Boston Parent April 2018

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APRIL 2018

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5 Tax Law Changes

Parents Need to Know About

ADD A LITTLE CULTURE TO THE MIX

“The Sound of Music...delivers on its legacy of enchanting each new generation.”

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Boston Parents Paper | April 2018

GROUPS OF 10 OR MORE CALL 617.532.1116 Boch Center is a trademark of The Wang Center for the Performing Arts, Inc.

Photos by Igor Burlak Photography

Contents

April 2018 Volume 33 • Number 8

Features

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16

Cultured Kids

Exposing Children to Art

What’s Inside 4 Family F.Y.I.

Northeast Camp Guide Vote Family Favorites 2018 Calling All Patriots

8 Family Cents 14 Bookshelf 20 Calendar of Events 30 Single Minded

Directories

On the cover: Mystic Aquarium by The George F. Landegger Collection of Connecticut Photographs in the Carol M. Highsmith's America, Library of Congress. This page: Nantucket Harbor Lighthouse

by Carol M.Highsmith Archive, Library of Congress collection..

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15 Camps and Summer Programs 26 Schools & Childcare Centers 28 Entertainment & Party Needs 29 Classes and Enrichment

Boston Parent 841 Worcester Street Suite 344 Natick, MA 01760 Tel 617-522-1515 info@BostonParentsPaper.com Visit us online at BostonParentsPaper.com

PUBLISHERS Robert and Tracy McKean ART DIRECTOR Debbi Murzyn ASSOCIATE EDITOR Jean Abernathy

Boston Parents Paper is published monthly

by Parenting Media Inc. Please note that the advertisements in this magazine are paid for, which allows this magazine to be free to the consumer.

60,000 copies of Boston Parents Paper are distributed to more than 1600 locations in the region. Past issues are available on our website, www.BostonParentsPaper.com

Send letters to the editor or article ADVERTISING SALES submissions to editor@bostonparent.com.

Holly Castro, David Morney

Submit events to our Family Friendly Calendar at bostonparentspaper.com/event/

April 2018 | BostonParentsPaper.com

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✼ Family F.Y.I. Northeast Camp Guide

S

till trying to figure out where you’ll send your child to camp this summer? The 2018 digital edition of Northeast Camp Guide features helpful articles on picking the right camp, specialty programs, family camps, dealing with food allergies and more. Read it on BostonParentsPaper.com – just click on the Magazine tab then on the image of the Northeast Camp Guide.

DAY CAMPS • SPORTS CAMPS • ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS • CAMPS FOR SPECIAL NEEDS

TAKE THE KIDS TO WORK DAY

G

ive your kids the day off of school on April 26 and show them what real work looks like! Now in its 25nd year, Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day is more than a “career day,” according to its sponsoring foundation bearing the same name. “Exposing girls and boys to what a parent or mentor in their lives does during the work day is important,” writes Carolyn McKecuen, executive director, “but showing them the value of their education, helping them discover the power and possibilities associated with a balanced work and family life, and providing them an opportunity to share how they envision the future… [are keys] to their achieving success.” For activity guides your child can do, go to daughtersandsonstowork.org.

Patriot’s Day 2018 Just in time for Patriot’s Day 2018, Richard Panchyk’s new book, Boston History for Kids (Chicago Review Press, ages 9 and up; $16.99; 120 pp) spans 400 years of history, covering events from witch hunts to an earthquake, the Tea Party to the Great Fire, the Civil War to the Boston Marathon attack.

Richard Panchyk chronicles the lives of Bostonians both famous and infamous, and the many colorful characters that readers may not know. This book includes 21 hands-on activities to better appreciate the city of Boston from walking the Freedom Trail to baking a Boston cream pie along with a timeline, places to visit and a list of books to learn more.

The Nominations are In! TM

2018

VOTE NOW 4

Boston Parents Paper | April 2018

A

pril is the time to vote for the top nominations for this year’s Family Favorite Awards. Each year, we poll our readers for their top picks of places to shop, dine and play and we need your input! Head online to BostonParentsPaper.com to vote for your favorites today. We’ll publish the winners in our annual Best of the Best publication this summer.

STUART LITTLE

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✼ Family F.Y.I. Calling All Patriots DEDICATION, DETERMINATION, PERSEVERANCE AND ENDURANCE – all values we want to teach our kids.

On April 16, Marathon Monday, head out to show your family’s support for the 30,000 runners competing in the 122nd Boston Marathon, the oldest annual marathon in the world.

You’ll also want to tell your kids what happened April 19, 1775, in Lexington and Concord, sites of the opening battles of America’s fight for independence, and the reason we celebrate Patriots’ Day in Massachusetts.

Start out the week “Boston Strong,” then round out the school vacation week by perhaps attending one of the many special events you’ll find listed in our Calendar.

Fire Safety Tips for Children Paul Guarino, RN, BSN, EMT-P Trauma Educator Boston Children’s Hospital Trauma Center

F 1700

Historians estimate that April Fool’s Day dates back to approximately 1700 (although some wager that it may even have roots in the 1500s) when Britain’s biggest pranksters used the day to pull practical jokes on one another. In Scotland the LOL-inducing day actually became a twoday affair, kicking off with something called “hunting the gowk,” which involved sending friends and family off to run phony errands.

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Boston Parents Paper | April 2018

ewer children die in fires today compared to 10 years ago thanks, in part, to an increase in public fire education and prevention efforts. Fire service professionals continue to make an impact on children and families through community outreach programs and preparedness education. The overall trend in fire related deaths of children ages 0 to 14 decreased 48 percent during 2006-2015.

In 2015, the relative risk of dying in a fire for children ages 14 and under was 60 percent less than that of the general population. Here are some ways to keep your child safe in the event of a fire.

• Make sure you have functional smoke detectors. Working smoke alarms reduce the chances of dying in a fire by nearly 50 percent. They are a critical first step for staying safe, but in order to be effective, they must be working properly. For the best protection, install smoke alarms on every level of your home and in every sleeping area.

• Teach kids never to play with matches and lighters. Make a habit of placing these items up and away from young children.

• Children should know how to respond to the sound of a smoke alarm. Teach them to get low and get out when they hear it. Children also need to know what to do when they hear a smoke alarm and there is no adult around. A child who is coached properly ahead of time will have a better chance to be safe.

• Blow out candles before you leave the room or before you go to sleep.

• Have an escape plan. Young children may not be able to get outside by themselves. You will need to wake babies and very young children and help them get out. In your plan, talk about who will help each child get out safely.

• It is important to find two ways out of every room in your home, in case one exit is blocked or dangerous to use.

• Choose a meeting place outside your home. Help them practice going to the outside meeting place. Teach them to never go back inside a building that is on fire.

• Keep children 3 feet away from anything that can get hot. Space heaters and stove-tops can cause terrible burns.

Children are naturally curious. Teach them about fire safety and use these steps to keep them safer from fire and burns.

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6th Annual Touch-A-Truck 7th Annual Touch-A-Truck Saturday, April 22, 11 am - 1 pm An interactive event that to Saturday, April 21st, 11 allows am children - 1 pm see, touch, and explore their favorite big trucks and vehicles.

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Make a visit to the Concord Museum part of your Patriots’ Day tradition!

Monday, April 16 • 9:00-5:00 See the famed Revere lantern & other treasures of 1775 Visit with a colonial militiaman Visit with the animals from Cluck and Baa Farm

JRI can help you get there.

Justice Resource Institute is a leader in social justice with over 100 diverse programs across three states.

We provide education, advocacy, housing and support services with a therapeutic trauma focus to children and adults with physical, emotional and learning disabilities. JRI promotes and fosters positive change to help each person find their place in the world and open doors to opportunities.

