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November 2018 • free Pennsylvania

YEARS 9 2

A Seat at the Table

An Allergy-Free Feast • The Adoption Option Gifted and LD • Sensory-Friendly Shows • School Survey Magazines • Guides • Events • Facebook • Twitter • Pinterest • Instagram

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Department of

Public Health C I T Y

O F

P H I L A D E L P H I A

Contents

NOVEMBER 2018 • Vol. 29, No. 11

In This Issue 4 Top STEM Toys 6 Kids’ Music 8 Ready the Empty Nest 10 Adoption Option 12 Genetic Testing 14 Allergy-friendly Feast 16 Dropping AP 16 Win It! 32 MomSpeak Sneak Peek SpecialKids 18 Gifted and LD 20 LD School Survey 24 Sensory-friendly Performancs 26 Top Venues for SK Families

Art for All

4

14

Family Fun 28 Day-by-Day Calendar Ad Sections 3 Events; 13 Health; 17 Education 19 Special Needs; 33 Child Care 34 Bulletin Board

24

SensoryFriendly Mornings Kids 12 and under are always free Designed for families with children on the autism spectrum or who have other sensory sensitivities.

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MK Memo

The Science of Play

STEM Toys: Our Top Picks of 2018 Our hypothesis is simple: The emphasis in recent years on the importance of science, technology, engineering and math has permeated the world of toys, resulting in a slew of fantastic playsets for all ages. In celebration of National STEM Month, here are the year’s hottest toys that are as fun as they are educational.

Think & Learn Rocktopus Fisher-Price; 3+; $59.99 This sea creature lets preschoolers explore a variety of musical styles while learning the sounds of various instruments, discovering fun facts and composing rhythmic patterns. Your mini maestro will be so tuned into the jam session that she may not realize she’s practicing math concepts such as counting, addition, subtraction and pattern recognition.

Sky Track Playset Magformers; 3+; $99.99 The sky’s the limit with this 44-piece set in which kids build a roller coaster that twists, turns and loops. Take the space shuttle for a ride up the lift elevator, then watch it zoom around the track. Each geometric shape contains magnets that never reject, so there’s no need for budding builders to limit their creativity. See Win It! p. 16.

Circuit Conductor Kit Pai Technology; 4+; $69.99 Twelve electrical function blocks and six insulated magnetic wires let little ones build circuits, from basic setups to parallel circuits. Watch as the blocks light up, make sound and move, and be sure to check out the free app for tutorials. See Win It! p. 16.

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Kids First Coding and Robotics Science Kit Thames & Kosmos; 4+; $129.95 Don’t be fooled by the peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich — it’s actually a robot that imparts the principles of coding with no tablet or smartphone needed. Six storylines, each with a different series of challenges, help users practice what they learned. As for the “sandwich”? It can be programmed to move, play sounds, light up and activate its output gear.

Dash Smart Robot Wonder Workshop; 5+; $149.99 This kid-centric robot moves, responds to voice commands and acts as an open-ended learning platform that allows users to explore loops, events, conditions and sequences.

Add-on apps create new behaviors for Dash, as well as educational possibilities.

Boolean Box Educational Computer Kit Boolean Girl; 7+; $149.99 This build-it-yourself computer engineering kit geared toward girls is equipped with Raspberry Pi — a basic computer often used to teach coding — and software, plus a mouse and keyboard.

No internet connection is necessary; just connect the kit to an HDMIcapable TV and your child is ready to tackle hundreds of simple projects created by experts.

Visit MetroKids.com/StemToys to check out more top picks.

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Music

Tasty Songs Kids Will Eat Up

By Kathy O’Connell In this food-focused time of year, a great way to discover new artists is by tasting their individual food songs.

If you’re hungry for something seasonal, another bountiful year for kids’ music comes to a close with a couple of new CDs with non-traditional approaches to fall and winter.

Sing of pizza and tofurkey

Thanksgiving is a reminder that food has traditionally been a go-to subject for kids’ music. Tom Glazer’s 1962 creation “On Top of Spaghetti” meets punk on Yosi’s What’s Eatin’ Yosi. His New Jersey mates Ernie and Neal celebrate kids’ classic “Macaroni and Cheese,” on their Rock and Roll Band CD. Cathy Fink & Marcy Marxer appeal with Cheryl Wheeler’s song “Potato” and more on their Grammy-winning album Bon Appetit . Joanie Leeds meets new fans every November with “The Tofurkey Song,” from the album What A Zoo! Leeds also serves a slice of rock with “Pizza” all year long. For some context on how food gets to the table, there’s “Daddy Was a Migrant Worker” from 123Andres’ album ¡Uno, Dos, Tres Con Andrés! En Español Y En Inglés.

Entire albums around food work best when melody, wit and rhythm are prioritized over healthy-eating lessons. Dark Pie Concerns from Gustafer Yellowgold is a food-centric CD/DVD aimed at young kids that entertains the whole family. Morgan Taylor’s Grammynominated alter ego has spawned a worldwide fan base around his gentle wordplay and imagination, and Audible just released I’m from the Sun: The Gustafer Yellowgold Story.

The Bobs acapella group’s founder Gunnar Madsen’s I am Your Food serves up quirky wit. This is easily one of my favorite CDs of 2018. With collaborators like Bill Harley and Frances England, this collection serves up funny food songs like “Diet of Worms,” “Egg Salad in the Sun” (a brilliant Doors parody) and “10,000 Pancakes.” Older kids (8+) and their parents will relate on many levels.

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Get in a holiday, winter mood A couple of original seasonal choices round out this month.

Lucy Kalantari’s It’s the Holidays! is a five-song download of holiday tunes, from Halloween to New Year’s Day. This joyous collection should lead you to her latest full-length CD, All the Sounds.

The Brooklyn-based singer turns her jazz-flavored voice to “all the sounds that bring us together.” With Grammy winner Secret Agent 23 Skidoo, her “Are You Afraid of the Dark?” offers an empowering approach to a generational question.

Finally, my favorite 2018 album has arrived in time for all winter holidays! Grammy winners The Okee Dokee Brothers’ new album/book Winterland captures the warm feelings around this time of year in an inclusive secular collection of cold-weather brilliance. The album leans toward no specific holidays, yet leaves you feeling like you got a present. “The bitter cold makes the bitter sweet” is a theme throughout the CD, served up in various styles. “Snowpeople” is a lovely argument against gender conformity in dressing snowpeople that extends far beyond temperature or calendar. “Keep Me Warm” is a danceable love song that deserves to be a classic.

Kathy O’Connell is a contributing writer to MetroKids and host of the Peabody award-winning Kids Corner, on air MondayThursday from 7-8pm on WXPN 88.5 FM.

Go to MetroKids.com/kidsmusic for the full music review, plus links and videos for these CDs.

NOVEMBER 2018

Enchanted Winter Day

December 1, 10:00 am–3:00 pm

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Welcome the holiday season with a day of family fun when you join us for Enchanted Winter Day at Winterthur! Featuring festive decorations inside and outside, holiday treats, crafts perfect for gift-giving, a garden tram “sleigh ride,” a holiday feature film, and more!

Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library • Tickets at 800.448.3883 or winterthur.org/enchantedwinterday

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MetroKids.com 7

Mom Matters

Prepare for the Empty Nest That “they don’t need me” feeling starts in high school.

By Kimberly Yavorski From the moment we become parents, our lives change. By necessity, we make sacrifices for our children. Family activities and even friendships often revolve around children’s interests, so our lives change when they leave. Even when we’re giddy at the thought of all that free time, their absence is sorely felt.

Tom Lenihan, a widowed single dad of a college senior from Ambler, PA anticipated this. In the days that led up to high school graduation “I could see my role as parent was going to drastically change. I wasn’t going to be needed. That was devastating,” he says.

tells me I don’t need to know. I think about how I was and tell myself she’ll come back.”

On the other hand, she says, she and her husband can now be spontaneous. “We are able to just go out and see a movie in the afternoon. That’s something we haven’t done in years.”

She also welcomes her “me time” in whatever form that takes.

After the kids left, she started “de-nesting.” She finally emptied a box that had been sitting for 15 years, which she found therapeutic. “At 10 in the morning,” she says, “I sat and sorted Legos.”

She catches up on projects and plans to volunteer and travel; she looks forward to one-on-one visits with her father.

Anticipate the separation

A new career path

Jodi Silverman, certified life coach and founder of Moms Who Dare in Maple Glen, PA, says the empty nest often begins as early as high school, when kids start to need parents less. She encourages moms “to make space in their lives for themselves as soon as they possibly can.” This can be something simple like read a book, go to the gym or take a class.

A mom of a college student and a college grad, Silverman says, “The way we ‘mom’ needs to shift. Expect to feel sad,” she says.

“That’s okay. Have that pity party, but then pick yourself up and go do something. This is the beginning of something great for everybody. We send our kids off to do great things. We too can grow, learn and meet new people.”

Sheryl Ott, founder of Montana-based Dare to Detour, organizes an annual retreat to help women discover or reconnect with their passions. She says she expected to miss her kids when they went away to school, but “was surprised by how empty the house felt. I did not expect a physical reaction,” she says. “It felt like the vibrancy came down about five notches.”

‘I don’t know how to cook less’

Many parents agree that the everyday changes are a challenge. Jyothi Prasad, a mother of two college students in Newark, DE, says, “I don’t know how to cook less. I wonder if I need smaller pans. No matter what I make, there’s so much. My freezer now has a lot of food.”

Lenihan says the lack of communication and changed dynamic with his daughter is another adjustment. He remembers something similar from his college years, but, as a parent, it’s tough. His daughter now wants him to be her friend, but he’s not ready to go from parent to buddy.

Prasad has had a similar experience.

“I see them when they need something,” she jokes. “I miss them. I miss the banter.

I miss the company. Right now, my daughter wants to be left alone. She used to tell me everything; now she

8 MetroKids.com

Going away to college is a life change for students and parents alike. It’s okay for parents to ask what they want out of life now.

Silverman tells moms to “dare to shift the focus to yourself.

Reconnect with yourself, your community, your spouse, your dreams. Try new things. Change something up a bit.” On a professional level, ask yourself, “Do I really enjoy what I am doing or is it just work?” Maybe it’s time to pursue that promotion that involves more travel or change careers.

Ott says she decided to “do something for myself and make money doing it” after 18 years as a stay-at-home mom. She took a class called “What’s Next” where a homework assignment led to the creation of Dare to Detour when she realized she needed “a detour from my day to day.”

Silverman’s search for community led to the creation of Moms Who Dare. “At all stages, from PreK through college, moms look for community. The empty nest is not a time to go it alone. Find other moms. Grow, learn and have fun with them.”

This new phase of life is not an end, but a beginning.

Kimberly Yavorski is a freelance writer based in Ambler, PA.

NOVEMBER 2018

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MetroKids.com 9

Parenting

The Adoption Option International adoptions in decline, but domestic alternatives abound.

By Malia Jacobson When it comes to adoption, there’s no such thing as “normal.” Just ask Christina and Kevin Kindt. When they had a biological child, they were already parents to three other children: a five-year-old and threeyear-old adopted as infants from foster care, and a one-year-old whose adoption from foster care was still in progress.

Though not the typical family, the Kindts are far from alone. According to the Evan B. Donaldson Adoption Institute, 2 percent of American children are adopted, which likely means adoption touches most families, schools and communities across the country.

