. Your kids will have an amazing time scaling the walls or playing tennis while getting in great shape. Tennis and rock climbing are great sports for developing strategy, concentration, and focusing skills. Give your kids a summer to remember and sign up for one, two, or all of our weekly sessions today!

The Play Group Theatre

1 N. Broadway, Suite 111, White Plains 914-946-4433

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playgroup.org info@playgroup.org At The Play Group Theatre® (PGT), we challenge the imagination, nurture the creative soul, and inspire children and teens to reach for what they might have thought impossible. We offer professional-quality training in a one-of-a-kind family atmosphere in the spring, summer, and fall. With seven different programs, Summer Theatre is designed for young actors with every level of experience, ages 4-17. Our conservatory-style camp is located in its own air-conditioned performing arts complex which includes two theaters, rehearsal studios, and scenic and costume shops. Register now: 914946-4433 or playgroup.org.

The Pre-School Dicker Reading Center of Westchester

75 Brook St., Scarsdale 914-472-0600 mommyicanread.com Your child, age 3-5, will learn 15-30 words in his first session.

He will learn to read his first book fluently. Every two months, your preschooler or kindergartner will achieve one year of reading enrichment. Her self-esteem will soar as she develops a love for reading and school. It’s easy, fun, and life’s most exciting game.

Purchase College Learn-to-Swim Program

Christine Klint, director 735 Anderson Hill Road, Purchase 914-251-6546 purchasecollegeathletics.com/sports/ 2011/6/14/GEN_0614112216.aspx christine.klint@purchase.edu Held in our sparkling six-lane pool, the Purchase College aquatics program runs yearround and features children’s group lessons, parent-and-child classes (6 months and older), and specialty programs including adult lessons, springboard diving, snorkeling classes, and private and semi-private lessons.

New this year: Artistic Swimming: An Intro to Synchronized Swimming. All lessons are taught by certified American Red Cross instructors. Winter and spring classes run Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday. Our swim team clinic runs for 12 weeks. There are five summer intensive programs beginning in mid-June. Register now!

February 2018 | nymetroparents.com

Studio B Dance Center

277 White Plains Road (entrance on Prospect Avenue), Eastchester 914-793-2799 studiobdance.com Daily and weekly camps available to pick and choose individual days or weeks to dance, play, and create! Learn different dance styles, dive into amazing art projects, and interact with peers. Saturday and weekday summer classes are available as well. The beautiful new facility features one-way viewing windows into all three spacious studios, two comfortable waiting rooms, and convenient sibling classes, which allow parents to enjoy watching two or more siblings dance at the same time. For ages 2 and older.

Sylvan Learning Centers Westchester

Sylvan Learning Center of Bronxville 850 Bronx River Road, Bronxville 914-237-4396 sylvanlearning.com/bronxville bronxville.ny@sylvanlearning.com Sylvan Learning Center of White Plains 180 S. Broadway, White Plains 914-948-4116 sylvanlearning.com/whiteplains sylvan4202@msn.com Avoid summer learning loss at Sylvan! Summer academic camps, STEM classes, and personal tutoring programs will boost your child’s confidence and enhance academic skills. Keep your child’s mind growing over the summer with Reading, Math, Writing, or Study Skills camps, plus STEM classes in Robotics and Coding.

Summer programs are offered for students entering kindergarten-ninth grades. Space is limited.

Sylvan Learning Centers are conveniently located in Bronxville and White Plains. Call Sylvan today for details and to reserve your space.

Bronxville: 914-237-4396; White Plains: 914-948-4116.

Twin Lakes Farm

960 California Road, Bronxville 914-961-2192 twinlakesfarm.com camp@twinlakesfarm.com Summers are filled with riding lessons, horsemanship, mounted games, Camp Olympics, paint the pony, scavenger hunt, and games and activities! Offering full- and half-day options Monday-Friday for campers. The facility includes an indoor ring, two outdoor arenas, a classroom for rainy day activities,

and a grass field for games. Open to all riding levels with limited space available for first time riders.

Students not currently riding at Twin Lakes Farm should schedule an evaluation lessons or join us prior to the start of camp to become comfortable in the saddle.

Westchester County Parks Sports Camps and Programs

914-231-4673 westchestergov.com/parks Whether your youngster is a nature enthusiast, an aspiring musician, or a sports hound, Westchester County Parks’ popular summer camps offer something for kids of all ages and interests. Boys and girls can develop their skills in baseball, basketball, golf, soccer, or volleyball, or learn about their natural environment or favorite musical instrument. Sessions begin in late June or early July. Complete information on hours and session dates, along with brochures and applications can be found at westchestergov.com/parks or call 914-231-4500.

Westchester & Fairfield Swim Camp at Pace University in Pleasantville

914-588-2971 westfairswim.com kpalladino@westfairswim.com Westchester & Fairfield Swim Camp offers a progressive swim camp for ages 5-14, operating daily from 9am-3pm. Swimming is taught by certified water safety instructors, and daily intensive swim instruction is geared to all levels. Westchester & Fairfield Swim Camp offers comprehensive preparation for summer swimming, and is also a great supplement for summer swim teams.

Camp emphasis is on swimming, but other activities include diving, junior lifeguard training, varied special activities, fun fitness, snorkeling, and outside sports and games. Extended care hours are available before and after camp.

Weekly availability. Free T-shirt!

The Windward School Summer Program

40 W. Red Oak Lane, White Plains 914-949-6968 x1250 Christopher Q. Eberhard, director of the Summer Program ceberhard@thewindwardschool.org Christine Teahan, co-director cteahan@thewindwardschool.org thewindwardschool.org/ summerprogram

CAMP MARKETPLACE

1088 Central Ave., Scarsdale 914-723-9229 Half-day weekly art camps for children ages 3-10 are centered on fun projects with a different theme each week. Children experiment with various media and nurture their creativity. Experienced caring teachers provide a safe space for children to build self-esteem through self expression. Small class sizes offer individual attention

YWCA of White Plains

515 North St., White Plains 914-949-6227 Camp Funkist: 914-949-6227 x168 Gymnastics Program: 914-949-6227 x125 Camp for Children with Developmental Disabilities: 914-949-6227 x108 ywcawpcw.org The YWCA on North Street in White Plains offers great options for summertime fun. Camp Funkist (ages 4-15) provides non-competitive relaxing days of sports, swimming, musical theater arts, nature, science, trips, and other age-appropriate activities; intensive full-day Summer Gymnastics for girls and boys; and Summer Camp for Children with Developmental Disabilities. The YWCA has well-equipped indoor and outdoor facilities. Experienced and qualified staff lead recreational and instructional swimming.

Children's Swimming Progam Upcoming Sessions

Learn to Swim (Levels 1-6) Parent & Child Lessons (6 mos. & up) Adult Lessons (All Levels)

Winter 3: 1/28 – 3/10/18 (No break in February)

Spring 4: 3/11 – 5/6/18

Springboard Diving

(No class 3/31 – 4/8 Spring Break)

Private Lessons

Summer Intensive

Snorkeling Classes

starts June 2018

NEW IN JANUARY Artistic Swimming: An intro to Synchronized Swimming

All of our instructors are American Red Cross-trained Water Safety Instructors For more information contact: Christine Klint christine.klint@purchase.edu | 914-251-5939 www.purchasecollegeathletics.com

www.thechapelschool.org

2018 THE CHAPEL SCHOOL

SUMMER PROGRAM AP

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Young at Art Studio Inc.

and a supportive group of peers.

Camps run in June and the full month of August. In July, we offer workshops on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and Mommy and Me classes for children ages 18 months to 4 years.

TH

summerprogram@thewindwardschool.org Offered July 2-27 (no class July 4), this unique summer program is designed for students entering third-ninth grades who are interested in wanting to improve their skills or enrich their knowledge in the areas of reading, writing, math, science, and study and organizational skills. In the afternoon session, students may participate in sports, arts, drama, and technology activities. Halfand full-day sessions are available.

Classes are in state-of-the-art facilities and are taught by Windward instructors who have been trained in the school’s research-validated, multisensory approach.

Est. 1947

(Ages 3-12)

JUNE 11-AUG. 10 172 White Plains Road Bronxville, NY 10708 (914) 337-3202 WestchesterParent 29

Alcott School alcottschool.org

Camp Pinebrook camppinebrook.com

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Cardinal Baseball Camp cardinalbaseballcamp.com Challenge Camp challengecamps.com

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Computer Adventures computeradventures.com

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Corbin’s Crusaders Sports Club corbinscrusader.com

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Future Stars Summer Camps fscamps.com

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Creative Corner creativecornerlarchmont.com Curtain Call Inc. curtaincallinc.com

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CIT (counselor-in-training)

Travel

Horseback Riding

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Camp Cavise dancecavise.com

Camp Funkist: YWCA White Plains ywcaypcw.org

Competitive Sports

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Bach to Rock mamaroneck.b2rmusic.com

Camp Clio campclio.org

Theater

STEAM/Robotics

PROGRAMS:

Scholarship

Flexible Scheduling

Extended Hours

Lunch

Transportation

Camp Guide

SERVICES:

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Greenburgh Nature Center greenburghnaturecenter.org GymCats Gymnastics gymcats.net

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CAMP MARKETPLACE

SUNYPURCHASECOLLEGE

All Dance • All Ages • All Levels Allegro • Ballet • Creative Movement • Hip Hop Jazz • Modern • Pointe • Tap •June 25 to August 3 •1-6 Week Programs Available

WEEKLY SESSIONS daily swimming · boys & girls ages 4-16 door to door transportation

•Ages 3-18 •Beginner - Advanced

ENR

BY

ALL NEW INTENSIVE DANCE SUMMER PROGRAM

OLL

FEB

&SA 9th VE

914.273.8500 · fscamps.com

•Audition for Advanced Program Today!

Bring in this ad and receive

5% OFF tuition!

NEW STUDENTS ONLY

www.dancecavise.com

273 Halstead Avenue • Mamaroneck, NY 10543 • 914-381-5222

WestchesterParent 31

Hoff-Barthelson Music School hbms.org Iona College Day Camp iona.edu

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Jodi’s Gym jodisgym.com

LinguaKids LLC linguakids.com MacInspires macinspires.com Mosholu Day Camp mosholudaycamp.com

Summer Play Camp at Blue Rock School summerplaycamp.org

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Studio B Dance Center studiobdance.com

CIT (counselor-in-training)

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Squire Camps squirecamps.com

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New Rochelle Racquet Club finrrc.us

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Kids’ B.A.S.E. & The Little School kbls.com

Competitive Sports

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PROGRAMS:

Scholarship

Flexible Scheduling

Extended Hours

Lunch

Transportation

Camp Guide

SERVICES:

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Twin Lakes Farm twinlakesfarm.com

YMCA of White Plains whiteplainsymca.org

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Westfair Swim Camp westfairswim.com

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Thornton-Donovan Summer Challenge

PROGRAMS:

Scholarship

Flexible Scheduling

Extended Hours

Lunch

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SERVICES:

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Young at Art Studio Inc youngatartworkshop.com

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CAMP MARKETPLACE

Learn the fundamentals in a fun learning environment Located at Greenwich High School Director: Greenwich High School Baseball Coach Mike Mora

Water Play “Early Phonics” Call today for a tour or visit our Website at: themilestoneschool.com

914-667-3478 STONE S LE

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cardinalbaseballcamp.com or reach Mike directly 203-869-3736 cardinalbbcamp@aol.com

Age appropriate activities include: Soccer Tennis Capoeira Music

M

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Sign up today

A fun-filled day camp geared towards ages 2-8

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For boys and girls ages 6–13 Skills, Rules, Drills and Games Daily June 25–July 27 from 9am-12n

THE MILESTONE SCHOOL SUMMER CAMP

THE M I

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things to do

city bound

N Y C

Party With the Street!

Jump to the beat with your friends at Sesame Street Live! Let’s Party! at The Theater at Madison Square Garden. Introducing an all-new, interactive show that unfolds on one of the world’s most famous streets at the funniest, furriest party in the neighborhood.

Check out the pre-show experience (select shows) for the opportunity to tour the on-stage neighborhood. A variety of interactive activities give children the chance to create, discover, and learn as they help decorate for the upcoming party featured in Sesame Street Live! Let’s Party! They may even see their artwork displayed onstage during the show. Select dates, Feb. 9-19, see website for times. Age: All. $15 and up. The Theater at Madison Square Garden, 4 Pennsylvania Plaza, Midtown. sesamestreetlive.com.

Best in Show

Steve Surfman

Does your family love dogs? Then you’ll want to mark your calendars for the AKC Meet the Breeds® at Piers 92/94, part of Meet & Compete, presented by The Westminster Kennel Club and American Watch four-legged friends make their way Kennel Club. At this through agility courses and strut their stuff event, the whole family for the judges. will have the opportunity to meet and play with more than 100 breeds of dogs—and even nearly 40 cat breeds. There will also be information about pet ownership and the qualities that make each breed a good family pet. The joint event also includes the 5th Annual Masters Agility Championship at Westminster. Can’t get enough? Westminster Week 2018 offers a slew of events, including the 142nd Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. Feb. 10, 10am-5pm. Age: All. $35; $10 children ages 11 and younger. Piers 92/94, 711 Twelfth Avenue, Hell’s Kitchen. westminsterkennelclub.org.

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February 2018 | nymetroparents.com

Courtesy Museum of Chinese in America

Prepare for plenty of music and dancing with familiar friends like Oscar the Grouch.

W he hile y re ou , v ’r isit e …

Museum of Chinese in America

This interactive museum is dedicated to preserving and sharing Chinese American history through innovative exhibits and multimedia productions that engage and educate guests of all ages. Enjoy family festivals such as MOCA FEST 2018, an eight-week-long celebration of the Lunar New Year (through March 3), as well as drop-in art workshops and story times.

Visit it: 215 Centre St., Chinatown; 855-955-6622; mocanyc.org Can’t-miss event: Lunar New Year Family Festival on Feb. 17, 11am-4pm Directions: Approximately a 1-hour drive or Metro-North and subway ride from White Plains Courtesy New-York Historical Society

Courtesy Feld Entertainment

Family Fun in Manhattan

The DiMenna Children’s History Museum at the New-York Historical Society

This rich historical museum uses character-based pavilions to share 350 years of New York and American history. Families with toddlers to preteens can enjoy family learning programs as well as interactive exhibits and games. Pick up a History Detective briefcase to discover the past or enjoy a stroller tour or other reoccurring family program.

