baystateparent magazine September 2018

baystateparent Massachusetts’ Premier Magazine For Families Since 1996

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SEPTEMBER 2018

the

ARTS & enrichment issue SEPTEMBER FAIRS & FESTIVALS THE NEW HISTORY STANDARDS FOR MASS. SCHOOLS DARCI LYNNE DISHES ON LIFE AFTER AMERICA’S GOT TALENT

2 SEPTEMBER2018

BAYSTATEPARENT 3

table of contents SEPTEMBER 2018 VOLUME 23

21

Meet Local Kids Who Joined the Circus

34

12

38

Celebrating 15 Year of Birthday Wishes

in every issue 7 6

NUMBER 5

New Autism Screening Offers Earlier Diagnosis and Intervention

arts & enrichment

Editor’s Note: The Most Woderful Time of the Year Add to Cart: The Coolest Stuff We Found This Month Oh, The Places You’ll Go! September Calendar of Family Events

38

Very Special People: New Screening Offers Earlier Autism Diagnosis

43

Finally Forever: September’s Children & Area Adoption Events

46

Take Eight with Boston Ballet Dancer Emily Hoff

20 21 22 23 26

DIY: Turn Your Kids’ Art Into Clothing

29

Drug Story Theater: Treatment for Both Audience and Actors

Under The Big Top at Circus Smirkus Tales from a Sports-Illiterate Mom of Superfans: A Story of Survival Meet AGT’s Darci Lynne Avoiding Overuse Injuries in Teen Athletes

www.baystateparent.com

Darci Lynne, age 13 Photo courtesy Personal Publicity

features 10 34

2018 PYO Orchard Guide

36

New History and Social Studies Standards Set for Massachusetts Public Schools

40

Alzheimer’s Recasts Parenting Demands for Caretakers

Celebrating 15 Years of Birthday Wishes

ripe 8

Why You Should Stop Trying to Get Your Kids to Eat New Foods

9

Bites: AAP Says Food Additives May Be Particularly Harmful to Children; Readers’ Table Traditions; STEM-Themed Tableware

42

Ask the Nutritionist: Does Your Young Toddler Need Whole Milk?

meet team baystateparent president PAUL M. PROVOST

associate publisher KATHY REAL BENOIT 508-767-9525 kreal@baystateparent.com

editor in chief AMANDA COLLINS BERNIER 508-767-9526 amanda@baystateparent.com

director of sales REGINA STILLINGS 508-767-9547 regina@baystateparent.com

creative director PAULA MONETTE ETHIER 508-767-9536 pethier@holdenlandmark.com

account executive KATHY PUFFER 508-767-9544 kathy@baystateparent.com

account executive CHERYL ROBINSON 508-767-9524 crobinson@holdenlandmark.com

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baystateparent is published monthly • 100 Front Street • Worcester, MA 01608 • It is distributed free of charge throughout Massachusetts.

4 SEPTEMBER2018

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year In the Bay State we’re lucky to experience four distinct seasons every 365 days, and each has its perks. Winter casts a beautiful blanket of white over the region, and even on the chilliest days, we enjoy the warmth of family at the holidays. Come spring, there’s a reawakening – leaves burst from their buds and the days grow longer. And when things heat up in summer, the cool waters of the Atlantic are just a drive away.

But there’s truly nothing like fall in New England.

Autumn doesn’t officially start until Sept. 22, but already as this month settles in and the nights cool off, the change is in the air. It’s a time of anticipation – a new school year is still fresh and the holidays are around the corner – but it’s also a season of leisure and beauty.

Follow us on

As the air turns crisp and comfortable, a kaleidoscope of colors appear in our backyards and line our back roads. It’s time for slow leaf-peeping drives, long walks over crunching leaves, cozy nights beside a campfire, football, pumpkins and warm apple crisp.

If you can’t tell, fall is my favorite season. While I’ll miss the sunny summer and days of beachy ease, I’m especially excited to experience the upcoming weeks with my 1-year-old son. In my opinion, there’s no better family time in New England than the fall – from festivals and harvest fairs to apple picking and pumpkin carving. And it all takes place against a backdriop of stunning foliage. Bring it on!

This month’s baystateparent will help you make the most of September. Along with our monthly calendar of family

events, we’ve found 20 can’t-miss fairs festivals happening this month (page 18). You’ll also find our 2018 Pick Your Own Orchard Guide (page 10), with everything you need to know to take a bite out of the apple picking season in Worcester County and MetroWest.

This is also our annual Arts & Enrichment issue. From an interview with 13-year-old singing ventriloquist Darci Lynne (the reigning America’s Got Talent champ) to expert tips for teenage athletes -- we’ve included features that touch on a wide variety of extracurricular activities all starting on page 20.

Happy reading!

Amanda

to stay on top stories, join the conversation with other parents and be the first to hear about contests and giveaways.

Correction: Our August issue had the incorrect website for photographer Stephanie Piscitelli, who shot the cover. Stephanie's website is bellinipics.com.

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add to CART

The coolest stuff we found online this month Who doesn’t know a girl that wears a hair tie around her wrist for recess, gym class and after school activities and sports? Now it can be a fashion statement. Go Girl Designs has a new children’s line, The Busy Kid Collection, which features fun and stylish bangle bracelets that double as a hair tie holder. The bangles are available in five bright colors including pink, purple, blue, orange and green and come with a matching hair tie that features a heart shaped charm. $15 for 3-pack. gogirldesign.com.

Car-loving kids will go crazy for Modarri Cars. These finger-powered toy cars with interchangeable parts feature real steering, suspension, and rubber tires. The best part? No batteries needed! The cars can be designed in tons of ways, letting little ones use their creativity and keeping them entertained for hours. $24.99+. modarri.com.

Keep your iPad safe while kids play on it by turning it into a cute and cuddly bear!

The Cuddle Case is a kid-friendly tech protector made of soft, plush material and the details of a teddy bear. Offered in pink or blue, the case has a built-in stand and two side handles. Bonus: it’s machine washable! $24.99-$39.99. cuddlecase.com.

Pajamas made just for kids in potty-training? Why didn’t someone think of this sooner! PeeJamas are made with ultra absorbent liners (up to 15x their weight in liquid!) to soak up accidents, keeping it from spilling onto the sheets and mattress. The high-quality fabrics can be washed up to 300 times before losing absorbency, so you won’t have to spend so much on disposable diapers. Sizes 2T-6/7. $39.99. peejamas.com

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Why You Should

STOP

Trying to Get Your Kids to Eat New Foods

BY AMANDA COLLINS BERNIER

C

hild feeding expert and parent educator Dina Rose, PhD, has a message for moms and dads trying to get their picky kids to eat new foods: stop.

