New York Family April 2020

April 2020 established 1986

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

GET READY FOR SUMMER 2020!

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April 2020 | New York Family

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contents

April 2020

NewYorkFamily.com

pg. 36

pg. 12

pg. 42

FEATURES 8 | Mom Hacks: DIY Hand Sanitizer Hand sanitizer is the new gold— luckily it is easy to make, and we share how 12 | Reading Books to buy or download while the kids are being homeschooled 22 | Education A guide to the Montessori method 34 | Mental Health for Parents Easy tips to stay calm 36 | Free Educational Resources 10 sites and apps to keep the kids learning while home during Coronavirus

40 | Healthy Food Eating foods that boost you and your family’s immunity 42 | Crown Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece: Best Behavior A Princess’s guide to modern etiquette for families 46 | The Buy-Nothing Guide Spend less by reducing, re-using and recycling

Stories & columns 6 | Editor’s Note New York Love 18 | Mom Stories Writer Cris Pearlstein shares her fertility story in Shame and Infertility 26 | Mom Time The 5 best podcasts for moms

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NewYorkFamily.com | April 2020

pg. 40

pg. 18

28 | Ask the Specialist Planning a supplemental needs trust 32 | Family Health Wheezing vs. asthma and when you should be concerned 49 | The Last Word

Home & Away 48 | Travel Family-friendly Panama City

Directories 24 | Montessori School Guide 30 | Special Needs Directory

on the Cover Photography: Ungano & Agriodimas ungano-agriodimas.com

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Here I feel like I matter, can make a difference in the community and the world. Everyone, no matter how shy, is valued in their own way.

It's impossible to fall through the cracks here. And at Oakwood we’re allowed to ‘fail out loud’ and given the support to bounce back up.”

Alice F, Cold Spring, NY

“Oakwood caters to what each individual student needs to learn their best.

“The community is so open and supportive, no matter what.

You can pretty much be whoever you want at Oakwood, be accepted, and meet people from all over the world.

It's really amazing!”

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Upper School Day & Boarding Programs (5 and 7-day) Middle School Day Program

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Middle & Upper Schools VIRTUAL Open Houses Sat Apr 26 • Sun May 2 • Starting 12 Noon Take a virtual tour, and talk to the Head of School, academic directors and current students about the Oakwood program, curricular offerings and plans heading into next year.

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Discover! OakwoodFriends.org April 2020 | New York 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 42) features Crown Princess Marie Chantal of Greece, who shares on her new book Manners Begin at Breakfast: Modern Etiquette.

If stressed (who isn’t right now?!), we have Mental Health for Parents During Coronavirus — easy tips to stay calm (page 34). 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 & Infertility (page 18). And who doesn’t love a good podcast? We have The 5 Best Podcasts for Moms (page 26) 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

Contact Information

ADVERTISING: (718) 260-4554 Advertising@NewYorkFamily.com Circulation: (718) 260-8336 Tina@NewYorkFamily.com

Address: New York Family Media/Schneps Media 1 MetroTech Center North, Third Floor Brooklyn, NY 11201

President: Victoria Schneps-Yunis CEO: Joshua Schneps Group Publisher: Clifford Luster

New York Family has been awarded the PMA Gold Award for Excellence both overall and in Website Design

2020

New York Family is published monthly by Queens Family Media, LLC.

get in touch Share your feedback and ideas about family life in the city!

Email us at editorial@newyorkfamily.com and tag us at #newyorkfamily

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NewYorkFamily.com | April 2020

Reproduction of New York Family Media in whole or part without written permission from the publisher is prohibited. All rights reserved. ©2020 Queens Family Media, LLC

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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.

April 2020 | New York Family

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mom hacks

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. 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

effective in killing germs and spreading them to others.

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!

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2020 | New York Family

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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.

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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

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NewYorkFamily.com | April 2020

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 | New York 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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17

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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NewYorkFamily.com | April 2020

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

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19

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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NewYorkFamily.com | April 2020

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21

education

Guide to the Montessori Method How this unique educational approach can meet your top priorities in the school search

By Mia SalaS

M

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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NewYorkFamily.com | April 2020

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 | New York Family

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Montessori Directory | Special Advertising Supplement

The Montessori School of New York International 347 East 55th Street (at First Avenue)

Wisdom through Knowledge Ages 2 to 14 Where Learning Comes To Life!

