April 2020
newyorkfamily.com
Mind Your Manners Princess Marie-Chantal on Kids’ Etiquette
GO GREEN
The Buy-Nothing Guide
The Montessori Method
Coronavirus Closures! Homeschooling Resources & Tips
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contents
April 2020
NewYorkFamily.com
pg. 20
pg. 10
pg. 28
FEATURES 6 | Mom Hacks: DIY Hand Sanitizer Hand sanitizer is the new gold— luckily it is easy to make, and we share how 10 | Reading Books to buy or download while the kids are being homeschooled 18 | Education A guide to the Montessori method 20 | Free Educational Resources 10 sites and apps to keep the kids learning while home during Coronavirus
22 | Mental Health for Parents during Coronavirus Tips on how to keep yourself calm during these trying times
pg. 24
pg. 14
Stories & columns 4 | Editor’s Note New York Love
24 | Healthy Food Eating foods that boost you and your family’s immunity
8 | Mom Time The 5 best podcasts for moms
26 | The Buy-Nothing Guide Spend less by reducing, re-using and recycling
14 | Mom Stories Writer Cris Pearlstein shares her fertility story in Shame and Infertility
28 | Crown Princess Marie- Chantal of Greece: Best Behavior A Princess’s guide to modern etiquette for families
16 | Family Health Wheezing vs. asthma and when you should be concerned 29 | The Last Word
on the Cover Photography: Ungano & Agriodimas ungano-agriodimas.com
April 2020 | Bronx/Riverdale Family
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Editor’s Note
NewYorkFamily.com Publisher: Hester Aba Executive Editor: Donna Duarte-Ladd Digital Editor: Katarina Avendaño Senior Adviser: Susan Weiss Digital Director: Erik Bliss Director, Business Development: Mary Ann Oklesson Partnership Managers: Erin Brof, Mary Cassidy, Shelli Goldberg-Peck Ad Ops Coordinator: Raphael Brutus Art Director: Leah Mitch Web Developer: Sylvan Migdal Graphic Designers: Arthur Arutyunov, Connie Sulsenti Nina Gallo Photography
New York Love New York has a colorful past of both hardships and triumphs. Despite being home to millions, it’s a city that knows how to unite through hard times and come out stronger. This pandemic is new territory for us all, we all know being parents propels us through challenges, and we will get through this together. We have plenty to read this issue. Our cover Best Behavior (page 26) features Crown Princess Marie Chantal of Greece, who shares on her new book Manners Begin at Breakfast: Modern Etiquette. As most kids are now learning remotely through their school to supplement learning from home, we have Free Educational
Resources (page 22) for kids of all ages. In honor of April 23–29, which is National Infertility Awareness Week, New York Family contributor Cris Pearlstein shares her personal journey in Shame and Infertility (page 14). And who doesn’t love a good podcast? We have The 5 Best Podcasts for Moms (page 8) because if we’re going to be home- listening to Oprah and moms sharing their mojo, it can’t hurt. Stay in touch, send us a note — we’d love to hear how you’re doing and any content you’d like to see on New York Family. Donna Ladd Executive Editor
Editorial Contributor: Mia Salas Editorial Interns: Isabelle Bousquette, Courtney Ingalls, Olga Uzunova
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NewYorkFamily.com | April 2020
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mom hacks
Hand Sanitizer Recipe If you can’t find a sanitizer that you like in the stores, or if there is any panic-buying or shortages, like we’ve seen in other countries, you can make your own at home! Some recipes include aloe vera or other types of gel to moisturize your hands. We chose a recipe that includes the core ingredient, isopropyl alcohol, in order to make sure the alcohol content is high enough to kill germs (nope — regular alcoholic spirits don’t have high enough alcohol content to do this job!). Ingredients • 1 cup isopropyl alcohol (can be found at CVS) • 6-10 drops tea tree oil (optional) • Spritz bottle Pour all the ingredients into the bottle, close and shake well before use. If your hands become dry, allow the alcohol to dry and then use a moisturizer.
Preventative Measures Advice for keeping healthy — including a DIY hand sanitizer! By Courtney Ingalls
W
ith the Coronavirus in New York being on many people’s minds, people are searching for ways to keep their families healthy. With hand sanitizer shortages across NYC, we share how you can make your own. Concerns about the spread of diseases, especially the Coronavirus, are on the rise in New York. With flu and allergy season coming up this spring, many people are taking their health into their own hands and learning about ways to protect themselves from germs. Alcohol-based hand sanitizers are flying off the shelves at many stores and have become a common item used in many public spaces. Hand sanitizer does get rid of microbes on your hands, but it does not eliminate all types of germs. Germs such as the norovirus and Clostridium difficile, which cause
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NewYorkFamily.com | April 2020
nausea and diarrhea, cannot be killed by hand sanitizer. To contain the spread of the Coronavirus and other types of pesky germs, the CDC advises people to be mindful of how you’re taking care of yourself and others around you. What are some preventative measures I can take? Some measures you can take are very easy to incorporate into your daily routine to prevent the Coronavirus in New York. Dr. Debra Spicehandler, co-chief of Infectious Diseases at Northern Westchester Hospital, says, “The most efficient way to prevent the spread of germs is simple hand washing with soap and water.” Washing your hands after you use the bathroom, prepare food, and after blowing your nose or coughing makes a big difference when it comes to the spreading of diseases. People should be scrubbing their hands
Important notes: • Do not use Methanol (Methyl Alcohol) if you cannot find isopropyl alcohol. Methanol is highly flammable and toxic. • Be careful when using your sanitizer due to the alcohol content. • Keep sanitizer out of reach of young children as it can be dangerous if swallowed.
with soap for 20 seconds on the fronts and backs of your hands and on the webbing (humming the Happy Birthday song twice is a good way to keep track of time) before rinsing off your hands to make sure the germs are gone. It’s better to then allow your hands to airdry if possible rather than touching a public paper towel dispenser. Other small actions you can continue to do and encourage your kiddos to do are avoiding touching your eyes, mouth, or nose as well as covering your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough, or coughing or sneezing into your elbow. If you or someone you know is feeling under the weather, make sure to not be in close contact with them and have them stay home and recover or wear a mask when they go out in public.
What cleaning products are best for the disinfection of Coronavirus? Since the Coronavirus is relatively new and it still being researched, there are no EPA registered disinfectants that are specific to the virus. However, there are household cleaning products that have been used against diseases like COVID-19. “High-touch” surfaces such as counters, doorknobs, phones, and any surface that may have come in contact with bodily fluids should be cleaned regularly using household cleaning sprays or wipes. Make sure that you read the label instructions so you’re informed of the safe and effective use of the cleaning product. There isn’t a place to wash your hands nearby? Hand sanitizer is an easy way to kill some germs People who are constantly on the go don’t always have the luxury of being close to a sink. Many parents run into the problem of their kids putting their hands and fingers in their mouths, noses and eyes, even after
Many people are taking their health into their own hands and learning about ways to protect themselves from germs.
effective in killing germs and spreading them to others.
we have told them multiple times not to. Having hand sanitizer in your pocket or bag will do the job of killing germs until you can wash your hands properly. This is especially important after leaving the subway for example, when you may have touched surfaces that a sick person could have touched. There are many kinds of hand sanitizers to choose from, but Dr. Spicehandler recommends using an alcohol-based sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol in order to be
What other kinds of alcohol can you use to make hand sanitizer? If you cannot find isopropyl, you can look for ethanol (ethyl alcohol) which is also effective in killing microbes. If you do plan on using ethanol, you must make sure that the end solution is made up of 70% alcohol. Some industrial ethanol products do contain small amounts of methanol so please make sure that you do not use denatured ethanol for your hand sanitizers. The immediate health risks for the American public are considered low for COVID-19 as of right now according to the CDC. Dr. Michel Cohen from Tribeca Pediatrics says that there are no reported cases in New York City or New York State and data coming from China shows that kids are less susceptible to the virus than adults. Taking the preventative measures throughout your day against germs and making sure that you put your health first will ensure that you and your family will have a safe and happy year to come!
