Westchester Parent January 2017 by City Guide NY

WestchesterParent JANUARY 2017

NYMETROPARENTS.COM

Homework

Helpful?

Welcoming Everyone

Inside the debate Plus: Find the right school for your child

The surprising religious diversity at Catholic schools

Good Failure Teaching kids grit and resilience

WHERE TO GO SKIING

â&#x20AC;¢

SUMMER ACTIVITIES IN WINTERTIME

Westchester Community College OSSINING EXTENSION CENTER IS A NEW CAREER IN YOUR FUTURE? Certified Nurse Assistant, Patient Care Technician, Home Health Aide, Medical Interpreter, Phlebotomist, EKG Technician, Mental Health Technician, Pharmacy Technician, Clinical Medical Assistant FREE Informational Workshops: Jan. 3 or Jan. 5, 5:00-6:00pm

PHARMACY TECHNICIAN Students will learn medical terminology, the role and responsibilities of a pharmacy technician, and interpreting prescriptions, and develop the skills needed to work under the supervision of a registered pharmacist. Sat. and Sun., Jan. 28-Apr. 16, 9:00 am-3:00 pm

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January 2017 | nymetroparents.com

CO-ED â&#x20AC;¢ GRADES K-12 100 Overlook Circle | New Rochelle, NY 10804 www.td.edu | 914-632-8836 WestchesterParent

NYMetroParents Helping Parents Make Better Decisions

Contents

January 2017 ››

Features

14 The Benefits of Failure Why teaching kids to handle setbacks with grit and perseverance is important 16 Finding Summer Fun in the Depths of Winter Six ways to bring warm-weather fun to the coldest season

18 Is Homework Necessary? Inside the debate about whether kids really need homework—and what one school is doing instead 44 Not of the Faith How local Catholic schools have integrated students from all types of religious backgrounds 46 Great for Leftovers Three recipes, plus a leftover twist for each

50 Why Are Boys Failing? How current norms are contributing to boys falling behind—in school and life

Connections

6 Editor’s Note 8 New Places, New Programs 10 Quotables 11 NYMP Q&A: Ilana Wiles, creator of MommyShorts.com, talks average parenting 58 Voices: Is My Babysitter Doing a Better Job Than Me?

Fun & Activities

12 DIY Corner: Make your own bird feeders 13 Media Matters: What Your Kids Should Watch 28 Outing: Queens Museum 31 Family Activities Calendar 42 Where-To Guide: Ski & Snowboard

Family Activities CALENDAR ››

Directories

22 49 52 54 55 56 57

Schools and Educational Services Meet the Health Care Professional Meet the Director Party Central Open Houses Party Planner and Family Resource Guide Advertisers’ Index

ON THE COVER ›› 14 Good Failure 16 Summer Activities in Wintertime 18 Is Homework Helpful? facebook.com/nymetroparents

@NYMetroParents

42 Where to Go Skiing 44 Welcoming Everyone Visit NYMETROPARENTS.COM for family activities updated daily and more than 2,000 parenting articles!

Now g Enrollin r te For Win s Classe

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PARENT/CHILD CLASSES • PRE-K & GRADE SCHOOL • GYMNASTICS • DANCE • HIP HOP KARATE • SPORTS SKILLS • AWESOME BIRTHDAY BASHES • PARENTS’ SURVIVAL NIGHT • CAMPS

WestchesterParent

JANUARY 2016 • Vol.16 • No.5

NYMetroParents Publications

EDITOR’S NOTE

Education in the Classroom & Beyond

remember when my oldest child started getting homework. It was a shock to the system, hers and ours, intruding on her post-school play time and, to the extent we needed to help her, on our quiet time with the kids. Since then, as the volume and difficulty of her homework has increased, I’ve become so grateful and proud to see how diligent and responsible she is at it. Still, there are nights where she remembers well past bedtime about a forgotten assignment or is flummoxed by a particularly difficult task. I sometimes wonder what worth there is in this, and as Katelin Walling reports (p. 18), I am not alone in asking that question. There is a hot debate in education circles about whether to ditch homework altogether, and some schools, including some in our region, have done exactly that. Speaking of frustration, I am sure you’re familiar with this scene: A child melts into tears and anger, unable to be consoled, because of his inability to complete a task, whether it’s getting that ball into the basket or building a block tower taller than he is. It breaks our hearts to see our kids so angry and hurt, and we naturally try to assure them of their skills and worth. But setbacks can be useful to children, especially if we help channel their feelings in a productive direction, helping them see failures as motivation to try again and harder and conquer the task. We spoke with experts who offer advice on how to teach kids this sort of grit and resilience (p. 14), skills that will serve them well throughout their lives. If you want to get your kids to pick themselves up again after they fall down—literally and metaphorically—you could bring them to a ski slope and teach them the sport. Find great spots for skiing and snowboarding around the Northeast (p. 42). And for winter fun closer to home, get great tips on recapturing the joys of summer even when the weather is freezing (p. 16). For my family, dead-of-winter visits to the Bronx zoo are a cherished tradition. For many of us, January is the time to think of September—specifically, where our kids will go to school next year. For some parents, the right choice might sound surprising on the surface: choosing a Catholic school even though they are not Catholic. Samantha Neudorf investigates this phenomenon and explains what’s behind the decision to send kids to a religious school when they are not of the faith (p. 44). And if you are seeking a school for your child, check out our education directory to find tons of great choices (p. 22). Stay warm, and have a great January!

EDITORIAL

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR: Michael Kress MANAGING EDITOR: Katelin Walling DEPUTY EDITOR: Caitlin Berens SENIOR EDITOR: Bethany Braun-Silva ASSISTANT EDITOR: Samantha Neudorf REGIONAL EDITORS: Samantha Beranbom (Rockland); Karen Demeter (Suffolk); Rosalind Muggeridge (Brooklyn); Jamie McGillian (Westchester); Dorette Saunders (Nassau); Emma Steven (Manhattan); Gail Warren (Queens) DIRECTORIES EDITOR: Alice Van Dyke EDITORIAL INTERNS: Jonathan Perry, Kathryn Sheridan

ADVERTISING SALES Big Apple Parent 212-315-0800; Fax: 212-271-2239 Jeunesse Jackson, Linda Pierce Queens Parent 718-878-4860 Annene Guertin, Ellen Klein Westchester Parent 914-397-0200 Nini DeLuca, Manager Randi Shulman, Merrill Sugarman, Mary Wender Brooklyn Parent 718-878-4860 Phyllis Crupi, Ellen Klein, Selene Rodriguez Rockland Parent 845-848-8021 Cara Roteman, Jim Russo Long Island Parent, Nassau 516-883-4543 Joan Bergman, Manager, Dani Pollack Long Island Parent, Suffolk 631-472-5437 Lisa Herlihy, Karen Shapiro To Advertise: nympads@davlermedia.com DIR. OF OPERATIONS -- EVENTS: Rebecca Stolcz DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS: Ray Winn OPERATIONS COORDINATORS: Ray C. Guédez, Leonard Porter DIRECTOR OF TRAFFIC: Heather Gambaro ADMINISTRATION MANAGER: Erin Jordan

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

Join us for an afternoon of family fun at the first-ever Westchester Parents Day! We’re putting together a program sure to put a smile on your kids’ faces—while helping you learn valuable information. Kids will enjoy entertainment, tasty treats, crafts, a dance party, and raffles and giveaways, while parents can get to know local child-focused businesses, including camps, after-school activities, and birthday party venues. Westchester Parents Day will be held 12-3pm on Sunday, Feb. 5, at the Crown Plaza, 66 Hale Ave., White Plains. Go to westchesterparentsday.com to learn more and register. 6

January 2017 | nymetroparents.com

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NEW PLACES, NEW PROGRAMS

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Who: Bruce Chung Tae Kwon Do What’s New: Gym-Mini Kick-It Kickstart®, which is a drop-off preschool enhancement program. The 2-hour program, designed for young children ages 2½-4½, incorporates activities that build gross and fine motor dexterity and help develop social and academic skills. Co-founder and taekwondo Master Susan Chung says days are planned out to keep children participating from start to finish. “We put a lot of thought into this program. From the minute the children arrive until they leave, we keep them engaged,” Chung says. Want More Info: 250 Halstead Ave., Harrison; 914-835-0665; brucechung.com

Courtesy Bruce Chung Tae Kwon Do

Family Fitness Center in Harrison Offers Preschool Enrichment Program

A young child is guided in enriching play at Bruce Chung Tae Kwon Do.

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New Facility for Local Dance Studio Who: Studio B Dance Center What’s New: The location of the dance studio. Studio B is now housed in what used to be a barn built circa mid-1800s. The building houses three state-of-the-art studios, with viewing windows into every classroom, and two waiting rooms. Studio B’s culture is non-competitive and community-based. Its philosophy is, “We don’t teach kids to make great dancers, we teach dance to make great kids.” Want More Info: 277 White Plains Road, Eastchester; 914-793-2799; studiobdance.com

Studio B Dance Center students perform on stage.

January 2017 | nymetroparents.com

WESTCHESTER’S PREMIERE COMMUNITY MUSIC SCHOOL SINCE 1944

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UOTABLES I was going to be a perfect stay-athome mom and enjoy every single moment teaching and encouraging my children. Then, I actually had my own kids, three of them, and that is when I fell off my unicorn and tumbled straight back to reality. —Barrie Bismark, in a post entitled “I’m Not the Mom I Thought (and Hoped) I Would Be,” on The Huffington Post: Parents.

in an instagram in an instagram Cal. Several days ago. In front of a nova that’s he’s completely enamored with. It has been parked on our block since the dawn of time. The owner is a complete mystery, but it does move for alternate side. (Posted by @megankellicraig, aka Megan C., who blogs at thebrooklyndoll.blogspot.com)

“He won’t do these things forever. These (nearly) three years of waking up every night or changing what feels like millions of diapers, will feel like a short moment in time come 30 years from now. And it’s then that I’ll miss the moments of walking into his dark room with me squinting my eyes half asleep to pick him up out of his crib and have him lay his head on my shoulder and fall quietly back to sleep. Or the funny faces we make to each other as I lay him on the ground to keep him occupied while I’m changing his diaper.” —Lauren Jimeson, in a post entitled “No Rush,” on her blog, SincerelyLauren.com.

January 2017 | nymetroparents.com

Having the time of their life! Letting go is scary but they both did plenty of times. #iceskating indoor is definitely the way to go! @chelseapiersnyc @kamikofficial #stepoutside (Posted by @gothamlove, aka Suzanne C., who blogs at gothamlove.com)

WORKING OUT AS A BUSY MOM “You can still move on to your kid’s theatrical debut at school if your lipstick, say, doesn’t make it through Pilates. But if your deodorant gives out? Yikes. You may miss the curtain call.” —Christina Vercelletto, in an article entitled “Hit the Gym Moms—and Look Great.” Read the whole thing at nymetroparents.com/mom-fitness.

MORE NYMetroParents.com HIGHLIGHTS: GET OUTTA TOWN: Get great winter day trip suggestions at nymetroparents.com/winter-trips. GLIDE AND SLIDE: Find ice-skating rinks near you at nymetroparents.com/ice-skating. MORE WINTER FUN: See the top 100 winter activities in the New York metro area at nymetroparents.com/winter-activities. CELEBRATE THE NEW YEAR: How to make resolutions kids can keep (nymetroparents.com/kid-resolutions)

NYMP Q&A

S M E A R E E H R T

Here’s to the Average Parent ››

D R A G T BI S

By Bethany Braun-Silva

Ilana Wiles is the creator of the successful parenting blog, MommyShorts.com. She recently wrote The Mommy Shorts Guide to Remarkably Average Parenting. What is an average parent? I think everyone is an average parent. And the reason I say remarkably average parenting, in my book, is because I think it should be an aspirational thing. The people who are striving to be a perfect parent or to do everything correctly are never going to get there. So once you accept there is no one correct way to do things, I think we can all feel much better about the parenting job we’re doing, which ultimately is much better for ourselves and our children. I think everybody is having the same experience, no matter what kind of parent you are. There are helicopter parents, attachment parents, free-range parents, and they all have children who are developing and going through the same things. They have tantrums, they need to be potty trained, they have accidents, they’re tough on a long road trip. Where does the pressure of being a perfect parent come from? I think a lot of it is due to social media. Even on Instagram, everybody posts these beautiful pictures of motherhood, and everybody is putting up their highlight reel and the reality is you’re taking, like, 50 pictures of your kids not being able to stand still and then the one where they’re both smiling is the one you’re posting. Which is totally normal and fine, but as we’re looking through our feeds and we’re seeing all these pictures of kids in these perfect scenarios and smiling, you make your own assumptions about what the rest of that person’s life or day looks like and you forget that you’re only seeing a very small piece of it. We can’t look at what people are posting on social media and think that represents real life, because people are posting the best versions of their life. It’s very healthy to talk about the realities of parenting so we don’t think that we’re alone in this and we’re the only ones who can’t get our kids to stand still for a picture. How do you incorporate humor into your everyday life? I think my kids are hilarious, and I think a lot of how you enjoy parenthood is using your pain as entertainment. If everything went according to plan, you wouldn’t have any good stories to tell. If you go on the plane and everything goes smoothly, that’s wonderful. If you go on the plane and everything goes awry, you have a really good story to tell.

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How do you determine how much to share on social media? I never want my kids to be embarrassed about anything I’m putting out there about them. I’m very cognizant of how things might make them look or if something is too personal. At the moment, I still feel like I’m able to talk about the struggles of parenthood or some of the things I’m dealing with and I feel like it’s all universal. So I have to figure out how to walk a line with being honest but not saying anything that might upset them or might be too personal.

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DIY CORNER WINTER CRAFT

Feed the Birds

Invite winged friends to your yard this winter by making one of these bird feeders. Position the feeder in front of a window, and your kids will have an opportunity to become winter bird watchers, especially if they want to stay cozy inside with a cup of cocoa instead of braving the cold.

Bird Seed Ornaments These goodies are so pretty they’d brighten a tree even without the snow. Use walnuts, cranberries, and kumquats to form a garland to add a little extra cheer. Ingredients ¾ cup flour ½ cup water 1 packet unflavored gelatin 3 Tbsp. corn syrup 4 cup birdseed Directions 1. Mix ingredients together in a large bowl. 2. U se vegetable oil on a paper towel to coat the insides of the cookie cutters (or use vegetable spray); this will allow you to remove the ornaments from the cookie cutters more easily. 3. S pread waxed paper over your work area, then fill the insides of the cookie cutters with birdseed mixture, packing tightly. (We used circle and heart shapes.) 4. P oke a drinking straw through each ornament near the top to make a hole for hanging. 5. C arefully remove each ornament from the cookie cutter and set on waxed paper. Let dry for several hours.

6. Once the ornaments are dry, you can use peanut butter to decorate the rims and insides with other seeds. For example, spread a line of peanut butter around an outside rim, then press thistle onto the peanut butter. Or use peanut butter to create a heart shape atop a circle, and press in thistle and corn kernels. 7. Thread ribbon through the hole, and hang on a tree.

Bird Seed Wreath

Ground Bird Seed Feeder

Trace a bird outline in the snow, then fill the shape with different types of seed.

Bake bread dough in a doughnut shape, slather on peanut butter, and coat with seeds. A yummy dinner for the birds! Add a pretty bow to make it a decoration for the yard.

Projects and photos courtesy Lowe’s; for two more ways to feed the birds this winter, visit nymetroparents.com/birds.

January 2017 | nymetroparents.com

Media Matters: TV

Splash and Bubbles (PBS Kids)

Recommended Age: 3+

What Your Kids Should Watch

HHHH

Friendly fish introduce preschooler

Dot. (Sprout)

s to ocean science

Recommended Age: 5+

HHHHH

Recommended Age: 6+

HHHH

This charming series strikes the perf ect balance between life and tech . Milo Murphy’s Law (Disney XD)

An unlucky teen’s fortune lies in frien

dship and a positive outlook

MARS (National Geographic Channel)

Recommended Age: 12+

HHHHH

This outstanding Mars mission serie

s has suspenseful moments.

In Theaters Jan. 27: A Dog’s Purpose Parents need to know that A Dog’s Purpose provides a bit of a twist on the standard talkinganimal movie. The story is narrated by a dog (voiced by Josh Gad), who begins his life as a golden retriever named Bailey whose best friend is a young boy named Ethan (Bryce Gheisar). Bailey remains loyally by Ethan’s side through his teenage years, even through Ethan’s first love (so expect some kissing and romance), until Bailey dies of old age—only to be reincarnated as a (female) German shepherd police dog. The dog continues to come back, living many lives as many different breeds. With each new human he—or she—lives with, the dog learns a little more about his purpose, until, years later, he returns to a familiar home and a familiar friend (Dennis Quaid). Although this movie will likely have emotional moments that might be too intense for sensitive younger kids—including the recurring death of a pet—for the most part it looks like a heartfelt family dramedy for all dog lovers.

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

See more at NYMetroParents.com/media

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The Benefits of Failure

››

Teaching kids to handle setbacks with grit and perseverance is more valuable than trying to help them avoid ever failing at anything. By Madeleine Burry

re you raising kids who can cope with setbacks? Does your child respond to obstacles by persevering—or by calling it quits? Lately, it may seem as if the concepts of grit and failure—specifically, how to have more of the former and deal productively with the latter—are everywhere, making them the buzzy parenting concepts of the moment. It’s hard to escape the headlines and books about the perils of allowing kids to grow up without failing. But as these ideas have entered the zeitgeist, it’s easy for them to assume a bumper sticker-like simplicity (Failure is great! Go grit!), cautions Richard Rende, Ph.D., and co-author of Raising Can-Do Kids: Giving Kids the Tools to Thrive in a Fast-Changing World. The reality is a bit more complicated. It’s not that failure is good; there is no need to root for your children to flounder and fail to achieve goals. But failure is inevitable; if you’ve lived, you’ve experienced setbacks and disappointments. That goes for everyone: Even our century’s big success stories, such as J.K. Rowling, Simone Biles, and Steve Jobs, have histories littered with rejection letters, torpedoed projects, bad reviews, and missed medals. And because failure is ever present, it’s important for your child to be able to respond appropriately. “Kids need practice failing so they can learn how to deal with it in both a practical and emotional way, and know how to move on from 14

January 2017 | nymetroparents.com

failures,” says Ami Schwab, Ph.D., who specializes in child psychology and teaches parenting classes.

