August 2021

Award Winning Academy of Theatre Arts 2021/2022 ATA Theatre Season

Performing Arts Center located at 4231 Transit Road Williamsville, New York 14221

Fall registration is now open!

Spots fill up quickly, so sign up today!

For more information visit our website!

www.academyoftheatrearts.com Call 51 05 810 -day! o t

4231 Transit Road • Williamsville, New York 14221

Contact 810-0551 or info@academyoftheatrearts.com 2 WNY Family August 2021

• Nationally Award Winning Academy of Theatre Arts and The ATA Performing Arts Center is the only year-round full time theatre venue in Western New York created and designed solely for the development and training of children and young adults in the genres of acting, vocal performance and musical theatre dance. Dedicated to enriching young lives dramatically, ATA provides an extensive year-long venue, as well as our extremely popular summer camp program, for anyone between the ages of 3 and 18 who has an interest and passion for theatre arts.

• Not only does our Award Winning program excel in theatrical training, but with a generation now losing those communication skills needed to succeed in life, ATA uses theatre as a platform to teach and promote excellence in public speaking, self esteem, confidence and personal skills.

August 2021 • Volume 38 • Issue 6

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 • Mike Daugherty

Where It’s At! Beating Summer Boredom

Features: 6 n The Last Thing Kids Need Is An Overscheduled Summer

by Dr. Michele Borba 8 n Bored Kids? Take a Day Trip to Rochester

by Michele Miller 34 n The Family Pet

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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 © 2021 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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Regulars: 5 n Web Finds / What’s New In The Kid Biz 10 n Family Travel The Nation’s Newest National Park

by Deborah Williams 12 n Raising Digital Kids Engaging Learners In Person and Remote

by Mike Daugherty 15 n Pick of the Literature

by Dr. Donna Phillips 27 n Dear Teacher

by Peggy Gisler & Marge Eberts 28 n Journey Into Fatherhood Countdown to Crawling

by Richard De Fino 29 n Parent Previews The Water Man

by Kirsten Hawkes

30 n Tweens and Teens How to Help Your Teen Be More Productive

by Cheryl Maguire 32 n Special Needs Mind Game: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

by Kimberly Blaker 36 n Single Parenting Do Kids Need Counseling After Divorce?

by Diane Dierks, LMFT 38 n The Kid Friendly Kitchen

by Kathy Lundquist 39 n The Kiddie Gourmet Inchin’s Bamboo Garden

by Barbara Blackburn

Directories: 16 n Choosing Childcare

20 n The Fit Family

35 n Wellness Choices

37 n Let’s Party

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 August 2021 WNY Family 3

The Original Fun Family Movie Experience...

Call or visit our website for times and films scheduled on our 5 giant outdoor screens.

625-8535

WWW.TRANSITDRIVEIN.COM

4 WNY Family August 2021

web.finds August usually means cries of “We’re bored!”

Here are a few DIY ideas that will get the kids involved in making their own creative fun.

USE YOUR NOODLE

Turn inexpensive pool noodles into awesome backyard toys for use outside the pool! Cut noodles into shorter lengths and bend them to form rings; secure with duct tape. Assemble the rings to make a “target station” obstacle course. Bend long noodles to form “wickets” for a make-your-own rules game with a soccer ball.

For more ideas to “noodle around” with visit: https://www.parents.com/fun/ activities/outdoor/pool-noodle-backyard-games/?

HAVE A “COUSIN CARNIVAL” You’ll find a whole bunch of simple backyard ideas on this blog that can be enjoyed as an entire event or simply choose one of the activities to make and enjoy with your kids — a pegboard with the ends of inflated balloons pulled through the holes makes a great balloon dart game; a step ladder with each rung labeled with a number of points to be scored becomes the perfect target for bean bags; and a ring toss game is made by planting soda pop bottles (unopened) in the grass and throwing wide-mouth mason jar rings to ring their favorite flavor (which they get to drink with their lunch or dinner later). Check it all out at: https://www.landeeseelandeedo.com/summeractivity-idea-cousin-carnival/

LAWN TWISTER

Everyone knows about the classic game of Twister!

Now you can make one outside on your lawn! Use cardboard to make a stencil for the circles, 4 colors of Rust-Oleum Inverted Marking Paint Spray (available at Home Depot, Valu Home Center, Hectors Hardware), and a yardstick. You can make your own Twister spinner board (see https://bit.ly/36Gzq7G for ideas) or search “game spinners” on Amazon to buy a spinner to add to your homemade board.

The Lawn Twister tutorial is found here: https://tipjunkie.com/projects/outdoor-lawn-twister-gamehow-to-make/

What’s New...

IN THE KIDBIZ NEW BOOKSTORE OPENS OPPOSITE BUFFALO ZOO

Alice, Ever After Books, a woman-owned business, opened its doors in early July at 295 Parkside Ave., Buffalo. It’s is a place to celebrate children’s literature by providing a curated collection of diverse, high quality children’s literature and toys that inspires curiosity and a sense of wonder.

“I spent the beginning of my career in elementary and special education. I understand the importance of creating an accessible space for children to explore,” said Megan Howe, owner of Alice, Ever After Books. “But I’m also a mom. So you can expect Alice, Ever After Books to be a meeting place for the community as well. Our main purpose is to provide high quality literature for kids. We will also have toys and other gifts. We aim to serve the greater community by hosting events that will be a benefit to all.” They’ll also carry a small selection of books for adults in the neighborhood.

Check them out at https://www.aliceeverafterbooks.com.

NEW YORK’S AT-RISK YOUTH

With about 1 in 9 young Americans today neither working nor in school, exposing them to greater risk of poverty and violence, the personal finance website Wallethub has released its report on 2021’s States with the Most At-Risk Youth.

To determine where young Americans are not faring as well as others in their age group, especially in a year made extremely successful by the COVID-19 pandemic, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across 15 key indicators of youth risk.

Here’s how New York ranked, with 1=Most at Risk and 25= Average Risk.

26th - % of Disconnected Youth 25th - % of Youth without High School Diploma 41st - % of Overweight & Obese Youth 19th - % of Youth Drug Users 24th – Youth Labor Force Participation Rate 35th – Youth Poverty Rate 39th – Share of Population Aged 12 and Older Fully Vaccinated.

For the full report, visit: https://wallethub.com/edu/states-with-the-most-atrisk-youth/37280 August 2021 WNY Family 5

backed ways to help kids develop these strengths and overcome adversity.

Here are some summertime activities for your kids that are free or low cost and backed by science to boost resilience and reduce stress.

Embrace old-fashioned, unplugged play. It is easy to dismiss toys, cardboard boxes, dress-up games, and dolls as “light-weight,” but play is exactly what the Pandemic Generation needs.

Play is one of the most often overlooked resilience-builders because it encourages kids to use their imaginations and enhances brain development, social-emotional skills, and promotes executive functions — which helps kids pursue goals, ignore distractions, and reduce stress.

The Last Thing Kids Need Is an Overscheduled Summer

Educational psychologist and best-selling author Dr. Michele Borba says a packed calendar is the last thing our kids need after the trauma and grief of COVID-19. Here are some alternatives.

P

arents have always overscheduled kids during the summer. And after a yearplus of them sitting home, physically distancing, and Zoom learning — which cut them off from their normal activities — we are even more likely to pack out their summer calendars to make up for lost time. But Michele Borba, Ed.D., says another overscheduled summer — especially this year — could have dire consequences.

“Yes, parents want their kids to be busy, but now isn’t the best time to catch up on missed academic and extracurricular activities,” says Dr. Borba, author of Thrivers: The Surprising Reasons Why Some Kids Struggle and Others Shine (G.P. Putnam’s Sons, March 2021). “Kids are in a tough spot. They need this summer to reset and recover from the stress, grief, and trauma caused by COVID. “That doesn’t mean they have to be bored or inactive,” she adds. “They can use this time to develop a skillset to prepare them for life’s uncertainties. There 6 WNY Family August 2021

are a lot of impactful things science tells us we can do to help our kids right now, and many of them are free and fun.”

Dr. Borba says most kids don’t have the skills to navigate and recover from everything they’ve been through for the past year, not to mention the disappointments and losses they will encounter down the road.

“We are likely to see an influx of mental health issues in our kids very soon,” says Dr. Borba. “It’s crucial to get in front of the crisis now. Parents must help their children overcome challenges, deal with stress, cope with disappointment, and learn to thrive. And summer is the perfect time to teach these lessons.”

We can do this by instilling the character strengths that will help children transform into Thrivers — Dr. Borba’s word for mentally tough kids who have a sense of control over their lives and flourish in a rapidly changing, uncertain world. Dr. Borba’s new book offers plenty of practical, science-

“Just put out scarves, markers, hats, wooden blocks, dolls, or anything else laying around the house to inspire play in younger children, and let the fun begin,” says Dr. Borba. “And don’t overlook summer camps with swimming, canoeing, hiking, and archery for older kids.”

Set up a stress box. If left unchecked, stress can affect children’s learning potential, friendships, physical health, emotional well-being, and can reduce their ability to thrive. There is no right or wrong way to reduce stress, says Dr. Borba. The key is to offer kids options so they can find what works best for them. Families can create a “stress box” by filling a shoebox or other container with proven stress reducers such as a notepad and pencil (to draw or write their stress away); a small Koosh ball; PlayDoh or clay to work their stress out; an MP3 or CD player and relaxation sounds to listen to with earphones; bubble blowers; glitter jars; and an app that teaches mindfulness. Consider including a photograph of a place that helps the child feel peaceful (the beach, his bed, grandpa’s backyard, a tree house), so when stress kicks in, he closes his eyes and imagines that spot, while breathing slowly.

“Model each strategy with the child, then encourage family members to go to the container and find their stress buster when the need arises,” says Dr. Borba.

“Then make sure they practice using it

over and over until they can use it on their own.”

Embrace the great outdoors.

One of the best-known mood elevators is nature. One study found that taking a 20-minute daily stroll or sitting in a place that makes you feel in contact with nature can significantly lower your stress hormone levels. Over 7 in 10 parents admit their family doesn’t spend enough time outside, but when their kids do go outside, almost half report that their kids find the outdoors “boring.” In fact, the kids could keep themselves occupied outside for just 32 minutes before boredom sets in. So, get out those hiking shoes or bikes, or set up a tent in your backyard, or keep a basket filled with fun things like bubble blowers, rubber balls, sidewalk chalk, scooters, shovels, and pails. Other outdoor options:  Set up a basketball goal.  Give your kid a bag and tell him to go collect something: bugs, leaves, flowers.  Provide a kite-building kit.  Hand out plastic cups, spoons, and bowls and encourage her to go dig.  Fill a can with water and tell your younger kids to paint a fence.

“Thirty years of research proves that outdoor free play is crucial for kids’ social, emotional, and physical development and mental strength,” says Dr. Borba. “Open the door and show your child the great outdoors! Just remember to set one rule: ‘Leave your cell phone inside.’”

Start a hobby. Hobbies can be a healthy diversion from stress and are also a great way for kids to recharge, get away from everyday pressures, and learn to enjoy their own company. The trick is to find one that supports your child’s interests and abilities — and it should also be one that they can do alone. Begin by sharing your interests or starting family hobbies, and then watch what captures your child’s attention. You might even encourage a grandparent or relative to teach baking, knitting, woodworking, drawing, stamp collecting, guitar, or any continued on page 18 August 2021 WNY Family 7

Bored Kids? Take A Day Trip to…

ROCHESTER — by Michele Miller

M

y first return-to-normal visit with my daughter and grandchildren who live in a suburb of Rochester, NY, took place in early July on a beautiful, sunny Saturday. We started our day at the City of Rochester Public Market (www.cityofrochester.gov/publicmarket), which in itself is a great destination for the entire family.

Before hitting the market, we made a quick stop at the nearby Boxcar Donuts — whose name, we assume, is derived from its location at 127 Railroad Street — a donut and coffee shop that makes the most delicious handcrafted donuts.

The selection varies each week, and it’s quite creative. You can bet the chocolate and buttercream “UFO” donut with a little green alien on top was a winner with the kids. Adding a bit of whimsy were the tiny toy dinosaurs, which my grandson pointed out to me, perched in odd places around the shop; definitely another kid-pleaser.

Just a bit further down the street, the Public Market’s Railroad Street entrance beckoned. Indoor vendors and outdoor stalls combine to offer everything from meats, fish, fresh eggs, fruits and vegetables, and all kinds of sweets, to clothing, jewelry, hats, T-shirts, toys, and much, much more. My grandkids, soon to be 9 and 13, have made regular visits here with their parents, so they knew exactly which vendors were their favorite stalls to visit.

We bought supplies with which to make homemade pizza when we went home for lunch, in addition to quite a few other things that tempted us.

The market is open Saturdays from 5am to 3pm; Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6am to 1pm. You can download a map of the market and learn the location of paid and free parking lots on their website.

