Miami Dade Family Life May 2020

COMPLIMENTARY

MAY 2020

Over It! LOOKING AHEAD TO SUMMER AND THE NEW NORMAL

CAMP

Connections ON-SITE & VIRTUAL OPTIONS

Quarantine

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ENGINEERING

MARINE SCIENCES

ASTRONOMY

TECHNOLOGY

Spend the summer experimenting with amazing science through weeklong themed camps with Frost Science educators.

CAMP DATES Ages 4-11: June 8 – August 14 | Ages 11-14: July 13 – July 31

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contents

MAY 2020

departments 6 EDITOR’S NOTE Dreaming of camp — and summer freedom.

8 MIAMI & MORE When the doors shut, some companies found that many windows opened, connecting them with the community like never before.

18 SPECIAL NEEDS Camps can teach kids many valuable lessons, especially for those with special needs.

20 WORDS OF WISDOM In a quaran-teen situation, social-distancing can strengthens some ties.

features

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FAMILY FUN HOME EDITION

CAMP CROSSROADS

A PARENT’S QUARANTINE QUIZ

Online events and furry, virtual meet-ups to help widen your world.

Many camps are getting ready for summer — with a few changes.

Are you an amateur or an artist?

Take our quiz to find out!

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MIAMI-DADE

Our mission is to enrich family life in Miami-Dade County by offering the highest quality publication and an unparalleled commitment to our readers and our community.

PUBLISHER Lisa Goodlin

Summer Camp

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Stacey Jacques EXECUTIVE EDITOR Michelle Liem MANAGING EDITOR Jennifer Jhon ASSOCIATE EDITOR Shannon Pease-Severance STAFF WRITER Greg Carannante SENIOR ACCOUNT MANAGERS Suzy Miguelez • Sheila Ranson Rick Charnack

June 8 – August 21 Ages 6-14

MORE INFO.

CREATIVE DIRECTOR Carrie B. Weeks PRODUCTION ASSISTANTS Toni Kirkland • Linda Seavey DIGITAL DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Tom Gonzales CONTACT US: 4611 S. University Drive, #224 Davie, FL 33328 Phone (954) 424-7405 info@miamidadefamilylife.com

For information on where to find Miami-Dade Family Life, or to become a distributor, call 954-424-7405 or e-mail info@miamidadefamilylife.com Comments and suggestions are welcome.

Miami-Dade Family Life is published twelve times per year by Family Life Media Group. It is distributed free of charge throughout Miami-Dade County. Miami-Dade Family Life is not responsible for statements made by advertisers or writers. We make every effort to ensure the accuracy of information we print, but cannot be held responsible for any consequences arising from omissions or errors. All photography and letters sent to Miami-Dade Family Life will be treated unconditionally, assigned for publication and copyright purposes and are subject to unrestricted right to edit and comment editorially. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is forbidden.

Copyright 2020 by Family Life Media Group.

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May 2020 | M I A M I - D A D E F A M I LY L I F E

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EDITOR’S note

SUMMER DREAMING I’ve always been a dreamer.

Even before the Coronavirus shutdown, I was a big fan of using the Internet to explore all my curiosities and desires, such as crafts and baking and travel.

Nowadays, travel is not at the top of my list, mainly because I don’t know when I’ll

Zoo Miami

With the launch of Zoocademy with Ron we’re now offering animal videos and

Magill,

educational activities that families can enjoy from the comfort of their living room!

Visit ZooMiami.org/Zoocademy toda y!

be able to do it again. Instead it’s finding places to send the kids for summer camp.

The real draw of summer camp, for me, is getting the kids out of the house so they can spend time with friends, and I can actually get some work done from my home office.

I’ve always loved the idea of letting the kids explore new interests at camp. My son has done a specialty soccer camp for the past few summers. My daughter’s first camp experience was a Montessori school that had horses. And last summer, they got to experience a coding camp.

This summer, I just want to get them outside. I do hope that I can send them someplace to learn a new skill. But my real goal is getting them safely back into a situation where they can interact with someone besides each other.

We’ve grown a lot in our time together, but we all have different interests and needs, and we need some space to explore them. As camps make decisions about their summer plans, I am hoping to find a program that will engage the kids, keep them safe and allow them to explore the world outside our front yard – even if it is just for a few hours a day.

If you are searching, like me, our digital camp section on pages 12-15 can help you find the perfect summer fit for your family.

We’re all looking forward to a “new normal.” Here’s hoping it involves safe ways to keep the kids learning – and moms and dads working.

JENNIFER JHON Managing Editor

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&more

MIAMI

Room for reinvention SHUTDOWN PUSHES COMPANIES TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX

T

he Coronavirus shutdown has been devastating for many businesses and organizations.

But the forced isolation has also given companies the time and incentive to think outside the box and make changes.