We’re having the wrong conversation about feeding our children, she says, and we should be taking a different approach. Instead of pressuring and prodding – “just one bite!” – parents should shift their focus from getting kids to eat unfamiliar food to simply exploring it. This leads to a pressure-free discovery of new foods.

Sound counter-intuitive?

Dr. Rose explains that while some children will naturally go through a process of looking,

to tasting to eating something different, the vast majority who resist new foods need a slower approach.

“How many times have you seen a child put food in their mouth while simultaneously saying, ‘I don’t like it.’ And they haven’t even tasted it. But already they have decided they are not eating anything new and there is nothing you can do about it,” says Rose. “They’re coming to the table defensive, because they’re making the assumption if they do taste it, and they do like it, they will have to finish it.”

Eating food requires commitment, she says, but exploring it requires just some curiosity.

Rose recently launched a kit

full of tools that encourage children to discover foods in ways other than actually putting it in their mouth. Kids can take a pea-sized amount of food and examine it science-experiment-style: what color is it, how does it smell, is it squishy, crunchy? This makes new foods fun for kids, and for parents, removes some of the frustration.

Research shows that sensory-based food education increases children’s willingness to eat healthier foods. A study recently published in Public Health Nutrition, found that 3–5 year-old children were more amenable to eating vegetables, berries and fruit when they were exposed to food in a way

that relies on all five senses.

“For kids, it takes away the food shyness because it’s not a direct moment. It’s more, ‘I poke and prod this avocado today, and maybe tomorrow I will taste it.’ It doesn’t have to be a big deal. It’s about developing a general set of skills; the more foods you now about the more likely you are to eat those foods,” says Rose.

The Super Food Explorer Kit ($30, itsnotaboutnutrition.com) encourages children to experiment with different foods and develop a “database” of food information they can use to figure out what a food will be like before they taste it. The kit includes 60 discovery activities and all the tools children need

WIN IT! Have a picky eater? We’ve got you covered. Enter for your chance to win a Super Food Explorer Kit at baystateparent.com/freebies. Each kit contains the following:

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• 32x Magnifying Glass • Child-Sized Tongs • Eye Droppers • Mini Cups • Tasting Spoons • Exploration Tray • Colored Pencil Kit • 60 Discovery Activities

• Specialized Vocabulary List • Color Chart • Discovery Food List • Laminated Discovery Card • Progress Chart • Insulated Carry Bag

to inspect, examine, probe, rattle, sniff, slurp and, ultimately eat new foods. This kit contains everything a young investigator needs to discover new foods in a fun and playful way.

“We keep talking about nutrition and tricking kids into eating when what we should be talking about is habits,” says Rose. “However, when we shift the focus to habits, children begin to eat nutritious foods.

Just like children need to be taught how to walk, read or dress themselves, healthy eating habits must be taught. Once you do, children will benefit from a lifetime of happy and healthy eating.”

Table Traditions We all know that families should eat together; studies show that families who dine together are happier and healthier. Meals together offer a chance to connect with each other. But finding the time? It can be tough. Remember that family mealtime doesn’t have to be dinner time -- work in meals with meaning whenever you can. Here, we share our readers’ family mealtime traditions to give you ideas for getting you and your kids to the table, together and talking. Send your Table Traditions to editor@baystateparent.com.

BITES

Fun Find: STEMThemed Tableware

Peak and Pit We go around the dinner table and everyone shares the highs and lows of their day, i.e. their Peak and Pit. Instead of the asking “How was your day?” and getting that generic “fine,” this helps the kids open up more. I love hearing what was the very best part of their day, and their “pits” can be some insight into things that might be bothering them.

- Submitted by Kristin in Ludlow

You are what you eat… with? A newly launched line of children’s STEM-themed tableware helps little ones see themselves becoming the people they imagine. Someday scientists will love the plates and bowls from Colorfull Plates, designed with positive and fun imagery of a diverse group of little astronauts. The products are 100% melamine, BPA-free, non-toxic and dishwasher safe. $12.95. colorfullplates.com.

Food Additives May be Particularly Harmful to Children American Academy of Pediatrics Calls for Reform In an analysis of 10,000 chemicals that the FDA allows in food processing, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) called current food additive requirements “insufficient”– urging more stringent regulations to better protect youth in a recent report in Pediatrics.

The chemical additives, which are used to to preserve food or modify how it looks or tastes, can be especially dangerous for children because of their still developing bodies. Their systems can be severely affected by toxic levels of exposure to these chemicals, the AAP said, possibly disrupting puberty and fertility, or contributing to obesity.

The report highlighted five chemical groups of concern: bisphenols (such as BPA), which line metal cans and are mixed into plastics; phthalates (which make plastic soft); perfluoroalkyl chemicals (or PFCs, which are found in grease-proof wrappers and packaging); perchlorate (found in food packaging); and nitrates/nitrites (curing agents found in some meats).

These chemicals affect the health of all humans, but can have a particularly strong effect in children, said the AAP. According to the study, children are particularly susceptible, “given that they have higher relative exposures compared with adults (because of greater dietary intake per pound), their metabolic (ie, detoxification) systems are still developing, and key organ systems are undergoing substantial changes and maturation that are vulnerable to disruptions.”

In addition to calling for tighter regulations by the FDA, the AAP said parents can limit their child’s exposure to these chemicals by choosing fresh or frozen fruits and vegetables over canned, avoiding processed meats, not microwaving plastic containers of food, and not putting plastics in the dishwasher.

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2018 Apple Picking Guide Charlton Orchards 44 Old Worcester Rd., Charlton 508-248-7820 Charltonorchards.com Check website for Opening Day Hours: Thursday through Saturday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sunday & Monday, 10 a.m.- 4 p.m.

Clearview Farm 4 Kendall Hill Rd., Sterling 978-422-6442 clearviewfarmstand.com Opening Day: Sept. 8 Hours: Weekends 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Bonus: Face painting & kid’s play area Cook’s Farm Orchard 106 Haynes Hill Rd., Brimfield 413-245-3241 Check Facebook page Opening Day and hours Bonus: Wagon rides, hay maze, dog friendly

F

all in New England ushers in crisp air, brilliant foliage, and ripe, juicy apples. Among autumn’s most beloved traditions is apple picking.

