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Parent NYMETROPARENTS.COM MARCH 2018

Camp Planner!

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

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Ax Your Taxes Deductions Even Smart Parents Miss

End Bad Behavior In ONE Surprising Step

HELPING PARENTS MAKE BETTER DECISIONS

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A Y D C S I AM S A P O A

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Su g n i z

mme r s . . . L i f e l o n g F

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at The Masters School & Mercy College Specialized Early Start Program: Ages 3-5

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Lessons in literature.

And liturgy.

Invest in a Catholic education when it makes the most difference. Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of New York offer a unique combination of academic and spiritual development that helps children of all backgrounds get the best start in life. Our students learn in an environment where respect, courtesy and service to others are always part of the curriculum—and they are outpacing New York State and New York City public school students in both Math and English Language Arts (ELA) proficiency standards.

We invite you to see the value of a Catholic education: schedule a tour at a nearby school at any time, or attend one of the upcoming TOURING TUESDAY open house events being held at 132 participating Catholic elementary schools.

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WestchesterParent

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contents table of

march 2018

58 38

camp

How to Raise a Take-Charge Teen

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

Family Fun in Manhattan

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

18 How Camp Prepares Kids for College 22 Camp Directory

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32 Camps-at-a-Glance Chart

Spring Clean It!

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

raising kids

things to do

family life

6 Editor’s Note 8 New Places, New Programs 10 5 Things Parents Should Know About Bad Behavior 12 Fear Not, Little One 56 Sleep Training 101 58 How to Raise a Take-Charge Teen 62 Party Central 63 Meet the Doctor 64 Oopen Houses 65 Party Planner and Advertisers’ Index 66 Quotables

14 Fake Fur Pom

50 Make Filing Less Taxing

38 Family Fun in Manhattan

52 Spring Clean It!

39 Family Activities Calendar

60 Top ‘o the Morning to Ya!

48 Spring into March

NYMetroParents

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

10 End Bad Behavior

17 Camp Planner! 50 Ax Your Taxes

@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

MARCH 2018 • Vol.17 • No.7

NYMetroParents nymetroparents.com

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

Springing Forward— Confidently

Y

ou can feel it in the air: Spring is on its way. Sure, we may still be stepping around slush puddles, but soon enough we’ll be soaking up sunshine, and the ground—well, outside Manhattan, at least—will be a gorgeous sea of green. No matter how many times you’ve experienced this change of seasons, it always seems like a miracle.

If you’re a new parent, you may be praying for another miracle: a good night’s sleep.

Well, believe it or not, that too is possible. Just read Bethany Braun-Silva’s article, “Sleep Training 101,” on page 56—it examines popular techniques you can use to get your baby to settle down peacefully each evening and minimize those middle-ofthe-night tears (his and yours). It also explains why you shouldn’t despair if your baby backslides a little from time to time. Over on page 58, Christina Vercelletto’s article, “How to Raise a Take-Charge Teen,” will help you guide your older kid through an amazing transformation too—one that turns her from a wishy-washy crowd-follower into someone who makes her own decisions, regardless of what her friends do.

Of course, spring isn’t just bunnies and daffodils; there’s important work to done.

For starters, you’ll need to finish your taxes (sorry!). Don’t file them until you’ve read “Make Filing Less Taxing” on page 50—we share savvy pro tips that could save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars, a big help when you’re raising a family. Spring cleaning is another chore many of us tackle right about now, and we’ll show you how to make sure you really do the job right. Just turn to page 52 for Katelin Walling’s article, “Spring Clean It!”. We asked the experts to point out all the nooks and crannies that even the most enthusiastic housecleaners (not that we know any of those!) tend to overlook. Once you’re done de-griming them, you can rest easy knowing that your house is deep-down clean for you and your kids.

Just as soon as you’ve gotten your house ready for warmer weather, you’ll start thinking about summertime. Have you made your child’s camp plans yet? Starting your search now will give you the time to find a program that really resonates with your kid’s personality and brings out his full potential. Read Stacey Ebert’s wonderful piece on page 18, “How Camp Prepares Kids for College,” to learn how a positive summer experience can help your child flourish not just now, but years down the road. Then check out our amazing new camp chart on page 32. We know you’re busy, so we made it easy for you to scan different camps’ services and offerings at a glance. With so many great choices listed, you’re bound to found the ideal program. It’s just one more reason to “spring forward” with plenty of energy and optimism. Enjoy!

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

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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

BRING YOUR CAMP GROUP AND LEARN ABOUT SCIENCE, HISTORY AND SERVICE.

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Let us tailor a complete itinerary for your camp group, with options like private tours, scavenger hunts, simulator rides and more. The Museum’s Education Department also offers programs for campers ages 4–18 in July and August.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION, CONTACT OUR GROUP SALES TEAM AT GROUPSALES@INTREPIDMUSEUM.ORG OR 646-381-5010.

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intrepidmuseum.org 2018 © Intrepid Museum Foundation. All Rights Reserved. Except as permitted under applicable law, this work may not be copied, published, disseminated, displayed, performed or played without permission of the copyright holder.

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raising kids new places, new programs

Courtesy Chelsea Pier

In addition to a variety of sports camps, Che lsea Piers Connecticu weeklong soccer cam t offers p programs for ages 6-18.

Courtesy Camp Pinebrook

Who: Chelsea Piers Connecticut What’s New: Ninja and Parkour Camp, which will be offered all summer after a popular one-week trial last year.

The program, inspired by American Ninja Warrior, is for ages 5-13.

“The trend in reality TV shows depicting competitions has certainly increased interest in this type of activity,” says Richard Grundy, camp director. “The gymnastics facility allows children to practice in a safe environment.”

Chelsea Piers Connecticut also offers a variety of sports camps for children ages 3-18, including baseball, basketball, dance, gymnastics, ice-skating, swimming, hockey, lacrosse, and tennis.

Registration for the summer camp programs is now open, and early-bird registration runs through April 30.

Want More Info: 1 Blachley Road, Stamford, CT; 203-989-1000; chelseapiersct.com/summer-camp; info@chelseapiersct.com

s Connecticut

Chelsea Piers Connecticut to Offer Ninja and Parkour Camp

Reform Jewish Day Camp to Open in New Rochelle Who: Camp Pinebrook What’s New: The summer day camp, which will open for its first season this summer. The summer camp, for ages 4-8, will run June 25-Aug. 17.

Camp director Jesse Gallop says he created the camp due to a need for a Reform Jewish day camp for children in the area. On select Fridays throughout the summer, the camp will celebrate Shabbat with a barbecue, activities, and service, which parents and other family members may attend.

Daily activities, which will be held in the camp’s brandnew facilities, will include instructional and free swim, sports, games, arts and crafts, drama, music, science, cooking, nature activities, and Jewish experiences. The camp will also offer door-to-door transportation, towel service, and daily lunch.

Want More Info: 1000 Pinebrook Blvd., New Rochelle; 914-813-8700; camppinebrook.com 8

March 2018 | nymetroparents.com

ipate in a variety of activities daily,

Children at Camp Pinebrook will partic including arts and crafts.

At The Little Gym, we complement the traditional school experience with unique classes that revolve around active play. Our students are encouraged to jump, flip, and swing their way towards increased health, focus, knowledge, and happiness.

Big Discoveries at The Little Gym. Find your kid's happy place with an Introductory Experience!

The Little Gym of Scarsdale tlgscarsdaleny.com 914-722-0072 The Little Gym of Upper West Side tlgupperwestsideny.com 212-799-1225

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enrolling for Spring Semester!

Parent/Child Classes • Pre-K Gymnastics Grade School Gymnastics • Dance Karate • Sports Skills • Awesome Birthday Bashes Parents’ Survival Nights • Camps WestchesterParent

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raising kids in the know

5 Things Parents Should Know About Bad Behavior ››

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

P

arenting is easy,” said no one ever. It involves dealing with endless laundry, poop, and stomach viruses, plus making lunches, grocery shopping, cleaning up messes, and much more. It sometimes can be a thankless job, but it’s the job for which we signed up. We parent out of love, and mostly, even with the work, it’s a joy. However, there is a lot of unpleasantness that isn’t an inevitable part of the job, namely dealing with kids’ whining, complaining, tantrums, and wheedling. These button-pushing, parentprovoking behaviors are mostly learned, but they can be unlearned in a flash. When that happens, parenting becomes less like a job and a lot more fun.

Here, Catherine Pearlman, Ph.D., LCSW, author of Ignore It!: How Selectively Looking The Other Way Can Decrease Behavioral Problems and Increase Parenting Satisfaction, shares five important points parents should know about kids’ annoying and attention-seeking behaviors.

“

1. Kids whine, complain, and negotiate all for one simple reason: because it works. Begging for an ice pop or complaining about having to eat broccoli tends to get the desired response. Either kids get to avoid something they don’t want to do, or they get something they desperately want, like another brownie or more screen time. If the behavior doesn’t produce these rewards, children will find other, more appropriate ways to behave.

2. Behavior that is reinforced will be repeated. Kids are smart cookies. Once they break the parenting code and figure out how to get more of what they want and less of

what they don’t, they will use these effective techniques to their advantage. Children aren’t deviant monsters; they are just learning from their parents how to work the system. If you knew what to do to get a free Frappuccino at Starbucks, wouldn’t you do it?

3. When parents change how they respond to a behavior, the behavior changes. The good news is children notice very quickly when their tried-and-true behaviors are no longer effective. If kids throw a tantrum but it gets them nothing, they decide it’s not worth it.

When arguing and begging for more screen time produces no more time and no additional attention, kids give it up.

4. To avoid rewarding or reinforcing misbehavior, ignore it. Once you’ve said “no” to a pack of gum at Target or a balloon at the stationery store, ignore the whining and complaining. Also ignore it when your child tries to negotiate for fewer carrots at dinner, or burps for attention. Without any reward, kids will quickly drop these behaviors. Why would kids beg, whine, or negotiate if nothing comes of it?

5. Ignore the misbehavior, not the child. Kids still need attention, so give it to them, just not following misbehavior. Instead, catch them when they’re listening, being kind, or following directions, then reward them for those actions. An important caveat of ignoring misbehavior: Don’t ignore your child’s pain or anyone who is in pain as a result of your child’s behavior.

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

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March 2018 | nymetroparents.com

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

Program Dates: July 2 - August 17, 2018 8:45 am to 3:45 pm

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4 Weeks

$2,640

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3 Weeks

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$1,320

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1 Week

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No Discount

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Lunch and Transportation Included Accredited Summer School Program

100 Overlook Circle, New Rochelle, NY

914.632.8836 www.td.edu WestchesterParent 11

raising kids voices

Fear Not, Little One

››

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

I

was afraid of many things as a child. From thunder and lightning to E.T. and our neighbor’s dog, I always found something to freak out about. I was leery of department stores and getting lost in their maze-like clothing racks. I was so scared of the board game Operation that I had to wear earmuffs to mask the constant buzzing sound when my older sister played with her friends. I couldn’t even look at my father’s heavy-duty liquid soap bottle because the giant greasy hands on it were totally terrifying to me.

This summer my daughter turned 2 years old, and as all the parenting literature promised, she started to develop some fears herself. Despite my own experience with this, I felt helpless and perplexed. Rather than a gradual introduction to shock and fright, we’ve been dealing with the sudden appearance of fears, some from seemingly nowhere. My once-fearless toddler started clinging to me if a dad entered the playground, and crying if strangers looked at her for too long in the grocery store. The “stranger danger” was short lived, but she still gets very irritable when unfamiliar men are around.

My daughter still seemed fairly intrepid this summer, swimming (with assistance from her floaties!) in the Hudson River or socializing with a new playgroup—until the smoke alarm in her bedroom went off three times in one evening. From then on, bedtime, naptime, and anything within one hour of these sacred rituals became riddled with anxiety triggers. It would start with some clinginess during her pre-bed meal, then tears while I was cleaning up, which led to protests at going upstairs and reading books, then screaming “No beep beep!” until it erupted into a full-blown meltdown on her bedroom floor. It was impossible to stop and heartbreaking to witness.

My brave little girl was completely distraught, and I felt powerless to comfort her. So I learned a slightly different kind of parenting, with plenty of listening and less talking, and more creative problem solving than usual. I soon realized that my daughter desperately wanted to talk about the “beep beep,” so

I gave her every opportunity to repeat the story of what happened that night. “Beep beep. Daddy fixed it. We go outside,” she would say over and over again, recounting how the alarm blared, my husband shut it off, and then we went outside to call our local fire department just to make sure there wasn’t any carbon monoxide setting off the alarm. She wanted to put Elmo stickers on the alarm, so I found our tallest stool and managed to stick a few around its perimeter on her bedroom ceiling.

Then I started pointing out all the happy beeps that we hear throughout the day. The microwave, which means her breakfast sausage is ready! My phone alarm, which means it’s time to get ready for preschool! Or the “beep beep” of her grandmother’s car just parked in our driveway, which always means a fun, lollipop-fueled visit. We even tried an at-home version of art therapy, drawing a picture of her bedroom together, her crib surrounded by books and stuffed animals, and the all-important “beep beep” at the top right-hand corner, with Elmo stickers nearby, of course.

Our journey from fearless to fearful and back again just goes to show that I’ll probably never parent the same exact kid or in the same exact ways two years in a row, and that’s a good thing because it helps both me and my daughter grow. The first year was all about patience (breast-feeding, sleep regressions, and teething, for starters), but the second year has been about becoming more flexible and nimble, always ready to meet her wherever she needs me.

A few weeks ago, my daughter’s bedtime routine went back to normal. She stopped talking about the “beep beep” entirely.

It fell off her list of hot topics, which currently includes pigs, birthdays (dates, cakes, songs, presents, all of it), and the names of all her friends’ baby brothers and sisters. But now, instead of screaming out from her crib in fear, she’s shouting out in anger.

“Put my arm under the blankie! Put my arm under!” she demands with increasing frustration.

It’s been a long, cold winter. But at least she’s not afraid of Jack Frost—yet.

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

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March 2018 | nymetroparents.com

HUDSON COUNTRY

MONTESSORI SCHOOL

SUMMER CAMP 2018 IT'S ALL ABOUT

914.449.4128 www.hudsoncountry.org | info@hudsoncountry.org ESTABLISHED 1972 | 340 QUAKER RIDGE ROAD NEW ROCHELLE, NY 10804 WestchesterParent 13

things to do

diy corner

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

Things you need Felt pen or a pencil Fake fur material Compass or large roll of tape as a template Scissors Needle and strong thread Toy stuffing / wadding Small coin, 1 inch in diameter Small piece of felt 2 shoe clips Glue gun Directions 1. Draw two circles on your fur material, roughly 4¾ inches in diameter—a full roll of sticky tape is a good size to draw round.

2. Cut out the circles with scissors and put one to one side.

Thread your needle with a double length of thread, leaving a thread tail of 4 inches. Tack around the edge of the fur disc, using a running stitch.

3. When you get back to where you started, go back out the disc with the needle so now you have two tail ends next to each other. Hold the disc and pull the tail ends to ruche up the disc into a pouch.

4. Put a small amount of stuffing inside the pouch so it fills out, almost into a ball shape. You can also use your fur offcuts for stuffing.

5. Pull the tail ends and tie a knot to close up the opening.

6. Thread a needle onto the tail ends and sew a few stitches to secure. Repeat steps 2-6 to make another pompom.

7. Place your small coin on the felt and draw round it to make two circles. Cut them out. Sew a shoe clip onto each felt disc.

8. Attach the back of each felt disc to the base of a pompom, using a glue gun. Hold in place until the glue dries.

9. Clip the pompoms to your favorite pair of shoes and get dancing!

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

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March 2018 | nymetroparents.com

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THE BEST OF ALL WORLDS Better problem solving.

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Experience the global education of the French-American School of New York Discover the world-class IB Diploma and new all-English 9-12 International Program at our new Mamaroneck campus.

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Request a private tour at admissions@fasny.org

Visit the Westchester Children’s Museum, a vibrant, colorful, interactive place of play and discovery Open Wednesday - Sunday 10am-4pm 100 Playland Parkway, Rye, New York | 914-421-5050 | www.discoverWCM.org WestchesterParent 15

CAMP MARKETPLACE

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March 2018 | nymetroparents.com

online extras The most important things kids learn at camp are the ones you can’t see.

Here are 20 camp lessons we use every day ›› nymetroparents.com/camp-lessons

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

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

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

inside

raising kids camp special

18 How Camp Prepares Kids for College: Sending children to summer camp does more than keep them entertained—it prepares them for collegiate life.

22 C amp Directory: Find day camps, specialty camps, and sleepaway camps in and near Westchester County.

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

How Camp Prepares Kids for College ››

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

A

t age 7 I went to day camp and by 10 I began going to sleepaway camp. Summer after summer I yearned for the end of school with excitement, though always with trepidation and a dash of worry as well. But the minute I opened the car door or the bus pulled up to my camp I was home, and that feeling never waned.

Eight years after my first sleepaway camp experience, I headed off to college and that same mixture of emotions came along for the ride. Drawing on my camp experience, I was happy to discover, made the transition easier. Remembering the fun that superseded the fear, the compassion that outranked the chaos, and the learning that leveled the playing field helped more than any college preparatory book I could have read or any “what to know before you go to college” podcast I could have listened to (if those had existed at the time, of course!). What

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March 2018 | nymetroparents.com

my camp friends and I learned stayed with us, transferred to others, and wove itself into the fabric of our being. As a camper and counselor, camp gave me the informal credits I needed to prepare for college. Here are 10 things I learned at camp that helped with the transition:

Learn to accept change.

