January 2022

VOLUME 38, #11 JANUARY 2022

FREE!

Buffalo Museum of Science

Young Humans & Ancient Creatures RAISING DIGITAL KIDS

Parenting The Video Game Fanatic

Our Annual

GUIDE

INSIDE: The Fit Family • Choosing Childcare • Wellness Choices

Nativity of our Lord SchooL “Where Faith Leads to Success”

Queen of Heaven School 839 Mill Road I West Seneca 716.674.5206 I www.qofhschool.org

OPEN HOUSE

January 30, 2022 I 10:30am-12:30pm February 2, 2022 I 5:00pm-7:00pm *By Appointment Only

Small Class Sizes The Only Catholic School in the Village of Orchard Park

We are a Diocese of Buffalo STREAM School

Join us for our

Open House!

SATURDAY, JANUARY 29, 2022 10am – 1pm 4414 South Buffalo St. | Orchard Park NY 14127

716-662-7572

www.NativitySchool.net

2 WNY Family January 2022

Advanced Courses in Earth Science and Algebra 1:1 ChromeBooks School Clubs Sports Programs Full Day Pre-K Four Before & After School Care Active Home School Guild Family Atmosphere

January 2022 • Volume 38 • Issue 11

EDITOR & PUBLISHER Michele Miller GENERAL MANAGER Paul Kline SALES REPRESENTATIVES Jennifer Staebell Paul Kline GRAPHIC DESIGNERS Karen Wawszczyk Melanie Schroeder CONTRIBUTORS Barbara Blackburn • Donna Phillips Richard De Fino • Deborah Williams Kathy Lundquist • Myrna Beth Haskell Mike Daugherty

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Visit Our Web Site www.wnyfamilymagazine.com To Reach Us: Advertising Department advertising@wnyfamilymagazine.com Calendar Submissions calendar@wnyfamilymagazine.com Subscriptions subscriptions@wnyfamilymagazine.com Editorial Submissions michele@wnyfamilymagazine.com MAILING ADDRESS: 3147 Delaware Ave., Suite B Buffalo, NY 14217 Phone: (716) 836-3486 • Fax: (716) 836-3680 PRINTED BY: Commercial Printing Division The Post-Journal, Jamestown WE ARE AN AUDITED PUBLICATION CIRCULATION (copies printed): 20,000 © 2022 Western New York Family, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in any form without permission is strictly prohibited. Inclusion of an advertisement does not constitute an endorsement by the publisher.

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Where It’s At! Let’s Party!

Features:

6 n Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall…

Can We Have Birthday Parties After All?

by Michele Miller 8 n Get Creative With A Virtual Party

by Cheryl Maguire 15 n How to Celebrate Every Month in 2022

by Katy M. Clark 16 n What Do Very Young Humans & Ancient Creatures Have in Common?

They’re Both the Focus of the Buffalo Museum of Science!

Directories: 10 n 27 n 31 n 37 n

Party Profiles The Fit Family Choosing Childcare Wellness Choices

Regulars: 5 n Web Finds / What’s New In The Kid Biz 18 n Raising Digital Kids There’s Nothing to Do!

by Mike Daugherty 20 n Family Travel Travel Tips for 2022

by Deborah Williams 22 n Journey Into Fatherhood Keeping In Touch With Grandma Maureen

by Richard De Fino 23 n Parent Previews

by Kirsten Hawkes 24 n Pick of the Literature

by Dr. Donna Phillips 26 n Dear Teacher

by Peggy Gisler & Marge Eberts 28 n Special Needs Just 10% of Kids with ADHD Outgrow It, Study Finds 32 n Single Parenting Five Tips for Forming Your Healthy Blended Family

by Peg Conway 34 n Tweens and Teens Parenting the Video Game Fanatic: How to Encourage Other Interests

by Cheryl Maguire 38 n The Kid Friendly Kitchen Mulled Apple Cider, Lemonade Punch & Fruit Punch

by Kathy Lundquist 39 n The Kiddie Gourmet Clay Handi

by Barbara Blackburn

You’ll find FREE courtesy copies of WNY Family at all Buffalo area Wegmans and 300 locations including Public Libraries, Doctors’ Offices, Child Care Centers and many of our advertisers.

(Look for us INSIDE Wegmans on the racks where newspapers are sold, even though we are still FREE, or in some stores, on the FREE rack in the store foyer.)

Find this entire issue online at www.wnyfamilymagazine.com January 2022 WNY Family 3

Christ the King School Offering PreK3 - 8th Grade Classes

OPEN HOUSE Sunday, January 30 11am - 1pm

• • • • • • • • • •

Celebrating 90 years of Rigorous Academic Excellence Faith-Based Environment Tour our campus facilities & classrooms Meet Teachers, Parents and Students STREAM School/STREAM Academy Accredited by Middle States Commission State-of-the-art Technology Lab Offers variety of Sports/Arts Extracurriculars Tuition Assistance Available All welcome

2 Lamarck Dr. | Snyder, NY 14226 839-0473 | www.myctkschool.com

ST. MARY’S

Magic City Productions Presents

Elementary School 5 Day Full Day Pre-K 3 & 4 Grades K - 8

A STREAM School STEM + Religion + Art

The

MUSICAL

For OPEN HOUSE & Registration Information

Call: 716-683-2112

FEBRUARY 11, 2022 – 6PM SHEA’S PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

g “The Featurin ong!” rS o t Excava e! + mor

Tickets on sale at the Shea’s Box Office or Ticketmaster.com https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/00005B77EBAE67FF

BlippiTheMusical.com Blippi™ Copyright © 2021 Moonbug Entertainment.

4 WNY Family January 2022

2 St. Mary’s Hill • Lancaster NY 14086

716-683-2112

www.smeschool.com

web.finds Planning a birthday party has been made easy-peasy if you don’t have the creative urge but do have the budget to order clever items online. Here are a few we found!

SCAVENGER HUNT COINS

These scavenger hunt coins include 90 clues that are fun while also challenging; a great way to get those thinking skills flowing. The open-ended clues make this a never-ending game that can be played over and over again — even when it’s not time for a party!

Comes in a muslin bag for storage; $16.99 at “Lets Make Fun Stuff” on Etsy (https:// etsy.me/31vfJ3z).

OUTDOOR BIRTHDAY DECORATION

We think this is a birthday party embellishment that’s going to be around long past COVID’s demise; they’re so fun and colorful. This one consists of 16-inch high letters made of plastic covered cardboard that is deemed waterproof. You’ll find it on Amazon for $21.99 at https://amzn.to/3Gl5spG.

UNICORN PRINTABLE BINGO PACK

This game set is great for Unicorn birthday parties, family gatherings, school class parties and more! It’s a digital download and includes PDF files for 10 Bingo Card Sheets, 1 Chips Sheet, and 1 Calling Card Sheet.

Obviously a color printer is needed. Lots of fun from Twingenuity Graphics for only $2.55 on Etsy (https://etsy.me/3rIlXYW).

THEME PARTY PROPS GALORE

OrientalTrading.com has always been a great source for all kinds of celebration items. Check out what’s available for a pirate-themed party! From the table settings to pirate hats, a treasure chest piñata or favor boxes, rings, eye patches, pirate and crossbones dog tag necklaces, shiny gold coins, (treasure, of course!) and more; all priced individually. Pirate items can be found at https://bit. ly/3ptHwK9 but be sure to check out their wide variety of themed items!

What’s New...

IN THE KIDBIZ HAVE YOUR KIDS GAINED WEIGHT DURING COVID? If you put on some weight over the last two years, you’re not alone.

But adults weren’t the only ones who packed on the so-called COVID 15.

The percentage of obese children and teens jumped from 19% pre-pandemic to 22%, according to a study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And the rate at which body mass index (BMI) increased doubled. New research from the University of Georgia suggests that could spell bad news for children’s cardiovascular systems both now and down the line.

Published in Pediatric Obesity, the study measured abdominal visceral fat levels and arterial stiffness in more than 600 children, adolescents and young adults. Visceral fat is the fat found in the abdomen that infiltrates vital organs. Arterial stiffness forces the cardiovascular system to work harder to pump blood throughout the body. The researchers found significantly higher levels of visceral fat and arterial stiffness in the overweight youth, suggesting that abdominal fat likely contributes to cardiovascular problems in kids.

Studies of cardiovascular risks in youth are limited, but researchers believe the negative changes to the cardiovascular system that lead to disease and heart attacks likely begin in childhood and adolescence.

“We want to prevent cardiovascular disease. We want kids to live strong, healthy lives into adulthood,” said Joseph Kindler, corresponding author of the study and an assistant professor of nutritional sciences in the College of Family and Consumer Sciences. “But to do that, we need to know the underlying factors contributing to poor health outcomes so that we can identify where to target, whether that’s through diet, physical activity, sleep or some other intervention. Identification is key, and then intervention is critical.”

Another concern is that children are increasingly being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, a condition previously only seen in adults. Being overweight is a big risk factor. Of the study’s 600 participants, 145 had been diagnosed with the disease.

January 2022 WNY Family 5

C

OVID has thrown our lives off kilter for many months now. As I write this, Erie County has gone backwards to a mask mandate indoors in public places. Cases of COVID among children are rising — a situation that was just the opposite at the beginning of the pandemic; children were at the lowest risk and there were few cases among them.

Mirrorr, ror , Mi On The Wall ...

It’s very hard to plan anything in advance and parents are faced with the decision to have their kids “get the jab” or not. And even with the vaccine, breakthrough infections have happened with adults. Will the same be true with kids?

Back in early November someone I know planned an at-home birthday party for their youngest son who was turning 9 years old; they also have two teenage sons. The boys’ six cousins were all invited to the party as well as adult extended family members. Friends of the 9-year-old and their parents were also invited. The weather was nice on the day the party was held and the kids did spend quite a bit of their time outdoors. Precautions were taken — the birthday boy wasn’t even allowed to blow out the candles on his cake for fear of spreading germs. (Did you know there are now “birthday candle blowout devices” that you can buy to take on this job?)

All precautions aside, not long after the party the birthday boy began to feel unwell and tested positive for COVID. One of the teen cousins also tested positive, and eventually, the birthday boy’s mother did, too. The birthday boy bounced back quickly and, as far as I know, the others recovered without serious illness.

Birthday celebrations have to be one of the most anticipated events in a kid’s life. So what do we do when we’re still not sure if it’s safe to invite a crowd of kids, friends, or family to a birthday party?

Obviously, it has to be a decision based on your individual family’s cir6 WNY Family January 2022

ber that you can always adapt the ideas to use when COVID has finally disappeared from our lives.

1) Immediate Family Only

There’s something to be said for the “old-fashioned” family-only party.

Prepare your child’s favorite dinner and make or buy their favorite cake, cupcakes, or other dessert. Be sure to decorate the house to the hilt. Ask friends and extended family to make a Facetime call at a scheduled time so they can share in the celebration. With a bit more preplanning, you might ask your closest relatives and friends to mail birthday cards or drop off gifts in advance.

