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March 2018 • free Delaware

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Contents

NOW ENROLLING

March 2018 • Vol. 29, No. 3

CAMP 2018

Camp 2018 16 Art Camp is the Alternative 18 Academic Camps 20 2018 Camp Directory

In This Issue 4 March Gladness 4 Meet Our CoverKid 6 Books 8 Empower Girls 10 Kids and Concussions 11 Inclusion for All 12 Set Goals 14 Preschool, PreK

16

Infants • Toddlers • Pre-K

• Extended Days 6:30am - 6:30pm • Clean, Healthy Environment • Parentview® Internet Monitoring • Seedlings Early Childhood Education Curriculum • Enrichment Programs Included: • Parent eCommunication App • Interactive Whiteboards and iPad -- Music Sign Language Technology - Spanish THE SOLUTION FOR WORKING PARENTS 1363 Naamans Creek Rd. Garnet Valley, PA 19060

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page 20 • MetroKids.com/camps

MetroKids.com 3

Your MK

MARCH GLADNESS You can’t spell fungi without F-U-N If you’ve made it to March without getting sick, congratulations and we’d like to know your secret.

If you don’t know, maybe you can find out at the Delaware Museum of Natural History’s “Zoo in You: The Human Microbiome” exhibit, which explores the microbes that are in all of us “from bacteria to archaea, fungi to viruses.”

You will learn about good microbes, learn how long it takes to wash your hands to get rid of bad germs, and get a photo op where you can picture yourself as a microbe (we’re guessing it’s similar to how we look before morning coffee).

Win Wildwood days Is there anything that can get you through the last weeks of winter better than planning a summer vacation at the shore? Yes, dreaming of a free one.

The Greater Wildwoods Tourism Improvement and Development Authority is again giving away two family vacations. A family of four can win a three-day, two-night stay along with passes to Wildwood attractions. Enter at wildwoodsnj.com and then crawl back under the covers to dream of dodging tram cars.

1412-1414 Pine St., Philadelphia, PA 19102 215-291-5560; 856-667-3555; 302-224-3020 Toll Free: 888-890-4668 Fax: 215-291-5565 Visit us online at MetroKids.com

President: Nancy Lisagor, PhD, ext. 109 nlisagor@metrokids.com Publisher: Darlene Weinmann, ext. 108 dweinmann@metrokids.com Managing Editor: Dave Gilmartin, ext. 102 editor@metrokids.com Resource Editor: Cheyenne Shaffer, ext. 101 calendar@metrokids.com Contributing Writers: Terri Akman, Suzanne Koup-Larsen, Frank Lipsius, Kathy O’Connell, Ann L. Rappoport, PhD Production Manager: Veronica Hanna, ext. 103 production@metrokids.com Finance: Marcella Reis, ext. 104 finance@metrokids.com Marketing/Circulation: Susan Braverman, ext. 100 marketing@metrokids.com Intern: Jada Davis

Have a suggestion for a cool thing to do? Email editor@metrokids.com

Meet Our CoverKid This month’s CoverKid is Sofia D. of Elkton, MD and, as you can probably tell, she loves to dance.

The 4-year-old has been taking ballet and tap lessons for more than two years and loves recitals because that’s when she can get dressed in pretty costumes and perform in front of an audience.

While Lana Del Rey’s “Summertime Sadness” is one of her favorite songs for dancing, she’s a fan of any kind of fun music especially when Adele sings it, says her mom, Gretchen.

Sofia has a pet bunny named Flower, who always makes her laugh. When she’s not playing with Flower, or dancing, she likes to draw, watch Barbie movies or play with her stuffed baby animals. Her favorite is a tiny stuffed rabbit named Florcita, which means “little flower” in Spanish, which is Sofia’s second language.

Lucky for her, we’re getting closer to her favorite season of the year: summer. Which might explain why one of her favorite foods is ice cream.

Someday Sofia would like to be a veterinarian and a singer.

4 MetroKids.com

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We welcome your ideas and feedback. Write us at editor@metrokids.com or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google Plus and Instagram.

MetroKids® is published monthly by KidStuff Publications, Inc. © 2018 MetroKids® Magazine. All rights reserved by KidStuff Publications, Inc. ISSN 1094-8503. Reproduction without permission is prohibited. Publisher is not responsible for unsolicited material. MetroKids® or KidStuff Pub­lica­t­ions do not assume responsibility for statements or opinions expressed by editorial contributors or advertisers. MetroKids® and SpecialKids® are trademarks of KidStuff Publications, Inc. The acceptance of advertising does not constitute an endorsement of the products, services or information. We do not knowingly present any product or service which is fraudulent or misleading in nature. Advertisers indemnify and hold harmless the publisher from any claim and all loss, expense, or liability arising out of the publication of any advertisement.

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Books

A roundup of books that includes an almanac, trailblazing women and Jane Austen

By Frank Lipsius Yes, Virginia, there was a time when it was possible to have information about the world at your fingertips without the internet. Besides ungainly encyclopedias, extremely handy, fat paperback books like The World Almanac and Book of Facts (World Almanac Books, $14.99, all ages), updated annually on newsprint, pack a world of information in their pages. The 2018 edition, in fact, is its 150th anniversary. The breadand-butter of the more-than1,000-page book repeats facts going back centuries, covering world history, national statistics, sports records, and basic facts on science, ranging from dog breeds and historic disasters to nutrition. It is an annual primarily because of its current-events review and updates on consumer information.

Not fancily packaged in the slick colorful pages of a kid-centric fact potpourri, The World Almanac is still full of fascinating information, facts and history that does the internet one better in a major respect — it is not necessarily information you went looking for, but, like a newspaper, it is there to stumble on and help you connect the dots in the world in most, if not all, its aspects.

Kay Woodward has scoured world history for What Would She Do? 25 True Stories of Trailblazing Rebel Women (Scholastic, $16.99, ages 8-12) to find 25 women who made a difference, sometimes a world-changing difference, like Cleopatra, whose life, the author notes, was “a whirlwind of war, romance, and tragedy.” She goes on, “Yet she had a dark side….

Anyone who got in her way was assassinated.” The names can be famous in many realms: Frida Kahlo, the artist; Amelia Earhart, the flier; Virginia Woolf, author; Marie Curie, scientist. But there are also unknowns from around the world, all delivered and presented with verve and an appreciation of the subjects’ environment. The author and illustrators give illuminating renditions of the subjects in styles that show their accomplishments in the context of their times. But the author also includes the question, “What would she do?” to issues suitable to an advice columnist with the answer the author assumes the subject might propose. So to the question of what would Cleopatra do when her clothes were criticized by schoolmates, she answers, “She’d know that other people’s opinions don’t matter.” The answer establishes a refrain to be yourself and don’t be cowed by others, a lesson of the subjects that combines history, biography and solid but tonguein-cheek advice to inspire and teach.

6 MetroKids.com

Growing up in a house where her father was not only a school teacher but also where the school was in the house and the students were boarders, Jane Austen, as profiled in Ordinary, Extraordinary Jane Austen (Harper Collins, $17.99, ages 4-8), had a full and enriching life of observation and vicarious education.

She herself was briefly sent to boarding school until an outbreak of typhus sent her home and ended her formal education at the age of 11. Her home, however, provided a 500-volume library, an annual school play held in their barn, and a rich environment to observe the formalities and foibles of life at the turn of the 18th to the 19th centuries. She made good use of this environment to craft a new kind of realistic prose that set the pattern for fiction from then on and has made her own novels favorites for over two centuries. Deborah Hopkinson, with the sprightly watercolors of Qin Leng drawn in pastels with thin ink outlines, captures the world of Jane Austen and the challenges and good-spirited way she addressed them, to create the world of her novels. This makes an excellent introduction to her or her work, whether read before or after first encountering a Jane Austen novel.

In 1888, at a time when the emperor of Germany and church officials were skeptical of letting people roam freely around the country, the first long-distance car ride was undertaken by Bertha Benz, wife and collaborator of pioneering car manufacturer Karl Benz. She took her two teenage sons, against the edict of the emperor, on a 60-mile ride over German roads suitable at the time for horses and livestock. In fact, as Jan Adkins explains and shows in elegant period drawings in Bertha Takes a Drive: How the Benz Automobile Changed the World (Charlesbridge, $17.99, ages 5-8), Bertha Benz proved her value as her husband’s collaborator by fixing problems on the road, including insulation for the brakes that helped improve the performance for cars thereafter. The drawings are precise and elegant, identifying the parts of the car to bring us back to those early days of technological innovation and ingenuity.

Frank Lipsius is a contributing writer to MetroKids.

See our ongoing kids’ book coverage at MetroKids.com/books.

MARCH 2018

Join our team.

Flexible hours and options

Come Out And Play For Less!

Find new partners interested in reaching Delaware Valley families.

We are seeking friendly, connected parents to be our Marketing Consultant.

Every Friday!

Sales experience helpful but will train the right person.

Send cover letter and resume to dweinmann@metrokids.com

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DelawareChildrensMuseum.org

Looking for the BEST school or summer program for YOUR child?

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At-a-glance indexes let parents view pertinent facts about regional schools/camps and refer to In-Depth School Profiles for sponsor schools/ camps.

Benc to the hmark pro functi way each vides a com gifted on proces student lea prehensi ses a detai faculty use and 21 rns best, ve acade to cre led unde s the bestst-century fostering a mic progra rst instru ate a profile anding current resskills. The mastery of m tailored of continction for eac that guide each stu earch an school’s pa executiv e d counseuum of com h stude s them dent’s stren practices ssionate, in nt. the wh lors mento municati Through providing gths and to develop ch on an ole ch the rs stu The ild. dents and care, ongoing most ap allenges , eve pro and wo a tea thousa history of rks wit m of tea r-evolvin priate creati nds of alu Benchmark g ch h the ir pareners and of the vely apply mni who School is ts to kn devel their ir learning the strate ow who rich with op gie ch unde osen fie and meet s they leathey are assuccess sto lds rst resilie and the . Benchmwith succes rn at Benc learners. ries of ir succesnt, confid strength ark gradu s in high hmark to They ent in s sch ate take s. charg their and challe s are sel ool, col abilit leg ies an nges, are f-advocate e and e d have persis s who Celeb an exp tent an reach rating 47 ectati d think their acade years of on of he ers schoo , learne mic poten lping bri rs gh l and life. and probletial becom t students e m sol who Points vers whconfident have of yet an o me • Dig Pride: et wit d strategic to h suc • Hea ital learning cess in ring tec •

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Mom Matters

EMPOWERMENT

POWER How to Empower Young Girls, Yourself and Other Women

By Kimberly Blaker Women today earn only 78.3 cents for every dollar a man earns, according to the Status of Women in the States.

At the current rate of closing the pay gap, it’ll be 2058 before women gain parity, the report says. What, if anything, can women do to even the playing field?

Empowering women to believe in themselves, their abilities and their worth is the best way.

Here are 13 ideas for how women can empower young girls, themselves and other women.