“The pandemic has really had us looking at business very differently,” said Rachel Pinzur, a spokesperson for Jungle Island in Miami. “We know a lot of our fans miss the park, and they miss the animals. It was really important that we continue to find ways to engage with our community and our fans, especially since many are young, and they are stuck at home.”

The first thing Jungle Island launched was its homeschool program, which delivers a new assignment each weekday at 11 a.m. Video introductions are posted on Facebook and Instagram with a link that goes back to its website. “We had over 500 fans go to Jungle Island’s homeschool landing page the first day. People were really excited.”

The homeschool lessons have been a complete success, she said. “It’s keeping our education manager extremely busy.”

The park’s second initiative was starting a Facebook Live show. Veterinarian Jason Chatfield had been doing Chats With Chatfield for years in person, so he was well-groomed for taking the show online.

Chats With Chatfield goes live every Wednesday at 3:30 p.m., and a second live show is done in Spanish with Marisela Gutierrez at 3:30 p.m. every Thursday.

Jungle Island has also launched a program that allows people and companies to invite an animal to a virtual meet-up, and the fee from that program helps pay for the animals’ care and feeding, Pinzur said.

The biggest lesson from the shutdown, she said, “has been the unbelievable amount of opportunities we have to engage with our guests even when the park is closed. We’re going to continue to explore that much more.”

Museum of Discovery and Science

KEEPING IN TOUCH The Museum of Discovery and Science in Fort Lauderdale and the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science in Miami are also delivering educational content designed to keep them in touch with their visitors.

Joseph P. Cox, the president and CEO of the Museum of Discovery and Science, said MODS reacted quickly when the pandemic hit.

“The first thing that dawned on me, about 5 minutes after the museum closed, was this is uncharted territory for everyone, and we really have an opportunity to define our own future.

“We pretty much immediately recognized that ... our mission

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is connecting people to inspiring science, and that doesn’t stop because our doors are closed.”

He said the staff looked at the museum’s strengths – exciting STEM education, hands-on experiences and connecting to the community – to chart their course. “That’s where the idea for Virtual Camp Discovery came about.”

Virtual Camp Discovery is a series of free videos, posted every weekday, that highlight the museum’s more exciting experiences and bring them to life, from animal encounters and science shows to slimemaking projects and tours of the museum’s exhibits.

MODS didn’t stop there. “From that we’ve spun out a few other things,” Cox said.

MODS reached out to Broward County Public Schools in the early stages of the shutdown. “We work with the school system a lot.

This time of year, we’re usually expecting 1,000 children a day coming through the museum on a school field trip,” he said.

But with field trips canceled, the museum switched gears.

“We’re now in the process of creating eight weeks of curriculum from preK to 12,” Cox said.

That effort, the MODS Challenge, is divided into 4 age groups: preK-2, 3-5, 6-8 and 9-12. It includes a new STEAM-based project each week for teachers, students and parents with an activity guide, curriculum and video resources.

The MODS Challenge curriculum is sent out weekly through the school system and posted on the museum website, free of charge, Cox said.

As social distancing continues, MODS events

are also going digital. A virtual version of the museum’s annual Eye of the Storm hurricane preparedness event is in the works.

MODS will partner with Florida International University to produce a series of videos on hurricane science.

“The finished product will be available on all our social media platforms, and for our partner institutions in communities where hurricanes are an issue.”

The move to online events and education has been a fascinatingly quick evolution, Cox said. “Museums across the country are realizing this is how we stay engaged with our visitors.”

“The digital online curriculum, that wasn’t something we were looking at doing until the pandemic rolled through,” Cox said. “It raises an interesting conversation about the role of museums. Museums are usually seen as informal education ... but suddenly we’re developing content delivered in the same way as formal education.”

VIRTUAL CLASSES

THE POWER OF SCIENCE Over at the Frost Science Museum, virtual learning was already in place, but then Frost powered up with the Frost Science@Home digital learning platform, which launched in March. It offers free educational resources, behind-the-scenes videos, family-friendly science activities, exhibit exploration and a webcam focused on the museum’s 500,000-gallon Gulf Stream aquarium.

“Online learning was something we always instilled, but this was another level,” said Christina Rodriguez, a spokesperson for Frost Science. “We have a 360-degree video that captures 11 of the major exhibitions, DIY science activities for kids to do at home, and a more in-depth look at our husbandry teams.”

The museum is also using social media to reach out, and it has a wealth of videos on Facebook as well as a weekly show, Virtual LIVE@Frost Science, on Wednesdays at 2 p.m.

The museum constantly updates Frost Science@Home with new content and plans to keep it going after the museum reopens, Rodriguez said. “We’re getting good feedback from teachers (and parents) because this is a way for them to include science activities they can use. ... It’s definitely become a good in-home resource for everyone.”