Returning to my daughter’s house, we each made our own individual pizzas from the ingredients we’d purchased, a project that was not only fun, but delicious!

Afterwards, the kids cooled off in the backyard pool while the grownups watched their antics and had a chance to chat. Mid-afternoon, my daughter sug-

8 WNY Family August 2021

gested a trip to Wickham Farms (https:// wickhamfarms.com), which was only a few minutes’ drive away.

Located at 1315 Sweets Corners Road, Penfield, NY, this huge farm is only about 90 minutes from Buffalo.

Family owned since 1986, it recently moved to a different location and everything is brand new. As with any farm, its offerings change with the seasons but there are attractions and activities which remain the same throughout. Upon entering through the gift shop, the “Magic Carpet Mountain” drew my immediate attention. Kids and grownups were sliding down on burlap sacks and rubberlike mats. Nearby, the “Wickham Express” gave toddlers a chance to ride on a bright red train just their size.

Speaking of size, a gigantic, yellow “Jumping Pillow” offered bouncing fun to both kids and adults. A flatter “Jumping Pad,” adorned with a jacko-lantern face, was popular with the younger children.

The old-fashioned hand pumps at the “Duck Races” occupied my grandkids for a while before they headed to “Corn-A-Copia,” a large barn filled with what must be tons of feed corn, spread over the floor to make a farmer’s version of a ball pit.

The kids, no matter their age, loved it.

Toddlers crawled in it; older kids buried themselves in corn. There were plenty of plastic trucks to fill with corn and play with. Parents could sit on one of the many benches lining the edges of the corn “pit” or sit at one of the tables with chairs just outside it, if they chose.

Other activities include the “Spider Web,” a six-sided rope net that kids can attempt to traverse, “Barrel Horses” made of steel drums and supplied with rope so you can try to lasso a “steer’s head” which is attached to a post in front of each horse, and a Mini Golf course, in addition to several sets of playground equipment, and farm animals — on our visit a pen held goats.

“Lavender Days” was in progress in July. More than two thousand plants, representing nine varieties of lavender,

occupied one of the upper terraces of the farm. Wagons pulled by a bright orange tractor took passengers up to the lavender fields. For $10 you could cut your own bouquet of lavender, secured by a twist tie, to take home, and painted Mason jars to hold them were also available for an extra charge. Many mothers and young children were dressed in summer finery so that they could pose among the lavender plants. “Photo op” areas were provided to help make the photography more memorable — an old, white bathtub with a white, lacey parasol were props at one photo op spot; others included an old boat, a throne-like chair, curlique white wrought iron chairs accented with a basket of flowers; brightly colored Adirondack chairs, and more.

At the back of the lavender fields were rows of pergolas, providing some shade and furnished with lovely outdoor furniture to relax on. Ever mindful of keeping the children happy, an “I Spy Treasure Chest” was nearby — the pieces of treasure were glued in place but a list inside the cover of the chest prompted kids to identify certain special items

among the “booty.”

Lavender Days ended in mid-July, but next on Wickham’s schedule is “Sunflower Spectacular,” which began on July 29th. Thirty varieties of sunflowers cover 30 acres with more than one million blooms. In addition to sunflowers, zinnias, snapdragons, and many other flowers will be available to make a bouquet from their “flower bar.”

“Fall Harvest” runs from Labor Day to Halloween and features apple picking and pumpkins. More than 5,000 apple trees provide 13 varieties of apples.

If you get hungry while at the farm, the “Farm Fresh Grill” will help satisfy your appetite and there is plenty of seating at picnic tables on the property.

There are restrooms in several locations; some larger ones labeled as “fam-

ily restrooms,” but one thing they were lacking were changing tables.

Before you visit the farm, be sure to check their website for hours of operation and the start date of each seasonal event which is always weather dependent. Save on admission (children 2 and under and those 80 years old and up are FREE) by buying your tickets in advance online. Then all you have to do when you arrive is give your name and you’ll be provided with wristbands to wear during your visit. Sneakers are suggested as better footwear than sandals or flip flops — the paths throughout the farm are gravel and uneven in places.

Michele Miller is the founder, editor, and publisher of WNY Family and proud grandmother of two.

August 2021 WNY Family 9

clude full kitchens and hot tubs. There are also campgrounds and dining rooms that take advantage of the scenery. Grab a seat on the deck of Chetty’s Pub for stunning sunset views across the gorge. Activities are geared for all ages and skill levels and the river guides are fun, full of stories, and take great pleasure in introducing newcomers to their river and mountains.

FAMILY TRAVEL — by Deborah Williams

Guided kayak trips on the river are popular for all ages. Although I am an experienced kayaker, I have always been a still water kayaker. So, I was most glad we had a guide because these waters definitely have strong currents in parts. We learned to stay close to the boulders and paddle against the current so our return trip with the current was most relaxing.

The Nation’s Newest National Park “

W

ild, wonderful” is the inviting slogan on West Virginia’s license plates.

The nation’s newest national park, the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve in the southern region of the state, more than lives up to the promise of the license plates.

It became America’s 63rd national park as part of the spending bill passed late in 2020.

The 70,000-acre park creates a world of its own with 53 miles of whitewater and wild beauty. Another 65,165 acres are protected as a preserve.

The New River is a thrilling rugged river flowing northward through deep canyons, creating one of the country’s top whitewater stretches. Its name is really a misnomer because it is one of the world’s oldest rivers, older than the Appalachian Mountains themselves.

“These mountains are some of the oldest in the world and our river is ancient,” explained Lizzie Watts, superintendent of the park. “Becoming a na10 WNY Family August 2021

tional park really is a true honor for all of us, for the people who live next to this park, for the people who work here, and the people and all of the citizens of West Virginia,” she said during the park’s official renaming ceremony in May. “They all get to know what we knew: that this is really, truthfully one of the most spectacular places on the face of the Earth.”

Plan a summer trip before the whole world discovers this park full of adventure and history. Adventures on the Gorge on the edge of the park was our home base and offers whitewater rafting, kayaking, paddle boarding, hiking, rock climbing, a bridge walk, mountain biking, zip lines, and a swimming pool with awesome views of the gorge, mountains, and the soaring New River Gorge Bridge.

Comfortable log cabins are scattered through the woods with some that in-

Whitewater is what has put the New River on the map and there are guided half-day trips on both river sections as well as longer trips. It is big West Virginia style whitewater, but it has two very different characters. The southern part of the river is made up primarily of long pools and relatively easy rapids up to Class III. It is the section for families and newcomers to whitewater. While a powerful river, it is beautiful and can even be relaxing.

Then there is the lower section of the river known as “the Lower Gorge.”

It is the place for adrenalin junkies and more experienced rafters since it boasts some of the biggest of the big rapids, ranging in difficulty from Class III to Class V. (Class V rapids can be quite risky and generally are for experts only with very powerful currents and hazardous undercut rocks.)

Canyon Rim Visitor Center is the main visitor center and offers exhibits, videos and special activities. There are a variety of programs including evening programs, tours of the center, children’s

activities and guided walks and hikes.

A short hiking trail descends into the gorge on a wooden boardwalk. The boardwalk has two observation decks offering unobstructed views of the longest steel arch span in the western hemisphere and the mile wide gorge it spans.

A fully accessible ramp provides access to the upper observation deck.

The most family-friendly trail in this area is the Long Point Trail with an easy 1.6-mile stroll to the mountaintop overlook of the bridge and gorge.

Young park visitors are invited to become a New River Gorge National Park and Preserve Junior Ranger. Junior Rangers are typically age 5-13, although all ages can participate. Stop by a park visitor center and ask a park ranger for a Junior Ranger book.

Complete the required activities in the Junior Ranger book. Return to the visitor center and ask a park ranger to check the activities. The motto of the Junior Ranger is “Explore. Learn. Protect.” Junior Rangers take an oath to protect parks, continue to learn about parks, and share their ranger story with family and friends. Then the young visitors will receive an official New River Gorge Junior Ranger badge and certificate.

Budding anglers can also earn a Junior Ranger Angler Badge.

This region is coal country and a visit to the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine (https://beckley.org/coal-mine/) is a must-see. Johnny Cash’s iconic Sixteen Tons song about coal mining played through my head as our car moved into the mine. Though John Denver declared West Virginia “almost heaven” in his famed Country Roads song, it is Johnny Cash who told it like it was for coal miners.

From the late 1800s to the Great Depression, the area population increased dramatically as coal companies needed men to mine the rich coal mines largely by hand. African Americans came from the Deep South and immigrants came from Italy, the Ukraine, and more than 20 other countries. It was back-breaking, dangerous work.

Even though the mine has been enlarged for the tours, it was dark and eerie inside. At our second stop, our genial continued on page 14

August 2021 WNY Family 11

Engaging Learners In Person and Remote

P

arents rejoice! The “Back to School” season is upon us! It is time to grab the kids and take a trip to Target to pick up all the essentials for the new school year. The supplies list might be shrinking, as more schools take their classwork online. Online calendars have replaced planners.

Web-based assessments have replaced #2 Pencils. The classroom looks entirely different now than when we were kids, and the pandemic only served to increase that gap. Computers, tablets, apps, and websites offer students enhanced opportunities for learning. Many school districts will likely continue to provide remote learning options for their students until a vaccine is available for all children. Let’s take a look at some of the tools that rose to popularity last year and may continue to be a significant part of learning as we advance.

Flipgrid Flipgrid is becoming a mainstay in the educational technology landscape.

The site was founded in late 2014 on the idea that the students of Generation Z preferred to communicate with pictures, videos, and emojis rather than written words. The site is simple but powerful.

First, teachers create a topic of discussion. Then, students sign in from any device to record a short response to the conversation. The videos are limited to five minutes, but many teachers choose a shorter time limit to avoid rambling.

The videos set the stage for more indepth discussions in the classroom.

12 WNY Family August 2021

RAISING DIGITAL KIDS — by Mike Daugherty Some of the use cases include introductions, reflections, peer reviews, compare and contrast, etc. As the site says, Flipgrid helps students “define their voices, share their voices, and respect the diverse voices of others.” Flipgrid quickly found favor among educators who used the platform to connect with their students during the pandemic. Flipgrid allowed teachers to engage their students in meaningful ways even when everyone could not be together. The buzz around Flipgrid continues to grow, especially because the entire platform is free for educators.

Google Classroom With Chromebooks accounting for almost 60% of the educational computer sales in the United States, Google is leading the way in the classroom.

Google Workplace for Education is the company’s free collection of powerful, collaborative-based tools that go hand in hand with Chromebooks. The suite includes applications for word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, websites, email, and more. Remote learning drastically increased the need for teachers to manage their classes in an online environment easily. Google Classroom is the answer and, clearly, educators agree. The pandemic increased Google Classroom adoption in schools by a

whopping 110 million users. Classroom includes a scrolling feed, similar to popular social media sites like Facebook or Instagram. When a teacher creates an assignment or posts an announcement, students can find it at the top of their feed. Google Classroom also connects to Google Calendar. This interaction provides students with a single view to see all of their assignments and due dates. There are many additional features such as automatic grading, direct connections to other apps, and built-in differentiation, making Google Classroom a favorite among educators and students.

Quizlet The dictionary defines boredom as “classroom review sessions.” If you were fortunate as a child, your teacher might have turned your review session into a game like Jeopardy. The folks at Quizlet have taken a similar approach to make learning fun. Teachers take a set of traditional review questions (up to twelve) and load them into the Quizlet engine. Next, students join an online game session in the classroom from their phone, tablet, or laptop. Once all the students are in, Quizlet automatically divides students into teams of three to four people. Students then move around the room to find their teammates, and the game begins. A question appears on every team member’s device, along with three possible answers. While the item is the same, the answers on each person’s screen are different. Students

must collaborate with their group to determine who has the correct answer. Answer the question correctly, and your team receives a point along with a new query. Choose incorrectly and face the consequences. Your score is set back to zero, and you must start all over. The first team to answer all the questions correctly, wins. Students truly enjoy the competition aspect. In the pandemic, Quizlet rolled out an “Individual Mode” that allowed students to compete individually, as collaboration during remote learning proved to be challenging. Quizlet also offered its tools free during the 2020-21 school year to help teachers looking to engage their students. As we return to inperson learning, I expect many teachers will be looking to enhance their classrooms with this tool.

Kahoot Kahoot surged in popularity during the pandemic, rising to #5 on the list of educational applications. Like Quizlet, Kahoot uses gaming concepts to engage learners, and it works on any internet connected device (phone, tablet, laptop, etc.). Unlike Quizlet, teachers can choose between everyone playing against each other or a team format approach. Teachers also have the option of selecting a premade Kahoot from the online library or making their own. Once ready, the questions are projected on the board, and students begin to answer. Only one item is shown to the group at a time. Points are awarded based on how quickly a student selects the correct answer. After every question, the leaderboard is displayed, so students will often cheer or groan based on how much they moved up (or down) on the board. Whoever has the most points at the end of the game is the winner. Kahoot uses a format similar to playing trivia at a local sports restaurant. Kahoots can also be assigned to students as homework for review. Keeping with the gaming theme, a teacher “challenges” a student to complete the Kahoot instead of just assigning it.

