TWEEN ALERT: iCARLY INTERVIEW
NEW PARENTS
SURVIVAL GUIDE
EDUCATION VACATIONS
APRIL
2010
April 2010 Established 1986
Krysta Rodriguez, Bebe Neuwirth, Nathan Lane and Adam Reigler, from the cast of Broadway’s “The Addams Family”
WWW.NEWYORKFAMILY.COM
meet the NEW YORK FAMILY
NEIGHBORS
And You Thought Your Family Was Dysfunctional? Just Wait Till The Addams Family Comes To Broadway This Month
LISA LIPPMAN, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT :DOO 6WUHHW -RXUQDO 7RS %URNHUV LQ $PHULFD %URZQ +DUULV 6WHYHQV %URNHU RI WKH <HDU :HVWVLGH %URNHU RI WKH <HDU :HVWVLGH /LVWLQJ %URNHU RI WKH <HDU Lisa Lippman 212-588-5606 llippman@bhsusa.com
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Scott Moore 212-588-5608 smoore@bhsusa.com
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NEW YORK CITY THE HAMPTONS NORTH FORK PALM BEACH O
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NEW YORK CITY THE HAMPTONS NORTH FORK PALM BEACH O
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We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the nation. We encourage and support an afďŹ rmative advertising and marketing program in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin.
SAVE THE DATE! PRIORITY REGISTRATION FOR SPRING/SUMMER PROGRAMS OPENS ON SUN, APR 25. GENERAL REGISTRATION OPENS WED, APR 28. 10% price rollbacks on many classes! Free trial classes available upon request. From sports to the arts, science to dance, and everything in between, JCC classes are unparalleled! All children birth to 18 years are welcome.
DON’T MISS THIS MONTH’S SPECIAL EVENTS: Getting Your Child Into Kindergarten Demystify the complicated process of applying to kindergarten with Jean Schreiber, MS Ed., early childhood consultant. Learn the timelines, testing, and sometimes tumultous process associated with applying to public and private kindergartens in New York City. Mon, Apr 12, 7—8:30 pm, $20/$25 FPAKIN00W0
JCC
THIS MONTH AT THE
New Parent Lunches with Big City Moms at the JCC! Bring your baby to the JCC for a tasty lunch and informative speaker. Meet moms and babies in the neighborhood and join our community of friendship and support. Upcoming lunch dates and topics include: • Secrets in the City for New York Moms, Wed, Apr 7, 11 am • You Just Had a Baby, Now What? Wed, Apr 28, 11 am JCC Members: $30 in advance/$35 at door Nonmembers: $35 in advance/$40 at door
Child/Adult CPR Learn how to perform CPR, help a choking child/adult, and handle lifethreatening emergencies. Ideal for parents, babysitters, nannies, and grandparents. This is a certifying class. Tue, Apr 27, 6:30—8:30 pm, $95/$115 FPACPR06W0
Caring for Your Newborn Baby This hands-on workshop will teach prenatal parents to find humor and joy in care routines for new babies. Topics include questions to ask before leaving the hospital, preparing the home for arrival; circumcision and umbilical cord care; bathing; breastfeeding; colick; and more! Led by Andrea Syms-Brown, IBCLC, CIMI, with 20 years of experience as a newborn care specialist. Snacks provided. Thu, Apr 29, 6:30—8:30 pm, $40/$50 FPACBA03W0
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April 2010 volume 23, issue 11
INSIDE
48 COLUMNS
18
34 FEATURES 48 THEY’RE CREEPY AND THEY’RE KOOKY…
The Addams Family hits Broadway this month—and they’re as mysterious and spooky as ever. New York Family spoke with stars from the show to find out all about the gothic clan’s musical incarnation
60 NEW PARENTS GUIDE
c A “survival guide” with tips on everything from creating a registry to getting your baby to sleep (pg 60) c Development markers for baby’s first two years; plus, resources for parents of children with special needs (page 64) c Got twins? Meet Natalie Diaz, founder of Twiniversity (pg 70) c A primer on homemade baby food (page 72) c The authors of “Partnership Parenting” talk about how men and women parent differently (page 74)
28 30 32
34
8
New York Family | April 2010
A GOOD IDEA
54 38
A SPECIAL PLACE
40 76
ACTIVITY OF THE MONTH
78
TREATS SIGN ME UP OH THE PLACES YOU’LL GO
BUZZWORTHY Great reads for National Poetry Month, a sustainable dollhouse, a guide to nanny sharing, and more ideas for April
IT’S MY PARTY Birthday fun at Cozy’s Cuts for Kids, the NBA Store, and with Let’s Dress Up! at the Museum of the City of New York
IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD The Harrison offers classic elegance with contemporary accents on the Upper West Side; plus, this month’s three featured dream homes
Stroller picks from New York Family’s style director
A New York family’s adventures in Washington, D.C.; plus, more great education vacations
98
24
One of the city’s most highlyregarded theater programs, TADA! Youth Theater teaches kids collaboration, communication and compromise (and singing and dancing, too)
A roundup of some of the city’s coolest summer classes
WELCOME TO THE FAMILY News from New York Family, including upcoming events, contests and giveaways, and other noteworthy happenings
How to get happy: an interview with Gretchen Rubin, author of “The Happiness Project”
Whether pre-natal, mommyand-me or on your own, the practice of yoga can strengthen your mind, body and connection with your child
42
22
NEW SCHOOLS TIPSHEET A look at some of the city’s new and notable private schools
THE COVER:
From the cast of Broadway’s “The Addams Family” (left to right): Krysta Rodriguez as Wednesday, Bebe Neuwirth as Morticia, Nathan Lane as Gomez and Adam Riegler as Pugsley. Photographed by Matt Hoyle (matthoyle.com).
EDITOR’S NOTE One parent to another
DEPARTMENTS
92
KID CULTURE This month’s best live performances and museum exhibits for families (page 80); an afternoon with the Dirty Sock Funtime Band (page 88); and a conversation with “iCarly” star Miranda Cosgrove (page 90)
CAMP COUNTDOWN Finding a camp for your child with special needs
ON SECOND THOUGHT
A mom of two reflects on her life before kids—and finds she wouldn’t change a thing
40 www.newyorkfamily.com
ng oor kids usi rmance fo r active outd er fo p r lt ea u w ad ot g We build fo ars designin designs are om 25+ ye oe fr s sh le s’ p d ci prin Land ki kids’ ur Leap ‘n’ ile—fitting footwear. O and versat , le et. fe ab r rt ei fo th m protecting secure, co after time. tyles while e es tim lif , d ily ze p gi ener nd hap leap and la Watch them
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Children’s Museum of Manhattan CMOM Family Membership A great family deal at $210* a year!
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Unlimited admission, special members-only hours, reduced fee for CMOM enrollment classes, a discount at the CMOM Store and access to more than 100 Children’s Museums throughout the country! Benefits also include local establishments:
funds help support CMOM’s work to offer an array of high quality creative programs to children and families throughout the city.
discounts at the following
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A closet is more than just a place for your things. It’s where you begin each day. We’ll work with you to create a space that’s organized, intelligent and beautiful. Start seeing the possibilities. Visit our showroom or see us online at CaliforniaClosets.com.
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Good night dirt. Good night bacteria hiding there. Good night germs everywhere. Is your baby’s pacifier or bottle really free of germs? You’ll know for certain with a Miele dishwasher. Its SaniWash cycle with patented Vario™ temperature control technology ensures water stays hot enough to completely sanitize your family’s dishware. Providing a cleaning performance that’s guaranteed1… so your story has its happily ever after. See miele.com for complete details.
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Visit our showroom at 937 Lexington Ave., NY (bet 68th & 69th St.) 212.879.1200 www.elgotkitchens.com
editor And co-publisher eric Messinger emessinger @manhattanmedia.com Art director Mitchell Hoffman mhoffman @manhattanmedia.com executive editor Leah Black lblack@manhattanmedia.com stYle director Joy Sherwood jsherwood @manhattanmedia.com deputY Art director Jessica Balaschak jbalaschak@manhattanmedia.com production MAnAGer Mark Stinson mstinson @manhattanmedia.com deputY production MAnAGer Heather Mulcahey hmulcahey @manhattanmedia.com photo editor Andrew Schwartz aschwartz@manhattanmedia.com senior editors Katie Main kmain @manhattanmedia.com Meira Drazin mdrazin @manhattanmedia.com contributinG photoGrAphers Daniel S. Burnstein, Heidi Green, thaddeus Harden, Jennifer Lee, Josh Lehrer, Sarah Merians contributinG Writers Janet Allon, Michelle Levine, Lisa Loverro, Jennifer Maslowski, Brittany Mcnamara, Arielle Patrick, tanisia Morris, Lyz Pfister, elisabeth Reed, Hannah Rubenstein, Molly O’Meara Sheehan, Mary Squillace, teresa tobat, Lanchi Venator, Kate Willard Group publisher Alex Schweitzer 212-284-9735, aschweitzer @manhattanmedia.com publisher John Hurley 212-268-3086, jhurley @manhattanmedia.com AssociAte publisher Mary Ann Oklesson maoklesson @manhattanmedia.com senior Account MAnAGer Jane O’Donovan jodonovan @manhattanmedia.com sAles AssistAnt Patrick O’Connor pjoconnor @manhattanmedia.com
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circulAtion John Baxter jbaxter @manhattanmedia.com Joe Bendik jbendik@manhattanmedia.com AdvertisinG coordinAtor Jennie Valenti jvalenti @manhattanmedia.com business MAnAGer Shawn Scott sscott@manhattanmedia.com Accounts MAnAGer Kathy Pollyea kpollyea @manhattanmedia.com
2
MAnHAttAn MeDiA president/ceo tom Allon tallon @manhattanmedia.com cFo/coo Joanne Harras jharras @manhattanmedia.com FoundinG publisher Barbara Witt MArketinG director tom Kelly tkelly @manhattanmedia.com
Harry’s Shoes For Kids 2315 Broadway (between 83rd and 84th St.), New York, NY Tip Top Kids 149 W 72nd St., New York, NY
events MAnAGer Stephanie Musso smusso @manhattanmedia.com
Orva Shoes 155 E 86th St., New York, NY
new York Family is a division of Manhattan Media, publishers of Avenue magazine, our town, West side spirit, new York press, Mitzvah Magazine, the capitol, city hall, city Arts, chelsea clinton news, the Westsider and the blackboard Awards.
Paragon Sports 867 Broadway (at 18th St.), New York, NY Lester’s of New York 1534 2nd Ave. (at 80th St.), New York, NY
14
New York Family | April 2010
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The Lizards and Snakes Are Back! ing Featur n 6 0 ha more t ards live liz es! & snak
LIZARDS & SNAKES: Now Open
6A>K:
Italian Mandarin French Spanish Enchanting Foreign Language Programs for Children
Language Lessons Monday - Saturday
Family Travel Program
Paris & Barcelona June 2010 Limited reservations available!
Call 212.501.8524 0QFO EBJMZ t $FOUSBM 1BSL 8FTU BU UI 4USFFU /FX :PSL $JUZ t BNOI PSH Lizards & Snakes: Alive! is organized by the American Museum of Natural History, New York (www.amnh.org), in collaboration with the Fernbank Museum of Natural History, Atlanta, and the San Diego Natural History Museum, with appreciation to Clyde Peelingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Reptiland.
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Improve Up to TWO GRADE LEVELS! One-On-One Tutoring & 3 Week Summer Programs Grades Pre-K to 12 ✐ Reading comprehension & writing ✐ Multi-sensory math ✐ Phonics instruction & reading fluency ✐ State test preparation ✐ Study & organizational skills ✐ Orton-Gillingham based instruction ✐ Dyslexia & ADD programs ✐ Home tutoring available in NYC, Brooklyn, Queens, Westchester and New Jersey ✐ We accept Department of Education funding at the enhanced rate for special education students
EBL Coaching • 212-249-0147 Dr. Emily Levy, Director www.eblcoaching.com
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One Parent To Another New York Family’s Executive Editor, Leah Black, joined us in the late spring of 2007, several months after its new (and present) owner, Manhattan Media, had hired me to re-launch it as a glossy monthly after it had been a kind of parenting pennysaver for many years. One of the joys of working with Leah has been our regular chats about potential stories for the magazine and our weekly e-newsletter. She’s resourceful, thoughtful, open-minded and opinionated—and brainstorming with her is almost always fun and productive. These days Leah is well into her first pregnancy, and all the research she’s been doing to prepare for having a baby and being a mom has been a kind of windfall for those New York Family readers who are either expectant parents or new parents. This is especially true in
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this issue. Naturally, we have stories of interest to parents with young children in every issue, but once a year, usually in April, we blow it out into a special package. The challenge though, considering that we cover this territory all the time, is to come up with a big bunch of stories that seem original and enticing. I think we’ve met the challenge, and hopefully you will too. New and expectant parents behold: in these pages are wonderful stories on new strollers, twins, baby food, child development and partnership parenting; along with tips on birth plans, nannies, saving money on diapers, your baby’s first portrait and sleep in our “Survival Guide.” Plus, a smart and funny personal essay about a new mom’s full embrace of her motherness (see On Second Thought on page 98). For parents with children
An editor’s pregnancy is a windfall for readers.
meet the
NEIGHBORS
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who are either new or not so new, the issue’s delectable mix of stories also includes a conversation with some of the actors from the new Addams Family musical opening this month; a thoughtful interview with an NYC mom who spent a year exploring the concept of happiness in a popular blog that provided the basis for a new and interesting book; a diverse sampling of summer programs for kids; and a tribute to TADA!, the great theater program for kids of all ages now celebrating its 25th year. Hats off to them. And hats off to our new parents. Have a happy April, Eric Messinger
Visit us online at: www.philosophyday.org
Are you looking for a superior, affordable education for your child?
OPEN HOUSE
Philosophy Day School provides a rich classical education with an emphasis on exceptional character development at an affordable price. 12 East 79th Street, New York, NY 10075
18
New York Family | April 2010
Tuesday May 11, 2010 8:30 - 9:30am
t. 212 744-7300
info@philosophyday.org www.newyorkfamily.com
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Pre-School Our philosophy is to provide opportunities for our children to grow socially, emotionally, physically and intellectually in a warm, loving & nurturing farm atmosphere. The incredible connection between children and animals is used to teach independence and responsibility. This program is for 2 & 3 year olds and runs 2 day per week from Sept 7 - May 12 and starts at 9:30 am and ends at noon. Throughout the day the children socialize with their peers and work together in a classroom setting. Every day the children participate in circle time, which focuses on the current theme, and work on basic concepts such as letters, colors, preliteracy and pre-math skills. Children enjoy Animal Time on the farm and our little chefs cook once a week right in their classroom using organic ingredients. We promote healthy eating habits and teach them how to recycle. Our children participate in music every week alternating between our own Art Farm music program and Bilingual Birdies a unique language and music program for young children teaching SPANISH set to music. Art and movement enable children to express themselves and show their individual styles. We be-
Photos by: Victoria Jackson
Visit our Pre-School OPEN HOUSE Thursday April 22nd, 6-8 pm & Tuesday April 27th, 6-8 pm. Please rsvp to 212.410.3117 or frontdesk@theartfarms.org
lieve children learn through hands on learning and exploration and what better place to do just that then on the FARM.
Come Explore TheArtFarms.org and Discover Programs for all Ages! 4QSJOH 4VNNFS 3FHJTUSBUJPO IBT 4UBSUFE
The Art Farm In The City 419 East 91 St. t
Classes
Birthday Parties
Play Group
Weekend Programs
Part-Time Pet
Camp
Drop In
Event dates:
April 7th, 2010 at 8:00 AM May 5th, 2010 at 8:00 AM
Location:
The Princeton Review 2315 Broadway at 84th Street
Advanced registration is required. Call 646.613.9500 or email jiovino@review.com to reserve a spot today!
Welcome to the Family UPCOMING EVENTS NEW PARENTS EXPO 2010: From pre-natal to pre-K, our annual blockbuster welcomes hundreds of new parents (and their children) and parents-to-be to meet a big, diverse cavalcade of goods and services, among them children’s clothes, mommy & me classes, furniture, strollers and car seats, family photographers, baby announcements, day care and nanny services, baby supplies, birthday venues, school experts and a lot more. Details: Saturday, May 1, from 11am to 2pm at 200 West 72nd Street. Visit newyorkfamily.com for more details. Preregister at newyorkfamily. com to qualify for a special family vacation raffle and other grand prizes and to reserve your goodie bag.
Prizes
AND
GIVEAWAYS
Nap Nanny: Calling all new parents! We’re giving away a Nap Nanny, an innovative lightweight portable recliner that cradles infants at a 30 degree incline, improving sleep for babies with colds, reflux, gas and ear infections. Made of soft foam and lined with waterproof fabric, the Nap Nanny comes with a special harness to keep baby strapped in safely. To win, write to us at newyorkfamily@ manhattanmedia.com, putting “Nap Nanny” in the subject line, by Monday, April 19.
MOTHER’S DAY CELEBRATION! WITH SUMMER CLASSES & ACTIVITIES PARTY!: What a great idea! With Mother’s Day on the near horizon, we’re going to have a big party where kids can make all sorts of arts and crafts presents for mom, including having their picture taken by some of the city’s best child photographers. There will be many of the city’s best children’s activities and enrichments centers on hand helping with the entertainment and activities—and sharing great information about summer classes and programs, which often have lower prices and flexible schedules. Join the party and bring your child! Details: Sunday, May 2, from noon to 3pm at St. Jean Baptiste School, 173 E. 75th Street (between Lexington and 3rd Avenues). Visit newyorkfamily.com for more details. Pre-register at newyorkfamily. com to qualify for a special prize. For more upcoming family events, visit newyorkfamily.com.
ON THE
W E
B
A NEW WEBSITE: For those of you who haven’t noticed, New York Family launched its brand new website last month! The site is dedicated to the proposition that New York City parents and parents-to-be should have a web community they can call their own, with fresh daily content, comprehensive guides and listings, selective tips, refreshing articles, and social groups where local parents can connect with other local parents to share their questions and concerns. Some of the new features—including neighborhood groups and other groups of shared interests—will be introduced in the weeks ahead. Meanwhile, there’s a lot to enjoy right now, including three great blogs: Today’s Specials, featuring parenting tips and news; Joy of Shopping, with tips on great products, sales, and stores; and Yummy Delicious, a savory food blog featuring a group of local parents and foodies sharing recipes, meal ideas, and thoughts on cooking for family. Visit us at newyorkfamily.com. We hope to see you online!