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familyFUN HOME EDITION

VIRTUALLY THERE ONLINE OFFERINGS TO WIDEN YOUR WORLD

BY SHANNON PEASE-SEVERANCE As our length of time inside grows, so does our list of interactive and inspiring virtual activities -- and there's something for every interest.

THEATER FANS As Broward Center for the Performing Arts takes an intermission, you can still enjoy theater arts by way of Education at Home. You will find free fun and engaging content, music, stories, virtual performing arts classes, art-filled journeys and more. Join Classes to Go on Mondays at 4:30 p.m., Spotlights Sing on Tuesdays at 3:30 p.m. and Sundays at noon, Broadway Chat Series on Wednesdays at 7 p.m., and Singalong with Miss Tammy on Thursdays at 3:30 p.m. Visit browardcenter.org or @browardcentereducation on Facebook.

MUSIC FANS The music plays on with the South Florida Symphony, via family-friendly Live on the Drive live-streamed concerts at 4 p.m. Thursdays on YouTube.com/channel/UCKBFsCQsoZlxlw1GwIU4bNA and on Facebook at @southfloridasymphony. The organization is also offering concert archives for all, and music-inspired-movie watch parties for adults at 8 p.m. Saturdays.

COOKING FANS Older kids, teens and adults can fine-tune their cooking skills via live Cooking with The Galleria lessons. For upcoming classes and past videos, visit @GalleriaFtLauderdale on Facebook.

SPACE FANS For fun that’s out of this world, check out one of the Kennedy Space Center’s sessions. The fun and educational workshops, which include topics about rockets, space exploration and more, are aired live at facebook.com/KennedySpaceCenterVisitorComplex every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 9:30 a.m.

SPORTS FANS Miami Marlins fans can visit Billy’s Activity Zone at mlb.com/marlins/fans/home-fun for ways to keep the kids entertained, including coloring pages, videos with tips from the pros, word searches and more.

The Florida Panthers offer free, remote access to Hockey Scholar, the hockey-themed STEM curriculum presented by EverFi for elementary and middle-school students. Part of the NHL & NHLPA Future Goals™ Program, Hockey Scholar provides foundational STEM concepts and introduces students to careers in hockey related to STEM. Sign up at futuregoals.nhl.com/?t=pan.

NATURE FANS STORYTIME FANS Take a break with your little ones with a children’s storytime from the Early Learning Coalition at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Stories are told in English on Mondays, in Spanish on Wednesdays, and Haitian Creole on Fridays. Go to @browardelc on Facebook.

DOG LOVERS Our furry friends love learning new things and interacting with their humans. The Humane Society of Broward County posts YouTube training tutorials and fun activities we can do with our pets, including how to make a dog puzzle (youtu.be/a7syaumbELE), a goody bag for bunnies and guinea pigs (youtu.be/FvFFm6b9xZA), and training videos including instructions on how to teach your dog to sit (youtu.be/xljZn5cpX60).

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The Miami-Dade County Parks Department presents #THEPLAYGROUND, a series of interactive videos for families to enjoy and explore local parks from home. Sessions include guided tours of parks, animal interactions, fitness classes and more. Videos are posted every Thursday @miamidadeparks on Instagram, and additional live streams are posted throughout the week at facebook.com/miamidadeparks.

Broward County Parks also posts series of fun facts and videos weekly on Wildlife Wednesday. Viewers can also meet the residents of Creatures Corner, or participate in an online guided meditation set to soothing music at facebook.com/browardcountyparks.

Get more virtual events from South Florida, and submit your own, online at https://southfloridafamilylife.com/ virtual-events-in-broward-and-miami/

GOING TO THE DOGS

BY JENNIFER JHON

Animal lovers don't have to wait for zoos and museums to open to visit with some of their favorite furry friends. Several South Florida companies are offering virtual animal meet-and-greets, either as a private video call or as a drop-in guest on an online meeting.

Zoomies is a new program from the Broward County Humane Society's Assisted Therapy team, who are happy to add some paws-itivity to your virtual birthday, graduation or company meeting. For a minimum donation, a therapy dog and their handler will drop in on your next video call for 10 minutes.

Visit humanebroward.com/zoomies/ to schedule.

Another therapy dog group in Broward County, Canine Assisted Therapy, is also scheduling warm, furry welcomes and wagging tails. Its TeleDog program helps increase team morale, brighten people's day and provide stress relief with a virtual meeting drop-in. TeleDog is also designed for those who are unable to receive in-person pet therapy in nursing homes and hospitals. Find out more about TeleDogs by emailing info@catdogs.org or visit catdogs.org/TeleDog/.

For more unusual creatures, Jungle Island in Miami offers Zoo(m)eetings, Monkey Hangouts, Goat-To-Meetings and Flamingle Houseparties with Aldabra tortoises, Capuchin monkeys, goats and flamingos. For a fee, the animal of your choice can drop in for a meeting not to be missed.