After dinner, have a new movie your birthday kid has been looking forward to seeing ready to stream on TV. (Did you know you can watch TV remotely with friends for a group movie night? Netflix Party began as a Google Chrome extension that allows you, friends, and family to play a movie simultaneously. Share reactions in the extension’s chat room, and the show can be paused for everyone if they need a popcorn refill! Netflix Party has become Teleparty and supports not only Netflix, but also Disney Plus, Hulu, and HBO. You’ll find it as an app in the Chrome Web Store or learn more at https:// www.teleparty.com/)

2) Birthday in A Box

Can We Have Birthday Parties After All? — by Michele Miller cumstances and on whether your guests feel comfortable attending.

As a result of this dilemma, I’ve put together the following ideas for a variety of celebrations, whether you choose to celebrate quietly at home with only your immediate family, or invite a wider circle of children, friends, and relatives.

Combine several ideas into your party to make more of a “splash” and remem-

Do a Google search and you will find myriad websites that offer ways to “jazz up” your at-home celebration.

Themes, complete with props and favors — and invitations if you’re going beyond the immediate family — are usually included. These can be pricey, but when you’re out of ideas and desperate, it may be well worth it if it helps put a smile on your child’s face.

3) Treasure Hunt

Add excitement to an at-home, immediate-family-only party by creating a treasure hunt for small gifts wrapped and hidden around your house.

4) Decorate The Front Yard

Search “birthday yard signs” on Amazon.com and you’ll have plenty of

pre-made signs to choose from, or get creative and make your own!

5) Drive By Birthday Parade

Many of us are already familiar with this type of parade made popular during the worst COVID shutdowns. Complete idea #4 and then invite friends and family to decorate their vehicles and drive by at the appointed time with a parade of birthday wishes to add to your at-home, immediate-family-only party. If the weather allows, leave a bucket of chalk sticks on your porch and have drive-by visitors park and write their birthday greetings on your driveway and sidewalk!

6) Zoom Party

Now that everyone is familiar with Zoom, virtual party ideas abound. Choose a theme and think about dropping off a bag of party supplies, props, and goodies to each guest ahead of time. Have a costume/dressup party suited to your theme, a craft party, a dance party, a Playdough party, or a scavenger hunt — the first person to come back to the screen with the item scores a point.

7) Have A Neighborhood Party

If a lot of your child’s friends and family members live in your neighborhood or not far away, plan ahead for each of them to tie balloons to their front door or post a “Happy Birthday” sign in a place that’s easy to see. The balloons and signs will indicate that they’re a stop on your neighborhood party route, ready to greet your birthday child at their doors with a treat, a birthday card, or a gift. Basically, instead of a drive by parade at your house, you make a quick stop at each of your guests’ houses.

8) Take the Party Outdoors

Teaching the Heart • Educating the Mind • Forming the Character

The safest place to be with a group is outdoors in the fresh air. If your child has a winter birthday, have a sledding party at a local park. Bring along single-serve, individually wrapped treats and plenty of hot cocoa.

St. John Vianney School

A Private Catholic School of Academic Excellence

Is there an outdoor ice rink in your community? Head there for some skating fun.

Do you have older kids and a portable fire pit? Put it on your driveway and let everyone make S’mores. Set out additional refreshments in the garage. If the weather allows, play some lawn games.

In mild weather, invite a group for a hike followed by a picnic at a local park. Reserve a park shelter in advance and adorn it with plenty of decorations. Bring some games like Kan Jam or Corn Hole for the kids to play.

Regardless of how you celebrate, be sure to take plenty of photos. Watch for a sale on sites like Shutterfly or Snapfish and make a photo book to commemorate the occasion. While we’re used to snapping endless photos with our phones, we don’t print them as often as we used to. Kids love to look back at these books in future years, so make it an annual tradition!

Pre-School through Grade Eight

OPEN HOUSE

Sunday, January 30 ~ 11:30am – 1pm • • • • • • • • • • • •

A challenging academic program Pre-K 3 and Pre-K 4 - Full and half day with 3-day and 5-day options An emphasis on faith, moral behavior and character development Aligned with our Catholic Identity we start and end the day with school wide prayer.

Students are involved in school wide and individual class service projects Daily religion classes and Mass weekly Character Trait Awards each month Foreign language instruction Affordable before and after school programs for working moms and dads.

Extensive Athletics program K-8 Renovated gym, athletic field and all embracing STREAM clubs/activities Advanced technology: Smart Boards in classrooms and 1:1 devices in all classrooms.

2950 Southwestern Blvd., Orchard Park, NY 14127

Michele Miller is the founder, editor, and publisher of Western New York Family.

716-674-9232 | www.sjvop.org

In every child is planted the seed of a great future! It starts here!

January 2022 WNY Family 7

— by Cheryl Maguire

party. On the invite ask the partygoers to dress up in their favorite movie character outfit or T-shirt. You could create a movie trivia game or a “would you rather game” using movie themed questions. After playing the games, the group can then watch a movie selected ahead of time. Before the party, you will need to figure which movies everyone owns or can stream together. You can watch shows together at the same time with the Teleparty app.

Cook-Off Themed Party For tweens and teens, you could have a cook-off party. Everyone must find five common food ingredients in their house and use them to create a dessert or a meal. Then their parents judge the creation on creativity and taste. You could also play trivia cooking games or swap your favorite recipes.

LEGO Themed Party

Get Creative with A Virtual Party

“

W

ill I be able to have my birthday party?”

My daughter’s 12th birthday was last April and she had been planning her birthday party for months.

With lockdowns and social distancing recommendations related to the Coronavirus, we had to come up with an alternative plan for her party.

Before the Coronavirus wreaked havoc on children’s party plans, there were always kids unable to socialize at parties due to compromised immune systems. Here are some suggestions for ways to celebrate without spreading germs.

Create a Virtual Party One way to interact with friends from a distance is to have a virtual party using apps like Google Meet, Zoom, or Skype. My daughter has been using Google Meet to practice her musical theater play with the kids in her class. This technology allows people to see and speak to everyone, so it is the next best thing to being in a room together.

8 WNY Family January 2022

For the birthday LEGO lovers, you could create a LEGO themed party. Everyone should have a bucket of Legos.

You could play games like who could build the tallest tower in five minutes and then their parents would measure each one to determine the winner.

If someone isn’t able to connect due to a lack of technology access, then go old school and put them on your speaker phone so they can hear and participate in the conversations, or perhaps they can participate via FaceTime on their smartphone.

Some other suggestions are that everyone makes whatever they want and then the parents determine who has the most creative structure. Or everyone makes an animal and you must guess what type of animal the Legos are supposed to be.

Virtual Party Theme Ideas

After you are done building go on virtual Legoland rides by searching the ride on YouTube. Before the party, create a list of rides that you want to visit to keep things moving along.

You are probably wondering how do you simulate a kid’s birthday party when they can’t physically interact?

It is important to remember that the main goal of a party is for your child to have fun with their friends. This is still possible but may require some out-ofthe-box thinking.

One way to do this is to have a theme that all the partygoers will be excited about. Most games like Pin the Tail on The Donkey are not an option, but there are several ideas for themes that will include everyone and create a festive mood.

Movie Theater Themed Party If the birthday kid is a movie lover, you could create a movie themed

Green-Themed Party For the birthday kid environmental lovers, you could have a green-themed party. Everyone could come to the party dressed in their favorite environmentalthemed outfit like a flowered T-shirt or one with a picture of the Earth on the front.

You could play an upcycle game by each person finding five items in their recycle bin and then creating an animal or a sculpture with the items.

You could also create a scavenger hunt where guests find items outside like a white stone or red flower, assigning

each item points. They could take their device with them as they hunt so that the kids at the party can see each other during their travels.

Drawing or Paint Themed Party Before the party, ask the parents what type of art supplies they own. Most kids have a set of markers, crayons, and paints.

One suggestion is to all draw or paint the same picture. Mo Willems, author of children’s books like Don’t Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late! and Knuffle Bunny has a drawing channel on YouTube where you can learn how to draw characters from his books like those in the Piggie and Elephant series. You could have everyone watch the video at the same time and then share your drawing.

You could also create cards for people in nursing homes, hospitals, or the military to let them know that you are thinking of them.

Virtual Disneyworld If your kid is a Disney fan have them dress up as their favorite Disney character and ask their friends to do the same.

You can play Disney related games and then go on virtual Disney rides by searching the ride on YouTube. Before the party, create a list of rides that you want to visit to keep things moving along.

Fun and Festive Try to decorate the room that your child will be streaming the party from with the theme in mind to set the mood for all the partygoers. Plan the games and festivities before the party starts so that it will keep the fun levels high throughout.

By the time the party is over, your child will hopefully have so much fun that they will forget about the fact they didn’t see their friends in person. And the best part for you is that you won’t have to clean up a mess created by a room full of kids!

Cheryl Maguire holds a Master of Counseling Psychology degree. She is married and is the mother of twins and a daughter. Her writing has been published in The New York Times, National Geographic, Washington Post, Parents Magazine, AARP, Healthline, Your Teen Magazine, and many other publications.

January 2022 WNY Family 9

!

PARTY

Profiles

Aquarium of Niagara

701 Whirlpool St., Niagara Falls • 716-285-3575 www.aquariumofniagara.org Celebrate your child’s big day under the sea! Voted one of WNY’s best places to host a child’s birthday party, the Aquarium of Niagara offers all-inclusive packages that start at just $225. Enjoy VIP viewing for a sea lion presentation, exclusive access to our private event room and deck space, a dedicated birthday host, decorations, goody bags, and more! The birthday child and two adults celebrate for FREE. Add-on a group penguin encounter or an animal enrichment session to make the day even more memorable. Visit aquariumofniagara.org/birthdays to book your party today.

Challenger Learning Center of Lockport

160 Washburn St., Lockport • 716-434-3196 www.clclockport.org For a completely unique experience, give your child an out-of-this-world birthday party. Reach stratospheric heights by hosting your friends and family on an interactive space mission. Become astronauts completing a mission to Mars or rendezvous with Comet Halley. Free trip back to Earth upon successful completion of the mission! This event is suitable for groups ages 10 and up. For a more relaxed experience, ages 5 and older can tour the universe inside our digital planetarium dome. Immerse yourself in darkness as you explore the night sky, learn about the myths behind the constellations, and fly through the solar system, the Milky Way Galaxy and beyond. Both events include a large activity room for one hour afterwards for birthday festivities.

er Ic e B u m p Ca rs a t

bumpegr bumpin

Fun!