Help Kids Focus on Feedback—Not Failure

Carol Dweck, Ph.D., the author of Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, is known for her groundbreaking research into what she calls “fixed” and “growth” mindsets. In a fixed mindset, abilities and intelligence are set: Tanisha is so smart; Abby has a natural talent for math; Arjun is better at music than writing; Sean is a real artist! In this framework, failure becomes an endpoint. If you see yourself as “good” at math, a poor grade on an algebra test can feel devastating, as though you’ve reached the end of your abilities in math. Or, if you’ve always thought of yourself as “bad at math,” a poor grade acts as reinforcement. In a growth mindset, on the other hand, abilities are framed as something that can, well, grow—this transforms failure from debilitating to a “what’s next” moment. In this mindset, a poor grade indicates the need to study more or to seek tutoring. To foster a growth concept, align feedback toward effort: Tanisha studied hard for her math test; Connor’s not good at drawing realistic people yet; Abby’s practice before the piano recital paid off— she went from three missed notes last year to just two this year. Dr. Dweck believes mindset plays a powerful role in relationships, personality, and how a person’s life unfolds. “In one

world, failure is about having a setback. Getting a bad grade. Losing a tournament. Getting fired. Getting rejected. It means you’re not smart or talented,” Dr. Dweck writes. “In the other world, failure is about not growing. Not reaching for the things you value. It means you’re not fulfilling your potential. In one world, effort is a bad thing. It, like failure, means you’re not smart or talented. If you were, you wouldn’t need effort. In the other world, effort is what makes you smart or talented.”

Focusing on Your Own Response

Throughout your child’s life, there will be setbacks. Many times, the scale may seem small, especially for young kids—a missed goal; a broken toy; a poor grade in a topic that doesn’t come naturally—but from a developmental perspective, these moments are hugely important. The way you respond to these events, and, in turn, how your child processes them, will play an outsized role in your child’s personality and response to setbacks over a lifetime. Try these strategies to raise kids who can persevere past obstacles and process failures as feedback (and not dead ends): Phrase feedback right (and be cautious with your compliments). Given Dr. Dweck’s research, it’s clear that the way we speak to kids about their successes and failures has a huge impact in whether they view themselves as having core abilities, or whether they’re focused on effort and improvement. “Compliments can be negative for your child’s internal motivation and self-esteem,” says Dr. Schwab, a Bronx resident. Praise feels good, but when it’s for fixed qualities, it doesn’t foster your child’s esteem or sense of worth. Instead of saying, “Good job!” Dr. Schwab advises, ask your child, “Are you proud of yourself?” This allows kids to think through how they feel— proud or determined to do even better next time. Resist the temptation to smooth things over. Here’s a classic scene: A wheel has fallen off your child’s small truck, and she is wailing in dismay as a result. For parents, it can be tempting to fix the truck. After all, for us, that’s easy (and stops the tears handily). But doing so might not be doing your child any favors. “Remember who owns the problem, and try to avoid bailing your child out,” Dr. Schwab says. Instead, offer empathy (Isn’t it frustrating that the wheel fell off!) and ask helpful questions geared toward your child’s age and understanding (What do you want to do? How can we fix this? Do you think that wheel can be reattached?) “This strategy gives kids the confidence and ability to fix problems on their own and encourages them to think for themselves,” Dr. Schwab says. Don’t keep your own failures hidden. Think about how you share stories of your own life with your children. Do you talk only about your successes? Here, as in every other area of your life, be a role model to your children: Share your triumphs in work and life, but don’t shield your child from the process—the successful meeting that was the result of devoting a full weekend to creating and practicing a presentation, for instance. Share the negative feedback and disappointments as well, along with how you overcame those challenges. Encourage kids to be intelligent risk takers. Dr. Rende recommends parents “let kids do things where they might not be the stars” and encourage kids to take risks. Doing this helps inculcate a growth mindset in your child—and encourages them to not settle for only doing tasks where they’ll perform well. “Failure is an important part of the learning process,” Dr. Schwab says. He recommends parents get in the habit of

tacking on the word “yet” to negative statements. If your child is crying that he can’t fix that truck’s wheel, you might subtly inspire him by responding, “You can’t fix that truck’s wheel— yet!” Practice and perseverance alone can’t make a person run as fast as Usain Bolt, Dr. Schwab points out, but that doesn’t mean it won’t lead to improvements. In everyday life—unlike the Olympics—there’s more value to trying and improving than to chasing after the gold medal. Separate out external markers. In a child’s world, there are a lot of definitive moments of evaluation: grades, competitions, sports victories, and defeats. Perhaps more than adults, children have to deal with rankings and concrete feedback. Dr. Rende describes all of these evaluations as being a statement in a moment of time, and encourages parents to keep kids focused on the process, instead of the result. “We really want to eliminate the word failure, but we also want to eliminate the word success. It’s best for kids to focus on process and being in control of their learning,” he says. Ask children to think about what they learned from the experience, and encourage them to be open to feedback beyond the grade. As parents, it can be painful to think of your child experiencing pain, frustration, or failure. But research tells us allowing your child to fail—and then helping them think through how to respond to this setback—allows kids to build the framework they need to learn from the moment, and get insight into how to move on from failure in the future. Madeleine Burry is a Brooklyn-based freelance writer and editor, covering everything from parenting to open data to workplace productivity. She’s held staff positions at Parents.com, Scholastic, and About.com. You can follow her on Twitter @lovelanewest.

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ADVENTURES IN KEYBOARD Ages 8 - 12. Tradition on a new note. Piano Instruction for the child of the new millennium.

Bring out the musical talent in your child!

914-961-5511 www.belleschool.com Scarsdale:

White Plains:

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Yonkers:

283 Tarrytown Road

1537 Central Park Ave

WestchesterParent 15

Finding Summer Fun in the Depths of Winter ››

Ignore the cold and the snow, and bring some of the joys of summertime to your kids year round. By Bethany Braun-Silva

here are so many fun summer activities we must forgo when the weather is too cold. But in fact, you don’t have to wait for warmer weather to enjoy some summer fun. Gather the family and check out these great summer activities you can do in winter, swimsuits required—seriously!

Get Wet at an Indoor Water Park

If a day at the waterpark is your child’s idea of a great time, it’s guaranteed to be even more fun in the winter. Who says you have to wait until Memorial Day to throw on your swimsuit? Family resorts such as Great Wolf Lodge and Camelback Resort in the Poconos region of Pennsylvania have huge indoor water parks that are a great way to get your summer fix in the winter. Your kids will love being allowed to put on their swimsuits in freezing temps, and there is nothing cooler than watching the snowfall from a heated pool!

Watch the Waves at the Beach

While beaches are closed for swimming during the winter, most of the boardwalks remain open. Take a stroll and watch the ocean, where the waves are usually huge in the colder months, making for a really great sight. Or hop on a bike on a boardwalk and grab a hot dog for lunch. 16

January 2017 | nymetroparents.com

At some beaches, you may be able to even play in the sand, if there’s no snow on the ground—just be careful to stay a safe distance from the water. If you get cold, plan a trip to a nearby venue to warm up. You don’t have to wait until June or July to pay a visit to fantastic sea life: In Coney Island, Brooklyn, Nathan’s hotdogs and the New York Aquarium are open nearly every day of the year.

Visit the Animals at the Zoo

While temps may be low, lots of local zoos remain open all year long. Bundle up and take a trip to visit the animals, or at least

those that remain on display in the winter. You and the family can pop into an indoor exhibit when it gets too cold. There are some great ones happening this winter, including the 96 Elephants Global Origami Tribute at the Bronx Zoo. You can also pay a visit to the beloved seals and penguins at the Central Park Zoo, or take a spin (or several) on the carousel at many area zoos. Added bonus: No crowds. Be sure to pack a thermos of hot chocolate or cider. The animals are waiting!

Pitch a Tent and Camp Inside

Enjoy summer fun without leaving your home. You and your family can plan a camping trip right in your living room. If space allows, pitch a tent and throw in some sleeping bags. If space is tight, any kind of makeshift fort will do. Roast some marshmallows on the stove or break out the grill for a wintertime cookout. Tell some ghost stories, blast the summertime jams, or throw on a favorite summer-themed movie. The kids will love the feeling of camping in their own house!

Star Gaze at a Planetarium

Lay (or, at least, sit back) under the stars at a local planetarium. While it may be too overcast in January and February to get a good look at the galaxies, a planetarium is a great way to take in some of the outdoors without actually being outside. The best part, you’ll be nice and warm! The Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History in Manhattan is a classic and offers various show times throughout the week; there are several other options around the region, many of which include kid-focused shows. A virtual trip under the stars should hold your family over until you can see the real thing.

Get Active at an Indoor Sports Facility

Take your kids to an indoor sports center or a batting cage. While Astroturf is not quite the same as fresh grass, it will do until the weather warms up. A family soccer or softball game is sure to get the blood flowing just enough to bear the cold. Indoor sport centers such as A-Game Sports in New Rochelle or Chelsea Piers in Manhattan have plenty of opportunities for some great family fun. Get all the benefits of being outdoors without having to face frigid temperatures.

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Courtesy Oliver Stockhammer

Jovan Stockhammer, a third-grader at P.S. 118: The Maurice Sendak Community School in Park Slope, Brooklyn, works on creating a 3-D model of the Titanic as part of the school’s Exercise Your Brain program (left), and presents it in class (right).

Is Homework Necessary?

›› Inside the debate about whether kids really need homework—and what one elementary school is doing instead By Katelin Walling

“

omework is one of the most stressful parts of a family’s day,” says Elizabeth Garraway, principal at P.S. 118: The Maurice Sendak Community School in Park Slope, Brooklyn. “Families argue about homework and instead of being something that kids enjoy or something they learn from, it becomes a source of stress for parents and for kids.” At School Leadership Team meetings last year, parents kept bringing up concerns regarding homework. “A lot of families were feeling like the homework was kind of making their children feel under pressure or frustrated after school,” says Alexis Hernandez, a first-grade teacher at P.S. 118. These sentiments about homework are not unique to P.S. 118. Homework has been “a part of the discussion around education throughout the 20th century as people debated what should kids be doing in school and what should kids be doing outside of school,” says Thomas Hatch, Ed.D., co-director of the National Center for Restructuring Education, Schools, and Teaching. “I think the latest incarnation of the concerns about homework has come along with the concerns of the proliferation of testing. So, I think, right now concerns about homework, concerns about testing, concerns about academic pressure on kids are all kind of coming to the forefront.” While those concerns are being voiced, there is a huge divide in this country among parents. There are “parents who are very focused on high academic achievement and really push their kids. Those are the parents who want homework,” says Etta Kralovec,

January 2017 | nymetroparents.com

Ed.D., author of The End of Homework: How Homework Disrupts Families, Overburdens Children, and Limits Learning. “And then there’s another group of parents who want their kids to have well-rounded lives, who want their kids to be involved in church activities, or they want their kids to be in Scouting.” With the regular school day, extracurricular clubs and activities, and sports teams, many parents and students are lamenting how much time homework takes, and parents and educators are questioning whether it really benefits the kids.

Finding a Balance

Hatch doesn’t think teachers should stop assigning homework altogether, but should work to find a balance between activities that support academic development and activities that support other aspects of development. “My take on that is really to look at it in the broader perspective. It’s not just about homework per se, it’s about how much time and focus do we want to see kids having on academic activities,” says Hatch, who is also a professor at Teachers College, Columbia University. “It’s really about how do we create a balance between a focus on academics and activities to embrace a wider set of abilities.” The question of balance isn’t just a hot topic in the U.S.; there are debates going on in many countries, including Korea, China, and Singapore, according to Hatch. The concern is kids are spending too much time in tutoring centers. “It’s kind of like an educational

arms race where the parents are concerned about kids spending too much time outside of school cramming for tests…but at the same time they’re worried that if they don’t put their kids into those centers or don’t support continuing their academic focus after school, then those kids are going to fall behind,” Hatch says. “That’s in part what you see in the U.S. as well.” It’s possible to find that balance with and without homework, Hatch says. If students are spending their entire school day on reading, math, writing—the basic academic skills—and going home with worksheets, “that’s a problem,” he says. If, on the other hand, students have time for recess, play, music, and art during the school day, it’s okay, developmentally, for them to have some homework relating to their academic work.

Ending Homework

“I don’t see any benefit to keeping homework,” says Kralovec, who is also an associate professor of Teacher Education and the program director of Graduate Teacher Education at the University of Arizona South. “There’s just no research that says it develops any kind of abilities or characteristics in student behavior that they actually need in life.” At the elementary level, there is no research that shows homework increases academic achievement. “In fact, most of the research says that it’s detrimental to kids because they’ve been in school all day and they need to exercise other parts of themselves other than just their school self,” Kralovec says. “I think that’s why a lot of elementary schools are really looking at getting rid of it.” At the middle- and high-school levels, though, the research is less clear that homework doesn’t support academic achievement. “There’s a correlation between homework and grades, but the correlation is very weak. Homework may be part of a good student practice by the time you get to high school, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that the homework is actually effective,” she says. With the proliferation of articles in the past few years about school-induced stress, we know today’s students feel significant pressure to achieve—especially kids who want to go to college and think they have to be involved in various activities and in the community. Kralovec says homework, in some way, impedes high school students’ ability to become involved in their communities and develop interests that don’t grow out of school experiences. “I know some people say [homework] teaches kids responsibility, it teaches kids discipline, but there are just no studies that show it does any of that,” she says. “So for me, I like to think that there’s almost a firewall between the school and the child’s family life.”

Homework Alternatives

Back at P.S. 118’s SLT meetings, “parents were asking the teachers what they were doing with the homework,” Hernandez says. Not much, as it turns out. Rather than grading the homework and using it to plan future instruction, the teachers at P.S. 118 were mostly just checking to make sure the students completed and turned in their homework packets, Hernandez says. “So we really just kind of sat back and we thought what kind of program can we implement that would be more beneficial to our students, to our families, and to the teachers,” Hernandez says. “At P.S. 118, we really try to put a lot of play and hands-on learning in our curriculum, and so we thought why don’t we extend that into our after-school homework program as well and try to make it more interactive, more play-based, and more hands-on?” The result of that brainstorm session was Exercise Your Brain, which Hernandez created with Matt Weeks and Laura Willeford, continued on next page ››

SCHOOL MARKETPLACE

Looking for an Alternative? Come meet Blue Rock faculty and hear how our vibrant and creative learning environment stimulates children’s natural curiosity with its hands-on approach. In small class settings, students engage in a dynamic, multidisciplinary, and discovery-based curriculum infused with the arts, nature, and play. Encouraging critical thinking, collaboration and creativity—Blue Rock is a great alternative for grades K-8.

Winter Information Session & Campus Tour Saturday, January 28, 10am

Where Learning Comes Alive!

West Nyack, NY

www.bluerockschool.org

FRENCH-AMERICAN SCHOOL OF NEW YORK INTERNATIONAL AND BILINGUAL SCHOOL

BILINGUAL CO-ED SCHOOL • Nursery (3 years old) through Grade 12 • Non-French speakers admitted in N, Pre-K and K • French is not required for the IB Diploma Programme

Campuses in Scarsdale, Larchmont & Mamaroneck Open House Saturday, January 21, 2017 at 10am RSVP at fasny.org/openhouse or 914-250-0401

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(914) 250-0401 WestchesterParent 19

SCHOOL MARKETPLACE

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

‹‹ continued from previous page

both third-grade teachers at P.S. 118. The three teachers looked to the program P.S. 11: The William T. Harris School in Chelsea, Manhattan, uses, the Home-Based Optional Practice. With HOP, teachers provide families with a list of optional activities (with individual and family approaches to each activity) for every grade level. “We put together a menu of activities that would hit on a lot of different profiles of learning,” Willeford says. “We wanted to create an opportunity where kids could express their learning and their engagement in school in a variety of modalities. EYB is a menu of activities that changes monthly from which kids can choose an activity to complete. While participation in EYB is not required, Weeks has found that “100-percent of students participate, and they’ve participated a handful of times so far,” he says. Exercise Your Brain was implemented at the beginning of the school year, and though it met with some hesitation from the parents, the feedback now is positive. “I remember having mixed feelings, because while I support innovation in education, this no homework idea was foreign to me,” says Debbie Farrell, a mother of first- and second-grade boys at P.S. 118. “My 7-year-old son used to delay starting his homework, or skip it altogether. Now he and his brother both start talking about which EYB activity they can do, even before we are home from school. They are also able to do some EYB activities together, like the science experiment making invisible ink. They seem more patient with each other as well.” Oliver Stockhammer, father of third-grade Jovan, says, “Maria [Jovan’s mother] and I feel that this program has engaged the children on such a higher level than simple homework worksheets, getting them ownership of the projects, selecting and following through.” “I’m also seeing [increased engagement] in the classroom,” Willeford says. “My class is probably the most engaged class I’ve had, and I think a lot of that is attributed to the fact that they have been able to be creative and have self-initiated learning.” The kids are loving EYB, too. “You have fun with EYB because you’re making something and learning a lot about different things,” Jovan says. “You don’t have to do homework all night long, and you get to present to the class and get to show what you did. With normal homework you just hand it in.”

Making Changes in Your School

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January 2017 | nymetroparents.com

The one resounding piece of advice everyone gave: Changing the homework policy at your children’s school should be a major discussion within the school community. Each school “needs to deal with the issue from the context of that school community. It really requires all parents to get involved to try to shape the work at the school so there’s a balance between school life and family life,” Kralovec says. “You do really have to look at your population, and you need to talk to the stakeholders. Talk to the principal, go to the SLT and make a presentation,” Garraway says. “We talked about it in SLT all last year, and we implemented [Exercise Your Brain] this year because homework just kept coming up” as an issue. It’s also important to look at how scaling back or ending homework will affect all kids in terms of their performance at school. “Those who love academics may thrive when there’s more to do. Those who are already disengaged from school may find it even more problematic if there’s too much activity, and then they respond when the homework is cut back, but it may not benefit them unless they’re also given alternate ways to improve their educational performance or to get engaged in academic activities,” Hatch says. “It’s about finding that right balance that allows every student to get the kind of academic support they need.”

SCHOOL MARKETPLACE

Let them Experience the Wonder...

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Tour your local Goddard School and experience why it’s the best preparation for social and academic success.

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> GoddardSchool.com

------------

LEARNING FOR FUN. LEARNING FOR LIFE .® ------------

The Goddard Schools are operated by independent franchisees under a license agreement with Goddard Systems, Inc. Programs and ages may vary. Goddard Systems, Inc. program is AdvancED accredited. © Goddard Systems, Inc. 2014

The Nurtury on North The Nurtury at Flandreau www.thenurtury-montessori.com 1144 North Ave., New Rochelle, NY 130 Flandreau Ave., New Rochelle, NY email: info@thenurtury-montessori.com 914-740-5393 914-632-6200

Learning the right answers will get your child through school. Learning how to learn will get your child through life!

Open House at 9:30am Weekdays

Please call to join one of our tours.

914-636-6202

Hudson Country Montessori School

Inspiring curious, creative, and gifted minds. Toddlers through 8th grade. 340 Quaker Ridge Road, New Rochelle, NY 10804 • 914-636-6202 • www.hudsoncountry.org WestchesterParent 21

Academic Enrichment & Educational Services Dance & Theater Arts Studios

145 Palisade St., #376, Dobbs Ferry 914-231-9179 danceandtheaterarts.com A process-oriented performing arts school at which students learn how to achieve excellence through self-discipline and the mastery of technique. Experience the joy of achievement through our unique programs of dance, voice, and acting classes at affordable prices. Get prepared for success before you step out on stage at open mic night or in musical shows and plays, with the training and confidence you’ll gain in a positive learning environment. Come nurture and explore your inner artist (ages 3 to adult) and register for a class today!

