Boston Parent February 2017

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FEBRUARY 2017

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New Parents?

4 Investment Steps to Make Now

New Guidelines on Peanut Introduction

100+

Family Events & Activities 1

Boston Parents Paper | February 2017

Teens and Antidepressants

What You Need to Know

if it wanted to wrap its weird

, arms around me i wouldn’t say no .

Meet an animal that’s all arms and intrigue at Tentacles, now open at the New England Aquarium.

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Boston Parents Paper | February 2017

www.msmresources.org Acton Montessori School

Acton, MA

978-263-4333

Acton Montessori School Acton, MA 978-263-4333 Adams Montessori School Quincy, MA 617-773-8200 Adams Montessori School Quincy, MA 617-773-8200 AmesburyMontessori Montessori School School Amesbury,MA MA 978-518-5113 Amesbury Amesbury, 978-518-5113 Amherst MontessoriSchool School Amherst,MA MA 413-253-3101 Amherst Montessori Amherst, 413-253-3101 Andover SchoolofofMontessori, Montessori, Inc. Andover,MA MA 978-475-2299 Andover School Inc. Andover, 978-475-2299 BayBay Farm Academy Duxbury, 781-934-7101 FarmMontessori Montessori Academy Duxbury,MA MA 781-934-7101 Bedford Montessori Bedford, 781-275-3344 Bedford MontessoriSchool School Bedford,MA MA 781-275-3344 Bellingham Children's House Bellingham, MA 508-966-2752 Bellingham Children’s House Bellingham, MA 508-966-2752 Blue Hill Montessori Canton, MA 781-828-5230 Blue Hill Montessori Canton, MA 781-828-5230 Bridgeview Montessori School Sagamore, MA 508-888-3567 Bridgeview Montessori School Sagamore, MA 508-888-3567 Burlington Montessori School Burlington, MA 781-273-0432 Burlington Montessori School Burlington, MAMA 508-628-8429 781-273-0432 CA Montessori Children's Center Framingham, Cambridge Montessori School CA Montessori Children’ s Center Cambridge, Framingham,MA MA 617-492-3410 508-628-8429 Children's House Montessori West Roxbury, Cambridge Montessori School Cambridge, MAMA 617-325-2233 617-492-3410 Children's Montessori Center Danvers, MA Children’s House Montessori West Roxbury, MA 978-774-2144 617-325-2233 Children's Own School, Inc. Winchester , MA 781-729-2689 Children’s Montessori Center Danvers, MA 978-774-2144 Children's Workshop Montessori Marbelhead, MA 781-631-8687 Children’s Workshop Montessori Marblehead, MA 781-631-8687 Christian Family Montessori Christian Family Montessori School Holliston, MA 508-429-5478 School Holliston, MA 508-429-5478 Concord MontessoriSchool School Concord,MA MA 978-369-5900 Concord Montessori Concord, 978-369-5900 Cottage Montessori Arlington, MAMA 781-333-0918 Dandelion Montessori Coop Cambridge, 617-354-6400 eBridge Montessori School Westborough, MA 508-366-9288 508-339-4667 Hands-On Montessori School Hands-On Montessori School Mansfield, MA 508-339-4667 Harborlight-Stoneridge Harborlight-Stoneridge Montessori School Beverly, MA 978-922-1008 Montessori School Beverly, MA 978-922-1008 Inly School Scituate, MA 781-545-5544 Inly School Scituate, MA 781-545-5544 Keystone Montessori School School Chelmsford, 978-251-2929 Keystone Montessori N.North Chelmsford, MA MA 978-251-2929 King’ s Wood Montessori School Foxboro, MA 508-543-6391 King's Wood Montessori School Foxboro, MA 508-543-6391 KingsleyMontessori Montessori School School Boston,MA MA 617-226-4900 Kingsley Boston, 617-226-4900 Lexington Lexington, 781-862-8571 LexingtonMontessori Montessori School School Lexington,MA MA 781-862-8571 Longmeadow LongmeadowMontessori Montessori Internationale Longmeadow, MA 413-567-1820 Internationale Longmeadow, MA 413-567-1820 Meeting House Montessori Braintree, MA 781-356-7877 Melrose Montessori School Melrose, MA 781-665-0621 Melrose Montessori School Melrose, MA 781-665-0621 Mighty Oaks Montessori School Auburn, MA 508-304-7110 Mighty Oaks Montessori School Auburn, MA 508-304-7110 Montessori Academy of Cape Cod North Falmouth, MA 508-563-9010 Montessori Beginnings School Sandwich, MA 508-477-7730 Montessori Beginnings School Sandwich, MA 508-477-7730 Montessori Children' s House of Montessori Country Day Wellesley Wellesley, MA 781-235-9439 SchoolCountry of HoldenDay School of Holden, MA 508-829-2999 Montessori Holden Holden, MA 508-829-2999 Montessori Day School Montessori Day School of Wellesley Hills of Wellesley Hills, MA 781-795-5571 Wellesley Wellesley MontessoriHills Escuela Belmont, Hills, MA MA 919-259-6516 508-454-0631 Montessori Belmont, MA 508-454-0631 MontessoriEscuela Institute-New England at Harborlight-Stoneridge Montessori Institute-New Montessori School England Beverly, MA 978-927-9600 at Harborlight-Stoneridge Montessori Parent Child Center Boston, MA 617-513-4270 Montessori School Beverly, MA 978-927-9600 My Montessori of Woburn Woburn, 781-333-4898 Montessori Parent Child Center Boston, MAMA 617-513-4270

Montessori-Sudbury MyMyMontessori of Woburn Nashoba Montessori School Nashoba Montessori School NewburyportMontessori Montessori School Newburyport School Newton School NewtonMontessori Montessori School North School NorthShore ShoreMontessori Montessori School Norwood Montessori School Norwood Montessori School Notre Dame Children's Class Notre Dame Children’s Class Oak Meadow School Oak Meadow School School Old Colony Montessori Old Colony Montessori School Panda Cub Montessori Pinewood Panda CubSchool Academyof Montessori Pioneer Valley School Pincushion Hill Montessori Montessori School Pond View Montessori School Pinewood School of Montessori Reading Montessori School Pioneer Valley Montessori School River Valley Charter School Pond View Montessori School Sam Placentino Elementary Reading Montessori School School River Valley Charter School Seaside Montessori School Shrewsbury Rock and RollMontessori Preschool School Summit Montessori School Sam Placentino Elementary School Sunrise Montessori Sandwich MontessoriSchool School T.E.C. School Seaside Montessori School Tara Montessori School Shrewsbury MontessoriSchool School Thacher Montessori Summit Montessori School The Bethlehem School Sunrise Montessori Schoolof The Montessori School Northampton Tara Montessori School The Montessori School of the Thacher Montessori School Berkshires The Bethlehem School The Riverbend School The Bilingual Montessori The Sandwich Montessori School School of Sharon The Torit School The MontessoriMontessori School of School The Westwood Northampton Tobin Montessori School The Montessori SchoolSchool of Treetops Montessori Berkshires UrbantheVillage Montessori The Riverbend School School Vineyard Montessori

Sudbury, MA Woburn, MA Lancaster, MA Lancaster, MA Newburyport, MA Newburyport, MA Newton, MA Newton, MA Rowley, MA Rowley, MA Norwood, MA Norwood, MA Wenham, MA Wenham, MA Littleton, MA Littleton, MA Hingham, MA Hingham, MA Chestnut Hill, MA Plymouth, MA Brookline, MA Springfield, Ashland, MA MA Dedham, MA Plymouth, MA Reading, MA Newburyport, MA

Dedham, MA Reading, MAMA Holliston, Newburyport, MA Hull, MA Shrewsbury, Cambridge, MAMA Framingham, Holliston, MA MA Franklin, Sandwich, MA MA Worcester, MA Hull, MA Manchester, MA Shrewsbury, Milton, MA MA Framingham, MA Lynnefield, MA Franklin, MA Northampton, Manchester, MA MA Milton, MA

978-883-8000 781-333-4898 978-365-6669 978-365-2555 978-462-7165 978-462-7165 617-969-4488 617-969-4488 978-495-2244 978-495-2244 781-769-6150 781-769-6150 978-468-1340 978-468-1340 978-486-9874 978-486-9874 781-749-3698 781-749-3698 617-614-7709 508-746-5127 617-614-7709 413-782-3108 508-881-2123 781-801-7939 508-746-5127 781-944-1057 413-782-3108 978-465-0065

781-801-7939 781-944-1057 508-429-0647 978-465 0065 781-773-1588 508-842-2116 857-259-6891 508-872-3630 508-429-0647 508-541-8010 508-888-4222 508-577-3045 781-773-1588 978-526-8487 508-842-2116 617-361-2522 508-872-3630 781-334-6436 508-541-8010 413-586-4538 978-526-8487 617-361-2522 413-637-3662 781-334-6436