This is probably the most significant lesson from camp that translates to college and then to life. Learning the only things we have control over are our attitudes, outlook, and responses is not an easy feat. Our cabins were decided before we arrived, and sometimes our friends weren’t with us, or perhaps new friends left before the summer’s end. Counselors shifted each session, and the new ones had very different personalities than our previous leaders. We could fight these changes, be angry

CAMP MARKETPLACE

when they happened, and let it ruin our camp experience, or we could find a way to accept the change, experience the new, and learn and grow. In college, friendships, roommates, and even majors change. Dealing with change isn’t easy, but it’s fantastically necessary. As we progress in years, the changes we deal with get more difficult, so our ability to accept what we can’t change must grow—and camp starts that process.

Be flexible and go with the flow.

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

Embrace and learn from diversity.

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

Don’t be afraid to be yourself.

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

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 19

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those lessons we reach for in the dorm room during moments that are coupled with the fear that we might not be enough.

Everyone gets homesick.

Perhaps it happened after you read a letter or email from home.

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

Respect yourself and others.

Camp provides us freedoms we might not have at home while encouraging us to make good choices, take care of ourselves, and use good judgment. These lessons continue after we leave the grounds in August. Camp discourages bullying, teaches us to speak up for fellow campers and ourselves, and reminds us that although we’re away from home and school our character still counts and our actions have consequences. College life comes with privileges of freedoms, new people and attitudes, and many of the same choices as camp. Remembering the advice of camp counselors from our youth who constantly reminded us to respect ourselves stays with us and often pops up in critical moments when we have difficult choices to make.

Share your skills and your stuff.

Jill always brought the coolest clothes and stuff to camp. No one knew more about all things agricultural than Erin. Mr. Bill could fix everything, and his wife made the best iced tea in the world (well, according to us). Carolyn showed us how to make a one-match fire, and Maryanne introduced us to our favorite crumb cake recipe. Some people shared stuff, some shared knowledge, and others shared experiences—and it all mattered.

Those who had something to share felt good knowing they were able to help someone else. Those who benefited from the generosity felt a connection, a boost in positivity, and often a desire to continue to pay it forward. College is much the same. Sometimes it’s as simple as sharing a pizza, lending out a sweatshirt, copying class notes for a sick friend, or explaining a statistics problem at 3am to your stressed out roommate. At camp we borrowed clothes, lent encouragement, and shared our knowledge. It was never about who had or knew the most or the best of anything; it was about those with the biggest hearts, the kindest ears, and the ability to be there. It mattered then, and it will continue to matter throughout college and the years thereafter.

Everyone has something to teach and to learn.

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

Don’t be afraid to ask for help.

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

Face your fears.

Nature’s creepy crawlies wound their webs in all sorts of knobby corners at camp, and our bathrooms were outside.

Then there was the swim test in the first days of the season.

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

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

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CAMP MARKETPLACE

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

CAMPS & ACADEMIES

Held at 150 Prestigious Universities NYU | NYIT | Manhattanville College Columbia | Sarah Lawrence College

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

TWIN LAKES FARM "Where Westchester Learns To Ride!"

Riding Camp!

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 21

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.

Beth El Day Camp

1324 North Ave., New Rochelle 914-235-2700 bethelnr.org/daycamp jrockowitz@bethelnr.org The Day Camp at Beth El provides a safe, fun-filled caring experience for children ages 2-8. We believe that a child’s growth is a process involving physical, mental, emotional, and social development. We are eight weeks, and offer a large 30-by-60-foot outdoor

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pool, sports with a professional coaching staff, and loads of special events. Registered nurse on premises all day! Kosher lunches and gluten-free options! Visit betheldaycamp.org or contact Julie Rockowitz at jrockowitz@ bethelnr.org for details.

Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester Camp Adventure

351 Main St., Mount Kisco 914-666-8069 bgcnw.com Summer Adventure Club is a four- or eightweek 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: 9am-4pm, 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 or certified swim instructor. Camp Pinebrook has two pools, athletic fields, a sports court, an amphitheater, and indoor air-conditioned activity space. Included in tuition are 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 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 and soccer fields; a petting zoo; and special events.

Many air-conditioned buildings. Visit us on our website or call for a personal tour.

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 part-time programs, school year and year-round, for children ages 18 months to 5 years, from 8:30am-2:30pm. 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

Mrs. Rebecca McCuller, educational director 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 extend-

CAMP MARKETPLACE ed hours options for campers ages 18 months to 12 years, an optional catered lunch program, and an air-conditioned facility.

Iona College Day Camp

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.

Jodi’s Gym

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-bystep, 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.

Mosholu Day Camp

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!

Oasis Summer Day Camp

Upper Camp: Mercy College 555 Broadway, Dobbs Ferry 646-519-5057 Lower Camp: Masters School 49 Clinton Ave., Dobbs Ferry oasischildren.com dobbs@oasischildren.com Oasis Camp offers programs for children ages 3 years to sixth grade! With facilities in Manhattan, Queens, Long Island, Westchester, and New Jersey, Oasis features mature staff with low camper-to-staff ratio and a warm environment in which kids can participate in activities tailored to their interests. The Early Start camp for kids ages 3 years to kindergarten offers sports, daily Red Cross swim, arts, dance, theater, and a Ready for September enrichment program. The Traditional Camp (first-sixth grades) provides campers with sports, crafts, theater, dance, and Red Cross Swim.

Teen Travel has daily trips, team building, and overnights.

S RE E I T E R H A N N P PPE

FU HA

Squire Camps Inc. 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!

BOOK YOUR DATE TODAY! Chelsea Piers is the area’s top destination for awesome birthday parties, offering fun activities for kids of all ages.

203.989.1004

chelseapiersCT.com/birthday

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Summer Stars at Scarsdale Synagogue

Westchester Jewish Center (WJC) Day Camp

2 Ogden Road, Scarsdale 914-723-3001 bit.ly/metrosummer mazeltots@sstte.org Summer Stars is the perfect place for your child’s first camp experience. Friendships and children grow as they engage in fun, stimulating summer activities.

Campers are engaged in activities including sports, music, art, story time, water play, and special theme days. Our new playground features life-sized playhouses, a garden, and two climbing structures. We offer a three-day option for ages 18-30 months and a five-day option for ages 2-5 years from June 25-Aug. 10.

Ages 3-5 may choose a half-day (9am-12pm) option or a full-day (9am-2pm) option.

914-698-2767 Palmer and Rockland avenues, Mamaroneck (Use 175 Rockland Ave. for GPS purposes.) wjcenter.org WJC’s Early Childhood Camp Program provides a fun summer experience in a safe, secure, and nurturing environment. Early Childhood teachers and teen counselors gear activities to the needs of our young campers, ages 2-5. Dance, music, art, soccer, cooking, yoga, nature, science, and outdoor and water play fill the days. Examples of special weekly events that round out the schedule might include petting zoos, puppet shows, PJ Library Story Time and Sing-Along, and “Truck Day.” Sixweek program offered with flexible enrollment available. Call 914698-2767 for more information.

Teatown Lake Reservation

Westchester Summer Day

1600 Spring Valley Road, Ossining 914-762-2912 teatown.org Teatown’s Natural Science Summer Day Camp is jam-packed with adventure, discovery, and hands-on fun in the outdoors.

We’re catching frogs, collecting bugs, climbing rocks, and exploring natural habitats all summer long! Teatown Camp brings kids outside to learn about and explore the natural world in four two-week sessions that provide age-specific activities to encourage the spirit of discovery.

Each session includes exploration and creative play that fosters children’s innate curiosity while teaching ecology and stewardship in Teatown’s abundant meadows, forests, lakes, and streams.

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-to-door transportation and lunch are included. With an instructional pool on-site, swim instruction and recreational swim are major components of the program.

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856 Orienta Ave., Mamaroneck 914-698-8900 x134 westchesterday.org jney@westchesterday.org Westchester Summer Day, located on the Long Island Sound, offers an unmatched summer experience in which children have fun, learn, and grow in a safe and nurturing environment. Our highly trained and caring staff includes teachers, sports and art specialists, lifeguards, and a full-time nurse. Our professional staff works together to ensure each child is happy all summer long. WSD promotes Jewish values and engages children in a host of fun activities within the framework of the modern orthodox tradition.

WSD provides nutritious, kosher lunch and snacks daily.

White Plains Family YMCA

250 Mamaroneck Ave. 914-949-8030 whiteplains.ymca-cnw.org hbell@ymca-cnw.org zswierat@ymca-cnw.org mlozada@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 in which your child can grow and learn, and maybe one day be one of our counselors! All camps have inclu-

March 2018 | nymetroparents.com

sion 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!

OUTINGS FOR CAMPS Sportime USA

380 Saw Mill River Road, Elmsford 914-592-2111 x2 sportimeusa.com Come to Sportime USA, where the sun always shines! Sportime USA is the ideal place for your next camp trip. Fully air-conditioned with a restaurant on premises. Activities for all ages include laser tag, four-dimensional motion theater, rock-climbing wall, bumper cars, Himalaya coaster rides, more than 200 video and prize ticket games, batting cages, billiards, foam ball blaster arena, and soft play zone. Organized check-in and personalized service have made us the premier choice for camps and groups, year after year. Come out of the heat and rain and step into the fun.

Westchester Children’s Museum

100 Playland Parkway, Rye 914-421-5050 discoverwcm.org/field-trips discoverwcm.org/birthday-parties earlychildhood@discoverwcm.org The Westchester Children’s Museum provides a unique, interactive venue for summer camp field trips. Available to camp groups on Mondays and Tuesdays when the museum is closed to the general public, we offer self-guided or educator-guided STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, mathematics) enrichment and play-based experiential learning.

Activities in our 6,500 square feet of interactive galleries range from the physics of rollercoaster design to the science, art, and design challenges of our MakerSpaces.

Space available for dining (no food provided, must bring own).

SLEEPAWAY CAMPS Camp Huntington

56 Bruceville Road, High Falls 855-707-2267 camphuntington.com dfalk@camphuntington.com Camp Huntington, a coed, residential summer camp for children and young adults with autism, and related developmental and learning disabilities, and ADD.

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

Campus Kids Weekday Sleep-Away Camp 973-845-9260 campuskids.com Campus Kids is the weekday sleepaway camp: Monday through Friday at camp and home with the family on weekends. Transportation is included from Westchester and Rockland.

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

SPECIALTY CAMPS Artistree Performing Arts

114 W. Boston Post Road, Mamaroneck 914-835-2200 artistreearts.com heather@artistreearts.com Artistree Performing Arts is a performing arts studio offering classes and camps for children preschool-high school. We strive to foster a community of performers who can build confidence and friendships in a supportive and engaging environment. Camp Artistree runs spring break (April 2-6), and all summer (June 11-Aug. 31) for ages 3 and older. Musical Theater Intensives include Seussical (July 9-27) for students going into first-fourth grades, and Putnam County Spelling Bee (July 9-27) and Footloose (July 30-Aug. 17) for students going into fourth-12th grades. Outdoor time at Harbor Island every day! continued on page 26 ››

CAMP MARKETPLACE

ABOUT WESTCHESTER SUMMER DAY WSD OFFERS CHILDREN ENTERING NURSERY THROUGH 6TH GRADE A FUN, SAFE AND EXCITING ENVIRONMENT ALL INFUSED WITH JEWISH CULTURE & ZIONIST VALUES. Our program includes boating and sailing on the Long Island Sound, in-ground heated pools, superior sports program, robotics, arts & crafts, rock climbing, zip lining, and exciting trips in house kosher catering, plus much more!

2018 SEASON: JUNE 25TH - AUGUST 16TH TO SCHEDULE A TOUR OF OUR 26 ACRES: CALL US! PHONE: 914-698-8900 EXT: 153 856 Orienta Ave. Mamaroneck, NY 10543 www.westchesterday.org/WSD registration2018 WestchesterParent 25

CAMP MARKETPLACE OPEN HOUSE:

SATURDAY – MARCH 10TH 1-4 PM!

Winner 2017 Inspectors Choice Award!

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

Offering Stimulating Courses Like...

• Computers • Robotics • Digital Photography

• Theater • Swimming • Sports ...and many more!

Extended Day Available | Hot Lunches Included Transportation Available Hartsdale, New York Call: 914.328.3798 Email: Squirecamps@gmail.com

Summer Arts Program!

The ideal setting for a stimulating & enjoyable summer

June 25 - July 27 Students entering grades 2-10 are provided with an individually tailored program featuring: • Instrument Classes • Ensembles & Chamber Music • Visual Arts • Music Technology Instruction • World Drumming • Piano for Non-Pianists • Jazz Jams • Rock • Musical Theater • AND MORE!!

ENROLLING NOW!

Early-bird discounts available through March 30

Outstanding education by a world-class faculty!

WESTCHESTER’S PREMIER COMMUNITY MUSIC SCHOOL

www.hbms.org • hb@hbms.org 25 School Lane, Scarsdale • 914-723-1169

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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). Camp Clio campers and counselors, themselves adopted and serving as role models, share the intimacy and safety of being with other adopted friends, providing the opportunity to share feelings and adoption stories with others who understand adoption without explanation because they are “just like me”—all in a fun camp environment. Camp Clio Teen: July 1-13. Camp Clio Youth: July 1-21. Campers may come for one or more sessions.

Scholarships available.

Camp Huntington

56 Bruceville Road, High Falls 855-707-2267 camphuntington.com dfalk@camphuntington.com Camp Huntington, a coed, residential summer camp for children and young adults with autism, and related developmental and learning disabilities, and ADD. Ability levels mild to moderatesevere. Located in High Falls in the beautiful Catskill Mountain region, the camp provides therapeutically and instructionally designed recreation programs in summer and certain weekends during the year. Programs offer structured daily activities designed to be safe, learning-based, fun, and rewarding. Positive reinforcement motivates children to be happy and participate meaningfully. Activities encourage improvement in selfmanagement and independence, and advancement in social and life skills. camphuntington.com.

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 IceSkating, in our state-of-theart, 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 three to 10).

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 through 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 914200-1520.

Clay Art Center

40 Beech St., Port Chester 914-937-2047 x222 Kelly O’Sullivan, youth director clayartcenter.org/summercamp mail@clayartcenter.org Discover the art of summer: make friends, memories, and art! Clay Art Center offers weekly themed, half- and fullday clay camps for ages 6-15 from July 2-Aug. 31. Taught by ceramic artists who specialize in kindling a passion for creative expression in children. Register before April 9 to receive a 10-percent discount. 40 Beech St., Port Chester. 914-9372047, clayartcenter.org/ summercamp.

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, 3D Game Development, Build A Computer, 3D 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.

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

Multiple locations in Westchester County 888-909-2822 destinationscience.org info@destinationscience.org Destination Science kids experience “Aha!” moments of understanding, creativity, and curiosity while engineering, building, experimenting, and playing with astonishing gadgets and fantastic gizmos. Our top notch, enthusiastic educators make STEM learning an adventure!

Build Soccer-Bots and Rube Cube Goldberg-like contraptions; roller coasters, carnivals, and marine explorers; build and train four robots and engineer with techno toys; build a dinosaur roverbot and launch to a fantastical planet. 2018 topics: Science Makers and Inventors Camp, Amusement Park Science Camp, Transforming Robots Camp, and Rovers Rocketing to Space Camp.

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 and jump in without knowing how to save himself?

Let us help you! One-on-1 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 Spring Break Camp and Pre-Summer Camp Larchmont Campus 111 Larchmont Ave., Larchmont 914-413-3665 fasny.org/camps camps@fasny.org Our French immersion camps offer fun activities for children ages 3-11 including music in French, cooking, arts and crafts, plus field trips and special events once a week.

Spring Break Camp offered April 9-20. Pre-summer camp offered June 25-29.

CAMP MARKETPLACE

2018 Summer Camp www.computeradventures.com

Full-day or Half-day Sessions Week 1: 6/25 to 6/29 Week 2: 7/02 to 7/06 (closed on 7/04) Week 3: 7/09 to 7/13 Week 4: 7/16 to 7/20

Week 5: Week 6: Week 7: Week 8: Week 9:

7/23 to 7/27 7/30 to 8/03 8/06 to 8/10 8/13 to 8/17 8/20 to 8/24

Future Stars Summer Camps

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-of-the-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-to-door transportation from most of Westchester available. continued on next page ››

LEADING EDGE TECHNOLOGY TOPICS: Virtual Reality Apps Creation 3D Game Development Build A Computer Drone Programming 3D Modeling/Printing

MORE TOPICS ON....…

Coding/Programming Languages Game Design Animation Graphics Robotics Minecraft Electronics

605 Millwood Road (Route 133), Mount Kisco, NY 10549 (914) 218-8175 WestchesterParent 27

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Gymcats Gymnastics Summer Camp

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.

Golf Camp at the Mitchell Spearman Golf Academy

READY. SET.

GOddard!

We help children explore and discover their interests through play in a safe environment. Highly trained teachers gently guide and encourage children every step of the way as they grow, develop and achieve important milestones.

CALL TODAY! HASTINGS ON HUDSON • 914-478-1390 1 Jackson Avenue

GoddardSchool.com The Goddard Schools are operated by independent franchisees under a license agreement with Goddard Systems, Inc. Programs and ages may vary. © Goddard Systems, Inc. 2017.

License #546763

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800-733-1653 spearmanjuniorgolf.com The premiere golf experience in Westchester and voted Best Junior Golf Instruction in New York! Camps are designed for juniors ages 4 (PeeWee session) to older teens, with all skill levels welcome. Groups are divided by similar age and skill.

From putting and short game training to swing development and on-course play, we make it our mission to provide a fun and exciting learning environment. Each junior has a swing reviewed and analyzed by Top-100 golf teacher Mitchell Spearman. Safe, fun, effective: Our specialty is junior golf! See website for details.