Modern adoptive parents and adoptees won’t encounter many of the old stigmas and biases that used to besiege adoptions.

Not long ago, “You’re adopted!” was the ultimate childhood insult, birth mothers were shamed into hiding the pregnancy and lying about the birth, and adoptive parents kept the matter a closely guarded family secret.

After being shrouded in silence and secrecy for most of its history, adoption is coming out of the shadows as it enters the mainstream, according to Adam Pertman,

author of Adoption Nation: How the Adoption Revolution is Transforming our Families — and America.

But would-be adoptive parents still face challenges. They must choose which type of adoption to pursue and figure out how to pay mounting fees and navigate the exploding world of online adoption information.

Out of the shadows

Today, only 5 percent of adoptions are “closed adoptions” in which the birth parents and adoptive parents have no contact and birth records are sealed. The 95 percent of the agencies that offer open adoptions allow for ongoing contact between the adoptive family and the birth parents.

That’s good news for everyone. Research from the Donaldson Institute shows that open adoptions are associated with greater satisfaction. Birth mothers who have ongoing contact with their children experience less grief and greater peace of mind and adoptees have access to their biological families and medical histories.

In international adoptions, ongoing contact between birth parents and adopted children can be harder to arrange due to logistics, language barriers, and a host of legal and other complications. But those, too, are slowly cracking open.

International adoptions

Those who dream of international adoption, like Lacey Yantis and Scott Blank who traveled to Ethiopia earlier this year to adopt their son Ermias, 1, face a number of hurdles.

Among them is the choice of an adoption site from the dwindling

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list of countries open to U.S. adoptions.

Under tighter regulations, the number of international adoptions is in decline. After an historic high of 22,884 in 2004, it fell to 12,753 in 2009.

Russia, one of the top countries for American parents, is now closed to U.S. adoptions, as is Guatemala, Haiti, Rwanda and Vietnam. China and Ethiopia have cut adoptions drastically and lengthened waiting times.

The waiting game adds costs as attorney and agency fees pile up. The Donaldson Institute reports costs of up to $25,000 for visas, documents and fees charged by the home country.

Yantis says her family’s adoption fees were between $25,000 and $30,000.

Domestic adoptions

Domestic adoptions can be relatively quick. Adoptive Families magazine says 34 percent of U.S. parents who adopt a newborn domestically were matched with a child within three months; 19 percent brought their baby home in four to six months.

Domestic adoptions can be private, through an attorney, adoption facilitator or agency, or public, through the foster-care system.

The Donaldson Institute estimates domestic-adoption costs for agency and private adoptions at $4,000 to $30,000. It’s a wide range that includes costs for home studies, post-adoption supervision, and court fees.

Newborn vs. older

Newborn adoptions through the foster system are relatively rare — only 2 percent of children adopted through the public system are newborns, according to the Donaldson Institute.

Thanks in part to federal incentives enacted during the Clinton administration, foster-care adoptions increased 40 percent between 1995-1998. By 2008, 55,000 children were adopted from foster care.

NOVEMBER 2018

Parenting

continued from p. 6

Foster-care adoptions aren’t as prohibitively expensive as other types of adoption — there are no agency fees, legal fees are often minimal and reimbursed by the state, and parents can claim the adoption tax credit (as can parents who adopt internationally or through an agency or attorney).

Build a family

Despite the obstacles, parents can follow their heart to build a family that’s uniquely their own. The Kindts may not be a cookie-cutter clan, but that doesn’t bother their happy children in the least. Instead, Elizabeth is puzzling over her new brother’s birth.

“Adoption is so normal to her, that she’s trying to figure out why this baby doesn’t need to be adopted,” says Christina. “One day, she figured it out, though, and told everyone ‘Mommy grew a baby in her tummy. And he’s already adopted!’”

Malia Jacobson is a nationally published parenting journalist and mom of three.

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MetroKids.com 11

Health

Baby Genes The growth in tests you can get before, during and after pregnancy

By Lynda Dell “When I discovered that I was pregnant with Margot, I was overcome with happiness to know that our family would be growing again,” says Rebecca Weiss of Huntingdon Valley, PA. Genetic counseling wasn’t even suggested six years ago when her first daughter was born; it wasn’t offered two years ago when her son was born either. “But then magically when I hit 35, all of the sudden, they were bringing up genetic counseling and screening,” says Weiss.

genetic conditions, at a reduced cost and with quicker results, says Lama Elkhoury, director of genetic counseling services at Sema4, a genetic-testing venture of Mount Sinai Health System, based in Stamford, Conn.

“Five or six years ago, to sequence just one gene could cost about $2,000 and take six-to-eight weeks to get the results back,” she says. “Now we can sequence hundreds of genes in carrier screening panels, with rapid turnaround time and at more affordable rates due to decreased sequencing costs.”

Despite the reduced costs, the decision to be tested sometimes depends on whether the family’s health-care coverage will pay for it.

“Often genetic testing is driven by the patient’s preference and insurance provider,” says Schindewolf.

Family planning Field grows quickly

Part of the reason, in addition to her age, is that genetic testing has advanced so quickly.

“Since screening is changing yearly, it can be overwhelming for patients to even know which tests are offered,” explains Erica Schindewolf, a genetic counselor at the Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. “If you were pregnant before, you might think you know, but there could be another option that came into the pipeline.”

Despite the increase in the number of genetic tests, it’s important to remember that the chance your baby will have a birth defect is usually 3 to 5 percent, says Zohra Ali-Khan Catts, director of cancer genetic counseling at Christiana Care Health System’s Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute in Newark, DE.

Costs, time continue to fall

Advancements in technology have led to more accurate testing for specific

Ideally, the best time to review your family’s health history is before you are pregnant.

A genetic screening determines if you and your partner are carriers for some of the most common genetic conditions that may affect the outcome of pregnancies and the likelihood of passing the mutation to your baby, explains Schindewolf.

Many families mistakenly believe a genetic screening can check for all genetic conditions.

“It doesn’t, it only screens for 100 or 200 very selective conditions, but it’s definitely a good baseline risk assessment,” says Schindewolf, especially if you are part of a population that has a high frequency for some diseases, such as TaySachs among those of Ashkenazi Jewish descent.

‘Maybe we should slow down’

While it is possible to be screened for hundreds of conditions, should you?

Richard Fischer, MD, division head of maternal-fetal medicine at Cooper University Hospital of NJ, follows the recommendations of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, which suggests screening for the most commonly tested genetic conditions: cystic fibrosis, hemoglobinopathies, such as sickle-cell disease, and spinal muscular atrophy.

“The concern is that one lab tries to outdo the other by saying they have more tests, more screening, more detection, when the process has not been standardized,” Fischer says. “We are relying on the claims of these commercial companies to be the newest and the greatest.”

Screening may not be accurate for some rare diseases, he notes, which could cause patient anxiety, especially because the fetus cannot be tested to check for some conditions.

“Maybe we should slow down and just do the standard tests, unless there’s something in the family or a certain ethnic background that suggest you are at higher risk,” he says.

Prenatal screening

Once you are pregnant, testing can be done on the fetus for certain conditions.

The Sequential screen that uses a blood test and ultrasound, done between 11 and 14 weeks and 16 to 18 weeks, detects about 99 percent of Down syndrome cases with a 3.5 percent false-positive rate, says Fischer, and can detect about half of other chromosomal abnormalities.

The Non-Invasive Prenatal Test (NIPT) is also offered to all expectant moms but is

continued on p. 23 12 MetroKids.com

NOVEMBER 2018

Give HER a leg up, even before SHE can walk

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@shrinersphilly MetroKids.com 13

An Allergy-friendly

Feast

By Michele Haddon Thanksgiving can be a special time for friends and family as they gather around a large feast and reflect on everything for which they are grateful. But when someone with food allergies sits down at the table it can feel like a walk through a minefield.

“Individuals or parents of children with food allergies are in a terribly awkward situation during the holidays,” explains Gina Clowes, national director for training and outreach for Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE), a food-allergy advocacy organization. “They have to get up their nerve to talk to the host.

They have to assess if they can truly trust that the host can provide a safe meal.”

The guest with allergies might wonder: Will the host be offended if we volunteer to bring part of the meal? Or eat in advance? Or decline to eat something?

According to FARE, up to 15 million Americans have food allergies, including 5.9 million children. With common ingredients like milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, soy, fish and shellfish at the top of the list of 170 food allergens, holiday meals can be a difficult time for many.

Local parents and food experts have advice on how you can make a Thanksgiving meal that is safe and delicious for all your guests.

Ask questions, read labels

Allison Horvath, of Newark DE, has a son with severe dairy and tree-nut allergies and she emphasizes the importance

14 MetroKids.com

of communication.

“If you are not sure about something, ask. Read all labels,” says Horvath. “Understand the person’s food allergies and the severity of them. We are not trying to inconvenience you. We are just trying to keep our loved one safe.”

Philadelphia-native Laura Hahn, a gluten-free chef, author and winner of NBC10’s Next Local TV Chef, lives with celiac disease. While not a food allergy, the disease forces Hahn to avoid gluten, which can be found in wheat, rye, barley and, sometimes, oats.

Many store-bought products contain gluten, including cranberry sauce and cream of mushroom soup.

“Gravy is a huge one,” she adds. “Over the past year, a lot of the powder gravy mixes have a gluten-free option.”

thing as flour and it’s gluten free,” says Hahn.

Fortunately, alternatives are easier to find, says Alyson Harris, a Claymont, DE mom of two kids with dairy allergies.

“Over the last four years, some amazing butter and milk substitutes have become available and are not too much more expensive,” says Harris. “My favorite is garlic mashed potatoes made with a dash of soy milk and Earth Balance butter substitute. But watch for flavored or sweetened milks; they are terrible in potatoes.”

Since she cooks for her daughter who has egg and soy allergies, Jennifer Vichko, of Yardley PA, has found a few tricks, such as coconut aminos to substitute for soy sauce, and canola, coconut or olive oil instead of vegetable oil.

“My family has accepted our new normal of being egg and soy free and no one feels as if it sacrifices flavor,” says Vichko.

“And my daughter feels included and able to enjoy the same foods as the rest of our family.”

Know the source

Make simple substitutions

If you cook from scratch, many ingredients can be substituted to make recipes allergy-friendly.

“If you make gravy at home, I recommend cornstarch. It does the same exact

Be cautious when it comes to storebought items, particularly baked goods and chocolate.

“Desserts are where it becomes tricky,” warns Lyn Vijayendran, of Doylestown, PA, whose son has nut allergies.

“I ask hosts questions about pies and casseroles especially, as they are notorious for either ‘hidden’ nuts in the food or were made near nuts and peanuts,” says

NOVEMBER 2018

Vijayendran. “Ensure that desserts were not made in a facility where nut and peanut desserts are made, which, honestly, rules out most bakeries.”

How the ingredients are handled before they arrive at the bakery is important too.

“Always watch out for sourcing,” explains Jen Kremer, manager at Sweet Freedom Bakery, a gluten-free, vegan, soy-free, corn-free, peanut-free, refined-sugar-free, kosher bakery in Philadelphia. “You want to make sure that from harvest, to milling, to storage and packaging, that great care has been taken to keep the food safe.”

