Big Apple Parent, June/July 2021 by NYMetroParents

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june/july 2021

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A Summer of

fun! 5O

boredom buSterS

toddlers Water safety for al and safe Keeping kids soci near you Top water parks

Is summer school right for your child?

A Healthy Body Image How parents can help tweens and teens

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HOLY CROSS GREEK AMERICAN DAY SCHOOL of Whitestone

n erica catio m u A d E f o f ent o hdiocese m t r a rc ep YS D rthodox A N e th d by e Greek O Pre-K, Kindergarten, e t i d th cre c y b A • ted credi and 1st Grade c A •

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inside

June/July 2021

20 Is This the Summer for School?

Five things to consider when deciding if summer school is right for your child

22 Applying to Public Schools

How to prepare for admission NYC DOE schools

30 Becoming Bilingual

The many ways speaking multiple languages benefits kids

44 Preventing Brain Drain

Eight fun ways to stop the summer slide before it starts

56 A Safe & Social Summer

How to be appropriately cautious when planning summer fun.

60 A Positive Body Image

Teens often have body image issues—how can parents help?

62 Talking to Kids About Gender & Sexual Identity Eight expert tips to help you have these important chats

columns 8 13 16 18 66

Editor’s Note News: What’s happening in the community Baby & Toddler: Water Safety for Little Ones Advice: Ask Dad and Buried Last Word: What is your ideal picnic experience?

things to do

32 Summer Boredom Busters 38 Top Water Parks for Families 40 Go Berry Picking!

resources

24 31 42 46 48 59 65

Education Directory Foreign Language Classes Summer Activities Camp Directory Camp Guide Meet the Health Care Professional Advertisers’ Index

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Visit NYMETROPARENTS.COM for family activities updated daily and more than 2,000 parenting articles!

180 East 79 St. Suite # 1C New York, NY 10021

114-20 Queens Blvd, Suite CS2 Forest Hills, NY 11375

www.ComprehendTheMind.com 718-441-0166 Committed to providing psycho-educational and neuro-developmental evaluations for over 15 years Dr. Sanam Hafeez and her team of expert clinical and neuropsychologists are here to help your child and family cope with the novel challenges presented by the COVID pandemic. Dr. Hafeez has been at the forefront of the crisis, bringing insight and advice to families all across the nation, as a sought out media personality and expert Psychologist. Let Dr. Hafeez and her clinical team help you assess and restructure your child’s educational, and mental health needs, during this unpredictable time.

For a short time, we are offering a 28-day neuropsychological assessment process for $2800* Please inquire with the center for details.

Who We Help: Those with: • Learning Disabilities • ADHD • Autism • Developmental Delays • Anxiety, Depression, behavioral issues • Families in court over custody, education or legal reasons

How We Help: • Extra time on tests, both in classrooms, SATs, ACTs, SHSATs • IEPs, 504 plans, private school placement • Forensic (injury, special education, child custody, immigration) cases • Medication management

We accept all major insurances GHI, UnitedHealthCare, Oxford, Cigna, MagnaCare, BlueCross BlueShield (BCBS) All major credit cards, Cash, and PayPal accepted *$2800 rate for 28-day timeline excludes insurance, and is a discounted rate free of insurance restrictions, and wait times for authorizations. A detailed receipt for reimbursement, provided, upon request

We are both a pediatric and adult center, helping all ages succeed and thrive

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editor’s note JUNE/JULy 2021

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Sweet Summertime

EDITORIAL EDITORIAL DIRECTOR: Katelin Walling FEATURES EDITOR: Shana Liebman EvEnTS MAnAgER: Shara Levine

DIRECTORIES EDITOR: Alice Tank

h, summer…it’s the season our kids look forward to most. And after the past year, we’re all looking forward to getting back to “normal,” having fun, and finally traveling again this summer. your kids are likely going to camp (turn to p. 46 for camps with last-minute registrations available!), you’ve probably booked a family trip, and you’re planning to spend a few days at a museum, water park, and beach. With all that fun on the horizon, you’d think your kids would be maxed out on summer activities. But, inevitably, you’ll hear the dreaded “I’m bored!” When that happens, check out our “Summer Boredom Busters” (p. 32). We list 50 things to do with your kids—from catching fireflies and playing flashlight tag to tie-dye and berry picking—all so you can spend your time doing what’s most important: having fun with your children. And did you know that while you’re having fun with your kids, it’s the perfect opportunity for them to learn, too? Whether you’re cooking, reading, or playing games, you can stop the summer slide before it starts. Turn to p. 44 to learn how. Finally, though things are opening up and restrictions are relaxing, it’s still a good idea to ensure your kids are safe—especially the younger ones. Read expert tips for how to have a safe and social summer on p. 56. Here’s to a relaxing, healthy summer full of fun camp days for your kids and spending time together as a family!

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Find 100+ Things to Do this Summer! Discover great family activities all season long in the Summer Family Fun Guide! It’s full of fairs and festivals, travel advice, and fun activities for your family—think: local attractions, day trips, amusement parks, and more.

DIRECTOR | PUBLISHIng MAnAgEMEnT: Jiyon Son Summer 2021

FINANCE CREDIT MAnAgER: Rosa Meinhofer

Family Fun GuiDE Great Summer activitieS for Your familY

CEO: David L. Miller CFO: David Friedman 1501 Broadway, 12th Floor, New York, NY 10036 Phone: 212-315-0800; Fax: 212-271-2239

Read or download it today!

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HELPING PARENTS MAKE BETTER DECISIONS

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Registration is OPEN for the Summer 2021 & Fall 2021/2022 Season!!!

Sign up for our Summer Dance Intensive 8/23–8/25 Our professional summer technique intensive will focus on: • strengthening your ballet technique • learning new and exciting hip-hop choreography • pushing your jazz dance skills • experiencing new types of classes

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news

Explore the City Under the Sea New Jersey SEA LIFE Aquarium celebrated its grand opening June 15.

SEA LIFE, the world’s largest network of aquariums, touched down in East Rutherford, NJ—at American Dream to be exact. The 25,000-square-foot New Jersey SEA LIFE Aquarium has been dubbed City Under the Sea, in a nod to the bustling New York City that lies just across the Hudson River. The aquarium officially celebrated its grand opening Tuesday, June 15. “It offers a new wave of underwater adventures,” said Julie Estrada, head of public relations of North America for Merlin Entertainments, which owns and operates SEA LIFE as well as many other location-based family entertainment experiences. “What’s amazing about [New Jersey SEA LIFE Aquarium] is, it’s really designed to be a child’s first experience with an aquarium. It’s the first time they’re seeing these creatures up close and personal and learning about them.” The aquarium features more than 3,000 different creatures in a variety of exhibits inspired by NYC’s most memorable moments and experiences, including nods to rush hour, Times Square, the urban jungle, Studio 54, and Fifth Avenue. New Jersey SEA LIFE Aquarium is located at American Dream in East Rutherford, NJ. For more information, visit visitsealife.com/new-jersey.

NYMetroParents 13

news

Becoming America’s Doctor D

r. Fauci: How a Boy from Brooklyn Became America’s Doctor is a sweetly illustrated book (written by Kate Messner and illustrated by Alexandra Bye) that chronicles Anthony Fauci, M.D.’s life—from his Italian childhood home in Brooklyn to his career as a scientist, working to solve AIDS and COVID-19. Readers also get a primer on how vaccines work and some tips from Dr. Fauci about how to become a scientist like him. Finally, there is a suggested reading list for kids who want to learn more. We spoke to Messner about writing this book.

We’re Celebrating…

This June, as the country re-opens, there are more ways to recognize and teach your kids about Pride, both in-person and virtually. Whether you read a book at home or attend a family-friendly Pride event, you can use this opportunity to teach your kids about some of the dedicated activists who have made the world a more welcoming place, one where diversity is not only tolerated, but embraced. Visit nymetroparents.com/pride for ideas!

We’re Reading… The Motherhood Complex, by BBC science journalist, Melissa Hogenboom, which explores what it means to become a mother—including how the brain changes during pregnancy and how modern technology has defined motherhood. Interweaving her own personal experience as a working mother of two, the sciencefocused book also reveals how the biological changes during pregnancy and motherhood influence a woman’s sense of self.

We’re Watching… Ebony and Denise—a two-mom-threekid family—started the YouTube channel Team2Moms to inspire family-hopeful LGBTQ+ fans. Their conversations, which can hop from serious to silly, often cover tough subjects like race, bisexual parenting, and the confusion of having two moms. For example, they might relate a complicated conversation they had with their oldest about sperm donors or discuss their son’s autism diagnosis. Their message, however, is always about self-acceptance, and their desire for their fans “to be authentically who they are.” 14

What inspired you to create this book? Like everyone else, I was seeing Dr. Fauci on the news each night at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. When I learned a bit about Dr. Fauci’s background, I realized how much his story might serve as an inspiration for tomorrow’s scientists.

What do you hope kids will take away from it? I hope my readers will understand that being a scientist is absolutely within their reach. So often, kids see well-known researchers and public health experts on the news and think of them as important people doing serious work in the world without understanding that those researchers and experts were once curious kids, just like them.

Did anything surprise you when learning about Dr. Fauci’s life? I think the thing that fascinated me the most was the way Dr. Fauci’s Brooklyn upbringing really shaped the career that he would have later on. When I interviewed Dr. Fauci, he told me stories about how his dad would help him and his sister with homework, pushing them to keep trying, even when something felt impossible, because every problem has a solution. It was also interesting to hear how Dr. Fauci really came of age in two different worlds, studying classics and philosophy with the scholars at his rigorous high school and then hitting the streets to play stickball with the guys in his neighborhood. He got along with everyone and was known as the guy who could explain things in a way that made them easy to understand, even back then.

Connect with Kate Messner

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facebook.com/KateMessner

@katemessner

@KateMessner

New Places, New Programs

Birthday Entertainer Offers New Packages nYC Birthday Clowns is now offering one-entertainer birthday packages with three options for 1 hour of entertainment: Face Painting, Balloon Twisting, or both. Of course, if you want the whole kit and caboodle, the Ultimate Party Package is still available. “After this past year, every child deserves to have an amazing birthday party,” says Scott Gorbach, president of the party entertainment company. “We decided to offer these smaller packages so we can reach as many kids as possible to make their first post-pandemic party one to remember!” NYC Birthday Clowns serves all five boroughs and parts of New Jersey, and all entertainers are vaccinated. 646-961-4808; nycbirthdayclown@gmail.com; nycbirthdayclowns.com.

Queens Magnet School Receives Highest Excellence Designation m.s. 358: The magnet school for s.T.e.a.m. exploration and experiential Learning received the designation of Certified National Demonstration Magnet School through Magnet Schools of America, making it one of the best magnet schools in the nation. To achieve this certification, the school exceeded MSA’s Standards of Excellence: diversity, innovative curriculum and professional development, academic excellence, high quality instructional systems, and family and community partnerships. “This certification articulates that our school community is providing access to high quality teaching and learning experiences to all students of all demographics,” says Brendan Mims, principal of M.S. 358. Because of this designation, the school conducted a national training on Race and Equity in the spring and its best practices are being shared with magnet schools across America. 88-08 164th St., Jamaica, Queens; 718-558-6240; ms358q.org.

Fun, Interactive Podcasts for Kids This last year saw a surge of interactive kid-podcasts—as desperate parents tried to entertain their home-bound kids with something other than screens. Here are a few of our favorites:

The Past & The Curious ReCommended ages: All Stories from history with catchy music and a quiz segment.

emotion motion ReCommended ages: 3-8, with their grown-ups Each episode invites listeners and their families to get up, move, play, sing, and interact with stories that help children practice their emotional vocabulary, reflect on their feelings, and learn emotional management strategies to support their well-being.

Book Club for Kids ReCommended ages: Tweens and teens Encourage kids to read by connecting them to this podcast, where they can hear middle schoolers discuss popular YA books

The Unexplained disappearance of mars Patel ReCommended ages: Tweens A Peabody Award-winning scripted mystery, featuring a voice cast of middle schoolers, that includes an interactive tie-in.

NYMetroParents 15

baby & toddler

Water Safety for Little Ones

How to keep your young child safe while enjoying the water By Marie Holmes

oung children delight in the water. Some people even believe that babies have a special aquatic connection because they recently emerged from their own personal womb-pool. Yet, in a matter of seconds, water can cause grave harm to a child. “Drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages one to four,” says Mary O’Donoghue, senior aquatics director of the YMCA of Greater New York. This year, it’s more important than ever to be aware of these risks. Bobby Hazen, district manager of Saf-T-Swim on Long Island, notes that during the pandemic there was a spike in the number of backyard pools installed across the country. At the same time, social distancing has kept children out of water-safety and swimming classes—potentially creating a perfect storm for water-related accidents. Now is a good time to review water safety guidelines. Here’s what you need to know to keep your little one happy and safe in the water.

Keep children within arm’s reach. Children who don’t know how to swim, and all children ages 4 and younger, should be within arm’s reach of a caregiver at all times when in or around the water. “A lot of drownings take place within five to ten feet of safety,” O’Donoghue says.

don’t rely on floaties. Floating devices filled with air or made from foam can be great for water-play but should never be relied on as drowning prevention. “Anything that’s inflatable can always deflate, so it gives a false sense of security,” O’Donoghue explains.

Know what drowning looKs liKe. Many of us imagine a drowning person frantically thrashing around in the water, but the reality is quite different—and easy to miss. Drowning “doesn’t look anything like you think it’s going to,” Hazen says. A child’s arms may come in and out of the water before they go under, but once they’re under, you won’t see much more than the top of their head beneath the surface, and you won’t hear a thing.

designate a “water-watcher.” Ensure that at least one adult has eyes on the water at all times by taking turns being a designated water-watcher at the pool, beach, or lake. The water-watcher should refrain from drinking alcohol

before or during their shift, and steer clear of other distractions, like a phone, as well.

put protections in place around your pool. There is no replacement for constant supervision, but the following safeguards should still be put into place. Pools should be properly fenced in, easily viewable from the outside, and covered when not in use. You can also get an alarm for your house door or one that floats in or sits below the water. Purchase drain covers, install vacuum release systems, or employ multiple drains to prevent kids’ hair or clothing from getting sucked in. Remove toys from the pool after use so kids won’t be tempted to jump in and get them.

watch out for household hazards. Anything that holds liquid can be dangerous—bathtubs, buckets, toilets. Children can drown in mere inches of water, so make sure to empty kiddie pools after use and watch out for rainwater collecting in buckets or other outdoor containers. Drain the tub after a bath, use locks for toilet lids, and keep the bathroom door closed.

enroll your child in swim lessons. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends all children enroll in swimming lessons by age 4 and says children can learn to swim as young as 1. Parent-and-child swim lessons for infants are widely available. The YMCA of Greater New York has classes for children as young as 6 months, and Saf-T-Swim takes students at just 2 months old. These classes usually focus on getting children comfortable in the water and teaching water safety. Remember: Swimming lessons do not make your child drownproof. Even if your child knows how to swim, they may not be able to save themselves in the event of an emergency.

teach your children never to enter the water without an adult. Both O’Donoghue and Hazen stress that one of the most important things you can teach your child is to never get in the water—pool, ocean, or bathtub—without an adult present. Just as we teach children to hold a grown-up’s hand when crossing the street and wear a seatbelt in a car, we want them to grow accustomed to waiting for an adult before entering the water.

Since 2006, expecting moms to moms of toddlers visit Mommybites for advice on all things parenting. The Nanny Boards are NY’s only resource for finding exclusively employer-recommended caregivers. Visit Mommybites.com. 16

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advice

Ask DadandBuried “My son just turned 7, and he loves to swim. The only problem is he’s scared of putting his head under the water, and it really limits how much fun he can have. How do I get him to take the plunge?” — Robert, Rye

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irst of all, I don’t appreciate the pun. But I’ll forgive you for it, because a few years ago, I was in the exact same boat. (Two can play that game!) My now-10-year-old was struggling with this very issue. Actually, I was the one struggling, because I was so desperate for him to overcome his fears and finally dunk his head. His grandparents have a pool, and we are lucky to have access to it during the summer. My kid loves nothing more than to spend the day frolicking in the water, but the idea of getting fully submerged freaked him out. Playing with him in the pool was like playing with my wife in the pool right after she’d gotten her hair done. Dunking your head opens up a whole new pool experience—one that includes jumping into the pool, riding water slides, getting thrown around by Dad, and more. And I knew my son would love it. I was begging him to just dunk his head, so he would realize it was no big thing. Then the real fun could begin. Of course, the more I begged, the more he resisted, and the more he resisted, the more frustrated I got. What should have been a fun milestone had turned into a vendetta, and suddenly our visits to Grandma and Pop-pop’s house were fraught with stress. Eventually, I realized he needed to work at his own pace. I loosened my grip as best I could, stopped chirping at him every time he got in the pool, and tried to pretend I didn’t care. When he finally did it, I showered him (there I go again!) with praise. He realized I had been right all along, that it wasn’t a big deal, and it was a lot more fun that way. It was a great moment for both of us, and he’s never looked back. One of the hardest things to do as a parent is convince your kids to try something new. Getting them to try a new food, a new bedtime story, even a new movie can often be like pulling teeth. Even if you know they’re gonna love it once they get their feet wet (I can’t stop!), convincing them can be just about impossible. Sometimes letting go is the best thing you can do. That’s also really hard to do, but if you can manage, it will probably pay off. And then you get to do the absolute hardest thing in parenting: not screaming “I TOLD YOU SO!” in your kid’s face. Our advice column features the wise and humorous commentary of Mike Julianelle (aka @DadandBuried), a 40-something influencer with a popular podcast who lives in Brooklyn with his wife and two kids.