Supported in part by the Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati 53 Cambridge Turnpike Concord, MA • 978.369.9763 Complete event listings at:

concordmuseum.org

(781) 559-4745 ww.jri.org April 2018 | BostonParentsPaper.com

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✼ Family Cents

5 Tax Law Changes Parents Should Look Into

By Aaron Crowe

Using your home to pay for college is harder

P

arents looking for more ways to save money in 2018 should talk to their tax adviser.

While the tax law that the federal government approved in December 2017 that takes effect in 2018 doesn’t have a deluge of benefits for parents of college-age students, it does have some important ones. The new tax law also has other benefits for families, though determining how they affect yours may require seeing a tax professional.

Here are five that parents may want to consider:

529s can pay for private school Families can now use 529 college savings plans to pay for K-12 education. Before the tax law changes, 529 plans could only be used to pay for college.

The tax-advantaged accounts are meant to encourage families to save for college. The plans can be opened when a child is born, and they can be contributed to regularly to save money for college.

New tax rules allow up to $10,000 per student per year to be spent on K-12 tuition through a 529. For families that don’t have a high net worth, the potential problem with using a 529 plan to pay for private school before college is that the fund could be depleted or left with a low balance before their children reach college.

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Boston Parents Paper | April 2018

Deducting interest on home equity loans and lines of credit are suspended from 2018 to 2025, giving homeowners fewer ways to finance their children’s college education.

Home equity loans often have lower interest rates than education loans. Interest on a home equity line of credit, or HELOC, also used to be deductible for taxpayers who itemized their tax returns, but it is no longer deductible.

The amount parents borrowed in home equity loans, HELOCS, cash-out refinancing, reverse mortgages and other types of home loan modifications doubled from 2015 to 2016, according to a Sallie Mae study.

Parents borrowed an average of $7,406 through a home loan to pay for college in 2016, with HELOCs the most common choice.

Home equity of 20 percent is usually required for such a loan, and the tax law changes that cap interest deductions on new loans to $750,000 could drop home values. Even if you don’t have a new loan for such a large amount, the interest cap could affect longtime homeowners if home prices in their neighborhood drop.

Alimony isn’t taxable Alimony payments are no longer counted as taxable income, which could make it easier for divorced custodial parents to be eligible for financial aid.

Qualifying for need-based aid through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, could be easier for easier for parents of collegebound students. Much of FAFSA relics on parental information such as tax records, and alimony will no longer show up on their tax returns.

However, it may be a year before custodial parents see the benefits of this change. FAFSA uses tax records

from the “prior prior year,” such as using 2015 data for the 2017-18 FAFSA. There’s a chance the U.S Department of Education may change the form to reflect this, but until it does, there will be a time gap until the custodial parent will see the benefit.

It pays to be married Single and unmarried parents lose the most under the tax code overhaul.

An analysis by Forbes found that a single-parent household earning an annual $100,000 salary would pay close to $4,000 more in taxes than a married couple or family with the same income.

Couples who choose not to marry and have children would pay more than $3,500 in yearly taxes, Forbes found.

A 2017 analysis of Census data found that more than half of 25- to 34-year-olds are unmarried. A Pew Research Center analysis found that 44 percent of millennials and 43 percent of Gen Xers believe that “marriage is becoming obsolete.”

Child Tax Credit doubles If you have children under 17, the Child Tax Credit doubles from $1,000 to $2,000 per qualifying child in 2018.

This should be good news for most families, and it has been expanded to higher-income households. Previously, the credit was available only to low- to middle-income households, disappearing for married couples earning more than $110,000. The tax law change moves that limit up to $400,000 for a married couple filing jointly.

Some of the extra savings from doubling the Child Tax Credit could be offset by the loss of the personal exemption under the tax law change. The personal exemption was set to rise in 2018 to $4,150 per person, but the new law replaces it with a standard deduction. Still, the higher Child Tax Credit should offset this loss for most taxpayers.

These five areas are just some of the highlights of the tax law changes.

There are plenty more that parents should be aware of and may be complicated enough to require meeting with a tax professional first.

Aaron Crowe is a freelance journalist who specializes in writing about personal finance. He writes for a number of websites, including his own at CashSmarter.com.

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Road Trip!

By Alyson Gregory

Spring Escapes

W

ith spring break right around the corner, you may be wondering where you’re headed if you don’t have a flight to catch. But, just because you live here doesn’t mean you have to leave here to have a memorable family getaway. The next time you get bored with your Google routine, check out the tourism stats on your own stomping ground. Droves of people escape to New England year-round — the region’s compact footprint promises lots to do without covering a lot of ground. From the historical to the Seussical, from rocky coastline to hillside farm, when the peepers start singing and New England is your backyard, there is plenty to opt for that will have the whole family saying “cheese”! So reset the trip meter, ditch the wireless devices and brush up on your classic car games for these winning family getaways. You can even still pack your bathing suits if everyone votes the same way.

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Boston Parents Paper | April 2018

Mystic, CT

Miles from Boston: 98

M

ystic Aquarium: Have you ever noticed how beluga whales look like they’re smiling? Get up close and personal at the country’s largest outdoor beluga exhibit and watch them swimming underwater from the glass viewing area. On your way to the African penguin colony, peek into the animal rescue clinic to see the team hard at work caring for and rehabilitating stranded seals. Head to the Penguin Encounter Room next for a special treat and catch a sea lion feeding on the way.

In addition to the new Weird & Wonderful exhibit featuring bizarre creatures and exotic fish, the aquarium also boasts a tropical rainforest habitat and a view of the Northern Lights. Sound like a lot to do? The best part is, you can come back the next day if you have your tickets validated before you leave.

55 Coogan Blvd., Mystic, 860-5725955,www.mysticaquarium.org

Magic Wings, South Deerfield

IN THE VICINITY Just down the road is Mystic Seaport, where you’ll find the renowned maritime museum offering seafaring events and exhibits for the whole family.

The Denison Pequotsepos Nature Center has trails open dawn till dusk and always has a spectacular all seasons activity schedule with family-centered events like nighttime fireside stories, full moon walks, scenic nature walks, planting workshops, and creation station.

109 Pequotsepos Rd., Mystic, 860-536-1216, www. dpnc.org

STAYING OVERNIGHT? The Hilton Mystic is located directly across the street from the Aquarium and has a modern, super-balmy indoor pool perfect for family relaxing! With Olde Mistick Village also within walking distance (or a one-minute drive away if you don’t want to carry your shopping bags on the return), you can all take a before-dinner stroll through the re-created 1720s New England shopping village, beautifully surrounded with duck ponds and flowers galore.

20 Coogan Blvd., 860-572-0731, www3.hilton.com

Springfield, MA Miles from Boston: 92

T

he Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum: Brush up on your favorite characters from Whoville and celebrate all things Seuss at this newly opened museum that pays tribute to this The Amistad, hometown’s author and a Baltimore delights children with Clipper, built by three colorful floors. Ever Mystic Seaport seen a life-size Grinch?

Museum.

Step outside to the Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden and find a family photo op. Did someone say holiday card?

Don’t stop there, though — the Springfield Science Museum, home to the Seymour Planetarium, the oldest running planetarium in the U.S. will

Annisquam Lighthouse, Cape Cod take you all to another realm. After you refuel, drop in on the Hasbro Games Art Discovery Center, where your whole tribe can try on Asian-inspired costumes and armor, test their knowledge of Chinese Zodiac animals and learn about Samurai warriors. You’ll find hands-on art activities, storytelling and interactive displays here to keep the whole family engaged.

Springfield Museums, 21 Edwards St., Springfield, 413-263-6800, www.springfieldmuseums.org HAPPY YOU KNOW: Reserve your timed entry tickets for Dr. Seuss Museum ahead of time online to ensure your entry.