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New York Family | April 2010
Easy Bloom: Love the idea of gardening with your kids but don’t have a green thumb? Here’s an idea: enter to win an Easy Bloom plant sensor! The electronic device tells you which plants will grow in a particular spot—simply stick it in the soil and then into your computer’s USB port. To qualify, write to us at newyorkfamily@manhattanmedia. com, putting “Easy Bloom” in the subject line, by Monday, April 19. www.newyorkfamily.com
Authentic
ction ert Instru p x E • s ie cilit
e
• Best Valu
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Enroll for 1, 2 or more weeks. Instant Online Enrollment • Lunch Provided Transportation & After Care Available
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buzz
WORTHY
RPA R E N T I N G WITH YOUR GUT With the myriad of parenting books on the shelves, it seems like everyone has tips on how to raise your child. So, here’s a radical idea: Trust yourself. A new book, “Instinctive Parenting: Trusting Ourselves To Raise Good Kids,” (March 2010, Gallery Books/ Simon & Schuster, Inc.)
RK I D C O M F O R T
Inspired to address the needs of children with sensory sensitivity—a common symptom of Autism, Aspergers, and other developmental disabilities—Brooklyn designer and teacher Jessica Ralli and Chicago mom Suzy Kogen Friedman created Soft, a special line of clothing for ages 4-12. The clothes are tagless, flat-seamed, soft-brushed, widecollared and made from bio-washed cotton. Not only that, but Soft’s look is stylish and hip, with everything from t-shirts to pants to dresses echoing “Brooklyn street style.” Soft is great for any child—but those with sensory issues will especially appreciate the comfortable designs.
encourages moms and dads to forgo the anxiety
RI T ’ S P O E T R Y M O N T H !
There’s no better time to introduce kids to the power of poetry
that often accompanies
than National Poetry Month, which is celebrated throughout
parenting and simply
April. To get you in the mood, here are a few reads we’d like
find what works best for
to recommend: “Poems on Fruits & Odes to Veggies,” a cute
their family. Written by
homage to healthy eating by NYC author Judith McLaughlin,
Ada Calhoun, founding
who’s also available to do readings at local schools ($14.95;
editor-in-chief of Babble.
judithnatellimclaughlin.com); “Someone Used My Toothbrush
com, it’s full of anecdotes
and Other Bathroom Poems” a new book by Carol Diggory
and refreshing advice. In
Shields with 21 poems sure to elicit some giggles ($16.99); and
the end, says Calhoun,
Shel Silverstein’s classic, “Where the Sidewalk Ends” ($18.99),
it comes down to
which has been captivating kids for over 30 years.
April providing love, food, and
shelter. It’s a refreshingly commonsense approach. THE CHECKLIST FOR
RE FOR MO EAS TIPS &SID VI IT om ily.c newyorkfam
RL E A R N I N G TO N A N N Y S H A R E
Nanny shares—creative childcare arrangements involving one nanny who cares for the children of two or more families—are an increasingly popular alternative to the traditional options of hiring a full-time nanny or sending your child to daycare. While a nanny share has many benefits, it can be a tricky arrangement to figure out. That’s why we’d like to recommend Park Slope Parents’ “Step-By-Step Guide To A Successful Nanny Share” (available for free at parkslopeparents.com). It offers a clear explanation of the benefits and drawbacks, important questions to ask, instruc-
tions for hammering out the details, and advice from parents who’ve done it.
RL E T ’ S P L AY ( G R E E N ) H O U S E Your child can have a hands-on lesson in eco-friendly living with the Hape Bamboo Sunshine Dollhouse ($194.95 on amazon.com). This three-level, nine-room modern play home is solar-powered and made almost entirely out of bamboo. It’s so sophisticated that the LED battery on the roof provides light for three rooms—just like in a real “green” house! Recommended for ages 3 and up.
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New York Family | April 2010
www.newyorkfamily.com
New York Family Partner Profile
An International World-Class Education Known For Its High Academic Standards And Learning-Focused Schools Across The U.S. And Abroad, The WORLD CLASS LEARNING GROUP Is Planning To Open A School In New York
I
n a city with an educational landscape as competitive as New York’s, it’s big news when a new school opens, which is why there’s plenty of buzz about the World Class Learning Group (WCL Group). An organization known for building highlyregarded schools across the globe, it’s targeted to open a new school in Manhattan next fall for grades Pre-K through 5. “A program like this doesn’t currently exist in New York,” says Dana Haddad, a New York City educational consultant who will be the Parent and School Coordinator at the new school. “It will fulfill a niche in Manhattan for a top-quality education that really chal-
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New York Family | April 2010
lenges children in what they can learn.” Educators at the WCL Group are confident it will attract a wide swath of New York City families looking for a unique, top-tier and global-minded alternative to what’s currently available in New York. To be sure, the WCL Group has a successful track record of building highly competitive schools both here in the U.S. and abroad. Among its schools are the British Schools of America, which include schools in Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Houston and Washington, DC, as well as schools abroad. The school here in New York will be the latest addition to this group. The WCL Group also has plans to develop other new schools in cities in North America, Europe and the Middle East. In addition to all of this, the WCL Group has a branch of its organization, Fieldwork, which has created and developed the International Primary Curriculum (IPC), taught in 800 private and public schools in www.newyorkfamily.com
New York Family Partner Profile
58 countries around the world. And that number is increasing each year as more educators learn of its success. What does all this mean for the New York school? Paul Suchley, Director of School Projects for WCL Group sums it up: “Although our school here will be new to the city, we have a long and well-regarded history of over 25 years as leaders in learning. We have a solid track record of success.” The unifying theme that connects all the WCL Group schools—and what will likely be the biggest draw for its New York School—is the IPC. “[People are] very taken by the focus on the learning, quality of the work, and how far ahead the [IPC] schools are compared to other schools both locally and abroad,” says Ann McPhee, Vice President of U.S. Operations and Director of Education for the WCL Group. “We track the progress of our students and evaluate their outcomes comparative to students in schools in the U.K. and U.S. so we know our students are succeeding for both their age and ability.” Using the IPC and the maths and literacy framework of the National Curriculum for England to augment it, students in WCL Group schools are typically ahead of other students in their age range. Because it’s used internationally, IPC students are also able to transfer easily to other top schools worldwide. And graduates of the WCL Group schools—and the IPC curriculum—regularly go onto Ivy
League universities and top-tier colleges internationally like Oxford and Cambridge. The focus of the IPC, first developed 25 years ago, is not just on what students are learning, but how they are learning. The curriculum revolves around 6-week units, each of which addresses a different topic (i.e. flowers and insects) through various studies, including art, information and communication technologies, history, geography, literacy and English. By focusing on a central theme rather than a subject, children are able to make more meaningful connections between what they’re learning and
Students in WCL Group schools are typically ahead of other students in their age range. the world around them. “We want to share a passion for learning that means that young people that start with us stay committed to learning, not just throughout their school years but their lives in general,” says McPhee. Another key component of the IPC is communication. Students are active participants in their education, learning to articulate what areas they’re excelling in and where they need help.
“This is good for parents because they are much better informed as to what skills and abilities their children are developing because their children can talk to them about it,” says McPhee. Not only that, but it puts children on the path to being independent thinkers. And, as McPhee points out, getting into top universities today is no longer just about academic qualifications: students are expected to be articulate, social and engaged in their community. “We want to start that early,” she says. While the IPC alone may be enough to draw many families to the new school, in the end, its sense of warmth, personality and mission are also sure to add to its appeal. For as much as it offers a global education, it will also reflect its home city and take advantage of it. Teachers will use the city as a classroom, drawing on its art, culture and history to enhance the learning that takes place inside school walls. Likewise, parents will be highly involved in school decisions and school life. And students can expect individualized learning plans with academic goals developed especially for them. Meanwhile, the school itself has plans to host speaking engagements featuring parenting and education experts. “Our interest is in working with the existing education community here in New York—we want to be part of that,” says Suchley. Best of all, the WCL Group’s New York school will boast some of the best teachers from the British Schools of America, who will be hand-picked to work here. “To open a new school always presents a challenge, but there’s also a feeling of great excitement,” says McPhee. “We know New York is a city where there is already good quality education—but we wouldn’t be that excited if we didn’t think we could offer something different.” To learn more about the World Class Learning Group and its schools, visit wclgroup.com.
www.newyorkfamily.com
April 2010 | New York Family
27
tip
SHEET
BY BRITTANY MCNAMARA
GET SMART Snapshots Of A Few Of The City’s New And Notable Private Schools Mandell School Long regarded as one of Manhattan’s most sought-after nursery schools, the Mandell School currently comprises pre-nursery through second grade, and will launch grades 5 and 6 in September. Head of school Gabriella Rowe intends for the growing institution to continue to operate under the philosophy with which it was founded in 1939: If a school provides structure, stimulation and a safe environment where children feel loved, kids can achieve anything. The school will eventually house junior kindergarten through eighth grade. “Middle schoolers will gain not only a greater consciousness about the world around them, but they’ll also be able to study the science of it, the math of it and the socio-economic impact of it,” Rowe says. 128 West 95th Street, 212-222-2925, mandellschool.org.
ing environment enabling precocious learners to realize their full potential alongside classmates and teachers who share their passion for learning. “Our plan is to create this program around the children rather than create the program and bring the children to it,” explains head of school Connie Williams Coulianos. The school emphasizes social and emotional as well as intellectual development. 211 West 61st Street, 212-581-4000, speyerlegacyschool.org. Blue School Open since September 2008, Blue School was founded by Matt Goldman, Phil Stanton and Chris Wink—the original three members of the Blue Man Group. The school offers programs for children from age 2 through second grade, and hopes to expand to include classes through fifth grade. “Blue School is an educational program where creativity is cherished and children are encouraged to fall in love with the joy of curiosity and learning,” says Goldman. Students learn through exploration, self expression, open communication, active play and group collaboration. 1 Avenue B, 646-6027066, theblueschool.org.
Bilingual Buds
Speyer Legacy School The Speyer Legacy School was designed specifically with the needs of gifted learners in mind. Open since September 2009, the school offers kindergarten and a combined first and second grade class, and plans to grow through eighth grade. The mission of the school is to provide a nurtur-
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New York Family | April 2010
The Goddard School The Goddard School, a private preschool for children ages 6 weeks to 6 years, plans to open a facility in Chelsea later this year. Operating 360 schools in 39 states, Goddard is known throughout the country for its focus on each individual child, as well as its wide range of enrichment activities de-
signed to build each child’s emotional, social, cognitive and physical skills. “Goddard offers families the benefit of on-site owners and education directors who provide dependable management and open communication,” says media supervisor Brian DeLong. 124 West 24th Street, 800-GODDARD, goddardschool.com. Bilingual Buds This well-regarded Mandarin Chinese immersion program for children ages 1 to10 will be expanding to a new location on the Upper West Side. Mommy and me, preschool and afterschool programs immerse children in Mandarin, taking advantage of this age group’s exceptional capacity for learning. “Our program focuses on making children culturally aware, linguistically capable, and intellectually curious,” says Chief Administrative Officer Bill Hicks. 180 Riverside Blvd., 212-7878088, bilingualbudsnyc.com. World Class Learning Group Though the details aren’t yet finalized, the World Class Learning Group, based in London and known for building highly-competitive educational institutions across the globe, is opening a new school in Manhattan this fall for grades Pre-K to 5. It will be the latest addition to the WCL Group’s British Schools of America, which include schools in Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Houston and Washington, DC, as well as abroad. The school will use the National Curriculum for England and the International Primary Curriculum, which is taught in 800 private and public schools in 58 countries around the world and is gaining in popularity as more educators learn of its success. “The new school will fulfill a niche in Manhattan for a top-quality education that really challenges children in what they can learn,” says Dana Haddad, a New York City educational consultant who will be the school’s Parent and School Coordinator. Visit wclgroup.com for more information. b
Who Will Your Child Become? At Wee Care we believe that children learn by interacting with their environment through play. Our teachers plan activities that support emerging skills and recognize individual differences. Children are encouraged to develop physically, verbally, and socially while having fun. Through praise, peer recognition and compassion, we help to build and nurture a child’s self-esteem and creativity. We demonstrate to every child who enters Wee Care that he/she is wonderful and special.
Our program consists of the following: •Music & Movement •Tennis •Art •Kinder Dance •Indoor and Outdoor Recreation •Field Trips These programs are in conjunction with our curriculum. It makes us a unique choice for your child’s education. We would be happy to answer any questions that you may have, and show you our wonderful facility. Call to schedule a tour.
Grand Opening We proudly announce the opening of our new infant/toddler suite.
Wee Care Child Care, LLC 451 East 83rd Street New York, New York 10028 212.472.4481 | Visit us at: WeeCareLLC.com
a g d
IDEA
BY HANNAH RUBENSTEIN
An NYC Mom’s Yearlong Quest To Discover What Makes Her Truly Happy Yields Some Important Lessons For The Rest Of Us hile riding a bus through Manhattan, mother of two Gretchen Rubin had an epiphany. Looking out the rainstreaked windows, she asked herself a simple question: “What do I want from life?” She decided to embark on what she called a “happiness project” to discover what happiness is and how to achieve it—tackling a new set of resolutions each month (i.e. “ask for help,” “keep a one-sentence journal,” etc.). Over the next year, Rubin chronicled her journey on her blog, which formed the basis for her new memoir, “The Happiness Project.” Rubin took time out from her national book tour to talk about what she learned, and what we can learn, from her journey.
Building A
Happier Life
have to make the bed,” I think, “Oh, I love making the bed!” This is actually surprisingly effective, and works more often than you think would be possible.
What is happiness? There’s no academic definition. I decided, just as Justice Potter Stewart said about obscenity, I know it when I see it. I know happiness when I see it, and I know when I’m feeling happy.
How is a happiness project different from other happiness-seeking endeavors such as those chronicled in books like “Julie and Julia” and “Eat, Pray, Love”? I think they’re all forms of happiness projects and I think it’s a great example of how happiness projects can look very different from each other. My project was one where I didn’t want to leave my own kitchen—where I wanted to change my life without really changing my life. I wasn’t going to move to another country. Elizabeth Gilbert went to the ends of the earth; she did something very radical. That wasn’t going to work for me—it wasn’t what I wanted and it wasn’t even possible, given the reality of my life. Different approaches work for different people.
Isn’t happiness also an attitude—a question of your perspective? I think that’s very true. People often say to me that happiness is a choice. I find that hard to put in practice in real life. I need to translate it into a specific action. When something is making me unhappy, I find a way to think about it so that it makes me happy. So instead of thinking, “Oh, what a bummer, I
You claim that money “can help buy happiness.” What do you mean? It can buy a lot of the things that contribute to happiness if you spend the money in the right way. Money can help make you healthy, strengthen your relationships with other people—going to a college reunion, going to visit your sister, for example—or it can help you learn a new skill, some-
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New York Family | April 2010
thing that would give you great joy. One study showed that people who buy experiences tend to be happier than people who buy stuff—a trip to Thailand is going to make you happier than a new dining room table. How has the past year impacted your relationship with your husband and children? It’s been great. I didn’t explicitly drag them into it—they had no assignments, there was nothing that they had to do, because in a happiness project, you can only change yourself. I spent a lot of time thinking about how to have a more tender, lighthearted atmosphere at home and also to take time for family projects—keep photo albums and mementos—and I think my family has really benefited from that. I have tried to be calm and patient, to have a good sense of humor, to sing in the morning, make holiday decorations. It’s just a happier atmosphere in our house. www.newyorkfamily.com
As a parent, how did you negotiate focusing on your own self-improvement with taking care of your children? Was it difficult to balance the two responsibilities? A huge number of my resolutions were aimed at trying to be a better parent, so no, I didn’t find a conflict.
doesn’t take a lot of time. It can make life feel more joyful and playful.
I spent a lot of time thinking about how to have a more tender, lighthearted atmosphere at home and also to take time for family projects—keep photo albums and mementos.
What small activities could families share in order to boost their own happiness? One thing is to take time for fun—to think about what’s fun for you. For example, do you like running around outside? Going to museums? Board games? Playing Wii? I realized that the more I am enjoying myself with my children, the more fun we’re all having. It’s not them or me. Every Sunday, we have movie night where we think of a movie that we would all like to watch. Then it’s fun for everybody. Also, little celebrations like holiday breakfasts with little decorations. My kids get a big kick out of it. I enjoy it, it’s easy, and
What advice do you have for people looking to begin a happiness project of their own? Think about what you want more of and what you want less of and how to get there. Start extremely small, very concrete, in little steps. People with good intentions sometimes make vague resolutions, like “I want to have more fun out of life.” What does that mean? What have you done today? Steps like “I love watching old movies, therefore I will
rent and watch one old movie every weekend” is very specific so that you know whether you’re doing it or not. What would you say to critics that claim “The Happiness Project” is overly self-indulgent? There is an argument that in a world so full of suffering, it is selfish to want to be happy. Another argument is that happy people are smug and complacent and that they are interested in nothing but themselves and their own pleasure. But what the studies show, and what is reflected in real life, is that it’s just the opposite. Happy people are more interested in the problems of the people around them and social problems. They give away more, they volunteer more, they’re more likely to help out a colleague. When people are unhappy, they become desensitized and isolated and preoccupied with their own projects. When people are happy they have the emotional wherewithal to turn outward. Happy people make people happy! G
CAMPERS, WELCOME TO THE GREAT iINDOORS. ndoors
.
Take a break from the wildlife, the weather, the bugs or the boredom. Bowling always makes for happy campers. Schedule an outing at 300newyork.com. Our staff will handle everything from setup to cleanup. For details on summer packages (you’ll make out like a bandit) contact Catrina Reid at 212.835.2695.
www.newyorkfamily.com
April 2010 | New York Family
31
A
speci
PLACE
BY LORA HELLER
TADA! Youth Theater Gives Children The Skills They Need To Succeed On Stage And Off
T
Wide-Awake Jake Families can catch TADA! Youth Theater’s spring production, “WideAwake Jake,” from April 16 through May 23. Based on the children’s book by Helen Young, the musical chronicles the adventures of the decidedly notsleepy Jake—which include lions, dragons, giants and more! For tickets, call 212-252-1619 ext. 128 or visit tadatheater.com.