Visit it: 170 Central Park West, Upper West Side; 212-873-3400; nyhistory.org Can’t-miss event: Living History: Meet President George and First Lady Martha Washington on Feb. 17-19, 11am-4pm Directions: Approximately a 1-hour drive or a 1-hour, 10-minute Metro-North and subway ride from White Plains

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February 2018 | nymetroparents.com

Ideas When You Need Them:

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

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Turn the page for details on Lobo Love: A Valentine’s Day Party with Wolves (No. 6 on our list).

FEBRUARY

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CALENDAR

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Editor’s Hot Tickets

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We Can’t Believe It’s FREE!

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Mini Musicians, Crafty Kids

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Movers & Shakers, Show Time!

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Smarty Pants, Animal Lovers

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Holiday Fun, Little Foodies

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Once Upon a Time, The Great Outdoors

7

EDITOR’S HOT TICKETS

Our calendar is full of great ideas. First, here are the nine events we consider can’t-miss—the ones we’re taking our own kids to.

Consider it your cheat sheet to the best of what’s great this month!

1

Westchester Parents Day

WHEN: Sunday, Feb. 4, 11am-2:30pm WHERE: Crowne Plaza, 66 Hale Ave., White Plains AGES: All WHAT: Kids can play and participate in classes while parents can meet many camps and exhibitors, such as birthday party venues, after-school classes, enrichment programs, health related professionals, and other family-oriented businesses.

WHY WE LOVE IT: It puts tons of parenting resources at your fingertips.

WANT TO GO? $10. 212-315-0800. westchesterparentsday.com.

Danceworks for Children

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WHEN: Sunday, Feb. 4, 3pm WHERE: Westchester Community College, Academic Arts Theatre, 75 Grasslands Road, Valhalla AGES: 3 and older WHAT: This annual favorite is where the kids get into the action on stage.

WHY WE LOVE IT: Great fun for all!

WANT TO GO? $10. 914-606-6600. sunywcc.edu.

3

Random Farms Kids’ Theater Presents ‘The Addams Family Young@Part’

WHEN: Jan. 26-Feb. 4, Friday-Sunday, see website for times WHERE: Tarrytown Music Hall, 13 Main St., Tarrytown AGES: All WHAT: When Wednesday, now a teenager, finds herself falling in love with her new boyfriend, her lovable family of creepy kooks gets better 38

February 2018 | nymetroparents.com

acquainted with his “normal” family and has to face the one thing they’ve managed to avoid for generations: change.

WHY WE LOVE IT: A fun new thread in the story of this fictional family.

WANT TO GO? $18 and up. 914-631-3390. tarrytownmusichall.org.

4

Russian Folk Dance by Lezginka Dance Company

WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 10, 8pm WHERE: Westchester Community College, Academic Arts Theatre, 75 Grasslands Road, Valhalla AGES: All WHAT: Celebrating its 60th anniversary, this electrifying production features more than 40 dancers from the highly acclaimed Lezginka decked out in traditional costume of the Caucasus region.

WHY WE LOVE IT: A dazzling display of traditional folk songs and dances, acrobatics, costumes, and drum and saber work.

WANT TO GO? $24; $22 students and seniors; $18 for children younger than 13. 914-606-6600. sunywcc.edu.

Teatown Hudson River EagleFest

WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 10, 9am-4pm WHERE: Croton Point Park, 1 Croton Point Ave., Croton-on-Hudson AGES: All WHAT: This year’s festivities will include live eagle shows and bird walks, a special performance by Dar Williams, heated tents, food trucks, and bus tours to viewing sites.

WHY WE LOVE IT: It’s the 14th annual celebration!

WANT TO GO? $22; $12 children ages 6-17. 914-762-2912. teatown.org.

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Lobo Love: A Valentine’s Day Party with Wolves

WHEN: Feb. 10-11, Saturday, 11am and 2pm; Sunday 2pm WHERE: Wolf Conservation Center, 7 Buck Run, South Salem AGES: All WHAT: Visitors will learn about mythology surrounding wolves and the important role of wolves in the natural world, and discover why this season is such a magical time for packs in North America. Plus, assemble “wolfy” valentines for Ambassador Wolves.

WHY WE LOVE IT: A chance to meet Ambassador Wolves Atka, Alawa, Nikai, and Zephyr, plus endangered red wolves and Mexican gray wolves.

WANT TO GO? $15; $12 children younger than 12. 914-400-5551. nywolf.org.

6

Family Art Project: Josephine Baker Dances Out the Winter Blues

7

WHEN: Feb. 17-18, Saturday-Sunday, 10am-1pm WHERE: Wave Hill, 649 W. 249th St., Bronx AGES: All WHAT: In conjunction with Black History Month, celebrate the renowned entertainer Josephine Baker, famous for her activism and for refusing to perform for segregated audiences in the U.S. Make handmade musical instruments and join visiting storyteller Channie Waites through interactive movement and sound.

WHY WE LOVE IT: A great way to learn about activism and honor Black History Month.

WANT TO GO? $8; $4 students and seniors; $2 children 6-18; free for children younger than 6; admission is free until 12pm. 718-5493200. wavehill.org.

8

Royal Hanneford Circus

WHEN: Feb. 17-19, Saturday-Monday, 10am, 2pm, and 6pm WHERE: Westchester County Center, 198 Central Park Ave., White Plains AGES: All WHAT: Expect aerial acts, animal acts, and ground acts like juggling, freestyle motorcross, and chair balancing at this threering circus.

WHY WE LOVE IT: The circus is in town for three exciting days!

WANT TO GO? $27 and up. 914-995-4050. royalhannefordcircus.org.

Dance: Follow My Lead

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WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 24, 7pm WHERE: White Plains Performing Arts Center, 11 City Place, 3rd Floor, White Plains AGES: All WHAT: This 13th annual performing arts benefit is a celebration of youth and the teachers who guide them through dance. Performers will include the Harlem School of the Arts, Evolution/Steffi Nossen, Fusion Dancers, Off Center Dance, and O’Rourke Irish Dancers.

WHY WE LOVE IT: A celebration of youth and the teachers who guide them through dance.

WANT TO GO? $25 and up. 914-328-1600. wppac.com.

WE CAN’T BELIEVE IT’S FREE Think a freebie has to be ho-hum? Don’t let the price tag (or lack of one) fool you. Here are the five no-cost events we’re excited about now. You’re welcome.

Old-Fashioned Winter’s Afternoon FREE

WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 3, 12-3pm WHERE: Rye Nature Center, 873 Boston Post Road, Rye AGES: All WHAT: Enjoy a log sawing contest, fire-roasted marshmallows, hikes, maple sugaring, and fun crafts that will warm everyone up.

WANT TO GO? 914-967-5150. ryenaturecenter.org.

Last-Minute Valentines FREE

WHEN: Tuesday, Feb. 13, 4pm WHERE: Chappaqua Children’s Library, 19 S. Greeley Ave., Chappaqua AGES: 5-8 WHAT: Kids in kindergarten-second grades will make glitter popup cards for friends and family.

WANT TO GO? 914-238-4779. chappaqualibrary.org.

Family Free Night FREE

WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 17, 5-8pm WHERE: Mid-Hudson Children’s Museum, 75 N. Water St., Poughkeepsie AGES: All WHAT: The Mid-Hudson Children’s Museum offers free admission.

WANT TO GO? 845-471-0589. mhcm.org.

Poetry Slam & Open Mic FREE

WHEN: Wednesday, Feb. 7, 6:30pm WHERE: White Plains Public Library, 100 Martine Ave., White Plains AGES: 13 and older WHAT: Hear poetry of all kinds. Slammers and guest poets from around the country will bring one original poem.

WANT TO GO? 914-422-6980. whiteplainslibrary.org.

New Moms and Infants Support Group FREE

WHEN: Through Dec. 17: Mondays, 11:15am-1pm WHERE: Ossining Public Library, 53 Croton Ave., Ossining AGES: Newborn to 5 WHAT: Open to all mothers and infants looking for companionship, community, advice, and support regarding feeding, sleeping, postpartum questions, sibling settling, returning to work, and other new family challenges. Run by a certified postpartum doula CPD(CBI).

WANT TO GO? 914-941-2416. ossininglibrary.org. ›› WestchesterParent 39

CRAFTY KIDS Free Crafts for Kids FREE

MINI

MUSICIANS Children’s Workshop: Songwriting

WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 10, 2-4pm WHERE: The Rye Arts Center, 51 Milton Road, Rye AGES: 9-12 WHAT: This workshop is designed for songwriters. Writers will be encouraged to bring in finished work or ideas for critique and discussion.

WANT TO GO? $30. 914-967-0700. ryeartscenter.org.

Westchester Philharmonic Friends & Family Concert

WHEN: Sunday, Feb. 11, 3pm WHERE: The Performing Arts Center at Purchase College, 735 Anderson Hill Road, Purchase AGES: All WHAT: Kelly Hall-Tompkins, recently the soloist for the Broadway revival of Fiddler on the Roof, performs. Join for a pre-concert instrument petting zoo at 2pm. Kids attend for free with a paid adult.

WANT TO GO? $29.90 and up. 914-251-6200. artscenter.org.

Baby Sign Language

WHEN: Feb. 10-17, Saturdays, 9:45-10:30am WHERE: Lil Chameleon, 29 Elm St., Tuckahoe AGES: Newborn to 5 WHAT: In this musical class, children and their caregivers will use songs, stories, and activities to learn to communicate using American Sign Language. Taught by certified instructor Chloe from Chloe’s Kids LLC. WANT TO GO? $20. 914-346-5148. lilchameleon.com.

Music for Aardvarks! FREE

WHEN: Wednesday, Feb. 21, 3pm WHERE: Chappaqua Children’s Library, 19 S. Greeley Ave., Chappaqua AGES: All WHAT: A fun family concert for all.

WANT TO GO? 914-238-4779. chappaqualibrary.org.

Flor’s Music & Stories with Open Play

WHEN: Feb. 27-March 27, Tuesdays, 10-11:30am WHERE: Lil Chameleon, 29 Elm St., Tuckahoe AGES: Newborn to 5 WHAT: Enjoy songs, music, and stories with Flor Bromley, then open play.

WANT TO GO? $20. 914-346-5148. lilchameleon.com.

Graham Clarke’s Musical Fridays FREE

WHEN: Through May 25: Fridays, 10-10:30am WHERE: Rye Free Reading Room, 1061 Boston Post Road, Rye AGES: Newborn to 5 WHAT: Rock out with popular children’s musician Graham Clarke.

WANT TO GO? 914-967-0480. ryelibrary.org.

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February 2018 | nymetroparents.com

WHEN: Through Feb. 3: Saturdays, 11am-3pm WHERE: Lakeshore Learning, 969 Central Park Ave., Scarsdale AGES: 3-8 WHAT: Kids can engage in crafts, with projects ranging from winter wonderland globes to design and play STEAM planes.

WANT TO GO? 914-472-1820. lakeshorelearning.com.

First Saturday Art Workshop

WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 3, 11am-3pm WHERE: Westchester Children’s Museum, 100 Playland Park, Rye AGES: All WHAT: Drop in for a hands-on art workshop led by fine arts and crafts specialists from craft store A.I. Friedman.

WANT TO GO? $7. 914-421-5050. discoverwcm.org.

Drop-In & Create

WHEN: Feb. 3-24, Saturdays, 1-4pm WHERE: Hudson Valley Center for Contemporary Art, 1701 Main St., Peekskill AGES: All WHAT: Stop by at any point and stretch your creative muscles with crafts, games, and activities based on the work of the Between I & Thou exhibit.

WANT TO GO? $10; $5 seniors and students; free for children younger than 8. 914-788-0100. hvcca.org.

Drop-In Clay Class

WHEN: Through March 31: Saturdays, 1:30pm and 4pm WHERE: Clay Art Center, 40 Beech St., Port Chester AGES: 5 and older WHAT: Experiment with clay in this introduction to clay. Tickets go on sale at the front desk at 10am the day of class.

WANT TO GO? $30; $20 children younger than 12. 914-937-2047. clayartcenter.org.

Fiber Club

WHEN: Through May 16: Thursdays, 7-9pm WHERE: Katonah Museum of Art, 134 Jay St., Katonah AGES: All WHAT: Drop in with any knitting, crochet, needlepoint, embroidery, spinning, or weaving project you would like to work on. All are welcome.

WANT TO GO? $10; $5 seniors and students; free for children younger than 12. 914-232-9555 x2968. katonahmuseum.org.

Family Sundays

WHEN: Through June 10: Sundays, 3-4:30pm WHERE: Young At Art Studio Inc., 1088 Central Park Ave., Room 216, Scarsdale AGES: 3 and older WHAT: Dive into a new family art project each month. Projects are designed to be done by a caregiver and child.

WANT TO GO? $20. 914-723-9229. youngatartworkshop.com.

Kids Arts & Crafts Lab FREE

WHEN: Through Dec. 26: Wednesdays, 3:30-4:30pm WHERE: Croton Free Library, 171 Cleveland Drive, Croton-on-Hudson AGES: 3-8 WHAT: Learn how famous artists worked, make art with your friends, then take home what you make. Registration required.

WANT TO GO? 914-271-6612. crotonfreelibrary.org.

MOVERS & SHAKERS SHOW TIME! Minute to Win It Olympics Edition FREE

WHEN: Friday, Feb. 9, 6pm WHERE: Larchmont Public Library, 121 Larchmont Ave., Larchmont AGES: 9-17 WHAT: Celebrate the opening of the winter Olympics. Try some Korean-themed food before kicking off the winter Olympics with a series of mini challenges to complete in under a minute. Online registration required.

WANT TO GO? 914-834-2281. larchmontlibrary.org.

Parachute Play FREE

WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 10, 10:30am WHERE: Scarsdale Public Library, 54 Olmsted Road, Scarsdale AGES: 3-5 WHAT: Parachute play is a way for children to develop gross motor skills, have imaginative play, develop spatial awareness, and express themselves.

WANT TO GO? 914-722-1300. scarsdalelibrary.org.

Puppet Playtime with Nicola Jones FREE

WHEN: Tuesday, Feb. 20, 11am WHERE: Larchmont Public Library, 121 Larchmont Ave., Larchmont AGES: 3-5 WHAT: Join Miss Nicola for a variety puppet show with stories, songs, games, props, and meet-and-greets with puppets.

Registration required.

WANT TO GO? 914-834-2281. larchmontlibrary.org.

Family Yoga FREE

WHEN: Feb. 8-22, Thursdays, 5:30-6pm WHERE: The Field Library, 4 Nelson Ave., Peekskill AGES: All WHAT: Stressed out? Need a breather? Energize your body and find some inner calm at yoga for the whole family with Ms. Livingston.

WANT TO GO? 914-737-0847. fieldkids.wordpress.com.