Have a question for DaDanDburieD? Send it to editor@nymetroparents.com with the subject “DadandBuried’s Advice.”

Monsignor McClancy Memorial High School Congratulates our 2021 Graduates, Kurt Jherico Abarentos§ Anthony Agosta Fatima Ahmed Tyler Alvarez-Vaca Ryan Anderson Santo Anzalone Kayla Arena Brianna Arnao Samantha Aviles Alina Azcona Brionna Babcock Kristina Barahona§ James Berger Joseph Biondi Hunter Blake Anthony Bogdanovic James Bond Gregory Bonowitz Jason Brandl Ella Budzilek Vanessa Caisaguano Damian Cajamarca Lou-Anne Calixte Catherine Calle Dariana Camacho Matteo Campoverde Matthew Canizares Sebastian Cano-Gomez Nicholas Capri Andrea Carpio Patrick Casseus Kevin Cauchi § Matthew Cedeno Bryanna Chan Zainab Chaudhry Kristen Chavanne Matthew Chiarovano Anthony Chorzepa Matthew Ciraolo Luke Corridan§ Andrea Cruz Joseph Davi Bryan Davila§

71-06 31st Avenue East Elmhurst, NY 11370 (718)-898-3800 www.msgrmcclancy.org Conducted in the Educational Tradition of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart Daniel Deneke Frank Destefano Denis Dodaj Giselle Doherty Kevin Dooley Piotr Draus§ ✓ Mary Espinal Marco Faulisi Emma Ferchland Mikael Figueroa Matthew Filip Oisin Foy Jeremiah Funk Ali Gacevic Anthony Gallipani Jr§ Marcela Garcia Kristen Giebler Lauren Giesse§ Michela Giugliano Jesselyn Gjivovich Andrew Goenaga Daniel Gomez§ Tony Gray Justin Guaman Oriana Guzman§ James Hamil IV Ryan Hanning Kristin Helmeset-Gomez Alfred Hoti Isabella Hurtado Francesco Inguaggiato Dylan Jones Akib Kazi Amanda Keller Grace Kennedy Areebah Khan Matthew Kieblesz Jamir King Christopher Kosakowski

Sarah Kosakowski§ Leina Kovac Dylan Krymsky Benicia Lasko Eric Leon Andrew Leristis Dylan Li Eric Lin Yiria Lledias-Saca Giuseppe Locascio§ Wilmer Lopez Gabriel Lotrijan Vincent Lynaugh Julian Kyle Macaraeg Francis Mallia Giulia Marino Justin Marrone Tadhg McPartland Ryan Mejia Ison Mendez Faneytt Gunnar Mills§ Matthew Montella Arnad Mulamekic Ethan Murphy Leopoldo Natividad Raymond Nieves Robert Nunez Lizbeth Ojeda Jillian Osman Caitlyn Oviedo Daniel Pachnicki§ Brandon Paider§ Douglas Paider§ Michael Panarese Maximo Parada Panagiotis Pavlatos§ Allyson Pedraga Fatima Peralta Anastasia Pippis Ava Pullara§

Ritisha Purohit Edward Quadrino Stephanie Quercia Robert Raggi Kylie Robinson Daniella Rodriguez Izabella Rodziewicz John Romano Kayla Sacco Prasoon Saha§+ Dylan Salaun Matthew Scott Matthew Sementilli Steven Siano Yanni Silva James Sotamba Nicholas Spitzer§ Kelly Tapia Gabriella Termine Jonluca Tortorici Annie Tritschler Fransisco Urena Francesca Vaccaro Matthew Vargas Fiorella Veliz Campos Frank Verga Christian Verish Giuseppe Vicino Brian Vizcaino Matthew Wenz Ashley Williamson Isabella Wiseman Daniel Zalot

Robert Zmujdzin

§- Denotes Top 20 +- Denotes Valedictorian ✓-Denotes Salutatorian

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education

Is This the Summer for School? How to decide if summer school is right for your child By Marie Holmes

he words “summer school” can invoke a draconian misery—and are often uttered as a threat from a teacher or parent. But after more than a year of pandemic shut-down, summer school, like many things, looks very different through COVID-colored glasses.

that up and set them up for success in the fall,” says program codirector Tanya Ehrlich. “Some of our families use our program for enrichment, some for remediation.” Optional afternoon enrichment classes include sports, arts, and drama. “Most kids who come to our program end up feeling like it’s not a punishment for them,” says program co-director Ashley Di Salvo.

What has the school year been like for your chilD?

There are many reasons summer school makes sense this year. For one, parents are worried about learning gaps. Whether their kids have been remote, hybrid, or in school, parents are eager for them to catch up—both academically and socially. They want their children to reacclimate to the classroom—and to spend the day away from home and among peers again. And many local educators agree that far from being punitive, this year’s summer school offerings can and should provide opportunities for students to delight in the in-person company of their classmates and teachers. If you’re thinking about summer school for your child, here are a few things to consider:

Does your chilD have learning gaps that neeD to be aDDresseD? If your child is struggling with school assignments, it’s a good indicator they could use extra academic help. Check in with your child’s teacher to see what they recommend. Some summer programs are tailored for kids with specific challenges. For example, the Windward School, which has campuses in Manhattan and Westchester, serves students with language-based learning disabilities, such as dyslexia. This summer, it will offer its academic summer camp program, running July 6-30. “If students have lost any ground, this is an opportunity for them to make 20

June/July 2021 | nymetroparents.com

If your child thrives with in-person learning, summer offers an opportunity for more. On the other hand, if they are anxious about the return to normal, summer school could be a lowstakes way to ease back into the rhythms of the school day. This year, all children who live in New York City are eligible for the Summer Rising program, NYC’s free summer plan for kids in kindergarten to 12th grade. This newly designed program will be run jointly by the Department of Education and the Department of Youth and Community Development, partnering schools with community organizations to offer a summer experience for children that is a blend of academics and recreational activities. “These programs will provide a bridge to the next school year and allow students to reconnect with one another and with their schools. Students will address unfinished learning while being provided avenues for recreation, exploration, and fun,” according to the DOE. “For the greater part of the year, children and teachers have been behind screens,” says Amelia Clune, who teaches third grade in the Bronx. The DOE’s summer program, she believes, “will provide children with an opportunity to develop not only academic, but also social-emotional skills, which, after an isolating year, many of our students need.”

is this a transition year for your chilD? Your kindergartener may never have experienced a normal school day with a classroom full of children. An incoming sixth-grader might be anxious about entering a new building and meeting new classmates. While you can reassure them that they won’t be the only one who feels this way, having some familiar places and faces is always helpful. One advantage of the Summer Rising program is that DOE students will be placed at their assigned schools and may have the opportunity to work with their previous or future teachers, and to get to know some of their classmates. Regardless of the program you choose, summer school can help soothe anxieties about returning in September.

How mucH can you afford to spend on summer scHool? After a year like no other, Summer Rising comes as an unprecedented gift to the city’s working parents. The program is free, and full-day—truly full-day, 8am-6pm, covering a parent’s 9-5 job and commute time. The city is able to fund the program with money from President Joe Biden’s stimulus, and, according to Mayor Bill de Blasio, it will be the model for summer school moving forward. “This ends summer school as we know it,” he said at a press conference announcing the program. You can also consider one of many private school programs or even an academic-focused summer camp. While not free, they can offer the advantages of specially trained teachers (Windward School’s teachers, for example, have degrees in special education) and very small class sizes.

The 2021-2022 academic year, a much longed-for return to normalcy, has a lot riding on it. In addition to getting back up to speed academically, our children have to reacclimate to the idea of school as a destination and learning as a communal activity. While summer school might be something you’d try to avoid at another time, this summer offers students, teachers, and families a chance to reimagine what school can be, and to carry those lessons with us into September.

How will you balance different summer activities? Kids who need academic intervention have the same needs for play and unstructured time as everyone else. It’s important that kids have some downtime and are forced to find creative ways to entertain themselves. So, figuring out the right balance of play time and school will be up to each family—they’ll have to factor in vacations, summer camp sessions, playdates, and family time.

Marie Holmes has written for Good Housekeeping, Cosmopolitan, the Washington Post, and other publications. She lives in Upper Manhattan with her wife and their two children.

I n t e r nat I o nal p r e s c h o o l

• Language Immersion Preschool (German, Spanish or Dual Language)

• After School, Enrichment Programs and Holiday Camps for children ages 3-12 — open to students from other schools • Inquiry and exploration based curriculum taught by native speaking faculty • Light filled, spacious facility in the heart of Chelsea

Schedule your virtual tour to find out what makes us so special. 244 West 14th Street, NYC, NY 10011 212-206-1137 school office 646-251-2179 mobile

www.pusteblumenyc.org NYMetroParents 21

education

Where to Start

Applying to

Public Schools

How to prepare for admission to pre-K, kindergarten, middle school, and high school By Shana Liebman

he New York City Department of Education is made up of more than 1,800 public schools, and your child will apply for public school several times throughout their education. Because it can be a challenging process, parents should be aware of deadlines and requirements. Even as this school year comes to a close, it’s a good idea to get prepped for what’s ahead.

The best starting point is MySchools (myschools.nyc), which provides the most current information about NYC’s schools in 32 school districts. School Quality Snapshots provide background information and performance metrics for each public school in the city, and school counselors and Family Welcome Centers can provide useful information. You can also browse the schools near you at schoolsearch.schools.nyc. In addition to regular public schools, NYC also offers magnet and charter schools. NYC magnet schools are public schools that are part of the NYC DOE system, but their curriculum is based around a specific theme (STEAM, civic leadership, media, or innovation, for example). They accommodate students from outside their zone or district. There is one special music school in the city, which requires an audition, and several Dual Language (DL) programs. You could also choose to send your child to a free charter school in New York City—serving Universal Pre-K through 12th grades, that operate independently from the DOE.

Pre-K & Kindergarten ApplicAtions Are typicAlly due: pre-K: mid- to late March; kindergarten: mid-January Kids are eligible to apply to pre-K in the calendar year in which they turn 4 and kindergarten in the year in which they turn 5. The three types of pre-K programs are: • NYC EarlY EduCatioN CENtErs (NYCEECs): communitybased associations that partner with the DOE • distriCt sChools: public elementary schools with pre-K programs • PrE-K CENtErs: administered by DOE staff and great for children who currently attend preschool. For kindergarten, there are two types of schools: • ZoNEd sChools: if you live in the zone, your kids have priority • NoN-ZoNEd sChools: anyone in the district or borough can attend If you apply on time, you will receive a pre-K offer letter in May and a kindergarten letter in June. This letter will tell you where your child is accepted and/or waitlisted.

Middle School ApplicAtions Are typicAlly due: early to mid-December The first step is to find your child’s middle school district, which might differ from their elementary school district. If this is the case, your child can apply to the middle schools in both districts. Your child might also have guaranteed or priority admission at their zoned schools. 22

June/July 2021 | nymetroparents.com

You can apply to up to 12 middle schools and must rank the choices in order of preference. As a result of the pandemic and increasing criticism of admission policies, NYC Mayor Bill De Blasio said the city will now use a random lottery system to admit students to approximately 200 middle schools. Students typically receive their middle school offer letter in the spring. All applicants will get a middle school offer, and most get offers to one of their ranked programs.

High School & Specialized High School ApplicAtions Are typicAlly due: early December There are more than 700 high school programs at over 400 schools in NYC, and any current eighth grade student or first-time ninth grade student can apply to any of them. Your first step is deciding whether you are applying to a regular public school, a specialized high school, or a charter school. If you choose to apply to regular public schools, you will be able to rank your 12 choices and submit your application online or through a school counselor.

There are several different types of admission processes: • Educational option schools use the English Language Arts state test scores from seventh grade and identify the top 16 percent of scores, the middle 68 percent, and the lowest 16 percent. • ScrEEnEd programS rank applicants based on their final seventh-grade report card grades and reading and math standardized test scores. • unScrEEnEd programS select randomly from the pool of applicants. • ZonEd programS give priority to students who live in the geographic zoned area of the high school. • SpEcialiZEd HigH ScHoolS require students to take the Specialized High Schools Admissions Test to qualify for admission. Though, Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts requires students to audition for up to six programs. The DOE recommends you place the programs on your application in your true order of preference. You will receive an offer letter in the spring, which will include a high school offer and/or any offer(s) to specialized high schools, as well as a list of high schools where your student is waitlisted. At that point you can relax—your NYC public school application journey has finally come to a close.

NYMetroParents 23

Education Directory Brooklyn >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Brooklyn Global Prep

423 Kent Ave., Williamsburg 732- 924-5432 brooklynglobalprep.com admissions@brooklynglobalprep.com We are a child-centric haven that utilizes language immersion, creating a path for happy, diverse, open-minded thinkers. We have an integrated curriculum that seamlessly weaves together the acquisition of social, emotional, and academic skills, learning of co-constructed content, and building of community in dual languages.

Huntington Learning Center

808 Union St., Park Slope 718-230-4600 huntingtonhelps.com Huntington Learning Center is the premier tutoring and test prep provider for kindergarten students through 12th grade. Founded in 1977, its mission is to give every student the best education possible. The company prides itself on personalized attention and proven results with individualized programs taught by certified teachers at accredited centers.

New York City Magnet Schools

Locations throughout Manhattan, Brooklyn, The Bronx, and Queens magnetschools.nyc • info@magnetschools.nyc Magnet schools are nationally recognized for innovative learning. A magnet education offers unique programs designed to promote academic and social emotional skills that set the foundation for learning. The diversified approaches to teaching at magnet schools promote creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking for all students.

PS Family NYC

718-701-1707 psfamilynyc.org • info@psfamilynyc.org PS Family NYC offers families free and low cost in-home child care for children ages newborn to 3 in Brooklyn and Queens. PS Family NYC ofrece a las familias cuidado de niosdiurnos gratuitos a muy bajo costo entre las edades de 0 a 3 aos en Brooklyn y Queen.

Science, Language & Arts International School

9 Hanover Place, Downtown Brooklyn Early Childhood Campus: 132 4th Place, Carroll Gardens 347-894-3768 slaschool.org Science, Language & Arts is an independent nursery to eighth-grade school in Brooklyn, focused on the handson integration of science with visual arts, language, and math, and committed to providing children with a rich and rigorous multilingual, multicultural, and anti-racist education in French and Mandarin.

Stepping Stones Nursery School

245 86th St., Bay Ridge • 718-630-1000 Stepping Stones-The Next Step 9321 Ridge Blvd., Fort Hamilton • 718-630-1001 steppingstones86.com steppingstones86@aol.com

Stepping Stones offers an independent educational curriculum focusing on developing a love of learning for ages 2-5. Stepping Stones has been providing care for more than 18 years. Classrooms are equipped with age-appropriate materials where children experience music, art, dramatic play, block center, puzzles, libraries, storytelling, outdoor play, and nature walks.

Treasure Island

347 74th St. (corner of 4th Avenue and 74th Street), Bay Ridge 718-238-7676 silbekidz@aol.com Every child deserves a champion who connects with them and helps them to become the best that they can be. At Treasure Island our staff are champions for all children, helping each child to become a confident, motivated, engaged learner. The program promotes social competencies, active thinking, and problem-solving skills.

Manhattan >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Comprehensive Consultation Psychological Services, P.C.

718-441-0166 Manhattan location: 180 E. 79th St. Suite 1C, Upper East Side Queens location: 114-20 Queens Blvd. Suite CS 2, Forest Hills comprehendthemind.com CCPS is a group of psychologists specializing in neuro-developmental and educational evaluations to help you understand your child’s learning style and developmental level. A diagnosis of a learning disability or ADHD should not define, but rather strengthen your child and family. Let us help plan for their educational success and emotional well-being.

German School Manhattan

74 Warren St., Tribeca 646-869-1152 germanschoolmanhattan.org info@germanschoolmanhattan.org German School Manhattan is the first international German-English kindergarten and bilingual lower school in Manhattan. GSM offers a re-imagined, child-centric curriculum that encompasses German and New York educational standards. Our small classes provide a joyful learning environment to encourage and shape future global citizens. Summer camp and after-school are also offered.