Call 305-900-7118 or email jhauwelaert@jungleisland.com to coordinate your animal appearance.

For a more in-depth animal experience, the Museum of Discovery and Science in Fort Lauderdale is offering its popular Otter Encounter online, giving people an opportunity to schedule a behind-the-scenes otter visit with one of the museum’s zookeepers. Other creatures at the museum are also available for online visits. Call 954-713-0930 to schedule an animal encounter or email booking@mods.net.

Zero-Carbon Gifts

BY SHANNON PEASE-SEVERANCE

While South Floridians are staying home, the ecosystem is getting a temporary respite from our ecological footprint. Families can continue the trend with these environmentally friendly activities.

GET INTO GARDENING Consider starting a composting project, planting herbs or tending to a garden. Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden offers “how-tos” online that teach gardening basics, such as creating an edible garden, and home composting tips that produce rich, natural fertilizer. This is a great opportunity to let the little ones dig in the dirt, plant seeds and grow their own fresh-from-the-garden snacks.

Visit www.fairchildgarden.org for suggestions on getting started.

Photo by Kelly LaddI

DIY BIRD FEEDER We might be social distancing, but you can still entice those feathered friends to come to your house for a visit. There are many ways to create your own bird feeder. One of the simplest might be a citrus feeder, although adult assistance is required. Cut a citrus fruit in half, such as an orange, lemon or lime, and remove the fruit.

Poke a few holes around the rim and thread some string or yarn through. Fill the opening with birdseed and hang on a branch to watch the birds flock. Don’t let the fruit you removed go to waste!

Use it to infuse ice water for a healthy, refreshing drink. Visit the Mother Nature Network at www.mnn.com/earth-matters/animals/ stories/how-make-bird-feeder-citrus-peels for details.

GROW YOUR OWN AVOCADO Show the kids that avocados don’t just come from the grocery store. Next time you cut open an avocado, save the pit so you can watch it take root. Gently wash and dry the pit, then poke three toothpicks just below the pointed end so it will balance on top of a jelly jar or glass. Fill the jar with water, so it’s almost to the top and about half (broad side down) of the pit is submerged.

Leave in a spot that’s out of direct sunlight, and continue to refill any dissipated water, and change out the water as needed. In about 2-6 weeks, the pit should split, and a sprout will emerge from the top, and roots will form on the bottom.Once the sprout is about 6-12 inches tall, and the roots are thick, plant in a pot so that half of the seed is still exposed above the soil.

If you are in it for the long haul, you might see the plant yield fruit in about 5-10 years. But in the short term, it’s a fun lesson in science.

Conquer the Quarantine Join our Facebook Group @ SFLFamilyLife and share your tips and strategies for Sheltering in Peace Connect with other South Florida parents for • Family Fun • School News • Parenting Advice • Kid Cooking Tips • Online Resources and more!

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Camp Cr

Many camps are getting re

BY GREG CARANNANTE

F

or certain parents — we won’t say which ones, but you know who you are — the idea of sending the kids to camp

this summer has taken on the hedonistic allure of an all-expenses-paid European getaway for two.

So the question “Will there be a camp to send the kids to this summer?” is a big one. And the answer appears to be a qualified “yes.”

Many South Florida camps are set to welcome children in the coming months — or are at least making contingency plans to open according to government guidelines and timetables.

All camps will be affected by social-distance restrictions in one way or another. Many will temper their normal programs with ounces of prevention, such as admitting fewer campers, requiring workers to wear masks and encouraging campers to scrub their hands frequently. (Imagine all the new hand-washing songs the little campers will bring home.)

Some are converting to virtual camps, while others are still watching and waiting.

rossroads

eady for summer — with a few changes Full steam ahead “As of right now, we are set to have Camp Kadima on-site and in-person,” said Rebeka Luttinger, communications coordinator of the David Posnack JCC in Davie. “Our pool will be open, and we will have plenty of water play. Plus, we will have activities and games on our turf fields and tennis courts.” There will be indoor activities and on-site special events, too.

To accommodate social distancing, groups will be smaller, including for lunch, which will include individually wrapped meals, Luttinger said. The temperatures of staff and campers will be taken daily, and staff will wear masks. Two infirmaries will be used to separate the sick from the injured.

The Deering Estate in Miami is also planning big changes to its summer programs, which offer campers the chance to hike, play and discover how they can help protect natural areas.

“With social distancing restrictions, we will be reducing our number of campers,” said Christopher Bumpus, Learning Programs manager.

“Also, our campers will be remaining at the Estate instead of going on field trips, though we will be bringing in virtual experiences.”

But there is plenty to learn on-site, as Deering Estate shows with its free collection of online video lessons.

The lessons -- usually offered to visiting field trip groups -- include dissections, engineering challenges and more. Deering is also currently offering fee-based Virtual Science classes through Zoom.