Lenox Dale, MA Natick, MA 508-655-7333 Sandwich, MA 508-888-4222 Sharon, MA 781-784-3000 Boston, MA 617-523-4000 Westwood, MA 781-329-5557 Northampton,MA MA 617-349-6600 413-586-4538 Cambridge, Sturbridge, MA 508-347-8059 Lenox Dale,MA MA 413-637-3662 Haverhill, 978-361-0793 Natick, MA 508-655 7333 Vineyard Haven, MA 508-693-4090 The Wellesley Montessori School, Inc. Wellesley, MA 781-237-6670 Walnut Park Montessori Newton, MA 617-969-9208 The Westwood MontessoriSchool School Westwood, MA 781-329-5557 Wildflower Montessori School Cambridge, MA 617-863-7290 Tobin Montessori School Cambridge, MA 617-349-6600 617-237-0722 Wollaston Hill Montessori School Quincy, MA Torit Language Center Montessori Boston, MA 617-292-5181 Woodside Montessori Academy Millis, MA 508-376-5320 Treetops Montessori School Sturbridge, 508-347-8059 Northeast Montessori Institute Warren, MEMA 207-236-6316 Urban Village Montessori Haverhill,, MA 978-361-0793 Seacoast Center for Education Warren ME 603-590-6360 VineyardVillage Montessori School School Amherst, Vineyard Haven, 508-693-4090 Country Montessori NH MA 603-672-3882 Hollis Montessori School Hollis, 603-400-1515 Walnut Park Montessori School Newton,NHMA 617-969-9208 Casa dei Bambini Children’s Wollaston Hill Montessori School Quincy, MA 617-237-0722 Center Bow, 603-227-9300 Woodside Montessori Academy Millis, NH MA 508-376-5320 Northend Montessori Manchester, NH 603-621-9011 Country Village Montessori School Amherst, NH 603-672-3882 Southern NH Education Hollis Montessori School Hollis, NH NH 603-818-8613 603-400-1515 Campusmy Londonderry, Seacoast Center for Education Stratham,RINH 603-590-6360 Montessori Pathways Exeter, 401-295-0677 Southern NH Education Center Londonderry, NH 603-818-8613 Montessori School of Greenwhich Bay East Greenwich, Montessori of Greenwich Bay East Greenwich, RI RI 401-234-1243 401-234-1243 Hilltop School Brattleboro, 802-257-0500 HilltopMontessori Montessori School Brattleboro,VTVT 802-257-0500

The listed schools do not discriminate in admission,

The listed schools do not discriminate in admission, financial aid, or administration of their educational policies and and employment practices the ofbasis race,national color, or employment practices on theon basis race,ofcolor, national or ethnic any other protected ethnic origin, or anyorigin, other or protected category undercategory applicable under Federal or State laws.

Federalapplicable or State laws.

February 2017 | BostonParentsPaper.com

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Contents February 2017

Volume 32 • Number 7

What’s Inside 6 Publisher’s Note

New Beginnings

8 Teen Talk

Teens and Antidepressants

10 Family F.Y.I.

New Guidelines on Peanut Introduction

5 First Aid Tips to Teach Kids

Don’t Skate on Thin Ice

12 11 Media Titles

For Big Brothers and Sisters

14 Bookshelf

Teaching Children Empathy

16 Family Cents

Investing Resolutions for Babies

18 Know Yourself

Adventure Series 1

23 Calendar 34 Raising Dad

Time Off Radar

Directories 19 29 31 33 4

Boston Parents Paper | February 2017

Camps and Summer Programs Schools & Childcare Centers Entertainment & Party Needs Classes and Enrichment

DARE TO LIVE IN FULL COLOR.

VISIT BLUEMAN.COM FOR SCHOOL VACATION WEEK ADDED PERFORMANCES AND SPECIAL OFFERS. CHARLES PLAYHOUSE 74 WARRENTON ST., BOSTON BLUEMAN.COM | 1.800.BLUEMAN

PHOTO BY LINDSEY BEST © 2017 BLUE MAN PRODUCTIONS, LLC.

PAINT BY NO NUMBERS.

✼ Publisher’s Note

New Beginnings I’M NOT GOING TO KID EITHER YOU OR MYSELF. My husband and I didn’t purchase the Boston Parents Paper because the thought of being a publisher again was so appealing. Owning a media company in Boston didn’t cross our minds until a few months ago. Its purchase most assuredly was not undertaken on a whim.

Like many of you, I have been raising my family from the advice of Boston Parents’ Paper for years. Owning it was as incomprehensible to me as becoming Mayor of the fine city of Boston. It was only when a phone call came alerting me to the possibility that Boston Parents Paper was going to be shuttered in January, that my husband and I became interested in Boston’s most trusted and influential medium for parents and families.

The thought of the lights being extinguished Our mission at Boston Parents Paper shaped an idea for the is to build on two of us: We could make a difference. Returning ownership back to a small independent company what Boston could provide this media company the ability to Parents has set think creatively, move quickly and celebrate its up and to serve unique role in the state of Massachusetts and the the families as Northeast region. So we jumped in.

First task at hand was running the 2017 Camp a resource and and Summer Expo on January 21st at the Dedham a connection Health and Athletic Complex. With only two weeks to the Best of to prepare we had our hands full. On the day of what Boston the event we hosted 60 camp and summer program exhibitors, allowing them to connect with over 300 has to offer. greater Boston families who are looking for the best opportunities for their children this summer. The event was a success! We couldn’t have done it without Lars and Michelle and the dedicated staff of Dedham Health and Athletic complex and most importantly, all of the hard work from the employees at Boston Parents’ Paper to set the event up.

We very much enjoyed meeting all of you who were a part of this event and are looking forward to continuing the mission of Boston Parents Paper.

Our mission is to build on what Boston Parents has set up and to serve the families as a resource and a connection to the Best of what Boston has to offer.

We would love to hear your feedback, good and bad, to help make our organization more attuned to your needs as a parent.

Sincerely, Tracy McKean Publisher

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Boston Parents Paper | February 2017

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Boston Parent 841 Worcester Street, Suite 344 Natick, MA 01760 Tel/Fax 617-522-1515 Visit us online at BostonParentsPaper.com PUBLISHERS Robert and Tracy McKean ART DIRECTOR Debbi Murzyn ADVERTISING SALES Holly Castro, David Morney

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 submissions to editor@bostonparent.com. Submit events to our Family Friendly Calendar at bostonparentspaper. com/event/

Spring Is In The Air

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1400 Massachusetts Ave. Cambridge, MA 617-499-2000 www.TheCoop.com www.facebook.com/TheHarvardCoop SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4 at 11:00 AM STORYTIME & CRAFT Rabbit & Bunny Stories and Craft SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11 at 11:00 AM STORYTIME & CRAFT Valentine’s Day Stories and Craft SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18 at 11:00 AM STORYTIME & CRAFT (Clifford the Big Red Dog Visits) Stories and Craft Featuring the Color Red SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25 at 11:00 AM STORYTIME & CRAFT Mixed Up Fairy Tales and Craft Children ages 1 to 6 and their caregivers are welcome to join us for stories and snacks. All events are free and open to the public.

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February 2017 | BostonParentsPaper.com

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✼ Teen Talk

Should I Give My Teen Antidepressants?

By Peggy Spear

W

hen my son was 15 and just starting high school, my family moved to New Orleans for my husband’s job. The culture shock was swift and intense, and we all felt it, but especially my son.

He began to suffer crying jags, intense anxiety and an aversion to his new school.

It was more than severe homesickness — he was suffering from depression and anxiety. His new doctor prescribed a low dose of the antidepressant Prozac, which helped a bit, until we moved back to the state nine months later, at which point he didn’t need it at all.

I am thankful for the help the drug gave him, and I had no qualms about giving it to a teenager. What I do regret is that I did not take his recovery a step further, and added some cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to the mix.

According to the National Institute of Health, a mixture of therapy and medication is the best way to combat anxiety and depression in not only tweens and teens, but adults as well, says Margie Ryerson, a family therapist.

Sometimes, just therapy alone is needed to help teens deal with depression and anxiety.

As for drugs? “There is no pure answer,” Ryerson says, when drugs should be administered, except in extreme cases, such as a

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child is exhibiting suicidal thoughts or actions, or has thoughts of or is exhibiting actions of hurting someone else.

For garden variety anxiety and depression like my son was feeling — which can in itself be crippling for the child and terrifying

recommendation — you don’t need to give the child antidepressants if you don’t want to.”

But if a parent chooses to give a child medication to fight anxiety and/or depression, she says to be sure to include talk therapy, preferably CBT, as well. CBT is a short-term, goal-oriented psychotherapy treatment According to the that takes a hands-on, National Institute practical approach to problem solving. Its goal is to of Health, a mixture change patterns of thinking of therapy and or behavior that are behind medication is the best people’s difficulties, and so change the way they feel. way to combat anxiety D. Raymond Hearey, a and depression in not child and adolescent psychionly tweens and teens, atric specialist, agrees with Ryerson that drugs alone but adults as well. may not be the most effective way to treat adolescent for the parents — Ryerson depression and anxiety. suggests a team approach, “Parents should have the which starts with the child’s child assessed by a psypediatrician or family doctor. chiatrist, to see if drugs are They can assess the child — a good option,” he says. Don’t even as young as nine — and rely on the child’s doctor to recommend counseling or prescribe the medication, he psychiatry, or both. says.