Huntington Learning Center

1556 Third Ave., Suite 209, Upper East Side 212-534-3200 huntingtonhelps.com Huntington Learning Center is the premier tutoring and test prep provider for kindergarten students through 12th grade. Founded in 1977, its mission is to give every student the best education possible. The company prides itself on personalized attention and proven results with individualized programs taught by certified teachers at accredited centers.

June/July 2021 | nymetroparents.com

New York City Magnet Schools

New York City Magnet Schools District 6

Upper Manhattan: Inwood, Hudson Heights, and Washington Heights magnetschools.nyc • info@magnetschools.nyc The District 6 Magnet schools offer innovative 3K-fifth grade education for all New York City children. The themed-based magnet education prepares students to be creative thinkers, active listeners, and global citizens, as they learn through various modalities to find their voice and pursue their interests and talents.

New York City Magnet Schools District 8.11

The Bronx: Soundview, Parkchester, and Coop-City magnetschools.nyc • info@magnetschools.nyc District 8.11 magnet schools, for children in 3K-eighth grade, attract students of various socio-economic backgrounds, races, and academic achievement levels. Each school’s themed curricula promote 21st-century skills, as well as creativity, teamwork, and acceptance, through engaging and innovative learning opportunities.

Pusteblume International Preschool and Afterschool Programs

244 W. 14th St., West Village • 212-206-1137 pusteblumenyc.org • info@pusteblumenyc.org We are a German and Spanish language immersion school with after-school/enrichment programs open to students from other schools. Special inquiry and exploration-based curriculum is provided. Native-speaking faculty teaches music, movement, literacy, math concepts, and visual arts. Our fun, warm, learning environment cultivates the growth and development of your child.

Wetherby–Pembridge School

7 E. 96th St., Upper East Side 646-213-3400 • wetherby-pembridge.org info@wetherbypembridge.org Wetherby-Pembridge School is an independent school for ages 2-14, located on the UES. Our school vision is built on the three central values of respect, resilience, and responsibility. Children enjoy a balanced, diverse, and inspiring academic program, which marries the distinguishing strengths of the British and New York educational systems.

York Preparatory School

40 W. 68th St., Upper West Side 212-362-0400 • yorkprep.org York Preparatory School is a New York City independent school committed to guiding students in sixth through 12th grades to reach their maximum potential—intellectually, socially, and physically—and to prepare them for college and beyond. York Prep encourages the development of lifelong learners who are responsible members of their community.

MS 358

Congratulations to MS 358 for becoming the first Magnet Schools of America certified demonstration magnet school in New York State and New York City!

The Magnet School for STEAM Exploration and Experiential Learning Diversity • Achievement • Equity

COME BE PART OF THE FIRST AND ONLY NYC CERTIFIED MAGNET SCHOOL At The Magnet School of STEAM Exploration and Experiential Learning, everyone learns with purpose, classroom instruction incorporates passionate speaking, purposeful writing, powerful presentations, and digital literacy. Through project based and experiential learning students take intellectual risks, make real world connections, and explore authentic problems in their community and society.

Please contact parentcoordinator@ms358q.org to get information about our Open Houses and One-to-One info sessions. For Magnet Application Survey go to www.ms358q.org or Call Us at 718-558-6240 ext 4163/4160

“Sky Above Me, Earth Below Me, Fire Within Me”

LEARN MORE at www.ms358q.org NYMetroParents 25

Education Directory

cont’D

Queens >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Archbishop Molloy High School

83-53 Manton St., Briarwood 718-441-2100 x155, x140, x110 molloyhs.org admissions@molloyhs.org Archbishop Molloy High School promotes intellectual curiosity, creativity, personal growth, and faith. Rooted in a tradition of high standards in academics, athletics, and service to others, students are challenged to excel by our top-tier faculty, dedicated coaching staff, and competitive curriculum.

Comprehensive Consultation Psychological Services, P.C.

718-441-0166 Queens location: 114-20 Queens Blvd. Suite CS 2, Forest Hills Manhattan location: 180 E. 79th St. Suite 1C, Upper East Side comprehendthemind.com CCPS is a group of psychologists specializing in neuro-developmental and educational evaluations to help you understand your child’s learning style and developmental level. A diagnosis of a learning disability or ADHD should not define, but rather strengthen your child and family. Let us help plan for their educational success and emotional well-being.

Countryside Montessori School

354 Lakeville Road, Lower Level, Great Neck 516-466-8422 cmsgn.com • info@cmsgn.com Countryside Montessori School offers children, 18 months to 6 years, a well-balanced and enriched curriculum that includes traditional subjects, art, and music. They are located on an estate-like setting with an outdoor playground and nature walks. Classrooms are fully equipped and spacious. Zoom classes are offered for toddler and nursery children.

Garden School

33-16 79th St., Jackson Heights 718-335-6363 • gardenschool.org Garden School was founded in 1923 to meet the need for a high-quality, individualized, and independent school in Jackson Heights, Queens. We believe every child has potential and we believe it is a school’s job to spark, acknowledge, and promote the passions and interests of children.

Huntington Learning Center

Flushing • 718-358-7900 • huntingtonhelps.com Huntington is the premier tutoring and test prep provider, including SAT/ACT and state tests, for kindergarten to 12th grades. The company prides itself on personalized attention and proven results. Founded in 1977, Huntington’s mission is to give every student the best education possible. Tutoring is available in-center and online.

Ivy Day School

65-01 Kissena Blvd., Flushing • 718-460-6366 70-44 Kissena Blvd., Flushing • 718-880-1888 104-70 Queens Blvd., Forest Hills • 718-997-1997 ivydayschool.com • dinam@ivydayschool.com Books and blocks, music and dance, art and creativity! At Ivy Day School (three locations), we provide our decade-long standard of academic excellence to children ages 2-5. We envision students will develop essential skills for a lifetime of achievements via fun, stimulating activities.

The Kew-Forest School

119-17 Union Turnpike, Forest Hills 718-268-4667 • kewforest.org/admission Our families and staff represent more than 70 nationalities and speak more than 30 languages. You will find that our community nurtures lifelong learners, our educators inspire young people, and our students support each other. We offer on-site, hybrid, and remote learning for students in preschool through 12th grade.

Little Blossoms of Middle Village

8402 60th Ave., Middle Village 917-627-5679 • 917-745-0955 littleblossomsofmiddlevillage.com littleblossomsofvillage@gmail.com Little Blossoms of Middle Village provides a hands-on, exploratory approach to learning. We offer early drop-off and after-care. In our brand-new facility, we have a creative monthly curriculum that focuses on motor skills, speech/ language development, math, science, and social studies.

We are a language immersion preschool that uses creative open spaces, nature, & art to create diverse and open minded global thinkers.

We provide a variety of innovative, language immersion experiences for our youngest learners using the Reggio Emilia approach.

Now accepting applications: Fall 2021 French & Mandarian Immersion School

June/July 2021 | nymetroparents.com

Infants - Kindergarden Enrichment Programs

BROOKLYNGLOBALPREP.COM 429 KENT AVE, BROOKLYN NY

Education Directory

cont’D

New York City Magnet Schools

New York City Magnet Schools District 28

Queens: Jamaica and Richmond Hill magnetscgools.nyc • info@magnetschools.nyc Each magnet school offers a unique program designed to promote diversity, academic excellence, and equity for children in 3K through eighth grade. The specialized thematic programs, innovative curriculum, and diversified approaches to teaching offer rigorous instruction that builds content knowledge, creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking skills for all students.

Monsignor McClancy Memorial High School

71-06 31st Ave. E., East Elmhurst 718-898-3800 x2 msgrmcclancy.org • admissions@msgrmcclancy.info Monsignor McClancy Memorial High School is a Catholic, coeducational, college preparatory school conducted in the educational tradition of the Brothers of the Sacred Heart, providing a quality education for young

men and women, fully interweaving gospel values and Catholic teachings with core curriculum. Opportunities available for college credit and advanced placement.

MS 358: The Magnet School of STEAM Exploration and Experiential Learning

88-08 164th St., Jamaica 718-558-6240 • ms358.org • info@magnetschools.nyc At the Magnet School of STEAM Exploration and Experiential Learning, everyone learns with purpose. Classroom instruction incorporates passionate speaking, purposeful writing, powerful presentations, and digital literacy. Through project-based and experiential learning, students take intellectual risks, make real world connections, and explore authentic problems in their community and society.

Noah’s Ark Preparatory

38-20 Bell Blvd., Bayside • 718-279-4251 noahsarkschool.com • noahsarkpreparatory@gmail.com Noah’s Ark Preparatory Inc. strives to create a learning environment that invites the fullest potential of each person’s gifts. Both nursery and pre-kindergarten classrooms are divided into distinct learning areas and foster the love of learning. Please call for further information about all of our programs, including UPK.

Our World Neighborhood Charter School 2 135-25 79th St., Howard Beach 718-392-3405, Lucille Ranchor owncs.org/own2 • admissions@owncs.org

June/July 2021 | nymetroparents.com

Our World Neighborhood Charter Schools (OWNCS) joined the Queens school community in 2002. Through a literacy-based, integrated, and standards-driven curriculum that encourages community and honors diversity, students receive the broad education they need to meet the academic and social challenges of the best NYC high schools and thrive in today’s world.

PS Family NYC

Queens Community House: Queens Childcare Network

108-25 62nd Drive, Forest Hills 347-897-4949 qchnyc.org • childcare@qchnyc.org Queens Childcare Network (QCCN) is comprised of more than 40 licensed in-home day cares. QCCN provides our day cares with dedicated educational coaching—health, nutrition, and safety monitoring. We also help families of infants and toddlers apply for affordable child care through NYC DOE EarlyLearn or 3K. To learn more, email childcare@qchnyc.org or call 347-897-4949.

Countryside Montessori School An Education Where Children Thrive Under the Guidance of Great Teacher in an Environment that Stimulates Creativity and Individual Potential!

Now registering for Fall 2021 Low Teacher Student Ratio

Spacious New Playground

• A proven system celebrating 100 years of practice, research and worldwide recognition. • Our fully equipped spacious classroom offer the most enriched curriculum available for 18 months - 6 years. • Early drop-off / Extended day available.

our new safety proctols

354 Lakeville Road Great Neck, NY 516-466-8422 www.CMSGN.com NYMetroParents 29

education

Becoming Bilingual There are many benefits of raising a child who speaks multiple languages—and it’s easier than you think, especially if you start when they’re young. By Amber Greviskes

ore than 1 in 5 school-aged children speak a language other than English at home, according to Statista.com. And parents who once thought teaching their child two languages might hurt the child’s ability to learn their first language have been proven wrong. Children who learn two languages develop speaking skills as quickly as their peers, according to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. While children may initially have smaller vocabularies in both languages, the number of total words they know is the same as a monolingual child. And, of course, as children work with the languages, they learn both fluently. “It is always a difficulty to learn a new and different language,” says Judy Chen who worked at the New York Chinese Cultural Center, which starts teaching Mandarin to children before their 4th birthday. “However, once you get the hang of it, it becomes easier and easier. For younger children, it is easier for them to retain new things they learn.”

What are the benefits of bilingualism for kids? Children who learn multiple languages benefit in many ways. Kristin and Jeff Graham became interested in language classes as a way to explore their Russian heritage. “It was an easy decision to pursue the learning of Russian language, music, and art, and we made it part of their growing experience,” Kristin says. Mara and Stephan Weidman who sent their kids to the German International School of New York both believed that not only would it be nice for the kids to speak Dad’s native language, but their kids would benefit from the bilingual education. “It can only help their young brains learn better,” Mara says. In fact, according to a recent National Institutes of Health 30

June/July 2021 | nymetroparents.com

study, children who grow up learning multiple languages are better at switching between tasks. The skills in understanding and speaking more than one language—like refocusing from a mentally demanding task such as writing an essay to a more artistic one such as painting—engage working memory, inhibition, and shifting. Other studies show increased neural activity in response to completely unfamiliar languages. Another striking benefit? Bilingual kids could earn more money. A 2020 report from the Bureau of Labor and Statistics projects that jobs for interpreters and translators will grow 20 percent from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations. And studies have shown that bilingual employees can earn 5-20 percent more money per hour than those who speak only one language. “Whichever career our children choose, knowing another language can never be detrimental,” Chen says. “Many people believe Americans are ignorant to the outside world. By learning another language, which helps children learn about cultures, we can prove those who think Americans are ignorant wrong.”

is it diffiCult for kids to learn a neW language? Parents who are worried about the toll learning another language can take on children’s schedules shouldn’t fear. Many classes are offered weekly or several times per week. Classes are often more laidback than at traditional schools; children complete a variety of activities including singing songs, playing games, or making crafts to learn the language. Even if parents don’t understand the language, they can still help their children learn it, Chen says. “Chinese is not the easiest language to learn, and a little motivation goes a long way,” she adds. “Parents can also take Chinese with the kids and learn with them. This way, they can both practice it together at home. Many of our parents regret not having learned Mandarin at a younger age and don’t want their kids to go through the same thing.” Although their children will pick up the new language first, parents shouldn’t be frustrated.

hoW Can parents help? Parents don’t necessarily have to learn another language for their children’s language acquisition to be successful. There are many programs, like Muzzy BBC, and kids can read books like Bob the Builder in French (Bob le Bricoleur) or Little Red Riding Hood (Cappuccetto Rosso) in Italian. There are also toys, games, and flashcards in different languages. If your child is enrolled in language classes, ask their teacher for recommendations. Older children can find a pen pal to email, and there are many free language podcasts.

Foreign Language Classes Directory Brooklyn >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Manhattan >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Brooklyn Global Prep

ABC Languages

423 Kent Ave., Williamsburg 732-924-5432 • brooklynglobalprep.com admissions@brooklynglobalprep.com We are a child-centric haven that utilizes language immersion, creating a path for happy, diverse, open-minded thinkers. We have an integrated curriculum that seamlessly weaves together the acquisition of social, emotional, and academic skills, learning of co-constructed content, and building of community in dual languages.

Science, Language & Arts International School

9 Hanover Place, Downtown Brooklyn 347-894-3768 Early Childhood Campus: 132 4th Place, Carroll Gardens slaschool.org Science, Language & Arts is an independent nursery to eighth-grade school in Brooklyn, focused on the handson integration of science with visual arts, language, and math, and committed to providing children with a rich and rigorous multilingual, multicultural, and anti-racist education in French and Mandarin.

212-563-7580 abclang.com • info@abclang.com ABC Languages online tutoring for kids and teens is a great way to give your child a personalized learning experience. Our professional, caring instructors are here to ensure a fun, effective, and interactive learning experience. Set up 1-on-1 classes or form a group with your child’s besties!

China Institute’s Immersive Summer Program

40 Rector St., 2nd Floor, Financial District 212-744-8181 x143 chinainstitute.org/camp zfeng@chinainstitute.org Your child will discover Chinese language and culture like never before at China Institute’s Immersive Mandarin Summer Program! Participants ages 2-14 experience a flexible, six-week, immersive, virtual “tour” to 11 Chinese cities! In addition to language learning (from beginner to expert), campers enjoy activities like calligraphy, Chinese sports, theater, and cooking.

German School Manhattan

74 Warren St., Tribeca 646-869-1152 • germanschoolmanhattan.org info@germanschoolmanhattan.org German School Manhattan is the first international German-English kindergarten and bilingual lower school in Manhattan. GSM offers a re-imagined, child-centric curriculum that encompasses German and New York educational standards. Our small classes provide a joyful learning environment to encourage and shape future global citizens. Summer camp and after-school are also offered.

Pusteblume International Preschool and Afterschool Programs

244 W. 14th St., West Village 212-206-1137 pusteblumenyc.org • info@pusteblumenyc.org We are a German and Spanish language immersion school with after-school/enrichment programs open to students from other schools. Special inquiry and exploration-based curriculum is provided. Native-speaking faculty teaches music, movement, literacy, math concepts, and visual arts. Our fun, warm, learning environment cultivates the growth and development of your child.

Immersive Mandarin Summer Program for Children (ages 2-14) Travel Virtually Around China in Thirty Days! 环游中国三十天！ July 12 - August 20 www.chinainstitute.org/camp

NYMetroParents 31

family activities

Summer Boredom Busters

Between camp sessions, vacations, and afternoons at a museum or water park, there will be days when you wake up and wonder what the heck to do.

Make a family time capsule and bury it. Leave yourself a clue (somewhere you frequently look) with a reminder of when you hope to dig it up and where it was buried.

Play flashlight tag.

up with a secret handshake 5 Come or a funny word that only members of your immediate family are in on.

Have a sandcastle building competition. Points for size, creativity, and using natural items found on the beach.