At Exploration Camp, Mailman Segal Center for Human Development’s program exclusively for children ages 2-5, little campers will be able to get creative this summer in an outdoor art studio and cavort in the water-play fountain.

“We are planning for an on-site camp option,” said Debbie Gold, assistant director of marketing for the Nova Southeastern University center in Davie. “We will be following CDC, state, and Broward County Public Schools and Department of Children and Families guidelines. ... Additionally, we are considering a number of protocols that we feel are important for our staff, children and families to follow.”

Registration is open, she said, but limited availability is a possibility because of potential social-distancing restrictions.

Frost Young Musicians’ Camp for students entering grades 2-12 will be making music this summer, just not in person at the University of Miami campus in Coral Gables.

“We are currently transforming our programs into an online format,” said director Sarah Salz. “Registrations are under way, and we expect them to increase once we announce our new online programs” in the areas of classical music, jazz, rock, vocal performance, composition and songwriting.

Proceeding With Caution Dezerland Park in North Miami has postponed summer sessions until July or early August, pending government regulations. When the indoor entertainment and attractions complex reopens, the fun will involve some modifications.

“We always have our instructors here to monitor the children,” said Jennifer Pizzi, marketing and events sales manager.

“For each attraction, it would be different. If it was karting or bumper cars, social distancing wouldn’t be an issue. For other attractions, there would be signs on the floor or colored tape showing where each person should stand, similar to what other businesses are doing.”

Online registration will be available when reopening dates have been determined, Pizzi said. In the interim, online classes and afterschool programs are being launched on the website to help during the lockdown.

The temporarily closed Museum of Discovery and Science in Fort Lauderdale is currently reviewing all camp programs, policies and procedures to determine what shape reopening will take, said Nicole Lewis, public relations representative. continued on next page

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continued from page 13

“With regard to specific policies, procedures, etc., we are unable to provide them at this time,” she said. However, as well as following all governmental and CDC guidelines, the museum is conferring with other science centers and children’s museums. It’s also studying museum reopenings in Asia and Germany.

“Right now, we must have modeled 26 different scenarios for the next six months,” said Joseph P. Cox, president and CEO of MODS. “There is a lot of hope, and I think parents are certainly thinking about (on-site) camp vs. running camp from home.”

Within the museum and

possibility of a virtual camp,” said Jessica Parks, director of Learning Experiences for the Zoo Miami Foundation.

“If we are able to have camp with social distancing in place, our capacity will be significantly lower.”

That plan would reduce camper numbers from the normal 20 to eight, and eliminate the five teen volunteers who normally assist two counselors. Other changes involve health screening, communication with parents and activities that can be done with social distancing.

“We also need to design a camp that allows socialization without breaking social-distancing

science park, there is plenty of room to space people out, he said. “We’re looking at ticketing options, limiting the number of people in classrooms. So we’ll be prepared if we’re able to do camp on-site. We’re also gearing up to be able to deliver a virtual camp at home.”

In the meantime, the museum has taken its experience online with free Virtual Camp Discovery videos, posted every weekday, and a MODS Challenge program that invites students in PreK to grade 12 to solve real-world problems through STEM and project-based learning.

Zoo Miami is temporarily closed and in a holding pattern, awaiting state and city guidelines for a phased reopening plan.

“If we cannot have an on-site camp, we are exploring the

rules, as this is a critical part of the camp experience as well,” Parks said. “Masks may be a requirement, too.”

The zoo is also posting videos every week, with new Zoocademy lessons every Monday, Wednesday and Friday about the animals and their care, as well as crafts projects and yoga lessons.

Indoor Soccer Pro in Miami features two different camp programs on air-conditioned turf fields.

“The challenges we expect are having kids keep their distance and not touching each other when playing soccer,” said Jessica Rio, marketing manager.

Although registration is now open online, “we do not have any registrations yet. People are holding off to see when things reopen,” Rio said.

CAMP CONNECTIONS This year, maybe more than ever, the kids are ready to connect with other children and explore new adventures.

Here’s a sampling of summer camp options, both on-site and virtual.

Due to the ever-changing COVID 19 situation, please be sure to confirm dates of operation and other details with the camp of your choice.

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Area Stage Company 5701 Sunset Dr., Miami 305-666-2078 www.areastagecompany.com City of Miami Beach 305-673-7730 www.miamibeachfl.gov Deering Estate 16701 SW 72 Ave., Miami 305-235-1668 www.deeringestate.org

| miamidadefamilylife.com

Frost School of Music – University of Miami 5501 San Amaro Dr., Coral Gables 305-284-2241 www.frost.miami.edu Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science 1101 Biscayne Blvd., Miami 305-615-7990 www.frostscience.org

YMCA of South Florida 954-334-9622 www.ymcasouthflorida.org Zoo Miami 12400 SW 152 St., Miami 305-251-0400 www.zoomiami.org

A PARENT’S QUARANTINE

QUIZ: Are you a Cyber Artist, a 24/7 Chef or a Virtual Daytripper?