CARDINAL SPELLMAN HIGH SCHOOL Where Boys and Girls with Dreams, BECOME MEN AND WOMEN OF VISION
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Visit us and learn about the Spellman Experience! Summer 2020 Pilot’s Enrichment Program Dates: July 1st-July 24th (M-F) Times: 8:30am - 2:30pm *Application Due Date Extended to 4/30* For more info or to apply visit: For young men & women entering the 7th & 8th grades. cardinalspellmanpep.com April 2020 | Bronx/Riverdale Family
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mom time
The 5 Best Podcasts for Moms! By Donna LaDD
P
odcasts are a resource that you can listen to at any time, which is gold for parents. Listen when you’re working or after the kids are asleep, and the night is yours. From listening to other mothers’ stories to soaking in the wisdom of experts — we are all in when it comes to listening to any of these five podcast series. Coffee Crumbs A hands down favorite amongst mothers, this podcast touches on all things motherhood. Finding your tribe is a big deal when you are pregnant, a new mom, or a seasoned mother, yet this isn’t always easy. The Coffee Crumbs Podcasts stories are honest, raw and uplifting. Most importantly, the listener will get that they are not alone, for we are all forging our way through this crazy journey of parenthood one story at a time. The goop Podcast Goop’s mission statement is, “we go first, so you don’t have to” and we love this. From celebrity, wellness, and relationship experts to chats with New York Times best-selling authors, Goop shares on subjects that range from the taboo (Why we Crave) to life-changing (Finding Joy Again). We appreciate the thoughtfulness that goes into these podcasts. Terrible, Thanks for Asking Don’t let the title of this podcast fool you. Nora McInerny’s show produces straightforward themes that aren’t all unicorns and rainbows but are subjects many of us can relate or learn from. Tackling subjects like how our childhood affects us in “What Happened to You?” and when change happens in “Former Life” dive deep into the hard stuff we go through in life. Terrible, Thanks for Asking is unique storytelling,
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and despite the title, this podcast is not only educational, but a positive listen. Oprah SuperSoul Conversations Podcast Oprah may not be running for president, and we’re (kinda) okay with that because her SuperSoul Conversations Podcast series is here to inspire. Chats with personalities like Amy Schumer and best-selling authors such as Cheryl Strayed feel like free therapy. Each episode encompasses that Oprah mojo we all need in our lives and help listeners to ask and
hopefully tackle life’s biggest quandaries. The New Normal If you have ever eavesdropped on other mothers’ conversations, you are probably like us, moms who want to hear that other parents may be facing similar challenges. This is why we love Emma Clark Gratton and Tess McCabe’s podcast, The New Normal. Episodes center around a conversation with an invited parent to chat about work balance, kids as well as living our best life with kids and then some.
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- Childcare (2-years to 5-years) - Family EarlyLearn CACFP - Headstart - Pre-school Evaluations - Universal Pre-K - Pre-school Special Education - Family EarlyLearn (6-weeks to 4-years) - 3-K for All program For more information contact the central office located at: 880 River Avenue Bronx, NY 10452 2nd Floor Phone: (718) 992-1321 Fax: (718) 992-8539 James W. Nathaniel, CEO HacFamilyServicesInc.org www.hacfs.org Nearly a half a century of service to the Bronx
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Books M
any of us parents are now hunkering down during this pandemic. We are being creative by finding ways to entertain the kids while we take it day by day, spending our time keeping our children’s minds busy and still learning. Reading stimulates the brain and opens our kids’ to adventure and possibility. Coronavirus has changed our world, but books will forever be the best escape for all. Here are 15 books that can be purchased or purchased on the kindle.
Preschool and uP
This book is filled with a ton of fun and adventure! Help this lost narrator who isn’t getting much help from an inexperienced detective and a tricky janitor with his missing second chapter. A humorous text and illustration book that can be read out loud to younger kids while more experience can enjoy this fun book that includes cool interactive elements that older kids will appreciate. KindergarTen– 3rd grade The Big Book of superpowers, written by Susanna Isern, illustrated by Rocio Bonilla
What are your superpowers? Explore eighteen stories of kids who use their everyday know-how into awesome-ness. In this book, kids can read how characters like Elena, Carlos, Sofia, and more use there “superpowers” like storytelling, ability to do the math, and being curious makes us all unique and helps the world to be so special. NewYorkFamily.com | April 2020
By Mia SalaS and donna duarte-ladd
What’s in Your Mind Today?, written by Louise Bladen, illustrated by Angela Perrini
chapter Two is Missing, written by Josh Lieb, drawn By Kevin Cornell
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for Kids
We love this guided, illustrated meditation for kids that offers simple mindfulness practice. Not only do little ones get to sharpen their reading skills, but they’ll learn how to breathe and center themselves in their bodies, find different ways to think about their positive and negative thoughts, and ultimately learn that they have the ability to feel calm and at peace no matter what. Best for early readers in kindergarten and first grade in terms of reading level, the content of the book is beneficial for older kids as well! lubna and Pebble, written by Wendy Meddour, illustrated by Daniel Egnéus
Lubna’s best friend is a pebble. Pebble always listens to her stories. Pebble always smiles when she feels scared. But when a lost little boy arrives in the World of Tents, Lubna realizes that he needs Pebble even more than she does. In an unforgettable story that subtly addresses the refugee crisis, a young girl must decide if friendship means giving up the one item that gives her comfort during a time of utter uncertainty.