Make your own hard-to-pop bubbles. Mix 1 cup of distilled water, 2 tablespoons of Dawn dish soap, and 1 tablespoon of glycerin. And make a bubble wand with the DIY found at nymetroparents.com/bubble-wand.

Play Would You Rather...?

2 Organize a neighborhood bike parade. It’s extra fun on July 4! 32

June/July 2021 | nymetroparents.com

Kids love to choose between two bizarre options—and you’ll get addicted to this game too. Would you rather investigate scary noises in the attic by yourself or sleep outside in a sleeping bag alone? (The best thing about this game: No props required.) Find more prompts at nymetroparents.com/rather.

Organize a neighborhood scavenger hunt.

Participating neighbors hide predetermined little treasures around their property, then open up their yards to the excitement.

1O Set up a “Mission Impossible” challenge.

Thread yarn in between and around furniture, lamps, railings (anything sturdy and safe in the same room). Challenge bored kids to move from one end of the room to the other without getting “zapped” by the “laser beams.”

Paint with ice. Fill ice cube trays with washable tempera paint, freeze, and head outside with paper (or another fun painting surface— shells, tree bark, fabric) to get messy.

Have a family movie night.

And don’t forget your family’s favorite movie theater treats!

Bake your favorite cookie recipe to make homemade ice cream sandwiches. Bonus points if you make your own ice cream, too!

Volunteer with your kids. Whether it’s picking up trash in the neighborhood park, making cookies for the local firehouse, or organizing a fundraiser for a charity, doing good will make your whole family feel good.

Grow a green thumb.

gardenschool.org 718.335.6363

GARDEN SCHOOL CONGRATULATES the CLASS OF 2021! Garden School Class of 2021 College Acceptances

NYMetroParents 33

family activities

Summer Boredom Busters cont’d

Find a hidden treasure. Geocaching is a modern-day, real-world scavenger hunt that combines modern orienteering and the great outdoors. Learn the rules of geocaching and find a treasure hunt in your area at nymetroparents.com/geo.

Take your dinner outside to dine al fresco.

21 22

Run through the sprinkler.

Relax on the beach while your kids build sandcastles. Make sure to slather on the sunscreen!

Excavate in ice! Running out of ideas on how to keep your wee ones busy on a sweltering day? Freeze a few small, inexpensive toys in a bucket of water, take it outside, and see who can dig one out first.

17 23 Play hopscotch. It’s even more fun than you remember. Draw pictures on the sidewalk with the leftover chalk.

Have a water balloon fight. Don’t forget to pick up all the balloon pieces when you’re done!

Tie-dye your world. Or perhaps just a T-shirt or beach towel—though usually, once we get started, we don’t want to stop! Tie-dye is the process of twisting, knotting, and crumpling fabric, binding it with string or elastics, and applying dye. Learn how to tie-dye with food coloring at nymetroparents.com/tie-dye.

Make a home movie, costumes and all! 34

June/July 2021 | nymetroparents.com

Go screen-free for a week. This is an experiment worth trying, even though it may be challenging!

Have a limbo contest. Crank up the tunes, grab a long stick, and find out how low the kids can go!

Lay back in the grass and see what shapes you can find in the clouds.

Score a hole in one!

There’s something for everyone, including indoor and outdoor facilities, fun obstacles, and courses for every skill and age level. Up the competition and play not just for bragging rights, but for a free pass from chore duty. Visit nymetroparents.com/mini-golf to find a course near you.

29 Shop local at a farmers’ market. Bring your kids to help choose fresh produce, then have them help make dinner.

Designate a family reading day.

Whether you’ve all gotten too much sun at the beach or a rainy day comes along, curl up on the porch, near a fan, or around the living room with a good book each. There’s something to be said for being lost in your own story while those you love are lost right next to you.

If it rains, let the raindrops help your kids create beautiful watercolor paintings! Find out how at nymetroparents.com/rain-painting.

Make sun tea.

Everyone has a favorite recipe, but the basic one is 5 tea bags of any type + 4 cups distilled water in a glass container, covered, for 2-4 hours in direct sunlight. Let the kids drizzle some honey in theirs.

NYMetroParents 35

family activities

Summer Boredom Busters cont’d

Build a home fit for a (fairy) queen.

Gather twigs, leaves, shells, flowers, moss, and any other found natural item, then scope out the perfect place for a fairy house (on a tree branch, in an old stump, under the shade of a large rock or boulder) and build!

42 33

Roast some marshmallows over the campfire for the quintessential summer treat: s’mores!

Learn how to Hula-Hoop.

Mark your calendar to gaze at the stars during the Perseids meteor shower.

Splash in some puddles. Or run around sans umbrella during a warm summer rain.

It’ll be active July 17-Aug. 26, but peak viewing will be Aug. 11-12.

44 Pick your own berries.

Just make sure your kids put more in the container than their mouths! Turn to p. 40 to find a roundup of our favorite locations.

35 Go for a family bike ride.

Clean out your closets and have a rummage sale. Then use the money for a family treat—or donate it to a charity the whole family agrees on.

4O 36

37 Catch fireflies in a jar. Go swimming! 38 Go camping. 39 Pitching a tent in your backyard counts!

Pizza party! Need we say more?

June/July 2021 | nymetroparents.com

Have a family slumber party in the living room.

Go for a hike. Visit nymetroparents.com/hike for the top 5 family-friendly hikes in the area.

47 Fly a kite. 48 Go fishing. 49 Go bowling.

5O Make a playlist.

Ask your child to make one for you, and you make one for her, then dance or chill and share the stories behind your song picks.

Teaching students to be independent thinkers and lifelong learners.

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For additional information and details about our great school, please call, email us, or go to our website!

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135-25 79th Street • Howard Beach, NY 11414

NYMetroParents 37

family activities

Top Water Parks for Families Spend the day seeking thrills! By Stacey Feintuch

Courtesy Kalahari Resorts

hen it comes to summer fun, sometimes it just must involve water. Look no further than indoor and outdoor water parks in the New York area. You’ll be cool all day, even if you have to wait in a line. There are plenty of options nearby, so we’ve rounded up a list of our favorite water parks in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania—all perfect for a day trip (or an overnight stay) from the NYC area. Grab your bathing suits and some sunscreen and prepare to beat the heat while staying cool.

Pirate’s Cove at the Land of Make Believe 54 Great Meadows Road – Route 611, Hope, NJ lomb.com • 908-459-9000 Hours: Daily, 10am-6pm; water park closes at 5:30pm and amusement rides close at 5:45pm AdMission: Pay One Price for unlimited rides, shows, and attractions: $34; $31 seniors ages 62 and older’ free for children younger than 3. Cash or Discover only. Ahoy mateys! Your kids may not stop talking like pirates after their visit to Pirate’s Cove, the waterpark section at the Land of Make Believe. Take a walk on the wild side with a thrilling ride down Pirate’s Peak, zooming through a tunnel and waterfalls. Or stay cool as you explore Buccaneer Pirate Ship and the wading pool, both ideal for smaller children. WHy We Like it: One admission price includes all rides, shows, and attractions, including the amusement park rides at Land of Make Believe. So, you’ll get an action-packed day of family fun, both on land and in the water.

runaway rapids Waterpark at keansburg Amusement Park 275 Beachway Ave., Keansburg, NJ keansburgamusementpark.com • 732-495-1400 Hours: Through June 27: daily, 11am to close*; June 28-Sept. 6: 38

June/July 2021 | nymetroparents.com

daily, 10am to close*; Sept. 11-12: Saturday-Sunday, 11am-5pm. *Closing times vary based on weather and park occupancy. AdMission: $33 for a 3-hour waterpark ticket; $15 MondayFriday, 4pm to close; $22 Saturday-Sunday and holidays, 4pm to close Enjoy dozens of rides for all ages. Test your acrobatic skills at the Nestea Plunge, a Tarzan-style rope swing. Defy gravity on the uphill waterslide where you’ll plunge downhill, only to be propelled back uphill and down again. The younger set will adore Toddler’s Reef, where they’ll find a dancing fountain, climbable jeep, and more, all geared just for their size. WHy We Like it: Those who aren’t fans of water parks don’t have to pay full price. Get a dry spectator ticket for $14.

six Flags Hurricane Harbor 1 Six Flags Blvd., Jackson, NJ sixflags.com • 732-928-2000 Hours: Through Sept. 5: daily, 10am-6pm; plus, Saturday, Sept. 11, 10am-6pm AdMission: $29.99 and up Thrill seekers will delight in the tall, fast, crazy, and of course, wet, rides here. At King Cobra, race through a snake’s body and then go face-to-face with a huge cobra head. Or raft through a 132-foot tunnel into the mouth of a huge funnel for a unique water rush. Little ones aren’t left out of the mix. They can explore Discovery Bay, a huge shallow water playground, or take it easy and cruise down the lazy river. WHy We Like it: If you want to make a full day of it, Six Flags Great Adventure is nearby.

splish splash 2549 Splish Splash Drive, Calverton splishsplash.com • 631-727-3600 Hours: Schedule varies; check the online calendar. AdMission: Weekends: $54.99; $44.99 seniors ages 60 and older, children ages 2 and younger, and those shorter than 48 inches. Weekdays: $49.99; $39.99 seniors ages 60 and older, children ages 2 and younger, and those shorter than 48 inches. Splish Splash, with 96 acres of slides and attractions, offers fun for everyone. Enjoy more than 20 water slides, two wave pools, a large kiddie area, lazy river, and a tropical bird

show. Plus, experience high speed slides like Bombs Away and Riptide Racer. Why We like it: Bootlegger’s Run is the only hydromagnetic water coaster in New York full of breathtaking drops, including one from nearly five stories high.

Splash Away Bay Waterpark at Quassy 2132 Middlebury Road (Route 64), Middlebury, CT quassy.com • 203-758-2913 hourS: Schedule varies; check the online calendar. AdmiSSion: Weekdays: $31.99; $27.99 seniors, military, and those shorter than 45 inches. Weekends: $33.99; $29.99 seniors, military, and those shorter than 45 inches. Splash Away Bay only: $25.99 weekdays; $29.99 weekends. $10 parking. Guests are strongly encouraged to purchase daily passes online for easier check-in and less personal contact when arriving at the park. This colorful and vibrant waterpark has many ways to get drenched. Get wet and have fun on waterslides that are gigantic and extreme. Saturation Station, an interactive water play area, features a huge tipping bucket. Slide City is the newest children’s attraction at the waterpark. Incorporating five waterslides, this complex is ideal for the younger set who can’t participate on the larger slides. Why We like it: It’s set on a pretty lakeside location. You’ll leave all your worries behind—for the day at least.

the Great Wolf lodge 1 Great Wolf Drive, Scotrun, PA greatwolf.com • 800-768-9653 hourS: daily, 10am-8pm AdmiSSion: Full- and half-day passes are available; prices vary by date. Feed your need for adventure at this indoor water park. Find out what it’s like to ride a roller coaster made of water on Hydro Plunge. It propels your raft, via a motorized track, up a steep climb, only to send you plunging down a thrilling 52-foot vertical drop. Or try The Double-Barrel Drop. It’s the ultimate water slide with flashing LED lights, electrifying twists and turns, barrel drops, and 450-degree spins. Why We like it: Come for a day with a pass that includes access to the water park and more.

kalahari resorts 250 Kalahai Blvd., Pocono Manor, PA kalahariresorts.com • 570-580-6000 hourS: Indoor water park: Sunday-Thursday, 10am-8pm; FridaySaturday, 10am-9pm. Outdoor water park: Closed for the season. AdmiSSion: Prices vary depending on the date; check website for details. At 220,000 square feet, this is the largest indoor waterpark in America. It’s part of Kalahari Resorts, a mega resort with an African theme (named after the Kalahari Desert). On the Anaconda, hang on tight as you navigate sharp turns and high-speed plunges on this family raft ride. Or go for Barrelling

Baboon, where you’ll slide through soaring dips and twists. Why We like it: Take lessons on how to swim like a mermaid or chomp like a shark.

mountain Creek Waterpark 200 Route 94, Vernon, NJ mcwaterpark.com • 973-827-2000 hourS: Daily, 11am-5pm AdmiSSion: $39.99; $10 parking. Passes must be purchased online. Enjoy the great outdoors, water style, at this mountainous water park. Get an adrenaline rush as you plummet through the double-looping thrill slide, Zero-G. Or see if you can handle the iconic Colorado River Rapids. Kids World features Junior Rapids and Fishing Village, a children’s water playground sure to entertain little ones. Why We like it: Try a popular attraction, The Canyon Cliff Jump. Leap off a ledge in front of spectators.

Crocodile Cove at lake Compounce 822 Lake Ave., Bristol, CT lakecompounce.com • 860-583-3300 hourS: Through Aug. 22: Sunday-Friday, 11am-6pm; Saturday, 11am-7pm; Aug. 28-Sept. 6: Saturday-Sunday and Labor Day, 11am-6pm AdmiSSion: Weekends: $49.99 ($54.99 at the gate); $39.99 ($44.99 at the gate) those shorter than 52 inches. Weekdays: $47.99 ($52.99 at the gate); $37.99 ($42.99 at the gate) those shorter than 52 inches. This is Connecticut’s largest waterpark, where you’ll find water rides that the whole family can enjoy. Enjoy multiple wave pools, water slides, special areas for the younger set, and a lake. Take an adventurous raft ride through Mammoth Falls. At Tunnel Twisters, plummet your way through twists and turns. See who splashes down first. Why We like it: Enjoy the amusement park when you’re done. Let kids enjoy their first kiddie coaster, ride the antique carousel, or spin themselves silly on the Drum Circus.

thundering Surf Waterpark 300 Taylor Ave., Beach Haven, NJ thunderingsurfwaterpark.com • 609-492-0869 hourS: Daily, 9:30am-6:30pm AdmiSSion: Day passes: $39.99. 2- and 3-hour admission options are available. Everyone in the family will have fun getting wet at Long Beach Island’s popular waterpark. Little ones can romp around, and adults can relax at Cowabunga Beach. Sail down 1 of 8 whirling water slides or float along the lazy river, which features interactive water play activities. Just beware of the river’s surprise water blasters. Why We like it: Toddlers will love the area just for them with 6 small foam slides, dancing floor jets, and small spray features. Stacey Feintuch is has written for ReadersDigest.com, BestofNJ.com, The Bump, Care.com, Healthline, Highlights for Kids, and other outlets. She lives in Bergen County, NJ. A mom to two boys, you’ll find her at the baseball diamond on the weekends.

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family activities

Go Berry Picking!

The top 10 spots to pick strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries. By Alison Leighton

erry picking is one of the most fun family activities when the season rolls around. When your children are small it is absolutely adorable to watch them learn how to pick the fruit and have fun filling up a little container, while also teaching them about where we get our food. Don’t forget sunscreen, your bottle of water, good shoes for walking on uneven ground, and some cash in case a farm doesn’t have an ATM. A tip before you head out: Always be sure to check with a farm in advance by calling or checking out its website or social media to find out what’s in season and what’s still available.

ochs orchard 4 Ochs Lane, Warwick ochsorchard.net • 845-986-1591 Hours: Farm Market: daily, 9am-5:30pm; pick your own: not announced yet Admission: Rates for 2021 have not been announced yet. Mid-June kicks off the pick-your-own season with strawberries, and in July there are peaches, blueberries, raspberries and plums. August has tomatoes, peaches, peppers, eggplant, raspberries, nectarines, apricots and plums. Be sure to check out the Farm Market with delicious goods made from the farm’s produce and veggies like jams and jellies, pure maple syrup, butters, apple cider, honey, and more.

Patty’s Berries and Bunches

Garden of Eve Farm 4558 Sound Ave., Riverhead gardenofevefarm.com • 631-722-8777 Hours: Through July 16: daily, 9am-6pm (hours for the farm and the U-Pick time slots); call ahead to make sure berries are available at the day and time you plan to come. Admission: $9.95; free for children younger than 2. Fee does not include the cost of berries. This organic farm is dedicated to providing delicious organic vegetables and fruits. It’s one of the only certified organic U-pick fields on Long Island and it offers other fun activities too! Strawberries are available through the end of June, blueberries are available beginning in late June, and blackberries are available starting mid-July. Admission includes unlimited access to U-pick organic field and the Family Fun Fields, which include unlimited hayrides (Saturday-Sunday, 11am-4pm), pedal karts, hay tower, farm animals, spider web, live music, and more.

June/July 2021 | nymetroparents.com

410 Sound Ave., Mattituck pattysberriesandbunches.org • 631-655-7996 Hours: daily, 9am-5pm Admission: Free; $7.50 per basket for U-pick fruit. This farm offers a variety of seasonal U-Pick fruit options starting in June with strawberries, then raspberries and blueberries in July, and blackberries in August. There are a number of beautiful flower bunches you can purchase as well. Be sure to stop at The Ice Cream Patch, the farm’s ice cream stand, and indulge in seasonal ice cream made from the farm’s own fruits.