HOW TO EMPOWER YOUNG GIRLS

2. Join a girls’ club.

There are many girls’ organizations that empower girls through mentoring, encouraging civic duty, creating enthusiasm for STEM, and inspiring girls to be strong, smart and resilient. Girl Scouts, Girlstart, Girls for a Change, and Boys and Girls Clubs of America are but a few of the organizations that empower girls.

3. Find strong role models.

Find opportunities to expose girls to strong women within your family or among your friends, co-workers and acquaintances. Also, look for strong female celebrities who make good models and are doing something positive in the world.

4. Praise character over beauty.

Girls are inundated with media and societal messages that physical beauty is what defines them. It’s fine and even good to tell girls they’re beautiful. But the message they should hear considerably more often is praise for their efforts, skills, good deeds, passions and interests, intelligence, and positive character traits.

1. Choose STEM toys and activities.

From the time girls are very small, provide them with plenty of toys, books and activities that teach and generate enthusiasm for science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Just look for the STEM acronym on the box or search online for “STEM toys.”

HOW TO EMPOWER YOURSELF 1. Keep learning.

Regardless of your current career or education level, never stop learning.

Consider whether your career is fulfilling and compensates you fairly. If so, focus on continued education or development in your industry. If your career isn’t meeting your objectives, weigh out other options and redirect your educational focus for a future change of course.

2. Go for your dreams.

Whatever your dreams, realize the sky is the limit. Have faith in yourself and your abilities and know there’s a road to achieve whatever your heart desires. Set a path to get you there and move along step-by-step.

5. Encourage sports.

Sports provide girls many benefits.

Sports teach girls about teamwork and sportsmanship, provide them the opportunity to develop friendships with other strong-minded girls, and foster increased self-esteem.

3. Negotiate your salary.

Granted, your earnings aren’t 100 percent under your control. But neither are they set in stone. Learn the skills to negotiate pay for new employment and for pay raises. This goes a long way

Continued on p. 28 8 MetroKids.com

MARCH 2018

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MetroKids.com 9

Health

HEADS UP

How to Tell If Your Child Has a Concussion or Traumatic Brain Injury

By Judy M. Miller Seven years ago my son suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI) during a soccer game.

An opposing player cleared a ball that hit my 6-foot-2-inch son in the head, knocking him out cold. He came-to quickly and convinced his coach to leave him in, scoring the winning goal. At the time, there were no mandates about removing an athlete from the game if a head or brain injury was suspected.

My son arrived home not feeling well; the right side of his head was swollen.

Because it was a Sunday, I took him to the hospital, where the emergency room physicians examined him, scanned his head, and pronounced him fit enough to go home. They did caution me about symptoms to watch for and to monitor him throughout night, just in case. He did fine overnight.

I sent him to school the next morning but received a call from him just hours into his day. He felt dizzy, disorientated and nauseous. He had a severe headache too. These symptoms were indicative of a traumatic brain injury.

I picked him up from school and took him to see a sports-concussion specialist that our pediatrician recommended. My son was given a number of tests, which he failed completely. He was diagnosed with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). The specialist monitored him and retested him weekly while his brain healed from the trauma, however the doctor was hampered by the fact that my son did not have a baseline before he sustained the TBI (my other soccer-playing kiddos have annual baselines).

10 MetroKids.com

Childhood brain injuries up 57%

Of the 1.7 million adults and children who sustain TBIs each year, 52,000 die, 275,000 are hospitalized, and 1.3 million are treated and released from emergency rooms. These mild TBIs are commonly referred to as “concussions.”

Close to a half million children under the age of 15 are treated annually in ERs for TBI-related injuries. The Centers for Disease Control has seen the number of brain injuries suffered in children jump 57 percent between 2001 and 2009.

In addition to dizziness, nausea, vomiting and severe headaches, those suffering a brain injury can experience the following symptoms, which can range from mild to severe and be long- or short-term.

Symptoms of brain injury in children • • • • • • • • •

Memory loss Slowing cognitive functioning Visual problems Sensitivity to light and sound Loss of smell, balance Trouble sleeping Fatigue Seizures Mood changes, especially irritability or depression

Schools take extra precautions

Some schools take extra steps to prevent and detect head injuries.

At The Shipley School in Bryn Mawr, PA, for example, Middle School soccer players are banned from heading the ball and sensors that measure force are used to monitor blows to the head in Upper School contact sports, said Mark Duncan, athletics director.

Learn more online Read about ways to prevent head injuries and about the first blood test approved by the FDA to check for concussions.

Go to MetroKids.com/concussions Shipley students are also part of a study run by Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania where athletes’ vision, balance and oxygen levels in the brain are tested at the start and end of the season.

“This information will help researchers at CHOP and Penn develop objective methods to better diagnose concussions using objective measurement,” said Duncan.

Get help right away if this happens • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Loss of consciousness Ongoing nausea or vomiting An ongoing and worsening headache Convulsions or seizures One pupil larger than the other Weakness, numbness or decreased coordination Slurred speech Cannot be consoled, keeps crying Refusal to nurse if nursing Loss of appetite Bed wetting Appears drowsy or cannot be woken up Confusion, does not recognize familiar people or environment Restlessness, agitation or unusual behavior

Judy M. Miller is a freelance writer.

MARCH 2018

A Class with Room for All SpecialKids

Inclusion Benefits Every Student

By Terri Akman Thirteen-year-old Max Matthews loves to hang out with his friends, watch football or stroll through his Bella Vista neighborhood. The 8th grader at the Meredith School in Queen Village has autism and ocular motor apraxia, which affects eye movements. Since Kindergarten, Max has been included in a general-population classroom, where he makes important friendships with peers from his neighborhood.

“That’s really important because when you have a child with a social disability, what I had feared the most was whether he could have friends,” says his mom, Helen. “Being in an inclusive classroom means the expectations for him are set at the same level as other children to maximize his potential.”

Inclusion is not only beneficial, it is a civil-rights issue and mandated by federal law, says Maura McInerney, legal director of the Education Law Center in Philadelphia, who points to the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act requiring that all students with disabilities be educated in the “least restrictive environment.”

Methods of inclusion

How each student is integrated into the general classroom differs based on that student’s needs. Some can spend the entire school day with their peers, though they may need additional support from a teacher or aide, a copy of class notes or extended time to complete an assignment or test. Others may stay in the class for certain subjects but leave for more individualized instruction in other subjects.

“Our typical situation is what we call the least dangerous assumption,” says Lisa Lawson, PhD, director of special

MARCH 2018

education and student support services for the Brandywine, DE school district.

“We assume that all students can be successful in the general-education setting with support services and any kind of accommodations and modifications that we set forth in their IEP (individualized education program.)”

But if a student is not able to be successful in the general-education classroom, maybe due to academic or behavioral challenges, she may be moved to a self-contained classroom within the school with fewer students and more adult support.

Lawson points out that students need to understand that not all classmates may be treated the same. “Fair does not mean equal,” she says. “If you see your classmate with a fidget spinner in between reading and math and you’re asking why he gets that and you don’t, that may be something he needs but you don’t need.

It’s important to have that front-end conversation of why things are different.”

Students will adapt to the environment they’re in, Lawson adds.

“We live in a diverse society of all kinds of people,” she says. “There are more similarities than differences.”

Short-term costs, long-term gains

Inclusion benefits all students

Students with special needs sitting alongside their general-education peers offers benefits for all kids.

“It’s good for the general-ed students to learn to respect the fact that there are people with differences and we’re all not great at everything,” says Elaine Hill, director of special services for the Voorhees, NJ school district.

For students with disabilities, inclusion leads to higher graduation rates, positive achievement outcomes, greater social competence, improved communication skills and the acquisition of a fuller range of skills that are available in inclusive classrooms.

Educating all students inclusively does come with costs. Financially, inclusive settings are not necessarily cost-cutting measures in the short term, says McInerney. “You have to make some significant investments. However those investments are very efficient and an effective use of funds, because they hold the potential to dramatically improve educational outcomes for all of our students.”

It’s also essential that teachers are appropriately trained, adds Hill. You can’t ask a general-education teacher to do more than his skill level and time constraints dictate.

“There has to be a continuum of services available,” she says. “Inclusion is absolutely the first option but you have to have other options for kids who might have something that would interfere with their functioning in a general-ed classroom.”

Terri Akman is a contributing writer to MetroKids.

MetroKids.com 11

Parenting

Ready, Set, GOAL! 7 Ways to Teach Goal Setting to Your Kids

By Christina Katz Kids are not lazy or unmotivated; it’s simply easier than ever for them to be distracted and disengaged because we are living in an age of constant stimulation and interruption.

We need to help our children learn how and when to put their blinders on so they can apply focused goal setting to challenges of their own choosing.

As a parent, you can encourage your children to practice healthy goal setting.

Follow these suggestions and you will notice your kids stepping up to set and meet new challenges that bring smiles to their faces. As for your role, get ready to cheer them on and give them credit for their contributions as any good coach would.

Let them steer. Choose

an age-appropriate, just out-of-reach goal. Be careful you don’t interject your own desires into this process. For a child who is unsure about what goal to set, be patient and offer choices until something appeals. You play a supporting role helping your child accomplish whatever goal is chosen, whether it’s cooking with a new recipe or raising money for a good cause, but remember that it must be your child’s goal, not yours.

Emphasize fun. If your child is overweight, focusing too much on weight loss is not going to help; it just might scar him. Forget the problems you think your child needs to solve and emphasize the fun of setting and reaching goals instead. Let a child who has become too sedentary come up with goals on her own, like joining a team or training for a race for 12 MetroKids.com

the fun of it, not just to get mom and dad off her back. Share stories of goals you’ve set and met to inspire her.

Embrace strengths. Every

person has strengths and weaknesses. There are no exceptions to this rule.

If you only mirror your child’s negative qualities and mention them too often, perhaps you have not spent enough time considering her best qualities. There are not merely five or 10 positive qualities that describe people; there are hundreds. Pick up a little book called Strengths Finder 2.0 by Tom Rath.

Go through it and circle the words you think describe your child. Mention these qualities often and watch your child’s confidence blossom.

Assist with challenges.

Offer yourself as a sounding board when kids run into challenges reaching their goals, but don’t solve their problems for them. Instead listen to their concerns and ask them questions. Get them thinking about approaches that might help. Instead of telling them what to do, ask if they think any of your ideas might be good ways to meet challenges. Don’t feel internal pressure to unstick a stuck child. Brainstorm with them and then let them do it.

Praise progress. If your child

is continually focused outward, measuring where she stands in comparison to others can rob her of personal power.

Instead of encouraging your child to be the generic best, encourage your child to achieve her per-

Goals for younger kids You can help prepare your kids to meet life’s challenges by turning everyday tasks into fun challenges, such as: • Complete a chore in a specific amount of time • Find the groceries on the shopping list • Create a to-do list for something she already learned how to do • Teach something he learned to another family member • Complete a puzzle by herself • Build something she never built before • Make up an invention that solves a problem around the house • Cook something using a new recipe sonal best. Celebrate the fruition of this expression no matter how it measures up with others. In this way, a ribbon for Most Improved can be viewed as just as valuable as First Place or MVP.