Easter Seals New York Project Explore, Project Imagine, and Project Inspire

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. Beforeand 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.

Fashion Arts Studio of Westchester

168A Irving Ave., Port Chester

917-995-3191 fashionartsstudio.com The Fashion Arts Studio is the premier design studio in Westchester with classes for kids including design and illustration, and technical classes including sewing, draping, and pattern-making. Taught in a small-class studio format, students will think they’ve been transported to a loft in Chelsea. Fashion Arts Studio also offers three birthday party themes: A Fashion Drawing Party, a Fashion Tote-Making Party, and a Fashion T-Shirt Decorating Party.

Get-A-Tutor

getatutor.com info@getatutor.com Get-A-Tutor is a new online tutoring platform that specializes in creating a safe and effective learning experience for young learners, kindergarten to 12th grades. Our tutors are hand-selected to ensure safety and quality, as well as their ability to identify your child’s unique learning style for a tailored tutoring session. The Get-ATutor platform also provides a secure learning environment filled with tools to help enhance any lesson.

Hoff-Barthelson Music School

25 School Lane, Scarsdale 914-723-1169 hbms.org hb@hbms.org HBMS inspires and develops each student’s potential through excellence in music education with a commitment to creativity, collaboration, and community. The Music School offers a comprehensive music program of individualized instruction, ensembles, and group classes in both classical music and jazz idioms in combination with a sequential musicianship curriculum. Children ages 12 months and older begin with group lessons that are fun, engaging, and lay the framework for more formal study. Older

January 2017 | nymetroparents.com

students can enjoy a program of individual lessons, ensembles, and musicianship classes.

House of Sports Westchester

1 Elm St., Ardsley 914-479-5419 houseofsportsny.com The House of Sports Tots Academy has a full schedule of classes for your little ones’ sports enjoyment! Children ages 18 months to 4 years can partake in a variety of sports programing including soccer, baseball, basketball, football, and tumbling. Classes are offered seven days a week, early morning to early evening, to fit all parents’ schedules. For more information, call or visit our website.

Kids’ B.A.S.E. & The Little School

307 Mamaroneck Road, Scarsdale 914-472-5409 kbls.org Kids’ B.A.S.E. & The Little School encompass before- and after-school programs for school-age children, and a preschool program for ages 2-4. Kids’ B.A.S.E. offers a Breakfast Club, after-school enrichments, and sports for youngsters in kindergarten-sixth grade, until 6:30pm. The Little School provides a high quality full-day or half-day preschool program, as well as its own Breakfast Club, an extended day program until 6:30pm, enrichments, and sports. The Little School is licensed by NYS OCFS and accredited by NAEYC. New this year is our Little School Pre-K Academy, a transitional 4s program for families that would like to give their child “the gift of time.”

Mathnasium

747 White Plains Road, Scarsdale 914-725-MATH (6284) mathnasium.com scarsdale@mathnasium.com Mathnasium makes math make sense! The goal is to significantly

OO CH L

SPECIA

Schools & Educational Services Guide

A directory of top area schools, tutors, and other academic services to help you make the best decisions for your child

increase your child’s math skills, understanding of math concepts, and overall school performance, while building confidence and forging a positive attitude toward the subject. Using sophisticated techniques to determine what a student does and does not know, they tailor-make a personalized and prescriptive learning program. Each student follows the program with the help of specially trained Mathnasium math tutors, who provide instruction—and lots of encouragement. At Mathnasium, the mission is simple—to teach children math the way that makes sense to them.

Music Conservatory of Westchester

216 Central Ave., White Plains 914-761-3900 musicconservatory.org The Music Conservatory of Westchester offers a variety of classes for infants, toddlers, and young children. Early childhood instruction includes our new First Notes class for babies and toddlers, Music Skills for pre-K through third grade, our Suzuki Program for instrumental instruction (violin, cello, guitar), and our Piano Program for pre-K to first grade. Introduce your child to the joys of music in the conservatory’s supportive, nurturing environment, with outstanding instructors. Accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music, assuring the highest quality programs for your child.

PlayLand Ice Casino

100 Playland Parkway, Rye 914-481-5941 playlandice.com Kids and families love PlayLand Ice in Rye. Operating year-round, PlayLand Ice offers learn-to-skate and learn-to-play hockey classes, public ice-skating, figure skating, clinics, and camps for all ages and abilities. Birthday parties are always a huge hit at PlayLand Ice and feature private rooms, private

ice, party helper, dance and black lights, and music. Visit us online for more information.

Purchase College Aquatics

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, and specialty programs including adult lessons, lifeguarding, scuba certification, springboard diving, and private and semi-private lessons. All lessons are taught by certified American Red Cross instructors.

tutoring in reading, writing, math, study skills and test prep, and STEM classes in robotics and coding. Sylvan’s proven tutoring approach combines certified teachers delivering personalized instruction using curriculum aligned with common core standards and the latest iPad® technology. Sylvan also offers Sylvan Prep SAT® and ACT® courses. Sylvan Learning Centers are conveniently located in Bronxville and White Plains.

Westchester Community College Extension Center in Ossining Arcadian Shopping Center, Route 9, Ossining 914-606-7400 The Westchester Community College Extension Center in Ossining features credit and non-credit classes for adults in the areas of general education and health care. Contact us at the Arcadian Shopping Center location on Route 9, or call 914-606-7400 for details.

Westchester Skating Academy (WSA)

91 Fairview Park Drive (Route 9A), Elmsford 914-347-8232 skatewsa.com Westchester Skating Academy is a year-round, twin-rink ice-skating facility offering recreational, hockey, and figure skating for all ages and abilities. WSA programs include public skating, learn-to-skate classes, group events, birthday parties, continued on next page ››

SCHOOL MARKETPLACE

Studio B Dance Center

277 White Plains Road (entrance on Prospect Avenue), Eastchester 914-793-2799 studiobdance.com It’s not too late to join Studio B Dance Center this winter. Its brand-new, beautiful facility has three studios, all with one-way viewing windows, two waiting rooms, and free Wi-Fi. Convenient sibling classes allow for parents to bring multiple children to dance at the same time. The studio is open seven days a week and hosts birthday parties for boys and girls ages 2 and older. Studio B also has creative programs for children ages 3-10 during school holiday breaks. Call today for a free dance class.

Sylvan Learning Centers Westchester

Sylvan Learning Center of Bronxville 850 Bronx River Road, Bronxville 914-237-4396 sylvanlearning.com/bronxville bronxville.ny@sylvanlearning.com Sylvan Learning Center of White Plains 180 S. Broadway, White Plains 914-948-4116 sylvanlearning.com/whiteplains sylvan4202@msn.com Sylvan Learning, the leading provider of personal learning for K-12 students, offers

INVEST.

INSPIRE.

IGNITE.

INFO SESSIONS FOR GRADES K-8 Join us for an information session to learn more about Iona Prep and the admissions process. The director of admissions, administrators, teachers and students will be available to answer questions. Students who will be entering grades 6-8 are invited to attend with their parents and to ask questions, too!

TUES. JAN. 31 AT 7PM INFO NIGHT FOR GRADES K-5

WED., FEB. 1 AT 9AM INFO MORNING COFFEE FOR GRADES K-5

WED., FEB. 1 AT 7PM INFO NIGHT FOR GRADES 6-8

Information sessions will be held at the Iona Prep Lower School, 173 Stratton Road, New Rochelle, NY. Register Online: ionaprep.org/infosessions. In the case of inclement weather, the events will be re-scheduled. Those who pre-register online will be notified by email in the event of cancellation.



Iona Preparatory Upper School | 255 Wilmot Road, New Rochelle, NY 10804 Iona Preparatory Lower School | 173 Stratton Road, New Rochelle, NY 10804

WestchesterParent 23

‹‹ continued from previous page

summer and holiday camps and clinics, adult and youth hockey leagues, and instruction. Visit us online for more information.

Preschool Alternatives GymCats Gymnastics and Birthday Party Center

1 Odell Plaza at Equalize Fitness, Yonkers 914-965-7676 gymcats.net At GymCats Gymnastics, children learn the skills and confidence they need to become better athletes and individuals. Exciting gymnastics classes are offered for boys and girls, ages 20 months to teens, as well as recreational to advanced classes, private lessons, cheer classes, toddler open gym for crawlers up to walkers, and summer camp. GymCats is home to our own All Star Cheer Team, the GC Xtreme All Stars! We are also famous for our unique private birthday parties. Our enthusiastic interactive staff makes your child’s party memorable.

Kids In Sports

365 Central Park Ave., Scarsdale 914-358-9732 kidsinsports.com Kids In Sports is the most dynamic specialized sports program for children ages 12 months to 12 years. Offering benefits that go beyond the game, we instruct children in multi-sport classes including basketball, baseball, football, hockey, lacrosse, soccer, and volleyball focusing on sportsmanship, teamwork, respect, and communication. Our classes are designed to offer a combined learning experience energizing the mind and body of your children. With bountiful options to choose from, Kids In Sports offers everything from multi and sport specific classes to camps, after-school programs, preschool alternatives, and the most elaborate birthday parties!

Musical Munchkins

167 Scarsdale Road, Tuckahoe 914-771-7000 musicalmunchkins.com Musical Munchkins, Westches-

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

Preschools Ann and Andy Child Care

2170 Saw Mill River Road, Elmsford 914-592-3027 annandandychildcare.com annandydca@aol.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 NYS OCFS 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. Come see how much we care, and become part of our family.

Children’s Place at the John A. Coleman School

317 North St., White Plains 914-597-4055 Our inclusive preschool offers a variety of enriching experiences that stimulate children’s natural curiosity and interests, promote well-being, and encourage pride and mastery in each child. Activities develop creativity, language, reasoning, social competence, and early readiness. Curriculum based on NYS Common Core with iPad and Smart Board technology. Children’s Place is licensed by the Office of Children and Family Services and offers full and half

January 2017 | nymetroparents.com

days for ages 3-5. Hours are 8:45am-2:45pm with extended hours from 8am-5pm. We are staffed by experienced teachers and administrators. Parent references available.

Jewish Community Center of Harrison

Ann Pardes, early childhood director 130 Union Ave., Harrison 914-835-2850 jcch.org The JCC of Harrison Early Childhood Center offers programs for toddlers through pre-K. Bright, modern classrooms, an indoor gym, and outside playground are on the nature-filled grounds. This year we’re highlighting a new outdoor classroom and gardening program. Professionally trained, warm, nurturing teachers provide a developmentally appropriate curriculum across all educational domains. Morning programs and afternoon enrichment classes are available. OCFS licensed. Call or email us to arrange a visit. You’ll be glad you did!

Kids’ B.A.S.E. & The Little School

Prospect Academy of Westchester

82 Prospect St., White Plains 914-946-0628 prospectacademyow.com

Prospect Academy of Westchester (former Country Day Nursery School) is a bilingual, Montessori-based educational center in White Plains for children ages 3-5. We offer programs in Russian, German, and Italian languages, lead by native or bilingual speakers. At PAOW, we develop an individual approach to each child, promote cultural fluency, increased adaptivity, and cognitive and academic excellence. We prepare for kindergarten and have a small student-to-teacher ratio. Kids at PAOW love our library, cooking, yoga, music, gym, and large playground and classrooms. Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm, and we offer extended hours.

Scarsdale Synagogue Mazel Tots Early Childhood Program at Scarsdale Synagogue

2 Ogden Road, Scarsdale 914-723-3001 sstte.org /early-childhood-program. html?v=18 mazeltots@sstte.org Scarsdale Synagogue’s Early Childhood Program, Mazel Tots®, provides a warm, stimulating environment, encouraging children’s growth socially, emotionally, and intellectually. We feature developmentally appropriate activities that are safe, fun, and friendly. We offer varied experiences including sports, games, music, creative movement, sign language, nature, yoga, karate, science, and art. Spiritual growth is enriched by learning about Jewish holidays and values. We have two playgrounds, a garden, and a fully equipped indoor play space. Our program serves newborns through kindergarten-bound children. For information, contact Jody Glassman at 914-723-3001 or mazeltots@ sstte.org, or visit our website: bit.ly/nymetromt.

The Nurtury

Nurtury at North: 1144 North Ave., New Rochelle 914-740-5393 Nurtury at Flandreau: 130 Flandreau Drive, New Rochelle

914-632-6200 thenurtury-montessori.com info@thenurtury-montessori.com The Nurtury is committed to promoting quality, full-time Montessori child care for children ages 6 weeks to 6 years. The first six years of life is when intelligence and personality are formed. We greatly understand this concept, and as a result, the Nurtury has set the standard for full-time Montessori childcare. Our vision for the Nurtury is of a “gentler, kinder” world. The Nurtury will be a sanctuary of peace, empathy, and gentleness, even in our increasingly fast-paced society. Please call today for a tour: 914-632-6200.

Torbank Community Nursery School

108 Pinesbridge Road, Ossining 914-941-1563 torbanknurseryschool.com Your child is a very important person. With your help we will provide a wide variety of learning opportunities and experiences, to encourage self-expression, independence, and group interaction. We will give your child the opportunity to explore, experiment, and reach out into his or her environment. We believe that the way your child will learn and grow will help them have the happiest possible year.

Private Schools Blue Rock School

110 Demarest Mill Road, West Nyack

845-627-0234 bluerockschool.org Blue Rock School is the Lower Hudson Valley’s only progressive school, serving students in kindergarten-eighth grade. We offer a unique educational experience based on a handson and holistic approach that nurtures children’s innate love of learning, enabling them to follow their own natural curiosity and develop as independent thinkers. At Blue Rock, class sizes are small and students engage in a challenging and creative academic curriculum, which is infused with the arts, nature, and play. Winter Information Session: Saturday, Jan. 28 at 10am. Registration required, please, at admissions@ bluerockschool.org.

French-American School of New York (FASNY)

Campuses in Scarsdale, Larchmont, and Mamaroneck Nursery to Grade 1: Scarsdale Campus, 85 Palmer Ave., Scarsdale 914-250-0521 Lower School: Larchmont Campus, 111 Larchmont Ave., Larchmont 914-250-0469 Upper School: Mamaroneck Campus, 145 New St., Mamaroneck 914-250-0451 fasny.org camps@fasny.org The French-American School of New York, a coeducational day school for children, nursery through 12th grade, offers a dual curriculum in French

and English, combining the strengths of both the French educational system and the best U.S. independent schools. Bilingualism is at the core of the FASNY experience with students graduating with the French Baccalaureate and a high school diploma. Give your child the ability to play, write, read, sing, act, raise questions, and make friends in two languages!

Green Meadow Waldorf School

307 Hungry Hollow Road, Chestnut Ridge 845-356-2514 gmws.org Green Meadow Waldorf School in Chestnut Ridge offers parent-and-child classes for babies and toddlers up to age 3; serves children from nursery to 12th grade; and also runs popular summer programs. Founded in 1950, we are one of the oldest, largest Waldorf schools in the U.S., with approximately 400 students. Green Meadow students go on to top colleges and fulfilling careers, and are known for their resilience and creativity. Visit gmws.org to see how we are transforming education.

Hudson Country Montessori School

340 Quaker Ridge Road, New Rochelle 914-636-6202 hudsoncountry.org Children learn to observe, think, judge, and pursue interests at their own pace. Exposed to physical and mental order, and working with materials with a purposeful design in a

calm atmosphere fosters concentration, creativity, self-respect, and a solid academic foundation. Hudson’s unique approach allows children to develop their skills while pursuing their interests. Programs are available for children ages 18 months through eighth grade, with extended hours available from 7:30am-6pm.

Iona Preparatory School K–12

Lower School (kindergarten-eighth grades): 173 Stratton Road, New Rochelle 914-633-7744 Upper School (ninth to 12th grades): 255 Wilmot Road, New Rochelle 914-632-0714 Your son can get an early start on excellence in a caring environment that builds moral character and provides a seamless academic experience at Westchester’s only all-boys, K-12 Catholic school. During Catholic Schools Week, learn about the Iona Preparatory Lower School (kindergarten-fifth grades) admissions process from administrators, teachers, and students on Tuesday, Jan. 31 at 7pm or for coffee Wednesday, Feb. 1 at 9am. Students entering sixth-eighth grades are invited with their parents to our upperclassmen session on Feb. 1 at 7pm to ask questions! Visit ionaprep.org/infosessions to RSVP.

The Milestone School

70 W. Broad St., Mount Vernon 914-667-3478 themilestoneschool.com continued on next page ››

SCHOOL MARKETPLACE

For info or a visit: 914-835-2850 x109 www.jcch.org Ann Pardes, Director apardes@jcch.org Licensed & Registered

Jewish Community Center of Harrison Early Childhood Center • Toddler to Pre-K • Modern Classrooms, Gym, Playground & Outdoor Classroom • A.M. & P.M. Programs Afternoon Enrichment • Summer Camp • Free 1-year Synagogue Membership with enrollment WestchesterParent 25

‹‹ continued from previous page

Founded in 1979 on the premise that “the first years of a child’s education are the most important,” The Milestone School is an independent, non-sectarian, nursery-fourth grade school. Celebrating 35 years of excellence, our unique, stimulating academic environment emphasizing “Early Reading” prepares students to continue on to top private schools in Westchester and NYC. Emphasizing the basics, our curriculum allows our children to explore many areas including chess, music, Spanish, yoga, and drama. Milestone provides the enriching, nurturing experience every child needs and deserves to succeed.

We've got everything for a…

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Thornton-Donovan School

100 Overlook Circle, New Rochelle 914-632-8836 td.edu Thornton-Donovan School, located in the heart of New Rochelle’s Beechmont section, was founded in 1901. T-D is an independent, international, K-12 coed school that attracts students from 40 different countries, and teaches French, Spanish, Italian, Latin, Greek, German, and Japanese. T-D has pioneered international and thematic education for decades, recently focusing on Italy, Argentina, and Alaska. Call or visit online to learn about T-D and its 40 sister schools worldwide.

NYMetroParents.com is Parents' Party Central—one—stop shopping for the best in:

H Party Places (for the trendiest, newest, or most classic locale)

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The Children’s Jewish Education Group SUNY Purchase

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

Bergen•RocklandParent NORTH

HILLSDALE • MONTVALE

SEPTEMBER 2012

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

NYMETROPARENTS.COM

LongIslandParent Parent SPETEMBER 2012

Class Is In!

After-School Activities

✓ ❑ ✓ ❑

Resource Guide

✓ ❑ ✓ ❑

SLOW DOWN!

How to Manage Kids’ Schedules

NYMETROPARENTS.COM

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

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

•

Dinosaur Fun

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

NYMetroParents

Helping Parents Make Better Decisions 26

January 2017 | nymetroparents.com

SUNY Purchase 914-864-1267 cjeg.org Do you want a Jewish education for your child without joining a synagogue? CJEG is a community-based school that emphasizes Jewish cultural studies, including Jewish tradition, history, and holidays, for children in kindergarten-seventh grade. We offer a professional teaching staff supported by a parent co-op administration. Private or group bar

and bat mitzvah lessons are also available. Classes are held Sunday mornings at the SUNY Purchase campus. For more information, please visit our website: cjeg.org.