When a family is choosing Hearey says there is no a counselor, Ryerson sug“magic age” when it is okay gests that it might be a good to administer drugs — he idea to have family therapy, has seen children as young and to let the child in on inas six respond well to mediterviewing several prospeccation, while older teens may tive therapists so that they not. Still, he says he would feel empowered in making a prefer not to prescribe medichoice. cation to children and teens The second tier of treatif there are other options, ing anxiety and depression, like therapy, that will work Ryerson says, is seeing a as well. psychiatrist for evaluation, “Only use medication and seeing whether they recwhen it is needed,” he said, ommend antidepressants. adding that the decision “Remember, it’s just a must be made by the psy-

Boston Parents Paper | February 2017

chiatrist, the parents and the child.

The other nebulous area is the particular medication that is prescribed. Hearey says clinically, “there is no right answer,” but that some have shown better results in teens and children than in adults, and vice versa. Again, a psychiatrist will know those areas better than a pediatrician.

Ultimately, like most hard parenting decisions, whether to give your teen antidepressants is a judgement that needs a lot of study, input and faith — and hinges on how well you know your own child.

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For more information and online registration: www.dextersouthfield.org/summer February 2017 | BostonParentsPaper.com

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✼ Family F.Y.I. Saving a Permanent Tooth

Frederick Douglass

Black History Month “If there is no struggle there is no progress.”

Your child takes a hit to the mouth with a basketball and knocks out a tooth.

A permanent tooth!

Before you panic, here are step-by-step instructions from Linda M. Blaschke, a pediatric dentist in Pepperell: 1. Find the tooth. Handle it by the crown (the part of the tooth you would see in the mouthwot the root.

2. Rinse the tooth with water only. Do NOT clean it with soap, scrub it or handle it unnecessarily.

3. Inspect the tooth for fractures. If it’s sound, try to reinsert it into the socket. Have the child hold the tooth in place by biting on gauze or a folded paper towel.

4. If you can’t reinsert the tooth, transport the tooth in a cup containing the patient’s saliva or milk. If the child is age 12

and older, the tooth may be carried in the child’s mouth beside the cheek.

5. Your child must see your dentist immediately! Time is a critical factor.

6. If a child chips or fractures a permanent tooth, also act quickly and bring any tooth fragments with you to the dentist. Rinse the mouth with warm water and apply cold compresses to reduce swelling.

Boston Common Frog Pond

– Frederick Douglass

T

hese words are as relevant today as they were in 1857 when the famous statesman, writer and orator first used them. Black History Month, or National African American History Month, was started in 1926 as a weeklong celebration coinciding with the birthdays of Douglass (Feb. 14, 1818) and Abraham Lincoln (Feb. 12, 1809). See our Calendar for suggestions about things to do to celebrate Black History Month.

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Boston Parents Paper | February 2017

Don’t Skate on Thin Ice

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hen temperatures drop into the “brrr” zone, New England offers great opportunities for outdoor ice skating, but make sure to skate safely!

• Contact your local police or fire department and find out which skating ponds are checked for safety and what the conditions are.

• Check the ice for holes, cracks or debris. It should be smooth, thick,blue or clearcolored, with ice thatis at least 6 inches thick. Light grey, dark black or slushy ice is not safe. The ground around the edge of the ice should be frozen, with no flowing water near the edges of the ice.

• If while skating, the ice starts to crack beneath you, get down on all fours (distributing your body weight evenly), stay low and crawl to safety.

• Never skate alone.

For a list of ice skating ponds in Massachusetts, visit BostonParentsPaper.com/ponds.

NEW GUIDELINES on Peanut Introduction Boston Children's Museum

Vacation Week Fun

B

oston boasts a great many borewwdom-busting attractions during school vacation week, February 20-24.

Boston Children’s Museum is one of the most influential children’s museums in the world. Not only does Boston Children’s Museum successfully keep kids entertained, but it offers hands-on experience in a science, technology, engineering and math.

The Mary Baker Eddy Library in Boston has a Mapparium®, a three-story, stained-glass globe, and its special school vacation week program focuses on being a part of a community and helping others.

If you just want to get out and blow off steam in a bounce house, Pump It Up in Peabody will be hosting more open-tothe-public hours. Check pumpitupparty.com/peabody-ma for additional times.

ARE WE THERE YET? ... NOW? If your family is traveling for school vacation week, keep kids comfortable and well-fed. Have them wear lightweight layers in the car and make sure to provide plenty of water and some nutritious, nonsugary snacks, which are different from the snacks they eat every day. Mad Libs books are a perfect way to keep them laughing, and they’ll learn grammar in the process.

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he rate of peanut allergies are growing. A serious peanut allergy can lead to anaphylaxis and even death which means some parents avoided introducing peanuts to their children.

In January, an expert panel published new guidelines about when to introduce some infants to peanut containing foods as a way to prevent food allergies.

“Many, many people were asking their doctors, their pediatricians, ‘We’ve heard about this wonderful information; what should we do?’ “ said Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.

“The professional societies — such as the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, etc. -- all decided they needed to get together and sit down in a few meetings and put together some guidelines.”

What are the guidelines?

The recommendations are “really simple and straightforward,” Fauci said, explaining that the intention was to answer the typical questions of family physicians.

Recommendations fall into three categories.

The first category includes children who are believed to be most likely to develop a peanut allergy: infants who have severe asthma, egg allergy or both. Parents can either introduce these children to peanut-containing food at 4 to 6 months or get a reference to an allergist who will give the child a skin prick test or a blood test to see whether the infant is allergic to peanuts.

If not allergic, parents should follow the recommendation of introducing peanut-containing foods at 4 to 6 months.

However, if the infant is allergic, parents should refrain.

The second category includes children with mild to moderate eczema; less likely to have an allergy, these infants should be introduced to peanut-containing foods about 6 months of age.

Finally, the third category belongs to children with no eczema or food allergies and no family history of such. These children can either be fed peanut-containing foods or not at any age, based purely on family and cultural preference.

“So if it’s severe, go to an allergist,” summarized Fauci. “If it’s not severe, give (peanut-containing foods), but give it at 6 months.” For infants with no family history of allergy or no food allergies themselves, “don’t worry,” said Fauci: Just give them whatever foods the family prefers.

“Something as simple as that ... we think will go a long way in decreasing the incidence of peanut allergy in society,” Fauci said.

February 2017 | BostonParentsPaper.com

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11 Media Titles

By www.TheSmartFeed.com

for Brand New Big Brothers and Sisters

W

hat could be more exciting than a new addition to the family? For siblings, so many feelings can come with the announcement or arrival of a new baby— anticipation, eagerness, nervousness, worry and sometimes lots of different emotions at the same time! Older siblings might feel proud and excited to help with a new baby, but also concerned about their shifting place in the family. They might want to discuss their feelings, or they might need encouragement to express their (maybe mixed) emotions. As parents, we want to reassure our kids that they are loved and important, no matter what.

Books and other media are such a wonderful window into the variety of feelings that kids may have around new babies, and are a great springboard for discussion. When our second child was born, I appreciated content that gently presented and normalized a whole spectrum of feelings about new babies for our older daughter. Below are some of our favorites.

For more, check out SmartFeed’s handpicked media suggestions: FAMILY MOVIE NIGHT Games to Play Together www.thesmartfeed.com/staff_picks/apps-ican-play-with-my-kids Great Bedtime Stories www.thesmartfeed.com/staff_picks/quickhits-great-books-for-bedtime — ­and much more. Enjoy!

APPS FOR NEW BIG BROTHERS AND SISTERS Sago Mini Babies (age 2-5) www.thesmartfeed.com/creations/16331 I love all the Sago Mini apps, and Babies is no exception. Users get a chance to feed, dress, and play with a collection of impossibly cute baby animals. Really well designed—and fun!

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Boston Parents Paper | February 2017

The New Baby (age 3+) www.thesmartfeed.com/creations/the-new-baby Featuring Mercer Mayer’s Little Critter characters, this sweet, interactive story follows Little Critter as he meets his new baby sister. Engaging, fun, and straightforward enough for the youngest users.

BOOKS FOR NEW BIG BROTHERS AND SISTERS The Baby Tree (age 4-8) www.thesmartfeed.com/creations/the-baby-tree A young boy learns that a new baby will be joining his family, and wants to know where the baby will come from. A series of well-meaning friends, neighbors, and grownups provide pieces of the answer—but their answers are confusing! Ultimately the boy’s parents explain how babies grow. A helpful list of questions and answers follows the story to guide parents whose children want additional information.

The New Small Person (age 3-8) www.thesmartfeed.com/creations/the-newsmall-person Elmore Green starts out life as an only child, and delights in arranging his small toys without interruption, eating jellybeans (and not having to share the orange ones, his favorites), and enjoying the attention and adoration of his parents. But the arrival of a new, small person (his baby brother) changes everything. A funny but heartfelt story of sibling rivalry and acceptance.

Everywhere Babies (age 0-3) www.thesmartfeed.com/creations/the-newsmall-person A sweet celebration of babies and their families, their triumphs and challenges, and the love that families share. A perfect first book for little ones, and a gentle introduction to babies for young siblings.

The Family Book and We Belong Together: A Book about Adoption and Families (age 2-5) www.thesmartfeed.com/creations/the-familybook

Illustrated in Todd Parr’s signature style, these books celebrate all kinds of families and the people in them. Nice choices for young readers.

A Baby Sister for Frances (age 4-7) www.thesmartfeed.com/creations/24444 Frances has a new little sister, and she’s not sure how she feels about it. So many of the mixed feelings a new sibling can bring are represented here, and in such a loveable, true way. This one is an oldie (expect pretty traditional gender roles) but still a goodie!

