Boston Parent January 2017 by Parenting Media

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JANUARY 2017

Your Guide to

SUMMER

CAMP The Adventure Starts Here!

Best Spots for Snow Sports

+ 100

Family Events & Activities Boston Parent’s Paper published by Parenting, LLC., a division of

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January 2017 | BostonParentsPaper.com

contents january 2017

volume 32 • number 6

8 32

feature 16 Super Summer Ahead!

The weather may be frightful, but it’s never too early to start planning for summer! Check out our must-have guide for picking the best summer experience for your child.

6 Editor’s Note Let It Snow

8 Out & About Snow Days

calendar

23 ✼ Happy New Year! ✼ Celebrating Dr. King ✼ Dog Days ✼ Curtain Call

10 Family F.Y.I. ✼ Local Reads ✼ Summer Camp Safety ✼ A Year of Fun

20 Ages & Stages Identifying Anxiety

directories

5 Camps & Summer Programs

28 Schools & Childcare Centers 31 Classes & Enrichment 34 Entertainment & Party Needs

Boston Parents Paper | January 2017

on the cover PHOTO COURTESY OF EVERWOOD DAY CAMP

departments

Have “snow” much fun creating a unique snowman or snowlady! See page 10.

CAMPS & SUMMER PROGRAMS

Hale Day Camp

Summer options for every kid!

halereservation.org

SWIMSPORT CAMP Monday through Friday 8:30am-5:30pm 2-Week Sessions: June – August Grades 3 through 9 bu.edu/ﬁtrec/family

CHOOSE YOUR OWN FOCUS: Climbing • Dance Arts • Sailing Swimming • Competitive Swimming

This camp must comply with regulations of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (105 CMR 430.000) and be licensed by the City of Boston Board of Health.

10 Unique Camps on One Beautiul Campus

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

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editor’s note

Let It Snow

SINCE I’M NO METEOROLOGIST, AS I SIT AND

write this at press time I can’t determine or even predict exactly how much snow Boston will receive in January. We could be blanketed in the white stuff all month long or have an unseasonably mild winter (those with your fingers crossed for the latter – I see you). As a kid I longed for oodles of snow days. I didn’t even mind shoveling our driveway and sidewalk if it meant a day off from school that included hot chocolate and daytime TV. Of course now, as a grown-up, it’s a totally different story. I have a long checklist of things to do both for work and for my family. Now, a snow day simply feels like productivity lost. But an interesting thing happened as I was writing this month’s Ages & Stages (page 20), which focuses on children dealing with anxiety. As I considered the complicated feelings and stress that goes on in their young, maturing minds, I began to think about how a snow day can actually be a much-needed mental reset that we all need, whether we’re dealing with a clinical anxiety disorder or not. Maybe snow days are really just Mother Nature’s way of telling us all to slow down for a minute. With all of that being said, if the idea of being stuck inside actually makes you anxious rather than gives you a reason to take a breather, we have all sorts of suggestions for taking advantage of the cold stuff. Out & About (page 8) explores some of the best winter resorts in the region and we offer up some sweet tips for snowman building in FYI (page 10). And when you want to avoid the idea of winter all together, just look toward summer! Yes, it’s already time to start exploring summer camps as these coveted spots fill up very quickly. On page 16 you can read all about what to look for in a camp for your child and how to filter through the plethora of options we have here in New England. Best yet, the advice comes from someone in the know at the American Camp Association, so you know you’re getting top-notch info. When the snow isn’t keeping you holed up inside this month, Boston has lots to offer by way of family fun, all of which is outlined in our Calendar section (page 23). From New Year’s Day to the very end of January, fill your schedule with wintry delights for everyone in your crew. Stay warm, stay calm, and most importantly, have fun! – Kelly Bryant

Boston Parents Paper | January 2017

639 Granite St., Suite 25 Braintree, MA 02184 boston.parentspaper@bostonparentspaper.com Tel: 617-522-1515 / Fax: 617-522-7121 Visit us online at BostonParentsPaper.com PUBLISHER Jean Greco EDITORIAL Senior Editor: Cheryl Crosby Associate Editor: Kelly Bryant Calendar Editor: Jennifer Sammons Proofreader: Jeanne Washington Intern: Rebecca Schwartz ADVERTISING SALES Senior Account Executive: Lisa Braun NATIONAL SALES DIRECTOR Cate Sanderson 866-398-1825 x1 PRODUCTION Senior Graphic Designer: Angela Rosa Graphic Designer: Staci Stedman-Morris CIRCULATION & EVENTS 617-284-1412 DOMINION PARENTING MEDIA A Division of Dominion Enterprises

Boston Parents Paper (ISSN 1059-1710) is published monthly by Parenting, LLC., a division of Dominion Enterprises. Please note that the advertisements in this magazine are paid for by the advertisers, which allows this magazine to be free to the consumer. Limit of one free copy per reader. Additional copies may be purchased for $5.00 per issue. Call 617-522-1515 to request additional copies. Unless specifically noted, no advertisers, products or services are endorsed by the publisher. All real estate advertised herein is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation, or discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin or intention to make any such preference, limitation, or discrimination. We will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertising are available on an equal opportunity basis. Editorial submissions are welcome. Boston Parents Paper copyright 2017 by Dominion Enterprises. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited.

CAMPS & SUMMER PROGRAMS

DISC VER EN D N E S FES

R E M SU M by Sign up

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Experience a Creative Summer in the City Art in Action (ages 3 - 9) Design Academy (ages 6 - 9) Storytime Exploration (ages 3 - 5) (ages 4 - 10) Yoga and Mindfulness (ages 6 - 10)

June 26 through August 7 Each program runs from 1 to 6 weeks Designed for boys and girls Registration opens January 30

Learn more at kingsley.org January 2017 | BostonParentsPaper.com

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out & about

Snow Days By Kim Foley MacKinnon

NOW’S THE TIME TO EMBRACE

and celebrate a season of snow, skiing, skating and snowboarding to the fullest. Here are a few destinations perfect for families who think winter is all too short and should be enjoyed to the fullest, whether that means hitting the slopes, relaxing by a fire, tubing down a hill or all of that and more. Wachusett Mountain Ski Area is one of the closest ski resort areas to the city, and if that’s even more than you want to drive, a special “ski train” from North Station to Fitchburg runs on weekends in season. At the MBTA Fitchburg Station a shuttle bus picks up visitors and takes them to the mountain. The Wachusett Mountain Ski & Snowboard School, with more than 300 instructors, has a reputation for being one of the largest and finest in New England. The popular Polar Kid’s Program and Children’s Vacation Clubs are a great way to introduce kids to the sports. Princeton, Mass., 978-464-2300; 800-SKI-1234; wachusett.com. Since the 1800s, King Pine Purity Spring Resort, a family-owned and operated resort in East Madison, N.H., has offered myriad activities year-round. In winter, its King Pine Ski Area is a smorgasbord of snowy fun, including both Alpine (downhill) and Nordic (cross-country and ski jumping) skiing, snowboarding, ice skating and tubing. A bonus is that with your lift ticket, the Nordic skiing, skating and snowshoeing tickets are included. East Madison, N.H., 800-373-3754; purityspring.com. Waterville Valley in New Hampshire is an adorable village in a self-contained valley, with plenty of family-friendly activities and accommodations. Besides the Alpine skiing (52 ski trails, served by 12 lifts) and Nordic skiing (40-plus miles of trails), you can take a sleigh ride, go ice skating, dog-sledding or snow shoeing. New this year, there’s also a tubing center with four lanes to speed down. Stay and play vacation packages include everything from lift tickets to access to the resort shuttles, swimming at the White Mountain Athletic Club, ice skating passes and other perks. Waterville Valley, N.H., 800-468-2553; waterville.com. Omni Mount Washington Resort, with the

Boston Parents Paper | January 2017

Learning to ski at Wachusett Mountain Ski Area.

unmatched combination of a gorgeous historic hotel and its location within Bretton Woods, New Hampshire’s largest ski area, is the perfect place to celebrate your snow-filled adventure. While the hotel offers plenty of amenities for its guests, including a luxurious spa and a multitude of dining options to please even the pickiest eaters, winter visitors are often eager to hit the slopes as this area is home to some of the best skiing and snowboarding trails – more than 100 – for all abilities. Bretton Woods, N.H., 603-278-1000; omnihotels.com/ findahotel/brettonwoodsmountwashington. When your kids hear that Red Jacket Mountain View Resort boasts its own 40,000-square-foot indoor water park, your search for a winter getaway may be over. This very family-oriented New Hampshire resort offers a great selection of room types, as well as various packages. A ski, splash and stay deal includes two nights of lodging; one lift ticket per person (per stay) to either nearby Cranmore or Attitash; daily admission to the Kahuna Laguna Water Park; and daily breakfast. North Conway, N.H., 603-356-5411; redjacketresorts.com. Sugarbush and Mad River Valley offer plenty for families to do. Located in Warren, Vt., the 4,000-acre resort boasts 111 trails in two mountain areas, multiple lodging and dining options, and scores of amenities. At the Adventure Learning Center, lessons, clinics and camps cater to every age and ability level. There are guided and self-guided snowshoe tours, plus ice skating and ice fishing nearby. There’s also a winter tennis program at the Sugarbush Health and Racquet Club (which also has an indoor pool, whirlpool, sauna and rock-climbing gym). Warren, Vt., 800-537-8427; sugarbush.com. ■ Kim Foley MacKinnon is a Boston-based editor and family travel writer.