Museum Minis

WHEN: Feb. 1-22, Thursdays, 10:30-11am WHERE: Westchester Children’s Museum, 100 Playland Park, Rye AGES: Newborn to 2, adult WHAT: Meet up in Toddler Beach for stories, song, movement, and more.

WANT TO GO? $7. 914-421-5050. discoverwcm.org.

Diaper Derby FREE

WHEN: Friday, Feb. 23, 9:30am WHERE: Larchmont Public Library, 121 Larchmont Ave., Larchmont AGES: 3-5 WHAT: Witness the slowest race in library history as babies crawl to the finish line in honor of the Olympics. Each participant will be given a Larchmont Public Library onesie. Online registration required.

WANT TO GO? 914-834-2281. larchmontlibrary.org.

Trains & Tracks FREE

WHEN: Feb. 6-27, Tuesdays, 11am WHERE: The Field Library, 4 Nelson Ave., Peekskill AGES: 3-8 WHAT: Join for a program of free play with the library’s huge collection of Thomas and friends trains.

WANT TO GO? 914-737-0847. fieldkids.wordpress.com.

Neil Berg’s 100 Years of Broadway

WHEN: Thursday, Feb. 1, 1pm WHERE: Westchester Broadway Theater, 1 Broadway Plaza, Elmsford AGES: 9 and older WHAT: 100 Years of Broadway recreates the greatest moments from the finest shows of the century featuring the actual stars of shows.

WANT TO GO? $55 show only. 914-592-2222. broadwaytheatre.com.

‘The Drowsy Chaperone’

WHEN: Feb. 9-10, Friday-Saturday, 7:30pm WHERE: Irvington Town Hall Theater, 85 Main St., Irvington AGES: 13 and older WHAT: Presented by Clocktower Players Teen Troupe, this “musical within a comedy” has won five Tony Awards, including Best Original Score.

WANT TO GO? $20; $15 students and seniors. 914-591-6602. irvingtontheater.com.

The Music of Tom Petty for Kids Featuring The Mighty Fergusons WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 10, 3pm WHERE: Garcia’s at The Capitol Theatre, 145 Westchester Ave., Port Chester AGES: All WHAT: A weekly children’s music workshop series that uses music to educate children and explore their creativity.

WANT TO GO? $12 and up; free for children younger than 1. 914-9374126. therockandrollplayhouse.com.

Al Stewart: Year of the Cat Tour

WHEN: Sunday, Feb. 11, 7-9pm WHERE: Paramount Hudson Valley Theater, 1008 Brown St., Peekskill AGES: All WHAT: Al Stewart came to stardom as part of the legendary British folk revival in the ’60s and ’70s and developed the combination of folk-rock songs with delicately woven talks of characters and events from history.

WANT TO GO? $35-$55. 914-739-0039. paramounthudsonvalley.com.

Gin Blossoms

WHEN: Wednesday, Feb. 21, 8-10pm WHERE: Paramount Hudson Valley Theater, 1008 Brown St., Peekskill AGES: All WHAT: The Gin Blossoms have undoubtedly left their mark on the rock music map with their fusion of melodic rock, pop, folk, and country.

WANT TO GO? $37-$55. 914-739-0039. paramounthudsonvalley.com.

The Music of Billy Joel for Kids Featuring Craig Greenberg

WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 24, 3pm WHERE: Garcia’s at The Capitol Theatre, 145 Westchester Ave., Port Chester AGES: All WHAT: A weekly children’s music workshop series that uses music to educate children and explore their creativity.

WANT TO GO? $12 and up; free for children younger than 1. 914-9374126. therockandrollplayhouse.com.

‘I Hate Hamlet’

WHEN: Feb. 10-March 4, Thursday-Sunday, see website for times WHERE: Lyndhurst Mansion, 635 S. Broadway, Tarrytown AGES: 13 and older WHAT: M&M Performing Arts Company performs alternating repertory with a 90-minute adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet.

WANT TO GO? $40; $35 seniors and for children younger than 17.

914-631-4481. lyndhurst.org. ›› WestchesterParent 41

Tech Tuesday FREE

WHEN: Feb. 6-27, Tuesdays, 4:30pm WHERE: White Plains Public Library, 100 Martine Ave., White Plains AGES: 5-17 WHAT: Slammers and guest poets from around the country will bring one original poem of up to 3 minutes. Get ready to hear poetry of all kinds!

WANT TO GO? 914-422-6980. whiteplainslibrary.org.

Teen Creative Writers’ Workshop FREE

WHEN: Through March 1: Thursdays, 3:15-4:45pm WHERE: The Somers Library, Route 139 and Reis Park, Somers AGES: 13-17 WHAT: Work on developing your creative writing in a fun and encouraging environment. Registration required.

WANT TO GO? 914-232-5717. somerslibrary.org.

The Neo-Victorians: Contemporary Artists Revive Gilded-Age Glamour

SMARTY PANTS Stroller/Babywearing Tour

WHEN: Friday, Feb. 2, 10:30-11:30am WHERE: Hudson Valley Center for Contemporary Art, 1701 Main St., Peekskill AGES: All WHAT: Parents and caregivers will learn how to incorporate literacy (both visual and general) when talking to kids about what they see.

WANT TO GO? $13; free for children younger than 8. 914-788-0100. hvcca.org.

Rube Goldberg Contest 2018 FREE

WHEN: Sunday, Feb. 4, 4-5pm WHERE: Ruth Keeler Memorial Library, 276 Titicus Road, North Salem AGES: 9-17 WHAT: All interested middle schoolers are invited to join the library’s sponsored team in the national Rube Goldberg Contest, which will compete at the Engineering Expo in White Plains on April 15. The challenge this year is to pour a bowl of cereal.

WANT TO GO? 914-669-5161. ruthkeelermemoriallibrary.org.

Mousetrap Cars FREE

WHEN: Tuesday, Feb. 20, 1-4pm WHERE: Ruth Keeler Memorial Library, 276 Titicus Road, North Salem AGES: 9-17 WHAT: Student teams will design, build, and race cars made from mouse traps and other materials. Registration required.

WANT TO GO? 914-669-5161. ruthkeelermemoriallibrary.org.

Thematic Tour: John Jay and George Washington

WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 24, 1-4pm WHERE: John Jay Homestead, 400 Jay St., Katonah AGES: All WHAT: George Washington respected John Jay so much that, as president, he gave Jay his choice of job in the new administration. Join a docent-led tour of John Jay’s Bedford House to explore their close relationship.

WANT TO GO? $10; $7 seniors and students; free for children younger than 12. 914-232-5651. johnjayhomestead.org.

Wild Medicine in the Tropics

WHEN: Through Feb. 25, Tuesday-Sunday, 10am-6pm WHERE: New York Botanical Garden, 2900 Southern Blvd., Bronx AGES: All WHAT: Explore the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory’s A World of Plants to discover plants used for health and wellness. The companion app, Wild Medicine, offers an in-depth look at the medicinal qualities of these plants.

WANT TO GO? Weekdays: $23; $10 children ages 2-12; weekends: $30; $18 children ages 2-12. 718-817-8700. nybg.org.

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February 2018 | nymetroparents.com

WHEN: Feb. 10-May 13, Wednesday-Sunday, 12-5pm WHERE: Hudson River Museum, 511 Warburton Ave., Yonkers AGES: All WHAT: This exhibit reveals more than 20 contemporary artists whose work is inspired by the aesthetics of the 19th century to reflect today’s concerns, commenting on gender roles and societal tensions under the guise of the overt beauty.

WANT TO GO? $7; $5 seniors and students; $4 children ages 3-18; free for children younger than 3. 914-963-4550. hrm.org.

The Victorian’s Guide to the Galaxy

WHEN: Feb. 10-May 13, Sundays, 3:30pm WHERE: Hudson River Museum, 511 Warburton Ave., Yonkers AGES: All WHAT: Complementing the themes explored in The Neo-Victorians, the museum has created a planetarium show exploring what 19th-century scientists understood about their universe.

WANT TO GO? $11; $8 seniors and students; $6 children ages 3-18; free for children younger than 3. 914-963-4550. hrm.org.

Baby Signing Time FREE

WHEN: Feb. 2-June 1, Fridays, 11:30am-12pm WHERE: Yonkers Public Library, Riverfront Branch, 1 Larkin Center, Yonkers AGES: Newborn to 2 WHAT: A unique early communication class for caregivers and pre-verbal babies to attend together every first Friday of the month. This class uses songs, stories, games, and activities to learn to communicate using signs from American Sign Language in a way that is fun and easy.

WANT TO GO? 914-337-1500 x427. ypl.org.

ANIMAL LOVERS Feed the Animals: Opossums

WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 3, 1-2pm WHERE: Teatown Lake Reservation, 1600 Spring Valley Road, Ossining AGES: All WHAT: Help, watch, and learn about the eating habits of Teatown’s Animal Ambassadors. Registration required.

WANT TO GO? $7. 914-762-2912. teatown.org.

Family Art Project: Coyote and Owl Fixtures and Tricksters

WHEN: Feb. 3-4, Saturday-Sunday, 10am-1pm WHERE: Wave Hill, 649 W. 249th St., Bronx AGES: All WHAT: Hear about the folklore surrounding two mysterious and enchanting creatures, the owl and the coyote. Learn about these local animals and their habits and special attributes. Then create a fanciful,

wintery tableau of simple, paper puppets and shadowy scenes that capture your own make-believe owl and coyote mythology.

WANT TO GO? $8; $4 students and seniors; $2 children 6-18; free for children younger than 6; admission is free until 12pm. 718-549-3200. wavehill.org.

Owl Pellet Discussion

WHEN: Feb. 3-4, Saturday-Sunday, 11am-1pm WHERE: Wave Hill, 649 W. 249th St., Bronx AGES: 9 and older WHAT: Owls swallow their prey whole. Parts of their prey, such as bones, feathers and fur, are bound up during digestion into a tight pellet, which the owl regurgitates. Drop in for this exploratory workshop with naturalist Gabriel Willow and discover the origins of the owl’s diet.

WANT TO GO? $8; $4 students and seniors; $2 children ages 6-18; free for children younger than 6; admission is free until 12pm. 718-5493200. wavehill.org.

Nature Talk: Coyotes in Riverdale and Understanding Urban Coyotes

WHEN: Feb. 3-4, Saturday-Sunday, 10am-1pm WHERE: Wave Hill, 649 W. 249th St., Bronx AGES: 13 and older WHAT: Hear all about how trained dogs are helping us learn about Riverdale’s coyotes and how we can safely coexist with them from professional dog trainer and biologist Ferdie Yau, and learn what Carol Henger, Ph.D. candidate at Fordham University, is studying about this species.

WANT TO GO? $8; $4 students and seniors; $2 children ages 6-18; free for children younger than 6; admission is free until 12pm. 718-5493200. wavehill.org.

NY Metro Reptile Expo

WHEN: Sunday, Feb. 11, 9am-4pm WHERE: Westchester County Center, 198 Central Ave., White Plains AGES: All WHAT: More than 150 reptile breeders will have thousands of live pet reptiles, amphibians, and arachnids on display and for sale.

WANT TO GO? $10; $5 children ages 7-12; free for children younger than 7. 914-995-4050. reptileexpo.com.

Winter Birding

WHEN: Sunday, Feb. 11, 9:30am WHERE: Wave Hill, 649 W. 249th St., Bronx AGES: 9 and older WHAT: The Hudson River Valley hosts an impressive diversity of bird species. Explore Wave Hill’s tranquil gardens and woodlands with naturalist Gabriel Willow to observe birds in their winter habitats.

WANT TO GO? $8; $4 students and seniors; $2 children 6-18; free for children younger than 6; admission is free until 12pm. 718-549-3200. wavehill.org.

Year of the Dog

WHEN: Sunday, Feb. 18, 1-2pm WHERE: Teatown Lake Reservation, 1600 Spring Valley Road, Ossining AGES: All WHAT: Fox, coyotes, and wolves are wild cousins of our domesticated pets. How are they similar and what sets them apart?

WANT TO GO? $7. 914-762-2912. teatown.org.

Weinberg Nature Center

WHEN: Feb. 19-23, Monday-Friday, 10:30am-2:30pm WHERE: Winter Detectives Vacation Club, 455 Mamaroneck Road, Scarsdale AGES: 5-12 WHAT: Discover the wonders of the outdoors and all things winter while looking for clues and learning how plants and animals survive the brutal cold, then make your own snowflake to take home.

WANT TO GO? $55 per day. 914-722-1289. weinbergnaturecenter.org. ››

• Birthday parties for all ages • Private and group baking classes customized to fit your schedule

Cakes, Cupcakes, Parties and Classes 414 Mamaroneck Ave, Mamaroneck, NY 10543 www.abccakesny.com | (914) 630-2858 WestchesterParent 43

Lunar New Year Celebration FREE

WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 17, 2pm WHERE: Chappaqua Children’s Library, 19 S. Greeley Ave., Chappaqua AGES: All WHAT: Enjoy, art, music, a Lion Dancer, and more.

WANT TO GO? 914-238-4779. chappaqualibrary.org.

President’s Day Commemoration FREE

WHEN: Monday, Feb. 19, 12-4pm WHERE: St. Paul’s Church N.H.S., 897 S. Columbus Ave., Mount Vernon AGES: All WHAT: A talk by Professor Jacob Kramer of Borough of Manhattan Community College exploring the life of President Woodrow Wilson, who led the nation during WWI. There will be re-enactors portraying General Washington and Presidents Adams and Lincoln.

WANT TO GO? 914-667-4116. nps.gov/sapa.

HOLIDAY FUN Matchbox Valentines

WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 3, 1:30-3:30pm WHERE: Pelham Art Center, 155 Fifth Ave., Pelham AGES: 9 and older WHAT: In this workshop, students will take a journey through the world of mixed media art. They will explore acrylic painting and collage to create abstract pieces with a variety of different materials, such as paint, paper, colored acetate, string, and found objects.

WANT TO GO? $65. 914-738-2525. pelhamartcenter.org.

Field Library Unity Quilt Project FREE

WHEN: Monday, Feb. 5, 4pm WHERE: The Field Library, 4 Nelson Ave., Peekskill AGES: All WHAT: Celebrate Black History Month by making a square for the Field Library Unity Quilt.

WANT TO GO? 914-737-0847. fieldkids.wordpress.com.

Valentine’s Day Card Craft FREE

WHEN: Tuesday, Feb. 6, 4pm WHERE: The Field Library, 4 Nelson Ave., Peekskill AGES: All WHAT: Make a Valentine’s Day card for that special someone in your life.

WANT TO GO? 914-737-0847. fieldkids.wordpress.com.