In Conclusion Technology will continue to revolutionize the public education system in the future. I believe it is essential to be aware of your student’s applications in or out of the classroom to stay relevant. Understanding what, why, and how these software systems are used will allow you to better connect and communicate with your child and possibly their teachers as well. Good luck in the upcoming school year!

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.

REAL TRAINS! REAL FUN! Departing Hamburg, New York September Through December 2021

A Choice of Family, Heritage & Scenic Train Rides to

Buffalo, North Collins & Eden!

MURDER MYSTERY TRIP BUFFALO RAIL FAN & HISTORY TRIP FALL FOLLAGE TRIPS STEAM TRAIN FALL FOLLIAGE TRIPS HALLOWEEN SPECIAL VETERANS WEEKEND TRIPS

September 11th & 12th (Diesel) September 18th & 19th (Diesel) September 25th & 26th (Departing From Zittles Country Market) October 9th, 10th, 16th & 17th (Historic Steam Locomotive) October 23rd, 24th, 30th & 31th (Diesel) Nov 13th (Diesel)

Beverage & Snacks Available For Sale On All Trips Featuring Family Friendly Prices

For Details & Rates - Call or Book Tickets Online

(833) 722-5778 www.BCJRailroad.com Purchase In Person: Artcraft Toy Trains, 4 Scott Street, Hamburg

All Aboard!

Buffalo, Cattaraugus & Jamestown Scenic Railway

76th Annual

Gerry Rodeo August 4-7, 2021

Join us for the Oldest Consecutive Rodeo East of the Mississippi, and 250 cowboys and cowgirls roll into town to vie for more than $40,000 in prize money in four rodeo performances. Each action-packed night features 8 events – including NEW this year, Women’s Breakaway Roping.

The midway houses more than 20 booths offering everything from cotton candy to western wear to pony rides. The rodeo has always been promoted as family entertainment and is therefore alcohol free.

The award-winning, GERRY RODEO, celebrates the 76th Annual Rodeo in 2021 – you won’t want to miss the fun!

Please visit www.GerryRodeo.org or call 888-985-4847 for more information.

August 2021 WNY Family 13

FAMILY TRAVEL continued... guide Don Barrett asked if anyone wanted to get out because now was the time. A hand went up and we quickly backed up and returned minus one passenger.

Barrett told us that his father spent 50 years working in the mines and he himself had spent 23 years underground and suffered from black lung disease, a common coal miner’s affliction caused by coal dust.

Coal dust is just one of many dangers in the mines. Miners brought in a canary in a small cage to warn them of dangerous gases. Lunch boxes had to be metal with tight fitting lids because otherwise the rats would eat the miner’s lunches.

“In the early days the miner’s goal was ten tons a day,” he told us. “At 20 cents an hour, that amounted to $2 a day. The rats were our friends because if we saw rats running toward us, we knew a mine collapse might be coming.”

Miners were paid in company scrip and the coal company owned everything in town including the miner’s houses, the school, church, and the store. Barrett told us that miners did “sell their souls to the company store” and often there would be nothing for them and their families on payday and they were “deeper in debt,” as the song goes.

The dangerous conditions in the mines led to fatalities. If a family did not have a teenage boy to take over the job after a miner’s death, the family not only lost their breadwinner but their home because it was owned by the company.

On the grounds of the mine there are original coal town buildings open for tours —tour guides all have family connections to coal mining. There is also a children’s museum.

The mine honors the memory of the miners and their families. However, the new national park marks a turning point in the state’s history and a chance to celebrate and invite the world to enjoy the state’s spectacular natural beauty.

Travel Tip of the Month: For information on the New River Gorge Park and Preserve visit nps.gov or call 304-4650508. For information on Adventures on the Gorge visit adventuresonthegorge.com or call 855-379-8738.

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

14 WNY Family August 2021

PICK OF THE LITERATURE — by Dr. Donna Phillips

I

t is August…time for the “Dog Days”! The remaining month of summer is a time to relax into the heat of the season and absorb all we can for the cooler months to come. It is a time to take the last vacation, staycation, or simply enjoy staying right where you are. Keep in mind, there are a great many things you can do. Regardless of whether you are indoors or outdoors… there is a book for “that” and here are some to consider!

For your youngest, it is never too early (or too late) to play with the alphabet. Oakley the Squirrel is busy in the latest book by Nancy Rose. The Search for Z (Workman Publishing, New York, 2021, $7.95) is a wonderful way to engage your child in alphabet awareness and the world around them. As Oakley searches high and low for his missing letter “Z,” he goes through the alphabet, letter by letter, exploring his world and his hiding places. The sentence for each letter has alliteration that deepens auditory awareness of the letter sounds.

Each page is filled with items that begin with that letter of the alphabet. The photos of Oakley are so adorable they might even give your child ideas of ways they can act out the pages. Of course, in the end all of this frantic searching leaves Oakley exhausted are ready for some

ZZZZZZZZs. This idea of an alphabet search can be taken outdoors, on a trip, or even just throughout your house. It is a great way to get your youngest ready for school next month and have fun, too!

If you have a budding scientist in your house, you can bet that National Geographic will have a book for them!

Little Kids First Big Book: Rocks, Minerals, and Shells (National Geographic Partners, Washington, 2021, $14.99) might be just what they are looking for to give them ideas or answer questions. Bright and detailed photographs, simple text, and labels make this book easy to use and understand.

It is also an excellent way to introduce children to the forms of nonfiction texts.

This thoughtfully designed book provides opportunities to find locations on a map to learn where the samples come from, simple explanations, and a bit of

history. Of course, it also has a Table of Contents, a Glossary, an Index and Tips for Parents and Teachers. Whether you are taking a trip or just exploring from your own home, this book will encourage questioning, using scientific senses, and meaningful connection between child, parent, and the world around you.

Those staycations can sometimes result in just another day at home, but if you plan your days as if you were actually away on a vacation, they can be memorable and exciting. Consider camping out in your own backyard or even set up a tent in your house! How about a cookout over an open fire or watching a movie outdoors by projecting the image on a white sheet? For more ideas, The Ultimate At-Home Activity Guide (Putnam/Penguin for Kids, New York 2021, $14.99) by Mike Low-

ery might help you and your child plan your adventures. With over 100 ideas for a rainy day or any day, you are sure to be able to plan some exciting adventures.

Divided into chapters like Make Stuff, Food Fun, Get Moving, Get Silly, Party on the Computer, Family Fun, Outside Adventures, and Learn Something New, you are sure to get some great ideas for planning the ultimate staycation!

If you have an adolescent who wants to make a difference in the world Challenge Everything: An Extinction Rebellion Youth Guide to Saving the Planet (Pavilion Books, London, 2021, $9.95), written by Blue Sanford, continued on page 31 August 2021 WNY Family 15

Your Guide to

Choosing Childcare A Special Section Dedicated To Helping Parents Find Quality C are To Fit Their Family’s Unique Needs

Children First Christian Childcare and Preschool Owner / Educator

Shirley and Edgardo Burgos (716) 253-7766

Accepting Children 6wks-12yrs 4820 Seneca Street West Seneca, NY 14224

“Learning and loving God!”

FOUR SEASONS CHILDCARE CENTER & PRESCHOOL LOTS OF GREAT REASONS TO ENROLL AT FOUR SEASONS! H Accepting children 6wks. - 12yrs., H Sweet Home UPK Provider since 1998 Full & Half Day Programs ~ 7AM-6PM H Before & Afterschool programs for H Certified Teachers & Experienced Caregivers Sweethome UPK/School age at St. Leo's. to Promote an Exceptional Learning Environment Now Accepting 2, 3 & 4 year olds H Flexible Enrollment to Accommodate at Little Learners Childcare onsite.

Working Parents 1639 North french Rd. H Getzville H 716-568-1140 H www.fourseasonsfamily.com

To advertise in our

Choosing Childcare Section

call 836-3486 ext. 104

Are You In Need of Child Care?

If you need current and accurate referrals regarding licensed and registered child care providers or have considered becoming an In-Home Family Child Care Provider:

Call 285-8572 or 1-800-701-4KID

Niagara County’s Child Care Resource and Referral Program Administered by Niagara Community Action Program, Inc.

www.childcareofniagara.com 16 WNY Family August 2021

Roots of the Future Montessori ENROLL NOW Ages 2.9 - 6 Call for a tour!

Join the Page 1 Family!

Register today at Page1Preschool.com/Register We offer preschool classes for 2, 3, 4, & 5 year olds!

Pre-K and Kindergarten

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ENROLL TODAY

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Serving the Community for 25 Years!

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P Accepting Children 18mos.-12yrs. P P Preschool P Before & After School Care P Open 6:30am - 6:00pm 855 Englewood • Tonawanda, NY

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For a tour or for more information, visit

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Did you know…

31% of our over 55,000 readers

will be looking for Childcare Services in the next 12 months?

This section appears in our JANUARY, FEBRUARY, APRIL, JULY, AUGUST & SEPTEMBER ISSUES. Source: Circulation Verification Council Audit, June 2020

Showcase your center & increase enrollment with our

CHOOSING CHILDCARE SECTION! Call today to reserve your space

836-3486 ext. 104

August 2021 WNY Family 17

OVERSCHEDULED SUMMER continued... of their other interests. But beware: Studies find that parents who push an interest chip away at their children’s autonomy. So be sure not to pressure them. Instead, let your child explore activities and find their own joy. Shared hobbies can also help kids make new friends and reduce loneliness, so encourage them to try group guitar, yoga, or drawing lessons.

WNY’s Original Rock Climbing Center!

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Teach unplugged games. Mother, May I?; Duck, Duck, Goose; and Round Robin are just a few of the traditional and technology-free childhood games that you can teach your child.

You need to teach these only once and then your child can teach them to the rest of the neighborhood. And while you’re at it, why not introduce them to marbles, jacks, and hula hoops as well? Playground games are great because kids can have fun with them anywhere and they help kids to recharge and learn to get along with others.

Encourage your child to read, read, read. A Stanford University study found that reading fluency is lagging by about 30 percent during the pandemic, especially for second- and third-graders. This shows that getting kids back to books is more important than ever. But there’s more: Fictitious worlds also help children deal with real-life problems and promote wellbeing. Pairing a book with an issue — whether it’s grieving, loneliness, or fears or anxiety — can help children process their emotions through the characters. (“The character also had a problem with [blank]. How did he solve it?”) Books also stretch children’s attention span, help them focus, and teach them how to be self-sufficient.

“Start a neighborhood book swap or a kid book club (online or off) where your child can find new titles and make new friends,” says Dr. Borba. “Or just drape a sheet over a dining table to create an instant reading tent for families to read together and enjoy each other’s company. Don’t forget to get a library card!”

Think boxes…boxes…boxes. The Smithsonian voted the cardboard box the absolute best toy ever. Stock up on boxes in every size from small jewelry boxes to refrigerator crates.

They’re not only free, but they can provide hours of imaginative play. Give your kids some marking pens and masking tape, and they can make igloos, forts, villages, castles, garages, storefronts, and hotels. Provide flashlights and they can turn them into caves. Start looking around your house for recyclable items and put them into shoeboxes to add further inspiration. Save things like tin foil scraps, paper towel tubes, bubble wrap, and Popsicle sticks (just keep a running collection under your sink).

Or clear your drawers of extra pens, paper clips, or scarves so whenever your child says, “I’m bored,” you can just point to the box and let the fun begin. A few themes might be: Picasso Box: Glue, empty toilet paper rolls, Popsicle sticks, paper clips, and sheets of tin foil. (This box is great for kids who like to do things with their hands.)

Frank Lloyd Wright Box: Hammer, nails, wood pieces, sandpaper. (This box is perfect for your older, more active chil-

18 WNY Family August 2021

dren, and not for wee ones or kids who still need supervision!)

Frida Kahlo Box: Paper, crayons, pencils, paint, paintbrushes.

Coco Chanel Box: Hats, scarves, old shirts, torn sheets, bath towels (for capes). (This box is great for dress-up and pretend.)

Louisa May Alcott Box: Paper, pencils, or a journal. (This box is perfect for young writers in the making!)

Teach your child to en joy spending time alone. Overparented kids often don’t know how to enjoy their own company, especially now that they have spent a year hunkered down inside, says Dr. Borba. But resilient kids are self-directed and able to entertain themselves without programming or a lot of unnecessary supervision. Learning to enjoy their own company is exactly what the Pandemic Generation needs to thrive. Running lemonade stands, cloud gazing, making daisy chains, ball bouncing, or spending just a little more time in the dirt and water can reduce a lot of the stress children have experienced over the past year and a half, and can produce happier, more selfreliant children.