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January 2017 | BostonParentsPaper.com

family f.y.i. 38 Percent

PHOTO BY OHANA FAMILY CAMP/AMERICAN CAMP ASSOCIATION

Sure, you might currently be huddled around your fireplace in an attempt to stay cozy this winter, but it’s already time to start thinking about where your little ones will be enjoying a campfire this summer. It may be of interest to know that, according to the American Camp Association, 38 percent of camps offer family opportunities. This means that if you want to ease your child into the idea of a sleepaway situation, there’s likely a camp that will take your entire family for a session.

Celebrating ting Dr. Kingg While legislation was signed in 1983 to create the federal holiday to mark the birthday of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., it wasn’t until 1994 that Congress designated the date as a national day of service. Their slogan is it’s a “day on, not a day off.” Americans of all ages are encouraged to do good in honor of Dr. King’s vision for a united community.

$780

Enjoying quality time at Ohana Family Camp in Fairlee, Vt.

Hold on to your hats because this is the average annual allowance for American kids. The American Institute of CPAs (AICPA) reported the figure a few years ago, citing the most common way that children spend their allowance is on toys and hanging out with friends.

Local Reads As we usher in a new year, it’s time to replenish your child’s book shelves. Let’s face it, even they’re growing tired of the same stories. In need of a couple suggestions? Give these reads by local authors a try. My Life as a Shipping Container by Brian Crosby (Smashwords, 2016) is an adorable look at how goods are moved around the world. Feed your need for adventure with Gusto & Gecko Travel to Kenya (2015) by Longy Han, which is as fun as it is educational.

Boston Parents Paper | January 2017

Do You Want to Build a Snowman? Whether you’re drumming up plans to build a snowman or snowwoman this winter, make yours the most creative one on the block with a few special touches. The Basics If you’re a novice snowman builder, here are a few tips: Use wet snow for optimal results. Roll a bunch of snowballs in various sizes at the start of the activity, then keep them out of the sun while you decide on your design. Flatten the snow at the top of the bottom ball to make for an easy stack when you build. Themes Going traditional with a hat and scarf is always a winning decision, but feel free to mix up the theme. Like dressing him or her in a bathing suit ala Olaf, complete with sunglasses. Create a snow puppy to go side-by-side with your snowperson and add a collar and leash. Make it a family affair by building a slew of differentsized snowmen to represent all of the members of your brood. Accessories Extra hats, scarves, and gloves are always useful for accessorizing your creation, but also look to recycled items like plastic cups, bottles, and the like to give your guy or gal an eco-friendly spin.

Summer Camp Safety Camp is an escape from routine and the chance to try new things, but all activities come with some level of risk. Make your child’s camp experience safe and enjoyable. Selection Review safety protocols of your child’s camp. All staff should be CPR and first–aid certified. What are the staffto-camper ratios? If your child has allergies or takes medications, can this be accommodated by a camp nurse? Is there sufficient life guard coverage at the pool? Injuries Common camp injuries include falls, sunburn and dehydration. To decrease risk, send your child with properly fitted shoes that tie and close-fitting clothing that allows them to play freely. Give them sunscreen to reapply throughout the day and a refillable water bottle. A baseball cap or brimmed hat will offer a bit of shade to keep cool. Prep Have a safety talk with your child about staying hydrated and how to apply their own sunscreen. Choose proper clothing the night before camp. Provide an active role for your child in their own safety so they will feel empowered as they venture off from home. Check In Ask your children about their experience daily so you can assess the camp as you go. Bring forth any questions that arise to the camp director. Be pro-active and you and your child will have a great camp experience. – Tracey Sutherland, cPNP, Trauma Nurse Practitioner at Boston Children’s Hospital

Hey, Sport!

Snow Days

Take advantage of the season’s chill factor by introducing kids to winter sports. In terms of lessons, skiing and snowboarding generally start at age 6, although you can slide a pair of skis onto your little as soon as you can find a pair small enough. Ice skating lessons start as early as age 4.

Scavenger Hunt: Instruct kids to search the house for the best items to build a snowman. Extra points for creativity.

Help with Camp Costs

If you’ve toyed with the idea of sending your child to summer camp, it’s time to research now. Camps are booking up and so it’s time to find one that you love. Worried about the cost? Understandable! But according to the American Camp Association, 93 percent of their accredited camps offer some kind of financial assistance to over a million children. Something to consider as you weigh the costs.

Anxious over the very thought of how to entertain your kids during the next snow day? Try these activities:

Relay Race: Get your driveway clear in a jiffy with a shoveling relay. Hot Cocoa Contest: Set up a quirky hot cocoa bar for an afternoon snack. Kids choose their own mix-ins. Then do a taste test of each. Whoever came up with the yummiest combo wins! Build a Fort: Help your kids make a fort using your couch or chairs and covering with blankets. Once secured, give your kids flashlights so they can read or play games underneath.

Terrific Tech

As if there weren’t already a million reasons to love Boston Children’s Hospital (BCH), they’re teaming up with GE Healthcare to produce digital solutions to advance both the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric diseases starting with those affecting the brain. Specifically their research is geared toward improving the accuracy of pediatric brain scans by offering realtime contextual information at the time and place a radiologist needs it. This would do wonders for assessing brain disease in children, as BCH alone performs nearly 1,000 imaging studies each day. “Interpreting pediatric brain scans requires a specific understanding of the developing brain,” said Richard Robertson, MD, radiologist-in-chief at BCH, in a statement. “Since most pediatric imaging is not performed in children’s hospitals by specialists, this new digital tool, once available, will provide non-specialists with access to knowledge and expertise to help effectively diagnose children. We believe that by providing decision support at the time of interpretation, we can improve both the confidence and performance of the interpreting radiologist.” January 2017 | BostonParentsPaper.com

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family f.y.i.

Yum-o!

Money Matters

Just in case you need another reason to satisfy your sweet tooth, we must bring to your attention that January 27 is Chocolate Cake Day. Yes, an entire day devoted to one of life’s best desserts. No matter whether you decide to bake and decorate your own, or pick one up at the store, make sure you indulge in some fudgy decadence on this day.

As you’re teaching your kids about money (how to earn, spend and save) consider this: It costs more to produce a nickel than a dime! It costs the Mint 11.18 cents to make a nickel and only 5.65 cents to make a dime. Even more surprising, it costs 2.41 cents to produce a single penny. It’s not until you get into the production of quarters and one dollar coins that the value begins to exceed the cost of making it.

422 This is how many calories a 155-pound adult can burn while skiing for one hour at a moderate speed. A 70-pound kiddo burns around 185 calories exerting the same amount of effort on the slopes. If pure exhilaration isn’t enough to get you active this winter, then surely the promise of a good sweat can’t hurt!

Sleep On It After a busy holiday season it’s likely we’re all feeling exhausted, but a recent study published in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience zeroes in on how a late night affects kids. “The process of sleep may be involved in brain ‘wiring’ in childhood and thus affects brain maturation,” says study author Salome Kurth, a researcher at the University Hospital of Zurich. “This research shows an increase in sleep need in posterior brain regions in children.” In the study, children were given an entire night’s sleep one evening and then provided time for about half a night’s sleep the next. In response, these kids showed more slow-wave activity in the back regions of the brain, suggesting this area is more sensitive to lack of sleep. This lobe is responsible for integrating sensory information with spatial sense and navigation, the sense of touch and also involves language processing. Interestingly, in adults lack of sleep is typically concentrated in the frontal areas of the brain.

