DECEMBER 2013
Manhattan
Program Directory Perfect picks for every kid
Time to Get Away Eight tips for family trips
Approaching
Autism
Ways to cope with the diagnosis
WIN
PRIZES www.parentguidenews.com Over 1,000 Exciting Family Events M
IN OUR
GIFT GUIDE
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31
. .
teeny tumblers • mighty muscle movers rockin' rollers • jodi's jumpstart • tumbling tots jammin’ @ jodi’s • funtastic gymnastics totally tumbling • motion evolution • mad science creation station dance • open play • jodi’s to go holiday and summer camps • best birthdays ever!
Win
a De’Longhi AC230 Air Purifier We want to see your favorite family moment of 2013. Share a photo that captures your family members on vacation, in a special embrace, showing off a new sibling, or in whatever scene made you all the happiest together in the past year. Enter at www.parentguidenews.com by December 31 for a chance to win the deluxe air purifier or tickets to a Broadway play such as Cinderella. We’ll post select entries online for viewer voting until the end of January.
Visit www.parentguidenews.com for contest details. December 2013 I PARENTGUIDE News I 3
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contents
table of
December 2013 Volume 30 • Number 12
Program Coverage
P. 16 Hearing, “I Quit?”...................... 16
Six ways to keep your kids in their programs.
Program Directory......................... 18
Leading programs and resources near you.
Special Needs
P. 12
It’s Autism..................................... 12 Life after the diagnosis.
Special Needs and Health & Fitness Directory.......... 24 Experts and services catering to family wellness and special needs.
Health & Fitness
Mouth Myths.................................. 32 P. 32 The truth about children’s dental health.
Features
P. 26
Before Birth.................... 14 Amusing anecdotes about your hospital stay.
Traffic, TSA, and Tantrums, Oh My!............................ 26 Eight tips for surviving holiday travel with your kids.
Top Toys......................... 30 Kids’ gifts for your lists.
Mixed-Media Mamas.. 29
P. 29
Give yourself permission to play. 4 I PARENTGUIDE News I December 2013
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Peanuts Worldwide, LLC.
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Lead funding for Carnegie Hall Family Concerts has been provided by The Irene Diamond Fund. Carnegie Hall Family Concerts are also made possible, in part, by endowment gifts from The Irene Diamond Fund, Mr. and Mrs. Lester S. Morse Jr., and the Henry and Lucy Moses Fund.
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Thanks to New York City Department of Homeless Services for supporting young fathers and their families at the concert.
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Artists, programs, dates, and ticket prices subject to change. Š 2013 CHC.
your needs, your neighborhood
December 2013 I PARENTGUIDE News I 5
Sara Gubenko, MSEd Master of Science in Elementary and Literacy Education
PRIVATE TUTOR
NYC Teacher Reading & Writing Specialist
contents
table of
December 2013 Volume 30 • Number 12
Contests
Family Favorite Photo Contest..................................... 3 Birthday Blowout.......................................................... 40
Columns
Don’t Miss........................................................................ 8 This month’s entertainment and activities.
Update............................................................................ 34 Essential products and information for your brood.
Providing Academic Support & Enrichment to Children Across Manhattan (646) 389-7323 • Ms.SaraE@gmail.com
Health............................................................................. 36 Insight and items for your family’s care.
In Season........................................................................ 42 Crafts and games to keep your clan warm all month long.
Bonus
Travel Directory.............................................................. 28 Attractions and accommodations for great getaways.
What’s Happening........................................................ 37
A comprehensive listing of your neighborhood’s classes, performances, and events. Cover Credit: Dare 2b
Publisher Steve Elgort Editor-in-Chief Rachel Kalina Managing Editor Donald McDermott Associate Editor Samantha Chan Editorial Intern Jesse Berberich Art Directors Margaret Baldauf, Susanne Kimball, Ilana Rispoli Director of Web Development Kristen Jankowski Accounting Teresa Pinargote Contributing Writers Andy Areffi, Melissa Areffi, Rich Brugger, Katie Bugbee, Princess Ivana Pignatelli Aragona Cortes, Anita Duhl Glicken, Debra Manchester MacMannis, Don MacMannis, Sallianne McClelland Advertising Managers Deirdre Antoniello, Karen Gibofsky, Bill Scalzitti Advertising Sales Representatives Karin Mikelis, Jacalyn Rose, Susan Rush, Jennifer Serpi, Rena Spangler, Felicia Stafford, Erica Tiso PGTV Producer Beth Elgort Submission of articles, photographs and artwork is welcome. All material must include a self-addressed, stamped envelope. PARENTGUIDE News assumes no responsibility for the loss or damage of submitted material. PARENTGUIDE News reserves the unrestricted right to edit or otherwise alter submitted material for publication. PARENTGUIDE News, ISSN08961468, is published monthly by PG Media Network Corp., 101 E. Park Ave., #358, Long Beach, NY 11561; 212-213-8840. Copyright 2013 PGMNC. All rights reserved.
6 I PARENTGUIDE News I December 2013
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Letter from the Editor U Winter and its many festivities are upon us! PARENTGUIDE News wants to spread the holiday cheer. This issue is chock full of prizes and giveaways for our readers. Check out “Top Toys” to see our favorite gift picks for every child, and enter contests for a chance to win each present! As the year winds down and you reflect on all the memories you and your children have created in 2013, share with us your favorite one captured in a snapshot. Submit your photo to the Family Favorite Photo Contest for a chance to win a De’Longhi AC230 Air Purifier or tickets to Broadway’s Cinderella. Resolutions are being made, and it’s a great time to teach your children about such commitments — in particular, those they’ve made to hobbies, programs, and activities. Whether your kids are budding athletes or artists, they might go through a phase of wanting to throw in the towel (or paintbrush) when it comes to attending programs. Author Rich Brugger offers six ways to deflect thoughts of giving up in “Hearing, ‘I Quit?’.”
by Rachel Kalina
Our Program Directory features many options for children still looking for their niche and to try something new. You’re sure to find an activity within its pages for every type of interest. Thinking of skipping town with the family during this wonderful but hectic time of year? Princess Ivana Pignatelli Aragona Cortes lends insight on traveling with children during holidays in “Traffic, TSA, and Tantrums, Oh My!” The real-life princess and mom suggests helpful tips to reduce stress and make your vacation a memorable one. More parenting tips abound in “It’s Autism” by Andy and Melissa Areffi. The authors have three children with autism, and their article shares advice on how parents can cope when a child is first diagnosed with the disorder. Want the latest scoop on what are local moms and dads are discussing? Find out and join in the conversation, too, at The Sandbox Social blog at www.parentguidenews.com. Happy holidays and New Year!
Image Credit: Maggie Susse-O’Connor
Over 50 Articles on
Camps and Summer Programs
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December 2013 I PARENTGUIDE News I 7
Don’t
MISS
Feeling Super
Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, and Toad all get to explore the new Sprixie Kingdom in Super Mario 3D World. Created exclusively for the Nintendo Wii U game system, this original, new multiplayer game from Nintendo offers hours of Mario Bros. fun for everyone! Super Mario 3D World is available now wherever video games are sold.
Back in the Hobbit
MGM and Warner Bros. present the second half of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. Peter Jackson co-wrote and directs this amazing tale that follows Bilbo, the dwarves, and Gandalf as they continue the journey to get their gold back from the dragon, Smaug. Available in 2D, 3D and IMAX 3D, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, opens on December 13.
Circus Legends
Luminocity, the latest show from the Big Apple Circus, sets up its onering tent at Lincoln Center’s Damrosch Park in New York City through January 12. Now in its 36th spectacular season, the entertaining show offers aerial feats, flawless jugglers, astounding acrobats, playful pooches, and much more, all no more than 50 feet from the stage. For tickets, directions and more information, visit www.bigapplecircus.org.
Christmas Miracles
Nathan Andrews is a young doctor who rethinks his career when he loses a patient in the Hallmark Channel original movie, The Christmas Blessing. Nathan finds himself questioning fate and the fragility of life, all the while hoping for a Christmas Miracle. Starring Neil Patrick Harris, Rebecca Gayheart, and Rob Lowe, The Christmas Blessing airs on the Hallmark Channel December 21. Check your local listings.
Still Despicable
Brighten someone’s holiday season this year by putting Despicable Me 2 in his stocking. This summer’s worldwide, smash hit follows the animated adventures of Gru, his three adopted daughters, and a multitude of hilarious minions. The new DVD release provides everything from 45 minutes of bonus features to three, new, minion mini-adventures. Despicable Me will be available on DVD, Digital HD, BluRay, and in a special BluRay Combo Pack, on December 10.
December by Donald McDermott
The Main Event
Children, teens and adults can become John Cena, The Rock, Hulk Hogan, CM Punk, The Undertaker, Stone Cold Steve Austin, and all of their favorite superstars from the past 30 years in WWE 2K14. The amazing, new, video game from 2K Sports offers more than 45 matches designed to celebrate three decades of WrestleMania. Pick up your copy today for the XBOX 360 and Playstation 3 game systems.
Dynasty on DVD
Lionsgate Home Entertainment proudly presents Duck Dynasty: Seasons 1-3. The backwoods, bearded bunch comes right into your home on DVD and BluRay in a wonderful collector’s set that would make the perfect gift this holiday season. Available in stores and online December 3, the set includes the first three seasons, never-before-released bonus features, and a limited-edition Duck Camo bandana.
Frosty Good Fun
Go along on an unforgettable ride across a winter wonderland with Frozen. The new release from Disney Animation Studios focuses around a fearless young optimist named Anna. When Anna’s sister Elsa uses her icy powers to trap the kingdom in eternal winter, Anna is forced to team up with Kristoff and a hilarious snowman named Olaf in hopes of stopping Elsa and saving the day. Frozen is in theaters now.
Scholastic Stories
Scholastic Storybook Treasures makes it a holiday season to remember with Merry Christmas, Splat...and More Winter Stories. Available in stores and online now, the holiday-theme DVD includes celebrity narration, a read-along function, behind-the-scenes features, and endearing animated tales.
Just Dance
Families have even more reason to get up and dance because Just Dance 2014 is available now for the Nintendo Wii, Playstation 3, XBOX 360, Nintendo Wii U, and Playstation 4 game systems. Ubisoft’s sequel to Just Dance 4 comes complete with all-new moves, new modes and features, and more than 40 of the hottest tracks! Take your party to the next level by picking up a copy today.
Donald McDermott is the managing editor. 8 I PARENTGUIDE News I December 2013
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4 working four hours a day or more, in your own home, while your child’s in school. 4 having a job that revolves around parenting. 4 working with wonderful people. 4 having so much fun that you won’t even know you’re working.
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If you enthusiastically answered, “yes,� to the above question, we might have the perfect career opportunity for you.
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December 2013 I PARENTGUIDE News I 9
Winter Family Day
December
Mother Knows Best
There’s a chill in the air, and it’s cause for celebration at the Morgan Library and Museum. Head to 225 Madison Ave. on December 8 to celebrate winter at the annual Winter Family Day. Festivities are dedicated to the Edgar Allan Poe exhibition. They feature the writer’s penchant for ghosts and mysteries through puppet shows, art workshops, strolling characters, and costume photo shoots. The day’s activities are appropriate for children ages 3-12, and they begin at 2pm.
Holiday by Candlelight
Step into the Mount Vernon Hotel Museum and Garden this month, and step back in time to the holiday season of 1830. Enjoy tours of the site by candlelight, dive into traditional confections, and indulge in the tales of December festivities in 19th-century New York City. On December 6, in addition, children of all ages are invited to enjoy A Visit from St. Nicholas. The entertaining event continues December 7. Learn more about this and other exciting programs at www.mvhm.org, or by dialing (212)838-6878. Then head to 421 E. 61st St.
All the way from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Mother Africa opens at The New Victory Theater on December 6. The talented traveling acrobats, musicians, and dancers bring songs and rhythms that are both robust and rich. Beyond the must-hear music, enjoy an exploration of Africa with stilt-walkers from Tanzania, jugglers from Ethiopia, and a contortionist from Kenya, to name a few. Get your tickets at www.newvictory.org, or stop by the theater’s box office at 209 W. 42nd St. Performances run through January 5, 2014.