Alstede Farms 1 Alstede Farms Lane, Chester, NJ alstedefarms.com • 908-879-7189 Hours: Pick Your Own: daily, 9am-6pm; last entry is 5pm. Farm store: daily, 9am-7pm. Admission: $9.99 entry, plus 1 quart; $6.99 additional quarts; $49.99 entry, plus 6 quarts; $44.99 additional 6 quarts. Tickets must be purchased in advance on the website. Pick-your-own strawberries are in season through June, while blueberries and raspberries are in season at the end June through July, and blackberries will be available mid-August. Plus, there are lots of activities to keep your children happy, such as pony rides and a seasonal maze (the evergreen maze is open now, while

the corn and sunflower mazes will open later in the summer). As a result of COVID, you now must pre-purchase a PYO ticket for a specific time slot online. Before you leave, make sure you try some homemade ice cream from the stand made with the farm’s own freshly picked fruits.

Johnson’s Corner Farm 133 Church Road, Medford, NJ johnsonsfarm.com • 609-654-8643 Hours: Pick Your Own: Monday-Friday, 10am-1pm; SaturdaySunday, 10am-4pm; Evening U Pick: Wednesday and Friday, 5-7pm Admission: $5 Monday-Friday; $6 Saturday-Sunday; free for children younger than 1. Tickets must be purchased in advance. Picked farm produce will be weighed and paid for by count or weight as you exit the u-pick experience. “Planting Seeds, Harvesting Memories.” With a cute motto like that, how can you resist checking it out? Johnson’s Corner Farm has seasonal fruit picking, such as strawberries from mid-May to mid-June, along with cherries, blueberries, snap peas, string beans, and radishes in other seasons. Plus, kids will enjoy the hayrides, ice cream, and other fun activities (at an additional cost) such as the Discovery Barnyard and Animal Farm, which includes a fun splash pad for children and the opportunity to feed some farm animals.

Von Thun’s Country Farm market 519 Ridge Road, Monmouth Junction, NJ • 732-329-8656 438 Route 57 West, Washington, NJ • 732-986-6816 vonthunfarms.com Hours: daily, 9am-5pm; reservations required on weekends. Admission: $3; free for children ages 2 and younger, plus picking containers: $5 pint; $7 quart; $25 bucket Von Thun’s has two farms in NJ, each with “u-pick” activities and on-site farm markets that sell its delicious varieties of produce. During the summer months, the South Brunswick location lets you pick strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries, while the Washington location offers strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, and peaches.

Terhune orchards 330 Cold Soil Road, Princeton NJ terhuneorchards.com • 609-924-2310 Hours: Daily, 9am-5pm (blueberries not available for picking Mondays throughout the season) Admission: Call before you visit to find out the latest pricing for the season. Strawberries: $4 minimum charge per person ages 3 and older paid before you enter the patch. This will get credited to the final amount picked at the end. Ripe strawberries are available late May through early June, cherries (sweet and sour) and blueberries are ready mid-June, and blackberries are available in July. Families can visit the farm animals in the barnyard and enjoy the children’s play area. The orchards also have a winery, family activities, and a full calendar of events like a winery music series, Kite Day, and “Read & Pick” events for children. You can also find fresh pressed cider, pies, and other homemade goodies at the country-style Farm Store.

Jones Family Farms 606 Walnut Tree Hill Road, Shelton, CT jonesfamilyfarms.com • 203-929-8425 Hours: Strawberry season: Monday-Saturday, 8am-5:30pm; Sunday, 8am-12pm. Blueberry season: Tuesday-Saturday, 8am-5:30pm Admission: Admission to the farm is free, and berries are purchased by the pound. The strawberry picking season starts mid-June and lasts into the end of June, sometimes early July. Blueberries are typically available in early to mid-July and usually last until mid-August. The Jones Family has owned the farm for more than 150 years and claims to have one of the finest harvest-your-own picking experiences due to its high-quality crops and the knowledgeable, friendly farmers.

silverman’s Farm 451 Sport Hill Road, Easton, CT silvermansfarm.com • 203-261-3306 Hours: Pick Your Own: daily, 9am-4:30pm (when fruits are in season). Farm Market and Animal Farm: daily 9am-5pm. Admission: Pre-purchased bags are required before entering the orchard. This farm has fruit picking, an Animal Farm, and a market with jellies, cheeses, pies, and more. The beginning of July is the kickoff to the berry picking season. Raspberries and blueberries will be ready at that time, and peach picking begins in mid-July. Children can visit the Animal Farm to feed and pet buffalo, llamas, alpacas, deer, and more (there is an admission fee), and during the summer the Animal Farm hosts story and craft times (free with paid admission).

Evergreen Berry Farm 435 Bassett Road, Watertown, CT evergreenberryfarm.com • 860-274-0825 Hours: Daily, 8am-8pm during peak season (typically July-August). Call or check Facebook for current hours and berry updates! Admission: Blueberries: $5.99 per pound; $3.99 per pound over 9 pounds. Raspberries: $7.99 per pound. Containers are provided or bring your own. Evergreen Berry Farm is organically managed with special attention to soil biology and nutrition—a real ecological gem! Use this as an educational lesson for your children while you visit. Pick-your-own berry seasons run July-August for blueberries and early to mid-July for Black raspberries. When you visit, be sure to check out their fresh seltzers and iced teas made with the farm’s very own berries, herbs, and flowers. Alison Leighton is the founder of Social Parent NYC (@SocialParentNYC), which hosts events for parents and their babies/toddlers. She lives in NYC with her husband and son and spends a lot of time reading Corduroy and wondering why Play-Doh smells so good.

NYMetroParents 41

Summer Activities Big SNOW American Dream

1 American Dream Way, East Rutherford, NJ 973-864-6600 bigsnowamericandream.com info@bigsnowad.com Big SNOW American Dream is North America’s first and only indoor, year-round, real-snow ski and snowboard resort. Located right in New Jersey. Big because it’s big fun for everyone. And SNOW because, well, we have lots of it. Even in the summer! Every day is a snow day at Big SNOW.

Empire State Building

20 W. 34th St., Midtown Manhattan 212-736-3100 esbnyc.com The new Empire State Building provides a new way for families to see New York. Explore our new museum featuring 12 interactive exhibits. Visit the main 86th Floor Observatory for breathtaking, open-air views and the brand-new 102nd Floor Observatory for 360° floorto-ceiling glass views. Learn more or purchase tickets at esbnyc.com.

JCC of Staten Island

718-475-5223 sijcc.org/join sscmembership@sijcc.com The JCC Summer Swim Club is open! Our summer-only membership includes giant figure-8 slide, fun activities, special events, chairs, lounges, and canopies in a large grassy area; café delivery available. Reservations are required for entry. For more information contact 718475-5223 or email sscmembership@sijcc.com. Learn more and join at sijcc.org/join.

National September 11 Memorial & Museum

180 Greenwich St., Lower Manhattan 212-312-8800 911memorial.org/visit reservations@911memorial.org The Family Pass is intended for families or small groups up to five people exploring NYC together. The package includes two adult and up to three child and/ or young-adult admission tickets to the museum for a discounted price of $82.

Play Big Zone

300 Campus Drive, Morganville, NJ 732-991-1993 playbigzone.com Play Big Zone offers a variety of unique experiences and entertainment that the entire family will enjoy! Join us for a celebration or open play where everyone can “play big” with fun, well-organized activities, amazing games, and the chance to win big prizes. Call now to customize your Play Big Zone experience!

Playland Amusement Park

Playland Parkway, Rye 914-813-7000 playlandpark.org Playland Park, home of the Dragon Coaster, will open for fun Saturday, June 26 through Labor Day, Sept. 6; Wednesday-Sunday and Mondays, July 5 and Sept. 6. Save time, buy online, pre-purchase day of visit at playlandpark.org. Pricing: Rider $20, Junior Rider $15, Spectator $10, car parking $10.

Rab’s Country Lanes

1600 Hylan Blvd., Staten Island 718-979-1600 bowlatrabs.com info@bowlatrabs.com Rab’s Country Lanes has been providing a fun, safe haven for New York City residents for more than 25 years. In addition to our bowling alley, lounge, party rooms, eats, and pro shop, we offer something every community needs: a place to have fun with friends and family.

Richmond County Sailing School

112 Mansion Ave., Staten Island 718-984-0621 richmondcountysailingschool.com Have you ever dreamed of learning to sail on the ocean? Learn with us in the sheltered harbor of Great Kills and the open Raritan Bay. Our U.S. Sailing-certified Keelboat Course relays all the basic methodologies, strategies, theories, and best practices. Advance courses are also available.

Ripley’s Believe it or Not! Times Square

234 W. 42nd St., Times Square, Manhattan 212-398-3133 ripleysnewyork.com fun@ripleysny.com Ripley’s Times Square in New York City will astonish visitors! As the largest Believe It or Not! in North America with more than 20 galleries and more than 500 artifacts (including the Little Apple room and Manhattan’s only LaseRace™), Ripley’s is open daily, 9am-1am. Perfect for visitors and groups of all ages.

Seastreak Summer Activities

NYC and NJ 800-BOAT-RIDE (262-8743) seastreak.com contact@seastreak.com Your summer on the water awaits! Seastreak offers much more than traditional ferry services. Hop aboard a boat in NYC for a whale watching cruise or a trip to Sandy Hook beach! Then stop by our casual beach bar, The Sandbox, for drinks, live music, and delicious food from popular food trucks!

Staten Island Children’s Museum

1000 Richmond Terrace, Building M, Staten Island On the grounds of Snug Harbor Cultural Center 718-273-2060 sichildrensmuseum.org A hands-on place for children to explore, learn, and play. We have 10 indoor and two outdoor interactive exhibits that harness the natural curiosity of children. We frequently have free outdoor shows and performances in front of the museum. Check out our online calendar and come join in the fun!

Top of the Rock

50th Street, between Fifth and Sixth avenues, Midtown, Manhattan 212-698-2000 topoftherocknyc.com Stand among skyscrapers at Top of the Rock. With sweeping views of Central Park and Manhattan’s Uptown, Midtown, and Downtown skyscrapers, the view from Top of the Rock is truly unforgettable. Enjoy three indoor and outdoor viewing decks, including the 70th floor open-air roof deck. Visit topoftherocknyc.com for tickets and information.

Wheel Fun Rentals

Seven New York locations in Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island! 917-231-6229 wheelfunrentals.com/nyc Get outside for summer fun! Take a spin around the park on a Surrey or cruise on the water in a pedal boat. We offer specialty cycles, family bikes, two-wheel bikes, bike attachments, pedal boats, kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards. Product varies by location. Group rates for parties and camps.

Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Zoos and Aquarium

1-800-433-4149 The Bronx Zoo: 2300 Southern Blvd., Bronx Central Park Zoo: 830 Fifth Ave., Manhattan Queens Zoo: 53-51 111th St., Corona, Queens Prospect Park Zoo: 450 Flatbush Ave., Prospect Park, Brooklyn New York Aquarium: 602 Surf Ave., Coney Island, Brooklyn wcs.org/parks The Wildlife Conservation Society’s Zoos and Aquarium have your summer covered with fun, educational, children and family experiences! Whether online or in person, we provide unforgettable experiences for your family including hands-on activities, up-close animal experiences, and tons of educational fun that builds on a child’s innate love for our wild planet.

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Scoop

June/July 2021 | nymetroparents.com

nymetroparents.com/register

HILLCREST JEWISH CENTER DAY CAMP “The Camp Where Everybody Knows Your Name”

REGISTER SOON!!! Space is limited Visit hjcdaycamp.org for a VIRTUAL TOUR Email daycamp@hillcrestjc.org to arrange for an IN-PERSON TOUR

Program for Children 4-14 Years Old • Extended Hours for Working Parents • Red Cross Swim Program • Sports (Basketball, Soccer, Softball, Volleyball) • Drama & Arts and Crafts • Large Gymnasium & Recreation Room • Catered Kosher Lunches & P.M. Snacks • Drone Training and Krav Maga

• Jewish Culture Program • End of Summer Carnival • Day Trips • Early Morning Supervision • Weekly Cookouts • Door-to-Door AC Transportation • Gymnastics and Dance NEW • Shabbat Services

Online Registration: Go to hjcdaycamp.org to register NOW! Like us on

@hjcdaycamp

rtial Full & Pa rograms Season P le Availab

LARGE INDOOR POOL!

for 2021! 3D Design & Printing

183-02 Union Tpke., Flushing 11366 • hjcdaycamp.org • daycamp@hillcrestjc.org • Call 718-380-4145

NYMetroParents 43

education

Preventing Brain Drain 8 ways to stop the summer slide before it starts By Jessica Allen

ummer slide, brain drain, skill slippage. No matter what you call it, learning loss during school vacation is real—and so are its damaging effects. Studies cited by the National Summer Learning Association estimate that more than 50 percent of U.S. students experience summer learning loss. Spread across five years, some students can lose, on average, approximately 40 percent of academic advances. But learning loss can be prevented, with some effort and engagement on the part of grown-ups. Amita Gupta, Ed.D., professor of early childhood education at CUNY, recommends families use a schedule. “The planned experiences for children should serve to support their growth in four developmental domains (cognitive, social, emotional, and physical), and also address some academic content learning in literacy, social studies, math, and science. This may sound daunting to parents, but the good news is that several of these targets can be reached with a single activity or experience.”

Cook REad Reading “just four to six books during the summer has the potential to prevent a decline in reading achievement scores from the spring to the fall,” according to the Colorado Department of Education. The New York Public Library is offering tons of summer reading activities, and your local library likely has events and reading lists divided by age. Heighten the fun by having your kid start a virtual book club with a far-flung relative or friend. And remember the value of modeling. Kids tend to do as we do, not necessarily as we say. If you want to raise a reader, don’t forget to make time to read yourself.

Cooking your own meals doesn’t just help your wallet— it helps your child’s brain. Use cooking as an opportunity to talk and learn about: • Math: How much do you need of each ingredient? How many people are drinking soda? How many people are drinking milk? • Chemistry: What happens when you mix one ingredient with another? What happens when you add heat? • Human anatomy: Why does food taste the way it does? How do we convert food into energy? What happens to the calories or food we don’t need? • Environmental sustainability: Where was this food grown? How, and by whom? How did it get from there to your table? • Culture: Why does your family eat what it eats? What kinds of foods did you grow up eating? How does food reinforce culture? What kinds of foods are common across cultures? Dial the conversation up or down, depending on your kid’s age and interest. Remember: It doesn’t have to be cooking. “Whatever the household chore—gardening, grocery shopping, laundry, cleaning and organizing, taking a walk—can all be turned into experiences in sorting, classifying, sequencing, observing, predicting, sharing, helping, team building, and problem solving,” Dr. Gupta notes.

do SoME MatH Incorporating learning into your everyday life will help your child become a lifelong learner. It also reminds kids why fundamentals and facts are so important. At the grocery store, talk about what you could buy for $5 or $500. Discuss budgeting. Have a chat about wants versus needs. Point out different shapes to little kids. Teach tweens how credit cards work. And teenagers can learn about the magic of compound interest. Avoid falling into the all-too-common parent trap of saying “I’m terrible at math” by showing how much we all use math every single day.

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June/July 2021 | nymetroparents.com

Play gaMeS The boom in tabletop gaming means there’s a game for every skill you wish to cultivate in your child. But your kids will be having too much fun to realize they’re actually learning. In Scotland Yard (suitable for kids 8 and older), for example, players use logic and critical thinking to find a criminal’s London location. Weird But True—based on the beloved book series by National Geographic—requires players (ages 8 and older) to consider whether a wacky factoid is true or false. The uber-popular Wingspan teaches players (ages 14 and older) about birds, ecology, and biology.

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CheCk the Mail

Subscription boxes give you the chance to experience the world without leaving your house. The day our Universal Yums subscription snack box arrives is one of the happiest in my household. My son and I make predictions about that month’s country, then we enjoy reading about the fun facts (and ranking the snacks) in the colorful, fun booklet that accompanies the treats. Sometimes we draw maps. Sometimes we talk about history or politics. No matter what, we eat all the candy.

go to living rooM SuMMer SChool Is your kid a budding coder? Mixed media artist? Cat lover? Regardless of your child’s interest, there’s a class for that. The pandemic has seen a boom in online learning, with options ranging from a short, one-off class to a multiweek deep-dive. Outschool has tons of video-based classes for kids age 3-18, including math practice, geography, and chess, and social clubs, too.

Join, or extend, a learning Pod When COVID shut down in-person learning, many parents formed learning pods—small groups led by a teacher or tutor. If you already have one from the academic year, consider extending it through the summer, perhaps with some extra sports or crafts thrown in. If not, consider finding a few like-minded families to form a learning pod. Establish your expectations (frequency of meeting, topics discussed, amount of work to be done, masks on or off). The pod’s facilitator could be a recent high school or college graduate, or perhaps a teacher on summer break. How much to pay this person depends on several factors, but you should be realistic about what you’re asking the person and the kids to do.