Boston Parents Paper | January 2017

A Year of Fun Keeping those standard New Year’s resolutions typically falls by the wayside by January 15 anyway, so try this tradition on for size. Make a list of all of the fun things your family would like to do this year, including both lofty goals and those within reason. Turn the list into a project using these materials and directions: What You’ll Need: ✼ 2 jars or canisters ✼ 2 adhesive labels ✼ Construction paper (in four different colors)

✼ Scissors ✼ Tape ✼ Self-adhesive gems

or stickers ✼ Markers

Directions: 1. Use an adhesive label or cut out paper to label one jar “Fun Things to Do” and the other jar “Did It!” 2. Ask each family member to come up with two activities they’d like to accomplish during each season of the year – so eight per person (or more if you’re feeling really ambitious!). 3. Using a different color construction paper for each season, write these activities on the paper and cut them out into small cards, then tuck them into the jar labeled “Fun Things to Do.” 4. When the mood strikes, choose an activity from the jar, picking a colored paper based on which season you’re in (clearly a beach outing won’t be happening in January). 5. Do it! Hit up the activity and don’t forget to take pictures. When you return home, place the activity card in the “Did It!” jar. You’ll love tallying up all of the cool stuff you did at the end of 2017!

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www.brimmerandmaycamp.org 617-278-2350 • Chestnut Hill, MA • camp@brimmer.org January 2017 | BostonParentsPaper.com

2017 Camp & Summer Expo e h t e v Sa e Dat

Held at:

Dedham Health & Athletic Complex 200 Boston Providence Hwy., Dedham BostonParentsPaper.com

Meet camp directors and learn about more than 50 day and overnight camps as well as summer programs for all ages and interests. Sponsors:

Saturday, January 21, 2017 11am – 2pm Exhibiting Camps: Boston University Swimsport Camp Brimmer & May Summer Camp Brookline Arts Center Camp All-Star Camp Birch Hill Camp Burgess and Hayward Camp Chickami, Camp Pikati and Camp Frank A. Day Camp Kennebec Camp Kodiak Camp Med-O-Lark Camp Waziyatah Camps Bernadette & Fatima Charles River Creative Arts Program Debate Camp Dedham Country Day Camp Empow Studios Everwood Day Camp Exxcel Gymnastics & Climbing F1 Boston Fessenden School Camp French Woods Festival of the Performing Arts Girl Scouts of Eastern Mass Camps

Hale Day Camp Incarnation Camp Independent Lake Camp JCC Kaleidoscope & Grossman Camps Kutsher’s Sports Academy Land’s Sake Summer Programs LEtGO Your Mind LINX Camps Lumos Debate Maplewood Country Day Camp Nobles Day Camp Penguin Coding Summer Camp Stanstead College Summer Camps Summer Art at MFA Tabor Academy Summer Program the Hive at DeCordova Sculpture Park and Museum Ultimate Day Camp at Dedham Health & Athletic Complex UMaine 4-H Camps at Tanglewood and Blueberry Cove USES Camp Hale Walnut Hill School for the Arts And More!

Making a splash at Brimmer and May summer camp in Chestnut Hill. COURTESY PHOTO

SUPER Summer Ahead! How to pick the best camp for your child. By Lucy Jackson Norvell

IN NEW ENGLAND WE’RE INCREDIBLY FORTUNATE BECAUSE WE HAVE an abundance of summer camps to choose from for our children. Whether you’re looking for a day or sleepaway camp, one that focuses on the performing arts, science, or whatever else your child is passionate about, it more than likely exists in our region.

Boston Parents Paper | January 2017

In fact, the only downside to having so many options is that it can truly feel like an exhausting search to find exactly the right fit for your kids. We want them to be happy. We want them to feel comfortable. And, most of all, we want them to be safe. But how does a parent really know he or she is making the right choice? Read on to find a wide range of information that will answer your checklist of questions in terms of how to best decipher the information in all of those brochures and how to make the most of an informational visit. You’ll have better peace of mind and, chances are, your kids will have one incredible summer.

BE PREPPY No, not that kind of preppy – prepared. Before you start scheduling camp interviews, research all of the options that appeal most to your family, then weigh the pros and cons of each (you can even grade them on a points system if you like). After you’ve compiled a list in order of interest, start eliminating some. You don’t want to drive yourself crazy going on interviews for camps that aren’t really all that appealing to you. It’s a waste of your time and theirs. Once you’ve ruled out camps that don’t meet your essential search criteria or expectations, begin exploring the details of each option you like. Sometimes the filtering process yields too many camps to interview personally; sometimes it doesn’t yield enough. Adjust key variables, such as location and session length, to narrow or expand the number of options on the results page. Use the results page to go directly to camp websites.

GET ORGANIZED Camp interviews may feel a bit tedious at times, especially depending on how many you plan on talking to, but they are so necessary in determining how your child might fit into the environment. Go into each interview armed with knowledge of your pros and cons so that you have your questions firmly planted in your mind. How does the camp convey who they really are and reflect the world they’ve created exclusively for a child’s benefit? Camp seekers can learn so much from a close look at camp websites, brochures, photos, videos, FAQs, newsletters, social media and camper or parent testimonials. In fact, many camp websites are a gateway to most pieces of camp information on this list, from video content to downloadable brochures and forms, all reflecting the camp’s culture. Camps are much more than lists of activities they offer; they are vibrant educational communities

– and no two are exactly alike. There is probably not just one perfect camp for your child. More than one camp may turn out to be a great fit, given your search criteria, so the interviewing stage will most likely factor into your final decision and help you to pinpoint the camp. So, how do you decide between two (or a few camps) with comparable activities, location, schedules, amenities and price? ✼ Enough research will provide answers to your questions without you having to utter a single word. Camps try to anticipate what families need to know and provide this information online. You’ll want to use interview time to ask questions that haven’t already been answered – questions that explore the fit for your child. ✼ Running low on time? Interviews with some camp head honchos may already be available online. You can also consult with friends who’ve previously met with the camp for information you never even realized you might want. Look for an interview with the director, owner or key administrator. You may also discover interviews with campers, staff and alumni. ✼ If a camp meets almost all of your criteria except for a couple of missing components, ask before you rule it out. Perhaps there’s an amenity that exists that simply isn’t in the brochure. For

Questions to Ask Yourself ✼ What is driving your camp search? Fun and learning? New experiences and skills? A need for child care? Family tradition? Encouragement from friends? ✼ What are your leading camp search criteria? Which ones are “non-negotiable” and which are “preferences”? ✼ What activities or programs interest you and your child? What level of intensity are you looking for? Are you looking for opportunities for your child to try new activities, to play, to advance current skills, to practice, to compete or to specialize? ✼ What kind of facilities will your camper consider? Discuss electricity, bathrooms and dining. ✼ What session length, from eight weeks to a few

days, is comfortable for you, for your child, and for your family’s summer schedule? The most common session lengths are: full season (seven to eight weeks), half season (three to four), two weeks and one week.

January 2017 | BostonParentsPaper.com

COURTESY PHOTO

Exxcel Gymnastics and Climbing

Summer Camp Open House Saturday, January 28, 2017 2:00 to 3:30 pm

Franklin Park Zoo’s summer camp in Boston offers the perfect opportunity to learn about amazing wildlife while having a blast.

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example, you might see photos on the website or on Facebook showing the salad bar or a cabin group sitting around the table with food served family-style. This might spark a question about camp food and how your child’s dietary needs can be met. Or, combing through the part of a website developed exclusively for parents of overnight campers might enable you to understand the camp’s plan and suggestions for communicating with your camper. Perhaps reading the director’s blog from last summer or looking at newsletters might give you some insight into the camp’s philosophy and culture. ✼ Be your child’s best advocate. You’re the expert on your child! What aspects of his personality might affect the camp fit? (Your child is shy and cautious in new situations, for instance. Or your child needs to have a certain amount of time to practice music, sports or academics.)

IT’S INTERVIEW TIME Day Camp

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camp@meadowbrook-ma.org

Boston Parents Paper | January 2017

If this is your first trip to the rodeo, so to speak, know that there are plenty of different ways to schedule interviews, even if you can’t make a camp’s open house. Your options include: ✼ Fly solo or find some wingmen for a group chat. Chat face to face with camp reps at camp fairs, at gatherings hosted by campers’ families, during camp open houses, at camp-sponsored events on or off camp, at a home visit or interview you’ve set up. If it’s a small group, several people can benefit from the

questions asked and answers given; another parent may pose a question that you havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even thought of! â&#x153;ź Letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s get digital. Some folks donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t answer phones or emails any more these days. Camps do! Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re ready and willing to respond. Campers come to New England camps from around the corner, around the region and around the world. For folks who live far away, and for whom open houses and camp fairs are not an option, Skyping can provide a face-to-face interview. Look for honesty and authenticity in the answers to your questions. Families choose camps they trust and where they believe their children will thrive. â&#x2013; Lucy Jackson Norvell is director of public information for the American Camp Association, New England.