White as Snow
Beginning December 7 and continuing every weekend through the end of the month, the Galli Theater stages Snow White. Relive the tale of the young beauty sent to live in the forest who befriends seven very unique dwarves. The show is appropriate for audience members ages 3 and older. Get ready for a magical musical and head to 230 W. 150th St. Tickets are available at www.gallitheaterny.com.
The
Weekday School
at Riverside Church
A Progressive, Independent Early Childhood School for Children Ages 2—5 is Located on the Upper West Side at the Iconic Riverside Church. 4 A nurturing and caring environment 4 Bright, fully equipped, spacious classrooms with large, arching windows overlooking the Hudson River and the upper West Side 4 A diverse inclusive community committed to understanding, sharing and respect 4 Active parental involvement 4 A variety of school-year and summer programs 4 Multiple after-school enrichment activities 4 Family style lunches prepared on-site 4 83 year history
FOR 2014-15 ADMISSIONS INFO, PLEASE CONTACT US! 490 Riverside Drive • New York, NY 10027 • 212-870-6743 E-mail: info@wdsnyc.org • www.wdsnyc.org
490 Drive New Session starts January 2014. “Side byRiverside Side at Riverside” New York,Registration NY 10027 Begins in December. 212.870.6743 A weekly 90-minute introduction to the E-mail: info@wdnyc.org pre-school experience for toddlers and their grown-ups. www.wdsnyc.org •Children 16 months to 2 1/2 years old • Morning and afternoon classes available For more information or to enroll contact Ms. Tricia Pool: tpool@wdsnyc.org 10 I PARENTGUIDE News I December 2013
by Samantha Chan
Remember Pearl Harbor
Award-winning singer and PBS host, Christina Fontanelli, performs the 10th annual show Christmas in Italy on December 7, Pearl Harbor Day. This holiday show features dancing and singing children from Queens and Staten Island, and it takes place at the BMCC Tribeca PAC. Head to 199 Chambers St. for the performance that begins at 3pm. A portion of the proceeds benefit the Wounded Warrior Project and honor several living WWII veterans. For tickets and information, dial (212)220-1459.
Rutgers Community Programs
A Place to Grow
RCP is with your family from the very start, offering an atmosphere of love, creativity and fun for parents and children up to 10 years.
Winter/Spring Programs for Parents and for children:
• Support Groups for Mothers • Family and On My Own Playgroups • Mandarin • Art • Dance • Movement • Soccer • Curtains Up Playhouse Musical Theater program for ages 5-10 • Ready, Set, Go! program for 3-5 year olds • Free Workshops and Special Events
FREE OPEN HOUSE:
Saturday, January 11th 9:30am-12:30pm Parents and children can meet instructors, see our spacious facility, and have fun! $25 off a winter/spring class or $100 off Ready, Set, Go! for attending the open house. RSVP required. 236 West 73rd Street & Broadway (take the #1, #2, or #3 trains) Contact Jennifer at jmoore@rutgerschurch.org or 212-877-8227, X212 www.rutgerschurch.org • www.facebook.com/rutgerscommunityprograms
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December
Giving Back
Open Houses
While buying and making gifts for loved ones this season, consider SoGet out of the cold weather and into the warmth at these local les4Souls, a nonprofit institution dedicated to fighting the never-ending facilities offering open houses this month. cycles of poverty and their impact. NYC-based Grimaldi & Associates •Rutgers Presbyterian Church Body and Spirit Program: Rutgers has joined forces with the organization to gather pairs of gently worn Presbyterian Church, 236 W. 73rd St., (212)877 8227, ext. 212, footwear. By recycling your shoes, you are giving another person a jmoore@rutgerschurch.org, www.rutgerschurch.com, December second chance. Soles4Souls has distributed more than 20 million pairs 7, 9:30am. RSVP required. of shoes to those in need. Do your part by stopping by the donation •Westside Preschool: 165 W. 105th St., (212)749-4635, site at 227 E. 56th St., Room 300. Learn more about the organizainfo@westsidepreschoolny.org, www.westsidepreschoolny.org, tion and how to get involved by visiting December 4. Light Up the Season www.giveshoes.org. To celebrate the show’s 36th Season, A Nostalgic Celebration Groovy Gustafer the Big Apple Circus brings all of the Generations have celebrated the season Everyone’s favorite, mellow fellow who vivacity of New York City to its new- with A Charlie Brown Christmas. Concame to earth is coming to the Jewest show: Luminocity. The one-ring tinue the tradition at Carnegie Hall, 57th ish Museum on December 15 at 2pm. circus offers the high energy and ex- Street at Seventh Avenue, on December Join him as he stumbles through getcitement of a big circus to an intimate 21 at 2pm. The staged concert features ting used to life on this planet and gets space where no audience member is dancers from the New York Theatre Balhimself into absurd situations. Gustafer more than 50 feet from the ringside. let, actors from Tada! Youth Theater, Yellowgold, equal parts pop-rock concert Get your tickets now for Luminocity and is narrated by John Tartaglia. Dial as it is animated storybook, is appropriate at Damrosch Park, Lincoln Center, at (212)903-9600 for tickets or click on for children of all ages. The museum is www.bigapplecircus.org or by calling www.carnegiehall.org. located at 1109 5th Ave. Questions? Dial (888)541-3750. The show runs through (212)423-3200. January 12, 2014. Samantha Chan is the associate editor.
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December 2013 I PARENTGUIDE News I 11
“Your child has autism.” What would go through your mind if you heard those words? Would you freak out? We felt this shock when we first learned of our kids’ diagnoses, but then we learned to live and grow with it. Autism is a spectrum disorder, which means it affects every child differently. There’s a saying: The autism spectrum is so wide that “if you’ve met one child with autism, you’ve met one child with autism.” Even the children with similar deficits present them and learn to cope with them in different ways. Many people mistakenly equate acceptance of the diagnosis with surrender. It’s really not the case. There are certain things you will need to accept, chief among them is that there’s no cure. But it doesn’t mean conditions won’t get better than they are now. Delayed and slowed development don’t equate to no development. Children will still grow and learn. The processes are just going to take longer, be harder, and require more effort. Once you accept the things you can’t change, you can focus your energy, efforts, and resources on the things on which you can have an impact. With that in mind, here are some tips to help you out when facing a diagnosis of autism:
1
Manage expectations. This is a marathon, not a sprint; you’re not going to “fix” this overnight. This is a life-changing event for you and everyone who is a part of your life. Go with what you know and can do. For example, just because your kid can’t play in little league doesn’t mean he can’t ever play sports. Our children are now competitive ice skaters! Why? Because when you like to spin and don’t get dizzy, it’s considered a skill in figure skating. Measure success in 12 I PARENTGUIDE News I December 2013
months or years, not days. Sometimes it will feel like you’re getting nowhere, until you look back six months, and realize how far your family has come.
2
Get early intervention ASAP. Time is your enemy. Studies have shown that the earlier help is given to address the needs of a child with autism, the better. You might have to fight the mentality that “they’ll grow out of it.” Most children can improve, but only with a lot of help. Yes, it can be a bit of a pain and feel like you’ve given up your privacy when there are so many people offering assistance. Look at the bright side, you will be able to actually leave the house again. And privacy, for us, is reserved for weekends.
3
Learn the techniques. The therapists won’t live with you 24/7; you have to be involved, too. They aren’t just training your child; they are also training you. The therapy techniques may seem counterintuitive in the beginning. Like we did at first, you may want to argue philosophies to learn as much as you can. Remember this: The techniques work and are worth it.
4
Learn the lingo. Autism experts use a boatload of acronyms, and you need to be able to communicate with them. Yes, it’s like learning a Martian language. There is a plethora of jargon that makes no sense at first. However, take the time to figure it out, and take notes.
5
Take care of yourself. You’re allowed to have fun, and you can’t advocate for your child if you’re burned out. This is really, really important. The first thing we all forget to do, or feel too guilty to do, is have fun without the kids. Find an outlet for happiness and stress relief, and make yourself stick to it. Make sure you remember you’re in this together. There is no need to feel guilty about needing a date night, learning karate, or even just going to a grown-up movie that has absolutely no animated characters. parentguidenews.com
6
Don’t lock yourself away. You and your child need to be exposed to the world. What’s the point of all this work if you’re not going to “live?” We all practice avoidance at first because it’s easier than the alternative. It’s tough to go through the routine of getting ready to only spend a short amount of time outside. Do it anyway. The time eventually gets longer. The first time we went to Disneyland, we lasted maybe an hour. We can last all day now, sometimes.
7 8
Watch out for each other. Divorce and caregiver depression is a big concern. Your partner is the only person who knows what you’re going through. Talk to the that person. Share your feelings and hugs. Don’t try to go it alone. You will burn out if you don’t take care of yourself and your relationships. Have a support system of family and friends who can help out. And some of those relationships need to have nothing to do with autism. You are more than your child’s diagnosis. Having true balance in your life is incredibly important.
9
Give up services when you’re done. There are 50,000 kids diagnosed with autism every year. Resources are more limited now than ever. There is literally another kid in line behind yours waiting for help. And we know how difficult it is to give up something for which you fought so hard, but the point of the therapy is to graduate when the time comes.
10
Don’t blame yourself. When you can forgive yourself, you can better focus on helping your child. Accept what you can’t change, and then fight like mad for everything else.
Autism parenting is still parenting. It’s just a heck of a lot more intense. You are a parent first. Your child still knows how to push your buttons better than anyone else. We always tell folks, “autistic, not stupid.” Never confuse the two, or they will own you. And never, never confuse disability with inability. Andy and Melissa Areffi have three children with autism. Their book is Navigating Autism: The Essential How-to by Parents for Parents (CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform). Learn more about the Areffi family at www.navautism.com.
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Learn more about Winston Prep at www.winstonprep.edu/about/film
December 2013 I PARENTGUIDE News I 13
BEFORE Birth Amusing anecdotes about your hospital stay.
by Katie Bugbee Baby’s almost here, and you’ve got everything in order. All you have to do now is wait for the show to start! Before labor kicks in and you head to the hospital, prepare yourself with some essential insight for the experience. Realize you’ll lose all sense of pride. I remember trying to initially cover up in front of the nurses. But by day 2, you’ve been poked, prodded, and examined by every doctor, nurse, and orderly in the building. I think the food crew even saw my bum. And as the prudest person in America, I couldn’t have cared less. Note that all the planning you’ve done might just go out the window. I spent an entire weekend in Lamaze class. I had a birth plan paired with birthing music. My pantry and freezer were stocked with popsicles and carb-filled foods to fuel me (and cool me) for the hours spent in labor before we headed to the hospital. And then, two weeks before my due date, I woke up feeling funny. Strange enough to head to the ER. I had a rare form of preeclampsia, and the baby needed to come out right away. Emergency C-section. No popsicles. And no Beyoncé. Screaming at your partner will help. It really will. And here’s the secret: Anything you say during labor cannot be held against you. This also applies to the first year after birth. Anything said between the hours of 12am and 4am cannot be brought up the next day. Breastfeeding might be harder than anything you’ve ever done. This is what my husband tells any pregnant woman he knows. It took machines, apparati, lactation consultants, a devoted husband, and at least four hands to get my first baby to eat. At day 5, using pumps, massage techniques, gels and creams, I looked at my husband and said, “When we met freshman year of college, did you ever imagine you’d be handling my boobs this way?” But honestly, you should let people help you, especially your partner. It will bring you closer than you ever thought possible. It’s okay for the baby to sleep in the hospital nursery. So many moms will tell you that their baby slept next to them every night in
the hospital. Well, good for them. But I bet they didn’t sleep one wink, hearing every gurgle. Let a nurse take the baby to a nursery for the night, and bring him to you when it’s time to eat. You’re going to have this baby for the next 60 or more years. You might as well nap now. Ask for help. Truly. Maybe women used to do this all by themselves back in the day, and yay for them. But if you have the opportunity to have night nurses, nannies, and loving family help you with this newborn, take it. You are still in charge (or, the baby is). Once you feel like the support is intruding more than helping, you can start cutting back. Find a new-mom friend. It may be hard at first, but a friend will help you break out of the comfort zone of your sweatpants and jammies. Make a goal to get out of the house for at least an hour each day, breastfeed in a public area (gasp!), or talk through concerns with someone. You’re the queen for the day. Don’t worry about anyone else, the schedules, the well-meaning visitors to the hospital. This day is about you, your partner, and your baby. And once this beautiful bundle is born, make sure everyone takes precious care of you while you care for your new addition.