Children’s Workshop: Valentine’s Day Pendants

WHEN: Thursday, Feb. 8, 3:30-5pm WHERE: The Rye Arts Center, 51 Milton Road, Rye AGES: 9-12 WHAT: Learn to work in CAD design to create your own unique, 3-D printed pendant for Valentine’s Day. Mathematics and design concepts will be discussed as each student creates their own unique piece of jewelry.

WANT TO GO? $20. 914-967-0700. ryeartscenter.org.

Mardi Gras Party! FREE

WHEN: Tuesday, Feb. 13, 4pm WHERE: The Field Library, 4 Nelson Ave., Peekskill AGES: All WHAT: Make a special Mardi Gras craft, listen to zydeco music, and enjoy some traditional Mardi Gras treats.

WANT TO GO? 914-737-0847. fieldkids.wordpress.com.

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LITTLE FOODIES Victorian Valentine’s Day Tea & Crafts Party FREE

WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 10, 11am and 2pm WHERE: Horace Greeley House, 100 King St., Chappaqua AGES: 5-12 WHAT: The afternoon will include Victorian tea, snacks, crafts, and a tour.

WANT TO GO? 914-238-3597. newcastlehs.org.

Ryebrary Chocolate Factory FREE

WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 10, 2-3:30pm WHERE: Rye Free Reading Room, 1061 Boston Post Road, Rye AGES: All WHAT: Celebrate with artist B. Smith at the second annual Chocolate Fest. Make chocolate creations and enjoy a chocolate fountain.

WANT TO GO? 914-967-0480. ryelibrary.org.

Kids Art & Pizza Night

WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 10, 6:30-9:30pm WHERE: Katonah Art Center, 65 Old Bedford Road, Goldens Bridge AGES: 5-12 WHAT: Enjoy an evening out or sign up for an adult workshop while children spend the evening creating art and enjoying pizza.

WANT TO GO? $50. 914-232-4843. katonahartcenter.com.

Cooking 4 Kids

WHEN: Through Feb. 15: Thursdays, 2pm WHERE: Chappaqua Children’s Library, 19 S. Greeley Ave., Chappaqua AGES: 3-5, adult WHAT: Hands-on cooking lessons for kids with an adult.

WANT TO GO? chappaqualibrary.org.

Pleasantville Farmers Market FREE

WHEN: Through March 31: Saturdays, 8:30am-1pm WHERE: Pleasantville Middle School, 40 Romer Ave., Pleasantville AGES: All WHAT: More than 40 vendors will be participating in the indoor market.

WANT TO GO? 914-205-4545. pleasantvillefarmersmarket.com.

Farmers Market FREE

WHEN: Through March 31: Saturdays, 8:30am-1pm WHERE: Ossining, Parking Lot on the corner of Spring and Main streets, Ossining AGES: All WHAT: Shop with your neighbors and support the local food system. The Ossining Farmers Market offers produce, meat and eggs from local farms, baked goods, local fish, ready-to-eat items, honey, coffee, and more.

WANT TO GO? 914-923-4837. downtoearthmarkets.com.

ONCE UPON A TIME Tales for Tails FREE

WHEN: Thursday, Feb. 1, 6pm WHERE: The Field Library, 4 Nelson Ave., Peekskill AGES: 5-12 WHAT: Reading with a therapy animal can help reluctant readers, new language learners, and anxious readers gain confidence and develop a love of reading. Readers in first grade and above are invited to read to a certified Good Dog. Sign-up is required.

WANT TO GO? 914-737-0847. fieldkids.wordpress.com.

Russian Storytime FREE

WHEN: Sunday, Feb. 4, 3pm WHERE: Scarsdale Public Library, 54 Olmsted Road, Scarsdale AGES: 5-8 WHAT: Share the adventure as we follow the life of cartoon characters both familiar and new. This program is entirely in Russian but is not designed to teach the Russian language.

WANT TO GO? 914-722-1300. scarsdalelibrary.org.

Parent/Child Book Discussion FREE

WHEN: Through Feb. 4: Sundays, 2pm WHERE: Chappaqua Children’s Library, 19 S. Greeley Ave., Chappaqua AGES: 5-8 WHAT: Enjoy great books, lively discussion, and delicious snacks. This month, we will discuss The One and Only Ivan.

WANT TO GO? 914-238-4779. chappaqualibrary.org.

Story Garden with Miss Alexia FREE

WHEN: Friday, Feb. 9, 11am WHERE: The Field Library, 4 Nelson Ave., Peekskill AGES: Newborn to 5 WHAT: Join Miss Alexia for stories, songs, and her magic ukulele.

WANT TO GO? 914-737-0847. fieldkids.wordpress.com.

Read to Angie the Therapy Dog FREE

WHEN: Feb. 3-17, Saturdays, 11am-12pm WHERE: Harrison Public Library, Richard E. Halperin Memorial Library Building, 2 Bruce Ave., Harrison AGES: 5-12 WHAT: Share a quick book or hug with Angie, the library’s calm and cuddly dog friend. Angie visits twice each month.

WANT TO GO? 914-835-0324. harrisonpl.org.

Good Deed of the Month

WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 24, 11am-12pm WHERE: Westchester Children’s Museum, 100 Playland Park, Rye AGES: 5-12 WHAT: A kindness-themed book reading and discussion followed by an art-educator led good deed project.

WANT TO GO? $7. 914-421-5050. discoverwcm.org.

Read with Rabbit FREE

WHEN: Through June 26: Tuesdays, 11am-12pm WHERE: Scattered Books, 29 King St., Chappaqua AGES: Newborn to 5 WHAT: Meet Acorn the Bunny and enjoy story time in the store’s kids’ area.

WANT TO GO? 914-529-8013. scatteredbooks.com.

Toddler Time FREE

WHEN: Through June 28: Thursdays, 11-11:30am WHERE: Yonkers Public Library, Riverfront Branch, 1 Larkin Center, Yonkers AGES: 18 months to 3 years, adult WHAT: Stories, nursery rhymes, fingerplays, and songs. No registration required.

WANT TO GO? 914-337-1500. ypl.org.

Storybook Yoga FREE

WHEN: Through Dec. 28: Fridays, 10:15-10:45am WHERE: Croton Free Library, 171 Cleveland Drive, Croton-on-Hudson AGES: Newborn to 5 WHAT: Encourage your little ones to stretch and move while acting out familiar stories from favorite authors through creative movement and yoga.

WANT TO GO? 914-271-6612. crotonfreelibrary.org.

THE GREAT OUTDOORS Story Sundays at Teatown: Sugarbush Spring

WHEN: Sunday, Feb. 4, 11am-12pm WHERE: Teatown Lake Reservation, 1600 Spring Valley Road, Ossining AGES: 3-8 WHAT: Stories and activities about nature and animals. Registration required.

WANT TO GO? $7. 914-762-2912. teatown.org.

Eyes on Owls

WHEN: Sunday, Feb. 11, 1-2pm WHERE: Greenburgh Nature Center, 99 Dromore Road, Scarsdale AGES: All WHAT: Learn about owls’ eating habits by dissecting owl pellets.

WANT TO GO? $8. 914-723-3470. greenburghnaturecenter.org.

Bald Eagles and Turkeys

WHEN: Monday, Feb. 19, 1-2pm WHERE: Greenburgh Nature Center, 99 Dromore Road, Scarsdale AGES: All WHAT: Discover what is so special about these two very different birds that they have become so important in our national culture.

WANT TO GO? $8. 914-723-3470. greenburghnaturecenter.org.

Mommy & Me Mondays

WHEN: Through May 21, 9:45-10:45am WHERE: Rye Nature Center, 873 Boston Post Road, Rye AGES: Newborn to 5 WHAT: Drop-in for songs and animal encounters.

WANT TO GO? $15. 914-967-5150. ryenaturecenter.org.

Saturday Stories FREE

WHEN: Feb. 3-24, Saturdays, 10:30-11:15am WHERE: Harrison Public Library, Richard E. Halperin Memorial Library Building, 2 Bruce Ave., Harrison AGES: 3-5 WHAT: Ease into the weekend at the library’s Children’s Discovery Center on Saturday mornings when Manhattanville College student volunteers informally read favorite picture books and do a craft with young children.

WANT TO GO? 914-835-0324. harrisonpl.org.

Coming up next month: MARCH 1: Decades Rewind at Paramount Hudson Valley Theater, Peekskill MARCH 17: Pancake Brunch at Teatown, Teatown Lake Reservation, Ossining MARCH 25: DINO Light at Emelin Theatre, Mamaroneck

WestchesterParent 45

things to do

where-to guide

❆

Staying❆ Compiled by Samantha Neudorf

With temperatures dropping and snow falling, who actually wants to be outside? Cozy up with some hot chocolate or tea, or spend the rest of this short month exploring an indoor play space. If you still want a taste of winter without worrying about the weather, visit an indoor ice-skating rink (it’ll probably be warmer inside than the temperature outside!). And if you are not a fan of winter, you can pretend it’s summer at one of the indoor water parks in the Northeast. Stay warm!

INDOOR PLAY SPACES Sportime USA 380 Saw Mill River Road, Elmsford 914-592-2111; sportimeusa.com Head on over to Sportime USA for indoor fun! With laser tag, a rock-climbing wall, more than 150 arcade games, and bumper cars, this amusement center has something for everyone.

HOT CHOCOLATE SPOTS Chocolations 607 E. Boston Post Road, Mamaroneck 914-777-3600; chocolations.com Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 10am-6pm Sample the multiple frozen hot chocolates, featuring flavors such as peanut butter, mint, caramel, and coffee. The shop also carries regular coffee, tea, and a decadent dark hot chocolate.

Find more>> hot chocolate spots in Westchester County at nymetroparents.com/hot-chocolate.

Courtesy Sahara Sam’s Oasis

Inside

Find more>> indoor play spaces in Westchester County at nymetroparents.com/indoor-play-spaces.

INDOOR ICE-SKATING RINKS Westchester Skating Academy 91 Fairview Park Drive, Elmsford 914-347-8232; skatewsa.com Hours: Year-round: Monday, 11:40am-1:10pm and 1:304:30pm; Tuesday, 9:30-11:30am and 1:30-3:30pm (Mondays and Tuesdays are subject to change during the winter season); Wednesday, 9:30-11:30am, 11:40am-1:10pm, and 1:30-4:30pm; Thursday, 9:30-11:30am; Friday, 9:30-11:30am, 11:40am1:20pm, 1:30-4:30pm, and 7:30-10pm; Saturday-Sunday, 1-3pm. Extended hours during holiday periods. Hours subject to change.

Check website.

Price: $11; $10 children ages 4-10; $6.25 seniors and children ages 3 and younger. $4.50 skate rental.

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

❆ ❆

Kids of all ages can enjoy floating through Lizard Lagoon at Sahara Sam’s Oasis.

INDOOR WATER PARKS Sahara Sam’s Oasis 535 N. Route 73, West Berlin, NJ 856-767-7580; saharasams.com Hours: Thursday-Friday, 4-9pm; Saturday-Sunday, 10am-7pm.

See website for updates.

Admission: $39.99; $34.99 in advance; $32.99 for a halfday ticket; free for seniors older than 65 and for children 2 and younger.

Even when it’s snowing outside, it is always a balmy 84 degrees inside Sahara Sam’s in West Berlin. Eleven water rides make Sam’s 58,000 square feet chock-full of fun. Lizard Lagoon is the hangout for the little ones, while teens will love The Flow Rider, the only indoor surfing simulator in New Jersey.

Find more>> indoor water parks in the New York metro area at nymetroparents.com/indoor-water-parks.

Summer College For Kids 2018

at Westchester Community College connect to the perfect summer experience for your child or teen!

Center for the Arts, White Plains Extension PRE-COLLEGE PROGRAMS, ART CAMPS, PUBLIC SPEAKING AND DEBATE CAMPS

June 25 - August 16 Ages 8-18

914-606-7500 www.sunywcc.edu/arts arts@sunywcc.edu

Ossining Extension

Peekskill Extension Digital Arts Center, Peekskill Extension Youth Arts Technology Program Summer 2018 For more information, call 914-606-7300 www.sunywcc.edu/peekskill peekskill@sunywcc.edu

SCIENCE ACADEMY

July 30 – August 9 August 13 – August 23 Ages 8 – 17 http://www.sunywcc.edu/ locations/ossining/ ossining@sunywcc.edu

A Dental Visit Can Be Fun! Penny Resnick-Graulich, D.M.D. Francisca Ceron, D.D.S. Emelie Preis, D.D.S. MAIN STREET PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY 115 Main Street, Suite 302, Tuckahoe (914)633-4440 www.mainstreetpediatricdentistry.com New Laser Technology Your kids CAN have their cavities fixed without an injection, without pain and without a numb lip afterwards! (in most cases)

New State of the Art Facility • Special Custom Game Rooms • Home Theater with Large-Screen TV • Adult Coffee Bar • Environmentally Conscious Setting Now offering General Anesthesia for our patients who need it!

Voted 7 years in a row one of Westchester’s Top Pediatric Dentists

by Westchester Magazine WestchesterParent 47

raising kids baby

Sponsored by

How Babies Learn to Love

››

The good news: Your little one is hard-wired to adore you. The better news: There’s plenty you can do to help build that bond. By Deborah Skolnik

T

hroughout my first pregnancy, I dreamed of the moment I’d welcome my newborn. We’d cuddle and look into each other’s eyes adoringly, just like in the diaper commercials. And when my daughter finally arrived, that’s exactly what happened—on my end. I gazed at her lovingly, but she gave me a blank stare, showing me about as much affection as if she were a strange cat I’d bumped into on the sidewalk. I had to laugh. Why had I expected more?

Babies and parents share the sweetest relationship, but it isn’t instantaneous. It takes time for the relationship to flourish, deepening through little interactions that build closeness. How does your baby’s love grow? We asked experts to share their insights, plus offer advice about what you can do to help things along.

All Set to Attach

Your little one may not seem smitten with you at first sight, but he’s built to feel close to you. “Babies are hard-wired to attach to their parents, or to one or two primary caregivers who are reliable,” says Rahill Briggs, founder of pediatric behavioral health services at Montefiore Medical Group in the Bronx and national director of HealthySteps, a program aimed at ensuring babies and toddlers have nurturing care. Scientifically, it makes sense: Your baby seeks a close tie to a caring adult or two because it’s essential for her survival.

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And if you happen to be your baby’s biological mom, you’ve got a head start on being his true love. That’s because he already recognizes you on a couple of very fundamental levels, says Erica Komisar, LCSW, author of Being There: Why Prioritizing Motherhood in the First Three Years Matters. “Babies can hear your voice in utero, and so they recognize your voice [after birth], and they can recognize your smell,” she says. “And once they connect with you [or dad, if he’s the primary caregiver], and they make contact with your eyes, it’s only your eyes that they seek.”