SUMMER AT SSC 2017

Questions to Ask Camp Representatives â&#x153;ź Is your camp accredited by the American Camp Association? What regulations does your camp follow? â&#x153;ź What training does the staff receive on safety, supervision, counseling, problem solving and other issues unique to working with children? â&#x153;ź What sets your camp apart? Tell me about your philosophy and camp culture. â&#x153;ź Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the best part of working at your camp? â&#x153;ź What brings people back summer after summer? â&#x153;ź Tell me about the staff. When not at camp, where do they work and/or study? â&#x153;ź How does your camp work inspire you or

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influence your life during non-camp months? â&#x153;ź Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the most important thing for parents to

know about your camp community? â&#x153;ź Tell me about your campers from last summer. Is there a story that comes to mind? â&#x153;ź Is the price all-inclusive or are there extra charges for things like registration, uniforms, meals, activities such as horseback riding or waterskiing, group photos and field trips? â&#x153;ź Is transportation available and if so, is there an additional cost? What are the specifics? â&#x153;ź How will the camp meet a childâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s special dietary or

physical needs? â&#x153;ź How does bad weather affect the daily schedule? â&#x153;ź Are there family visiting days? â&#x153;ź At a day camp, is before- and after-care available? If so, who cares for the children and what activities are offered? What is the additional cost? â&#x153;ź What else should I know?

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January 2017 | BostonParentsPaper.com

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ages & stages

Identifying Anxiety By Kelly Bryant

AS ADULTS WE TEND TO ACCEPT

our own stress and worry as if we’re being paid to do it, like it’s part of our job description once we took the leap out into the real world. After all, we have bills to pay, mouths to feed, schedules to coordinate and an entire laundry list of errands to run (not to mention doing the actual laundry). We have so much on our own plates, it’s easy to look at our children and think, “What do they have to worry about?” Whining, rapid fire questions, the pleading to stay home from school for just one day (they promise!) can feel trivial in the moment when it’s coming from our kids. Those little rascals who always seem to have a master plan to get away with something. And in an effort to stay strong, raise good people and keep everyone on track, we may dismiss these everyday occurrences as kids just being kids. Because, again, what do they have to worry about? A lot, actually. According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), anxiety disorders affect one in eight children. Furthermore, a 2015 Child Mind Institute Children’s Mental Health Report says that 80 percent of kids with a diagnosable anxiety disorder aren’t receiving treatment. While this could be due, in part, to a societal stigma surrounding mental health issues, one has to believe it’s also in large part owed to the fact that parents don’t recognize the signs. “Anxiety presents itself differently in adulthood than when you’re a child,” says Bonnie Zucker, Psy.D., author of Anxiety-Free Kids: An Interactive Guide for Parents and Children (Sourcebooks, 2016). “The sort of hallmark thing you’re always looking for is looking at your child and seeing if there is interference or impairment of any kind in terms of what the child is able to do.”

Infants & Toddlers Imagine this: You’re in the process of sleeptraining your infant, which, for many, is among the 20

Boston Parents Paper | January 2017

least enjoyable phases of parenting. While you’re going by the book of whichever method you have chosen, nothing seems to work. You’re perplexed. The exact same method went swimmingly with your older child. What gives? “It’s normal to go through some rough patches when it comes to sleeping alone,” says Zucker. “Going to sleep in their own room, staying in their room through the night. But when you’re doing sleep training with them at some point they learn how to self-soothe, they learn how to manage the discomfort. You do it with a lot of praise and a lot of empathy but you get to the goal of getting them to fall asleep on their own, assuming you’re following along with the sleep training stuff. But when parents are doing that and a child is still unable to sleep on their own, that can be a sign of anxiety.” Similarly, anxiety can present itself when children are preparing to go to preschool for the first time. While it’s completely normal for kids to have the jitters about going to a new place, sans mom and dad, typically an adjustment happens where, over time, the crying surrounding drop-off subsides. As Zucker points out, you’re always trying to move your children along the line of progression when they’re

avoiding something, but for little ones with anxiety, this process will take a lot longer. “That’s one of the things parents need to learn, when we approach a new change, a step making kids more independent, we have to do it where we give them control, we give them practice,” she advises. “All kids with an anxiety disorder can be treated. You get a behavior change with repetition and you teach them how they can handle those uncomfortable feelings and uncomfortable thoughts. It’s the behavior change that you’re looking for and then the thoughts catch up.”

School-Age General anxiety and separation anxiety are the two most common diagnoses in children, with specific phobias trailing right behind them. As children age, general anxiety manifests in different ways. For a school-age kid who is struggling, you may notice a long line of questioning in regard to specific situations. Zucker uses an upcoming birthday party as an example. “If you say there’s a party this weekend they’ll ask who’s going to be there, what if I need you, how long will the party last,” she says. “You get extensive questions and there’s a lot of reassurance that these kids ask for. ‘If I’m not having fun, will you pick me up?’” A sign your child may be living with anxiety may also present itself when he hears of a terrifying event, like a shooting in a movie theater. While this is a horrifying situation for anyone to hear about, a child without anxiety would be able to have a conversation with a parent about it and generally move on. The same can’t be said for a kid with anxiety. He can get stuck on the topic and want to review it over and over. While it’s fine to compare and contrast the behaviors of a child with her sibling, particularly when trying to get to the root of a problem, Zucker encourages parents to stay positive. “That’s how a lot of times it does become clear to parents is when they have more than one child,” she says. “That other child, and every kid can be different, of course, where things were just easier overall. It doesn’t mean anything in terms of how great your kid is, it just means they need a little extra help. That’s really the important message for parents. It’s not like, oh, you have this diagnosis and it’s all bad from here, it just means you have to do a little extra.” Adolescents & Teens If your middle and high school years were rife with awkward moments and feeling left out, then

you’re more than likely very sympathetic toward the trials and tribulations an adolescent or teen is going through. Particularly in our social media age where everything is on display all of the time, this stage of growing up is just plain hard. “In teens you start seeing more of the cognitive symptoms where there’s obsessive thinking or a lot of kids that age can be perfectionistic, especially if the expectation is you’re going to go to a good school,” says Zucker. “They’re up really late overworking or over reviewing. Or there’s social anxiety where they become really stressed out about being a part of something, being judged or a fear of missing out.” Fear of missing out, or FOMO as the kids like to say, is more exaggerated now than ever before. One glance at Instagram and teens can see a party they weren’t invited to or an activity in which they weren’t included. While most kids will tell you that’s an uncomfortable experience, they can move on from those feelings and focus on the important friendships in their life. For teens with anxiety, it’s much harder to move forward. We look at Instagram and social media and their perceptions of seeing pictures of something they weren’t included in. For most kids that’s an uncomfortable experience and they feel that and then they move on. “The person with anxiety would become really obsessed with it. They might send a thousand Snapchats a day because they want to get a thousand Snapchats back,” says Zucker. “It’s a sign to them that they’re really popular. Trying to measure your worth by likes is anxious behavior.” Diagnosing anxiety at this age and finding help is so important because teens are in the thick of figuring out who they are and who they want to be. During a phase when kids are already second-guessing themselves, it’s important to get ahead of the issue. “Anxiety breeds self-doubt,” says Zucker. “You question things a little bit more and question yourself a little bit more. When you’re a teen, you’re developing your identity. You’re developing your selfconfidence. Anxiety at this point in time can really be a problem for your identity development.” If you have identified symptoms of anxiety in your child, consult her healthcare professional. Helping her to understand that both kids and adults seek assistance and therapy for all kinds of issues is important in terms of negating the stigma associated with it. The key to raising happy and healthy kids is taking care of both their bodies and their minds. ■ Kelly Bryant is associate editor of Boston Parents Paper.

January 2017 | BostonParentsPaper.com

CAMPS & SUMMER PROGRAMS

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• • • • • •

Children & Preteens (Gr K-6), Teens (Gr 7-11) Full Day, 9AM-4PM, plus Early & Extended Day Art Show & Performances on Fridays Drawing, Painting, Ceramics & Performing Arts Counselor In Training Program High School Ceramics

New Art Center in Ne w ton

Summer in French AT THE

FRENCH CULTURAL CENTER

With weekly sessions running from June 19 - September 1, give your kids carte blanche this summer to learn and have fun with French! Our program offers: • Half- and full-day options • Native French-speaking teachers • A full immersion experience without ever leaving Boston • Weekly themes and a wide range of indoor and outdoor activities • Challenging material for all levels, from beginners to bilingual children ages 3 to 12 For teens

We offer a 2-week culture and language discovery program starting July 10 to 21 and August 7 to 18!