Nursery through Junior High • Summer Day Camp • Partial and Extended Day for Working Parents (8am-6pm) • Excellent placement record for Specialized High schools and gifted programs • Accelerated Track for Gifted Children • Non-profit educational, non-denominational & non-discriminatory

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Academy of Thought and Industry East Village 1 Avenue B, New York, NY 917-338-2820 eastvillage@ thoughtandindustry.com Museum Mile 12 E. 79th St., New York, NY 917-388-1710 rschack@thoughtandindustry. com ATI offers a highaccountability, highautonomy middle school program where students who are purpose-driven, creative, entrepreneurial, or intellectually curious thrive. ATI has two locations in Manhattan: one on the Upper East Side on Museum Mile and the second in the East Village. Their vision is rooted in a deep belief that students—in the context of a supportive, challenging, and enriching community—are capable of extraordinary learning and work. They aspire to be a community where students flourish intellectually, emotionally, and relationally and leave ATI capable of creating lives of purpose, value, and joy. Visit thoughtandindustry.com to book a tour or RSVP for an event.

Guidepost Montessori

We’re so Social

Follow us @newyorkfamily on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter and tag us #newyorkfamily in your NYC adventures!

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NewYorkFamily.com | April 2020

Museum Mile 12 E. 79th St., New York, NY 917-388-1710 museummile@ guidepostmontessori.com Columbus Square 775-D Columbus Ave., New York, NY 551-333-1337 columbussquare@ guidepostmontessori.com Williamsburg 717 Driggs Ave., Brooklyn, NY 347-464-0490 williamsburg@ guidepostmontessori.com Brooklyn Heights 212 Hicks St., Brooklyn, NY 929-524-3588 brooklynheights@ guidepostmontessori.com Guidepost Montessori is a worldwide school network that serves over 3,000 families across North

America, Asia, and Europe.

In New York City, Guidepost has two Manhattan and two Brooklyn campuses. Museum Mile is on the Upper East Side for children age 3 to 12, and Columbus Square is on the Upper West Side for children age 2 to 6. The Williamsburg campus serves infants to age 6, and Brooklyn Heights offers preschool to grade 5. Guidepost strives to provide young children with an authentic Montessori experience that celebrates the rich cultural offerings of the city. Mandarin and Spanish Immersion programs are available at selected campuses. Visit guidepostmontessori.com/ nyc to book a tour or RSVP for an upcoming event.

The Montessori School of New York International Sutton Place 212-223-4630 www.montessorischoolny.com In a lovingly and thoughtfully prepared environment, children are encouraged to explore all academic dimensions at their own pace and interest level, helping them grow in self-esteem and independence. Classes are equipped with a full complement of didactic imported Montessori materials that encourage the absorption of concepts through play, leading them to become well-rounded, confident citizens of the world. Science, Music, Foreign Language, Musical Theatre, Swimming, Dance, Yoga and Chess are part of the program as well.

Children usually do extremely well academically, and are prepared for admission to gifted and competitive programs. A unique summer program, staffed by the school’s year round teachers, offers a balance of continued learning with outdoor activities, ranging from educational theme-based field trips to group sports activities.

Discover your capable, confident Montessori child.

Visit us online to RSVP for one of our upcoming events or to book a tour.

Open House at Brooklyn Heights Campus Thursday, April 30, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.

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(917) 388-1710 New York, NY 10075 (551) 333-1337 New York, NY 10025

(347) 464-0490 Brooklyn, NY 11211 (929) 524-3588 Brooklyn, NY 11201

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Infant • Toddler • Preschool • Kindergarten • Elementary Mandarin and Spanish Immersion available at selected campuses.

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Collaborate with the New York Family Media team to spread the word about your launches, promotions and news. Reach us by emailing info@newyorkfamily.com or calling 718.260.4554

April 2020 | New York Family

25

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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ask the specialist

Supplemental Needs Trusts The essential planning tool for a child with special needs

a personal injury settlement, or an outright inheritance from a well-meaning family member who did not understand that such a gift could disqualify your child from benefits.

IntroductIon, donna Ladd

M

y toddler son, Mateo, is on the autism spectrum (ASD). Parents with a child with special needs know that the day you receive a diagnosis such as this, your life changes. Like most parents with kids with special needs, you start a “new normal” and become a super-parent. You absorb everything there is to know regarding your child’s new challenge.