Katie Bugbee loves any chance to hang out and be silly with her family. When not touring the suburbs of Boston looking for activities to entertain two preschoolers, she can usually be found managing the content at Care.com. 14 I PARENTGUIDE News I December 2013
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PROGRAM DIRECTORY
Discover Some of the Area’s Finest Programs & Resources! Programs Ballet Academy East 1651 3rd Ave., NYC 10128 (212)410-9140 info@baenyc.com www.baenyc.com Ballet Academy East, with more than 33 years of experience, offers excellent programs for children and adults of all ages and abilities. The youngest children start in the Petit Dancers Division where children 18 months-2 years, along with their parents/caregivers, share the joy of music and dance. Pre-Ballet classes (ages 3-6) introduce ballet in a positive and creative environment. Tap and modern classes are also offered for ages 3-6. The Pre-Professional Ballet Division, for ages 7-18, provides students every opportunity to achieve their highest potential and aspirations utilizing a structured curriculum within a nurturing environment. The faculty consists of highly experienced and renowned teachers led by associate artistic director, Darla Hoover. All classes have piano accompaniment. Admission to the Pre-Professional Division is by audition. There are two performance opportunities yearly in February and May, providing the Pre-Professional students with the
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opportunity to hone their performance skills. BAE offers teens and adults of all levels a full schedule of ballet, tap, jazz, Zumba, yoga and Pilates classes. The bright facility has five air-conditioned studios. The dressing rooms have showers and lockers, and there is a Capezio Dancewear Boutique on the premises.
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Ballet Club 328 E. 61st St., Second Floor, NYC 10065 (917)281-1030 / (212)204-6348 Fax: (917)281-1032 info@theballetclub.com www.theballetclub.com The Ballet Club is a unique program that offers professional training in a nurturing environment, as well as a foundation of life skills and intellectual stimulation. It includes the Children’s Creative Dance Club Division for ages 3-8, and the Performing Arts Pre-Professional Division for ages 7 and older. It strives to provide the very best quality of ballet training, instilling in students a love of learning, and class size is limited to ensure individual attention. The Ballet Club has a holistic approach to training, in which students master ballet as a tool for their own creative expression, with an emphasis on healthy training for both the body and the mind. All young ballet students learn bodyspace aware-
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New York City’s Premier Art Studio for Children, Teens and Adults!
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ArTY PArTieS 1412 Second Avenue (Bet. 73rd & 74th St.) www.kidsatartnyc.com s 212-410-9780 18 I parentguide News I December 2013
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PROGRAM DIRECTORY ness, musicality, master locomotive and non-locomotive skills, gain physical conďŹ dence, and explore the use of time, space, and energy in dance. Classes in the Performing Arts Pre-Professional Division incorporate classical technique with a modern approach and emphasizes technique, creativity, choreography, and performance. For more information, and/or to register, call (917)2811030 or (212)204-6348, e-mail info@theballetclub.com, or visit www.theballetclub.com. Chelsea Piers Sports and Entertainment Complex 23rd Street and Hudson River Park, NYC 10011 (212)336-6666 www.chelseapiers.com Chelsea Piers offers Manhattan’s best and most comprehensive sports programs for children ages 12 months-17 years. State-ofthe-art facilities, world-class coaches and a friendly staff combine to make Chelsea Piers New York’s ultimate sports destination. Weekend recreation, after-school instruction, leagues, camps and clinics are available in a wide variety of sports. The Field House at (212)336-6500 features the largest gymnastics center in NYC, equipped with in-ground trampolines and foam pits, a children’s rock climbing wall, a toddler gym, dance studios, four batting cages, two basketball courts, two indoor artificial turf playing fields for soccer and more than 350 sports classes for all ages. The Field House is also home to CP Kids, a childcare and preschool program for children ages 3 months-5 years. Sky Rink at (212)336-6100 features twin indoor, year-round ice skating rinks and classes in ice hockey and figure skating. The Golf Club at (212)336-6400 features 52 heated, weather-protected hitting stalls on four tiers, a 200-yard hitting fairway and putting greens. Youth programs and private instruction are available at the Golf Academy. Enroll
your child today! For more information on any of the Chelsea Piers youth sports programs, please visit www.chelseapiers.com. Dancing Divas and Dudes 418 E. 75th St., NYC 10021 131 W. 72nd St., NYC 10083 (917)279-4351 julie_swift2005@yahoo.com www.dancingdivasanddudes.com In July 2013, students from Dancing Divas and Dudes landed Top Score Overall in the junior competition at Tremaine Dance Conventions! If you are looking to join an inspiring and successful dance program, this is the place for you! Dancing Divas and Dudes believes that dance improves many fundamental foundations: from math (putting patterns together, counting and retaining) to giving presentations (listening to the music, smiling, remembering the steps, being aware of your peers and being in front of an audience). Students truly celebrate the art of dance at Dancing Divas and Dudes. Building on three generations of dance schools in Texas, this inspiring program shares teaching techniques and dance styles amassed during the last 90 years. Founder Julie Swift coupled her expertise in dance with her mother and grandmother’s teaching ideas to create this unique, evolving program that is taught at preschools as well as two studios on the UWS and UES. Classes for younger children combine ballet and tap, while the older students may select ballet, tap, jazz, hiphop or acro. Company members compete at Dance Competitions. Parents say that along with learning new moves and techniques, their children gain self-esteem, body awareness and a sense of accomplishment that fosters overall learning and development. Dancers are able to remember their well-choreographed dances
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BEST CHILDREN’S ARTS CLASS New York Magazine Best of New York 2000
opera n’ art holiday camps manga, painting gallery hops sculpture + more!
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December 2013 I parentguide News I 19
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PROGRAM DIRECTORY HiArt! 227 West 29th St., NYC 10001 (212)209-1552 www.hiartkids.com Now in its 16th arts-exploding year, this Best of New York arts The Diller-Quaile School of Music program revs up for another fantastic Fall filled with art, art and 24 E. 95th St., NYC 10128 more art– thanks to some incredibly inspired programming that (212)369-1484 insists that art doesn’t have to be made small just because kids www.diller-quaile.org are! This award winning, Best Arts Program for Kids (Best of The Diller-Quaile School of Music was founded in 1920 by New York, New York Magazine 2000) offers a spectacular array pianists Angela Diller and Elizabeth Quaile, who believed the of classes especially designed for the city’s arts-savviest kids. capacity for understanding and creating music exists in everyWhether your child opts for Manga with manga stars Yali Lin, one— and that a music school should provide a dynamic and Hyeondo Park, Ashley Silva or Zoe Greenbaum; or builds ingewell-rounded experience not just for select students, but for all. nious creations with stellar sculptor, Mallory Breiner; or mixes Today, Diller-Quaile is a thriving community music school on media madly with bookmaking queen, Becky Brown; or paints till the Upper East Side of Manhattan, comprised of Early Childthe cows come home with the stupendous JJ Manford; or inscribes hood (music and art classes for infants-six-year-olds), Instruthemselves in video with internationally renowned video artist, mental and Vocal, High School Certificate, Adult, Teacher Train419 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10016 • 212-213-8840 • Fax 212-447-7734 Asya Reznikov; or writes his own comic books with the brilliant, ing, and Outreach Departments. The school’s faculty nurtures Maggie Siegel-Berele; or plunges into the world of Opera ‘N Art each student’s ability to play and sing with knowledge and exto: # with HiArt! founder and art divaFAx extraordinaire, Cyndie Bellenpression, providing a foundation for a lifetime of involvement BerthĂŠzène; kids and parents are guaranteed to have the artiest, in music. Curricula emanate primarily from international folk most inspiring art-making days iSSue of their lives. New friends, new music and classical music, and the school annually enrolls From: 1,100 DAte: experiences, lots of learning and tons of fun await. Offerings are students of all ages. Throughout the year, Diller-Quaile offers available to ages 18 months-16 years. Be there or be square! Rug Concerts for young children, master classes, student recitals and faculty performances. Additionally, the School provides Please call or fax your comments and/or oK. Instituto Cervantes de New York music outreach programs to more than 1,000 children and adults 211 E. 49th St., NYC 10017 from underserved communities throughout NYC. Applications SigNAture (212)308-7720, oF APProvAl: ext. 3 are being accepted now for new classes beginning in January www.newyork.cervantes.org 2014. Accredited by the Accrediting Commission for CommuInstituto Cervantes is the only non-profit organization of its kind, nity and Precollegiate Arts Schools. Call (212)369-1484 or visit created and endorsed by the government of Spain with the mission www.diller-quaile.org for an application. independently, and students gain stage presence and confidence by performing throughout the year, including at an annual recital. Visit the website for performance pictures and videos.
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www.parentguidenews.com • 212-213-8840
P ppyseed Pre-Nursery
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Enrich Your Child’s day with Music, Art, Gym & Play! “Mommy & Meâ€? Age Appropriate Classes For Babies, Toddlers & 2’s NEW! BABY CLASS BEGINNING IN JANUARY 424 West End Ave. @ 81st • 212-877-7614 poppyseedprenursery.com parentguidenews.com
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PROGRAM DIRECTORY to promote the language and culture of Spain and other Spanishspeaking countries. It is the largest organization in the world that teaches Spanish to non-native speakers, with 70 cultural centers in more than 30 countries. A great variety of affordable Spanish language classes for all ages, including kids (3-13 years), and teens (14-17 years) programs, and cultural courses are available. Experienced teachers are highly qualified, native Spanish speakers from Latin America and Spain. At Instituto Cervantes children learn and practice Spanish through fun activities like arts and crafts, songs, dance, games and, stories. Teenage students enjoy learning Spanish through relevant topics and course materials that reflect their worldview. Other locations are available at the International School of Brooklyn in Carroll Gardens, and at the International Academy of Arts and Science in Closter, NJ.
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Jodi’s Gym 244 E. 84th St., NYC 10028 419 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10016 • 212-213-8840 • Fax 212-447-7734 (212)772-7633 25 Hubbels Dr., Mt. Kisco, NY 10514 to: FAx # (914)244-8811 www.jodisgym.com Jodi’s Gym, the leader in innovative rom: iSSuechildren’s DAte: gym programs, has been providing kids with the highest level of fun and fitness for 31 years! Kids run, jump, climb, swing and tumble as they build not only a foundation but also all sports.oK. In Jodi’s nurPlease call or for faxgymnastics, your comments and/or turing environment, kids enjoy moving, love to exercise and develop confidence. The spacious facility features two brightly colored, igNAture 5,000-square-foot oF APProvAl: loft spaces filled with all the gymnastics equipment imaginable including bars, beams, trampolines, slides, tunnels, bounce house and so much more. You will not find a more experienced, fun or attentive staff anywhere. Mommy and Me classes for
children 6 months-3 years include Teeny Tumblers (music/movement), Mighty Muscle Movers (gym), Rockin Rollers (gym/music combination) and the new Jumpstart Jodi’s (a preschool alternative). Preschool offerings for 3-5 year olds include Tumbling Tots (one-hour gym/motor skill development) and Creative Cartwheeling Kids (two-hour combination of gym, art and music). For k-8th grade, classes available include Funtastic Gymnastics, Accelerated and Advanced Gymnastics, Totally Tumbling and Motion Evolution (fitness/ nutrition wellness). This fall, Jodi’s Gym is proud to welcome new partner classes: Creation Station (dance), Songs for Seeds (music) and Mad Science. Can’t get to Jodi’s? Have Jodi’s To Go come to your school, camp, daycare or building! There are great perks for members, Jodi’s Gymwear and, of course, the best birthdays ever! To join the fun, friends and fitness call, go to www. jodisgym.com. “Like” Jodi’s Gym on Facebook for special promotions, pictures and information.
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www.parentguidenews.com • 212-213-8840 Karma Kids Yoga
WHO SAID SCIENTISTS DON’T HAVE FUN? OUR KIDS HAVE A BLAST AT
Seriously Art-Rageous Fun with Let’s Gogh Art NYC!
SCITECH KIDS
The mobile art program that brings the fun to you!
