Good to Know

East Bay Private School Guide and the East Bay Preschool Guide are Now Available!

Finding the Right School for Your Child From the publishers of PRIVATE SCHOOLS 2021/2022 EAST BAY GUIDE TO

Finding the Best Start for Your Child From the publishers of PRESCHOOLS & Early Child Education EAST BAY GUIDE TO 2021/2022

The 2021/22 edition of The East Bay Private School

Guide and The East Bay Guide to Preschools are fresh off the press and our available on our website.

Both give great advice on how to choose a private school or preschool, relative to their subject. Find out when to start your search, criteria to consider, what to look for in a school plus there is a handy timeline for your search so you stay on track with those application deadlines. Available online at www.ParentsPress.com –

just click on “Our Magazines” tab.

Festival of Lights

This year the first night of Hanukkah started early on November 28, ending at sundown on December 6. The holiday always begins on the 25th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev, but never falls on the same day each year on the Gregorian calendar. Hanukkah, the Hebrew word for “dedication,” is also known as the Festival of Lights or Feast of the Maccabees.

Kwanzaa

Kwanzaa is a seven-day festival celebrated in appreciation of Africa-American history, heritage and culture. The term ‘Kwanzaa’ originates from the Swahili expression “matunda ya kwanza,” which means ‘first fruits of the harvest.” The festival is observed from December 26th to January 1st. Each of these seven days honors principles (Unity, Self-determination, Collective Work and Responsibility, Cooperative Economics, Purpose, Creativity, and Faith) which are thought to have been fundamental in promoting strong, productive communities and families in Africa. Kwanzaa became a celebration of culture, community and family.

Usually, people celebrate this holiday through musical selections, drumming, libations, discussing the African principle of the day, a reflection on Pan-African colors, feasts, candle lighting rituals, and artistic performances.

Be a Light in the Dark

With all of the holiday festivities happening this month, you’re probably overlooking one offbeat occasion — NATIONAL FLASHLIGHT DAY. It falls on Winter Solstice, December 21, the longest night of the year, and could be a good time to check on your household’s flashlight supply. Make sure batteries are new in the event of a power outage.

The Importance of a Booster Seat

By Barbara DiGirolamo, M.Ed., CPSTI Injury Prevention Coordinator Boston Children’s Hospital Injury Prevention Program

Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death and disability for children 1 to 25, and the second leading cause of death for any other age group. Children age four to eight are particularly vulnerable, as this is the time they are outgrowing their five point harness car seat, and parents are often putting them in a seat belt early. A booster seat is the transition period from a five-point harness in a car seat, and using the vehicle seat belt and is vitally important to keeping this age group safe. Since children are shorter and their muscles and bones are still developing, they are not strong enough to withstand the forces of a crash with a seatbelt alone. Their rounded hips, as opposed to pointed for adults, do not hold the seat belt down, and children can sustain severe injuries to their abdominal organs, and spinal cord. The shoulder belt also rubs against the child’s face or neck, often having them put it behind their back, removing their upper body protection. This creates what we know as “seatbelt syndrome” in a crash, which accounts for many facial, spinal and internal organ injuries.

Unfortunately, vehicles are designed for adults, thus we need to make adjustments to keep children safe. The booster seat is a precrash positioner and raises the child up, placing the seat belt on the “strong” parts of a child’s body, their hips and clavicle, as opposed to their soft belly and neck. Each time you move your child to the next level of seat, you are reducing their protection, so it’s always best to keep them in their current seat to the highest height or weight allowed. On average, a child should be at least 4’9’ (57 inches) to sit in solely a seat belt, which can take up to age twelve to reach. Booster seats reduce the risk of injury by up to 45% than with the seat belt alone. Children should also be sitting in the rear of the vehicle until 13 years of age to prevent airbag injuries.

For questions about the correct seat for your child, you can ask our child passenger safety technicians at injurypreventionprogram@childrens.harvard.edu a

NAPPA Awards Gift Guide

By Elena Epstein, Director of the National Parenting Product Awards

Purse Pets

Bring your look to life with these fabulous interactive pets packed with purse-onality. They respond to your touch, really blink and have exciting sounds and reactions $24.99, ages 4+, www.spinmaster.com

Hali X Hoverboard

With a light-up body deck, illuminated rims, and in-built Bluetooth speaker, this hoverboard brings all the swagger with a smooth ride. $199.99, ages 12+, www.ridejetson.com

KidiGo™ Basketball Hoop

It’s game on with this hoop and ball. An interactive scoreboard keeps score and cheers you on. Make a basket and pass the ball before the music stops. $34.99, ages 5+, www.vtechkids.com

FeppyBox

This bilingual subscription box is made to immerse kids in Spanish and English learning. Designed to raise the next generation of open-minded, resilient global citizens. $29.99, ages 3-6, www.feppybox.com

Artsy Fartsy

Not much is off-limits in this fast-paced game that keeps everyone engaged and begging for more. Team up to draw, guess and STEAL clues that will have everyone laughing out loud. $24.99, ages 10+, www.twopointohgames.com

Light-Up Activity Board

Let kids unlock endless hours of creativity by building and layering their own designs and colors. This easy-touse activity board is a fun toy to help children learn basic skills. $24.99, ages 3+, www.walmart.com

Spirograph® Animator

Experience the vibrant way for aspiring artists to create millions of designs. Watch your creations come alive with an amazing 3D effect. $24.99-$29.99, ages 8+, www.walmart.com

MasterChef Family Cooking Game

Combines education with family fun by cooking your way through delicious challenges. Mystery Ingredients, Game Changers and Mad Skills will put your family to the test and introduce you to new recipes. $19.99, ages 8+, www.wildertoys.com

Vlad & Niki Superhero Surprise

Enter a complete unboxing experience, allowing kids to bring a comic book story to life. Capture the fun of exploring with the help of global stars Vlad & Niki. $29.99, ages 3+, www.zuru.com

PLAYMOBIL Dino Rise T-Rex: Battle of the Giants

The T-Rex Battle has begun. There is a robot machine on a destructive path and your kids need to gather a dino-human team to stop them before it’s too late. $69.99, ages 5-12 years www.playmobil.us

Cool Maker Shimmer Me Body Art

This DIY studio allows you to create and apply flawless temporary art designs. Magically transfer beautiful iridescent foil onto the body to let your creativity soar. $25.99, ages 8+, www.spinmaster.com

Mindful Animals Calming Activity Cards

Pause and destress with 50 animal-themed mindfulness and relaxation techniques for kids. Helps calm and soothe them after a very busy day — or in the middle of one. $12.00, ages 4+, www.petitcollage.com Y