Feeding the Feelings

One of the best ways to build attachment and affection in your baby is through doing something that already comes naturally: feeding her. As you hold your little one and look deeply into each other’s eyes while she nurses or drinks from a bottle, it sparks serious chemistry, literally, sending a lovey-dovey hormone called oxytocin flowing through both your bodies. “That hormone is critical,” Komisar says. Created in the right side of the brain, oxytocin especially surges in your baby when you hold him on your left side. He uses his left-side visual field then, which actually is wired, crisscross fashion, to his right brain. (This also makes it a great idea to cradle your baby on your left side whenever you can.)

Of course, this loving eyeful only happens if you’re actually focused on your baby during feeding sessions. Komisar warns against letting your attention wander too often to the TV or your favorite tech tools. When you focus on a screen instead of your child, “you’re basically not doing what nature intended…the fact that we’ve manipulated the situation now to look at phones and iPads [while feeding] is very strange,” she says. And if you aren’t breast-feeding, Komisar suggests taking off your shirt for feeding anyway, when possible, since skin-to-skin contact is another cue for your and your baby’s bodies to produce oxytocin.

In fact, Komisar believes that early smiles are more than just the gas pains they’re commonly chalked up to: “Babies have emotions from the very beginning,” she says. “You can see from the very start a kind of joyful connection between mothers and babies. The idea is that from the earliest moments, a baby can smile at a mother and resonate with a mother, and a mother can resonate with a baby.”

Whenever you do see that smile, it’s bound to spur your own affection: “For a parent who’s just been through those first two months of a newborn and is barely sort of hanging on, that social smile can be like the key to keep going,” Briggs says.

Needy but Nice

Preferred People

Attending to your baby’s other needs, namely for diaper changes and bathing, is another great way to build attachment. “Human babies so desperately need caregivers to love them, and to be reliable and consistent and empathetic,” Briggs says. “Babies are then just built to return that affection, as long as it’s a secure attachment relationship, and the primary caregiver has been relating in a way that’s reliable and empathetic and consistent and warm.”

This doesn’t mean that you must slavishly attend to your baby’s every whimper: “We know that actually babies don’t want that,” Briggs says. “They want some downtime and they seem to need some resting time. But being reliably empathic and pretty consistent means that when your baby lets out a really big cry, the one that means ‘I am so starving and my diaper is wet,’ that you respond.”

The empathy aspect is major, Briggs adds. “By that, we mean that what a parent does in response to her baby is related to what the baby did.” So try to mirror your baby’s emotions; if she’s crying, make a sad face and say, “Aw, sweetie, I know you’re tired!” rather than rolling your eyes or trying hard to cheer her up. She’ll sense that you really ‘get’ her—and don’t you feel closest to the people who really get you?

Talking the Talk

Speaking of, well, speaking, it’s super-important to talk or vocalize to your baby. He’s heard your voice since before birth, and gets all warm and fuzzy-feeling at its comforting tones. So do you; it’s the third cue to the brain to produce oxytocin. And you don’t always have to use words; cooing, singing, and making other affectionate sounds all create that baby-mommy love.

When you speak to your child, Komisar recommends using “Motherese,” the high-pitched, sing-songy tones people so often use in addressing babies. “It’s a very healthy thing,” she says. “It has something to do with the intonations…it tends to grow the right brain of the baby.” In fact, she says, one sign that a mother may have postpartum depression is if she refuses to speak in Motherese, and instead only addresses her baby in flat, adult-sounding tones.

Little Signs of Love

Of course, having shown your baby love without bounds, you’d like at least a little reassurance that it’s a two-way street. How can you tell whether or not she’s as into you as you are into her? At the beginning, the signs may be subtle—she may seek out your gaze or even imitate some of your expressions. And then, by around 2 or 3 months of age (or even sooner), you’ll see more definite proof: She’ll smile at you.

Around 8 months of age, your baby’s behavior may abruptly change. Try to let your neighbor hold him, and he’ll fuss and reach back to you instead. This is the start of what’s known as stranger anxiety. “You’ll be like, ‘Where did that baby go that I used to be able to pass off to anybody in my office?’” Briggs says. This phenomenon peaks at around 15 months, then begins to fade out by 18 months. The flip side of this fear of unfamiliar people is love for immediate family: Clearly, your baby feels you and your partner are his ‘special people,’ and draws a line between you and the rest of the adults out there.

At the same time, your child may start showing affection for her most special friends. It’s wonderful to watch her face light up when you bump into a pal from the park, or when your sitter shows up at your doorstep after a weekend away. Overjoyed facial expressions may be accompanied by happy-sounding vocalizations or generalized, delighted wiggliness. Either way, there’s no doubt your child now has a group that she considers her posse.

Rescue Me!

Strangers aren’t the only things that will spook your baby as he nears his first birthday. Other scary-seeming things may set him off now too, like the loud siren of a passing fire engine or the sight of a large dog as you’re walking down the street. His reaction? He’ll look for you, or cry and reach out to you.

This, too, is a form of showing love. “There could be alternative attachment figures around, such as aunts and grandmothers, but when the baby is in distress, he’ll reach back for the mother,” Komisar says. “So you know that if your baby reaches back for you or looks for you when she’s in distress that she needs you, loves you, and is calling for you. It’s your eyes and your smell that she’s seeking.”

Smooches and Swag

By the time your baby celebrates her first birthday, you may see some of the classic signs of love—she’ll come in for a great big hug with those deliciously chubby little arms, or lean on in and plant a wet one on you (or even on grandma or grandpa, if nicely asked).

And, as he starts walking and nears his second birthday, you may find yourself on the receiving end of more than just an embrace.

Take your baby to a park, and she just may pick a flower and bring it to you. “It’s hard to know whether it’s a present of love or whether it’s just saying ‘Hey, look at this really pretty thing I found and let’s talk about it,’” Briggs says. Of course, if you’re like most parents, you’ll see it as a gift—why not? It’s just one of many signs that the baby you love so much is growing up to be a loving human being.

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 and Breast Milk Depots), Community Education (free app—AlliedPG with a medicine dosing calculator and symptom checker—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.

WestchesterParent 49

family life finances

House Hunters

››

What first-time homebuyers need to know to navigate the market and find the right home By Samantha Neudorf

W

hen you hear the word “home,” you may recall fond memories from your childhood, such as gathering together for Thanksgiving, waking up to the smell of breakfast on weekends, or cozying up on the couch to watch a movie. Home may be a state of mind, but a house is where all of those memories are made.

Now that you’re a parent, you may be looking for a house of your own—one where your children will take their first steps, and, many years later, return with their own families. Real estate shopping can be a tricky process, but by doing some homework (see what we did there?) in advance, you can avoid many common newbie mistakes. Here’s how to navigate the market to ensure you will find the perfect home to grow your family.

Figure Out Your Finances

Though it’s tempting to begin looking at houses right away, it’s not the best idea—later on you may realize you’ve fallen in love with a house you can’t afford. Greg McBride, the chief financial analyst for Bankrate, an online tool to compare financial rates, 50

February 2018 | nymetroparents.com

says the biggest mistake prospective homebuyers make is looking at properties before reviewing their finances. “That’s a recipe for trouble,” he says. “Instead, it pays to know how much you can afford and get pre-approved for a loan amount. That sets boundaries around your shopping.”

The first step is to request your credit score from each of the three major credit bureaus: Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion.

An ideal score is one that’s higher than 700—it makes you attractive to lenders and could help you get a lower interest rate on a mortgage. Getting your scores early on helps you know where you stand, and also gives you the opportunity to dispute any errors on your credit reports before beginning the mortgage application process with a mortgage lender.

The next step is to pick a mortgage lender. This can be a bank or a credit union—and does not have to be one at which you have an account. McBride advises shopping around for a lender to find the best rate; you can do this by using tools such as the Bankrate search engine to compare prices in your area.

Once you settle on a lender, request a pre-approval letter—this

shows home sellers you are a serious buyer and will able to be approved for a loan.

After you decide on a house, place an offer, and the offer is accepted, it is important to know you are not obligated to the mortgage lender who gave you the pre-approval letter. In fact, it’s smart to put in applications with one or two other lenders at the same time, to figure out which one will give you the best price.

“That can really give you an apples-to-apples comparison of who’s offering the best deal, both in terms of interest rate as well as the fees that are being charged,” McBride says.

So how much house can you afford? In terms of the mortgage itself, the rule of thumb is to pay no more than 30 percent of your gross monthly income, which would include property taxes, property insurance, and any homeowner dues.

When choosing the mortgage loan duration, most lenders recommend a 30-year loan to keep payments manageable while saving money for other things. “It’s better to keep your payments lower so you still have enough breathing room in your monthly budget to be able to save money for other purposes, such as emergencies, retirement, and your kids’ education,” McBride says. “You don’t want to be house-rich and cash-poor.”

The loan may take 30-45 days to be approved, and in the meantime, you will need to pay for a home inspection, home appraisal, title work, and closing costs. Once you own the home and begin making mortgage payments, other fees will include principal and interest on the mortgage, property tax, property insurance, homeowners insurance, and utilities.

Know Your Neighborhood

Choose a Home

After figuring out what type of home is in your price range, and what town, city, or neighborhood you want to live in, the fun part is going to showings and attending open houses. Marcantonio says finding the right broker is key to finding the right home. She advises homebuyers to interview realtors in person to decide who will be a good fit personality-wise and will be most attentive to their needs. “Go to open houses to see these brokers in real time,” Marcantonio says. “Watch how they’re interacting, interfacing, and what kind of information they are giving.”

Once you find the right broker for you, sit down with them and begin a dialogue about what exactly you are looking for: Do you want a ranch- or colonial-style house? How many bedrooms and bathrooms do you need? Are you hoping for a large or small yard?

When deciding whether you want to buy something on the lower end that will need renovations down the line or something that’s move-in ready, Marcantonio advises to think about whether you have the money to do renovations and if you are emotionally ready to go through with waiting for the work to be done—it’s not always as fun and easy as some well-loved TV shows make it seem. “Many people think ‘I’ll get a fixer upper, I’ll save money there,’ and in the long run they sometimes end up spending more money because they begin to take walls down and run into more expenses,” Marcantonio says.

Remember that it’s okay to not feel pressured to find a dream house to show off. At the end of the day, a house provides shelter, but the memories you create and share with your family there is what makes it a home.

Finding the right neighborhood for you and your family is crucial before settling on a home, because this will set the tone for your living situation. Jamie Marcantonio, a real estate broker for Coldwell Banker in Suffolk County, recommends researching neighborhoods and visiting them to get a feel for it. “I always emphasize that [prospective homebuyers] check every single town that they’re looking in and make sure that the school system is highly rated,” Marcantonio says. “That seems to be a real hot button for first-time homebuyers.”

Visit the neighborhood and take mental notes of what you observe, and keep it in mind when viewing homes. For example, is there a lot of traffic on the main road? Is public transportation readily available? Are there a lot of parks? Is the area close to something undesirable, like a wastewater plant or high-tension wires?

Another big decision is figuring out whether you want to raise your family in the city or the suburbs. Many first-time homebuyers in the greater New York area are looking to move away from the city and into a suburb. Deciding which town is best can be challenging, but there’s help. Suburban Jungle Realty, for instance, is a real estate advisory firm that connects homebuyers free of charge to “suburb strategists,” who then pair them with towns outside of the city. “Our strategists make sure you’re looking in the right places, asking the right questions,” says Alison Bernstein, Suburban Jungle Realty’s founder. The strategists also provide information, talk about the intangibles, and get homebuyers thinking about the right questions, such as what day cares are nearby?

Can I get live-in help if I’m a stay-at-home mom? What kinds of restaurants are in the area? Where are your favorite places to take your own kids?

WestchesterParent 51

Courtesy Google

family life home

Hey Google! Can You Teach My Kid Some Manners…Please? ››

Smart home devices have many advantages, but are they turning our children into brats? By Bethany Braun-Silva

J “

ust Google it,” my husband said when, last year, I asked him what day of the week Christmas fell on. Before I could whip out my phone and start typing, I heard my 5-year-old say, “Hey Google, what day is Christmas this year?”

This is our life these days. We were recently gifted a Google Assistant, or Google Home device, an internet-connected speaker that does everything from play music to sync our calendars to answer any question, no matter how random. Within seconds Google replies with an answer, and we are on to the next thing.

No “thank you” needed—it is, after all, a virtual assistant that’s plugged into our wall. But it didn’t escape me that if my husband had answered the question, I would have at least tossed a “Thanks, babe,” his way.

This got me thinking about my kids. They are absolute sponges, picking up new phrases and mannerisms every day—from TV shows, videos on their iPad, and me and my husband. I, of course, want them to be polite and considerate kids who grow up to be 52

February 2018 | nymetroparents.com

polite and considerate adults. I started to wonder: Should I make them say “thank you” to the tech device that sits on top of our family desk? Amazon’s Alexa, Google Home, and Apple’s Siri will answer any question regardless of whether it’s asked politely. Kids can even be intentionally rude to the device, calling it a “jerk” or “stupid,” with no repercussions of hurt feelings or a scolding from Mom or Dad. However, it is a device, not a person, so I find myself torn on this issue.

Technology and Our Society

I’ve heard many times throughout the years that technology is ruining our social interactions. In fact, it’s contributing to the lack of empathy we see online—especially with kids and teens.

“When social media relationships replace real-time, real-life, in-person human relationships, problems arise…That’s because when interacting with others from behind a keyboard, the communication rules are different—easier…You can say what you

want without having to witness firsthand the emotional fallout of poor choices or unkind words, even those that are misspoken,” according to “Is Technology Dehumanizing Our Society?,” an article published on dialogmagazine.com.

This lack of human interaction is the norm these days. Internet trolls run rampant. I hardly know anyone who prefers talking on the phone rather than texting. And now, with these in-home devices, tech is literally everywhere. But even if this is the norm, should it be?

The Pros

Paulina R., a mom from Forest Hills, isn’t too worried about the social side effects that smart home devices may have on her kids.

“The benefits far outweigh the potential drawbacks,” she says.

“My kids use our Alexa like a modern-day library. They absorb so much information from that little machine, it’s incredible.”

Meanwhile, Manhattan mom Vanessa McDaniels has found another advantage to her family’s Google Home device. “When my two boys get into an argument over who wants the iPad or who gets to pick the family movie, we ask Google to flip a coin,” she says. Arguments are settled in mere seconds, which makes for a much more peaceful household.