AFTER-SCHOOL & WEEKEND PROGRAMS
SciTech Kids creates learning experiences that sparks a child’s innate curiosity about science. At each stage of learning, whether an Explorer (ages 3-5) an Adventurer (ages 6-8), an Investigator (ages 9-12), Scientist (ages 13-15) or Ambassador (ages 11-15) children explore, think critically, and problem solve through engaging, hands-on activities. Your child will explore scientific evidence and explanations as they conduct cool experiments, analyze DNA, build robots, learn about space, botany, amusement park
science, the human body, renewable energy and so MUCH MORE.
To registerforfor Winter To register Winter 2013classes, classes, today212-804-7055 212-804-7055 or or visit callcall today visit www.sci-techkids.com www.sci-techkids.com your needs, your neighborhood
104 W. 14th St., NYC 10011 & Various Other Locations in NYC (646)638-1444 downdog@karmakidsyoga.com www.karmakidsyoga.com At Karma Kids Yoga, children practice fun-filled yoga poses and breathing exercises to promote physical strength and flexibility, concentration, focus and attention, inner strength and body awareness, confidence and self-esteem, relaxation and self-control, a feeling of well-being and respect for others, and love for one’s self, inside and out. In a fun environment, children play yoga by imitating animals and nature, and by using creative expression, games, music, art and storytelling. Fun, inspirational
BUDDING SCIENTISTS ENJOY THEMES INCLUDING: s (UMAN "ODY s %ARTH 3PACE s %NERGY -OTION s ,IVING /RGANISMS s (OW 3TUFF 7ORKS s ,IGHT 3OUND s %LECTRONICS AND MORE
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ART CLASSES, PLAYDATES plus GLITTER and GROUP EVENTS TATTOO ARTISTS, that roll! FACE PAINTERS and STORY ART! 917.704.0102 December 2013 I parentguide News I 21
PROGRAM DIRECTORY and playful classes encourage a child’s natural thirst for knowledge with engaging songs, games, self-expression and stories that exercise social, sensory and motor skills while increasing flexibility. Children will strengthen their bodies as they learn how to focus through breathing and relaxation techniques. Kids sing, draw and play yoga in energy-releasing and age-appropriate classes. And check out Karma Kids Yoga’s Gold Mom’s Choice Award-winning CD of yoga music for children, Come Play Yoga! Classes offered are: Prenatal Yoga and Prenatal Pilates, Mom & Baby Yoga and Pilates, Yoga for Toddler (Parent & Child), Kids, Teens, GLOGA Yoga, CircusYoga, Family Yoga and Free StoryTime Yoga. Private classes are also available. Special events and yoga birthday parties and Teacher Training, too! Call the number above or visit online at www.karmakidsyoga.com. Come Play Yoga! Kids at Art 419 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10016 • 212-213-8840 • Fax 212-447-7734
1412 Second Ave., NYC 10021 (212)410-9780 TO: FAX # wendy@kidsatartnyc.com www.kidsatartnyc.com Now in its 13th year, Kids at ArtISSUE is recognized as the premier art FROM: DATE: studio for children of all ages, focusing on the basics of visual arts, with age-appropriate projects for each group from 2years to adults— drawing, mosaics, andOK. much more. Pleasepainting, call or fax yoursculpture, comments and/or Classes are limited in size so that each child receives individual attention. Kids at Art Birthday Parties are also available and are SIGNATURE known OF APPROVAL: to be the most fun and creative in format. At Kids at Art the process is just as important as the finished project. Kids at Art is also available for private art class for five to ten children, one time or once a week! Summer Camp and Holiday Workshops are
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also available. During these periods the class focuses on more involved projects, such as mask-making, puppet-making, papermache and plaster. Please see the website for schedules and more information. The Language Workshop for Children Manhattan, Upper Eastside and Westside (212)396-0830 info@thibauttechnique.com www.languageworkshopforchildren.com CNN called Director François Thibaut “one of a very few experts in teaching languages to small children.” Since 1973, his famous Thibaut Technique classes, camps and preschools have introduced French, Spanish, Mandarin Chinese and Italian to children ages 6 months to 9 years by capturing the critical years when they possess their strongest capacity to absorb language and imitate native pronunciation. During each session, children receive a brandnew, glossy, full-color workbook/CD, which is jam packed with original language-rich songs (and ages 3 and older get an LWFC storybook, too). Best of all, LWFC instructors are native speakers. LWFC materials won six major children’s educational media awards. Parents magazine named the LWFC one of “6 Classes Worth the $.”
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Let’s Gogh Art, NYC (917)704-0102 www.nyletsgoghart.com Creative Art Education Let’s Gogh Art is a mobile, creative arts enrichment company delivering unique and imaginative classes, workshops, events, and programs in single or multi-week sessions. These programs cater to budding artists ages 2-12 years and can be scheduled for weekday afternoons, evenings, Saturdays, and vacations, in libraries, community centers, or in-class at schools to supplement the art curriculum. Programs are designed around a theme, technique, or material, allowing children to develop an appreciation, as well as the abilities for critical thinking, self-expression, problem solving, imagination, and creativity. Hands-on activities, combined with a bit of whimsy and wackiness from the Gogh Art creativity crew, art explorers think outside of the box, making connections with the colorful world around them. Visit the website to learn more about art classes, workshops, Family ArtFests, summer programs, and vacation/holiday programs. Don’t forget about birthday parties. The Gogh Art creativity crew travels to your party location bringing party hosts, glitter tattoo artists, and more. Tailor each party to your birthday child’s interests.
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Inquire About Our Performing Arts Pre-Professional Division! Photo by 5 westkids/SpencerLum
Professional Training in a Nurturing Environment
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Ballet Classes for All Ages 328 East 61st Street, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10065
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PROGRAM DIRECTORY Physique Swim School Leman Manhattan Prep (Lower School) 41 Broad St., New York, NY (between Exchange Pl and Beaver St) 333 E 66th St. (between 1st and 2nd Avenue) St. Bartholomew’s Church 109 E. 50th St., New York, NY Hunter College North Building - 695 Park Avenue Mercedes Club 550 W 54th St (between 10th and 11th Avenue) Dunlevy Milbank Center 14-32 West 118th St. (between Lennox and 5th Ave) City College of New York Robert Marshak Science Building Convent Avenue at 138 Street, New York, NY Physique Swimming Summer Camp In Battery Park City, Gateway Plaza 375 South End Ave., New York, NY info@physiqueswimming.com www.physiqueswimming.com (212)-725-0939 Physique Swim School’s Learn to Swim Program and Physique Summer Swim Camp is the perfect opportunity for those who want to learn or perfect the sport of swimming. Physique’s primary focus is health, mind and body development through swimming and safety around the water. With step-by-step instructions, kids will learn how to be safe, develop basic strokes, gain confidence in the water and develop efficient swimming technique in all four strokes. Different levels are available for all ages and skill levels - Beginner 1: Water Exploration, Beginner 2: Primary Skills, Advanced 1: Stroke Readiness, Advanced 2: Stroke Development, Swim Team, Prep Stroke I & Swim Team Prep 2: Stroke Proficiency, Fitness and Preparedness for Competitive Swimming, and Me & My Shadow: parent and child class from 4 months to 3 years old. Swim programs are for children of all ages and skill levels. With locations all over New York and New Jersey, you cannot miss out on this ideal opportunity. Physique Swimming Day Camp takes place in Battery Park City. Camp activities include instructional swim twice a day with organized pool activities. Other activities range from soccer, basketball, track and field, and arts and crafts. Find out about the best-kept secret swim school and camp in NYC. Visit the website, send an e-mail or call for more information.
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imagination and creativity through brush and finger painting, collage-making, clay and play-dough, water play and cooking. Special mini-gym equipped with Magic Mountain, trampoline, ball pit, balance beam, slide, seesaw and parachute offers a healthy environment for developing self confidence. A professional, highly-educated staff helps children learn at their own pace in a perfect setting for each child’s growth. Please call for more information. Rutgers Community Programs 236 W. 73rd St., NYC 10023 www.rutgerschurch.org www.facebook.com/rutgerscommunityprograms (212)877-8227, ext. 212 jmoore@rutgerschurch.org RCP offers great classes for toddlers, preschoolers and schoolaged kids: the Ready, Set, Go! program for kids aged 3-5; Mommy & Me and On My Own playgroups; a New Moms’ Support Group; Mandarin; art; movement; dance; soccer; and Curtains Up Playhouse, the musical theater program where kids aged 5-10 act, sing, dance, and design sets for the spring production of “Sort of Into the Woods.” Free Open House on January 11, 9:30am12:30pm; RSVP required. Click the Community Programs button on the website or follow them on Facebook.
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Sci-Tech Kids 1841 Broadway, Suite 712A, NYC 10023 Afterschool Program: NY Junior League, All Souls Church and Westside location www.sci-techkids.com SciTech Kids, an innovative science and technology provider, sparks a child’s innate curiosity and creativity through rich, hands-on, cap-
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REGISTER NOW FOR 2014 CLASSES deon’s Nickelo Pick ts n re a P ine Trema Dance ore Top Sc
Classes in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Hip-Hop and Acro! Ages 2 and up!
418 E. 75th St., 131 W. 72nd St.
917-279-4351
www.DancingDivasandDudes.com
The Poppyseed Pre-Nursery 424 West End Ave. (at 81st St.), NYC 10024 (212)877-7614 info@poppyseedprenursery.com www.poppyseedprenursery.com Delight your child’s social day with music, art, gym and play at The Poppyseed Nursery, where big things are happening for little people. Small-sized, one to two-hour groups for babies, toddlers or 2s with parent or caregiver, meet two or three times a week, providing individual attention and the continuity and consistency needed for forming special friendships. The perfect bridge between the home and school experience, Poppyseed offers age-appropriate activities which foster self assurance and creativity. Self-expression through singing and dancing with musical instruments, accompanied by the piano cultivate sensitivity to harmony and rhythm. Children explore the sensory world of art with pleasure and spontaneity, developing your needs, your neighborhood
December 2013 I parentguide News I 23
PROGRAM DIRECTORY tivating experiences that bring science to life. Designed for children ages 3-15, SciTech Kids inspires kids to think like scientists, inventors and innovators. SciTech Kids turn the idea of learning science on its head. Kids learn scientific concepts by “doing science” that is connected to everyday life. With activities ranging from composting, to launching rockets, to cool chemical reactions, to tinkering with electronic circuits, SciTech Kids are taught the fundamentals of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). “Our students never look at science the same way again,” says Kim Magloire, President of SciTech Kids “This winter, we have integrated augmented reality and 3D printing into our curriculum. SciTech Kids has expand its offerings to include weekend classes. SciTech Kids classes are held at the NY Junior League at 130 East 80th St., All Souls Church at 1157 Lexington Avenue, and a westside location.
Special Needs EBL Coaching 17 East 89th St., NYC 10028 Or At Home (212)249-0147 info@eblcoaching.com www.eblcoaching.com Under the direction of Dr. Emily Levy, EBL Coaching offers one-oneone specialized tutoring for students in grades pre-k to 12 with specific learning needs. They used research-based, multi-sensory strategies, including the Orton Gillingham technique, to develop reading, writing, reading comprehension, math, organization and study skills. They also offer three-week intensive academic summer programs at the elementary and middle school/high school levels. Students are initially
24 I parentguide News I December 2013
assessed by the director, Dr. Levy, and an individualized instructional plan is created. Sessions can be held at the home or at EBL Coaching’s Upper East Side learning center. Specialized tutorial programs for students with dyslexia and learning disabilities are available. Winston Preparatory 126 W. 17th St., NYC 10011 (646)638-2705 mbramlett@winstonprep.edu; mrodriguez@winstonprep.edu www.winstonprep.edu Winston Prep was founded more than 30 years ago as the first high school in New York City devoted specifically to students with learning disabilities. Winston provides a highly individualized, responsive setting for a smart and creative community of students who have been diagnosed with language-based learning disorders, nonverbal learning disabilities, and executive functioning difficulties. Each student’s program is designed to challenge strengths while remediating areas of need, including but not limited to the essentials of reading, writing, mathematics, organization, and study skills. Each individualized educational program is based upon a diagnostic understanding of the dynamic learning profile that evolves as the student progresses and matures. Small classes of 8-12 students help to facilitate the individualization of course work. Students receive daily one-on-one instruction, Focus, which is designed to serve as the diagnostic, instructional, and mentoring centerpiece. P.E., art, and music alternate daily, and a variety of enrichment courses are offered after school including drama and interscholastic athletic programs. Graduates are enrolled in fourand two-year colleges as well as post-graduate transition programs. For more information, contact Michelle Bramlett, director of admissions at (646)638-2705, ext. 634; or Medry Rodriguez, admissions assistant (646)638-2705, ext. 619.