Set goalS and Celebrate

Set actionable, realistic goals, then celebrate them. Maybe you want your soon-to-be third-grader to read five books over the summer. Set up a chart, add some stickers, and break the big goal (five books) into smaller goals (one chapter every week). Every two chapters gets an ice cream. The right incentive can help motivate.

Above all, make it fun. It is summer, after all. Jessica Allen writes about food, culture, travel, and New York City, where she lives.

What kidS have to Say… I asked my son’s first-grade classmates for suggestions about ways to grow their brains during the summer. Here’s what they said: • Write for fun • Do workbooks • Keep a journal or diary of all the fun things you do • Cool your brain by going swimming • Eat a lot of good stuff • Go to summer camp • Have a sleepover on the Intrepid

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Camp Directory Brooklyn >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory DNA Learning Center

Cold Spring Harbor and Brooklyn 516-367-5170 summercamps.dnalc.org The Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory DNA Learning Center offers weeklong, biology-focused summer camps for students entering sixth to 12th grades. Join us at the flagship in Cold Spring Harbor, our new center in Brooklyn, or virtually. Campers use sophisticated laboratory and computer equipment to perform experiments that are grade levels above their peers.

Derek Kellogg Basketball Camp

Long Island University (Downtown Brooklyn location, 1 University Plaza) coachkellogg.com mvogel33@gmail.com Does your child love basketball? Come spend a week of fun and learning the game at Long Island University located in downtown Brooklyn! Kids will play games, compete in contests, and learn the fundamentals of basketball! Available for children of all skill levels in third to 10th grades!

Park Slope Day Camp

Ronny Schindler, director Carroll Gardens, Prospect Park, Windsor Terrace 718-788-7732 parkslopedaycamp.com For 30 years, Park Slope Day Camp has been providing Brooklyn families with a safe, nurturing, and unique day camp experience. Located in Carroll Gardens, Prospect Park, and Windsor Terrace, we offer a wide variety of outdoor activities and options including traditional camp, soccer, and more.

Splat Camp

9 Hanover Place, Downtown Brooklyn 646-343-9888 splatcamps.com splatcamp@voicesadvance.com Come to Splat Camp where we blend art, play, and STEM into a unique magical experience for kids age 4-10. Make slime, learn about space, and play outside. Our camp appeals equally to artsy kids, brainy kids, science lovers, mythology fans, and creative thinkers! We are #ProNerd all day.

Manhattan >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Billie Jean King National Tennis Center

Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, Flushing, Queens ntc.usta.com The Billie Jean National Tennis Center offers year-round programs: daytime, after-school, and weekend, as well as fun-filled summer day camps with multi-sport activities for all ages and levels. Campers work on tennis techniques, tactics, multi-sport conditioning, and strategy. Enrollment available at ntc.usta.com.

Bloomingdale School of Music

323 W. 108th St., Upper West Side 212-663-6021 Virtual Office: 201-578-4289 bsmny.org • registrar@bsmny.org Bloomingdale is excited to welcome the return of in-person instruction, offering blended learning options in our historic brownstone July 5-Aug. 29, 2021! Offerings include fun and interactive early childhood classes, flexible private lesson packages, beginner music theory, ensembles, and four weeklong immersive workshops!

China Institute’s Immersive Summer Program

40 Rector St., 2nd Floor, Financial District 212-744-8181 x143 chinainstitute.org/camp zfeng@chinainstitute.org Your child will discover Chinese language and culture like never before at China Institute’s Immersive Mandarin Summer Program! Participants 2-14 experience a flexible, six-week, immersive, virtual “tour” to 11 Chinese cities! In addition to language learning (from beginner to expert), campers enjoy activities like calligraphy, Chinese sports, theater, and cooking.

German School Manhattan

LeapUp Learning Mandarin Immersion Summer Camp

1751 Second Ave., between 91st and 92nd streets, Upper East Side 646-870-0560 leapuplearning.com info@leapuplearning.com The camp is designed for children ages 4-12. Weekly enrollment with full- and half-day options available from June 28-Aug. 20. Indoor and outdoor activities include language lessons, arts, music, theater, and science experiments. We offer a true, immersive, language environment with teacher-to-student ratio of 1-to-4. All language levels are welcome.

Museum of Arts and Design

2 Columbus Circle, Upper West Side 212-299-7777 madmuseum.org/learn/making-mad-summer-camp education@madmuseum.org Making with MAD summer camps are virtual immersions in art and design for curious creatives age 8-13. MAD’s experienced artist-educators will lead hands-on making activities. Each week, an artist-in-residence from the museum’s Artist Studios program will welcome participants for a virtual studio visit.

June/July 2021 | nymetroparents.com

Oasis Summer Day Camps in Manhattan

Oasis in Central Park: 795 Columbus Ave. 646-698-1800 Avital Lazar, director centralpark@oasischildren.com Oasis in Downtown-PS 110: 285 Delancey St. 649-519-5058 Stacey Soto, director downtown@oasischildren.com oasischildren.com Oasis Day Camp prides itself on age-appropriate programming for ages 3-15. Early Start (ages 3-5) is a nurturing camp environment. Lower (first-second grade) offers sports, arts, swim, enrichment, and nature. Upper (third-sixth grades) is bigger and better for older campers. Teen Travel (seventh-ninth grades) offers unique trips, overnights, and friendships.

Pusteblume International Preschool, Summer Camp, and Afterschool Programs

244 W. 14th St., West Village 212-206-1137 pusteblumenyc.org • info@pusteblumenyc.org We are a German and Spanish language immersion school with summer camp and after-school/enrichment programs open to students from other schools. Special inquiry and exploration-based curriculum is provided. Native-speaking faculty teaches music, movement, literacy, math concepts, and visual arts.

Treehouse Shakers

treehouseshakers.com contactus@treehouseshakers.com Treehouse Shakers, an awarded arts company, elevates experiences while building community. Our Playwriting Camp, ages 10-14, nurtures aspiring young writers to create an original play, which culminates with a performance. Branching Out: LGBTQIA+ Book Group, ages 11-14, is a brave space to explore identities that are often overlooked in literature.

Queens >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> All Star Studios

108-21 72nd Ave. (4th floor), Forest Hills 718-268-2280 allstarstudiosnyc.com allstarstudiosnyc@gmail.com Register now for All Star Studio’s Summer and/or Fall 2021 Session of jazz, tap, ballet, hip-hop, and acro, for ages 3 and older. Demonstrative assistants included so teachers can focus on students’ progression. Ask about our Monday Night Dance Madness classes and our August Dance Intensive session. Register for your free trial!

Billie Jean King National Tennis Center

Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, Flushing ntc.usta.com The Billie Jean National Tennis Center offers year-round programs: daytime, after-school, and weekend, as well as fun-filled summer day camps with multi-sport activities for all ages and levels. Campers work on tennis techniques, tactics, multi-sport conditioning, and strategy. Enrollment available at ntc.usta.com.

Countryside Montessori School

354 Lakeville Road, Lower Level, Great Neck 516-466-8422 cmsgn.com info@cmsgn.com Countryside Montessori School is offering in-person camp for children ages 18 months to 6 years old. There are morning academics for the older children and playtime for all children. Zoom sessions are also being offered in the morning with a different topic each day.

Hillcrest Jewish Center Day Camp

183-02 Union Turnpike, Flushing 718-380-4145 hjcdaycamp.org daycamp@hillcrestjc.org The camp “where everybody knows your name” offers programs for campers from preschool through our Counselor-in-Training program for age 14. Our age-appropriate programs include Red Cross swim instruction, arts and crafts, outdoor play and exercise, sports, field trips, drama, Jewish culture programs, special events and activities, and weekly cookouts.

Ivy Day School

65-01 Kissena Blvd., Flushing 718-460-6366 70-44 Kissena Blvd., Flushing 718-880-1888 104-70 Queens Blvd., Forest Hills 718-997-1997 ivydayschool.com dinam@ivydayschool.com At Ivy Day School (three locations), we provide our decade-long standard of academic excellence to children ages 2-5. We envision students will develop essential skills for a lifetime of achievements via fun, stimulating activities. Call to ask about our special summer program for children ages 4-6.

Little Blossoms of Middle Village

8402 60th Ave., Middle Village 917-627-5679 917-745-0955 littleblossomsofmiddlevillage.com littleblossomsofvillage@gmail.com Little Blossoms of Middle Village summer camp program

offers instruction in art, group games, sports, music, and nature. Students participate in clubs such as science, drama, and arts. They offer nature walks, picnics at Juniper Park, and summer carnival. Hours are 7am–7pm this summer!

Magic Day Camp

216-15 Peck Ave., Bayside 718-634-8109 magicdaycamp.com Magic Day Camp, “Where Every Day Is Magical,” offers children ages 4-15 adventures and activities that stimulate and motivate minds and physical ability. We swim every day in an Olympic country club pool. With exciting weekly trips, our rates include door-to-door transportation, healthy lunches, professional tennis, dance, and instructional sports programs.

Noah’s Ark Preparatory

38-20 Bell Blvd., Bayside 718-279-4251 noahsarkschool.com noahsarkpreparatory@gmail.com Noah’s Ark Preparatory Inc. strives to create a learning environment, which invites the fullest potential of each person’s gifts. Both nursery and pre-kindergarten classrooms are divided into distinct learning areas and foster the love of learning. Please call for information about our programs, including UPK and summer camp for ages 2-10.

Oasis Day Camp Queens

Oasis in Bayside – Fort Totten Totten Avenue and 15th Road, Bayside 516-738-5010 Charles Giegerich, director oasischildren.com bayside@oasischildren.com Oasis Day Camp prides itself on age-appropriate programming for ages 3-15. Early Start (ages 3-5) is a nurturing camp environment. Lower (first-second grade) offers sports, arts, swim, enrichment, and nature. Upper (third-sixth grades) is bigger and better for older campers. Teen Travel (seventh-ninth grades) offers unique trips, overnights, friendships.

Sunday Party? ! Save $50

Rose Academy of Ballet

70-11 Austin St., Forest Hills 718-520-0207 roseacademyofballet.com racademyofballet@gmail.com A thoughtful dance program that combines movement and music, while always leaving space for personal creativity. Students are taught by professionals in their field! Join us for dance classes, ages 3 and older! We offer pre-ballet, jazz, hip-hop, acro, and more! Register for summer camp or classes now!

School of Rock Queens 2021 Summer Program 34-43 Francis Lewis Blvd., Lower Level, Suite 2, Bayside 929-999-7625 Sam Ventura, general manager locations.schoolofrock.com/queens queens@schoolofrock.com With camp choices for all ages and skill levels, School of Rock is the perfect summer activity for your child. From beginner camps to songwriting and themed performance-based camps, we offer a wide variety of options to ensure your child has an amazing, immersive musical experience.

St. Francis Preparatory School: Summer at SFP

6100 Francis Lewis Blvd., Fresh Meadows 718-423-8810 x223 sfponline.org Each summer St. Francis Prep offers a broad, varied program to benefit students who are not yet in high school. These programs, taught by Prep teachers and coaches, range from sports camps such as basketball, baseball, and volleyball, to special interest areas, such as music theater and video game design.

Tinker Lab at Lewis Latimer House Museum

3441 137th St., Flushing 718-961-8585 lewislatimerhouse.org/tinkerlab education@lewislatimerhouse.org Tinker Lab provides hands-on, project-based STEAM instruction for kids ages 7-10. Projects will explore coding, animation, engineering, hands-on making, and artistic design. Live instruction is held virtually on Zoom. Register for summer camps at lewislatimerhouse.org/tinkerlab.

Weekda y Party? Save $1 00!

NYC Birthday Clowns Kids Party Entertainment Face Painting, Balloon Twisting, Magic, and More! www.NYCBirthdayClowns.com

NYCBirthdayClowns@gmail.com

(646) 961-4808 NYMetroParents 47

All Star Studios allstarstudiosnyc.com Forest Hills

Billie Jean King National Tennis Center ntc.usta.com Flushing

Bloomingdale School of Music bsmny.org/classes/summer2021 Upper West Side

Brooklyn Music School brookylnmusicschool.org/ summer-2021 Fort Greene

Dance

arts & crafts

Special Needs

Buckley Summer Academy buckleysummeracademy.com Roslyn

Camp Reece campreece.org Saratoga Springs

Camp SAY campsay.org East Stroudsburg, PA

Camp Settoga campsettoga.org Pomona

Chatty Child Speech and Occupational Therapy, PLLC chattychild.com Tribeca

Collina Italiana collinaitaliana.com Upper East Side

June/July 2021 | nymetroparents.com

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory DNA Learning Center summercamps.dnalc.org/ dnalc-nyc City Tech, Brooklyn

music

Atlantic Acting School atlanticactingschool.org Chelsea

China Institute chinainstitute.org/camp Downtown Manhattan

academic enrichment

Day Trips

Swimming

Sports

Theater

STeam/robotics

ProgramS: Half-Day option

Flexible Scheduling

extended Hours

Lunch

Transportation

Camp Guide

ServiceS:

• Summer Camp (for ages 4-10) July 12th - August 19th • Summer Semester June 6th - August 14th Ask about our Fall Classes!

• Dance Intensives (for ages 10+) June 28th - July 2nd

Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Tap, Acro, Contemporary, Hip Hop, Modern Dance, and Competitive Dance Teams 70-11 Austin Street, 2nd Floor • Forest Hills, NY racademyofballet@gmail.com www.roseacademyofballet.com

718-520-0207 NYMetroParents 49

Countryside Montessori School cmsgn.com Great Neck

Ivy Day School ivydayschool.com Forest Hills, Flushing

Kon Gen International Preschool kongeninternationalpreschool.com Bayside

Laurissa Jane Music ljanemusic.org St. Albans

Magic Day Camp magicdaycamp.com Bayside

Mill Basin Day Camp millbasindaycamp.com Mill Basin

arts & crafts

Special Needs

Dance l

Lewis Latimer House Museum lewislatimerhouse.org/tinkerlab Flushing

LeapUp Learning leapuplearning.com Upper East Side

June/July 2021 | nymetroparents.com

music

academic enrichment

Day Trips

Swimming

Sports l

Little Blossoms of Middle Village littleblossomsofmiddlevillage.com Middle Village

Imagine Works Youth Theatre imagineworksonline.com West Village

Theater

German School Manhattan germanschoolmanhattan.org Tribeca Hillcrest Jewish Center Day Camp hjcdaycamp.org Flushing

STeam/robotics

Derek Kellogg Basketball Camp coachkellogg.com Downtown Brooklyn Garden School gardenschool.org/programs/ summer Jackson Heights

ProgramS: Half-Day option

Flexible Scheduling

extended Hours

Lunch

Transportation

Camp Guide

ServiceS:

Virtual TINKER LAB S.T.E.A.M. SUMMER CAMP with the

LEWIS LATIMER HOUSE MUSEUM

Session one: July 19-23 9:30am-12:00pm, Session two: July 26-30 2pm-4:30pm

lewislatimerhouse.org/tinkerlab 718-961-8585

EXPLORE & LEARN

CODING ANIMATION ENGINEERING HANDS-ON MAKING ARTISTIC DESIGN

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Museum of Arts and Design madmuseum.org/learn/ making-mad-summer-camp Upper West Side l

NORY nory.co/summer Various locations throughout Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Long Island City

Oasis Camp in Bayside oasischildren.com Bayside

Oasis Camp in Central Park oasischildren.com Upper West Side

Oasis Camp in Downtown oasischildren.com Downtown Manhattan

Park Slope Day Camp parkslopedaycamp.com Carroll Gardens, Prospect Park Windsor Terrace,

Play On! Studios playonstudios.com Upper West Side

Rose Academy of Ballet roseacademyofballet.com Forest Hills

School of Rock Queens queens.schoolofrock.com Bayside

Splat Camp splatcamps.com Downtown Brooklyn l

Stepping Stones steppingstones86.com Bay Ridge

June/July 2021 | nymetroparents.com

Pusteblume International Preschool pusteblumenyc.org West Village

Dance

Noah’s Ark Preparatory noahsarkschool.com Bayside

Stargazer Day Camp stargazerdaycamp.com Marine Park

arts & crafts

Special Needs

music

academic enrichment

Day Trips

Swimming

Sports

Theater

STeam/robotics

ProgramS: Half-Day option

Flexible Scheduling

extended Hours

Lunch

Transportation

Camp Guide

ServiceS:

2021 Summer Camps & Academy Football Fitness & Conditioning Baseball • Cheer • Girls Basketball • Softball Boys Basketball • Volleyball • Dance • Soccer Concert Band • Electronic Orchestration Computer & Fine Arts • Music Technology Musical Theatre • TACHS Prep STEM • Video Game Design Culture through Language & Fun

Summer is right around the corner! For more information please go to www.SFPonline.org

“High School is four years; St. Francis Prep is Forever.” ST. FRANCIS PREPARATORY SCHOOL 6100 Francis Lewis Blvd. Fresh Meadows, NY 11365 (718) 423-8810 ext 223 • Summers@SFPonline.org • www.SFPonline.org #SFP4ever #TerrierTough

Are You a QUEENS PARENT of an Infant or Toddler

Seeking Affordable Child Care? Queens Childcare Network (QCCN) oversees a network of licensed group family childcare providers who offer nurturing and safe home-based learning environments for young children. As part of our contract with the NYC Dept. of Education (DOE), QCCN provides an array of services for qualifying families which include:

• NO COST assistance with NYC EarlyLearn (6 weeks – 2 years) and 3-K applications (Children Born in 2018; ALL School Districts; School & Extended Day/Year); • Selection from a wide network of regulated, licensed in-home daycares; • Enrollment and placement support for eligible children; • Educational coaching; health and safety monitoring of daycares; • Family advocacy, resources and referrals; • Free parent workshops and child events; • Multilingual staff and diversity of child care providers.