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New York Family | April 2010
Where Kids Are
s r a t S
forming arts; she wanted to work with children instead. But when she moved to New York to study psychology and education, Trevens took a job working at the box office for one of her mother’s productions, and she was hooked. Still wanting to make a difference in the lives of children, Trevens began working with youth performers, and before long, she had co-founded TADA! Trevens and her team strive to provide kids of all backgrounds with a safe place where they feel like they belong. “Growing up is hard,” Trevens says. “Kids need a place where they feel nourished, challenged and just feel good about themselves.” Each fall, kids from all over the city flock to auditions for TADA!’s Resident Youth Ensemble, a free, pre-professional theater training and youth development program. Once chosen, ensemble members can audition for one, two or all three of the yearly productions. Ensemble members are trained in subjects like music theory, dance, voice and diction, acting and improvisation. Once accepted, members can remain in the ensemble until they graduate from high school. Thanks to donor funding, TADA! ensemble members
see Broadway shows and travel to meet youth companies in other parts of the U.S. Community service is also part of membership in the Resident Youth Ensemble, and older ensemble members complete apprenticeships. “Last year I was the assistant to our artistic director; this year I’m working in marketing,” explains Taylor, a 17-year-old Resident Youth Ensemble member. Children who are interested in theater but not ready to make the commitment required to join the Resident Youth Ensemble can sign up for TADA!’s musical theater classes. TADA! also operates camps during school breaks and over the summer. While TADA! helps kids hone their skills in acting, music and dance, Trevens is most proud of the fact that her students leave the program with something even more valuable. “Some of our alumni are on Broadway and TV, while some have become doctors, teachers, moms or dads,” she says. “It’s really about the fact that they become whatever they want to become.” G 1 5 We s t 2 8 t h S t r e e t , 2 1 2 - 2 5 2 1 6 1 9 , t a d a t h e a t e r. c o m . www.newyorkfamily.com
Andrew Schwartz
he first rehearsal for “WideAwake Jake,” this season’s original musical at TADA! Youth Theater, is underway, and there is a buzz of excitement in the air. Inside the rehearsal studio, a group of young performers learns choreography for a dance number, accompanied by the musical director on piano. Other cast members are scattered throughout the room, studying their lines. Supported by a strong team of professionals, the cast enjoys a palpable sense of purpose and camaraderie. What makes TADA! unique is that each production is presented by kids—a mix of new and seasoned performers who range in age from 8–18. Co-founded in 1984 by Executive and Artistic Director Janine Trevens (known as Nina) and Linda Reiff, the program has grown into one of the city’s most renowned training grounds for young actors, winning a Coming Up Taller Award for its youth programs in 2008 and a Drama Desk Award in 2009. Though she grew up in the theater (her mother was a playwright and a theater critic), Trevens at first had no interest in pursuing a career in the per-
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Activity
of Month
BY MEREDITH LOPEZ
From Strengthening The Mind-Body Connection To Helping You Connect With Your Child, Yoga Offers Parents Lots Of Benefits Karma Kids Yoga
Yoga You For
oga, a Sanskrit word meaning “union,” is a centuries-old practice devoted to joining the mind, body and spirit in harmony. Whether you are a devoted yogini who can hold a perfect tittibhasana pose or a total beginner who doesn’t know a mudra from a tadasana, yoga can help you feel better in life. If you’re a parent, yoga can provide a wonderful opportunity to connect and have fun with your kids—from those still in the womb to tweens! How do you know if yoga is right for you? Some local gurus offer their sage advice on prenatal yoga, parent and child-classes, and yoga just for mom.
Prenatal Yoga As any woman who has ever been pregnant knows, there are things your body just won’t—or shouldn’t—do.
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New York Family | April 2010
But even if you’ve never unrolled a sticky mat or chanted “Ohm,” pregnancy’s an excellent time to start yoga. “[It’s] a time for the expectant mother to step away from her busy life and take time for herself, and time to focus on her baby,” says Debra Flashenberg, director of Prenatal Yoga Center on the Upper West Side. The union of mind, body and spirit through purposeful breathing and poses helps the pregnant woman “connect to her breath and feel confident in her strength,” according to Flashenberg. “Prenatal yoga classes offer the mother an opportunity to learn about her likes and dislikes, and to get to know her body, so when it’s time for labor she has a myriad of familiar, comfortable positions to call upon.” When looking for a class, Flashenberg recommends that students find a studio that has certified prenatal yoga
teachers. “The anatomy and physiological state of the pregnant woman is very different than the non-pregnant woman,” she points out. Even beyond the improvements to mind and body, prenatal yoga simply offers mommies-to-be a chance to connect with others. “Pregnancy can feel isolating if the mother-to-be doesn’t have friends going through the same experience,” says Flashenberg. “A prenatal yoga class can open up a space for discussion and build camaraderie.”
Parent-Child Yoga Now that the kid is here, and you’ve gotten the OK from your doctor or midwife to begin exercising, mommy & me yoga classes are a nice way to get back in the swing of things. “It’s a great bonding activity for the mom and child, by allowing the mom to get back into shape with her baby,” www.newyorkfamily.com
Come Play Yoga at Karma Kids Yoga! Yo ga fo r Babies Toddlers, Kids, Teens, Families NEW CircusYoga Prenatal Yoga Free Story Time Yoga Yoga Birthday Parties Special Events Teacher Training
We let the dogs out. Bring the zen home with our new CD, Come Play YOga!, Mom’s Choice Awards Winner, available at CDbaby.com, Amazon, selected tracks on iTunes and now playing on Pandora. Visit our website to learn about the benefits of yoga for children, our Class Descriptions, Special Events, other locations around NYC and Brooklyn, Children’s Yoga Teacher Training, and Yoga Birthday Party information. KARMA KIDS YOGA 104 West 14th Street, NYC (646)638-1444 downdog@karmakidsyoga.com karmakidsyoga.com
Voted “Best Kids Yoga” by TimeOut NY Kids and New York Magazine.
Adult Yoga for Beginners If you find yourself inspired by the fun your child has doing a downward-dog, and you’re ready to try a grown-ups-only yoga class, Rebecca Merritt of New York Yoga on the Upper East Side has some advice. For the total beginner, she recommends Hatha yoga, which emphasizes breath control and postures; Vinyasa yoga, a more flow-centric practice; or a “gentle” class
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New York Family | April 2010
These yoga studios offer classes for every age and level. Elahi Garden. This yoga studio has classes that bring kid and adults together to imagine, learn and relax. Mommy & me classes are offered, as are toddler and child classes. The adult yoga class lets parents get refreshed while children spend time in the playroom next door supervised by a babysitter. Various locations in Manhattan, 212249-0607, elahiyoga.com. Karma Kids Yoga. New York’s only yoga studio just for kids, Karma Kids Yoga offers yoga classes for infants 6 weeks old through teens, Family Yoga, Circus Yoga, free Story Time Yoga, and Prenatal Yoga for mommies-to-be. Yoga Birthday Parties, too! 104 West 14th Street, 646-638-1444, karmakidsyoga.com New York Yoga. Offers adult yoga classes including prenatal yoga and classes for first-time students. They also have special weekly workshops for mommy & me, and kids. 1629 York Avenue, 212-717YOGA, newyorkyoga.com.
Strike A Pose
says Lauren Rosenfeld, founder of Yogi Beans, which has locations throughout Manhattan and Brooklyn, and offers postnatal classes for mothers and their babies starting from 6 weeks post-partum. “The class focuses on the mother, as well as incorporating simple baby stretches for the little one,” she says. Shari Vilchez-Blatt, founder and director of Karma Kids Yoga on West 14th Street, emphasizes looking for a mommy & me class that takes place in a warm and open environment. “The babies really are the boss! Anything goes in our classes: crying, screaming, fussing, changing—whatever you need to do to tend to the baby,” she says. “Come early, come late. It’s really hard just getting out the door with a newborn, so we want moms to feel super-comfortable.” As your mini-yogi gets bigger and more mobile, the classes tend to become more child-centered. Toddlercentered yoga emphasizes “physical coordination, body awareness and vocal communication,” according to Rosenfeld. Vilchez-Blatt also points out that “mentally, [yoga gives kids] confidence, self-esteem, brain-balance, and tools they can use to calm themselves when they’re frustrated or scared, or even [helps them] to fall asleep.” At the same time, “You shouldn’t come to class with a 3-year-old expecting to do power yoga,” says Rosenfeld. At this age, parent-child yoga is more about “a unique and adorable way to bond with your child,” and no previous yoga experience for adults is required. The important thing to remember when finding a caregiver-child, kids-only, or family yoga class is that it should be fun for everyone.
Mind Over Matter Health & Fitness. This personal training service send fitness professionals to your home, making it convenient for busy moms. Pre-natal and post-partum yoga classes focus on prepping your body for delivery, boosting your immunity, dealing with typical pregnancy woes and helping achieve a quicker postpartum recovery. 126 West 96th Street, 212-865-9290, mindovermatternyc.com. Prenatal Yoga Center. Specializes in prenatal and postnatal yoga as well as provides education for expecting and new parents and families. In addition to mommy & me yoga, infant massage, and music, the center offers workshops and lectures that address issues related to pregnancy, childbirth, early childhood parenting, family dynamics, and alternative healing. 251 West 72nd Street, 212-362-2985, prenatalyogacenter.com. YogaWorks. Offers yoga for all levels and stages of life, including introductory yoga for adults, prenatal yoga, and yoga for kids and teens. Various locations in Manhattan, 212-650-9642, yogaworks.com. Yogi Beans. This yoga program emphasizes positive thinking and maintaining a healthy self-image. Created to help children achieve body awareness and self-confidence, the program translates yoga into something children can understand, relate to and enjoy. Various locations in Manhattan and Brooklyn, 212-787-YOGA, yogibeans.com.
specifically geared toward beginners. Don’t worry if you can barely reach your toes. “Frankly,” advises Merritt, “if you are not flexible you need yoga even more!” For new moms, postpartum yoga can also be a great choice. “It helps your body return to pre-pregnancy shape,” says Joshua Margolis, founder of Mind Over Matter Health and Fitness. Not only that, but Margolis adds it can also decrease stress, help prevent post partum depression, and increase your energy level—something all new moms could use! Merritt recommends that new students “seek out a nurturing environment where the teacher takes the time to assess the students’ needs.” A gentle nudge to the leg or a shift in balance can make all the difference to your yoga practice, so individual attention,
especially for beginners, is important. Merritt says that “a good yoga teacher is usually someone who has RYT (Registered Yoga Teacher) certification of 200 hours or more, someone who watches the class and assists, and should be approachable and make all levels of students feel comfortable.” Jeanmarie Paolillo, who teaches at YogaWorks’ West Side and SoHo locations, agrees. “If there isn’t a sense of trust or connection between the student and teacher, it’s going to be hard for you to open up to the practice,” she says. Finally, remember that yoga is about openness, acceptance and compassion. “It is a practice,” explains Emily Mudd, a teacher at Yoga Works, “not a perfect. Be patient and kind with yourself, and do your best to keep an open mind.” G www.newyorkfamily.com
MOM KNOWS BEST! Mind Over Matter Health and Fitness was founded to provide busy NYC Moms a service to integrate fitness into their daily lives. M.O.M’s mission is to provide certified Pre-natal and Postpartum fitness instructors specializing in areas such as Personal Training, Yoga & Pilates. Whether in your home, office or outdoors, MOM trainers are equipped to turn any space into your own private gym. 212-865-9290 www.mindovermatternyc.com joshua@mindovermatternyc.com
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Notes From The capitol A New York Family’s Adventures In D.C. BY Eric MEssiNgEr
M
y connection to Washington, DC was forged years ago when Mr. Zeppelin, a commanding assistant principal at P.S. 225 in Brooklyn, arranged and led a trip there for fifth and sixth graders. I wanted to do the same for my kids, who are now six and ten. So off we went on a three-day, cram-it-all-in fest during President’s Week. Here are my crib notes. Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum: As much as I was impressed by their collection of rocket ships, I was surprised at how interested I became in the Wright Brothers. There’s also a great kids zone with lots of flight-related gizmos.
The White House: How can you not walk over there to see if you see anyone familiar peeking out one of the windows? We didn’t; everyone was still mightily impressed. Washington Monument: Looking out from the top is the perfect way to take in all the famous landmarks at once. The Capitol Building: Try to get tickets to the tour that visits the chambers. We weren’t so lucky, but even the basic tour is a must. The rotunda’s historical mural may not be the work of Michelangelo, but it still wows. Night Touring: We paid for a private driver with a van to show us the city at night. The Lincoln Memorial was as august as I remember it. My wife was moved to try to explain the Gettysburg Address to my daughter, line by line.
More Education Vacations Boston, MA: Take your family for a walk along The Freedom Trail, which tells the story of the American Revolution as you take in various sites (thefreedomtrail.org). You can also tour the USS Constitution, one of six warships commissioned by George Washington to protect the country (oldironisides. com). And don’t miss the Boston Children’s Museum, full of fun exhibits about science, health and art (bostonchildrensmuseum.org). For more info: bostonusa.com. Charleston, SC: Head back to the first battle of the Civil War by visiting Fort Sumter (nps.gov/fosu). There are also plenty of plantations to visit, but the most noteworthy is Boone Hall Plantation with its famous oak-lined avenue (boonehallplantation.com). Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site offers educational programs, archeology and an animal forest (southcarolinaparks. com). For more info: charlestoncvb.com. Philadelphia, PA: Head to Independence Hall where the Declaration of Independence was conceived (nps.gov/inde). Also, have a look at the Liberty Bell and its curious crack at The Liberty Bell Center (nps.gov/inde/liberty-bellcenter). Families can learn about the Constitution at the National Constitution Center (constitutioncenter.org). Or, go a little wild with the inhabitants at the Philadelphia Zoo (philadelphiazoo.org). For more info: visitphilly.com. —Brittany McNamara
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New York Family | April 2010
The Newseum
National Museum of American History: The ultimate trove of Americana not only features artifacts of historical importance, like a massive, nearly 200-year old American flag, but cultural iconography like Dorothy’s shoes from the Wizard of Oz. The kids enjoyed an exhibit called “Invention At Play,” which offered fun ways to appreciate everyday inventions, like Post-It notes. The Ford Theater: An unexpected treat. First, you visit the wonderful mini-museum they set up in the basement, which focuses on Lincoln and the Civil War. Then you sit in the theater and listen to a park ranger discuss the particulars of what happened when President Lincoln was killed by John Wilkes Booth. The Spy Museum: There’s new stuff on the use of satellites and digital technology; there’s old stuff on great spies in history. But the real crowdpleasers (at least for me) were all the gadgets they’ve managed to collect from the Cold War. It almost seems kind of kitchy—until you remember that people really were killed by using poison-tipped umbrellas and the like. The Newseum: Gorgeous, fun and thorough, with an especially good interactive area for kids (like the one making believe she’s a TV news reporter in the above photograph). Where To Stay: The Madison Hotel: My family and I were guests of the hotel, a Loews property, and I can’t say enough good things about our experience. Spacious, elegant and comfortable rooms; a helpful staff who are very friendly to children; and located close enough to all the good stuff to walk. And great hot chocolate! b www.newyorkfamily.com
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IT’S MY
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1 Miranda Hausman hosts a Glamour Party at Cozy’s Cuts for Kids to celebrate her 6th birthday. 1. Miranda and her guests celebrate her birthday in style. 2. The made-over birthday girl blows out her candles. 3. Miranda excitedly shows off her new look—check out the fabulous hair and nails!
Photos by Suzanne Cohen Photography (suzannecohenphotography.com)
1
1
2
Holden Lipton hosts a party at the NBA Store to celebrate his 6th birthday. 1. Holden and his winning team. 2. The birthday boy takes a shot! 3. Holden addresses his fans with his proud mom looking on.
Photos by Heidi Green Photography (heidigreen.com)
2
Kaitlyn Pohly hosts a party at the Museum of the City of New York’s “Doll Room” with Let’s Dress Up. 1. Kaitlyn takes in the day’s excitement as she makes a wish! 2. A birthday kiss from the birthday girl. 3. Kaitlyn and family take a break from dress-up and offer up big birthday smiles.
Photos by Heidi Green Photography (heidigreen.com)
3
3 If you’re interested in having your child’s birthday featured in our magazine, please email us at newyorkfamily@manhattanmedia.com
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New York Family | April 2010
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New York Family Partner Profile
The Hot New Private School . . .
That’s More Than 70 Years Old With Its Traditions Of Academic Excellence and Good Citizenship, It’s No Surprise That The Mandell School’s New Ongoing Division (K Through 8) Is As Popular As Its Prestigious Nursery School N THE FALL OF 2007, Gabriella Rowe took an innovative and inspired step to expand the landscape of quality childhood education in the city. She transformed The Mandell School, which had long been one of the city’s most beloved and prestigious nursery schools, into a much larger institution encompassing a top-tier grade school in addition to its well-regarded nursery school. The result? Three years later the transformation has been a resounding success, with Mandell welcoming many new students and parents into its community, as it phases in new grades and several wonderful new state-of-the-art school buildings. (To date, the grade school division has already phased in kindergarten through second grade, and the pilot year for the middle school begins this fall with the introduction of 5th and 6th grade classes.) Why has Mandell, an Upper West Side institution since 1939, been able to instantly establish itself as one of the city’s hot “new” private schools? That’s a question worth asking for any parent exploring their children’s educational opportunities—whether you have a very young child and you’re looking ahead to nursery school, or an older child and you’re interested in grade schools and middle schools. The heart of Mandell’s appeal to New York City families is that it marries rich and rigorous academics and arts with a true cultivation of community responsibility and global awareness—all of which it pursues under a leader whose passion for giving children a great education and providing families with a warm and supportive community is all but coded in her DNA. Mandell’s Head of School, Gabriella, is the granddaughter of its founder, Max Mandell, an early childhood education pioneer who originally conceived it as a kind of playgroup for boys. Max Mandell believed it was important to expose children to different environments and experiences, so he’d take the children on educational trips to museums as well as on recreational trips to beaches and horse stables.