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December 2013 I parentguide News I 25
raffic, SA, and antrums, by Princess Ivana Pignatelli Aragona Cortes
Eight tips for surviving holiday travel with your kids. raveling with children — especially during the holiday rush — can seem like training for an Olympic sport. It will push your endurance (and sanity!) to the limit. But there are some things you can do to tone down the madness and limit the “Bah, humbug.” The better organized you are, the easier it gets. I write from experience. I have worked with children for more than 20 years, and I have a master’s degree in education. While I’m also a modern-day princess, I come from modest means and met my Prince Charming, Adriano Pignatelli Aragona Cortes, Prince of the Holy Roman Empire, while on scholarship at Pepperdine University. My most valuable source of education by far is my experience as a mother to our two children. As an American who married an Italian, I frequently fly with my family. I’ve learned a lot of travel-disaster lessons in the School of Hard Knocks, and I’ve developed crisis-averting strategies that have been real lifesavers. The following survival tips will help make your family trip the wonderful adventure it should be.
1. Plan ahead...and plan some more.
Make a list of everything you’ll need for travel, and check it twice. Give yourself plenty of time to consider your schedule and all possible scenarios. How many nap times and mealtimes are there? If a nap happens mid-flight, make sure you have sleep essentials handy. Pack a distraction like a portable DVD player in case sleep doesn’t occur. Check connecting destinations for kid-friendly restaurants and areas.
2. Travel light(ish).
Start packing at least a day or two before departure. Consider
SK-Dec. ‘13
26 I parentguide News I December 2013
whether your vacation spot has items you can borrow or buy to maintain light luggage. Consolidate as much of your luggage as possible. If you’re checking most of your bags, don’t forget a carry-on with extra outfits for the little ones in case of spills!
3. Organize your Mary Poppins purse.
Choose a bag with plenty of separate pockets and compartments for storage of snacks, baby gear, wipes, etc. Make sure the things you’ll need most often are easily accessible. Keep essential travel documents in a noticeable wallet. Use a carry-on Ziploc bag for medications the family might need, such as infant fever reducer, throat soothers, and gas and allergy relievers.
4. Give yourself plenty of time to get to your destination. It always takes longer to get out of the house than anticipated thanks to traffic, airport lines, tantrums, and dirty diapers. Leave a half-hour or more earlier than you think you need.
5. Ace airport security.
Use the “Green Circle” lanes, which offer extra time and assistance to get through the lines. Know the latest TSA regulations, available at www.tsa.gov. Encourage the family to wear slip-on shoes and easy-to-remove jackets. parentguidenews.com
6. Fill their bellies.
Make sure you have plenty of snacks (like infant formula and finger foods) for your brood to enjoy en route. If you’re flying, have a baby bottle ready for take-off and landing as swallowing helps your baby’s ears adjust to pressure changes. For older children, a low-sugar lollipop works great. Don’t forget to fuel yourself. Drink plenty of water and eat when the kids do.
7. Make time fly with entertainment.
PROOF
Whatever your travel method, chances are you’ll have a lot of downtime. Buy a new toy for the trip. Bring books and an iPad — whatever it takes to keep your children from reaching octave levels that break the sound barrier. A few “new” things will keep kids occupied longer. Music is a great soother, so kid-friendly headphones are a great investment. And don’t forget comfort
items like a favorite stuffed animal, sleep pillow, or soft blanket.
8. Map out your road trip.
Proof
Traveling by car with pint-sized passengers can be just as stressful as flying, but many of the same rules apply. Have plenty of snacks and toys on hand to keep your children occupied. A DVD player and headphones may just save your sanity, too. When planning your route, account for rest stops such as parks that give the kids a chance to run around. And always have extras on hand when it comes to diapers, pacifiers, and wipes.
Remember, • holiday travel with chilwww.parentguidenews.com 212-213-8840 www.parentguidenews.com • 212-213-8840 dren doesn’t have to mean you reach the end of your rope before the end of the road. Simplify your vacation through planing and preparedness. Travel safely!
Princess Ivana Pignatelli Aragona Cortes is the co-author of A Simple Guide to Pregnancy & Baby’s First Year, (Don’t Sweat It Media, Inc.), founder of Princess Ivana — The Modern Princess at www.princessivana.com, and a featured blogger on Modern Mom. Although she’s a princess, Ivana didn’t wait for a kiss to save her; using her master’s degree in education, she forged a career of her own as a digital strategy consultant. Ivana and her Prince Charming have two fabulous kids.
THE POCONOS’ FAVORITE FAMILY SKI RESORT
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Call 1.866.771.3717 or visit smuggs.com/pg to learn about our Vermont Winter Experience Package and ask how you can SAVE on your Winter Vacation!
December 2013 I parentguide News I 27
Holiday Trips and Destinations Ski Butternut 380 State Road, Route 23, Great Barrington, MA 01230 (413)528-2000 info@SkiButternut.com www.SkiButternut.com SKI Magazine described Ski Butternut as “A True Family Mountain.” It’s easily accessible for NYC residents, about a 2½-hour drive north into the beautiful Berkshire Mountains of Western Massachusetts, where a friendly staff waits to greet you. Butternut features 22 classic New England Trails, 11 lifts including three quad chairlifts, two terrain parks and a snowmaking system that covers 100 percent of the mountain. Ski Butternut is known for great grooming, which converts the trails into fresh corduroy nightly. Ski Butternut offers exceptional learning programs for children. The Adventurers program teach children ages 4-13 how to ski. Ages 4-13 can learn to snowboard in their miniRIDERS program. A Tubing Center makes sliding downhill fun for kids and parents alike! Ski Butternut offers many great deals including specials for those who serve: military, police, firefighters, EMT’s and scouts, plus online coupons for 5th graders and college students, there is even a money saving first-timers package and many more. Ski Butternut is a shining jewel in the Berkshires that’s making skiing and riding affordable! Check out the mountain SnowEAST Magazine readers rated: #1 Classic Resort, #1 ski area in Mass. and #1 Favorite Eastern Resort.
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Shawnee Mountain Ski Area P.O. Box 339, Hollow Road Shawnee-on-Delaware, PA 18356 (570)421-7231 www.shawneemt.com Shawnee Mountain is family and beginner-friendly! Complete with 23 slopes and trails of every difficulty level from beginner to expert and two terrain parks, this Pennsylvania escape is sure to please the whole family. Shawnee has the Pocono Plunge snow tubing park, with individual and two-person (adult and child) tubing. They also offer tubing birthday party packages; call group sales office for details! Installed in 2011, The Tomahawk Express is a high-speed, four-person chairlift, which whisk skiers and snowboarders to the top of the mountain in just three minutes. Despite its high speed, the new chairlift is very beginner and child friendly, slowing 75 percent for loading and unloading. For children ages 7-15 there are skiing and snowboarding daily programs. Other children’s programs include SKIwee for ages 46 and SKIbaby for age 3 and younger. Each program lasts three or six hours daily and includes constant supervision and instruction, lunch and a snack. A variety of accommodations fits the needs of every family from two-three bedroom townhouses and chateaus to condos, villas, The Summit Lodge for groups and the charming Victorian-era Shawnee Inn.
PROOF
Smugglers’ Notch, Vermont 4323 Vermont Route 108 South, Smugglers’ Notch, VT 05464 (866)771-3717 www.smuggs.com/pg Choosing Smugglers’ for your family’s winter vacation is easy! In this year’s SKI Magazine reader survey, Smugglers’ was voted #1 Overall Resort in the East and #1 for family vacations in the East – for the 15th year! This northern Vermont winter wonderland is blanketed by an average annual snowfall of 300 inches, and recent snowmaking enhancements ensure a great experience on the slopes. New activities for family fun include mini snowmobile rides for kids and a heated cabin groomer tour with spectacular mountain views. America’s Family Resort features award-winning children’s programs (6weeks-17years), mountainside village lodging, indoor pool, FunZone entertainment center, hot tubs, shopping, dining and entertainment. Experience year-round Zip Line Canopy Tour, three interconnected mountains with more than 1,000 acres of terrain, 78 trails and 2,610-ft vertical for skiing & snowboarding, plus dedicated trails for cross-country and snowshoeing. Smugglers’ is so serious about delivering on a great Winter vacation, each Club Smugglers’ Package comes with a Family Fun Guarantee, which states that each guest participating in one of the snow sport programs will learn to ski or snowboard or improve their skiing or riding skills or their lesson portion of the package will be refunded! Ask about the Vermont Winter Experience Vacation Package combining on and off snow fun! Smugglers’ Notch Vermont… your best value for Family Fun– anywhere! Call 1(866)771-3717 today to make your reservation or visit www.smuggs.com/pg 28 I parentguide News I December 2013
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Ellen Legare and d, Sallianne McClellan .You creators of Art is.. treats xed Media Art Re
Mi
MixedMedia
Mamas
.
lay p o t n io s is m r e p Give yourself
by Sallianne McClelland
Think you’re not “creative?” Forget what your art teacher at school told you. If you are just starting out, it is not necessary to invest in a lot of supplies or Everyone is an artist! the most expensive items. Sometimes the acrylic paints found in a dollar store are a good place to start. You can never go wrong with a pencil case filled with It can be hard to explore your inner artist when you’re a mom. But the benefits of carving out time from your schedule to learn a new skill, make scissors, a glue stick, paint brush, three favorite paints, a ruler, and simple sewnew friendships, and nourish yourself can leave you relaxed, refreshed, ing kit. Start small. Start simple. Find what you enjoy, and then expand your and happier. supplies and skills as your passion leads you. Attending an art retreat, which lasts anywhere In addition to the extensive workshop offerings, many mixed-media from a weekend to an entire week, art retreats present fabulous vendor offers a unique way to refuel in a shows that are a feast of color, texture, The Art is...You logo welcoming and fun-filled environand original art. They also provide an was created by stay-atment. Retreats are held throughout opportunity for attendees to purchase home mom Kim Geiser, the country, from Connecticut to papers, kits, beads, collage sheets, who can be found at California, and the world (Italy, fibers, fabrics, unique vintage items, persimmonsgal54220. blogspot.com. southern France). During these and original flea market finds. getaways, you can try your hand at People don’t realize they have all sorts of mixed-media projects. inspiration and creativity wrapped up “Mixed-media” refers to the fact that inside of them. It can be hidden and a variety of materials and techniques somehow forgotten because of their are used that draw from different daily commitments to family and disciplines: paper arts, textile colwork. At a mixed-media art retreat, lage, painting, soldering, sculpting, new skills are discovered, techniques www.art-is-you.com • www.voodoonotes.blogspot.com metalwork, photography, millinery, are learned, and a space is created to www.wherewomencreate.com • www.earthangelsstudios.com draw out the creativity and art from art dolls, bookbinding, and more. within. Kindness, encouragement, “From the moment one arrives www.spellbinderspaperarts.com • www.amy-powers.com at the [retreat], you realize that you and smiles are given freely. New have entered a space where everyone friendships are forged. Awareness and speaks your creative language, where priorities change. Instead of jumping you are able to reconnect with your buddies or forge new friendships...and back onto life’s treadmill, and feeling bound by routine, people return home where your only requirement is to be yourself, have fun, and create,” says artfrom a retreat and incorporate what they have discovered into their lives. The ist Lesley Venable, a teacher at mixed-media retreat Art is...You. entire experience is empowering and can make you a happier person! Large-scale retreats are frequently held in a hotel and offer many workshop “I went by myself — a scaredy cat to be sure,” says Ann, who attended an options on a daily basis. Participants can attend one workshop or as many as Art is...You retreat. “I was blown away by the friendliness of everyone there. they like. Workshops are usually six hours long, so even if you can only parYou could just sit down at a table and enter a conversation with people you take in a day’s worth of them, you’ll be learning a ton and likely completing a didn’t know, yet somehow they felt like family. The energy in the workshop project. At Art is...You Mixed Media Retreats, mornings are a mix of powerful was crazy, alive, vibrant, and inspiring. You don’t have to be Picasso to enjoy messages and motivating moments. Luncheons are festive, and low-key, artyourself. It’s like a jump start for your heart, and out of that, your creativity based evenings round out each day. Smaller retreats like An Artful Journey, will flow.” Spellbound, and ViviMagoo offer a more focused selection of workshops in The personal rewards of engaging in an art retreat an intimate and unique space. will far outweigh the pile of dishes that may be waiting in the sink when you get home! Some workshops have extensive supply lists and others require very little.