The Day the Crayons Quit, written by Drew Daywalt, illustrated by Oliver Jeffers
Young Duncan wants to color, but when he opens his box of crayons, he finds only letters, all saying the same thing: His crayons have had enough! They quit! Beige Crayon is tired of playing second fiddle to Brown Crayon. Black wants to be used for more than just outlining. Blue needs a break from coloring all those bodies of water. What can Duncan possibly do to appease all of the crayons and get them back to doing what they do best? Kids will be imagining their own humorous conversations with crayons as they read all about Duncan’s. Handpicked by Amazon kids’ books editor, Seira Wilson, for Prime Book Box- a children’s subscription that inspires a love of reading, we couldn’t recommend this read more! Kindness Starts With You, by Jacquelyn Stagg
Teach your kids all about the importance of kindness with this bestselling children’s book. Follow Maddy through her day at school. From taking turns on the swing to including everyone in the game, this storybook shows that no act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever gone unnoticed! A lightbulb lesson of kindness is found on each page. Included in the book is a Kindness BINGO download and a Weekly Kindness Challenge to help encourage your child to say sorry, be polite, take turns, be a helping hand, include others, and show respect. 4Th GraDe–MiDDle SChool The Magic Misfits: The Minor Third by Neil Patrick Harris
The third book in the #1 New York Times bestselling Magic Misfits series is finally here and we couldn’t be more excited! When a famous ventriloquist arrives in town, the Misfits know he (and his
creepy dummy) are up to no good. With their mentor, Mr. Vernon, suddenly called away, can they come together to stop another member of the villainous Emerald Ring? It’s time for Theo to make a choice about where — and with whom — he belongs. Your kids will learn about adventure, friendship, and of course, magic. Mr. Tiger, Betsy and the Blue Moon, written by Sally Gardner, illustrated by Nick Maland
A 2018 Times book of the year, this is a must-read for late elementary and middle school readers. If your kids are crazy about fairytales, they’ll love this imaginative story about the daughter of a mermaid and an ice-cream maker, who meets the mysterious Mr. Tiger. The two have a huge challenge ahead of them: a moon to turn blue, berries to collect, and wishable-delicious ice cream to create. For any reader who enjoys a fantastical, creative narrative with beautiful illustrations, Mr. Tiger, Betsy and the Blue Moon is for you. The Ship We Built by Lexie Bean
A moving story for kids, The Ship We Built is all about finding the bravery to stand up for yourself, even to those you love. Rowan struggles to fit in- he’s not the “right kind” of girl and he’s not the “right kind” of boy. Feeling abandoned by his parents and classmates at school, Rowan discovers another way to share his secrets: letters attached to balloons. But when Rowan befriends a classmate who knows what it’s like to be lonely and scared, even at home, Rowan realizes that there might already be a person he can trust right by his side. Coming out late May, you can preorder the book now. The Creativity Project: an awesometastic Story Collection by Colby Sharp
This isn’t your typical read — it’s an explosion of creativity on the page! Colby Sharp invited more than forty authors and illustrators to provide story starters for each other; photos, drawings, poems, prose, or anything they could dream up. When they received their prompts, they responded by transforming these seeds into any form of creative work they wanted to share. The result is a stunning collection of words, art, poetry, and stories by some of our most celebrated children book creators. A section of April 2020 | Bronx/Riverdale Family
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extra story starters by every contributor provides fresh inspiration for readers to create works of their own. Kids get to be both readers and creators with The Creativity Project.
the glittering art deco world of a century ago. A scientist in Montreal discovers a method allowing people to have their memories extracted from their minds. Morrow explores identity, memory, and history, all in the shadows of Montreal’s now forgotten slave trade.
The Science of Breakable Things, by Tae Keller
A story of mental illness and the struggle of watching your loved ones go through an illness, The Science of Breakable Things is an uplifting story of a child’s efforts to “save” her mother from depression. Natalie enters an egg drop competition to win prize money to fly her botanist mom to see the miraculous Cobalt Blue Orchids–flowers that survive against impossible odds. Natalie’s mother has been suffering from depression, and Natalie is sure that the flowers’ magic will inspire her mom to love life again. Follow Natalie’s journey of science, hope, love, and miracles in this touching book, perfect for middle school readers. TeenagerS/Young adulT The extraordinaries by TJ Klune
A queer coming-of-age story about a fanboy with ADHD and the heros he loves, The Extraordinaries is an importnat read for young adults. After a chance encounter with Shadow Star, Nova City’s mightiest hero (and Nick’s biggest crush), Nick sets out to make himself extraordinary. A silly, yet incredibly impactful and timely book for generating an accepting, welcoming society, teens will really enjoy reading TJ Klune’s masterpiece. Mem by Bethany C. Morrow
As Buzzfeed’s #1 Book to Read this Spring and A Best Book of the Month at The Washington Post, Bustle, and Chicago Review of Books, Mem is the kind of story that stays with you long after you finish. A blend of speculative, science, and historical fiction, Mem takes readers back to
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NewYorkFamily.com | April 2020
epoca: The Tree of ecrof written by Ivy Claire, created by Kobe Bryant
From the mind of basketball legend, Academy Awardwinning, and New York Times-bestselling storyteller Kobe Bryant, comes a new tale of finding your strength against all odds. Set in an alternate classical world dominated by sports and a magical power called grana, the story takes place in the most elite sports academy in the land, where the best child-athletes are sent to hone their skills. When two new kids arrive, they suspect that something evil is happening at the school. Over their first year there, they must learn to master their grana in order to save the world from dark forces that are rising. For sports-fanatics and anyone who appreciates a story about strength, courage, and perseverance, this book is right up your alley. Jane against the World, by Karen Blumenthal
Tracing the path to the landmark decision in Roe v. Wade and the continuing battle for women’s rights, Blumenthal examines, in a straightforward tone, the root causes of the current debate around abortion and repercussions that have affected generations of American women. This is an empowering and timely read for young adults, sparking difficult discussions and an awareness of a topic that is so prevalent in American society and government today. For readers interested in learning about the fight for reproductive rights in the United States, we totally recommend this eye-opening book.