Similarly, many parents of children with special needs praise virtual assistants such as Alexa and Google Assistant. “While on the one hand kids using Alexa may develop an attitude, there are also ways that creators, such as myself, are using Alexa to help children lead better lives,” says Daphne Mallory, a virtual reality screenwriter and producer. She recently developed the Alexa skill Autism Help, which is designed to help parents teach social, verbal, and functional skills to children with autism. “It may be easier and less stressful for children on the autism spectrum to interact with Alexa and learn skills, than solely with a parent or other adult,” she explains. “That’s the benefit of voice interface technology and how we can use Alexa in a positive way.”

The Cons

Even with the best of intentions, though, parents can find themselves at odds with their kids’ behavior when it comes to these devices. McDaniels is a bit worried about how their smart device may affect the way her children act outside the house. “The Google Home device answers our kids whether they are rude or not,” she says. “I’m concerned that this might get repeated with a family member or even a teacher one day.” And McDaniels recently caught her 6-year-old son Connor hitting the device when it didn’t understand his question. “We talked to him about his behavior and explained that that’s not how we treat things in our house,” she says. “But there was this thought in the back of my head that even though this behavior is totally unacceptable, we were essentially talking about something inanimate.”

There’s also the issue of safety. Who’s to say these devices can’t get hacked or steal personal information? Certainly if a smart device resides in your kids’ room, there might be some cause for concern when it comes to privacy.

“Google’s activities may affect the ads you get, the deals you are exposed to, the purchases you make, the discounts you receive, the entertainment and news you see, and your very sense that surveillance is natural. Plus, Google is only one of a gaggle of large companies involved in these sorts of activities—all the while seemingly hoping we don’t understand and are too resigned to push back,” writes Joseph Turow in an article titled “Google Still Doesn’t Care About Your Privacy” on fortune.com.

Manners and the Machine

So, is there a risk of these smart home devices making kids less empathetic—or even more demanding?

“Devices are not turning kids into brats. Devices are merely tools,” says Donna Volpitta, Ed.D., founder of the Center for Resilient Leadership and a former special education teacher.

“However, with the increase in technology and devices, parents need to be more and more mindful about the way they are parenting. Currently, there is a wide misuse of these devices, which puts kids at risk in many ways, including being at risk of becoming brats.”

Lilian Rincon, product management director for the Google Assistant, is being more mindful by changing how she speaks to the assistant. “In my house, we say things like, ‘Ok Google, please tell me the weather’ and try to remember to say ‘thank you’ when we get the answer. We don’t always remember, and it’s definitely a balance, but I think my kids learn from how we talk to the assistant, and it has made an impact,” she says. “There’s always some level of risk with new technology and children learning about it at younger and younger ages, but as a parent I can model the behavior I want them to replicate, similar to how we do in real relationships with people.”

Paulina takes a similar approach to ensuring her kids learn manners: “That’s something they will learn from my husband and me, and I don’t think my kids will grow up to be rude just from using Alexa,” she says. “Teaching manners is the parent’s job, and we need to adapt our parenting to these modern times.”

Dr. Volpitta also suggests using the following tips to stop kids’ bratty behavior toward the devices—and toward other people: • S et limits and stick to them: It is our job, as parents, to establish and enforce rules and boundaries, and it’s our children’s job (whether we like it or not) to test those rules and boundaries. If you see your child pushing the limits as far as rude behavior is concerned, step in and explain why that behavior is unacceptable.

If the behavior was toward a smart device, remove the device to be used another time. If it was directed at a person, have them apologize.

• Enforce privilege guidelines: Using any kind of technology for fun is a privilege, not a right. “When kids are acting responsibly, they are able to earn privileges and use devices. When they are being brats, they should not be able to use devices,” Dr. Volpitta says.

• Show you won’t give in to whining: Kids should accept the consequences of acting in a negative manner toward the devices, so stand your ground if your child starts to whine or bargain to use the virtual assistant before they’ve earned the privilege again.

So like everything in our tech-crazy world, in-home devices come with pros and cons. My kids will continue to emulate what they see and hear, so my husband and I will start saying “please” and “thank you” to our Google Assistant to set a good example. Though while my kids were out of the house the other day, I did ask it a bunch of questions, both appropriate and inappropriate—in the name of research, of course. One was, “Hey Google, what makes you happy?” It replied, “I’m happy when I can help out.” Maybe the device can teach my kids some manners after all.

WestchesterParent 53

raising kids teen

Help Your Teen Get More Exercise ›› Most adolescents are a lot less active than they should be—get yours moving with these expert-approved tips. By Deborah Skolnik

T

he teenage years. What do you think of when you hear that phrase?

Probably kids growing like weeds and busily exploring new things, and, because of this, being more active than they’ll ever be again.

But research released last June shows that this just isn’t true, at least not these days. The study, part of the National Health and Nutrition Examination survey, found something alarming: Physical activity peaks at age 6, then declines throughout childhood. Just how steeply does daily exercise decrease? By age 19, the average teen is as sedentary as a 60-year-old.

Blame the tech revolution for a lot of this, says Jane Diamond, a master personal trainer and certified health and wellness coach. Kids aren’t outside all day until dinner, the way that we, or our parents, were as kids. “Our society has changed into an information society,” she says. “We sit at computers, we play games, and we’re on our phones. Kids come home from school and go onto Facebook and Snapchat.” Add in a lot of scheduled time for things like after-school help, homework, and instrument lessons, and it’s easy to see why today’s teens aren’t movers and shakers, at least in the physical sense.

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But it doesn’t have to be that way. With a little prodding from you, your teen can adopt a more active lifestyle, one that will serve her well throughout her life. We asked exercise pros how to make it happen.

Household Help

There’s plenty you can do around the house to encourage your teen to exercise. “Create an environment that reflects the change you want,” Diamond says. Steps like these can make a big difference: Lead by example. Show your teen that you embrace workouts.

Keep an exercise bag at the door for trips to the gym, tennis lessons, or whatever physical activity you pursue. Invite him to come along with you whenever possible. If he can’t accompany you, make a point of letting him see you come home feeling energized and raring to go. “A little bit of that does sink in,” Diamond says.

Load up your video game console with active games. “There are so many that make you exercise or dance,” Diamond says. And

get in the game yourself. Tell your teen, “I want to play too!” If it’s a competitive game, throw down a challenge to amp up the excitement factor and keep the activity going longer.

Wean from the screen. While workout-based video games are fine in moderation, try limiting the number of hours your teen spends on optional, nonacademic screen time. Designate certain times of day, such as mealtimes, to be phone-free, so she gets used to the idea of letting go of her trusty device. And make certain areas of your house no-phone zones—especially the bedrooms.

Your teen may end up getting more sleep at night, which will give her more energy to exercise during the day.

Commercial-cize with your kids. When you do watch TV together, exercise together each time a commercial comes on, says Len Saunders, author of Keeping Kids Fit, who organizes programs on a national level for school-age kids regarding health and fitness. “If you watch a lot of TV, this can accumulate to a lot of exercise,” he says.

Create a mini indoor gym. “For about fifty dollars, you can get all the equipment you need,” Diamond says. She recommends buying an exercise ball, a jump rope, carpet sliders, and a couple of sets of small weights. These are all easy to use, and there’s an abundance of videos and articles on the web to show you all the things you can do with them.

Dole out some old-fashioned chores. Make your teen responsible for physical tasks around the house, such as sweeping the walkways, vacuuming the carpets, or mopping the kitchen floor. These responsibilities will get him off the sofa and onto his feet.

Create an exercise chart for the whole family, with built-in rewards for your teen. Set the goal of an hour a day of physical activity for each of you, and have your child mark her progress.

The incentive can be anything that you know motivates her, such as extra allowance money or the chance to get you to finance her Friday night out with her pals.

Have your teen walk the dog if you own one and your neighborhood is safe for a solo excursion. One recent study published in the journal BMC Public Health found that dog owners walk 22 more minutes per day than people without pooches.

Plan active outings—and tell your teen to invite a friend. Hiking in a state park with Mom and Dad? Lame. Hiking in a state park with Mom, Dad, and Hailey from bio class? Way cool. Pals are everything to kids at this age, so provide a chance for some buddy time along with exercise. “They’ll do a lot more when they’re with their own peers,” Liang notes.

Run errands without using a car, bus, or subway. If your destination is within walking distance, go on foot or by bicycle. “If you own bikes, get bike baskets so it’s easy to take purchases home,” Lopez says, “and if you’re going on foot, take along backpacks.”

Don’t be discouraged by bad weather. “There are so many wonderful indoor exercise facilities,” Diamond says. “There are places that you can go that have indoor skating, indoor rock climbing, basketball courts, tennis, and squash.”

Whichever strategy or strategies you use, set aside regular time for exercise, and make it a habit. “We didn’t wake up at age 2 able to go to the bathroom and brush our teeth on our own,” Diamond observes. “Someone taught us day in and day out. We practiced for years until it became so routine that we didn’t even think about it anymore, and exercise needs to become a habit, too.”

With your help, your teen will get moving in the right direction, one healthy step at a time.

Take It Outside

There are even more opportunities for exercise outside the house.

Get your teen up, out, and at ’em with these tips.

Have the right outdoor equipment on hand, says Nedra Lopez, co-owner of P.E. Club on Manhattan’s Upper East Side. Hang a basketball hoop above your garage if you live in a house, and challenge your child to a quick game after school (or head to the nearest public court to do the same). Buy a set of orange cones for your yard or take them to the park and use them to play a simple game: Line up all the cones on one side of a patch of lawn, and challenge your kid to see which of you can pick up and rearrange the cones on the other side the fastest. Lopez is also a fan of resistance parachutes—small parachutes you strap around your waist that catch the wind as you run, creating muscle-building resistance. Want more fun?

Invest in an agility ladder, which is a ladder-like device you lay on the ground. Play hopscotch with it, or check out YouTube videos of beginner agility ladder drills.

Sign up together for an athletic event for charity, says Sandra Liang, a trainer at Crunch in Manhattan. It can be as simple as a walk or as ambitious as a 5K you train for together, “and it also introduces your child to volunteer work,” Liang adds.

Revisit your favorite childhood games. “Whether you played tennis or racquetball or something else, explore them together,” Lopez says. It’s a great opportunity for you to teach your child a sport you know, and it’s quality bonding time, too.

Introducing our new Little School Pre-K Academy, a transitional 4’s program for families wanting the “gift of time”

WestchesterParent 55

family life food & nutrition

Vegan Snacks for a Super Bowl Party ›› Two affordable, easy-to-make vegan treats that will appeal to everyone

W

e won’t know until Jan. 21 what two teams will huddle up for Super Bowl LII, which will air on NBC Feb. 4. But we’re already thinking about what delicious treats we’ll be making for our viewing parties—and how to accommodate all tastes and dietary needs. These recipes from Frugal Vegan by Katie Koteen and Kate Kasbee are vegan (of course), nut-free, and can be made gluten-free if not already; are affordable and easy to make; and will even appeal to meat-eaters. So enjoy watching the QBs throw the pigskin without any actual pigskins.

BBQ Chickpea Sliders

Twice-Baked Potato Bites

Though they first debuted at White Castle, sliders have evolved to include pretty much anything served on a tiny bun. We took a plantbased approach with this recipe by using nothing but chickpeas, BBQ sauce, and a few seasonings to create the savory, delicious filling on these bad boys. If it fits in your budget, don’t skimp on the Pineapple Slaw. It adds just the right amount of sweetness and crunch for an irresistible party snack or summery dinnertime dish.

Bust out the melon baller. You’ve got tiny potatoes to scoop out and that’s the perfect tool for the job. If you don’t have a baller, any small spoon will work. When it comes time for scooping, be sure to wait until the potatoes are cool before you scoop. Those little spuds can really hold their heat.

Nut-free, soy-free Splurge: Roasted sunflower seed topping Serves 4-6 • 15 minutes to prepare

Ingredients 1 (15-oz.) can chickpeas, rinsed and drained ½ cup BBQ sauce ½ tsp. garlic powder ½ tsp. chili powder Salt, to taste 12 whole-wheat slider buns 1 cup Pineapple Slaw (p. 143 in Frugal Vegan, or your favorite coleslaw recipe) Roasted sunflower seeds, for serving, optional Directions Add the chickpeas, BBQ sauce, garlic powder, and chili powder to a saucepan. Cook over medium heat for 10 to 15 minutes, stirring constantly and smashing about half of the chickpeas with the back of a fork or slotted spoon. Add water 1 tablespoon at a time if the mixture starts sticking to the bottom of the saucepan. Remove from heat and season with salt to taste.

To assemble, spread a spoonful of the BBQ chickpeas on the bottom portion of a whole-wheat slider bun. Top with a scoop of Pineapple Slaw, and sprinkle with roasted sunflower seeds for some extra crunch, if desired.

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Nut-free, soy-free, gluten-free Splurge: Use fresh chives in place of dried Serves 4-6 • 60 minutes to prepare

Ingredients 2 lbs. red new potatoes (about 14), halved 1 tbsp. olive oil Coarse salt and ground pepper ¾ cup Vegan Sour Cream (p. 167 in Frugal Vegan, or your favorite recipe) 2 tbsp. chives, plus more for garnish Directions Preheat the oven to 450ºF. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.

Cut a thin slice off the bottom of each of your halved potatoes, so they sit flat. In a large bowl, toss the potatoes with oil; season with salt and pepper and arrange bottom-side down on the baking sheet.

Bake until tender, 30 to 35 minutes. Let them cool on the sheet.

When the potatoes are cool enough, scoop out about a teaspoon from the center of each potato and place in a medium bowl. Add vegan sour cream and chives, and mash; season with salt and pepper. Stuff the potatoes with the filling.

Bake the potatoes until lightly browned, about 15 minutes.

Reprinted with permission from Page Street Publishing.

Photography by Allie Lehman. Cover design by Mette Hornung Rankin.

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raising kids dental health

Healthy Smiles

››

Local dentists and orthodontists answer frequently asked questions about kids’ dental health.

F

rom the time we were young children, our parents took us to the dentist every 6 months for regular checkups and cleanings. Now that we’re parents, we’re doing the same for our children to ensure they have healthy pearly whites from the time their baby teeth grow in through the time they leave the nest. As with most things medical-related, it can be confusing what the latest recommendations are when it comes to oral health and how to help our children. So in honor of National Children’s Dental Health Month, we compiled some of the best advice we’ve received from dentists, orthodontists, and even a psychologist in the New York metro area to keep your kids’ smiles healthy and happy. Here’s what they had to say:

Good Habits Start in Infancy

Before your child has any teeth, you should wipe the mouth and gums with moist gauze or a soft wet washcloth after feedings and before bedtime. Once the first tooth comes in, you should use a small, soft bristled, age-appropriate toothbrush to clean the teeth two times per day: in the morning after breakfast and in the evening before bedtime. The last thing to touch a child’s teeth before bed should be a toothbrush.