Sallianne’s favorite links to help you explore the mixed-media world:
Sallianne McClelland is a wife and the mom of a 19-year-old daughter and a 7-year-old son. She is an event manager and a passionate philanthropist. Sallianne runs the leading Art is...You Mixed Media Art Retreats that occur every year across America and in Australia. She is driven to show people how to make a change in their own lives and in the lives of others by creating art and by living in generosity. Sallianne can be contacted at artis@art-is-you.com. Learn more at www.art-is-you.com.
your needs, your neighborhood
December 2013 I parentguide News I 29
Whether you want to pique your child’s curiosity with an educational gift, or you just want to provide him with the opportunity to have fun, PARENTGUIDE News has a vivacious variety of picks for this holiday season. The best part? We’re giving away every, single item in this gift guide at win. parentguidenews.com! Visit the website for details and chances to win these eye-catching toys.
Bold and Bright
Children who love to draw will be delighted to see their creations come alive with the Crayola Digital Light Designer, available at www.crayola.com. The 360-degree, dome-shape Designer uses LED technology to provide tots with a surface on which to draw, animate creations, and play games. Its mesmerizing lights and ability to spark imagination make this toy a great asset on any wishlist.
Fostering Family Time
The heartwarming mission of Cooper & Kid, founded with the help of Kickstarter, is to support dads in their parenting journey. The brand offers subscription-based The Cooper Kits, which feature curated boxes of materials to create projects. Father and child may try their hands at making things, like a catapult and biplane, while learning all about how they work from the other provisions in The Cooper Kit. Discover more at www.cooperandkid.com.
Smile for the Camera
For the budding photographer in your life, PLAYSKOOL presents the innovative SHOWCAM, a digital camera and projector. Children ages 3 and older will enjoy snapping holiday scenes with this device and then instantly sharing their results on the nearest suitable surface. The camera and projector was specifically built for little hands and comes with a variety of fun features, like the ability to add sound effects. Head to www.hasbrotoyshop.com to file this gift in the “purchased” pile.
Tablet for Tots
With the InnoTab 3S, a Wi-Fi-enabled learning tablet, you no longer have to sacrifice your beloved device for your child’s entertainment. It comes equipped with VTech Kid Connect, an app that connects kids with their parents and friends, and a kid-safe Web browser. Children ages 3 through 9 will enjoy this enriching tablet, available at Toys “R” Us.
30 I parentguide News I December 2013
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Need for Speed
Does your kid enjoy zipping, zooming, and revving? The Silverlit Mercedes Benz SLS AMG has all of the thrills an adventurer could want. Controlled by Bluetooth with any “i-Device,” the sports car zips and zooms through a number of speed settings as it twists and turns. Children ages 8 and older will also want to revv up the noise with the sports car’s high-tech speaker system that can stream music. Start your engines at www.silverlit.com.
On-the-Go Games
Quirky and Cute
By now, your family has likely experienced the curious charm of UGLYDOLL plush creatures. Fans of the stuffed monsters are sure to also enjoy UGLYDOLL: GOIN’ PLACES! (VIZ Media) by Travis Nichols, a graphic novel that takes readers on a voyage through the Uglyverse. Kids can tag along with characters like Wage and Ice-Bat as they travel through time and space. Start your child’s journey at www.uglydolls.com.
Photo credit: ™® and © 2012, Pretty Ugly, LLC. All Rights Reserved
If your youngster craves a cell phone, but isn’t quite ready to have one, you’ll want to check out the PlayMG, a pocketable, Wi-Fi, app-gaming system for kids. Available at www.playmg.com, the device comes with two games, a camera, stereo capability, and more.
Suite Set
Introduce the world of PLAYMOBIL® to the next generation with the PLAYMOBIL Large Furnished Hotel. The dwelling comes with a working elevator, furnished rooms, figures, and many other scene-setting accessories. Jumpstart your child’s imagination with this set, available at www.playmobil.us.
Mechanics of Fun
Wish for Fish
Kids who are ready for a pet may be delighted with The AquaFarm, which the whole family can cherish. Offered at www.backtotheroots.com, this fish tank is self-cleaning and actually grows food. The closed-loop ecosystem comes with all major components and a discount coupon for a fish friend.
Photo credit: Chris Roche
For the tinkerer in your life, littleBit offers an electronic building toy that makes science and technology accessible and enjoyable. Comprised of modules that snap together to make simple circuits, littleBits Exploration Kits enable young inventors to produce power, light, sound, and pulse. These elements are then used to create a Morse code machine, a glow-in-the-dark puppet, a bubble flute, and other electronics. Open the gateway to tech exploration at www.littlebits.com.
Rachel Kalina is the editor-in-chief. your needs, your neighborhood
December 2013 I parentguide News I 31
The truth about children’s dental health
by Anita Duhl Glicken, M.S.W.
MOUTH
MYTHS
Throughout the last decade, oral health has become an important topic of discussion in the health care community. Many studies now link oral health to overall health. A person’s mouth is teeming with bacteria, but most of them are harmless. Normally, the body’s natural defenses and good oral health care, such as daily brushing and flossing, can keep bacteria under control. However, without proper oral hygiene, bacteria can reach levels that might lead to oral infections, such as tooth decay and gum disease. Cavities are the result of a bacterial infection, and young children can “catch” the harmful bacteria that cause cavities. It’s important to try to keep these harmful bacteria from our children’s mouths during their first year or two. If left unchecked, they become the dominant bacteria, and the child with them could experience a lifetime of tooth decay. Tooth decay is the most common chronic disease of childhood. It is five times more common than asthma. Untreated, tooth decay can have serious, negative effects on a child’s physical, social, and educational development. Mouth pain makes it difficult to eat a healthy diet, to learn to speak properly, and to concentrate in school. Untreated tooth decay in baby teeth can damage a child’s permanent teeth. 32 I parentguide News I December 2013
The benefits of oral health education and prevention (screening and counseling regarding diet and oral care habits, fluoride varnish application) significantly outweigh the cost of dental disease. For example, full mouth restoration in a hospital operating room costs $6,000 to $10,000. Preventative fluoride varnish application costs 75 cents, takes less than three minutes, and can be done during routine visits to the dentist’s office. Here are some tips to get you started in the right direction when facing common myths about oral health:
1 - It’s okay to share utensils and cups with your children
while eating. Almost every parent is guilty of it, but parents should always use a separate utensil or cup when eating with their child. Recent studies have shown young children can get cavities from Streptococcus mutans (MS), a bacterium that can pass from person to person through the transfer of saliva. A 2008 study in Pediatric Dentistry pointed to mothers as the primary source of the MS colonization in their children.
2 - Blowing on food is the best way to cool down your child’s
meal. Well, not if you are worried about their oral health. MS bacteria can easily be transferred to food and then to children’s mouths. parentguidenews.com
3 - Sugar eats tooth enamel, causing cavities. The true culprit
is the bacteria in the mouth, which convert sugar into enamel-eroding acid. Tooth enamel does not grow back, and once destroyed, sensitive dentine are exposed to decay. Cutting back on sugary foods provides less fuel for bacteria, and brushing and flossing regularly are vital to keep bacteria and cavity counts low.
4 - Losing baby teeth to tooth decay is okay. It is a common myth that losing baby teeth due to tooth decay is insignificant because baby teeth fall out anyway. Tooth decay in baby teeth can actually result in damage to the developing crowns of the permanent teeth growing below them. If baby teeth are lost prematurely, the permanent teeth may erupt mal-positioned and eventually require orthodontics.
5 - You don’t need to worry about cavities in baby teeth. As men-
tioned above, baby teeth hold the space for permanent teeth. If cavities are left untreated in baby teeth, they can develop into serious pain and abscesses. Occasionally the infection can spread to other areas of the body, and in rare occasions, it can even result in death.
As parents, we want what is best for our children. Be sure when you visit your doctor’s office that the health care professionals you see evaluate all areas of your child’s health, including their oral health. These medical professionals can easily be the first to spot early signs of tooth decay and other oral diseases. They can help your dentist nip the problem in the bud before it gets out of hand. And, of course, practice good oral health care with your children, ensuring they brush their teeth twice per day, floss, and limit sugary foods. These simple things can secure them healthy smiles many years down the road.
Anita Duhl Glicken, M.S.W., is the president and C.E.O. of the nccPA Health Foundation and is project leader of the National Interprofessional Initiative on Oral Health (NIIOH) Physician Assistant Initiative. The program is leading the oral health charge among primary care providers, such as certified physician assistants who are often on the frontlines of oral health emergencies, education, and prevention.
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your needs, your neighborhood
December 2013 I parentguide News I 33
Update
by Jesse Berberich
tion that shields delicate ears from painful, Charmz are trendy charms that allow tweens loud noises. Log on to www.dotsontots.com to express their individuality! These fun and With their release of for more information. fashionable charms for pencils and pens come in the Angry Beavers: more than 80 styles. Collectable, tradeable, and the Complete Series easy to mix and match, Happy Charmz are sure DVD box set, Shout! Supernatural to be one of the hottest new items around. Factory invites you to relive the mirthful Reads Conquering Fears madness of this clas- Award-winning author Helping a young Eddie Jones spins three, sic Nickelodeon show child overcome suspenseful tales in that both you and your fears and phohis novels Dead Man’s kids can enjoy. Highly entertainbias is one of 419 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10016 • 212-213-8840 • Fax 212-447-7734 H a n d , S k u l l C re e k ing with humor that engages fans both t h e t o u g h e s t Stakeout, and Dead Low young and old, the box set is available at challengesFAx for Tide (Zonderkidz). to: The # www.shoutfactory.com. any parent. The novels are part of the Caden Chronicles, a young adult series From: that follows teen hero Fobie Friends iSSue DAte: Dots on Tots Nick Caden as he investigates paranormal (Fobie Friends) Made from 100-percent organic cotton, phenomena. To pick up copies now, visit series of books Leslie and Brian Miller addresses Please call or faxbyyour comments and/or oK. a numbaby and toddler head gear from Dots on www.amazon.com. ber of childhood fears while entertaining Tots protects the sensitive skin of a newreaders. Each book tackles a different phobia born. The company’s innovative hat designs SigNAture oF APProvAl: and comes with a plush toy. Find the series at feature flaps that cover your child from the Get Creative cold weather, as well as special ear protec- Available at www.happycharmz.com, Happy www.fobiefriends.com.
Busy Beavers
ProoF
Proof
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SK-Dec. ‘13 A Mesmerizing Story Told Through Music, Dance & Technology
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Update Engaging Fun
Most parents are always are looking for ways encourage their kids to have fun while also inspiring them to learn. Ubooly is an interactive toy with endless, educational entertainment. The customized toy teaches on topics like toothbrushing and learning a language, and it is available now at Toys “R” Us.