I
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New York Family | April 2010
As the needs of its Upper West Side community changed, the school evolved into a full-blown nursery school. Max eventually passed on the leadership of the school to his daughter, Barbara Rowe, who is Gabriella’s mother, and Gabriella grew up living above the school in its Upper West Side brownstone. In 1999, after years of working as an investment banker and a management consultant, Gabriella returned to the school, focusing her attention on its “business” side. And then she was smitten. A new mom herself, she appreciated more fully than ever before what a unique and special world her grandfather and mother had fostered for children and families. She wanted to do the same and returned to graduate school at Bank Street to complete her Masters Degree in Early Childhood Education, and over the years assumed the role of Head of School. “I realized that I wanted their life’s work to be my life’s work, I wanted to safeguard this loving, supportive and stimulating environment where children could feel safe and loved, and www.newyorkfamily.com
New York Family Partner Profile
I wanted to help it thrive and grow,” Gabriella as a practical choice for ensuring their child a great education at a time says. “And in addition to helping children get an when there aren’t nearly enough spots among the city’s best private amazing education, it wouldn’t be Mandell if schools for the students who want them, and the city’s best neighborthey weren’t also encouraged to be active citizens hood public schools suffer from rampant overcrowding. of the world.” Think of it this way: If you have a young child attending Mandell’s Families who love The Mandell School prize early education division, he or she is automatically guaranteed a place Gabriella’s dedicated and thoughtful leadership. in the ongoing K-through-8 school. At the same time, if you eventuAnd she prizes their involvement equally. ally want to look at other ongoing schools as well, Mandell has a sterShe says: “New York City isn’t a small town in ling track record for placing students in the city’s best private schools. which people are going to run into each other all (And, of course, you’ll still have the comfort and security of knowing the time. They have to make those opportunities you have an amazing “safety net” in Mandell.) happen for themselves and school has become the Or, let’s say your child does not attend Mandell’s early education place, particularly for parents who are really indivision but you are interested in applying to its ongoing division. volved in their children’s Here again you are presented with a special education—which is the Gabriella Rowe’s passion opportunity. With Mandell, you’ll have the definition of a Mandell creativity and energy—and incredfor giving children a great unbounded parent—where they ible facilities—of a new school, but one that’s grow and build many of education and providing tethered to the institution’s established traditheir important family tion of marrying academic excellence and good families with a warm, relationships. They’re citizenship. And, of course, in Gabriella, you supportive community is coming from everycouldn’t ask for a leader more dedicated to honall but coded in her DNA. where. Not just across oring those traditions—and fostering one of the the United States, but best ongoing schools in the city. across the world, and they’re creating new small For the K-through-8 division, Mandell has developed a powerful towns for themselves here, and Mandell reprepedagogy driven by small classes (capped at 20 students) and an intesents that kind of opportunity for them. In a very grated curriculum, which means different subjects overlap and conreal way, our community is just as important for nect with one another in purposeful ways. In fact, the middle school’s our parents as it is for our children.” pilot year, starting in the fall, will feature even smaller classes with two With its evolution into a bigger school ofsections of about 10 students in each 5th and 6th grade class. fering both an early education division and a “When you offer a fully integrated curriculum that’s based on very K-through-8 school, parents also prize Mandell small group work, the ability to successfully teach to every child in all of the different disciplines—including their social and emotional development—is really quite remarkable,” Gabriella says. “If you integrate all of the disciplines, from music and art to math and science, and you keep the classes small, you really are able to give each child exactly what they need at the level they’re at. None of those children have to sit back and wait while others get to the same level of experience.” This September will also mark the completion of Mandell’s physical transformation, with the opening of its two remarkable state-of-the art school buildings at 98th Street and Columbus Avenue. Spanning 62,000 square feet, the facilities will include an 11,000-square-foot library and media center, an 8,000 square-foot outdoor terrace, a professional black box theater, and a full-size gymnasium with floor-to-ceiling glass overlooking Central Park. Between the two new buildings (which will house Mandell’s ongoing division), and its other sterling school building on 96th and Columbus (which will house the nursery school), Mandell’s facilities are among the best in the private school world. Still, Mandell wouldn’t be Mandell if it didn’t value substance and soul over style. “Just building on what I learned at home,” explains Gabriella. For more information about the Mandell School, call 212-222-2925 or visit mandellschool.org www.newyorkfamily.com
April 2010 | New York Family
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They’re Creepy And They’re Kooky... The Addams Family May Be The Spookiest Family In New York, But As They Hit Broadway This Month, We Also Learn They’re Incredibly Loving, Funny, And, Well, Sort Of Like The Rest Of Us
By Mary Squillace
T
he members of the Addams family are as creepy and kooky as ever, but they’re in for a host of new adventures when they hit Broadway this month in “The Addams Family.” Opening April 8th, this musical adaptation of the classic TV show introduces audiences most notably to an 18-year-old Wednesday Addams, who, contrary to her grave, gothic nature, has fallen in love for the first time. In a story told through song, dance and fantastic puppetry, the family copes with Wednesday’s foray into womanhood and tries to embrace her fiancé’s family, who is remarkably normal (well, by our standards). The show stars Nathan Lane as Gomez, and Bebe Neuwirth as Morticia, as well as theater and television veteran actor Kevin Chamberlin as Uncle Fester. It’s a convergence of Broadway talent that on its own makes for a compelling show—not to mention the wacky storyline, state-of-the-art makeup and set, and fun musical numbers. We caught up with Chamberlin, as well as 25-year-old rising star Krysta Rodriguez, who plays Wednesday, and 11-year-old Adam Riegler, who dons the role of Pugsley, to learn about their experiences being part of the spookiest show on Broadway.
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New York Family | April 2010
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These are iconic characters. What do you like about your role? Kevin Chamberlin: I was always a fan of the television show. I loved Jackie Coogan’s original portrayal of Fester, and I’m sort of doing homage to him. Krysta Rodriguez: It’s such a cool opportunity because it’s a role everyone knows, but we’ve never seen this part of Wednesday before. The 18-year-old Wednesday is in love, and she’s on the cusp of defining who she is going to be as a woman. It’s nice to have source material so you have something to go from, but it’s also nice to have the freedom to do something new and different. Adam Riegler: I get to do all the things I like to do—I get to sing and dance, so that’s good. How do you identify with your part? Kevin: Fester’s sort of the outsider, he observes from afar. He’s the narrator of the play so he’s the voice of reason in the show. Krysta: I think I’m a little cheerier than Wednesday, but I think most people identify with her because she’s so matter-of-fact. And, as all of us, when love and boys get into the equation there’s the little switcharoo of how we’re going to be. I definitely understand the feeling of thinking you know yourself until something like love makes you redefine who you are.
Kevin: The Addams family is a very loving family and I came from a loving family. The Addams are non-judgmental—they welcome anyone into their family whether they have two heads or they’re dead. What have you liked most about working on this show? Kevin: I’m enjoying the theatricality of the show. I have a number in the second act called “The Moon and Me,” which is a love song with the moon. It has puppets involved and a lot of theatrical magic. The number is really thrilling to do. The audience kind of murmurs throughout it wondering how it’s being done, and the kids love it. Krysta: I’m lucky to have a great working relationship with Wes Taylor who plays Lucas, Wednesday’s fiancé. We’ve had a really good time navigating this as the younger, newer members of this community. It’s been really exciting to have someone else on my same level to experience this with. What’s the dynamic been like with the rest of the cast? Kevin: We’ve fallen into sort of a family grouping. Bebe and Nathan lead the cast and lead us. They are sort of our parents even though I’ve worked with both of them before, and we’re the same generation of actors. There’s a kind of camaraderie there.
How did you prepare for this role? Adam: I watched a couple of episodes of the TV show, but this show is actually based on the New Yorker comics, so I looked at the comics a lot. He was really talented, Charles Addams [The New Yorker cartoonist who created “The Addams Family”].
Can you tell me more about what it’s like working with Nathan Lane and Bebe Neuwirth? Krysta: Nathan is the king of comedy. There’s nobody that understands the craft like he does, and it’s really unbelievable to watch him and learn from him and get advice from him. When you’re like ‘this isn’t working,’ he’s got it. It’s so easy for him and that’s really been cool to watch. I saw Bebe in Chicago when I was 14 or 13 and will never forget seeing her. Just the way she carries herself and walks around is so graceful and really something to look up to. It’s been very cool to watch them work together and get to dance with her and tell jokes with him. Adam: They’re both so talented, and the rest of the cast is so talented. It’s so great and a lot of fun.
Was it difficult to develop a character out of cartoons? Kevin: You get the essence from the cartoons. You take what you get and translate that into human behavior. I think it’s really exciting seeing the characters come alive onstage for everybody.
What’s it been like working with the young actors? Kevin: I have taken on sort of a fatherly or crazy uncle role. I’m very protective of them. I want Adam’s Broadway experience to be something that he’ll remember for the rest of his life.
Do you have experiences with your own family you were able to draw upon for this role? Krysta: I would not put my parents in the categories of Morticia or Gomez, but in the show, Wednesday’s dealing with the time you become embarrassed a little bit by your family. So yeah, there’s definitely that point, especially around 18 where you’re like, “My family’s crazy!” Adam: [laughs] Kind of, but not so much. I think the relationship is like our family, but I don’t think anyone in my family is really like them.
Onstage Wednesday tortures Pugsley. What’s the offstage relationship like between you two? Krysta: I learn something from Adam everyday. He is so witty and funny and honest and smart. We have a really good time. We have a good brother-sister relationship—without the torture. The torture is the onstage part. Adam: She’s really nice, and I like working with her. We really are a family. We are really close, especially me and her. We’re like brother and sister backstage.
And how are you different from the character you play? Kevin: Um. I’m not dead; I’m not rotting [laughs]. Adam: Pugsley likes to cause a lot of mischief, and I don’t cause as much mischief as he does. Maybe a little bit, but not as much.
www.newyorkfamily.com
April 2010 | New York Family
49
When did you start acting? Krysta: I have a picture of me when I was 9 months old pulling myself up on the piano and banging on it and singing, so kind of always. My mom brought me to see plays when I was younger. I saw “Annie” when I was 5, and that was life-changing. It wasn’t until about 13 or so that I realized this was a career option. From then on I started doing that. I went to a performing arts high school and then I came to New York and went to NYU until I started working. Adam: My mom was the musical director of a theater school in Connecticut. I used to go and watch and rehearse after school. Then I started doing shows there after that and then I auditioned for an off-Broadway show. That’s when I started doing shows in New York. And Kevin, you grew up in Southern New Jersey. Was your interest in theater influenced by your proximity to New York? Kevin: Oh yeah. I came to New York all the time. I would sometimes get on a bus by myself as a kid, and sometimes come on school group trips. I saw my first Broadway show in this theater. It was “Peter Pan” with Sandy Duncan. Was there any particular show that especially resonated with you? Kevin: That one, “Peter Pan,” and “Sweeney Todd” with Angela Lansbury—and she was just here the other night, so that was weird. That was 30 years ago almost to the day. Adam, are you also in school? Adam: We’re doing tutoring in the theater, and I’m partially home-schooled.
What’s a typical day like for you? Adam: I warm up at 11 a.m., and we usually have to run to catch the subway. We eat a 20-minute lunch, I come here and then I do school for a long time. When I’m not doing school I’m rehearsing. Then I have an hour-and-a-half dinner break, then I come in and do a show. Before the show I have to put my mic on, have to put my makeup on, warmup again, get my wig on and my costume. What advice would you give to kids who’d like to pursue a career in theater? Kevin: Do as many plays as you can. You learn by doing. If you still have that love for it then get a degree in it. Learn as much as you can about acting and about the history of acting. As an actor you should know every name, every playwright, and read plays. Knowledge is power in this business. New York Family | April 2010
Want to see the creepiest family in New York live? “The Addams Family” officially opens on April 8th and is recommended for ages 10 and up. Shows are on Tuesdays at 7 p.m., Wednesdays through Saturdays at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sundays at 3 p.m. at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre on 205 West 46th Street (between Broadway and 8th Avenue). For tickets, call 877-ADDAMS-1 or visit theaddamsfamilymusical.com.
Krysta: It’s going to take a lot of work so you have to be completely focused and really committed to doing it. I always say if this is what you want to do you can’t give up. There are going to be so many pits in the road, but you have to stay the course and be persistent. I really think that if you wake up in the morning and you can’t think about doing anything else [but acting], then you should do this. It’s totally worth it for the reward. Adam: They should just go for it and try their hardest if they really want it because it’s an amazing experience and it’s so fun. So what do you think families will enjoy about this show? Adam: Well, it’s hysterically funny. I think they’ll love it because of all the jokes and the special effects. It’s kind of creepy in a good way. Kevin: The obvious is that it’s about a family. I think everyone thinks their families are freaks. Kids notoriously are embarrassed by their parents, especially in puberty—I know I was. With Wednesday’s plot line there’s something to relate to, especially with the father-daughter relationship and the mother-daughter relationship. The core of the story we’re telling with this version of “The Addams Family” is how you have to let go of your daughter and let her live her own life. Krysta: It’s really touching. You come in thinking you’re going to see this wacky family and somewhere along the line you realize they’re called The Addams Family for a reason: They’re a family, they’re a unit, they operate and love and work like a family.
You come in thinking you’re going to see this wacky family, and somewhere along the line you realize they’re called The Addams Family for a reason: They’re a family, they’re a unit, they operate and love and work like a family.
Is it tough to balance all your work and school? Adam: A little bit. It’s not so bad.
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See the Show
So creepiness and kookiness aside, do you think there’s a message people will take away from the show? Kevin: It’s very moving. I’ve had friends who have come to it and been in tears after the show, especially friends of mine who have daughters. There’s a wonderful song called “Happy Sad” because you’re happy because they’re moving on, but you’re sad because you’re losing a daughter. The song’s about all the dichotomies of life. And, in the larger picture, the Addams are about these dichotomies. What’s black to them is white to others. k www.newyorkfamily.com
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Learning By Heart At West End Day School, Bright Children Who Are Uneven Learners Get The Emotional And Academic Support They Need To Thrive BY KIMBERLY PEREL
OMFORTABLE. STURDY. BRAVE. These are some of the adjectives used by the staff at West End Day School to describe how they want their students to feel, because this is a place where “feelings count.” With 50 students ranging from ages 4.5 to 13, West End Day offers an individualized and holistic approach to teaching bright learners with mild to moderate learning, language or social issues who desire a challenging, mainstream curriculum. While in other settings these children might slip through the cracks or get “warehoused” in special education programs, at West End Day they have the chance to truly shine. “Special Education and counseling should not be separate entities,” says Head of School Carrie Catapano. “Children come to us with all types of issues whether it’s learning delays, difficulties separating or mild language barriers. The first thing we do is to help children and parents feel happy, relaxed and comfortable—then we work on helping them become competent learners. Our experience has been that once you address a child’s feelings, you can then tackle any learning or social difficulty.” West End Day School, located on West 71st Street, has been improving the lives of children for 25 years by staying true to their mission—help bright students with learning or social barriers reach their full potential. This approach is implemented through highly trained teachers attuned to the needs of their students, social work counselors, speech language pathologists and occupational therapists all working together to create personalized educational programs. Social work counselors, or “grown-up friends” as the children call them, are at the hub of this dream team, acting as liaisons between children and parents. “It is really awesome here. I have my own person, Ms. Reilly, who checks in on me and who I can turn to,” says a fifthgrader at the school. And the treatment aspect doesn’t stop there. “We feel strongly that
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www.newyorkfamily.com
special education doesn’t just happen at school,” says Catapano. “We address every aspect of the child’s life, whether it is academic or social, and we do that by partnering up with parents so they are a vital part of our team.” It’s clear that this approach works. What most stands out when you tour West End Day is not only how engaged the children are in what they are learning, but how secure and at home they feel, both in the classroom and outside of it, talking easily to grown-ups and visitors alike. As children get older, they become more involved in their education plan, focusing on what skills come easily to them and what they need to work harder on—in addition to pinpointing how they learn best. In “Study-Skills” run by the school’s language pathologist, children discover whether they are auditory, visual or kinetic learners. A visual learner is encouraged to use guided outlines and a highlighter to emphasize important information when processing what a teacher is saying. “We are learning how we learn best,” sums up a third-grader. When forming reading, writing and math groups, the teachers at West End Day take into account many different methods of instruction to effectively reach each student. Students who are above grade level in a subject area will be taught above grade level and students who need more support in an area will receive it. “We are very flexible and are open to using a variety of modalities in order to teach our diverse population of sophisticated learners,” says Katy Meyer, the school’s Education Head. Outside the core academic curriculum, West End Day is further able to highlight students’ strengths and build self-confidence through physical education, art, music, chess tournaments and school plays. There is also a robust after-school program, featuring everything from PowerPoint Wizards to tap dance to Community Club. For youngsters who need a nurturing, individualized environment year-round, West End Day offers a six-week Summer Learning Program that maintains structure but also offers a camplike experience. “Everyone tells me that West End Day is a secret gem in the heart of the Upper West Side,” says Catapano. “Our children leave here not only as more solid learners, they leave with an understanding of who they are as individuals, an attribute that will take them all the way through life.” To learn more about West End Day School or inquire about admissions, call 212-873-5708 or visit westenddayschool.org. April 2010 | New York Family
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DoubleTime at 74th St. MAGIC. This
SUMMER SAMPLER There Are Lots Of Imaginative And Varied Children’s Classes Available This Summer, Many With Flexible Schedules To Accommodate Family’s Needs BY TERESA TOBAT AND BRITTANY MCNAMARA
class is split into 45 minutes of tumbling fun in the gym and 45 minutes of hands-on pre-school activities in the classroom—enough variety to keep short attention spans engaged! Children can come any day of any week for a minimum of five classes all summer, and the best part is they get a sixth class free! (Ages 18 to 26 months and 2.3 to 3 years) 510 East 74th Street, 212-737-2989, 74magic.com.
CityMyth at Citibabes. This month-long lab lets kids explore the characters of myths and legends through story-telling, art, song, dramatic play, and science. Children learn how to defend themselves from a Cyclops with the help of a karate specialist, design their very own toga, and more. CitiGym time, yoga, snack and lunch are provided. Runs once a week throughout June. (Ages 3 to 6 years) 52 Mercer Street, 3rd Floor, 212-3345440, citibabes.com.
Silly Science at JCC. Preschoolers get a zany introduction to science with this summer-long class that uses games, books, and art projects to show kids how to dig for dinosaur bones, soar into the solar system, watch the weather, and more. Children also take field trips to the American Museum of Natural History, Central Park, and the JCC’s outdoor roof area. Thursdays throughout summer. (Ages 2 to 3 years) 334 Amsterdam Avenue, 646-505-4444, jccmanhattan.org. Color Splash at Kidville. Who says you have to leave the city to enjoy the beach? In this class, children craft summer souvenirs using paint, collage and sculpture. Water tables and sand trays make indoor beach play fun, and there’s no chance of sunburn! Once a week throughout the summer semester. (Ages 18 to 24 months) Various locations in Manhattan, 212-772-8435, kidville.com.
I
f your family will be in the city for all or part of summer, it’s worth looking into what children’s classes are being offered. Often, classes in the summer have more flexible schedules, are less expensive than during the school year, and can be a great way to complement your child’s summer break.
Mommy & Me Gym and Music Combo at Jodi’s Gym. This 75-minute class fuses all the fun of the Mommy & Me Gym class with a dynamic 30minute music class. A music teacher leads parents and children through a singing and dancing extravaganza, loaded with shakers, streamers and silly songs. Story time and a yummy snack follow the fun workout. 3 four-week sessions available in June, July and August (Ages 12 months to 35 months) 244 East 84th Street, 212-244-8811, jodisgym.com.
continued on page 58
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New York Family | April 2010
Lara Magzan
School at Steps
Drop-off Tadpoles at 14th Street Y. Lots of parents find their kids learn how to swim better in the morning when they’re more alert, making this morning class an excellent option. Water-loving kids learn beginning swimmer skills like breathing, floating, kicking, and strokes with flotation devices. Once a week on Thursdays at 10 a.m. starting July 8th. (Ages 3 to 5 years) 344 East 14th Street, 212-7800800, 14streety.org.