Respect weaknesses.

Just as strengths can be discovered and flexed for increasing success, weaknesses should be acknowledged and honored, too. The idea of respecting weaknesses rather than denying or trying to correct them may seem strange. But consider whether the investment of time and energy to turn weaknesses around is worthwhile. Sometimes flaws teach kids valuable things they need to learn.

For example, a forward who can’t score might make a better midfielder on the soccer field. A dancer who can’t do acrobatic tricks might have a strong sense of showmanship on stage. A scattered student in the classroom might be a talented artist in the studio. Teach your child to forgive weaknesses and pursue the undervalued abilities he may be pointing toward instead.

MARCH 2018

Parenting

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Play the long game. As your child focuses on

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Christina Katz is a freelance writer.

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Education

An EARLY Start

What should you expect when your child goes to Preschool and PreK?

By Cheryl Lynne Potter Early childhood education has grown to include a variety of steps along the way to Kindergarten and first grade, but what are the differences as your child moves from Preschool to PreK? The primary distinctions among all stages of early education, says Michelle Shaivitz, PhD, executive director of the Delaware Association for the Education of Young Children, are the “levels of play, social, emotional, language and other skills throughout the curriculum.”

For example, children in Preschool are most likely in the beginning stages of writing, cooperating and “learning how to maintain socially acceptable behavior for longer periods of time. (In PreK) children write and demonstrate developmentally appropriate practices as well, except in longer increments due to their attention span and their developmental abilities.”

Play and Preschool

A good Preschool is “designed for the whole child and attends to physical, social, emotional, cognitive and spiritual development,” says W. Steven Barnett, PhD, founder and senior co-director of the National Institute of Early Education Research at Rutgers University Graduate School of Education.

For a good Preschool program, “play is an important element.

Children of all ages, all around the world, play. They run, they pretend, they create, they laugh and they struggle with difficult tasks. Through play they learn and grow, intellectually and socially,” says Barnett. However to be educationally effectve a program must offer more than just free play; teachers must be intentionally engaged with children in play and in other activities.

Benefits of PreK

PreK’s goal is to make children ready for Kindergarten. Those who attend “high-quality PreK come ready for school,” writes Shawanna James-Coles, principal of Davis Elementary School in the Centennial School District in Bucks County, PA, in a guest column in The Intelligencer. They already know the “basics of reading, mathematics, getting along with others, building friendship and sharing.” These children are also “less likely to be retained in a grade, require remediation or receive special education services,” she notes.

The impact of PreK, however, goes beyond Kindergarten readiness, says Wendy Somers, owner of Goddard School in Newtown Township, PA. “It not only helps prepare a child for elementary school but has long-term, lasting effects in every aspect of a child’s life,” she says. At the Goddard School, says

14 MetroKids.com

Somers, “our young learners hone valuable life and career skills while developing a love of learning in literacy, science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.”

Many children still don’t attend PreK

Despite the benefits, many youngters in the Delaware Valley do not receive PreK or other early-education experiences.

Delaware ranks 35th among states for PreK enrollment, with only 7 percent of 4-year-olds in a state-sponsored PreK program, according to the latest State of Preschool report from the New Jersey-based National Institute for Early Education Research. Pennsylvania ranks 30th, with 12 percent and New Jersey, 20th with 29 percent.

Children who do not attend a high-quality PreK program do not have the readiness skills needed to prepare them for standards-based curriculum, says James-Coles. “Their teachers, then, are required to spend more time on classroom management and social skills rather than engaging them in meaningful learning experiences.”

Colleen Barbaro of Elk Township, NJ, knows the importance of an early education now that her 5-year-old son, Brody, is attending preschool after spending more than four years at home without any formal schooling or daycare. “The preschool program has been extremely beneficial for my son in helping him make friends and build relationships with his peers.” It also has been excellent in reinforcing the “basic learning he has done at home.”

“Academic redshirting”

Even after attending early-education programs, some children can benefit from spending an extra year in PreK, a practice referred to as “academic redshirting.”

“While parents and testing requirements focus mainly on the testing ability of a student, supporting a child’s social and emotional development, along with his individual developmental growth, is important to long-term success,” says Shaivitz.

Unfortunately, “there is no one right answer to the question of redshirting for one child,” said Barnett.

“Parents need to make the right decision based on each individual child and the Kindergarten that he will enter,” Barnett says. “Preschool and Kindergarten teachers can help advise parents in the decision but ultimately parents know their child better than anyone else.”

Cheryl Lynne Potter is a freelance writer from South Jersey.

MARCH 2018

experience

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MetroKids.com 15

Camp

Summer Arts Camps Provide a Creative Outlet

By Suzanne Koup-Larsen Arts camps immerse kids in the arts.

For some, it can be life-changing, as it was for Julia Weekes, a Philadelphia mom of two who attended arts camp in the ‘80s and now sends her two teenage sons each summer.

“It was the beginning of my life as an artist,” says Weekes, who holds a Master’s degree in art education.

Arts camp can be a day or residential camp. It can be specialized, such as a theater or dance camp, or one that offers a little bit of everything, from ceramics to drawing to video production to podcasting.

“Camps in general are usually really great opportunities for young people to grow,” says Sandy Marcucci, president and CEO of the Philadelphia International Music Festival.

Skills blossom as a result of the instruction and practice; parents can see the proof when camps invite them to a lunch-time exhibition for day camps or to an end-of-session performance for residential camps.

Talent not a prerequisite

“A common misconception with the arts is that you have to come with a natural-born talent,” says Terry Foreman, executive director of the Center for the Creative Arts in Yorklyn, DE. However it’s not a prerequisite for attending art camps to have any prior experience

16 MetroKids.com

or proof of artistic or musical talent. “We’re there to take someone with an interest and show them what they can do.”

“All people can benefit from the arts,” says Marcucci.

“We have students at every level” and design programs to accommodate all kinds of goals. As a result, arts-camp rookies and experienced teens will both get the most out of their camp experiences.

Best alternative for some kids

Artistic kids don’t always fit into a traditional camp setting, says Tracy Power, camp director for Appel Farm Arts Camp in Elmer, NJ. Camp directors say that arts camps are especially good for shy kids because it allows them to move beyond their shyness. They are a safe place to explore and create, says Power. “Kids who feel like they’re a little different, can find their home at arts camp,” adds Foreman.

“We get some kids who would never consider going to a sports camp,” says Foreman. Some kids don’t enjoy the sporting and competitive atmosphere of traditional summer camps.

Arts camp promotes a camper’s personal best, but not in a competitive environment.

Mark Morgan, producing artistic director of the Moorestown Theater Company, says his campers don’t want to be outside in the hot summer weather. “They don’t want to be moving from archery to swimming to volleyball.”

CAMP

However, arts campers can still find camaraderie.

“Musical theater is a team sport,” says Morgan.

“You can’t put on a show by yourself.”

Benefits of arts camps

“Arts camp creates a loving and accepting community,” says Power. It’s special to find your community of likeminded people, she says. Weekes remembers “a community of creative people bouncing ideas off of each other.”

“We hear from parents all the time how much more confident their children are,” says Morgan of theater campers.

Weekes agrees. “You build emotional confidence to put yourself out there.”

“They’re gaining skills, but they’re also taking risks,” Foreman says of arts camp. They learn that it’s OK to miss a step or flub your lines, she says.

Some parents might be afraid to let their kids go to a sleepaway camp, says Power, but kids need a space to make mistakes and to learn from them. Arts camp is a great place to do that.

“Kids come out feeling like they’ve had a good time, but they’ve learned something and they’ve grown as an artist,” says Weekes.

“It’s super fun,” concurs Power.

“And kids need to have more fun.”

Suzanne Koup-Larsen is a contributing writer to MetroKids.

MARCH 2018

At Kidz, Ink, our commitment to quality is unwavering. We strive each day to exceed each family’s expectations, provide nurturing relationships with each family, and focus on each child’s individual needs. If you are not 100% satisfied with your child’s current early childhood experience, contact one of our 5 locations for a tour or just stop by.

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CAMP

MetroKids.com 17

Camp

Brain Gain

Find an Academic Camp; Brush Up on Skills or Learn New Ones

By Carol Anne Pagliotti Academic summer camps are a great option if you want to help your child combat summer learning loss or take a deep dive into subjects such as engineering, coding or robotics.

A survey from the National Summer Learning Association shows that 66 percent of teachers spend 3 to 4 weeks re-teaching material in the beginning of the school year due to summer learning loss, says Martha D. Cameron, director of Summer and Auxiliary Programs at Moorestown Friends School.

Fortunately, there is a wide variety of enrichment camps offered during the summer in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware.

summer-camp programs. This summer Lavner is offering camps that include Java and Python programming and Spanish immersion as well as creative programs that focus on culinary arts, fashion design and filmmaking for children ages 5-15.

STEM camps expand horizons

Campers can take part in hands-on learning outside of the school environment with camp counselors who are also classroom teachers, college professors and professionals. Justin Lavner, executive director of Lavner Camps, notes they recently sent their technology director to Tokyo to learn the latest about robotics and artificial intelligence for their robotics and AI camps.

STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) subjects such as artificial intelligence, robotics and coding are a trend in

18 MetroKids.com

“Campers can learn a lot in the summer and truly excel. Rather than experiencing summer learning loss, they can attend camps that cover subject areas not offered at school,” says Lavner.

Finding the right mix of academic rigor, fun and exploration is key, says Cameron.

“In my mind, academic camps allow children time to focus on learning something new, grow from something challenging, and develop group project skills working together as a team,” she says.

Have fun, boost skills

Camps also offer students a chance to decompress from the rigors of the school year and learn how to love learning. Super Camps, which offers six-day residential sessions for middleand high school-age campers at Villanova University in July, focuses on using games and hands-

CAMP

on experiences to help campers improve their reading speed and comprehension, combat test-taking anxiety, improve their writing skills, and work on character development and leadership.

Super Camps’ leaders encourage campers to raise their hands and take part in games, dancing and problem-solving through trust-building and team-building activities. “We do something that’s different; we teach them how to learn versus what they should learn,” says Program Manager Charles Smith. “Because we teach them how to learn based on how the brain learns, we get them to want to learn, versus wanting just to gain information.”

The Pilot School in Wilmington, DE, is on a new campus that is adjacent to Woodlawn Reserve, so classroom and outdoor activity can be integrated. “Our speech pathologist for instance … might take a hike in the woods as we’re working on a concept or a skill,” says Director Alexandra Kokkoris. “It’s really married nature and learning together and the research is out there to show the benefits and the value of being in nature.

“I think at an academic camp, children can maintain the academic as well as the fun aspects of summer.”

Carol Anne Pagliotti is a freelance writer.

Log on to MetroKids.com/camps to check our camp directory for a complete list of this season’s academic camp offerings.

MARCH 2018

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MetroKids.com 19

CAMP 2018

Directory

DELAWARE

Thrilling adventures are in store for children at summer camps throughout the Delaware Valley in 2018! This camp directory includes an ample array of choices for all abilities, ages and interests.