The truth is some of our kids actually need to learn how to play alone. If your kids come back after two minutes of alone time, you may need to teach them how to enjoy their own company. Start by thinking of age-appropriate activities that your child could “do alone.” (For a young child, this might be doing a puzzle; for an older kid, it could be learning to play Solitaire). Teach your child the solo activity using the baby-step model: First show how to do the game together. Next, watch and guide them to ensure they know the rules. Finally, wean them from needing to have you there until, voilà! — you can step back, and your child is playing alone.

“Kids don’t need a lot of programmed activities to have the rich, rewarding, and educational summer experiences that they desperately need right now,” concludes Dr. Borba. “With a little support from you, they can unleash their creativity and enjoy an unscheduled summer that is anything but dull or boring.”

Michele Borba, Ed.D., is an internationally renowned educational psychologist and an expert in parenting, bullying, and character development. A sought-after motivational speaker, she has spoken in nineteen countries on five continents, and served as a consultant to hundreds of schools and corporations including Sesame Street, Harvard, U.S. Air Force Academy, eighteen U.S. Army bases in Europe and the Asian-Pacific, H.H. the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, and a TEDx Talk: “Empathy Is a Verb.” She offers realistic, research-based advice culled from a career working with over one million parents and educators worldwide. She is an NBC contributor who appears regularly on Today and has been featured as an expert on Dateline, The View, Dr. Phil, NBC Nightly News, Fox & Friends, Dr. Oz, and The Early Show, among many others. She lives in Palm Springs, California, with her husband and is the mother of three grown sons.

August 2021 WNY Family 19

STROLLER BARRE Thursdays at 10:30am Delaware Park / Colvin Entrance

We will walk one lap around the park, stopping multiple times to do barre moves for a full-body workout.

We will get our heart rate up and get those muscles burning and shaking.

Summer Acro Camp with Miss Debbie Molloy

★ August 4, 11, 18, 25 ★ BEGINNER 4:30pm INTERMEDIATE 5:30pm ADVANCED 6:30pm $15.00 per class ~ $50.00 for 4 classes

REGISTER ONLINE

~ 716-247-1583 ~ Register online at:

www.barretendbuffalo.com

503 Delaware Ave. Buffalo 15 Webster St. North Tonawanda

CENTER STAGE DANCE STUDIO

Celebrating our 40th Season

~ Certified member of Dance Educators of America ~

4837 Union Rd., Cheektowaga (Near Cleveland Dr.)

★ 634-3395 ★

www.csds.dance

BUFFALO TURNERS GYMNASTICS ating Celebr

168 !

S YEAR

Featuring: • Recreational Gymnastics: Beginner to Advanced • Competition Teams: USAG • Gym-Tots (3-4 Years Old) • Gym-Kids (5 Years Old)

CALL 877-2700

3200 Elmwood Avenue • Kenmore, NY

www.BuffaloTurnersGymnastics.com 20 WNY Family August 2021

Is Your Child Ready for Strength Training?

S

trength training is a way to build muscles and strength using free weights, weight machines, and rubber resistance bands, or body weight. Kids and teens may want to do strength training to improve sports performance, treat or prevent injuries, or improve their appearance.

The Benefits

Strength training can help kids and teens build strong muscles. With a well-designed and supervised program, they can improve overall fitness and sports performance, increase lean body mass (more muscle, less fat), burn more calories, make bones stronger, and improve mental health.

Ballet • Pointe Contemporary Jazz • Musical Theater Tap • Hip Hop • Street Styles Lyrical • Character Theater Dance • Acro

Open Houses: Tuesday, August 10th Wednesday, August 25th From 5:00-8:00 PM

Classes Start on Wed., Sept. 8th

WHY CHOOSE US?? * Age Appropriate Music & Dress * Experienced Teaching Staff * Parent Lounge/Coffee, WiFi

Who Can Do It?

Kids and teens who are ready to participate in organized sports or other activities such as baseball, soccer, or gymnastics usually can safely start strength training. Kids as young as 7 or 8 years old can safely do strength training if they have good balance and control of their body, follow instructions, and can do the exercises with good form.

A child’s strength-training program shouldn’t be a scaled-down version of an adult’s weight training regimen. Kids who strength train should learn proper technique and know how to use the equipment safely.

Look for someone who is a certified strength-training expert and who has experience working with kids and teens.

Is Strength Training Safe?

Strength-training programs are generally safe. When done properly, strength training won’t damage growing bones.

As with any sport, talk to your doctor before letting your child start a strength-training program. Kids and teens with some medical conditions — such as uncontrolled high blood pressure, seizures, heart problems, and other conditions — need their doctor’s OK before they start strength training.

Also, your child should be closely supervised and using the right equipment and proper technique. The best way to learn proper technique is to do the exercises without any weight. When technique is mastered, weight (or resistance, if using exercise bands) can be added, as long as your child can comfortably do the exercise for 8 to 15 repetitions with good form. Kids should not use machines and equipment designed for adults.

Most injuries happen because a child was goofing around and not supervised. Muscle strains are the most common injury associated with strength training.

Some young and professional athletes try anabolic steroids and other performance en-

continued on page 23

* Family & Pay One Price Rates * Lots of Lighted Parking * 3 Air Conditioned Classrooms

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DAVID DE MARIE DANCE OUR 53RD SEASON OF DANCE EXCELLENCE

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DAVIDDEMARIE.COM • 10151 MAIN ST. CLARENCE 716.510.2531 • DAVIDDEMARIEDANCE@GMAIL.COM August 2021 WNY Family 21

Serving the dance community with high quality shoes and apparel since 1929!

8210 Main Street WILLIAMSVILLE, NY 14221

716-634-0314

3 Convenient Locations: 3300 Monroe Avenue ROCHESTER, NY 14618

6466 W. Quaker Street ORCHARD PARK, NY 14127

585-381-2520

716-667-7810

www.baileyslippershop www. baileyslippershop.com .com OPEN HOUSE August 16 5:30 - 7:30pm

Now Registering all ages for FALL 2021

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300 Gleed Ave. East Aurora ~ (716)

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Come See the Difference!

Register ANYTIME ONLINE

www.GrandIslandDance.com or come in during office hours every Tuesday 5-6pm

2407 Grand Island Blvd. • Grand Island, NY 14072

716-523-2388 www.GrandIslandDance.com

REGIS ONLINTER E! Funtastic Fitness for Kids!

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1669 Hertel Ave. Buffalo, NY 14216

833-3318

www.RPWNY.com

22 WNY Family August 2021

STRENGTH TRAINING continued...

S T

U

D I O

E

hancers to build muscles and improve athletic performance and appearance. Talk to your child about the dangers of using these drugs.

What’s a Healthy Routine?

In general, kids and teens should tone their muscles using light weights (or resistance) and a high number of repetitions rather than lifting a heavy load once or twice.

The amount of weight will depend on a child’s age, size, and strength level. But in general, kids should be able to lift a weight with proper technique at least 8 to 15 times. If they can’t lift the weight comfortably at least 8 times, the weight is too heavy.

Preteens shouldn’t be concerned about adding muscle bulk, which won’t happen until after they’ve gone through puberty. The focus of each training session should be on proper form and technique, with qualified instruction and supervision.

Training Guidelines

Here are some guidelines when considering strength-training programs: • An instructor-to-child ratio of no more than 1 to 10. The instructor should have an approved strength-training certification and experience with kids and strength training.

• Warm up with at least 5–10 minutes of aerobic activity and dynamic stretching. Cool down with less intense activity and static stretching.

• Begin with one set of 8–15 repetitions of 6–8 exercises that focus on the major muscle groups of the upper and lower body and core.

• Kids can start with body weight exercises (such as sit-ups and push-ups) and work on technique without using weights. When proper technique is mastered, a relatively lightweight can be used with a high number of repetitions (8–15). Increase the weight, number of sets, or types of exercises as strength improves.

• For best results, do strength exercises for at least 20–30 minutes 2 or 3 days per week.

Take at least a day off between sessions.

Strength training is one part of a total fitness program. Kids and teens should get at least an hour a day of moderate to vigorous physical activity every day, including aerobic (cardio) activity, like running, biking, and playing outside. Also, be sure you child drinks plenty of liquids and eats a healthy diet for better performance and recovery.

Information provided by KidsHealth.org from Nemours Children’s Health. © 19952021. The Nemours Foundation/KidsHealth®. Reprinted following guidelines.

OPEN HOUSE

THURSDAY, AUGUST 5 5:30PM-8:00PM

OPEN HOUSE & FREE Dance Days 5:30PM-8:00PM Wed., Aug. 25 & Tues., Aug. 31 FREE Dance Times: 6:00pm 3 to 5 year olds 6:30pm 6 to 9 year olds 7:00pm 10 to 13 year olds

MAKING THE BEST DANCE EDUCATION AFFORDABLE FOR YOU

• Pre-school Dance for Boys and Girls INFORMATION • Mommy/Daddy and Me (2-3 year olds) AND TO • Award-Winning Competitive Classes REGISTER: • FREE Christmas Recital 675-3128 • Hip Hop-Children to Adults eugeniasdancestudio.com • 50% off Boys’ Tuition

NE W

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S E P T EM B F ER TUITION

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TAP • JAZZ • BALLET • LYRICAL • HIP HOP • CONTEMPORARY • ACRO • POINTE

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Classes Begin Monday, September 13th

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Saturdays (starting 8/7) 11am-2pm

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9870 Main Street Clarence, NY 14031 www.companyeightdance.com Tap H Jazz H Ballet H Tots (ages 3-5) H Acro Hip Hop H Musical Theater H Contemporary

ALL AGES - ALL LEVELS - COMPETITIVE & NON COMPETITIVE August 2021 WNY Family 23

Classes begin September 10th Official School of the Greater Buffalo Youth Ballet

949 Englewood Buffalo, NY 14223

Carmarie’s Dance Studio TAP ✴ JAZZ ✴ HIP-HOP ✴ ACROBATICS LYRICAL ✴ BALLET ✴ CH EER DA NC E

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1000 Ellicott Creek Road • Tonawanda. N.Y. 14150

www CarmariesDanceStudio com Email: aleistner29@gmail.com

Studio: 695-6558

DANCE CLASSES FROM 2 YEARS ADULTS

Dance Classes for 2 Years through Adult Pre-Ballet c Classical Ballet c Pointe Tap c Jazz c Musical Theatre c Modern, Lyrical c Acro c Adult Classes c Hip Hop Pre-professional and Recreational Classes OUSE OPEN Hintment o p

by Ap t 16th Augus er 8th b Septem ars

Ye ting 75 Celebra ing WNY of Teach ce Dan ce!

Excellen

CALL NOW to reserve your spot or visit our website to register.

835-3585 or 796-9102 | www.rabanddance.com

Encouragement and Positive Reinforcement through Dance to reach one’s personal best

CENTER STAGE DA N C E S T U D I O - Certified member of Dance Educators of America -

CLASSES OFFERED IN FALL

Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Hip Hop, Acro, Contemporary, Kinder Klass and Mommy & Me. CLASSES BEGIN SEPTEMBER 13TH

FALL REGISTRATION OPEN HOUSE Tuesday & Wednesday: August 10 & 11, 17 & 18, 24 & 25, 31 • 4-8pm September 1, 7 & 8 - 4 - 8pm

Celebrati ng our 40th Season!!!

• 5 Studios with Sprung Floors • Multiple Class & Family Discounts • Award Winning Competitive & Non-Competitive Classes • All Boys Hip-Hop Class • Children’s Combination Classes

~ 5 Studios ~

Cleaned & Disinfected

Register Online for Summer and Fall 4837 Union Rd., Cheektowaga (Near Cleveland Dr.)

★ 634-3395 ★ www.csds.dance

24 WNY Family August 2021

Dance Workshop Beginner, Intermediate & Advanced Levels

August 16th – 20th CLASSES OFFERED IN

Combo Class Ages 3-5, and Mommy & Me Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Hip Hop, Acro, Contemporary, Lyrical, Musical Theatre Ages 6-9; 10 & Up $10.00 per class, $100.00 Unlimited

FALL REGISTRATION OPEN HOUSE

Stacy Zawadzki’s Performing Arts Center

Southgate Plaza 954A Union Road West Seneca

August 29th 4-8pm Free Trial Week Week of Sept. 13th

70 Weiss Avenue • West Seneca/Orchard Park

(716) 677-0338 www.gymnastics-unlimited.net

NOW REGISTERING for FALL ~ Classes Begin Sept. 7th

FREE t-shirt with Paid Registration & Completed Form FALL CLASSES:

For More Info 608-1010 or www.zpac.biz

Parent Tot & Preschool School Age Classes Trampoline & Tumbling Team program Boys & Girls all levels

Learning ‘N’ MOTION

Preschool with a Twist!

Not just Preschool. .. Learning ‘N’ Motion integrates gymnastics with educational activities.