Across the Bay State, farms and orchards are opening their doors -or fields. Check out these area pick-your-own orchards, grab a bushel, and take a bite out of this year’s apple season. Many of these spots offer more than fruit picking, too. From hopping on a hayride or navigating a corn maze to farm fresh snacks and homemade treats, a trip to an orchard can be full of all that’s quintessentially fall. Here’s your guide to this perennial family favorite.

Berlin Orchards Route 62 and Lower Sawyer Hill Road, Berlin 978-838-2400 berlinorchards.com Hours: Monday through Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Bonus: Hay wagon rides to and from the orchard Bolton Spring Farm 159 Main Street (Route 117), Bolton 978-779-2898 boltonspringfarm.com Opening day: Labor Day Weekend Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Weekends 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

Bonus: Country store and bakery on site 10 SEPTEMBER2018

Breezelands Orchards 1791 Southbridge Road, Warren 413-436-7122 breezelandsorchards.com Opening day: Labor Day Weekend Hours: Monday through Sunday, 10 .a.m-6 p.m.

Brookfield Orchards 121 Lincoln Rd, North Brookfield 508-867-6858 brookfieldorchardsonline.com Hours: Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; Weekends 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

Bonus: Bakery, playground & wagon rides Harvest Craft Fair: Sept. 8 & 9

Carlson Orchards 115 Oak Hill Road, Harvard 978-456-3916 carlsonorchards.com Check Website for Opening Day Hours: Monday through Sunday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.

Carver Hill Orchards 101 Brookside Ave, Stow 978-897-6117 carverhillorchard.com Hours: Open daily 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

(Check Facebook for daily updated hours)

Davis Farmland and Mega Maze 145 Redstone Hill, Sterling 978-422-6666 davisfarmland.com Opening Day: Sept 8 Hours: Weekends, 10 a.m.- 6 p.m.

Bonus: Sept. 15 & 16 Costume Character Day Doe Orchards 327 Ayer Rd., Harvard 978-772-4139 doeorchards.com Opening Day: Sept. 1 Hours: Daily 10 a.m.-5 p.m. through October Bonus: Dog-friendly Fairmount Fruit Farm 887 Lincoln St., Franklin 508-533-8737 fairmountfruit.com Opening Day: Sept. 15 Hours: Weekdays, 1 p.m.-5 p.m.; Weekends, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Bonus: Dog-friendly Fay Mountain Farm 12 Cemetery Rd., Charlton 617-981-2051 Opening Day: Sept. 3 Hours: Monday through Friday, noon-7 p.m.; Weekends 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

George Hill Orchard 582 George Hill Rd., Lancaster 978-365-4331

yourfavoritefarm.com Hours: Sunday, Tuesday through Friday, 9 a.m.- 6 p.m.

Bonus: Yummy home-baked goods Hawk Hill Orchards 83 Carleton Rd., Millbury 508-865-4037 Hours: Wednesday through Friday noon- 5 p.m.; Weekends & Holidays 10 a.m.- 5 p.m.

Highland Farm 635 Highland St., Holliston 508- 429-8370 highlandfarmorchard.net Opening Day: Mid-September (check website) Hours: Weekends, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Bonus: Homemade apple cider, ice cream, caramel apples, etc.

Hollis Hills Farm 340 Marshall Rd., Fitchburg 978-696-3130 hollishillsfarm.com Hours: Wednesday through Sunday 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.

Bonus: Sugar House open on the weekends, group maple tours every Wednesday Honey Pot Hill Orchards 138 Sudbury Rd., Stow 978-562-5666 honeypothill.com Hours: Daily 9:30 a.m.- 5 p.m.

Bonus: Mazes, hayrides & farm animals Hyland Orchard & Brewery 199 Arnold Rd., Sturbridge 508-347-7500 hylandorchard.com Opening day: Sept. 22 Open Weekends 12-5 p.m.

Bonus: Live music, brewery, wagon rides, animal petting, farm tours, dog-friendly Lanni Orchards 294 Chase Rd., Lunenburg 978-582-6246 lanniorchards.com Check website for Opening Day Hours: Daily 8 a.m.- 6 p.m.

Bonus: Corn maze, hayrides Sunflower Festival Sept. 1-3, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Meadowbrook Orchard 209 Chace Hill Rd., Sterling 978-365-7617 meadowbrookorchards.com

2018 Apple Picking Guide Opening Day: Sept. 8 Hours: Daily 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Bonus: Thursday night BBQ (through September) Nashoba Valley Winery 100 Wattaquadoc Hill Rd., Bolton 978-779-5521 nasobawinery.com Check website for apple picking dates and times Bonus: winery, brewery, picnic area Nicewicz Family Farm 116 Sawyer Rd., Bolton 978-779-6423 nicewiczfarm.com Hours: Weekdays, 12-6 p.m.; Saturday 9 a.m.- 5:30 p.m.; Sunday 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

Old Frog Pond 38 Eldridge Road., Harvard 978-456-9828 oldfrogpondfarm.com

Check website for Opening Day Hours: 10 a.m.- 6 p.m.

Bonus: Organic family farm Parker’s Orchard 11 Spring Rd., Westborough 508-615-7363 Opening Day: Sept. 1 Open Weekends, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Pease Orchard 11 Phillipston Rd, Templeton 978- 939-5324 peaseorchard.com Opening Day: Sept. 8 Hours: Weekends, 9 a.m.- 4 p.m.

Bonus: Apple cider & freshly baked goods Ragged Hill Orchard 94 John Gilbert Rd., West Brookfield 508-867-2187 raggedhill.com Opening Day: Sept. 12 Hours: Daily 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Bonus: Locally made baked goods

Schartner Farm 211 West Berlin Rd., Bolton 978-779-0212 Opening Day: Sept. 8 Check Facebook page for Opening Day and hours Bonus: Free hayrides, corn maze Shelburne Farm 106 West Acton Rd., Stow 978-897-9287 shelburnefarm.com Hours: Daily 9 a.m.- 6 p.m.