Navigate the directory by focusing on your preferences for: • Geographic area: Camps are grouped by county & outlying areas.

• Category: Each description is prefaced by camp type — day, program, residential, special needs or travel.

• Special features: Blue icons at the end of each listing indicate if a camp offers extended day care, part-day or part-week schedules, financial aid or transportation. Abbreviations denote whether a camp is ACA accredited, has a counselor-in-training program or may accommodate some special needs. See the key at the bottom of the page.

Find a searchable version at MetroKids.com/camps.

Contact camps to express interest and mention you saw their listing in MetroKids.

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PA, NJ and DE 610-664-8800 info@lavnercampsandprograms.com Lavnercampsandprograms.com

DAY Our summer camp program is packed with many fun activities that include weekly field trips, weekly cooking activities, swimming, music & sports, CSI Thursdays & much more. 6am-6:30pm. Breakfast & afternoon snack included. 1 Songsmith Dr., Bear, 302838-1500; 1703 Porter Rd., Bear, 302-838-5400; 645 W. North St., Dover, 302-730-4034; 125 Sleepy Hollow Dr., Middletown, 302-376-5917; 616 W. Glenwood Ave., Smyrna, 302-653-4034.

DAY, RESIDENTIAL Lavner Camps is the Leader in Summer Enrichment Camps. As the #1 CAMP EXPERIENCE IN SPORTS, TECHNOLOGY, & THE ARTS, we have AWARD WINNING SUMMER CAMPS at 14 Philadelphia Metro, New Jersey & Delaware locations, with 35+ Specialty Camps to choose from... an INCREDIBLE summer camp experience awaits for your child! Our Cutting-Edge Summer Camps include Soccer, Basketball, Tennis, Robotics, Minecraft, Coding, Game Design, Culinary Arts, Fashion, Film & Lots More! Our Delaware location is at Ursuline Academy in Wilmington. Additional camp locations in NYC, Manhattan, Washington DC, St. Louis MO, Nashville TN & Los Angeles CA! Ages 6-15, Co-ed. Space is limited, register now!

ACA

New Castle County Summer Camps Various locations in New Castle County, DE: Claymont, Middletown, New Castle, Newport, Newark, North Wilmington, Glasgow, DE 302-395-5600 hmergenthaler@nccde.org Nccde.org/camps

DAY Sports Camps’ Full-day All Sports Camp; Half-day: Skateboarding, baseball, basketball, field hockey, lacrosse, soccer, softball, tennis, volleyball, speed & agility. Recreation Camps, Full-Day at 5 sites; Half-Day at Battery Park, Old New Castle, Leasure and Brookside Elementary School. Specialty Camps - Safety Town, Artventures at NCC Art Studio, and Rockwood Museum Camp Drama & Science Explorers STEM, Camp CarouCIT SN sel.

YMCA of Delaware Day Camps Multiple Locations in DE & MD 302-221-9622 Ysummercamp.org

DAY, RESIDENTIAL The YMCA has been hosting camps for 100+ years. Our camps provide youth 5-17 with a safe environment to play, learn, grow and make new friends while fostering social, cultural, physical & emotional development. Many options: arts & crafts, sports, team-building, science & nature, music, teen leaders and more. Staff have background checks and first aid and CPR certification. ACA

2018 Delaware Aerospace Academy PO Box 125 Bear 302-834-1978 dasef.outpost@verizon.net DASEF.org

DAY, PROGRAM, RESIDENTIAL Hands-on training in science, technology, engineering, mathematics (STEM), earth, ocean and dinosaurs. Grades 1-10. Day Academies: Two different half-day sessions offered the same week at the Environmental Outpost in Smyrna: Destination Ocean and Destination Dinosaur, June 1822. Four different sessions offered the same week at the University of Delaware in Newark: Destination Sky and Beyond, Destination Space, Destination Flight and Destination Orbit, June 25-29. Residential Academies: Two different sessions offered the same week at the University of Delaware in Newark: Destination Moon and Destination Mars, July 8-13.

2018 Summer Stage Dance and Theatre Camps at Delaware Arts Conservatory 723 Rue Madora, Ste. 4 Bear; 302-595-4160 info@delarts.com; DelArts.com

DAY Pursue your passions in musical theatre, dance, acting, music & visual arts! Day camps for ages 2-16.

Day and evening intensives for intermediate through professional performers. Each themed camp and SN intensive ends with a live performance.

A Tatnall Summer: Day Camps, Sports Camps, Swim Team 1501 Barley Mill Rd. Wilmington; 302-892-4347 ATatnallSummer@tatnall.org ATatnallSummer.org

DAY The Tatnall School opens its 110-acre campus to the community June 18-Aug. 17, with exciting new summer camps and classes serving children ages 3-grade 12. With half- and full-day offerings plus extended day, Tatnall provides a variety of activities including sports, swimming, science, music, arts, CIT computer design and more.

Brandywine Zoo Camp 1001 North Park Dr. Wilmington 302-571-7850, ext. 209 education@brandywinezoo.org Brandywinezoo.org

DAY, PROGRAM Brandywine Zoo offers indoor/ outdoor spring break and holiday camps, and full- and half-day summer camps. For ages 5-13, aftercare available. Focus on fun, animals, and learning through live animal presentations, crafts, games, stories, and learning projects. See Camps section on website.

Camp Arrowhead 35143 Homestead Way Lewes wlafontaine@camparrowhead.net Camparrowhead.net

DAY, RESIDENTIAL Located on the shore of the beautiful Rehoboth Bay. Traditional camp activities from swimming and zip line to crafts, ropes, archery, dances and sailing. The Arrowhead experience enriches young people’s relationships with one another, nature and God. Delicious food! Call to set up a tour.

CIT ACA

Camp at NDNCC Newark Day Nursery & Children’s Center 921 Barksdale Rd. Newark; 302-731-4925 bporter@newarkdaynursery.org Newarkdaynursery.org

DAY Weekly themes reinforce teamwork, art, nature studies, sportsmanship, science and fun. Field trips & special guests/events. Ages 6-14, divided into age-based teams, each with its own classroom with experienced staff. Secure facility. Breakfast, lunch, ACA snack. Purchase of Care (POC) welcome.

Centreville Layton School Summer Program 6201 Kennett Pike Centreville 302-571-0230 djarrell@centrevillelayton.org Centrevillelayton.org

DAY Centreville Layton School offers a summer program to reinforce academic skills and organizational strategies. Additionally, our afternoon program, offered to ages 3-13, provides a nurturing environment where children can focus on building social skills and having fun. Our program is offered to students ages three to eighteen. Camp runs from June SN 25-July 27.

Concord Preschool and Childcare; 1800 Fairfax Blvd.

Wilmington 302-654-9629 Concordpreschoolandchildcare.com

DAY, TRAVEL Kids ages 1-9 can join the fun all summer or choose a specialty camp. Flexible options.

Safe, fun and nurturing atmosphere where each child is encouraged to play, learn and experiment. Quality teaching and care since 1956. Call for a tour.

Key: Extended hours Offers financial aid Part-day or part-week sessions Provides transportation ACA: ACA-accredited CIT: Counselor-in-training program SN: Some special needs may be accommodated

20 MetroKids.com

CAMP

MARCH 2018

CAMP 2018

Directory

Delaware Art Museum’s Summer Art Camp 2301 Kentmere Pkwy.

Wilmington 302-571-9590 artiscreating@delart.org DelArt.org

DAY Delaware Art Museum’s summer art camp provides a fun, creative experience with professional instruction. Young artists will explore drawing, painting, ceramics, and more! Ages 6-16. Full-day 9am-4pm + camper art show. New expanded sessions and age groups!

Delaware Dance Co. Summer Dance & Theatre Camp 168 South Main Street Madeline Crossing, Suite 101 Newark; 302-738-2023 Delawaredancecompany.org

DAY For children interested in exploring dance, drama & the creative arts. Programs for ages 4-12 running in June, July & August. Full performance & pizza party each Friday evening.

Delaware Museum of Natural History 4840 Kennett Pike, Route 52 Wilmington 302-658-9111, ext. 328 education@delmnh.org Delmnh.org/camps

DAY Summer day camps for children 1st through 6th grade to explore science and nature in-depth and up-close. This year features new hands-on learning activities, as well as brand new camps for each age group. Includes outdoor fun, museum gallery exploration, traveling exhibit discoveries, live animal experiences and more! For grades 3-6, two camps include optional overnight. Museum Babies program for 3 and under and Museum Peeps (half-day sessions) for ages 4-6. Extended care avail. for an extra fee.

Delaware Nature Society (Ashland, Abbott’s, Coverdale, DEEC) PO Box 700, Hockessin 302-239-2334 candy@delnature.org Delnature.org

DAY Children 3-15 connect with nature through hands-on, outdoor experiences with highly qualified instructors. Children try new activities, develop creativity and enjoy hiking, kayaking, cooking, harvesting, archery, farm animal care, nature photography, fishing, overnights, travel, explorations and dip netting. Staff are certified in first aid & CPR. CIT

Girl Scouts of the Chesapeake Bay - Camp Country Center 1051 Sharpless Rd., Hockessin 302-456-7150 dlubbers@cbgsc.org Gscb.org/camps

DAY Do you love science and technology? GSCB STEM day camps at Country Center have something for everyone — marine biology, Minecraft, digital media, culinary science, robotics and more! Try your hand at archery. Ages 6-18. No prior Girl Scout experience needed.

Pilot Summer Camp 208 Woodlawn Rd., Wilmington, DE cshivone@pilotschool.org pilotschool.org

DAY Children ages 5-12 will benefit from our multi-sensory approach, which offers them the opportunity to engage in activities while learning.

This fun, hands-on camp focuses on special skills, team building, science experiments and nature while integrating reading and math.

Prompt & Play, LLC 5157 W. Woodmill Rd., Ste. 16 Wilmington 302-691-5658 info@promptandplay.com Promptandplay.com

DAY, TRAVEL Prompt & Play’s camp program is designed so children have the opportunity for both structured and non-structured play. There are two camp group options daily based on ages and abilities.

There is a different theme each week and weekly trips designed to engage children’s creativity and imagination, while teaching them ways to interact SN with one another appropriately.

St. Anne’s Episcopal School 211 Silver Lake Rd., Middletown; 302-378-3179 mferster@stannesde.org StannesDE.org/summer

DAY, PROGRAM Play, explore and learn with St. Anne’s incredible faculty on our beautiful campus. We offer four weeks of enriching activities for campers, ages 3-13. Outdoor adventure, sports, STEM experiments and challenges, movement, crafts, and games – there’s something for everyone!

Stage Lights Dance Studio - Evening & Day Camp Classes Stage Lights Dance Studio 25 S. Old Baltimore Pike Newark; 302-453-0714 stagelights2@aol.com Stagelightsdancestudio.com

DAY Explore the world of arts. Take advantage of our 10-month class schedule or spend the summer with us. Themed camps: princess dress-up & tea party, musical theater, project fashion, hip-hop explosion, dance intensive boot camp. Safe, reliable program.