IN THE VICINITY With so much to do at Springfield Museums, you may want to consider bundling visits to the nearby Eric Carle Museum and Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory, located about 20 miles down the road. It’s well worth the excursion, The Carle is sure to inspire your next picture book purchase and the kids will enjoy visiting the modern art studio to try their hand at watercolor. Check the event schedule for a chance to meet the Very Hungry Caterpillar and other encounters. The perfect antidote to all of this exploring? Thousands of butterflies, peaceful music, a koi pond and tropical temps.

The Carle, 125 West Bay Rd., Amherst, 413-559-6300, www. carlemuseum.org Magic Wings, 281 Greenfield Rd., South Deerfield, 413-665-2805, www.magicwings.com

STAYING OVERNIGHT? • The Sheraton Springfield Monarch Place Hotel on the Connecticut River is a six-minute walk away from the Quadrangle museums, and offers an indoor pool and casual family dining.

• The Hilton Garden Inn Springfield is another popular choice being located on the grounds of the Basketball Hall of Fame and also features an indoor pool.

April 2018 | BostonParentsPaper.com

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Celebrating 40 Years of Humanistic Judaism in Greater Boston

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• The Hotel Northampton, a member of Historic Hotels of America, is located in the heart of charming downtown Northampton with much to explore and is closer to The Carle and Magic Wings.

36 King St., Northampton, 413-584-3100, www.hotelnorthampton.com

Cape Cod, MA Miles from Boston: 71

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PLEASE JOIN US.

Visitors are invited to these upcoming events: Sunday School Open House: April 29, 2018 from 9:00am to Noon Sunday services and educational programs High Holidays Services: September 2018

Humanistic Judaism celebrates Jewish culture, identity and community in a fun, welcoming, secular environment.

Learn more:

www.communityofchoice.org 617-431-3994 Pre-K to 9 • Bar/Bat Mitzvah Study • Adult Ed 12

Boston Parents Paper | April 2018

cean Edge Resort: The Cape during shoulder season is an overlooked near-perfect getaway. No traffic, crowds or lines to fritter away precious moments of your vacation trying to outsmart, and miles of seashore and hiking and biking trails to let loose in the great outdoors. Check in to the Brewster area’s Mansion and surprise your kids with the “Happy Camper” package — a fully assembled teepee, stargazing lantern, and stories and snacks await for the ultimate indoor camping experience. Pack your goggles for some indoor swim time, and throw a soccer ball in the trunk to kick around on the expansive great lawn, which doubles as a Quidditch “Pitch” during school vacation Wizarding Weeks! Check out the full schedule of daily spellbinding events on the website.

2907 Main St.,508-896-9000,www.oceanedge.com

IN THE VICINITY Whether you’re on your way down or back, daytripping or staying, these stops are sure to hold you over until summertime. Love lighthouses?

Capecodlighthouses.info will help you map out a couple of walks to soak in the salt air.

• Whydah Pirate Museum Cape Cod Museum of Natural History, W. Yarmouth • Cape Cod Museum of Natural History, Brewster • Brewster General Store, Brewster

Looking for something more rural?

Locate the perfect farm vacation for your family anywhere in New England at https://bostonparentspaper.com/newengland-farm-stays.html

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✼ Bookshelf

By Mary Ann Scheuer

Game On: Sports Stories That Pull in Readers

W

hether you play sports with your kids or love watching games together, you’ll have fun sharing these books.

“The Banana-Leaf Ball: How Play Can Change the World,” by Katie Smith Milway, illustrated by Shane W. Evans (Kids Can; ages 8-12; $18.95; 32 pp.). A powerful, hopeful picture book for older readers, inspired by real events. Fleeing war in Burundi, young Deo ends up at a refugee camp, without his family and surrounded by bullies. He finally finds friendship when he shares his homemade soccer ball, discovering trust and community.

“Baseball: Then to WOW!” by the editors of Sports Illustrated Kids (Time; ages 7-12; $19.95; 80 pp.). Whether it’s looking at changes in equipment or comparing playing styles then and now, this highinterest book provides opportunities for fans to analyze different aspects of the game. Great layout, photographs and illustrations engage kids and help them see the progression of the game over the past 150 years.

“Between the Lines: How Ernie Barnes Went from the Football Field to the Art Gallery,” by Sandra Neil Wallace, illustrated by Bryan Collier (Paula Wiseman / Simon & Schuster; ages 6-10; $17.99; 48 pp.).

Although his athletic skills brought Ernie Barnes

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Boston Parents Paper | April 2018

success as a professional football player, his true passion was art. He would quickly sketch scenes as he sat on the bench between plays. Barnes pursued his dreams, eventually becoming the official artist for the American Football League.

brings him back to the store.” Catch others in this stand-out series: Patina and Sunny.

“Girl Running: Bobbi Gibb and the Boston Marathon,” by Annette Bay Pimentel, illustrated

by Micha Archer (Nancy “The Field,” by Baptiste Paulsen / Penguin; ages Paul, illustrated by Jacque- 5-9; $17.99; 32 pp.). In 1966, line Alcántara (NorthSouth; Bobbi Gibb became the first ages 4-8; $17.95; 32 pp.). woman to run the Boston “Vini! Come! The field calls!” Marathon, even though the cries a girl as she races to authorities would not recplay soccer with her brother ognize her efforts. Despite and friends. Basing this joy- the authorities’ rejection of ful story on his Caribbean her, Bobbi decides to run childhood, Paul mingles alongside the registered Creole alongside English. racers, determined to prove Vibrant, dynamic illustrathat the rules were wrong. tions capture the enthusiAn inspiring picture-book asm and infectious joy of biography of defying the the game, rain or shine. odds.

“Ghost (Track #1),” by Jason Reynolds (Atheneum / Simon & Schuster; ages 9-14; $7.99; 192 pp.). BOOM! On my third time reading this book, it still pulls me straight through each time. A fifth grader told me: “I loved how you feel like you’re Ghost. You get mad at someone, then forgive them. It feels like your emotions are building up until Ghost takes the shoes. Then they break when his coach

“Pedro’s Big Goal,” by Fran Manushkin, illustrated

by Tammie Lyon (Picture Window / Capstone; ages 5-8; $4.95; 32 pp.). First grader Pedro LOVES playing soccer with his friends and dreams of playing goalie.

Will he make it as his team’s goalie, or is he too small? Beginning readers will enjoy this fun, accessible series — perfect for first and second graders.

“Rebound,” by Kwame Alexander (HMH; ages 9-13; $16.99; 416 pp.). My students clamored to read Kwame Alexander’s The Crossover, and I can’t wait to share this prequel as Chuck Bell — Josh and Jordan’s father — takes center stage. Full of humor, heart and poetry slam in comics (!!), this novel in verse is really about how we can hold on to hope even though we feel storm-beaten and shattered.

“Women in Sports: 50 Fearless Athletes Who Played to Win,” by Rachel Ignotofsky (Ten Speed Press; ages 9-14; $16.99; 128 pp.).

Ignotofsky celebrates a wide range of athletes in this inspiring collection, ranging from pioneering figure skater Madge Syers to contemporary athletes like gymnast Simone Biles.

Women in sports teams are also included, notably the multicultural women of the 2016 Refugee Olympic Team.

Entertaining and impressive — a collection not to miss.

Mary Ann Scheuer is a teacher librarian. Find more books Mary Ann recommends sharing with children at her blog, Great Kid Books, http://greatkidbooks. blogspot.com.

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Cultured Kids Exposing Children to Art in Age Appropriate and Engaging Ways “They develop social skills because they’re interacting with other children. They learn how to see, develop that creativity, the imagination – even literacy skills, like when we’re looking at an art object and they’re learning how to talk about it. There are myriad benefits,” 16

Boston Parents Paper | April 2018

By Brian Spero

I

n a study conducted by the institute for innovation in social policy, 84 percent of parents surveyed said they strongly value arts in their children’s lives, and for good reason. Research has demonstrated exposure to culture, such as fine arts, theater, music and dance, can play a critical role in the full and all-sided development of a child that reaches far beyond identifying and cultivating artistic talent and appreciation. From improved

cognitive abilities, language development and motor skills to a deeper sense of self, cultural awareness and inventiveness, there are an abundance of reasons to ensure kids are provided the opportunity to learn and participate in the arts.