You do this because you are determined for your child to have the best life possible.

My son is only four. But I would be remiss if I didn’t admit that I lose many nights of sleep thinking of his future. My husband and I now have the hard conversations about how life can look for our child, and setting up a trust is at the top of this planning list. We spoke with Elder Law Attorney Amy C. O’Hara, a partner with the White Plains law firm of Littman Krooks LLP, who focuses on special needs planning, guardianship, elder law, and trusts and estates.

Why a supplemental needs trust Caring for a child with lifelong disabilities comes with many responsibilities. One of these responsibilities is ensuring your child is financially protected in the event they need to rely on government benefits such as Medicaid and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for support throughout their lifetime. In this situation, a supplemental needs trust is an essential planning tool necessary for your child.

What is it?

A supplemental needs trust, sometimes referred to as a special needs trust or SNT, is a type of trust that preserves your child’s eligibility for means-tested government benefits.

Because your child does not have control over the assets in the trust, the assets are not counted as your child’s assets. Generally, there are two types of supplemental needs trusts: third party and first party.

Third party A third-party supplemental needs trust is funded with assets belonging to a person other than your child. In fact, no assets

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NewYorkFamily.com | April 2020

belonging to your child may ever be used to fund this type of trust. Third party SNTs are an ideal estate planning vehicle for you as a parent or other family members and friends who wish to leave an inheritance to your child. Not only will a third party SNT shelter an intended inheritance, it can provide for your child’s lifelong needs if funded with sufficient assets and managed properly.

With third party SNTs, there is no Medicaid payback required upon your child’s death; rather, the person creating the trust decides how the remaining assets are distributed.

First party A first-party supplemental needs trust is funded with assets or income that belong to your child. In order for the assets of this type of trust not to count for Medicaid or SSI purposes, federal law requires that your child must be under the age of 65 when the trust is created and funded; the trust must be irrevocable and provide that Medicaid will be reimbursed upon your child’s death or upon the termination of the trust, whichever occurs first. Also, your child must be classified as disabled by the Social Security Administration and the trust must be administered for your child’s sole benefit.

Typical funding comes from child support,

The trustee With any supplemental needs trust, the trustee must be given absolute control over the distribution of the trust assets. Your child cannot demand distributions from the trust. Nor can your child have the authority to revoke or amend the trust; otherwise, the assets are counted as an available resource to your child causing a loss of government benefits. Further, the trustee should never give cash outright to your child because this also would cause a reduction or loss of benefits. A few examples of what can be paid from the trust include medical expenses not covered

by Medicaid, special therapies, recreational and cultural experiences, vehicles, clothing, sometimes food and shelter, and, for the most part, any services or items that enrich your child’s life.

Thoughtful consideration is a must in choosing the right trustee. In choosing a trustee, consider the potential trustee’s ability to be sensitive to your child’s disabilities; actively monitor any services provided; prudently invest trust assets; and utilize the trust assets for your child’s needs. A trustee can be your child’s guardian, if your child requires a guardian, family member, close friend, and/ or a professional corporate trustee. More than one trustee can serve at any given time. It is common to have both a professional and an individual serving as trustees together.

Supplemental needs trusts are complex and there are important considerations to keep in mind regarding public benefits, tax implications and the impact of the trust on your overall financial and estate plan. It is also essential for trustees to understand the terms in the written trust agreement. A legal professional experienced in special needs planning can ensure that the supplemental needs trust agreement meets the needs of you and your family and the trustee who will ultimately be responsible for administering it.

Amy C. O’Hara is a partner with the White Plains law firm of Littman Krooks LLP and focuses her practice on special needs planning, guardianship, elder law and trusts and estates. She a Vice President of the Board of Directors of the Special Needs Alliance, a national, not-for-profit organization dedicated to assisting families planning.

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special needs Directory | Special Advertising Supplement

Achieve Beyond Pediatric Therapy & Autism Services

Offering Clinic and Home Based Services for Behavioral (ABA) and Speech Therapy We are centrally located in Forest Hills, Queens and we also provide home based services throughout the 5 boroughs, Long Island, Hudson Valley and the Capital District.