Pecan Pie Baby (age 5-8) www.thesmartfeed.com/creations/pecan-piebaby Gia’s going to be a big sister, but she is jealous of the new baby who gets all kinds of attention, even before it is born. Through reassuring conversations with her mother, she begins to warm to the idea— and understands the ways she and her family will always be connected.

A MOVIE FOR NEW BIG BROTHERS AND SISTERS Babies (Age 7+) www.thesmartfeed.com/creations/babies Babies presents an amazing and intriguing look at babies and families around the world.

This documentary follows 4 babies—in Japan, Namibia, Mongolia, and San Francisco—and takes an in-depth look at their first year of life.

A great choice for older children and adults to watch together and discuss.

A TV SHOW FOR NEW BIG BROTHERS AND SISTERS Ruby’s Studio: The Siblings Show w(Age 4+) www.thesmartfeed.com/creations/ruby-sstudio-the-siblings-show This creative, fun show features real world problems that siblings encounter, and presents creative, compassionate ways to solve them.

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February 2017 | BostonParentsPaper.com

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BOOKSHELF

By Mary Ann Scheuer

Seven delightful books help children develop empathy and kindness.

Choose Kindness. Teach Empathy. Listen Actively.

“Each little thing we do goes out, like a ripple, into the world.”

A

s we start a fresh new year, I want to take a moment to focus on kindness. We can actively shape the conversations by choosing books that focus on friendship, empathy and compassion. Share these picture books, start a conversation, plant a seed of kindness. Show children that they matter, that their actions have the power to impact other people.

“Be a Friend,” by Salina Yoon (Bloomsbury; $17.99; ages 3-8; 40 pp.). This adorable friendship book follows Dennis, a little boy who only communicates through miming. One day at school, he kicks an imaginary ball and—to his surprise—his classmate Joy catches it! A delightful story about finding a kindred spirit and discovering a new friend.

“Big Friends,” by Linda Sarah, illustrated by Benji Davies (Henry Holt; $16.99; ages 4-8; 32 pp.). Best friends Birt and Etho love playing pretend with cardboard boxes every day— racing, battling pirates, constructing forts. When another boy joins them, Birt retreats home sulking, until Etho and his new friend use their imagination to create an invitation Birt can’t resist.

“If You Plant a Seed,” by Kadir Nelson (Balzer + Bray / HarperCollins; ages 4-8; 32 pp.; $18.99). A rabbit and a mouse work together to plant a garden, but when other creatures ask to share they refuse. In this metaphor for friendship, Nelson shows young readers: “If you plant a seed of

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Boston Parents Paper | February 2017

selfishness, it will grow, and grow, and grow, into a heap of trouble.” The lush illustrations complement the spare text that reads almost like a fable, letting readers think about how they reap the “seeds of kindness.”

“My Friend Maggie,” by Hannah E. Harrison (Dial; $17.99; ages 3-7; 40 pp.). Paula and Maggie are best friends, but when this duo (a beaver and an elephant) encounter a bully at school who teases Maggie because of her large size, their friendship is put to the test. At first, Paula gives in to peer pressure and shuns Maggie; but in the end, she realizes that a true and loyal friend is the best sort you can have.

“Each Kindness,” by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by E.B. Lewis (Nancy Paulsen / Penguin; $16.99; ages 5-9; 32 pp.). Maya arrives in the middle of winter to a new school. Behind her back, Chloe and her friends call Maya by the harsh nickname “Never New” for the second-hand clothes she wears—until one day, when Maya’s seat is empty. Chloe realizes the hurt she’s caused too late to do anything about it, and readers are left to ponder the way we impact one another. Woodson does not provide easy answers, but helps children and adults talk about important questions.

— Jacqueline Woodson

“One,” by Kathryn Otoshi (KO Kids Books; $17.95; ages 3-7; 32 pp.).

Author Kathryn Otoshi uses round splashes of watercolors (where the colors are characters themselves), showing the impact of bullying without labeling or stereotyping it. Blue is having trouble with Red. Blue is quiet, but Red likes to tease: “Red is HOT. Blue is NOT.” As Blue withdraws from the group of friends, Red literally grows bigger, meaner and angrier.

But then the number One comes along. One stands up to Red, saying “If someone is mean and picks on me, I for One, stand up and say No!” “Can I Play Too?” (an Elephant and Piggie Book), by Mo Willems (Disney Hyperion; $9.99; ages 4-8; 64 pp.).

Gerald and Piggie start playing catch, when Snake slithers up asking to play too. Snake is sad when the pair wonders whether he can play catch: “You do not want to play with me?” Snake asks sadly. “No!” exclaims Gerald. After some giggle-inducing bonking, creative play eventually overcomes the awkward moment as the trio figure out how they can play together.

Mary Ann Scheuer is an elementary school librarian. Find more books she recommends sharing with your children at her blog, Great Kid Books, http://greatkidbooks.blogspot.com.

February 2017 | BostonParentsPaper.com

15

✼ Family Cents College can be an investment in a child’s future.

Starting to save for child as soon as a child is born can be one of the best investments a parent will make to help their child.

Four Investing Resolutions for Babies

By Aaron Crowe

A

new year can be a time to rethink priorities.

From getting healthy to making sure your finances are on the right track, the start of a new year can be the impetus for change.

Having a new baby can also get you to rethink your priorities, as any new parent knows.

With fresh starts in mind, here are four resolutions to consider so that your baby grows up to be a smart, and wealthy, investor:

Start a college savings fund — now College can be an investment in a child’s future.

Starting to save for child as soon as a child is born can be one of the best investments a parent will make to help their child.

Don’t wait a month or so after your child is born.

Because if you delay it now, you know what will happen next — you’ll continue finding excuses not to do it and eventually your kid will be asking you how they’ll afford to go to college and you won’t have an answer.

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Boston Parents Paper | February 2017

A 529 plan is one way to save for college. Legally known as “qualified tuition plans,” they’re available in all 50 states as a pre-tax way to invest money.

The other type of 529 plan allows tuition to be paid ahead of time at some colleges.

Whatever amount you invest regularly in a college savings account, it can only help your child possibly avoid borrowing money to pay for college. In 2015, 68 percent of graduates from public and nonprofit colleges had student loan debt, with an average of $30,100 per borrower, according to the Institute for College Access & Success.

Open a savings account for your child The personal savings rate in the United States has dropped regularly since the 1970s, and is now at 5.7 percent, according to the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Americans averaged an 8.32 percent personal savings rate from 1959 until 2016.

If you want your child to be a saver, then open a savings account for them as soon as they’re born.

Why would a baby need a savings account?

Because you’re likely to get some cash gifts either now or on their birthdays. That money is meant for the child, not for you to spend on a night out, so do the honest thing and put the money away in the child’s savings account when you get it.

Yes, savings accounts pay lousy interest rates now.

Even if they do go up soon, it may be more profitable to put the money in a long-term CD or an investment account in the child’s name.

The point is to have some sort of account to put gift money in. If you’re feeling especially kind, contribute to it every month with an automatic deposit from your checking account.

Invest in one stock For the cost of one share of stock, you can make your child a long-term investor by joining a Dividend Reinvest Plan, also known as DRIPs. The compounding interest from paid dividends of DRIPs is reinvested to buy additional shares of continued on page 20 >>>

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Adventure Series 1 From Concept to Creation

J

ust as the five senses work in conjunction to move us forward in our everyday lives, the team at Know Yourself has worked collaboratively to bring the concept of an educational graphic novel adventure to life through creativity and innovation.

Since its inception, Know Yourself CEO Nancy Howes has placed a key emphasis on creative storytelling and compelling narrative, two important ingredients that make the Adventure Series a vibrant gumbo of learning across all educational spectrums.

“In terms of modern pedagogy, it’s widely accepted that children learn more thoroughly when they have different access points, when they’re learning with story, when they’re learning with illustration and relating what they’re learning to a geographic place and time,” Howes said.

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“Storytelling and graphic novels, that’s where you can connect with a lot of kids, and frankly, I think most kids would rather have an exciting story.”

The Five Senses.

Each Know Yourself Adventure Series leads children on a monthly journey towards multidimensional self-literacy that meets at the intersection of science, art, education, and history.

The first Adventure Series is titled “The Five Senses,” and serves as a launching pad of self-discovery, covering the basic senses of sight, smell, hearing, taste, and touch.

The narrative of this first installment lays the groundwork for all adventures that follow Dr. Bonyfide and the Time Skaters crew in a system-by-system exploration of the human body and mind.

“Storytelling was education,” Howes said. “In fact, 21st-century learning is starting to wrap around back to that and embrace these very old systems.”

These very old systems can be seen in “Fangs of Philosophy,” where the storyline of this first Adventure Series brings you back to ancient Greece in 350 B.C. where you meet Greek philosopher and scientist Aristotle.

The choice to feature Aristotle as the Time Skaters crew’s first teacher was no coincidence.

“He decided the way to be in the world was to be of the world, and walked with students as he taught them,” said Howes.

“Ultimately we wanted every adventure to be a micro-expression of what we’re doing at Know Yourself in general, and that is taking children through a tiny process of problem solving and of personal recognition.”

Accuracy Matters.

Condensing something as complex as the human body down to a digestible format for children proved challenging for Howes and her staff.