Bonus: Hayrides, live music, farm animals, kid’s activities Sholan Farms 1125 Pleasant St., Leominster 978-840-3276 sholanfarms.com Check website for Opening Day Hours: Daily 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Bonus: Farmstand with fresh produce

Stowe Farm 15 Stowe Rd., Millbury 508-865-9860 stowefarm.com Opening Day: Sept. 8 Hours: Weekends, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Bonus: Kid’s corral, petting zoo, gem mining, rock wall Tougas Family Farm 234 Ball St., Northborough 508-393-6406 tougasfarm.com Check website for Opening Day Hours: Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (call ahead or check online for apple picking times) Bonus: Ice cream, farm tours & wagon rides

Westward Orchard 178 Massachusetts Ave., Harvard 978-456-8363 westwardorchard.com Opening Day: Sept. 3 Hours: Daily 9 a.m.- 4 p.m.

Wojcik’s Farm 65 Milk St., Blackstone 508-883-9220 wojcikfarm.com Opening Day: Sept. 1 Hours: Friday 5-9 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Bonus: Bakery & corn maze

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Photo Courtesy of the Discovery Museum.

OH,

THE PLACES YOU’LL GO

Congratulations! Today is your day. You’re off to Great Places! You’re off and away! - Dr. Seuss

5th Annual Lantern Festival.

Chinatown Park / Rose Kennedy Greenway.

12 SEPTEMBER2018

Cambridge Carnival.

Downtown Cambridge.

Photo Courtesy of the Worcester Art Museum.

Photo Courtesy of Chinatown Main Street

Photo by Paul Bryan, courtesy of Cambridge Carnival.

Mirror, Mirror, What Do You See? Discovery Museum.

Arms + Armor Demonstrations.

Worcester Art Museum.

OH, THE PLACES YOU’LL GO! MELTDOWN WARNING: Before you pack up the minivan, please confirm your destination.

Although we’ve done our best to ensure accuracy at press time, things can and do change.

1 Saturday Photo courtesy of Marlo Marketing and Zoo New England.

Militia Weekend. Old Sturbridge Village, 1 Old Sturbridge Village Rd., Sturbridge.

9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Experience all the sights and sounds of the training days that local militia companies in the 1830s brought, through martial music, demonstrations, and sham battles. Through Sunday. Free with admission. Adults $28, youth ages 4 and up $14, ages under 4 free. osv.org.

Caterpillar Lab. Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 10 a.m.-12 p.m. & 1-4 p.m. The Caterpillar Lab takes over our PlayLab and teaches us all about metamorphosis. Incredible but true stories about adaptations and creatures. Free with admission. Members free; nonmembers $14.50, ages under 1 free. discoveryacton.org.

Destination Dino. Franklin Park Zoo, 1 Franklin Park Rd., Boston. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Don’t miss your chance to hear from zookeepers as they highlight Zoo animals that may be related to dinosaurs during this Pirates and Princesses Day. Franklin Park Zoo. celebration of all things prehistoric. Free with admission. Members free; nonmember adults $19.95, children ages 2 to 12 ages under 1 free. discoveryacton.org. youths ages 4 and up 46, ages under 4 $13.95, ages under 2 free.

In the Yard: Boston in the War free. worcesterart.org. zoonewengland.org. of 1812. USS Constitution Museum, Charlestown Navy Yard, Pier 1, Boston.

Families @ WAM Tour. Worcester Art 6:30-8 p.m. Discover the role of the Scavenger Hunt Challenge. Fruitlands Museum, 55 Salisbury St., Worcester.

Charlestown Navy Yard and its support of Museum, 102 Prospect Hill Rd., Harvard. Game Day. Worcester Public Library: 10:30-11 a.m. Explore the Worcester Art Great Brook Valley Branch, 89 Tacoma St., the USS Constitution and the Navy during 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Follow clues around the Museum galleries with your family on a Worcester. 2 p.m.-5 p.m. Get unplugged the War of 1812. Free, donation suggested. docent-guided tour, featuring fun facts, sto- grounds and museum buildings, learn fun ussconstitutionmuseum.org. ries, and shared time. Free with admission. facts and claim prizes at the end. Free with and play some old-fashioned games. Free. mywpl.org. admission. Members free; nonmember Members free; nonmember adults $16, adults $15, ages 5 to 13 $6, ages under 5 youths ages 4 and up 46, ages under 4 Trees of World’s End. World’s End, free. fruitlands.org. free. worcesterart.org.

Rube Goldberg Workshop. Newton Martins Ln., Hingham. 6-7 p.m. A guided Free Library, 330 Homer St., Newton. 10 walk through World’s End as we open our Jaws. Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 WeeMuse Art Lab. Berkshire Museum, a.m.-12 p.m. Design, build, test, and play curious minds to the richness of the trees 39 South Street, Pittsfield. 11 a.m. Enjoy Harvard St., Brookline. 7 p.m. Enjoy this with chain reactions, domino constructions, around us. Register ahead. Member adults screening of the first summer blockbuster, art-making activities with a fun science popsicle-stick snakes, and other experi$5, nonmember adults $10, children free. following a quaint island haunted by a twist. Designed for early learners. Free ments. For grades K to 5. Free. newtonthetrustees.org. with admission. Members free; nonmember Great White. Adults $12.75, children freelibrary.net. $10.75. coolidge.org. adults $13, children ages 4 and up $6, Craft Night for Adults and Kids. ages under 4 free. berkshiremuseum.org.

Harvest Festival & Plant Sale. City Museum of Russian Icons, 203 Union St., Natives, 30 Edgewater Dr., Mattapan.

Clinton. 6-8 p.m. Try your hand Leon Beal and the Music of Otis 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Find harvest-season fun Main Library Tour. Worcester Public at making an eye talisman. Free.

Redding. The Regent Theatre, 7 Medford for the whole family, along with a great Library: Main Branch, 3 Salem Sq., museumofrussianicons.org.

St., Arlington. 8 p.m. Join acclaimed selection of cold-hardy seedlings and native Worcester. 1 p.m. Discover things about New England-based singer Leon Beal as plants well suited for fall planting. Free. he comes home to Greater Boston with the your library that you never knew, as we thetrustees.org. meet at the Food for Thought Café and sounds of Otis Redding. $50.

Boston Charter Day. Old South Meeting explore the library. Free. mywpl.org. regenttheatre.com.

House, 310 Washington St., Boston. 9:30 Kien’s 17th Birthday Celebration. a.m.-5 p.m. Come celebrate Boston’s 387th Stone Zoo, 149 Pond St., Stoneham. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Celebrate white-cheeked gibbirthday. Free. osmh.org. bon Kien’s 17th birthday through a slice of WAM Stroller Tours. Worcester Art Caterpillar Lab. Discovery Museum, cake, and watching Kien enjoy special gibLearning Spanish Circle Time.