Iona Preparatory School K–12

Special Needs Bakshi Law

Offices in the Financial District, Long Island, and Westchester 917-244-6133 lawbakshi.com lara.bakshi@gmail.com Bakshi Law specializes in special education law. We represent parents and children with disabilities, acquire correct classification under IDEA, ensure proper implementation of IEP, ascertain correct placement for children, and tuition reimbursement. We attend CSE meetings, resolution meetings, and suspension hearings, and all disciplinary hearings for special needs and general education students. Bakshi Law’s attorneys are passionate about your child’s education and offer assistance on a sliding scale for parents experiencing financial difficulties.

SCHOOL MARKETPLACE

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

Children’s Place OPEN ENROLLMENT

An extraordinary environment where children develop a lifelong passion for learning EXTENDED HOURS

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

Nursery School & Summer Programs

® EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAM

Curriculum based on Pre-K Learning Standards with focuses on social skills, literacy, creativity and physical development ● Certified and experienced teaching staff ● Inclusive preschool with flexible full and halfday classes for children ages 3 to 5 Contact Maria Leitenberger, Principal, at: (914) 597-4055 or MLeitenberger@colemanschool.org

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

Need a staycation?

ResouRces ARticles

Located at the John A. Coleman School 317 North Street ● White Plains www.colemanschool.org

FALL PROGRAM

Family Owned & Operated Since 1973 Experienced Teachers

• Serving Children 2 months–14 years • Field Trips • Stimulating Environment • Flexible Schedules • Beautiful Campus Setting

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

Find everything you need, faster at

WestchesterParent 27

OUTINGS: Queens Museum

nymetroparents.com/outings

Queens’ Most Versatile Museum The 4-in-1 institute is an art museum, classroom, community center, and historical site. ››

Courtesy Queens Museum

Max Touhey

Courtesy Queens Museum

The Neustadt Collection of Tiffany Glass

By Lauren Diaz

1 A peacock lamp from The Neustadt Collection of Tiffany Glass, a collection that fosters a better understanding and appreciation of the artwork of Louis C. Tiffany. 2 Families can snap a photo in the phosphorescent photo booth at the museum’s annual Spooktacular event in January. 3 Circus Amok!, a New York City-based circus-theater company, provides musical entertainment as guests dance at the museum’s Spooktacular. 4 The museum’s west façade is covered in glass panels spanning the length of the building, which are backlit by programmable LED lighting. 5 The Panorama of the City of New York is a 9,335-squarefoot model of the entire city, which was planned using aerial photographs, fire insurance maps, and other city materials.

The New York City Building was originally built with the purpose of housing the New York City Pavilion at the 1939 World’s Fair. After hosting another World’s Fair in 1964, it finally became home to The Queens Museum. Within this building you will find a host of unique and educational exhibits, galleries, and fun and interactive programming for your family.

Year-Round Fun

Billed as an indoor helicopter tour and often referred to as the “jewel of the crown of the collection” by staff, The Panorama of the City of New York was one of the most successful attractions at the 1964 World’s Fair. Each of the city’s 895,000 buildings constructed prior to 1992 and every street, park, and some 100 bridges are represented. Other permanent exhibits include The Neustadt Collection of Tiffany Glass, an extraordinary array of colorful lamps and windows, a 540-square-foot Relief Map of the New York City Water Supply System, and a World’s Fair Visible Storage collection. The Queens Museum prides itself on educa28

January 2017 | nymetroparents.com

tional programming and offers weekly Dropin Family Art Workshops. Families with children ages 5-12 are invited to take part in a number of diverse art projects ranging from designing city blocks to making puppets. Each year, the museum also offers a number of programs for children and adults with varying abilities through its ArtAccess initiative. The Museum Explorers Club specifically aims to aid families affected by autism. Families participate in creating art inspired by the work in the galleries while exploration and play help bridge connections and build literacy.

for Queens residents who are entering seventh to ninth grades.

Annual Events

Details

The Queens Museum hosts Queens International, a biannual exhibition of artists living or working in Queens. The exhibit aims to highlight and contextualize the vibrancy of the borough through cultural productions in all media. The museum also offers a number of summer programs including two-week summer camps for children ages 7-11 and a six-week Summer Youth Arts program

January Highlights

Each year, with the help of Circus Amok!, the Queens Museum turns into a spooky wonderland for its Spooktacular event. The afternoon is full of exciting performances, face painting, art making, and scavenger hunts. This event is ticketed with proceeds benefitting the museum’s Education Department, which provides arts programs for students and adults of all abilities. Spooktacular will be held Jan. 21, 2-4pm. Address: New York City Building, Meridian Road, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Queens Directions: Approximately a 40-minute drive from White Plains Hours: Wednesday-Sunday, 11am-5pm Admission: $8; $4 seniors; free for children 18 and younger For more information: queensmuseum.org or 718-592-9700

Youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll love our... -Pro-rated tuition -Classes 7 days a week -Convenient sibling schedule -Viewing windows -Free WiFi -Optional Recital

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BRING THE WHOLE FAMILY

CROWNE PLAZA, WHITE PLAINS SUNDAY • NOON - 3 PM

FREE

Gift Bag for Every Family Fun for Kids, Informative for Parents USE PROMO CODE “WCPWP" FOR FREE FAMILY PASS (a $15 value on day of event) WestchesterParentsDay.com Westchester Parents Day, where your kids will have fun and parents will learn. It’s a Camp Fair and so much more. Enjoy Classes, Activities, Camps, Exhibits and meet local family-oriented businesses. It’s a fun afternoon for the whole family. HERE IS WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT: • Dip In A Chocolate Fountain • Character Meet And Greets • Hands-on With Live Animals

• Kids Dance Party with DJ • Strike A Pose In The Photo Booth • Get Your Face Painted

A portion of the proceeds from Westchester Parents Day will be donated to:

January 2017 | nymetroparents.com

• Arts & Crafts • Music Class • Sports Clinic

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!

nymetroparents.com/register

Turn the page for details on ‘Mother Africa: My Home’ (No. 1 on our list).

y-day day-b : r u o t ou line ar Check alendar on alend c ood, hborh cost. g i e n h by and Searc type, age, t n eve ily! ted da a d p U

nyme

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ents. ropar

WANT US TO INCLUDE YOUR EVENT?

nymetroparents.com/submitevent UPDATED DAILY AT nymetroparents.com/calendar EDITOR: JAMIE MCGILLIAN calendared@davlermedia.com

JANUARY CALENDAR

32 Editor’s Hot Tickets

37 Movers & Shakers

34 We Can’t Believe It’s FREE!, Animal Lovers

38 Holiday Fun, On Screen

35 Smarty Pants

40 Crafty Kids

36 Once Upon a Time, Show Time!

39 Must-Sees in NYC

EDITOR’S HOT TICKETS

Our calendar is full of great ideas. First, here are the 10 events we consider can’t-miss—the ones we’re taking our own kids to. Consider it your cheat sheet to the best of what’s great this month!

‘Mother Africa: My Home’

WHEN: Through Jan. 2: see website for show times WHERE: New Victory Theater, 229 W. 42nd St., Theater District, Manhattan AGES: 5 and older WHAT: This holiday season visit Cape Town’s largest township for a unique, circus spectacular with a diverse cast of 26 acrobats, musicians, and dancers, featuring exuberant afro-beats and colorful sets. WHY WE LOVE IT: Escape the New York winter for a few hours at this dynamic show. WANT TO GO? $20 and up. 646-223-3010. newvictory.org.

Family Art Project: Create Your Year

WHEN: Jan. 7-8, Saturday-Sunday, 10am-1pm WHERE: Wave Hill, West 249th Street and Independence Avenue, Bronx AGES: All WHAT: Create your own yearlong vision of the new year. Take home your very own hanging calendar. WHY WE LOVE IT: Use this event as a way to spark excitement for the new year. WANT TO GO? $8; $4 children. 718-549-3200. wavehill.org.

Kids’ Money Book Extravaganza FREE

3 32

WHEN: Thursday, Jan. 12, 6-7:30pm WHERE: Barnes & Noble, 2614 Central Ave., Yonkers AGES: All WHAT: The author of the popular book, The Kids’ Money Book, will sign books and talk to kids of all ages

January 2017 | nymetroparents.com

about making smart resolutions for the new year, with regard to money. In addition, singer and guitarist Bailey McGill will perform songs about money, such as “Can’t Buy Me Love.” WHY WE LOVE IT: Teach your kids to be savvy about money with this fun event! WANT TO GO? 914-771-6400. barnesandnoble.com.

Full Moon Wolf Walk

WHEN: Thursday, Jan. 12, 6pm WHERE: Wolf Conservation Center, 7 Buck Run, South Salem AGES: All WHAT: Celebrate the first full moon of 2016 (a.k.a. the “Wolf Moon”) with wolves. While keeping warm by the Wolf Conservation Center’s outdoor fire pit, guests will enjoy warm drinks, sugary treats, and likely the symphony of howls from the 24 wolves that call the WCC home, and will take a short moonlit walk to visit the wolves. Registration required. WHY WE LOVE IT: Get in touch with your inner wolf! WANT TO GO? $15; $12 for children younger than 12. 914-7632373. nywolf.org.

The Rolling Stones Show

WHEN: Saturday, Jan. 14, 8pm WHERE: Tarrytown Music Hall, 130 Main St., Tarrytown AGES: 9 and older WHAT: Share your love of rock and roll with your children. WHY WE LOVE IT: If you are a family of rockers, this is your event! WANT TO GO? $35. 844-483-9008. tarrytownmusichall.org.

Get weekend activities delivered to you!

nymetroparents.com/register ››

Brady Rymer and The Little Band That Could

WHEN: Saturday, Jan. 14, 11am and 1:30pm WHERE: Emelin Theater, 153 Library Lane, Mamaroneck AGES: All WHAT: Two-time Grammy-nominee Brady Rymer makes high-octane rock ‘n’ roll for kids and families. His trademark smile lights up the band’s live performances and shines in his recordings. WHY WE LOVE IT: Get up and dance at this family performance! WANT TO GO? $15 per ticket. 914-698-3045. emelin.org.

‘All Aboard with Thomas & Friends™’

WHEN: Through Jan. 22: Saturday-Sunday, 9am-3:30pm WHERE: The New York Botanical Garden, 2900 Southern Blvd., Bronx AGES: All WHAT: Children join Thomas and Driver Sam on a fun-filled, singalong, mini-performance adventure in All Aboard with Thomas & Friends™. Kids will help Thomas discover the steps to growing a beautiful garden. WHY WE LOVE IT: Fans of Thomas will love this! WANT TO GO? $30; $18 children ages 2-12; free for children younger than 2. 718-817-8700. nybg.org.

Evergreen Express

WHEN: Jan. 1-22, Tuesday-Friday, 1:30-5:30pm; Saturday, 10am-6:30pm; Sunday, 10am-5:30pm WHERE: New York Botanical Gardens, 2900 Southern Blvd., Bronx AGES: All WHAT: Climb aboard the Evergreen Express. Activities include creating a train puppet, making miniature sachets, and more. WHY WE LOVE IT: A great cold weather event with lots of places to warm up along the way. WANT TO GO? $20-$30; $8-$18 children ages 2-12; free for children younger than 2. 717-817-8700. nybg.org.

‘Undiscovered Worlds: The Search Beyond Our Suns’

WHEN: Jan. 7-29, Saturday-Sunday, 3:30pm WHERE: Hudson River Museum and Planetarium, 511 Warburton Ave., Yonkers AGES: 9 and older WHAT: This 30-minute program is about the study of exoplanets. Learn about new technologies that bring us closer to finding out if there is life in the universe. WHY WE LOVE IT: A first-rate program that will dazzle your child. WANT TO GO? $8; $4 children. 914-963-4500. hrm.org.

Wintertime Wonders

WHEN: Jan. 1-March 19, Tuesday-Sunday, 1:305:30pm; Saturday-Sunday, 10am-5:30pm WHERE: New York Botanical Garden, 2900 Southern Blvd., Bronx AGES: All WHAT: Kids of all ages will love examining the wonders of plants and animals. Make tree rubbings and other goodies. WHY WE LOVE IT: Activities to make your child love winter. WANT TO GO? $30; $18 children ages 2-12. 718-817-8700. nybg.org. ››

WestchesterParent 33

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. Homework Help FREE

WHEN: Wednesday, Jan. 4, 4-6pm WHERE: Grinton I. Will Branch, 1500 Central Park Ave., Yonkers AGES: 5-12 WHAT: After-school homework help for first-sixth grades with a certified teacher when Yonkers public schools are in session. WANT TO GO? 914-337-1500. ypl.org/grinton.

Three Kings Day FREE

WHEN: Wednesday, Jan. 4, 7pm WHERE: White Plains Library, 100 Martine Ave., White Plains AGES: All WHAT: Bilingual storytime for children and their families that includes a craft and a cookie snack. WANT TO GO? 914-422-1400. whiteplainslibrary.org.

Camp Open House FREE

WHEN: Saturday, Jan. 7, 10am-2pm WHERE: Harvey Cavalier Camp, 260 Jay St., Katonah AGES: 3 and older WHAT: Harvey Cavalier Camp Open House for families with children entering pre-K through ninth grade next fall. Visit the 125-acre campus, meet the directors, tour the facilities, and discover what makes the program unique. WANT TO GO? 914-232-0581. harveycavaliercamp.org.

Remedy Artist Talk and Closing Reception FREE

WHEN: Saturday, Jan. 14, 4-6pm WHERE: ArtsWestchester, 31 Mamaroneck Ave., White Plains AGES: All WHAT: Guests can hear exhibiting Remedy artists speak about their works, then explore the artwork throughout ArtsWestchester’s gallery. The Remedy exhibition explores the connection between art and healing. WANT TO GO? 914-428-4220. artsw.org/remedyart.

Chinese New Year FREE

WHEN: Sunday, Jan. 29, 1-5pm WHERE: White Plains Library, 100 Martine Ave., White Plains AGES: 3-8 WHAT: Enjoy stories, music, and a lion dance activity in this family program. WANT TO GO? 914-422-1400. whiteplainslibrary.org.

ANIMAL LOVERS Howl in the New Year

WHEN: Sunday, Jan. 1, 11am WHERE: Wolf Conservation Center, 7 Buck Run, South Salem AGES: All WHAT: Kids will learn about the mythology surrounding wolves and the important role of wolves in the natural world. Guests will visit Ambassador Wolves, as well as the WCC’s critically endangered red wolves and Mexican gray wolves. Registration required. WANT TO GO? $15; $12 for children younger than 12. 914-763-2373. nywolf.org. 34

January 2017 | nymetroparents.com

Winter Wolves

WHEN: Saturday, Jan. 7, 11am WHERE: Wolf Conservation Center, 7 Buck Run, South Salem AGES: All WHAT: Winter offers families a unique opportunity to visit the wolves during their favorite time of year. Learn about the mythology, biology and ecology of wolf families and discover why this season is such a magical time for packs in North America. Registration required. WANT TO GO? $15; $12 for children younger than 12. 914-763-2373. nywolf.org.

Mutual of Omaha Wild Kingdom with Peter Gros

WHEN: Sunday, Jan. 29, 1pm and 4pm WHERE: The Ridgefield Playhouse, 80 E. Ridge Road, Ridgefield, CT AGES: All WHAT: Peter highlights his many adventures with a mix of video clips and bloopers while introducing exotic animals to audience members. WANT TO GO? $25; $20 children. 203-438-5795. ridgefieldplayhouse.org.

Cold Weather Weekends FREE

WHEN: Jan. 7-29, Saturday-Sunday, 10am-5pm WHERE: Stone Barnes, 630 Bedford Road, Pocantico Hills AGES: All WHAT: During the cold-weather months there is still much to see, experience, and learn. Entrance to the property is free, and you may participate in a paid tour or free drop-in programming. WANT TO GO? 914-366-6200. stonebarnescenter.org.

Winter Family Farm Tour

WHEN: Jan. 7-29, Saturday-Sunday, 11-11:45am WHERE: Stone Barnes, 630 Bedford Road, Pocantico Hills AGES: 5 and older WHAT: On this family-friendly tour, explore the farm and favorite seasonal highlights. Walk around the farm to take a closer look at the animals and vegetables. WANT TO GO? $10. 914-366-6200. stonebarnescenter.org.

q Westchester

Parents Day Coming Feb. 5

westchesterparentsd

ay.com

SMARTY PANTS School’s Out, Stars Are In

WHEN: Saturday, Jan. 14, 1pm and 3pm WHERE: Hudson River Museum, 511 Warburtone Ave., Yonkers AGES: All WHAT: Junior docents read stories of the Civil War, facilitate activities, and guide families on an interactive tour through the exhibition. WANT TO GO? $6; $3 children. 914-963-4500. hrm.org.

The Sky Tonight

WHEN: Jan. 7-29, Saturday-Sunday, 2pm WHERE: Hudson River Museum and Planetarium, 511 Warburtone Ave., Yonkers AGES: 5-8 WHAT: See what the sky is like on the planetarium dome the very night you see this interactive show. WANT TO GO? $8; $4 children. 914-963-4500. hrm.org.

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MARK YOUR CALENDARS: January 16th - MLK Day February break 22th - 24th

Glenview Tours

WHEN: Jan. 7-29, Saturday-Sunday, 1pm and 3pm WHERE: Hudson River Museum, 511 Warburtone Ave., Yonkers AGES: All WHAT: Tour Glenview and see the restored 19th-century era rooms. WANT TO GO? $6; $3 children. 914-963-4500. hrm.org.

Kids Short Story Connection Workshops

WHEN: Through May 3: see website for schedule, 10am-12pm WHERE: Greenburgh Town Hall, 177 Hillside Ave., Greenburgh AGES: 9-17 WHAT: An ongoing creative workshop for kids who love to write. In a round-table setting led by published authors and teachers, small groups of peers explore creativity, create new works, read works aloud, peer critique, and support each other’s growth. WANT TO GO? See website for prices. 914-682-1574. greenburghartsandculture.org.

¡Cuba!