Multiple-child & multiple-camp discounts. You can’t beat our prices! Call for additional camps and specific SN dates.

Summer Adventures Camp at Hockessin Montessori 1000 Old Lancaster Pike, Hockessin; 302-234-1240 velasic@theHMS.org; theHMS.org

DAY, TRAVEL Come join the fun at Summer Adventures Camp in Hockessin for ages 1-12. Join the adventures in science, sports, crafts, specialized themes & field trips. Half-day, full-day & extended care available.

Summer at Independence 1300 Paper Mill Rd. Newark 302-239-9060 Theindependenceschool.org

DAY Summer at Independence offers choices for age 3 through 8th grade, from theme-based day camps to weekly programs for a variety of interests. Options include Indy Exploratorium, visual & performing arts, Adventure Camp, STEM, academics and sports. Nurse and Extended Day on campus daily.

Summer at Tower Hill 2813 W. 17th St. Wilmington; 302-472-7370 summer@towerhill.org Towerhill.org/summer

DAY Summer at Tower Hill’s Day Camp offers unlimited opportunities for fun and learning for ages 3 - 6th grade, including field trips.

Wilmington Ballet Summer Dance Camp 1709 Gilpin Ave. Wilmington 302-655-1004 info@wilmingtonballet.org Wilmingtonballet.org/ summer-program

DAY Princess camp for ages 3-5 years. Three sessions: July 9-14, July 16-20 and Aug. 6-10. Dance camp featuring ballet, contemporary and musical theatre dance for boys and girls ages 6 and up. Before and after care available. Four one-week sessions: July 9-13, July 16-20, July 23-27, July 30-Aug. 3. Each week will have a theme based on a classical ballet. Prices vary based on age group. See website for more info.

Wilmington Friends School Day Camps 101 School Rd. Wilmington 302-576-2998 lscamp@wilmingtonfriends.org Wilmingtonfriends.org

DAY June 18-Aug. 24: Lower school camp features weekly themes, soccer, tennis, art, STEM design, cooking and adventure camps, plus swimming, ice skating & bowling. Middle school camp offers Base Camp with swimming, fishing, gardening, hiking, ice skating and bowling plus sports camps & programs in art, adventure, sports, STEM, cooking and 3D printing.

Before & after care available. Online registration available — early bird discount! Check online for Open House dates.

OUTLYING AREAS - MARYLAND Easterseals Camp Fairlee 22242 Bay Shore Rd. Chestertown, MD 410-778-0566 fairlee@esdel.org Easterseals.com/de/fairlee

RESIDENTIAL, TRAVEL Camp Fairlee provides a traditional summer camp experience for children ages 6+ and adults with various disabilities including developmental, CP, MD, MS, orthopedic impairments and other disabilities. Special Autism weeks with 1:1 counseling. Wall climbing, high ropes, zip lining, pool, canoeing & camp; other activities. Nurse 24/7.

Off-season respite weekends travel trips for adults.

12,000-square-foot activity center, health center, expanded dining hall and four new cabins. ACA SN

Echo Hill Camp 13655 Bloomingneck Rd. Worton, MD 410-348-5303 EchoHillCamp.com

RESIDENTIAL Echo Hill Camp on the Chesapeake Bay is a traditional, sleep-away summer camp with 2- to 8week sessions. Non-competitive, free-choice program.

Waterskiing, sailing, wakeboarding, crabbing, ropes course, nature, art and much more! ACA

Key: Extended hours Offers financial aid Part-day or part-week sessions Provides transportation ACA: ACA-accredited CIT: Counselor-in-training program SN: Some special needs may be accommodated

MARCH 2018

CAMP

MetroKids.com 21

CAMP 2018

ARTS ACADEMICS ATHLETICS Tower Hill camps have it all!

TOWER HILL SCHOOL

2813 W. 17th Street, Wilmington, DE 19806 towerhill.org/summer summer@towerhill.org

SUMMER

CAMP NOW REGISTERING

9:00-Noon for 3, 4, & 5 Year Olds Extended Care 7:30-5:45 all ages (Full-day Campers bring lunch, snacks provided)

Convenient location in N. Wilmington. Arts & crafts, 2 playgrounds, fun enrichment opportunities, music & movement, gardening, and more. Adult Staff (background checks, CPR & First Aid certified), AED on site, security system in place. Peanut & tree nut free snacks!

T-SHIRT INCLUDED WITH REGISTRATION FEE!

Girl Scouts of the Chesapeake Bay Camp Grove Point 2930 Grove Neck Rd. Earleville, MD 302-456-7150 Dlubbers@cbgsc.org Gscb.org/camps

DAY, RESIDENTIAL Camp along the Sassafras River with an all-girl, girl-friendly environment where she’ll learn outdoor skills. Archery, sailing, kayaking, horseback riding. Choose from different themes like water, CSI, Disney, Harry Potter, Explorers and more!

Ages 6-15. No prior Girl Scout experience needed. ACA

Summer Camps @ Cecil 107 Railroad Ave. Elkton, MD 443-907-1451 learning4life@cecil.edu Cecil.edu/youth

DAY Summer @ Cecil has what you want with awesome summer camp choices for youth ages 5-17.

Camps are offered at Cecil College, Fair Hill, Plumpton Park Zoo and Upper Bay Museum. We offer STEM, photography, theater, art, Legos, Harry Potter, Frozen, Minecraft, robotics, video games, virtual reality and so much more!

CIT ACA SN

OUTLYING AREAS - PENNSYLVANIA Adventure Camp at Roundtop Mountain Resort 925 Roundtop Road Lewisberry, PA (717) 432-9631 skiroundtop@skiroundtop.com Roundtopmountainresort.com

DAY, RESIDENTIAL Book your child’s best week of the summer at South Central PA’s favorite ski resort where campers enjoy a multitude of adventure-based activities including zip lining, rock climbing, boating, paintball and OGO balling all right here on our 1200 acres. CIT

Darlington Arts Center Summer Camp 977 Shavertown Rd. Garnet Valley, PA 610-358-3632 info@darlingtonarts.org Darlingtonarts.org/camp

DAY, PROGRAM The learning doesn’t stop when school is out! Creative kids ages 3-14 are inspired to keep creating throughout the summer and express themselves through the visual and performing arts.

Music, visual art, dance and drama. The arts are everywhere! Explore all 4 art forms with a different theme each week. Arts-intensive camps are also available. Download a brochure and register online (sign up by April 1 and save 10%!)

SN

Science Camp Watonka PO Box 127 Hawley, PA 570-857-1401 mail@watonka.com Watonka.com

RESIDENTIAL For boys 8-16. Camper-selected program includes hands-on laboratory experiences in astronomy, biology, chemistry, computers, electronics, earth science, physics, robotics. A wide range of other activities includes ropes, archery, climbing, woodworking, sailing, rocketry, mini-bike riding, sports, windsurfing & trips. 2-, 4-, 6- & 8-week sessions available. CIT ACA SN OUTLYING AREAS - OTHER

Whale Camp at the Fundy Marine Institute Grand Manan Island New Brunswick, Canada 888-54-WHALE info@whalecamp.com WhaleCamp.com

RESIDENTIAL, TRAVEL No other marine science camp offers as many face-to-face encounters to closely observe and study whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals and puffins in their own natural habitat. Board our research vessel for unmatched opportunities to observe marine life. Explore beaches, coastal trails and fishing villages on beautiful Grand Manan Island. Ask about our $40,000 college scholarships, STEM projects & college credits.

YMCA Camp Conrad Weiser 201 Cushion Peak Rd. PO Box 147 Wernersville, PA 610-670-2267 SMYMCA.org

RESIDENTIAL We welcome you to our 600 mountain top acres in Berks County, PA. While we offer a variety of session lengths, most campers come for 2- or 4-week sessions. We are a coed program for campers 7-16 years old. Traditional camp programs including horseback riding, swimming, boating, athletics, target sports, mountain biking, creative arts, nature, adventure & teen leadership. We also offer a variety of specialty theme camps, adventure trips and international trips. We can’t wait to see you on the mountain! ACA

St. David’s Episcopal Day School

2320 Grubb Road, Wilmington, DE 19810 302-475-3747 www.stdavidsdayschoolde.org “Start Here...Go Anywhere”

22 MetroKids.com

Directory

CAMP

KEY Extended hours Offers financial aid Part-day or part-week sessions Provides transportation ACA: ACA-accredited CIT: Counselor-in-training program SN: Some special needs may be accommodated

MARCH 2018

As Easy as 1, 2, 3!

1. Submit a photo of your natural, good-looking kid to MetroKids.com/coverkids

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MetroKids.com/coverkids

How to enter: Mail or submit one recent photo online, with the date it was taken, to be reviewed by the judges. Photo tips: Entrants must be photographed individually. Do not wear make-up or costumes. This is NOT a beauty pageant. We’re looking for kids with natural good looks and lots of personality!

What happens next: CoverKids’ Finalists will be selected for a live final audition in August. Grand Prize Winners and Finalists will be announced in MetroKids magazine. Grand Prize Winners will appear on a MetroKids’ cover or one of our other publications including SpecialKids, Educator’s Edition and MetroKids’ Ultimate Family Guide. Entrants must be available for a local cover photo shoot at a later date. All entrants’ photos will appear on MetroKids.com.

Family Fun

Whether your kids are pint-sized Picassos who are just learning to express themselves or super-talented teens interested in pursuing creativity as a career, local art museums and centers offer classes and workshops to encourage artistic growth.

LEARN: CERAMICS AND POTTERY

The Delaware Contemporary, Wilmington

Informal open-studio workshops provide pencils, charcoal, pastels, watercolor and acrylic paint, brushes and drawing boards.

All ages can swap ideas, share their work and get constructive feedback from a teaching artist. Get creative again during monthly free Family Sundays.

Walters Art Museum, Baltimore

Teens and adults learn about iconic artists and styles during frequent drawing sessions themed to a different area of the venue each time. Coming up, get inspired by ancient Egypt, Early Renaissance, landscapes and architecture.

Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Phila.

The illustration class lets middle schoolers explore children’s book illustrations, comic books and graphic novels while experimenting with drawing, design and layout.

LEARN: WEARABLE ART Everyday Artists, Hockessin

Customization is the name of the game at this paint-your-own-pottery studio: Visitors can choose from more than 200 shapes, from bowls to mugs to animal figures before adding decorations and color glaze.

Your Creation Station, Middletown

In addition to DIY pottery, canvas painting and fused-glass making, the center offers tie-dye with professional-grade dyes.

Fabric Workshop and Museum, Phila.

Round up the whole gang and sign up for hands-on family workshops. Past sessions have allowed visitors to screenprint and embroider tote bags and pillows, learn about fashion design and make “selfportrait boxes.”

These spots boast toddler-specific programming that instills art appreciation at an early age.

American Visionary Art Museum, Baltimore Drop-in family workshops feature quirky projects such as mosaic making with beads and sequins, sculpting a “cosmic egg” and creating a 3D sculpture inspired by the heart.