We are in network with most major insurances and have private pay options available

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Services in all five boroughs and Long Island, NY 718-762-7633 631-385-7780 achievebeyondusa.com info@achievebeyondusa.com Achieve Beyond believes that early intervention services make a difference and provide pediatric therapy to children and students ages birth to 21, aiding each child to reach their full potential through education, therapy and family support in over 30 different languages. They offer initial screenings, parent or school consultations and comprehensive evaluations. Their professional and licensed staff is committed to serving special needs children with physical and developmental disabilities/ delays. Services are provided in home, clinic, or community environments. They offer speech and language therapy, occupational and physical therapy, special education and more.

Atlas Foundation for Autism

Join the largest study of autism ever!

SPARK has a simple mission: speed up research and advance the understanding of autism.

Individuals with autism will receive gift cards valued at up to a total of $50 for participation.

To learn more about SPARK and register online visit: www.SPARKforAutism.org/NYC

Chelsea 212-256-0846 www.atlasforautism.org Info@atlasforautism.org Atlas is a nonprofit school and program providing services to a Neurodiverse population using multi strategic approaches, fun and engagement as a means to connect and thrive! The school is available to students with Autism and other developmental differences ages 7-21 and the community classes are geared to all ages and all abilities with a focus on art, health and fitness as well as other social interests!

Inquire today also about our 18+ vocational programs! We are open 7 days a week and excited to support you!

Gillen Brewer School Upper East Side, New York, NY 212-831-3667 gillenbrewer.com Founded in 1992, this school provides a family-oriented, early childhood program for children ages 2.8 to 10 years old with language-based and

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NewYorkFamily.com | April 2020

non-verbal learning disabilities. They offer a 12-month program that provides developmentally appropriate academic instruction, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, play therapy and counseling, music, art, science, technology, sports and physical fitness. Learning and growing in a secure and nurturing environment, our students develop the skills necessary to overcome challenges. They work closely with their families to instill self-confidence and build a strong foundation for lifelong learning and independence.

The IDEAL School of Manhattan 314 West 91st St., New York, NY 212-769-1699 theidealschool.org/ admissions/open-house On any given day at The IDEAL School of Manhattan, students may give a presentation on a civil rights leader, participate in a musical, showcase their writing, enjoy Riverside Park, or visit the Met. IDEAL is New York’s only K-12 independent inclusion school, where they celebrate the tremendous social, emotional, and academic growth born in a diverse and nurturing educational community. IDEAL’s name reflects their core values: Inclusion, Diversity, Excellence, Acceptance, Leadership. Visit their Upper West Side campus for an April open house to experience this unique school.

SPARK Rose F. Kennedy Children’s Evaluation Center at Montefiore 1225 Morris Park Ave., Bronx, NY 718-839-7065 SPARKforAutism.org/NYC SPARK is the largest study of autism ever and is partnered with the Rose F. Kennedy Center Children’s Evaluation and Rehabilitation Center at Montefiore Medical Center.

With autism rates estimated at 1 in 59 individuals, SPARK and autism research are incredibly important. Join SPARK today. It’s simple. It’s free. Working together can make a difference!

Founded in 1992, Gillen Brewer School is a familyoriented, 12-month early childhood program for children ages 2.8 to 10 years old with language-based and non-verbal learning disabilities.

We instill self-confidence and build strong foundations for lifelong learning and independence.

Students learn and grow in a secure and nurturing environment and develop skills to overcome challenges through: • Developmentally Appropriate Academic Instruction • Speech and Language Therapy • Occupational Therapy • Counseling and Social Groups

Uncover the Specialness in Your Child™ Contact: Julian Parham Santana, Director of Admissions julian@gillenbrewer.com • 212-831-3667

410 East 92nd Street, New York, NY 10128 www.gillenbrewer.com

Instagram: @gillenbrewer

Experience The IDEAL Difference On any given day at The IDEAL School of Manhattan, students may give a presentation on a civil rights leader; participate in a musical; enjoy Riverside Park; paint a masterpiece; or visit the Museum of Natural History.

IDEAL is New York’s only K-12 independent inclusion school, where we celebrate the tremendous social, emotional, and academic growth born in a diverse and nurturing educational community. #SchoolCanBeIDEAL Sign up for a Tuesday Talk and Tour or an Open House to learn more about IDEAL’s rigorous and differentiated program, innovative social justice curriculum, and uniquely inclusive community.