WHEN: Through Aug. 13: daily, 10am-5:45pm WHERE: American Museum of Natural History, Central Park West and 79th Street, Upper West Side, Manhattan AGES: All WHAT: A bilingual exhibit exploring Cuba like never before, in partnership with the Cuban National Museum of Natural History, featuring live animals and a chance to explore recreations of the island’s wetlands, as well as a typical Cuban street. WANT TO GO? $27; $17 students and seniors; $12.50 children ages 2-12. 212-769-5100. amnh.org. ››

Children's Swimming Progam Learn to Swim (Levels 1-6) Parent & Child Lessons (6 mos. & up) Adult Lessons (All Levels) Springboard Diving Private Lessons Snorkeling Classes Discover SCUBA Classes SCUBA Certification Lifeguarding Certification

Upcoming Sessions Winter 3: Feb. 1 - March 12 (we will have class for President Week)

Spring 4: March 15 - May 7 (no class April 8-16; Spring Break)

Summer Intensive beginning in June

All of our instructors are American Red Cross-trained Water Safety Instructors For more information contact: Christine Klint christine.klint@purchase.edu | 914-251-5939 www.purchaseaquatics.weebly.com WestchesterParent 35

ONCE UPON A TIME Picture Book Time FREE

WHEN: Tuesday, Jan. 3, 11am WHERE: Yonkers Riverfront Library, 1 Larkin Center, Yonkers AGES: 3-5, adult WHAT: Stories, fingerplays, games, and fun for children with a caregiver. WANT TO GO? 914-337-1500. ypl.org.

Smiling Snowmen FREE

WHEN: Tuesday, Jan. 10, 11-11:30am WHERE: White Plains Library, 100 Martine Ave., White Plains AGES: 3-5, adult WHAT: Songs, games, activities, and stories for children with their caregivers. WANT TO GO? 914-422-1400. whiteplainslibrary.org.

Pajamarama: Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear FREE

WHEN: Wednesday, Jan. 18, 7-7:30pm WHERE: White Plains Library, 100 Martine Ave., White Plains AGES: 3-5 WHAT: Wear your pajamas and bring a stuffed animal friend for stories, songs, activities, and a bedtime snack. WANT TO GO? 914-422-1400. whiteplainslibrary.org.

Story from Russia FREE

WHEN: Thursday, Jan. 19, 4:30-5pm WHERE: White Plains Library, 100 Martine Ave., White Plains AGES: 5-8 WHAT: Storytime for kids with a craft and a cookie snack. WANT TO GO? 914-422-1400. whiteplainslibrary.org.

America Reads FREE

WHEN: Monday, Jan. 23, 3-6pm WHERE: Yonkers Riverfront Library, 1 Larkin Center, Yonkers AGES: 5-12 WHAT: Student volunteers from Sarah Lawrence College will read with children. WANT TO GO? 914-337-1500. ypl.org.

Time for Twos FREE

WHEN: Monday, Jan. 23, 4-4:30pm WHERE: Scarsdale Public Library, 54 Olmstead Road, Scarsdale AGES: 3-5 WHAT: Stories and fun just for tots is limited to the first 20 children to arrive. Tickets can be picked up from the Children’s Room Desk 30 minutes before the start of the program. WANT TO GO? 914-722-1300. scarsdalelibrary.org.

Mother Goose for Walkers FREE

WHEN: Thursday, Jan. 26, 10-10:30am WHERE: Scarsdale Public Library, 54 Olmstead Road, Scarsdale AGES: Newborn to 2, adult WHAT: Mother Goose Walkers is a program for babies who are walking, along with an adult caregiver. This language enrichment program uses rhymes, songs, and stories with baby and caregiver to stimulate listening, learning, speaking, and reading skills. WANT TO GO? 914-722-1300. scarsdalelibrary.org.

January 2017 | nymetroparents.com

Babies and Books FREE

WHEN: Friday, Jan. 27, 11-11:30am WHERE: Yonkers Riverfront Library, 1 Larkin Center, Yonkers AGES: Newborn to 2, adult WHAT: Storytime with books, songs, and fingerplays for babies and their caregivers. WANT TO GO? 914-337-1500. ypl.org.

Interactive Story Time FREE

WHEN: Jan. 18-Aug. 9, Wednesdays, 11am WHERE: North Castle Public Library, 19 Whippoorwill Road E., Armonk AGES: Newborn to 5, adult WHAT: Come listen to stories, sing songs, and play games with an interactive felt board every other week. WANT TO GO? 914-273-3887. northcastlelibrary.org.

SHOW TIME!

‘Sister Act’

WHEN: Jan. 6-8, Friday, 7pm; Saturday, 2pm and 7pm; Sunday, 2pm WHERE: White Plains Performing Arts Center, 11 City Place, White Plains AGES: 5 and older WHAT: When disco diva Deloris Van Cartier witnesses a crime, she is put in protective custody in the one place the cops are sure she won’t be a found: a convent. Disguised as a nun, she finds herself at odds with both the rigid lifestyle and uptight Mother Superior. WANT TO GO? $29-$49. 914-328-1600. wppac.com.

Shakespeare in the Church FREE

WHEN: Saturday, Jan. 14, 1:30pm WHERE: St. Paul’s Church National Historic Site, 897 S. Columbus Ave., Mount Vernon AGES: All WHAT: Enjoy a performance by the acclaimed Red Monkey Theatre Group of William Shakespeare’s Much Ado about Nothing. The play combines elements of robust hilarity with more serious meditations on honor, shame, and court politics. WANT TO GO? 914-667-4116. nps.gov/sapa.

I Go On Singing: Paul Robeson’s Life in Song

WHEN: Sunday, Jan. 15, 2pm WHERE: Wave Hill, West 249th Street and Independence Avenue, Bronx AGES: All WHAT: Robeson was a monumental 20th-century figure, an allAmerican athlete, scholar, international recording artist, and star of stage and screen. Regarded as the best-known African-American entertainer in the world during his lifetime, he was also a courageous example of integrity and discipline in service of peace. WANT TO GO? $28; $15 children ages 8-18. 718-549-3200. wavehill.org.

Gaelic Storm

WHEN: Sunday, Jan. 22, 7-9pm WHERE: Paramount Hudson Valley Theater, 1008 Brown St., Peekskill AGES: 9 and older WHAT: After nearly two decades and more than 3,000 live shows, Gaelic Storm—the multi-national Celtic band—is performing its latest release, Matching Sweaters. The new album mixes traditional Irish music with modern influences, creating a sound that’s as wide-ranging as the bands own audience. WANT TO GO? $27-$47. 914-739-0039. paramounthudsonvalley.com.

‘Saturday Night Fever’

WHEN: Through Jan. 29: Wednesday-Sunday, see website for times WHERE: Westchester Broadway Theatre, 1 Broadway Plaza, Elmsford AGES: 9 and older WHAT: A stage version of the hugely popular 1977 movie, jampacked with musical hits. WANT TO GO? $50 show only. 914-592-2222. broadwaytheatre.com.

since 1980

Shadow Puppet Theater

WHEN: Jan. 4-29, Wednesday-Sunday, 10am-4pm WHERE: Westchester Children’s Museum, 100 Playland Park, Rye AGES: All WHAT: Explore the properties of light and shadow by putting on a play using shadow puppets or full-body shadows, or create a unique piece of shadow art. WANT TO GO? $7. 914-421-5050. discoverwcm.org.

MOVERS & SHAKERS Lego Play FREE

WHEN: Thursday, Jan. 5, 4:30pm WHERE: White Plains Library, 100 Martine Ave., White Plains AGES: 5-8 WHAT: Join the Lego building fun as children are invited to design and build their own structures using The Trove’s Lego set. WANT TO GO? 914-422-1400. whiteplainslibrary.org.

Enroll by Feb. 15th & SAVE $25 per week S U N Y P U R C H A S E C O L L E G E

WEEKLY SESSIONS DOOR TO DOOR TRANSPORTATION AVAILABLE

19camps 914.273.8500 T R A I N

fscamps.com ·

P L A Y

Yoga Tots FREE

WHEN: Monday, Jan. 9, 10-10:30am WHERE: Scarsdale Public Library, 54 Olmstead Road, Scarsdale AGES: 3-5 WHAT: Toddlers will have fun “playing yoga” during Yoga Tots. This class combines traditional yoga poses, props, and engaging songs to build motor skills, confidence, and relaxation skills. WANT TO GO? 914-722-1300. scarsdalelibrary.org.

Baby Free Play FREE

WHEN: Friday, Jan. 27, 9:30-10:30am WHERE: Scarsdale Public Library, 54 Olmstead Road, Scarsdale AGES: Newborn to 2, adult WHAT: Babies and caregivers are presented with the opportunity to interact with other families while playing with balls, scarves, egg shakers, and more. WANT TO GO? 914-722-1300. scarsdalelibrary.org. ››

B E L I E V E

Ask About Our Toddler Open Gym Programs! A walk in, non-instructional playtime for crawlers to 4 year olds

Toy Time with Trucks FREE

WHEN: Saturday, Jan. 7, 11am-4pm WHERE: White Plains Library, 100 Martine Ave., White Plains AGES: 3-5 WHAT: Independent playtime with special Trove toys for parents and young children. Join your child in imaginary play during Truck Days. WANT TO GO? 914-422-1400. whiteplainslibrary.org.

Summer Camp

Full, Half & Extended Day • Boys & Girls Ages 4½-12 Gymnastics, Sports Performance, Trips, Games & More Ask about our early bird special until 2-28-17 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 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 Pkwy)

914-965-7676 gymcats.net

WestchesterParent 37

‘The Peanuts Movie’ FREE

WHEN: Saturday, Jan. 7, 3pm WHERE: Ruth Keeler Library, 276 Titicus Road, North Salem AGES: All WHAT: Enjoy The Peanuts Movie with the family. Bring popcorn to snack on. WANT TO GO? 914-669-5161. ruthkeelermemoriallibrary.org.

‘Belle and Sebastian’

HOLIDAY FUN Frosty Frost FREE

WHEN: Wednesday, Jan. 11, 7-8pm WHERE: White Plains Library, 100 Martine Ave., White Plains AGES: All WHAT: Stories and songs about winter for the entire family, with a craft and a cookie snack. WANT TO GO? 914-422-1400. whiteplainslibrary.org.

Winter Wolves on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

WHEN: Monday, Jan. 16, 11am WHERE: Wolf Conservation Center, 7 Buck Run, South Salem AGES: All WHAT: Learn about the mythology, biology, and ecology of wolf families and discover why this season is such a magical time for packs in North America. Registration required. WANT TO GO? $15; $12 for children younger than 12. 914-7632373. nywolf.org.

Holiday Train Show

WHEN: Through Jan. 16: Tuesday-Sunday, 10am-6pm WHERE: The New York Botanical Garden, 2900 Southern Blvd., Bronx AGES: All WHAT: The Holiday Train Show®, a beloved New York City tradition, celebrates its 25th year with the exhibition’s first roller coaster. The Coney Island Cyclone joins NYBG’s collection of more than 150 replicas of New York buildings made out of plant parts and enlivened by large-scale model trains. WANT TO GO? $20-$30; $8-$18 children ages 2-12; free for children younger than 2. 718-817-8700. nybg.org.

Holiday Express: Toys and Trains from the Jerni Collection

WHEN: Through Feb. 26: Tuesday-Thursday and Saturday, 10am6pm; Friday, 10am-8pm; Sunday, 11am-5pm WHERE: New-York Historical Society, 170 Central Park W., Upper West Side, Manhattan AGES: All WHAT: The moving display showcases toys from a bygone era. It may not be the biggest holiday train show, but it will still delight little train lovers thanks to the beautiful detail of the pieces. WANT TO GO? $20; $15 seniors; $12 students; $6 children ages 5-13; free for children 4 and younger. 212-873-3400. nyhistory.org.

ON SCREEN ‘The Polar Express’

WHEN: Through Jan. 2: see the website for dates and times WHERE: IMAX Theater, Maritime Aquarium, 10 N. Water St., Norwalk, CT AGES: 3 and older WHAT: On Christmas Eve, a magical locomotive takes children on a magical trip to the North Pole to show them Santa Claus really does exist. WANT TO GO? $11.50; $10.50 children ages 13-17; $9.50 children ages 2-12. 203-852-0700. maritimeaquarium.org. 38

January 2017 | nymetroparents.com

WHEN: Saturday, Jan. 21, 12pm WHERE: Jacob Burns Film Center, 364 Manville Road, Pleasantville AGES: 9 and older WHAT: Based on the acclaimed children’s novel by Cécile Aubry, Belle and Sebastian follows the courageous adventures of a young boy and his giant sheepdog amidst the stunning backdrop of the snow-covered Alps. WANT TO GO? $13; $7.50 for children 13 and younger. 914-773-7663. burnsfilmcenter.org.

‘One World, One Sky’

WHEN: Jan. 7-29, Saturday-Sunday, 12:30pm WHERE: Hudson River Museum and Planetarium, 511 Warburtone Ave., Yonkers AGES: 5 and older WHAT: On a trip from Sesame Street to the moon, Big Bird and Elmo with friend Hu Hu Zhu discover that planets are different from one another but people on Earth are often the same. WANT TO GO? $8; $4 children. 914-963-4500. hrm.org.

‘Born to Be Wild’

WHEN: Through Jan. 31: call, text, or go online for IMAX show times WHERE: IMAX Theater, Maritime Aquarium, 10 N. Water St., Norwalk, CT AGES: All WHAT: Academy Award-winner Morgan Freeman lends his voice to this film which follows orphaned baby orangutans and elephants, and the people who rescue and raise them for eventual release back into the wild. WANT TO GO? $9.50; $7 children ages 2-12. 203-852-0700. maritimeaquarium.org.

‘National Parks Adventure’

WHEN: Through Jan. 31: check the website for specific dates and times WHERE: IMAX Theater, Maritime Aquarium, 10 N. Water St., Norwalk, CT AGES: All WHAT: Join world-class mountaineer Conrad Anker, photographer Max Lowe, and artist Rachel Pohl as they bike, hike, and climb their way across America’s most pristine parks. WANT TO GO? $9.50; $7 children ages 3-12. 203-852-0700. maritimeaquarium.org.

‘Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Secret Ocean’

WHEN: Through Jan. 31: see website for dates and times WHERE: IMAX Theater, Maritime Aquarium, 10 N. Water St., Norwalk, CT AGES: All WHAT: The film introduces audiences to more than 30 species of animals—some no bigger than one inch long, but shown in exquisite detail on the aquarium’s six-story screen. WANT TO GO? $11.50; $10.50 children ages 13-17; $9.50 children ages 3-12. 203-852-0700. maritimeaquarium.org.

Join us for a Free Trial Class

CityBound

N Y C Teresa Wood

Must-Sees in

Ask About Special Needs!

Experienced, Nurturing Teachers Fun-Filled Classes

Elephant and Piggie rock out with The Squirelles.

We are in a Play!

Music, Movement & Friends

A musical adaptation of Mo Willems’s best-selling children’s books of the same name: Elephant and Piggie. The famous BFFs dance across the stage and sing songs alongside their backing singers The Squirrelles. They address very important questions such as: What do you wear to a fancy costume pool party? Should you share your ice cream? Like the books, this show won’t fail to put a smile on your face. Jan. 28-Feb. 5; see website for show times. Age: 4-7. $25. The New Victory Theater, 229 W. 42nd St., Times Square Theater District. 646-223-3010. newvictory.org.

Age-Specific Curriculum

Celebrating 30+ years of making music and memories

Courtesy New York Boat Show

914-771-7000 • www.musicalmunchkins.com

OPEN HOUSE FEB 4TH 1-4 PM!

A fun day out for all ages

Summer 2017 Camp Sessions

Ahoy There, Manhattan

44th

Session 1 : June 26th-July 21nd • Session 2 : July 24th-August 11th Offering Stimulating Courses Like... • Extended Day Available

The world’s first and longest-running boat show, the Progressive® Insurance New York Boat Show is a fun day out for the whole family. Take the helm and try out boats of all sizes, from luxury motor yachts and sport fishers to performance boats and sailboats. There’s a family zone with activities that include a toy workshop, balloon fun, and a photo opportunity with a pirate. Ooh-ahhh. Jan. 25-29; see website for times. Age: All. $16, free for children 15 and younger (with an adult). Jacob K. Javits Center, 655 W. 34th St., Hell’s Kitchen. 718-707-0711. nyboatshow.com.

• Computers • Theater • Robotics • Swimming • Digital Photography • Sports

• Hot Lunches Included • Transportation Available

Hartsdale, NY • Call: 914.328.3798 Email: Squirecamps@gmail.com

Does your child love fashion?

Visit mta.info/mnrParents for discount rail packages to NYC’s hottest attractions, shows and tours!

The Fashion Arts Studio oﬀers kids high quality fashion creative and technical classes in design, draping, patternmaking, & sewing based on STEAM. Our Parsons graduate (BFA in Fashion Design) instructor is a working fashion designer with 20+ years of industry experience and a former adjunct professor at FIT & Parsons.

We also oﬀer fashion-themed parties and events.

Presented by

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Contact: Ying@FashionArtsStudio.com • (917) 995-3191

WestchesterParent 39

Englewood Wyckoff • Norwood, NJ

Bronxville Woodcliff Lake

Pinatas • Crafts • Entertainment • Sombreros • Birthday Cake (packages range from $8.95 - $21.00 per child)

for party info

201.848.4088 • www.bluemoonmexicancafe.com

Break the Ice

Not your Resolution make music • • • • •

All NEW Jazz, Rock and Pop Offerings Private and Group Lessons Songwriting and Improvisation Suzuki Guitar, Violin & Cello Musical Theatre & so much more... 216 Central Ave White Plains, NY 10606 914.761.3900

www.musicconservatory.org

• Family Owned & Operated • Infant & Toddler “Hands-On” Developmental Curriculum • Pre-K Curriculum designed to meet NY Standards for Kindergarten Readiness

NY State Licensed Hours: 7:00 AM - 6:30 PM www.allaboardchildcare.com All Aboard On-the-Hudson, LLC 255 North Highland Avenue Ossining, NY 10562 (914) 923-1700

All Aboard At Valhalla, Inc 400 Columbus Ave Valhalla, NY 10595 (914) 741-1500

January 2017 | nymetroparents.com

CRAFTY KIDS Stories and Stuff FREE

WHEN: Tuesday, Jan. 3, 4:30-5:30pm WHERE: White Plains Library, 100 Martine Ave., White Plains AGES: 3-5 WHAT: Preschool storytime including a craft activity. Stories are centered around a theme and children listen and interact with corresponding rhymes, songs, and/or finger plays. A final craft project ties in with the topic fostering a sense that stories are imaginative, yet lasting, and continue to enrich our creative thoughts and play. WANT TO GO? 914-422-1400. whiteplainslibrary.org.

Art Class in the Castle FREE

WHEN: Saturday, Jan. 14, 1-2:30pm WHERE: White Plains Library, 100 Martine Ave., White Plains AGES: 9-12 WHAT: Come learn about using mixed media including charcoal, pastel, and water color paints in the castle. WANT TO GO? 914-422-1400. whiteplainslibrary.org.

Family Art Project: A Hand In Freedom

WHEN: Jan. 14-15, Saturday-Sunday, 10am-1pm WHERE: Wave Hill, West 249th Street and Independence Avenue, Bronx AGES: All WHAT: In honor of Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday, consider his powerful message of justice and freedom. Trace hands on fabric to cut out and then layer and paste on muslin, and use fabric markers and sprays to embed messages and quotes that speak out for kindness to all. WANT TO GO? $8; $2 for children age 6 and older; free for children younger than 6. 718-549-3200. wavehill.org.