Avoid cross-contamination

Be sure to avoid cross-contamination from prep to clean up, says Jax Peters Lowell, author of Against the Grain, The Gluten-Free Bible, “Never let people jump up and clear the table for you,” warns Lowell. “Sweetly turn down all offers of packing leftovers into refrigerator containers. This is a landmine of cross contamination — glutenous spoons filling gluten-free containers, knives coated in cake crumbs — you get the idea.”

Let your creative side take over

Joshua Bullock, owner of Farmer’s Keep, a Philadelphia restaurant that boasts a gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free, nut-free, and shellfish-free menu, says he loves the challenge to create delicious meals anyone can enjoy.

Bullock, who hosts Thanksgiving every other year and has cousins and a sister with food allergies, says he’s found several ways to make traditional dishes free of allergens, like homemade cornbread for stuffing and starchy potato water to add creaminess to mashed potatoes instead of milk or butter.

“For the green-bean casserole we’ll use soymilk and thicken that with cornstarch slurry. For the crispy onions on top, I like to use fresh onions, like a shallot, buy a gluten-free flour, dredge them in that, throw them in the oil and crisp them,” he explains.

Most important, enjoy yourself. “Don’t feel like you have to make certain foods.

Think of alternatives. Think outside that traditional Thanksgiving box. That’s one of the best things about food, is you can have fun,” he says.

ALL SEVEN HARRY POTTER BOOKS IN SEVENTY HILARIOUS MINUTES! “YOU’RE GONNA LOVE THIS SHOW”

INGREDIENTS:

7 cups gluten-free bread cubes 3/4 cup chopped onion 1/3 cup chopped celery 1/3 cup chopped carrot 3/4 stick butter 2 tbsp dry parsley 1/2 tbsp sage 1 1/2 cup gluten-free chicken stock or turkey stock 1/2 cup dried cranberries or raisins Bake bread cubes at 400 degrees for 8-10 minutes.

Remove from oven and let cool. Melt butter and sauté onion, carrot and celery. Allow veggies to cool.

Combine everything in a large bowl. Add dry herbs and fruit. Mix by hand.

Add broth to the bread mixture 1/2 cup at a time until the bread is moist but not soggy. Add the egg and mix.

Place mixture in a sprayed baking dish and bake for 30 minutes.

Once golden brown remove and serve hot.

Source: Laura Hahn Find more recipes and tips at MetroKids.com/Allergy-FriendlyMeal.

Michele Haddon is a freelance writer based in Doylestown, PA.

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Education

Schools Go AP Free

Win It!

FALL FREEBIES

Student stress over AP tests prompts some high schools to back off.

By Ben Lowenthal Many high schools brag about the number of Advanced Placement courses they offer, but, in recent years, a few schools have gone the opposite direction and dropped AP classes altogether.

AP courses allow students to experience the rigor of college-level courses and demonstrate to college-admissions committees that the applicant is able to excel in such classes.

Students can also earn college credit if they score well on the AP tests based on the courses, which can save families thousands in tuition.

The number of high schools that offer AP courses grew steadily after they were introduced in the 1950s but not all schools continue to expand their AP offerings.

The Haverford School in Haverford, PA and Westtown School in West Chester, PA, dropped AP courses in 2005; The Baldwin School in Bryn Mawr, PA stopped AP instruction 2010.

‘It’s a lot of pressure to put on a kid’

“It makes it really hard to be a student,” Westtown director of college counseling Jessica Smith says. “You feel like you have to take all these tests and score really well, but what’s far more important is how you do in school. It’s a lot of pressure to put on a kid and taking away that AP designation takes off some pressure.”

Laura Blankenship, assistant head of school at Baldwin, says AP courses aren’t the best way for students to learn or prepare for college-level academics.

“As an educator, you can see that a lot of the AP courses are very focused on memorizing facts and spitting them back out on tests,” Blankenship says. “Some are about applying knowledge, but increasingly what you need in college, and beyond, is the ability to have a deeper understanding.”

The pushback against AP is not just in this region. Eight independent schools in the Washington, DC area announced over the summer that they would drop the courses from their curriculums by 2022. Their objection is that AP courses value a high intake of information over a deeper understanding of the topics, all so that students can get a good grade on a test.

College Board defends AP classes

Still, more than 20,000 schools keep AP in their curriculum and the College Board, which created the Advanced Placement program, defended it after the announcement by the Washington DC schools.

“Over the past decade, the students at these independent schools have taken over 8,800 AP exams and potentially earned more than 11,700 credit hours at the colleges to which they sent their AP scores, equating to at least $5 million in tuition savings for families,” says Maria Alcon-Heraux, director of media relations for College Board.

AP exams are also a crucial indicator for how a student will perform in college, she says.

“Research consistently shows that students who earn a 3 or higher on AP exams earn higher GPAs in college, get a head start in their majors, are likely able to graduate in 4 years and have higher graduation rates,” Alcon-Heraux says.

Some schools, like The Lawrenceville School in Lawrenceville, NJ, have dropped the AP label but still offer courses that prepare students to take the AP tests.

“Parents and kids were counting numbers of APs that they were taking,” says David Laws, dean of academics at Lawrenceville. “Removing the designation took a lot of pressure off. ” Colleges want to see that a student challenged himself, regardless of what the class is called..

“They want to see that students are taking the most rigorous courses that they can be successful in,” says Laws.

Ben Lowenthal is a MetroKids intern from Temple University.

16 MetroKids.com

Snag the Magformers Sky Track Playset* (3+) and the Circuit Conductor Kit* (4+) featured in our roundup of the year’s hottest STEM toys on p. 4. ($170) The Little Book of You is a personalized, illustrated baby book that features unique details — gathered from an online questionnaire — about the day your child was born, details on the historical significance of her birthday, a customized family tree and a letter from you to your little one ($49.95) The holidays are almost here; make sure the kids are prepared with the Portable North Pole* bundle, including Do-Good Elf, Santa’s Letter Kit, the 24 Sleeps Until Christmas book and a baby reindeer plush. ($63.99)

12

Starts Dec. 3rd!

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Log on to MetroKids.com/winit and enter to win your favorite prize, beginning Nov. 1. Prizes marked with an asterisk (*) must be picked up at the MetroKids office in Center City. Other prizes will be mailed by the provider to the address given on the entry form.

NOVEMBER 2018

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MetroKids.com 17

SpecialKids

Twice Exceptional Gifted students with ADHD, autism or dyslexia.

By Terri Akman When a bright college freshman from an extremely academic family flunked out of college by the midterm of her freshman year, she felt ashamed. She always felt like the smartest person in the class, but somehow couldn’t turn her homework in on time.

An evaluation determined that she had a 140 IQ, but also had attention deficit disorder (ADHD). Once her ADHD was treated and she was able to concentrate on her homework, she went back to college and graduated with an A average.

She is one of an estimated 350,000 children in the US between 5 and 18 years old who are considered twice-exceptional — both gifted and with a special need or disability, says Peter Wiley, a psychologist in Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences as well as in its Center for Management of ADHD. These students typically have an IQ of about 130 — the top 2 percent — but may have retention problems with reading or math due to ADHD, for example. Dyslexia can inhibit their reading; autism can affect them socially.

“We don’t ever want to say that a child who is gifted, but who is not doing well, is lazy if the real explanation is she has a learning disability or ADHD,” says Wiley. “That just knocks the child’s self-esteem even lower.

“Conversely, if they have ADHD or a learning disability, it should not preclude them from being in the gifted program.”

How gifted students are identified

Twice-exceptional students are often identified first as gifted and then additional tests reveal a deficit. Brandywine School District in Wilmington, DE tests all students between PreK and Kindergarten to identify gifted children. Those scores are reviewed by a Gifted Education Panel Review team. Another assessment is done in kindergarten and students continue to be monitored for giftedness individually through 8th grade.

“Any person — a teacher, parent or counselor — can refer a student to be reviewed by the panel,” says Cary Riches, director of curriculum, instruction and assessment PreK to 12 for Brandywine. “We spend a minimum of a halfhour on every student looking at exact evidence — student work and teachers speaking to the student’s specific needs.”

In the Moorestown Township Public Schools, staff keep an eye out for students who may show an expertise in a particular discipline, says Carole Butler, director of curriculum and instruction for the district. “If a parent notifies us first, we will

18 MetroKids.com

work with the parent to come up with a solution that meets the needs of the child.” she says. “Each year, we do an annual review of the child to determine the next course of action.”

Sometimes a student with an educational deficit, such as a learning disability or physical impairment, proves to be exceptional in another area. Many people, famous for a particular talent, have had deficits, including Helen Keller, who was deaf and blind, and Albert Einstein and Tom Cruise, both of whom were diagnosed with dyslexia.

Parent advocates

Parents know their children best and are often their strongest advocates. Lisa Lawson, director of special education and student support services for Brandywine, used as an example a gifted student whose need for A’s caused her to literally pull her hair out and her parents turned to the school for help. “We were addressing her social/emotional health and needs at the same time that we were trying to enable her to continue her high-level work.”

The National Association of Gifted Children encourages parents to help keep their twice-exceptional students organized through checklists and frequent reminders of due dates.

Address challenges

Twice-exceptional students can feel frustrated; they know they are bright, but still struggle to read or concentrate, for example.

That can lead to low self-esteem. He might think, “I’m a failure.

I seem to have all this talent but I can’t get the job done,” says Wiley.

They can also feel socially isolated. Though exceptionally bright, students on the autism spectrum may struggle with the social skills needed to understand body language, sarcasm and abstract concepts. They may require specific specialized instruction in those areas to be able to fit in with their peers.

Teachers can also adjust the curriculum to fit a particular student’s needs to keep that child interested and motivated. “For example, with a science unit, a student could do a rigorous project where she chooses an area of interest related to the core lesson,” says Riches. “The teacher is trying to build a unit where the student has the opportunity to use a different lens.”

Terri Akman is a contributing writer to MetroKids.

NOVEMBER 2018

Potential gears up to eliminate wait list Potential’s goal is to meet the growing needs of children and adults diagnosed with autism and you can help by either donating, or joining their staff of behavior technicians.

Since Medicaid approved reimbursement for Potential’s ABA services, we will no longer have to turn anyone away due to lack of funding, only due to lack of staffing. In response, our goal is to double the number of clients served by 2021, reducing substantially, or eliminating our client waiting list.

Children that receive early intensive behavior intervention (EIBI) have the best chance of catching up to their typical peers by the time they start school, avoiding the need for special education. Our approach entails a rigorous 4-week training program that enables our behavior technicians to reach a higher level of certification which is known nationally as Registered Behavior Technicians (RBT®) and elevates the quality of treatment to our clients.

Potential, a non-profit organization, was founded in 2006 by Kristine Quinby and helps children and adults with autism reach their full educational, social and emotional potential, applying and developing innovative evidence based approaches.

For more information www.potentialinc.org 215.579.0670

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NOVEMBER 2018

Please register at laurelschoolprinceton.org The Laurel School of Princeton is an independent, co-educational day school for students in grades 1-8. Our research-based and multisensory approach transforms struggling readers into confident students who love coming to school and who thrive both academically and socially.

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MetroKids.com 19

2018-2019 Learning Differences School Survey A traditional classroom might not always be the best choice for a child with special needs. A school that specializes in methods tailored to students with Learning Differences can help them reach their full potential.