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.

iD Tech Camps

888-709-TECH (8324) idtech.com iD Tech is the world’s No. 1 summer STEM program for ages 7-18 held at 150 prestigious universities including Manhattanville College, Sarah Lawrence College, Columbia University, NYU, and NYIT. With worldclass instructors and innovative courses in coding, game development, robotics, and design, our programs instill in-demand skills that embolden students to shape the future. Learn more at idtech.com.

Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum Camp Intrepid

Pier 86, West 46th Street and Twelfth Avenue 646-381-5166 intrepidmuseum.org camp@intrepidmuseum.org An amazing summer awaits campers at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum.

Campers in kindergarten-fifth grades explore themes like aviation, space exploration, and engineering during our funfilled day camps. School break camps are now offered March 26–30 and April 2-6! Summer camps start June 25 and include themes like Tinker Time, Spy Science, and Superheroes: Time for Action! All camps are Monday–Friday, 9am–5pm.

For more information, call 646-381-5166 or email camp@ intrepidmuseum.org.

ISG Gymnastics

Annie Pipia and Joann Distler, directors 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 funfilled, unique way to celebrate a birthday complete with trampo-

line, balance beams, bars, vault, tumbling, and air castle. All ages, 1 through teens. Age-appropriate program and equipment. Fun for all!

Jete Dance Studio

114 Pearl St., Suite 1B, Port Chester 914-305-3331 jetedancestudio.com info@jetedancestudio.com Jete Dance Studio is offering the best-priced mini summer dance camps in Westchester. Less than $150 a week includes 10 weekly dance classes, art projects, and special weekly themes. Camps include Petit Jete Campers (ages 3-5½) and Grand Jete Campers (ages 6-12). Camp runs seven weeks (June 25-Aug. 10). Dance classes include ballet, jazz, hiphop, tap, contemporary, salsa, and yoga. Call to reserve your spot and mention Westchester Parent to receive $20 off toward summer camp. Open seven days a week, limited space available.

Birthday parties and special events offered.

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 curric-

CAMP MARKETPLACE

ulum 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!

Continuing Education

SUMMER 2018

SERIOUS FOUNDATION. SERIOUS FUN.

Youth & Precollege Programs in the Arts Grades 4-8 / Grades 9-12

1, 2, & 4 Week Programs June 25–August 3 Architecture, Creative Writing, Digital Arts, Filmmaking, Journalism, Music, Performing Arts, Visual Arts

Save the Date: Open House is Saturday, April 21 Register by May 4 to receive Early Registration Discount

www.purchase.edu/youth

summer 2018

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 With two conveniently located facilities in Westchester County—Port Chester and Mount Kisco—ProSwing provides the ideal baseball and softball indoor training center for all ages and skill levels. We take pride in having the best staff and the most programs and services available. We offer organized individual and group lessons, personal training classes, instructional clinics, and multisport day and summer programs for all ages. In addition, our facilities are available for team and individual workouts, special events, and birthday parties for children and adults. continued on next page ››

SUNYPURCHASECOLLEGE

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

TENNIS • SOCCER • BASEBALL • BASKETBALL • FOOTBALL • LACROSSE • CHESS • RISING STARS DIVING • ACADEMIC • CHEERLEADING • FIELD HOCKEY • SWIM • HORSEBACK RIDING • MAGIC S.T.E.A.M. EDU • CIRCUS ARTS • VOLLEYBALL • SOFTBALL • MULTI-SPORTS • ADVENTURE

914.273.8500

fscamps.com WestchesterParent 29

CAMP MARKETPLACE

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

Save $30/wk!

Ends 3/31/18

4 Westchester Locations destinationscience.org 888-909-2822

Dance Studio

Special Discounts on spring semester and summer camps 10% off remaining spring semester

• Preschool Ballet • Ballet • Contemporary • Birthday Parties

• Tap • Salsa • Hip Hop • Jazz

Jete Dance Studio 114 Pearl St. Suite 1B, Port Chester • 914-305-3331 Jetedancestudio.com • info@jetedancestudio.com Your director: Stephanie Knox

$20 coupon towards summer camp

Private & Semi-Private Lessons | Team Training Mini-Sluggers Clinics After School and Summer Programs Saturday Clinics Strength & Conditioning | Travel Teams Birthday Parties | Catching & Pitching Clinics

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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 semiprivate lessons. New this year is 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!

Purchase College Summer Youth and Precollege Programs in the Arts

Purchase College, 735 Anderson Hill Road, Purchase 914-251-6500 purchase.edu/youth youth.pre.college@purchase.edu laura.vuli@purchase.edu Summer Youth and Precollege Programs in the Arts at Purchase College, State University of New York! For more than 40 years, these programs have been much more than camps. Summer students experience a rich environment full of exciting beginnings, new friends and achievements, and growth and independence. They are immersed in a variety of exciting and enriching learning opportunities, such as songwriting, acting, architecture, visual arts, creative writing, filmmaking, video game and app creation, voice, journalism, and STEM programs. Visit us at purchase. edu/youth to learn more.

Contact Laura Vuli with questions: laura.vuli@purchase. edu or 914-251-6511.

Steffi Nossen School of Dance

216 Central Park Ave., White Plains 914-328-1900 Church of St. Mary the Virgin, South Greeley Avenue, Chappaqua steffinossen.org Experience the joy of dance! Fun, high-quality dance programs for all ages and levels June 11–Aug. 17! Weekly Story Book Camps June 11-July 20; Moving Wheels and Heels Adaptive Adult Camp June 18–23; Moving Wheels and Heels Adaptive Kids Camp June 25-28; Dance Camp (first -fifth grades) July 9-20; Musical Theater Intensive (sixth grade and older), and Musical Theater Kids (second-fifth grades) July 23–Aug. 3; Summer Dance Intensives I for fifth-eighth grades, and Summer Dance Intensive II for advanced dancers Aug. 6–17.

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.

Summer Kids College at Westchester Community College Extension Centers

Multiple Locations in Westchester Ossining: 914-606-7400 ossining@sunywcc.edu Peekskill: 914-606-7300 peekskill@sunwcc.edu White Plains: 914-606-7500 arts@sunywcc.edu sunywcc.edu/locations/ extension-centers-course-schedules Westchester Community College has opportunities for youth at Ossining, Peekskill, and White Plains Extension Centers. These centers explore science, digital arts, and fine arts. See sunywcc. edu/locations.

Sylvan Learning Centers

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 lesson or join us prior to the start of camp to become comfortable in the saddle.

Westchester & Fairfield Swim Camp at Pace University in Pleasantville

914-588-2971 westfairswim.com kpalladino@westfairswim.com Westchester and 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 and 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!

CAMP MARKETPLACE

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.

The Windward School Summer Program

Christopher Q. Eberhard, director of the Summer Program Christine Teahan, co-director 40 W. Red Oak Lane, White Plains 914-949-6968 x1250 thewindwardschool.org/ summerprogram 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 improving their skills or enriching 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. Half- and fullday 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.

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Alcott School alcottschool.org

Camp Cavise dancecavise.com

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Camp Funkist: YWCA White Plains ywcaypcw.org

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Camp Huntington camphuntington.com

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Camp Pinebrook camppinebrook.com

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Camp Ramaquois ramaquois.com Cardinal Baseball Camp cardinalbaseballcamp.com Challenge Camp challengecamps.com Chelsea Piers Connecticut chelseapiersct.com Computer Adventures computeradventures.com Corbin’s Crusaders Sports Club corbinscrusader.com

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Creative Corner creativecornerlarchmont.com

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Curtain Call Inc. curtaincallinc.com

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

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Fine Arts

Special Needs

Nature/Petting Zoo

CIT (counselor-in-training)

Travel

Horseback Riding

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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CAMP MARKETPLACE

THE WINDWARD SCHOOL

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

June 25 - July 27, 2018

• Reading, writing, math, science, arts, drama, sports, computers, and more • Courses taught by Windward-trained faculty • Morning academic courses and afternoon activities • Academic courses structured around the School’s research-based, multisensory curriculum

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

ENROLL ONLINE FOR SPRING & SUMMER! CLASSES FOR AGES 3-18 | BIRTHDAY PARTIES FOR AGES 1-12 CAMP ARTISTREE FOR AGES 3-18 SPRING BREAK AND ALL SUMMER LONG!

OWNERS – HEATHER AND PETER CAPELLE ARTISTREEARTS.COM • (914) 835-2200 • 114 W. BOSTON POST RD. MAMARONECK

ENROLL NOW

Scarsdale Synagogue Temples Tremont & Emanu-El 2 Ogden Road, Scarsdale, NY 10583

Nursery School & Summer Programs

Full Activity Day Camp Infused with Jewish Values • Ages 4-8 Located in lower Westchester County www.CampPinebrook.com • 914.813.8700

For Children 18 months through Age 5 www.sstte.org | 914-723-3001

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Hudson Country Montessori School hudsoncountry.org

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Music Conservatory of Westchester musicconservatory.org

Oasis in Dobbs Ferry oasiskids.com

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LinguaKids LLC linguakids.com

New Rochelle Racquet Club finrrc.us

Challenge Courses

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Mosholu Day Camp mosholudaycamp.com

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Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum intrepidmuseum.org

MacInspires macinspires.com

Fine Arts

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Hoff-Barthelson Music School goo.gl/8mX6sZ

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

Special Needs

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GymCats Gymnastics gymcats.net

Iona College Day Camp iona.edu

Nature/Petting Zoo

CIT (counselor-in-training)

Travel

Competitive Sports

Theater

STEAM/Robotics

PROGRAMS:

Scholarship

Flexible Scheduling

Extended Hours

Lunch

Transportation

Camp Guide

SERVICES:

Horseback Riding

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MAKE

Junior Golf Camp

DISCOVER THE ART OF SUMMER

June 4- August 31

All Levels Camp Age 6-17 -- PeeWee Camp Age 4-7 Voted Best in Westchester Get Summer Ready – Daily After School Clinics Register Online Today!

www.spearmanjuniorgolf.com / (800) 733-1653 Located at Doral Arrowwood in Rye Brook, Westchester

WJC_ECC_NYMetroParent_v2.pdf

The Center of Our Jewish Lives

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40 Beech Street, Port Chester, NY www.clayartcenter.org | 914.937.2047

11:46 AM

Learn Experience Grow Connect

2018

EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER A safe, nurturing, exciting preschool environment in which children develop a sense of belonging and a love of learning • Reggio-inspired nursery school program, ages 2-5 • Extended Day with Special Electives • Mommy & Me and Baby Group • Mini-Camps & Summer Day Camp • Shabbat & Holiday Experiences

This summer, children ages 5-13 will enjoy exciting, fun filled days at the Iona College camp. Our athletic facilities serve as the setting for an exciting summer. Your child will experience two periods of swimming, sporting events, a variety of dance, arts and crafts and music.

Visit wjcenter.org or contact Sabrina Landau, ECC Director: 914-698-2767 • ecdir@wjcenter.org

Enroll NOW!

We register children all year long!

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.

Call now to plan a Visit

914-200-1520 or visit our website www.cjeg.org

THE MILESTONE SCHOOL SUMMER CAMP A fun-filled day camp geared towards ages 2-8

Age appropriate activities include: Soccer Tennis Capoeira Music Water Play “Early Phonics” Call today for a tour or visit our Website at: themilestoneschool.com

914-667-3478

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Visit Us at NYMetroParents.com

Contact us at mreddington@iona.edu 715 North Avenue, New Rochelle, NY 10801 www.iona.edu\summercamp

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Westchester Jewish Center

6/12/17

Weekly Themed Summer Camps for Children & Teens Ages 6 – 15 | July 2 – August 29, 2018

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Squire Camps squirecamps.com Studio B Dance Center studiobdance.com

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Summer Play Camp at Blue Rock School summerplaycamp.org

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Sylvan Learning Center sylvanlearning.com

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The Chapel School Summer Program

thechapelschool.org

The Goddard School goddardschool.com The Milestone School themilestoneschool.com

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Special Needs

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Competitive Sports

Theater

Horseback Riding

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Westchester Jewish Center wjcenter.org

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Thornton-Donovan Summer Challenge td.edu

PROGRAMS:

Scholarship

Flexible Scheduling

Extended Hours

Lunch

Transportation

Camp Guide

SERVICES:

Travel

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

Camp Clio

Your child's ďŹ rst love, & second home.

Summer at

a seriously fun place for adopted children...

Youths and Teens Camp Clio

(Ages 9 - 12)

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

Camp Clio Teen

(Ages 13 - 16)

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

(914)

793-2799

-Saturday Morning Dance Classes -Mommy & Me 18-30 months -Daily & Weekly Drop in Camps ages 3-10 -Extended Camps through Aug. 30th -Classes Ages 2 & Up 277 White Plains Rd, www.studiobdance.com Eastchester, NY

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Mosholu Day Camp/MMCC Located at Lake Cohasset in Harriman State Park 261 Arden Valley Road Southfield, NY 10975 CALL: 845.243.0751 VISIT: mosholudaycamp.com WestchesterParent 37

things to do

city bound

N Y C

Family Fun in Manhattan Malcolm Pinckney

Courtesy VStar Entertainment Group

W he hile y re ou , v ’r isit e …

The whole patrol shows up for some live action fun!

Who Let the Pups Out?

Riverside Park

Neighboring the Hudson River, this park stretches from 72nd to 158th streets with nature-friendly areas, including the Bird Sanctuary, Garden People’s Garden, Mount Tom, and Cherry Walk. Kids can enjoy visiting one of more than 15 playgrounds throughout the park, from Hippo Playground to Dinosaur Playground and Neufeld (Elephant) Playground.

Visit it: Riverside Drive and 72nd to 158th streets, Upper West Side; 212-873-3070; riversideparknyc.org Can’t-miss event: TNF’s Annual Easter Egg Hunt & Bunny Fun on March 24, 9:30am-3pm Directions: Approximately a 40-minute drive or a 1-hour, 10-minute Metro-North and two subway rides from White Plains

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

Sleep No More

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

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March 2018 | nymetroparents.com

Amanda Gentile

Mitchell Zachs Photography

Fans of the TV show will flip when they see PAW Patrol Live! The Great Pirate Adventure on stage. It’s Pirate Day in Adventure Bay, and Mayor Goodway is getting ready for a big celebration.

But first, Ryder and his team of pirate pups must rescue Cap’n Turbot from a mysterious cavern. When they do, they also discover a secret pirate treasure map. The PAW Patrol sets out over land and sea to find the treasure for Mayor Goodway’s celebration before Mayor Humdinger finds it first. The pups will need all paws on deck for this pirate adventure, including some help from the newest pup, Tracker. The 85-minute show includes a 15-minute intermission. And expect plenty of impressive music, choreography, lights, and special effects. March 22-25, see website for times.

Age: All. $30 and up. The Theater at Madison Square Garden, 4 Pennsylvania Plaza, Midtown. pawpatrollive.com.

Irish Arts Center

Explore Irish heritage at this arts and cultural center with programs in music, dance, language, literary arts, and theater. Kid-friendly programs include Introductory Step Dance, during which families learn the reel and the jig, and Bagpipes: Traditional Irish Music for Kids to learn how to play these Irish pipes.

Visit it: 553 W. 51st St., Hell’s Kitchen; 212-757-3318; irishartscenter.org Can’t-miss event: Annual St. Patrick’s Open Day on March 11, 12pm Directions: Approximately a 1-hour drive or a 1-hour, 10-minute Metro-North and two subway rides from White Plains

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 The Orchid Show (No. 9 on our list).

MARCH

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nymetroparents.com/submitevent UPDATED DAILY AT nymetroparents.com/calendar EDITOR: WHITNEY C. HARRIS calendared@davlermedia.com

CALENDAR

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Editor’s Hot Tickets

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Holiday Fun, Little Foodies

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We Can’t Believe It’s FREE!

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Animal Lovers, Crafty Kids

Mini Musicians, The Great Outdoors

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Show Time!

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On Screen, Movers & Shakers

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Once Upon a Time, Smarty Pants

EDITOR’S HOT TICKETS

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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

‘Decades Rewind’

WHEN: Thursday, March 1, 7:30-9:30pm WHERE: Paramount Hudson Valley Theater, 1008 Brown St., Peekskill AGES: All WHAT: A national touring concert, dance party, and theatrical performance all wrapped up into one blockbuster show celebrating the hits of the ’60s, ’70s, and ’80s. Featuring medleys with songs by artists such as ABBA, Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles, Tina Turner, Chubby Checker, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, Prince, and Bon Jovi.

WHY WE LOVE IT: There’s sure to be a song for every kind of music fan.

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

21st Annual City of White Plains Saint Patrick’s Day Parade FREE WHEN: Saturday, March 10, 12pm WHERE: White Plains, Mamaroneck Avenue and Livingston, parade ends at City Hall, White Plains AGES: All WHAT: Celebrate Irish culture at this festive parade featuring musical performances, including pipe-and-drum bands, floats, and a cultural tour.

WHY WE LOVE IT: The post-parade tour will be packed with as much corned beef and cabbage as your family can eat.

WANT TO GO? whiteplainssaintpatricksday.com.

2

Sugarfest 2018

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WHEN: March 10-11, Saturday, 9am-12pm; Sunday, 10am-12pm WHERE: Westmoreland Sanctuary, 260 Chestnut Ridge Road, Mount Kisco AGES: All

March 2018 | nymetroparents.com

WHAT: Now in its 13th year, this annual festival includes a delicious homemade pancake breakfast followed by a Maple Sugaring Through the Ages program to take a look at the evolution of making maple syrup.