STER R EG I O N WALL! eF for th ce is S pa e d limit

CLASSES BEGIN SEPTEMBER 13th

3 & 4 year old program, 3 days per week.

CALL TODAY!

August 2021 WNY Family 25

Experience the

Joy of Dance in a Warm & Loving Atmosphere

PRE-SCHOOL THRU ADULTS

Maris Battaglia, Director

Classes Begin September 11th

• Fairytale Dance • Pre-Ballet • Ballet • Contemporary • Lyrical • Tap • Jazz • Hip Hop • Acro • Adult Ballet

FALL REGISTRATION & OPEN HOUSE August 23rd - September 10th Call the Studio or check our website for Open House dates & times.

Register for Classes Online!

NUTCRACKER AUDITIONS Saturday, September 18th

491 West Klein Road (Between North Forest & Hopkins)

For A Brochure and Information Call 688-4774 or visit our website at www.aab-buffalo.com

sasi Small Group Personal Training

A results driven program monitoring individul progress towards promoting muscular strength, endurance and cardiovascular health

Where Your Child Can Truly Engage in the Spirit of

Dance

Classes held:

• Tuesday and Thursday evenings • $195/3-month session Helping our individuals improve their lives, one step at a time!

Inside the Moving Miracles Dance Studio 954 Union Road • Suite 1 • West Seneca Southgate Plaza, Creekside behind Dollar Tree

716.656.1321 • www.sasinc.org/Personal-Training

ENROLLMENT FOR 2021/2022 Season Has Begun Classes 3 yrs – Adult

Classical Ballet & Pointe Storybook Dance/Pre-Ballet Modern Dance Jazz & Tap Musical Theater Nutcracker Auditions!!

Saturday, September 18 • 2pm

Ch ec k ou t ou r

O PE N H O US ES !

Wednesday, August 11th & 18th 5pm - 7pm Saturday, August 14th & 21st 11am - 1pm

5353 Main St., Williamsville

716-204-8192

www.BalletBuffalo.com 26 WNY Family August 2021

Something For Everyone:

Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Acro, Hip-Hop, Kiddie Combo, Baby & Me, All Boys Hip Hop Class

Open House

August 23rd & 31st • 6-8pm Dansations WNY 6095 Transit Rd Depew, NY 14043

dansationswny

(716) 694-5196

dansationswny

New State of the Art Facility! @dansations

H dansationswny.com H

DEAR TEACHER – by Peggy Gisler and Marge Eberts

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

Learn About what Is Happening in Classrooms This Year Parents: There are definitely a lot of unknowns about what your children’s classes will look like when they return to them this fall. It is expected that most schools at all levels will have students back in person in the physical classroom.

However, many schools will also have a virtual option for families whose children are unvaccinated or have immune disorders. It is expected that most virtual learning, especially at the elementary level, will be done by a fully virtual teacher rather than a classroom teacher.

Furthermore, children who are exposed to COVID and need to quarantine will still need access to online learning to keep up with their peers.

We advise parents to keep up to date with what is happening in their local schools. It could vary widely from district to district! No matter what your children’s schools will look like, it is clear according to all the experts that most will not have learned what they would have learned without the disruption of the Pandemic! This is especially true for those children who have a special education diagnosis. Many were not able to receive the accommodations that they were entitled to on their Individual Education Plans (IEP).

It is very important this year for parents to attend Back to School Nights to learn first-hand how their children’s teachers are planning on handling any learning deficiencies their children may have suffered. There has been a wide variance in how much students have learned in online programs. Teachers are potentially in the dark about what their students learned last year because of the lack of standardized testing data. For all of these reasons,

you really need to hear directly from the teachers on Back to School Nights about what their curriculum will look like for your children and how they plan to close any learning deficiencies.

There are two things that can help you see where your elementary and middle children currently are academically.

One is to determine their reading level.

The San Diego Quick Assessment test will quickly provide you with this information. You can find it online and on our DearTeacher website. Two, you will find it to be helpful to know what your children should have learned last year in most of their subjects. It is easy to find this information. Just go to your state’s education department website. Type in curriculum or content standards and the grade you are looking for.

The Importance of Reading to Your Children Question: I know that it is important to read out loud to young children.

During the Pandemic, I have been reading a lot to my younger children. Should I also have been reading to my older children in middle school and high school?

At what age should you stop reading to children? — Wondering Answer: Your question is a concern of many parents. While many parents stop reading to their children when they are able to read on their own, it is very beneficial to continue reading to children even in their early teen years. Research shows that reading aloud to school children of all ages will definitely improve not only reading skills but also listening skills and academic performance.

Unfortunately, the percentage of parents who read aloud to older children drops drastically for children over the age of 5. This is way too early to stop

reading to your children. When surveyed, older children say that they enjoy read-aloud time. In fact, children of all ages enjoy listening to a good story. Did you know that reading aloud to children helps them to:  Build vocabulary  Increase comprehension  Hear good modeling of how to read  Improve listening skills  Discover longer books like the classics  Help improve discussion skills  Broaden knowledge of different genres  Promote reading beyond schoolwork.  Lessen time spent on electronic devices  Give them an understanding of more sophisticated concepts  Cement ties between parents and children Good readers succeed in school.

Poor readers have far more problems with subjects that require considerable reading. Help your children regardless of their age to become active readers who are engaged with the printed page. This is very important for your children’s ability to comprehend what they are reading.

The following questions will help you and your children talk about the stories that you are reading to them:  Do you think this story could really happen? Why? Why not?  Did you think a certain event in the book was funny or sad?  Would you like to be friends with a character in the book?  If you were the major character in the book, what would you have done differently?  Would you like to be able to do something the hero of the book did?

Besides reading fiction to your children, be sure to include interesting nonfiction works that will add to their knowledge of the world.

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

August 2021 WNY Family 27

I

t started off gradually then it happened all at once. In the beginning, there was some gentle rocking back and forth on all fours. She was sitting upright when suddenly she fell forward, catching herself with her hands. Then, while still on all fours, she started moving backwards, then forwards. The next day she moved a little more. One push. Two pushes.

Backwards one more time. Then forward three more times. And then finally, one evening, with her eyes locked on a purple rattle across the living room floor, it happened. She crawled. Not backwards this time, but forwards, and she did it with gusto and determination, and she never looked back.

When we first noticed that Violet was in the very beginning stages of crawling, we immediately started babyproofing the house. We wanted to beat her to the punch by eliminating any chance of Violet bumping her head and hurting herself. Andrea went online and purchased an abundance of plastic corner protectors and outlet covers. We already had a baby gate on hand from when we adopted our dog Zeke twelve years ago that we continue to use every day.

As soon as the outlet covers and corner guards were delivered, I put them to use.

I figured I would just start with the living room and dining room since that is where we spend most of our time together. Before Violet started crawling, she pretty much just sat wherever we plopped her, with the occasional falling over and rolling around. It didn’t take much to cover the area; 14 corners and 4 sockets and we were ready. Or were we?

Later that same day, the three of us were in Violet’s room sitting on the floor.

We had just given her a bath and were putting her into her pajamas when I realized just how scary this crawling business was about to get for us. As we’re sitting on the floor, Violet suddenly starts to jet line towards the corner of the room 28 WNY Family August 2021

Countdown to Crawling

behind the closet door. She had something in her sights. Curious to see what she was heading towards, I got on my knees and followed her while looking ahead at the target to beat her to it. And I’m glad I did.

Wedged underneath the baseboard was an old, half-painted common nail, about 2 inches in length. My heart sank when I saw it. I was horrified. I felt like I failed her, even though she never came close to touching it. I thought if Violet had found the nail before I did, or if I never found it, the results could have been catastrophic. I couldn’t believe for the year and a half that we lived there and all the times we swept and mopped that room, I never noticed that nail. I didn’t

use it to hang a picture up or anything else, and I didn’t even own that kind of nail. Andrea didn’t know where it came from either.

I also couldn’t believe she saw the nail from so far away. At that moment it hit me that I was going to be on edge and a nervous wreck about her safety for a very long time, which I suppose has its benefits, aside from stressing out and losing sleep. Going forward I know that I won’t let anything like that happen again.

When I pulled the nail out of the baseboard, there was a little resistance to it, so I don’t think she would have been able to pull it out, but who knows. The nail made me think about every other possible threat in the house to Violet. Andrea and I discussed in detail our plan for keeping the house tidier than we already do, especially Andrea. Everything would be kept out of her reach, behind a locked door or in a storage container. She doesn’t have access to the kitchen, basement, bathrooms or both bedrooms, partly because most of those rooms are upstairs. And when the time comes where she’s walking and can utilize the stairs, we’ll simply invest in another baby gate until she can safely manage a staircase.

With Violet now crawling, it feels like the floodgates for trouble are open.

Most of the people who we told all had the same response, which was, “Get ready!” or “Have fun,” followed by laughter. The torch has been passed is the takeaway I got from the laughter.

Challenge accepted.

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.

— by Kirsten Hawkes

PARENT PREVIEWS –

Making Media Entertainment An Easier Choice For Families OVERALL RATING: A-

The Water Man Rating: PG

RLJE FILMS DVD Release: August 17, 2021

“

I

VIOLENCE: (B) An animated segment shows people drowning in a flood. Chalk animations of dead animals. Brief graphic novel segments about a murdered police officer. A boy dreams about people drowning. A parent yells at a frightened child. A girl shows a scar on her neck. A character shoplifts. Two kids fight, pushing and knocking each other over. Kids are caught in a landslide of beetles. There is reference to child abuse. Main characters are trapped in a forest fire.

SEXUAL CONTENT: (A­) None.

LANGUAGE: (B+) There is one minor swear word, a term of For additional deity, and a euphemism for a scatological curse. information on this ALCOHOL / DRUG USE: (A-) A prescription bottle of film’s content, visit morphine is visible. www.parentpreviews.com

n the town of Pine Mills, people see a tall shadowy figure emerging from a lake with fire on his chest and hope in his eyes…” This mythical being is the Water Man, and he doesn’t just carry a vague hope, he is rumored to possess the ability to raise the dead.

Desperate to save his critically ill mother (Rosario Dawson), young Gunner Boone (Lonnie Chavis) is enthralled by the legend. Joining forces with Jo (Amiah Miller), a wily, self-sufficient teenage girl, he heads off into the woods with a map, his father’s (David Oyelowo) samurai sword, and a few cans of food in a quest for the Water Man and his glowing, lifegiving rock. But the woods are full of unexpected dangers and a small forest fire is about to blaze into a wall of flame.

If you think some of this sounds familiar, you’d be correct. A kid trying to save a sick parent, a “resurrection stone,” a dangerous quest through the woods — none of these elements are distinctive.

But the acting is excellent, and carries us through the less original parts of the tale.

The cinematography is also superb, with an eye for the varied textures of the Pacific Northwest’s majestic landscapes. As an added bonus, part of the plot’s backstory is delivered in line drawn animation, as is some of Gunner’s artwork. This is a film worth looking at.

The Water Man is one of those rarest of movies, a PG story that won’t bore parents into a state of insensibility. The plot is original enough (despite its borrowed elements) that it will keep kids and adults focused on the screen. The movie is devoid of sexual content and has only three profanities. However, it has some genuinely terrifying moments that could easily frighten children. There are a few

jump scares in the dark woods, a very frightening encounter with a creepy figure, an avalanche of insects (which will horrify squeamish viewers), and many moments of peril for the young protagonists. The film is rated PG, but it’s on the high end of that scale so parents will want to carefully consider their children’s susceptibility to nightmares before watching the movie together.

Thankfully, The Water Man also comes with strong positive messages about courage, love, individuality, and persistence. The film is shot through with a rich appreciation for the power of families and the need for forgiveness and second chances. Gunner is part of a warm, loving family with a nurturing mother and devoted father, albeit one who struggles to build the close bonds he craves with his son. This tender story reminds all of us of the gifts families give us — the shelter from the storm they provide; the safe place they give us for growth; and their capacity for renewal amid the challenges of life.

Talk about the movie with your family…

Why do Gunner and his dad struggle to get along? What changes their relationship? How could they have resolved their issues earlier?

What happens when Gunner meets the Water Man? How does this encounter

help him accept the uncertainty around his mother’s health?

Watch at home…

Illnesses and death among family members are handled sensitively in several films.

Conor struggles to come to terms with his mother’s serious illness in A Monster Calls. Then a giant tree talks to him, offering three fables and demanding one from him which must illuminate his greatest truth. As Conor thinks about his challenges, he learns to accept them.

When June’s mother becomes ill and has to be hospitalized, June loses interest in the miniature amusement park they used to build together. Then June discovers that Wonder Park is real and needs her care and attention. A teenager battles cancer in the real-life story Clouds.

David Oyelowo once again plays the father in another struggling family in Come Away.

August 2021 WNY Family 29

I

“

t is eleven o’clock. You should go to sleep now.”