Museum, 55 Salisbury St., Worcester.

177 Main St., Acton. 10 a.m.-12 p.m. & bon treats with friends. Free with admission.

Leominster Public Library, 30 West St., 1-4 p.m. The Caterpillar Lab takes over our 10:30-11:30 a.m. Enjoy a guided look at Members free; nonmember adults $17.95, Leominster. 10-10:30 a.m. New words, art, followed by a story and light refreshPlayLab and teaches us all about metachildren ages 2 to 12 $11.95, ages under 2 morphosis. Incredible but true stories about ments. Designed for ages up to 3 with sib- phrases, and songs in Spanish to build free. zoonewengland.org. a Spanish vocabulary. For ages 3 to 5. adaptations and creatures. Free with admis- lings and caregivers. Free with admission.

Register ahead.

Free. leominsterlibrary.org. sion. Members free; nonmembers $14.50, Members free; nonmember adults $16,

3 Monday

6 Thursday

8 Saturday

4 Tuesday

7 Friday

2 Sunday

5 Wednesday

Beyond the Spectrum: Magnificent Musical Instruments. Museum of Fine Arts: Boston, 465 Huntington Ave., Boston. 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Take part in this adventure in art for children on the autism spectrum, explore the art and craft of making musical instruments, before making your own. Recommended for ages 8 to 12. $9. mfa.org.

Sensory Friendly Screening: Finding Nemo. Berkshire Museum, 39 South St., Pittsfield. 11 a.m. Come spend time at the Little Cinema as we watch this Pixar classic designed for families and children with sensory needs and those who have difficulty in a traditional movie setting.

Recommended for ages 3 to 6. Members $3, nonmembers $5, ages under 4 free. berkshiremuseum.org.

Second Saturday Storytelling. Institute of Contemporary Art: Boston Watershed, 25 Harbor Shore Dr., Boston. 11-11:30 a.m. & 1:30-2 p.m. Connect with family and friends at the ICA Watershed through the art of storytelling, music, poetry, and movement. Recommended for ages 3 to 8.

Free. icaboston.org.

The Boston Arts Festival. Christopher Columbus Waterfront Park, Boston.

11 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Join 50,000 visitors where you can meet a variety of arts and high-end craftspeople, including painting, photography, ceramics, jewelry, sculpture, and more. Through Sunday. Free. thebostonartsfestival.com.

Hands-On-History. Concord Museum, 200 Lexington Rd., Concord. 1-3 p.m.

Drop by the Wright Tavern to get hands-on with history, with activities from writing with quill and ink, sewing a scented sachet, making soap, or tinsmithing. Free. concordmuseum.org.

Special Storytime: Heidi E.Y. Stemple and Jane Yolen. The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, 125 West Bay Rd., Amherst. 2 p.m. Come along with Principal Frank N. Stein into a bright, energetic classroom of Monster Academy with authors Stemple and Yolen. Free with admission. Adults $9, youths $6, ages under 1 free. carlemuseum.org.

A Wrinkle in Time. Worcester Public Library: Main Branch, 3 Salem Sq., Worcester. 2:30 p.m. Settle in and enjoy this colorful adaptation of the Madeleine L’Engle book following Meg and Charles as they travel across dimensions with the help of their friend and three mysterious travelers. Recommended for children under 12. Free. mywpl.org.

BAYSTATEPARENT 13

9 Sunday

bers $15. fruitlands.org.

13 Thursday

Yoga in the Park for Kids. deCordova

Photo courtesy of Zoo New England.

Sculpture Park & Museum, 51 Sandy Pond Rd., Lincoln. 10:30-11 a.m. Get moving as a family during this kid-friendly teacher-guided morning in the Sculpture Park. For ages 3 to 12. Adults, children $5. deCordova.org.

38th Victorian Fair. Main Street between Upham/Essex and Grove, Downtown Melrose. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Look through nearly 200 booths filled with food, games, and fun, during this day featuring rides, local entertainment, and family fun. Free. melrosechamber.org.

Cambridge Carnival. Main Street and Ames Street, Cambridge. 12-6 p.m.

Celebrate 26 years of delight, culture, and revelry during this dazzling parade of costumes and festival featuring international foods, multicultural craft vendors, and more fun. Free. cambridgecarnival.org.

Special Storytime: Deborah Blumenthal and Masha D’yans. The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, 125 West Bay Rd., Amherst. 2 p.m. Join author Deborah Blumenthal and artist Masha D’yans as they read from their new picture book Polka Dot Parade. Free with admission. Adults $9, youths $6, ages under 1 free. carlemuseum.org.

10 Monday Celebrate Author Mo Willems.

Leominster Public Library, 30 West St., Leominster. 9:30-10:30 a.m. Celebrate the books of Mo Willems through stories, art, music, and movement. For ages 2 to 5.

Register ahead. Free. leominsterlibrary.org.

Baby Bookworms. Leominster Public Library, 30 West St., Leominster.

11-11:30 a.m. Through nursery rhymes, action rhymes, songs, and stories, enrich your youngest’s interest in reading. For ages up to 12 months with caregiver.

Destination Dino. Franklin Park Zoo.

Register ahead. Free. leominsterlibrary.org.

11 Tuesday LittleBeats Dance. Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St., Newton. 10-10:30 a.m.

Creative dance at the library with music, dancing, and stories. For ages up to 4. Free. newtonfreelibrary.net.

Kiddie Music Time. Leominster Public Library, 30 West St., Leominster. 10-11 a.m. Monument Square Community Music School introduces kids to classic and original music, song, percussion instruments, and dance during the interactive class. Suitable for ages 5 and under. Register ahead. Free. leominsterlibrary.org.

Tinker Tuesday: Wearable Art. Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton.

10-11 a.m. Drop-in and explore the possibilities of reusing what we usually throw away to create a wearable master-

piece. Free with admission. Members free; nonmembers $14.50, ages under 1 free. discoveryacton.org.

Backyard and Beyond: Design a Walking Stick. Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 1-3 p.m. Drop-in and hop out onto the Great Hill conservation land, find the perfect walking stick, then bring it back to Discovery Woods and decorate it. Free with admission. Members free; nonmembers $14.50, ages under 1 free. discoveryacton.org.

Little Lab Coats. Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St., Newton. 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Go on a scientific discovery with Little Lab Coats and perform exciting experiments examining the wonderful world of ecology.

Free. newtonfreelibrary.net.