Rockabye and Roll
Rockabye Baby takes the greatest artists from rock, pop, and rap, and turns their greatest hits into baby-friendly tunes ideal for sleep. More than 50 of the music industry’s biggest names, like Led Zeppelin, Weezer, and Jay-Z, have been
given the lullaby treatment. Sample the avail- adult fashion over the past few years, which able tunes at www.rockabyebabymusic.com. has inspired My Sunshine Shoppe to develop a line of mini Lace Leggings for your budding fashionista. The Lace Leggings are a Shoes With Prospect perfect addition to any outfit and come in a From PROSPECS variety of colors. To order these perfect acSneakers, the cessories, visit www.mysunshineshoppe.com. Power Walk 503 sneakers are designed with Looks Cool, Catches flubber midsole Drool cushioning and Consider the Banda temperature regulation for maximum comfort. Their reflective Bib when searchmaterials ensure safe travel at night, and ing for a bib that enhanced shock absorption offers a better c o m b i n e s c o m walking and running experience. Power fort, function, and Walk 503 sneakers are available now at fashion for your baby. Designed in www.prospecs-usa.com. a unique style that mimics a bandana, the Banda Bib fits close and snug against a For Little Legs child’s neck while still being safe. Discover Leggings have become a powerful image in more at www.bazzlebaby.com. Jesse Berberich is the editorial intern.
your needs, your neighborhood
December 2013 I parentguide News I 35
Health Feel Refreshed
Do hectic days at work and taking care of your family at night leave you feeling exhausted? Made with natural ingredients, the Kiss My Face line of shower and bath gels are the perfect antidote for your drained energy. They’ll leave you feeling fresh and renewed throughout the day. To feel the best you can, visit www.kissmyface.com.
Healthy Mouths, Happy Smiles
For a toothpaste that promotes dental health and hygiene with a fruity freshness, look to Honest KID’S Toothpaste. Made from a formula that contains no harsh chemicals, Honest KID’S Toothpaste helps polish and brighten teeth and fights dental plaque and build up. Visit www.honest. com for more information.
Ballet Body
Acacia, one of the leading names in award-winning yoga, fitness, and wellness products, is proud to expand its line with the Ballet Body series of muscle-focused workout DVDs. They focus on developing strength, building lean muscles, and sculpting a sleek frame through a variety of exercises inspired by ballet. Get started at www.acacialifestyle.com.
Simply Delicious
Simply7 is dedicated to creating a better, healthier snack experience based on unique, yet-recognizable ingredients. The chips adhere to core standards, which exclude cholesterol, artificial ingredients, and trans-fat. These exceptionally healthy and simply delicious chips are available at www.simply7snacks.com.
KINDness Counts
New from the KIND Nuts & Spices line of healthy snacks, the Maple Glazed Pecan & Sea Salt and Dark Chocolate Chili Almond bars contain only five grams of sugar and are a good source of fiber and protein. They are available now at Duane Reade locations.
by Jesse Berberich
Canine Encouragement
Kyjen Dog Games not only help keep puppy boredom at bay, but also greatly benefit your family pet. Designed with a dog’s IQ and behavior in mind, these puzzle games encourage brain development, which ultimately leads to less destructive behavior around the house. Available at www.kyjen.com, these games are to best way to ensure that man’s best friend is happy and healthy!
Superior Dental Hygiene Ultrasound technology has long been used by dentists to remove tartar, but Emmi-dent takes this technology and makes it available for consumers with an innovative toothbrush and NanoBubble toothpaste. The Emmi-dent toothbrush sends out ultrasonic waves that work in perfect unison with the toothpaste to destroy plaque, tartar, food particles, and bacteria. Snag the pair at www.emmi-dent.com.
Coping For Children
From author Marie Kyriakou, Mike the Little Bean (AuthorHouseUK) is a fanciful tale that entertains children while also teaching them how to cope with unfamiliar situations. Following the journey of a little bean who is whisked away from his family and then has to adapt to his new surroundings, this book is an excellent metaphor for the challenges kids face when growing up. Get a copy at www.amazon.com.
Potty Time Pal
Fraggal the Potty Time Pal (Dog Drool Media) is a revolutionary book that reinforces positivity during potty training. It decreases the time it takes for success by providing the perfect link between learning and play. Parents can engage their child’s attention and provide context for conversation with the Fraggal puppet. To purchase the book and puppet, visit www. thepottytimepal.com.
Helpful Herbs
When the hustle and bustle of everyday life gets you feeling run down, Herbal Zap! offers an all-natural boost to your immune system! The fourteen herbs within it are meant to be dissolved in water to promote healthy digestive, respiratory, and immune function. Discover details about Herbal Zap! at www.herbalzap.com. Jesse Berberich is the editorial intern. 36 I parentguide News I December 2013
parentguidenews.com
Suffolk
SEPTEMBER 2010 DECEMBER 2013
Nassau
(212)780-0800, www.14thstreety.org. Israeli duo Play Me a Story invites kids to get crafty with Hanukkahthemed activities and songs in this interactive musical performance, which weaves the tale of Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins into Klezmer-style songs. Appropriate for ages 4 and older. 4pm.
Manhattan Open Houses
Queens
December 4: West Side Preschool, 165 W. 105th St., December 4: Writing Along the HImilayas: A Workshop (212)749-4635, info@westsidepreschoolny.org, www. w.parentguidenews.com • 212-213-8840 with Nina Goss, Rubin Museum of Art, 150 W. 17th St. westsidepreschoolny.org. www.rmanyc.org. In this workshop, experience an intimate encounter with art, and gain insight and impressions December 7: Rutgers Presbyterian Church Body and to help create personal narratives and reflections. Explore Spirit Program, Rutgers Presbyterian Church, 236 W. 73rd an outstanding collection of Himalayan Asian art, enjoy St., (212)877 8227, ext. 212, jmoore@rutgerschurch.org, lively discussions, and participate in writing exercises. www.rutgerschurch.com, 9:30am. RSVP required. Activities are designed to provide inspiration and encouragement for novice and veteran writers alike. All materials are included. Reservations are required. 6-8pm.
Westchester
December 1 - 7
SEPTEMBER 2010
December 1: Play Me a Story presents: Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins!, 14th Street Theater, 344 E. 14th St.,
December 5: Central Park Holiday Lighting, Charles A. Dana Discovery Center at Central Park, Enter at East
, what s happening
THE RHYTHM OF NEW YORK
Second Avenue at 8th Street
SEPTEMBER 2010
(800) 982-2787
www.stomponline.com Connect with us: your needs, your neighborhood
December 2013 I parentguide News I 37
DECEMBER SEPTEMBER2013 2010
Theater at Madison Square Garden, 4 Pennsylvania Plaza, (212)465-6741, www.thegarden.com. Revisit the clasic story and find out if 9-year-old Ralphie receive his dream Christmas present, a Red Ryder BB Gun? This musical interpretation of the now-classic 1983 holiday flick, returns for a holiday run at Madison Square Garden. Performances run through December 29. Times Vary.
PROOF
110th Street and Fifth Avenue, www.centralparknyc.org. Families are invited to kick off the holiday season with December 14: Breakfast with Santa Cruise, South Street a holiday lighting extravaganza: The Dana Discovery Seaport, Pier 16, Fulton Street, www.nywatertaxi.com. and a flotilla ofNY1710016 evergreen trees on• the Harlem What better way to ring in the holiday season than with ark Avenue Center South, 13th Floor, New York, • 212-213-8840 Fax 212-447-7734 Meer will remain lit through the holidays. At this event, a Santa and a tasty breakfast at sea? Tots can play festive lighting ceremony is set to include activities like caroling, games, dance with St. Nick and gape at the wintry city FAX # and a sleighful of cookies photo opportunities with Santa skyline from the comfort of a heated cabin. Then, when and hot cocoa. All ages are welcome. 5:30pm. they’re ready to refuel, Santa’s will serve a breakfast buffet extravaganza with something to please even the pickiISSUE DATE: December 6 and 7: Radical Responsibility: A Mindfulnessest eaters. Plus, castmembers from A Christmas Story: Based Emotional Intelligence Training, Shambhala MeditaThe Musical will be onboard to say hello! All ages are tion Center Newyour York, 118 W. 22nd St., (212)675-6544, Please call oroffax comments and/or OK. welcome. 9:30am. http://ny.shambhala.org. This weekend offers real life tools for dealing with stress. It is a weekend retreat for moms and December 14: Breakfast with Santa, Broadway Comedy URE OF APPROVAL: dads, as well as professionals alike. 9am-5pm. Club, 318 W. 53rd St., (212)757-2323, www.broadwaycomedyclub.com. Fill up on a continental breakfast, then pose for pictures with the big guy. After, join Santa and his elves as they lead a few rounds of Christmas carols. Proceeds benefit 27 Santas and an Elf Called Kevin, a Beginning December 11: A Christmas Story, The Musical, holiday production for kids that’s set to premiere next year. Appropriate for ages 1-7. 10am.
, what s happening
SEPTEMBER 2010
December 8 - 14
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moist cake finished with a delicious butter cream icing.
Or, unique creative cakes in a design of your choice, perfected in a scrumptious
Also, cupcakes for school parties and edible photoart on cookies for that special party favor.
Delivery Available
(212)629-5512 www.CakesNShapes.com NUT-FREE BAKERY!
New Location! 466 West 51st Street Between 9th & 10th Avenues
38 I parentguide News I December 2013
By Appt. Only
December 14: Elizabeth Mitchell and You are My Flower Holiday Concert, Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway, (212)864-5400, www.symphonyspace.org. Enjoy a special holiday treat for the whole family featuring this Grammy-nominated artist and her family band. The allages concert celebrates the release of “The Sounding Joy,” a new Smithsonian Folkways release, and it will feature special musical guests. The songs celebrate the spirit of community and homespun traditions. 11am.
December 15 - 21 December 15: Kids ‘N Comedy Performances, Gotham Comedy Club, 208 W. 23 St., (212)877-6115, www.kidsncomedy.com. After training with Kids ‘N Comedy, teens ages 13 and 18 years perform their own stand-up comedy routine. The performances continue in January. 1pm.
For more exciting, family-friendly events in the tri-state area, visit
www.parentguidenews.com parentguidenews.com
Beginning December 18: Cirkopolis, Skirball Center Youth Theater bring the tale to life, narrated by Tony-award for the Performing Arts, 566 LaGuardia Place, (212)352nominee John Tartaglia. Tickets to the after-party are avail3101, www.nyuskirball.org. Montreal-based troupe able, and attendees receive crafts, food, cookie-decorating, Cirque Eloize hit the Big Apple for a special holiday run and Charlie Brown–themed activities, plus prime seating at of their acclaimed show, which features original music, the concert. Appropriate for ages 4 and older. 2pm. 3D projections, circus arts, theater, and dance set in an exaggerated urban landscape that city419 kidsPark ages 5 and old-13th Floor, New York, NY 10016 • 212-213-8840 • Fax 212-447-7734 Avenue South, er can appreciate. Times vary. Performances run through January 4, 2014. tO: # Reading of T’was the Night BeDecember 22: FAx Annual December 20: Winter Holiday: Cupcake Wars Workshop, fore Christmas, The Church of the 550 W. • Fax 212419 Park Avenue South, New York,Intercession, NY 10016 • 212-213-8840 Taste Buds Kitchen, 109 W. 27th FrOm: St., (212)242-2248, 155th St., (212)283-6200, iSSue DAte:www.intercessionnyc.org. News www.tastebudskitchen.com. Be a part of a Cupcake Wars 4 New York anchor Pat Battle leads a reading of author to: FAx # Competition, just like on the show! The staff provides the Clement Clark Moore’s timeless holiday poem. Afterward, Please call orthere faxwill your and/or challenge, just bring your imagination. Sign up online. be comments candlelit caroling andOK. a lantern procession to From:gravesite. Appropriate for all ages.iSSue DAte: the writer’s 4pm. December 20-22: A Very Awesome YoSigNAture Gabba Gabba! LIVE! OF APPrOvAl: Holiday Show, Beacon Theatre, 2124 Broadway, (212)465December 27: Kwanzaa Celebration: Regeneration Please call or fax your commentsNight, and/or oK. 6500, www.beacontheatre.com. The wildly popular and aweApollo Theater, 253 W. 125th St., www.apollotheater.org. somely bizarre children’s television show Yo Gabba Gabba! Celebrate Kwanzaa with The Apollow’s popular annual SigNAture oF APProvAl: stops by NYC on its first ever holiday tour. Tykes will see show, featuring the renowned New York-based dance comthe whole gang, including DJ Lance Rock, Brobee, Foofa, pany Abdel Salaam’s Forces of Nature Dance Theatre, and Muno, Plex and Toodee, plus special guest Biz Markie. Kids other special guests. Radio broadcaster, poet and songwriter, are encouraged dance alongside the show’s groovy holidayGary13th Byrd, hosts 7:30pm. 419 ParkImhotep Avenue South, Floor, New the York,evening’s NY 10016 program. • 212-213-8840 • Fax 212-447-7 www.parentguidenews.com • 212-213-8840 themed tunes throughout the concert. Tickets go on sale August 12 at ticketmaster.com. Ages 2 to 6. Times Vary. December 28: Pirate School!, Symphony Space, 2537 to: FAx # Broadway, (212)864-5400, www.symphonyspace.org. ApDecember 21: How Can We Be Kind & Proud as We Think about Presents?, Aesthetic Realism Foundation, 141 Madeleine The Magician From: iSSue“THEDAte: PIED PIPER OF MAGIC” Greene St., (212)777-4490, www.aestheticrealism.org. Magician This Month’s Learning to Like the World class asks this BIRTHDAYS (1-106 So Far) H ScHoolS cAmpS H coRpoRATe H All evenTS wonderful question, stated by Eli Siegel: “Is the purpose Bar/Bat mitzvahs Please call or fax your comments and/or oK. Communions/Christenings/ Confirmations • reunions of humanity seeing or having? Aesthetic Realism says it is Weddings • anniversaries entertain those w/disabilities seeing, which is the same as feeling, in the long run.” Extrade Show magic SigNAture oF APProvAl: magiC plore this topic with children ages 5-12. 11am-12:15pm. WHite doveS
December 22 - 28 ProoF
ProoF
PROOF
“The Harry Potter Magician”
December 21: A Charlie Brown Christmas, Carnegie Hall, Perelman Stage, 881 7th Ave., (212)247-7800, www.carnegiehall.org. It’s a lot more than a symphonic rendition of the Charlie Brown classic, Christmastime is Here. Performers from New York Theatre Ballet and children from TADA!