WHY WE LOVE IT: Pick from blueberry or plain pancakes served with 100-percent New York maple syrup. Yum! WANT TO GO? $15; $7 for children younger than 10. 914-666-8448. westmorelandsanctuary.org.

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City of Science 2018: Bronx FREE

WHEN: Sunday, March 11, 10am-4pm WHERE: The Apex at Lehman College, 250 Bedford Park Blvd. W., Bronx AGES: 3 and older WHAT: Join the World Science Festival and Con Edison for this larger-than-life touring event, at which the wondrous properties of science, technology, engineering, and math collide.

WHY WE LOVE IT: Expect tons of interactive demonstrations, handson activities, and enormous exhibitions.

WANT TO GO? 212-348-1400. worldsciencefestival.com.

Baseball Card Show

WHEN: March 9-11, Friday, 2-7pm; Saturday, 10am5pm; Sunday, 10am-4pm WHERE: Westchester County Center, 198 Central Ave., White Plains AGES: All WHAT: See thousands of autographed and game used inserts, modern and vintage sports cards (pre-1900s through present), factory and hand collated sets (new and old), hobby and wax boxes, PSA/BGS/SGC commons, and set fillers for new or old sets.

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WHY WE LOVE IT: Sports enthusiasts will find all kinds of card supplies, ball holders, and autograph holders, plus on-site autograph authentication (JSA or PSA).

WANT TO GO? $10; free for children younger than 12. 914-995-4050. nyshows.org.

6

Pancake Brunch at Teatown

WHEN: Saturday, March 17, 8:30am, 9:45am, 11am, and 12:15pm WHERE: Teatown Lake Reservation, 1600 Spring Valley Road, Ossining AGES: All WHAT: Start your day off with stacks of hotcakes and maple syrup, hot coffee, sausages, and more. Then visit Warren’s Sugar House to watch a demonstration about how the “liquid gold” is produced.

WHY WE LOVE IT: Work off that breakfast during a free half-hour bird walk after the festivities.

WANT TO GO? $15; $7 for children younger than 12. 914-7622912 x110. teatown.org.

Family Art Project: Suminagashi and Orizomegami Papers

WHEN: March 17-18, Saturday-Sunday, 10am-1pm WHERE: Wave Hill, 649 W. 249th St., Bronx AGES: All WHAT: Learn the Japanese art of paper marbling and dying in this workshop presented by Winter Workspace artist Austin Thomas. Lightly touch the surface of water with a brush for a floating-ink effect, or fold ink-absorbent paper to create fantastic geometric effects.

WHY WE LOVE IT: Even young children can easily make eyecatching designs.

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

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‘DINO Light’

WHEN: Sunday, March 25, 11am-1:30pm WHERE: Emelin Theatre, 153 Library Lane, Mamaroneck AGES: 5-12 WHAT: A famous scientist with magic powers brings a friendly dinosaur to life. When the dinosaur wanders away from home, he discovers a wonderful world full of creatures that light up the darkness and help him find the true meaning of love.

WHY WE LOVE IT: A glow-in-the-dark adventure full of puppetry, technology, and dance.

WANT TO GO? $15. 914-698-0098. emelin.org.

The Orchid Show

WHEN: March 3-April 22, Tuesday-Sunday, 10am-6pm WHERE: The New York Botanical Garden, 2900 Southern Blvd., Bronx AGES: All WHAT: The 16th year of this popular exhibition is designed by acclaimed Belgian floral artist Daniel Ost and will showcase thousands of dramatically displayed orchids in the garden’s historic Enid A. Haupt Conservatory.

WHY WE LOVE IT: A stunning introduction for children to the beauty of flowers.

WANT TO GO? Weekends: $25; $22 seniors and students; $10 children 2-12; free for children younger than 2. Weekdays: $20; $18 seniors and students; $8 children 2-12; free for children younger than 2. 718-817-8700. nybg.org.

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

Flamenco and La Ida y Vuelta FREE

WHEN: Saturday, March 3, 1:30-3:30pm WHERE: Pelham Art Center, 155 Fifth Ave., Pelham AGES: All WHAT: Feel the heat of the summer approaching with the spicy rhythms and passionate flamenco dance by the group Flamenco Latino. Artists are invited to create flamenco movement drawings for the audience to view.

Then, make a fan using colorful papers and creative decorations.

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

Graham Clarke FREE

WHEN: Thursday, March 8, 10:15am WHERE: Mount Vernon Public Library, 28 S. First Ave., Mount Vernon AGES: Newborn to 5 WHAT: Rock out with popular children’s musician Graham Clarke. Kids love Clarke’s silly humor and fun songs and will enjoy moving and grooving to the beat during his energetic performance.

WANT TO GO? 914-668-1840. mountvernonpubliclibrary.org.

Ballet & Abigail Adams: Women’s History Month Event FREE

WHEN: Saturday, March 10, 1-3pm WHERE: St. Paul’s Church National Historic Site, 897 S. Columbus Ave., Mount Vernon AGES: All WHAT: Learn about the life and times of Abigail Adams, wife of President John Adams, through a talk by Professor Laura Chmielewski of SUNY Purchase. Then, the Ajkun Ballet Theatre presents a special dance sequence evoking the lives of three prominent American women associated with St. Paul’s: Anne Hutchinson, Abigail Adams, and Eleanor Roosevelt.

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

Babyccino with Bobby Doowah FREE

WHEN: Through March 16: Fridays, 10:30am WHERE: Chabad of the Rivertowns, 303 Broadway, Dobbs Ferry AGES: 3-8 WHAT: Fun and interactive music class for your little one with the very popular Bobby Doowah. Enjoy rockin’ Shabbat music, playtime, and Challah making.

WANT TO GO? 914-693-6100. chabadrt.org.

Poetry Slam & Open Mic FREE

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

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

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WestchesterParent 41

A Fondness for Beetles: Victorian Diorama Workshop

WHEN: Saturday, March 24, 1-4pm WHERE: Hudson River Museum, 511 Warburton Ave., Yonkers AGES: 9 and older WHAT: Daisy Tainton, artist and insect preparator at the American Museum of Natural History, will lead participants in creating a scene under glass, with a preserved beetle as the star of the show. Participants are encouraged to bring their own natural objects or other mini items for inspiration.

WANT TO GO? $20. 914-963-4550. hrm.org.

Pack Chat for Kids

ANIMAL LOVERS Tales for Tails FREE

WHEN: Thursday, March 1, 6pm WHERE: The Field Library, 4 Nelson Ave., Peekskill AGES: 5-12 WHAT: Children are invited to read to a certified Good Dog, which can help reluctant, anxious readers gain confidence. Sign-up is required.

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

Feed the Animals: Turtles

WHEN: Saturday, March 3, 1-2pm WHERE: Teatown Lake Reservation, 1600 Spring Valley Road, Ossining AGES: All WHAT: Each month, 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: Give a Feathery Friend a Home or a Feeder WHEN: March 3-4, Saturday-Sunday, 10am-1pm WHERE: Wave Hill, 649 W. 249th St., Bronx AGES: All WHAT: Camouflage the boxy shape of an ordinary milk carton, then add seeds and an inviting stick perch to create a welcoming home.

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

Feeding Fun

WHEN: Sunday, March 11, 1-2pm WHERE: Greenburgh Nature Center, 99 Dromore Road, Scarsdale AGES: All WHAT: Join naturalists for a hands-on program and learn about the care that goes into feeding the indoor animals and birds of prey.

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

Evening Howl for Pups of All Ages

WHEN: March 3-17, Saturdays, 5pm WHERE: Wolf Conservation Center, 7 Buck Run, South Salem AGES: All WHAT: Learn about the mythology, biology, and ecology of wolf families.

WANT TO GO? $16; $13 for children younger than 12. 914-400-5551. nywolf.org.

Coyotes: Behavior, Ecology, and Coexistence

WHEN: Saturday, March 24, 3pm WHERE: Wolf Conservation Center, 7 Buck Run, South Salem AGES: All WHAT: Dan Bogan, Ph.D., will discuss his research into coyote behavior and ecology in suburban landscapes. Learn more about their biology and behavior and ways to reduce or prevent problems from occurring.

WANT TO GO? $14; $11 for children younger than 12. 914-400-5551. nywolf.org.

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March 2018 | nymetroparents.com

WHEN: March 4-31, Saturday-Sunday, 11am and 2pm WHERE: Wolf Conservation Center, 7 Buck Run, South Salem AGES: All WHAT: Kids will learn about the mythology surrounding wolves and the important role they play in the natural world.

WANT TO GO? $14; $11 for children younger than 12. 914-400-5551. nywolf.org.

CRAFTY KIDS Family Saturdays @ the Lab FREE

WHEN: Saturday, March 3, 1-3pm WHERE: Jacob Burns Film Center, 405 Manville Road, Pleasantville AGES: 3-12 WHAT: Media makers of all ages can explore, discover, and create projects, from animation and sound editing to live green-screening.

WANT TO GO? 914-747-5555. burnsfilmcenter.org/jbfc-kids.

Children’s Workshop: Polymer Clay

WHEN: Saturday, March 3, 2-3pm and 3-4pm WHERE: The Rye Arts Center, 51 Milton Road, Rye AGES: 5-12 WHAT: Terry Taylor shows students how to make a panda out of polymer clay. The first session is for ages 5-8 and the second is for ages 9-12.

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

Family Art Project: Avifauna Fun Monoprints

WHEN: March 10-11, Saturday-Sunday, 10am-1pm WHERE: Wave Hill, 649 W. 249th St., Bronx AGES: 13 and older WHAT: Working with simple templates or your own design, use large pieces of construction paper and paint to make large-scale birdy monoprints.

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

Spring Crafternoon FREE

WHEN: Tuesday, March 20, 4pm WHERE: The Field Library, 4 Nelson Ave., Peekskill AGES: 3-12 WHAT: Make a fun craft to celebrate the first day of spring.

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

Paper Puppet Monsters

WHEN: Friday, March 23, 4:30-5:30pm WHERE: DayDreamer Studio, The Yellow Monkey Antiques, 792 Route 35, Cross River AGES: 5-12 WHAT: Kids will create a springtime puppet monster.

WANT TO GO? $30. 914-977-4243. daydreamerstudio.org.

Kids Art & Pizza Night

WHEN: March 3-24, Saturdays, 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 a workshop while children spend the evening creating art and enjoying pizza. Register before 12pm.

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

Mommy, Me & Clay

WHEN: March 7-28, Wednesdays, 4-4:45pm WHERE: Lil Chameleon, 29 Elm St., Tuckahoe AGES: 3-8 WHAT: You and your child work together to explore and make art with clay.

WANT TO GO? $25. 914-346-5148. lilchameleon.com.

Family Art Project: Pastel Eggs in Watercolors

WHEN: Saturday, March 31, 10am-1pm WHERE: Wave Hill, 649 W. 249th St., Bronx AGES: All WHAT: Listen to An Egg is Quiet by Dianna Hutts Aston, then make your own poetic painting.

WANT TO GO? $8; $4 students and seniors; $2 children 6-18; free for children younger than 6. 718-549-3200. wavehill.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 and explore your inner artist.

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

MOVERS & SHAKERS FIESTA! With Flor FREE

WHEN: Saturday, March 3, 11-11:30am WHERE: The Field Library, 4 Nelson Ave., Peekskill AGES: Newborn to 5 WHAT: Flor Bromley teaches Spanish through music, movement, puppetry, and theater-based games.

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

Baby Sign Language

WHEN: Saturday, March 10, 9:45-10:30am WHERE: Lil Chameleon, 29 Elm St., Tuckahoe AGES: 3-5 WHAT: Use songs, stories, games, and activities to learn to communicate using American Sign Language in a way that is fun and easy.

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

Family Yoga FREE

WHEN: Thursday, March 22, 5:30-6pm WHERE: The Field Library, 4 Nelson Ave., Peekskill AGES: All WHAT: Energize your body and find some inner calm.

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

Musical Tots FREE

WHEN: Wednesday, March 28, 11:15am WHERE: The Field Library, 4 Nelson Ave., Peekskill AGES: 3-5 WHAT: Join Lori Cohen for music and movement.

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

Public Skating

ON SCREEN Sunday Cinema @ the TROVE FREE

WHEN: Through March 4: Sundays, 2pm WHERE: White Plains Public Library, 100 Martine Ave., White Plains AGES: All WHAT: Features include Despicable Me 3, The Little Mermaid, Cars 3, Paddington, and Journey Home.

WANT TO GO? 914-422-1400. whiteplainslibrary.org.

‘Mary and the Witch’s Flower’

WHEN: March 10-11, Saturday-Sunday, 12pm WHERE: Jacob Burns Film Center, 364 Manville Road, Pleasantville AGES: 5 and older WHAT: From Studio Ponoc, the new Japanese animation studio created by veterans of Studio Ghibli, Mary and the Witch’s Flower is a fantasy adventure about a daring red-headed girl, a flying broom, and a mysterious, forbidden flower.

WANT TO GO? $14; $7.50 for children 13 and younger. 914-747-5555. burnsfilmcenter.org.

Screening: ‘Wasted! The Story of Food Waste’

WHEN: Wednesday, March 14, 7-9pm WHERE: Greenburgh Nature Center, 99 Dromore Road, Scarsdale AGES: All WHAT: This documentary by Anthony Bourdain aims to change the way people buy, cook, recycle, and eat food.

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

WHEN: Through March 29: Monday, 12:30-2:30pm; Tuesday and Thursday, 1-5:15pm; Friday, 1-5:15pm and 7:30-9:30pm; Saturday, 1-4pm; Sunday, 11am-4pm WHERE: Hommocks Park Ice Rink, 140 Hommocks Road, Larchmont AGES: All WHAT: Check out this indoor public ice-skating rink.

WANT TO GO? $8.50; $6.50 seniors; $7.50 for children younger than 12.

914-834-1069 x201. hommocksparkicerink.org.

Toddler Time FREE

WHEN: Through June 28: Thursdays, 11-11:30am WHERE: Yonkers Public Library, Riverfront Branch, 1 Larkin Center, Yonkers AGES: Newborn to 2, adult WHAT: Stories, nursery rhymes, fingerplays, and songs for children.

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

Story Book Yoga FREE

WHEN: Through June 29: Fridays, 10:15-10:45am WHERE: Croton Free Library, 171 Cleveland Drive, Croton-on-Hudson AGES: Newborn to 5 WHAT: A certified kids’ yoga instructor leads participants in acting out favorite stories through yoga, music, movement, breath, and sound.

WANT TO GO? 914-271-6612. crotonfreelibrary.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. ›› WestchesterParent 43

Great Green Eggstravaganza

WHEN: Sunday, March 25, 11am-3pm WHERE: Greenburgh Nature Center, 99 Dromore Road, Scarsdale AGES: All WHAT: Celebrate the emergence of spring with a day of egg-themed activities, including an environmentally friendly egg hunt. Make crafts, meet animals, and join a naturalist to discover signs of spring throughout the property.

WANT TO GO? $5 and up. 914-723-3470. greenburghnaturecenter.org.

Egg Dyeing FREE

WHEN: Thursday, March 29, 2pm WHERE: The Field Library, 4 Nelson Ave., Peekskill AGES: 3-12 WHAT: Each person will be provided with three eggs, but please feel free to bring more from home. Sign up in advance.

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

Annual Egg Hunt

HOLIDAY FUN Chabad of Bronxville’s Stadium-Style Purim Bash

WHEN: Thursday, March 1, 5-7pm WHERE: Lake Isle Country Club, 660 White Plains Road, Eastchester AGES: All WHAT: Take in an interactive megillah reading, concession-style food, l’chaim for the adults, all kinds of sports activities, and a halftime show by the Hoop Wizard. All are invited to dress up as sports fans.

WANT TO GO? $15 and up. 914-458-2441. jewishbronxville.com.

Young Families Purim Celebration at Emanu-El FREE

WHEN: Sunday, March 4, 10:30-11:30am WHERE: Congregation Emanu-El of Westchester, 2125 Westchester Ave. E., Rye AGES: Newborn to 5 WHAT: Celebrate Purim with your children through stories, songs, snacks, crafts, and a brief Shabbat morning service. Carnival begins at 11:30am.

WANT TO GO? 914-967-4382 x21. congregationemanuel.org.

Purim Luau

WHEN: Sunday, March 4, 9:30am-2pm WHERE: Temple Shaaray Tefila, 89 Baldwin Road, Bedford Corners AGES: All WHAT: This Purim celebration is complete with a DJ dance party, Wikiwiki food trucks, games, face painting, balloon art, crafts, inflatables, and more.

WANT TO GO? $25 children’s wristband; $20 in advance. 914-666-3133. shaaraytefila.org.

St. Patrick’s Day Party FREE

WHEN: Saturday, March 17, 11am WHERE: The Field Library, 4 Nelson Ave., Peekskill AGES: 3-12 WHAT: Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with crafts, music, and coloring. Keep the party going with a free book and some green refreshments to take home.

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

Kids in the Kitchen: Scarcella

WHEN: Saturday, March 24, 2pm WHERE: Westchester Italian Cultural Center, 1 Generoso Pope Place, Tuckahoe AGES: 3-12 WHAT: Scarcella is sweet bread dough that is crumbly, buttery, and delightful, with a hint of lemon. Make it into your own Easter shape, such as a dove, nest, wreath, or basket.

WANT TO GO? $65. 914-771-8700. wiccny.org.

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March 2018 | nymetroparents.com

WHEN: Saturday, March 31, 11am-1pm WHERE: Hilltop Hanover Farm, 1271 Hanover St., Yorktown Heights AGES: 3-8 WHAT: Enjoy a festive egg hunt on a bucolic farm.

WANT TO GO? $5 suggested donation. 914-962-2368. hilltophanoverfarm.org.