Here is a guide to Pennsylvania schools that can help if your child has been diagnosed with learning challenges such as

KEY

ABA = Applied Behavior Analysis, behavior improvement through interventions based on learning theory Academic Club = Learning model emphasizes the arts and hands-on experiential learning Association Method = Phonics-based, multisensory curriculum to teach oral and written communication Orton-Gillingham = Multisensory, sequential, language-based reading approach PBIS = Positive Behavioral Intervention & Supports, evidence-based interventions to enhance learning and behavior Read 180 = Three-pronged strategic intervention for struggling readers Sanctuary Model = Trauma-informed approach to creating change SPA = Safe & Positive Approaches, comprehensive crisis-prevention program T2C = Transition to college Wilson Reading = Structured, remedial research-based reading & writing program

SUPPORT SERVICES = Medical staff/Nursing = Counseling = Art Therapy = Animal/Dog Therapy = Hippotherapy = Music Therapy OT = Occupational Therapy PT = Physical Therapy ST = Speech Therapy

SPECIAL NEEDS SERVED

OTHER SERVICES = Residential = Extended Day = Summer Program = Transportation

AIM Academy Conshohocken, PA Aimpa.org

After you identify schools of interest, arrange a tour of each facility. An in-person visit is the best way to confirm whether a school is right for your child.

LEARNING STRATEGIES & VOCATIONAL ABBREVIATIONS

TUITION FAO = Financial aid offered FAPE = Paid for by referring school district

School

dyslexia or ADHD. Use the key to navigate the information, including distinct special needs served, and get more school info online at MetroKids.com/specialneedsschools.

ASP AUT COM CP DD

EMO LD NI PDD

Asperger syndrome Autism Communication/social disorder Cerebral palsy Developmental disability

Enrollment

Grades/ Ages

Tuition

Staff/student ratio

Tech

344

Grades 1-12

$34,912$38,975 FAO, FAPE

1:6 1:8

iPads, Laptops, Dragon Naturally Speaking

VI Support services

Emotional/behavioral disorder Learning difference/ADHD Neurological impairment Pervasive development disorder

Visual impairment/blind

Learning strategies

Vocational opportunities

Extracurriculars

PBIS, OrtonGillingham, SPA, Wilson Reading

College prep

Music, art, sports

Other services

College-prep, co-ed program for bright students with learning differences. LD Association ATG Learning Academy Grades $30,540 Method, Warminster, PA 30 1:5 K-12 FAO Wilson Reading Atglearningacademy.com Remedial language structure program strengthens weak cognitive capacities via computer, auditory & pen-and-paper exercises. Students are taught to mastery. COM, LD Benchmark School $35,200iPads, Media, PA 178 Grades 1-8 $36,500 1:3 SMART Boards, Benchmarkschool.org FAO Learning Ally College-prep school for those with dyslexia, reading disabled, ADHD, auditory processing disorder and other learning differences. LD Camphill School, The Tuition on Glenmoore, PA 110 Ages 4-21 request, Camphillschool.org FAO Waldorf education rich in music, art & drama with various therapies and an animal/agricultural program. ASP, AUT, CP, DD, NI, PDD

Art, library, music, sports theater

Language decoding

Waldorf

Life skills, vocational opportunities

$32,500 iPads, Smart OrtonFAO 1:8 Boards, Laptops, Gillingham, Private pay Learning Ally Wilson Reading Scholarship Full curriculum for those with average or above-average learning potential and learning differences or a lack of reading and language skills. LD

Center School Abington, PA Centerschoolpa.org

95

Art, field trips

Art, music, sports, theater, field trips, phys.ed.

Grades 1-8

Concept School, The $20,750, Grades Wilson Westtown, PA 30 Private 1:4 Chromebooks, College prep 6-12 Reading Theconceptschool.org pay Social thinking curriculum for those who have difficulty focusing in class, struggle with reading comprehension or find social interaction difficult. ASP, LD Crefeld School $28,842Computer lab, IndividualGrades Phila. 19118 100 $32,918 1:5 SMART Boards, ized learning 7-12 Crefeld.org FAO Laptops Educates the whole child and provides a college-prep, hands-on and experiential curriculum with an emphasis on social justice. ASP, LD

Art, sports, theater

College prep

Phys. ed., art, music, theater, field trips Art, music, sports, theater

Music, phys.

Delaware Valley Friends $33,950Laptops, iPads, OrtonGrades College prep ed., sports, art, School; Paoli, PA 185 $39,670 1:4 SMART Boards, Gillingham 3-12 theater Dvfs.org FAO Learning Ally National recognized co-ed, Quaker college-prep school for bright students who struggle with reading, writing, math, memory, processing, ADHD, executive functioning & other learning differences. LD

20 MetroKids.com

NOVEMBER 2018

Wherever you are, local Autism Friendly services and places are only a tap away.

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How does an autism family leave their house?

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By sharing ratings and reviews of places for their level of autism friendliness, the Autism Village app eases the process of selecting places that will be safe, welcoming, and understanding toward people on the autism spectrum.

Like Yelp, but just for autism, Autism Village allows users to contribute their favorite –or not– places and to search by location or category. View ratings and reviews to make educated decisions about where to go that will be most accepting of autism.

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bsite camph illsch for the ool.org la t Campu tesfor The Camphill School’s mission is to create wholeness s Tour d a tes.through children and youth with developmental disabilities

education, extended family living, and therapy so that they may be better understood, they may more fully unfold their potential, and they may meaningfully participate in life. To learn more visit our website at camphillschool.org.

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MetroKids.com 21

School

Enrollment

Grades/ Ages

Tuition

Staff/student ratio

Tech

Support services

Learning strategies

Vocational opportunities

Extracurriculars

Other services

Aimsweb, PBIS, Career planning, Trauma Chromebooks, employment Field trips Smart Boards, Informed training AlphaSmarts Care Serves boys with a wide array of mental health, emotional & behavioral disorders, PDD and Tourette Syndrome with a trauma-informed care model known as Sanctuary. AUT, EMO, LD, PDD

Devereux PA - Brandywine Glenmoore, PA Devereuxpa.org

110

Ages 7-18

FAPE

1:1:12

Aimsweb, Computers, Computer lab, SmartBoards Serves students with a wide array of mental health, emotional & behavioral disorders, PDD, and ASD. ASD, ASP, AUT, EMO, LD, PDD

Devereux PA - Day School Malvern, PA Devereuxpa.org

50

Grades 1-12

FAPE

1:1:12

PBIS,Trauma Informed Care, Direct Instruction

Career planning, employment training

Career planning, Devereux PA - Mapleton Augmentative PBIS, Ages life skills, Malvern, PA 50 FAPE 1:1:10 devices, Read 180 11-18 voc. training Devereuxpa.org iPads, PECs Multisensory education for males & females with mental health, emotional & behavioral disorders, ASDs, PDD & Asperger syndrome. AUT, EMO, LD, PDD ABA, Career placement, Green Valley Academy Grades Academic college prep, life Paoli and Parkesburg, PA 75 FAO, FAPE 1:10 3-12+ Club, PBIS skills Greenvalleyacademy.org Scholastic program that incorporates individualized educational plans in low-enrollment classes with nurturing, support and mentoring. ASP, COM, DD, EMO, LD, PDD Hill Top Preparatory FAO, Grades Laptops, Smart School; Rosemont, PA 75 Private 1:4 5-PG TV Hilltopprep.org Pay Serves bright students with complex learning issues including anxiety and difficulty navigating social situations. ASP, COM, LD

Individual academics

College Prep

Laurel School of OrtonChromebooks, $37,937 Princeton,The Gillingham, OT,ST 39 Grades 1-8 iPad, Maker FAO Lindamood Bell, Princeton, NJ Space Wilson Reading Laurelschoolprinceton.org Dedicated to ensuring that dyslexic children and those with other language-based learning differences become confident learners. LD

Field trips

Field trips, service learning, Special Olympics Art, library, sports, theater

Art, Field trips, Libary, Music, Sports, Theater Art, music, phys ed, theater

Martin Luther School Art, library, Computer lab, PBIS Plymouth Meeting, PA 200 Ages 5-14 FAPE 1:4, 1:5 music, sports Assistive tech Silver-springs.org School for those identified as needing full-time emotional support adjacent to residential treatment center for those with serious emotional or behavioral issues. ASP, DD, EMO, PDD Student New Hope Academy Case-byTech Grades progresses at Life skills Doylestown & Yardley, PA 130 case basis, 1:2 curriculum with 6-12 own pace Newhopeacademy.net some FAO robotics Individualized learning for those who are school-phobic, at-risk or have IEPs, learning disabilities or struggle in a traditional school setting. ASP, EMO, LD, PDD Overbrook School for the Computers w/ Blind; Phila. 19151 200 Ages 3-21 FAPE adaptive tech, Obs.org CCTV Braille, large print, life skills, mobility education, plus aquatics center for those who are blind or visually impaired. VI

Braille & mobility

Pre-vocational, vocational classes, Life skills

Sports

Art, music, sports

Art, field trips, $49,000Computers, Life skills, PBIS, Wilson library, music, $53,000, 1:4 Learning Ally, Vocational FAPE, Reading phys. ed., sports, SmartBoards training Private pay theater Multisensory academics for those with severe to moderate cognitive deficits, ASDs, intellectual disabilities and/or learning challenges. ASP, AUT, COM, DD, EMO, EP, LD, NI, PDD

Pathway School Jeffersonville, PA Pathwayschool.org

160

Ages 5-21

$29,800SPA, Wilson $50,800, 1:4 IT courses Reading FAO, scholarship Supplemental academic support in traditional boarding/day program for boys who benefit from a smaller, more nurturing school setting. ASP, LD

Phelps School, The Malvern, PA Thephelpsschool.org

110

Grades 6-PG

College prep

Wilson Reading, Quaker School at $13,000 iPads, Laptops, Lindamood Horsham, The (K),40,060 Smart Boards, 70 Grades K-9 1:3:6 Dragon Naturally Bell, PBIS, Horsham, PA (1-9) FAO, Speaking Edmark Reading Quakerschool.org FAPE Friends-based responsive classrooms with individualized multisensory programs for capable children who learn differently. ASP, AUT, COM, LD

Art, field trips, library, music, sports, theater

Stratford Friends School $39,9381:1 iPads, OrtonNewtown Square, PA 75 Grades K-9 40,803 1:6 Chromebooks, Gillingham Stratfordfriends.org FAO Innovation Ctr. Multisensory academics in a Quaker-school setting for students of above-average intelligence with language-based learning differences. LD

Music, sports, theater, field trips

Aug. devices, TALK Institute and School FAPE, Association PreK-age scholarship, 1:2 iPads, Newtown Square, PA 21 Method 21 Private pay Proloquo2Go Talkinc.org Serves children with severe speech & language diosorders in a fully integrated therapeutic and academic 11-month program. ASP, AUT, COM, DD, EMO, LD, NI, PDD Wilson Reading, Woodlynde School, $21,013Laptops, iPads, Grades Metacognition, Strafford, PA 275 37,611 1:5 Learning Ally, K-12 multisensory Woodlynde.org FAPE, FAO Smart Boards Students gain access to caring experts in education, thrive in a nurturing environment & rise to the challenge of a college-prep curriculum. LD Wyncote Academy Laptops, T2C, Wilson Grades $26,500 Elkins Park, PA 100 1:8 Tablets, Reading 6-12 FAO Wyncoteacademy.org Smartboards Currently located on Gratz College’s Mandell Campus, this college-prep program caters to bright underachievers of potential. ASP, EMO, LD

22 MetroKids.com

Art, music, sports

Field Trips

College prep

Art, library, music, sports, theater

College prep

Art, sports, Field trips

NOVEMBER 2018

Health continued from p. 12 recommended for women 35 and older because the risk of a chromosome abnormality is higher and the results are more accurate.