IDEAL is currently accepting applications in select grades for 2020-21 placement

www.theidealschool.org For further information, contact us at admissions@theidealschool.org or 212-769-1699

LOWER SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE 314 West 91st Street April 7, 2020, 9-11 AM UPPER SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE 270 West 89th Street April 15, 2020, 9-11 AM

April 2020 | New York Family

31

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 | New York Family

33

Mental Health for Parents during Coronavirus Easy tips on how to keep yourself calm during these trying times

By Laura VLadimiroVa and EVELyn Gama

T

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 | New York Family

35

Free

Educational REsouRcEs

With schools shut down, here are great options to keep kids learning without leaving home

By Donna LaDD, oLga UzUnova anD Katarina avenDano

I

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 children need and ultimately benefit greatly from a structured environment. Many schools will be providing remote learning and as a supplement to their studies. Meanwhile, we have a curated guide of free resources and subscriptions during this time. We as parents at New York Family will also be utilizing these resources and hope this guide will benefit you and your family during this quarantine.

Please vist us online at newyorkfamily. com as we are posting and sharing daily on ways parents can keep their sanity all the while navigating what is new territory for so many of us.

123 Homeschool4me Resources are organized by subject and grade. Helpful education activities to keep kids learning and printable worksheets when you need them to sit and get some work done.

2Simple This is a great resource to set a list of work you would like your child to work on. From the classic subjects like art, math, spelling, and grammar to the cool creative stuff like coding, publishing, and animation. This site has a vast resource of e-books that can be paired with the appropriate activities.

3P Learning 3P Learning provides parents and schools with a package of online learning resources designed for schools and families, covering mathematics, spelling, literacy, science.

Children between ages 5 and 14 can find supportive learning activities, including structured lessons and fun games. You can claim your four weeks of free access to any of

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their online learning programs.

Accessibyte Students learn remotely via typing tutors, arcade games, custom flash-cards, and tests.

Accessibyte is offering a 45 day trial period during the COVID-19 crisis.

Aleph Beta Aleph Beta platform focuses on the Torah that is evidence-based, intellectually stimulating, and emotionally relevant to your child’s life. Access to their free library is granted after submitting the required Google form.

All Kids Network This free and rich content platform provides access to thousands of fun kids activities like children’s crafts, worksheets, coloring pages, printable mazes, dot to dot, hidden pictures, and more. Various activities are available for children of all ages.

Arcademics Arcademics make multiplayer educational games for students from K to 8th grade.

From free math games, language. Arcademics combines the excitement of video games with educational content to produce a high rate of learning through exciting, focused repetition that enables automaticity and fluency. All games can be played seamlessly on any device using the web browser for free.

Ascend Math Ascend Math offers math instruction adaptive to all study plans and for all individual K to 12th-grade students. The platform will be free until the end of April.

Parents and Teachers can assign different math exercises to children and the platform will adapt to their needs as it collects data on the child’s skills and pace.

Bamboo Learning This free Alexa platform provides an education-focused game that showcases

notable but less-known historical figures.

By saying to your device “Alexa, Luminary of the Day,” you activate a search through Bamboo video database of influential people from diverse fields. Kids can enjoy Bamboo video books, math lessons, and music. To get started, just say “Alexa, open Bamboo Luminaries.”

Bedtime Math Bedtime Math’s mission is to introduce math as a fun part of children’s daily routine, as common and beloved as the bedtime story.

Bedtime Math provides free apps, books, and printable activity pages. The platform is targeted toward children age 2 through elementary school.

BeeLine Reader BeeLine Reader is an online tool that improves the reading ability of students of all ages and skill levels. By displaying text using color gradients that wrap from the end of one line to the beginning of the next, BeeLine facilitates visual tracking and enables the reader to focus on other aspects of reading, such as decoding and comprehension. Free access to the BeeLine Reader Browser Plugin for Chrome through September 2020. Email education@ BeeLineReader.com for a free account!

Belouga Belouga is a free account for K to 12thgrade students. The site provides access to an extensive collection of educational resources on various topics like social science videos, math problems as well as real-time communication and collaboration with peers from all over the world.

Big History Project Big History Project is a free online social studies course that emphasizes skill development as students draw mind-blowing connections between past, present, and future. This multidisciplinary approach is focused on high school students, yet designed

for anyone seeking answers to the big questions about the history of our Universe.