Family Art Project: Sweet Dreams, Hibernators

WHEN: Jan. 21-22, Saturday-Sunday, 10am WHERE: Wave Hill, West 249th Street and Independence Avenue, Bronx AGES: All WHAT: Get to know your local hibernators through sleepy tales of the season. Then make your own furry bear, bat, toad, or hedgehog mask, or fashion a dreamy, woodsy home. WANT TO GO? $8; $2 for children age 6 and older; free for children younger than 6. 718-549-3200. wavehill.org.

Postcards from the Field

WHEN: Jan. 7-29, Saturday-Sunday, 1-4pm WHERE: Hudson River Museum, 511 Warburton Ave., Yonkers AGES: All WHAT: Design your very own post card using watercolor pencils, markers and collage materials, and write a message to someone you miss. WANT TO GO? $6; $3 children. 914-963-4500. hrm.org.

Family Art Project: Re-Framing Winter

WHEN: Jan. 28-29, Saturday-Sunday, 10am WHERE: Wave Hill, West 249th Street and Independence Avenue, Bronx AGES: All WHAT: Families can bring their favorite winter or nature image, or

make a small painting of nature. Then, using a variety of wooden and cardboard frames, embed and decorate these images with palettes of warm and cool colors, an abundance of nature beads, wooden shapes, natural materials. WANT TO GO? $8; $2 for children age 6 and older; free for children younger than 6. 718-549-3200. wavehill.org.

ct nt a t C o vi s i to us la s s! ac

Drop-in Craft FREE

WHEN: Jan. 7-Feb. 25, Saturdays, 11am WHERE: North Castle Public Library, 19 Whippoorwill Road E., Armonk AGES: 3-8 WHAT: Stop by to do a fun craft. WANT TO GO? 914-273-3887. northcastlelibrary.org.

Coming up next month: FEB. 6-7: The Original Harlem Globetrotters at Westchester County Center, White Plains FEB. 11: The Berenstain Bears LIVE! in Family Matters, the Musical at Emelin Theatre, Mamaroneck DAYS IN FEBRUARY: The Bikinis: A New Musical Beach Party at Westchester Broadway Theatre, Elmsford

yrs. of Fun, Frien ds, & Fitness !

Discover the joy of making music together with your family! Chappaqua · Scarsdale · Tarrytown slsbmusic.com · (914) 924-0995

G re at Pe rk s Fo r M em be rs

Day Camp in Chappaqua

Discovery.. Flexible MP SUMMER CA scheduling se oo You ch the days! You choose the weeks!

V is it O u r To ta Awe s o mll y e Ne w ly Re n ova te Fa c il ity d !

Community....

Fo r K id s 9 mos to 12 yrs

Nothing Else Even Comes Close! Gymnastics • Music • Playtime • Camp • Sports Ninja Challenge • Jodi’s To Go • Best Birthdays Ever

www.jodisgym.com 25 Hubbels Dr. Mt. Kisko • 914.244.8811 244 E. 84th St. NYC • 212.772.7633

Fun!

of Camp is part Wagon Road ciety So d Ai n’s re The Child organization ﬁt charitable a non-for-pro

For information, tour appointments & registration: 914.238.4761 janetl@childrensaidsociety.org • www.childrensaidsociety.org/wagon-road-camp

WestchesterParent 41

WHERE-TO GUIDE

Ski & Snowboard

nymetroparents.com/where-to

››

Research by Jonathan Perry and Kathryn Sheridan

Slice across the snowy slopes this winter with the entire family. Whether your little ones are hitting the bunny slope for the first time or you’ve got an experienced snow leopard navigating tricky trails, a mountain getaway offers winter charm, activities to keep you moving through the cold, and fun for the whole bunch. Almost all mountains and resorts offer lessons for skiing and snowboarding, so don’t be shy! Please note: We recommend checking snow conditions before visiting any of the mountains listed here. black diamond, a terrain park, and tubing. Offers free beginner lessons on weekends and holidays with the purchase of a lift ticket (for ages 5 and older). There’s also a Tiny Tots program for children ages 4 and younger (must be potty trained), which includes a lesson, equipment rental, lift ticket, and hot chocolate. Ski racing program for ages 6-18.

snow tubing, and ice-skating. Beginner lessons available. Thursday and Saturday nights (5-8pm) are Family Nights, with reduced lift ticket and rental pricing. Friday night is Family Tubing Night. On Tuesday nights (5-9pm), buy any lift ticket and get another at half price.

Plattekill Mountain 469 Plattekill Mountain Road, Roxbury 607-326-3500; plattekill.com Features 38 trails and a terrain park. Child care on weekends and holidays for children ages 6 months and older; group ski lessons for kids as young as 4. Lift-serviced snow tubing on weekends and holidays; children must be at least 3 feet tall. Kids younger than 7 ski free. Lift tickets are reduced to $20 from Jan. 29-31, and the first 50 skiers or riders get a $25 lift ticket on the following dates: Jan. 6, Feb. 3, and March 3. Roundtrip bus service available from New York metro area locations via Adirondack Trailways (trailwaysny.com) and online via skedaddle.com.

Catamount State Route 23 E., Hillsdale 518-325-3200 catamountski.com Has 36 trails, seven lifts including a summit quad chairlift, five terrain parks, and a novice area for beginning boarders. Fourth- and fifth-graders ski free on weekends and holidays with a paying adult (registration and $25 processing fee required). Season passes available: $510 adults; $440 children ages 7-13; $170 for children ages 6 and younger.

Hunter Mountain Route 23A, Hunter 518-263-4223; huntermtn.com Spans three mountains and includes 58 trails and 10 lifts. Programs for kids include Mighty Mights (ski only) for ages 5-6 and Junior Adventure (snowboarding and skiing) for ages 7-12. Snow tubing for those 42 inches and taller on Friday evenings and weekends. Mini Park for those shorter than 42 inches. Day care available for children ages 6 months to 6 years on weekends (Friday-Sunday) and during school holidays. Several bus services offer round-trip transportation from the New York metro area; see website for details.

Rocking Horse Ranch 600 Route 44/55, Highland GPS address: 13 Pancake Hollow Road, Highland 845-691-2927 rockinghorseranch.com A family resort that includes downhill skiing, snow tubing, horse-drawn sleigh ridges, timber shoots, and ice-skating. Best for the ski “dabbler.” Offers beginner classes (in the Never Ever Area) and free equipment rentals (snowboards not available) with your stay. All-inclusive packages available. Free pickup service available from the Amtrak train station in Poughkeepsie and Stewart International Airport in Newburgh.

Holiday Mountain Ski and Fun Park 99 Holiday Mountain Road, Monticello 845-796-3161; holidaymtn.com Boasts seven trails, four lifts, night skiing,

Mount Peter 51 Old Mount Peter Road, Warwick 845-986-4940; mtpeter.com Has nearly a dozen trails, from beginner to

Thunder Ridge Ski Area 137 Birch Hill Road, Patterson 845-878-4100; thunderridgeski.com Boasts 22 trails with many slow and gentle

Southeast New York Belleayre Mountain 181 Galli Curci Road, Highmount 845-254-5600; belleayre.com Features 50 trails, parks, and glades. Offers ski and snowboard lessons for kids ages 4-6, 7-12, and 13 and older. Round-trip bus service from NYC via Adirondack Trailways (trailwaysny.com) includes lift ticket and luggage lock-up.

January 2017 | nymetroparents.com

slopes for beginners and intermediates. Has a ski racing program for kids ages 6-19. On weekends and holidays through March 12, you can take the Metro-North ski train to Patterson station ($61.50; $44 seniors; $49.50 children ages 12 and older; $25 children ages 6-11; $12 children age 5; $10 for children younger than 5) and a the free shuttle to Thunder Ridge. Ticket includes all-day/all-night lift ticket (night skiing not available on Sundays) and a $5 discount on rental equipment.

Connecticut fourth-graders get three free lift tickets ($10 processing fee). Discounted tickets for beginners; free lift tickets for children ages 4 and younger (with purchase of accompanying adult ticket). Mount Southington 396 Mount Vernon Road, Plantsville 860-628-0954 mountsouthington.com Features 14 trails, most of which

are beginner and intermediate level, and two terrain parks. Ski Threes, for parents and 3-yearolds, introduces toddlers to skiing while teaching parents to use tip connectors and harnesses while skiing (registration required). Introductory ski lessons for ages 4-10 are offered on weekends and holidays. Private ski and snowboard instruction also available.

Powder Ridge Ski 99 Powder Hill Road, Middlefield 866-860-0208 powderridgepark.com Features 19 trails and four terrain parks, plus snowtubing and snow biking. Beginner, intermediate, and advanced lessons for kids and adults, as well as lessons for ages 3-5. Accessible via the MetroNorth train to Bridgeport.

Find the full guide at â&#x20AC;şâ&#x20AC;ş nymetroparents.com/ski

Windham Mountain 19 Resort Drive, Windham 800-754-9463 windhammountain.com Nearly 50 trails and six terrain parks (for beginner to expert riders), plus a Mountaintop Adventure Park with iceskating, snow tubing, two rope tows, and two zip lines. Ski and riding programs for kids ages 4-12 (private lessons for kids as young as 3). Lessons for children with disabilities are offered through the Adaptive Sports Foundation (call 518-734-5070 for more information). Child care is available. Bus service available from NYC via Adirondack Trailways (trailwaysny.com).

Connecticut Mohawk Mountain Ski Area 46 Great Hollow Road, Cornwall 860-672-6100 mohawkmtn.com The Parent & Tots program teaches parents (who must be at least intermediate-level skiers) how to ski safely with their 4-year-old children, while the children learn to ski; available Wednesdays at 1:30pm, weekends, and holidays (registration required). Skiing and snowboarding lessons for kids as young as 5, as well as adaptive lessons for children with special needs. Ski racing program for ages 6-14. WestchesterParent 43

John Raiola

Not of the Faith

Students at Iona Prep’s Upper School work on a class assignment.

›› How local Catholic schools have integrated—and accommodated—students from all types of religious backgrounds By Samantha Neudorf

rthur Tobias is the father of three kids in New Rochelle and was brought up in an Italian-Catholic family. His wife is Jewish and his kids identify as Jewish, yet his two sons attend Iona Preparatory School—an all-boys Catholic school in New Rochelle. Tobias says that when it was time for his older son to consider high schools, he was either going to continue attending public school or enroll in Iona Prep, where the elder Tobias had gone himself years earlier. But he did not know if the school would accept non-Catholic students until he had a conversation with a colleague who had been in the same situation: his wife and kids were Jewish, yet he sent his kids to Iona Prep. The colleague was a member of the school’s board and said that at one point board members had asked, “Who do we admit into the school?” They decided that being Catholic was not required, opening the school to kids with different religious backgrounds. Tobias and his wife then discussed sending their son to Iona Prep. They were concerned he might be teased or experience prejudice because he is Jewish. “She understood that I went there and that I valued my four years there and still do,” Tobias says. They came to an understanding and agreed to enroll him. Four years later, Tobias’ son graduated from Iona Prep and thanked his parents for allowing him to go there.

January 2017 | nymetroparents.com

Catholic School Policies

Edward O’Neill, the principal of the Upper School at Iona Prep, says that out of the 750 boys in ninth through 12th grades, 171 identify as not Catholic, which is approximately 23 percent of the student population. That number includes students who are Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, and Hindu, as well as non-Catholic Christians. O’Neill says he believes non-Catholic students apply to Iona Prep because of the school’s values. “Our values system is fairly clear, so people can identify with that,” O’Neill says. “We’re able to project a set of values of right and wrong, why we think kids should pursue their values and a good life.” The school requires all students to take four years of a course in Catholic religion and to attend school Mass once per month. The class is just like any other course in that the students receive a grade and have homework, and while Mass attendance is mandatory, participation is not. “The guys don’t have to actively participate, but we do want them to be familiar with our liturgies and how we celebrate our religion,” O’Neill says. Many other Catholic schools have similar policies, in which non-Catholic students can enroll and must go to Mass, but are not forced to participate or share the same beliefs. Maria Ljubich, the advancement director of St. Bernadette Catholic Academy in Dyker Heights, Brooklyn, says 4 percent

of the 400 students in pre-K through eighth grades are non-Catholic, but all participate in prayer and school Mass. “Religion is taught as a subject on a daily basis and prayer permeates our day,” Ljubich says. Catholic students may prepare sacraments and non-Catholic students are welcome to help, but they do not have to receive them. Ljubich says no problems have come up from nonCatholic students and their families. Jane Harrigan, the principal Our Lady of Good Mercy School in Hicksville, says approximately 31 students out of the 300 in pre-K through eighth grades identify as non-Catholic. She says some parents have asked questions about what it will mean for their child to receive an education in a Catholic school. “We talk about…what the child would be experiencing because especially with the little ones, they’re learning ABCs, numbers, and also prayer,” Harrigan says. Students at Our Lady of Good Mercy School take a religion class, and though they are learning about the faith, they do not have to agree with it, Harrigan says. “If there are any places where perhaps our [religion] and theirs is not exactly the same, then the parents take it upon themselves to say [to their kids], ‘This is what you’re learning in the Catholic school, this is what we believe in. We’re respectful of both,’” Harrigan says. Unlike Iona Prep and St. Bernadette Catholic School, tuition prices vary at Our Lady of Good Mercy School: Tuition is slightly cheaper for a Catholic student whose family attends a church in the diocese in Rockville Centre. The reasoning behind the difference is these families are already making monetary contributions to their Catholic church along with tuition, and some of that goes toward Our Lady of Mercy church, which is adjacent to the school.

Misconceptions, Debunked

In the beginning, Tobias’s eldest son was unsure about Mass and did not want to attend. “He was anxious about it because any time he had been to church, it was with me and it was a family setting,” Tobias says. At the school, all students are expected to get up and stand in line for communion, but they do not have to receive it. “It removes the stigma of, ‘Well, why aren’t you going up and going to communion?’” Tobias says. If his son did not like Iona Prep, Tobias says he would not have enrolled his kids in any other Catholic school. His daughter is currently a senior at a public high school because she did not like the private school she and her parents considered. It’s a matter of researching the school and constantly checking in with your child, Tobias says. “[See] if there are any anxieties or concerns they may be having around the idea that they’re in a school different from their religion,” he advises. “A lot of kids are adjusting to high school life and religious differences may be just another part of that adjustment.” O’Neill has been an educator at Catholic schools for 44 years and attended one as a student 50 years ago. Catholic schools used to be viewed as extremely rigid, he admits, with an emphasis on discipline and order. But, he says, educators’ mindsets have changed in the past 20 years because a lot of them are modernizing and adapting to the times. “The older approach was ‘Here’s a group of kids and everybody is going to conform,’” O’Neill says. “At some point, Catholic schools got it that they needed to treat people as individuals and adjust to their learning styles.”

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WestchesterParent 45

Great for Leftovers

Each of these three recipes makes enough for two servings, plus enough for two servings of a leftover twist. By Elana Karp and Suzanne Dumaine Creamy polenta with mushroom ragoût and the polenta cakes with fried eggs that can be made with the leftovers (inset)

Creamy Polenta with Mushroom Ragoût

Using a mix of fresh and dried mushrooms in sauces and soups is ideal; fresh provide meaty texture and heartiness, while dried bring concentrated flavor, released when they’re reconstituted. You could use this ragoût over pasta, but we particularly like the way this dish can became an all-in-one leftover: Mix ragoût into polenta, let it harden, then fry it in olive oil. Enjoy it any time of day. Ingredients 1 cup water ½ cup dried porcini mushrooms 6 sprigs fresh thyme 1½ pounds mixed fresh mushrooms (we like cremini, oyster, and shiitake) 2 shallots ¼ bunch fresh flat-leaf parsley

2 Tbsp. unsalted butter ½ cup white wine 3 cups chicken or vegetable stock 2 cups whole milk 2 cups polenta ¹⁄³ cup grated Parmesan or pecorino cheese Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions 1. In a small saucepan, bring the water to a boil over high heat. As soon as it comes to a boil, add the dried mushrooms, remove from heat, and soak for approximately 10 minutes. 2. Meanwhile, strip the thyme leaves from the stems. Cut the fresh mushrooms into ¼-inch slices. Thinly slice the shallots. Roughly chop the parsley leaves. 3. Drain the dried mushrooms, reserving the soaking liquid. Roughly chop and pat dry. 4. Heat a large pan over medium-high heat. When the pan is hot, add the dried and fresh mushrooms in a single layer and immediately season with salt and pepper. Cook without moving until beginning to crisp, 3-4 minutes. Add the butter, thyme, and shallots. Reduce the heat to medium and cook, stirring, until the mushrooms are tender and browning and the shallots are softened, approximately 5 minutes. 46

January 2017 | nymetroparents.com

5. Add the wine, scraping up any browned bits on the bottom of the pan. Increase the heat to medium-high and simmer until the wine is reduced by half, approximately 3 minutes. Add the reserved mushroom-soaking liquid to the pan and continue to simmer until reduced by half, 3-4 minutes longer. Reduce the heat to low and keep warm until ready to serve. 6. Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, bring the chicken stock, milk, and a large pinch of salt to a boil over high heat. As soon as the liquid is boiling, while whisking, slowly add the polenta. Immediately reduce the heat to as low as possible and whisk slowly and continuously until the polenta is tender and all the liquid has been absorbed (cooking time may vary; check package instructions). Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the cheese. Taste and add salt and pepper as needed. 7. Taste the ragoût and add salt and pepper as needed. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the parsley. 8. To serve, divide half the polenta evenly between two bowls and top with half the ragoût. Note: Stir the remaining polenta and ragoût together to save as leftovers. Spread into an even layer in a medium baking dish and store, covered, in the fridge for up to 4 days. Leftovers: Polenta Cakes with Fried Eggs Ingredients Leftover polenta with mushroom ragoût, chilled 2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil 2 large eggs Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions 1. Cut the chilled polenta into 3-inch squares. In a large nonstick pan, heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the polenta cakes in a single layer and

cook until browned and warmed through, approximately 3 minutes per side. Remove and set aside. 2. Heat the remaining tablespoon of oil in the same pan over medium heat. Crack the eggs into the pan and season with salt and pepper. Fry without moving until the whites are set, 2-3 minutes. Slide the fried eggs over the polenta cakes and eat hot. Cheffy Nugget: Polenta has two possible textures: creamy and delicious or totally solid. Make sure you have everything else ready before beginning to cook the polenta; you’ll want to eat it as soon as it comes off the stove.