The writing and research process involved working

together with a wide range of science writers and educators to ensure that every Adventure Series, while fun and entertaining, was also authentic and meticulously factual.

“With Know Yourself, it’s so interesting because we’re incorporating so many different angles; we’re incorporating education, we’re incorporating science, we’re incorporating history, so we have a lot of research to do,” said Sam Sattin, director of comics at Know Yourself.

“So we can have a lot of fun with the stories, but then when it comes down to the educational elements we can have fun with them, but we have to make sure that we’re accurate.”

Although there are other educational comic books on the market, Sattin said that one of the main ways Know Yourself sets itself apart is by keeping an expansive vision of its mission.

“Know Yourself has a very specific mission but it’s not narrow, and what I mean by that is that you look at a lot of other comparable

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“Though education is at the forefront of what we’re trying to do, we’re also trying to show people that there are different possibilities for their own livelihoods, the way that they live, the way that they see the world.”

Although the intersectionality of science, art, education, and history remains key when developing an Adventure Series, the distinctive elements of storytelling remain central to its creative edge.

“That’s not something you find in a lot of other educational comics — the idea that we’re interested in telling our own unique story,” said Sattin.

Concept to Creation.

Part of the beauty of comics is the opportunity for collaboration.

Much like the five senses, the different characters at Know Yourself come together for one common goal: to make an Adventure Series come to life.

“So when you come up with an idea for a comic, you have to figure out first how it is going to translate to the page,” said Sattin.

“You have to start thinking about your visual storytelling skills: How do you depict pacing? How do you measure beats of a story? What happens when a page turns?

What are you expecting to see when you turn that page? And what problems can be posed if you don’t understand exactly how that process works?”

Moving the elements of visual storytelling forward in an Adventure Series includes working with a diverse cast of talented artists who can trust the vision for the narrative and who can also be trusted with bringing that vision to fruition.

“But even if I’m specific, an artist is never going to draw something like you imagined it. And that’s okay because often it ends up being a more interesting process, more realized when you see how someone interprets what you write, so it’s a cool thing that happens.”

Sattin said that what makes moving the process forward from concept to creation both cool and fun is working with a diverse team of artists and writers as unique as the Time Skaters crew themselves.

“We’re about inclusiveness and we try to make sure we reflect the world how it truly is,” said Sattin.

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Do your child a favor and invest in a fund that has the lowest possible fees — which are usually index funds. Find one that is 1 percent lower than an actively managed fund and you’ll save tens of thousands of dollars over an investing lifetime.

the stock at little or no cost. You can enroll in a specific stock’s DRIP after buying only one share, and can contribute to it regularly with automatic debits from a checking or savings account.

You don’t have to regularly buy additional shares of stock, but you child will thank you in 20 years if you do.

At the very least, that one share of stock will show your child the value of investing for the long run. Who knows, they may want to someday invest their allowance there and end up investing in other stocks.

Invest in an index fund If picking one stock for a DRIP is too risky for you, show your child the benefit of cutting investment costs by investing in an index mutual fund that has low expenses.

Since you’re unlikely to beat the market, find a mutual fund that mirrors popular groups of stocks and bonds, such as the S&P 500 index.

Mutual funds charge management fees, ranging from 0.06 percent on a diversified index mutual fund to 1.5 percent or more on an actively managed fund.

Do your child a favor and invest in a fund that has the lowest possible fees — which are usually index funds. Find one that is 1 percent lower than an actively managed fund and you’ll save tens of thousands of dollars over an investing lifetime.

You may not be able to successfully make all of these investing resolutions in the new year for a new baby, but two of them should be no-brainers: opening a savings account for any money given to your child, and starting a college savings fund.

Start the stock market investments if you can afford them, even if it’s only with a few hundred dollars. It will someday show your child how much you care about their financial future, and can be a way for them to learn how to invest on their own.

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Boston Parents Paper | February 2017

Aaron Crowe is a freelance journalist who has a daughter. Follow him on Twitter @AaronCrowe or read about his financial struggles at CashSmarter.com.

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Boston Parents Paper | February 2017

February

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\ Calendar All events are subject to change or cancellation. We recommend calling first to confirm and purchasing tickets in advance whenever possible.

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Discover the answers to these questions and more with our handson armor activity! Free with admission. http://www.worcesterart. org

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10:30 am, deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, 51 Sandy Pond Road, Lincoln. An art and play-based session for kids age 5 and under. Free with admission. 781-259-8355; decordova.org

The inspirational story of a young boy’s struggle against the odds to make his dream come true, set in a northern English mining town. Follow Billy as he stumbles out of the boxing ring and into a ballet class, where he discovers a passion for dance that inspires his family and community…and changes his life forever. Recommended for adults, teens, ‘tweens, youth and children 8+. $20 and up. Every week on: Sun, Fri, Sat through 2/26 Wheelock Family Theatre 200 The Riverway, http://www. wheelockfamilytheatre.org

Chinese New Year Celebration and Art Exhibit – Canton 6-8 pm. Eleanor Cabot Bradley Estate Canton, MA. The Chinese New Year’s celebration is enjoyed by young and old, alike and a time of reunions with families and friends. The holiday signals the end of winter and beginning of spring, and hence is known as the Spring Festival. $5. 508-785-0339; ttor.org

PEM Pals – Salem 10:30 am, Peabody Essex Museum, East India Square, Salem. This fun, interactive program with books, movement, music, art and hands-on activities is designed specifically for preschoolers under 5 and their caregivers. Free with admission. 978-745-9500; pem.org

Free First Wednesday – Lincoln 10 am - 4 pm. deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, 51 Sandy Pond Rd., Lincoln. Explore deCordova’s sculptures, grounds, and special exhibitions during this day of free art immersion. FREE. decordova.org

2 Thursday, Groundhog Day Groundhog Day, Children’s Museum-Easton 9 am – 5 pm, 9 Sullivan Ave., North Easton. Make a Punxsutawney Phil puppet and see if he can make a forecast. Free with admission.

508-230-7130; childrensmuseumineaston.org

Groundhog Day – Lincoln,

From the Top — Boston Children’s Museum – Boston Enjoy an interactive musical presentation with talented young classical musicians from National Public Radio’s program From the Top. 6 & 6:45pm. Boston Children’s Museum 308 Congress St. 617426-6500 Free with admission, http://bostonkids.org

First Friday Nights Free – Acton 4:30 - 8:30 pm. The Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Acton.

Enjoy free admission and explore the museums at night during this special monthly event, during which the museums gratefully accept food donations for area food pantries. FREE. discoverymuseums.org

4 Saturday Lunar New Year Celebration at the MFA – Boston 10 am- 5 pm, Celebrate the Year of the Rooster with free admission all day long. Explore Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese art and traditions while enjoying activities, demonstrations, and performances throughout the day. FREE. http://www.mfa.org

10am to noon, Drumlin Farm, 208 South Great Road, Lincoln. Help the famous groundhog, Ms. G, decipher the weather clues and deliver her annual forecast. Free with admission. 781-259-2200; massaudubon.org

Groundhog Day Shadows – Acton 10 -11 am, The Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Acton. Explore how shadows work using light, paper and messy materials. Free with admission. 978-264-4200; discoverymuseums.org

Littlest Sailors: Preschool & Family Program – Charlestown 10 – 11 am, USS Constitution Museum, Charlestown Navy Yard, Building 22 : Animals Aboard Ship - Introduce your family to the many animals who lived on Constitution! Sing a song about Constitution’s fuzziest sailor, Guerriere the Terrier, engage in creative puppet play, and search the museum for animals of all shapes and sizes.. 617-426-1812; https://ussconstitutionmuseum.org

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Boston Parents Paper | February 2017

ARTfull Play deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum

5 Sunday Chinese New Year Parade and China Cultural Village – Boston 11 am, Beach Street and other nearby streets in Chinatown. This event marks the biggest annual celebration in Boston’s Chinatown, home to the third largest Chinese community in the U.S. With troops of colorful lion dancers, drums and cymbals, firecrackers, and great food, this is a special event you won’t want to miss! FREE

WinterFest Weekends – Harvard Noon to 5pm, Fruitlands Museum, 102 Prospect Hill Road, Harvard.

Bring your sleds, snowshoes and cross country skis to explore the snow covered hills and trails. Then warm up at the fire with cocoa and explore the museum. Weekends through March 19th. $5. 978456-3924, fruitlands.org

Boston Children’s Museum

The Young Company Winter Festival – Stoneham This year, the young company presents four fantastic Winter Festival shows! Family-friendly The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley Junior (Feb. 4-5) takes us on an incredible adventure all across the globe, while The Emperor’s New Clothes (Feb. 4-5) teaches us to open our eyes to what’s right in front of us! Mary Poppins (Feb. 2 & 4) uses magic, common sense, and a spoonful of sugar to teach the entire Banks family to value one another. Lastly, the dark and edgy Sweeney Todd (Feb. 3-4) shows us just how far some will go for those they love. $15 http://www.stonehamtheatre. org

Family Tracking at Stony Brook Wildlife Sanctuary – Norfolk 1 – 2:30 p.m. There are hints of life everywhere in the winter.

Become an expert tracker and enjoy a morning of winter exploration in search of animal tracks and signs of deer, coyote, fox, fisher, otter, mink, rabbit, and mice. 1:00 – 230 p.m.