BlocksCAD BlocksCAD builds math and computer science skills by using specialized 3D CAD (computer-aided drafting) software. A blockbased coding platform allows students to create and manipulate 3D objects while using geometry and computational thinking skills.

BrainPOP BrainPOP invites students to discover, play, and create, enriching and deepening their understanding of topics across the curriculum. Children are encouraged to make movies out of images, build maps,

and develop their block-based coding skills.

BrianPop Jr. targets children from 0 to 3 whereas BrainPop focuses on K-12 grade children. Email your child’s school to see if they have a login you can use.

Classroom Cereal Classroom cereal is a fun and easy way to practice grammatical exercises daily. How does it work? Print out free short stories — find the errors which help students build their proofreading skills and become aware of what it takes for clean and precise writing.

Club Oasis Club Oasis is a free online STEM club for children and parents. Join the DYI STEM

labs, live classes, coding lessons, and live pop-ups. Activities are targeted towards elementary schools students and older.

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.

Desmos Desmos is a learning community that provides students with incredible online tools to help them visualize math problems and create interactive tutorials where students can April 2020 | New York Family

37

Education

“do” and collaborate in real-time. Turn math into a game and play it in a team with kids from all over the world.

Dictionary.com Build your vocabulary daily and learn about trending words! Hop online to see the word of the day and test your knowledge by the end of the week. There are several ways to build your vocabulary on Dictionary.com; improve your language skills with word games, see what words are trending in the news, learn about the English language, and simply browse the dictionary by focusing on one letter at a time.

Discovery K-12 Discovery K-12 is a great addition to kids’ Pre-K to 12th-grade curriculum. Free lessons and activities are available in seven directives: Language Arts, Reading, Math, Science, History/Social Studies, Performing Arts, and Physical Education.

Dreamscape This free game allows kids to have fun while engaging them in reading activities and challenging their skills. Dreamscape understands that kids learn in several ways, one of which is through games that aim to foster the growth of early literacy skills.

This includes print knowledge, phonological awareness, phonemic awareness, phonetics, high-frequency words, and spelling. These games are for children in grades 2-8.

DuckDuckMoose If you’re looking for some apps for the tablet, we 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.

Duolingo This free app site is perfect for your bilingual child to work on a series of practice exercises.

From Arabic to Portuguese, kids will not fall behind with these fun and educational lessons.

Everyday Earth Have you ever wondered how water changes Earth’s landscape or how are rocks formed?

Take a walk with an Oklahoma Park Ranger on a video mission and learn the answers to these and many other questions related to

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nature and wildlife.

Everyday Learning A PBS Learning Media resource that is perfect for Pre-K kids. Topics from math, science to art provide early childhood resources to strengthen kids’ interest and sense of discovery.

Fluency&Fitness Get free access to over 60 math and reading activities for K-2 grade students and enjoy more than 600 videos designed to both educate and entertain your children. Play the clips on the TV and watch your kids dance, move around and sing! The free trial is 21 days.

Khan Academy Khan Academy is a free resource for students, parents, and teachers. From exercises, quizzes, tests, and instructional videos students can practice and master educational skills. This resource is available in 40 languages and offers instruction from Kindergarten to early college math, grammar, science, history, AP courses, SAT prep, and more. During the school closures due to the coronavirus outbreak, Khan Academy is having daily live streams at 9 am PST/12 EST on Facebook, Youtube, and Twitter.

Little Twisters Yoga & Emotional Wellness For kids ages 2 and up, Little Twisters Yoga &

Emotional Wellness is a great resource with tips on how to engage kids through yoga. Fun printable lessons like Space Shape Yoga and Kids Yoga Cards are free for all during the coronavirus Covid-19 school closures and quarantine.

Mathcelebrity.com Need help with your math homework? The next time you get stuck on a math problem and want to learn step by step how to solve it, use Math Celebrity. Plug the problem in and see how to solve it. Get the answer and see where you went wrong.

Math Score Actively developed by MIT graduates since 2003, MathScore is a research-based, adaptive, supplemental learning program for Kindergarten through 7th grade. It contains all of the major components of a learning system, such as assessments, math topics, lessons, and score tracking for parents and teachers who want to assess the child’s progress. With MathScore Freemium, you can use the platform for free and only choose to pay when a student is ready for the Premium content.