Past-President Barack Obama once said, “The future belongs to young people with an education and the imagination to create.” As perpetual budget cuts continue to threaten the existence of quality in-school art

WHEN IT COMES TO CHOOSING CULTURAL VENUES AND EVENTS FOR CHILDREN, IT’S VERY MUCH ABOUT BEING AWARE OF WHAT’S DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE ACROSS DIFFERENT AGES. FOR KIDS UNDER 5 YEARS OLD, THE EXPERIENCE ABSOLUTELY HAS TO BE HANDS ON. education, it’s increasingly necessary for families to seek out on their own the meaningful cultural experiences that spur creativity. While we’re lucky to live in a metropolitan area where a wealth of resources exist, it’s crucial to understand the factors involved in making early experiences engaging, age-appropriate and, most importantly, fun.

Why Art? Why Early?

According to Anna Housley Juster, the senior director of child development and community engagement at the Boston Children’s Museum, in a society in which kids are often inundated with testing and chronically overscheduled, it’s art that provides the balance that’s so important for healthy development.

“It’s essential to expose children to culture and the arts, and especially to find ways to do that when they’re young and incredibly open to all different perspectives and ways of expressing oneself,” she explains.

While some question what a child under the age of 2 is really capable of when it comes to fine art, Housley Juster argues the toddler stage is the perfect time to be introduced to the creative process. “For decades at Boston Children’s Museum, we’ve had a really strong focus on just the messing about with a wide range of materials and developing fine motor skills, so eventually they could be using tools like narrow brushes and fine tipped pens and pencils and all of these things,” she says, adding that at young ages the focus should always be on the process and never the final product.

Abby McBride, manager of family programs at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, also stresses the value in having young children experience art and culture. “They develop social skills because they’re interacting with other children. They learn how to see, develop that creativity, the imagination – even literacy skills, like when we’re looking at an art

object and they’re learning how to talk about it. There are myriad benefits,” she says.

Lloyd Woodcock, director of education at North Shore Music Theatre, believes early lessons should also be about providing an understanding of art as a natural human expression. “We are art,” he says. “We’re an artistic expression ourselves, every time we speak, every time we draw or dance or sing, that’s an expression of our inner selves.”

The Importance of First Impressions

Whether it’s the excitement of witnessing Peter Pan flying across the stage at your local theater or the feeling of connecting with the emotional story of an artist who painted a picture hundreds of years ago, the right first experience can set a future art lover up for life. The wrong one, however, such as standing and listening to someone talk about art or sitting through a long and complex musical performance, can have the opposite effect.

“Particularly with an art museum that’s not geared toward children, kids could come on a tour and be completely bored and form a picture about what the museum is like and not want to come back,” says McBride. “It’s really important to get children feeling comfortable in this kind of a space at an early age, because once they feel comfortable and know this is a place where they can come, have fun and learn, and it’s a space for them, they’ll want to return.”

Housley Juster explains when exposing kids to art and culture, there are two basic categories to consider. The hands-on activities, such as exploring materials, feeling the quality of different types of paint, singing songs and dancing, provide a foundation for children to identify themselves as creators.

Then there’s the appreciation side and paying attention to the art in

the world around them. That helps establish the ability to distinguish between art forms and understand the perspective of the artist that might be different from their own.

Finding the Right Experience

When it comes to choosing cultural venues and events for children, it’s very much about being aware of what’s developmentally appropriate across different ages.

For kids under 5 years old, the experience absolutely has to be hands on.

“Beyond toddlerhood, you can get into appreciation by asking questions that draw children’s attention to art,” says Housley Juster.

“That might be an introduction, and then you would really want to get back to allowing children to explore the creative process.” At the age of 5 or 6, when kids are in school and have been exposed to a range of materials in the process of getting messy and creative in self-directed ways, you can begin to introduce some of the basics and become a bit more analytical.

“One of the things we strive to do is teach adults how to facilitate meaningful conversations about the art with their children. And to feel comfortable,” says McBride.

“What I would suggest is just asking questions – having children explain what they’re seeing, what they’re looking at, comparing and contrasting artworks that are side by side or in the same galleries. And connecting it to what they do at home or do in school if they draw or if they dance. Connecting it to real life.”

Equally important as picking out shows and exhibits that are tailored for kids, is providing context to the experience that makes it more enriching. At Wheelock Family Theatre, for instance, there are free pre- and post-show workshops that might feature anything from members of the cast teaching a piece April 2018 | BostonParentsPaper.com

17

THE HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES, SUCH AS EXPLORING MATERIALS, FEELING THE QUALITY OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF PAINT, SINGING SONGS AND DANCING, PROVIDE A FOUNDATION FOR CHILDREN TO IDENTIFY THEMSELVES AS CREATORS. of choreography from the play to demonstrations on how the set or props were made. It also offers a study guide that parents can use for ideas on how to start a larger conversation about the art.

While the Boston Children’s Museum naturally offers a host of award-winning programs and exhibits designed to educate and entertain kids, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, also has developed family and education programs ranging from a specialized Kid’s Tour to A Guide to Family Fun at the MFA containing helpful tips for engaging young visitors. From taking pictures (non-flash photography is allowed at MFA) for a collage or flip book to buying a collection of postcards from the gift shop and creating your own in-museum scavenger hunt, whatever you can do

to make things fun while keeping the focus on the art enhances the experience.

Planning the Perfect Outing

When it comes to the logistics of taking the family to the museum or a show, Housley Juster advises parents to try not to think of children as miniature adults. “Their brains and bodies are fundamentally different. They have different needs for their physical activity and their engagement with the world around them.” She recommends limiting the amount young ones are standing, especially 5-year-olds and younger, and factoring travel, walking around and waiting-inline times in planning your journey. Be realistic about attention spans and break the day up by stopping for something to eat and including opportu-

nities for kids to move their bodies and be hands on.

“I’m just a proponent of giving your child the space and the freedom to experience things. Particularly with young children, because you don’t necessarily know what they are going to gravitate toward once they get into the space,” says McBride. “So not overscheduling, but also not having all these goals in your mind of what needs to happen or needs to get done or they need to get out of an experience, because sometimes that can totally stifle a child’s creativity.”

Woodcock believes in taking the experience as far as you can go with it, dressing up, going out for a sit-down meal and using the time together to talk about the show and build anticipation. It’s a great idea to get to the venue early, allowing time

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to use the restroom, find your seats and take in an environment that’s often as interesting as the show itself.

Then stick around after to get an autograph from a cast member on your Playbill. “Having that experience of dinner, talk, questions, see the show, more talk, more questions, is really important … making it more of an event rather than just something that you’re just coming to.”

Whether you’re a dyed-in-the-wool art lover or would rather visit the dentist than the ballet or a museum (you might have had a bad early experience), you’re likely equally enthusiastic to provide experiences that not only promote healthy development, but that your kids are going to love and remember for the rest of their lives. Just choose something interesting, confirm it’s developmentally appropriate and go all in on making the activity as fun and enjoyable as possible for the entire family.