BY GREG CARANNANTE

T

he coronavirus is no laughing matter. But quarantining — that’s another thing altogether. Some can find more than a few laughable moments in being forced to shelter-in-place all day every day with a husband who showers every three days, three kids who want to eat 10 times a day and a pooch who wonders what all these people are doing here all day long.

With that in mind, here’s a quiz to determine the type of pandemic parent you have become. To learn your parental quarantine quotient, see how many of the hunkered-down characters below remind you of you, and give yourself a point for each:

1

THE DISTANCE TEACHER

They call it “distance learning,” but with your younger ones, it’s really “distance teaching” — and you’re the teacher.

But you have learned some things, too. For instance, whoever this Kahn is, you’ve learned to love him and his entire lovely Academy. You whisper your affection to him every time your little “distance learner” hits you with something like, “Mom, is this how you divide this fraction?”

2

THE CYBER ARTIST

You take the life-imitates-art quarantine challenge.

Your tween takes a picture of you and your husband recreating the classic American Gothic — standing side-by-side in front of your house wearing surgical masks and holding a spray bottle of disinfectant.

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3

THE 24/7 CHEF

4

THE REWATCHER

5

THE BINGER

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THE ESCAPEE

“Mom, make me Mickey Mouse waffles.”

“Mom, make me mac ’n cheese.”

“Mom, make me hot dogs.”

“Mom, I’m hungry.”

“You just ate two hot dogs.”

“I’m still hungry.”

“Here, have a box of Thin Mints.”

You’ve seen Frozen 2 so many times that you know if you hear Into the Unknown again, that’s just where you’re gonna go. Of course, when the kids are finally tucked in for the night, you transform into …

Ozark, Tiger King, a Friends rerun … doesn’t matter, just as long as it’s a show that affirms that, yes, you ARE an adult.

You know, the type of show with adult themes, adult language and … adults. And not one song about Trolls just wanting to have fun.

You’ve taken so many walks around the neighborhood that you could deliver the mail with your eyes closed. You say it’s for the exercise, but you know it’s really for your sanity.

You try to keep up with your kids as they play the social-distance scavenger hunt, running past neighbors’ houses and scanning windows and porches for teddy bears. Sometimes, though,

you’ve just got to sneak off to your car and drive. You’ve got nowhere to go. You just need to get a glimpse of the real world again — even if it’s only through the windshield. You pass your Publix … and start to tear up.

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THE DELIVEREE

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THE INTERRUPTEE

Groceries, pizzas, car batteries… there’s almost nothing you won’t have delivered — virtually. “No, no,” you text back to your online shopper, “baking soda is not an acceptable replacement for soda.”

You could star in a reboot of the movie Life Interrupted.

Not only has everything you used to do been interrupted, so is everything you try to do now. Whether you’re Zooming, attempting to get some work done from home or taking an online painting class with Guy Harvey, the interference is non-stop. “Mom, we’re bored.” “Mom, can we make s’mores?”

“Mom, we’re bored.” “Mom, I can’t find my iPad.” “Mom, we’re bored.” “Mom, Jason got marshmallow all over the iPad.” “Mom, we’re bored.” “Mom, we’re out of toilet paper.” “Mom…”

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THE VIRTUAL DAYTRIPPER

You and your brood have been to Storytime with Miss Ruthie at the Alvin Sherman Library. You’ve dived into the world of Miko the loggerhead turtle at the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science. You’ve followed a National Park ranger on a trek to hidden wild places. You’ve even toured a 5,000-year-old Egyptian tomb. One day you’ll actually be able to go somewhere.

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THE HUNKER GAMER

You’ve impressed your son by helping him get wins in Fortnite, and your daughter with your skill at finding diamonds in Minecraft. However, you squander all your new-found cred when you drag out your jigsaw puzzle of The Garden of Earthly Delights by Heironymus Bosch, scatter all 1,000 pieces across the dining room table and shout, “Dig in, everybody!”

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THE WINER

Whenever you feel the hunkering hate coming on and your imposed new normalcy makes you want to whine, you remember, wait — you still have wine! And after a glass of white, red or rosé (hopefully late in the evening), you find it impossible to recall whatever it was you were fixing to whine about.

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THE ONLINE OLYMPIAN

You bounce, stretch and jab your way through cyber Zumba, yoga and kickboxing classes. You squirt liquid soap on the floor and power walk on your DIY kitchen treadmill.

But nothing gets you pumped like going for the gold in the Quarantine Olympics and hitting your hubby in the butt with a roll of toilet paper.

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THE NAPPER

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THE CRAFTY CRAFTER

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THE ZOOMER

You occupy your little ones for whole minutes at a time by showing them how to turn egg cartons into colorful flowers, coffee filters into beautiful butterflies and TP rolls into funny puppets. Whole minutes at a time.