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Rice is pretty much the perfect leftover—in fact, we love purposely making too much, just so we can repurpose it the next day. The steamed rice in this stir-fry is perfect for mopping up sauce, but once the rice dries out, it’s no longer a moisture sponge. In the leftover fried rice dish, it crisps up, becoming the star feature. Ingredients 1½ cups jasmine or basmati rice 2½ cups water 4 baby bok choy 4 cloves garlic 1 pound shiitake mushrooms 1-inch knob fresh ginger ½ cup chicken or vegetable stock

1 tsp. cornstarch 1 Tbsp. mirin 2 Tbsp. sesame oil ½ tsp. crushed red pepper 1½ pounds shrimp, peeled and deveined Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions 1. In a medium pot, combine the rice, water, and a pinch of salt and bring to a boil over high heat. As soon as the water comes to a boil, stir once, cover, and reduce the heat to low. Cook for 12 minutes, covered, then remove from the heat. Keep covered and allow to steam for at least 10 minutes. 2. While the rice cooks, cut the bok choy crosswise into ½-inch slices, keeping the leaves and stalks separate. Mince the garlic. Stem the shiitakes and thinly slice the caps. Peel and mince the ginger. In a small bowl, whisk together the stock, cornstarch, and mirin. 3. In a large pan, heat the sesame oil over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the bok choy stalks and shiitakes, continued on next page ››

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WestchesterParent 47

›› continued from previous page

Leftovers: Shrimp Fried Rice with Egg

spreading into a single layer. Season with salt and pepper. Cook without moving until starting to brown on the bottom, 2-3 minutes. Stir and cook until softening, 2-3 minutes. Add the crushed red pepper, garlic, ginger, and bok choy leaves and stir to combine. Cook until fragrant, approximately 1 minute. Season the shrimp on both sides with salt and pepper. Add to the vegetables and cook until just pink, 1-2 minutes per side. 4. Push all the ingredients to the outer edges of the pan. Pour the stock mixture into the center, and simmer until thickened, approximately 2 minutes. Stir everything together to combine and coat, then remove the pan from the heat. Taste the stir-fry and add salt and pepper as needed. 5. Uncover the rice and fluff with a fork. Taste and add salt and pepper as needed. Note: Before serving, set aside half the rice and half the stir-fry to use as leftovers. Cover and refrigerate for up to 3 days. 6. To serve, top the rice with the stir-fry.

Ingredients Leftover shrimp and vegetable stir-fry 3 Tbsp. sesame oil 2 large eggs

Spaghetti Squash Ragù

Spaghetti squash gets its name from the thin, pasta-like strands that are pulled out of it after roasting. Don’t be fooled by its size; it makes an unexpectedly enormous amount of food—ideal for leftovers! This and the leftovers recipe are two of our favorite preparations, but there’s ample opportunity for you to invent your own. Ingredients 2 small or 1 large spaghetti squash 3 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil 1 pound ground beef 2 carrots 1 yellow onion 3 sprigs fresh thyme 3 cloves garlic 1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes

¼ tsp. crushed red pepper 1 tsp. dried oregano ½ Tbsp. tomato paste ½ cup red wine 1 cup beef or chicken stock ¼ cup grated pecorino or Parmesan cheese Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions 1. Preheat the oven to 450°F. Line a baking sheet with foil. 2. Halve the spaghetti squash lengthwise. Using a large spoon,

January 2017 | nymetroparents.com

Leftover cooked rice ½ tablespoon soy sauce Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions 1. Chop the leftover shrimp into bite-size pieces. 2. In a large nonstick pan, heat 1 tablespoon of the sesame oil over medium heat. Beat the eggs in a medium bowl and season with salt and pepper. When the oil is shimmering, add the eggs and scramble, 2-3 minutes. Remove from the pan and set aside. 3. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons sesame oil to the pan and heat over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add all the leftovers—chopped shrimp, vegetables, and rice—and cook, stirring, until warmed through and the rice begins to crisp, approximately 5 minutes. Drizzle with the soy sauce and return the eggs to the pan. Stir to combine, approximately 1 minute.

scoop out and discard the seeds. Drizzle the cut sides with 1 tablespoon of the olive oil and season generously with salt and pepper. Arrange cut-side down on the lined baking sheet and roast until browning along the edges and very tender, approximately 35 minutes. 3. Meanwhile, in a large sauté pan, heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil over medium-high heat. When the oil is shimmering, add the beef, season with salt and pepper, and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until the meat loses its color, 8-10 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer the beef to a medium bowl and discard any liquid from the pan. 4. Meanwhile, halve the carrots lengthwise and slice them crosswise. Dice the onion. Strip the thyme leaves off the stems. Mince the garlic. Drain the tomatoes. 5. Heat the remaining tablespoon of olive oil in the same pan over medium-high heat. When the oil is shimmering, add the carrots, onion, thyme, garlic, crushed red pepper, and oregano. Sauté until the onion is soft and translucent, approximately 5 minutes. Return the meat to the pan. Add the tomato paste and stir to combine. Cook until brick red, approximately 2 minutes. Add the red wine and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Cook until reduced by half, approximately 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes and stock. Increase the heat to high and bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium and simmer until the ragù is thickened and the flavors are melded, approximately 15 minutes. 6. While the ragù simmers, when the spaghetti squash is cool enough to handle, use a large fork to pull and release the spaghetti-like strands into a large bowl. Note: Set aside half the shredded spaghetti squash to use as leftovers. Cover and refrigerate for up to 4 days. 7. Add the spaghetti squash to the ragù and stir to combine. Cook until warmed through and beginning to soak up the sauce, 2-3 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the cheese. Taste and add salt and pepper as needed.

Leftovers: Spaghetti Squash with Pine Nuts and Parmesan

Ingredients ¼ cup pine nuts 3 cloves garlic 6 sprigs fresh flat-leaf parsley 1/ 8 tsp. crushed red pepper ½ tsp. dried oregano ¼ cup chicken or vegetable stock

Leftover shredded spaghetti squash ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese 2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions 1. In a medium pan, spread out the pine nuts in a single layer and cook over medium heat, shaking the pan occasionally, until fragrant and toasted, approximately 5 minutes. Transfer the pine nuts to a small bowl. 2. Meanwhile, mince the garlic and roughly chop the parsley leaves. 3. In a large sauté pan, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the garlic, crushed red pepper, and oregano. Cook, stirring, until fragrant, approximately 1 minute. Stir in the spaghetti squash and stock. Simmer until the pan is almost dry and the squash is warmed through, 3-5 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the Parmesan. Taste and add salt and pepper as needed. Serve garnished with the toasted pine nuts and parsley.

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LOOKING FOR

GREAT Reprinted from Plated. Copyright © 2016 by Dine in Fresh, Inc., d/b/a Plated. Photographs copyright © 2016 by Robert Bredvad. Published by Clarkson Potter/Publishers, an imprint of Penguin Random House, LLC.

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WestchesterParent 49

Why Are Boys Failing?

››

How current societal norms are contributing to boys falling behind—in school and in life By Jaimie Seaton

very day after school Peter comes home, drops his backpack and heads to his room to grab his laptop. Before he even gets a snack, he’s logged on and surfing between YouTube and his favorite video games. Unless an adult intervenes, he’ll spend the rest of his afternoon locked in an online trance. Peter is not unlike most 13-year-old boys in this country. Instead of heading to the ball field after school, or hanging out with friends, Peter spends his afternoons online. If he has homework he does exactly what’s required, never more. He gets A’s and B’s but has been conditioned to believe that learning is a means to an end (doing well on tests) and not a means in itself. He’s rare in that he enjoys reading for fun, but views reading as an activity to pursue when he’s not able to get online, not as a pleasurable way to spend his leisure time. In many ways Peter is the quintessential modern boy, and that’s the problem, according to Leonard Sax, M.D., Ph.D., a primary care physician in Maryland, and the author of four books, including Boys Adrift: The Five Factors Driving the Growing Epidemic of Unmotivated Boys and Underachieving Young Men. The 2009 book was updated and re-released this year, and examines why boys are less ambitious and less resilient than they were 20 years ago. Dr. Sax argues that a combination of social, cultural, and biological factors has created a toxic environment that leaves boys disengaged from school, less likely to go to college (and of those 50

January 2017 | nymetroparents.com

who do, less likely to earn a degree), and more apt to live with their parents as adults. Currently, one-third of men ages 22-34 are still living at home, which is a nearly 100-percent increase in the past 20 years. Meanwhile, the proportion of girls who are anxious and depressed has at least quadrupled; it’s risen at a much higher rate than the rate for boys. “I need to stress that girls are not the winners here,” Dr. Sax says. Between the book’s initial release and the revision this year, the problem has only got worse, according to Dr. Sax. “We now have a great deal more research showing the growing gender gap in academic achievement—with boys falling further and further behind—not because girls are doing better, but because boys are doing worse,” Dr. Sax says. “If the gender gap was growing because girls were doing better, that wouldn’t be a problem. That would be cause for celebration.” Dr. Sax says the gap is evident in many parameters, both formal and informal. For instance, girls are less likely to read for fun in their spare time than they were 30 years ago. But American boys have practically stopped reading for fun. “The gender gap widened not because girls are reading more but because boys stopped reading,” Dr. Sax says.

Contributions to the Decline

A number of factors have contributed to the situation, including a cultural shift in which political sensibilities have infiltrated the

household, leaving Americans uncomfortable with the notion of authority, the decline of masculine role models, the need to make schools more boy-friendly, misguided parenting, and an over-reliance on pharmaceuticals to control children, according to Dr. Sax. “American parents are now parenting their kids badly, compared to other countries. An American kid is now fourteen times more likely to be on medication for ADD compared to a kid in the U.K. An American kid is forty times more likely to be on medication for bipolar disorder than a kid in Germany. In this country we use schizophrenia medications to keep kids from having temper tantrums. There’s been a collapse of parenting in the United States,” Dr. Sax says. Parents are grappling with challenges not faced by their parents, particularly the proliferation of screens and social media. We learn to parent from our own parents, and if we can’t draw on experience, we look to our peers for guidance. The problem with this approach, according to Dr. Sax, is many parents don’t have a clue what they’re doing. “I encourage parents to turn off the screens,” Dr. Sax says. “We have a great deal of research showing the more time kids spend in front of a screen, the less engaged they are in the real world. We have very substantial evidence that finds that screens actively undermine kids’ ability to concentrate and focus.” The American Academy of Pediatrics recently came out with new guidelines, recommending no more than 40 minutes of screen-time a night during the week and 1 hour on weekends. Even if parents turn off the screens at home, however, a growing number of students are looking at screens in school. “I think a big piece of it is too much technology in their daily lives, there’s such a rush to get the technology into the classrooms,” says Greg Stott, an eighth-grade science teacher at the Francis C. Richmond School in Hanover, NH, where students have individual iPads. “The students look to that for stimulation, and when that’s not provided, they don’t know what to do.” “I’m not a fan of the iPad program. Parents can limit screen time at home, but we’re not thinking that maybe we should limit screen time here at school,” Stott says. He added that students are less willing to solve problems, and that boys in particular either don’t know how to begin or simply give up. Girls tend to be more meticulous, more patient; girls typically do better overall because they do better work. Boys tend to be more impulsive, get it done quickly, and don’t go back and check their work. “This generation of young adults seems to be expecting stuff and when it doesn’t come through, they’re at a loss of what to do, and maybe that’s why a lot of them move back home and don’t have the motivation to get out,” Stott says. Peter Gray, Ph.D., research professor in the department of psychology at Boston College, has seen a profound lack of resilience among college students, which he attributes to the change in parenting and education methods over the past 50 years. Part of the problem, he says, is children are not left to their own devices to play outside, to push their own limits, and to get into situations or conflicts with other children that they must solve. “Children are almost always in the presence of adults. They’re not getting into trouble and out of trouble, and negotiating with their playmates. We’re depriving children of free play, and we’re seeing the consequence of that in college stu-

dents,” says Dr. Gray, author of Free to Learn: Why Unleashing the Instinct to Play Will Make Our Children Happier, More Self-Reliant, and Better Students for Life. Paradoxically, though “helicopter parenting” has turned out kids who are unable to cope with the slightest set back at college (a fight with a roommate or a bad grade, for instance). Parents have ceded their power to their kids because of their own discomfort with authority. Too many parents today are asking their children what they want—from meals to vacations—rather than setting the rules.

Closing the Gap

A look at television shows from the 1950s and ’60s offers a glimpse at an important difference between parenting styles then and now: Children in those shows are free to play on their own (both in and out of school) and often get into sticky situations. Indeed, many plots turn on the child doing something reckless and learning a valuable lesson as a result. In today’s hyper-vigilant world, children have fewer and fewer opportunities to challenge themselves through play. No where is this more evident than at school, where the fear of litigation has turned playgrounds into outdoor gym classes, where adults closely supervise play, and many kids stand idly looking at their phones. “Over the last forty years education changed in multiple ways, and schools became less friendly to boys,” Dr. Sax says. “Are kids allowed to throw snow balls on school grounds during school hours? No. We used to throw snowballs and the teachers would come out and join us. Today if a kid starts throwing snowballs a teacher comes running out to stop him.” Dr. Sax says there is a better way that costs nothing. He suggests making the football field the designated snowball throwing zone, where both boys and girls can choose to participate, or holding a tournament with teachers setting up targets and letting the kids compete. He added that boys’ behavior must be channeled and it extends to the classroom. For instance, he says many boys like to write violent stories. An acceptable story might be a generic depiction of violence that suits the period being written about (Roman gladiators, for example). Writing a story depicting personal or threatening violence is out of bounds. “Boys understand in bounds versus out of bounds very well,” Dr. Sax says. There’s been so much concern about gender parity in schools that we’ve thrown the baby out with the bathwater. Dr. Sax says gender is complicated but it doesn’t mean gender doesn’t matter. “What boys need to get excited about school is different from what girls need, and if you don’t understand that, you end up with what we have, which is a lot of boys who think school is just for girls,” Dr. Sax says. “If we don’t turn the tide we’ll have boys who are less likely to be engaged in the real world and more likely to be looking at their screens, and less likely to fulfill their potential.” Jaimie Seaton has been a journalist for more than 20 years, and is the former Thailand correspondent for Newsweek. Her work on divorce, parenting, dating, and a wide range of topics has been featured in the Washington Post, the Guardian, Glamour, and numerous other publications. Follow her on Twitter @JaimieSeaton.

WestchesterParent 51

Meet The

DIRECTOR Acres of Adventure Summer Camp at Ann and Andy

2170 Saw Mill River Road, Elmsford 914-592-3027 annandandychildcare.com Deborah Asadoorian, Cheryl Anstett, and Anna Fucci have been following their passion to provide quality child care to the families of Westchester County since 1973! Our beautiful campus houses programs for 2-month-olds to 14-year-olds.

Breezemont Day Camp

Gordon A Josey, owner and director 62 Cox Ave., Armonk 914-367-1936 breezemontdaycamp.com Gordon is the owner and director of Breezemont Day Camp. Originally from Scotland, Gordon arrived in 1990 to work for one summer at Indian Head Camp in Pennsylvania, and has worked in camping ever since. “I can’t wait for the summer to be here,” he says, “that’s when the fun begins!”

Camp Northwood & The Northwood Center A Special Needs Camp

Gordon Felt, owner, executive director 132 State Route 365, Remsen 315-831-3621 nwood.com; northwoodprograms@hotmail.com Gordon Felt is the owner and executive director of Camp Northwood & The Northwood Center. For 36 years, “Gordie” has been working to provide therapeutic social programming for his learning challenged and autistic spectrum campers in a traditional residential camp setting located in the Adirondacks of New York State. With a graduate degree in special education from The Bank Street College of Education and an undergraduate degree in elementary education from Ohio Wesleyan University, Gordie has been merging educational philosophy with the social realities of residential camping since 1982.

January 2017 | nymetroparents.com

Harvey Cavalier Summer Camp at the Harvey School

260 Jay St., Katonah Off-season: 845-677-0491 Summer: 914-232-0581 harveycavaliercamp.org Director Chris Del Campo begins his 21st year this summer. With more than 35 years as an educator, he and his exceptional staff offer a program that allows children to take ownership of their camp experience. The Cavalier Camp offers more than 45 electives from which to choose, including dance, theater, music, fine arts, swimming, ice-skating, gymnastics, martial arts, science, and computers. Nowhere else in Northern Westchester can a child swim one day and ice-skate another! Call today for a personal tour.

Camp Ramaquois

30 Mountain Road, Pomona 845-354-1600 ramaquois.com Arthur Kessler has spent his entire professional life having a tremendous impact on the camping industry. Arthur’s camping experience developed from camper to owner and director of Tunis Lake, and now Ramaquois. Throughout the years, Arthur has been known for setting the standards in camping. In 2005, he, along with his wife, received the highest honor as inductees to the Legends of Camping.

Future Stars Summer Camps - Purchase College

735 Anderson Hill Road, Purchase 914-273-8500 fscamps.com Jordan is returning for his 25th year as director of Future Stars at Purchase College. He has a B.A. from Rollins College (where he won the NCAA Tennis Championship), and an M.B.A. from the Stern School of Business, NYU. His education, business, and sports experience make him uniquely qualified to direct the camps for boys and girls, ages 4-16. Handpicked, experienced program directors offer weekly sessions in tennis, soccer, lacrosse, basketball, baseball, circus arts, magic, diving, rising stars, cheerleading, field hockey, football, softball, volleyball, multi-sports, and academics.

GymCats Gymnastics and Birthday Party Center

1 Odell Plaza at Equalize Fitness, Yonkers 914-965-7676 gymcats.net Alyssa Fay is the gymnastics and birthday party director at GymCats Gymnastics. She fully promotes the GymCats approach to teaching, which is fun, educational beginner gymnastics, along with positivity and enthusiasm. She also directs the tumbling for high school cheerleading teams, as well as the advanced gymnastics program. Her goal is for every child to leave GymCats feeling better about themselves than when they came in.

Musical Munchkins

Jodi’s Gym

25 Hubbels Drive, Mount Kisco 914-244-8811 244 E. 84th St., Manhattan 212-772-7633; jodisgym.com As early as Jodi Levine could walk, she was tumbling. Jodi ultimately became a national-level gymnast. In 1982, she started Jodi’s Gym, launching the first gymnastics-based “Mommy & Me” classes in NYC. At Jodi’s Gym, Jodi leverages her more than 40 years of experience in gymnastics to create well-balanced programs that focus on all aspects of a child’s development. Jodi’s Gym offers classes in gymnastics, music, and art, in addition to a variety of camps, birthday parties, and off-site “Jodi’s Gym To Go” programs in Manhattan and Westchester County.

167 Scarsdale Road, Tuckahoe 914-771-7000; musicalmunchkins.com Eileen Oddo celebrates 34 years as co-founder of Musical Munchkins. With degrees in piano performance and piano pedagogy from Loyola University and Conservatoire de Cachan in France, Eileen is uniquely qualified to understand the steps from early childhood to success on an instrument. Eileen has received wide recognition as an early childhood professional because of her finely-honed, sensitive approach to each stage, from 6 months to 6 years. Eileen has lectured at local, state, and national educational conferences and publishes books and recordings under the Musical Munchkins label.

The Little Gym

The Play Group Theatre

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

It was a love of fitness and children that led Jeff Freeman and Ian Axelrod to open several The Little Gym locations throughout New York and New Jersey. Jeff’s love of sports shows through his own athleticism as well as his career choices. For nearly two decades, he and The Little Gym have been helping children develop socially and physically while having fun, teaching them that the key to a healthy lifestyle is an active lifestyle.