AROUND THE TOWN For upcoming performances, programs • Concord Museum; concordmuseum.org and classes, check out these sites or • deCordova; decordova.org turn to our Calendar on page 20: • Discovery Museums; discoverymuseums.org • Jose Mateo Ballet Theatre; ballettheatre.org • Arlington Children’s Theater; • Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; mfa.org act.arlington.ma.us • New Art Center; newartcenter.org • ArtsEmerson; artsemerson.org • Stoneham Theatre; stonehamtheatre.org • Boch Center; bochcenter.org • The Hanover Theatre; thehanovertheatre.org • Boston Children’s Museum; • The Mary Baker Eddy Library; bostonchildrensmuseum.org marybakereddylibrary.org • Boston Children’s Theatre; • Wheelock Family Theatre; bostonchildrenstheatre.org wheelockfamilytheatre.org • Coolidge Corner Theatre; coolidge.org

Brian Spero is a father and frequent contributor to Boston Parents Paper.

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Monday, April 16: Patriot’s Day

Boston Marathon Watch 30,000 runners brave hilly New England terrain and unpredictabwle weather in the Boston Marathon, billed as the world’s oldest annual marathon. FREE. www.baa.org 20

Boston Parents Paper | April 2018

CAMPS AND SUMMER PROGRAMS

1 Sunday – Happy Easter!

April Fools 9am - 5pm, Providence Children’s Museum, 100 South St., Providence, R.I. A silly scavenger hunt will have you solving riddles and finding funny objects in surprising spots. Free with admission.

401-273-5437; childrenmuseum.org

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Easter Egg Dash Noon, Paragon Carousel 205 Nantasket Ave., Hull. Kids can join in on the popular Easter Egg Dash before a ride on the carousel, which opens Easter weekend. 6 and under. 781.925.0472; www. paragoncarousel.com

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Summer STEM Programs

2 Monday MFA Playdates 10:15am, Museum of Fine Arts, 465 Huntington Ave., Boston.

Bring your toddler to enjoy story time and looking activities in the galleries. Free with admission. 617-267-9300; mfa.org

Lego Engineering, Robotic Programming, Stop Motion Animation, Minecraft

Easton, Hanover, Martha’s Vinyard, Melrose, Newton, Sharon, Tewksbury, Wakefield, Walpole, Wellesley, West Roxbury

3 Tuesday

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Visit the Japanese House

Pine Village

11am, Boston Children’s Museum, 308 Congress St., Boston.

Experience Japanese family life, customs, ceremonies, art, architecture and seasonal events in this 100-year-old house. Free with admission. 617-426-6500; bostonkids.org

Summer Program

Toddler Tuesdays 10am – 2pm, LEGOLAND Discovery Center Boston, 598 Assembly Row, Somerville. Special toddler activities and story time for the youngest LEGO fans. Adults, $16; youth ages 3-5, $14. 866-2286439; legolanddiscoverycenter.com/boston

4 Wednesday Go Fly a Kite!

11am, The Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Acton. April is National Kite Month! Help us celebrate by joining us on a kite walk. We’ll take a short walk to a field in the conservation land and try flying some kites. Bring your own kite or try one of ours! Free with admission. 978-264-4200; discoverymuseums.org

5 Thursday South Shore Conservatory Presents Performathon 2018 April 5-8, Times vary, Barnes and Noble at Derby Street 96 Derby Street Hingham. More than just a performance, this event is designed to engage students, parents and faculty in raising money to support SSC’s tuition assistance program. Saturday, April 7 features a family musical story time with Eddie Spaghetti at 11am.

Audience members, parents and friends of SSC are encouraged to lend their support by sponsoring a participant. 781-749-7565; sscmusic.org

Vengan y Exploren con nosotros!

A bilingual Spanish summer program for children ages 15 mos. to 7 yrs.

Un programa bilingue de verano para niños de 15 meses a 7 años.

Brighton • Jamaica Plain (Revere St.) • Jamaica Plain (South St.) • Kendall Sq. • Needham West Newton • Porter Sq. • South End

July 2 - August 24, 2018 Join us on the Pine Village “Avión Imaginario” for the adventure of a lifetime as we explore and discover Spanish-speaking countries of South and Central America and the Caribbean.

6 Friday First Friday Night Free 4:30-8:30pm, The Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Acton. Join us with free admission and explore both museums—and Discovery Woods while there’s still daylight—on the first Friday night of the month! FREE. 978-264-4200; discoverymuseums.org

7 Saturday All About Birds!

10am - 4pm, Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary, 208 S Great Road, Lincoln. Birds are fascinating animals. Meet live birds such as a

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duck, raptor or songbird, enjoy a bird banding demonstration, and get an up-close look at feathers and eggs. Create a unique bird craft to bring home. Free with admission. 781-259-2200; massaudubon.org

Tour lantern-lit trails and meet costumed characters who will teach you about amphibians and vernal pools via story and song. $9.

508-528-3140; massaudubon.org

NanoDays

8 Sunday

11am – 4 pm, Museum of Science, 1 Science Park, Boston. Imagine, discover and explore a world that’s too small to see with nanorelated activities such as presentations, juggling and a handson lab. Free with admission. 617-723-2500; mos.org

South Shore Conservatory Presents Performathon 2018

Wizarding Day at Franklin Park Zoo! 10am, Franklin Park Zoo, 1 Franklin Park Road, Boston. Join in for a magical day at Franklin Park Zoo as they bring the wizarding world to you! Attend Quidditch lessons with the Tufts University Quidditch team, The Tufflepuffs, and enjoy magic tricks performed by professional magician, Darren Yong. Free with admission. 617989-3742; franklinparkzoo.org

Science on Screen Jr.: The Last Unicorn

April 5-8 Times vary, Barnes and Noble at Derby Street 96 Derby Street Hingham More than just a performance, this event is designed to engage students, parents and faculty in raising money to support SSC’s tuition assistance program. Audience members, parents and friends of SSC are encouraged to lend their support by sponsoring a participant. 781-749-7565; sscmusic.org

Chicken Run: Kids Film 10:30 am, Coolidge Corner Theatre 290 Harvard Street, Brookline.

A fun children’s film. Adults $9, Child $7. 617-734-2500; www. coolidge.org

11am, Coolidge Corner Theatre 290 Harvard Street, Brookline.

Before watching the classic fantasy film The Last Unicorn, kids learn how they can help save Massachusetts’ endangered species. $5. 617-734-2500; www.coolidge.org

10 Tuesday

Northampton Community Music Center Family Concert Series: In the Nick of Time

11am, Houghton’s Pond, 840 Hillside St., Milton. A free, one hour guided hike for kids, including a simple scavenger hunt and refreshments. FREE. 781-828-1805; friendsofthebluehills.org

Peek a Blue Hike

11 am, The Eric Carle Museum, 125 West Bay Road, Amherst. This live performance is a high-energy celebration with clever lyrics and cheerful tunes that will catch your ear and have you tapping your toes while singing along! $5 with admission. 413-658-1100; carlemuseum.org

13 Friday Cambridge Science Festival Various locations, Cambridge. An annual showcase of science, technology, engineering and math, featuring dozens of events,

Amphibians After Dark!

6-8:30pm, Stony Brook Wildlife Sanctuary, 108 North St., Norfolk.

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Boston Parents Paper | April 2018

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CAMPS AND SUMMER PROGRAMS many of them free. The Science Carnival and Robot Zoo is a family favorite. Through April 22. cambridgesciencefestival.org

Block Party @ Boston Black 6-8 pm, Boston Children’s Museum, 308 Congress St., Boston. Your presence is requested at this awesome BLOCK PARTY at Boston Children’s Museum. Including music, art & craft, dance, storytelling, and hanging around with us! 3 and under. Free with admission.

617-426-6500; bostonkids.org

14 Saturday BSO Family Concert Noon, Symphony Hall, 301 Massachusetts Ave, Boston. The BSO's Community Chamber Music Series at Northeastern University invites Boston-based audiences to attend community concerts just down the street from Symphony Hall, taking advantage of the Fenway Center's outstanding acoustics and location. Adults $20, up to 4 children 18 and under are free with an adult. 888-2661200;bso.org

781-326-2900

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Boston Marathon® Activities Noon – 3 pm, Museum of Science, 1 Science Park, Boston. Do you like to run? Know someone who likes to run? Or do you just like to learn about the science behind endurance running and training?