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continued from page 54 Gymboree School Skills. Help your toddlers prepare for the transition to school with this class that blends fun physical activity with components of a preschool curriculum. Kids develop their language skills, create science and art projects, and work out for at least 30 minutes. Runs throughout the summer. (Ages 30 months to 5 years) Various locations in Manhattan, 877-496-5327, gymboreeclasses.com. Summerscapes at Guggenheim Museum. Whet your child’s artistic pallet
Launch Learning at Launch Math Achievement Center. Math students of all skill levels are invited to participate in individualized classes at this oasis for math instruction. Instructors use hands-on teaching methods and computer-based lessons to help children have a blast and learn at the same time. Classes are ongoing on weekdays and weekends throughout summer. (Ages 5 to 13 years) 173 West 81st Street, 949-5286240, launchmath.com.
A Clearing in the Forest in Central Park. In this free summertime series, ecoeducation and multicultural fun are blended into interactive dance, music, art, storytelling and puppetry performances. Have a picnic at The Peter Jay Sharp Children’s Glade after watching the show. No advance registration required. Takes place on select Saturdays and Sundays throughout summer starting in June. (Ages 5 to 12 years) 212-310-6638, centralparknyc.org.
Adventures In Dance at School at Steps. Part of the school’s Young Dancers Summer Program, this class taps into kids’ creative side by letting them explore movement and music. Each week students take a Pre-Dance and a Pre-Tap class, and in between is a yummy snack break. Various sessions are available throughout summer. (Ages 4 to 6 years) 2121 Broadway, 212874-2410, stepsnyc.com.
Mini-Weaving Camp at Loop Of The Loom. Limited to six students, the three-day mini camps at this one-of-a-kind weaving studio exposes kids to fiber art techniques— participants create crafts such as felted small animals, a hand-woven pillow, Kool-Aid dyed yarn and more! At each two-hour class, kids are encouraged to learn how to use the tools on their own. Seven sessions offered
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New York Family | April 2010
The Guggenheim Museum throughout the summer. (Age range varies by session.) 227 East 87th Street, 212-7222686, loopoftheloom.com.
Buddy and Me at Chelsea Piers. In this drop-in class, children and their caregivers take part in teacher-led activities including gymnastics, rock climbing, dance, music and movement, theater and arts. No need to commit for a specific week—just a certain number of times throughout summer. Participants enjoy free use of the Toddler Adventure Center on days they take the class. Takes place throughout the summer. (Ages 17 to 36 months) 23rd Street and the Hudson River, 212-336-6666, chelseapiers.com.
Chef/Gym Combo at Gymtime Rhythm & Glues. In this class, kids can cook and be active all at once! After a 45-minute session in the kitchen making a healthy meal or snack ranging from veggie couscous to apple honey cake, participants head to the gym for 45 minutes of gymnastics, games, and movement. (Ages 2 to 3 years) 1520 York Avenue, 212-8617732, gymtime.net.
Architecture and Design Intensive at 92nd Street Y. In this class, kids learn how design shapes our lives by creating their own imaginary community, from buildings right down to the details inside individual homes! Participants even add decorations and surface patterns to objects like furniture, all while learning about a variety of materials and techniques. Runs Monday through Friday during the first two weeks of August. (Ages 8 to 10 years) 1395 Lexington Avenue, 212415-5500, 92Y.org.
Eco Kids Club at Children’s Museum of Manhattan. Preschoolers learn about ecology through science experiments, art projects, live specimens, and interactive stories. The
class explores the water cycle, animals of the rainforest, and other natural wonders of the world. Children can participate in any of three sessions occurring each month, June through August. (Ages 3 and 4 years) 212 West 83rd Street, 212-721-1223, cmom.org.
Play Dates at Let’s Dress Up! Kids can tap into their inner princesses with dress-up play dates at Let’s Dress Up! Little ones will love choosing from a range of costumes and accessories, including royal court dresses, shoes, jewelry, tiaras, wands, glitter nail polish, fairy dust, and more! Stop in for open dress-up (call on Monday for that week’s times) or schedule a reserved play date. (Ages 3 to 7) 345 East 85th Street, 212879-0956, uppereast.com/lets-dress-up. Children’s Museum of the Arts’ Summer Art Colony at Governors Island. Kids head to Governors Island via ferry to take part in a variety of art classes. They can sketch, paint and create group murals inspired by the landscape around the island. Or, explore “organic art” using materials such as grass, flowers, and rocks. Classes in sculptures, animation or mosaics are also available. Throughout the summer. (Ages 7 to 14 years, varies with each class) 212-274-0986, cmany.org.
Mess it Up at Kids at Work. The Level I class incorporates fun, messy art that develops creativity, independence, and decision-making skills. The Level II program incorporates solo and group science experiments, storytelling, and themed projects to help children develop problem solving, classroom, and verbal skills. Runs for 11 weeks, June through August. (Ages 18 months to 2.5 years for Level I, ages 2.5 to 4 years for Level II) 102 West 14th Street, #2, 347-933-8293, kidsatworknyc.com.. P
Katherine Finerty
with this mini art camp. Participants explore Frank Lloyd Wright’s exquisite space and then head to the studio to create art projects ranging from painting to sculptures. The five-session program concludes with a small exhibition so students can show off their work. Available in July. (Ages 8 to 11 years) 1071 Fifth Avenue, 212-423-3838, guggenheim.org.
Photo: Rosalie O’Connor
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L A V I SURV
E D I GU What’s an important aspect of pregnancy and delivery you think parents-to-be often overlook as they prepare their birth plan? Everyone should talk to their doctor ahead of time and make sure they are on the same page. Ask questions. A lot of times as moms get closer to their due date, they hear things like, “We might induce you” or “The baby is too big, you might need a c-section.” Talk to your doctor about a birth plan: Do you want an epidural or a drug -free birth? Do you want to be moving or squatting during labor? Do you want a doula at your birth? What is the doctors c-section and episiotomy rate? Things can change at any minute but it’s good to discuss an ideal situation with your doctor and also have a vision of what you want your birth experience to be like. —Janet Markovits, founder, The Pregnant New Yorker (thepregnantnewyorker.com)
What are new parent support groups, and why are they a good idea? At Soho Parenting, all of our groups share a unique combination of focus, spending an equal time talking about the babies and the parents. The Mother Infant group offers practical, hands-on advice: we discuss sleep, feeding, physical, emotional and language development. For the “mom” topics, we include a session on the changes that take place in your marriage, work and motherhood, your changing body, and how your own childhood effects how you enter this new role as parent. But what I feel is best about these groups is really the intimate relationships that are forged. Many of the women report that the early friendships they make here are the ones that stick for years. And the children often keep their “extended family” friendships with the other kids. —Jean Kunhardt, co-founder, Soho Parenting (sohoparenting.com)
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New York Family | April 2010
Experts Weigh In On Some Of The Most Vexing Issues (Big And Small) Facing New Parents And Parents-To-Be
What are the advantages of using a nanny placement service versus finding childcare through referral or an online bulletin board?
One of the main advantages is families are meeting nannies that have already been pre-screened that are true working, professional nannies. The agency is trained in identifying career nannies as well as performs duties such as meeting the nanny, calling and checking all references and conducting face-to-face interviews before the client meets them. It’s invaluable, as for every one great nanny, you have to meet 20 “not-so-hot” ones, and very few families have the time, endurance and know-how to do so. Most important of all, the agency performs full criminal background checks on all hired nannies—this is all-too-often overlooked when not going through a professional agency. —Douglas Kozinn, co-founder, Absolute Best Care (absolutebestcare.com)
How can parents save money on diapers? With two kids still in diapers, I’d be lost without Diapers.com! This site lets me order boxes of diapers in bulk and delivers them to my building for free. No lugging bulky overpriced packages from the store every few days. Even better, the site carries tons of other diapering essentials too. Tip: order Costco’s Kirkland brand wipes. One box holds nine 100-count packages of unscented hypoallergenic wipes made from environmentally-friendly Tencel and is far cheaper than similar brand-name options. —Robin Saks Frankel, founder, Crib Notes (cribnotesbaby.com)
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More than your typical kids’ club… For Kids Only offers fun-filled programs, led by child care specialists, that focus on fostering self-esteem, creativity, and problem solving. Classes are designed for children ages 6 months to 12 years, ensuring plenty of fun and exploration through art, ballet, tap, music, after school sports, gym time and preschool alternatives, among other exciting activities! For Kids Only is also a unique venue to host special events such as themed birthday parties.
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L A V I V R SU
E D I GU When should parents start sleep training and how can they find the confidence to stick with it? It’s never too late to start sleep teaching, but it can be too early. We recommend parents wait until a child is around four months of age, when most healthy babies can learn to sleep through the night without eating, and have the ability to self-soothe. The best way to stay on track: pick a sleep teaching method both parents not only believe in, but fully understand. This way, no one is leading or following. If parents are in lock step they can encourage each other along the way. Before sleep teaching, parents should sit down together to write down the reasons they’ve decided to sleep teach. Then, put the list up on the refrigerator. If things get tough during the process they can look back on the list they made at a more rational point in time and glean some confidence. —Conner Herman and Kira Ryan, co-founders, Dream Team Baby: Infant and Toddler Sleep Consultation (dreamteambaby.com)
What should parents think about when putting together a registry? Is there a strategy? Can you register for too much? Most people think of their baby registry as a list of gift suggestions, but it can also serve an important function in helping you plan your nursery. Think of it as your master list. Not only does it let you think through everything you need, but a store with good registry support will help you put together the list that’s right for you. No one should be offended if you put up a complete list that includes everything from car seats to nail clippers. And doing so means you’ll avoid the three biggest pitfalls of registries from a gift-giver’s point of view: not having enough for your registrants to select; not having enough choices in every price range so everyone can find something in their budget; and not having a good balance of fun and practical items. Some people are afraid they’ll offend people by including expensive items like a stroller, but the only thing that will offend people is if that’s all you include. And remember, most businesses allow you to close out your registry with some type of savings (at giggle you get a one-time discount of 10% off whatever items you registered for but didn’t receive). —Ali Wing, founder, giggle (giggle.com)
What are some tips for having your child’s first portrait taken?
What should moms-to-be and new moms be thinking about when it comes to nursing wear? Most moms who visit Yummy Mummy seem to be concerned with two things: feeling comfortable and feeling attractive, even sexy. So when you’re buying nursing wear, you may want to ask yourself: Is this a fabric that feels soft and nice to the touch? Is this a style I can wear at home for visitors? Or out for a quick dinner? Another consideration: many nursing brands make styles that are made to be worn both during and after pregnancy. This is a great option for many moms. —Amanda Cole, owner, Yummy Mummy (yummymummystore.com)
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It’s so important to document your baby’s different stages because they change and grow so quickly. A photo shoot should be fun! When planning for your first family shoot, the most important thing is to relax and enjoy it. Kids can sense when you’re nervous and this won’t produce the best results. Find a photographer who you feel comfortable with and who will bring out your child’s organic expressions in a playful, natural way. A great idea is to bring your little Flip video recorder and get some moving shots to document your first shoot. Then you’re double-documenting. —Heidi Green, founder, Heidi Green Photography (heidigreen.com)
www.newyorkfamily.com
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Charting Childhood Your Baby Is Growing And Changing Every Day. Here, A Guide To Development Markers To Look For During The First Two Years BY JEAN HALLORAN-MONACO
ll new parents love to watch their children meet developmental milestones. But when it comes to what to expect at each stage, it’s important to listen to your pediatrician rather than compare your child to your friends’ babies. “Your baby has well visits at 2, 4, 6, 9 and 12 months because the doctor wants to see if your child is developing appropriately,” says Dr. Tanya Altmann, a California-based pediatrician and author of the book “Mommy Calls: Dr. Tanya Answers Parents’ Top 101 Questions About Babies and Toddlers.” We asked Dr. Altmann, along with pediatrician Dr. Adriana Matiz of New York-Presbyterian Hospital, what developmental markers parents should look for during their baby’s first two years.
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0-3 Months “At 0-3 months, it’s exciting for new parents to see their baby smile responsively,” Altmann says. “This social smile is one of the main things I am looking for at that 2-month
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check-up.” By 3 months, “babies can hold their head steady and they can focus on you directly and actually track you,” says Matiz. “They’ll also start vocalizing noises at the back of the throat.” 3-6 Months “At 3-6 months, your baby will have more hand-to-mouth activity, and some may attempt to sit,” says Matiz. Infants also begin rolling over during this stage. During the 4-month checkup, Altmann asks parents if the baby is laughing yet. 6-9 Months “Sitting all by themselves is one of the big motor milestones we look for at the 6-9-month period,” says Matiz. By this point, Altmann adds, babies can usually roll in both directions, and they often put their feet to their mouth. 9-12 Months At 9-12 months, “Babies are often pulling themselves to a stand,” Altmann says. “[Parents] have to make
sure the crib mattress is all the way down and the bar all the way up, so they don’t fall out of the crib.” This is also the stage when children will begin “cruising,” or walking while holding onto furniture, Matiz adds. While parents may be eager to see their babies crawl, Matiz notes that it’s perfectly normal for babies to skip this marker entirely. “Crawling is not a set milestone per se because not every child does it,” she explains. Along with each exciting physical change, your baby is also developing emotionally. Between 9 and 12 months, Matiz says, your baby may start to experience separation anxiety as she becomes aware that mom or dad is leaving. 12-15 Months Most children begin walking during the 12-15-month stage, say Altmann and Matiz. They are also rapidly building their language skills, often using words like “mama,” “dada,” “juice” and “milk.” “A fun thing they can now do, which you don’t find on any milestone charts, is imitate animal continued on page 66
P rents sounds,” Altmann adds. Separation anxiety can also worsen during these months. At the same time, Altmann notes, toddlers will also start to exhibit independence—so while they hear and understand you, they may not always follow directions. This stage also marks the beginning of the dreaded tantrums. “Tantrums are normal development because toddlers are trying to challenge themselves in their new world,” Matiz explains. 15-18 Months “At 15-18 months,, [toddlers] can walk quickly and walk backwards,” Altmann says, adding that during this stage they can also begin using a spoon on their own (“although they will drop a lot of food!”). By this time your toddler will likely have a minimum of five to six words in his vocabulary. At this stage children can also learn the names of body parts and point to them when asked. 18 Months-2 Years During this stage children master physical challenges, like running and climbing up and down stairs. “Even if your toddler is not exposed to stairs everyday because you live in an apartment, it’s still normal development to be able to climb stairs at this point,” Matiz says. By this time, “[Children] should also be able to throw a ball, scribble and say 10-20 words,” Altmann says. “And they like to copy tasks they see at home, like cleaning.” Is My Child Behind? During their first two years, babies are developing in a number of areas, including gross motor, fine motor, language and social development. “All infants develop at their own rate, so although it is hard, you have to not compare them to an older sibling or a neighbor,” Altmann says. “If there’s just one area your child is behind in, that’s usually okay. But if it seems that across-the-board they’re a little behind, then it is a good idea to see your pediatrician.”
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Have A Child With A Special Need? Here Are Some Local Resources That Can Help
Public Services And Schooling For NYC Children With Special Needs “The more information you have to help your child, the better your child can be served,” says Vanessa Markowitz, a lawyer and advocate for families with children with special needs. So for city parents who think that their child may have some kind of problem—be it developmental, physical, or emotional—the most important thing is to take your child to a developmental pediatrician or clinical psychologist for an evaluation. Once your child is evaluated, and any delays or issues are identified, you will be much better prepared to determine how best to help. Markowitz recommends taking advantage of New York’s early intervention programs, which provide a service coordinator to help you through the process of getting state-funded services. A program will be developed for your child that will include home-based therapies until your child turns 2 years old. At 2 years, your child may begin a centerbased preschool program. In the instance that your child’s special needs are not identified until 3 to 5 years of age, Markowitz again recommends getting a proper evaluation from a professional. Once that evaluation has been performed, the next step is to call New York City’s Committee on Preschool Special Education, which can develop and implement an Individualized Education Program based on your child’s needs. Maybe the most challenging aspect for families with young children with special needs happens when parents have to find a grade school that adequately addresses their child’s strengths and challenges. Markowitz encourages parents to visit schools (public and private) and attend seminars on the topic, including some held at the JCC (jccmanhattan.org) and at YAI (yai.org). Other helpful sources: the NYC Department of Education’s “Students with Disabilities Transitioning from Preschool to School-Age Program,” a free orientation; and the 1996 book, “A Parents’ Guide to Special Education in New York City and the Metropolitan Area,” by Laurie DuBos and Jana Fromer. —Sapna Moudgil-Shah
Special Needs Resources In NYC If your pediatrician has determined that your child has a special need, you shouldn’t feel alone. These local organizations can provide you with important resources and parenting support: Jewish Community Center: 334 Amsterdam Avenue, 646-505-5700, jccmanhattan.org. Los Ninos Services: 535 Eighth Avenue, 212-787-9700, losninos.com. Resources for Children With Special Needs: 116 East 16th Street, 212-677-4650, resourcesnyc.org. Parent-to-Parent of New York State: 75 Morton Street, 212-2293222, parenttoparentnys.org. Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment at Mount Sinai School of Medicine: One Gustave L. Levy Place, 212-241-0961, mountsinai.org. YAI: 460 West 34th Street, 212-273-6182, yai.org. continued on page 68
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7th Annual Young Child Expo and Conference arents of both typically developing children and children with special needs are invited to check out the 7th Annual Young Child Expo and Conference, taking place April 9-10 at the Hilton New York Hotel. Co-presented by the Fordham University Graduate School of Education and Los Niños Services, the event will bring together educators, authors, researchers and experts in early childhood development to share their ideas with other childhood professionals as well as interested and concerned parents. Unlike other conferences on this topic, this event offers attendees the opportunity to learn about services, resources, and products to help all children reach their full potential—typically developing, special needs, gifted, talented and bilingual. “I organized this event to gather everyone—parents, practitioners, professionals and experts—together in one spot to share information,” says Scott Mesh, an early childhood psychologist and executive director of Los Niños Services, which works to meet the developmental needs of young children through evaluations, parent/child groups, service coordination and training. “The workshops are designed to provide practitioners and parents with useful, practical—not theoretical—information across a range of topics, from general development to special education.” The conference will feature 25 sessions, full and half-day workshops and an exhibition hall where parents can gather information on early childhood resources, services and products. For more info, visit youngchildexpo.com. —Lanchi Venator
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Special Needs: A Glossary Of Terms For parents considering whether their child has a special need, the terminology can get confusing. Is he struggling with a learning delay? Does she have an emotional disability? Is there a physical impairment that needs to be addressed? Or is it a combination of several different issues? So how do you sort it all out? Well, first, with the help of qualified medical professionals. But to get the conversation started, here’s a short glossary that might help you better understand the different types of special needs: DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITY: A long-term condition attributable to a mental impairment or a physical impairment (or a combination of both types of impairments) that manifests before 22 years of age. Developmental disabilities can affect many aspects of a child’s life, including mobility, learning and independence. Examples include Autism Spectrum Disorders, Cerebral Palsy and Down Syndrome. EMOTIONAL/BEHAVIORAL DISABILITY: Interferes with a child’s ability to learn, interact socially, build relationships and conduct himself in an ageappropriate way. Emotional/behavioral issues can often stem from developmental or learning ones. Examples include anxiety disorders, depression and eating disorders.