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

Helpful Tips: or collection and explore art via the “Time Machine,” starting as early as 8000-2000 BC to present time with fun facts and videos.

Minecraft Education Edition Perfect for Minecraft fanatics, this Minecraft Education Edition focuses on coding, math, problem-solving all via the Minecraft way.

Kids will love this education version while parents will love that it is free!

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.

New American History Offering history materials tailored for grades 4 upward, New American History is a sophisticated offering aimed at history teachers. It’s not all that easy to navigate as a parent unless you’re quite dedicated, but the material is extremely well-thought-out for committed parents.

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.

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. Readworks.org If you’re looking to really zoom in on reading comprehension, Readworks is going to be a great fit for you, providing content from Kindergarten all the way through 12th grade. Readworks is a non-profit, donationbased service, and the suggested donation is $25, though you can access the content for free.

Scholastic From Smile to Dogman, Scholastic provides many favorite books to our kids. Students can

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.

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.

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.

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.

Storylineonline.net If you catch one of your kids sneaking in a Fortnite game and want to remind them, this isn’t a snow day then time for a story.

The SAG-AFTRA Foundation’s Story Online features cool videos were celebrities such as Sarah Silverman and Chris O’Dowd read books that entertain, providing you a bit of time to get some work done.

The Fable Cottage (French Children’s Stories) Perfect for the French bilingual students who love L’oiseau Et La Baleine and Petit Poulet and more for these stories are translated from English to French. Students will also find an option to translate in English, and there is also slow audio of a French narrator.

The Fable cottage also has stories in Spanish, Italian, and German languages.

Vizzle An excellent resource for parents with children on the Autism Spectrum. Parents with children with special needs know that staying on the course of learning is important. Founded by a team with education and special needs backgrounds in collaboration with experts. Sign up for 30day free access where you can set lessons and then review and learn from their progress.

Walkabouts This is a wonderful platform emphasizing on enhancing children’s math and language knowledge, their activities are targeted towards Pre-K - 2nd-grade students.

Walkabouts created general login credentials for new users. To get started, teachers can simply log in here with the username TeacherFree and the password walkabouts.

The Free account will be available through September 1, 2020 Wonderopolois.com On this cool site, kids can learn about a 2,000 plus wonders of the world. Questions come from the site’s users and cover a wide range of topics such as Why Do Whales Breach? Kids are full of wonder, and this site has many of the answers.

Zinc Learning Labs For kids from 6th to 12th grade, this subscription service is offering its service free until July 2020. Students will not fall behind with their vocabulary games, reading, and long term assignments that are self-paced, perfect for the older student. *Thank you Amazing Educational Resources and Educator Bee Zizzo for additional resource information and tips on this post.

April 2020 | New York Family

39

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 | New York Family

41

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, MarieChantal. 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

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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 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.

Ungano & Agriodimas

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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, n 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.

Tactfully dealing with a tech tantrum from Marie-Chantal

Remember when your child had to give up the pacifier?

Electronic devices are just the same.

Most of us have been guilty at some time or other of giving our children a smart phone or tablet to distract them while we take them on errands, to a restaurant — pretty much everywhere.

And then, when we take away the “pacifier,” the children are (unsurprisingly) enraged. So how do we deal with it?

When your child has a tantrum, it’s essential to remain calm and guide them through it. Tantrums are normal in a child’s development, and remember — they don’t last forever. Once the tantrum is over, have a gentle conversation with your child, and explain that they need to learn to regain control of their calmer emotions. Although not easy, a child has to learn to sit with themselves — to acknowledge their feelings and manage them — and know that they won’t always be instantly gratified. Above all, be consistent and compassionate in your approach, and don’t give in.

From Manners Begin at Breakfast: Modern Etiquette for Families

by Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece. Published by Vendome Press, available in all good bookstores and online. (March 2020, $24.95))

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.

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.

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.

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?

Marie-Chantal’s beautiful new book “Manners Begin at Breakfast” with a foreword by Tory Burch is available wherever books are sold.

April 2020 | New York 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

I

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 | New York Family

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Travel

Panama with Kids Family-friendly Panama City and the Isla Palenque resort

By Hester ABA

F

or our February break, we knew we wanted to head to the sun, and we also wanted to tick a new country off our list. We hit upon the idea of heading to Panama with our kids for a week, spending two nights in Panama City and then enjoying luxury ecoresort, Isla Palenque in the Gulf of Chiriqui, near the border with Costa Rica.