As much as possible, you Zoom or FaceTime instead of texting family and friends. You’re so starved for outside human contact, you don’t even complain about having to put on makeup and fix your hair.

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THE HOMEMAKER Your house has never been so clean. #LetMeOut.

THE ORGANIZER

Or, the well-organized. Really well-organized. #LetMeOut.

THE HEROIC HAIRDRESSER

You dig deep and take it upon yourself to cut your family’s hair. You believe you’ve discovered a hidden talent, despite each haircut ending something like this: “There, that’s not so bad. ... No, really, it looks good. … Aw, c’mon, don’t cry. …

Hey, nobody’s gonna see you anyway!”

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THE SOCIAL MEDIA MONGER

You used to feel guilty about how much time you’d spend scrolling, swiping and tapping on Instagram, Tumblr, WhatsApp, Pinterest, Nextdoor and, of course, Facebook. OK … and a few others. Now, social media is your social lifeline, your Facebook friends have become more like BFFs — and waking up in the morning with the phone still in your hand doesn’t make you feel guilty at all.

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THE ONCE-UPON-A-TIMER

You catch yourself drifting into daydreams of sitting at a table in an intimate restaurant, being served — yes, served!

— a boat-full of the most dynamite Dynamite Rolls you’ve ever tasted, right before magically transporting into a front-rowcenter seat at a Maroon 5 concert. You snap out of it when you hear, “Mom, we’re out of toilet paper!”

SCORING CODE RED: 1-7. Quarantining is kind of starting to kick your butt — you’re not sure how much longer you can take it.

CODE YELLOW: 8-14. You’re developing antibodies to social distancing — but you can tough it out for another month.

CODE GREEN: 15-20. You’ve mostly turned sheltering in place into sheltering in peace — and you have won the gratitude of us all.

Need we say anything more?

May 2020 | M I A M I - D A D E F A M I LY L I F E

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SPECIAL needs

Embracing camp SPECIAL NEEDS PROGRAMS DELIVER A RANGE OF BENEFITS

BY DENISE YEARIAN

A

t age 6, Kim Kelly paid her first visit to a special needs residential camp. It was an experience she and her family will never forget.

Until then, she had lived a sheltered life, said her mother, Ruth.

“Because she has hearing loss and an orthopedic problem, it was natural for me to want to hold her close.”

By bringing Kim to camp, her mother realized two things: “My daughter needed to learn to do things on her own, and I needed to let go a little.” It was a positive experience, she said.

Children derive a variety of benefits from attending camp, but for kids with special needs, those benefits are amplified, said Sandy Cameron, editor of Camping Magazine. “Traditional camps do a great job mainstreaming special needs children into their programs, but a special needs camp lets them be with other kids who have similar disabilities. The programs are pretty much the same, but may be altered to meet the children’s needs.”

Heidi Haldeen, a summer program specialist for Easter Seals, agreed.

“At a special needs camp, kids have the same opportunities they have at traditional camps. The only difference is the activities are modified according to the campers’ needs. This gives them a chance to shine.”

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That’s what 9-year-old Tiffany Wells found when she attended a special needs camp. During the school year, Tiffany, who has cerebral palsy and asthma, played on a children’s softball team and a community bowling league. But because none of the children she played with had disabilities, the competition wasn’t always equal.

“Attending a special needs camp allowed Tiffany to compete on more even ground because all the other kids were playing with some kind of disability,” said her mother, Linda. “Tiffany saw that she could actually win and come out on top.”

One of the beauties of a special needs camp is that the kids can learn and experience new things with peers, Cameron said.

“It’s like a camaraderie. It gives them the confidence they need to try new things they might not have otherwise tried.”

This was the case with Kim. When she first went to camp, Kim was afraid of the water. “She cried just getting her face wet,” said her mother. Through the encouragement of the trained staff, Kim slowly edged her way into the water. “By summer’s end, she was jumping in the deep end and had received her first American Red Cross swimming certificate.”

While some see summer camp as an outlet for fun and recreation, others use it to continue education and therapy goals and teach life skills. This is accomplished one step at a time. “It may mean being 10 minutes late for breakfast so Timmy can learn to tie his shoes by himself,” Haldeen said.

Kids learn about friendships at camp, too. Last year, Tiffany met a girl in her cabin with a more severe case of cerebral palsy than she had. Because Tiffany had spent her whole life with people helping her, she wanted a chance to help others. “When we went to the dance, I got to push my new friend around in her chair,” Tiffany said. “I also got to help her eat.”

“One of the best things to be said about camp – any camp – is the opportunity for the children to make friends,” Cameron said. “And for children with special needs, it’s especially important. They find out they are not alone, that there are others with similar disabilities.”

When camp is over, what do the children take with them?

For some, new skills. For others, new friends. And for many, a fond memory of having had a break from their normal routine.