NIPT is the most sensitive screening option for Down syndrome, trisomy13, trisomy18, says Ali-Khan Catts. “A positive result means the baby has a higher chance to have the condition and a diagnostic test such as amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling is recommended to determine if the baby has the condition. ”

Newborn screening

Each state has its own set of tests it requires for newborns.

Pennsylvania tests for 38 genetic conditions and the results can sometimes be life saving.

Gerard A. Margiotti, Jr., MD, of Margiotti & Kroll Pediatrics, in Philadelphia and Bucks County, recalls when he got a call from the state at 10pm on a Saturday night.

“One of their tests was positive on a baby, and we were able to send the baby to CHOP,” he says. “The baby was treated and ended up being normal instead of having suffered risk of a serious reaction or death.”

You can find out what tests are required in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware at Babysfirsttest.org.

Given the tools they need, students thrive.

Pennsylvania’s only full-day speech/language school for those with severe speech/language disorders, including autism.

OPEN HOUSES

NOVEMBER 14 | DECEMBER 12

Lynda Dell is a Philadelphia-based freelance writer.

Cooper Children’s Regional Hospital in Camden, NJ is testing a new drug to treat PKU, the first genetic condition diagnosed in newborn screening. Learn more at Metrokids.com/PKU

TALK School 395H BISHOP HOLLOW RD., NEWTOWN SQUARE, PA

TALKINC.ORG | 610-356-5566

Looking to make

the best educational choice for your child?

Choose Pennsylvania’s most experienced, tuition-free, K-12 online public school.

NOVEMBER 2018

MetroKids.com 23

Friendly Theater Special performances for those with special needs

By Debra Wallace For parents of a child with autism, a visit to a theater, museum or other cultural venue was once a stressful experience.

Everyone involved in what was supposed to be a happy family outing was worried about glances or comments from those around them; parents were concerned about the need to constantly monitor their child’s behavior.

They feared their child would make noises, fidget excessively and not “behave properly” and the family would be embarrassed or asked to leave.

performance of The Nutcracker at the Pennsylvania Ballet and it was such a positive and comfortable experience that it completely changed the way that we approached future arts and cultural offerings,” says Lynn Schneider, a single mother from Huntingdon Valley, PA. Now that Schneider and her son feel comfortable, they have attended sensory-friendly programs for dance, music and theater. “With an inviting environment and trained staff, we felt more than welcome.”

The road to inclusion

Fortunately, the cultural landscape has become more adaptive and inclusive. Within the last five years, arts and cultural organizations in Pennsylvania, South Jersey and Delaware started to offer a number of sensory-friendly or “relaxed” performances.

Today, nearly half of local arts and cultural venues provide adaptive performances, programs and events that are modified for children with special needs and their families.

Grateful parents

Roger Ideishi, who plans adaptive arts and sensory-friendly programs around the country, has watched them thrive.

A Temple University professor and director of occupational therapy, Ideishi says the trend to teach artists and venues how to adapt programs for special needs audiences began around 2000.

“I first became involved with museum and community outreach programs that didn’t have experience with children who possess diverse abilities,” Ideishi says.

“Now, we make sure that area artists and museum educators are trained and well able to address diverse learners.

“This has opened the floodgates to new opportunities for families who stayed away for fear of disrupting anyone else’s experience.”

Feedback from parents is positive.

“A few years ago, I took my 10-year-old son with autism to the sensory-friendly

24 MetroKids.com

Val Murphy, of Southampton, PA and Erin, her 22-year-old daughter with autism, have taken advantage of the times set aside by local museums and theaters for people with special needs, when there aren’t long lines or large crowds.

She also appreciates other modifications, which include quieter music and brighter lights during performances. “We have benefited from a lot of these changes and I see more opportunities for Erin and her friends to enjoy community events.”

Ideishi knows why parents are so grateful.

“These are the few experiences that the parents, siblings and the child with the disability can do as an entire family,” he says. “Most often one family member is so focused on the child with the disability that he or she can’t enjoy the experience.”

Local venues step up

The venues have responded, in part, to the fact that 1 out of 59 children in the

US is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Among the local groups with adaptive programs are: Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts; Pennsylvania Ballet; Philadelphia Orchestra; Philadelphia Theatre Company; Philly POPS; Walnut Street Theatre, all in Philadelphia; Montgomery Theater in Souderton, PA; People’s Light in Malvern, PA, and Theater Horizon in Norristown, PA. (See Family Fun p. 26 for more venues.)

Through the New York-based Theater Development Fund’s Accessibility Program, Broadway has adapted select performances of hit musicals such as Alladin, Frozen, The Lion King, and Wicked. The “nonjudgmental” shows, complete with whimsical fidget toys and compassionate staff, are so popular that tickets sell out in less than two hours.

The Kimmel Center will offer its first sensory-friendly production in its Broadway Philadelphia series with a special performance of Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical, on Saturday, Dec. 22, at the Merriam Theater.

It will include relaxed house rules, designated quiet areas, trained staff and Art-Reach volunteers, noise-cancelling headphones, weighted bean bags, and fidget toys. Audience members can bring stress-relief devices and move around the theater.

Last piece of the puzzle

Ideishi says the last piece of the puzzle, especially for programs that mix typical and special needs audiences, is to educate the public so that there is a welcome social environment.

“We have more to do to educate the public about tolerance, acceptance and inclusion,” he says. “We have to help the public understand that community experiences should be for everybody.”

Debra Wallace is a Huntingdon Valley, PA-based freelance writer.

NOVEMBER 2018

SSVC0316007

Family Fun

Special Needs

FAMILY FUN GUIDE

The Delaware Valley has many cultural institutions and family attractions that make extra efforts to be inclusive to visitors of all abilities. From accommodations that go beyond ADA requirements to events just for those with special needs, there are ample ways for families to make the most of their day out. Here are some of the best.

Aquariums & Zoos Elmwood Park Zoo, Norristown

The world’s first zoo to be designated as a Certified Autism Center offers multiple resources for visitors with autism or other sensory needs. Sign up for early-morning access events, take advantage of the dedicated quiet space near the prairie dog and bison exhibits, and view an online sensory guide with ratings for each exhibit.

Philadelphia Zoo, Phila.

KidZooU, an exhibit designed with input from autism experts, provides a multisensory approach in an effort to create an inclusive, comfortable experience. Preplanning tools such as social stories and visual schedules are available.

Adventure Aquarium, Camden, NJ

Meet thousands of water dwellers including sharks, sea turtles, hippos, blue penguins and seahorses during Family Inclusive Special Hours, or F.I.S.H., Nights.

In addition to discounted admission, visitors can experience the venue in a relaxed setting with modified lighting and sound.

Dorney Park, Allentown

Those with special needs can sign up for the Boarding Pass program, which allows visitors to access rides via the exit ramp at specified times, avoiding lines. The park also offers a KidTrack wristband equipped with a security code that pinpoints a child’s location if she’s separated from the group.

National Aquarium, Baltimore, MD

The aquarium hosts deaf awareness days, where sign-language interpreters narrate presentations, dives and animal encounters. Accessibility guides and maps are marked for those who need to follow a wheelchair/stroller route. Guests can also grab a touch bag stocked with tactile items and check out exhibits with handson elements.

Amusement Parks & Play Centers BounceU, multiple locations

Two locations give kids an arena to jump and play in a sensory-rich environment.

Exton’s venue offers Sensory Rebound on the last Wednesday of each month, while Cherry Hill, NJ’s location rolls out the program on the first Monday. The event encourages children with autismspectrum and sensory-processing disorders to exercise and socialize.

26 MetroKids.com

LEGOLAND Discovery Center, Plymouth Meeting

The venue teams up with the Ruttenberg Autism Center and MusicWorks during Special Sensory Days, complete with music-therapy sessions, specially trained staff, reduction of sound and lighting, quiet spaces, fewer crowds and social stories. Mark your calendar: The next one’s coming up Nov. 20.

NOVEMBER 2018

Family Fun Sesame Place, Langhorne

The park, the first theme park to earn the Certified Autism Center label, uses two programs to put kids with special needs at ease. The Ride Accessibility program matches abilities with rider requirements on an individual basis, and the Special Access program allows guests to bypass lines. You’ll also find an online sensory guide, designated quiet spaces and lowsensory areas.

Sahara Sam’s Oasis, West Berlin, NJ

Special Evenings at Sam’s provide families with a judgment-free evening at the waterpark at a reduced rate.

Accommodations include modified lighting and sound, quiet rooms, limited lifeguard whistle use, a relaxed dress code, limited ticket sales and the option to bring your own snacks.

implemented. Plus, pre-registered guests and those who arrive between 9-9:30am get free admission. Clear your schedule for the next event on Dec. 2.

Philadelphia Museum of Art, Phila.

The museum offers a trio of guided experiences for those with special needs, including specially adapted tours, which are tailored to the needs of each group; sign-language interpreted tours; and touch tours for visitors who are visually impaired.

Return for the Sensory-friendly Morning program Jan. 13.

Penn Museum, Phila.

Theaters Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, Phila.

The center’s resident companies present family-friendly favorites with lowered house lights, adjusted sound and a designated quiet space. Don’t miss A Philly Pops Christmas, Dec. 5 at Verizon Hall; How the Grinch Stole Christmas performed by Broadway Philadelphia, Dec. 22, at the Merriam Theater; and George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker, by the Pennsylvania Ballet Dec. 27 at the Academy of Music.

Archaeology in the AM events on select Saturdays cater to teens and young adults with developmental or intellectual disabilities. Expect multisensory gallery tours, craft stations and art workshops, plus a space for parents and family friends to interact. Quiet spaces with dimmed lighting and fidget toys are available.

Please Touch Museum, Phila.

Play Without Boundaries events on select Sunday mornings offer tools to ensure a smooth visit for kids with learning and developmental disabilities and those on the autism spectrum. Guests can seek out the “quiet space of the day” and sensory toys, all while enjoying full access to exhibits and programming.

Grounds for Sculpture, Hamilton, NJ

Museums Academy of Natural Sciences, Phila.

Multisensory displays primed for kids with mental and physical disabilities include the Big Dig, where they search for dinosaur bones, and Outside In, a discovery center that lets visitors touch specimens and live animals. Access to Science events reserve the museum just for families with kids on the autism spectrum; join the fun Dec. 28.

The staff at this sculpture park receives ADA training. Visitors with limited mobility can tour the park on a specially equipped vehicle, which visits several first-floor and one-level exhibit spaces. Touch tours, closed-captioned videos and an accessibility map are available by request.

NOVEMBER 2018

Walnut Street Theatre, Phila.