12 Wednesday Preschool Free Play Exploration:

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Squish and Stretch. Worcester Public Library: Main Branch, 3 Salem Sq., Worcester. 10-11 a.m. Enjoy fun, interactive stations that encourage early literacy, motor skills, curiosity, and play.

Recommended for ages 3 to 5. Free. mywpl.org.

Backyard and Beyond: Nature Impressions. Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 10-11 a.m.Discover patterns throughout the Discovery Woods, and choose a favorite nut, leaf, or other object whose pattern you like with a clay impression. Free with admission. Members free; nonmembers $14.50, ages under 1 free. discoveryacton.org.

Sunset Drum Circle. Fruitlands Museum, 102 Prospect Hill Rd., Harvard.

7 p.m. Join on the hillside at sunset for a facilitated drum circle to celebrate mother earth and the ancient wisdom of rhythm.

Register ahead. Members $9, nonmem-

Snip and Tear. Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 10-11 a.m. Show off your scissor skills and use your hands to tear a collection of confetti, or having a cutting-edge time. Free with admission.

Members free; nonmembers $14.50, ages under 1 free. discoveryacton.org.

Take Aparts. Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 2-4 p.m. Grab a screwdriver and discover resistors, capacitors, and circuit boards as you uncover the inner workings of everyday electronics.

Free with admission. Members free; nonmembers $14.50, ages under 1 free. discoveryacton.org.

A Wrinkle in Time. Worcester Public Library: Great Brook Valley Branch, 89 Tacoma St., Worcester. 2:45 p.m. Come join your friends for an afternoon screening of this classic young adult book brought to life with charm, fun, and plenty of adventure. Free. mywpl.org.

Spanish Bilingual Storytime. Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St., Newton.

4-4:30 p.m. A special story time with stories, songs, and movement in English and Spanish. For ages 3 to 5. Free. newtonfreelibrary.net.

14 Friday Learning Spanish Circle Time.

Leominster Public Library, 30 West St., Leominster. 10-10:30 a.m. Learn new words, phrases, and songs in Spanish to build a Spanish vocabulary. For ages 3 to 5.

Register ahead. Free. leominsterlibrary.org.

Backyard and Beyond: Forest Fridays. Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 10-10:45 a.m. No matter the weather, head outside and enjoy a naturebased activity based on the weather and season. Free with admission. Members free;

nonmembers $14.50, ages under 1 free. discoveryacton.org.

p.m. Study the secretive world of owls through hands-on activities about bird beaks and feet, dissect owl pellets, and more. Designed for elementary age students and family. Register ahead. Members $10, nonmembers $20. hmnh.harvard.edu.

In the Yard: Boston Navy Yard in the Civil War. USS Constitution Museum, Charlestown Navy Yard, Pier 1, Boston.

6:30-8 p.m. Discover how the Boston Navy Charlestown helped defeat the Confederacy The Very Hungry Caterpillar Turns during the Civil War. Free, donation suggest- 50. The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book ed. ussconstitutionmuseum.org.

Art, 125 West Bay Rd., Amherst. 11 a.m.3 p.m. Join us for a variety of programs in Broadway Princess Party. Berklee celebration of The Carle’s special exhibition Performance Center, 136 Massachusetts featuring the Very Hungry Caterpillar Ave., Boston. 7:30 p.m. Brush off your itself, story time, refreshments, and more. tiara and unleash your inner princess with Register ahead. Free with admission. Adults Broadway’s original Cinderella, Belle, and $9, youths $6, ages under 1 free.

Jasmine, during royal ball of stories, sparcarlemuseum.org. kle, and sass. $47-67. berklee.edu/events.

South Boston Street Festival. East Broadway between I and L Street, South Boston. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Enjoy live entertainIn the Yard: 1812 Marines. USS ment on two stages, over 100 local merConstitution Museum, Charlestown Navy chants, artists, and organizations, children Yard, Pier 1, Boston. 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Join the activities, great food, and family fun in this 1812 Marine Guard as you learn about ship celebration of South Boston. southbostonlife aboard vessels like the USS Constitution streetfestival.com. during the War of 1812. Free, donation suggested. ussconstitutionmuseum.org.

Arms + Armor Demonstrations.

Worcester Art Museum, 55 Salisbury St., Festival of New England Makers.

Worcester. 11:30 a.m. & 2 p.m. Join Old Sturbridge Village, 1 Old Sturbridge us for this fun interactive program, and Village Rd., Sturbridge. 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. learn all about different kinds of arms and Celebrate artisans, as the Village showcases armor used by Roman soldiers, Medieval New England trades from the 19th century knights, and beyond. Free with admission. including blacksmiths, potters, tinners, coo- Members free; nonmember adults $16, pers, and more. Through Sunday. Free youths ages 4 and up 46, ages under 4 with admission. Adults $28, youth ages 4 free. worcesterart.org. and up $14, ages under 4 free. osv.org.

STEAM Expo. Newton Free Library, How to Make a Corner Bookmark.

330 Homer St., Newton. 12-3:30 p.m.

Leominster Public Library, 30 West St., Explore the concepts of Science, Technology, Leominster. 10 a.m.-12 p.m. Learn how Engineering, Arts, and Math, and how these to make a cheery mouse bookmark for topics mix up together. Free. newtonfreelithe corner of your book during this How- brary.net.

To Fair. For ages 3 and up. Free. leominKosmic Kelly’s Hands On Science. sterlibrary.org.

Leominster Public Library, 30 West St., Leominster. 1-2:30 p.m. Join Kosmic International Red Panda Day. Kelly to make your very own bug, Franklin Park Zoo, 1 Franklin Park Rd., and learn amazingly fun bug facts at Boston. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Learn about Leominster University Jr. Free. leominsterred pandas at our education station, library.org. partake in zookeeper encounters within the Children’s zoo, and celebrate our red Backyard and Beyond: Superfood – panda residents. Free with admission.

Members free; nonmember adults $19.95, The Acorn. Discovery Museum, 177 Main children ages 2 to 12 $13.95, ages under St., Acton. 2-4 p.m. Come learn how to gather, dry, open, and make acorns edible, 2 free. zoonewengland.org. as they have long been throughout human history. Register ahead. Free with admisMFA Playdates: Autumn Light. sion. Members free; nonmembers $14.50, Museum of Fine Arts: Boston, 465 ages under 1 free. discoveryacton.org.

Huntington Ave., Boston. 10:15-11 a.m.