The Clay Studio, Phila.

Baltimore Museum of Art, Baltimore Collage a scene, make mixed-media pins and pop-up planets, construct a rocket ship and print a star map during free Family Sundays.

LEARN: DRAWING AND PAINTING

Biggs Museum of American Art, Dover Join monthly Biggs Kids workshops to make themed crafts and embark on a scavenger hunt throughout the venue.

Ready to get behind the wheel? Weekly classes for families provide a hands-on introduction to pottery. You’ll leave with a new skill and a creation to show off at home.

Center for the Creative Arts, Yorklyn

Color some life into a blank canvas or doodle a masterpiece during drawing and painting classes or after-school workshops.

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Delaware Arts Conservatory, Bear

The jewelry-making course teaches kids beading and jewelry techniques, color theory, proper use of tools and wires, and how to choose threading material and follow basic patterns. Plus, students make bracelets, necklaces and earrings to show off what they’ve learned.

Delaware Art Museum, Wilmington The weekly Glory of Stories program introduces kids to the galleries via an interactive tour, storytime and a studio art project.

MARCH 2018

Family Fun

DAY-BY-DAY CALENDAR

Special needs event

Easter event

$ = $1-$5; $$ = $6-$10; $$$ = $11-$19; $$$$ = $20 & up

2 Friday

Camp-In at the Franklin Institute, Phila. Stay overnight to enjoy an astronomy show, telescope viewing, a planetarium presentation and exhibit exploration. $$$$ Full Moon Hike at Brandywine Creek State Park, Wilmington. $$ Glory of Stories at the Delaware Art Museum, Wilmington.

Stories, projects and interactive tours introduce kids to art. $

3 Saturday

Delaware Museum of Natural History. $$ All-Scout Event: Scouts fill requirements via games, activities and animal encounters.

Dude's Birthday Party: Celebrate the cat mascot’s big day with cake, crafts and a scavenger hunt.

Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show at the University of Delaware, Wilmington. Mineral, lapidary and fossil specimen exhibits join gem-cutting demos and a kids’ booth with inexpensive fossils and materials for sale. $$ Girl Scouts: Sensational Senses at the Brandywine Zoo, Wilmington. Explore your senses during interactive games and compare them to the animals’. $$$ Holi Family Festival at the Please Touch Museum, Phila. Celebrate spring with this Indian festival where kids can experiment with art materials, enjoy Indian music and dance performances, learn about Holi during storytime and partake in a tradition of throwing colors. $$$ Paleopalooza at the Academy of Natural Sciences, Phila. Explore the world of dinosaurs while you view famous specimens, meet reptiles, visit the fossil-prep lab, watch stage shows led by scientists and dig for fossils to take home. $$$

MARCH 2018

Hop over to the Historic Odessa Egg Hunt, March 25, at the Wilson-Warner House.

Philadelphia Flower Show at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, Phila. Themed “Wonders of Water,” this year’s show is inspired by the beauty and interplay of horticulture and water.

Expect to see recreated scenes of tropical jungles, native woodlands and landscapes. Through March 11. $$$$

4 Sunday

Bits and Pieces Family Festival at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Phila. Get inspired by cubist shards, shattered glass and mixed-up mosaics to deconstruct and remix your own work of art, then watch a breakdancing performance by Movemakers Philly.

Pay what you wish Family Arts Academy: Storydrawing at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Phila. Visit the galleries and create an illustrated adventure story based on your favorite painting. FREE First Sunday Family Day: Concept to Creation at the Barnes Foundation, Phila. View an art fair in which kids’ creations blend art and math. Vote for your favorite and watch an experimental hula-hoop performance. FREE Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show at the University of Delaware, Wilmington. See March 3. $$ Harlem Globetrotters at the Wells Fargo Center, Phila. Stick around after the match-up and you might meet the team for autographs, high-fives and selfies. $$$$

5 Monday

WOW! Wee Ones at the Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library, Wilmington. Kids engage in active learning through music, movement and object exploration. $

6 Tuesday

Museum Playdate at the Penn Museum, Phila. Stories and dramatic play in the galleries are themed to exploring Africa. $$

MetroKids.com 25

Tiny Tot Explorers at the Academy of Natural Sciences, Phila.

Games, songs and museum exploration are themed to “March of the Moose.” $$$$

7 Wednesday

First Wednesday at the Please Touch Museum, Phila. Enjoy discounted admission and extended hours. $ Squeaky Wheels at the Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library, Wilmington. Parents and toddlers in strollers enjoy fun and informative walks through the garden and galleries. $ Wee Have Fun Club at Bellevue State Park, Wilmington. Nature discoveries, stories and art projects are all part of the fun. $ Yoga Tales at the Bear Library, Bear. Includes animal stories and easy poses. FREE

8 Thursday

Gentle Yoga at the Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library, Wilmington. All skill levels are welcome. $$

9 Friday

Girl Scout Day at the National Constitution Center, Phila. Scouts partake in activities geared toward badge requirements. $$$ Girl Scout Program: Elegant Entertaining at the Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library, Wilmington. Earn the social butterfly badge while exploring the art of entertaining guests at a country estate in the 1930s. $$$ Grow Up Great at the Kimmel Center’s Commonwealth Plaza, Phila. Kids are introduced to jazz and musical theatre. FREE Pot o’ Gold at Brandywine Creek State Park, Wilmington. Follow the leprechaun’s map in search of a prize and look for four-leaf clovers along the way. $ Sap to Syrup at Bellevue State Park, Wilmington. Learn when sap flows, what trees are used to make syrup and the process of making the sweet stuff. After, tap a tree and enjoy pancakes and syrup. $$ Science Saturday: Chemistry for the Curious at the Hagley Museum and Library, Wilmington. Science and engineering challenges focus on chemistry’s role in everyday life. $$$

After-Hours Event at the Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library, Wilmington. Explore the venue and listen to live music. $$$

Second Saturday at the Penn Museum, Phila. Explore the animal world during tours, scavenger hunts and crafts. $$

Family Game Night at the Delaware Children’s Museum, Wilmington. Engage in friendly competition during games such as giant bowling, Memory and jumbo Jenga. $$

Swap Shop Spring Sale at Carcroft Elementary School, Wilmington. FREE

10 Saturday

Character Breakfast at the Del Tech Terry Campus, Del One Conference Center, Dover. See “Do Good, Have Fun,” below. $$$$ Family Overnight at the Independence Seaport Museum, Phila.

Embark on a compass scavenger hunt, climb aboard a life-size pirate ship, make scrimshaw and hard tack, tour historic ships and conduct experiments in the science lab. $$$$

Try Science: Meteorology at the Delaware Children’s Museum, Wilmington. $$

11 Sunday

Family Sunday: Unconventional Materials at the Delaware Contemporary, Wilmington. Experiment with unusual materials to create unique artwork. FREE Spring Opening Day at the Brandywine Zoo, Wilmington.

Welcome the season with themed activities and learning stations. $ St. Patrick’s Day Parade from City Hall to Penn’s Landing, Phila. FREE Sunday Studio: A Colorful Palette at the Delaware Art Museum, Wilmington. Experiment with new materials and techniques. FREE

13 Tuesday

Green by Nature Program: Meet the Mallards at Ashland Nature Center, Hockessin. Preschoolers meet two ducks and observe their antics, check out their eggs & nests and hike the marsh. $$

14 Wednesday

Pi Day 5K at Glasgow Park, Newark. $$$

15 Thursday

Do Good, Have Fun

What do Disney princesses, superheroes, storybook heroes and Star Wars characters have in common? They’ll all be at the Character Breakfast (March 10) at Dover’s Del Tech Terry Campus in the Del One Conference Center. Benefitting the Ronald McDonald House of Delaware, families can meet favorites such as Elsa, Cinderella, Batman and Darth Vader during a buffet meal, followed by raffles, crafts and photo opportunities.

26 MetroKids.com

Egg-stravaganza at the Delaware Children’s Museum, Wilmington. Discover how to make an egg float, sink, grow, shrink and spin, then test your balance with an egg-and-spoon challenge and make an eggshell geode to take home. $$

16 Friday

Starry Night Hike at Brandywine Creek State Park, Wilmington. $$ STEM Career Showcase at the Independence Seaport Museum, Phila. Kids learn about science, tech, engineering and math opportunities, while parents attend an info session on how to support their kids’ interests. FREE

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MARCH 2018

Family Fun

Career & Animal Science Workshop: Exhibit Design at the Brandywine Zoo, Wilmington.

Kids find out what goes into making a home for zoo residents, then design their own animal home. $$ St. Patrick’s Day Family Festival at the Please Touch Museum, Phila. Revel in the holiday during Irish step-dancing performances, food-tasting demos, crafting with green materials and themed storytime. $$$

18 Sunday

Delaware Museum of Natural History, Wilmington. $$ Egg-stravaganza Breakfast and Egg Hunt.

Stuffed Animal Clinic and Teddy Bear Tea: Bring a plush pal for a “checkup” followed by storytime and treats.

Family Arts Academy: Instrumental Petting Zoo at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Phila. Members of the Delaware County Symphony show their instruments, share information and perform. FREE

20 Tuesday

Community Night at the Franklin Institute, Phila. FREE

21 Wednesday

Founders Day at the Academy of Natural Sciences, Phila. Celebrate the venue’s founding with pay-what-you-wish admission.

23 Friday

Dinos After Dark at the Academy of Natural Sciences, Phila. Enjoy animal presentations, hands-on activities and, for adults, a beer garden. $$

24 Saturday

Breakfast with the Bunny and Easter Egg Hunt at Milburn Orchards, Elkton, MD. $$ Bellevue Bunny Egg Hunt at Bellevue State Park, Wilmington. Bring a basket. $$ Earth Hour Luminary Hike at Brandywine Creek State Park, Wilmington. $ Easter Bunny Express at Wilmington & Western Railroad’s Greenbank Station, Wilmington.

Hop aboard this round-trip ride with the Easter Bunny, where kids get a treat. $$$

MARCH 2018

Town & County: Read Across America

25 Sunday

Animal Enrichment Workshop at the Brandywine Zoo, Wilmington. Learn how the zoo keeps the animals engaged, then help to make new enrichment items. $$$ Breakfast with the Bunny and Easter Egg Hunt at Milburn Orchards, Elkton, MD. $$

Photo: Mike Ciosek

17 Saturday

Camp-In at the Franklin Institute, Phila. See March 2. $$$$

Science Saturday: Magnetic Attraction at the Hagley Museum and Library, Wilmington. Build a magnet toy and tinker with its force. $$$

Easter Bunny Express at Wilmington & Western Railroad’s Greenbank Station, Wilmington. See March 24. $$$

Easter Bunny Tea at the Milton Theatre, Dover. Includes refreshments, singing and dancing characters, audience engagement and a photo op with the Easter Bunny. $$$ Easter Family Fun Day and Egg Hunt at the American Swedish Historical Museum, Phila. Festivities include themed crafts, face painting and Easter witch dress-up. $$ Family Arts Academy: Spring Pop-Ups at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Phila. Make pop-up cards of flowers, bees and baseball. FREE Historic Odessa Easter Egg Hunt at the Wilson-Warner House, Odessa. FREE Spring Break Activities at the National Constitution Center, Phila. Through April 4, learn about Alexander Hamilton via workshops, themed tours and arts & crafts. $$

29 Thursday

Breakfast with the Bunny and Easter Egg Hunt at Milburn Orchards, Elkton, MD. $$

30 Friday

Breakfast with the Bunny and Easter Egg Hunt at Milburn Orchards, Elkton, MD. $$

Dr. Seuss said it best: “The more that you read, the more things you will know.