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PHYSICAL DISABILITY: Any neuromuscular, orthopedic, cardiovascular or pulmonary impairment. Physical disabilities can either be congenital or caused by injury. Examples include Muscular Dystrophy, Multiple Sclerosis and vision and hearing impairments. LEARNING DISABILITY: Author Robbie Woliver defines a learning disability, or LD, as “a neurological disorder that affects processes in the brain that are involved with understanding spoken or written language, coordinating movements, directing attention, and the ability to learn, concentrate, listen, think, read, spell, write, or do math calculations” (page 263, “Alphabet Kids: From ADD To Zellweger Syndrome”). Examples include attention deficits like ADHD, dyslexia and language disorders like aphasia and dysphasia. —Katie Main
P rents Not Sure How To Juggle Naptimes Or Negotiate A Nanny Contract For Multiples? Meet Natalie Diaz, Founder Of Twiniversity BY HANNAH RUBENSTEIN
atalie Diaz sits in a coffee shop on Mulberry Street, where she has lived her whole life, as the scent of roasting espresso beans fills the air. “I never wanted twins,” she says, cupping a steaming mug, “but now I can’t imagine my life without them.” After giving birth to fraternal twins Anna and Johnny five years ago following multiple pregnancy complications and an IVF procedure, Diaz had her hands full. Caring for two infants, one of whom had special needs, at the same time, proved overwhelming. Without daily assistance from a nanny or her husband who worked to support the growing family, she was at a loss for answers to practical questions: How should she balance breastfeeding between the babies? When should they nap and where? How could she bathe them together? As her children grew, she faced a different set of dilemmas: Should she read each child a story before bedtime, or one to both? At birthday parties, whose name should
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be sung first during “Happy Birthday”? When her children turned 4 years old, Diaz decided to use the knowledge she had gained through trial and error to help other parents of twins. In April of 2009, Twiniversity was conceived and launched. Inspired in part by Diaz’s other role as director of the Manhattan Twins Club—a non-profit organization offering support to city parents of multiples—Twiniversity began with a handful of mothers pregnant with twins discussing their concerns, and has grown into a virtual training course for expecting and new parents of multiples. “There is definitely a need to have this education in the twin community,” says Diaz. “You can get information from your doctor and other sources, but I’m like the MacGyver Mom. I’m the Every Twin Mom.” Twiniversity currently includes two classes: Twins Prep, which is for expectant parents and deals with issues such as which gear to buy, types of help available, and how to juggle two (or more) babies simultaneously;
and Intro to Twins, concentrating on the concerns of new parents, from scheduling and sleep training to negotiating nanny contracts. Both classes allow parents to interact and share stories. In addition to acquiring practical advice, Twiniversity is about moral support. “The group classes let you know that you are going to be fine,” Diaz says. “Moms are so nervous and anxious about the challenges they will face and need to realize that they are not the only ones who have gone through this.” Plus, portions of classes are tailored specifically for fathers. “Every twin needs two sets of hands,” Diaz explains, “and what better set of hands could you have than those of your partner?” Diaz’s personal experience is invaluable to expectant and new parents—having gone through an IVF procedure like so many families today, she can speak to the challenges that mothers will have to face, including invasive questioning from family as well as strangers. “When you’re pregnant with twins, apparently your womb is
Lara Magzan
Twin Wise
public information,” she says. She and other parents discuss strategies for responding to overly personal questions. Unlike the Manhattan Twins Club, which is focused on local families, Twiniversity is becoming a global online community (twiniversity.com). About 70 percent of its members are online and located outside Manhattan. Diaz says the site is especially helpful to parents living in rural communities that often don’t know other parents of twins. Access to the online community is free after enrolling in one of the two classes, and includes the opportunity to take advantage of innumerable coupons valued at over $200, from Ringling Brothers Circus tickets to diapers. With double the amount of clothing and formula, and with the cost of college education constantly rising, “every penny counts,” Diaz says. Twiniversity not only prepares parents for the challenges of raising multiple children at the same time through what Natalie refers to as “taking the deer-in-the-headlightslook out of your eyes,” but also discusses the benefits that raising twins can offer. Natalie, whose children share a bunk bed, says that her kids stay up late every night, talking about everything from classmates to how much they enjoy popcorn. “It’s awesome to be a kid and have the best slumber party of your life every night,” she says. “You don’t have to force the togetherness. It just happens.” Through Twiniversity, parents of twins will learn that managing the complexity of multiple children is not just possible, but may just be the best thing that ever happened to their family. G
Twiniversity Tricks To Stay Sane Natalie Diaz offers new parents of multiples a few tips. ACCEPT ALL HELP. Even if you have a full-time nanny, if your family and friends offer you a few hours (or minutes), take it! In the first few months, everyone wants to see the twins. Take frequent advantage of that, because when the new baby smell wears off, the visitors become less and less. PLAN YOUR DAY WITH MILITARY PRECISION. If you never thought of yourself as one of those parents who run home so your kids can nap, accept that you may need to turn into one. Having your twins on a schedule makes your days (and your twins’ days) a lot nicer, making you a happy parent. “SUPPORT” IS NOT JUST FOR BRAS. Multiple families need other multiple families. Even if just to steal great ideas, parents need a place to connect and vent. Parents of singletons don’t always share our philosophies, so having a non-judgmental sounding board online and in person is an awesome asset. Places like Twiniversity and the Manhattan Twins Club provide these connections. HAVE THE RIGHT EQUIPMENT. The multiple family’s most key item in the city is the stroller. Make sure you have the ideal one for you. My favorite is the Valco Tri-Mode Twin. With double sun visors, sturdy wheels, and a narrow width for a double (29 inches), it will take you from birth to 4 years in the blink of an eye—and in style. TOMORROW IS ANOTHER DAY! If you didn’t have the best day today, you can always begin again tomorrow. If they didn’t sleep well last night, maybe tonight is the night they make it through 12 hours. If they took a tumble at the playground, tomorrow they will be surer on their feet. Every day starts fresh and every day is another opportunity to enjoy the joy of your multiples.
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First Bites Making Your Own Baby Food Is Economical, Easy And Nutritious. Here Are A Few Tips To Get You Started hat will be your baby’s first meal? Increasingly, many parents are choosing to make their own baby food instead of going with storebought. There are many reasons to do so: It saves money, allows you to feed your baby what you’re already eating, and most of all, you know what’s in it. “Many of the advanced lines of baby foods contain starchy fillers and other ingredients that are not of any nutritional value,” says Melissa O’Shea, a dietician with Foodtrainers in Manhattan. And while there are good jarred brands available—including organic ones—making your own gives you more control over what goes into your baby’s tummy. The good news is you don’t have to be a star chef. Purees—foods that are mashed, blended, or strained to a smooth consistency—don’t require much time or effort. The equipment you need is probably already in your kitchen: a regular blender, handheld immersion blender, food mill or a food processor. Really, the most important step is ensuring the place that you’re cooking in is clean and uncluttered to avoid the risk of spreading bacteria. Generally, babies are ready to start eating solids as a supplement to formula or breast milk at around 6 months—though some babies begin eating solids later than others, so don’t force your baby if he isn’t ready. Some signs he may be: He is sitting up and holding his head up without help, his birth weight has doubled, or he’s showing an interest in the food that you’re eating. For all babies, eating
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solids is a new experience, so don’t be surprised if they eat just a spoonful the first few times. And always speak with your baby’s pediatrician before starting solid food to discuss potential allergens and other issues. Most pediatricians recommend that baby’s first meal be rice cereal mixed with breast milk or formula, but once your baby has gotten used to solid food, you can introduce him to a wider variety of flavors, which is where purees come in. Good purees to start with include bananas, sweet potatoes, butternut squash, mashed potatoes, peaches and carrots. The process is simple: First, steam or microwave the vegetable or fruit of your choice. “[This helps] to retain as many vitamins or minerals as possible as opposed to boiling,” says Alicia Regan, a clinical nutritionist at New York-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital. Next, puree the cooked produce, and add in some water, breast milk or formula to achieve the desired consistency. If you’re looking for something even less demanding, begin with a smoothtextured food like avocado: simply remove the pit and the skin and mash it in a bowl until creamy. You don’t need to add any flavoring: Sugar and salt are found naturally in most of the foods babies are starting to eat. “Babies can start to show preference for different tastes by about 4 months, but their palates are not as sensitive until much later,” says Jessica Tosto, a pediatric dietitian at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore. Instead, babies are more likely to
BY TANisiA Morris
accept blander tasting foods at first. As you’re preparing baby food, think about nutrition. Babies are most often at risk at being deficient in vitamin D, iron, and zinc so parents need to make sure that they are providing an adequate amount of these nutrients. From orange carrots to yellow squash to green beans, think of all the colors of the rainbow and then try to find produce of each color. “Rainbow eating really speaks to following our natural body rhythm. It’s just a simpler approach rather than looking at all the vitamin content, because no one has enough time to do that,” says Anni Daulter, author of “Organically Raised: Conscious Cooking for Babies and Toddlers,” to be published in May. A trip to the farmers’ market will not only let you know what’s in season, but will also ensure that you’re getting the freshest fruits and veggies for your recipes. Purees can be frozen in ice cube trays, then removed and stored in plastic freezer bags and should be used within a month. Baby food can also be stored safely in your refrigerator in BPA-free plastic containers or glass jars—but make sure to label them with dates and discard any unused food within 72 hours. And if you have to reheat your baby food, try to avoid using a microwave, reheating it on the stovetop instead. G
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Viva Le
A New Book Explores How Men And Women Parent Differently—And Why It’s A Good Thing
Difference BY MArY SquillAce
T
wo heads are often better than one, which can certainly be true when it comes to building a family. But that doesn’t mean that moms and dads approach parenting the same way. In their book “Partnership Parenting,” husband-and-wife team Dr. Kyle Pruett, child psychiatrist at the Yale Child Study Program, and Marsha Kline Pruett, chaired professor at Smith College School for Social Work, explore the different qualities that men and women bring to child-rearing, and how couples can combine their individual strengths in order to co-parent successfully. What trend did you see taking place among parents that inspired you to write this book? Marsha: I had been doing work on divorce, and found there are many books out on co-parenting [for separated parents], but there was nothing written about co-parenting from a marriage perspective. Most people are parenting and co-parenting in the context of a relationship, and that’s what we focused on.
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How would you describe co-parenting? Marsha: Co-parenting is working together as a team. It is not splitting things 50-50, it is not doing everything the same way, at the same time or always together. It is about being in a partnership. The fact that you each do some things better than the other allows you to each have a role that is sort of identifiable. So what the book says is you can learn to accept each other’s contribution, appreciate it, value it, and even enjoy it. Why doesn’t splitting parenting tasks 50-50 work? Kyle: Hours spent is not the measure of competent parenting. It’s the quality of the relationship, not the time spent doing it. Dead-end blaming and accountability keep you distracted from your job, which is to help each other become the best possible parent you can be. According to the book, there are fundamental differences between the way men and women parent. What are the main differences between the genders? Marsha: In general, men and women have certain stylistic differences that have been found over and over in research. One is women tend to want to talk through, talk out, and talk over issues and concepts, not only with
their partner, but with their children. Fathers are more likely to parent with fewer words and clearer authority. Another difference is when women are with children, they like to teach them. They like kids to be successful at what they’re doing so they create learning environments where children can achieve what they’re trying to master. Men also want their children to achieve, but they don’t feel they need to do as much work to set it up. They promote a bit more autonomy, exploration and frustration tolerance with children. So the combination is that women often help children feel safe, men often help children take risks. When you have both of those, it makes a lovely fabric. Right away babies have a unique bond with their mothers. How can a father become more involved in building his relationship with the baby? Kyle: The best way to take advantage
e
of the baby’s interest in the father is for the father to be present as often as possible and involved in the physical care of the baby so the baby and father begin to develop their own rhythm, interaction and communication. It has to do with feeding, bathing, clothing, comforting— it’s not rocket science. Any social support that can get the father close to the baby early in its life is going to be quite a smart investment in the well-being of the relationship that develops between the father and the baby. How can couples improve the way they communicate about parenting? Marsha: You need to make time to talk and not always about the children. You need to practice saying if something is bothering you. Use “I” statements, talk about your own feelings, give the other person a chance to ask questions, check to understand if you heard what they’re saying, be respectful in your tone and language, be open to some criticism, try not to be defensive, and practice
The fact that you each do some things better than the other allows you to each have a role that is sort of identifiable. communicating what you hear and understand. There has been research that shows that whether couples solve each and every problem is less important than whether each feels the other partner is really listening to what bothers them and takes it seriously. You include many conversation starters in your book—things that parents should discuss when it comes to raising their children, such as establishing mealtime habits. Why is it so important for parents to talk about these issues? Kyle: Most parents spend more time before the child is born talking about the color of the nursery than they do the important issues of raising their child together. How are they going to handle discipline? Are they going to let the child sleep with them in the bed? Are they going to get up with the child in the middle of the night or let them cry? Those are very important conversations to have because only when you get down to the nitty-gritty details about your ideas about parenting are you going to begin to understand how easy or difficult making a really good co-parenting relationship is going to be. We’ve had an awful lot of experience discovering that most parents never have those conversations, but when they do, the job goes better, they enjoy it more, and they feel more in love with each other. G April 2010 | New York Family
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IN THE
Dream Homes This Month’s Featured Building Combines Classic Elegance With Contemporary Accents On The Family-Friendly Upper West Side THE HARRISON
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Scott Frances Photography
oasting classic elegance and a decidedly modern feel, The Harrison is the quintessential luxury family residence. Nestled in the heart of the Upper West Side, The Harrison offers families space, style and proximity to some of the city’s most sought-after schools and prominent cultural institutions. Ranging from studios to five-bedrooms, each of the building’s 127 homes is generously sized and features lofty ceilings, oak wood flooring and oversized windows offering expansive views. “The Harrison’s graciously proportioned residences blend pre-war accents with sophisticated and contemporary styling,” says Alicia Goldstein, Senior Vice President at Related, the building’s developer. Kitchens feature custom-designed wood cabinets, quartzite countertops, grey stone flooring and cutting edge appliances, making them a “perfect venue for gatherings of friends and family.” The full-service building also offers a 24-hour doorman and concierge, a dinosaur-themed children’s playroom, a rooftop sun terrace, an Equinox Fitness Club, an entertainment lounge with a landscaped outdoor garden, and a 24-hour indoor garage. “Coming soon to The Harrison retail are family favorites Crumbs and Giggle,” Goldstein says. The beautiful Upper West Side neighborhood is perfect for family strolls. Nearby gourmet markets include Zabar’s, Fairway and Balducci’s. The surrounding area is rich in cultural and environmental landmarks, including both Central and Riverside parks, the American Museum of Natural History, Lincoln Center, the Children’s Museum of Manhattan, and the Jewish Community Center. Residents of The Harrison also enjoy easy access to public transportation, with both express and local trains and a crosstown bus just steps away. —Teresa Tobat Address: 205 West 76th Street | Asking Price: Two-bedrooms start at $1.8M | Developer: Related Companies Architect: Robert A.M. Stern Architects, LLP Sales: Related Sales, LCC, 212-496-1000 | Website: theharrison76.com
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www.newyorkfamily.com
Peter Aaron
THE HARRISON
ALSO ON THE MARKET...
203 East 72nd Street
606 West 113 Street
219 East 67th Street
This Upper East Side apartment is located inside an elegant hi-rise with a doorman and concierge. The home is spacious and light-filled and boasts an oversized corner living and dining area with a balcony and panoramic city views. The private master bedroom has generous closets and an ensuite bathroom. The additional two bedrooms have their own bathsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;perfect for kids who need their own space. The building boasts a roof deck, fitness center, garage and storage space.
This gracious prewar apartment in Morningside Heights offers a light-filled living room, formal dining and a renovated kitchen. The luxurious master bedroom features a walk-in closet, fireplace, office or sitting room and a windowed bathroom. The additional two bedrooms are spacious and bright. There is great closet and storage space throughout. The building is also pet-friendly and nearby Riverside Park, which means a family outing is just a few steps away.
Asking price: $1,775,000 | Maint/CC: $3,497 5.5 rooms, 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms | Agent: Michael DeRosa, Halstead Property, 212-381-2364
Asking price: $1,195,000 | Maint/CC: $2,385 | 7 Rooms, 3 bedrooms, 2 baths | Agent: Julianne Bond, Corcoran, 212-941-2507
This luxurious, floor-through loft, which includes its own parking space and storage room, is located a few blocks from Central Park. A specially-keyed elevator provides entrance into the 4,600-plus squarefeet apartment, which boasts a beautiful terrace and oversized windows that allow for natural lighting in the expansive living room. Stainless steel appliances, limestone countertops, and a built-in coffee machine provide for a very efficient kitchen. The bathrooms offer porcelain tubs and shower stalls with heated floors. Additional features include a fireplace, personal laundry room and a 24-hour doorman. Asking Price: $6,900,000 Agent: Jacky Teplitzky, 212-891-7263; Prudential Douglas Elliman 7 rooms, 3 bedrooms, 4.5 bathrooms
These were the prices as of March 12... www.newyorkfamily.com
April 2010 | New York Family
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for Kids Culture Guide
10
April 1 – 4
FOR DORA ADORERS [AGES 2-9]
Join Dora, Kai-lan, The Wonder Pets, and The Backyardigans for Nickelodeon’s Storytime LIVE! From Fairytale Land to The Monkey King Adventure, preschoolers will have a blast with their favorite Nickelodeon characters. Order tickets in advance. Wed-Fri 11 a.m. & 2 p.m.; Sat-Sun 11 a.m., 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Tickets: $29-79. Radio City Music Hall, 1260 Sixth Avenue, 212-3074111, radiocity.com.
APRIL
17th
Great Ideas for April
By parentsconnect.com and newyorkfamily.com
Celebrate Earth Day all month long with these local events: Arbor Day Celebration, Alley Pond Environmental Center
Put down roots in the city and make a lasting impact by planting trees and shrubs at Alley Pond. Saturday, April 24, 10 a.m., alleypond.com.