Come visit us and learn more about what it takes to train for a long distance race like the Boston Marathon®. Free with Exhibit Halls admission. 617-723-2500; mos.org

Coco, the Movie 11am & 2pm, The Center for Arts in Natick 14 Summer Street, Natick. Academy Award Winner for Best Animated Film and Best Original Song, this Día de Muertos–themed tribute is full of wit, music, and color. The ninth Best Animated Feature win for Pixar, out of the company’s 11 nominations. $9 Adults, $7 Children. 508647-0097; www.natickarts.org

Opening Day: Swan Boats 10am – 5pm, Public Garden, Boston. A sure sign of spring, Boston Public Garden’s famous swan boats make their first appearance of the year. Adults $3.50; youth, $2. swanboats.com

Patriots’ Day Weekend Various locations, Concord, Lincoln and Lexington. Parades, pancake breakfasts and historical reenactments fill the weekend leading up to this holiday commemorating the Battles of Lexington and Concord. Through April 16. FREE. www.battleroad.org

VACATION CAMPS April 17-20, 2018

SUMMER CAMP June 18-Aug 17, 2018

Crafts, Games, Cooking, Outdoor Fun and Field Trips. Open to boys and girls ages 21 months - 12 years old Online registration now open!

Sign up today at cambridgemontessori.org Contact: Allison Lynch Director of Passport Auxiliary Programs 617.206.4662 passport@cambridgemontessori.org

VACATION ART PROGRAMS APRIL VACATION & 10 WEEKS OF SUMMER Drawing, painting, clay, and performing arts for Grades 1-6; Teen Studio program for Grades 7-12! www.newartcenter.org 617.964.3424 April 2018 | BostonParentsPaper.com

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15 Sunday

the imagination while encouraging teamwork, friendship and creativity. Reservations required. FREE. 617-514-1644; jfklibrary.org

Spring Barnyard Cleanup - Weir River Farm

Wingmasters

9:30 am– 2 pm, Weir River Farm, 140 Turkey Hill Ln, Hingham.

Weir River Farm is the last working farm in Hingham. After a long winter’s sleep, our barnyard will be in need of a good spring cleaning come April. FREE. (781) 740-7233; ttor.org

10 &11am, 1 & 2pm Providence Children’s Museum, 100 South St., Providence, R.I. Meet and learn about majestic birds of prey such as a glorious golden eagle, a tiny owl, a red-tailed hawk and a falcon.

Free with admission. 401-273-5437; childrenmuseum.org

Heartbreak Hill Road Race & Walk 11:30am – 3pm, Newton City Hall, 1000 Commonwealth Ave., Newton. A one-mile race, up and down famed Heartbreak Hill. Rather walk? Join the Family Walk at 11:30am. $10. newtoncommunitypride.org

16 Monday – Patriot’s Day Patriots’ Day in Lexington The re-enactment of the Battle of Lexington will be held on the Lexington Green starting at 5:30am, the time of the original battle held on April 19, 1775. Followed by the Patriot’s Day Parade at 2:00pm. FREE. lexingtonhistory.org

Patriots’ Day 9am – 4pm, Concord Museum, 53 Cambridge Turnpike, Concord.

After the Patriots’ Day parade, stop by the Museum to enjoy patriotic crafts, try on colonial clothing and more. Free with admission. 978-369-9763; concordmuseum.org

17 Tuesday Bright Star Touring Theatre - Upcycled Cinderella 10:30am, JFK Library and Museum, Columbia Point, Boston.

The story of Cinderella is brought to life using household items, recycled objects and physicalcomedy. Hilarious characters activate

Register Online at www.DigitalMediaAcademy.org

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Boston Parents Paper | April 2018

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SCHOOLS AND CHILDCARE CENTERS

Discover Montessori

18 Wednesday Animation Show of Shows: Kids’ Film 10:30 am, Coolidge Corner Theatre 290 Harvard Street, Brookline Special April vacation week screening! Sixteen exceptional and inspiring animated shorts from around the world. Adults $9, Child $7. 617-734-2500; www.coolidge.org

Mad Science: Marvels of Motion

NURTURING BOUNDLESS CURIOSITY

11am, 1 & 2pm Providence Children’s Museum, 100 South St., Providence, R.I. This interactive show explores the fundamentals of Newton’s Laws of Motion. Discover the science of gravity and balance, kinetic beads, and watch the Mad Scientist remove a tablecloth without clearing the table!Free with admission. 401-2735437; childrenmuseum.org

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Early Education

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“I can’t wait to come back tomorrow!”

Learn, create, and explore at the JCC Early Learning Centers JCC Early Learning Center • Brookline/Brighton Godine Early Learning Center • Newton Gilson Early Learning Center • Sharon JCC Early Learning Center at Congregation Sha’aray Shalom • Hingham

bostonjcc.org/earlylearning Everyone welcome

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Boston Parents Paper | April 2018

20 Friday

MetLife Family Friday – Free at Five!

Sesame Street Live! Let’s Party!

2 pm, Agganis Arena at Boston University, 925 Commonwealth Avenue Boston. Jump to the beat with your friends on Sesame Street! Introducing an all-new, interactive show that unfolds on one of the world’s most famous streets at the funniest, furriest party in the neighborhood. Through 4/22. $25 and up. www. sesamestreetlive.com

5pm, Providence Children’s Museum, 100 South St., Providence, R.I. The Museum is open free from 5:00 - 8:00 PM for “MetLife Family Friday – Free at Five!,” sponsored by MetLife Foundation. Stay out late and splash, play, explore and discover! FREE. 401-273-5437; childrenmuseum.org

SCHOOLS AND CHILDCARE CENTERS

Little People’s Playhouse

Educating and caring for your child like their own!

15 mos. to 6 yrs. • Pre K • Kindergarten Before & After School Ages 6-12 • 7am - 6pm Part-time Preschool • 7am - 1pm

Our mission is to create an early childhood program that fulfills the cognitive, emotional, social and physical needs of what is known to be the most significant period of human development.

Friends Childcare offers an exciting, creative curriculum, as well as fun and stimulating learning activities for all age groups. Tailor-made schedule 7AM-6PM, 5 days a week. Regular in-house enrichment programs such as nature exploration, music, gross motor program, and baby massage are included in the tuition.

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2016 WINNER

2017 WINNER

Language Immersion

Saturday morning Spanish classes offered at our Needham and Porter Square locations for children ages 3 - 7 years old.

EnrollmentPVP@gmail.com

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617-416-7763

www.MyBilingualPreschool.com April 2018 | BostonParentsPaper.com

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Rosalita's Puppets

21 Saturday E THE HATM IK

Gourmet Cream April 21-29, 10 am-5 pm, Strawbery Banke welcomesIce Spring with the 3rd annual Baby Animals: Heritage Breeds&atBowling the Banke, showcasing a variety of more than a dozen heirloomBowling breeds of •Bumper Barnyard Baby Animals (and their moms) that •Parties would have been familiar to earlier generations. $10 for adults; $5 for7 days children 5-17; Open music, dancing, balloon fun & more!

617-803-4636 ENTERTAINMENT mikethehatman.com

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Fully Insured, Credit Cards accepted Center, 500 Walk Hill

Celebrate everything 2017 at

St., Mattapan. Learn to use

WWW.REPTILECIRCUS.ORG yoursome next party binoculars, go on a bird hikeHost and create seed and www.reptilecircus.net fruit art for the birds to enjoy. Registration 617-407-7533 in our required. new 617-407-7533

Youth, $7. 617-983-8500; massaudubon.org.