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mom stories
Shame and Infertility By Cris Pearlstein
M
y daughter just turned two years old, and so for two years, I’ve been someone’s mom. Surreal, because it took so damn long to happen. For four years becoming a mom was all I thought about. I was so desperate to be one and I did everything I could to make it happen. I was a frequent flyer at the fertility doctor, received repeated acupuncture treatments, ate a gluten-free diet, and was on a constant roller coaster of hormones. The details of my journey with infertility may have been shocking (the shots! The pills! The everpresent bruises all over my body!), but the fact that I was on the journey was not. Before the constant negative pregnancy tests, the countless doctor’s appointments, and the realization that having sex with my husband wouldn’t yield a child, I had a prescient fear that I would never be a mom. It was a fear that felt more like a vision—something that was destined to happen—and I was always sure, more than I was ever sure about anything, that having kids would be very difficult for me. This fear was deeply rooted in the belief that my body would one day fail me when I needed it most. I don’t know how I was so certain of my infertility, but I can definitely guess why. The assumption that my body would fail me was only a short leap away from the fact that I was always ashamed of my body for one reason or another (as I think most women who came of age in the 90s are). Let’s think for a second about the way girls were taught to view their bodies when I was growing up. The “Body Positivity” movement sure as hell didn’t exist back then, and the term “self-love” was a double entendre for masturbation, not the wellness mantra it is today. When girls hit puberty, and the curves first appeared, they were made fun of by their classmates. When they got their periods, they were taught to hide the evidence, and worse, pretend it wasn’t happening. When their puppy fat didn’t fall off by the age it “should” have, they were introduced to dieting. And if eventually, too much weight came off, then they were told to eat a sandwich. The female form was only celebrated if it was beautiful, but
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society’s version of beauty was an impossible standard. Basically, if you were a girl in 1994 loving your body wasn’t even an option because you were too preoccupied with trying to change it all the time—and too ashamed of it. Fast forward to 2015. I learned quickly that the shame associated with being a woman didn’t stop after puberty. It didn’t calm down in my 20s, nor did it subside in my 30s. When, at 31, my infertility was confirmed by our specialist I may not have been surprised, but I was devastated—and so ashamed. The vision I had came true. I felt like less of a woman, I felt it was my fault, and
above all, I felt guilty that my husband was stuck with me. I was a lemon, a faulty model, with a body that couldn’t do the one thing it should have been programmed to do. The shame was so great that we didn’t breathe a word of it to anyone. For months we hid this huge part of our lives from our family and friends, and though it felt like torture, in my mind there was no other option. How could I tell people that I’ve failed as a woman? That we’ve failed as a couple? But I slowly found myself sharing my story with professional acquaintances, people I’d meet while filming TV segments or on set for a styling job. It somehow felt safer to confide in these
strangers than telling anyone close to me what was going on. An incredible thing happened with each new person I told: I felt better. It was like every time I told my story a little weight— and a little shame— would be lifted off of my shoulders, and I could breathe again. The other incredible thing that happened when I opened up was it seemed to make others open up too. It was like a chain reaction, from one woman to another, sharing in the shame together. I heard responses as simple as, “I went through IVF, too” or as complex as “It took me so many tries to have my son, but then I got pregnant naturally a year later”. I heard a lot of “My sister/cousin/friend went through it”, and some of “My partner and I have been trying for years.” And I even had one young woman tell me, “I’m actually an IVF baby myself.” I came home one day and told my husband I was done keeping everyone in the dark. I was done acting like our infertility was a dirty little secret I had to hold close and tight. I wanted to let it go and I wanted the shame to go with it. That night we
It was like every time I told my story a little weight—and a little shame— would be lifted off of my shoulders, and I could breathe again. told our family and friends and I instantly felt liberated. I knew at that moment that these stories needed to be shouted from the rooftops, not just mine but all of them. Before I knew it I became obsessed with telling my story to anyone who would listen, and I tried to convince other women to tell theirs too. It dawned on me that sharing negates shame. The problem with writing about infertility is that every single woman who has been through this journey has had a different
experience. Much like pregnancy itself, the road of infertility is as unique as the woman (and couple) going through it. Every woman had her own hormone dosage, her own shots schedule, and her own statistics to overcome. Some women try for years and years with no child in the end. Some women try once and end up with twins. For some women, it’s not something they learn about themselves until it’s too late. For others, it’s something they know they will have to go through because of their individual circumstances, like health issues that would threaten a naturallyconceived child. But I found comfort in each unique story, each unique experience. Thanks to every single woman who shared her struggle with me, I slowly managed to feel like less of a freak. Though I can’t say I completely love my body now (pregnancy and postpartum was a wild ride), I can say that I’m in awe of what it accomplished. I learned that my body is powerful, not perfect. It’s strong, not shameful. And when it comes to reproduction, I may be a lemon but at least I’m not the only one.
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April 2020 | Bronx/Riverdale Family
15
family health
Wheezing Versus Asthma How to identify respiratory conditions in your child, and when you should be concerned By Pramod Narula, md.
My four-year-old daughter loves to run around and play outside! However, sometimes when she is particularly active, she will start to wheeze. It often resolves within a few minutes, but I am concerned. Does this mean she may have asthma?
Y
ou are right to be concerned that your daughter’s wheezing may be indicative of a respiratory issue. However, asthma is not the only condition that causes activityinduced wheezing. There are a number of different conditions that could be the cause. I would recommend taking your daughter to a pediatric pulmonologist, who can identify the source of the wheezing, and then develop the most effective course of treatment. That whistling sound you hear when your daughter wheezes is caused by a narrowing of her airways. Exercise and physical activity is a common precursor to wheezing as it increases one’s rate of respiration. A common cause of this is, as you suspected, asthma.
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Asthma is a chronic condition in which the airways constrict or fill with mucus in response to particular stimuli or “triggers,” one of which is exercise. Other triggers may include, dust, mold and pet dander. Children with asthma are generally reactive to a number of different triggers, rather than just one. Asthma is treated with corticosteroids, which control inflammations, and are usually taken in the form of an inhaler. Wheezing may also be caused by environmental allergies brought on by pollen, ragweed, dust and many other substances. An allergist can determine if your daughter has environmental allergies and to what she may be allergic to. Treatment for environmental allergies may include taking a daily antihistamine or receiving a course of allergy shots. However, asthma and allergies are not mutually exclusive. Approximately 90% of children with asthma also have allergies, and allergies can sometimes make asthma symptoms even worse. Acute respiratory infections, often caused by viruses, may also cause wheezing and
are extremely common in young children. Rhinovirus (the common cold), influenza and respiratory syncytial virus are usual causes of wheezing. Although the virus causing the wheezing needs to work itself out, corticosteroids used to treat asthma may provide temporary relief and would not need to be used long term. It is encouraging that your daughter’s wheezing episodes are mild. However, it is important to know the signs for when you should take her to the emergency room. If the wheezing does not abate, and she starts breathing extremely hard, you will need to seek immediate medical care. That being said, the sooner your daughter is assessed by a pediatric pulmonologist, the less likely you will encounter an emergency situation like this one. With proper diagnosis and management, your daughter will be able to play safely. Pramod Narula, M.D. is the Chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at NewYorkPresbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital.
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April 2020 | Bronx/Riverdale Family
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education
Guide to the Montessori Method How this unique educational approach can meet your top priorities in the school search By Mia SalaS
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ontessori has become somewhat of a movement with over 5,000 schools now in the U.S., and many in NYC. Whether your little ones are currently enrolled in a Montessori school or not, we’re sure you’ve heard the buzz around this unique approach to education. When you embark on the oh-so-long search for a school for your kiddo, there’s so many factors to consider — too many! That’s why, we’ve decided to coordinate your top priorities when looking for a school with how the Montessori education fulfills them. Whether you’re primary concern is individualized learning, warm and welcoming classrooms, or the available resources and opportunities, we’ve got you covered. Find out how Montessori schools match your top priorities for your child’s education with our Parent-Personalized Guide to Montessori! Priority: Resources If you’re looking for a school that’s overloaded with the best resources for your kids, you’ve come to the right place with Montessori. With specialized learning materials that you won’t see in other classrooms, Montessori uses their resources to develop interactions that encourage confidence and selfsufficiency. For example, “Golden Beads” introduce kids to the decimal system with concrete representations of place value, and “The Pink Tower”, with the largest cube on the bottom, introduces preschoolers to vocabulary like “largest” and “smallest”. You may hear the term “control of error” around the Montessori community, which basically means that materials are designed so kids get instant feedback about their progress and learn from errors without adult assistance. There are also opportunities to develop and run a business, class government, experiences in nature, and plenty of hands-on activities so kids can choose what they want to work on.