LITTLE FOODIES American Indian Sugaring FREE

WHEN: Saturday, March 3, 1pm WHERE: Trailside Nature Museum, Reservation Road, Cross River AGES: All WHAT: Learn all about how maple sugaring was discovered by the American Indians. Meet by the wigwam.

WANT TO GO? 914-864-7322. friendsoftrailside.org.

Cooking Demo: Cactus and Succulents

WHEN: Saturday, March 24, 12pm WHERE: Wave Hill, 649 W. 249th St., Bronx AGES: All WHAT: Prickly pear, aloe, and dragon fruit are a few examples of edible succulents. Find out how to select, prepare, and serve these unlikely edibles, and sample some out-of-the-ordinary recipes.

WANT TO GO? $8; $4 students and seniors; $2 children ages 6-18; free for children younger than 6. 718-549-3200. wavehill.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 40 vendors will be participating in the indoor market at the Pleasantville Middle School cafeteria.

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.

THE GREAT OUTDOORS Sugarin’ Off FREE

WHEN: Sunday, March 4, 1-3pm WHERE: Muscoot Farm, 51 Route 100, Katonah AGES: All WHAT: Enjoy activities at the maple festival such as watching the sugaring process, tasting maple treats, and listening to fun music.

WANT TO GO? 914-864-7282. muscootfarm.org.

MINI

MUSICIANS An Acoustic Evening With Lyle Lovett and Shawn Colvin

WHEN: Sunday, March 4, 7-9pm WHERE: Paramount Hudson Valley Theater, 1008 Brown St., Peekskill AGES: All WHAT: An incredible acoustic evening of music as Lyle Lovett and Shawn Colvin master performers and songwriters share songs and stories.

WANT TO GO? $60 and up. 914-739-0039. paramounthudsonvalley.com.

The Edgar Winter Band

WHEN: Friday, March 9, 8-10pm WHERE: Paramount Hudson Valley Theater, 1008 Brown St., Peekskill AGES: Adult WHAT: Edgar Holland Winter is an American rock and blues musician known for being a keyboardist, guitarist, saxophonist, and percussionist.

WANT TO GO? $37 and up. 914-739-0039 x2. paramounthudsonvalley.com.

Rolie Polie Guacamole FREE

WHEN: Saturday, March 10, 3pm WHERE: Warner Library, 121 N. Broadway, Tarrytown AGES: 3-8 WHAT: An awesome afternoon of music for kids and their grown-ups.

WANT TO GO? 914-631-7734. warnerlibrary.org.

Free Community Piano Series Presented by Music Conservatory of Westchester FREE

WHEN: Saturday, March 24, 2pm WHERE: White Plains Public Library, 100 Martine Ave., White Plains AGES: All WHAT: Learn how the piano was invented and how it became the most popular instrument of all time.

WANT TO GO? 914-422-1400. whiteplainslibrary.org.

Flor’s Music & Stories with Open Play

WHEN: Through 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 with the other children and their caretakers.

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.

Kids love Clarke’s silly humor and fun songs and will enjoy moving and grooving to the beat during his energetic performance.

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

Maple Sugaring Party

WHEN: Sunday, March 4, 11am-3pm WHERE: Greenburgh Nature Center, 99 Dromore Road, Scarsdale AGES: All WHAT: Featured events include sap collection demonstrations, porridge making, maple crafts, and treats.

WANT TO GO? $5 and up. 914-723-3470. greenburghnaturecenter.org.

Story Sundays at Teatown: Sugarbush Spring

WHEN: Sunday, March 4, 11am-12pm WHERE: Teatown Lake Reservation, 1600 Spring Valley Road, Ossining AGES: 3-8 WHAT: Enjoy seasonal stories and activities. Registration required.

WANT TO GO? $7. 914-762-2912 x110. teatown.org.

Saw Mill River Audubon Third Sunday Walk FREE

WHEN: Sunday, March 18, 3:30-5pm WHERE: Pruyn Sanctuary, Woodmill Road, Chappaqua AGES: 5 and older WHAT: Meet at the Woodmill Road trails entrance for a family-friendly walk.

WANT TO GO? 914-666-6503. sawmillriveraudubon.org.

Family Art Project: Palisades in Plaster

WHEN: March 24-25, Saturday-Sunday, 10am-1pm WHERE: Wave Hill, 649 W. 249th St., Bronx AGES: All WHAT: Take a look at the rock formations that make up the Palisades facing Wave Hill. Learn about the minerals that make up the soil, allowing for such spectacular natural artwork, then make your own.

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

Maple Weekend: Pancake Breakfast

WHEN: March 17-25, Saturday-Sunday, 9-11am WHERE: Hilltop Hanover Farm, 1271 Hanover St., Yorktown Heights AGES: All WHAT: Enjoy a pancake breakfast. Then make your way to White Oak Farm for a tour of the sugar house. Registration required.

WANT TO GO? $10; $8 children ages 3-12; free for children younger than 3. 914-962-2368. hilltophanoverfarm.org.

Drop-in Snowshoe Lessons

WHEN: Through March 31: Saturdays, 11am WHERE: Minnewaska State Park, 400 Sam’s Point Road, Cragsmoor AGES: All WHAT: Beginners can drop in for lessons, which may last up to 1 hour.

WANT TO GO? $5 snowshoe rental; $10 parking. 845-647-7989. parks.ny.gov.

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 to this fun-filled hour full of songs and animal encounters.

WANT TO GO? $15. 914-967-5150. ryenaturecenter.org. ›› WestchesterParent 45

Casey Carle’s ‘BubbleMania!’

WHEN: Sunday, March 11, 3pm WHERE: The Palace Theatre, 61 Atlantic St., Stamford, CT AGES: All WHAT: Carle’s one-man show combines spontaneous comedy, jazzy music, and brilliant bubbling. Carle delights audiences with fantastic fog-filled bubble sculptures, a cube bubble, funky foam, bubble ping-pong, trapping an audience member (or two) inside a gigantic soap bubble, and thousands of bubbles filling the stage.

WANT TO GO? $12.50. 203-325-4466. palacestamford.org.

Y Theatre at WI Presents ‘The Time Machine’

SHOW TIME!

Off Center Dance Theatre Spring Dance Invitational 2018

WHEN: Saturday, March 3, 4:30pm WHERE: Chappaqua Performing Arts Center, 480 Bedford Road, Chappaqua AGES: 5 and older WHAT: Bring the whole family for an afternoon of dance courtesy of Artistic Director Joe Antony Cavise and his Off Center Dance Theatre young dancers performing ballet, jazz, hip hop, and modern.

WANT TO GO? $15 and up. 914-458-5143. chappaquapac.org.

‘Seussical the Musical’

WHEN: March 1-4, Thursday-Saturday, 7pm; Saturday-Sunday, 1pm WHERE: Harrison High School Performing Arts Center, 255 Union Ave., Harrison AGES: 3 and older WHAT: Seussical the Musical is based on the works by Dr. Seuss and is fun for the entire family.

WANT TO GO? $10; $5 seniors and students. 914-630-3043. harrisoncsd.org.

‘Moon Mouse: A Space Odyssey’

WHEN: Sunday, March 4, 2pm WHERE: White Plains Performing Arts Center, 11 City Place, 3rd Floor, White Plains AGES: 5-12 WHAT: A cosmic adventure from Lightwire Theater about celebrating differences. Join Marvin the mouse on the space adventure of a lifetime: a trip to the surface of the moon on his homemade rocket, where he meets a strange cast of misfit creatures.

WANT TO GO? $20 and up. 914-328-1600. wppac.com.

‘I Hate Hamlet’

WHEN: Through 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. 914631-4481. lyndhurst.org.

Doktor Kaboom’s ‘Live Wire! The Electricity Tour’

WHEN: Sunday, March 11, 11am-1:30pm WHERE: Emelin Theatre, 153 Library Lane, Mamaroneck AGES: 5-12 WHAT: Doktor Kaboom! performs original interactive science comedy shows while creatively blending theater arts with the wonders of scientific exploration. Join Kaboom for a sidesplitting journey of increasingly spectacular (and often successful) science experiments designed to involve, excite, educate, and entertain.

WANT TO GO? $15. 914-698-0098. emelin.org.

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March 2018 | nymetroparents.com

WHEN: Thursday, March 15, 7pm WHERE: Washington Irving School Auditorium, 103 S. Broadway, Tarrytown AGES: 5-12, adult WHAT: Washington Irving School students in fourth and fifth grades will perform The Time Machine, a play adapted from the HG Wells classic, by Y Theatre Director Peter Royston.

WANT TO GO? $10; $5 seniors and children in fifth grade and older.

914-418-5562. ymcatarrytown.org.

‘Music is Science’

WHEN: Sunday, March 25, 3pm WHERE: Chappaqua Performing Arts Center, 480 N. Bedford Road, Chappaqua AGES: 3-8 WHAT: TCO’s annual children’s concert features science educator Dr. Patrick Herak and guest conductor Douglas Droste in an educational and interactive concert introducing children to the orchestra, and how scientific principles apply to the mechanics and sounds of musical instruments.

WANT TO GO? $25; free for children younger than 4. 845-8420010. chappaquaorchestra.org.

Story Pirates: ‘The Stuck in the Stone Age Tour’

WHEN: Sunday, March 25, 3pm WHERE: The Palace Theatre, 61 Atlantic St., Stamford, CT AGES: All WHAT: Kids get to contribute their own ideas in the Story Pirates’ newest interactive comedy, in which Tom Edison (no relation) and Dr. Marissa Morice return home from a wild adventure in the Stone Age only to discover their time machine has made an unexpected detour.

WANT TO GO? $12.50. 203-325-4466. palacestamford.org.

‘A Chorus Line’

WHEN: Through April 1: Thursday-Sunday, see website for times WHERE: Westchester Broadway Theater, 1 Broadway Plaza, Elmsford AGES: 9 and older WHAT: A celebration and true-to-life depiction of performers and their struggle to achieve greatness on the Broadway stage. Its powerful stories are touching, funny, inspiring, and relatable to anyone with a passion for performing.

WANT TO GO? $53 and up. 914-592-2222. broadwaytheatre.com.

‘Disney Live! Mickey & Minnie’s Doorway to Magic’

WHEN: March 30-April 1, Friday, 7pm; Saturday, 10:30am, 2pm, 5:30pm; Sunday, 2pm WHERE: Westchester County Center, 198 Central Ave., White Plains AGES: All WHAT: Catch Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, and Goofy on stage, with special appearances by Snow White, Tinker Bell, Aladdin’s Genie, and more.

WANT TO GO? $25 and up. 914-995-4050. disneylive.com.

ONCE UPON A TIME

SMARTY PANTS

Book Babies FREE

Annual Not Official Chess Tournament at Keeler Library FREE

Cuentos y Canciones FREE

Science Sunday: DNA

WHEN: March 7-21, Wednesdays, 11am WHERE: The Field Library, 4 Nelson Ave., Peekskill AGES: Newborn to 2, adult WHAT: Enjoy stories, songs, puppets, and play time.

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

WHEN: Through March 23: Fridays, 10:30am WHERE: Warner Library, 121 N. Broadway, Tarrytown AGES: 3-8 WHAT: A weekly English-Spanish program offering bilingual stories and songs.

WANT TO GO? 914-631-7734. warnerlibrary.org.

Vroom Vroom FREE

WHEN: Tuesday, March 27, 2:30pm WHERE: Chappaqua Children’s Library, 19 S. Greeley Ave., Chappaqua AGES: Newborn to 5 WHAT: Listen to vehicle stories and play with cars after. Registration required.

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

Exploring Play: Cat in the Hat Patterns

WHEN: Saturday, March 3, 10am-3pm WHERE: Keeler Library, 276 Titicus Road, North Salem AGES: 5-17 WHAT: Play chess in a low-key and supportive environment.

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

WHEN: Sunday, March 11, 11:30am-12:15pm WHERE: Westchester Children’s Museum, 100 Playland Parkway, Rye AGES: 5-12 WHAT: Put on lab coats and goggles and extract DNA from strawberry cells.

WANT TO GO? $7; $6 seniors; free for children younger than 1. 914421-5050. discoverwcm.org.

Mad Science FREE

WHEN: Thursday, March 15, 4pm WHERE: The Field Library, 4 Nelson Ave., Peekskill AGES: 5-12 WHAT: Children can join for some fun, kid-friendly science experiments.

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

WHEN: March 2-30, Fridays, 11-11:30am WHERE: Westchester Children’s Museum, 100 Playland Parkway, Rye AGES: 3-5 WHAT: Enjoy activities including a song, story, and a take-home project.

WANT TO GO? $7; $6 seniors; free for children younger than 1. 914-4215050. discoverwcm.org.

STEM-tastic ‘Choose Your Challenge’ Night FREE

Read to Angie the Therapy Dog FREE

Puzzle This FREE

WHEN: March 3-31, Saturdays, 11am-12pm WHERE: Harrison Public Library, Halperin Building, 2 Bruce Ave., Harrison AGES: 5-12 WHAT: Share a quick book or hug with Angie, the library’s dog friend.

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

Storytime with Rabbi Mo FREE

WHEN: Through April 8: Sundays, 11:30am WHERE: Sinai Free Synagogue, 550 Columbus Ave., Mount Vernon AGES: Newborn to 5 WHAT: Features storytelling, singing, activities, and nosh.

WANT TO GO? 914-664-1727. sinaifreesynagogue.org.

Multilingual Mother Goose FREE

WHEN: March 1-April 26, Thursdays, 2:30pm WHERE: Chappaqua Children’s Library, 19 S. Greeley Ave., Chappaqua AGES: Newborn to 5 WHAT: Learn and share songs and rhymes in other languages.

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

Good Deed of the Month Club

WHEN: Saturday, March 24, 11am-12pm WHERE: Westchester Children’s Museum, 100 Playland Parkway, Rye AGES: All WHAT: A kindness-themed reading and discussion followed by a good deed.

WANT TO GO? $7; $6 seniors; free for children younger than 1. 914-4215050. 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.

WHEN: Friday, March 16, 6-9pm WHERE: Hommocks Middle School, 130 Hommocks Road, Larchmont AGES: 5 and older WHAT: Expect food, drinks, raffle prizes, music, and more.

WANT TO GO? 646-772-5208. lmstemalliance.org.

WHEN: Tuesday, March 27, 2pm WHERE: The Field Library, 4 Nelson Ave., Peekskill AGES: 3-12 WHAT: Join for a fun time solving puzzles for every kind of puzzle-lover.

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

Egg Drop FREE

WHEN: Wednesday, March 28, 4pm WHERE: Chappaqua Children’s Library, 19 S. Greeley Ave., Chappaqua AGES: 5-12 WHAT: Build a device that keeps your egg safe as it drops to the ground.

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

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

WHEN: Through 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.

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

Coming up next month: APRIL 7: 2018 WHUD Kids Fair at Performing Arts Center at Purchase College, Purchase APRIL 22: Charlotte’s Web at Emelin Theatre, Mamaroneck APRIL 28: Rockin’ Rave & Family Fun Night at Westchester Children’s Museum, Rye

WestchesterParent 47

things to do

where-to guide

Spring into March ✿ Compiled by Samantha Neudorf

✿

Spring is just around the corner and there are so many ways to enjoy the (hopefully) warmer weather, even if it’s still cold. One of our favorite early spring activities is maple sugaring—after all, there’s nothing quite like making your own maple syrup straight from the tree. This is also a great time of the year to get back outside and help out around your community by volunteering.

Or, if it is still too cold to be outside, you can take an educational trip to a museum or bookstore. Here’s to a new season!

MAPLE SUGARING Greenburgh Nature Center 99 Dromore Road, Scarsdale 914-723-3470; greenburghnaturecenter.org Maple Sugaring Party: Sunday, March 4, 11am-3pm Featured events include sap collection demonstrations, depictions of Native American and Colonial style sugaring sites, and treats. Register and pre-pay online by March 4 for special rates: $5 for members, $10 for non-members. Day of: $8 for members, $15 for non-members.

✿✿

SPCA of Westchester 590 N. State Road, Briarcliff Manor 914-941-2896 x28; spca914.org The SPCA of Westchester is a no-kill shelter that provides shelter and rehabilitation for abused, abandoned, and lost pets; adoption services; low-cost spaying and neutering; and help with locating lost pets. Parents and kids ages 10 and older can volunteer to do pet therapy and take their own dog or a shelter dog to visit nursing homes. Volunteers are also needed for assistance with fundraising events and shelter beautification, including gardening, cleanup, painting, and trail maintenance. Whether you are interested in dog walking, cat care, dog bathing and grooming, event planning, humane education, administrative work, or opening your home to a foster animal, the shelter can always use your help. For more information, contact Joanne Witmyer at or joanne@spca914.org.

Find more>> volunteer opportunities in Westchester County at nymetroparents.com/volunteer.

Courtesy Westchester Children’s Museum

Find more>> maple-sugaring activities in Westchester County at nymetroparents.com/maple-sugaring.

VOLUNTEER

Children can participate in fun and educational science activities and experiments throughout Westchester Children’s Museum.

MUSEUMS

✿ ✿

Westchester Children’s Museum Rye Playland Bathhouses (on the Long Island Sound) 914-421-5050; discoverwcm.org Hours: Wednesday-Sunday, 10am-4pm; Monday-Tuesday available for group visits by appointment only Admission: $7; $6 seniors; free for members and children 1 and younger Catered to children ages 10 and younger, the museum provides opportunities for continued growth, with exhibits focused on water play, pretend play, physics, science, art, music, and places to climb, build, and examine. It currently operates as a Museum without Walls.

✿

Find more>> children’s museums in Westchester County at nymetroparents.com/museums.