“But I haven’t finished my homework yet.”

TWEENS & TEENS — by Cheryl Maguire

Being productive when completing homework or in a job is an issue for many teenagers who are easily distracted by electronics, socializing. or other fun activities.

Put Away Devices

Price recommends that teens put their phone in another room when they are trying to be productive. If they need their phone for homework, then she suggests using “Do Not Disturb” mode to limit the distracting sounds of a “pinging phone.”

She says, “Being disconnected for a few hours can make a tremendous difference to your productivity.”

Have a Dedicated Workspace Price also suggests a dedicated workspace. She says, “Having an ‘office’ or a place where you traditionally do your work can be great for a number of reasons. First, it can help put you in the mindset for ‘work’ when you sit down.

Secondly, it can be a signal to other people in your home that you’re busy working and shouldn’t be disturbed.”

30 WNY Family August 2021

Eat Breakfast Price and Sanders agree that starting the day by eating breakfast helps your mind to become more alert and provides energy to be productive in school. Since most teenagers get up early for school, eating breakfast can be a challenge. If this is an issue due to time, then Price suggests drinking a smoothie or eating a protein bar.

She says, “Breakfast doesn’t have to mean eggs and bacon, but it should involve enough calories to kickstart your metabolism and keep you full until lunch time.”

This common exchange between my 13-year-old daughter and me occurs more often than I care to admit. Even though she gets home at 2pm, she often procrastinates completing her homework until right before bedtime. She is also a repeat offender of waiting until the last minute to start research projects.

“The best tip for teens to improve productivity is to put your phone away.

Our smartphones can be exceptionally useful tools, but they can also be exceptionally distracting,” says Emily Price, author of the book, Productivity Hacks: 500+ Easy Ways to Accomplish More at Work--That Actually Work! Price wrote the book based on fifteen years of interviewing people ranging from low-level employees to CEOs. Price says, “Everyone and every company has a different approach to ‘how to work.’”

ductivity, along with their strengths and resources.

How to Help Your Teen Be More Productive “The most important thing when it comes to teens being productive in school and with homework or any jobs is making sure that they are intrinsically motivated,” says Maria Sanders, a licensed social worker and certified parent coach.

Sanders explains that if your teen isn’t eating breakfast, then ask questions like, “Do you think skipping breaking is working for you? Do you have enough energy during school?” These questions can help teens to feel part of the decisionmaking process and think about their choices.

Get Enough Sleep Another key factor in being productive is getting enough sleep, which is often an issue for most teens who like to stay up late and need to get up early for school. Price says, “One of the best things you can do to boost your productivity is to get enough sleep.”

Have Teens Create Their Own Plan

Price suggests that teens do not sleep in the same room as their phones, which can disrupt or prevent them from going to sleep. She also says that taking a warm shower before going to bed can relax your muscles and prepare your body for sleep.

Sanders explains that you can help your teen become motivated by allowing them to feel competent, connected, and autonomous. She says, “It is important for teens to come up with their own plan of action of how they can be productive rather than having the parent dictate the best tips and strategies.”

If your teen isn’t getting enough sleep at night then Sander encourages parents to ask questions like, “Do you feel tired in the morning or during the day? How can you improve the amount of sleep you are getting at night?” These questions can help them to figure out a way to improve their sleep schedule.

If a teen can be involved in their decision-making process of how to be productive then it is more likely that they will follow through with their work. While they are thinking of a productivity plan, have them consider any obstacles or challenges that will be barriers to their pro-

Use A Productivity App In Price’s book, she recommends various apps that can help increase productivity. Some apps that Price thinks teens would find beneficial are:

PICK OF THE LITERATURE continued...

RescueTime: This app will track how much time you spend on certain websites and certain apps on your computer. You can use this information to be more aware of the time spent on social media and then change it by setting a timer when using social media if necessary, to be more productive.

a young up and coming activist from England, will be sure to give them ideas on how to go about it. In this book, she explains the purpose and history of XR (Extinction Rebellion) and provides chapters on ways to Challenge Big Business, Challenge Government, and Challenge Yourself. This book encourages the reader to become informed, motivated, respectful, articulate, and an independent thinker. It will be voices like this that others will listen to. Start local and think big. In the end, the author reminds the reader:

Just Read: This is a Chrome extension that will remove things like flashy webpage styles, pop-up ads, and comments, and turn the article into a simplified text which helps to prevent distractions while reading.

Forest: This app grows virtual trees when you’re not using your phone. When you launch an app or browse the Internet, the trees wither and die. Using this app will make you more aware of how much you’re using your phone and encourage you to put it away so your virtual trees and productivity can grow.

Dr. Donna Tweens:Phillips is an associate profes4 hours, 44 minutes sor in the College of Education at Niagara University where her specialty is literacy •Amount Make your voice heard. of daily screen use, not including for schoolTeens: or homework 7 hours, 22She minutes and children’s literature. lives on • Do everything you can for the surGrand Island, NY and is the mother of two By socioeconomic status vival of theTweens: planet. and grandmother one.

4 hours, 44 minutes adult children Tweens in higher-income homes:of 3:59

• Have an opinion.

7 hours, 22 minutes Amount ofscreen daily use, Amount of daily use,screen not including for school or ho higher-income homes.

Note: “Lower income” <$35,000; “higher income” is $100,000+ per year. not including forisschool or homework

81%

Smartphone ownership by age, 2015 vs. 2019

Media Use By Tweens4 hours, & Teens 44 minutes

Tweens: Tweens:

72% 4 minutes 69% 4 hours, hours, 44 44 minutes

Smartphone ownership has risen dramatically, Amount of daily screen not including forforschool or homework Amount ofuse, daily screen use, not including school or homework even among the youngest tweens.

53% 22 minutes Teens: 7 hours, Smartphone ownership by age, 2015 vs. 2019Tweens:

Tweens:

7 hours, 22 minutes

53%

TEENS

2%

Sanders emphasizes, is important for tweens and“It teens to understand how powerful our Proportion of screen time devoted to variouschildren media activities, 2019 Top screen media activities 53% 31% are for when they areteens motivated.”

2019 tweens and TWEENS Proportion time devoted to various media activities, 2019 of screen2015 4%

6%

16%

8%

Note:

Note: “Lower income” is <$35,000; “higher income” is $100,000+ per year.

Smartphone ownership by age, 2015 vs. 2019 Smartphone ownership by age, 2015 vs. 2019

Playing games

media activities, 2019

91% 69% 88% 2019 83% 81% “Lower Note: income” is <$35,000; AGE, 53% “higher income” is $100,000+ per year.

53% 2015

higher-income homes.

89%

72%

69%

19% Top screen media 15%activities for 11% tweens and teens ◼ Content creation ◼ TV/Videos

36% 74% 73% Smartphone ownership 53% has risen dramatically, 71% 36% #1 #1 #2 #2 26% 59% even among the youngest tweens.

26% Playing games 39% Watching 8 9 10 11 12Watching TV/videos 13 14 19% 15 16 gap 17 Homework TV/videos Playing games 36% ◼ Gaming ◼ Video Proportion of screen time devoted to various mediachatting activities, 2019 ◼ Browsing websites

◼ E-reading

◼ Social media

◼ Other

#2

26%

22% 19%vs. 2019 TEENS SmartphoneTWEENS ownership by age, 2015 TEENS each Watching2%TV/videos

32%

Homework gap 32% 32%

77%

50% 50%

41% 41% 18

71%

IN YEARS 71% 59% 59%

91% :55 89% 88% 83% 19% 81% 15% Teens in lower-income homesspend spend less time using 19% Teens 11% in lower-income homes 15% 11% using and more10time and using their phones for 14 less time 72%computers 8 9 computers 11 more 12 13 8 9 11 higher-income 12 13homes.14 homework than phones their10peers in time using their for homework 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 77% AGE, IN YEARS than their peers per in higher-income homes. spend 74%IN AGE, YEARS 73% minutes day 13- to 18-year-olds using 71% :55Average AGE, IN YEARS 41%

50% 19%

AGE, IN YEARS

Playing2% games 6%

83%

Note: “Lower income” is <$35,000; “higher income” is $100,000+ 14 per year

26% 41% Proportion of screen time devoted to various Smartphone ownership by age, 2015 vs. 2019 19% 32%

#1

high 59% high Note:

Tweens in lower-income homes: 5:492015 inTweens in higher-income homes: 3:5 26%Tweens 41% 69% Young people in lower-income homes use nearly two more hours ofownership screen media a day thanhas their3:59 peers in higher-income homes: Smartphone risen dramatically, 7 hours, 22 minutes 77% 19% higher-income homes.

32% Smartphone ownership has risen dramatically, 74% Tweens in lower-income 71%among even the youngest tweens. homes: 5:49 Tweens in73% even among the youngest tweens.

Young people in lower-income homes use nearly two lower-income homes: 5:49 19% 59% more hours of screen media a day than their peers in 83%

Top media activities 15% 81% 7 hours, 22 minutes Young people in lower-income 11% higher-incomehomes homes.use nearly two 81% Smartphone ownership has risen dramatically, 36% #1 50% more hours of screen media a day than their72% peers in for tweens#2and teens even among the youngest tweens.

69% 8 9 10 11 12 72% 13 Teens: screen

Watching TV/videos

Youn mor mor

91% 89% By socioeconomic 88% status 2019 By socioeconomic status 83% 4 hours, 44 minutes Tweens in higher-income homes: 3:59 81% 36% By socioeconomic status 50% Teens:

8

By By Tw Tw Tw Tw Youn

72%

Teens:

Proportion of screen time devoted to various media activities, 2019

3%

Tweens in lower-income 5:49 dramatically Smartphone ownershiphomes: has risen Young people in lower-income homes use nearly two even among the youngest more hours of screen media a day than theirtweens. peers in Amount of daily screen use, not including for school or ho

Teens:

When you take care of your physical health by having proper nutrition and Top screen media activities for tweens teenskey facsleep, then you can focus onand two tors to improving productivity — motivaTWEENS tion and preventing distractions.

5%

Just because summer is almost over, it does not mean that there aren’t many more adventures that lie ahead.

Plan, look for serendipitous opportunities, ask questions, and encourage ideas. With that in mind and these books, your summer will seem to last forever and you will surely be mindful to savor each moment. Perhaps think of it as the slow setting of the sun and the feelings you have when doing so…. perhaps a of bitdaily sad, screen yet very satisfied.

Amount use, not including for school

• Research and know your facts.

FocusWriter: A minimalist word processing app for Windows, Mac, and Linux that forces you to focus on something you’re writing by preventing you from doing other things on your computer. The app blocks programs and websites that might take your attention away from your writing, and it allows you to set timers to break up your work into sessions so you’re not working too much at once.

2% each

• You can make a difference.

• Resolve to do all you can to make a difference.

Grammarly: This web and mobile app can read through the text you write and look for any spelling or grammar errors.

Top screen media activities 4%

• The future is in your hands.

201

19% 201 15 15% 2% each 2% 11% 69% 15 6% Cheryl Maguire holds a Master of Coun3% 4% 4% 8 9 10 11 Homework gap TEENS TWEENS5% :1 39% seling Psychology degree.Time She iswatching married spent online videos For tweens, YouTube dominates the 53% Content creation ◼ TV/Videos ◼ 53% each device for homework, by income, 2019 has increased substantially. online 31% video space.

Average minutes per day 13- to 18-year-olds spend 2% each 2% Gaming Video chatting ◼ ◼ 16% and is the mother of twins and a daugh6% 2019 Teens in lower-income homes spend 39% using“Lower each device forishomework, by income, 2019 Note: income” <$35,000; “higher income” is $100,000+ per year.

59% E-reading ◼ Browsing websites ◼22% :34 4% Homework gap 53%3% 4%in The less time using 36% computers more ◼ Social media andHomework ◼ Other gap Homework gap 2015 ter. Her been published :59 5% writing has 31% :55 50% :55 8% HIGHER INCOME :55 time using their phones for homework 2019 :21 53% ◼ TV/Videos ◼ Content creation :56 New York Times, Parents Magazine, AARP 22% than their Teens in lower-income homes spend peers in higher-income homes.homes41% 26% Teens inVideo lower-income spend Gaming chatting ◼ ◼ :12 Teens in lower-income homes 16% :34andspend less time using computers more less time using computers and more 2015 ◼ Browsing websites ◼ E-reading Chicken Soup for the Soul: Count Your 39% 19% less time more 32% time using their phones for homework ◼ Computer time usingusing theircomputers phones forand homework 53% Average minutes per day 13- to 18-year-olds spend :21 ◼ Social media ◼ Other time using their phones for homework their2019 peers inshopping, higher-income homes.

31%YourNote:Teen each device forGPS homework, bythan income, Content creation includes writing on digital devices, making art, or creating digital music.using “Other” includes using or other functional apps, using email, and than their peers Time spent watching online videos For tweens, YouTube dominates :12thein higher-income homes. ◼ Smartphone Blessings, Magazine and many :12 27% doing any other digital activities not specifically 8% asked about in the survey. than their peers in higher-income homes.