Earth Day Celebration, Brooklyn Botanic Garden
Stop by after school and pot your own plant to take home! Thursday, April 22, 3 p.m.-5 p.m., bbg.org.
Children’s Gardening Program, New York Botanical Garden
Join the Children’s Gardening Program and your kids will have a blast getting their hands dirty in their very own garden plot. Ongoing through November, nybg.org.
Earth Fest, Pelham Bay Park
Head to the Bronx for a day of performances, demonstrations and exhibits celebrating environmental responsibility! Sunday, April 19, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., nycgovparks.org.
Nature Crafts Workshop, Prospect Park
Kids will use natural and recycled materials to create fun crafts. Saturdays and Sundays, 1 p.m.-3 p.m., prospectpark.org.
Nature in the Garden Discovery Walk, Wave Hill
More than a scenic stroll! Knowledgeable naturalists lead tours through Wave Hill’s woodlands and gardens. Sunday, April 25, 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m., wavehill.org.
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New York Family | April 2010
April 10
THE LEGEND OF JACKIE ROBINSON [AGES 9+]
Ring in a new season of baseball with “Most Valuable Player,” the story of a true legend of the game, Jackie Robinson. Baseball fans of all ages will enjoy Robinson’s inspirational and courageous story of integrating America’s pastime through his talent as a player and grace under pressure. Order tickets in advance. Tribeca Performing Arts Center, 199 Chambers Street Borough of Manhattan Community College, 212-220-1460, tribecapac.org.
April 11
THE MIRROR OF YOUR IMAGINATION [ALL AGES]
The newly renovated theater at the 14th Street Y presents “A Wonderfully Flat Thing,” an inspired and creative take on Mark Twain’s classic short story, “A Fable,” in which different animals look into a mirror and each sees something different than the animal before them. 11 a.m. & 2 p.m., Cost: $10/person; $25/family. 14th Street Y, 344 E. 14th Street, 212-780-0800, 14StreetY. org; edalliance.org.
April 11 & 19
SPRINGED INSTRUMENTS [AGES 2-5]
Designed for preschoolers, the New York Philharmonic’s Very Young People’s Concert series is a full-sensory, hands-on experience designed to inspire budding musicians. Join them this month for “The Four Seasons: Spring.” April 11, 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m., April 19, 10:30 a.m.; $19-23. Merkin Concert Hall, 129 West 67th Street, 212-501-3330, nyphil.org. www.newyorkfamily.com
APRIL
11th
April 17
PUPPETS IN PLAY [ALL AGES]
The free, drop-in BRIC Family Day takes inspiration from the BRIC exhibition, “Artists from the South Asian Women’s Creative Collective,” which runs from March 25-May 1. Children will create puppets of themselves or imaginary characters based on the “Wayang Kulit” style of South Asian puppetry. 12 noon-3 p.m.; free. BRIC Rotunda Gallery, 33 Clinton Street, Brooklyn, 718-8754047, bricartsmedia.org.
April 17
LOVE THAT LANIE [AGES 8+]
Nature-lover Lanie is the 2010 American Girl of the Year! At this Meet The Author event, your own American Girl can meet Jane Kurtz, author of Lanie’s new book. 4 p.m.-6 p.m.; free. American Girl Place, 609 Fifth Avenue, 877AG-PLACE, americangirl.com.
April 17
April 25
CIRQUE DU SKIRBALL
TAP KIDS
[ALL AGES]
As part of their Big Red Chair series of performances for families, NYU’s Skirball Center for the Performing Arts features a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see critically acclaimed international juggling superstar Michael Moschen, who has performed with the likes of Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas. 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m.; $25. Skirball Center for the Performing Arts, 566 LaGuardia Place, 212-352-3101, skirballcenter.nyu.edu.
April 17
WITH THE GREATEST OF EASE [AGES 6-12]
Kids can spread their wings at the Little Orchestra Society’s performance of Happy Concerts: “Aerialists, Athletes and Arpeggios,” a flying concert that features guest artists AntiGravity. As the music soars, so do the performers! 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.; $10-$45. Avery Fisher Hall, 132 West 65th Street, 212-9719500, littleorchestra.com.
[AGES 6+]
Clickety-clack, clickety-clack! Those are the sounds of the eight young tap dancers rocking the stage in “Tap Kids,” a high-energy tap performance at the Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts as they bring their passion and joy to the stage in this fun, hip show. 2 p.m.; $6. Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts, 2900 Campus Road, Brooklyn, 718-951-4500, brooklyncenteronline.org.
April 24
RAY IT FORWARD [ALL AGES]
Rock out with Mr. Ray and all your favorite characters at an all-ages concert featuring a kids’ chorus! Part of Symphony Space’s “Just Kidding” Series, designed to “make planning every Saturday with the kids easy.” 11 a.m.; adults $18 (day of show $19); children $12 (day of show $13). Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway, 212-864-5400, symphonyspace.org. To submit an event listing, please email newyorkfamily@manhattanmedia.com.
APRIL
10th
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April 2010 | New York Family
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THEATER & PERFORMANCE
Culture Guide for Kids
New York Theatre Ballet
On April 24-25, New York Theatre Ballet presents “Carnival of the Animals & The Firebird”—two shows for the price of one—as part of its “Once Upon A Ballet” series of one-hour performances for kids. Little ones will love watching a collection of colorful creatures befriend a pair of children, and will watch in suspense as the lovely firebird struggles to win back her freedom from her princely captor. Florence Gould Hall, 55 East 59th Street, 212-355-6160, nytb.org. —Mary Squillace 92YTRIBECA The community center’s BYOK (Bring Your Own Kid) Sunday music series invites families to enjoy some of the coolest kid-friendly music around. This month, catch Bubble Do The Beatles: Unplugged (April 11), Princess Katie and Racer Steve (April 18) and Secret Agent 23 Skiddo (April 25)! 200 Hudson Street, 212601-1000, 92ytribeca.com.
CARNEGIE HALL On April 15, families are invited to sing along with Mexican-born singer Lila Downs at the Casita Maria Center for Arts and Education in the Bronx at this season’s third “Community Sing” event. 154 West 57th Street at Seventh Avenue, 212-247-7800, carnegiehall.org.
LITERALLY ALIVE CHILDREN’S THEATER Through April 25, Literally Alive presents a new musical spin on the classic fairy tale, “Cinderella.” Arts workshops precede every performance. The Players Theater, 115 MacDougal Street, 212866-5170, literallyalive.com.
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New York Family | April 2010
LITTLE ORCHESTRA SOCIETY The Happy Concerts For Young People Ages 6-12 series presents “Aerialists, Athletes and Arpeggios” on April 17. Children will experience soaring music as they watch aerialists fly and athletes tumble! 68th Street between Park and Lexington Avenues, 212-971-9500, littleorchestra.org.
MANHATTAN CHILDREN’S THEATRE This theatre features fun plays for kids of all ages, many of which are adapted from children’s books and other literature. Running through April 18 is “The Velveteen Rabbit,” a nostalgic retelling of the beloved tale of a stuffed rabbit who longs to become real. Plus, opening April 24 is “Stanley’s Party,” a story about a dog who finds excitement around every corner! 52 White Street, 212-226-4085, manhattanchildrenstheatre.org.
NEW VICTORY THEATER From April 9-April 18, New York’s blockbuster theater for kids presents “Time Step,” a
vaudevillian tap performance that tells the story of the Dapper Tap Trio. Then, from April 23May 2, catch the U.S. premiere of “Elephant,” featuring performers from the UK and South Africa and enormous elephant puppets that tell a poignant story through African song and dance. 209 West 42nd Street, 646-223-3010, newvictory.org.
NEW YORK THEATRE BALLET This ballet company is known for its “Once Upon A Ballet” series of one-hour performances for kids. On April 24-25, families can catch two shows for the price of one with “Carnival of the Animals & The Firebird.” Florence Gould Hall, 55 East 59th Street, 212-355-6160, nytb.org.
SKIRBALL CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS This NYU-based cultural center offers a “Big Red Chair” series of performances for families. On April 17, Skirball presents juggler extraordinaire and visionary performing artist Michael Moschen. 566 LaGuardia Place, 212-3523101, skirballcenter.nyu.edu. www.newyorkfamily.com
b
theatre allet NE W YO R K
diana byer
artistic director
presents
sleeping beauty May 15 & 16 Florence Gould Hall 55 East 59th Street
Photo: Richard Termine
For tickets & information, visit nytb.org
1 hour program perfect for kids! This program is supported, in part, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs.
Sponsored in part by
MacPractice
April 23 – May 2
April 9 – 18
“A feel-good 75 minutes that has rhythm and soul.”
Best for ages 6 to adult
Best for ages 7 to adult
—The Guardian
“Crowd-pleasing. Skillful tappers.” —The New York Times
NewVictory.org 646-223-3010 A NEW 42ND STREET PROJECT
THE NEW VICTORY ® THEATER
The New Victory Theater recognizes the generous support of American Express, corporate sponsor of Elephant.
209 West 42nd Street, just west of Broadway
SHOWSTOPPERS FOR KIDS
FOR TWEENS
This theater’s popular “Just Kidding” series means there’s always someplace to take the kids on Saturday. This month, families can catch Justin Roberts and the Not Ready For Naptime Players (April 10) and The Gustafer Yellowgold Show (April 17). The Thalia Kids Book Club lets kids ages 9-12 interact with their favorite book authors—this month, David Levithan and John Green talk about their novel, “Will Grayson, Will Grayson” (April 11) and Pam Munoz Ryan discusses her new children’s title, “The Dreamer” (April 18). 2537 Broadway, 212-864-5400, symphonyspace.org.
FOR ALL AGES
IN THE HEIGHTS
GAZILLION BUBBLE SHOW
This salsa- and Latin pop-infused musical is a portrait of life in Washington Heights. For tickets, call 212-307-4100 or visit ticketmaster. com. Richard Rodgers Theatre, 226 West 46th Street.
TRIBECA PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
MARY POPPINS
On April 10, Tribeca PAC presents “Most Valuable Player,” a Dallas Children’s Theater production that tells the story of Jackie Robinson, the first African-American to play major league baseball. 199 Chambers Street, 212-220-1460, tribecapac.org.
VITAL THEATRE COMPANY Vital’s performances for kids aim to provide children with an educational theater experience with fun productions and interactive theater workshops. Through April 25, catch “Isabelle and the Pretty-Ugly Spell,” a magical musical about a well-meaning but absent-minded fairy godmother. 2162 Broadway at 76th Street, 4th Floor, 212-5790528, vitaltheatre.org.
This high-impact show features light effects, lasers and, of course, millions of bubbles, large and small, to create a dazzling production. New World Stages Theatre, 340 West 50th Street, 212-239-6200, gazillionbubbleshow.com.
THE 39 STEPS THE LION KING
A fast-paced, high-energy murder mystery blending elements of Alfred Hitchcock, a spy novel, and even Monty Python. For tickets, call 212-239-6200 or visit telecharge.com. Helen Hayes Theatre, 240 West 44th Street.
Disney’s blockbuster movie on Broadway is a combination of puppetry, actors, and special effects–a truly magical experience. For tickets, call 212-307-4747 or visit ticketmaster.com. Minskoff Theatre, 200 West 45th Street.
BILLY ELLIOT The Supernanny takes to the stage in this hit musical by Disney. For tickets, call 212-3074747 or visit ticketmaster.com. New Amsterdam Theatre, 214 West 42nd Street.
FOR AGES 8 AND UP
A funny and heart-warming musical about a boy with a dream and a talent for dance. Based on the film, with a musical score written by Elton John. For tickets, call 212-239-6200, or visit telecharge.com. Imperial Theatre, 249 West 45th Street.
THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
WICKED The Wicked Witch of the West finally commands the spotlight. For tickets, call 212-307-4100 or visit ticketmaster.com. Gershwin Theatre, 222 West 51st Street.
The longest-running show in Broadway history delivers mystery, love and heartbreak. For tickets, call 212-239-6200 or visit telecharge. com. Majestic Theatre, 247 West 44th Street.
MAMMA MIA!
WEST SIDE STORY
There’s not much to the simple plot about a woman finding her real father as she prepares to wed, but ABBA’s tunes keep the feet tapping. For tickets, call 212-239-6200 or visit telecharge.com. Winter Garden Theatre, 1634 Broadway.
The timeless story of star-crossed lovers, Tony and Maria, caught in the rivalry between teenage gangs in 1950s New York returns to Broadway. For tickets, call 212-307-4100 or visit ticketmaster.com. Palace Theatre, 1564 Broadway. G
A LIVE musical adventure
as big as the ocean! From Tony Award-nominee John Tartaglia comes a magical, musical undersea adventure for kids of all ages. It’s fun, it’s interactive, and it’s a blast from the first big splash to the last wave goodbye.
Photos: Aaron Epstein
THEATER & PERFORMANCE
Culture Guide for Kids
SYMPHONY SPACE
Telecharge.c o m or 212.239.6200 340 West 50th Street, NYC ImaginOceanTheMusical.com
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New York Family | April 2010
PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE: Wed. @ 11am, 2 & 7pm | Sat. @ 11am | Sun. @ 12pm
For additional performances visit our website.
www.newyorkfamily.com
Tonight belongs to...
Broadwayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s most haunting love story.
Telecharge.com or (212) 239-6200 MAJESTIC THEATRE, 247 West 44TH Street
www.ThePhantomOfTheOpera.com
MUSEUMS
Museum of the City of New York
C
urious about the cartoons that inspired Broadway’s “The Addam’s Family”? Through May 16, New Yorker cartoonist Charles Addam’s works will be on display at the Museum of the City of New York. In addition to showcasing the creepy and kooky bunch that made Addams famous, the exhibit features his insightful re-imaginings of New York City life. 1220 Fifth Avenue, 212-534-1672, mcny.org. —Mary Squillace
Culture Guide for Kids
y
AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY The AMNH’s exhaustive collections span human culture, the natural world, and the universe. Families can find up to 500 tropical butterflies flying in a vivarium. Don’t forget to check out the exhibition “Traveling the Silk Road: Ancient Pathway to the Modern World.” Central Park West at 79th Street, 212-769-5100, amnh.org.
CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF THE ARTS This museum showcases art by children and adult artists, employing an artist-in-residence format in which teaching artists work directly with children and their families. Starting April 7, the museum invites families to view the exhibition “Winfred Rembert: Memories of My Youth” at Adelson Galleries at 19 East 82nd Street. 182 Lafayette Street, 212-274-0986, cmany.org.
CHILDREN’S MUSEUM OF MANHATTAN This museum offers arts-based educational exhibits and programs in a variety of subjects,
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New York Family | April 2010
as well as extensive offsite outreach. CMOM has lots going on this month, including the Best of The Arts JAZZ Festival April 2-3, a Healthy Lifestyles Festival on April 11 and a celebration of Cirque du Soleil’s new insect-inspired acrobatic show OVO on April 17. 212 West 83rd Street, 212-721-1234, cmom.org.
GUGGENHEIM MUSEUM The museum offers family-oriented tours and drop-in workshops every Sunday, and families can drop by anytime and explore the museum’s exhibitions using a free activity pack. 1071 Fifth Avenue at 89th Street, 212-423-3500, guggenheim.org.
INTREPID SEA, AIR & SPACE MUSEUM Centered on the World War II aircraft carrier Intrepid, the museum features a range of interactive exhibits. Through April 30, catch the traveling exhibit “Snoopy As The World War I Flying Ace,” showcasing 29 prints of cartoonist Charles Schulz’s military aviation-themed designs. During Earth Weekend April 24-25,
kids will learn about taking care of the earth through hands-on activities and demonstrations. Pier 86, 12th Avenue and 46th Street, 877957-SHIP, intrepidmuseum.org.
JEWISH MUSEUM The Jewish Museum features a permanent collection of more than 28,000 objects— paintings, sculpture, photographs, archaeological artifacts, coins, ceremonial objects and more—relating to Jewish heritage and history. On April 11, explore the exhibition “Curious George Saves The Day” with an art workshop and gallery tour for families. The museum is holding a similar workshop for families of children with special needs on April 25. Plus, on April 18, The Paper Bag Players present “Great Mummy Adventure.” 109 Fifth Avenue at 92nd Street, 212-423-3200, thejewishmuseum.org.
METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART The Met’s friendly, interactive programs help children grow an appreciation for the treasures inside this world-renowned museum. Through www.newyorkfamily.com
now starring
HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL’S
TELECHARGE.COM or call (212) 239-6200 Groups: (212) 239-6262 Music Box Theatre 239 W 45th St. LendMeATenorOnBroadway.com
BEST MUSICAL 2008 TONY award Ticketmaster.com • 877.250.2929 I n T he H eights T he M usical.com Richard Rodgers Theatre, 226 W. 46th STREET Find us on and . , ®
®
PHOTOS BY VINCENT DIXON & JOSH LEHRER
Illustration: Robert Rodriguez
Corbin Bleu!
MUSEUMS
Culture Guide for Kids
y
May 9, families can catch the exhibition “Playing With Pictures: The Art of Victorian Photocollage.” As a family, explore the Met’s collections with slide show orientations, films and sketching programs. Ongoing programs include “Start With Art at the Met” (ages 3-7), “Hello, Met!” (ages 5-12) and “Look Again!” (ages 5-12). 1000 Fifth Avenue, 212-5357710, metmuseum.org.
MORGAN LIBRARY & MUSEUM Join the Morgan on April 24 for a workshop exploring the exhibition, “Palladio and His Legacy: A Transatlantic Journey.” Children ages 6-12 will learn about Palladio’s architectural style, then build a model of their own Palladian dream house. 225 Madison Avenue, 212-6850008, themorgan.org.
NEW YORK TRANSIT MUSEUM Dedicated to the history of urban transportation, this museum caters to children. Little ones ages 2-5 will love “Weekly Preschool Time” on Thursdays, featuring transportation stories and fun activities. On April 10-11, kids ages 5 and up can learn about the Staten Island Railway during the hands-on workshop, “Tottenville: The End of the Line.” Corner of Boerum Place and Schermerhorn Street, 718-694-1600, mta. info/museum.
EL MUSEO DEL BARRIO One of the city’s leading Latino cultural institutions, the museum recently reopened after extensive renovations. Join El Museo for “Super Sabado!”—a free, day-long cultural celebration featuring concerts, gallery tours, workshops and
more—happening every third Saturday. 1230 Fifth Avenue, 212-831-7272, elmuseo.org.
MUSEUM OF MODERN ART The foremost modern art museum in the world, MoMA aims to make its collections accessible to scholars and young children alike. Kids will love the fanged entrance to the otherworldly “Tim Burton” exhibition, which explores the full range of the filmmaker’s work, from early childhood drawings to props and costumes from movies like “Beetlejuice,” “Batman” and “The Nightmare Before Christmas.” The museum’s popular ongoing family programs include “Tours For Fours,” “A Closer Look For Kids,” and “Tours for Tweens.” 11 West 53rd Street, 212-7089400, moma.org.