Decorating

Kitchen

Matias Latelier, 10:30am, Regent Theatre, 7 Medford St., An hour of magic and surprises from a Chilean J & J Arlington.

Pony Rentals magician and mentalist. Adults, $10; youth, $8.

• Pony parties for all occasions 781-646-4849; regenttheatre.com.

Birthday Parties

Peter is Peter r O’Malley O’Malley O is Magic!

Magic!

at your place or at the farm.

• Riding SOUTH Lessons • Summer Camp the Winter Tracking

Special Events

Wild Thing, 9am, Francis William Bird Park, 251 Washington St., Walpole.

See Jan. 14 listing.

Magic, Music, Fun Winter Warm Up, 2-6pm, World’s End, Hingham. Get and Laughs outdoors for hiking, sledding, snowshoeing, owl prowls Call 617-822-2292 and tales around the campfire. Adults, $10; youth, free.

781-740-7233; ttor.org.Petermagicomalley.com TM

Family Owl Prowl, 7pm, Blue2017 Hills Trailside Museum, WINNER owl calls and meet 1904 Canton Ave., Milton. Practice some of the museum’s resident owls before going on a Now offering ® night hike to search for them. Registration required.

GLUTEN-FREE items$10.

617-983-8500; massaudon.org.

Pump It Up

Let’s ! ty Cakes, Cookies, ParStargazing: Jewels of the Night, 7pm, North River 100% Private Indoor Inflatable Fun Candies, Gift Baskets &

Wildlife Sanctuary, 2000 Main St., Marshfi eld. Join Reserve Your Now! All Event Your Party Needs! astronomy enthusiast Peter Reed as he guides you HUNTERS HAVEN FARM • Glow Parties &the Tween Nights through constellations.

Registration required. $13.

5 B Webster St. Peabody 1356 Beacon St., Brookline • Birthday Parties & Special Events 104 King St., Groveland, MA 781-837-9400; massaudubon.org.

978-532-JUMP(5867) • Pop-In Playtime & Field Trips 978-373-1300 • Sports Teams & Scout Troops

HuntersHavenFarm.com

Happier Family Comedy Show 3 pm, The Eric Carle Museum, 125 West Bay Road, Amherst. Their Happier Family Comedy Show is all about letting creativity flourish in an accepting atmosphere. Each improv show is an hour-long, all new, and created on the spot based on audience members’ suggestions and participation. $5 with admission. 413-658-1100; carlemuseum.org

The Amazing Nano Brothers Juggling Show

Featuring your choice of 9 reptiles the Tanglewood Marionettes. Reservations required. FREE. such as water dragon, cornsnake, 617-514-1644; jfklibrary.org. box turtle, desert king snake.

Birding, 10:30am, Boston Nature Schools •Winter BirthdaysBackyard • Other Events Online Ordering Available

m

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617-364-5274

www.ronsicecream.com AND PARTY NEEDS

We will Connect Reptiles with Kids...

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nts ents

1231 Hyde Park Ave.Hyde Park

✼Reptile calendar Circus

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free to those younger and active military and their families. 603433-1100; strawberybanke.org

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M Animals – Heritage Breeds at Ron’s Baby the Banke

com

Rates 517 om

www.curiouscreatures.org w (978) 556-5353

www.rosalitaspuppets.com 617-633-2832

1pm & 3 pm, Museum of Science, 1 Science Park, Boston. Fun for the whole family, this comedy show is all about the mysteries of matter — including atoms, molecules, and nanotechnology.

Join brothers Dan and Joel as they juggle everything from potted plants to tennis rackets, sometimes from atop seven-foot unicycles. Free with Exhibit Halls admission. 617-723-2500; mos.org WEST Valentine Card Making Party, 10am,(newborn The Eric Carle- 5T) Boston Babies Clothing Swap Museum, 125 West Bay Road, Amherst.

Pop in to make 10:30am-12noon Old West Church, 131 Cambridge St, special valentines for your family, friendsbaby or classmates.

Boston by Charles/MGH. Donate clothes, and momma Registration recommended. $12 Extras per pair or trio. to Cradles gear, and toys.

Take home same. donated 413-658-1100; carlemuseum.org. to Crayons. 100+ families. $5 per family, free with bag of 18m-3T clothing. www.facebook.com/groups/bostonbabies. clothingswaps or www.meetup.com/clothing-swaps

29 Sunday The Enchanted Forest, 10:30am, Coolidge Corner 22 Sunday – Earth Day Theatre, 290 Harvard St., Brookline.

Artbarn, a youth community theater company, presents the tale of a Party for the Planet family vacation gone wrong. Adults, $13; youth, $10.

10am – 3pm, Franklin Park Zoo, 1 Franklin Park Road, Boston.

617-734-2501; coolidge.org.

Celebrate Earth Day by some of the birds that call Boston home. $20.

617-989-3742; franklinparkzoo.org NORTH Ward Winter Fest, noon to 3pm, Ward Reservation, Celebrate Earth at Stone Zoohike, or Andover. Explore theDay property on a guided bring your and sled to play.

Then warm up 10am, Stonesnowshoes Zoo, 149 Pond Street, Stoneham.

In celebration of with refreshments by the re. $10 per car. 978-886-5297; Earth Day, learn about thefizoo’s conservation initiatives and meet ttor.org. an animal up close at the Education Station located across from the flamingo exhibit. Free with admission. 617-989-3742; www. zoonewengland.org

31 Tuesday

Earth WEST Day

10am – 5pm, Storytime, various locations, GiantMuseums, puppets, stilt Backwards 10am,Concord.

The Discovery walkers, dancers and Celebrate more will parade the OldDay Manse to The 177 Main St., Acton.

Nationalfrom Backwards Umbrella Center, followed Free by anwith Earth Day celebration. FREE. with silly Arts stories and activities. admission.

978-371-0820; 978-264-4200;theumbrellaarts.org discoverymuseums.org.

617-566-3330

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ENTERTAINMENT & PARTY NEEDS

Celebrate NEW! Host your next party ininour everything state-of-the-art LLeett’s’sy! Cakes, cookies, candies, gift baskets 2017 at kitchen.

t y! “Come Bounce Off Our Walls” Pa arr6+,t10-14 Children guests. Lots of fun options! i !

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A •trained chef will help you Open Bounce & Family Fun decorate a cake, cupcakes, Peabody, MA Available Online and alsoTrip decorate and dip strawberries.You and your Ordering • Field Programs 978-532-5868 guests getRock to take home everything that you make!

• Glow & Star Parties Rosalita's Puppets 2017 BostonBounceParty.com Host your next party TM

1356 Beacon St, BrooklineTOP•5617-566-3330 www.rosalitaspuppets.com in our

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617-633-2832 www.partyfavorsbrookline.com Decorating Kitchen

J & J Pony Rentals PARTIES BIRTHDAY THEMED PARTIES AT DEDHAM HEALTH & ATHLETIC COMPLEX October 2013 | BostonParentsPaper.com

• Quiet, gentle, lovable ponies; large small available for LASER and TAG PARTIES any occasion. ★ at your place ★ or • Pony parties at the farm. ★ • Customized packages at reasonable rates

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BIG JOE the Storyteller

LASER TAG PARTIES

Original & classic stories Props, puppets, & surprises Birthday Parties Schools Libraries Special Events

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Boston Parents Paper | April 2018

Participation & & Fun Fun for for All! All! Lots of Participation www.franfriedman.com 508-358-1614 • www.franfriedman.com

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PRINCESS PIRATE SUPER HERO ★ POP STAR DANCE ROCK CLIMBING SPORTS PARTIES ★ POOL PARTIES

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Preschool & & Elementary Elementary Preschool Music Specialist Specialist Music

2016 WINNER

www.bigjoe.com

617-713-4349

26 Thursday

how the fleece become hats and mittens. Registration required.