Contact the Education Department at 617.912.0415 to register

www.frenchculturalcenter.org | info@frenchculturalcenter.org

Boston Parents Paper | January 2017

www.newartcenter.org 61 Washington Park Newton, MA 02460 617.964.3424

calendar

january By Jennifer Sammons

Make the most of your snow day with an outing to The Greenway for fun outdoor play.

Snow Day! When Boston Public Schools close for a snow day, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t huddle indoors! Make your way to the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway for a day full of winter play. Build snow forts, make snow art and take part in other GreenPLAY activities. Visit their facebook page at facebook.com/rosekennedygreenway for details.

Want more events? Go online today!

Scan this QR Code to Find More Events at BostonParentsPaper.com January 2017 | BostonParentsPaper.com

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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.

1 Sunday New Year’s Day First Night/First Day Boston, various locations, Boston. The two-day, city-wide celebration continues with local musicians and an organ concert. FREE. 617-439-7700; firstnightboston.org. The ICE, Faneuil Hall Marketplace, 1 Faneuil Hall Square, Boston. Ring in the New Year with a collection of interactive, family-friendly ice sculptures and live street performers. FREE. 617-523-1300; faneuilhallmarketplace.com. Disney on Ice presents Dare to Dream, 1pm, Agganis Arena, 925 Commonwealth Ave., Boston. Disney’s beloved princess stories and fairytales come alive on the ice. $10 and up. 617-353-4628; agganisarena.com. SOUTH Winter Farm Quest, sunrise to sunset, Weir River Farm, 227 East St., Hingham. Pick up a quest in the parking lot of 140 Turkey Hill Lane and explore the farm. FREE. 781-740-7233; ttor.org. New Beginnings, 6:30-8:30am, World’s End, Hingham. Join a ranger-led sunrise hike down the century-old cart paths. Registration required. $10; youth, free. 781-740-7233; ttor.org.

3 Tuesday Frozen Fenway, Fenway Park, 4 Yawkey Way, Boston. A two-week series of hockey and ice skating events in historic Fenway Park. Through Jan. 16. Prices vary. 877-733-7699; redsox.com/frozenfenway.

4 Wednesday WEST Nature Journaling – Winter, 11am, The Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Acton. Make nature journals then take a walk searching for signs of winter. Free with admission. 978-264-4200; discoverymuseums.org.

6 Friday Three Kings Day, 6-8pm, Boston Children’s Museum, 308 Congress St., Boston. Join in on stories and crafts to wrap up the holiday season. Free with special Friday night $1 admission. 617-426-6500; bostonkids.org.

First Day Hike, noon, Houghton’s Pond, 695 Hillside St., Milton. Starting at noon, check out the Blue Hills Trailside Museum live wildlife program, buy a cocoa and snack, then choose a hike to suit your ability. FREE. 617-698-1802; friendsofthebluehills.org.

WEST Farm Sledding after Dark, 5:30-7pm, Chestnut Hill Farm, Chestnut Hill Road, Southborough. Bring your sled and bundle up for some sledding under the lights, warm snacks and a craft. $10. 978-356-4351; ttor.org.

Annual New Year’s Day Walk, 12:45pm, Holly Hill Farm, 236 Jerusalem Road, Cohasset. Meet at the barn for a cocoa and walk through the woods. FREE. 781-383-6565; hollyhillfarm.org.

7 Saturday

Disney on Ice presents Passport to Adventure, 2pm, Dunkin’ Donuts Center, 1 Lasalle Square, Providence, R.I. Join Mickey and Minnie on a journey through the magical worlds of Disney’s classic tales. $15 and up. 401-331-0700; dunkindonutscenter.com. WEST Hike Into the New Year, 9:30am, Broad Meadow Brook, 414 Massasoit Road, Worcester. Hike or snowshoe while looking for tracks and signs of wildlife. Registration required. $4. 508-753-6087; massaudubon.org. First Day Hiking, 10am – 3pm, Rocky Woods, Medfield. Walk your favorite trail or try out a new one. FREE. 978-356-4351; ttor.org.

2 Monday Kids in the Kitchen, 10am, The Kitchen at Boston Public Market, 100 Hanover St., Boston. Kids ages 6-12 learn how food makes the farm-to-table journey by getting hands on alongside market vendors. Registration required. $15. 617-542-7696; ttor.org. 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. Theme: Teacher’s Favorite Sculptures. Free with admission. 617-267-9300; mfa.org. First Day on the Second, 11am – 2pm, The Dorothy

and Charles Mosesian Center for the Arts, 321 Arsenal St., Watertown. Free fun for families, with performances, singalongs, and art and theater activities. FREE. 617-923-0100; arsenalarts.org.

Boston Parents Paper | January 2017

The Magic of Bonaparté, 10:30am, Regent Theatre, 7 Medford St., Arlington. A whimsical magic show with comedy, balloons and some furry and feathered friends. Adults, $10; youth, $8. 781-646-4849; regenttheatre.com. Sounds of Winter, 1pm, Boston Nature Center, 500 Walk Hill St., Mattapan. Use your ears on an outdoor walk and then head indoors for some sensory activities. Ages 5-12. Youth, $7. 617-983-8500; massaudubon.org. Revels Twelfth Night Celebration, 1 & 4pm, Grace Vision Church, 80 Mt. Auburn St., Watertown. Enjoy music, dancing, a mummers play and a visit from Father Christmas as you “put Christmas to bed.” Adults, $20; youth, $7. 617-972-8300; revels.org. Cow and Mouse’s Picnic, 2pm, Arlington Center for the Arts, 41 Foster St., Arlington. Arlington puppeteer Margaret Moody presents a gentle farm fable; stay to play with puppets afterward. $7. 781-643-1228; margaretmoodypuppets.com. WEST Winter Trails Day, 9am – 2pm, Weston Ski Track, 200 Park Road, Weston. Get an introduction to cross-country skiing or snowshoeing; includes lessons and demos. FREE. 617965-5110; skiboston.com. Owl Prowl Adventures Under the Moon for Families, 4:30pm, Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary, 280 Eliot St., Natick. Learn about owl calls, behavior and habitats as you search outdoors for the birds. Registration required. Adults, $15; youth, $9. 508-655-2296; massaudubon.org.

8 Sunday Debbie and Friends, 10:30am, Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard Ave., Cambridge. An interactive rockin’ musical journey with puppets, sing-alongs and more. Adults, $13; youth, $10. 617-734-2501; coolidge.org.

NORTH Birds of Prey and Brownies, 9:30am, Joppa Flats Education Center, 1 Plum Island Turnpike, Newburyport. Start with a presentation and snack, then head out to find snowy owls, bald eagles and more. Registration required. Adults, $14; youth, $11. 978-462-9998; massaudubon.org. SOUTH Family Winter Snowshoe Clinic and Games, 1-3pm, Eleanor Cabot Bradley Estate, 2468B Washington St., Canton. Borrow a pair of snowshoes, take a quick lesson then hit the trail. Sundays in January. Adults, $15; youth, $5. 508-636-4693; ttor.org.

9 Monday SOUTH Typical or Troubled: Understanding the Range of Teen Behavior, 3:30pm, South Shore VNA, 30 Reservoir Park Drive, Rockland. Dr. Barbara J. Green speaks on when to be concerned about teen behavior. Registration required. FREE. 781-624-7423; sshosp.org.

10 Tuesday Toddler Tuesdays, 10am – 2pm, LEGOLAND Discovery Center Boston, 598 Assembly Row, Somerville. A special event for the youngest LEGO fans (ages 2-5), featuring special activities and story time. $16. 866-228-6439; legolanddiscoverycenter.com/boston. SOUTH Little Naturalists, 9:30am, North River Wildlife Sanctuary, 2000 Main St., Marshfield. Learn about bears and how they live through walks, stories, songs and crafts. Registration required. Youth, $7. 781-837-9400; massaudubon.org. WEST Bring the Night Sky Inside, 2-4pm, The Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Acton. Drop by to learn about the winter night sky, how to use a star chart and get ideas for winter star-gazing. Free with admission. 978-264-4200; discoverymuseums.org.

11 Wednesday WEST ARTfull Play, 10:30am, deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, 51 Sandy Pond Road, Lincoln. An art and playbased session for kids ages 2-5. Free with admission. 781-259-8355; decordova.org.