Registration required. Ages 5 and up. Adult $9.00, Child $7.00, 508528-3140; massaudubon.org

African-American Patriots Tour – Boston 12:45 pm Visitor Information Center, 139 Tremont St., Boston. A 90-minute walking tour of the Freedom Trail focusing on AfricanAmerican Bostonians. Weekends through Feb. 26. Adults, $14, children, $8. 617-357-8300, http://www.thefreedomtrail.org

Owl Festival – Natick 1 & 3 pm, Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary, 280 Eliot St., Natick. Get an up-close view of local owl species, including the great horned and screech owl. Registration required. Adults, $18, children, $10.

508-655-2296; massaudubon.org

Josh and the Jamtones – Brookline 10:30am, Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard St., Brookline.

Josh and the Jamtones are an interactive, ultra-powered dance party machine, making fun and interactive music for kids and their grownups! Adults, $13, children, $10. 617-734-2501, coolidge.org

Science on Saturday – Cambridge 10 -11 am MIT Museum, 265 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge.

Experience a presentation with fun demonstrations in which students can volunteer, and explore hands-on activity booths explaining the science of flight and rocketry. FREE. mit.edu/ museum

Super Bowl Sunday Pickup Games – North Easton 10 a.m.-noon Governor Oliver Ames Estate, 35 Oliver St., North Easton. Get some fresh air and indulge in a game before the Big Game, as we supply footballs and you supply the players. FREE. thetrustees.org

JCC All Camps Fair – Newton 2-4 pm Leventhal-Sidman JCC 333 Nahanton Street, Newton.

Make lifelong friends and memories. Check out the JCC All Camps Fair to learn about overnight and day camp opportunities. FREE. bostonjcc.org

Art Carts: Family Fun – Eastern and Western Tea- Worcester 2 pm. Worcester Art Museum 55 Salisbury Street, Worcester, England and Japan are both known for their tea service: England for the beautifully formal tea parties, and Japan for the elaborately choreographed cha-no-yu ceremony. Discover the differences (and similarities!) between these ways of making and serving tea while getting a hands-on look at both tea sets. Free with admission. http://www.worcesterart.org

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

Bring your toddler to enjoy story time and looking activities in the galleries, followed by art making. Tours leave on a rolling basis starting at 10:15 am. Each month focuses on a specific theme.

Recommended for children ages 4 and younger with adults. No registration required. 617-267-9300, http://www.mfa.org

7 Tuesday Babywearing Tour at the Gore Museum – Waltham 10 – 11 am. 52 Gore Street, Waltham. Are you a new parent?

Looking to get out of the house and be with other adults in a museum? Come to our special babywearing tour led by a veteran babywearer. Come see the gorgeous 1806 mansion, and we won’t mind if your baby sleeps – or cries – through our tour! $12. http:// goreplace.org

February 2017 | BostonParentsPaper.com

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\ Calendar 8 Wednesday Exploring Music – Easton 10-11 am, Children’s Museum in Easton, 9 Sullivan Ave., North Easton. This popular program offers a variety of creative musical activities: singing, rhythm making, dramatic interpretation, listening and learning about different forms and styles of music and lots of movement. Free with admission. 508-230-7130; childrensmuseumineaston.org

9 Thursday Free Admission at the I.C.A. – Boston 5-9 pm. The Institute of Contemporary Art, 25 Harbor Shore Drive, Boston. The ICA offers a robust variety of exhibitions, music, dance, film, talks, tours, family activities, and teen programming throughout the year. Expand your horizons with every visit and discover something new. Repeats Thursdays. FREE. https://www. icaboston.org

Art Carts: Family Fun — Arms and Armor – Worcester 1 pm. Worcester Art Museum 55 Salisbury Street, Worceste Knightly armor is nice and shiny, but how does it feel? How heavy is the armor? Is it comfortable? How and why did they decorate it?

Discover the answers to these questions and more with our handson armor activity! Free with admission. http://www.worcesterart. org

Finding Home by Eulenspiegel Puppet Theatre, Monica Leo – Brookline 8 pm, Puppet Showplace Theatre, 32 Station St., Brookline. A spectacular puppet cabaret celebrating one of New England’s master marionettists. Ages 8 and up. $15. 617-731-6400, puppetshowplace.org

Second Fridays, MIT Museum - Cambridge 5 - 8 pm, MIT Museum, 265 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge. Learn how social media can make little issues big, introduce diverse voices and build communities. Free with admission. 617-253-5927, web.mit.edu

Family Dinner Night – Boston 6 – 8 pm, KITCHEN at Boston Public Market, Every second and fourth Friday this winter, kick-start your family’s weekend all together with an unforgettable night out. Adults, $30, children, $15. http://www.thetrustees.org

11 Saturday Kids in the Kitchen – Boston 10 - 11am. Join us on Saturday mornings and Monday holidays in The KITCHEN for a series of cooking classes for kids ages 6-12 to learn about local food and the journey it makes from the farm to the table. In these hands-on classes, kids explore and taste the seasonal bounty of the region through the local vendors of the Boston Public Market. Advanced registration is required! Costs: $9 per Trustees of Reservations member; $15 per non-member. http:// www.thetrustees.org/kitchen

Providence Children’s Film Festival – Providence

10 Friday

Various locations, Providence, R.I. A two week festival of exciting films from around the world, presentations and hands-on filmmaking workshops. Through Feb. 26. See website for a full line up of events. 401-209-7585, pcffri.org

Salem’s So Sweet – Salem

Full Moon Owl Prowl For Families – Natick

A chocolate and ice festival featuring samples and chocolateinspired menu items as well as a series of ice sculpture installations throughout downtown. Through Feb. 12. FREE. salemmainstreets. org

6:30 – 8 pm, Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary, 280 Eliot St., Natick.

Learn about owl calls, behavior and habitat as you search and listen for screech and great horned owls. This program is for ages 6 and up. Registration required. Adults, $15, children, $9. 508-6552296, massaudubon.org

Full Moon Owl Prowl For Families – Natick

Wayne Potash’s Rock and Roll Party Album pre-release concert – Brookline 10:30am, Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard St., Brookline.

Wayne and his band will be performing a special interactive rock and roll show for families with young children. It’s all about fun with lots of new songs about animals, princesses, and silly monsters. Adults, $13; children, $10. 617-734-2501; coolidge.org

Happy Birthday Thomas Edison! At the Science Discovery Museum – Acton 2-4 pm. Join us for Take Aparts and celebrate inventor and businessman Thomas Edison’s birthday! Grab a screwdriver and discover resistors, capacitors and more as you uncover the inner workings of everyday electronics and inspire your inner Edison!

Free with admission. 978-264-4200, http://www.discoverymuseums. org

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Boston Parents Paper | February 2017

designs of pop up card gifts and greetings-each with a unique heart-shaped message of love for your Valentines. Free with admission. 978-456-3924; fruitlands.org

14 Tuesday, Valentine’s Day Snowshoes at the Gore Museum – Waltham Bundle up and enjoy the snow this winter! Snowshoes are available for children and adults to rent when the grounds are snow-covered (January – March). One hour rental is $5 per child under 16, and $10 per person 16 and up. Rental hours are Monday through Friday 10 to 3 and Saturday 12 to 3. Admission $12. 52 Gore Street http://goreplace.org

Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

16 Thursday Ice Age on Ice – Worcester

12 Sunday WinterFest Weekends - Harvard Noon to 5pm, Fruitlands Museum, 102 Prospect Hill Road, Harvard.

Bring your sleds, snowshoes and cross country skis to explore the snow covered hills and trails. Then warm up at the fire with cocoa and explore the museum. Weekends through March 19th. $5. 978456-3924; fruitlands.org

Family Fun Day: Happy Hearts - Harvard 1 - 4 pm. Come to the Wayside Visitor Center for a family craft program in preparation for Valentine’s Day! Choose from various

Based on the incredibly popular Ice Age movie franchise, the allnew story and live ice show will bring an avalanche of adventure to audiences everywhere in North America. Through 2/20 $27 and up. DCU Center 50 Foster St., http://ticketmaster.com

STEM for Beginners – Easton 10 -11 am, Children’s Museum in Easton, 9 Sullivan Ave., North Easton. This program will encourage children to ask questions, ponder the unknown, and test ideas, giving them an edge up on science-based skills they will encounter later in school. 508-2307130, childrensmuseumineaston.org

CAMPS AND SUMMER PROGRAMS

Open House

Enr Nowoll 781-320-1320 camp@nobles.edu 10 Campus Drive, Dedham, MA

Summer Camp for Ages 3½ –14

noblesdaycamp.org

February 2017 | BostonParentsPaper.com

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\ Calendar Littlest Sailors: Preschool & Family Program – Charlestown 10 – 11 a.m. USS Constitution Museum, Charlestown Navy Yard, Building 22 : What’s for Dinner? Whether it’s 2017 or 1817 – everyone needs to eat! Explore the typical diet of an 1812 Constitution sailor by seeing and feeling real sailor food, talk about color and modern food, and imagine making a Constitution sailor’s meal. 617-426-1812, https://ussconstitutionmuseum.org

17 Friday Bugs Bunny Film Festival – Cambridge Varying times. The Brattle Theatre, 40 Brattle St., Cambridge. This fun annual festival brings Bugs and friends to the screen. Catch all three films! Through Feb. 25. 617-876-6837, brattlefilm.org

Feb Fest at the MIT Museum

20 Monday, Presidents’ Day

18 Saturday

Celebrate Little Joe’s 24th Birthday – Boston

MFA Playdates – Boston

10:15 am. Franklin Park Zoo, 1 Franklin Park Road, Boston. Cake, cards and decorations mark this western lowland gorilla’s birthday.