BOOKSTORES Little Joe’s Coffee and Books 25 Katonah Ave., Katonah 914-232-7278; joescb.com No matter what stage your reader is at, the helpful staff at Little Joe’s can recommend the perfect book—from board and bedtime books to young adult fiction.

Find more>> kids’ bookstores in Westchester County at nymetroparents.com/bookstores.

Exciting New Birthday & Event Packages FREE party upgrade!

Add an EXTRA activity for FREE. Call for details.

Ad must be presented at time of booking. Exp. 3/31/18

50,000 sq. ft. of PURE FUN! Laser Tag • Super Fly • 150 Arcade games Rock Wall • Kiddie Zone Bumper Cars • Batting Cages and MORE!

Teatown Summer Camp is where kids unplug, disconnect, and have a wild time!

Teatown Camp brings kids outside to learn about and explore the natural world in our 1,000-acre preserve. We spend our days learning by exploring, discovering new things about ourselves, each other and the earth, and developing friendships and respect for all living things.

Jun 25—Aug 17, ages 4—14 Register at teatown.org

OPEN ALL WEEK!

servicing the community for over 40 years

summer ever!

• Includes snack and lunch

(meals lovingly prepared by Ladle of Love)

• Amazing Programs: math and

literacy, physical education, theatre, music, nutrition and gardening, science and nature and swimming

• B-Mitzvah’s • Sweet Sixteen’s

380 saw mill river rd, Elmsford

OUR CAMP

ages 3 to 5 with flexible hours (from 7:30am-6pm)

ASK ABOUT • Private parties

www.sportimeusa.com

OUR PRESCHOOL

• Year round program for kids

Thrilling SUPER FLY ride

914-592-2111

1600 Spring Valley Rd Ossining, NY 10562 (914) 762-2912

• Educational and fun preschool

Can You Handle The Thrilling Excitement?

• Kids say: It was the best • Fun, local summer camp for kids

entering grades 1-9

• Includes swimming, sports, arts

& crafts, digital arts, game room, STEM program, Camp Olympics and Special Events (petting zoo, inflatable waterslides, trips to Playland, SplashDown & adventure ropes course)

• 4 or 8 week sessions (from 9am to

4pm with early/late care available)

• Includes snack and lunch (meals

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*See the complete Sylvan Field Research Results at SylvanResearchInstitute.com.

WestchesterParent 49

family life finances

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

T

ax season is here again. Will you end up forking over fistfuls of cash, or hardly feeling any financial pain? The answer may depend on how savvy you are. Take advantage of all the deductions and credits you’re eligible for, and you can save up to thousands of dollars, and in some cases even get money back.

Overlook these tax breaks, though, and the opposite will happen: You’ll end up forfeiting money that’s rightfully yours.

A good tax professional can help make sure you’re minimizing your payout. (Tax-prep software is another popular alternative.)

And be aware of the credits and deductions listed here. While they may not be a comprehensive rundown of every last way you can reduce your taxes, they’re a good start.

Getting Credit Where It’s Due

One of the best ways to minimize your tax burden is by looking for credits you’re eligible to take—these reduce the amount of taxes you owe. Listed here are some tax credits that are particularly helpful for families.

The Child and Dependent Care Credit: “This is designed to provide a tax benefit for homes in which both parents work fulltime or have earned income,” says Nicholas Sher, CPA, managing director of Sher & Associates, LLC, a boutique tax planning firm 50

March 2018 | nymetroparents.com

››

By Deborah Skolnik

in midtown Manhattan. At the federal level, the credit is at least 20 percent of the first $3,000 of child care expense per child, for a maximum of two children. At the state level, you will receive a credit of at least 20 percent of the federal level. That means if you spend $3,000 on your child’s care you can save a minimum of $840 total—useful when you’re raising a family. Note: This credit is not available to a spouse who stays at home and doesn’t earn income.

Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC): Didn’t have a great year financially? The EITC may be the break you need. This federal tax credit is available to people who have earned an income below a certain threshold, and it increases in relation to the amount of children in the home, up to a maximum of three kids, Sher explains. You can’t have earned very much—for instance, a married couple filing jointly, with three or more children, must have an earned income and adjusted gross income (that’s the total income you report that is eligible to be taxed, minus some adjustments you’re allowed to make) of each less than $53,930.

But the credit can be sizeable: a maximum of $6,318. What’s scary is that according to Jackson Hewitt, nearly 1 in 5 eligible Americans fails to claim this tax credit, leaving up to thousands of dollars on the table. Even if you haven’t qualified for the EITC before, don’t forget to check with your tax professional to see if

you qualify this time: nearly one-third of all people who can claim it are newly eligible each year.

The Saver’s Credit or Retirement Savings Contribution Credit: Have you been putting away money for your retirement?

You deserve a pat on the back. And, depending on what you earn, the government wants to give you something more: a tax credit.

If you’re married or filing jointly and make an income of $62,000 or less, you may be eligible for a credit of between 10-50 percent of your contributions to an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) or an employer-sponsored retirement savings program. If you’re filing as the head of household, you may be eligible for the credit if you earned $46,500 or less, Sher says.

Making Clever Deductions

In addition to tax credits, stay on the lookout for deductions you can take. A deduction reduces your taxable income, which increases the chances of a lower overall tax bill. Read on; some of the ones listed here might apply to you.

Medical expenses: Does someone in your family require extensive medical care? If your medical expenses exceed 10 percent of your adjusted gross income, you may be eligible for a deduction, says Rebecca Walser, a tax attorney, certified financial planner, and the author of Wealth Unbroken, but you must itemize your deductions in this case. New-mom gear, such as breast pumps and lactation equipment, can be included. And if you pay tuition for special education for a child with special needs, that too can be deductible if the curriculum is considered medically necessary, Sher says. (This is a highly scrutinized deduction, so check with your tax pro before you take it.) Going forward, consider funding a Health Savings Account, says Mark Kohler, a senior tax advisor with TaxSlayer, a tax preparation and financial technology company. The money you deposit in the account both grows tax-free and comes out tax-free for qualified family medical expenses. You also get a tax deduction for contributions on your tax return.

Health insurance, if you’re your own boss: “If you are selfemployed you can deduct one hundred percent of the cost of health insurance for yourself,” Walser says.

Moving expenses: It’s the rare family that doesn’t move at some point, but are the expenses related to a relocation deductible? It depends, Sher says. “You must move more than 50 miles away, and you must remain employed for 39 weeks of the next 52 week period,” he explains. FYI, this is the last year that this deduction can be taken; it’s being swept away for 2018 with the new tax reforms we’ve all heard so much about.

Job-hunting expenses: Like medical expenses, these need to be itemized. And you will have to have launched a truly extensive search for new employment: You aren’t eligible for a deduction unless the costs exceeded 2 percent of your AGI. New York state 529 plan contributions: “Anyone who is making a New York state 529 plan contribution should be taking the eligible deduction, which is up to ten thousand dollars for a married couple filing jointly,” Sher says. Though this account has been used to save for children’s college tuition up until now, beginning in 2018 contributions can also be used toward private school tuition.

Want more pointers? Consult your favorite tax professional. He or she can help you formulate a strategy to make tax time far less taxing on your family.

Where Your Child Comes First Schedule your annual physical

• Comprehensive Care from Birth to Age 21 • State of the Art Pediatric Office • Convenient on-site parking • Spacious child-friendly waiting area • Extended evening & weekend office hours • Most Insurances Accepted

Susan Meisler, M.D. • Hilary Smith, M.D. Lisa Mandelker, D.O. • Debra Etelson, M.D. 145 Huguenot St., Suite 200 New Rochelle, NY www.pasw4kids.com • 914.235.1400

WestchesterParent 51

family life home

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

Spring Clean It!

››

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

C

leaning. To a lot of us, that’s as bad as a four-letter word.

I was a housekeeper at an inn in high school and got the satisfaction of cleaning a space to shine, but—to this day—I have never been a fan of the actual process.

Even some cleaning experts feel the same way: “I really hate cleaning,” says Melissa Maker, a Toronto, Ontario-based cleaning expert, host of the Clean My Space YouTube channel, and author of Clean My Space: The Secret to Cleaning Better, Faster—and Loving Your Home Every Day. “But I love the benefits of living in a clean space.”

Heck, with kids, keeping up with the laundry is almost more than we can handle sometimes. So, if you’re like us—not fans of cleaning, but love having a clean space—you know you have to take out the broom and duster regularly to ensure your home is presentable for play dates and dinner guests without a last-minute, frenzied cleaning session. But did you know you’re likely missing some spots that should be cleaned more often than not?

We got the inside scoop from cleaning experts and enthusiasts on the areas we need to pay a little more attention to when we have the cleaning products out.

52

March 2018 | nymetroparents.com

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

Bathroom

The area around the toilet: “People often clean in the toilet, but they don’t clean the base or the area behind the toilet,” Maker says. “And over time, that can get really gross, especially if you have individuals in the home who stand up to pee instead of sit down to pee.” So whenever you clean the inside of your toilet, spray a disinfectant or all-purpose cleaner around the base and wipe it clean.

Toilet handle: Speaking of missed spots on the toilet, do you regularly, consciously sanitize the flush handle on the toilet?

Didn’t think so. Spray it with your preferred cleaner and wipe it down—but please do this before wiping the floor around the toilet, or else use a fresh cleaning cloth.

Medicine cabinet: Because it’s a high-traffic area in the house we don’t typically think of cleaning, it can get quite

messy, says Christine Dimmick, author of Detox Your Home: Removing Toxins and Improving Your Life, which is set to be released in early April, and founder of The Good Home Company, a Manhattan-based home care and laundry product line that is paraben-, sulfate-, and phthalate-free.

We access our medicine cabinets at least twice a day (when we’re getting ready for work and school in the morning and when we’re getting ready for bed at night), so a lot of water gets in there—and water is the first thing to grow bacteria.

Dimmick suggests attacking the medicine cabinet once a month—and her all-purpose cleaners of choice are a mixture of white vinegar and water, or castile soap. And while you’re at it, check the expiration dates on your medicine and beauty products and dispose of them correctly.

Ceiling vent: “If you don’t clean that, it becomes very noisy when it’s on, and it doesn’t remove moisture effectively,” Maker says.

The easiest way to clean it, she adds, is to give it a quick vacuum with the brush attachment.

Bath towels, bathmats, and bathrobes: While you won’t necessarily have to do two towel loads in the wash each week—let’s face it, our linen closets are overstuffed with towels and washcloths—your bath towel should be replaced halfway through the week, according to Mary Gagliardi, aka Dr. Laundry for Clorox, whose background is in textile science and research and development at Clorox. And every time you wash a load of towels, go ahead and throw in the bathrobes and bathmats because, as Gagliardi says, they’re used similarly and as often as bath towels. While you’re at it, just find all the towels currently in use in the house and add them to the wash, too—we’re looking at you, kitchen towels.

Gagliardi suggests washing these in bleach to properly disinfect them, after testing the fabrics to make sure they’re bleach-fast. To test, mix 2 teaspoons of bleach with ¼ cup of water, put a drop of the solution on a hidden part of the fabric, let it sit for a minute, and rinse it and blot dry with towel. If the color didn’t change, you can use regular bleach on the item; otherwise go for color-safe bleach.

Toothbrush holder: This is a small thing that is usually overlooked and it has a lot of germs around it, says Jim Ireland, founder of White Glove Elite, a cleaning service in New York City. And it’s one I can attest to after a particularly bad college roommate experience. Let’s just say I always kept my toothbrush separate. So do everyone—and your mouth—a favor and clean the toothbrush holder before it even starts to look grimy.

Shower curtains / vinyl liners: Cloth shower curtains should be washed once a year to freshen them up because things can splash on them. Meanwhile vinyl shower curtains or shower curtain liners should be washed once or twice a year in the washing machine with ½ cup of bleach to keep mold and mildew under control, Gagliardi says. And go ahead and pull the curtain closed after your shower so the liner fully air-dries. This small step also keeps your bathroom looking neat.

Bedrooms

Bed sheets: You’re tossing and turning, sweating, and shedding hair and skin cells in your sleep. So regardless of whether you shower at night, sheets should be changed weekly. And in terms of washing them, Gagliardi says she believes they should be bleached—but perform a bleach-ability test on them first! If they fail the bleachability test, then wash them in the hottest water possible to properly continued on next page ››

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WestchesterParent 53

‹‹ continued from previous page

clean and sanitize them. While you’re at it, gather the throw blankets from the living room and wash those, too.

dampened cloth when you do your regular dusting, or regularly spray your plants.

Mattresses: Maintaining your mattress is really important; after all we spend approximately one-third of our lives sleeping! The best way to clean your mattress, Maker says, is to strip the sheets off it, sprinkle baking soda on it, let the baking soda sit for 30 minutes, and then vacuum it off. This will neutralize any odors.

Once the mattress is vacuumed, place a waterproof mattress protector on it and your sheets as normal. Maker also says rotating your mattress two to four times a year is key, so why not clean it at the same time?

Points of contact: We’re talking all over the house here.

Bathroom and kitchen cabinet handles, doorknobs, light switches, remote controls, tablets, phones, anything you and your family touch on a daily basis. These points of contact are how germs are transferred from person to person, so these are areas to be particularly mindful about cleaning, Maker says. “You can take a disinfectant and spray those points of contact as long as they don’t have electricity associated with them, you can let that product sit for a minute or two, and then wipe it,” she says.

If the point of contact does have an electric component, Maker suggests spraying a cloth with a cleaner or rubbing alcohol and wiping it down.

Under the bed: It’s a big one, according to Dimmick. A lot of dust can quickly accumulate there, “and by cleaning that, you can solve a lot of your allergy issues, or not sleeping well at night,” she says.

Closets: At least twice a year—but ideally after each season— go through your closets and get rid of any seasonal pieces you didn’t wear that season, suggests Tova Weinstock, aka Tidy Tova, a professional organizer and cleaning enthusiast based in New York City. For example, now that spring is upon us, go through your winter sweaters and donate the ones you weren’t compelled to wear. “Even with people I work with, if they’re debating whether to get rid of a springy shirt, I’ll say, ‘why don’t you keep it and if you don’t wear it this season, then let go of it,’” Weinstock says. Once you’ve gone through everything and the closet is empty, sweep and dust in there and then put everything back in an organized fashion—and the same goes for the drawers in your dresser.

Stuffed animals: These get a lot of love from young children, so they regularly need a freshening up. These can be vacuumed or go in the washing machine (if it’s okay for the lovie) as often as you can get them away from your kids—once a year at the very least.

Common Rooms

Ceiling fans: The tops of the fan blades can get particularly dusty—out of sight, out of mind. When I moved into my first apartment in New York City, my dad, who sees all those out-ofsight places because he’s 6-foot-4, wiped down the fan blades in my room—and you wouldn’t believe the amount of caked-on dust that came off. I only wish I had known Ireland’s trick: Every few months, dampen a pillowcase, put it over each blade so the fan blade is encased, and slide the pillowcase off so the dust stays inside the pillowcase.

Pet food bowls: If you feed your dog or cat wet food, chances are you regularly wash their bowls to clean off dried-on food.

But what about dry food bowls? “A lot of times people have dogs where the food never gets eaten all the way or the cat food is always in there, so it’s nice if once a week you can wash them with soapy water, rinse them, and sanitize them,” Gagliardi advises.

Houseplants: We don’t typically think of plants getting dusty, but they do. “We tend to overlook them until we notice them, and we tend to brush the dust off with our hands, but the oil from our hands is not friendly to plants,” Ireland says. So use a water54

March 2018 | nymetroparents.com

Litter boxes: While we regularly clean out the litter boxes and refresh the litter, how often do we actually wash the litter box?

Probably not often enough. “We have a recommendation for deodorizing litter boxes, where you remove the cat litter and clean the litter box with soapy water, let it soak with a half cup of bleach per gallon of water for five minutes, and rinse it and let it air dry,” Gagliardi suggests. “Put the cat litter back in and that will keep litter boxes smelling much, much better.”

Baseboards, crown molding, and heat registers / return vents: Dust builds up on these. Weinstock, Maker, and Gagliardi all suggest vacuuming them a few times a year with the brush attachment—or stay on top of it by cleaning them every time you vacuum the carpets.

Kitchen

Overhead exhaust: The purpose of the overhead exhaust is to suck the greasy vapor out of your kitchen, according to Maker.

“On its way up, the vapor leaves behind a significant amount of grease, and as it builds up, it becomes sticky, it becomes rancid, and you really do need to give it a good clean,” she says. Maker recommends you fill up a bucket with hot water and a scoop of oxygen bleach powder, soak it for about 10 minutes, dry it, and put it back up. You may need to give it a bit of a scrub, she cautions.

Potholders: “People never wash those, and they don’t necessarily hold up well to washing,” Gagliardi says. “But if they’re so dirty that you shouldn’t be using them anyway and you wash them and they don’t necessarily have good dimensional stability, then it was time to replace them.” Just be careful when laundering potholders, as they tend to bleed color. Soak them in water first to see how much color runs off; that way you won’t have dye transfer onto other items, Gagliardi advises.

Under the sink: This area tends to become a hotspot for junk, cleaning products, plastic shopping bags, and sometimes bits of trash that miss the garbage can (that is, if you keep the garbage can under the sink). So every now and then, dive in and take everything out, give it a good wipe, and, as Maker recommends, “put in a shelf liner because it can become very wet under there and you can ruin the base of the cabinet.” Then put back only the items you need. Now that we think about it, tackle the cabinet under the sink in the bathroom, too.