COURTESY PHOTO

Family Bird Walk, 10:30am, Boston Nature Center, 500 Walk Hill St., Mattapan. Take a hike to learn about common local birds and partake in hands-on activities. Youth, $7. 617-983-8500; massaudubon.org.

Mr. Frog, a new film based on a Dutch novel, makes its East Coast premiere at the Belmont World Film Family Festival, running Jan. 13-16. This year’s festival includes a new version of Heidi and model-making workshops with Merlin Crossingham (of Shaun the Sheep fame).

12 Thursday NORTH Imagine, Sing & Learn: Ready for Winter, 9:30, Joppa Flats Education Center, 1 Plum Island Turnpike, Newburyport. Structured activities for preschoolers, including songs, movement and hands-on science. Registration required. Adults, $8; youth, $7. 978-462-9998; massaudubon.org. SOUTH Full Moon Hike, 6pm, World’s End, Hingham. Accompany a ranger for an after-hours full moon hike on the old cart paths. Registration required. Adults, $10; youth, free. 781-740-7233; ttor.org.

13 Friday Belmont World Film Family Festival, various times and locations. Feature-length films, shorts and workshops comprise this popular festival, themed around “Where Books Come Alive!” Through Jan. 16. $6-9. 617-484-3980; belmontworldfilm.org. From the Top, 6 & 6:45pm, Boston Children’s Museum, 308 Congress St., Boston. An interactive concert with talented young classical musicians from NPR’s program From the Top. Free with special Friday night $1 admission. 617-426-6500; bostonkids.org. SOUTH Full Moon Owl and Wildlife Prowl, 7pm, North River Wildlife Sanctuary, 2000 Main St., Marshfield. Explore the trails in search of owls and other nocturnal wildlife. Registration required. Adults, $12; youth, $10. 781-837-9400; massaudubon.org. WEST Monster Jam Triple Threat Series, DCU Center, 50 Foster St., Worcester. Drivers race monster trucks, speedsters and ATVs as they compete in racing and freestyle events. $17 and up. 800-745-3000; ticketmaster.com.

There’s Much More Online! Find more activities and events at BostonParentsPaper.com. Our online calendar is updated daily.

January 2017 | BostonParentsPaper.com

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calendar 14 Saturday Kids in the Kitchen, 10am, The Kitchen at Boston Public Market, 100 Hanover St., Boston. See Jan. 2 listing. Bob The Magic Guy, 10:30am, Regent Theatre, 7 Medford St., Arlington. Bob’s Magic For Smart People program will make you believe in the impossible. Adults, $10; youth, $8. 781-646-4849; regenttheatre.com. SOUTH Tracking the Winter Wild Thing, 9am, Francis William Bird Park, 251 Washington St., Walpole. Follow some large tracks on a fun family adventure. What will they lead to? Family, $15. 781-784-0567; ttor.org. From Nest to Table, 10am, Powisset Farm, 37 Powisset St., Dover. Say “hi” to the chickens, collect their eggs, then make mini quiches. $25. 508-785-0339; ttor.org.

WEST Snowshoeing For Families, 10am, Broad Meadow Brook, 414 Massasoit Road, Worcester. Learn to snowshoe and hit the trails. No snow? Hike instead. Registration required. Adults, $10; youth, $6. 508-753-6087; massaudubon.org. Snowshoe Walk or Winter Hike, 1pm, Wachusett Meadow, 113 Goodnow Road, Princeton. Explore the sanctuary with your family by snowshoe. Registration required. Adults, $9; youth, $5. 978-464-2712; massaudubon.org. Hoot Moon Owl Prowl, 5pm, Rocky Woods, Medfield. Take an evening walk to look for owls, then enjoy a warm drink. Registration encouraged. $15. 978-356-4351; ttor.org. Full Moon Owl Prowl for Families, 7pm, Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary, 280 Eliot St., Natick. Bring the

CAMPS & SUMMER PROGRAMS Celebrating over 60 years of Excellence in Early Childhood Education!

Join the Fun at

Beacon Hill Nursery School

this Summer!

Registration opens February 15th

Children enjoy exploring our natural playscape, discovering science and nature, and engaging in water play and outdoor art activities. ★ Discovery Museum ★ Barn Babies ★ Aquarium ★ Yoga ★ Curious Creatures ★ and More! Visit our website for a complete list of summer programming.

74 Joy St., Boston, MA 02114 ★ www.bhns.net ★ 617-227-0822

TENACRE Day Camp Voted #1 • 3 - 12 year olds

OPEN HOUSES

January 22nd & April 9th Aftercamp until 6pm • Most 3 and 4 yr olds swim 1:1

781-235-3238 • Wellesley, MA tenacrecds.org/summer

camp hale

Founded in 1900 and rooted in tradition Sessions for boys and girls 92 Millbridge Road Center Sandwich, NH 03227 617-375-8171

ages 6-17 www.uses.org/camphale

Passport Summer & School Vacation Camp February 21-24 • April 18-21 • June 19-August 18

21 months-13 years old 161 Garden St., Cambridge, MA www.cambridgemontessori.org/passport 26

Boston Parents Paper | January 2017

whole family to learn about owl calls, behavior and habitat. Registration required. Adults, $15; youth, $9. 508-655-2296; massaudubon.org.

15 Sunday O-shogatsu! Japanese New Year Festival, 11am â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 4pm, Boston Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Museum, 308 Congress St., Boston. Welcome the New Year with taiko drums, a lion dance, mochi pounding and more. Free with admission. 617-426-6500; bostonkids.org.

PHOTO Â© MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, BOSTON

Experimazing, noon, Boston Nature Center, 500 Walk Hill St., Mattapan. Questions about plants and animals are turned into fun indoor and outdoor investigations. Youth, $7. 617-983-8500; massaudubon.org. WEST Fun with Animal Footprints and Signs, 1pm, Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary, 280 Eliot St., Natick. Look for tracks and signs of otters, rabbits, deer, coyote and many other animals. Registration required. Adults, $14; youth, $8. 508-655-2296; massaudubon.org.

16 Monday Martin Luther King Jr. Day Fee Free Day, Enjoy free admission to National Parks, Forests and Wildlife Refuges nationwide. FREE. nps.gov/planyourvisit/fee-free-parks.htm.

The Museum of Fine Arts expands its toddler Playdates program to Saturdays beginning January 21 at 10am. The programâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s special story times, tours and art making are included in admission.

CAMPS & SUMMER PROGRAMS

Penguin Coding School Learn to Code this sum mer while having fun creating Websites and Games

Free Trials available Full Day Camp for 4-8th graders Call 781-277-2755 penguincodingschool.com/summer Location: Historic Downtown Lexington

6800(5 7+($7(5 )RU $JHV

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calendar MLK Jr. Day, 10am – 5pm, Boston Children’s Museum, 308 Congress St., Boston. Celebrate the life and leadership of Martin Luther King, Jr. through art, language and activities. Free with admission. 617-426-6500; bostonkids.org. Open House, 10am – 5pm, Museum of Fine Arts, 465 Huntington Ave., Boston. Surround yourself with art and culture with free activities, art making, tours and performances. FREE. 617-267-9300; mfa.org. Benkadi Drum and Dance, 10:30am, JFK Library and Museum, Columbia Point, Boston. Benkadi presents traditional rhythms and movements from Mali, Senegal and Guinea. Registration required. FREE. 617-514-1644; jfklibrary.org. Frozen Fenway Winter Party on Ice, 1:30 & 6pm, Fenway Park, 4 Yawkey Way, Boston. A cast of internationally known figure skaters performs, highlighted by national champ Alissa Czisny. $15 and up. 877-733-7699; redsox.com/frozenfenway. Tribute Concert to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., 1:30pm, Faneuil Hall Marketplace, Boston. Join Mayor Walsh, the Museum of African American History and Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra for the city’s annual tribute to Dr. King. FREE. 617-725-0022; maah.org. MLK Jr. Day Concert, 7pm, Jordan Hall, 30 Gainsborough St., Boston. Boston Children’s Chorus presents a gospelthemed concert titled How I Got Over. Ticket prices TBA. 617-585-1260; bostonchildrenschorus.org.