Zookeeper encounters and crafts round out the day. 617-989-3742; zoonewengland.org

10:15 am. Bring your toddler to enjoy story time and looking activities in the galleries, followed by art making. Tours leave on a rolling basis starting at 10:15 am. Each month focuses on a specific theme. Recommended for children ages 4 and younger with adults. No registration required. Museum of Fine Arts 465 Huntington Ave. 617-267-9300 http://www.mfa.org

Free Family Fun – Watertown 10 am to noon, Arsenal Center for the Arts, 321 Arsenal St., Watertown. Experiment with paint, paper, collage, performance and movement to make yourown masterpiece. FREE. 617-923-0100; arsenalarts.org

19 Sunday Boston Area Chantey & Maritime Sing – Charlestown 2 – 5 p.m. USS Constitution Museum, Charlestown Navy Yard, Building 22. Listen, learn, and lift your voices! Participate in your Maritime Heritage by joining a rousing chorus of sea chanteys at the USS Constitution Museum. Repeats 3rd Sunday of every month.

617-426-1812; https://ussconstitutionmuseum.org

Hands on History – Concord 1 – 4 pm, Concord Museum, 200 Lexington Road, Concord. An afternoon for kids and families to learn together through handson demonstrations. Included with Museum admission; Members free.978-369-9763; concordmuseum.org

The Airborne Comedians – Brookline 10:30am, Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard St., Brookline.

Dan Foley and Joel Harris throw and catch birdbaths, lawn-chairs, electric guitars, and baseball bats in their hilarious juggling routines while balanced atop 6- and 7-foot high unicycles! A sure bet to make you laugh. Adults, $13; children, $10. 617-734-2501, coolidge.org

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Boston Parents Paper | February 2017

Marionette Manipulation – Brookline 3 – 4:30 pm, Practice the art of marionette manipulation with a master puppeteer! Tanglewood’s Peter Schaefer will reveal the basic construction and stringing techniques used to build marionettes, then will guide participants through the essentials of marionette manipulation. Ages 8 and up. Registration Required. $30, includes Hansel and Gretel ticket. 617-731-6400, puppetshowplace.org

Lunar Landing 2.0 at the PEM – Salem 10:30 am – 4 pm, Peabody Essex Museum, East India Square, Salem.

All week long investigate the science, technology and innovation driving lunar exploration. Immerse yourself in a portable planetarium, design a spacecraft, plan a lunar colony and much more! See website for details and times of specific events. Free with admission. 978-745-9500, pem.org

Feb Fest at the MIT Museum – Cambridge 10 am – 2:30 pm, MIT Museum, 265 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge. Every year, during Massachusetts February school vacation week, the MIT Museum celebrates National Engineers Week, with hands-on engineering-based activities, workshops, and afternoon demonstrations led by MIT students. Through Feb. 25. web.mit.edu/museum

Fee Free Day National Parks, Forests and Wildlife Refuges Nationwide The National Park Service just turned 100 years old! Celebrate the start of our second century by visiting a park in 2017. During ten days of the year, all National Park Service sites that charge an entrance fee will offer free admission to everyone. FREE http:// www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/fee-free-parks.htm

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SCHOOLS AND CHILDCARE CENTERS

Greater Quincy Child Care Center 859 Willard St., 1 Adams Place, Quincy (1/2 mile North from the So. Shore Plaza)

• Infants: 8 weeks to 15 months • Toddlers: 15 months to 2.9 years • Preschool: 2.9 to 5 years • Kindergarten: 5 years by Oct. 31st • Hours: 7:30 am to 6 pm Fall 2017 Full Day Kindergarten – Year Round • Developmental Curriculum OPEN HOUSE Kindergarten FALL 2017 Friday, January 20th at 6:15 pm • Full or Part Week • Hot Lunch Age requirement: 5 by 10/31/17 (call for more information) We only close for 12 holidays!

• State-of-the-Art Center • Music & Large Motor Enrichment Programs • Small Teacher/Student Ratios • High-Tech Security System • Indoor and Outdoor Playgrounds • NAEYC Accredited We are celebrating 32 years of quality care & education.

For Early Childhood Program

617-773-8386 • e-mail: gqccc@aol.com www.greaterquincychildcare.com 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.

The Campus is our

Classroom

• Infants

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• Preschool/ Pre-Kindergarten (33 Months to 5 Years)

Brookline • 617-731-1008 • 617-739-0854

Call or email us to schedule a tour • friendschildcare.brookline@gmail.com www.friendschildcare.net

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Ages 15 months to 5 years

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 ♦ Literacy based academic program focusing on the whole child ♦ Tutoring available ♦ Catered hot meals included

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www.peopleplayhouse.net 32 South Fairview Street ♦ W. Roxbury/Roslindale Line ♦ 617-323-2566 4019 Washington Street ♦ Roslindale/Jamaica Plain ♦ 617-323-6144 February 2017 | BostonParentsPaper.com

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\ Calendar Visit with President Lincoln – Concord 1 – 2 pm, Concord Museum, 200 Lexington Road, Concord. The Museum is pleased to again host Steve Wood and his amazing performance as Abraham Lincoln. Wood’s first-person historical interpretation, “A Visit with Abraham Lincoln,” includes stories of Lincoln’s early life, campaign debates, the Civil War, and concludes with a stirring reading of the Gettysburg Address. $15 Adults, $7 Children. 978-369-9763, concordmuseum.org

The Amazing Max Magic Show – Newton 11 am & 1 pm. Leventhal-Sidman JCC 333 Nahanton Street, Newton. The Amazing Max Magic Show is the wackiest, most interactive, highest energy magic show for families today. This show bursts with striking visual magic, comedy and loads of audience participation. Ages 3 and up. $18. bostonjcc.org

The Paul Revere House, Boston please call Brookline Adult & Community Ed: 617-730-2700 x 0 or visit www.brooklineadulted.org

22 Wednesday

21 Tuesday Puppet Party! – Brookline 9 am – 12 pm through 2/24, This vacation week class meets at the Unified Arts Building at Brookline High School. Delve into the art of puppetry, exploring the magical skill of bringing imaginary characters to life. We’ll build puppets and scenery and create original mini-plays that will make us laugh. Ages 5-7. To register,

Bright Star Touring Theatre – Black History Hall of Fame – Boston Meet over a dozen groundbreakers and hall-of-famers who have contributed to shaping our nation’s past, present and future.

Young audience volunteers help the cast bring this show to life. The Celebrate! series, appropriate for family audiences and children ages 5 and up, highlights America’s rich cultural diversity through the arts. All performances are free and begin at 10:30

elc.ad.17.qxp_Layout 1 1/26/17 3:28 PM Page 1

SCHOOLS AND CHILDCARE CENTERS

“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 | February 2017

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a.m. in the Stephen E. Smith Center. To make a reservation, call 617-514-1644 or visit the website. FREE. http://www.jfklibrary.org

Snowglobe Making – Harvard 1-3 pm. Come visit our Wayside Visitor Center at Fruitlands WEST Museum forCard an afternoon of crafting and bring outdoor Valentine Making Party, 10am, The Eric the Carle winter wonderland indoors byAmherst. making your very Museum, 125 West Bay Road, Pop in to own makesnowglobe. $10.

978-456-3924, fruitlands.org special valentines for your family, friends or classmates.

Registration recommended. $12 per pair or trio.

413-658-1100; carlemuseum.org.

Exploring Home at The Revere House

– Boston

29 Sunday

10:30am to noon, Paul Revere House, 19 North Square, Boston.

The Enchanted Forest, 10:30am, Coolidge What makes a house a home?

Come exploreCorner some materials, Theatre, 290and Harvard St.,used Brookline. a youth techniques, designs in threeArtbarn, centuries of construction in community theaterby company, presentsfamilies the talewill of ahave a chance Boston.

Facilitated a staff member, family vacation gone wrong.

Adults, $13; and youth, $10.about the to see historic building materials up close learn 617-734-2501; coolidge.org. architecture found in and around the Paul Revere House. Free with admission NORTH to the Revere House. 617-523-2338, paulreverehouse.org Ward Winter Fest, noon to 3pm, Ward Reservation, Andover. Explore the property Village on a guided–hike, or Dinner in a Country Sturbridge bring your snowshoes and sled to play. Then warm up 5with – 9 pm.

Old Sturbridge Village, 1 Old Sturbridge Village Road, refreshments by the fire. $10 per car. 978-886-5297; Sturbridge. ttor.org. A hearthside cooking event for the whole family parents and children (ages 8 and up) learn to prepare a complete 19th-century meal and then sit down to enjoy it together. See website for price and options. 800-733-1830, osv.org

31 Tuesday WEST

Let’s Story: Artist10am, Workshop for Children & Backwards Storytime, The Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., –Acton.

Celebrate National Backwards Day Families Boston

with silly stories and activities. Free with admission.

10:30 am – noon. Boston Children’s Museum 308 Congress St. 978-264-4200; discoverymuseums.org.