Priority: Individualized Learning Do you prioritize an education for your kiddo that really focuses on their own personal progress and learning needs? Montessori recognizes
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Kids are encouraged to pursue their own interests and curiosities, taking the time they need to fully understand each concept and meet individualized learning goals. that all students learn at different paces, so teachers focus on each student’s individual needs. The Montessori curriculum is also intentionally grouped into 3-year cycles, rather than broken out into year-by-year expectations for student learning. Kids are encouraged to pursue their own interests and curiosities, taking the time they need to fully understand each concept and meet individualized learning goals. Montessori students learn to take care of themselves and their environment — they wash tables, organize shelves, prepare their own meals, and assist younger children. Priority: Supportive Community Once you join the Montessori network, you become of a much larger community of teachers, students, and parents all working together. Even within the classroom, collaboration and group work is strongly encouraged, and kids learn to support each other. As children mature in the Montessori classroom over the 3-year period, they understand that they are a part of a community where everyone has their own individual needs, but also contribute to the community. The environment is super loving and the classrooms are thoughtfully
arranged, welcoming each student into the community with open arms. Montessori learners recognize themselves as part of multiple communities — the community of the classroom, the community of the family, and the community of the wider world. Priority: Well-Rounded Curriculum Teachers carefully observe your kids in the classroom to customize the curriculum for their own unique abilities, interests, and learning style. In the Infants & Toddlers program, little ones develop skills such as language, concentration, problem solving, visual discrimination, and physical coordination. The Early Childhood classroom offers your child five areas of study: Practical Life, Sensorial, Math, Language, and Cultural Studies. Similarly, the Elementary program includes Science and Social studies, Cultural Studies, Language, Math, and Practical Life. In the Secondary program, there are advanced courses in language arts, mathematics, sciences, and social studies, as well as specialized courses, including world languages, visual and performing arts, health and fitness, field studies, and service learning. The “spiral curriculum” introduces students to many interrelated topics, repeatedly over time, to instill a broad and deep knowledge. Priority: Location Convenience You want a school that’s on your route to work in the morning or nearby your neighborhood so that dropping your kids off and picking them up fits smoothly into your busy NYC schedule — we totally get it! Luckily, there are a ton of Montessori schools throughout all four NYC boroughs. From Battery Park to SoHo to Morningside Heights and everything in between, location is certainly not a barrier with the abundance of Montessori schools. Priority: Quality of Classrooms The actual setup and design of classrooms matters, because the classroom is where your kid will be doing most of their learning. If the quality of classrooms is your top priority when looking at schools, you surely won’t be disappointed at Montessori. Each classroom is carefully planned out to cater to specific
age groups and insight positive, happy feelings. Think natural lighting, soft colors, and tables or mats on the floor for individual and group work. Infants & Toddlers, Early Childhood, and Elementary programs include child-sized furniture, child-sized kitchen utensils so the students can eat, prepare, and clean up their snack on their own, low sinks accessible to children, and cozy spaces for quiet reading. Learning materials are arranged on accessible shelves according to curricular area, so students can exercise their independence when selecting their activity. Priority: Affordability School is expensive these days, and with summer camp fees coming up, affordability of a school is for sure a concern. Thankfully, public and charter Montessori schools are on
the rise in the U.S., and public education is free! As for now, most Montessori education is provided in private schools, and tuition can vary based on location, age, hours, and other factors. However, the American Montessori Society says: “Don’t be afraid to ask about a school’s financial aid opportunities. It is one of the most common questions parents ask of private-school administrators.” Many Montessori schools offer financial aid for families in need, and some schools have reduced tuition when you enroll more than one child. Priority: Education for Kids with Special Needs Does your child have special needs and you’re looking for a school that will accomodate them? The Montessori education provides a nurturing environment for kids of all
abilities and learning styles, including kids with special needs, physical disabilities, learning differences in reading, spelling, and math, ADHD, and mild to moderate autism spectrum disorders. Because kids learn in multi-age classes with the same teacher for three years, this provides a stable, predictable environment and sustained connection that particularly suits kids with special needs. Learning at Montessori is also multi-sensory and hands-on, and because teachers tailor education to specific needs, kids with disabilities get the individualized learning experience that works for them. Free from the pressure of meeting formal standards of learning, like grade-level benchmarks, kids with special needs can really take their time and develop a unique educational and developmental path. April 2020 | Bronx/Riverdale Family
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Free
Educational REsouRcEs
With schools shut down, here are great options to keep kids learning without leaving home By Donna LaDD
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t’s official NYC Public Schools are CLOSED at least until April 20th due to Coronavirus (COVID-19). For our kids, this may seem fun at first but kids need and ultimately benefit greatly from a structured environment. Many schools will be providing remote learning and as a supplement to their learning we have a curated guide of free resources and subscriptions for remote learning and homeschooling that we as parents at New York Family will be utilizing and hope these resources will benefit you and your family during this quarantine. Please vist us online at newyorkfamily. com as we are be posting and sharing daily on ways parents can keep their sanity all the while navigating what is new territory for so many of us. This means finding free resources and subscriptions during the coronavirus pandemic for your kids to stay occupied. PBS Kids For toddlers up to pre-k students, parents will love the collection of printables that are geared to support kids in learning. Kids can also hop on their favorite shows such as Wild Kratts and Dinosaur Train, where games are designed to enrich their education. Sesame Street With a mission to help kids meet critical early development needs — the program many of us grew up on is still going strong and providing online content and shows every weekday morning. Many parents will attest that Sesame Street is still one of the best resources for the pre-k and kindergarten set, as well as kids with special needs. You’ll find video, games, and art projects online. You may be home stuck with the kids, but we won’t tell anyone when you jump up when “Number of the Day” comes up. DuckDuckMoose If you’re looking for some apps for the tablet, we
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Helpful Tips:
New York Family contributor and homeschooling mom Denise Nicole (@abrooklybabe) shares tips to get through the day: • Get to know your child’s learning style and adapt to it. For example, if they are a better reader compared to other subjects, give them more reading lessons. • When it comes to teaching kids math, keep in mind some kids do better with worksheets while others prefer math manipulatives or a combination of both. • Just because you cannot go out you can still release all that energy with physical exercise like a dance party (Kidz Bop videos are great) or letting them do some fun dance videos on TikTok or yoga for the little ones. I like Cosmic Kids Yoga on youtube.
recommend Duckduckmoose for the preschool to kindergarten set. Graphics and interface are engaging and easily accessible for children. From puzzles, maps, to fun music apps where you can learn notes and rhythm, kids gravitate enthusiastically to this sister site of Khan Academy. Metkids We recommend this resource for kids ages 5 and up. An extensive catalog of content, as well as a tool to partake in a virtual tour of the museum, will give kids a dose of art and culture. Kids can learn about a particular period or collection and explore art via the “Time Machine,” starting as early as 8000-2000 BC to present time with fun facts and videos.
ProjectGutenberg A free library of over 60,000 free eBooks that include a children’s literature category where kids can download or read online classics like Little Women and Peter Pan. Nano Wrimo With only time on their hands, this site is for the young writer who is itching to write a novel… in 30 days. Common Core-aligned lesson plans from prewriting to publishing help kids to develop and fine-tune their writing skills. We love this resource for students who are up for using their imagination to create another world or simply tell their story. From lower elementary to high school. Science Friday For elementary to high school students with lessons that engage through stories and podcasts. Segments in categories like Physics & Chemistry, Earth Science, Brain and Biology, and more will provide kids with a new way of seeing science. The Activity Mom If you’re looking for actual paper lessons, this source is full of printables for kids from baby up. From a free toddler alphabet activity to a cool “Our Favorite” typing program geared towards homeschoolers. Coolmath4kids Coolmath4kids is for kids from kindergarten to sixth grade. Kids can work on addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and fractions through online math games, quizzes, manipulatives, and more. For kids 13 and up, visit their sister site at coolmath.com. Scholastic From Smile to Dogman, Scholastic provides many favorite books to our kids. Students can visit the Scholastic website for a wealth of educational activities from grades pre-k and up.