BIRTHDAY PARTIES | PUBLIC SKATING LEARN TO SKATE See the public skate schedule online at

cornerstoneicearena.com

1 Grigg Lewis Way | Lockport, NY 14094 | 716.438.7698 10 WNY Family January 2022

Clayton’s Toys

5225 Main St., Williamsville • 716-633-1966 1396 Hertel Ave., Buffalo • 716-939-3000 www.claytonstoystore.com Clayton’s Toys is WNY’s one-stop toy shopping experience! An independently-owned toy store celebrating over 100 years. Stop by one of Clayton’s two locations where you’ll find toys, games, novelties, and nostalgia for children of all ages! We have a vast selection of baby items, books, dolls, stuffed animals and puppets, science kits, art supplies, crafts, puzzles, building toys, trucks, and more! The incredible staff is here to help you find that perfect birthday gift and offers complimentary gift wrapping and shipping.

There is something for everyone at Clayton’s Toys, so come on in and experience it for yourself!

Cornerstone CFCU Arena

1 Grigg Lewis Way, Lockport • 716-438-7698 www.cornerstoneicearena.com This will be the party that your kids will be talking about for years to come! Affordable packages for all ages include food, beverages and a visit from our Lock Monster! Skates are provided and our new Skate Helpers are available to ensure fun for all! Parties also include bumping fun with a ride in the new Ice Bumper Cars! You can also host private parties with all of this fun too! Call our Event Specialist, Ryan Difilippo for more information or choose and book your event online.

Let us do all of the work while the whole family has fun!

Designing Dish

138 Grey St., East Aurora • 716-655-4456 www.designingdish.com Design your PERFECT party at Designing Dish, a Paint Your Own Pottery Studio. It is the perfect place for your child’s next birthday party or a ladies night!

Maybe a Corporate team builder, Scouting, 4-H, or a shower… just to name a few. We will customize any party from 4 to 40 to suit your needs. Just choose your date and time, join us in our bright, beautiful atmosphere and our trained staff will do the rest. From painting to glass fusing, we have the projects that will make your party the one that everyone will remember!

Enchanting Birthdays of WNY

716-725-3578 • www.enchantingbirthdays.com Bring your child’s dreams to life with our Princesses and Superheros. Enchanting Birthdays offers a world of wonder, excitement and enchantment that cannot be matched in the eyes of a child. Our special parties are filled with fun and excitement and create the atmosphere of a real storybook fairy tale! Imagine their delight when they open the door to find their favorite character on the doorstep asking to attend her birthday party or play date! No matter what, you can rest assured that Enchanting Birthdays will be a magnificent, memorable experience from beginning to end. Visit enchantingbirthdays.com today to begin planning your child’s enchanting experience.

Fisher-Price Toystore

636 Girard Ave., East Aurora • 716-687-3300 www.fisherpricetoystore.com The Fisher-Price® Toy Store is the fun place to shop for gifts for any occasion! We carry all your favorite Fisher-Price and Mattel® products so you’re sure to find something for everyone on your list.

Not sure what to get? Just ask one of our staff, we’ll be happy to help you select the perfect gift! Gift cards are also available in any denomination. Call for hours or to hear about our weekly specials and be sure to check out our Facebook page for additional information.

Give your child an Un lievable Birthday Party Experience!

136 Evans Street

Hamburg, NY

868-1525

$5.00 OFF

www.tumblebeegym.com

Birthday Party

Call today to schedule your child’s special day!

with mention of this ad January 2022 WNY Family 11

PARTY

Profiles

Gymnastics Unlimited

70 Weiss Ave., Orchard Park • 716-677-0338 www.gymnastics-unlimited.net Ages 2-22 have GREAT fun at gymnastics parties!!

Our staff does ALL the work!! A connected obstacle course gets them balancing, running, climbing over and under soft barrels, wedges and blocks and tunnels.

Then it’s game time! Choose from parachute games, relay races, tag games….or any combination!! After games it’s onto tumble trampoline, rope swinging, mini ninjas, foam pit, trampoline and bars!!! Kids are tired when done so be sure to bring in water bottles for them to drink while happy birthday is being sung and gifts are opened. We will also record & pack gifts and clean up! No mess for mom! Call to schedule your party today!

Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum

180 Thompson St., North Tonawanda • 716-693-1885 www.carrouselmuseum.org Ride a carrousel at your next party! The Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum provides a colorful backdrop for your event. All guests can enjoy carrousel rides on our 105+ year old carrousel, and kids can ride our vintage “Kiddie Carrousel” too! Your guests have access to the entire museum and can view our exhibits throughout the complex. All parties for children include carrousel rides, one craft, and a goody bag for each child to take home. The museum hosts birthday parties, showers, or any other celebration. Make sure your party is one of a kind and book with the Herschell Carrousel Factory Museum today.

Pottery Painting, Glass Fusing and Speciality Classes!

Your best place for Birthday parties, private parties, scouts groups, fieldtrips, baby or bridal showers and so much more.

op Shop for Kids and Kids at Heart One St You’ll F

ind the Perfect Birthday Gift at...

Eastern Hills Mall | Williamsville, NY 14221 | (716) 632-4202

Breyer Horses • Bruder Trucks • Science Plush • Puzzles • Games •

and So Much More!

Shop online at www.raffandfriends.com

12 WNY Family January 2022

138 Grey Street, East Aurora, NY

716-655-4456 • www.designingdish.com

MAKE A SPLASH! C OM E TO US F OR YO UR C H IL D 'S NE X T

B IR T H D A Y B A S H !

Parties are just $450.00 for 2 Hours

Up to 24 Guests!

Hopkins Square Plaza 1590 Hopkins Road • Amherst, NY

716-689-6777

www.MPSVA.com

Jewish Community Center

2640 North Forest Rd., Getzville 787 Delaware Ave., Buffalo 716-688-4033 • www.jccbuffalo.org Celebrate your next special day at the J! With a wide variety of options, customizing your special occasion is our specialty. Everything from indoor pools, a gymnasium, campgrounds, and playgrounds are available to you! During the warmer months, options include an outdoor heated pool, dual zip-line, sports fields, and a challenge course. All parties include a dedicated party manager, private space, and paper products. Are you looking for more? Special additions include ordering food, extra hours, a bounce house, giant games, yard games, a ping pong table, and an indoor rock wall. Head over to fill out a party request form at www.jccbuffalo.org/rentals.

Michael Phelps Swimming

1590 Hopkins Rd., Amherst • 716-689-6777 www.MPSVA.com Make a splash and come to Michael Phelps Swimming for your child’s next birthday bash – where it’s summer all year long and the water is always warm!

Our two-hour parties can accommodate up to 24 party guests and are priced at only $450! Enjoy a full hour of free time in our 90 degree pool and then celebrate with food, cake, and presents in our lobby area. Dates fill up quickly, so call us today to schedule your child’s ultimate pool party!

Niagara Climbing Center

1333 Strad Ave., North Tonawanda • 716-695-1248 www.niagaraclimbingcenter.com A climbing party at Niagara Climbing Center is an experience you’ll talk about for a long time. We’ll make sure your event is organized, controlled and (most importantly) totally ROCKS! Enjoy family-friendly fun for any age and skill level. The 2 hour Cliffhanger offers climbing and 45 minutes in our NEW bigger, brighter private party room for you to enjoy your pizza package.

The birthday climber receives a free climbing pass and all participants receive a 2-for-1 pass to return for more climbing. All necessary equipment and lessons are included. Our birthday party isn’t just for kids, it ROCKS for all ages. Locally owned & operated, bringing you Family Friendly Fun for over 20 years.

Raff and Friends

Eastern Hills Mall • 4545 Transit Rd., Williamsville 716-632-4202 • www.raffandfriends.com Raff and Friends is a locally owned toy store located in the Eastern Hills Mall. You are sure to find that perfect gift for the birthday boy or girl. The store is packed full of an incredible variety of quality products including Melissa and Doug, Playmobil, Breyer, Bruder, Squishables, Fisher Price and Mattel, fidget toys, science, books, board games for all ages, and so much more. Shop in store or checkout their online store at www.raffandfriends.com. Raff and Friends makes birthday shopping simple!

Creating Smiles for over 100 years!

Choose your favorite fairytale character to come celebrate with you!

We bring the FUN... the LAUGHTER... & the HAPPILY EVER AFTER!

Find us on Facebook Clayton’s Toys

May all your

1396 Hertel Avenue • Buffalo, NY

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Gymnastics Unlimited

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OUR BIRTHDAY PARTIES ARE ALL THE RAGE FOR EVERY AGE!!

Obstacle course, games, parachute, rope, tumble tramp, trampoline and foam pit play

We even help with the gifts!

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677-0338 • www.gymnastics-unlimited.net January 2022 WNY Family 13

Shear Madness Haircuts for Kids

Profiles

Plan your

BIRTH DAY PARTY at the ll Carrousel he rsc He Factory Museum

Kids can ride our 2 carrousels, make crafts and get a e! goodie bag to take hom

Tumble Bee Gym

3316 Sheridan Dr., Amherst 716-248-1455 3455 Amelia Dr., Orchard Park 716-322-5332 100 Marketplace Dr., Rochester 585-491-6555 www.shearmadnesskids.com Our awesome birthday parties are 90 minutes long and hosted in our private and colorful party room, accessorized with a karaoke machine for kids to sing along with their favorite songs. All parties are led by our “Pink Starlets” so parents can focus on enjoying their children having fun and taking pictures if you choose. Girl DIVA Birthday Parties include your special little diva and her closest friends wearing our LA-DE-DA Spa robes, while being pampered with a Pretty Princess or Rock Star Rebel up-do, painted nails, glittery makeup and topped with a tiara. After their makeover, each girl gets to shop for their very own headband off our “black headband” rack to keep. Last but not least we finish the party with a group photo on a special keepsake scrapbook page for your Birthday Diva!

136 Evans St., Hamburg 716-868-1525 www.TumbleBeeGym.com Tumble in for an un-BEElievable Birthday Celebration at Tumble Bee Gym. Great fun for the kids and easy for mom and dad — a memorable experience for all! Our specially trained staff will provide instruction and supervision in our facility designed especially for kids. Parties include one hour of gymnastics, fun & games and a half hour to enjoy birthday cake & open presents. We handle everything from invitations to clean up and supply all paper products, tableware, decorations, and balloons. All you supply are the energetic party guests, refreshments, and the birthday cake. Don’t forget your camera!

hdays BiArertCelebrated Year Round...

Advertise Your Party Goods or Services in any Month of the Year in Our

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OUR CLIMBING PARTIES

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ROCK! • Fun for all ages • No experience needed

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Locally Owned & Operated Since 1998

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180 Thompson St. • North Tonawanda 14 WNY Family January 2022

1333 Strad Avenue • North Tonawanda

695-1248 • www.niagaraclimbingcenter.com

— by Katy M. Clark

neighborhood. Little ones can count how many smiles they see throughout the day on a clipboard, while bigger kids can be encouraged to simply smile in order to brighten someone’s day.