No need to stay silent during sensoryfriendly productions here. In addition to the absence of loud noises and dramatic lighting shifts, you’ll notice quiet areas and partitioned vacancies around groups in the audience to prevent claustrophobia.

Sensory-friendly productions allow families to leave and return to the auditorium, bring their own snacks, fidgets or listening devices and cool down in the lobby’s relaxation and quiet area.

Explore the museum before it opens to the public on Sensory-friendly Saturdays.

This free program, held select dates yearly, features pre-visit social stories, indoor and outdoor activities, sensory break areas, fidgets, noise-canceling headphones and support from occupational therapists.

The venue offers closed captioning during select planetarium shows, as well as assistive listening devices for each of its theaters. Both kids and adults on the autism spectrum can enjoy Sensory-friendly Sundays, where exhibits are modified and quiet spaces are

Feel free to bring noise-canceling headphones, fidgets and sensory toys to relaxed performances where speaking and movement are welcome, staff are trained to accommodate families’ needs and preshow prep materials are available online.

McCarter Theatre, Princeton, NJ

Brandywine River Museum of Art, Chadds Ford

The Franklin Institute, Phila.

People’s Light, Malvern

The Grand Opera House, Wilmington, DE Port Discovery, Baltimore, MD

This kids’ museum has won awards for its special-needs programs. In addition to Scripted Stories that play out scenarios so kids know what to expect and do in various areas of the venue, it also hosts Discovery Days for museum access in a sensory-friendly setting.

The theater’s sensory-friendly family programming initiative implements relaxed house rules that make it easier for families to sit back, relax and watch the show. Some performances feature small crowds, fidget toys, modified sound and lighting and a quiet space.

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

MetroKids.com 27

Family Fun

Hop aboard the Fall Foliage Express on the West Chester Railroad, Nov. 3, 4, 10 & 11.

DAY-BY-DAY CALENDAR Special needs event Pumpkin Madness Festival

3 Saturday

Editor's Pick

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

1 Thursday

Storytime and Craft at Linvilla Orchards, Media.

FREE

2 Friday

Philadelphia Museum of Art Craft Show at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, Phila. $$$$ Sugarloaf Crafts Festival at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center, Oaks. $$

3 Saturday

First Sunday Family Day

4 Sunday

28 MetroKids.com

Muge Lithuanian Festival at the Lithuanian Music Hall, Phila. Celebrate Lithuanian culture and heritage with traditional food, crafts and music. $ Picture Frame Adventure at Liberty Lands Park, Phila. Decorate autumnal frames, play games and take a walk. $$$

Bank of America Museums on Us, Phila. Bank of America and Merrill Lynch cardholders are granted free access to participating venues including the African American Museum in Philadelphia, Museum of the American Revolution, National Museum of American Jewish History and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. FREE

Pumpkin Madness Festival at Cherry Crest Adventure Farm, Ronks. Partake in a flurry of pumpkin destruction where throwing, launching and trampling are encouraged. The fun culminates with the Great Pumpkin Drop. $$$

Fall Foliage Express on the West Chester Railroad, West Chester. $$$

6 Tuesday

Mammal Merit Badge Workshop at the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education, Phila. Scouts learn how animals are classified, then monitor a tracking pit and make a bat box. $$$$

Apple Festival at Peddler's Village, Lahaska.

Take in fall family activities, seasonal food and live entertainment. FREE

CraftNOW Create at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, Phila. See “Fab Freebie,” p. 29. FREE

Fall Migration Bird Walk

Kids Cook Thanksgiving Culinary Workshop at the Wayne Art Center, Wayne. $$$$

The Johnny Shortcake Show at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, Phila. This whimsical performance features soul music for kids. $$

Step Out Walk to Stop Diabetes at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Phila. Hosted by the American Diabetes Association. FREE Sugarloaf Crafts Festival at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center, Oaks. $$

4 Sunday

Apple Festival at Peddler's Village, Lahaska. See Nov. 3. FREE

NOVEMBER 2018

FAB FREEBIE

Celebrate imagination and ingenuity during CraftNOW Create, Nov. 3, at Philly’s Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, featuring art activities hosted by local venues. Join the Clay Studio to try your hand at Claymation; make buttons with the Fabric Workshop and Museum, create nature embroidery alongside staff from the Philadelphia Museum of Art and construct a wooden toy with materials provided by the Wharton Esherick Museum.

Bank of America Museums on Us, Phila. See Nov. 3. FREE Fall Foliage Express on the West Chester Railroad, West Chester. $$$ Family Arts Academy: Boxed World at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Phila. Make a mini installation. FREE First Sunday Family Day: Art for All at the Barnes Foundation, Phila. Sketch or paint fall-inspired masterpieces and make wind chimes, leaf prints and collages. FREE First Sunday for Families: Pirate Adventure Day at the Brandywine River Museum of Art, Chadds Ford. Make themed crafts, hunt for art treasure, meet pirates and watch Storytime: Peter Pan performed by Hedgerow Theatre. FREE Muge Lithuanian Festival at the Lithuanian Music Hall, Phila. See Nov. 3. $ Sugarloaf Crafts Festival at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center, Oaks. $$ Sundays on Stage: Yogapalooza! with Bari Koral at the Parkway Central Library, Phila. Kids practice yoga during songs and play.

FREE The Johnny Shortcake Show at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, Phila. See Nov. 3. $$

6 Tuesday

Terror Behind the Walls Closing Night at Eastern State Penitentiary, Phila. Brace yourself for one last trip through this haunted attraction for the final time this season. $$$$

11 Sunday

Christmas Card Watercolor Workshop at the Ebenezer Maxwell Mansion, Phila. $$$$ Fall Foliage Express on the West Chester Railroad, West Chester. $$$ Family Arts Academy: Storytelling Through Painting at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Phila. FREE Family Weekend: Pets in Prison at Eastern State Penitentiary, Phila. See Nov. 10. $$$ Land of Sweets at the Rock Center, Phila. Join the Sugar Plum Fairy for crown making, gingerbread-house building and a meetand-greet with the cast of Nutcracker 1776. $$$$ Lemon Run at Fairmount Park's Memorial Hall, Phila. Funds benefits childhood cancer research. $$$$ Owl Prowl Hike at Norristown Farm Park, E. Norriton. FREE Veterans Day Celebration at the National Constitution Center, Phila. Write thank-you letters to veterans, make star wreaths and watch patriotic concerts. $$

Day-Off Camp: Fall Colors at the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education, Phila. Kids view seasonal changes during outdoor exploration and make a nature journal. $$$$ Fall Migration Bird Walk at Norristown Farm Park, E. Norriton. FREE

7 Wednesday

Family Movie Night: Coco at Xfinity Live, Phila. $

8 Thursday

Children's Nature Series: Oh Deer! at Norristown Farm Park, E. Norriton. Learn about the white-tailed deer's antlers and how they adapt to cold weather. $

10 Saturday

Fall Foliage Express on the West Chester Railroad, West Chester. $$$ Family Weekend: Pets in Prison at Eastern State Penitentiary, Phila. Meet the resident pup named Pep, embark on a themed scavenger hunt and discover animals' role in prisons. $$$ Food Truck Frenzy at Linvilla Orchards, Media. Festivities include live music, face painting, pony rides and a straw-bale maze. FREE National Dog Show Photo Exhibition at Willow Street Pictures, West Lawn. $$$

NOVEMBER 2018

KIDS’ DAY OFF

Let the kids make the most of their Thanksgiving break with forays in nature and art. Sign them up for Day-Off Camp at Philly’s Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education, themed to Fun with Fire (Nov. 21) or Knights in Nature (Nov. 23), featuring plenty of outdoorsy projects and exploration. Or let your pint-sized Picasso tap into his creative side during a day of arts & crafts at the Wayne Art Center’s School’s Out Holiday Camp (Nov. 21-23).

MetroKids.com 29

Family Fun

12 Monday

Day-Off Camp: Camouflage at the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education, Phila. Kids learn to blend into their surroundings and test their observational skills during awareness games. $$$$

15 Thursday

Holiday Festival Opening Night at Franklin Square, Phila. Watch the first Electrical Spectacle light show of the season. Through Dec. 31. FREE

16 Friday

Christmas Candylane at Hersheypark, Hershey.

Enjoy light shows and displays, themed rides and meet-and-greets with Santa and his reindeer. Through Jan. 1. $$$$ Day Out with Thomas on the Strasburg Rail Road, Ronks. Enjoy train rides and themed activities. $$$$ Grand Illumination Celebration at Peddler’s Village, Lahaska. Santa flips on the holiday light display. Hot apple cider, marshmallow roasting and the opening of the annual gingerbread competition and display are also on tap. FREE National Dog Show Gala at Valley Forge Casino, King of Prussia. Benefits the Ronald McDonald House of Philadelphia and the Pennsylvania Veterinary Foundation. $$$$

17 Saturday

A Very Furry Christmas at Sesame Place, Langhorne. Little ones meet Santa, view light displays and watch themed shows featuring Sesame Street characters. Through Jan. 1 $$$$

Kennel Club of Philadelphia National Dog Show at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center, Oaks. See "MK On the Scene," p. 31. $$$ PNC Grow Up Great at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, Phila. Kids are introduced to jazz and musical theatre. FREE Snow Globe Adventure at Cedar Park, Phila.

Decorate a snow globe, then play games and take a walk. $$$

18 Sunday

Floral Turkey Workshop at Cedar Grove Barn, Conshohocken. Bring floral sheers and a shallow box to take your creation home. $$$$ Kennel Club of Philadelphia National Dog Show at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center, Oaks. See "MK On the Scene," p. 31 $$$ Kiddie Hike at Fairmount Park's Mander Recreation Center, Phila. $$$

19 Monday

Giving Thanks, a Native-American Message at Norristown Farm Park, E. Norriton. Listen to a story and find out what the first Thanksgiving might have been like. $

20 Tuesday

Community Night at the Franklin Institute, Phila. FREE

New Britain Baptist Church 22 E. Butler Ave., New Britain CHESTER COUNTY Chester County Food Bank 650 Pennsylvania Dr., Exton Kennett Area Community Services 136 W. Cedar St., Kennett Sq.

Potted Potter: The Unauthorized Harry Experience at the Annenberg Center, Phila.

This parody condenses all seven books into one performance. Through Nov. 25. $$$$

Ardmore Food Pantry at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church 36 Ardmore Ave., Ardmore

21 Wednesday

Day-Off Camp: Fun with Fire at the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education, Phila. See “Kids’ Day Off,” p. 29. $$$$

30 MetroKids.com

BUCKS COUNTY Bucks County Opportunity Council 100 Doyle Street, Doylestown

Phoenixville Area Community Services 257 Church St., Phoenixville

Toddler Time at the American Swedish Historical Museum, Phila. $

Time to play! The PAX Unplugged Gaming Convention, Nov. 30-Dec. 2 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philly is dedicated to tabletop, card and board games with an emphasis on all-ages fun.

Families can play unreleased games, join tournaments and costume parties and watch panel discussions. Sunday is Family Day, where staff members present 20 of the best new and familiar games in one room for ages 5 & up.

The holiday season is all about giving back to the community. Show your family the importance of charity and donate to a local food bank.