Garbage cans and recycling bins: We all regularly take out the garbage and recycling—at the very least when it’s trash day—but cleaning the receptacles themselves is often left undone. Gagliardi suggests disinfecting these once a month, especially if drink cans aren’t rinsed out before going in there. To keep them disinfected and deodorized, she suggests washing them with soapy water, then letting them soak in a solution of ½ cup of bleach per ¾ gallon of water for 5 minutes, rinsing it, and letting it air dry. Alternatively, Ireland suggests using a trash can as a bucket when mopping the floors, which will clean it too.

Inside the microwave: When food is nuked in the microwave, it can splatter, “and most people will leave it for a week, but would you leave food stains or dried up food on your counter for a week?

Probably not,” Dimmick says. She suggests cleaning the microwave daily with a mixture of vinegar and water. Meanwhile Weinstock suggests heating up water in the microwave to create a steam, which will loosen up caked-on food, making it easier to wipe off.

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Sponges: These can get smelly fast. Rather than throwing them out frequently, every time you run your dishwasher, Gagliardi suggests tossing them in, too. And for a deeper clean, she says you can soak them in a solution of ½ cup of bleach per gallon of water for 5 minutes, rinse them, and let them air dry. For a cleaning double-whammy, get your sponge wet and microwave it on high for 2 minutes, then carefully remove it. This deodorizes and disinfects your sponge, Ireland says, and the steam makes it easier to clean the microwave.

The warming drawer in the oven: People tend to use this little drawer under the oven as storage for baking sheets and think nothing of it since it’s not being used for food. But if you remove everything, “you’ll see it’s just full of crumbs, so every now and then its important to take everything out,” Maker says. “You can use the brush attachment on the vacuum to clean it out, and once you vacuum out the crumbs, spray it and wipe it out, and replace only the items you need.”

Coffee pot and coffee grinder: Ireland suggests these be cleaned once a month. Run the coffee maker with a solution that is 1 part vinegar and 4 parts water. Then, for insulated coffee urns that are difficult to clean, he suggests dropping a denture-cleaning tab in with some hot water and letting that sit overnight, while regular pots can be hand washed with dish soap. And put a handful of uncooked rice in the grinder and grind it. This will clean the blades without needing to get it wet.

Refrigerator: “You can still grow bacteria in there even though it’s cold,” Dimmick says. So she cleans out her fridge once a week.

“It’s also a great time to do a deep dive and look at the expiration dates on condiments,” she adds. And make sure to get under the crisper drawers. “We spend a lot of time trying to keep odors out of the refrigerator, but a lot of times there’s stuff under the crisper drawers,” Ireland adds.

With all of this in mind, Weinstock suggests creating a cleaning routine or schedule that is doable for you. “Try do get in the habit of doing certain tasks every day: sweeping, doing the dishes, wiping the counters,” she says. “And then set aside the time to actually clean, otherwise it gets so overwhelming.”

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Sleep Training 101

››

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

W

hen I was pregnant with my first child the number of people who told me, “You will never sleep again,” was overwhelming. Cut to six years, a second child, and many sleepless nights later—though I’m sure I have actually slept—and I am, indeed, pretty darn tired.

Fatigue certainly comes with the parenting territory, especially in the first few months of bringing home your newborn. But getting consistent sleep is extremely important, not only for your baby, but for you as a parent, too. That’s why sleep training your baby once she’s a few months old—that is, teaching her to fall asleep and stay asleep on her own—is a great way to ensure everyone is well rested, and, in turn, happy.

There are several sleep-training techniques, but ultimately all of them lead to restful nights for the whole family.

Sleep-Training Methods Explained

You may have heard of the “Cry It Out” and “Ferberizing” sleep-training methods. Those are two of the most well-known approaches, but many different variations have been developed.

Each technique involves a few (or a lot of) tears, and all differ slightly in terms of how present you are supposed to be and how much you comfort your child as he falls asleep and when he wakes up. Ingrid Prueher, founder of Ingrid Baby Sleep Whisperer (ingridbabysleepwhisperer.com) and a Fox & Friends sleep expert, 56

March 2018 | nymetroparents.com

works with individual families to create a method that works for them, while other experts, such as Denise Stern, baby nurse, postpartum care expert, and founder of Let Mommy Sleep (an overnight, in-home, infant care service), use a practice called sleep helping. “It is a simple way to say that we very gradually increase feeding during the day while gradually decreasing feeds overnight,” Stern says. Whichever method you choose, take comfort in knowing a good night’s sleep isn’t too far off.

Here is a cheat-sheet of common sleep-training methods that may work for your family: Cry It Out or CIO: This method involves going through a bedtime routine with your baby, then placing her in her crib, leaving the room, and not coming back until the morning—as long as your infant is safe. This will be, by far, the method that produces the most tears, although it has recently been deemed harmless by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Ferberizing: Developed by Richard Ferber, M.D., this technique is considered a gentler version of CIO. With this method, you check on your infant and console him after a few minutes of crying, increasing the amount of time between your visits to his room to check on him.

The Chair Method: Parents who practice this approach go through the normal bedtime routine, place their baby in the crib,

and then sit in a chair next to the crib until she falls asleep. They do not console her with words or cuddles, only with their presence. Each night they move the chair farther and farther from the crib until they are out of the room.

The Pick Up Put Down Method or PUPD: This gentle method allows parents to pick up their crying baby, soothe him, and then place him in his crib to sleep, repeating this all night until, eventually, baby sleeps through.

The Fading Sleep Training Method: With this technique parents continue to help their baby fall asleep by rocking or feeding. Each day they do less and less to soothe their baby in the hopes that she will begin to soothe herself. This is a great option for parents who prefer a method with less crying.

Getting Started

It’s important not to rush sleep training. For his first few months of life, tend to your baby when he cries and soothe him with feedings, diaper changes, or cuddles. Before sleep training your infant, Prueher suggests that: • You have approval from your pediatrician • Your baby weighs close to 16 pounds • Your little one is close to 4 months of age. This is when a child’s biological clock forms, and you can use a biological sleep schedule as part of the process of teaching her to become an independent sleeper.

If you can check off all three of those things, you can start sleep training your baby. “Lovingly teaching a child to sleep independently is about empowering the child to do what they have been born to do on their own. Children are born being able to sleep independently,” Prueher says. “In some cases, new parents just don’t know how to put a child to sleep and they feel their role as parents includes closing their child’s eyes for them. So, they resort to rocking, feeding to sleep, driving around, using a stroller during all sleep times.” But it doesn’t have to be that way. Babies are programmed to self-soothe; they just need a little push to get started.

One of the most important things for parents to remember before getting started is, no matter what sleep-training method is used, there will be tears. But “sleep training should never be traumatizing, produce throwing up sessions, or make you feel like you are hurting your child,” Prueher says. Creating a plan and feeling secure in it will reduce the number of tears your child (and you) may shed.

Like Prueher, Stern insists you get the “okay” from your pediatrician before starting to sleep train. Your baby needs to be able to go at least 8 hours without a feeding, and babies who were premature or who are gaining weight more slowly are not good candidates for sleep training at 4 months old. “A good rule of thumb is that when a baby is able to take in twenty-eight to thirty-two ounces between the hours of six am and ten pm, that’s usually enough to satiate them through the night, but it’s crucial to have baby’s primary care physician agree that it’s appropriate to begin sleep training,” Stern says.

Remember: Just because you have successfully sleep trained your baby, it doesn’t mean he won’t wake up once or twice (or more) throughout the night. “It is very common for baby to

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

Sleep Regression Tips and Tricks

If your baby, who was successfully sleeping through the night, starts waking more often, or staying awake for an extended period of time or for what seems to be no reason, she may be experiencing sleep regression. This can throw parents for a loop and often make them feel overwhelmed in having to go back to square one.

Alice R., a Brooklyn mom, went through this when her son was 9 months old. “Ryan had been sleeping through the night since we sleep trained him at four months old,” she says. “We had five months of bliss, and then it was like we were hit with a bomb. He was waking up a few hours after being put down and nothing we did worked.” Alice says she felt desperate and contacted a sleep expert for advice. Two weeks after starting the sleep training process all over again, Ryan resumed sleeping through the night.

“The Golden Rule for regression is consistency, consistency, consistency,” Stern says. “Simply continuing the methods that your child is already familiar with is the best way to minimize regression.

It’s important to remember, too, that babies are smart. If you hold them to sleep for a few nights during illness, for example, that does not mean they forgot how to sleep independently when it’s time for them to go back to sleep in the crib.”

While sleep regression may seem like it occurs out of the blue, chances are there is a very good reason your child is waking.

Teething and physical milestones (sitting up, crawling, and standing), and general alertness all contribute to sleep regression.

“No matter if they are ‘good’ or ‘bad’ sleepers, all little ones will wake when they’re experiencing teething pain or illness. Babies who are just learning to crawl and stand will also have fun in the overnight hours practicing their new skills,” Stern says. “In fact, many little ones just learning to walk will pull themselves up to a standing position in the crib and then call out to mom or dad because they are ‘stuck’ in the standing position!”

If your baby is not sick, it’s okay to not rush into her room when she wakes in the middle of the night. Giving her a chance to fall asleep on her own, again, just reinforces the sleep training.

In addition to maintaining normal bedtime routines, here are simple tips to combat sleep regression: • Provide extra comfort at bedtime in case separation anxiety is causing your child to wake up.

• Remove all distractions, as lights and mobiles are not so useful during a period of sleep regression.

• Make sure the room is a comfortable temperature, between 68 and 72 degrees.

• Don’t form new “bad” habits such as rocking your baby or bringing him into bed with you. Remember this is a shortterm phase.

Each family is different, and it is important to stay in tune with your baby’s needs, as they may change. Sleep training, whichever method you choose, is a great way to maintain a happy and healthy household.

“We know the benefits of sleep can help our children live happier and healthier lives, so let’s make sleep a priority,” Prueher says. “It’s the best gift you can give your child, it will reward them forever.”

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WestchesterParent 57

raising kids teen

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

A

lexa, 14, never had any interest in sports. Or gym, or even kicking a ball around the yard. Her mom, Laura Valsamachi, kept encouraging her to try something. Once she got into high school, a new option presented itself: golf. Alexa agreed to try it. She liked that it wasn’t a team sport, and the fact that it was walk-on, so her lack of athletic ability wouldn’t be on display during a tryout. Valsamachi completed the registration form, and Alexa took it to school the morning of the sign-up deadline.

And she brought it back that afternoon.

“Julia’s not doing it,” the Long Island freshman said, without looking at her mom. “Who’s Julia? And so what?” Valsamachi asked. “Julia, the one I told you is kind of popular?” Alexa reminded her. “She said she would do golf with me, but now she’s not, so…” Her voice trailed off, her earbuds went in, and that was that.

While some teens seem to have no problem deciding what they want to do and sticking to it, plenty more struggle to think independently and make choices for themselves. Wanting the approval of others is natural to some extent, even for grownups, but needing it can be crippling. If your kid seems to show a tendency toward flip-flopping, read on for the lowdown on how to guide him or her toward confident decision-making.

The Why Behind Wishy-Washy Behavior

Is it typical for teens to be followers, changing their mind about extracurricular activities, clothes, hairstyles, and even what after58

March 2018 | nymetroparents.com

By Christina Vercelletto

school jobs to apply for, based on what their peers are doing? In many cases, it’s not a sign of a long-term problem, but more of a phase. “A lot of this is normal and even developmentally healthy behavior,” insists Robi Ludwig, Psy.D., a psychotherapist in New York City. “Teens are still discovering who they are and what’s important to them, so changing what they want and how they want to present themselves is all a part of this,” she explains.

Anecdotally, at least, girls seem more vulnerable than boys to deferring to friends on anything and everything. “Most teenage girls want to be part of the pack. They want to blend in rather than stand out,” says Susan Groner, “The Parenting Mentor” and New York City-based author of Parenting: 101 Ways to Rock Your World. “While this may seem silly to us, there’s nothing wrong with it. You don’t need to worry that she’ll be like this forever. It’s a phase.” (If your child resists making any independent decisions at all, though, “there could be a mood or self-esteem issue going on,” cautions Dr. Ludwig, and in that case, checking in with a therapist would be a good idea.)

Encouraging Independence

Of course teens are not, as a group, big on taking what adults say as gospel. But there are ways we can get our teens to see the benefits of making their own decisions.

Share a story of a time when being a follower backfired. Use articles, stories about people your child knows (with their

permission), and yes, even “when I was your age” stories to get your point across without being too heavy-handed about it, Dr. Ludwig recommends. After the golf incident, Valsamachi shared a personal story with Alexa that seemed to strike a chord: When she’d been a high-school senior, her best friend Maureen had decided that college was a waste of time, and had opted to go straight to work.

Valsamachi, used to walking in lockstep with her BFF, decided to forgo college too. “I wound up getting my degree much later, but still wonder how my life would have been different,” she says. “Oh, and I haven’t spoken to Maureen since 1989.”

Valsamachi resisted the urge to point out “Just like Julia and golf!” at the end of her story. It was just put out there for Alexa to interpret as she would. “And she did seem to absorb it, at least a little,” Valsamachi says.

Keep it neutral. The main thing to guard against, says Dr. Ludwig, is coming across as preachy. Keep a neutral tone. “Teens who feel criticized or are concerned that they would disappoint their parents are often less comfortable sharing their thoughts,” agrees Wendy L. Moss, Ph.D., co-author, with Donald A. Moses, M.D., of Raising Independent, Self-Confident Kids.

Be nonjudgmental. It often isn’t easy, but it can pay off. Rose Koehler’s daughter, Emily, wanted to apply to be a page at their local library on Long Island, but a friend convinced her to work with her at a fast-food restaurant instead. “Now, my daughter, who hates noise, rushing, and has been known to burst into tears if a soda splatters on her, working in a fast food restaurant…I knew this would not end well,” Koehler shares. “But I also knew that demanding she stick with her original plan wouldn’t either.”

So Koehler stayed supportive, asking a question about the job now and then, but keeping it neutral. After about five weeks, Emily quit—but the page job had already been filled. “I just gave her a hug and said nothing. Definitely not ‘I told you so!’”

Koehler says. While Emily never came out and said she should have made the decision that felt right to her in the first place, Koehler feels the lesson stuck. “She doesn’t seem as quick to yield to her friends’ opinions anymore,” she says.

You don’t need to discourage your teen from posting a picture or a comment he thinks will get a lot of positive attention, as long as it doesn’t hurt him in the short or long term, Dr. Ludwig says. “Connect it to long-term goals he may have for himself. If he posts in a certain way, explain how this can send the wrong message and hurt him down the line.” She also advises encouraging teens to think like a publicist. This is a concept most high-schoolers can readily grasp. If you were in charge of managing a client’s reputation, would you post this?

Lynne Lincoln, a mother of two teens in New Rochelle, recalls the time her 16-year-old son, Daniel, posted several #foodstagram shots of the burger chain Shake Shack while on an outing to the city with a group of friends. When he came home starving, Lincoln asked, “I thought you had Shake Shack?” Daniel clarified: “Oh, I gave it to Ryan. I don’t eat that stuff. I would have rather had pizza, but nobody is going to follow an account that posts rando pizza. It’s hard to get melted cheese not to look gross.”

Groner says what’s important is that teens are able to separate their online lives from their real ones. If they snap a selfie in front of the now-famous statue of the little girl down on Wall Street, say, did they take the time to think about the art? “Next time your child posts, ask him about the experience,” she suggests. That will give you an idea of whether the experience drove the popular post, or the other way around.

At the end of the day, Dr. Ludwig notes, the best thing you can do to help your child with decision-making—or anything, really— is to tune in to his needs. “Just plug into your child…Let them know you’re on their side and there for them if they need you,” she says.

Christina Vercelletto is a former editor at NYMetroParents, Parenting, Scholastic Parent & Child, and Woman’s Day. She lives on Long Island with her kids, a chiweenie, Pickles, and a 20-pound calico, Chub-Chub.

Let him practice. Have your teen be a part of the decision-making process for family matters, such as planning a vacation, choosing a family car, or even figuring out how to assist an aging grandparent.

What you’re trying to do, Dr. Moss explains, is guide your child toward minimizing impulsive decisions in favor of the one that is actually best for the situation. And like any other learned skill, that takes practice.

Brainstorm. “Crowd-sourcing” potential solutions to a problem your teen is having by bringing in the whole family—even favorite aunts, uncles, and cousins—lets him know that “family is like a team, stronger than any one member,” Dr. Moss says. What that does is shift the focus off of “mom or dad know best,” so your child is less likely to feel defensive. By seeing that her ideas are as good as anyone else’s, she’ll start to build confidence, and, over time, be less apt to fall into a “what they’re thinking must be better than what I’m thinking” mentality.

The Social Media Aspect

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

WestchesterParent 59

family life food & nutrition

Ultimate Green Smoothie and Oat and Kale Breakfast Biscuits

Top o’ the Morning to Ya!

››

Three easy green breakfasts kids will actually enjoy

K

ids can be fussy about fruits and vegetables, and we know how challenging it is to make sure they are eating the suggested amount of each every day. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day and an optimal time to get in those fruits and veggies. Here are three easy green recipes from Eat More Greens by Zita Steyn to get them excited about breakfast. Bonus: They can’t be pinched if they eat this on St. Patrick’s Day!

Ultimate Green Smoothie

If you are not one for green smoothies in general, you should try this one. It is quite delicious and very virtuous. It helps having a highspeed blender, but if you don’t, just keep blending until the mixture is smooth. You will need to soak the almonds overnight, and if you struggle to buy frozen mango or pineapple, peel and chop up the fruit the night before and freeze it.