June 17 National Eat Your Vegetables Day

How To Celebrate Every Month

A

fter the excitement of ringing in the New Year, many of us are faced with the January blues. The festive feel of the holiday season is gone and the winter days can be gloomy.

However, each month of the new year brings something to celebrate.

Whether it’s enjoying food, honoring animals, or just being silly, here are 12 unique and fun days to commemorate as you keep the party going long into the new year.

January 13 National Rubber Ducky Day

We celebrate the rubber ducky on January 13 after the date appeared circled on a calendar in a 1973 episode of Sesame Street. Spend the day counting, collecting, or just taking a bath (of course!) with your rubber ducky.

February 20

National Love Your Pet Day

Whether your family pet is a dog, cat, or chinchilla, this day is all about giving extra love to the fur babies in your family. Or the ones with scales and feathers! You and your kids can pamper your pet with special treats, cuddles, or new toys, while reflecting on the special bond you share.

March 4-5

National Day of Unplugging

From sundown on March 4 to sundown on March 5, this 24-hour period aims to help families disconnect from technology and reconnect as people.

Enjoy a device-free dinner party and put your phone away while the kids create a play or concert. Take this time to unplug, unwind, and relax.

April 9 National Unicorn Day

This day honors the most popular mythical animal worldwide.

With a single horn protruding from its forehead, the unicorn represents magic, fantasy, and happiness. Learn about its appearances in ancient cultures like those of the Celts, Romans, and Persians. Then draw pictures, read books, and wear your favorite clothing item with the beloved creature.

May 31 National Smile Day

Turn that frown upside down and smile! Flash a beautiful grin at home, at school, and in your

This day is all about making more vegetables a part of your healthy diet. However, if your kids balk at the idea of celebrating peas and carrots, then your family can honor June 17 in a sweeter way. It’s also National Apple Strudel Day.

July 17

National Ice Cream Day

Did you know that President Reagan established the third Sunday of July as National Ice Cream Day back in 1984? Beat the summer heat and indulge in scoops from your favorite spot or try your hand at making your own. Your family can discuss favorite flavors or think up new ones to try. Make sure you have a variety of toppings on hand!

August 8

Global Sleep Under the Stars Night

This night encourages everyone to spend a night under the stars. Pitch a tent or bundle up under blankets in the backyard or on your patio. Read books about constellations, shine a flashlight in the sky to make your own, and enjoy the outdoors as you turn your gaze upward.

September 19 Talk Like A Pirate Day

Ahoy, mateys!

Spend the day talking like your favorite swashbuckler. Whether continued on page 30 January 2022 WNY Family 15

guests to use their imaginations to add to the city skyline using large colorful building blocks. Activity tables surrounding the building invite guests to explore locomotives, light, and movement. A large light board echoes murals that are blooming across the city, and young explorers can share their bright ideas for new illuminated works of art.

What Do Very Young Humans & Ancient Creatures Have In Common? …. They’re Both the Focus of the

Buffalo Museum of Science!

W

hile the Buffalo Museum of Science (BMS) was temporarily shut down due to COVID in early 2020, the time was used to fully reimagine the museum’s original first-floor early childhood gallery, “Explorations,” which was always a popular space.

This newest early childhood sensory space, called SensERIE, is a core, year-round exhibit with an Erie County twist, encouraging young children to use their senses of sight, touch, and sound to learn and understand the world around them.

The 1,800 square foot SensERIE exhibit comprises three distinct environments — the forest, a city scene, and an underwater setting — all inspired by Erie County locations and features. Each environment offers interactive, unique ambiences and atmospheres for immer-

sive play, and multi-sensory experiences that inspire curiosity, exploration, and wonder.

The underwater Lake Erie setting is anchored by a 16-foot research submarine.

Inside the sub children can engage with periscopes, controls, and take an inside-out view through its many portholes. While basking in atmospheric underwater light and gentle sounds, guests can make their way to the popular water table for fun water play.

The city scene features iconic Buffalo buildings and encourages young

Designed in the likeness of the BMS-operated Tifft Nature Preserve on Buffalo’s outer harbor, the forest environment immerses guests in a peaceful, natural world. After emerging into the space through a fallen tree trunk, young guests can enter large hollowed tree nooks that are accessible by youth-sized wheeled mobility devices. Inside, guests can enjoy quiet play or read a book.

Around the trunks, young guests can practice visual observation with a game of I Spy with some of the Museum’s vertebrate zoology collections — birds, amphibians, and mammals that are commonly spotted at Tifft.

The Museum has incorporated a new stroller parking area into the space and is updating its comfort room across the hall to provide a calm space for nursing, changing, or to simply find a quiet moment during a visit.

The Museum is currently working on developing Sensory Kits to be made available to guests with the help of focus groups and community members to help inform the selection of items and contents for the kits. The Museum plans to share more details about the kits in 2022.

Entry to SensERIE is included with general museum admission and is the perfect destination for families with young children on a winter day!

There’s always something new coming to the Museum. Tickets are already on sale for Antarctic Dinosaurs, a

16 WNY Family January 2022

Buffalo Society of Natural Sciences President and CEO, Marisa Wigglesworth, says after giving visitors background on how scientists do research in Antarctica, the exhibition reveals the fruits of that research — the dinosaurs themselves.

“This world-class exhibition shows real skeletons, real bones, as well as lifelike sculptures of dinosaurs set in naturalistic dioramas,” says Wigglesworth. “We’re extremely pleased to bring such an incredible experience from the Field Museum — one of the world’s leaders in exhibit design — to the Western New York community. We’re also proud to be among just a small handful of museums to have the opportunity to host the exhibition since its debut at the Field in 2018.” traveling exhibit on tour from Chicago’s Field Museum, which opens February 5, 2022.

Antarctic Dinosaurs will reveal a lost world, illuminated by scientists’ expeditions to the frozen continent. Visitors will be able to see and touch real fossils from Antarctica, along with full-sized replicas showing how the dinosaur and their habitat would have looked in life.

“It’s an amazing opportunity for people to see and discover fossils from Antarctica and what they tell us about Earth’s history,” says Pete Makovicky, Field’s Curator of Dinosaurs who has done extensive fieldwork in Antarctica. “When we designed the exhibition, we wanted visitors to feel like they’re traveling to Antarctica, give them a historical perspective on scientific expeditions, and then take them back in time, as well as show them some of the newest and coolest discoveries in paleontology.”

The exhibition contains artifacts from both historical and modern expeditions, including the sledge used by one of the first Antarctic adventurers over a hundred years ago, and the thick red parkas worn by Field Museum scientists exploring Antarctica today. Visitors will get a sense of what goes into living and working in the coldest spot on earth. “It’s an adventure story,” says Field’s Exhibitions Operations Director Tom Skwerski, who worked on creating the exhibition with the Field’s partners at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, the Utah Museum of Natural History, and the Discovery Place in North Carolina.

The immersive environment shows the world these animals lived in, complete with a dark sky streaked with shimmering light from the aurora australis (the southern counterpart to the Northern Lights).

The exhibition features four species of dinosaur — the twenty-five-foot-long predator Cryolophosaurus (“frozen crested lizard,” named for the bony ornamentation on its head), rhino-sized herbivore Glacialisaurus, and two new species that haven’t even been officially scientifically described yet.

These new dinosaurs are sauropodomorphs, early relatives of the giant long-necked, four-legged herbivores like Brachiosaurus and titanosaurs. The new species, however, are smaller — the littler one, a juvenile specimen, is about the size of a Labrador Retriever.

In addition to the fossils and immersive environments, Antarctic Dinosaurs also offers hands-on experiences. “It’s engaging and interactive,” says the Buffalo Museum of Science’s Director of exhibits, David Cinquino. “Visitors will be able to touch a piece of stone containing real fossils from Antarctica. There’s a puzzle explaining plate tectonics, how the continents fit together, and an interactive explaining polar light and the midnight sun.

It’s really cool, and it helps those concepts make sense.”

Tickets are on sale now at $24 for adults, and $21 for children, seniors, students, and military for non-members and includes general museum admission. Museum Members receive a special discounted price of just $6 per person. Visit www.sciencebuff.org or call 716-896-5200 for all the details.

January 2022 WNY Family 17

T

he Holidays are over; however, the pandemic continues. The gifts that were so shiny and new are beginning to lose some of their appeal. The cold, snowy January days quickly lead to the dreaded “There’s nothing to do! I’m bored” problem. Boredom... the age-old problem that inevitably pops up during the winter months.

Getting out of the house for some entertainment used to be a fantastic option, but the current state of things means many places are still closed while others have limited hours. It can be tempting to toss the kids a tablet and let them watch videos for a while so that you can have some peace and quiet. No judgment. We’ve all done it. The sites I’ve listed below provide engaging activities for families looking to use the digital world to alleviate that real world boredom.

on a snowy day, Google “google birthday surprise spinner” and click the spinner. Kids and adults can easily waste hours online playing a version of Pac-man, a DJ game, and an animated game of cricket.

Art Hub for Kids

RAISING DIGITAL KIDS — by Mike Daugherty well, giving you an upbeat, bouncy tune or a slower, melodramatic symphony.

Children can even record lyrics using the built-in microphone on their tablet or by plugging a microphone into your home computer. While fun, this free activity won’t turn your little one into the next Beethoven. It is an excellent opportunity to engage their brain cells on a dreary winter afternoon. You can find this in the Chrome experiments section of Google’s site by searching “Chrome Music Lab” from your favorite search engine.

Google’s Birthday Surprise Spinner Chrome Music Lab Google’s Chrome Music Lab is an excellent resource for children who love making music, singing songs, or both. The site provides a grid that you click on to add notes. The higher you place the note on the grid, the higher the sound made will be. The options along the bottom allow the musician to choose the style of the sounds. Kids can select from a grand piano, strings, woodwinds, and more. The tempo can be adjusted as 18 WNY Family January 2022

The image above the Google search bar is called a Google Doodle. The Google Doodle is used to call attention to various topics such as an important date for an invention, an artist’s birthday, or celebrating a critical event or individual in history. Often, the Doodle includes an activity directly related to the focus for the day. The allure of these activities, puzzles, and games is how easy they are to play and how much fun can be packed into a tiny online package. Google created a digital spinner wheel that randomly chooses one of these activities. If you’re looking for some entertainment

Art Hub for Kids is a family-friendly YouTube channel that teaches children how to draw in a fun way. Each video includes the leading artist, Rob, and one of his four children drawing alongside him. He’ll draw a line or shape on-screen, and then his co-artist will draw the same thing.

The camera shows both drawings side by side so the viewers can see exactly what to do. Kids can pause the video while drawing or rewatch a section if they don’t understand the instructions.

Rob does a phenomenal job of emphasizing that every artist is different. It is perfectly ok if your drawing at home doesn’t look exactly like his. The artwork is colored and shaded when it is complete. The result is almost always something your child will be proud of.