The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.”

Celebrate his 114th birthday (March 2) and the 20th-annual Read Across America Day by reading, discovering and going to festive places and parties in his honor.

NEW CASTLE COUNTY Join popular Seuss characters for storytime during Read Across America Day (March 2) at Wilmington’s Brandywine Hundred Library. On the same day, budding bookworms at Ashland Nature Center’s Celebrating Dr. Seuss program in Hockessin look for a fox in a box, try to catch one fish, two fish and celebrate with colorful crafts and birthday hats.

SUSSEX COUNTY Cozy up for Dr. Seuss Storytime (March 7) at the Greenwood Public Library, complete with music, poetry and crafts.

Easter Bunny Express at Wilmington & Western Railroad’s Greenbank Station, Wilmington.

See March 24. $$$

31 Saturday

African-American History and Culture Showcase at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, Phila. Experience exhibits, performances and appearances by historical re-enactors. FREE

MetroKids.com 27

Kids’ Day Off: Spring Break Camps

Looking to keep the kids busy during their week away from school? Sign them up for Spring Break Camp at Wilmington’s Delaware Museum of Natural History (March 26-30 & April 2-6). Each day features a different science or nature topic, as well as games, crafts, experiments, animal presentations and hands-on tours.

Heading into Philly? The Academy of Natural Sciences’ Academy Explorers Spring Break Camp (March 29-30 & April 2-4) acquaints kids with dinosaurs, bugs and the environment.

Breakfast with the Bunny and Easter Egg Hunt at Milburn Orchards, Elkton, MD. $$

PERFORMANCES

Easter Bunny Brunch at the Philadelphia Zoo, Phila. The meal is followed by an egg hunt, crafts and pics with the Easter Bunny. $$$$

Wonderland: Alice’s Rock and Roll Adventure at the Delaware Children’s Theatre, Wilmington. Sat. & Sun., March 3-18. $$$

Easter Bunny Express at Wilmington & Western Railroad’s Greenbank Station, Wilmington. See March 24. $$$ Play-a-Palooza at Smith Memorial Playground and Playhouse, Phila. Enjoy a PBS Kids pop-up area with an appearance by Nature Cat, as well as giveaways, games, soccer, nature play and performances by the Philadelphia School for the Circus Arts and Project Capoeira. $$

Log on to MetroKids.com/familyfun for more information, including address, phone number, time & website.

Like Mom Matters

Junie B. Jones at the Everett Theatre, Middletown.

March 10-18. $$ Jeff Boyer’s Bubble Trouble at Copeland Hall, Wilmington.

March 11. $$ My Father’s Dragon at Copeland Hall, Wilmington. March 14. $$ Bach 2 Rock (pictured) at the Baby Grand, Wilmington. March 22. $$

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continued from p. 8

toward empowerment. If you’ve brushed up on your skills and you’re unsuccessful, know it isn’t you – and never forget, you have options.

4. Use and affirm your strengths.

Whatever your talents may be, make an effort to use them every day. Even if you don’t consider your strengths significant, they’ll provide you a sense of capability that fosters self-esteem. Remember, self-esteem translates to empowerment.

5. Find a mentor.

Treasure Island at the Playhouse on Rodney Square, Wilmington. March 6. $$

Do you lack confidence or the direction needed to follow your dreams or achieve your goals? Look for a strong female mentor who’ll provide you guidance and encouragement. Find a friend, relative or

co-worker you admire for her strength, wisdom, courage or achievements. Also, find a women’s organization either locally or online, or join a Meetup group with empowered women.

HOW TO EMPOWER OTHER WOMEN 1. Support women-owned businesses.

Both men and women can contribute to women’s empowerment by patronizing female-owned businesses. In addition to the increased income for the women owners, female-owned businesses are more likely to hire women for higher-level positions and for better pay than many male-owned companies.

2. Be a mentor.

Are you already an empowered woman? Do you have goals or dreams and the fortitude to see them through to success?

If so, you’re an excellent candidate to mentor other women.

3. Volunteer for a women’s cause.

There are organizations for women in most communities ranging from domestic-violence shelters to professional-women’s networks. Reach out to a women’s organization in your community and ask how you can help. Whether you want to help women find safe and affordable housing, help with fundraising or offer lectures to educate women, it all goes toward women’s empowerment.

Kimberly Blaker is a freelance writer.

28 MetroKids.com

MARCH 2018

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

Early Education Directory DAY CARE

•

PREK

•

KINDERGARTEN

FY: Full Year AY: Academic Year SP: Summer Program MP: Meals Provided BS: Before School

AS: After School DA: Diapers Accepted TP: Transportation Provided SN: Special Needs DHS*: Licensed: Dept. of Health & Human Services

DE: Licensed: Dept. of Education DYF: Licensed: Dept. of Youth & Family Serv.

DE ★: Delaware Stars Participant NAEYC: Accredited by National Association of Education of Young Children

MULTIPLE SITES KIDZ, INK ACADEMY OF EARLY ACADEMICS 1 Songsmith Dr., Bear, DE • 302-838-1500 1703 Porter Rd., Bear, DE • 302-838-5400 345 School Bell Rd., Bear, DE • 302-327-0686 645 W. North St., Dover, DE • 302-730-4730 616 W. Glenwood Ave., Smyrna, DE • 302-653-4034 KidzEarlyLearning.com • Ages: 6 wks.-11 yrs. • Hours: 6am-6:30pm Our curriculum is designed to stimulate your child’s mind, strengthen their bodies, and nurture their hearts. National curriculum: core knowledge. Breakfast, lunch and afternoon snack.

Spanish degreed and experienced teachers, security cameras monitor every room. FY, SP, MP, BS, AS, TP, DE, DYF, DA, DE ★ LITTLE STARS INC. 5702 Kirkwood Hwy., Wilmington, DE • 302-995-2920 947 Old Harmony Rd., Newark, DE • 302-737-9759 littlestarsinc.com • Ages: 6 wks.-12 yrs. • Hours: 6:30am-6pm Come Join the Fun here at Little Stars. Two locations serving children 6 wks. to 12 yrs. Full day.

Family-owned & operated. Warm, qualified staff teaches basic education concepts. Pre-school for ages 3 & 4. First aid & CPR. Breakfast, lunch & snack. FY, AY, SP, MP, BS, AS, DA, SN, DYF YMCA OF DELAWARE 100 W. 10th St., Ste. 1100, Wilmington, DE 302-221-9622 • www.ymcade.org • Ages: 6 wks.-13 yrs.

Largest children’s programming provider in the state. We offer full-day care, pre-school and before- and after-school care. Call the branch nearest you for specific details: Bear-Glasgow, 302-836-9622, BS, AS, SP, DE ★ Brandywine, 302-478-9622, half-day preschool, BS, AS, SP, DE ★ Central, 302-254-9622, full-day preschool, BS, AS, SP, DE ★ Sussex, 302-296-9622, half-day preschool, extended care, BS, AS, SP, DE ★ Dover, 302-346-9622, before and after care, BS, AS, SP, DE ★ Walnut St., 302-472-9622, full-day preschool, BS, AS, SP, DE ★ Western, 302-453-0123, full-day preschool, before and after care, BS, AS, SP, DE ★

BEAR, NEW CASTLE COUNTY GREAT NEW BEGINNINGS OF ST. ANDREWS Independently Owned & Operated 14 St. Andrews Rd., Bear, DE • 302-838-1000 GNBKids.com • Ages: 8 wks.-School Age • Hours: 6:30am-6pm Serving children 8 weeks through 12 years old. Family-owned and operated since 1999. Staff certified through Dept. of Education. Internet viewing available. Nutritional breakfast, snack and lunch program provided daily. Delaware STARS level 5. Panic Button Security System. FY, AY, SP, MP, BS, AS, DA, DYF, SN, DE, DE ★, NAEYC

HOCKESSIN, NEW CASTLE COUNTY CACC MONTESSORI SCHOOL 1313 Little Baltimore Rd., Hockessin, DE 19707 302-239-2917 • www.caccmont.org • Ages: 3 mos. to K • Hours: 7am-6pm Our Montessori child-directed program provides a low student/teacher ratio and individualized instruction. Our Enrichments include Library, Art, Gym (Zumba & Yoga), Music, Technology, Gardening and Spanish & Chinese instruction. AY, SP, BS/AS, DA, DYF, AMS THE HOCKESSIN MONTESSORI SCHOOL 1000 Old Lancaster Pike, Hockessin, DE 19707 302-234-1240 • www.TheHMS.org • Ages: 12 months - 8th grade • Hours: 8am-3pm The school program follows the Montessori Method and emphasizes mathematics, language, humanities, arts and sciences while stressing life skills. All levels participate in enrichment subjects including STEM, art, library, computers, Spanish, music and physical education, which are developmentally appropriate for the age and ability. AY, SP, MP, BS, AS, DA, PAIS, AMS

MIDDLETOWN, NEW CASTLE COUNTY ST. ANNE’S EPISCOPAL SCHOOL — EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAM 211 Silver Lake Road, Middletown, DE 19709 • 302-378-3179 ext.1 • www.StAnnesDE.org Ages: 3 yrs.-Grade 8 • Hours: 8am-3:15pm; Extended Care: 7am-6pm From Preschool through 8th grade our programs lay the foundation for intellectual growth, moral judgment, leadership, and confidence. Our passionate faculty embraces a progressive child-centered teaching philosophy. Art, music, STEM, Spanish, library, religion, outdoor play.

Member of the National Association of Independent Schools and the National Association of Episcopal Schools. AY, SP, BS/AS, TP, MSA, DE ★

MARCH 2018

PAIS: Accredited by PA Assoc. of Independent Schools MSCES: Accredited by Middle States Commission on Elementary Schools AMS: Accredited by American Montessori Society MSA: Middle States Association of Schools & Colleges

NEW CASTLE, NEW CASTLE COUNTY HELPING HANDS FAMILY CHILDCARE 4 Capo Ln., New Castle, DE 19720 302-836-4748 • www.HelpingHandsFamilyChildcare.com • Ages: 6 wks. – 5 yrs.