Many campers look forward to returning year after year, Haldeen said. “For many, we are their summer vacation.

The minute they drive away, they are making plans to return next year.”

Denise Yearian is a former parenting magazine editor and a writer with more than 20 years of published work.

She cherishes her own memories of summer camp.

Camp Decision Checklist While camps designed for specific needs offer specialized care, some families prefer to attend a traditional camp that caters to all children.

Before enrolling your children in a camp, visit the facility and make sure the layout and surroundings meet your expectations and needs.

The following are a few things parents should keep in mind before choosing a traditional or special needs camp for their child: • Is the camp accredited by an organization such as the American Camping Association (ACA, www.acacamps.org) or the National Camp Association (NCA, www.summercamp.org)?

• Does it meet the organization’s standards for children with special needs, including facility and staffing requirements?

• What training and experience do the directors and counselors have in working with kids with a need similar to your child’s?

• Are there other families you can contact whose children have attended the camp and who might be willing to discuss their experience with you?

• What is the ratio of counselors to campers? For children with severe disabilities, the ratio should be at least one counselor for every three campers.

• What are the camp’s health and safety procedures? What about the facility?

Is there a registered nurse in residence? If not, who will dispense medication, if needed? How close is the nearest hospital? Have emergency arrangements been made with a local hospital?

• Are they able to accommodate special dietary needs? Who will assist with feeding, toileting or other activities of daily living?

• Can you visit the camp to see the program firsthand? Do they have sessions year-round?

• How do they ensure an inclusive environment when some activities aren’t appropriate for your child? What alternatives are available?

• What about the camp’s registration fee? (Keep in mind that expense and quality may not go hand-in-hand, because many specialized camps charge only a fraction of actual costs. Find out if there are scholarships available.)

FLEXIBLE ONLINE LEARNING FREE for Elementary, Middle, and High School students.

EXPLORE OUR OPTIONS

May 2020 | M I A M I - D A D E F A M I LY L I F E

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WORDS of wisdom

Life in quaranTEEN PARENTS AND TEENAGERS LIVING IN LOCKDOWN

BY SHANNON PEASE-SEVERANCE

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mposing social distancing restrictions on a teenager is a bit like pulling a wolf from its pack. Both are social beings by nature, bonded by a complex connection with their crew.

As a mom of two teenage daughters, I’ve witnessed this firsthand. In 2020 BC (Before Coronavirus), being in constant contact with others was the healthy norm.

My daughters’ days were filled with social interaction with family, teachers, teammates and their close-knit inner circle of adolescent friends.

But as the Coronavirus closed in, I became the bearer of bad news that pretty much everything and anything that required close proximity to another person was closed, canceled or otherwise discouraged.

It wasn’t easy, and it didn’t come naturally. My girls respected it as a necessity for safety’s sake, but still, the disappointment ran deep every time another dream was dashed.

The situation quickly created a challenge for the kids to stay connected to the rest of their pack. It became clear that social distancing was here to stay for a while. Together (but apart), they took group dance classes on Zoom, marked Sweet 16 birthdays with car parades, video-chatted, and posted congratulatory messages to friends on social media for scholarships, impending graduations and other achievements.

At home though, social distancing created an opportunity for us to connect. And I don’t mean virtually. We were given a chance to spend more time together. Typically, our day-to-day home life is hurried. We are rushing to get to school, to practice, to competitions, to meet friends, to do homework, to make dinner, to pick up the composition book that is required for school the next day that we (by we, I mean I) totally forgot to buy. Remember not so long

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ago when some retail stores were open 24 hours, and the task could be checked off the to-do list even after midnight, if necessary?

I’ve realized over the past couple of months that although we’ve missed the things we used to do and the ways we used to do them, we’ve been given opportunities that we otherwise would not have had.

For me, it’s been the gift of unrushed time together. I’ve taken long walks with my children and had lengthy conversations with them.

We’ve had family game nights, movie marathons and binge baking sessions. We’ve gone strawberry picking and strolled through fields of sunflowers. They even taught me a Tik-Tok dance.

I know as time goes by, the pace will pick up, and we will once again settle in to some of our former routines. My kids and their peers will head back to the brick-and-mortar malls, classrooms and local hangouts. Some of their friends will graduate this year and advance to the next chapter of their lives.

And although they may not have celebrated certain milestones traditionally, Rites of Passage are intended to prepare teens to navigate their way through the world.

The teens I know will be fully prepared, regardless of how those milestones are marked. They are smart, eager and resilient. They overcome obstacles and adversity. They value teamwork and collective thought, but are also independent, strong and self-motivated.

Teens these days are tenacious, and the strength of the pack is a force to be reckoned with.

Shannon Pease-Severance is a writer and Miami-Dade Family Life’s associate editor who continues to “shelter in peace” with her husband, two daughters, two cats and Siberian Husky mix.