The most challenging part is choosing what to draw from the thousands of options available. You can find the channel by searching for Art For Kids Hub on YouTube. If you’re not a fan of YouTube, check out ArtForKidsHub.tv. It is a paid site ($5.99 a month) run by the same family that allows you to access all the Art For Kids Hub videos in a friendly, ad-free environment.

Highlights Kids Highlights magazine was a staple of my childhood growing up. The “Hidden Pictures” feature was easily my favorite part. The sixty year old publication continues to entertain another generation of children through its website. The digital version of Highlights Kids has lots of great content for kids ages six to twelve. The site includes jokes, online games, and puzzles. The activities

section contains forty different crafts and recipes that can be done without much adult supervision for the most part. Capital letter “ADULTS” signals kids when they’ll need a parent’s help. The site even includes an area where kids can submit the things they’ve made to be featured online or ask questions to the Highlights’ staff like “I’m really messy. How can I get more organized?” The one downside to the digital site is the Hidden Pictures. The popularity of the activity caused Highlights to create a separate subscription-based website dedicated to Hidden Pictures. Parents can sign up for a free trial that will be billed monthly until canceled. Overall, the site provides a load of fun, free activities for kids when boredom sets in. You can find Highlights Kids at HighlightsKids.com.

Funbrain Some readers may be familiar with the digital treasure trove of educational games, videos, and books that is Funbrain. Funbrain features content for kids in preschool through eighth grade. Some games help kids practice fundamental skills in language arts and math such as Word Derby and Math Basketball. The “skill and drill” model is not ideal for teaching new concepts, but it can be a helpful practice tool. The content is leveled, which means your fourth grader will not see problems designed for a kindergarten student. My favorite part of the site is the reading section. Funbrain offers digital copies of books for students to read. A quick search revealed books from popular series such as “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” and “Judy Moody.” The books are published online in their entirety. Free books online is an excellent way for kids to dip their toe in the water to see if they’d like a book series before going to the library. Funbrain is free; however, it is supported by advertisements. The advertisements appear to be family-friendly, but they can become cumbersome at times. Head over to FunBrain.com to learn more.

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Remember to join in with your kids on these activities, too!

For example, Art Hub for Kids is fun for kids AND adults. So is the Chrome Music Lab. Technology shouldn’t be your family’s answer to boredom. However, technology can be used to grow your child’s love of reading, art, music, and more by giving them opportunities to practice their skills in new and unique ways.

Mike Daugherty is a husband, father of three young children, author, speaker, Google Innovator, and possible Starbucks addict. He is a certified educational technology leader who has served in a variety of roles through his twenty-year career in public education. Currently, Mike is the Director of Technology for the Chagrin Falls Exempted Village School district in Northeast Ohio. As an IT director he has developed creative, well thought out solutions that positively impact teaching and learning.

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F

lexibility, advance planning, and willingness to change course quickly have always been important for travelers, but they are especially essential characteristics for the traveler this year — the third year of the pandemic.

FAMILY TRAVEL — by Deborah Williams

While 37 percent of American travelers find themselves more cautious and therefore less spontaneous due to the pandemic, another 25 percent are willing to be more spontaneous with travel this year.

Travel largely came to a halt in 2020 except for travel in the United States and it was mostly by car. Last year travel picked up considerably, particularly for domestic destinations.

Travel insurance summer policy sales last summer hit levels unseen since the start of the pandemic, while autumn sales were more than double what they were last year, according to Anna Gladman, chief executive of the travel insurance company World Nomads.

“Travelers are taking precautions,” she said, “but that hasn’t dampened the enthusiasm.”

Travel experts predict travel will be up substantially in 2022 and some even expect it will be a boom year. Many of us have airline and cruise credits given after canceled trips. In most all cases, they have expiration dates. The pent-up demand for travel is huge.

Travelers are ready to get out and explore and this year could be even more popular for trips than before the pandemic, according to a report from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).

When it comes to getaways, domestic travel growth has significantly outpaced global tourism and is expected to rise even more this year.

“Our research shows that while the global travel and tourism sector is slowly beginning to recover, the U.S. is recovering faster than many other regions, Julia Simpson, WTTC president and CEO said.

The council predicts a nearly 228% growth in international spending by travelers in the U.S. this year compared to last year.

20 WNY Family January 2022

respondents noted they are planning only domestic trips for this year, with some of the most popular destinations being Orlando and Maui.

Travel Tips for 2022 “However, the long-term recovery of the tourism sector in the U.S. and around the world depends on the U.S. border remaining open to international visitors and making travel easier,” Simpson added.

Two-thirds of Americans are planning on taking big trips this year, according to Expedia’s 2022 Travel Trends Report. Fifty-nine percent of American

“Travel is no longer just about ‘going somewhere.’ Coming out of such a long period of constraints and limitations, 2022 will be the year we string every bit of richness and meaning out of our experiences,” said Christie Hudson, Senior PR Manager for Expedia.

“Whether it’s going somewhere new, being more spontaneous or treating yourself, it’s clear that a new wave of excitement is bubbling as travelers chase travel greatness to get their Greatest of all Trips.”

More than 2.45 million passengers passed through airports in the United States on the Sunday after the Thanksgiving holiday, the most since the COVID-19 pandemic halted travel nearly two years ago and nearly at pre-pandemic levels.

The travel numbers on the Sunday after Thanksgiving were a significant increase from last year when just over

1.17 million passengers traveled through U.S. airports on that day, according to the Transportation Security Administration data.

medical costs that may be incurred while visiting. A knowledgeable travel agent can help travelers navigate these and other evolving travel requirements.

However, it was still well below the equivalent Sunday in 2019 when the TSA screened more than 2.88 million people, the highest checkpoint volume in the agency’s 20-year history, TSA spokeswoman Lisa Farbstein said.

“Our agents like to say that they are available before, during and after the trip,” explained Elizabeth Carey, public relations director for AAA Western and Central New York. “They are ready to help in case of any problems during a trip.”

She added that passenger numbers reached 20.9 million for the previous ten days, including Sunday, coming in at about 89% of pre-pandemic levels.

There is no doubt that the pandemic has changed travel. It has prompted more Americans to consider travel insurance.

According to a recent AAA Travel Survey, more than half (55%) of American adults are planning a vacation of at least one overnight stay this year and those travelers are increasingly turning to travel insurance to protect their vacation investments.

“Orlando is still our number one destination for our clients,” she said.

“Cruising is also making a big comeback for families. There are real deals and new air routes from the Buffalo Airport this winter making travel really affordable.”

Niagara Falls has long been among the world’s most famous tourist destinations and the area had a strong summer season according to Andrea Czopp, Vice President of Operations, Destination Niagara USA.

“Travel insurance is relatively inexpensive for the large amount of peace of mind it affords, and that’s more valuable than ever in light of the pandemic,” said Paula Twidale, Senior Vice President, AAA Travel.

“Americans have seen how important travel insurance is to protect their vacation investment and are prioritizing this purchase at the start, now more than ever.”

“We know that international travel will be slower to come back but we are so happy to welcome our Canadian neighbors back to our area,” she said. “Reopening our borders makes such a difference — in 2019 our Canadian visitors spent $59 million on charges to VISA cards in Niagara County — then there were all the charges to all the other credit card companies.”

The ability to cancel a trip and get a refund is by far the most frequently cited benefit of travel insurance, with 69% of travelers saying this is the most important to them when considering travel insurance for an upcoming trip. AAA advises these travelers to look into travel insurance policies that include a “cancel for any reason” component, which could offer more flexibility and protection in the event travelers need to cancel their trip.

Niagara Falls is home to the Niagara Falls State Park, the oldest state park in the United States featuring the American Falls, the Bridal Veil Falls, and a portion of the Horseshoe Falls.

Some international destinations may require visitors to carry travel insurance, to help cover any unexpected

Throughout the entire pandemic New York State’s award-winning parks remained open and attracted record numbers of visitors. Camping reservations are open now and popular parks fill up fast so make your plans as soon as possible. continued on page 36

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Maureen!” She shot right around when I said this and came running over and by the time she made it to my lap, Grandma answered. When they made eye contact, both of their faces lit up with excitement, including mine, and I was instantly reminded of how important it is to stay in touch with your loved ones. And like a tidal wave, the guilt washed over me right on cue.

Keeping in Touch with Grandma Maureen

I

t always happens to me around this time of year; it’s post-Halloween and I’ve been into at least five stores pedaling Christmas tree garland and candy canes and I start to think about my family back home and get a little sad. My family, as small as we are, all live hours and even states away from each other, making it hard to visit as frequently as we would like; with my mother being affected the most. The reason I get as melancholy as I do, honestly, is because I’m terrible at calling people, especially my mom, and I feel guilty during the holiday season.

I would like to say that I do my best to call my mom as often as possible, but the truth is, I’ve admittedly never been great at calling anyone to check in. I could blame it on being busy at home or tied up at work, running errands and using the baby as an easy excuse, but that would be a lie — I’m just lazy. And with the many different forms of communication readily available for us; facetiming, text messaging (which my mother will accept) and of course the old-fashioned phone call, there is no reason for me not to drop in.

With Violet turning fifteen months on December 1st and getting bigger and brighter by the day, I know how it feels to miss your children and how something as simple as a “hello” could make your day. And no, Violet isn’t talking just yet, other than her adorable babbling with the occasional “mama” and “dada,” but I imagine the love and appreciation I feel when I pick her up from daycare 22 WNY Family January 2022

and she smiles at me is exactly what my mom feels when I call her just to say hi.

Now, as much as my mom and inlaws appreciate the occasional drop-in, so does Violet, and she might enjoy it just as much, if not more — especially if we’re facetiming. I don’t know if it’s facetiming she’s actually excited about because she has recently become enamored with our cellphones (as much as we have tried to shield her from them), or if she just loves seeing her grandparents and the occasional familiar faces, but she goes nuts for a little screen time.

All we have to say is, “Violet, do you want to facetime with Grandma,” or whoever, but usually either one of her three grandmas takes the win, and she comes running right over and grabs the phone. She knows the sound of the outgoing and incoming ringtone and her face lights right up. And when Grandma accepts the call and her face magically appears, Violet is usually good for a big smile and laugh.

One evening around mid-November, with Christmas playing on the radio, I started to feel overwhelmed with my pre-holiday blues, and called my mom for a little catch-up session with Violet.

First, I sent her a text to make sure she was available, this way not to disappoint Violet, and when she replied back with a thumbs-up emoji, we gave her a call.

Violet was across the room probably playing with her blocks, or more likely, reading her books, when I shouted out, “Violet, let’s facetime with Grandma

One of the reasons I like facetiming so much, or using any video conferencing app, is that it’s a great tool to update family/friends on Violet’s progress, or as I like to say, showing off her new tricks. I spent forty minutes that evening showing my mom how fast Violet walks, almost like a slow run, and how she can find her belly and eyes. Violet and Grandma also took turns mimicking each other by sticking out their tongues and making silly noises.