Panama City with Kids The flight to Panama City from JFK takes five and a half hours on Copa Air. We stayed at the Hotel Bristol, a pleasant business hotel and twenty minute drive from the airport.

The Hotel Bristol has a tiny pool, but our kids were more than content with it after a New York winter without swimming! We only had one full day in Panama City, so we checked out the Frank Gehry-designed Biomuseo first thing the next morning after breakfast. The Biomuseo is an amazing museum dedicated to the bio-diversity of Panama, with a strong eco message. The museum is very interactive, and we spent a happy couple of hours there. Later we headed to the Old Town or Casco Viejo where we had lunch at Tantalo Hotel which has a very cool restaurant with amazing murals and the coolest bathroom ever which kids will love! You can check out the harbor and do a bit of souvenir shopping

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or admire the very instagrammable buildings before heading back to your hotel.

Onwards to Eco Resort Isla Palenque The following morning we headed to the airport for the super-quick flight to David, Panama’s second largest city. Once we landed in David, we were met by Isla Palenque’s driver and drove for an hour and a half through beautiful countryside before taking a speedboat for ten minutes to Isla Palenque. Arriving at Isla Palenque is breath-taking; it’s a private, densely tropical island, surrounded by warm, calm water and gorgeous pristine beaches. Because most of Panama is volcanic, the beaches are black sand, but it’s a fine, powdery sand and still very pretty.

The villas on Isla Palenque are a short drive across the island on a rough dirt track.

Aside from one large private villa which can sleep up to 14 guests, everyone else is accommodated in eight beachfront “casitas” along the largest beach next to the pool and restaurant. The casitas are rustic in style, with outdoor showers and toilets, but they’re well-designed, and thankfully have air-conditioning! We managed to make our casita fit our family of four, by requesting single beds for the kids which they placed at the end of our bed.

Isla Palenque puts on a daily schedule of

Scenes from Isla Palenque, including the beachfront “casitas” (top left), snorkeling (right) and howler monkeys (above). activities including hikes, kayaking, paddleboarding and kids’ entertainment, but the main event at Isla Palenque is definitely just chilling out and enjoying the beautiful natural

surroundings. I did a couple of yoga classes (one of which ended up being a private class) and the kids did some pastry-making, a mocktails class, bracelet making and a “Secrets of the Island” hike. My husband and I headed out one day for some snorkelling off the coast of a nearby island. We didn’t spot much aside from some pretty reef fish, but the guide said you can sometimes see barracuda, shark and turtles. We loved spotting all the wildlife around the island, including howler monkeys who make the craziest noises in the trees in the early mornings.

Although the menu started to feel a little bit repetitive towards the end of our five day stay, we were impressed by the quality of the food, which was fresh, healthy and delicious. They do have a kids’ menu, but we just ordered fish, chicken or steak for our girls along with grilled veggies and yes, french fries rather than having them eat burgers or chicken nuggets at every meal. One lovely thing about Isla Palenque is that all the water comes from the island’s natural springs, so you can drink the tap water and don’t have to worry about your kids swallowing the water in the bath or shower!

The staff at Isla Palenque could not have been nicer and all spoke perfect English. The service is casual and un-stuffy. One of our kids started suffering from some bad allergies after our first day at Isla Palenque and I was kicking myself for not having thought to bring any Benedryl to such a remote place. After a quick chat with the staff, they arranged for their driver to pick some up in David and bring it to us the next day when he brought some new arrivals.

We loved our stay at Isla Palenque and would really recommend it to families who want to get away from it all and really immerse themselves in pristine natural surroundings. We came back to NYC wellrested and totally chilled out.

Isla Palenque’s Eco Credentials We were super-impressed by the effort Isla Palenque has made to banish single-use plastics, replacing straws with papaya leaf straws, using only refillable glass toiletries bottles and providing reusable water bottles to all their guests. Their hot water is heated using solar power, they only serve locally sourced, sustainable seafood, and all their buildings use renewable materials. Isla Palenque also grows as much of their own fruit, vegetables and herbs as possible in their organic garden.

Isla Palenque

For more information about Isla Palenque, visit their website. *None of our stays or flights were gifted.

April 2020 | New York Family

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last word

The earth has music for those who listen - Wiiam Shakpe

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