Enjoy story time and looking activities Hispanic Heritage Month: Music in the galleries followed by artmaking, and Dance Celebration. Worcester take inspiration from the new Fall season.

Public Library: Main Branch, 3 Salem Recommended for ages 4 and under. Free with admission. Members free; nonmember Sq., Worcester. 2:30-3:30 p.m. Enjoy as Ritmos Academy kicks off Hispanic adults $25, youth 7 and up $10, ages Heritage month through performances under 7 free. mfa.org. with colorful cultural costumes, and an energetic team of dance students. For ages Exploring Science Together: Owls.

12 and under. Free. mywpl.org.

Harvard Museum of Natural History, 26 Oxford St., Cambridge. 10:30 a.m.-12

15 Saturday

BAYSTATEPARENT 15

Learn to Create a Beautiful Mandala Rock. Leominster Library, 30 West St., Leominster. 3-4:30 p.m. Create a beautiful Mandala Rock featuring radial symmetry, color combinations, and meditative practice. For ages 4 and up. Free. leominsterlibrary.org.

16 Sunday Boston Local Food Festival. The Rose Kennedy Greenway, Boston. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Enjoy one of the nation’s largest local and sustainable food hub, experience restaurants, food trucks, demos, local music, and more all with zero-waste. Free. bostonlocalfoodfestival.com.

ARTfull Explorations. deCordova Sculpture Park & Museum, 51 Sandy Pond Rd., Lincoln. 1-3 p.m. Investigate new ideas and unique materials inspired by the Sculpture Park artists, as we think dots, circles, and spheres. Designed for ages 5 to 12. Free with admission. Members free; nonmembers $14, ages 12 and under free. deCordova.org.

Caterpillar Creativity. The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, 125 West Bay Rd., Amherst. 1 p.m.-4 p.m. A special Sunday in the studio as we put together crafts inspired by the Very Hungry Caterpillar. Free with admission.

Adults $9, youths $6, ages under 1 free. carlemuseum.org.

Boston Area Chantey & Maritime Sing. USS Constitution Museum, Charlestown Navy Yard, Pier 1, Boston.

2-5 p.m. Listen, learn, and lift your voices, as you participate in your maritime heritage by joining a rousing chorus of sea chanteys at the USS Constitution Museum.

Free, donation suggested. ussconstitutionmuseum.org.

17 Monday Wee Ones Art Studio: Love Bugs.

Leominster Public Library, 30 West St., Leominster. 10-11 a.m. Join Artists Simone Germain to create a variety of bugs, all while learning about shapes, textures, and processes. For ages 3 to 5.

Register ahead. Free. leominsterlibrary.org.

Family Fun Night: Marvelous Magnets. Leominster Public Library, 30 West St., Leominster. 6-7 p.m. Explore magnets, read magnet books, and explore and experiment with a magic wand, tiles, and more. For ages 3 to 7. Register ahead.

Free. leominsetrlibrary.org.

18 Tuesday Dance and Movement Class. Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St., Newton.

10-10:45 a.m. Join the Joanne Langione Dance Center during this program of music and movement. For ages 2 to 5. Free. new16 SEPTEMBER2018

Afternoon. Leominster Public Library, 30 West St., Leominster. 1-4 p.m. Some Mirror, Mirror, What Do You See? LEGO fun, coloring, and games. Free.

Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. leominsterlibrary.org.

10-11 a.m. Play with different kinds of reflections and experiment by using Everyday Engineering: Sinking Ships. mirrors to create symmetry, refract Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. light, and expand your field of vision.

2-4 p.m. Ahoy matey and jump aboard Free with admission. Members free; international Talk Like a Pirate Day. nonmembers $14.50, ages under 1 free. Celebrate with some seaworthy science. discoveryacton.org.

Free with admission. Members free; nonmembers $14.50, ages under 1 free.

Backyard and Beyond: Engineer a discoveryacton.org.

Traveling Seed. Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 1-3 p.m. Drop-in to learn about the ways that seeds travel – from parachuting to shooting out from seed pods Doggy Days: Taking Care of Abby. to hitching a ride – and engineer your Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. own traveling seed. Free with admission.

10-11 a.m. Join certified Therapy Dog Members free; nonmembers $14.50, ages Abby and learn some things she needs to under 1 free. discoveryacton.org. be taken care of in this perfect for animal lovers and family shy individuals of all Turkish Modern Traditions. Berk Recital ages. Free with admission. Members free; Hall, 1140 Boylston St., Boston. 4 p.m. nonmembers $14.50, ages under 1 free.

Join the Mediterranean Music Institute discoveryacton.org. during this concert featuring the sounds of classical, jazz, and traditional Turkish music. Third Thursday at Berkshire Museum.

Free. berklee.edu/events.

Berkshire Museum, 39 South St., Pittsfield. 5-8 p.m. Enjoy family friendly activities and explorations during this day Doubler’s Holiday. Oliver Colvin Recital of extended special hours. Berkshire county Hall, 1140 Boylston St., Boston. 7 p.m.

Delight in this woodwind multi-instrumental residents, free; members free; nonmember adults $13, ages 4 and up $6, ages under performance brining an evening of chamber music to life. Free. berklee.edu/events. 4 free. berkshiremuseum.org.

and singing in this story time just for babies experiments taking what we use to cook to with rhymes, songs, bounces, and more. For experiment. Free with admission. Members ages up to 18 months. Free. mywpl.org. free; nonmember adults $13, children ages 4 and up $6, ages under 4 free. berkMake a Mess; Spray and Splatter. shiremuseum.org.

Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton.

2-4:30 p.m. Experiment with spraying, Backyard and Beyond: Nature splatting, and dripping different types of Journaling – Signs of the Season. paint to make a truly messy experience.

Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton.

Free with admission. Members free; 11-11:30 a.m. Explore the natural world nonmembers $14.50, ages under 1 free. through science, art, and writing. Make discoveryacton.org. nature journals and then take them on a nature walk starting at 11:30. Free Family Fun. Newton Free Library, 330 with admission. Members free; Homer St., Newton. 3-5 p.m. Drop-in for nonmembers $14.50, ages under 1 free. family games, building materials, and other discoveryacton.org. activities for all ages. Free. newtonfreelibrary.net.