Note: Content creation includes writing on digital devices, making art, has increased substantially. online video space. :12 19%using GPS or other functional or creating digital music. “Other” includes 22% Average minutes per day 13to 18-year-olds spend HIGHER INCOME LOWER INCOME 15% and doing any other publications. This :35 article was origiapps, using email, shopping, other digital activities not Average minutes 13- to 18-year-olds using each deviceper for day homework, by income, spend 2019 11% using each device for homework, LOWER by income,INCOME 2019 specifically asked about in the survey.

HIGHER INCOME :59 nally published in “Grown and Flown.”

7% 3%10 9 11 13 14 15 16 17 HIGHER INCOME 18 Time spent watching online videos 8 For tweens, YouTube dominates the12 Note: Content creation includes writing on digital devices, making art, or creating digital music. “Other” includes using GPS or other functional apps, using email, shopping, and 3% 4% doing any other digital activities not specifically asked about in the survey.

5%

4%

16%

◼ TV/Videos

◼ Content creation

◼ Gaming

◼ Video chatting

◼ Browsing websites

◼ E-reading

◼ Social media

◼ Other

8%

Online video or subscription platforms used “the most” by 8- to 12-year-olds

Teens

Note: “Lower income” is <$35,000; “higher income” is $100,000+ per year.

Tweens

Note: Content creation includes writing on digital devices, making art, or creating digital music. “Other” includes using GPS or other functional apps, using email, shopping, and doing any other digital activities not specifically asked about in the survey.

◼ Computer

Average minutes per day 13- to 18-year-olds spend

using is each device forper homework, by income, 2019 Note: “Lower income” is <$35,000; “higher income” $100,000+ year.

Online video or subscription platforms used “the most”

◼ Smartphone

by 8- to 12-year-olds

Note: “Lower income” is <$35,000; “higher income” is $100,000+ per year.

Teens

2%

:25 has increased substantially.

online video space. :56

Note: Content creation includes writing on digital devices, making art, or creating digital music. “Other” includes using GPS or other functional apps, using email, shopping, Tweens and doing any other digital activities not specifically asked about in the survey.

YouTube Netflix YouTube Amazon Hulu

2015

2019

:59

Kids

Prime Video platforms subscription

Online video or by 8- to 12-year-olds Teens

used “the most”

53%

Note: “Lower income” is <$35,000; “higher income” is $100,000+ per year.

Note: “Lower income” is <$35,000; “higher income” is $100,000+ per year.

AGE, IN YEARS

HIGHER INCOME

August 2021 WNY Family 31

Mind Game:

A

n estimated 2.3% of adults have Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), according to the National Institute of Mental Health. For many, the symptoms begin in childhood or adolescence. This anxiety disorder is a neurological malfunction that creates unrelenting, intrusive thoughts, and extreme anguish for those affected. Obsessions range from unbearable worries about contamination to believing they have run over someone while driving. These fears can be alleviated only one way — by acting out compulsions, which become repetitive acts of checking and rechecking to ensure the fear is unfounded.

OCD was added to the American

Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-III) in 1987. Yet many people still live with its destruction unaware there’s treatment or even a name for their bizarre fears and behaviors.

Add to that, “Families often don’t know that they have a sick child,” says Judith L. Rapoport, M.D., in The Boy Who Couldn’t Stop Washing. Children may keep their obsessions and compulsions a secret to avoid appearing crazy.

The devastation of OCD isn’t seen in just the adult or child with the disorder. OCD negatively impacts the whole family. Families often destruct from the stress caused by the disorder. It’s not unusual for the OCD sufferer to rely on

DOES YOUR CHILD HAVE AUTISM?

Empower

Ability Inspire Advocate

Special Needs Potential Thri

Growth Strategies — by Kimberly Blaker

family members to help alleviate their fears. The afflicted person may insist that a child, parent, or spouse check electrical outlets or may badger loved ones with constant questions for reassurance.

Many individuals with OCD fear contamination. Often, family members get banned from specific rooms or areas to prevent contamination of the areas.

Family members may also be required to live up to unreasonable standards of cleanliness to satisfy the person with OCD. In other homes, compulsions such as hoarding are so out of hand the home becomes a maze. Family members must maneuver through narrow trails and stacks of boxes and clutter.

Common Compulsions

 Repeated checking of doors, ovens, locks, plugs, or other items

We’re here to help.

Comprehensive services for children and adults with autism.

Support for your family.

· Evaluations · Early Autism Program (Preschool) · Summit Academy (Ages 3-21) · Respite Programs · Pediatric Feeding Clinic

· Recreation & Leisure Programs · Vocational & Employment Services · Adult Programs · Behavioral Health Clinic · Parent Training

We are WNY’s largest provider of evidence-based programs and services for autism.

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 Repeated rituals such as counting or going in and out of doors a specific number of times, among other rituals  Excessive arranging and rearranging  Hoarding or collecting mail, newspapers, food, or other items  Repeated confessions or asking repeated questions for reassurance  Prolonged or repeated bathing or handwashing

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 Repeatedly checking for mistakes

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 Repeatedly drawing up lists

32 WNY Family August 2021

Common Obsessions

Fear of running over someone while driving Fear of contamination Fear of harming others Fear of blurting obscenities or insults Preoccupation with a part of the body Violent, horrific, or disgusting images Superstitions or persistent thoughts of lucky/unlucky colors, etc.  Extreme concern with religious issues, values, or morals       

What’s the cause?

In OCD, the brain is essentially stuck, according to many researchers. It replays a particular thought over and over again, like a broken record. In other words, it tricks the individual and they cannot trust their judgment. Those who don’t understand OCD often tell the afflicted, “Why don’t you just stop?”

But it isn’t that simple. Researchers believe the disorder is neurobiological. Therefore, the obsessions are not a matter of choice. Differences have been found in the brain of OCD sufferers through brain imaging techniques. Some studies have found abnormalities in the neurotransmitters, such as serotonin. The occurrence of OCD is also higher in families with depressive and anxiety disorders. For most people with the disorder, there’s no known event that relates to their particular obsession(s). Still, researchers feel environmental stressors may play at least some role in the development of OCD for those who are biologically predisposed.

Is there help?

Although there’s no known cure for OCD, there are several treatments available. The two most common, effective, and proven forms of treatment for OCD are psychotropic drugs and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). Many doctors recommend medication in combination with CBT. Medication helps to normalize brain dysfunction making people more receptive to CBT. Then they can learn techniques through CBT to relieve or stop the intrusive thoughts and control compulsive behaviors.

There are also several treatments marketed for which there is not a preponderance of evidence to support their effectiveness. These include hypnotherapy, psychosurgery, and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). So caution should be exercised if considering these methods.

The severity of untreated OCD generally tends to worsen over time. It can become completely debilitating. If someone in your family has symptoms of OCD, contact your mental health care provider for a confidential evaluation. With proper treatment, many OCD sufferers can lead healthy and productive lives.

Kimberly Blaker is a freelance lifestyle and mental health writer.

August 2021 WNY Family 33

THE FAMILY PET

Pet First Aid What would you do if your pet: • • • •

A

lways remember that any first aid administered to your pet should be followed by immediate veterinary care. First aid care is not a substitute for veterinary care, but it may save your pet’s life until it receives veterinary treatment. Following are four emergency situations that may require you to provide first aid.

Safety first. While we all want to help, animals in pain or very frightened may bite, scratch, flail, or kick out of instinct or panic, even if they seem docile.

You may need to carefully muzzle and/or restrain your pet so that another first aid situation doesn’t occur — to you.

has eaten something poisonous has overheated and passed out is bleeding is choking

Has your pet been poisoned?

Sometimes it’s hard to tell. Generally, any products that are harmful for people also are harmful for pets. Examples include cleaning products, rodent poisons, and antifreeze. Common food items also can be harmful to your dog, such as chocolate, grapes, onions, and anything with artificial sweeteners with Xylitol. For cats every part of a lily is deadly. Human medications are for humans, not pets and can be toxic. (Note, your veterinarian may prescribe Benadryl in some situations.)

Keep a list of toxic items handy so you don’t have to hunt during an emergency.

You also can contact the Animal Poison Control Center hotline (888-426-4435 — available 365 days/year, 24 hours/day) immediately, but there may be a fee.

Keep a fresh bottle of hydrogen peroxide in your medicine cabinet. If your pet eats something they shouldn’t and you give hydrogen peroxide right away, you may save their life. Check with your veterinarian about how much to give and what to do if it doesn’t work. Sometimes it is best not to induce vomiting such as if your pet ate something sharp or caustic.

34 WNY Family August 2021

Red Rover – where is the blood coming from? Use hydrogen peroxide to wash away blood and find the source of the bleeding. As with people, press a clean, thick gauze pad over the wound. Keep pressure up until the blood starts clotting. Wait at least three minutes before you check to see if the clotting is strong enough to stop the bleeding. Stitches may be required for severe wounds so contact your vet right away. They may ask you to take a quick photo to help determine next steps.

If bleeding is on a leg, you may need to apply a tourniquet (try gauze or hair band) between the wound and the body.

Then apply a bandage and pressure on the wound. Loosen the tourniquet for 20 seconds every 15-20 minutes, at which time you should be on your way to the vet or an emergency clinic. Severe bleeding can quickly be life-threatening.

For any symptoms of internal bleeding from the nose, mouth, rectum, coughing up blood, blood in urine, pale gums, collapse, weak and rapid pulse, keep the animal as warm and quiet as possible and transport immediately to a veterinarian.

But it’s only 60 degrees out…

WNY enjoys fabulous summer weather, but even cooler days with the sun shining can quickly turn dangerous, especially for a pet waiting in a car. Temperature dramatically rises in a vehicle, even with a cracked window. Pets can succumb to heatstroke very easily and must be treated quickly or they may not survive.

Choking - Choking on food is rare for dogs and almost impossible for cats.

Occasionally, a dog may try to swallow a large chunk of soggy rawhide and run into trouble. If this happens, try to reach into your dog’s mouth and remove it. If that doesn’t help, stand them up like a person with their back to you and do the Heimlich maneuver similar to a person with thrusts in and up under their rib cage.

If you find your pet in distress from the heat, immediately bring it to a shaded area and out of direct sunlight. Run a towel through cold water and place around the pet’s neck and head (avoiding eyes, nose and mouth.) Repeat every few minutes and/or use a hose to run cool/cold water over the animal’s body (especially stomach and between hind legs.) Then get the animal to a vet as soon as possible.

The Niagara Frontier Veterinary Society consists of more than 75 small animal hospitals and 200 veterinarians in Erie and Niagara counties. Learn more at www.nfveterinarysociety.org.

Keep your vet’s contact info handy for emergencies and know where the nearest emergency clinic is if your vet is unavailable.

Secondhand Tobacco Exposure In Utero Linked to Decreased Lung Function in Children

E

nvironmental tobacco smoke exposure in utero and during early childhood — especially secondhand smoke — is associated with decreased childhood lung function, according to research presented at the American Thoracic Society (ATS) 2021 International Conference.

Hanna Knihtilä, MD, Ph.D., research fellow, Channing Division of Network Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, and colleagues sought to clarify the effects of tobacco smoke exposure during pregnancy and childhood on children’s lung function at age six years.

The authors found that cumulative tobacco smoke exposure reflected by increased blood cotinine levels during pregnancy and childhood is associated with decreased lung function at six years of age. This decrease is evident even with minimal smoking exposures.

Cotinine is the predominant metabolite of nicotine and is used as a biomarker of tobacco smoke exposure.

“Most of the exposure, especially during pregnancy, was secondhand,” said Dr. Knihtilä. “This suggests that even small amounts of exposure from secondhand sources can have detrimental effects on children’s lung function.”

32-38 gestational weeks, and at ages 1, 3 and 6 years, and calculated cumulative tobacco smoke exposure based on the cotinine levels. They also measured the children’s lung function at age six using spirometry and impulse oscillometry, a relatively new technology that uses sound waves to measure lung function.

Sixty-five mothers (14 percent) reported active smoking and 103 (22 percent) reported other household smoking on at least one occasion during the study.

The authors stated, “Both gestational and childhood cumulative tobacco smoke exposure, reflected by increased blood cotinine levels during pregnancy and early life were associated with decreased lung function at age six years, but the strongest effects were observed with cumulative smoke exposure from pregnancy to childhood together.”

s s e n l Wel

Choices

“We hope that our study serves as objective data for health care providers and families to advocate for minimizing tobacco smoke exposure from pregnancy to childhood to improve lung health among children,” concluded Dr. Knihtilä.

— Source: American Thoracic Society

The researchers included 476 motherchild pairs in the study, which was done with participants in the Vitamin D Antenatal Asthma Reduction Trial (VDAART). They recruited non-smoking women at 10-18 gestational weeks.