Seen By millions • now at Your occasion mtm’S SuSpenSion/ levitation in mid-air CloSeup & Walk around magiC • Your Child “the Star” • interactive audience participation • age-appropriate magic
212-475-7785 • MadeleineTheMagician.com
NY
BIG
or small
For advertising information please call
your needs, your neighborhood
Works! 212-213-8840
• UNIQUE MAGIC SHOWS • BALLOON ANIMALS • JOIN-IN STORYTELLING • AND LOTS OF FUN You’ve seen Silly Billy on David Letterman, in his New Yorker profile and at more than 7,000 birthday parties. WABC-TV called him the “King of the Kiddie Comedy Circuit.” Silly Billy performs a funny magic show with lots of participation. Then join-in storytelling, where the children are in the show (Little Mermaid, The Circus, 3 Little Pigs, and other favorites). All the kids get balloons and more. Different shows for different ages (Ages 3-7). And NEW for 7-11 year olds: Dr. Blood who does a really gross magic show for older kids.
(212) 645-1299 • www.SillyBillyMagic.com December 2013 I parentguide News I 39
0 0 1 $ n i W
our Toward Y t Child’s Nex rty! a P y a d h t Bir Calling All April Birthdays!
PARENTGUIDE News wants to help make your child’s next birthday the
most memorable ever! This month’s Birthday Blowout Contest highlights children’s birthdays that occur in April. To enter, go to www.parentguidenews.com and click on the Birthday Blowout Contest box for details. The winner receives a $100 gift certificate to spend toward a chosen party place or entertainer for the ultimate birthday bash.
DECEMBER SEPTEMBER2013 2010 propriate for ages 3 to 8, Pirate School! is a madcap, swashbuckling one-man family vaudeville show created and performed by veteran New York physical comedian and actor David Engel. The show has enthralled, emboldened and delighted thousands of families for more than 18 years with it’s mischievous blend of clown theatre, slapstick antics, magic and puppetry, zany music, rich special effects, and boisterous full-audience participation. 11 am.
, what s happen
December 29 - 31
December 29: Tunes with Tina, Langham Place Hotel, 400 Fifth Ave., http://newyork.langhamplacehotels.com. Start of your Sunday with an interactive musical prix-fixe brunch in midtown. Chanteuse Tina deVaron, a jazz pianist who spent six years entertaining kids at the Carlyle Hotel’s Tea with Madeline, leads songs from Disney standards, and Top 40 hits, to original compositions. Reservations are recommended through www.opentable.com. All ages are welcome. 11am. December 29: Teddy Bear Tea, Mount Vernon Hotel Museum and Garden, 421 E. 61st St., www.mvhm.org. Kids and their teddy bears or dolls are cordially invited to an afternoon of fruit tea and cookies with hotel proprietor Mrs. Woodhull, who takes guests time-traveling by sharing stories of the Mount Vernon Hotel dating back to 1830. Appropriate for families with children ages 3 to 6. 1pm. December 31: New Year’s Eve Concert for Peace, Cathedral Church of St. John the Divine, 1047 Amsterdam Ave., (212)316-7540, www.stjohndivine.org. This annual holiday tradition has been a signature Cathedral event. Guest artist Judy Collins joins the Cathedral Choir and Orchestra. 7pm.
All Month Long Every Day in December: Archaeology Zone: Discov-
Save BIG at www.parentguidenews.com Turn your child’s special day into something spectacular.
40 I parentguide News I December 2013
In order to ensure the best possible experience at community events and programs, please check with the host before attending in case details have changed. parentguidenews.com
ering Treasures from Playgrounds to Palaces, The Jewish Museum, 1109 Fifth Ave., www.jewishmuseum.org. Through this exhibition, youngsters explore and develop ideas about why and how cultures develop. It features a dig’s worth of interactive elements: Little ones piece vessels together, weigh and examine replicas of artifacts, decipher the meaning of symbols in a mosaic and don a costume reminiscent of Indiana Jones’s garb. Along the way, they learn about the tools and procedures archaeologists employ after they bring home their loot. Through December 31. Every Day in December: Holiday Under the Stars, Time Warner Center, 10 Columbus Circle, www.shopsatcolumbuscircle.com. Take a break from holiday shopping and check out Time Warner Center’s state-of-the-art holiday light display. The spectacle features a dozen 14-foot LED stars that do a colorful “dance,” flashing more than 16.7 million color mixes in time to classic Yuletide tunes. Runs through January 4, 2014. Every Day in December: George Balanchine’s The NutSEPTEMBER cracker, David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center, 20 Lincoln Center Plaza, www.lincolncenter.org. The NYC holiday staple production is back with The New York City Ballet’s full roster of ballerinas, danseurs and musicians—plus children from the School of American Ballet to perform Balanchine’s classic. Appropriate for audience members age 5 and older. Times vary.
2010
Every Day in December: Luminocity, Big Apple Circus, Damrosch Park at Lincoln Center, (888)541-3750, www. bigapplecircus.org. To celebrate the show’s 36th Season, the Big Apple Circus brings all of the vivacity and velocity of New York City to it’s newest show: Luminocity. NYC’s favorite one-ring circus brings back the high energy and excitement of a big circus to an intimate, oneact performance where no audience member is more than 2010 50-feet SEPTEMBER from the ringside. Get your tickets now for Luminocity online or by calling the box office. The show runs through January 12, 2014.
, what s happening? SEPTEMBER 2010 Share your event details by the 1st of the preceding month
Submit family activities and events FREE of charge at www.parentguidenews.com/Catalog/SubmitACalendarItem or e-mail Samantha Chan: samantha@parentguidenews.com your needs, your neighborhood
December 2013 I parentguide News I 41
In
Season
Top of the Season To You
by Jesse Berberich
Crafts and games to keep your clan warm all month long. Reindeer Games
For an easy-to-make ornament that the whole family can enjoy creating, consider the Rudolph Ornament Craft courtesy of www.kaboose.com. What You’ll Need: •½ sheet of light brown craft foam •2 glitter gold chenille sticks •2 medium wiggle eyes •1 red glitter pom pom •6-8 inches of ribbon •White craft glue or hot glue gun •Scissors What To Do: Cut two, tear-drop shapes from the craft foam for the head. To make the ears, cut a small oval, then cut it in half lengthwise. To make it easier for younger children, either draw the shapes onto the craft foam for them, or cut out the shapes yourself ahead of time. Bend each chenille stick in half, then bend and twist them again to form two antlers. Glue the ears toward the top of the round end of one of the tear drop shapes. Glue antlers to the top of the same oval shape. For the hanger, fold ribbon in half and glue the open ends together in between the two antlers. Glue the second oval shape to the back of the first oval to create the back of the reindeer’s head. This sandwiches the ears, antlers, and hanger, giving the ornament a finished look. Glue on wiggle eyes. Glue on red pom pom for nose. Allow to dry completely.
Healthy and Delicious
December 19 is Oatmeal Muffin Day! Enjoy the day with this recipe, courtesy of www.allrecipes.com. These treats taste good and are healthy for you! Ingredients: •2 eggs •2/3 c. brown sugar •½ c. vegetable oil •½ c. milk •1 c. all-purpose flour •¾ c. instant oatmeal •1 tsp. baking powder •½ tsp. baking soda •A pinch salt Directions: Preheat oven to 400°F. Grease 12 muffin cups. Whisk together eggs, brown sugar, vegetable oil, and milk in a bowl until smooth. Form the batter by stirring flour, oatmeal, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into wet ingredients. Fill the prepared muffin cups with batter. Bake until tops are golden brown and an inserted toothpick comes out clean. This should take about 20 minutes.
Customized Cards
Spark up a little fun this holiday season with personalized products from Spark and Spark. With a wide assortment of themes available and a philosophy of “embracing life’s moments,” Spark and Spark’s impressive cards make those memorable holiday moments that much more magnificent! Visit Spark and Spark at www.sparkandspark.com to see all the company’s wonderful items.
Best Brownies
Celebrate National Brownie Day on December 8 by whipping up a batch of chocolate treats with this recipe from www.allrecipes.com. Ingredients for the brownies: •½ c. butter •1 c. white sugar •2 eggs •1 tsp. vanilla extract •1/3 c. unsweetened cocoa powder •½ c. all-purpose flour •¼
42 I parentguide News I December 2013
tsp. salt • ¼ tsp. baking powder Ingredients for the frosting: •3 Tbs. butter, softened •3 Tbs. unsweetened cocoa powder •1 Tbs. honey •1 tsp.vanilla extract •1 c. confectioners’ sugar. Directions: Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour an 8-inch-square pan. In a large saucepan, melt ½ c. butter. Remove from heat, and stir in sugar, eggs, and 1 tsp. vanilla extract. Beat in 1/3 c. cocoa, ½ c. flour, salt, and baking powder. Spread batter into prepared pan. Bake in preheated oven for 25-30 minutes. Do not overcook. Make the frosting by combining 3 Tbs. butter, 3 Tbs. cocoa, 1 Tbs. honey, 1 tsp. vanilla, and 1 c. confectioners’ sugar. Frost brownies while they are still warm for a yummy treat.
Celebration Time
Whether your family will be enjoying the festivities in public or from the comfort of home, there’s no better way to ring in the new year and celebrate the one you’re leaving behind than with these homemade, noisemaker shakers from www.spoonful.com. What You’ll Need: •Ribbon spool •Pencil •Masking tape •Dried peas or beans •Acrylic paint •Colorful stickers. Directions: For each one, first see if the holes in the sides of your ribbon spool are covered by the ribbon’s labels. If so, use a pencil to poke through the label over one of the holes; if not, cover one hole with masking tape. Next, pour a handful of dried peas or beans into the spool through the open hole; then seal the hole with tape. Finally, coat the shaker with acrylic paint, let it dry, and decorate it with colorful stickers.
Serene Winter Scene
Nothing will look better as the centerpiece for your holiday decorations than this homemade Winter Village Scene craft courtesy of www.activityvillage. co.uk. What You’ll Need: •Small cardboard boxes •Brown paint •Black card •Silver card •Cotton wool •Silver glitter •Twigs •Sticky tack •Large sheet of card for the base •White glue Directions: Paint your cardboard boxes brown, and leave them to dry. Cut out some rectangles of black card the length of each box, fold them in half and stick to the top of the boxes to form roofs. Cut out some windows and doors from black card and glue these to your buildings. Put your buildings on your large sheet of card. Add to it a frozen pond cut from silver card, some paths cut from black card, and some twigs stuck upright in sticky tack as trees. When you are happy with the way it looks, glue everything down. Cover the rest of the card with glue and adhere to the cotton wool snow. Add dribbles of glue along the roofs and trees and cover with glitter to create frost. Jesse Berberich is the editorial intern.
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