For more information visit us at www.qchnyc.org To apply simply email childcare@qchnyc.org Or call 347-897-4949

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Super Soccer Stars soccerstars.com 50+ locations across NYC, LI, and Westchester

Treehouse Shakers treehouseshakers.com

Young People’s Day Camp of Queens queenscamp.com Oakland Gardens

Winston Preparatory School Connecticut winstonprep.edu/our-campuses/ct Various locations throughout greater NYC

Dance

Arts & Crafts

Special Needs

Day Trips

Swimming

Music

Academic Enrichment

Sports

Summer at The Kew-Forest School kewforest.org/summer Forest Hills

Theater

St. Francis Preparatory School sfponline.org Fresh Meadows

STEAM/Robotics

Half-Day Option

Flexible Scheduling

Extended Hours

Lunch

Transportation

Camp Guide

Miss Centipede

A New Children’s Book about Racial Tolerance

A teacher’s supernatural level of patience in a classroom overflowing with students is the topic of this entertaining picture book. Miss Centipede: A Bug’s Tale of Tolerance, what to expect counting humor metamorphosis racial tolerance which is soo “Au Courant”. When Spiderville is designated a Sanctuary City, Insect Elementary is in desperate need of more teachers to accommodate the sudden increase in the student body. Enter Miss Centipede, and no matter how large the fourth grade grows, she handles the workload with ease. What is her secret? Available at: Amazon.com • BarnesandNoble.com Dorrance Publishing Bookstore

misscentipede.com

June/July 2021 | nymetroparents.com

YEAR-ROUND REGISTRATION

OPEN NOW!

Discover new friends and ways to PLAY at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, home of the US Open!

Summer Camp Year-Round Programming REGISTER NOW AT:

NTC.USTA.COM Flushing Meadows-Corona Park Flushing, NY 11368

When Registering Online Use Code- QueensJul21

Long Island Speech

Licensed Speech Pathologists & Myofunctional Therapists

TELETHERAPY

AVAILABLE!

Specializing in the Treatment & Correction of: • Language Disorders • Memory & Auditory • Processing Difficulties • Fluency • Voice Disorders • Motor Planning Disorders • Deviate Swallowing • Tongue Thrust • Feeding & Swallowing • Problems/Aversions • Thumb Sucking • Articulation Disorders • Oral Facial Muscle Weakness

Specialized Therapy Approches Including: • PROMPT • Individual Feeding Therapy • Augmentative Communication • Evaluations & Therapy

Locations in:

844-5-SPEECH www.LIspeech.com NYMetroParents 55

health

A Safe & Social Summer

We talked to experts about how to be appropriately cautious when preparing for summer fun By Alison Kotch

ne of the toughest parts of the pandemic for both parents and kids was not being able to socialize in person. In fact, a Pew Research Center report found that during the last year, the thing American adults missed most was their social routine. Kids were forced to socialize online—the number of messages they sent increased 144 percent in 2020. But now that infection numbers are down and many people are vaccinated, everyone is eager to return to a version of summer that feels close to our “normal” mask-less lives. For parents, this means ensuring kids make up for lost time on the playground. “Play is the most powerful learning tool for children. The foundation of soft skills like communication, teamwork, adaptability, and leadership is primarily built through play in children’s formative years,” says Ariel Kornblum, Psy.D., clinical director of behavioral and educational services at Manhattan Psychology Group. Unstructured playtime helps foster kids’ imagination and creativity, and it teaches them the coping skills required to navigate life; and strong attachments to both friends and family equip them for everyday challenges. This is true for parents, too. “Connecting to other parents is one of the hallmarks of surviving parenthood, and while this varies for every family, most [adults] rely on support from other parents for any and all challenges,” Dr. Kornblum says. So how do we safely socialize this summer? We spoke to experts about the precautions we should take for group gatherings.

June/July 2021 | nymetroparents.com

Establish comfort lEvEls with othEr parEnts. Although the best course of action is to defer to state, local, and the latest guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regarding masking, sanitizing, and social distancing, the first step toward normalcy is to decide what level of closeness is appropriate for your family. (This can be tough when our social habits have been disrupted by a trauma-filled year.) Younger kids will likely take longer to adjust to a pre-pandemic-style play, while older students with established friend groups and access to technology might have an easier time. Regardless of your child’s age, the adjustment to in-person socialization may take a while. “What is most important during this time is that parents remain supportive and understand that transitions may take longer than expected,” Dr. Kornblum says.

minimizE any potEntial coviD ExposurE. Parents should not assume that all kids in their friend group are safe playdates. “I always encourage open dialogues between family and friends in order to fully understand the risks,” says Gopi Desai, M.D., FAAP, general pediatrician at New York Presbyterian Queens. “Talk about the activities you and your family have been doing, and what those around you have been doing. This will give you a sense of what the exposure levels might be.” Dr. Desai recommends asking about vaccine status for adults

and kids (older than 12) in the household. If all members are vaccinated, the risk of transmission is much lower. If kids haven’t been vaccinated, Dr. Desai recommends masks—parents should model mask-wearing behavior so their kids can follow their example. Also, talk to them about the importance of not sharing food/cups or items that are difficult to clean, and they should be reminded not to put toys in their mouths or touch their faces. If children will be eating together, and masks will be coming off, make sure to enforce social distancing rules. The CDC says that COVID transmission can occur when touching surfaces covered in the virus, or within 6 feet of others who don’t live in the same house. Another good nugget of advice: Postpone the playdate if anyone is sick.

ReseaRch summeR camp and play outdooRs. If you’re looking to send your child to camp, ones that are primarily outdoors are still your best option. Be sure to ask about safety precautions that will be taken by the staff. Dr. Desai recommends asking if masks are required at all times, if staff members are required to be vaccinated, and about the number of children that will be enrolled. “If staff members are vaccinated and most of the day is spent outdoors and in small groups, this will definitely lower the risk for children attending,” she says. Additionally, parents should know the rules when it comes to encounters with someone who has COVID. “Ideally, even large camps will split up into smaller pods so that kids and staff are only exposed to a limited number of people,” Dr. Desai says. No matter what level of socializing your family chooses this summer, keep in mind that the best option for one family may not be the best option for another family. And as Dr. Desi says, it’s important that kids find joy in their summer activities. “We know that there are clear benefits to attending in-person camp and having playdates, so it is crucial to encourage these activities in a way that is safe and mindful.”

The Language Experts since 1998!

ABC Languages online tutoring for kids and teens is a great way to give your child a personalized learning experience. Our professional, caring instructors are here to ensure a fun, effective, and interactive learning experience. Set up one-on-one classes, or form a group with your child’s besties!

www.abclang.com info@abclang.com 212.563.7580

Alison Kotch is a freelance writer, editor, and runner who specializes in wellness and travel content. She enjoys cooking and gardening and lives in Brooklyn.

NYMetroParents 57

sponsored content

Your Child’s Cough: When to Worry By Linda Chen, D.O., pediatric pulmonologist at the Children’s Hospital of Brooklyn at Maimonides Medical Center

he most common worry I hear from parents is about their child’s cough. Coughing can occur for various reasons in healthy children, but we must first understand why we cough. Coughing is a natural reflex to protect the airways carrying air into the lungs. When we breathe in something that could irritate or harm the lungs, the body senses that and reacts by coughing. Think about the times you walked through a dusty area or you drank water that accidentally went down the wrong tube—coughing in these situations is a natural response, and it goes away once the irritation is gone.

Common Reasons Why Kids Cough The Common Cold: Cold viruses (upper respiratory infections) are one of the most common causes of cough in healthy children. Children ages 6 and younger could have up to 8 colds in a year, while older children can have up to 4. Symptoms include congestion, runny nose, sneezing, sore throat, low-grade fever, headaches, and body aches. These symptoms might seem to get worse in the first three days of illness but will show improvement in the next 1-2 weeks. The best thing you can do is keep your child hydrated and comfortable. alleRgies: Approximately 10-30 percent of people in the U.S. have allergies, but it’s rare in children younger than 2. Allergies and common cold may look similar, however allergies involve itchiness of the eyes, nose, or mouth area and do not cause fevers. In this case, coughing is caused by postnasal drip. Some children have these symptoms during specific seasons while others have symptoms year-round (depending on their allergy). Identifying and removing the triggers and taking allergy medications will help alleviate the symptoms. Childhood asThma: Coughing, not wheezing (a musical whistling noise in the chest), is the most common asthma symptom. An asthma cough is usually dry, appears more at night, and can last for a few weeks or even longer. Weather changes, exposure to cold air, exercise, strong emotions, or allergens can worsen the cough,

and viral upper respiratory infection is the most common trigger. During flare-ups, the cough could become more wet sounding and may be associated with wheezing. Nebulizer treatments or inhalers with albuterol several times a day relieves the cough. If the cough is persistent, your doctor may start your child on inhaled or oral steroid. Pneumonia: This infection in the lungs often starts as an upper respiratory infection later progressing to sudden onset of cough and fever. The cough is often wet, and the doctor may hear crackle sounds in the lungs. The most common cause of childhood pneumonia is viral, which doesn’t require antibiotics. Children with bacterial pneumonia usually have high fever and more severe symptoms and generally respond to antibiotics. School-age children may have “atypical” or “walking” pneumonia, which involves mild body aches and headaches, with sore throat, dry cough, wheezing, or rash. The body is usually able to fight this without antibiotics, but if your child has persistent cough and/or fever, it would be worth an evaluation. asPiRaTion: Choking on liquids can also cause cough. When this happens repeatedly, a wet cough develops with chest congestion. It’s often seen in children who have swallowing issues or developmental delays. This could lead to repeated lung infections over time. Recurrent aspiration of liquids can be managed by adjusting the thickness of liquids, feeding therapy, or finding another means to feed. If a wet cough persists despite therapies, or is associated with noisy breathing, your child may benefit from a bronchoscopy evaluation. A more serious type of aspiration occurs when a young child accidentally chokes on a piece of food, item, or toy, resulting in the “foreign body” blocking the airways (aka foreign body aspiration). Coughing occurs immediately as the body’s response to get rid of the blockage. You may also hear noisy breathing, called stridor. In these situations, immediate emergency department evaluation is warranted.

When To see a doCToR Although these are some common causes of cough in children, there are still many other less-common causes. So, when should you be worried? As a general guide, your child should see a doctor or specialist if the cough has any of these qualities: • Persists more than 4 weeks, without a day of no symptoms • Interrupts sleep at least 3-4 times a month • Limits physical activity or worsens with activity • Occurs only while drinking and eating • Associated with fevers and not getting better with medications You know your child best, so if you notice any concerning signs in your child, don’t hesitate to discuss with your pediatrician.

Linda Chen, D.O., is a pediatric pulmonologist at the Children’s Hospital of Brooklyn at Maimonides Medical Center, a 711-bed, nonprofit tertiary care provider in Brooklyn. Maimonides operates the largest hospital in Brooklyn, as well as the borough’s only full-service Cancer Center. Its physicians are nationally known for clinical excellence, innovation, and groundbreaking research, and it is a major clinical training site for the SUNY Downstate College of Medicine. Founded in 1911, the Medical Center continues to grow and adapt to the needs of Brooklyn’s patients and families. It is an affiliate of Northwell Health. For more information, visit maimo.org.

June/July 2021 | nymetroparents.com

Meet the

HealtH Care Professional Hanano Watanabe, M.D. - Maimonides Children’s Hospital

Pediatric Cardiology 948 48th St., 1st floor, Brooklyn 6701 Bay Parkway, 4th floor, Brooklyn 718-283-7500 maimo.org/find-a-doctor/hanano-watanabe Dr. Hanano Watanabe is a board-certified pediatric cardiologist at the Maimonides Children’s Hospital who completed her Pediatric Cardiology training at New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center. She is part of a dedicated team of pediatric cardiologists providing infants, children, and adolescents with comprehensive evaluation and treatment for congenital heart disease, murmurs, arrhythmias (including fetal arrhythmias), and other cardiac disorders. Dr. Watanabe is a compassionate and dedicated physician who provides individualized care plans for every patient. The Maimonides Children’s Hospital is equipped with state-of-the-art technologies, including fetal and pediatric transthoracic echocardiography.

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Linda Chen, D.O. - Maimonides Children’s Hospital Pediatric Pulmonology

948 48th St., 3rd floor, Brooklyn 718-283-7500 maimo.org/find-a-doctor/linda-chen Dr. Linda Chen is a respected, experienced, board-certified pediatric pulmonologist who is a member of our comprehensive Pediatric Pulmonary service that cares for infants, children, and adolescents with all forms of lung concerns and disease including asthma, pneumonia, chronic lung disease, chronic cough, and other pulmonary issues. In addition to consultations and care of lung problems and diseases, our team also offers pulmonary function testing, allergy evaluation, pre-operative assessment, pediatric sleep evaluation, and bronchoscopy. Our pulmonologists provide the highest level of compassionate, family-centered care in an environment designed just for children.

Rabia Agha, M.D. - Maimonides Children’s Hospital Pediatric Infectious Disease

948 48th St., 3rd floor, Brooklyn 6701 Bay Parkway, 4th floor, Brooklyn 718-283-7500 maimo.org/find-a-doctor/rabia-agha Dr. Rabia Agha is director of the Pediatric Infectious Disease Division at the Maimonides Children’s Hospital. She is boardcertified in pediatric infectious diseases, and specializes in the diagnosis, management, and treatment of complicated infections in infants, children, and adolescents. Dr. Agha oversees our COVID Recovery Program for Children. In addition, she treats a wide range of conditions including congenital infections, invasive bacterial infections, unusual infections in immunocompromised patients, fever of unknown origin, Lyme disease, and travel-related infections. She also directs the Family Travel Medicine Center.

Tina Rakitt, M.D. - Maimonides Children’s Hospital Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition

948 48th St., 3rd floor, Brooklyn 6701 Bay Parkway, 4th floor, Brooklyn 718-283-7500 maimo.org/find-a-doctor/tina-rakitt Dr. Tina Rakitt is a board-certified pediatric gastroenterologist at the Maimonides Children’s Hospital. She completed subspecialty training at the prestigious Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh and has more than 10 years of experience in treating a variety of conditions, including inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis), celiac disease, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Dr. Rakitt’s warm and engaging manner focuses not only on treating the disease itself, but also on combating any fears and concerns children and their loved ones may have.

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teens

A Positive Body Image Teens often have negative body images—how can parents help? By Sara Ackerman

teenager’s body image can affect everything from selfesteem to choices about clothing, diet, and exercise. It can also lead to afflictions—from anorexia to body dysmorphia. During this last year of pandemic living, body image issues have exploded, and from 2020-2021, there was a 41-percent increase in people seeking help for eating disorders. Plus, COVID led to more time on social media, which only adds to the problem. What can parents do to ensure teens develop a healthy body image and how should they respond when issues arise?