Serves 2 to 3 Ingredients 1 lemon 1½ cups coconut water, preferably raw 3/ -inch piece ginger, peeled 8 and coarsely chopped Handful of almonds, soaked overnight, or for at least 6 hours, and rinsed

Big handful of kale, thick stalks discarded, leaves coarsely chopped or torn 1 tsp. green powder of your choice (optional) 1 ripe medium banana, cut or broken into chunks 1½-1¾ cups frozen fruit

Directions 1. C ut the lemon in half then cut a thick slice off one half. Chop this up roughly and place in a blender. Squeeze the juice from the remaining lemon halves and add, together with the coconut water, ginger, and almonds, to the blender. Blend until smooth.

2. Add the rest of the ingredients and blend until smooth and creamy. If your blender allows for the use of a tamper, it is a good idea to press the frozen fruits down into the blade to avoid uneven blending.

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March 2018 | nymetroparents.com

Chard and Feta Savory Muffins

These muffins (not the eggs-Benedict-kind, but the Americanbaked-goods-kind) are great to take along to a picnic or as an after-school snack. Look for traditionally made, soft cooking chorizo that has no added nasties, and choose the mild version if you are feeding youngsters. If you are vegetarian, leave out the chorizo and fry the onion and chard in a little butter or coconut oil, but add another tsp of smoked paprika powder and perhaps a little more cayenne pepper.

Makes 12 Ingredients 7 oz. traditionally made cooking chorizo (the soft kind), casings removed and broken into small pieces 1 medium onion, finely chopped 10½ oz. rainbow or Swiss chard, stalks chopped into small dice, leaves shredded into bite-size pieces Generous 2 cups whole-wheat spelt flour 1 Tbsp. baking powder 1½ tsp. smoked paprika

½ tsp. cayenne pepper (omit if using spicy chorizo or cooking for children) 1 cup parsley, leaves only, finely chopped 3 medium eggs 5/ cup whole milk or milk substitute 8 2 Tbsp. butter, coconut oil, or ghee, melted, plus extra for greasing Scant 12/3 cups feta cheese, crumbled Sea salt

Directions 1. S auté the chorizo in a hot, dry frying pan until the fat starts to render, then add the onion and cook until soft and translucent.

Scrape the mixture into a bowl.

2. Add the chard stalks to the pan with a small pinch of salt.

Cook until tender, for 5 to 10 minutes, depending on size.

If they are drying out, add a splash or three of water to the pan. Add the chard leaves and cook for about a minute, or until wilted.

3. T ip all the chard into a food processor or onto a cutting board, and chop finely. Add this to the chorizo and onion mix, then set aside to cool.

4. P reheat the oven to 350°F and grease a 12-hole muffin tray or 2 smaller cupcake trays.

5. W hisk the flour, baking powder, and spices in a bowl and stir in the parsley.

6. W hisk the eggs, milk, and melted fat in a separate bowl or measuring cup, and pour into the dry ingredients along with the cooled chorizo and chard mixture, and the feta. Using a large spoon, mix only until just combined; do not overmix.

Spoon into the greased muffin pans.

7. B ake in the oven for 25 minutes until golden and a skewer inserted in the center comes out clean (allowing for patches of melted feta). Let cool in the trays for a couple of minutes before turning out onto wire racks to cool completely.

Oat and Kale Breakfast Biscuits

Always on the look-out for interesting meals to start the day with, I regularly make this for my family and friends. Nutritious, filling, and different yet familiar, it ticks all the boxes for a special breakfast dish. Being gluten-free, it is a very crumbly biscuit, but no less delicious for it. Instead of the kale and nutmeg, you could add lots of finely chopped chives and cayenne pepper, or a little goat cheese and chopped thyme leaves. Roughly chopped black olives and finely chopped rosemary make a good addition, too.

rinse) and blitz until very fine. Add the rest of the flakes and pulse a few times until the larger flakes are broken down slightly. Add the baking powder, baking soda, nutmeg, and salt, and pulse to mix.

4. Add the cubed butter or coconut oil and pulse until the mixture resembles wet sand. Add the cooled kale and onion mixture, the chia seed gel, apple puree, and egg, and process until the mixtures comes together. It should be a little on the sticky side.

5. Using a spatula, scrape the dough out onto the lined baking sheet. Form into a square about ¾ inch thick, then score into 9 smaller squares, leaving them joined together. Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes until golden, rotating the sheet halfway through cooking.

6. Carefully slide a spatula under the biscuits to loosen them from the baking parchment, then separate the pieces using a knife, move them apart a little to give them some room and return to the oven for another 10-12 minutes, to crisp the edges.

7. Remove from the oven and cool on a wire rack. Serve with butter, hollandaise, and poached eggs for breakfast.

Recipes excerpted with permission from Eat More Greens by Zita Steyn, photography by Nassima Rothacker; published by Quadrille Publishing March 2017, RRP $24.99 hardcover.

Makes 9 smallish biscuits Ingredients A little olive oil 1 small onion, diced 3½ oz. kale, stalks removed, roughly chopped 2 cups oat flakes (certified gluten-free if you are sensitive) 1 tsp. baking powder ½ tsp. baking soda ½ tsp. freshly grated nutmeg

Large pinch of sea salt 1 Tbsp. chia seeds, mixed with 2 Tbsp. water and stirred until a thick gel forms ½ cup cold butter (or firm coconut oil, hardened in the refrigerator), cut into small cubes ¼ cup apple puree or applesauce 1 egg, lightly whisked

Directions 1. P reheat the oven to 350°F and line a medium baking sheet with baking parchment.

2. Heat the olive oil in a pan, add the onion, and sweat over gentle heat until soft and translucent. Add the kale and sauté until tender and cooked, then process in a food processor, or chop very finely by hand, press out any moisture and set aside to cool completely.

3. Spoon half the oat flakes into the food processor (no need to

FALL PROGRAM

Family Owned & Operated Since 1973 Experienced Teachers

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www.annandandychildcare.com 914-592-3027 • 2170 Saw Mill River Rd, Elmsford WestchesterParent 61

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 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.

PARTY PLACES A-GAME SPORTS 856 Main St., New Rochelle 914-278-9477 62

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

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.

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.

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.

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!

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!

CENTRAL PARK DANCE 450 Central Park Ave., Scarsdale 914-723-2940 centralparkdance.com

March 2018 | nymetroparents.com

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 program 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.

LIL CHAMELEON 29 Elm St., Tuckahoe 914-346-5148 lilchameleon.com Come party with Lil Chameleon! Book our Silver or Gold package and choose from truly unique experiences in our bright and stylish space.

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.

WESTCHESTER CHILDREN’S MUSEUM 100 Playland Parkway, Rye 914-421-5050 discoverwcm.org/field-trips discoverwcm.org/birthday-parties earlychildhood@discoverwcm.org Places to build, explore, and discover, the Westchester Children’s Museum is Westchester’s newest, most creative place for birthday parties! Have the museum’s exhibits, MakerSpace, and party room to yourself—our parties offer exclusive use of the museum space when the general public has gone home.

th

ENROLLING NOW FOR FALL 2018!

Come learn from our experienced Montessori teachers who provide an individual, hands on learning environment.

We offer a variety of toddler and pre-K programs!

Extended hours are available.

www.alcottschool.org Scarsdale 27 Crane Road 914-472-4404

Dobbs Ferry 535 Broadway 914-693-4443

Enrolling now for SUMMER!

Scarsdale 46 Fox Meadow Road 914-725- 7551

Ages 2-8

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

NEW! We are now eight weeks!

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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.

Great New York deals, savings, special offers and deep discounts—for you and your family—are yours with just a click of the mouse.

WestchesterParent 63

LOOKING FOR

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OPEN HOUSES 2018 Taste more than 200 kosher wines!

Nosh on delicious snacks!

The Jewish Week’s

Grand Wine Tasting Event Monday March 12 | 5 - 9 p.m.

City Winery, 155 Varick Street Taste over 200 kosher wines, including the winners of The Jewish Week’s recent Top 18 Kosher Wine Competition Talk to kosher wine vintners, wine experts and local retailers Order your favorite wines to enjoy at your Seder, for your simcha and all year long Get your free copy of The Jewish Week’s Kosher Wine Guide packed with wine features, as well as our Top 18 kosher wines in 10 categories, and more!

For tickets, VIP Early Access & details visit http://jewishweek.timesofisrael.com/wine-tasting/

VIP/Early Access 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm $79 and then admission to the Grand Wine Tasting Private tasting capped at 125 guests with a premium wine selection.

Grand Wine Tasting 6:00pm – 9:00pm $50 The ticket price on the day of the event for the main Gand Wine Tasting will be $60.

The Jewish Week THE JEWISH WEEK MEDIA GROUP

J WMG 64

March 2018 | nymetroparents.com

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

Mrs. Rebecca McCuller, educational director 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.

Purchase College Summer Youth and Precollege Programs in the Arts Purchase College, 735 Anderson Hill Road, Purchase

914-251-6500 purchase.edu/youth youth.pre.college@purchase.edu Join us for an open house on Saturday, April 21 from 10am12pm in the Neuberger Museum of Art on the Purchase College Campus.

Thornton-Donovan School

100 Overlook Circle, New Rochelle 914-632-8836 td.edu Join us for Thornton-Donovan School’s Summer Challenge camp open house on Sundays, March 4 and 15 from 2-4pm.

Program dates July 2–Aug. 17, 8:45am-3:45pm, for ages 3-14; coed.

Westchester Summer Day

856 Orienta Ave., Mamaroneck 914-698-8900 x134 westchesterday.org jney@westchesterday.org Tours are available each day by appointment. Call or email to schedule a tour of our beautiful 26-acre campus and see how we create opportunities for a fantastic summer.

White Plains Family YMCA

250 Mamaroneck Ave. 914-949-8030 whiteplains.ymca-cnw.org hbell@ymca-cnw.org zswierat@ymca-cnw.org mlozada@ymca-cnw.org Daily tours offered Monday-Friday, 9:30am-6:30pm. Please call Margarita Lozada-Pineiro to schedule: 914-949-8030 x204.

raising kids ad index NYMetroParents.com features more than 20,000 businesses serving the NY metropolitan area! acrobatics / gymnastics Gym Cats Gymnastics ...............68 ISGC Gym .................................68 Jodi’s Gym - Westchester ..........53

birthday / party services

Artistree Performing Arts ...........33 Blue Moon Mexican Café ..........53 Clay Art Center ..........................35 Gym Cats Gymnastics ...............68 Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum .......................................7 Jete Dance Studio .....................30 Jodi’s Gym - Westchester ..........53 Little Gym - Westchester .............9 Pro Swing ..................................30 Sportime USA Inc ......................49 Westchester Children’s Museum..15 Westchester Parent Party Planner .............................65 YMCA White Plains ...................19

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Ann & Andy ................................61 Artistree Performing Arts ...........33 Beth El Synagogue Center ........63 Boys & Girls Club of Northern Westchester................49 Camp Clio ..................................37 Camp Huntington.......................31 Camp Pinebrook ........................33 Camp Ramaquois ......................31 Campus Kids Summer Camp ....28 Chelsea Piers - CT ....................23 Clay Art Center ..........................35 Destination Science ...................30 Emelin Theatre ..........................55 Fin 2 Swim .................................51 Future Stars ...............................29 Goddard School - Hastings .......28 Hudson Country Montessori ...13, 16 ID Tech Camps ..........................21 Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum .......................................7 Iona College Summer Day Camps ................................35 ISGC Gym .................................68 Jete Dance Studio .....................30 Jodi’s Gym - Westchester ..........53 Little Gym - Westchester .............9 Milestone School (The)..............35 Mosholu Montefiore Community Center.....................37 Oasis Children Services ..............2 ProSwing ...................................30 Purchase College Youth & Precollege Programs in the Arts ................... 29 Scarsdale Synagogue Mazel Tots .................................33 Spearman Golf Academy...........35 Squire Camps ............................26 Steffi Nossen School of Dance ..55 Studio B Dance..........................37

Teatown Lake Reservation ........49 Thornton Donovan School ......... 11 Twin Lakes Farm .......................21 Westchester Commnity College Extention Program .....................25 Westchester Computer Adventures, LLC ........................27 Westchester County Parks ........16 Westchester Jewish Center .......35 Westchester Summer Day.........25 Westfair Camp @ Pace Aquatics ............................33 Windward School.......................33 YMCA White Plains ...................19

child care / day care

Ann & Andy ................................61

classes

Alcott Montessori .......................63 Artistree Performing Arts ...........33 Chelsea Piers - CT ....................23 Clay Art Center ..........................35 Easter Seals Project Explore .....59 Gym Cats Gymnastics ...............68 Hoff-Barthelson Music School ...26 Jete Dance Studio .....................30 ProSwing ...................................30 Purchase College Youth & Precollege Programs in the Arts ...29 Spearman Golf Academy...........35 Steffi Nossen School of Dance ..55 Studio B Dance..........................37 Westchester Children’s Museum..15 YMCA White Plains ...................19

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family travel

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fitness

Jodi’s Gym - Westchester ..........53 Twin Lakes Farm .......................21 YMCA White Plains ...................19

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Dicker Reading Method ...............5 Sylvan Learning Centers ...........49

Emelin Theatre ..........................55

PARTY PLANNER

Want to know the best

activities for families?

Jewish Week (The) ....................64 Young Child Expo ......................55

special needs

Camp Huntington.......................31 Dicker Reading Method ...............5 Easter Seals Project Explore .....59 Young Child Expo ......................55

sports

Chelsea Piers - CT ....................23 ProSwing ...................................30 Spearman Golf Academy...........35 Twin Lakes Farm .......................21 YMCA White Plains ...................19

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Artistree Performing Arts ...........33 Emelin Theatre ..........................55

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raising kids quotables

What has been your luckiest parenting moment?

“Getting pregnant in the first place. I struggled with infertility for years and was smack dab in the middle of IVF when I became pregnant with our son. I never felt luckier than in that moment.”

—Amy Edlestein, Nassau County

“Every day with my kids feels a little bit lucky and a little bit crazy.

We are lucky to go on so many adventures in Brooklyn and discover new parts of our borough every week. The craziness of being a large family is so worth it.”

—Tracy R., Park Slope, Brooklyn

“I don’t know if I believe in luck as much as I believe that everything happens for a reason. I’m grateful for my family every day and always remind my children to count their blessings.”

—Penny Ramirez, New Rochelle

“Getting pregnant with twins!! Some people might have totally freaked out but they run in my family, so I felt so lucky to carry on that family tradition with my own brood. My girls are definitely my good luck charms.”

—Amanda Jenkins, Forest Hills, Queens

in an instagram The graduating class of The Highland School in Fresh Meadows, Queens, got a chance to visit with Savannah Guthrie and Hoda Kotb of the Today Show.

But here’s what I’m beginning to realize, or rather, what I need to realize. Moms are not machines. We can’t go and go and go without stopping or we will break. And there is no free replacement if we do. I may want to hang those picture frames or shred those bills tonight when the have-tos of my day are done. But honestly, what I need to do is to sit on the couch, curl up next to my sweet dog, and watch some Netflix.

—Janene Dutt in a post entitled “If You Feel Like You Didn’t Do Enough Today, Remember This,” on scarymommy.com

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March 2018 | nymetroparents.com

“I feel lucky for my family and extended family who live in the area.

Without them I don’t know how I would handle this whole parenting thing. It truly takes a village.”

—Susan Klinger, Manhattan

The Joys of Daylight Savings “There’s nothing better than dining al fresco, in my opinion, whether it’s at a restaurant that has outdoor seating, in a backyard (if you’re lucky enough to have one), or on a building’s rooftop terrace. I really love spreading out a blanket and dining among nature (and other picnickers) at the local park.”

—Katelin Walling in an article entitled “Daylight Saving Time: 5 Ways to Take Advantage of an Extra Hour of Sunlight;” read the whole thing at nymetroparents.com/daylight-savings.

More NYMetroParents.com Highlights: GO FOR A SPIN!: Check out some awesome carousels in the NYC area at nymetroparents.com/carousels CELEBRATING WOMEN: March is Women’s History Month. Find where you can celebrate at nymetroparents. com/womens-history.

SPRING IS HERE! Discover 100 things to do in our area this season (nymetroparents.com/spring) CELEBRATE ST. PATRICK’S DAY: Make this delicious and healthy Shamrock Shake (nymetroparents.com/shamrock)

We've got everything for a…

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

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

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

Bergen•RocklandParent NORTH

HILLSDALE • MONTVALE

SEPTEMBER 2012

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

NYMETROPARENTS.COM

LongIslandParent Parent SPETEMBER 2012

Class Is In!

After-School Activities

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Resource Guide

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SLOW DOWN!

NYMETROPARENTS.COM

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

How to Manage Kids’ Schedules

What Makes a Good Mentor?

+ 174 Family

+ 130 Family Events

Events

(see our calendar, p. 32)

(see our calendar, p. 26)

Plus: Learning to Let Go

Vaccines at Every Age Plus: Journaling for Your Child

Where-To Guide: Berry Picking

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Dinosaur Fun

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

NYMetroParents Helping Parents Make Better Decisions WestchesterParent 67

ISG GYMNASTICS SUMMER CAMP

• Full and extended day • Ages 5 & up • No experience necessary Gymnastics, Arts & Crafts, Theme Days, Sports, Gym Games & More

GYMNASTICS CLASSES

Ages 2 & up | Beginner – Advanced Preschool open gym for 5 & under

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

Summer Camp

Full, Half & Extended Day Boys & Girls Ages 4½-12 Gymnastics, Trips, Sports Performance, Games & More Ask about our early bird special until 2-28-2018

Gymnastics Classes

Boys & Girls • Ages 20 months & up Beginner-Advanced Cheerleading • Private Lessons

Private Birthday Parties

• Air castles • Trampolines • Giant Slide • Obstacles Courses, foam filled pit & more

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