It was very clear to me that with each second passing on that phone call, my mom’s day was being made. She was in heaven. The little things in life matter so much and my pre-New Year’s resolution, starting now in November, is that I am going to be better at keeping in touch.

Richard De Fino, a freelance writer by night, first became a father at age 34.

After losing his first-born son Louis, at birth, he was determined to keep his memory alive the best way he knew how; through words. Now, with the birth of his daughter Violet, he plans on continuing to share his fatherhood journey each month with WNY Family readers.

Family Movie Options: In Theaters and Streaming Online Encanto

Disney+

Rating

Overall

Violence

Sex

Profanity

Alcohol/Drugs

PG

A-

A-

A

A

A-

Hidden in the mountains of Colombia is an enchanted place called Encanto, protected by the Madrigal family. Each member of the clan has a magical gift – except for Mirabel. But when the magic of Encanto is threatened, Mirabel steps up to protect her home and family. This film is top tier Disney entertainment, with a compelling script, strong messages about family legacies and unconditional love, and an engaging soundtrack

by Lin-Manuel Miranda. Add in lush, vibrant animation and this is a great choice for viewers of all ages. Photo ©Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Extinct

Netflix

Rating

Overall

Violence

Sex

Profanity

Alcohol/Drugs

TV-PG

B

B

A

A

A-

Siblings Op and Ed are donut-shaped Flummels living on the Galapagos Islands. When they inadvertently time travel from 1835 to modern Shanghai, the siblings are horrified to learn that their species is now extinct. Joining forces with other survivors of extinction, Op and Ed travel back through time to save their species. This film has an intriguing premise, and the first half of the runtime features funny jokes and clever ideas. As the story progresses, ideas dry up and the film goes off the rails.

It won’t bother kids, but it will frustrate adult viewers. Photo © Netflix

Back to the Outback

Netflix

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PG

B

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Maddie the snake, Zoe the thorny devil lizard, Frank the spider, and Nigel the scorpion all live in the reptile house of an Australian zoo. Tired of being scorned as scary and ugly, they decide to make a break for the outback where they won’t be seen as monsters. This “found family” story comes with messages about not judging based on appearances and appreciating the uniqueness of each individual. It’s not brilliant but the jokes are funny and the action scenes move along briskly. It makes a decent choice for family movie night. Photo ©Netflix

Mixtape

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Raised by her kind but reserved grandmother, Beverly Moody longs to learn about the parents who died when she was little. Stumbling across a mixtape they made, she’s thrilled – until it breaks. Desperate to see what she can learn about them from their music, Bev sets out to recreate the playlist, in a world before iTunes. This film has a heartfelt story with appealing characters and strong messages about family. But it also has a protagonist who indulges in some reckless behavior. Photo ©Netflix Detailed reviews available at www.parentpreviews.com January 2022 WNY Family 23

adventure story of a little mouse chased by a cat into a bottle with a ship in it.

The bottle gets knocked off the windowsill and into the stream that runs by the house… and so Mouse accidently sets off to find a better home. The simple text

by Andrew Prahin supports his illustrations that tell the tale of this wild adventure. Mouse survives rough and scary seas and attacks by seagulls. She makes friends with rabbits but soon moves on to find the perfect place while making new friends and starting new adventures with them along the way.

PICK OF THE LITERATURE — by Dr. Donna Phillips

A

nother year has passed us by, and a new one is ahead of us! There’s much we may wish to forget… but there is so much we need to remember. There have been good times and hard times. A year from now, things will be different, but try to keep in mind that what we seek, we will find. Now is the time to focus on the good things that happened last year and look forward to more to come.

For me, it is also a time of year to focus on the wonderful books that almost got away. The books this year seem to have organized themselves by themes. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

ALPHABET

C is for Country (Random House Books, New York 2021, $18.99), written

by Lil Nas X and illustrated by Theodore Taylor III, is an interesting approach to the alphabet and life in the country. We spend the day with Lil Nas as he celebrates his Georgia roots and growing up with animals, friends, and family. Each letter of the alphabet stands for a place, an adventure, a moment with his family, or a cel24 WNY Family January 2022

ebration of time spent in nature. This is a delightful story told through the eyes of a young child by an award winning rapper, singer, and songwriter.

The ABCs of Black History (Workman Publishing, New York, 2021, $14.99) is beautifully written by Rio Cortez and illustrated by Lauren Semmer.

It introduces the reader to the diaspora and the journey of humanity as it spread from Africa across the globe. Much of this was by force but some was by choice. Using the alphabet to organize important people, points in time, ways of being and living, the language of cultures, and the complexity of how these built on each other to bring us to this moment in time. While it appears to be designed for young children, it is a framework for historical and personal exploration. Wonderful resources are provided at the end of the book that take each letter to a deeper level. This is a book not to be overlooked.

TRAVEL & BRAVERY

Ship in a Bottle (G.P. Putnam’s Sons, New York, 2021, $17.99) is an

Hope at Sea: An Adventure Story (Anne Schwartz Books, New York, 2021, $17.99), written and illustrated by Daniel Miyares, is the story of Hope, who stows away on her father’s merchant ship to experience his stories form the Sea. And experience them she does! Told with sparse text but beautifully detailed illustrations, we experience the trials and tribulations of sea life on a clipper ship.

Once she is discovered and scolded by her father, they set off on an adventure as she learns how to navigate by the stars, swab the deck, and load goods onto the ship. Her illustrated journal captures all of this until the ship wrecks on the rocks off shore. As they abandon the sinking ship for the lifeboats, they see lights from the shore guiding them to safety. But the adventure does not end there. As bits of the ship drift into shore, they collect them to build a new life for themselves in a lighthouse.

ANIMALS & IMAGINATION

The Midnight Fair (Candlewick Press, New York 2021, $16.99), created

by Gideon Sterer and illustrated Mariachiara Di Giorgio, is a magical, wordless picture book that tells the story of what happens at night when the fair comes to town. As the lights dim and people leave, the animals come out to explore and play.

They ride the carousel, play midway games, spin in the twirling teacups, thrill on the rollercoaster, crash on the bumper cars, fling around on the flying chair ride, and enjoy the view from the Ferris wheel. Soon dawn begins to break, so before they scurry back to the woods, they clean up after their adventure and head off, carrying the treats and toys from their nighttime frolic. As the animals drift off to their beds to sleep and dream of their special time, one lone fox forays down to the river to release the gold fish he won at the ping pong ball toss.

Fox: A Circle of Life Story (Bloomsbury Books, New York, 2021, $18.99) is beautifully written by Isabel Thomas and stunningly illustrated by Daniel Egneus. This gentle story explains the life-cycle of a red fox and her family as she lives, thrives, and eventually passes away to be returned to the nature that nurtured her. Through this story, we celebrate her joys, her challenges, and her life and “Just as winter turns to spring, new life flows from old. As every particle that once was fox finds a new place in the world.” The book ends with notes that explain life and death and the living that takes place in-between. The cycles of seasons and life continue…

Keeping with the theme of the past year and making room for the new one to come, it may be helpful to turn to the wisdom of Winnie the Pooh to guide us.

“Life is a journey to be experienced, not a problem to be solved.”

Dr. Donna Phillips is an associate professor in the College of Education at Niagara University where her specialty is literacy and children’s literature. She lives on Grand Island, NY and is the mother of two adult children and the grandmother of one.

January 2022 WNY Family 25

DEAR TEACHER – by Peggy Gisler and Marge Eberts

Helping all parents make their children’s educational experience as successful as possible

It’s Mid-Year Checkup Time

P

arents: For years, getting report cards throughout the year was the main way parents learned exactly what progress their children were making in their classes.

Now many schools go beyond report cards to sending home mid-year and/or mid-report card period progress reports for students in grades 1-8. Not only do they give a picture of the progress children are making in achieving the appropriate growth in meeting state standards in academic subjects, these reports also review social/emotional development, behavior, and work habits. And some progress reports are sent out when students are having academic, social, or behavioral problems.

With the school year half over or close to half over for most students, now is the time you want to know if there are any significant problems that can be resolved before the end of the year. If you have not received this vital information via midyear progress reports or other communications, here are some things that you can do to be up to date on your children’s progress in school so far this year:  Observe, whether or not, they are having trouble doing homework assignments and in what areas.  Become a monitor of your children’s work by looking over the papers they bring home every day. Check to see if they are filled with red pencil correction marks.  Acquaint yourself with the online information that your children’s teachers provide. Some will have test dates and scores, class assign26 WNY Family January 2022

ments, resources for parents, and contact information.  Study the results of any standardized tests your children may have taken.  Schedule a conference with your children’s teachers, if you have questions about your children’s progress.

Increasing Children’s Vocabularies

Question: My son currently is in fourth grade. His teacher says that he has a very limited speaking vocabulary and is not using grade level vocabulary to express himself. Also, the teacher says he has trouble understanding more advanced vocabulary. How can he increase his vocabulary? — Needs Words Answer: Children pick up new words and their meanings in two major ways: through listening and through reading. Starting in fourth grade, new and unfamiliar vocabulary is introduced in all subjects, especially science and social studies, building a foundation for future learning. Mastery of these words is absolutely essential to understanding the material. This task is much easier for the good listeners in every classroom. Children who don’t listen in class are always playing catch-up in learning vocabulary.

Could this be part of the reason that your son’s vocabulary is limited? The teacher can have him sit in the front of the classroom, take notes on what is being said and answer questions about what is being discussed — all ways to improve his listening skills.

Building children’s vocabulary does not just occur at school. The more you talk to your children, no matter what

their age, the larger their vocabularies will be, because parents use far more challenging words than children’s peers.

So, much of the key to increasing your son’s vocabulary lies in your talking to him and his talking more to you. Increase the opportunities to do this by doing chores together, having mealtime and car conversations, and bedtime chats.

Do all of these things with neither of you using any electronic devices. The more you and your son talk to each other, the faster his vocabulary will increase. And the more the discussions go beyond trite exchanges to talking more about current happenings in the world, the sooner he will enlarge his vocabulary. Doing these things is really a great way to increase all children’s vocabularies.

Your son’s limited vocabulary may be partially due to his not mastering much of the new vocabulary in content area subjects, especially social studies and science, as well as new words in his readers. The secret to him learning these words is to hear them at least 4-12 times. Part of this will occur at school.

However, you can accelerate the process by having him write out the meaning of new words (textbooks usually list these words for every chapter). Then make a point of using these words in conversations as you discuss each day what he is learning in school. By hearing, saying, reading, and writing more challenging words, his limited vocabulary should grow.

You might want to start building his vocabulary by checking if your son understands the 300 most basic words that he should have mastered in first, second, and third grade. You will find this list on our dearteacher.com website under Skill Builders - reading. There are also lists of words there that middle schoolers and high school students should know that will be helpful for your son later on. If he doesn’t know these very basic words, use flashcards to help him learn them.