How Parents Can HelP The first step for parents is to model a happy body image, says Connie Sobczak, author of Embody: Learning to Love Your Unique Body (and Quiet that Critical Voice!) and founder of The Body Positive, a California-based nonprofit devoted to helping individuals work toward body positivity. They should avoid obvious dieting or making negative comments about their own physical appearance— such as body size or aging. Making comments about their child’s physical appearance, whether positive or negative, may also have detrimental effects. Another way parents can help is by demonstrating a healthy relationship with food. Parents “should avoid language that moralizes food, such as eating ‘clean,’ or labeling food as bad or unhealthy,” says Rosie Barton, LCSW, a therapist at Cobb Psychotherapy in Brooklyn Heights. “In the same vein, parents should aim to speak about body size in a neutral way and promote the idea that health is not dependent on a certain body.” Claire Mysko, an internationally recognized leader in eating 60

June/July 2021 | nymetroparents.com

disorders advocacy and education, explains that having conversations with your child from a young age about health and nutrition is a protective factor against a range of mental health issues, including eating disorders. Mysko recommends these conversations include emotional and mental health, as well as physical. Rather than talking about the importance of exercise, she recommends talking to kids about what physical activities they find fun. When parents talk too much about what foods are healthy, she adds, “we lose sight of the fact that meals are more than nutrition.” Mysko says reframing meals as a time for community and enjoyment can help prevent eating disorders. Social media frequently exposes teenagers to unrealistic images of health and beauty, despite influencers who promote fitness or “wellness.” Mysko says parents should be aware of the platforms their children are using and the accounts they follow. Talk to your child about how the images they are seeing are quite likely altered and not an accurate portrayal of realistic bodies. Limiting and monitoring teen’s screen time allows them to spend more time engaging with real-world, varied, and realistic bodies, rather than the curated and filtered images on social media.

eating DisorDers anD BoDy DysmorPHia About half of all teenage girls and a third of all teenage boys have engaged in unhealthy weight control practices including skipping meals and the use of laxatives, steroids, and supplements, according to Mysko. And because there is so much shame around eating disorders, there is a good chance the numbers are even higher, especially for boys who may be even less likely to seek help for something typically labeled as a “girls’ issue.” In addition to disordered eating, teens with a negative body image may experience anxiety, low self-esteem, or mood disorders such as depression. Negative body image may also contribute to body dysmorphia—a mental health disorder in which someone can develop a distorted perception of their appearance and fixate on “flaws,” real or imagined, to the point where it affects functioning in their lives. Body dysmorphic disorder affects about 1.7-2.4 percent of the general population, according to Melissa Horowitz, Psy.D., director of Eating Disorders and Weight Management Program at the American Institute of Cognitive Therapy in Manhattan. Researchers have found that symptoms can develop in early adolescence, although the average age of onset occurs in middle adolescence. The cause of body dysmorphic disorder is not entirely clear, but factors include genes, personality traits, temperament, and the environment.

When to Seek help In general, there are several red flags parents should be aware of when it comes to body image and disorders. Teens who are struggling with body image may cover up certain body parts and make increasing negative comments about specific body parts, including talking about surgery to change their bodies. They may have decreased interest in school, hanging out with friends, and other activities. They may spend significant time scrutinizing themselves in the mirror or refuse to look in the mirror. They may avoid looking at pictures of themselves or being photographed. Increased irritability or other changes in mood are other signs parents should be aware of. Parents should also take note if their teenager abruptly cuts out certain foods from their diet they were previously eating, such as dairy, meat, or carbs, or begins paying significant attention to calories or grams of fat. Mysko notes that eating disorders are often preceded by dieting. If parents have concerns, a crucial first step is to seek out a mental health professional who has expertise in supporting teens with developing a positive body image and a healthy relationship with food and exercise. “Sometimes it might be difficult for a teen to open up to a parent, but they might trust an external source more,” Barton says. Parents can also turn to their doctor or a pediatrician or reach out to a nonprofit group that can provide resources. Dr. Horowitz, however, cautions against over-pathologizing comments teenagers make about their bodies. For example, if your teen says, “I hate my stomach,” don’t jump to conclusions. This is first and foremost an opportunity for the parent to start a conversation with their teen.

Where to Find Help In addition to discussing concerns with a child’s doctor or pediatrician, who can provide recommendations for psychiatrists or local treatment centers, parents can also turn to the following resources:

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the national eating DiSorDerS aSSociation nationaleatingdisorders.org NEDA offers a screening tool, helpline, and a database of treatment centers around the country.

the BoDy poSitive thebodypositive.org This is a nonprofit devoted to helping individuals work toward body positivity. The website includes a number of online resources.

health at every Size haescommunity.com This site has a list of resources, including blogs, podcasts, and online groups.

nyc Well nycwell.cityofnewyork.us The 24-hour hotline (888-NYC-WELL) is staffed by mental health professionals. Plus, it has additional resources listed on the website.

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raising kids

Talking to Kids about Gender & Sexual Identity 6 expert tips to help you have these important conversations with your kids By Madeleine Burry

any parents are overwhelmed by the idea of talking to their kids about gender and sexual identity. And that’s understandable, says Jeffrey Cohen, Psy.D., a psychologist at ColumbiaDoctors and assistant professor of medicine at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. “We can all struggle in talking about gender identity or expression, as well as sexual orientation and identity,” he says. But don’t let this discomfort hold you back from having frank and ongoing discussions about these issues with your children. One reason for prioritizing these chats? You can’t count on schools to provide this information to students. For instance, while sexual health education is required in New York City schools, sex ed is not. “When children are not receiving comprehensive sexuality education, it has detrimental impacts regardless of the identities those children hold,” explains Ryan Mateo Sharnbroich, M.Ed., M.P.H., a sexuality education consultant. Kids miss out on learning about what healthy relationships and intimacy look like, as well as information about safe sex practices and consent.

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“If we want our kids to have healthy, happy, pleasurable lives, we’ve got to take on that responsibility and fill in those gaps,” he adds. This includes talking about sex—and also about sexual and gender identity. Here’s what you need to know to get started.

Do your homework. An understanding of basic concepts is helpful for parents, according to Dr. Cohen, but it’s also reasonable to feel uncertain about what terms to use. “Certainly, the language has shifted a lot over time,” he says. You’ll want to be familiar with all the words that make up the acronym LGBTQ: lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (or, sometimes, questioning). Plus, know the difference between: • Sex: This is assigned by doctors at birth based on genitalia. • GenDer expreSSion or GenDer preSentation: This is how someone expresses their gender (think: hairstyle and clothing, and also how a person behaves).

• Gender identity: This refers to a person’s internal understanding of gender—separate from a person’s sex assigned at birth, Dr. Cohen says. “There are many, many ways to experience your gender that transcend the binary [of man/woman].” • Sexuality: This explains who a person is attracted to. Think of these basics as a foundation that’ll help you feel more informed and comfortable having these conversations, Dr. Cohen adds.

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“Your responsibility isn’t to be an encyclopedia and regurgitate facts for your kids,” Mateo Sharnbroich says. Instead, you want to make two things clear to children: You’re aware of gender and sexual diversity; you love and accept people however they identify or express themselves. “That value system matters more than being able to know and teach all the facts,” he says.

don’t put off converSationS until adoleScence. When it comes to talking about sex, gender identity, and sexual orientation, Mateo Sharnbroich says there’s never a bad time to start. By age 3, most children know their gender, he notes. And while understanding sexuality comes later, that doesn’t mean you should hold off on discussing these topics. “Kids at really young ages can understand a diversity of family structures,” he says.

look for natural converSation openinGS. Your child’s questions and observations will often provide an opportunity to talk about gender and sexuality. For example, your preschooler may point out that a nuclear family is different from yours. Older kids may talk about a friend whose gender identity is different than their own. Kids of all ages may make gender-based statements (i.e. “only girls like princesses”). Be honest and age-appropriate in your responses. Give preschoolers simple, concrete responses, and encourage older kids to share their own thoughts and perspective. And note that with teens it may help to ask questions. Even if they don’t respond right away, they’ll understand that you’re open to talking. If teaching moments and questions don’t occur on their own, encourage them through culture. Watching TV together can start conversations and gives parents an opportunity to share their values. “There’s books and TV shows for children of all ages that show a diverse representation of sexual identities,” Mateo Sharnbroich says. Consider them your entry point.

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raising kids

Consider Conversations ongoing. Release the notion of a one-time, “big” talk on all things gender and sexual identity. “It doesn’t necessarily have to be sitting down with your 5-year-old and talking about what all types of sexuality exist,” Mateo Sharnbroich says. Instead, think of it as an ongoing discussion you’re having, that may evolve and deepen with your child’s age. This may help decrease your sense of urgency or stress. If your child asks a question, and you’re not sure how to respond, you can look up the answer together, or tell your child you’ll get back to them after you do some research, Mateo Sharnbroich says. No need to make something up.

show unConditional love and enCourage aCCeptanCe. “Make it really clear that your value system aligns with an inclusive, affirming approach,” Mateo Sharnbroich says. In other words: Live your values, be accepting, call out hateful language, avoid gendered phrases and assumptions, and show that your love for your child is big and unconditional.

talking to kids who have Come out For kids, it can be uncomfortable being the center of the conversation, Mateo Sharnbroich notes. Asking open-ended questions and talking positively about diversity show that you’re accepting, without turning an uncomfortable spotlight on your child as they share their sexual orientation or gender identity, he says. Dr. Cohen recommends some additional supportive behaviors: • express your love: Coming out can be scary for kids (yes, still) so express love, affection, and support. • use appropriate language and pronouns: Respect and affirm your child’s name and pronouns. Similarly, allow them to wear clothing that supports their gender identity.

• Be welComing: Invite your child’s LGBTQ+ friends to come to your house—make it a safe and welcoming space. • partiCipate in welComing Communities: Make sure all the organizations and institutions your child interacts with—school, doctors, camp, sports, religious organizations, and so on—welcome both your child specifically and LGBTQ+ people generally, as well as people with a variety of gender identities. • Build ConneCtions: Help your child meet other people in the LGBTQ+ community. Above all, speak about your child’s identity or orientation openly. “Saying nothing can be hurtful,” Dr. Cohen says. Defend them against insults and negativity from others. Counteract lingering myths by believing that your child can and will be happy as an LGBTQ+ adult. And “explicitly tell them that they will have a good life,” he advises.

Helpful Resources for Parents Looking to learn more? There are plenty of parent-focused resources available. planned parenthood plannedparenthood.org/learn/parents/identity You’ll find age-by-age tips for talking about sex and sexuality as well as sexual orientation and gender identity.

trevor projeCt thetrevorproject.org/resources Find an array of resources about how to show support, plus answers to FAQs.

gender uniCorn transstudent.org/gender The unicorn illustration graphic at this site, which is available in many languages, can help kids discuss their gender identity, gender expression, along with who they are physically and emotionally attracted to.

ameriCan sexual health assoCiation ashasexualhealth.org A rich source of science-based facts about sex and sexuality, with a helpful parent-focused page. ASHA is also behind the website iwannaknow.org, which provides information to teens and young adults.

talk with your kids talkwithyourkids.org The site’s Timeline Guide offers tips for how parents and caretakers can talk to kids about sex, sexuality, and gender from birth onward.

June/July 2021 | nymetroparents.com

index AcAdemic enrichment

Leap Up Learning Center........................................ 28

BirthdAy / PArty ServiceS

NYC Birthday Clowns ............................................. 47

cAmPS

All Star Studio ........................................................ 12 Bloomingdale School of Music ............................... 43 China Institute........................................................ 31 Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory DNALC................... 51 Countryside Montessori School .............................. 29 Derek Kellogg Basketball Camp.............................. 23 Garden School........................................................ 33 German School Manhattan .................................... 59 Hillcrest Jewish Center Day Camp .......................... 43 Ivy Day School ........................................................ 49 Leap Up Learning Center........................................ 28 Lewis Latimer House Museum................................ 51 Little Blossoms of Middle Village ............................ 17 Magic Day Camp (Queens).............................67 & 68 Museum of Arts and Design ................................... 59 Noah’s Ark Preparatory........................................... 18 Oasis Children Services (Big Apple & Queens) .......... 2 Park Slope Day Camp (Brooklyn) ............................ 68 Pusteblume International School ............................ 21 Rose Academy of Ballet .......................................... 49 School of Rock - Queens ........................................ 55 Science Language and Arts Int’l School .................. 57 Splat Camp ............................................................ 57 St. Francis Preparatory School ................................. 63 Stepping Stones Preschool ..................................... 54 The Kew Forest School ............................................. 9 Treasure Island Preschool ....................................... 59 Treehouse Shakers .................................................. 59 USTA BJK National Tennis Center ........................... 55

child cAre / dAy cAre

Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Whitestone .... 4 Ivy Day School ........................................................ 49 Little Blossoms of Middle Village ............................ 17 Noah’s Ark Preparatory........................................... 18 Queens Community House ..................................... 53 AKA PS Family NYC.................................................. 5 Brooklyn Global Prep.............................................. 26

clASSeS

Psychological Services .............................................. 7 Countryside Montessori School .............................. 29 Garden School........................................................ 33 German School Manhattan .................................... 59 Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Whitestone ........................................................... 4 Huntington Learning Center ................................... 35 Ivy Day School ........................................................ 49 Lewis Latimer House Museum................................ 51 Little Blossoms of Middle Village ............................ 17 Miss Centipede A Bug’s Tale of Tolerance .............. 54 Monsignor McClancy Memorial High School .......... 19 New York City - Queens Magnet School- MS358 ... 25 New York City Magnet Schools................................. 3 New York City Magnet Schools - D8.11 & D6 (Big Apple) ....................................... 68 Noah’s Ark Preparatory........................................... 18 Our World Neighborhood School............................ 37 Pusteblume International School ............................ 21 Queens Community House ..................................... 53 Science Language and Arts Int’l School .................. 57 St. Francis Preparatory School ................................. 63 Stepping Stones Preschool ..................................... 54 The Kew Forest School ............................................. 9 Wetherby-Pembridge School ..........................10 & 11 York Preparatory School ......................................... 27

FAmily entertAinment / eventS / outingS Playland Park.......................................................... 37

FAmily trAvel

Playland Park.......................................................... 37

FitneSS

All Star Studio ........................................................ 12 Hillcrest Jewish Center Day Camp .......................... 43 Magic Day Camp (Queens).............................67 & 68 Rose Academy of Ballet .......................................... 49 St. Francis Preparatory School ................................. 63 The Kew Forest School ............................................. 9 USTA BJK National Tennis Center ........................... 55

heAlth

Comprehensive Consultation Psychological Services .............................................. 7 Maimonides Medical Center.............................2 & 60

ABC Languages...................................................... 57 China Institute........................................................ 31 Museum of Arts and Design ................................... 59

muSic

dAnce

PerForming ArtS / Acting

All Star Studio ........................................................ 12 Rose Academy of Ballet .......................................... 49

develoPmentAl

Comprehensive Consultation Psychological Services .............................................. 7 Janine Stiene Suffolk Center for Speech.................. 55 Queens Community House ..................................... 53

educAtion

ABC Languages...................................................... 57 AKA PS Family NYC.................................................. 5 Archbishop Molloy High School.............................. 29 Brooklyn Global Prep.............................................. 26 China Institute........................................................ 31 Comprehensive Consultation

Bloomingdale School of Music ............................... 43 School of Rock - Queens ........................................ 55 Treehouse Shakers .................................................. 59

SPeciAl needS

Huntington Learning Center ................................... 35 Janine Stiene Suffolk Center for Speech.................. 55

SPortS

Hillcrest Jewish Center Day Camp .......................... 43 Magic Day Camp (Queens).............................67 & 68 St. Francis Preparatory School ................................. 63 USTA BJK National Tennis Center ........................... 55

tutorS

ABC Languages...................................................... 57 Comprehensive Consultation Psychological Services .............................................. 7

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last word

What is your ideal picnic experience? Battery downtown near er th ei — er iv R n on the Hudso I’d bring bread, ce s. la n p w a to k er ic p iv n R s te tchester’ “I most of or the parks in Wes of y an or e fruit or crudité, 1, m r ie so be ay m ), Park or P ’s urray ost likely cuterie (from M some dessert—m y el it n efi d d cheese, and char an wine, snack on, a lot of Westchester anything else to —Abby Diamond, ” e. at ol oc loaded with ch homemade and

“Our ideal picnic spot is called the LIC Landing—steps from the Hunter’s Point ferry stop. There’s a large grass field nea r the Pepsi sign. Ideally, we’d bring fresh fruit and healthy snacks, maybe a che ese platter, or three, and a bottle of Prosec co, but who are we kidding? We have little kids, so we usually end up eating chips and sugary garbage or prepared food from nearby Food Cellar.” —Aaron Lubarsky, Queens

nd! Brats and a “Governors Isla at Little Eva’s. frozen cocktail of summer.” My favorite part Brooklyn —Beverly Chase,

“Central Park for sure. I’d bring sandwiches and Chardonnay.”

an —Heidi Jules, Manhatt

June/July 2021 | nymetroparents.com

—Laurel Bauer, Westc hester

“I’d want to be near the water so any grassy area along the rivers, preferably in Brooklyn. Then I’d want fried chicken, slaw, cold beer or wine, and at least three varieties of chips—but also lots of ready to eat fresh fruit. That’s it…oh wait...also lamb biryani.” — Michael Moshan, Westchester

ndwiches, a s , rk a P ry , “Batte Feigenbaum —Andrew !” e in w and r Westcheste

“A balcony overlook ing Central Park, with charcuterie, baguet te, and red wine.”

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Big Apple Parent, June/July 2021

Articles inside

A Safe & Social Summer

Applying to Public Schools

Is This the Summer for School?