Weaving in familiar stories and games for the kids will help when the fun of being home has worn off, and delving into some familiar characters will add a bit of normalcy to the day. Howstuffworks.com We all know kids can ask the craziest things. But what if… gasp… you do not have the answer? Send them to Howstuffworks.com. From How the Shamrock Shake Became McDonald’s Mintiest Legend (who knew!) to What’s the Difference Between a Mountain Lion and a Cougar? We can’t promise this site has the answer for everything, but it comes pretty darn close.
Staying Social
If your school does not have a communication system set up, Google, in response to COVID-19, recently announced that advanced Hangouts Meet and Google Classroom features are available for free to anyone who uses G Suite. This is an excellent way for an entire class or group of classes to participate in a lesson simultaneously, or a video lesson can be accessed later. These features are usually available in the Enterprise edition of G Suite and in G Suite Enterprise for Education — available at no additional cost to all customers until July 1, 2020. The only caveat is that you do need to already be a G suite customer. There are three main plans: Basic ($6), Business ($12), and Enterprise ($25).
April 2020 | Bronx/Riverdale Family
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Mental Health for Parents during Coronavirus Easy tips on how to keep yourself calm during these trying times By Laura VLadimiroVa and EVELyn Gama
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hese are trying times. In addition to all of the small worries parents carry around daily, we’ve now added coronavirus (COVID-19) and all the unknowns that come with this unprecedented time. Many parents are going through their days in a state of heightened anxiety. Some parents are beginning to make difficult decisions about how best to ride out the health recommendations — schools closing, social distancing, and constant hand washing — while maintaining a sense of normalcy for themselves and their children. Everyone reading this, stop. Take a big, beautiful, and deep breath. We’re going to keep going. We’re going to find new ways to be normal, to find big, hearty laughs and celebrate joy with our children. Learning to manage this current state of anxiety and fighting for joy is a fight worth having. In fact, it is more important now than ever. Let’s use the acronym CALM to stay present, loving, and open for the benefit of our mental health and the benefit of cultivating even more love for our littles.
Create a plan. There’s something everyone’s
been saying that isn’t of much help, “Oh, it’s just like the flu.” Minimizing or ignoring your worry or anxiety doesn’t actually make it go away. Instead, it buries itself deeper into your mind and makes things worse. Within manageable levels, worry and anxiety are there to help us plan and be prepared for potential threats. The problem occurs when our mind and body enter a constant state of worry and rumination rather than planning. Create a plan for the day or week that you’re in. Ask yourself, what can I do to prepare myself and my family? These are
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short-term, attainable goals that help your mind process what is and isn’t possible at this moment. In this way, you harness worry to control the things you can control. Then, when rumination creeps in again, you let go of what you can’t control. Creating a plan might look like stocking your freezer or having contingencies for modified work or childcare situations. It can also look like talking to your partner or a trusted family member to know that you’re on the same page or have support for different contingencies. For example, asking each other, “If we are both working from home, what do we need?” Acceptance. Accept that we are in a
difficult time, and we won’t have all the answers for the foreseeable future. Accept that no one is perfect, and so many of us are trying our best. With that acceptance, you can attune to what you need to be able to cope with the uncertainty and the distress that creates. Acceptance does not mean ignoring feelings. Instead, it means holding feelings and still being able to move forward. For example, if we accept that events may be disrupted, we can plan to still have contact with close friends or set up more Facetime calls with family. For parents, acceptance might help you be attuned to your feelings of being off schedule and talk to your partner about what you each need in terms of self-care during this time. Accepting something of this magnitude is a Sisyphean task. Yet, it is also a trusted coping and anxiety-management tool. What are some tools to learn to accept tricky circumstances? One idea is to make a new reality meaningful. Finding meaning by learning to explore the opportunities and possibilities that come out of a difficult moment can be deeply purposeful.
Limit the flow of activating information. We were already inundated
with information before coronavirus, and now it feels even more urgent. It feels like this is all anyone wants to talk about! While that may be true, for those with anxiety or developing anxiety, this can be overwhelming. With 24-hour news cycles, Twitter, Reddit, and more, we have so many sources of information throughout the day that it becomes easy to stay in an activated fight or flight response at all times. This exhausts our nervous system and keeps us in a state of anxious anticipation. Limit your experience to a few trusted sources. Set aside times to check news and updates. Set up a buffer before bedtime to protect healthy sleep. It’s wise to stay informed. It is also wise to ensure adequate rest, nutrition, and authentic connection with your family, partner, or body. Mindfulness. This biggest buzzword of the last few years is on this list for a reason: It works. Mindfulness is such a valuable tool right now. It allows you to balance and smooth out that fight or flight activation with softer, gentler moments that create a more open, social, or serene feeling. For many people, mindfulness feels out of reach in their hectic day-to-day lives. While creating a meditation practice is a worthy goal, mindfulness can also be found in smaller, attainable changes. In this context, mindfulness refers not to empty the mind, but to cueing into the moment, you’re in. Sometimes that can mean taking a moment to attune to self. Can you find a moment in your day to tune into what you’re thinking and feeling for 3 minutes? Watch those thoughts go by without judging them or rushing into problem-solving. Turn your awareness to them and take deep breaths to
bring your body into awareness as well. As you practice mindfulness, you may notice a self-care need coming forth during this time. I need a few minutes alone, or I need to connect to a friend today. Use that information to create moments of self-care and self-soothing. Other times, mindfulness can mean cueing into the moment you are in with others or a task at hand. Parents who are staying in more often with their children during this time and canceling events can compassionately notice their own feelings around being stuck inside and then try to create a few moments throughout the day of mindful, engaged play. This is a time to put away phones and distractions and let your child or children do what they do so naturally, which is to be entirely in the moment they are in. If you struggle with this, you can set yourself up for success by thinking about a type of play you actually enjoy – art activities, baking, or board games — and engaging with your kids in those activities. One thing that coronavirus has brought to the surface is how truly dependent we are on each other, for better or worse. We may need our neighbor to be an ally at this time, they may need us to help them too. Our partners and friends need us to be authentic, which means showcasing both care and worry earnestly. Our kids need us to keep their lives full of honesty and as normal as possible. We need all of that, too, so we fight to stay grateful, calm and loving to ourselves so we can keep showing up for others in this unprecedented time of connectedness. Laura Vladimirova is a reproductive health advocate. As the director of the Edith and Carl Marks JCH Women’s Center, she runs programs for teen girls, women on the spectrum, and expecting and new parents in Brooklyn. She also supports new parents through her doula work, lactation consultant visits, and group childbirth education. Evelyn Gama is a licensed clinical social worker with a master’s degree from Columbia University. Evelyn has a private practice in Manhattan and is also an outpatient therapist at The Motherhood Center. Evelyn’s best adventures are as a mom to her own two little ones in NYC. April 2020 | Bronx/Riverdale Family
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Healthy Food
for a Strong Immune System By Olga UzUnOva
A