Boston. Boston Children’s Museum is pleased to announce Joanna Tam’s project, “Let’s Story”, which uses conversation, questions,

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Make Way For Animals – Boston 10 am – 4 pm, Museum of Fine Arts, 465 Huntington Avenue, Boston. From horned dragons to hairy cats, discover and explore the many real and mythical animals that can be found on the walls and in the galleries of the MFA. Create animal- inspired art, go on a “wild” family tour, listen to stories about cool creatures and watch a zooey performance! Enjoy free drop-in activities all week.

617-267-9300 http://www.mfa.org

23 Thursday Art Carts: Family Fun — Arms and Armor – Worcester 1 pm. Worcester Art Museum, 55 Salisbury Street, Worcester Knightly armor is nice and shiny, but how does it feel? How heavy is the armor? Is it comfortable? How and why did they decorate it?

Discover the answers to these questions and more with our handson armor activity! Free with admission. http://www.worcesterart. org

Free Admission at the I.C.A. – Boston 5-9 pm. The Institute of Contemporary Art 25 Harbor Shore Drive, Boston. The ICA offers a robust variety of exhibitions, music, dance, film, talks, tours, family activities, and teen programming

ENTERTAINMENT AND PARTY NEEDS

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Rosalita's Puppets

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February 2017 | BostonParentsPaper.com

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\ Calendar throughout the year. Expand your horizons with every visit and discover something new. Repeats Thursdays. FREE. https://www. icaboston.org

24 Friday A Teddy Bear Tea – Concord Noon & 3pm, Concord Museum, 200 Lexington Road, Concord.

Bring your teddy for an elegant outing with tea, cocoa and sweet treats. Reservations required. Repeats on 2/25, $20 includes Museum admission. 978-369-9763, concordmuseum.org

Exploring Home at The Revere House – Boston 10:30am to noon, Paul Revere House, 19 North Square, Boston.

What makes a house a home? Come explore some materials, techniques, and designs used in three centuries of construction in Boston. Facilitated by a staff member, families will have a chance to see historic building materials up close and learn about the architecture found in and around the Paul Revere House. Free with admission to the Revere House. 617-523-2338, paulreverehouse. org

Rock-a-Baby Concert – Sharon 10:30 am. Sharon Community Center 219 Massapoag Avenue, Sharon. The Rock-A-Baby band is coming to Sharon for an exuberant and fabulous kid-centric vacation week concert. Ages 0-5. $20/family (up to 4). bostonjcc.org.

Powisset Kids Cook a Farm Fresh Dinner!

– Dover 10:30 am - 1 pm. Powisset Farm, 37 Powisset St., Dover. Venture out during school vacation! Join Powisset Cooks! in the kitchen as we will create dinner that even the pickiest children will like.$30.

508-785-0339, ttor.org

The Institute of Contemporary Art, Boston

Family Dinner Night – Boston 6 - 8pm. KITCHEN at Boston Public Market, Every second and fourth Friday this winter, kick-start your family’s weekend all together with an unforgettable night out. Adults, $30, children, $15. http://www.thetrustees.org

25 Saturday WinterFest Weekends – Harvard Noon to 5pm, Fruitlands Museum, 102 Prospect Hill Road, Harvard.

Bring your sleds, snowshoes and cross country skis to explore the snow covered hills and trails. Then warm up at the fire with cocoa and explore the museum. Weekends through March 19th. $5. 978456-3924, fruitlands.org

Play Date at the I.C.A. – Boston 10 am - 4 pm. The Institute of Contemporary Art 25 Harbor Shore Drive, Boston Take your time looking at contemporary art together and playing gallery games. Create mixed-media artworks in the Art Lab or sketch the wintry Boston Harbor. Get enchanted, discover new ways to listen, and help Boston-based composer Aaron Larget-Caplan make new musical works during a

ENTERTAINMENT AND PARTY NEEDS

Sparking Imaginative Learning Great for Ages 5-12 We Come to You! We Also Offer:

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J & J Pony Rentals • Quiet, gentle, lovable ponies; large and small available for any occasion.

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32

Boston Parents Paper | February 2017

special concert. FREE admission for up to 2 adults per family when accompanied by children ages 12 and under. Youth 17 and under are always admitted free to the ICA. https://www.icaboston.org

26 Sunday Fun with Animal Footprints and Signs – Natick 1 – 2:15 pm. Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary, 280 Eliot St., Natick.

Have you wondered what animal made those tracks? Do otters like sledding? Who is traveling on the trails or through your yard? Come find out how to solve these mysteries as we explore Broadmoor looking for tracks and signs of otters, rabbits, deer, coyote and many other animals. Learn what tracks can tell us about which animals are active during the winter, where they go and how they survive. This program is for ages 6 and up.

Registration required. Adults, $14, children, $8. 508-655-2296, massaudubon.org

Matt Heaton & the Outside Toys – Brookline 10:30am, Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard St., Brookline.

Matt Heaton believes music for kids can be entertaining for both children and parents. His songs are a mix of rockabilly, surf, American roots, and Irish traditional music, delivered with a wry sense of humor and a sincere sense of fun. Adults $13, children $10. 617-734-2501, coolidge.org

28 Tuesday Blue Hills Winter Fest – Canton Tuesday, February 28, from 5:00-8:00 p.m. Join the Friends of the Blue Hills for a free evening of winter fun at Winter Fest at the Blue Hills Ski Area, 4001 Washington St. (Route 138), in Canton.

The evening includes a chili cook off featuring popular local restaurants, Irish music, arts and crafts, and a guided night hike up Great Blue. Blue Hills Ski Area will be offering discounted all-day lift tickets, lessons and rentals. If planning to ski, print the front page of www.FriendsoftheBlueHills.org/winterfest or the FBH Facebook page and bring it to the event. FREE. http://www. friendsofthebluehills.org

CLASSES AND ENRICHMENT

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Online Visit our website at BostonParentsPaper.com to explore our comprehensive online resources for schools in the area. Discover private schools, enrichment programs, after-school programs and more!

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88 Wells Avenue • Newton, MA 02459 617 244-3300 • www.exxcel.net February 2017 | BostonParentsPaper.com

33

✼ Raising Dad

Time Off Radar

By Tony Hicks

G

erms, as you may know, are alive.

Which is how I know they’re out to get me.

Just like my kids. It’s like they’re planning together.

I’ve never heard germs are conscious, but I don’t know how else to explain their timing. I must’ve done something devastating to the germ world (virus world? I don’t know). Maybe it was all the allergy shots that stopped them when I was a kid.

But they know when I’m about to take time off. They know when I’m about to go somewhere. They know when I need to relax so my life in general doesn’t make my head explode.

And then they strike.

Through my children.

Going through flu season is awful, for a number of reasons — some of which have nothing to do with people actually getting sick (or very sick, anyway).

My four girls are generally healthy. Until vacation is involved. They’ve all been sick at Disneyland. I can draw you a map of where they’ve all upchucked inside the park. Which is a family thing. I threw up at Disneyland when I was a kid.

As did my aunt. As did my cousin. Or maybe his pants just exploded.

Anyway, my wife and I went away for a weekend last month, to make sure we remembered why we got married. And, not

34

unexpectedly, my eightyear-old came down with a fever the day before we left. The kid hadn’t as much as sneezed in six months.

Luckily she was scheduled to stay with grandma.

Grandmas are great. When they were just moms, they let us run down the middle of the street and otherwise disappear for 14 hours at a time when we were

Going through flu season is awful, for a number of reasons — some of which have nothing to do with people actually getting sick (or very sick, anyway).

The worst part was the kids. Not because they were suffering, but because they become as useful as monthold Jell-O when their parents get sick. The kids didn’t feel great, but it was nothing that stopped them from going to

dates people who smell bad, or whatever. Then you walk into their room, and the fake coughing immediately starts.

Again, it makes me want to apologize to my mom.

Because I’m sure I did the same thing. No one was

seven, but if one of their grandchildren as much as sniffles, they want to fly in three specialists from Sweden and back up a big rig full of antibiotics to nip this bug in the bud.

So we felt OK leaving.

Until the next day, when I became almost too sick to get out of bed at the hotel. I was like that for three weeks.

Then it was my wife, then it (sort of) came back around to the other kids. November wasn’t just a bad month for turkeys in our world.

school, or going to parties, or playing video games for nine hours straight.

I think one of my kids actually fell down while faking a cough. It was like watching a bad flop in the NBA. I love my girls, but it’s like they smell something in the air and decide to work it to their advantage. And then you wonder whether maybe they mean it. Until you hear them on the phone with their friends, laughing and talking about who wears what ugly clothes and who

going to outsick me. Even if they were really sick.

Now we’re (hopefully) through with this year’s bout with the bugs and can move forward into 2017.

And, obviously, I need to keep the vacation plans a secret as long as possible.

I’m not sure I totally understand the connection, but I do know I don’t need to give the germs and my kids any more advance notice than necessary.

Boston Parents Paper | February 2017

Tony Hicks is a freelance journalist and the father of four daughters.

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February Vacation Week Kids Get in Free!

Monday–Friday, February 20–24 Enjoy free drop-in activities including animal-inspired art making, family storytelling, and musical performances.

Join us for Cogan Family Foundation Vacation Week Adventures: “Make Way for Animals!”

Don’t miss “Make Way For Ducklings: The Art of Robert McCloskey.”

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