At first, no toothpaste is necessary; simply wet the toothbrush 58

February 2018 | nymetroparents.com

with water. For children younger than 3, a rice-sized amount of fluoridated toothpaste should be used; for children ages 3-6, use a pea-sized amount. It is best if a parent assists children preschool-age and younger in brushing. Take care to brush on the inside and outside of each tooth and the tongue, if possible. In order to maximize the beneficial effect of fluoride—a mineral that helps prevent tooth decay by making enamel more resistant to acids and harmful bacteria—your child should not rinse after brushing his teeth.

Flossing should be initiated when adjacent tooth surfaces cannot be cleansed with a toothbrush. Kid’s flossers are an excellent aid in flossing children’s teeth.

Evidence shows that in order to succeed in preventing oral disease, interventions must begin at infancy. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry suggests that your child should have a comprehensive oral exam, an assessment for oral diseases, caries risk assessment, dietary recommendations, and oral hygiene instructions by the time she reaches her first birthday. Good oral hygiene practices that are implemented very early on can have a positive outcome on her overall well-being.

—Marita Smith, D.D.S., board-certified pediatric dentist and owner of Smith’s Little Smiles Pediatric Dentistry in Pomona

Know When Thumb Sucking Gets a Thumbs Down

The better a parent or caregiver takes care of her teeth, the less likely it is that she will transmit the bacteria. Parents can Thumb sucking is okay as long as the habit stops after 5 years of lower the bacteria in their mouth with basic oral hygiene and age. After 5 years of age, the child’s permanent teeth will begin regular visits to the dentist. Treating and preventing cavities erupting—the first molars, the incisors on the lower arch—and in a parent’s mouth helps both the parent and child. Just like thumb sucking will cause the child to develop an anterior open avoiding sharing other germs, caregivers should refrain from bite, where the teeth in the front do not come together and, as a tasting children’s food using the kids’ utensils, kissing children result, the tongue has a lot more space to thrust forward. Because on the lips, and other actions that could cause the spread of of this, the child may also develop speech impediments, since they the bacteria. cannot pronounce certain sounds due to the teeth not closing Brushing and flossing regularly, and visiting the dentist at least correctly and the tongue thrusting forward. two times a year, can control the bacteria in your child’s mouth— If your child breaks the thumb-sucking habit by age 5 without and starting early helps a lot. any orthodontic intervention, the open bite will usually close on —Marc Bennet, D.M.D., M.S., a board-certified pediatric dentist its own by age 10 or 11, depending on the severity. at Adelberg Montalvan Pediatric Dentistry with locations in Another thing is the upper arch will form in a v-shaped arch— Massapequa Park, Nesconset, and West Islip kind of elongated forward—because of the constant pressure of the thumb on the upper teeth. That creates a cross bite, or scissor There’s Lots to Love About Laser Treatments bite, in the back.

Laser treatment is a method of handling delicate procedures A cross bite needs to be corrected by expanding the arch with in children as young as 2-3, such as cavities and lip ties, which a special appliance called a palate expander. The palate expander happen when the upper lips of infants are tethered to the upper could also be used in combination with a habit-breaking appliance gums from birth. It can be used in multiple procedures in children to correct both problems. without instilling any trauma like anesthesia shots. For example, To break the thumb-sucking habit, the first recommendation is dentists can use laser treatment in place of the conventional drill to talk to the child and encourage the child to minimize the habit when treating cavities, eliminating as much as possible. For the need for anesthesia shots and example, it shouldn’t be done $4.66: the average amount the making your child’s experience for the whole day. Some kids the least invasive and painful as don’t do it during the day tooth fairy paid per tooth in late possible. The laser can remove because they’re involved in 2016 through early 2017, according tooth decay without touching the activities, and when they go tooth, and it numbs the tooth as to sleep, they start sucking to Delta Dental Plans Association’s an added bonus for your child’s their thumb. It still needs to national poll comfort level. Another added bonus be broken in that case. is that the treatment is shorter If that doesn’t work, and less dramatic, which gives the they can always go to the patient a healthy experience and prevents a fear of the dentist from orthodontist, who can talk to the child. Sometimes kids forget developing early on. However, laser treatment is not a common they need to work on breaking the habit, and parents are so treatment, and only select offices have this equipment. caught up with their work that they also forget, so what I advise —Renuka Bijoor, D.D.S., a board-certified pediatric dentist at is to put up sticky notes all over as reminders for the child to Briarcliff Pediatric Dentistry in Briarcliff Manor take their thumb out of their mouth. Some parents also try

thumb guards.

Got Braces? Be Proud!

As a last resort, there are habit-breaking appliances the In our society, particularly in the adolescent age group, orthodontist can cement in the child’s mouth. They come in how people look really relates directly to their popularity. different forms to prevent either tongue thrusting or thumb And a good chunk of kids want to be popular. Their selfsucking. They have a roller that prevents the thumb from getting consciousness comes from the fear of whether they will be into a secure position in the mouth, and that will break the habit. popular because now there’s something making them look —Larissa Davids, D.D.S., orthodontist and owner of Rego Park Orthodontics different. I think some kids take advantage of this by pointing in Rego Park, Queens out these differences and bullying those children with braces.

A lot of people get braces and want to hide them—a fact that Cavities Are Contagious! our culture has embraced and addressed by coming up with Believe it or not, you can catch a cavity. invisible options such as Invisalign.

Dental cavities are the single most common chronic childhood We want kids to be proud and show their braces off. There is a disease. While the cause of dental decay is multi-factorial, most Twitter account (@GirlsWithBraces) where there are pictures of parents blame candy, snacking, or sugary drinks such as juice or girls with big smiles showing off their braces. Their approach is soda. These certainly contribute to dental decay, but bacteria also having braces is a positive thing rather than one that should make cause cavities. The main culprit is a bacteria called Streptococcus you hide in fear. mutans, which lives in the plaque on your teeth and feeds off the If a kid gets braces and approaches it with fear and wants to sugars in your mouth, producing an acid that weakens your teeth hide, other kids pick up on that fear and that’s where a lot of the and causes cavities. teasing really comes in and it really erodes their self-esteem.

Like most bacteria, Streptococcus mutans can be transmitted — Jill M. Emanuele, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist at the Anxiety and from one person to another. This is especially true between Mood Disorders Center for the Child Mind Institute in Manhattan caregivers and children, and also happens between couples or even people living closely. Research has shown that children usually get continued on next page ›› the cavity-causing bacteria from mom.

WestchesterParent 59

Great Speakers.

Great Learning.

Helping Young Children Learn & Grow

MAY 1–4, 2018 WYNDHAM NEW YORKER HOTEL

‹‹ continued from previous page

Learn What to Do If There’s a Dental Emergency at School

First, try not to panic too much as you approach your child.

Oftentimes there is a lot of bleeding if the injury involves the mouth.

The oral tissues are highly vascular, so profuse bleeding is common.

If the school nurse has not done so already, place an ice pack on the injury and apply light gauze pressure to the site of injury. This will usually control the bleeding, and the ice will help with any swelling.

If the injury involves the mouth or jaw, call your child’s dentist right away. You may want to call your dental office as you head to the Over 100 To register go to: school so they are prepared to see your little one as soon as possible.

Speakers www.YoungChildExpo.com If there is general head trauma, and your child is complaining More than 80 of headache, dizziness, or disorientation, take your child to the or call 212-787-9700, ext.

333 Conference emergency room immediately to rule out a concussion.

Sessions Early Bird & Group Discounts Available If a permanent tooth has been knocked out of your child’s mouth, Full Day & Half Day do everything you can to locate the tooth. Try not to handle the Workshops Presented by tooth by the root. Make no attempt to clean the tooth if there is 40 Exhibitors & Over visible dirt or debris. Place the tooth in a cup of milk or a “tooth 1000 Attendees saver solution” if the school nurse has it. The most ideal scenario is to place the tooth back in the socket if your child allows, but we often find that the parent and child are too nervous to do so, and 2018_YCE_NYMP_1.6th ad.v1.indd 1 1/9/18 1:16 PM that is okay. Take your child and the tooth to your dentist as soon as possible. Time really is important in this case; the sooner the tooth is re-implanted and stabilized, the better the prognosis. If the tooth is a baby tooth, it will not be re-implanted. You still want to have your TURN YOUR PARTY INTO A AT child examined, and take the baby tooth with you, if you have it. Your YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD BLUE MOON pediatric dentist will evaluate the other teeth for any signs of mobility or damage as well as evaluate the jaws and bite to rule out a fracture.

—Mahnaz Khan, D.D.S., a board-certified pediatric dentist at Ehrenman & Khan Pediatric Dentistry in Westbury

15TH ANNUAL

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NYMetroParents.com Helping parents make better decisions

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February 2018 | nymetroparents.com

Learning the right answers will get your child through school.

Learning how to learn will get your child through life!

Open House at 9:30am Weekdays

Please call to join one of our tours.

914-636-6202

Hudson Country Montessori School

Inspiring curious, creative, and gifted minds. Toddlers through 8th grade.

340 Quaker Ridge Road, New Rochelle, NY 10804 • 914-636-6202 • www.hudsoncountry.org

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PartyCentral BIRTHDAY GIFTS GIRL AGAIN 4 Martine Ave., White Plains 914-358-1460 girlagain.com girlagain@yesshecaninc.org Girl AGain is a resale boutique for gently used American Girl dolls and books, which make great birthday gifts!

TILLY...A DEER’S TALE 914-764-5564 tillyadeerstale.com Tilly...A Deer’s Tale is about a real deer that lives in upstate New York and faces challenges after an accident. This powerful story is meant to inspire children living with physical challenges or limitations.

The book makes a great birthday gift!

PARTY ENTERTAINMENT AMANDABEAR PARTY RENTALS 347-326-5567 amandabearpartyrentals.com AmandaBear Party Rentals provides everything you need for an unforgettable party.

AMY ROSEN COOKING BY DESIGN 917-903-1451 amyrosencookingbydesign.com amyrosencookingbydesign@gmail.com Have a cooking party for your child’s next birthday. From Cupcake Wars to Pizza Creations to chocolate melting, molding, and decorating, your kids will enjoy the fully hands-on experience.

CLOWNS.COM Proudly Serving Westchester, Long Island, Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and the Bronx 516-577-0000; 718-971-5862 clowns.com We are a family-owned and -operated entertainment company, offering a wide range of party and entertainment services including clowns, inflatable bounce houses, characters, magicians, princesses, magic shows, face painting, and party concession rentals.

DAVE’S CAST OF CHARACTERS 914-235-7100 davescast.com Make your party a special one! Dave’s entertainment services include more than 100 costumed characters. From princesses and superheroes to pirates and tea parties, there’s something for everyone.

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PARTY PLACES A-GAME SPORTS 856 Main St., New Rochelle 914-278-9477 agamesports.net info@agamesports.net A-Game Sports offers a variety of birthday party packages for children of all ages. Each 90-minute party includes supervised playtime with two coaches on a private section of turf.

ABC CAKES 414 Mamaroneck Ave., Mamaroneck 914-630-2858 abccakesny.com info@abccakesny.com ABC Cakes specializes in birthday parties for all ages. Guests decorate cupcakes, cakes, or cookies. Book your party today.

ARTISTREE PERFORMING ARTS 114 W. Boston Post Road, Mamaroneck 914-835-2200 artistreearts.com heather@artistreearts.com Artistree Performing Arts creates amazing birthday parties for children ages 1-10. Have your party in our beautifully renovated studio or let us come to you with just the entertainment.

BACH TO ROCK MAMARONECK 130 Mamaroneck Ave., Mamaroneck 914-341-1457 mamaroneck.bachtorock.com mamaroneck@bachtorock.com Looking for a fun birthday party at a reasonable price? We have three different parties—Rock Star, Karaoke, or Rock City—for an unforgettable experience!

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

February 2018 | nymetroparents.com

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

CENTRAL PARK DANCE 450 Central Park Ave., Scarsdale 914-723-2940 centralparkdance.com centralparkdance@gmail.com Have the birthday party of your dreams!

Choose from Fairytale Ballet, Hip-Hop, and Fun-n-Fit party games. We provide a beautifully decorated studio, a separate space to serve food, paper goods, and an experienced, professional staff.

CHELSEA PIERS CONNECTICUT 1 Blachley Road, Stamford, CT 203-989-1100 chelseapiersct.com/birthday Birthday parties at Chelsea Piers are action-packed! Options include gymnastics, dance, basketball, volleyball, soccer, T-ball, ice-skating, ninja warrior, gaga, and water slides! New this fall is an inflatable obstacle course and bounce house party option!

DAVE AND BUSTER’S PELHAM MANOR 881 Pelham Parkway, Pelham Manor 914-380-8506 daveandbusters.com/specialevents beatriz_peneda@daveandbusters.com Dave & Buster’s of Pelham Manor is the best place for birthday parties. With great food and games all in one place, it’s the perfect party space.

FUNFUZION AT NEW ROC CITY 29 LeCount Place (Exit 16 off I-95), New Rochelle Party Central: 914-637-7575, option 1 funfuziononline.com Calling all birthday superstars! You and your guests will be dazzled by a unique, interactive party experience!

GYMCATS GYMNASTICS AND BIRTHDAY PARTY CENTER 1 Odell Plaza at Equalize Fitness, Yonkers 914-965-7676 gymcats.net We are famous for our unique private birthday parties. Our enthusiastic, interactive staff will have partygoers laughing and yelling as they swing on rings, jump, bounce, climb, and roll through our super obstacle course.

ISG GYMNASTICS Annie Pipia and Joann Distler, directors 151 Crotona Ave., Harrison 914-835-0010 isggymnastics.com

ISG is a fun-filled, unique way to celebrate a birthday complete with trampoline, balance beams, bars, vault, tumbling, and air castle. All ages, 1 through teens. Age-appropriate programs and equipment. Fun for all!

JODI’S GYM 25 Hubbels Drive, Mount Kisco 914-244-8811 244 E. 84th St., Manhattan 212-772-7633 jodisgym.com Kids run, jump, climb, tumble, slide, bounce, and giggle to their hearts’ delight at Jodi’s Gym, where action-packed parties and unmatched experience have won children’s hearts for 34 years.

KINETIC SPORTS CLUB 872 Pelham Parkway, Pelham Manor 914-738-4000 kineticsportsclub.com Slide into your next birthday in style and celebrate your special day in our indoor, year-round water park, fun for all ages! Call 914-738-4000 for more information.