s cases of Coronavirus multiply, it’s important to remember that one of the best forms of protection is prevention. Enhance your immune system with wholesome food to stay healthy, feel good, and full of energy. We spoke with Stephanie Schwartz, a nutritionist from the New York Presbyterian-Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, who gave us some useful tips on superfoods and immune boosters for the whole family. “Eat the rainbow,” says Ms. Schwartz. It’s essential to have diversity in our meals, and there is no better season than this spring for fresh fruits and veggies. She says the colorful plants are rich in different vitamins that enhance our immune system and entertain the little ones as well. “You can give them green veggies one day, orange carrots on the next, and keep on mixing them in a rainbow.” Diversity is key to a healthy balanced diet with wholesome, nutritious food. Fish is rich in Omega-3, while meat is full of iron and B-complex vitamins. Milk and dairy products are also packed with vitamin B, so make sure your child gets enough of these. Ms. Schwartz advises good hydration too. Children should drink a sufficient amount of water and milk as they are the best nutritious drinks with no added sugar. Ms. Schwartz thinks all-natural ingredients are enough for a healthy diet, so there is no need for supplements, especially for the children. However, she advises parents to consult with their pediatrician if your child needs more vitamin D. This vitamin is hard to absorb from food, and some children might need a larger dose. Last but not least, family eating should be a pleasure and not a quick stop at a fast food restaurant. Try to find time to prepare yummy homemade meals or spend some quality time with the family at a nice restaurant.” Eating should be a pleasurable experience for the whole family and children
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should enjoy it,” Ms. Schwartz says. “Involve them in preparing meals and show them how much fun it can be.” Please note that any change or new food in your children’s diet should be discussed with your pediatrician. This list of fruits and vegetables is not exhaustive for full healthy eating. Please consult a doctor or a nutritionist. Broccoli Broccoli is bursting with nutrients and contains choline which is beneficial for your gut. Broccoli is supercharged with vitamins A, C, and E and minerals, as well as many antioxidants and fiber. It is one of the healthiest vegetables for your table. Spinach Do you remember Popeye the Sailor and how the spinach made him strong? This plant really gives you superpowers! Spinach is rich in vitamins, numerous antioxidants, and beta carotene, which enhances the infection-fighting ability of our bodies. Similar to broccoli, spinach is healthiest when cooked as little as possible or even eaten raw in a salad to retain its nutrients. Some nutritionists say light boiling enhances its vitamin A and allows other nutrients to be released from oxalic acid. Kale This common winter vegetable is a regular ingredient in superfood dishes. The antioxidants strengthen your immune system and protect your body from diseases. You can add raw kale to your salad, prepare a healthy snack of kale leaf chips, mix it together with
almost any other green veggie, and make a healthy-tasting smoothie. Bell Peppers Brightly colored bell peppers hold lots of vitamin A, which enhances your body’s mucosal barriers (easily damaged by infection). They’re also a rich source of beta carotene which supports your immune system. Beta carotene helps keep your eyes and skin healthy. Blueberries These little fruits are loaded with vitamin C and potassium as well as other vital vitamins. They are easily mixed in smoothies, baked oatmeal, or can be eaten as a snack. These purplish berries are anti-inflammatory vitamin bombs that charge you with energy and strength. Oranges You need to make sure that your body has plenty of vitamin C to help your body fight off infections. Your body can’t store vitamin C, so you need to try and include foods that are rich in vitamin C as often as possible. If you’re not a fan of oranges, then you could try eating more tomatoes, peas, and peppers, or drink lemon juice. Papaya Papaya is another fruit rich in vitamin C. Scientists say you can find 200% of the daily recommended amount of vitamin C in one papaya. Papayas also contain a digestive enzyme called papain that has anti-inflammatory properties. Papayas provide your body with B vitamins and folate, all of which are beneficial for your overall health. Kiwi Like papayas, kiwis are naturally full of essential nutrients, including folate, potassium, vitamin K, and vitamin C. Vitamin C boosts white blood cells to fight infection, while its other nutrients keep the rest of your body functioning properly. April 2020 | Bronx/Riverdale Family
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Buy-Nothing Guide
The to Being More eco-Friendly “Reduce, Re-Use, Recycle” doesn’t mention BUYING MORE STUFF By Hester ABA
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f one of your resolutions this year was to be more eco-friendly, you might have started off by buying a reusable water bottle, picking up some stainless steel straws or investing in your own coffee cup for your daily latte. If you’re truly trying to go green though, it’s worth bearing in mind that the classic adage to “Reduce, Re-Use, Recycle” doesn’t mention BUYING MORE STUFF anywhere. As natural-born consumers, our instinct is to solve all our problems by consuming more, but when we’re trying to reduce our impact on the planet, we need to do the opposite! Here are some ideas for how to go green in NYC without spending a single cent. Clothing swaps The fashion industry is a huge source of pollution (ranked as the 5th most polluting industry worldwide) and lots of our fast fashion, impulsebuy items end up in landfills. What’s the solution so we can still scratch our itch for new-to-us items and clear out our closets at the same time? Clothing swaps! Grow NYC organize regular swaps across New York City, and they are free to attend. Just bring clean, reusable, portable items such as clothing, housewares, games, books and toys, and take home new-to-you items. Check out Grow NYC’s website (www.grownyc.org) for dates and locations of upcoming swaps. You can also take a look at Meetup.com which is home to a huge and varied selection of clothing swap meetup groups. Optimize your utilities If you’re lucky enough to have central heat, try turning the temperature down by one or two degrees, and encouraging your kids to grab a sweater or wear socks indoors instead of hitting up the thermostat. You can also turn the heat off once everyone is in bed and
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Trash Facts • The average American generates 4.5 lbs of waste every day • New York only recycles about a fifth of its garbage (18% from homes and 25% from businesses) lagging behind cities like San Francisco and Seattle • About a third of residential waste is made up of food scraps and yard rubbish, which can be composted but which when it ends up in landfill can generate harmful methane gas • Most public housing in New York City does not have easy access to recycling services. New York’s nearly 400,000 public housing residents recycle less than 2% of their household waste (source: The New York Times Jan, 2020)
on again at breakfast time. If you’re in an apartment building where the communal areas are sweltering, call your super and gently encourage them to adjust the heat. These measures will also help to save you dollars and cents off your electricity bills. Check Craigslist’s free page Craiglist’s “free” page is filled with all kinds of weird and wonderful items people are giving away. If you have your own transport for picking up large furniture items and if you’re happy to get your hands dirty to “upcycle” pieces, you can furnish an entire apartment just with freebies! And on the
other side of things, if you have items you need to get rid of, consider posting them here or on your local parenting Facebook page before you put them out on the sidewalk. Cut down your food waste New York sends an astounding four million tons of waste to landfill every year, and almost a third of that is food waste. Although most of this is generated by grocery stores, manufacturers and the restaurant industry, individual households can still do their bit to help. Meal-planning and keeping supplies of easy-to-cook staples like rice, beans and pasta in your pantry can help you to avoid ordering take-out or doing a hungry bodega dash. If you find yourself regularly throwing away uneaten fresh produce, consider switching to frozen vegetables especially when it comes to broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, peas and green beans which are just as good frozen as fresh. Eat less meat Whether it’s trying out “meatless mondays” or transitioning your kids’ sandwich fillings from deli meats to cheese or PB&J, you don’t need to go full veggie or vegan to have a big environmental impact with your diet. We love following plant-based instagram accounts from New Yorkers like @veggiekins and @bonberi for inspiration for our meat-free meals! Don’t let a nice gesture turn into trash While we’re big fans of New Yorkers’ habit of leaving books and other small belongings out on the sidewalk for passersby to pick up, please check the weather forecast before you do this! We see so many sodden books and pieces of clothing which then just end up in the trash. If you have kids’ books in good condition to give away, consider asking your local school’s Parent Coordinator if they take library donations.