NORTH Winter Wander, 1pm, Castle Hill on the Crane Estate, 290 Argilla Road, Ipswich. Take an easy two-mile hike, followed by refreshments around a campfire. Registration required. Adults, $15; youth, $10. 978-810-5892; ttor.org. SOUTH MLK Jr. Day, 10am – 4pm, The Children’s Museum in Easton, 9 Sullivan Ave., Easton. Participate in community art and hands-on activities celebrating the legacy of Dr. King. Free with admission. 508-230-3789; childrensmuseumineaston.org. Celebration of MLK Jr., 11:30am – 4pm, Providence Children’s Museum, 100 South St., Providence, R.I. Explore an MLK exhibit and watch a performance about civil rights heroes. Free with admission. 401-273-5437; childrenmuseum.org. WEST Vacation Day Art Programs, 9am – 4pm, New Art Center, 61 Washington Park, Newtonville. Spend the day making art – drawing, painting, free building and more. $85. 617-964-3424; newartcenter.org.

17 Tuesday WEST Snip and Tear, 10am, The Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Acton. Show off your scissor skills or

SCHOOLS & CHILDCARE CENTERS

Mount Alvernia Academy Faith First, Learning Foremost

al n o i t Na bbon Ri e u l B ol o h c S

Preschool - Grade 6

www.maa.school 28

Boston Parents Paper | January 2017

SCHOOLS & CHILDCARE CENTERS 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.

• Infants (Birth to 15 Months)

• Toddlers (15 Months to 33 Months)

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

toddler through eighth grade

130 Pleasant Street, Lexington, MA 02421 www.lexmontessori.org • 781.862-8571 ext 1001

Brookline • 617-731-1008 • 617-739-0854 Call or email us to schedule a tour • friendschildcare.brookline@gmail.com www.friendschildcare.net

BIRCHES SCHOOL A Nature-based School for Creative Thinkers, Motivated Learners, and Mindful Leaders

OPEN HOUSE • K–8 Sunday, January 8, 2017 @ 1:30 PM 14 Bedford Rd., Lincoln, MA

Pre-registration available at : www.birchesschool.org

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 Kindergarten • Developmental Curriculum OPEN HOUSE Friday, January 20th at 6:15 pm • Full or Part Week • Hot Lunch (call for more information) • 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

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

ONGOING ENROLLMENT

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

January 2017 | BostonParentsPaper.com

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calendar try cutting for the first time. Free with admission. 978-264-4200; discoverymuseums.org.

Experiment with paint, paper, collage, performance and movement. FREE. 617-923-0100; arsenalarts.org. MFA Playdates, 10:15am, Museum of Fine Arts, 465 Huntington Ave., Boston. See Jan. 2 listing.

20 Friday Opening Reception and Public Reflection: Let’s Story, 6-8pm, Boston Children’s Museum, 308 Congress St., Boston. Explore artist Joanna Tam’s exhibition, featuring stories inspired by items in the museum’s collection. Free with special Friday night $1 admission. 617-426-6500; bostonkids.org. NORTH Track, Follow, and Find in Our Riverside Yard, 2pm, Joppa Flats, 1 Plum Island Turnpike, Newburyport. A nature exploration event for preschoolers. Registration required. Adults, $8; youth, $7. 978-462-9998; massaudubon.org. WEST Wild by The Fire, 3:30pm, Drumlin Farm, 208 South Great Road, Lincoln. Meet furred and feathered creatures and learn how they survive in the snow, then warm up with cocoa. Registration required. $16.50. 781-259-2200; massaudubon.org.

21 Saturday Free Family Fun, 10am to noon, The Dorothy and Charles Mosesian Center for the Arts, 321 Arsenal St., Watertown.

Matt Roberts, 10:30am, Regent Theatre, 7 Medford St., Arlington. Roberts performs his Charismatic Comedy Magic show, where you may even learn to do a trick of your own. Adults, $10; youth, $8. 781-646-4849; regenttheatre.com. Mike the Bubble Man, 10:30am, Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard St., Brookline. Through music, choreography and comedy, bubbles come alive, sparking imagination and wonder. Adults, $13; youth, $10. 617-734-2501; coolidge.org. Wingmasters, 11am, Boston Children’s Museum, 308 Congress St., Boston. Get an up close look at hawks and owls. Free with admission. 617-426-6500; bostonkids.org. Guided Snowshoe Walk, 1pm, Boston Nature Center, 500 Walk Hill St., Mattapan. A leisurely guided hike with a naturalist; includes snowshoe instructions. $7, snowshoe rental extra. 617-983-8500; massaudubon.org. SOUTH Art in the Park, 9am, World’s End, Hingham. Explore the themes of art and nature with a craft or activity that celebrates the beauty of World’s End. Youth, $15. 781-740-7233; ttor.org. Time to Make Donuts, 10am, Powisset Farm,

SCHOOLS & CHILDCARE CENTERS Infants • Toddlers • Preschool Full Time

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Owner-operated since 1994

Very competitive rates

www.thelearningzoneonline.com Woburn (781) 932-1070 23 Warren Ave. Waltham (781) 891-3600 295 Weston St.

Boston Parents Paper | January 2017

Framingham (508) 872-3600 63 Fountain St. Weston (781) 642-6787 101 River Road

Belmont (617) 489-1161 279 Belmont St. Beverly (978) 969-6679 600 Cummings Center

HOT TIP

Dog Days

You’ll have your chance to see not one, but two comedy canine ine shows this month. The four-legged stars of these shows are capable e of much more than “Sit.” “Stay.” and “Roll over.” These talented ed pups walk tightropes, jump rope and catch Frisbees in ways you never ever thought possible. ✼ Johnny Peers & The Muttville Comix, Jan. 21, 11am, The Center for Arts in Natick, 14 Summer St., Natick. Adults, $12;; children, $10. 508-647-0097; natickarts.org. ✼ Mutts Gone Nuts, Jan. 29, noon & 3pm, The Company Theatre, 30 Accord Park Drive, Norwell. $15. 508-647-0097; natickarts.org. COURTESY PHOTO

The starring pooches of Mutts Gone Nuts were all adopted from animal shelters. 37 Powisset St., Dover. Get a lesson in making biscuit donuts and French crullers, with plenty of tasting! Registration required. $40. 508-785-0339; ttor.org. Boston Parents Paper 2017 Camp & Summer Expo, 11am – 2pm, Dedham Health and Athletic Complex, 200 Boston Providence Highway, Dedham. Meet camp directors and staff from more than 50 day and overnight summer programs. FREE. 617-284-1419; bostonparentspaper.com. WEST Shiprock & Anchordog, 11am, The Eric Carle Museum, 125 West Bay Road, Amherst. The ongoing musical story of two dog best friends who tell tales of their exciting

SCHOOLS & CHILDCARE

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!

OPEN HOUSE 01.07.17 Toddlers through Middle School Visit us online at cambridgemontessori.org

adventures. $5; museum admission extra. 413-658-1126; carlemuseum.org. Open Studio Hours, 1-6pm, New Art Center, 61 Washington Park, Newtonville. Meet artist in residence Amy Beecher and explore her multimedia methods of printmaking. FREE. 617-964-3424; newartcenter.org. Afternoon Chores and More, 3:30pm, Drumlin Farm, 208 South Great Road, Lincoln. Feed chickens, collect eggs, bring hay to the sheep, goats, and cows then enjoy a farmfresh snack. $16.50. 781-259-2206; massaudubon.org. Owl Prowl, 6:30pm, Broad Meadow Brook, 414 Massasoit Road, Worcester. Play owl games, practice owl calls, then

CLASSES & ENRICHMENT GET THE BEST REPORT CARD YET! 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! TM

32 South Fairview St., Roslindale, MA

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617-323-2566 Exxcel Gymnastics and Climbing Winter! Don’t Hibernate! Ages 18 mos. - 18yrs. Gymnastics, Climbing, Ninja, Tumbling

Trial Classes Available Work the Mind. Reveal the Child. Unleash the Potential. For more iinformation f i or to showcase your programs and services call us at

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Martin Luther King One Day Camp Monday, January 16th February Vacation Camp February 20th – 24th

Where kids matter most! 88 Wells Avenue • Newton, MA 02459 617 244-3300 • www.exxcel.net January 2017 | BostonParentsPaper.com

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calendar head outside to look for them. Adults, $9; youth, $6. 508-753-6087; massaudubon.org.

177 Main St., Acton. Bundle up and head out for a winter nature scavenger hunt. Free with admission. 978-264-4200; discoverymuseums.org.

22 Sunday

ARTfull Explorations, 1-3pm, deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, 51 Sandy Pond Road, Lincoln. Engage with materials and processes inspired by the featured artist of the day. Drop in. Free with admission. 781-259-8355; decordova.org.