THE LITTLE GYM 777 White Plains Road, Scarsdale 914-722-0072 tlgscarsdaleny.com 2121 Broadway, 2nd Floor (between 74th and 75th streets), Upper West Side, Manhattan 212-799-1225 tlgupperwestsideny.com 207 E. 94th St. (between Second and Third avenues), Upper East Side, Manhattan 212-787-1124 tlguppereastsideny.com 28 Franklin Turnpike, Waldwick, NJ 201-445-4444 tlgwaldwicknj.com A private party at The Little Gym is a perfect way to celebrate your child’s next birthday. Gymnastics, games, obstacle courses, trampoline, sports, and music are tailored to your child’s interests!

MACINSPIRES 1923 Palmer Ave., Larchmont 914-630-7338 larchmont@macinspires.com 37 W. Putnam Ave., Greenwich, CT 203-531-5720 sayhello@macinspires.com macinspires.com

MacInspires parties are a wonderfully creative, collaborative, and educational way to celebrate birthdays! Parties feature STEAM activities such as 3-D design, robotics, coding, and more!

MUSICAL MUNCHKINS 167 Scarsdale Road, Tuckahoe 914-771-7000 musicalmunchkins.com Musical Munchkins is the perfect birthday party activity for babies through age 5! Enjoy group drumming, funny favorite sing-along songs, fabulous dancing scarves, and more!

PROSWING ProSwing of Port Chester 36 Midland Ave., Port Chester Sam Colon: 914-937-6700 sam@proswingbaseball.com ProSwing of Mount Kisco 27 Radio Circle Drive, Mount Kisco Dan Gray: 914-242-1626 dan@proswingbaseball.com proswingbaseball.com Our facilities are available for team and individual workouts, special events, and birthday parties for children and adults.

SPORTIME USA 380 Saw Mill River Road, Elmsford 914-592-2111 x2 sportimeusa.com Birthday parties? That’s our specialty!

Celebrate your birthday at Sportime USA, the coolest place to have a party in Westchester.

STUDIO B DANCE CENTER 277 White Plains Road (entrance on Prospect Avenue), Eastchester 914-793-2799 studiobdance.com Each party at Studio B is uniquely designed to give the birthday child an exciting, personalized experience.

Boys and girls ages 2 and older enjoy dancing and playing games to their favorite music.

YOUNG AT ART WORKSHOP INC. 1088 Central Ave., Scarsdale 914-723-9229 A unique birthday party experience where each child brings home a personalized piece of art!

Meet the

Health Care Professional

Caring for Kids Dr. Ivis Getz 140 Lockwood Ave., Suite 315, New Rochelle 914-355-2265 caringpediatricdentistry.com caringpediatricdentistry@gmail.com

Dr. Ivis Getz, a board-certified pediatric dentist, is committed to providing the highest quality dental care to infants, children, adolescents, and those with special needs. Dr. Getz recognizes that each child is a unique individual who deserves compassion and respect, which is evident in her friendly manner and calm demeanor. The dental team truly enjoys working with kids and will treat your child with warmth and compassion.

The practice participates in many dental insurance plans and has convenient after-school and Saturday appointments available.

OPEN HOUSES 2017 Campus Kids Weekday Sleep-Away Camp

973-845-9260 campuskids.com Call or write to schedule your family’s private tour of our camp.

Offered Saturdays and Sundays.

Hudson Country Montessori School

340 Quaker Ridge Road, New Rochelle 914-636-6202 hudsoncountry.org Tours are available each weekday beginning at 9:30am. Please call to schedule a visit and see how we inspire a love of learning in each child.

Iona Preparatory Lower School

Pre-K4 to eighth grades Deirdre Mone, admissions director 173 Stratton Road, New Rochelle 914-633-7744 x418 ionaprep.org/visit Discover the Iona Prep difference at Feb. 13 information sessions at 9am and 7pm. See why your son should say #IAmIonaPrep to 100 years of academic excellence, small class sizes, and a safe, 11-acre campus!

Professional services

Your local guide to tutors, teachers, lawyers, financial planners, and other professionals CLEANING & HOME IMPROVEMENT MJS CARE SERVICES 914-314-7727 mjscare.com MJS caters to families in Manhattan and Westchester areas. Offering amazing discount packages for our House Care department. We offer housekeeping, pet care, and housesitting services.

Cooking Party For Kids

• Cupcake Wars • Pizza Creations • Chocolate melting/molding/decorating • Chopped Style Parties

Amy Rosen Cooking Coach Book a party at 917-903-1451

amyrosencookingbydesign@gmail.com amyrosencookingbydesign.com cookingcoach_amyr amyrosencookingbydesign

WestchesterParent 63

♥

affordables a quality children’s consignment store

• children’s clothing: (sizes 0-14) • materinty clothes: casual, business & dressy • baby equipment: cribs, strollers, high chairs, bouncers Lots of Toys, Books & Games MOST MAJOR CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED

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10 main street • dobbs ferry • 914-693-3610

Join Enroll NOW!

We register children all year long!

NYMetroParents

The Children’s Jewish Education Group offers Jewish cultural studies for grades K-7, with emphasis on tradition, history and holidays.

A professional teaching staff is supported by a parent co-op.

Bar/Bat Mitzvah lessons available. Interfaith families welcome.

Classes held Sunday mornings at Purchase College.

Get advance notice on activities, participate in group discussions and receive special notices.

Call now to plan a Visit

914-200-1520 or visit our website www.facebook.com/nymetroparents www.cjeg.org ACTIVITIES

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100 + CHARACTERS, INTERACTIVE DJ’S FROZEN & NEW KIDS BAND ‘THE HONEY BEATS’ PHOTO BOOTHS NEW! ROBOTIC ANIMALS (ROBO ZOO)

EVENTS

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NYMetroParents Get advance notice on activities, participate in group discussions and receive special notices.

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PARTY PLANNER Want to know the best

activities for families?

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Visit Us at NYMetroParents.com

February 2018 | nymetroparents.com

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

Hudson Country Montessori...............3, 61

Play Group Theatre................................36

Main Street Pediatric Dentistry...............47

GymCats Gymnastics.............................68

Iona College Summer Day Camps.........35

ISG Gymnastics......................................68

ISG Gymnastics......................................68

Purchase College / SUNY Aquatic Program..........................29

music

Jodi’s Gym - Westchester.......................36

Jodi’s Gym - Westchester.......................36

Studio B Dance.......................................57

Bach to Rock - Westchester...................23

SwimLabs...............................................61

Belle School of Music.............................17

birthday / party services ABC Cakes.............................................43 Amy Rosen Cooking by Design..............63

LinguaKids, LLC.....................................36 Little Gym - Westchester..........................2 MacInspires............................................25

YMCA White Plains................................23

Hoff-Barthelson Music School................17

Young At Art............................................18

Music Conservatory of Westchester.......27

Milestone School (The)...........................33

dance

Mosholu Montefiore Community Center.... 14

Dance Cavise.........................................31

Music Conservatory of Westchester.......27

Studio B Dance.......................................57

FunFuzion...............................................43

Purchase College / SUNY Aquatic Program..........................29

YMCA White Plains................................23

Gym Cats Gymnastics............................68

Squire Camps.........................................27

education

Bach to Rock - Westchester...................23 Blue Moon Mexican Café.......................60 Creative Corner of Larchmont................35

Musical Munchkins.................................61 YMCA White Plains................................23

performingarts / acting Curtain Call Inc.......................................35 Play Group Theatre................................36

Jodi’s Gym - Westchester.......................36

Studio B Dance.......................................57

Alcott Montessori....................................36

Little Gym - Westchester..........................2

Thornton Donovan School........................7

Beth El Synagogue Center.....................36

MacInspires............................................25

Twin Lakes Farm....................................19

Children’s Jewish Education Group........64

Musical Munchkins.................................61

Dicker Reading Method............................5

retail

Pinebrook Studios..................................51

Westchester Computer Adventures, LLC...............................11

ABC Cakes.............................................43

Sportime USA Inc...................................57

Westchester County Parks.....................21

FASNY....................................................19

Westchester Parent Party Planner.........64

Westfair Camp @ Pace Aquatics...........27

Goddard School - Hastings....................57

Affordables.............................................64

Yes She Can Inc. / Girl Again ................64

Windward School....................................27

Hudson Country Montessori...............3, 61

Tilly...A Deer’s Tale..................................60

YMCA White Plains................................23

YMCA White Plains................................23

Kids Base and The Little School.............55

Yes She Can Inc. / Girl Again ................64

Young At Art............................................18

camps

YWCA - White Plains..............................21

Ann & Andy.............................................35 Bach to Rock - Westchester...................23

child care / day care

Belle School of Music.............................17

Ann & Andy.............................................35

Beth El Synagogue Center.....................36

AuPairCare by Intrax..............................57

restaurant / food services Blue Moon Mexican Café.......................60

LinguaKids, LLC.....................................36 Milestone School (The)...........................33

special events

Sylvan Learning Centers........................31

Young Child Expo...................................60

Thornton Donovan School........................7 Westchester Community College: Pre-College.............................................47 Windward School....................................27

special needs Dicker Reading Method............................5 Easter Seals Project Explore..................25

Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester.........................14

classes

Camp Clio...............................................25

ABC Cakes.............................................43

Camp Pinebrook.....................................35

Alcott Montessori....................................36

family entertainment / events / outings

Camp Ramaquois...................................29

Amy Rosen Cooking by Design..............63

FunFuzion...............................................43

Campus Kids Summer Camp.................23

Bach to Rock - Westchester...................23

Royal Hanneford Circus......................... 11

Purchase College / SUNY Aquatic Program..........................29

Cardinal Baseball Camp.........................33

Creative Corner of Larchmont................35

Sportime USA Inc...................................57

Twin Lakes Farm....................................19

Challenge Camp.....................................35

Curtain Call Inc.......................................35

Chapel School / Village Lutheran...........29

Dance Cavise.........................................31

Corbin’s Crusaders.................................36

Easter Seals Project Explore..................25

Creative Corner of Larchmont................35

Gym Cats Gymnastics............................68

Curtain Call Inc.......................................35

Hoff-Barthelson Music School................17

Dance Cavise.........................................31

LinguaKids, LLC.....................................36

Fin 2 Swim..............................................25

MacInspires............................................25

health

tutors

Future Stars............................................31

Music Conservatory of Westchester.......27

Blais Orthodontics ...................................9

Dicker Reading Method............................5

Goddard School - Hastings....................57

Pinebrook Studios..................................51

Caring for Kids Pediatric Dentistry..........63

Sylvan Learning Centers........................31

Young Child Expo...................................60

fitness Jodi’s Gym - Westchester.......................36 Pinebrook Studios..................................51 Twin Lakes Farm....................................19 YMCA White Plains................................23

Young Child Expo...................................60

sports

YMCA White Plains................................23

theater Curtain Call Inc.......................................35 Play Group Theatre................................36

WestchesterParent 65

raising kids quotables

How did your definition of love change after becoming a parent?

“Becoming a mom taught me to love from a different part of who I was before my kids were born. Before I became a mom I thought I knew the boundaries of my heart. From the moment I found out I was pregnant and then first saw my children, I knew that this kind of love is totally different than any other love I’ve felt before and that love truly is limitless, life altering, boundless, and completely unconditional.”

—Monica Shulman, artist and photographer, Lower Hudson Valley

“Before becoming a parent, I have to admit that my idea of love was fickle, superficial, and often materialistic. After having children, my definition of love became seriously unconditional because even though my little ones do & say things that may hurt me, I still care about them immensely and want to continue protecting and nurturing them. My parental love is selfless and my whole being is devoted to my children. This kind of love is physical and emotional and encompasses my life and affects every decision I make.”

—Scherrie Donaldson, aka @thirtymommy, East Flatbush, Brooklyn

“...I came around to the front of the stroller, grabbed his legs and as words started to come out of my mouth, I felt my eyes fill with hot tears and my voice catch in my throat. I barely managed to say, “You are making mommy very sad” before the tears started cascading down my face.” Anyone else have experience with raising a strongwilled child?

“Love means catching throw up in your hands. Love means staying up with a sick child. Love means making four different sandwiches for four children. Love means that your favorite present is the one they chose from the boutique at school. Love means your favorite days are the ones where you see how proud they are of themselves and their accomplishments. Love means helping them through difficult times with a smile even though it breaks your heart. Love means my heart grew every time I had another child and that my life is full of love every day.”

(Posted by @brooklynboymom, aka Rhianon Hoffman)

—Rima Potter, Port Jefferson

in an instagram

I swear our emotions and psyches are inextricably linked with our children’s in some deep, cosmic way.

What they feel, we feel.

What they experience, we experience. We may not feel or experience what they do to the same degree or with the same intensity, but parental empathy is real.

And it’s freaking exhausting.

—Annie Reneau in a post entitled “We Feel Our Kids’ Feelings, And It’s Exhausting,” on scarymommy.com

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February 2018 | nymetroparents.com

“Having kids unlocked an entire new compartment in my heart for love. I tell them every second that I get that I love them and mean it sincerely. My heart feels full now and I am so happy to experience the love of a mother. It truly has no bounds.”

—Suzanne Cohen, aka @gothamlove, Manhattan.

Young Love “My son’s first crush was Victoria. It was love at first sight when they met in kindergarten and it continued in elementary school. Then Titanic came out and their relationship tanked too—until my son declared his affection on national television.

During an appearance on the show Kids Say the Darndest Things, he said in the cutest little 6-year-old voice that he loved Victoria, but then explained: ‘She dumped me…because she loves Leonardo DiCaprio.’”

—Laurie Sue Brockway in an article entitled “How to Handle Your Child’s First Crush;” read the whole thing at nymetroparents.com/first-crush.

More NYMetroParents.com Highlights: CELEBRATE BLACK HISTORY: February is Black History month. Find where you can celebrate at nymetroparents. com/black-history.

DISCOVER HISTORY: Check out historical locations in and around New York City at nymetroparents.com/ historical-places

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ISG GYMNASTICS GYMNASTICS BENEFITS YOUR CHILD’S • Skills to enhance other sports • Self Esteem • Coordination • Strength • Flexibility & More!

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BIRTHDAY PARTIES

Gymnastics, Trampoline, Air Castle & More. All parties are private, and our amazing staff will make your party one to remember!

151 CROTONA AVE / HARRISON 914−835−0010 / ISGGYMNASTICS.COM

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Gymnastics Classes

Boys & Girls • Ages 20 months & up Beginner-Advanced Cheerleading • Private Lessons

Private Birthday Parties

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Ask About Our Toddler Open Gym Programs!

A walk in, non-instructional playtime for crawlers to 4 year olds All of our famous parties are private,and our interactive staff will make your child’s party a very special one.

One Odell Plaza, Yonkers/Hastings border

Located at (Exit 9 off Saw Mill River Parkway)

gymcats.net 914-965-7676