Adults, $10; youth, $5. 978-464-2712; massaudubon.org

ARTS FIRST Various locations, Cambridge. Harvard invites the public to four days of non-stop art, from a cappella to installation art. Through April 29. 617-495-8676; ofa.fas.harvard.edu/arts

27 Friday ArtWeek Boston Various locations, Boston. A twice annual 10-day collection of events throughout the city, featuring interactive and creative experiences. Through May 8. Full schedule at artweekboston.org 6:30-8pm, Boston Children’s Museum, 308 Congress St., Boston. An all ages dance party. Live DJ. Dance lessons. Free dance. Games.

Free with admission. 617-426-6500; bostonkids.org

28 Saturday Charles River Earth Day Cleanup 9am - noon, Sites along the Charles River and its tributaries. More than 3,000 volunteers will pick up litter, remove invasive species and assist with park maintenance. FREE. 781.788.0007; crwa.org

29 Sunday Art in Bloom Community Day 10am - 4pm, Museum of Fine Arts, 465 Huntington Ave., Boston.

View floral arrangements inspired by the MFA’s collection. Special family programs on April 29. Free with admission. 617-267-9330; mfa.org

May 4 & 5 at 10am Hansel and Gretel What do Mary Poppins, the rock star, and the babysitter all have in common? They each are trying to get Hansel and Gretel home before the witch eats them. Hansel and Gretel, written by Rene Pfister, artistic director of the Berklee Theater Arts Collaborative, is a new musical theater production. The production features Berklee's Theater for Young Audiences Ensemble and is suitable for children and families. 617-747-2261. The Berklee Performance Center, 136 Mass Ave. in Boston. berklee.edu

CLASSES AND ENRICHMENT

Gore Place Sheepshearing Festival 10 am - 5 pm, Gore Place, 54 Gore Street, Waltham. one of the great New England festivals enjoyed by thousands of visitors every year. Those attending will see demonstrations of sheep shearing and herding dogs and shop in one of the region’s biggest and best craft fairs. Adults, $20; youth under 12 are free. (781) 894-2798; goreplace.org

2015 VACATION ART PROGRAMS GRADES K-12

Now Enrolling!

Summer program July 2-August 4

Sheep & Wool Festival 1 - 4pm, Wachusett Meadow Wildlife Sanctuary, 113 Goodnow REGISTER NOW FOR Road, Princeton. Meet the flock, learn how sheep are sheared and APRIL VACATION, 4/21-4/24

See www.freshpondballet.com for details

AND SUMMER, 6/22-8/28 Convenient & Affordable

Piano lessons FIND MORE Drawing & Painting, at your school Mixed Media, Cartooning, Private in-home ENTERTAINERS Ceramics, Teenlessons Portfolio available ONLINE AT: and more

★ Pre Ballet ★ Ballet ★ Pointe Ages 3 –Teens & Adults

Contact Molly Howard at

617-999-8794 MA BostonParentsPaper.com/ Newtonville, pianoplaytime@yahoo.com entertainers 617.964.3424 www.pianoplaytime.com

Nina Rubinstein Alonso, Director

www.newartcenter.org

1798 Mass. Ave., Cambridge (617) 491-5865 See our photos on Facebook

WWW.FRESHPONDBALLET.COM

GET THE BEST REPORT CARD YET!

Come to the BSO Open House

GET AHEAD IN MATH & READING. Join us as we play math games, read books and apply our studies to our daily lives.

Call in today to reserve a slot!

bso.org

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2016 TOP 5

A free event for the

32 South Fairview St., Roslindale, MA

617-323-2566 SPACE AVAILABLE

April 2018 | BostonParentsPaper.com

29

✼ Single Minded

Post-Divorce Stress Disorder

By Susan Solomon Yem

I

had a bad day at work. It was filled with misunderstandings, misinterpretations and misgivings. It ended with me in a flood of tears. The tears were only partly a result of difficult encounters with coworkers. Some were shed because those challenging interactions brought to the surface memories of even more challenging interactions with my ex-husband. It feels a little like PTSD.

What Is PTSD?

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is an emotional and psychological reaction to a painful or shocking experience. Those who have endured tough marriages can suffer a form of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder called PostTraumatic Relationship Disorder (PTRD). The symptoms of both are similar and are characterized by anxiety, distrust, nightmares and even flashbacks.

When three of my coworkers went to my supervisor to complain about how I was handling a project, I was reminded of all the negative things my ex-husband had said to and about me; “I never loved you,” “I don’t want to be seen in public with you,” “If it weren’t for me, you would never have been married.”

So many years later, I feel the sting of his words. My supervisor gave me his full support and clarified to my colleagues the task he had assigned to me. I later met with each one. We cleared the air and we are friends again; but it took several days for me to overcome the feeling of sadness. Even as I write these words my eyes are welling up.

High-Conflict Divorce

Why do I still react this way? Perhaps it is because I had what is known as a high-conflict divorce. High-conflict divorces are so stressful they have been classified as a cause of PTSD or PTRD. A high-conflict divorce is a difficult end to a difficult marriage. It’s acrimony, contentiousness, and animosity that are exhibited before and during divorce proceedings. Remember the movie War of the Roses (1989)? Rent it. It is the story of the battle between a husband and wife who can no longer live together and don’t know how to end things well. The final scene concludes with Kathleen Turner and Michael Douglas looking at each other as they hang from a crystal chandelier.

There is the slightest reminder of their previous love in their eyes before they plummet to their deaths. That’s a high-conflict divorce!

Both parties do not need to take a fighting stance to create a high-conflict divorce. It just takes one exhibit-

30

Boston Parents Paper | April 2018

ing malice to make a tough situation even tougher. In our case, we had very little personal contact during our divorce proceedings. We did not attempt mediation to end our marriage. Our attorneys were the only ones who talked to each other as they hammered out terms. I was awarded legal and physical custody of the children. Because visitation was supervised, a third party arranged this biweekly. I have not encountered or spoken to my ex-husband in more than a decade.

High Conflict Equals High Impact

Experts believe there is a correlation between bad break-ups and mental and physical health concerns.

Panic attacks, insomnia and physical ailments are all symptoms of stress disorders. I lost a lot of weight when my marriage ended – 25 pounds in three weeks. True confession: I was happy with the way I looked, but not happy with how and why I dropped the pounds.

I became depressed when my husband left and often retreated to my bedroom for long stretches. I lost my enthusiasm and spirit of adventure. Some days it felt like I was operating at half speed – just doing the minimum to care for my family. My older children often stepped in to help care for the younger ones. When Jake, as a toddler, fell asleep in my bed, it was his older brother, Daniel, who picked him up and transported him to his own room.

Our old family routines made me sad, so we stopped a lot of traditions we had created. I got angry, too, and I often voiced how unfair life was. These are all symptoms of PTRD. I knew I had to learn to cope, so I read every book about surviving divorce I could get my hands on, and I got help.

I went to a therapist, but there are many options for learning to cope with PTRD. Google divorce groups like divorcecare.org to find support in your area. Or seek help online from sites like divorcedmoms.com, firstwivesworld. com and divorceangels.com.

I am sure I will mess up again at work and face someone’s wrath. I hope that the next time I do, Post-Traumatic Relationship Disorder will not rear its ugly head again.

Susan Solomon Yem is singleminded about raising her five children to adulthood. She’d like to hear your stories about single parenting. Contact her at susansyem@gmail.com

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April Vacation Week Kids Get in Free!

Tuesday–Friday, April 17–20 Make art, see performances, and join a story hour at Cogan Family Foundation Vacation Week Adventures.

Photo courtesy Tony Rinaldo

Don’t miss Junior Artists, free drop-in art making every Saturday at 10:30 am.

mfa.org/vacation 32

Boston Parents Paper | April 2018