Parents should send questions and comments to dearteacher@dearteacher. com and to learn more about helping their children succeed in school visit the dearteacher website.

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Empower

Ability Inspire Advocate

Special Needs Potential Thri

Growth Strategies

M

ost children diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD) don’t outgrow the disorder, as widely thought. It manifests itself in adulthood in different ways and waxes and wanes over a lifetime, according to a study published August 13, 2021 in the American Journal of Psychiatry.

“It’s important for people diagnosed with ADHD to understand that it’s normal to have times in your life where things may be more unmanageable and

Just 10% of Kids with ADHD Outgrow It, Study Finds — Source: University of Washington School of Medicine

other times when things feel more under control,” said lead researcher Margaret Sibley, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Univer-

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sity of Washington School of Medicine and a researcher at Seattle Children’s Research Institute.

Study authors from 16 institutions in the United States, Canada, and Brazil said decades of research characterize ADHD as a neurobiological disorder typically first detected in childhood that persists into adulthood in approximately 50% of cases. But this study found just 10% of children completely outgrow it.

“Although intermittent periods of remission can be expected in most cases, 90% of children with ADHD in the Multimodal Treatment Study of ADHD continued to experience residual symptoms into young adulthood,” they wrote.

ADHD is characterized by two main clusters of symptoms, according to researchers. The inattentive symptoms look like disorganization, forgetfulness, and having trouble staying on task. Then there are also the hyperactive, impulsive symptoms. In children, those symptoms look like having a lot of energy, such as running around and climbing on things.

In adults, it manifests more as verbal impulsivity, difficulty with decisionmaking, and not thinking before acting.

The disorder affects people differently and looks different depending on what

phase of life someone’s in.

Some people with ADHD also report a unique ability to hyper-focus. Olympic athletes Michael Phelps and Simone Biles have been open about their ADHD diagnosis.

While many people may experience symptoms similar to ADHD, it is estimated the disorder roughly affects 5% to 10% of the population, said Sibley.

Sixteen Years of Research

This study followed a group of 558 children with ADHD for 16 years — from 8-years-old to 25-years-old. The cohort had eight assessments, every two years, to determine whether they had symptoms of ADHD. The researchers also asked their family members and teachers about their symptoms.

Sibley said the belief that 50% of children outgrow ADHD was first put forward in the mid-1990s. Most studies, she said, only re-connected with the kids one time in adulthood. So, researchers didn’t get to see that the ADHD that they thought had gone away actually does come back.

Coping with ADHD Researchers have yet to find what causes ADHD to flare. Sibley said it could be stress, the wrong environment, and not having a healthy lifestyle of proper sleep, healthy eating, and regular exercise.

Also, if a person is not taking the time to manage symptoms and really understand what works best for them, then the symptoms are probably going to get more out of control, she said.

Medication and therapy are the two main treatments for ADHD. But, Sibley said, people can pursue their own healthy coping skills as well.

Researchers found that most people who technically no longer meet criteria for ADHD in adulthood still have some traces of ADHD, but they were managing well on their own.

“The key is finding a job or a life passion that ADHD does not interfere with,” Sibley said. “You are going to see a lot of creative people have ADHD because they’re able to be successful in their creative endeavors despite having ADHD, whereas people who might be required to do very detail-oriented work at a computer all day — that could be a really hard combination for a person with ADHD.” Sibley said the time to seek professional help is when the symptoms are causing a problem in your life. This includes not performing your best, problems with other people, having a hard time getting along, difficulty maintaining healthy, longterm relationships with loved ones and friends, and inability to complete basic daily tasks whether that’s parenting, staying on top of your finances, or just keeping an organized household.

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CELEBRATE EVERY MONTH continued...

How Celebrate you don an eyeTo patch, dig for buriedEvery treasure,Month or nosh on some chocolate gold coins, you and your kids will walk the plank to celebrate this day. Shiver me timbers!

October 5

National Do Something Nice Day

You and your family can show kindness in big and small ways on this day.

Try giving compliments, holding the door open for someone, writing a letter to a relative, or paying for the order of the person behind you in line.

November 14

National Family PJ Day

Who doesn’t want to spend the day in their favorite pjs? Put on your matched or mismatched pajamas and then sleep in or snuggle up.

Get your pets in the game, too. If you’re really planning ahead, now is the perfect time to snap that holiday card photo.

December 13 National Cocoa Day

Prepare to welcome winter by indulging in a cup of hot chocolate.

Your family can learn about the origin of drinking cocoa, said to be started by the Mayans as early as 500BC, or have a taste test to decide which is the perfect topping — marshmallows or whipped cream.

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Katy M. Clark is a writer and mother of two who embraces her imperfections on her blog Experienced Bad Mom. She is an award-winning writer who has appeared on Scary Mommy, SheKnows Parenting, and Your Teen for Parents. Her articles have been published in Pregnancy, Atlanta Parent, San Diego Parent, and more.

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W

hether you call them stepfamilies, blended families, or simply modern families, it’s clear that diversity is increasingly the norm when it comes to family arrangements. The Pew Research Center reports that for 40% of U.S. families, at least one partner has a child from a previous relationship, far different from the mid-1970s when my widowed dad married my stepmother.

SINGLE PARENTING — by Peg Conway

However, just because stepfamilies are more common doesn’t mean the experience has become easier for kids. Unlike couples entering their first marriages together, subsequent marriages that already include children must merge whole casts of characters, each with their own established narratives. My memoir, The Art of Reassembly, recounts how I wish my parents had realized this.

example, extremely good behavior can mask distress in young children.

In my growing up, difficult emotions were not expressed. I resented additional chores that my stepmother assigned. When she began using items that had belonged to my mom, I stiffened with unspoken pain and sorrow. Gentle invitations from my dad or stepmother to talk about how things were going, whether over dinner or while driving in the car or just sitting around the family room, would have helped me cope with the transitions.

Recognize Differing Relationships Rather than the typical family tree, stepfamilies create a widening web of relationships.

After my dad remarried, we still saw my mom’s relatives but not nearly as often and seldom all together. We would have solo gatherings with my grandparents at Christmas. Although my stepmother’s family embraced us warmly, as an adult I wished my siblings and I could have spent more time with our maternal cousins, even if my dad had not attended.

Such issues of loyalty are more pronounced in divorce situations. Ask your children what they want and respect their wishes.

Five Tips for Forming Your Healthy Blended Family

For a stepfamily to work, there is no one right script for success. The process is improvisational. In fact, stepparents could take a few cues from improv performers. Improv is a type of live theatre in which the plot, characters, and dialogue are made up in the moment, often prompted by input from the audience or another source. These performers must be motivated, adaptable, and creative, all traits that would serve you well as a stepparent.

With this approach in mind, here are five tips for fostering a healthy stepfamily.

Accept That Loss is Present Though marriage is a joyful celebration, when it comes to forming a stepfamily, a major loss lurks somewhere in the background. The couple can marry because a person died, or a relationship ended. No matter how distant or close in time this event occurred, you can be sure it remains impactful for children at any age.

32 WNY Family January 2022

My dad presented his remarriage as giving us a new mother, effectively putting the past behind us. As a child, I had no choice but to accept this framing of our situation. Much later, in adulthood, I felt sad and confused, as well as angry at my dad and stepmother for erasing my mom in this way. For children of divorce, navigating relationships is even more complex. From the start, accepting loss as foundational to your new family creates a realistic mindset.

Allow Space for Painful Feelings and Conflicts Inevitably, clashes occur as you merge your families. In addition to underlying loss, people have different traditions, habits, and even schedules for being in the home depending on custody arrangements. These adjustments are hard for anyone, and especially so for kids. They may exhibit outbursts and resistance or more subtle reactions. For

As divorce became part of our family in my generation, I wanted to balance inclusion with respect for separate identities. When my stepmother asked me if she should include my brother’s new teenage stepson in her cash gifts at Christmas, I said “yes” right away.

Since he was choosing to be with us for the holiday, treat him like everyone else.

Let Growth Emerge The complexities of the past need not prevent stepfamilies from growing

together. The key is to let it emerge in its own time and its own way, rather than forcing anything. Little things may be most meaningful. I have fond memories of baking cookies with my stepmother, shopping for school clothes together, and going on excursions with her and my younger (half) brother. On our birthdays, we chose the dinner menu and type of cake. These ordinary activities, repeated over the years, created a familiar, reassuring pattern that I enjoyed.

Accept Mistakes

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Actor and comedian Tina Fey wrote in her book Bossypants regarding improv: “There are no mistakes, only opportunities.” On the stage, what could be called a mistake might send the story in an interesting, unexpected direction or result in hilarity for the audience. While that may not always be true of mistakes in stepfamily interactions, accepting them as normal extends compassion to yourself and others, which can only improve relationships. That’s a healthy example for children in any kind of family.

Peg Conway writes and practices Healing Touch energy therapy in Cincinnati, OH, where she also volunteers at a children’s grief center. Her essays about early mother loss and long-term grieving have appeared in Austin Fit Magazine, The Manifest-Station, the Cincinnati Enquirer, and The Mighty. After earning a master’s in journalism, she worked in corporate communications.

Later, she became a certified childbirth educator and doula. Peg and her husband have three grown children and one grandchild.

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January 2022 WNY Family 33

recommends creating clear boundaries with your teen regarding when and how long they are allowed to play. She says an example of boundaries might be letting teens choose to play an hour of video games either before or after completing homework.

She encourages parents to learn more about their teen’s interest in video games. Sit down and play the games with them. “The child will see that you have an interest in what they are doing,” she says, “and you will learn about why they are so attracted to the game.”

Parenting the Video Game Fanatic: How To Encourage Other Interests “

I

t’s time for karate class,” I said to my 13-year-old son.

“Do I have to go?”

“Yes.” This has been a common exchange between us for a variety of activities over the past 10 years. He has tried everything from baseball to cooking class — yet nothing holds his interest as much as video games.

Every now and then I wonder if it is worth investing money and time into classes or sports he doesn’t want to participate in. But if I hold off on signing him up for things, he does nothing except play video games until we try something new again. It’s a never-ending cycle.

Are Video Games Healthy?

My son is not an anomaly. According to the Pew Research Center, 72% of teens — and 84% of teen boys — play video games.

There is a lot of conflicting information about video game use, so it can be hard for parents to know what to allow. It’s screen time, of course, but video gaming is often also a social activity played together with friends either in the same room or online. And if it’s a popular pastime among a teen’s peer group, some parents may be inclined to let them play for an unlimited amount of time with their friends.

Playing video games can have positive benefits, says Dr. Larry D. Rosen, 34 WNY Family January 2022

TWEENS & TEENS — by Cheryl Maguire a professor at California State University and author of The Distracted Mind.

Gaming “can offer some skill-building, including reaction time, executive functioning, and strategic thinking,” says Rosen. He cautions though, that “playing video games can be very addictive and create problematic thinking, including desensitization to violence.”