MUSEUM OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK Explores the history, present and future of the five boroughs. Through May 16, catch the exhibition “Charles’ Addams’s New York,” which showcases watercolors, cartoons, pencil sketches and more from “New Yorker” cartoonist Charles Addams, creator of the set of macabre characters known as “The Addams Family.” Kids will also love “Cars, Culture, and the City,” an exploration of New York’s century-long relationship with the car—join the museum on April 17 for “The Car of the Future: A Family Workshop.” 1220 Fifth Avenue at 103rd Street, 212-534-1672, mcny.org.
NEW YORK HALL OF SCIENCE The Hall features the largest collection of handson science exhibits in New York City. Through
Visit our farm in the City! •Farm
Birthday Parties •Summer Camp •Special Events QUEENS COUNTY FARM MUSEUM 73-50 Little Neck Parkway, Floral Park, NY 11004 718-347-3276 info@queensfarm.org queensfarm.org
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New York Family | April 2010
April 18, kids can explore math concepts through interactive exhibits at Math Midway. Through April 30, kids can become molecular detectives at the hands-on exhibition Molecules and Health. 47-01 111th Street, Queens, 718699-0005, nyscience.org.
RIPLEY’S BELIEVE IT OR NOT! Kids will be amazed at the eccentricities inside this famous “odditorium,” which features 25 themed galleries displaying everything from a six-legged cow to books made from spider webs. 234 West 42nd Street, 212-398-3133, ripleysnewyork.com.
RUBIN MUSEUM OF ART Home to an extensive collection of art from the Himalayas and surrounding regions, the Rubin offers programs and events for families throughout the year. Kids ages 5 and up and their families are invited to Family Workshops every Saturday. April’s workshop theme is “Print, Print, Print!” 150 West 17th Street, 212-6205000, rmanyc.org.
WHITNEY MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART The world-renowned Whitney houses a spectacular collection of 20th century American art. Through the fall, the museum offers familyfriendly programs, like “Stroller Tours,” “Whitney Wees,” “Family Fun” art workshops, “Tours at Two,” for families with kids ages 6-10 and “Artist’s Choice, Artist’s Voice” for families with kids ages 8-12. 945 Madison Avenue, 1-800WHITNEY, whitney.org. G
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In the Spotlight
Rock
Your Dirty
Socks Off
By Teresa Tobat
I
t’s a Sunday afternoon in late February, and the Jewish Museum’s auditorium is packed with kids and their accompanying adults. Performer Annie Elmer (aka the Raven Rocker), decked out in hot pink tights, a flashy white dress and silver glitter go-go boots, takes the stage. “Are you ready to rock? Are you ready to dance?” she asks, eliciting cheers and shouts from the audience. After all, this is a Dirty Sock Funtime Band concert, where listeners can’t help but become part of the show. “There’s so much fun energy between the band and the kids and the parents,” says guitarist Stephen Jacobs. “During the whole set, the kids are not just listening, but doing something. They’re interacting with the music.” Incorporating creative characters and theatrical elements into their performances (one song features a swashbuckling pirate wielding a microphone in place of a sword), The Dirty Socks inspire dancing in the aisles—by children and parents alike. Each of the band’s eight members has his or her own individual character that helps close the gap between the performers and the audience. The Wanna rock out with the Dirty Sock Funtime Band? Catch them on Sunday, April 11 at 2 p.m. at Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts! Tickets are $6. Walt Whitman Theatre at Brooklyn College, 2900 Campus Road, Brooklyn, 718-9514500, brooklyncenteronline.org.
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New York Family | April 2010
Socks include the aforementioned Annie Elmer; guitarist Adam Jacobs (aka Mr. Clown), who sports a pink afro and says silly things; lead singer Mike Messer; guitarist Stephen Jacobs (brother to Adam); guitarist Bill Phillips; sax player Ken Thomson; drummer Sean Dixon and bass player Jasper Leak.
“We run the band as a community, building friendships through creativity and a shared love of insane things.” The band’s origins can be traced back to Kids Creative, a non-profit founded by the Jacobs brothers that operates arts-based, peace-themed, educational after-school programs and camps across the city. They started creating CDs for the kids in the program, and then began fielding requests from parents to play live shows. Things really took off after the band received coverage in “Time Out New York” and the “New York Post.” They were soon tapped to play in a video for “Jack’s Big Music Show” on the children’s TV channel Noggin (now Nick Jr.). “The education that we got from linking up with Nickelodeon was a complete and utter turning point,” Messer says. Just two months after its founding, the band had gone national. Despite their success, The Dirty Socks strive to stay true to their roots. Even today, their musical intentions
stem from Kids Creative, their parent organization. “We run the band as a community, building friendships through creativity and a shared love of insane things,” Stephen Jacobs says. When composing songs, the band members stick to the same philosophy they teach their students: All ideas are good. The members weave their thoughts together until they create one cohesive song. They also try to include advanced vocabulary words in order to inspire children to strengthen their language skills. “Kids’ songs don’t have to be dumbed down,” says Phillips (also known as “Billy Z”). Parents love The Dirty Socks because their music is intelligent and can be enjoyed by both kids and adults. Mom Dana Breitman compares one of the Socks’ albums to Queen. “These guys do not fool around,” Breitman says. “They play great music that’s easy to learn and dance to. They work so hard, and their music is fun.” In addition to releasing a new album, “Sock-a-delic,” The Socks recently teamed up with Snapfilms, the company that filmed them for “Jack’s Big Music Show,” and are releasing test pilots for their own PBS series. “The show’s a little bit ‘Seinfeld,’ a little bit ‘Monkees,’ a little bit ‘The Muppet Show’ and a little bit ‘The Young Ones,’” says Adam Jacobs. While each individual band mate gets a kick out of performing, The Dirty Socks say their concerts are ultimately for the fans. “The show is for them,” Stephen Jacobs says. “We want them to feel like rock stars.” G For more info, visit dirtysockfuntimeband.com. www.newyorkfamily.com
AVENUE SHOWS invite you to attend
AVENUE on Park Spring Show
Jewelry â&#x20AC;˘ Style â&#x20AC;˘ Design
April 23-25, 2010 A show of high style and design, featuring an extraordinary selection of antique, estate and contemporary jewelry, as well as fine porcelain and ceramics, vintage couture and more!
583 Park Avenue
Park Avenue at 63rd Street, New York City For show information and tickets, please visit onpark.avenueshows.com or call 646.442.1627 Photo by Sarah Merians Photography and Video Company
POP CULTURE
Culture Guide for Kids
iMiranda S Miranda Cosgrove Talks About Her Popular Nickelodeon Show, Her New Album And Her Upcoming Movie BY MICHELLE LEVINE
he might be the friendliest triple threat you’ll ever meet. At just 16 years old, Miranda Cosgrove has a hit TV show (“iCarly” on Nickelodeon), a debut studio album (“Sparks Fly”) and an upcoming movie role (the voice of Margo in “Despicable Me,” a 3D animated film scheduled to be released in July). On top of all of that, Cosgrove recently took the time to meet with 150 Harlem students to promote affordable afterschool programs as part of an “Afterschool Rocks” event sponsored by Quaker Chewy and the non-profit Afterschool Alliance. New York Family spoke to Cosgrove on the telephone during her New York visit to find out how she does it all. How did you get into show business? I was 3 years old and in a restaurant with my parents. An agent asked my parents about me modeling and doing commercials. At first, my mom wasn’t sure, but we tried it, and I did fun things and liked it. I did it as a side thing, really.
Did you expect “iCarly” to become as popular as it has? I really didn’t. When I was 13 and on the show “Drake and Josh,” the creator [Dan Schneider] took me and my mom aside and said he had a few ideas for a show for me. I still get really excited when people recognize me.
Are you good friends with your castmates? We’re like brothers and sisters. We’re together 10 1/2 hours every day. We argue and then love each other two seconds later. I’m really close with Jerry [Trainor, who plays Carly’s brother Spencer]. You started acting on the show “Drake and Josh” at 8; were you also interested in pursuing a career in music even then? I always liked singing. I got into the guitar because of Drake [Bell]. I used to follow him around and make him teach me chords and stuff. For my 16th birthday, Nickelodeon got me an awesome Gibson guitar like Taylor Swift’s with my name on it.
Plus, This Month’s Highlights In Books, Music And DVDs BOOKS
Farm Written and illustrated by Elisha Cooper This beautifully illustrated story introduces young readers to day-to-day life on a farm for everyone from the farmers and their children to the cows and barn cats. (Available now; Scholastic) MUSIC
Ranky Tanky String band Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem breathe new life into old
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New York Family | April 2010
favorites by Cat Stevens, Tom Petty, Nat King Cole and more in their first family album. (Available now; Signature Sounds) DVD
Jim Henson’s The Animal Show with Stinky and Jake: Lions, Tigers & Bears Jim Henson creations, Stinky the Skunk and Jake the Polar Bear, invite the wildest of wildlife to be guests on their riproarin’ talk show. Includes five fun episodes. (Available April 13; Lions Gate) —Mary Squillace
Do you write your own music and lyrics? I’m always making songs up in my room, so I had a lot of different ideas when I went to the producers. The album was a big collaboration. I’ve been working on it for about a year and a half. It was so great that I got to really concentrate on the album; it was my first big break from filming “iCarly.” It was so hard to narrow down a ton of songs to 10 or 12 or 14. I’m so happy “Kissin U” is the single, though, because it’s one of my favorites. What was it like to voice an animated character for the movie “Despicable Me”? It’s really different doing animated stuff. They film you the whole time, and I didn’t know that. They use your facial expressions and hand movements. I thought that was pretty cool. But the first few days, I went in my pajamas and probably looked so dorky. When I found out they were filming, I tried to look better. G To learn more about Cosgrove’s partnership with Quaker Chewy and the Afterschool Alliance, and to enter to win a free private performance by Cosgrove, visit quakeroats.com.
www.newyorkfamily.com
CAMP
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FOR EVERY
Choosing A Summer Camp For A Child With Special Needs BY TERESA TOBAT
E
Splashing around at Southampton Fresh Air Home
very kid should be able to look back on summer camp as a memorable time spent having fun, making friends, and gaining new skills and independence. Yet, as if the process of finding the right camp isn’t baffling enough, parents of children with special needs come to the search process with an additional, and often complex, set of concerns. To get at the heart of some of parents’ most important questions, New York Family spoke with Gary Shulman of Resources for Children with Special Needs, who assures parents that, in the end, it’s worth the effort to find a program both you and your child will love.
stimulated and stressed out. In a special needs program, staff may understand and be able to use techniques like applied behavioral analysis and timeouts, rather than just calling up a parent. So many parents of kids with disabilities have had the experience, “Come get Johnny. That’s it, he’s going home.” If you’re in a special needs How can children with disabilities benefit from a camp experience? program, everybody’s like Johnny, and From the child’s perspective, camp is fun, they learn skills, they make friends, hopefully the staff has been appropriand it can be a support network because they’re with chilately trained. dren who have similar special needs. Meanwhile, parents are “You have to prepare But don’t asgetting respite and learning that their child can be safe with children to trust other sume that because another adult. When I’m doing training for parents of chilyour child has a adults, and parents dren with disabilities, I always ask, “Raise your hand if you’re they have need to learn through disability, going to live forever.” The fact is there are some children to go to a special positive experiences with disabilities who are going to need support services for program. Under their entire life, and at a certain point, their parents won’t be that other adults can the Americans with around. You have to prepare children to trust other adults, Disabilities Act, it’s work with, care for and parents need to learn through positive experiences that your family’s right and love their child.” other adults can work with, care for and love their child. to ask for reasonable accommodations at What makes a special needs camp different from a typical summer a mainstream camp. Does that mean camp? For one thing, many special camps have intensive medical care readily you want your child in a program that available. The other thing is the staff training. There are kids with severe bedoesn’t know how to successfully work havioral issues, and in a mainstream program, the staff may only have a general with your child? Of course not. idea about what to do when the child is really losing it because the child is overly But you may say, “Oh, I like the
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New York Family | April 2010
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Not every kid wants the same kind of camp, and we want happy campers! That’s why Summer at St. Bart’s offers three options that include swim every day: St. Bart’s Day Camp • June 8–August 20 • Ages 3 ½ to 7 Swimming every day Sports and fitness Arts and Crafts Science Dance and Movement Drama Island Sports • June 21–August 20 • Ages 7 to 13 Swimming every day Arts and Crafts Athletic instruction: Tennis • Soccer • Football • Basketball • Kickball • Baseball Adventure Camp • June 21–August 20 • Ages 7 to 13 Swimming every day Arts and Crafts Science Sports and fitness Dance and Movement Drama Around the city trips...two per week: Yankee Stadium tour • Top of the Rock • The Duck Tour The Metropolitan Museum • and so much more… Summer at St. Bart’s offers flexible scheduling, the Breakfast Club, Lunch and After Camp program. To register or schedule a family tour contact Eileen Reddy at 212.378.0203, reddy@stbarts.org or look at our website www.stbarts.org.
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staff here, I like the facility. Maybe I will try this mainstream program.” What should parents look for when choosing a camp for their child with special needs? What questions should they be asking of camp directors? When your child is ready for camp, consider the program’s philosophy: Do they have an inclusion program, or is it a very specialized program for children with intensive needs? If your child has a disability that requires one-on-one attention, make sure that this is the type of program that can provide that. If your child has dietary needs, make sure those needs can be met. Ask about the specific activities—an organized program should be able to say, “This is when your child is being given aquatherapy. This is when we’re doing arts and crafts. This is when we’re doing dance therapy.” You’ll also want to ask about transportation. If you can, visit the program the summer before; if you can’t visit, most camps have CDs and videos they can send you.
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5
Great Camps For Kids With Special Needs
Association for Help with Retarded Children (AHRC), NYC: Founded in 1948, the AHRC offers day camps in all five boroughs. Campers participate in theatre, photography, arts and crafts, sports and planned vacations to city attractions. Programs run year-round. 212-780-2500; ahrcnyc.org. Camp Horizons, South Windham, CT: A sleepaway camp for kids with developmental disabilities or challenging social and emotional needs. Programs are designed to enhance learning while providing a fun camp experience. 860-456-1032; camphorizons.org. Ramapo for Children, Rhinebeck, NY: This sleepaway camp serves children ages 4-16 with emotional and learning problems in a natural, outdoor environment. Scholarships are available. 212-754-7003; ramapoforchildren.org. Southampton Fresh Air Home, Long Island: This sleepaway camp in Southampton caters to children with severe, moderate and mild physical disabilities. Offers both one- and three-week sessions for ages 8-18. 631283-1594, sfah.org. Summer FUN: This low-cost day camp serves children ages 5 and up. Transportation is provided. St. Gregory The Great School, 991 St. John’s Place, Brooklyn, 718-388-5900, ccbq.org.
What kinds of scholarships are available for campers with special needs? There are many funding sources. Some are reimbursement programs where you put the money upfront and you can get the money
back later. Others come from charities like fraternal organizations, the Lions Club, Knights of Columbus, Kiwanis Club. But the early bird catches the money, so apply early to funding sources. g
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ON SECOND
ought
An Ode To Motherhood A Harried Mom Of Two Reminisces About Her Life Before Kids—And Finds She Doesn’t Miss A Thing BY ROBIN SAKS FRANKEL
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efore I was a mommy, my ideal evening was dinner at a new restaurant and catching up with good friends. Now with my baby weight clinging to me like slutty clothes to Lindsay Lohan, and an inability to stay awake past 8:30 p.m., nights out have lost their allure. I am now powerless to talk about anything other than kid-related topics. Before I was a mommy, Sundays meant reading The New York Times and watching “60 Minutes” at night. Now my version of current affairs is keeping up with the Kardashians. I’ve traded “Dateline” for Barney and Kings of Leon for the Fresh Beat Band. Most of the time I find out about breaking world news from reading my friends’ Facebook updates on my phone while trying to sneak breakfast food into my toddler’s mouth. Before I was a mommy, I would exercise five days a week religiously. Now my new uniform is those Lululemon workout pants that make everyone look 10 pounds thinner without actually needing to go to the gym. If I lived outside of Manhattan I’m sure I’d be sporting a terry cloth robe and a coffee mug that says something like “Sleep Is Overrated” or “Mommy Needs Coffee.” Before I was a mommy, I used to be great at maintaining relationships with friends near and far. Now keeping in touch means I run into you on the street, in Planet Kids or I see your updates on Facebook. I no longer have a sympathetic ear for most non-parenting related issues. Sorry single friends, I know dating is really hard but so is potty training. Your boss is a poor
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New York Family | April 2010
communicator? Try working with a teething toddler seven days a week. But tell me your kid regularly gets up at 4 a.m. and I can commiserate with you for hours. Before I was a mommy, I used to think multi-tasking was doing two things at once. Now I know that anything less than three actions at once is for the childless. Look at any Manhattan mom on the street. She, like me, is no doubt pushing a stroller while shopping, talking on the phone, and getting a snack for her kid. This is actually the test you have to take
birthday gift before I have to be home for Max’s nap?” Before I was a mommy, I had “me” time in abundance. Now with a baby and a toddler, what used to pass as free time with one kid is just about obliterated with two. When I text you back LMK for Let Me Know it’s not because I’m trying to be hip, it’s because that’s all I have time to type before my oldest wants to play First Words on my iPhone. I actually had to choose the other day between replacing a roll of toilet paper and brushing my teeth and I’m not going to say which one won.
Before I was a mommy I used to think multi-tasking was doing two things at once. Now I know that anything less than three actions at once is for the childless. before they’ll sell you a Bugaboo. Bonus points for moms of twins or those who include texting in the mix. Before I was a mommy, I used to be a typical Type A-get-things-done kind of girl. Now I have perma-“mommy brain,” and will almost assuredly forget something you may have just told me five minutes ago. You know what that’s all about? That’s your lips moving while my mind is thinking, “What am I going to make for dinner? Is Gabe’s next doctor’s appointment Thursday or Friday? Do I have time to go to the supermarket and also pick up that
Before I was a mommy, I never realized how much better my life was going to be with my two boys. Now it’s as though the sheer force of love I have for my two boys has forced all the other stuff out of my brain. No room left for minutiae. Everything I used to care about no longer matters. I’m living in Happily Ever After. r Robin Saks Frankel is the founder of Crib Notes (CribNotesBaby.com), a free monthly e-newsletter for parents of kids ages 0 to 3, and Facebook’s “The Greatest Friday Playgroup Ever!,” a weekly playgroup for uptown moms. www.newyorkfamily.com
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