Tracks and Signs, 10:30am, Boston Nature Center, 500 Walk Hill St., Mattapan. Learn about different types of tracks and signs that local wildlife leave behind. Youth, $7. 617-983-8500; massaudubon.org. Mass Motion Dance Project, 1:30 & 2:30pm, Boston Children’s Museum, 308 Congress St., Boston. Enjoy a contemporary dance performance by a community service student group. Free with admission. 617-426-6500; bostonkids.org. WEST Winter Scavenger Hunt, 11am, The Discovery Museums,

25 Wednesday WEST Winter Wonders: Who’s Sleepy?, 11am, Drumlin Farm, 208 South Great Road, Lincoln. Explore the farm in winter. Feed sheep, search for eggs and follow tracks in the snow. Registration required. $15.50. 781-259-2200; massaudubon.org.

Curtain Call Here’s a roundup of this month’s productions at major theaters and performance centers. Check websites for times not listed below. For information on other productions, check our full calendar.

✼ The Center for Arts in Natick, 14 Summer St., Natick. 508-647-0097; natickarts.org. Johnny Peers & The Muttville Comix, Jan. 21, 11am. Clown College graduate Johnny Peers and his canine crew perform tricks and slapstick. Adults, $12; children, $10. Jenny the Juggler, Jan. 28, 11am. A variety show by one of New England’s top professional jugglers. Adults, $10; children, $8. ✼ The Company Theatre, 30 Accord Park Drive, Norwell. 781-871-2787; companytheatre.com. Mutts Gone Nuts, Jan. 29, noon & 3pm. Meet Scott and Joan and their hilarious pack of rescue dogs, who catch Frisbees, walk the tight wire, dance and more! $15. ✼ The Hanover Theatre, 2 Southbridge St., Worcester. 508-831-0800; thehanovertheatre.org. Cirque Dreams Jungle Fantasy, Jan. 26-27, 7:30pm. An exotic performance of aerialists, contortionists, acrobats, jugglers and musicians, inspired by the natural wonders of the jungle. $39 and up.

✼ Leventhal-Sidman JCC, 333 Nahanton St., Newton. 617-965-5226; bostonjcc.org/magicark. Seussical, Jan. 16, 11am & 1pm. Dr. Seuss’s best-loved stories collide and cavort in an unforgettable musical caper. $18. ✼ Lowell Memorial Auditorium, 50 Merrimack St., Lowell. 978-454-2299; lowellauditorium.com. Sesame Street Live: Make a New Friend, Jan. 7-8, varying times. The Sesame Street friends welcome Chamki, Grover’s friend from India, to the neighborhood as they learn about friendship and cultural similarities. $15 and up. ✼ Puppet Showplace Theater, 32 Station St., Brookline. 617-731-6400; puppetshowplace.org. Word Play, Jan. 14-16, varying times. Performers using clowning and puppetry take the audience on an adventure through the alphabet. $12. I Spy Butterfly, Jan. 21 – Feb. 5, varying dates and times. The world premiere of a delightful eco-tale of a caterpillar’s transformation. $12. ✼ Stoneham Theatre, 395 Main St., Stoneham. 781-279-2200; stonehamtheatre.org. The Young Company Winter Festival, Jan. 25 – Feb. 5, varying dates and times. Youth actors present The Musical Adventures of Flat Stanley Junior, The Emperor’s New Clothes, Mary Poppins and Sweeney Todd. $15. ✼ Wheelock Family Theatre, 200 The Riverway, Boston. 617-879-2300; wheelockfamilytheatre.org.

PHOTO BY JOAN MARCUS

Billy Elliot the Musical, Jan. 27 – Feb. 26, varying dates and times. The inspirational story of a young English boy’s struggle to make his dream come true. $20 and up.

The Cat in the Hat will host a romp through the works of Dr. Seuss in Theatreworks USA’s production of Seussical at the Leventhal-Sidman Jewish Community Center on Jan. 16.

Boston Parents Paper | January 2017

HOT TIP

26 Thursday WEST On the Rise!, 10am, Drumlin Farm, 208 South Great Road, Lincoln. Mix, knead, and shape dough as you make delicious country oat bread and your own butter. Registration required. $16.50. 781-259-2200; massaudubon.org.

27 Friday Chocolate Festival, Harvard Square, Cambridge. Harvard Square’s three-day chocolate extravaganza features restaurant specials, entertainment and a popular outdoor tasting event on Saturday. Through Jan. 29. 617-491-3434; harvardsquare.com. SOUTH Star Gazing Nights, 6:30pm, Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary, 293 Moose Hill St., Sharon. Join local astronomers for a look at the stars and other night objects through big telescopes. FREE. 781-784-5691; massaudubon.org.

28 Saturday The Dragon King, 10:30am, JFK Library and Museum, Columbia Point, Boston. Journey below the sea in this Chinese folklore tale of fantasy, courage and wonder by

Camp & Summer Expo Can it really already be time to plan for summer? We’ll make camp planning easy for you at the Boston Parents Paper 2017 Camp & Summer Expo on Jan. 21. You’ll have the chance to meet with camp directors and get information on more than 50 camps and summer programs, for all ages and spanning dozens of interests. ✼ Boston Parents Paper 2017 Camp & Summer Expo, 11am – 2pm, Dedham Health and Athletic Complex, 200 Boston Providence Highway, Dedham. FREE. 617-284-1419; bostonparentspaper.com.

CLASSES & ENRICHMENT Bay State Skating School

Circle & Larz Anderson),

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As featured on “Chronicle”

Cambridge, Brookline (Cleveland Medford, Newton-Brighton, Quincy, Somerville, South Boston, Waltham,

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We bring the instrument and the instructor. Private in-home lessons available Contact Molly Howard at 617-999-8794 pianoplaytime@yahoo.com www.pianoplaytime.com

ALL NEWTON MUSIC SCHOOL

DID YOU KNOW: At ANMS we specialize in early childhood music education. Children under 7 love to sing and move to music. Their motor skills are best suited to xylophone, percussion, and ukulele.

ENROLL NOW For All Ages - Youth and Adult visit www.ANMS.info for more information and to enroll 321 Chestnut Street, West Newton

(617) 527-4553 January 2017 | BostonParentsPaper.com

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calendar the Tanglewood Marionettes. Reservations required. FREE. 617-514-1644; jfklibrary.org. Winter Backyard Birding, 10:30am, Boston Nature Center, 500 Walk Hill St., Mattapan. Learn to use binoculars, go on a bird hike and create some seed and fruit art for the birds to enjoy. Registration required. Youth, $7. 617-983-8500; massaudubon.org. Matias Latelier, 10:30am, Regent Theatre, 7 Medford St., Arlington. An hour of magic and surprises from a Chilean magician and mentalist. Adults, $10; youth, $8. 781-646-4849; regenttheatre.com. SOUTH Tracking the Winter Wild Thing, 9am, Francis William Bird Park, 251 Washington St., Walpole. See Jan. 14 listing. Winter Warm Up, 2-6pm, World’s End, Hingham. Get outdoors for hiking, sledding, snowshoeing, owl prowls and tales around the campfire. Adults, $10; youth, free. 781-740-7233; ttor.org. Family Owl Prowl, 7pm, Blue Hills Trailside Museum, 1904 Canton Ave., Milton. Practice owl calls and meet some of the museum’s resident owls before going on a night hike to search for them. Registration required. $10. 617-983-8500; massaudon.org. Stargazing: Jewels of the Night, 7pm, North River Wildlife Sanctuary, 2000 Main St., Marshfield. Join astronomy enthusiast Peter Reed as he guides you through the constellations. Registration required. $13. 781-837-9400; massaudubon.org.

WEST Valentine Card Making Party, 10am, The Eric Carle Museum, 125 West Bay Road, Amherst. Pop in to make special valentines for your family, friends or classmates. Registration recommended. $12 per pair or trio. 413-658-1100; carlemuseum.org.

29 Sunday The Enchanted Forest, 10:30am, Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard St., Brookline. Artbarn, a youth community theater company, presents the tale of a family vacation gone wrong. Adults, $13; youth, $10. 617-734-2501; coolidge.org. NORTH Ward Winter Fest, noon to 3pm, Ward Reservation, Andover. Explore the property on a guided hike, or bring your snowshoes and sled to play. Then warm up with refreshments by the fire. $10 per car. 978-886-5297; ttor.org.

31 Tuesday WEST Backwards Storytime, 10am, The Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Acton. Celebrate National Backwards Day with silly stories and activities. Free with admission. 978-264-4200; discoverymuseums.org.

ENTERTAINMENT & PARTY NEEDS Celebrate everything in 2017 at

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Boston Parents Paper | January 2017

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