Hours: 7am-5:30pm Delaware 4 Stars facility, a warm hearted Christian environment where “Learning Begins At the Door” and PLAY is our main focus. Children participate in daily sing-a -longs, playing musical instruments, dramatic play, arts and crafts, designed for their age and abilities. POC Accepted. FY, AY, SP, MP, BS, AS, SN, DE ★

NEWARK, NEW CASTLE COUNTY EBENEZER PRESCHOOL 525 Polly Drummond Hill Rd., Newark, DE 19711 302-731-3030 • www.ebenezerumcpreschool.org • Ages: 2-4 yrs. • Hours: 9am-12pm Since 1965 we have been providing children with a loving environment which guides their physical, emotional , spiritual and social development. We prepare the child for further learning experiences and for entrance into kindergarten. We welcome children of all faiths while teaching Christ-like ideals. AY, SP, MP, DA, SN, DYF EDU-CARE PRESCHOOL & DAYCARE 345 Polly Drummond Hill Rd., Newark, DE 19711 302-453-7326 • www.educarepreschool.com • Ages: 6 wks. -12 yrs.

Hours: 6:30am-6pm Edu-Care provides both a nurturing and academic atmosphere. We offer a variety of scheduling options. Feel free to stop in at any time for a tour or contact us for more information. FY, AY, SP, BS, AS, DHS*, DE, DE ★ NEWARK DAY NURSERY AND CHILDREN’S CENTER 921 Barksdale Rd., Newark, DE 302-731-4925 • Ages: 6 wks.-14 yrs. • Hours: 6:45am-6pm NAEYC Accredited & DE Stars Level 5. Dedicated to educating, enriching and inspiring children. Highly trained, professional, and experienced teachers, providing a quality program in a warm, family-friendly environment. Developmentally appropriate activities, computers, and separate toddler, preschool and school-age playgrounds provided. POC Accepted. Offers Financial aid in the form of a sliding fee scale. FY, SP, MP, BS, AS, DA, DYF, NAEYC, DE ★ ONE STEP AHEAD CHILD CARE AND PRESCHOOL, INC. 432 Salem Church Rd., Newark, DE 302-292-1162 • Ages: 1 yr.-12 yrs. • Hours: 7am-6pm Devoted, skilled staff assist your child with age-appropriate weekly themed curriculum to enhance their self-esteem and love of learning. All staff CPR and First Aid certified. All teachers are Board of Education certified. Spacious indoor and outdoor play areas.

Secured premises. All classrooms video monitored. Breakfast, lunch and snacks. Full-time and part-time options. Before- and after-school programs serving Thurgood Marshall and McVey School. Sibling discount. Summer camp with weekly field trips. FY, AY, SP, BA, AS, DA, DHS* SUPER KIDS PRESCHOOL & KINDERGARTEN 1411 Old Baltimore Pike, Newark, DE 302-453-9373 • Ages: 6 wks. -K; aftercare thru 3rd grade • Hours: 6:30am-6pm Offering foreign language, computers, age-appropriate, interactive, full-scope academic curriculum. Nurturing atmosphere. Large playground. Summer session runs from June until Labor Day and includes academic review, fun activities and field trips. Licensed staff and faculty.

Insured. Nature Centers. FY, AY, SP, DYF, BS/AS

NORTH WILMINGTON, NEW CASTLE COUNTY CHILDREN’S HOUSE MONTESSORI SCHOOL 2848 Grubb Rd. (at Naaman’s Rd.) Wilmington, DE • 302-529-9259 • ChildrensHouse-de.org info@childrenshouse-de.org • Ages: 15 mos.-Grade 3 • Hours: 7am-6pm Open 7am to 6pm educating children from 15 months through third grade. Montessori certified teachers. Part time/full time schedules 2-5 days a week for the school year. Summer camp also available. Special classes include: Spanish, music, movement & technology. School Tours every Wednesday (9-11am). AY, SP, BS, AS, DA, SN, DE, DE ★

NORTH WILMINGTON, NEW CASTLE COUNTY SAINT EDMOND’S ACADEMY 2120 Veale Rd., Wilmington, DE 302-475-5370 • Stedmondsacademy.org Ages: Pre-K (age 4) through Grade 8 (age 14) Hours: 7:40am (with Before Care Avail. at 7am)-2:45pm (w/ After Care Avail. until 6pm) The Academy educates boys’ hearts and minds in the Holy Cross tradition. Core values of responsibility, independence, positive self-image, integrity and community are integrated with an innovative curriculum. SEA is a special place for young learners to grow. AY, BS, AS, MP (lunch)

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INDEPENDENCE SCHOOL, THE 1300 Paper Mill Rd. Newark, DE 302-239-0332 • TheIndependenceSchool.org • Ages: 3 yrs.-K – Hours: 7am-6pm Early Childhood is the first step of the exceptional Independence School Education. Children engage in developmentally appropriate learning experiences which contribute to their social, emotional and intellectual development. All faculty hold bachelor’s degrees in education with specific expertise in early childhood education. Full-time nurse on campus. AY, SP, BS, AS, DE, MSCES

ST. MICHAEL’S SCHOOL AND NURSERY 700 N. Walnut St., Wilmington, DE 302-656-3389 • www.stmichaelsde.org • Ages: 8wks-PreSchool • Hours: 7am -5:30 pm A 5-Star rated early education center convenient to all downtown Wimington employers.

High quality, nurturing environment that prepares children to learn and succeed in school.

Large facility with 16 classrooms, gross motor play rooms, dining room, library and spacious, age-appropriate ourtdoor play areas. Fresh, nutritious meals prepared daily. Our “whole child” approach supports children’s social-emotional, physical, language and cognitive needs. St. Michael’s values diversity, qualified faculty and family involvement. Vouchers accepted. FY, MP, DA, DHS, DE, DYF, DE ★

WILMINGTON, NEW CASTLE COUNTY CONCORD PRESCHOOL AND CHILDCARE 1800 Fairfax Blvd., Wilmington, DE 302-654-9629 • www.concordpreschoolandchildcare.com Ages: 1 yr.- 9 • Hours: 7:15am-5:45pm Our small class sizes enable valuable one-on-one instruction. Caring teachers and rich curriculum including Computer Tots, Spanish, Music and Gym. Serving ages 1 year through Kindergarten. Summer to age 9. FT, PT, Extended, 7:15am-5:45pm. Founded in 1956. Financial aid, Parent volunteer opportunities available. FY, SP, BS, AS, DA, DHS*

TOWER HILL SCHOOL 2813 W. 17th Street, Wilmington, DE 19806 302-575-0550 • www.towerhill.org • Ages: Age 3-Grade 12 • Hours: 8am -2:40 pm Tower Hill’s preschool provides young learners with a quality education in a warm and supportive environment. Understanding that children gain knowledge through play, nurturing teachers emphasize engaging activities that allow students to explore, experiment and discover the world around them. AY, SP, MP, BS/AS, MSCES

HARVEST CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 2205 Lancaster Ave., Wilmington, DE • 302-654-2313 • www.harvestchrstianacademy.org • Ages: 6wks.-grade 6 • Hours: 6:30am-6pm Description: Little ones infant – preschool will enjoy faith, fun and fellowship at our beautiful center. We provide nutritious meals, transportation for ages 3+ and a safe, loving atmosphere.

Enclosed playground. Excellent curriculum from A Beka. Also, day academy for K-6th. Call to schedule a tour. FY, AY, SP, MP, BS, AS, DA, TP, DE

URSULINE ACADEMY 1106 Pennsylvania Ave., Wilmington, DE 302-658-7158 • Ursuline.org • Ages 3-5 • Hours: 8am-2:45pm Our Early Childhood Programs are unique from any other school by offering two paths to First Grade: Pre-Kindergarten/ Kindergarten & Montessori. Children develop social consciousness by responding to personal, community, & global needs, and by becoming true models of Serviam through Christian love. Full & Half Day/Week Options. AY, SP, BS, AS, TP, DAIS, ADVIS, NAIS

INTERNATIONAL MONTESSORI SCHOOLS, WILMINGTON CAMPUS One Middleton Drive, Wilmington, DE 19808 302-235-2554 imschools.net Ages: 6 wks. - 6 yrs. Hours: 7am-5:30pm Built upon a strong foundation of respect, IMSchools, Wilmington Campus, in accord with authentic Montessori methodology, embraces and celebrates the uniqueness of each child’s spirit and learning style. Fully certified Montessori teachers offer the richest experiences for children from 6 weeks through 6 years to ensure the healthiest of development and achievement of academic excellence. FY, AY, SP, MP, BS, AS, DA, SN, DHS*, DE

WILMINGTON FRIENDS SCHOOL PRESCHOOL 101 School Road, Wilmington, DE 302-576-2930 • Ages: 2 yrs.-4 yrs. • Hours: 7:30am-6pm The Wilmington Friends Reggio Emilia inspired preschool offers experiences to stimulate intellectual, emotional and social development. The program is guided, in the Quaker tradition, by values of respect for each individual and responsibility as members of a community. AY, FY, AS, BS, SP, MSCES

SAINT ANTHONY OF PADUA GRADE SCHOOL 1715 W. Ninth St. Wilmington DE 302-421-3743 • www.school.stanthonynet.org • Ages: PreK-8th grade Hours: 7:30am-3pm Preschool 3 and 4 year olds through Eighth Grade (faith-based curriculum). Middle States Accredited. Before care and after care provided. Full-service cafeteria. State of the Art Science and Computer Labs. AY, MP, BS, AS

WILMINGTON MONTESSORI SCHOOL 1400 Harvey Rd., Wilmington, DE 302-475-0555 • wmsde.org • admissions@wmsde.org Ages: 12 mos.-12 yrs. • Hours: 7am-6pm Students follow their passions, discover initiative from within and take ownership of their learning; a place that embraces the power of technology for teaching, exploring, engaging and collaborating. With a diverse student body and a challenging curriculum that promotes mutual respect and a global perspective, WMS graduates are prepared to move fearlessly into the world. FY, AY, SP, BS, AS, DA, SN, DYF, NAEYC, DE ★, AMS

ST. DAVID’S EPISCOPAL DAY SCHOOL 2320 Grubb Rd., Wilmington, DE 19810 302-475-3747 • www.stdavidsdayschoolde.org • stdavidskidsde@outlook.com Ages: 2,3, & 4 (must have reached age by August 31 if starting school in September) Hours: Preschool 9-12; Full day 7:30 – 5:45; 2, 3 or 5 day options A St. David’s Episcopal Church outreach, conveniently located in Brandywine Hundred. Developmental Movement class daily, developmentally appropriate curriculum. 2 playgrounds, weekly chapel services. Staff certified CPR & First Aid. Some financial aid . Preschool 9am-12pm; Full day 7:30-5:45; 2, 3 or 5 day options. POC and credit cards accepted. Parent volunteer opportunitites and financial aid available. FY, AY, SP, BS/AS, DA, TP, SN, DHS*, DYF, NAEYC, PAIS, MSCES, AMS

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MARCH 2018

WILMINGTON BALLET Summer Princess Camp Princess camp offers Creative Dance and basic ballet moves, fairytale princess stories, snacks, crafts and an end-of-the-week performance. Ages 3-6

NOW ENROLLING for Summer 2018!

302.655.1004 | WILMINGTONBALLET.ORG