The scientists gave study participants questionnaires on active smoking and household smoking during pregnancy and at one, three and six years after delivery. They measured blood cotinine levels at 10-18 and

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Do Kids Need Counseling After Divorce?

T

here are a couple of reasons that parents become anxious after divorce about their kids’ mental health. First of all, we have been bombarded over the years with statistics that tell us that children of divorce are at risk for a variety of bad behaviors and poor outcomes. That causes many parents to be hypersensitive to how a family break-up will takes its toll on the kids.

Secondly, they may lack basic parenting skills to support their children in times of transition. Parents often don’t know how to get themselves through a crisis, let alone guide their kids through it. Rather than jumping to the conclusion that kids need counseling simply because mom and dad are fearful or unskilled, it is better to assess the following factors: 1) Child’s Age. When a parent brings a very young child (under age seven) to me for counseling, there is a very high chance that whatever the issues are with the child, they can be resolved by working with the parent instead of the child. Very rarely will a child that young have emotional issues stemming from a divorce unless there has been something more severe going on in the family, such as serious abuse or neglect.

Young children may react to the tension or stress in the home by acting out or

regressing to infantile behaviors. In this case, kids will usually return to normal when their parents reinstate important routines or apply appropriate discipline.

Children who are seven to twelve years old may benefit from talking to a counselor if they are having difficulty controlling their anger or concentrating on schoolwork because of the changes going on in the family. Likewise, teenagers may want to talk with a counselor in order to vent frustrations or so that a neutral person can help them understand their feelings about the divorce. Older children often choose not to talk to their parents because they don’t want to hurt either of them if they express strong feelings about the divorce. In this way, counseling can be beneficial, especially if the child requests it.

2) Child’s Behavior. When parents ask me if I think their child needs counseling, I am first of all interested in whether or not the child is acting outside of his or her normal behavior. In other words, if your kids’ sleeping and eating habits seem normal, they are not misbehaving or withdrawing from activities or friends, and their schoolwork is not taking a dive, then there are no outward signs that would indicate counseling is in order. The old adage, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” is appropriate here.

In fact, the divorce may actually bring some relief if the family has been in turmoil for a very long time. If kids have been living in the battle zone for most of their lives, they may become more relaxed after divorce when they are finally allowed to live in peace.

Other children, whose parents have been supportive, loving, and very conscientious about keeping their kids out of the middle of the conflict, will fare quite well after divorce because they have two parents they can talk to honestly about their feelings. This aspect alone can help kids navigate family change in a healthy, positive way. This does not mean they will skip the grieving process after the change, but these kids typically will be highly functional during their grief because of the amount of family support they receive.

3) Child’s Involvement in the Conflict. If one or both parents are habitually placing their kids in the middle of their divorce or post-divorce conflicts, counseling is almost always in order for not only the children, but the parents, too. It may be difficult for parents to gain the proper perspective if they are caught up in “winning” their case rather than protecting their kids.

If one parent persists in placing the children in the middle and the other parent continually has to counteract it by pulling them out of the middle, there is likely to be serious fallout for the child, despite one parent’s efforts to counterbalance it. In these cases, family counseling can be beneficial to help parents strategize on how to keep from getting into unnecessary conflicts and to help kids feel supported and affirmed while their parents are learning important skills. Unfortunately, parents in these situations are less prone to focusing on their kids’ needs to begin with and will often fail to see the need to involve a skilled therapist.

4) Child’s Desire. If a child requests to see a counselor, there is good reason to comply. Spending time in the counseling room with the child at first will be helpful for you to learn what is behind this request and how you can help. However,

kids, most often teens, who insist they do not need counseling, may be doing so because they are fearful of the process, misunderstand it, or don’t want to think there is something wrong with them. This can sometimes be resolved by explaining that counseling can provide a non-judgmental place to vent and that it in no way indicates they are abnormal or sick.

If they still are resistant, it is better to wait and check in often with them to see how they are doing and let them know the offer still stands if they ever want it.

Forcing the issue will likely be counterproductive. However, if a teen’s behavior becomes extremely problematic, then it is advisable to override their feelings and err on the side of caution. They may be engaging in risky behavior that needs to be assessed by a professional.

After several counseling sessions with a child, I have often found that if the parent could have done what I did, the kids would not have needed to see me, and they would have gotten valuable support from the people they love and trust the most.

In most cases, parents who are able to help their kids with anger management, stress reduction, and offer a patient listening ear are much more effective than any counselor can be — simply because kids crave their parents love, attention and support. Therefore, it may be advisable to visit with a counselor yourself before taking the children, so that you and the counselor can decide together if the kids need counseling or you simply need parenting support and skillbuilding. You may choose one or both options, but either way, you will be deciding based on your child’s needs rather than reacting to your own anxiety.

Diane C. Dierks is a licensed marriage and family therapist in Atlanta, Georgia. She is also author of The CoParent Toolbox (2014 Aha! Publishing) and Solo Parenting: Raising Strong & Happy Families (1997 Fairview Press).

For more information visit her website is www.dianedierks.com.

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GRILLED PEACHES

F

or delicious, refreshing, juicy eating pleasure, nothing beats a fresh, tree-ripened peach in season. They’re nutritious, naturally sweet, and low in calories. There are many varieties of peaches, and 3 types of stones: clingstone, semi-freestone, and freestone. They are self-descriptive:  Clingstone – the peach clings to the stone  Semi-freestone – the peach clings to the stone unless the fruit is fully ripe  Freestone – the peach comes off the stone easily.

The color should be creamy or yellow; some red is more a mark of the variety than ripeness. Avoid peaches with any green or green shading — they’re not ripe. Peaches don’t actually “ripen” once they are picked — they can be softened, and may get juicier, but their sweetness won’t change. Pick smooth, unwrinkled peaches, with no spots or bruises — they can turn bad very quickly. Apply the classic sniff test — a peach should smell peachy and sweet. Ripe peaches should give slightly when you apply gentle pressure around

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.

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.

38 WNY Family August 2021

the seam — don’t apply too much, or you’ll bruise them.

One other item worth discussing is that fuzzy skin, which some people do not care for. If that sounds like you or your kids, simply peel the skin, or use nectarines. When using many peaches in a recipe, blanch the peaches and the skin will peel off easily. See tips below for blanching.

A few tips:  Peaches and nectarines come in white flesh and yellow flesh varieties. White are sweeter and low in acid, yellow retain more flavor when cooked.

Free of: DAIRY, EGGS, SOY, PEANUTS, TREE NUTS, FISH, SHELLFISH, WHEAT, GLUTEN, VEGAN Yield: 4 servings • Prep Time: 5 minutes • Cook Time: 10-12 minutes 4 medium peaches, cut in half and pitted (peeled is up to you, but not necessary) 2 Tablespoons oil or melted dairy/soy free margarine 4 Tablespoons brown sugar Cinnamon or other spices, optional Dissolve brown sugar and cinnamon in the oil; coat peaches and place on the grill (medium) or under the broiler, about 5-6 minutes each side. Brush with coating again before serving.

 Peaches last a day or two at room temperature, about a week at best in the refrigerator.  To blanch peaches, drop in boiling water for 1 minute, remove and put in ice cold water. The skin will slip off easily.  Remove the pit with freestone fruit by slicing lengthwise, and twisting in opposite directions. With clingstones, good luck!  Add lemon, lime, or orange juice to sliced peaches and nectarines to keep them from turning brown.  Nectarines tend to be juicier than peaches. If replacing in a peach recipe (i.e., for a pie), increase the thickener a little. Nectarines generally don’t need to be peeled for most recipes.  Taste the peach first, then increase or decrease the sugar in these recipes, based on the ripeness/ sweetness of the fruit.  Firmer fruit stands up to grilling and baking better; softer fruit makes a better jam or relish.  3-4 medium peaches = 1 pound. 1 pound = 2 cups.

PEACH SHORTCAKE

Free of: DAIRY, EGGS, SOY, PEANUTS, TREE NUTS, FISH, SHELLFISH, WHEAT*, GLUTEN*, VEGAN Yield: 8 servings Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 0 minutes 8 medium peaches, peeled, pitted, and sliced 4-8 Tablespoons sugar, varies with sweetness of fruit 2 Tablespoons lemon, lime, or orange juice Optional flavorings (extracts, spices) Serve with: Shortcake*, biscuits*, pound cake*, shortbread cookies* (wheat/gluten free varieties) Vegan ice cream product Vegan whipped topping Toss peaches with sugar and juice. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Use within a few days. To assemble, place shortcake in a bowl, top with ice cream, peaches, and whipped topping.

THE KIDDIE GOURMET

I

PEACH PIE

Free of: DAIRY, EGGS, SOY, PEANUTS, TREE NUTS, FISH, SHELLFISH, WHEAT*, GLUTEN*, VEGAN Yield: 8 servings Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 60 minutes Unbaked pie crust*, 1-2 depending if you want a single or double crust pie (wheat/gluten free varieties) 5 cups sliced peaches 2 Tablespoons lemon, lime, or orange juice 1/2 – 3/4 cup sugar 3 Tablespoons cornstarch, tapioca, or other thickener Pinch of salt (about 1/8-1/4 teaspoon) Cinnamon or other spices, optional 1-2 Tablespoons vegan margarine, optional Toss peaches with juice. Mix cornstarch, salt, and spices together, add to peaches.

Set aside for about 15 minutes, tossing occasionally, to let flavors blend. Preheat oven to 425°. Add peaches to pie shell, dot with margarine if desired. Bake for about 30 minutes. Reduce heat to 350°, bake for an additional 25-35 minutes, until bubbly and golden. Let cool before serving.

— by Barbara Blackburn

nchin’s Bamboo Garden, a chain restaurant, blooms with Pan Asian cuisine. I call it fusion fare, created by combining ingredients and techniques from various cultures, of which the most famous today is Asian.

“Inchin” is literally the combination of the words Indian and Chinese, which along with Malaysian cooking and other easternworld influences, inspire the dishes found here.

Inchin’s Bamboo Garden 5415 Sheridan Drive Williamsville, NY 14221

716-580-3032

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~ SPOONS ~ FOOD 4/5 SERVICE 4.5/5 FAMILY FRIENDLY 4/5

The kids’ menu is limited, but we spotted a high chair and some boosters, Selections, all for $6.00 each, are Veg Hakka Noodles; Veg Fried Rice; French Fries; Chicken Nuggets; and a Happy Meal, with 4 nuggets and fries. The drink is on your own. (I might mention that there is an exciting nonalcoholic drink list. For adults pursuing a more spirited selection, the cocktail list can divert a wine drinker.)

Talking about the Hakka noodles, these are thin and eggless, served with shredded vegetables, namely napa (cabbage) and celery ($6.00 for an adult), or with protein added, $13, $14 or $15.00.

Dumplings, called Momos here ($7.00 for three pieces), are served steamed, Szechwan, or fried in butter m asala and filled with vegetable, chicken, or lamb. My curry butter wrappers encased an ample ball of spiced lamb — different from the Chinese dumpling version of my memory. The yummy ground lamb had a lot in common with Dad’s Keema ($10.00) which was enhanced with peas, onion, tomato, and cilantro, served with Paratha. The Malaysian bread (separately $3.00) served as a flavorful calming foil for the spicy lamb.

I went vegetarian for the main entree, with Tofu ($14.00), choosing

Manchurian over Hot Garlic or Szechwan, that had two stars for heat, instead of my one. A great deal of this spicy dish accompanied us home, where we noted most of what we ordered was wearing a brown sauce.

Such was Dad’s Mongolian Beef ($16.00), with caramelized red onion and crispy rice noodles.

Those crispy bits of noodles were the hit of the table.

As for the beef, it was not chopstick friendly. Delicious — yes — but the connective tissue joining several pieces was not welcoming.

The next day we transformed the leftovers just by cutting the memorable morsels.

Don’t overlook desserts (each $8.00). We rated the 2 crispy Chocolate Spring Rolls top notch: chocolate, cashew nuts, and vanilla dip. High marks went to the Date Wontons with ice cream. We’ll let you try the Fried Ice Cream, probably pleasing as well.

Just to give you an idea of the many choices, here are some: Fish Creamy Chili Oil ($17.00), Chicken Biryani ($15.00), Street Side Chow Mein Noodles ($14.00), Vegetable Sweet Corn Soup ($4/$12), and Paneer Tacos ($12.00).

This was indeed a friendly place, attracting a good crowd on a week night.

Our genial servers still were masked; otherwise, it was like the old days. So take hold of your chopsticks and enjoy some Pan Asian cuisine. And here’s some food for thought about the term fusion cooking — it was coined in 1988

by Chef Norman Van Aken, who wrote that it has been happening for centuries.

Check out Barbara Blackburn’s blogs at frontierfare.wordpress.com and culinarrations.wordpress.com.

August 2021 WNY Family 39

40 WNY Family August 2021