Video Game Obsession?

Rosen recommends that video game play should be limited, since research shows physiological arousal increases when playing — and kids need breaks from that. He suggests limiting gaming for teens to 60-90 minutes at a time, even if parents decide to allow more total time daily.

Maria Sanders, a licensed social worker and certified parent coach, also

Encouraging Other Activities Teens should live “balanced lives and not live solely in the video game,” says Sanders. But if your teen doesn’t express interest in anything else, it may be difficult to figure out which activity or sport to encourage. Sanders suggests asking your teen about the type of video games they like to play. Then you might be able to figure out an activity that uses similar skills or gameplay. An avid Fortnite player, for example, might enjoy a laser tag league.

Parents should avoid simply announcing which activities their teen must do. Rosen stresses the importance of including the child in the decision-making process. With your child’s input, create a list of the types of activities they could do at home during unstructured times or when they feel bored. Similarly, involving your child in discussions about organized extracurriculars will prevent them from feeling forced into participating in certain activities.

Stay Positive About Video Games Often parents make comments like “video games are a waste of time” or “video games are unhealthy” in an effort to decrease video game use. Rosen says this almost always backfires. Instead, parents could reward the child for responsible behavior. For example, when a child demonstrates that they can stop playing on their own without parent badgering, parents might loosen strict time limits on screen time.

Instead of making negative statements about video games, Sanders says, “The best thing a parent can do is guide

their child down a path of self-reflection. Asking questions like, ‘I notice you seem pretty tired after playing video games. How are you feeling?’ will help your child figure out their own beliefs about video game use.”

Parent negativity can make a teen feel as if they are being judged and misunderstood. Focus on their strengths while playing a video game — perhaps, for instance, their ability to help a friend get to another level. A parent should notice that ability and point out how it might connect to real-life situations.

Next step: Parents can help them get out there and do just that.

Too Many Video Games - When To Worry Video game addiction is not yet a disorder recognized by the American Psychiatric Association. The World Health Organization, however, recently recognized the existence of “gaming disorder” for the first time. Excessive video gameplay and other types of addictions do show similar patterns, says Rosen.

Some signs parents should look for are:  Isolating behavior or ignoring family and friends  Sneaking video gameplay at night or at friends’ houses  Changes in eating or sleeping patterns  Decline in academic performance or not doing homework  A need to continue playing video games beyond a time limit  An interest only in playing video games, at the expense of other activities  Always thinking about video games If you are concerned about your teen, you can contact a mental health professional to discuss counseling options.

Cheryl Maguire holds a Master of Counseling Psychology degree. She is married and is the mother of twins and a daughter. Her writing has been published in The New York Times, Parents Magazine, AARP, Healthline, Grown and Flown, Your Teen Magazine, and many other publications. This article was originally published on Your Teen.

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FAMILY TRAVEL continued...

There are currently 120 campgrounds operated by New York State Parks and the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), including 15,000 campsites for tents and RVs, and more than 800 cabins, cottages, yurts and even a lighthouse. The three-bedroom lighthouse is open for rent yearround in Golden Hill State Park on Lake Ontario, 30 miles east of the mouth of the Niagara River.

Campers can choose from tranquil tent sites in the woods to boat-access only waterfront sites to luxe cottages and everything in between. Many campgrounds are conveniently located near day-use parks, trails, historic sites, golf courses and other family-friendly destinations.

DEC operates 52 campgrounds and five day-use areas in the Adirondack and Catskill forest preserves. The camping season runs through the summer with some facilities remaining open during the fall.

New York State announced its first ever loyalty/rewards program for state campgrounds last year. The program allows visitors to earn points for every dollar spent on overnight accommodations and redeem the points toward use fees on future stays. Points are awarded upon departure for all camping stays, so campers can earn points on already-booked reservations.

“We know there are many outdoor destinations and lodging options available across New York, and this new program is a way of saying thanks to those visitors who enjoy our state campgrounds and return with their families and friends time and time again,” said State Parks Commissioner Erik Kulleseid.

Travel Tip of the Month: For information on New York State Parks visit parks.ny.gov or call 518-474-0456. For campground reservations visit newyorkstateparks.reserveamerica. com or call 800-456-2267. For AAA Western and Central New York visit westerncentralny.aaa.com or call 888-320-3163.

Deborah Williams lives in Holland, NY and is a veteran travel writer whose work has appeared in national and international publications. She is the recipient of the Society of American Travel Writers’ Lowell Thomas Gold Travel Writing Award.

36 WNY Family January 2022

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If you have any questions about our column, e-mail Kathy at allergy@ roadrunner.com. For further information about food allergies, contact FARE www.foodallergy.org, or call 1-800-929-4040.

W

hat’s a fun and easy way to make a party table look festive? A lovely punch bowl with pretty colors and matching cups, or floating fruit, or dramatic smoke pouring over the sides. On cold winter days, nothing beats a warm mulled cider. Even adults can’t resist!

Following are some quick to prepare drink ideas to get your kid-friendly party off to a great start. Each yields about 1 gallon; double or triple recipes as needed for larger groups.

A few tips:  To avoid watered down cold punches, make ice cube from soda or punch, so that as they melt, they add flavor, not water.  For a decorative effect, make your own ice ring — a Bundt pan or gel mold ring works well.  Grapes, maraschino cherries, pineapple chunks, orange slices, berries, or other fruit cut into small pieces make pretty edible additions to the punch.  Mix and match various beverages to suit your family’s taste.  Add a dramatic flair by replacing regular ice with food grade dry ice.

This works best when the beverage is room temperature; generally 2 pounds of dry ice for each gallon of beverage. Don’t touch the ice directly — handle with tongs or insulated gloves. Also, don’t drink any pieces of it — ladle just the punch into beverage glasses.

38 WNY Family January 2022

WARM MULLED APPLE CIDER Free of: DAIRY, EGGS, SOY, PEANUTS, TREE NUTS, FISH, SHELLFISH, WHEAT, GLUTEN, VEGAN Yield: 16 cups Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 0 1 gallon apple cider 1/2 cup brown sugar 1/8 teaspoon salt 2 teaspoons whole allspice 2 teaspoons whole cloves 2-3 cinnamon sticks Orange rinds (no white pith) from 2 oranges Optional orange slices Combine cider, sugar, and salt in a large saucepan. Tie spices and orange rinds in cheese cloth. Add to cider. Slowly bring to a boil. Cover and simmer 20 minutes.

Remove spices. Serve hot with orange slice floaters and cinnamon stick.

EASIER option: combine all ingredients in crock pot, set on low, and serve when warm. Keep cover on to keep in heat and reduce evaporation.

Kathy Lundquist is a Western New York parent whose son, now an adult, was born with severe food allergies. Over the last two decades, she has worked tirelessly, in a variety of capacities, to increase community awareness about food allergies.

FIZZY LEMONADE PUNCH

Free of: DAIRY, EGGS, SOY, PEANUTS, TREE NUTS, FISH, SHELLFISH, WHEAT, GLUTEN, VEGAN Yield: 16 cups Prep Time: 5 minutes Cook Time: 0 2 quarts pink lemonade 2 quarts ginger ale or lemon lime soda Lemonade ice cubes Frozen lemon slices or maraschino cherries, optional In a punch bowl, combine ingredients.

Refresh as needed.

CLASSIC FRUIT PUNCH

Free of: DAIRY, EGGS, SOY, PEANUTS, TREE NUTS, FISH, SHELLFISH, WHEAT, GLUTEN, VEGAN Yield: 18-20 cups Prep Time: 5 minutes Cook Time: 0 2 quarts fruit punch beverage 1 quart orange or pineapple juice 1 quart ginger ale or lemon lime soda 1 quart sorbet* (most sherbet has dairy, opt for dairy free sorbet if allergic) Soda ice cubes In a punch bowl, combine ingredients.

Refresh as needed.

THE KIDDIE GOURMET

C

— by Barbara Blackburn

lay Handi reof okra already.

Clay Handi members kids Taking the advice of the 3054 Delaware Ave with its appealchef, we ordered some plain Kenmore, NY 14217 ing menu which includes Basmati Rice ($8.99/$15.99) 716-877-7797 the following: 3 Pieces Fried — a very flavorful foil! www.clayhandi.com Chicken Combo ($9.99), Bread and Naan prob~ SPOONS ~ Fried Fish Filet Combo ably is my favorite category. ($l3.99), and Chicken NugNever consider saving carbs FOOD 5/5 gets ($5.99) with Fries in an Indian or Pakistani res($3.99) additional. Sorry, taurant. The offerings are drinks are on your own from just too good to miss (unless SERVICE 4/5 the regular menu. Twelve you’re gluten intolerant). chicken nuggets are $9.99 We enjoyed the Garlic Naan and six are $5.99. Actually, ($3.99). Finally, we admitted FAMILY you could probably do just that there was enough garlic, FRIENDLY 3/5 as well by selecting from the which often is not prominent huge regular menu. As for enough. drinks, I know my grandkidAppetizers are also dies love the Shakes ($5.99) and the packed with fun and flavor. MayLassis ($7.99) — almost a meal be Hummus with Naan ($9.99) each. The server will provide would satisfy the tykes. Our children with paper and drawgrands love that combo. ing utensils.

Sweets certainly satWe’re probisfy the sweet ably among the tooth here in a few who savor different direcmutton — setion from other nior sheep. The ethnic and Amermutton Nihari was ican restaurants. both tender and The Mango Kulfi tasty. So often we ($4.99) refreshed have encountered us not in the same meat more resistant way as our tradito the bite, often in tional ice cream but the buffet. (there pleasantly. Kulfi is was no buffet here.) ice cream made in This Specialty Item India, Pakistan, and is a stew consistneighboring couning of slow-cooked tries and it’s similar meat, mainly shank to but denser and meat of beef or mutcreamier than most ton or Chicken, along with bone marrow. ice creams found in the U.S. because it’s We are very fond of bone marrow, which not whipped. produces such a great taste. Much of the In the future we plan to try breakfood here is cooked in a clay pot and fast. To us it is a novel concept with the served on clay pottery. not-on-the-Blackburn breakfast-table Vegetable Curry was my choice. The selections. Aloo Paratha ($5.99), also on title of this dish is Bhindi Masala ($15.99 the day and evening menu, is unleavened or $29.99 — if you’re feeding a crowd). dough rolled with a mixture of mashed This healthy dish is made of okra, spices, potatoes and spices, which is cooked on onions, and tomatoes. The semi dry cura hot tawa (griddle) with butter or ghee. ry made with ladies’ fingers, a.k.a. Okra, For breakfast there is also Egg Paratha goes very well with rice. Mildly spicy Roll. and a little hot, the flavors won us over We think Clay Handi rocks, day or and made Dad an okra lover; I was a fan night, with excellent food.

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40 WNY Family January 2022