Holiday Tour at Pennypacker Mills, Schwenksville. Through Jan. 6, learn about Christmas traditions from the early 1900s and how the site’s namesake family celebrated the holidays. $

Special Sensory Day at LEGOLAND Discovery Center, Plymouth Meeting. $$

FAN OF . . . GAMING

Town & County: Food Donation Sites

22 Thursday

DELAWARE COUNTY

First United Methodist Church 350 W. State St., Media Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry 703 Lincoln Ave., Prospect Pk. MONTGOMERY COUNTY Beth Sholom Congregation 8231 Old York Rd., Elkins Pk. Narberth Community Food Bank 201 Sabine Ave., Narberth PHILADELPHIA

Comcast Holiday Spectacular at the Comcast Center, Phila. An LED video wall shows performances of holiday classics through Jan. 1. FREE

Jewish Community Services 2100 Arch St.

Gobble Wobble 5K Run and 1-Mile Walk at the Abington YMCA, Abington. $$$$

Philabundance 3616 S. Galloway St.

23 Friday Winterfest at Blue Cross RiverRink, Phila.

Through March 3, visitors can whirl around the ice rink, warm up by fire pits and play arcade games in the kids’ lodge. $$

Somerton Interfaith Food Bank 510 Somerton Ave.

NOVEMBER 2018

ON THE SCENE

Every dog has its day, and more than 2,000 pups will have theirs at the Kennel Club of Philadelphia’s National Dog Show, Nov. 17 & 18 at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks. Families cheer on canine competitors during competitions and demos that vary daily, including the coveted “Best in Show” title. Stop by the MK booth for activities and magazines.

Day-Off Camp: Knights of Nature at the Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education, Phila. See “Kids’ Day Off,” p. 29. $$$$ Full Moon Hike at Norristown Farm Park, E. Norriton. FREE Santa's Paradise Express on the Strasburg Rail Road, Ronks. Each child receives a gift from St. Nick. $$$ Wild Wizarding Weekend at the Academy of Natural Sciences, Phila. Meet the museum’s resident animals, play a “bunny and broomstick” game, make a magic wand and take home a dragon egg. $$$

24 Saturday

Santa's Paradise Express on the Strasburg Rail Road, Ronks. See Nov. 23. $$$ Wild Wizarding Weekend at the Academy of Natural Sciences, Phila. See Nov. 23. $$$

Become an

25 Sunday

Santa Landing at the Market at DelVal, Doylestown. Watch the Big Guy arrive via helicopter, then enjoy photo opportunities, inflatables and yard games. FREE Santa's Paradise Express on the Strasburg Rail Road, Ronks. See Nov. 23. $$$ Snow Globe Adventure at Cedar Park, Phila. See Nov. 17. $$$ Wild Wizarding Weekend at the Academy of Natural Sciences, Phila. See Nov. 23. $$$

30 Friday

PAX Unplugged Gaming Convention at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, Phila.

See “Fan of,” p. 30. $$$$ Philadelphia Polar Plunge at the Drexel University Recreation Center, Phila.

Benefits the Special Olympics of Pennsylvania. $$$$

PERFORMANCES Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at the Academy of Music, Phila. Nov. 6-18. $$$$ Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical at the Walnut Street Theatre, Phila.

Nov.6-Jan. 6. $$$$ The Perfect Dog at the Centre Theater, Norristown. Nov. 9-11. $$$$ Cinderella: A Musical Panto at the People’s Light, Malvern. Nov. 14-Jan. 6. $$$$ Nutcracker 1776 at the Merriam Theater, Phila. Nov. 23 & 24. $$$$ Log on to MetroKids.com/familyfun for more information, including address, phone number, time & website.

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MetroKidsMagazine NOVEMBER 2018

MetroKids.com 31

CLICK WITH CAMPERS MomSpeak

Super

The MomSpeak Roundup Moms know things. Find out what kinds of things at MetroKids.com/MomSpeak where we keep an eye out for the best local parenting blogs and share with you their tips, observations and humor. This month, check out these three.

School Routine

SUNDAY, JANUARY 27, 2019 1-4PM

Plymouth Meeting Mall 500 W. Germantown Pike • Plymouth Mtg., PA 19462

Feel a bit overwhelmed by the school routine already? Erin Flynn Jay, of Mastering the Mommy Track, talked to a couple local moms about how they keep the after-school and before-school hours under control. See their tips for nightly, daily and weekly strategies.

Crossing Generations A teacher recommended a book to Katie Lockwood, of Mommy Call, as a teenager. It impacted her so much that she suggests it to parents in her clinic. But when the head of her son’s school held it up at a Parents Association meeting, she felt she had come full circle. Find out which book has crossed generations for her.

Clean House “Secrets from People Who Always Have a Clean House,” is what Darla DeMorrow, of HeartWork Organizing, titled this entry. “I never clean…and I’m always cleaning,” she says. Here’s one tip: Keep horizontal surfaces clutter free. Want more? Check out the rest of her post.

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for the whole family!

REGISTER NOW! First 100 to register receive a famous stuffed

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ONLINE MetroKids.com

smart. local. parenting.

NOVEMBER 2018

Child Care & Early Education Directory 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 Serv.

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

NAEYC: Accredited by National Association of Education of Young Children PAIS: Accredited by PA Assoc. of Independent Schools MSCES: Accredited by Middle States Commission on Elementary Schools AMS: Accredited by American Montessori Society

* Note: DHS License: requires annual on-site visits. DE License: 20% of all facilities are inspected annually.

MULTIPLE SITES

SWARTHMORE/MEDIA, DELAWARE COUNTY

FEDERATION EARLY LEARNING SERVICES (FELS) 10700 Jamison Ave., Phila., PA 215-676-7550 • Ages: 6 wks. – 12 yrs. • Hours: 6am – 6pm Buerger Early Learning Center: 619 N. Broad St., Phila.; 267-535-2643 Kehillah Early Learning Center: 2 Chester Rd., Wallingford; 610-872-0400 Kol Ami Early Learning Center: 8201 High School Rd., Elkins Park; 215-635-4180 K’tonton Early Learning Center: 715 Paxon Hollow Rd., Broomall; 610-325-4831 Ohev Shalom Early Learning Center: 944 Second Street Pk., Richboro; 215-322-9595 Lassin Early Learning Center: 10800 Jamison Ave., Phila.; 215-677-7191 Lokoff Early Learning Center: 1920 Skippack Pk., Blue Bell; 215-643-0110 Gutman Early Learning Center: 7500 West Ave., Melrose Park; 215-635-5570 Paley Early Learning Center: 2199 Strahle St., Phila.; 215-725-8930 105 years of experience providing high-quality programs for children ages 6 weeks – 12 years from diverse economic, religious and racial backgrounds. Built on a foundation of Jewish values - NAEYC & Keystone Stars accredited. AY, FY, SP, BS, AS, DA, DHS*, NAEYC

SCHOOL IN ROSE VALLEY, THE 20 School Ln., Rose Valley, PA • 610-566-1088 TheSchoolinRoseValley.org • Ages: Preschool-Grade 6 • Hours: 7:30am-6pm With over 80 years of experience, The School in Rose Valley offers a progressive, Preschool – 6th Grade program committed to the development of the whole child. Full and part time enrollment options are available for Preschool and Kindergarten students.

Weekly special subjects include Woodshop, Spanish, Science, Art, Music and Sports. SRV is located on a beautiful 9.5 acre campus just minutes from Media, PA. AY, SP, MP, BS, AS, TP, PAIS

HEY DIDDLE DIDDLE DAY SCHOOL, INC. 520 Bethlehem Pike, Ft. Washington, PA 215-654-9955 • HeyDiddleDiddleDaySchool.net LITTLE DIDDLE PRESCHOOL 440 Bethlehem Pike, Ft. Washington, PA 215-565-5866 • LittleDiddlePreschool.net • Ages: 6 wks.-PreK • Hours: 7am-6pm Our school offers full-day programs. Our staff members are well-educated and experienced which enables us to give the students an educational program in a caring, nurturing environment. FY, AY, SP, BS, AS, DA, DHS, DE

BUCKS COUNTY BRIGHT BEGINNERS ACADEMY 800 Clarmont Ave., Suite A, Bensalem, PA 19020 • 267-5207200 Brightbeginnersacademy.com • Ages: 6 wks. to 6 yrs. • Hours: 6:45am - 6pm Our preschool is designed to meet the needs of every child in a developmentally inclusive setting. Our program encourages progress at a child’s own pace and according to individual needs and abilities. Play-based learning centers for math, science, dramatic play, blocks, music, creative art and technology provide opportunities to balance and stimulate both shared and independent learning experiences. Private pay and subsidized funding accepted, infant and toddler care available. Parent volunteer opportunities available. FY, AY, SP, DA, SN, DHS*, DE TREVOSE DAY SCHOOL / NESHAMINY MONTESSORI 4951 Central Ave., Trevose, PA 19053 215–355-4373 • trevosedayschool.org • neshaminymontessori.org • Ages: 2.5-10 yrs.

Hours: 7am-6pm Established in 1970, our programs excel at offering state-of-the-art education in a community-minded environment. We combine interactive technology, the visual and performing arts and scientific exploration with a sustainable hands-on approach that values our planet and nurtures curiosity. Our teachers are Pennsylvania Certified Early Childhood and Elementary Education Teachers. FY, AY, SP, MP, BS, AS, TP, SN, AMS

CHESTER COUNTY KIMBERTON WALDORF SCHOOL 410 W. Seven Stars Rd. Kimberton, PA 610-933-3635 • Ages: PreK- 12th grade • Hours: 8am-3:15pm At Kimberton Waldorf School, learning is a process of discovery that engages the whole human being. Instead of passively receiving information, our students are involved in a dynamic process of exploration and experience, both of the world and of themselves. Emphasis on the breadth of skills and opportunities that we value in childhood and in adulthood provides a reminder that education needs to be designed to produce holistically developed learners who are well-equipped to navigate the challenges of life in the 21st century. We develop analytical thinkers with imaginative minds capable of producing life-changing ideas. Our students build capacities and skills of creativity, resourcefulness, collaboration, perseverance, integrity, and ethical understanding. How we teach this matters. Every aspect of Waldorf education is intentional and planned. Why we teach this way matters. At each stage of child development, students are challenged, capacities are built, foundations are set, and opportunities are given.

When we teach things matters.

MAIN LINE, DELAWARE COUNTY FRIENDS SCHOOL HAVERFORD 851 Buck Lane, Haverford, PA 19041 • 610-642-2334 Friendshaverford.org • Ages: Nursery through 8th Grade • Hours: 8:00am - 2:45pm Friends School Haverford, a co-ed Quaker school, promotes academic scholarship, creativity, respect, integrity, and self-awareness with a commitment to creating a culture and kindness.