1 N. Broadway, White Plains 914-946-4433 playgroup.org Jill Abusch (artistic director) is co-founder, and camp director of The Play Group Theatre. As artistic director, Jill has guided PGT’s innovative theater programs from their inception. She is proud to have directed the Teen Conservatory summer writing program for several years. She has taught a variety of classes and has gone into schools and camps to train teachers on the use of drama in the classroom. Jill studied acting and directing at the Stella Adler Conservatory and the Classical Studio at NYU Tisch School of the Arts, where she earned a B.F.A. in Drama.

Logrea Dance Academy

Squire Camps Inc.

2 Dale Ave., Ossining 914-941-2939 logreadance.com For 30 years, Beth and Jean Logrea have provided quality dance training for pre-professional and recreational dancers. The Logreas have had extensive performing careers here and abroad, plus years of experience as co-directors of the Westchester Ballet Company, including the annual production of The Nutcracker at the Westchester County Center each year. In addition to the regular September-May season, LDA offers pre-camp and postcamp open classes, a five-week summer program, and a pre-ballet program for ages 3-5.

Music Conservatory of Westchester

216 Central Ave., White Plains 914-761-3900 musicconservatory.org Douglas Bish, dean of students and faculty, oversees educational programming at Music Conservatory and a distinguished faculty that directs high-quality classical, jazz, and rock programs for students at all levels, developing musicianship, creativity, and teamwork in an exciting and nurturing environment. He holds degrees from the University of the Pacific, the University of Oregon, and a doctorate in music from Boston University.

at Maria Regina High School, Hartsdale 914-328-3798 squirecamps.com; squirecamps@gmail.com Celebrating 43 years! Matt Davanzo operates Squire Advantage Camps, distinctive day camps for children in kindergarten-ninth grades at Maria Regina High School in Hartsdale. Campers design their own custom schedules from more than 50 exciting courses including robotics, art, gourmet cooking, swimming, computers, digital photography, and Legos. All courses are taught by certified teachers. Squire also operates a Baseball, Tennis, and All Sports Academy at Maria Regina High School. Hot lunch, snack, T-shirt, and early dropoff included. Transportation and extended day are available.

Wagon Road Camp

Vince Canziani, director 431 Quaker Road, Chappaqua 914-238-4761 childrensaidsociety.org/wagon-road-camp vincec@childrensaidsociety.org Vince Canziani has been working with children for more than 30 years as a teacher, social worker, program director, and adventure leader. Now in his 17th year as the director of Wagon Road Camp, he has a passion for creating summer programs that tie together fun, curiosity, and mastery. Vince did his undergraduate work at The University of San Francisco and Oxford University. He holds a master’s in social work from Hunter College.

WestchesterParent 53

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! PARTY ENTERTAINMENT AMANDABEAR PARTY RENTALS 347-326-5567 amandabearpartyrentals.com AmandaBear Party Rentals provides everything you need for an unforgettable party. AMY ROSEN COOKING BY DESIGN 917-903-1451 amyrosencookingbydesign.com amyrosencookingbydesign@gmail.com Have a cooking party for your child’s next birthday. From Cupcake Wars to Pizza Creations to chocolate melting, molding, and decorating, your kids will enjoy the fully hands-on experience. CLOWNS.COM Proudly serving Westchester, Long Island, Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and the Bronx 516-577-0000; 718-971-5862 clowns.com We are a family-owned and -operated entertainment company, offering a wide range of party and entertainment services including clowns, inflatable bounce houses, characters, magicians, princesses, magic shows, face painting, and party concession rentals. DAVE’S CAST OF CHARACTERS 914-235-7100 davescast.com Make your party a special one! Dave’s entertainment services include more than 100 costumed characters. From princesses and superheroes to pirates and tea parties, there’s something for everyone. KIDS COOKERY 914-937-2012 lovekidscookery.com kidscookery@yahoo.com Kids Cookery’s passion is to make your child’s birthday a memorable, unique, exciting, and creative cooking experience! 54

PARTY PLACES A-GAME SPORTS 856 Main St., New Rochelle 914-278-9477 agamesports.net info@agamesports.net A-Game Sports offers a variety of birthday party packages for children of all ages. Each 90-minute party includes supervised playtime with two coaches on a private section of turf. 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! CREATIVE CORNER OF LARCHMONT 7 Addison St., Larchmont 914-833-2880 creativecornerlarchmont.com creativecornerlarchmont@gmail.com Creative Corner is the perfect place to celebrate a birthday! Art party options include wood toys, treasure boxes, canvas bags, ceramic piggy banks, and canvas paintings. We will help every step of the way. FASHION ARTS STUDIO OF WESTCHESTER 168A Irving Ave., Port Chester 917-995-3191 fashionartsstudio.com Have a fashion design theme party with The Fashion Arts Studio. It offers three themes: a Fashion Drawing Party, a Fashion Tote-Making Party, and a Fashion T-Shirt Decorating Party! FUNFUZION AT NEW ROC CITY 29 LeCount Place (Exit 16 off I-95), New Rochelle

January 2017 | nymetroparents.com

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

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. HOMMOCKS PARK ICE RINK Boston Post Road and Weaver Street, Larchmont 914-834-1069 hommocksparkicerink.org Have your birthday party on ice! Host your next special party at the coolest place in town, Mamaroneck’s popular enclosed Hommocks Park ice-skating rink. HOUSE OF SPORTS WESTCHESTER 1 Elm St., Ardsley 914-479-5419 houseofsportsny.com The House of Sports is Westchester’s ultimate birthday party zone for children of all ages! Give your child the party of their dreams by hosting a sports-themed bash at Westchester’s premier athletic facility. 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, at which action-packed parties and unmatched experience have won children’s hearts for 35 years. 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! 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! PLAYLAND ICE CASINO 100 Playland Parkway, Rye 914-481-5941 playlandice.com Kids and families love PlayLand Ice in Rye. You and your guests can have the ice all to yourself. Visit us online for more information. 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. WESTCHESTER SKATING ACADEMY (WSA) 91 Fairview Park Drive (Route 9A), Elmsford 914-347-8232 skatewsa.com Westchester Skating Academy: the coolest place to have your party! All parties include ice-skating, skate rentals, a private party room, a party facilitator, pizza, and beverages. YOUNG AT ART WORKSHOP INC. 1088 Central Ave., Scarsdale 914-723-9229 A unique birthday party experience— each child brings home a personalized piece of art!

OPEN HOUSES 2017 American Gymnastics

Gym Care Nursery School 317 Railroad Ave., Bedford Hills 914-241-1997 americangymnastics.us amerigym@aol.com Join us for an open house on Saturday, Jan. 21 from 1-3pm.

French-American School of New York (FASNY)

Campuses in Scarsdale, Larchmont, and Mamaroneck Nursery to Grade 1: Scarsdale Campus, 85 Palmer Ave., Scarsdale 914-250-0521 Lower School: Larchmont Campus, 111 Larchmont Ave., Larchmont 914-250-0469 Upper School: Mamaroneck Campus, 145 New St., Mamaroneck 914-250-0451 fasny.org; camps@fasny.org Join us for our preschool open house on Saturday, Jan. 21 from 10am-12pm. Scarsdale campus: 85 Palmer Ave., Scarsdale.

Hudson Country Montessori School

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

Iona Preparatory Lower School

173 Stratton Road, New Rochelle 914-633-7744 ionaprep.org/infosessions

Iona Preparatory Lower School Information Night: Jan. 31 (kindergarten-fifth grades) and Feb. 1 (sixth-eighth grades) at 7 pm. Visitors also welcome at a Coffee Hour, Feb. 1 at 9am for kindergarten-fifth grades.

SPORTIME SUMMER CAMPS

COME OUT AND PLAY! Under 10 Tennis Camps | Tennis & Sport Camps | Tennis Training Camps

Oasis Summer Day Camp in Dobbs Ferry at Mercy College

Upper Camp: Mercy College 555 Broadway, Dobbs Ferry 646-519-5057; oasischildren.com dobbs@oasischildren.com Join us for an open house for Upper Camp, second grade to Teen Travel Camp, on Jan. 7 and 28, Feb. 11 and 25, March 11 and 25, April 8 and 29, and May 13 and 20, from 11:30am12:30pm. Mercy College at Victry Hall.

Oasis Summer Day Camp in Dobbs Ferry at Mercy College

Lower Camp: Masters School 49 Clinton Ave., Dobbs Ferry oasischildren.com dobbs@oasischildren.com Join us for an open house for Lower Camp, ages 3 to entering first grade, on Jan. 7 and 28, Feb. 11 and 25, March 11 and 25, April 8 and 29, and May 13 and 20 from 1-2pm. Masters School Middle School.

Squire Camps Inc.

at Maria Regina High School, Hartsdale 914-328-3798; squirecamps.com squirecamps@gmail.com Join us for an open house: Feb. 4 from 1-4pm.

TWO GREAT CAMP LOCATIONS - CALL TODAY! SPORTIME HARBOR ISLAND, MAMARONECK 914-777-5050 | www.SportimeCamps.com/HI SPORTIME LAKE ISLE/JMTA, EASTCHESTER 914-777-5151 | www.SportimeCamps.com/LIsle

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ACROBATICS / GYMNASTICS Gym Cats Gymnastics.................................................... 37 Jodi’s Gym - Westchester......................................... 41, 53 BIRTHDAY / PARTY SERVICES Blue Moon Mexican Café .............................................. 40 Chelsea Piers - CT......................................................... 11 Dave & Buster’s Pelham Manor..................................... 55 Fashion Arts Studio........................................................ 39 Gym Cats Gymnastics.............................................. 37, 52 Jodi’s Gym - Westchester......................................... 41, 53 Little Gym - Westchester............................................ 5, 53 PlayLand Ice Casino......................................................... 7 Sportime USA Inc........................................................... 35 Westchester Parent Party Planner................................. 56 Westchester Skate Academy............................................ 7

Hoff-Barthelson Music School.......................................... 9 JCC of Harrison Early Childhood Center........................ 25 John A. Coleman School................................................ 27 Kids In Sports................................................................. 17 Logrea Dance Academy................................................. 53 Music Conservatory of Westchester......................... 40, 53 Nurtury (The).................................................................. 21 Pinebrook Fitness........................................................... 29 PlayLand Ice Casino......................................................... 7 Prospect Academy of Westchester................................. 27 Purchase College / SUNY Aquatic Program................... 35 Sportime......................................................................... 55 Starlight Starbright Music............................................... 41 Studio B Dance............................................................... 29 Westchester Community College - Extention Program.... 2 Westchester Skate Academy............................................ 7

FITNESS

Jodi’s Gym - Westchester......................................... 41, 53 HEALTH

Caring for Kids Pediatric Dentistry.................................. 49 LEGAL SERVICES

Bakshi Law..................................................................... 45 MUSIC

Belle School of Music..................................................... 15 Hoff-Barthelson Music School.......................................... 9 Music Conservatory of Westchester......................... 40, 53 Starlight Starbright Music............................................... 41 PERFORMING ARTS / ACTING

CAMPS Ann & Andy............................................................... 27, 52 Breezemont Day Camp............................................ 47, 52 Camp Northwood............................................................ 52 Camp Ramaquois..................................................... 33, 52 Chelsea Piers - CT......................................................... 11 Fashion Arts Studio........................................................ 39 Future Stars.............................................................. 37, 52 Goddard School - Hastings............................................ 21 Harvey Cavalier Summer Camp..................................... 52 Hudson Country Montessori........................................... 21 JCC of Harrison Early Childhood Center........................ 25 Jodi’s Gym - Westchester......................................... 41, 53 John A. Coleman School................................................ 27 Kids B.A.S.E. and The Little School............................... 20 Kids In Sports................................................................. 17 Little Gym - Westchester............................................ 5, 53 Milestone School (The)................................................... 20 Pinebrook Fitness........................................................... 29 Purchase College / SUNY Aquatic Program................... 35 Scarsdale Synagogue.................................................... 27 Sportime......................................................................... 55 Squire Advantage Camps......................................... 39, 53 Studio B Dance............................................................... 29 Thornton-Donovan School................................................ 3 Wagon Road Camp.................................................. 41, 53 CHILD CARE / DAY CARE All Aboard (Croton/Ossining).......................................... 40 American Gymnastics..................................................... 45 Ann & Andy............................................................... 27, 52 Musical Munchkins................................................... 39, 53 Nurtury (The).................................................................. 21 CLASSES American Gymnastics..................................................... 45 Belle School of Music..................................................... 15 Dance & Theater Arts Studios........................................ 47 Easter Seals Project Explore.......................................... 33 Fashion Arts Studio........................................................ 39 Gym Cats Gymnastics.............................................. 37, 52

DANCE

Dance & Theater Arts Studios........................................ 47

Dance & Theater Arts Studios........................................ 47 Logrea Dance Academy................................................. 53 Studio B Dance............................................................... 29

Emelin Theatre............................................................... 45

EDUCATION

All Aboard (Croton/Ossining).......................................... 40 Archdiocese of New York................................................ 60 Bakshi Law..................................................................... 45 Blue Rock School........................................................... 19 Children’s Jewish Education Group................................ 27 French-American School of New York............................ 19 Goddard School - Hastings............................................ 21 Hudson Country Montessori........................................... 21 Iona Prep High School.................................................... 23 JCC of Harrison Early Childhood Center........................ 25 John A. Coleman School................................................ 27 Kids B.A.S.E. and The Little School............................... 20 Mathnasium of Scarsdale................................................. 9 Milestone School (The)................................................... 20 Musical Munchkins................................................... 39, 53 Nurtury (The).................................................................. 21 Prospect Academy of Westchester................................. 27 Scarsdale Synagogue.................................................... 27 Sylvan Learning Centers................................................ 13 Thornton Donovan School................................................ 3 Westchester Community College - Extention Program.... 2 FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT / EVENTS / OUTINGS

Chelsea Piers - CT......................................................... 11 Dave & Buster’s Pelham Manor..................................... 55 Emelin Theatre............................................................... 45 Royal Hanneford Circus................................................. 17 Ski Butternut................................................................... 49 Smugglers’ Notch Resort................................................ 43 Sportime USA Inc........................................................... 35

Play Group Theatre........................................................ 53 RELIGIOUS

Archdiocese of New York................................................ 60 Children’s Jewish Education Group................................ 27 Iona Prep High School.................................................... 23 RESTAURANT / FOOD SERVICES

Blue Moon Mexican Café .............................................. 40 RETAIL

Tilly...A Deer’s Tale.......................................................... 47 SPECIAL EVENTS

Dave & Buster’s Pelham Manor..................................... 55 SPECIAL NEEDS

Bakshi Law..................................................................... 45 Camp Northwood............................................................ 52 Easter Seals Project Explore.......................................... 33 SPORTS

Camp Ramaquois..................................................... 33, 52 Future Stars.............................................................. 37, 52 Kids In Sports................................................................. 17 Pinebrook Fitness........................................................... 29 Purchase College / SUNY Aquatic Program................... 35 Sportime......................................................................... 55 Squire Advantage Camps......................................... 39, 53 THEATER

Play Group Theatre........................................................ 53 TUTORS

FAMILY TRAVEL

Mathnasium of Scarsdale................................................. 9

Smugglers’ Notch Resort................................................ 43

Sylvan Learning Centers................................................ 13

WestchesterParent 57

Courtesy Judy Koutsky

VOICES

The author and her children swim with the dolphins on a recent trip.

Is My Babysitter Doing a Better Job Than Me? ›› Though my sons’ caregivers can sometimes seem to be better role models than me, that doesn’t mean I am a bad parent. By Judy Koutsky

ork has been super busy lately, so we recently tried out some new babysitters. When I asked my sons afterward what they thought of the new recruits, they said they didn’t like any of them. I was worried: Were the babysitters doing something wrong? Where they being mean? Where they not parenting the way I would parent? I asked my kids to give me examples of why they disliked those babysitters. My older son said that one babysitter “forced” him to eat his dinner. “How?” I asked. “Did she physically force open your mouth?” He thought about it, paused, and said, “Well, no, but she wouldn’t let me watch the rest of my TV show until I promised to finish half my fruit and veggies and eat three more bites of chicken.” Other atrocities? “At bedtime,” my younger son chimed in, “she’s so mean.” Again, I asked for details. “She gave me a fiveminute warning to go to the bathroom, get a glass of water, and find my favorite book. Then at exactly eight o’clock, she said lights out!” he exclaimed. “You always lay with us for a long time and when you tell us just one book you often read many, many more.” So it turns out the “mean” babysitters were making my kids eat healthy, stick to rules I implemented, and were consistent. Hmmm, what does that say about me? I started to feel bad, as if I wasn’t parenting correctly. Why were the babysitters able to get my kids to do things that I let slide? I think one of the biggest changes in parenting today is that we parents are so much more involved in our kids’ lives day to day. I grew up 1 of 6 kids, and my mom made sure we had a family dinner (homemade) each night at 6. But parents didn’t get as involved in every little detail in their kids’ lives. I need a babysitter, because in addition to working, I’m full-on with the kids. That includes being class parent for both of my boys (planning class parties, organizing field trips and volunteers,

and making sure everything runs smoothly). Then there are all of the extras, such as volunteering to be the pizza mom as well as the art appreciation mom at school. Plus, there’s the playdates, and after-school sports and activities. I also try to take my kids outside each day for fresh air and fun, and I need to help them with homework and reading each night. I love my mom and the way she raised me, but she wasn’t nearly as involved. (None of the moms were back then.) I love being a big part of my kids’ lives, but it’s also exhausting. Come dinner and bedtime, I’m beat. So while the babysitter comes in fresh and ready to work, I’m ready to throw in the towel (having been up since 5am). She has the energy to negotiate three more bites, or a spoonful of broccoli, but I feel like I’ve been negotiating for hours. When it comes to bedtime, I admit, I’m terrible about being strict. Truth be told, I love reading stories to my boys. I love the extra snuggle time. I love telling them about when they were a baby, or a story about when I was their age. So while I wish I had the energy to stick to a schedule and keep it consistent and structured, I also feel like I need to cut myself some slack. I don’t always make them finish their dinners (or eat their veggies and fruit), but I do make them three full meals a day. If they skimp on something at dinner, hopefully they make up for it at lunch. If I don’t always have the strong will to enforce bedtime, I hope they have happy memories of their mom telling them lots of bedtime stories about their childhood (and mine) and reading lots of books. Maybe babysitters can be consistent and more structured because they watch my kids at most 20 percent of the time I do. If I had my kids 20 percent of the time, maybe I could strive for perfection or good modeling all that time. But I’m on 24/7, so even though I slip up and bend the rules quite a bit, I like to think it evens out in the end. And that I’m still a good mom.

Judy Koutsky is an award-winning writer and editor whose work has appeared in more than 30 publications, including Conde Nast Traveler, Travel + Leisure, Redbook, Parents, Scholastic, and Prevention. She writes often about travel, parenting, health, and lifestyle. Follow her @JudyKoutsky or visit her website, judykoutsky.com.

January 2017 | nymetroparents.com

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