Bring your own bag Keeping a tote bag in your handbag or laptop case will save you picking up the plastic. And we all have tote bags we can press into service as in New York they’re given away with so many purchases. Pop one in each of your bags (we like to zip them into our inside pockets) so you won’t forget. Mason jars for your takeout coffee habit Like a good hack? Wrap rubber bands around a mason jar and voila! You have the perfect reusable coffee cup which won’t burn your hands when you fill it with hot coffee. Creative composting Want to try composting in New York City but your apartment building doesn’t offer it? Don’t be discouraged! Grow NYC has more than 70 food scrap drop-off locations around the city where you can bring fruit and vegetable scraps, non-greasy food scraps, coffee grounds, tea bags, egg shells, cut or dried flowers and much, much more. Just avoid meat, fish or daily products and check out the full list of do’s and don’t’s as well as their list of drop-off locations on the Grow NYC website. You don’t need a dedicated composting receptacle either - you can compost in a paper bag lined with newspaper, and keep your compost in the refrigerator or your freezer to avoid bad smells. Volunteer to garden New York has tons of opportunities to get your hands dirty, even if you don’t have a garden of your own. Check whether your local public school has a gardening program, or get involved with the Governor’s Island Teaching Garden during the open season (May 1st to October 31st 2020) where your kids can take part in gardening workshops, take tours and learn about nutrition. You can also visit NYC Service’s website to search for volunteering opportunities at your local park or playground. Consolidate your Amazon deliveries We’re all hooked on Amazon, but getting single items delivered separately uses unnecessary resources when it comes to both packaging and delivery vehicles. Use the “Shopping List” feature or fill your cart and only checkout once a week to make your Amazon habit more eco-friendly. You can also choose to select an “Amazon delivery day” so that all your packages arrive on the same day of the week. April 2020 | Bronx/Riverdale Family
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Best
Behavior
Princess Marie-Chantal’s guide to modern etiquette for families By Hester ABA
C
rown Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece is a New York transplant, mama to five kids, and the founder of her own children’s fashion line, Marie-Chantal. We caught up with her to learn about her new book, Manners Begin at Breakfast, a beautifully illustrated how-to guide she has written about modern etiquette for families. We hoped to pick up some tips about how to stop our children eating with their fingers, but came away with some profound insights about our impact as parental role models when it comes to manners. How did you develop a first interest in manners and etiquette? Who was your main inspiration? When I was little my father was busy building a business. Even though he was busy, he always insisted that we sit down together as a family at breakfast. We were dressed in our school uniforms and our parents expected us to be properly dressed, hair brushed, hands washed before we could sit at the table. It was expected of us at all mealtimes. What I remember isn’t strict austere rules but nice boundaries and happy family time. What does the title of your book, “Manners
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Begin at Breakfast”, mean to you? Manners Begin at Breakfast means that we start everyday, at the very beginning of the day, at the table teaching our children the first rules of manners. What are some of your etiquette pet peeves? A pet peeve of mine would be when I see a parent and his or her child at a restaurant where an IPad is placed on the table and no interaction is taking place at all. Mealtimes in most cultures are a celebration or a time to share our thoughts with one another. You wouldn’t do it on a date or hope to never be that person who has no conversation at all when out at a restaurant, so why do it with your child? I understand that children may not know how to sit at the table without an iPhone or a tablet so this is where I stress that one needs to break the habit and teach them the art of conversation and sitting at the table. It’s not hard, you just need to learn to make it fun. If you were going to single out one piece of advice in your book that could have the biggest impact on the lives of a family, what would it be? We all want our children to be treated well when they go out into the world and that will depend on how they treat other people. Give them a toolbox to be able to find success.
Teach them to be polite and kind to others from an early age, and good manners and a happy disposition should become second nature. In what ways do you think the digital age has detrimentally affected peoples’ etiquette? Aside from us all being glued to our phones of course! As a parent, one of our most important roles is to teach children how to behave. This is best taught through being a good role model for our kids. Parents are fundamental in teaching core values to our children. However, In this day and age electronics offer more and more distractions from healthy human relationships. As children grow older technology offers great advances in education and correspondence but also challenges with relationships and self-confidence. It’s important for parents to be present and active in their young children’s use of technology. Teach them wisely and always encourage moderation. You have five children of very different ages — how do you keep a close family connection and sense of home? I’m a firm believer in treating people the way you want to be treated and that also applies to how I treat my parents and siblings. I’m hopeful that my children will treat me
and their siblings the way they were brought up. You have created a beautiful children’s fashion brand, Marie-Chantal. How do your passions for etiquette and fashion go together? Tom Ford once said, “dressing well is a form of good manners”. When I was growing up, my mother told me to always dress nicely because you never know who you’ll run into. She was so right and I’ve passed this advice along to my kids. This doesn’t mean dressing up to the nines every time you leave the house. My rules are simply that no matter what my children wear, try to look neat and tidy. You grew up in Hong Kong and have lived in many different countries since then. How did you decide to make New York City your home? I was fortunate enough to have enjoyed an international upbringing. I was born in London, raised in Hong Kong and Paris and finally ended up in New York for University at NYU. When my children were little we lived in London and decided to move back three years ago as my bigger kids were at University or about to start. We wanted to be together as a family so we collectively decided to move. I wasn’t ready to be an empty nester with kids living across the pond. Your book, clothing line, and store are all absolutely beautiful. Where do you get your sense of style from? Would you say you have a signature style? I grew up with a love of fashion and my mother was and still is so stylish. When we were little and living in Paris you can imagine the feasts of fashion that one is exposed to. The French taught me so much but so did my mother. I always knew that I wanted to have a career in fashion but a gentler one and children’s wear is so perfect. I’m quite simple at heart in my fashion choices and like to keep it elegant even though I’m always in jeans. I try to look smart or with a touch of something lovely.
Ungano & Agriodimas
Marie-Chantal’s beautiful new book “Manners Begin at Breakfast” with a foreword by Tory Burch is available wherever books are sold. April 2020 | Bronx/Riverdale Family
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last word
The earth has music for those who listen - Wiiam Shakpe
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NewYorkFamily.com | April 2020
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