Our unique hands-on, minds-on curriculum encourages and celebrates curiosity, imagination, and exploration. Offering a full-day kindergarten program with full- and half-day nursery school, preschool, and pre-k options. AY, SP, MP, BS, AS, DA, PAIS

NOVEMBER 2018

LIGHTBRIDGE ACADEMY OF GARNET VALLEY 1363 Naamans Creek Rd., Garnet Valley, PA 610-364-2000 • lightbridgeacademy.com/locations/Garnet-Valley-PA Ages: 6 wks. – 5 yrs. • Hours: 6:30 am – 6:30 pm Lightbridge Academy provides a high-quality educational program along with nurturing care while also supporting the needs of busy parents. Our state-ofthe-art facility offers innovative technology. Working families love the extended hours of 6:30 am-6:30 pm. AY, SP, BS, AS, SN, TP, MP, DA, DHS*

JENKINTOWN, MONTGOMERY COUNTY ABINGTON FRIENDS 575 Washington Ln., Jenkintown, PA 215-886-4350 • AbingtonFriends.net • Ages: 3 yrs.-K Hours: 8am-3pm w/ an extended-day option Our lower school early childhood program values and preserves childhood, building on the excitement and curiosity that children bring to their first school experience. Located on our beautiful 50-acre campus, our emergent curriculum program is designed to support your child’s developing independence. AY, SP, BS, AS, DHS, DE, NAEYC, PAIS

LAFAYETTE HILL, MONTGOMERY COUNTY MIQUON SCHOOL, THE 2025 Harts Lane, Conshohocken, PA 610-828-1231 • Miquon.org • Ages: 3 yrs.-12 yrs. • Hours: 8:30am-3pm Located on a wooded 11-acre campus just outside Northwest Philadelphia, Miquon is a co-educational day school offering Progressive education for children in Nursery (age three) through Sixth Grade. Our Nursery program offers full-day, 3-day, 4-day schedules and includes art, music, science, physical education and library. Miquon teachers provide a positive and nurturing environment for children to learn through play while meeting their social, emotional, cognitive and physical needs. Snacks provided. Optional van service available. AY, SP, BS, AS, PAIS

MAIN LINE, MONTGOMERY COUNTY BALA HOUSE MONTESSORI SCHOOL 27 Conshohocken State Rd., Bala Cynwyd, PA 610-664-6767 • BalaHouse.org • Ages: 3 yrs.-6 yrs. • Hours: 8am-6pm Mixed-age classes, for ages 3 - 6 yrs., are led by sensitive, nurturing and highly qualified teachers who offer gentle guidance in an atmosphere of freedom, warmth and trust. Flexible schedules, convenient hours (7:45am to 5:45pm) and two-, three-, four-day afternoon class options are available. Art, music, gymnastics, kindergarten Spanish classes, extended care, summer camp round out our program. Some tuition assistance is available. Embracing diversity since 1969. AY, SP, DHS, DE CHILDREN’S SCHOOL AT ST. JOHN’S, THE 404 Levering Mill Rd., Bala Cynwyd, PA 610-664-4588 • Childrens-school.org • Ages: 3 mos.-K • Hours: 7am-6pm We offer a warm and creative learning environment where everyone has a “hands on” approach to learning. Our developmental approach includes music, Spanish and Tumbling Tots, Pre-K follows the Letter People Curriculum and Handwriting without Tears. Subsidized funding from the state accepted. 4-star facility with Keystone Stars. FY, SP, BS, AS, SN, DHS, DE, NAEYC

FRENCH INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL OF PHILADELPHIA 150 N. Highland Ave., Bala Cynwyd, PA • 610-667-1284 frenchschoolphila.org • Ages: 3 yrs.-Grade 8 • Hours: 7:30am-6pm The French International School of Philadelphia offers a French/English bilingual program from preschool through grade 8. Our non-French speaking students develop their verbal skills in French in the younger grades as they engage in developmentally appropriate activities. New students with no prior knowledge of French are admitted at the age of 3, 4 or 5. Extended care is provided starting at 7:30am and until 6pm. Accredited by the Middle States Association and the French Department of Education. AY, AS, BS, SP, MP, DHS, MOSES

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Child Care & Early Education Directory THE HAVERFORD SCHOOL 450 Lancaster Ave., Haverford, PA 19041 610-642-3020 • www.haverford.org • Ages: PreK-12 Extraordinary educators prepare boys to be future-ready in a supportive learning environment designed to bring out the best in each student. Haverford strives to develop a well-balanced boy who is a high academic performer, socially and emotionally aware, and a good citizen of the School and community. Financial aid available. SP ROBERT J. WILF PRESCHOOL AND KINDERGARTEN Kaiserman JCC, 45 Haverford Rd. Wynnewood, PA 19096 610-896-7770 x118 • phillyjcc.com • Ages: 4 wks.-K2 • Hours: 8am-6pm A nurturing, child-centered environment for infants-kindergarten including gym classes, music, dance and more. We honor the uniqueness of each child, celebrating individual potential, and helping children question and discover. Teachers help children reach milestones necessary for healthy growth/ wellness. Tuition includes a family membership to the JCC. Families of all faiths welcome. Accredited by PA State Board of Private Schools. AY, SP, BS, AS, DA, DHS* TEMPLE BETH HILLEL – BETH EL EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER 1001 Remington Rd., Wynnewood, PA • 610-649-2277 Tabber.org • Ages: 3 mos.-Kindergarten • Hours: 9am-3pm Programs for children 3 months to kindergarten. Working families love the 7:30am Early Care and 6:00pm Late Care. Special needs children welcome! AY, SP, BS, AS, DA, SN, DHS, DE WALDRON MERCY ACADEMY 513 Montgomery Ave., Merion Station, PA 19066 610-664-9847 • www.waldronmercy.org Ages: 3 yrs.-grade 8 • Hours: 8:15am-3pm Waldron Mercy Academy is a co-educational age 3 to grade 8 independent Catholic school, offering an innovative curriculum integrating academics, technology, arts, athletics and service, with a commitment to Mercy and service. WMA offers a Child Care Center and Montessori or PreSchool tracks. FY, AY, AS, BS, DA, DHS* THE WETHERILL SCHOOL 1321 Beaumont Dr., Gladwyne, PA 610-649-2299 • Wetherillschool.org Ages 2.7 yrs.-5 yrs. • Hours: 8:15am-3pm Seeks to create a warm, secure, first-school experience where the social, emotional, physical and cognitive development of each child is carefully nurtured. Curriculum based on Montessori, Piaget, Reggio Emilia schools. Classroom teachers supported by specialists in Music, Spanish, Creative Movement. Full or half-day Kindergarten. Licensed by State Board of Private Academic schools. AY, SP, BS, DE

CENTER CITY/SOCIETY HILL, PHILADELPHIA COUNTY BUSY BEES LEARNING CENTER INC. 601 Walnut St., #LL-25, Phila., PA 215-733-9271, 866-Be-Busy7 toll free • BusyBeesChildcare.com Ages: 6 wks.-5 yrs. • Hours: 7:30am-6pm ”What’s important to your family is just as important to ours.” A family owned and operated homey and contemporary facility in the spectacular Curtis Center overlooking Independence Park. We have a family room for nursing and visits, multicultural activities with focus on Spanish, Montessori philosophy, Parents as Partners Program, mature professional staff. Online classroom observation at Guardiancam.com. Snacks provided. FY, MP, BS, AS, DA, SN, DHS EARLY CHILDHOOD ENVIRONMENTS 762 South Broad St. Phila., PA 19146 215-844-0178 • www.ecedesigns.com • Ages: 3-12 yrs. • Hours: 6:30am-6pm EARLY CHILDHOOD ENVIRONMENTS provides a bilingual, multicultural program where children learn and develop socially and emotionally. Head start, pre-school and after-school programs are provided for children ages 3-12. FY, AY, SP, MP, BS, AS, DA, TP, DHS* SOCIETY HILL SYNAGOGUE 418 Spruce Street Phila., PA 19106 • 215-922-6590 www.societyhillsynagogue.org • Ages: 2-5 yrs. • Hours: 7:45am-6pm We provide the best care for your child! Small class sizes provide a warm, nurturing classroom environment. Our goal is to get your child excited about learning! Age-appropriate curriculum with emphasis on play, socialization skills, as well as rich exposure to Jewish values. We are flexible to the needs of our families! Full-day service. AY, SP, BS/AS, DA, SN THE CHILDREN’S HOUSE OF PHILADELPHIA MONTESSORI SCHOOL 2611 S. Broad St., Philadelphia, PA 215-570-0757 • www.phillychildrenshouse.com • Ages: 2.5-5 yrs.

Full day and half day programs available for our Primary and Toddler programs. Primary Program: morning Montessori program includes lunch,& group play. Toddler Program: explore age appropriate Montessori materials with a Montessori trained teacher. Extended Day: after-school snack followed by Montessori-inspired playgroup: build, cook, paint, etc. before going outdoors for dismissal. FY, AY, SP, BS, AS, NAYEC, AMS

In the Historic Curtis Center 601 Walnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19106

WILLOW GROVE, MONTGOMERY COUNTY KIDSPARK 23 Easton Rd. (Entrance on Davisville Rd.), Willow Grove, PA 215-657-KIDS (5437) • KidsPark.com • Ages: 18 mos.-12 yrs.

Hours: Mon-Thu 7am-10pm; Fri 7am-12pm; Sat 10am-12pm; Sun 1pm-6pm A family favorite for over 20 years! Hourly drop-in childcare for ages 18 months-12 yrs old.

Morning Preschool, birthday parties on the weekend. Arts & crafts, games, indoor climbing structure, music & stories. Days, evenings, weekends, attend meetings, run errands, exercise... while your children are safe and having fun. We accept CCIS. FY, SP, MP, AS, DA, SN, DHS, BS

215-733-9271

Cameras in our classrooms provide you with online observation of your child’s day!

• Family Owned & Operated • Mature, Professional Staff • Literacy Based Curriculum • Multicultural Setting

www.busybeeschildcare.com

ENTERTAINMENT

PERFORMANCES

TUTORING

Music, Art & Laughs!

Storybook Musical Theatre

Bullseye Learning offers tutoring, enrichment, corporate training and homeschool services.

Our certified teachers along with our subject-matter experts can help support and strengthen students of all ages including adults in all educational needs.

Making Magical Musical Memories

Adventures in Toyland

DRAWINGS, SONGS & SILLINESS

MrDavid.com 610 -239-8177

Dec. 12 to 30, 2018

Snow White

March 19 to March 31, 2019

Princess & the Pea

May 7 - 18 & July 23 - Aug. 3 2019 All Shows at: Gratz College Theater, Melrose Park, PA

Subscribe Now! See All 3 Shows!

Kids only $36, Adults: $42

www.storybookmusical.org

PARTIES

FESTIVALS

34 MetroKids.com

SCHOOLS

Brochure & Info: 215-659-8550

MetroKids - Oct./Nov. Edition

TXT: INFO or call 1-844-430-1645 support@bullseyelearning.com

www.bullseyelearning.com NOVEMBER 2018

Helping Children Reach Their Potential CHILDWAY is a personalized, home-like setting providing individualized care to meet the special medical needs of each child exclusively.

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LEVELS OF CARE • • • • • • •

Orthopedic Interventions Seizure Management Tracheostomy Wound Care Treatment Central Line Full Ventilator Support Transplant Recipients

It is the mission of ChildWay Pediatric Services Inc. to commit ourselves to children who are technologically dependent and medically fragile by providing them with services and programs in a home-like setting under the care of our professional nursing staff. Our goal is to provide exceptional and individual attention to each child. We will provide the most knowledgeable and compassionate care to ensure that each child achieves his or her full potential life.

Weekly visits from ChildWay’s Pediatric Care Physician (also available 24/7 for medical issues that arise) Knowledgeable and experienced staff who specialize in caring for high acuity pediatric patients.

For admissions, please email info@childway.com or call 215-362-4950