Smithsonian Magazine Museum Day. Museum of Russian Icons, 203 Union St., Hispanic Heritage Month: Folk Art Clinton. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Celebrate boundPaint Day. Worcester Public Library: Main less curiosity through the support of the Branch, 3 Salem Sq., Worcester. 4-5 p.m. Smithsonian Magazine. Free with Museum Celebrate as local artist Edmy Ortiz offers a Day ticket. museumofrussianicons.org. painting experience for kids with systematic painting instructions for creating cultural Mystic River Celebration. Condon pieces. For ages 6 to 12. Free. mywpl.org. Shell, 2501 Mystic Valley Pkwy, Medford. 12-4 p.m. Spend the afternoon The Temptations and the Four Tops. at Medford’s biggest arts festival featuring The Hanover Theatre for the Performing live musician performances, local artisan Arts, 2 Southbridge St., Worcester. 8 p.m. crafts, food, fun activities, and more. Free.

Enjoy this appropriate for all ages show cacheinmedford.org. bringing together the best of Motown. $4878. thehanovertheatre.org.

The Incredibles. Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St., Newton. 2 p.m. Settle in and follow a family of supers as they chart Disney Junior Dance Party. The their own path and forge their ties together Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts, 2 Worcester Dragon Boat Festival. during this Pixar favorite. Free. newtonPreschool Free Play Exploration: freelibrary.net.

Southbridge St., Worcester. 6 p.m. Enjoy DCR Regatta Point, Lake Quinsigamond, Magnets and Magnifiers. Worcester live appearances by Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, 10 North Lake Ave., Worcester. 9 a.m.-4 Public Library: Main Branch, 3 Salem Sq., p.m. Enjoy dragon boat races, cultural per- Disney Junior Dance Party. The Wang Sofia the First, Doc McStuffins, and more, Worcester. 10-11 a.m. Explore how formances, vendors, food, music, activities, Theatre, 270 Tremont St., Boston. 2 p.m. during this interactive live concert experipoles attract and repel from one another, and fun. Free. worcesterdragonboats.com. & 5 p.m. Dance along with Mickey, Minnie, ence. $38-62.50. thehanovertheatre.org. and how we can enlarge the itty bittiest Goofy, Sofia the First, Doc McStuffins, and bits of being, through interactive stations.

Fruitlands 8th Annual Craft Festival. more during this interactive dance party.

Electronic Production and Design Recommended for ages 3 to 5. Free.

Fruitlands Museum, 102 Prospect Hill Rd., $29.50 and up. bochcenter.org.

Faculty Showcase. David Friend Recital mywpl.org. hall, 921 Boylston St., Boston. 7:30 p.m. Harvard. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Enjoy original handmade crafts by 48 New England What the Fluff Festival. Union Square, Enjoy this presentation of new electronic Backyard and Beyond: What’s the artisans, with a food truck, live music, and Sommerville. 3 p.m. Celebrate the New music that celebrates the many unique Weather Wednesday. Discovery ways that contemporary artists perform the fun throughout the day. Through Sunday. England staple Marshmallow Fluff during Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 10-11 Members free; nonmember adults $10, this day of entertainment, cooking contests, genre. Free. berklee.edu/events. a.m. Celebrate whatever weather Mother children $5. fruitlands.org. fluff-themed activities, and good sticky Nature decides to give us today, whether it’s fluffy fun. Free. flufffestival.com. windy, sunny, or rainy. Free with admission.

The 5th Annual Lantern Festival.

Members free; nonmembers $14.50, ages Learning Spanish Circle Time.

Chinatown Park, Rose Kennedy Greenway, under 1 free. discoveryacton.org.

Leominster Public Library, 30 West St., 70 Beach St., Boston. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. A Leominster. 10-10:30 a.m. Learn new day of fun festivities, games, and moonChildren’s Book Illustration with Terrific Twos Story Time. Leominster words, phrases, and songs in Spanish to cake sampling to kick off the celebrations Timothy Basil Ering. Museum of Fine Public Library, 30 West St., Leominster. build a Spanish vocabulary. For ages 3 to 5. for the traditional mid-Autumn Festival.

Arts: Boston, 465 Huntington Ave., Boston.

10-11 a.m. Stories, music, and fun. For chil- Register ahead. Free. leominsterlibrary.org. Free. chinatownmainstreet.org.

12-3 p.m. Discover the inspiration and dren age 2. Free. leominsterlibrary.org. technique of illustrating children’s books Backyard and Beyond: Forest Family Yoga Class. Newton Free Library, with this award-winning illustrator known WAM Stroller Tours. Worcester Art Fridays. Discovery Museum, 177 Main 330 Homer St., Newton. 10:30-11:30 for his originality and inventiveness. Free Museum, 55 Salisbury St., Worcester.

St., Acton. 10-10:45 a.m. No matter the a.m. Learn age appropriate poses, partner with admission. Members free; nonmember weather, head outside and enjoy a nature- poses between parents and children, adults $25, youth 7 and up $10, ages 10:30-11:30 a.m. Enjoy a guided look at based activity based on the weather and under 7 free. mfa.org. art, followed by a story and light refreshbreathing exercises, simple mindfulness ments. Designed for ages up to 3 with sib- season. Free with admission. Members free; activities, and relaxation during this calmnonmembers $14.50, ages under 1 free.

Meet Dav Pilkey. The Eric Carle Museum lings and caregivers. Free with admission. ing class. Recommended for ages 3 to 12 discoveryacton.org.

Members free; nonmember adults $16, with caregiver. Free. newtonfreelibrary.net. of Picture Book Art, 125 West Bay Rd., Amherst. 12:30-3:30 p.m. Meet the mind youths ages 4 and up $6, ages under 4 Baby Bounce. Worcester Public Library: and artist behind Captain Underpants and free. worcesterart.org.

Kitchen Ka-Boom. Berkshire Museum, Main Branch, 3 Salem Sq., Worcester.

39 South St., Pittsfield. 11 a.m. Kids can Dog Man series, as he talks about his new 10-11 a.m. Get your little one bouncing book, does live drawing, and shares fun LEGOS, Coloring and Games Galore be kitchen scientists with hands-on, safe

tonfreelibrary.net.

20 Thursday

19 Wednesday

22 Saturday

21 Friday

23 Sunday

Photo by Sean Browne, courtesy of Marlo Marketing and Zoo New England.

International Red Panda Day. Franklin Park Zoo. trivia. Register ahead. Free with admission.

Adults $9, youths $6, ages under 1 free. carlemuseum.org.

Welcome to Night Vale with Musical Guest Mal. Berklee Performance Center, 136 Massachusetts Ave., Boston. 7 p.m.

Revel in this cultural gem of a twice-monthly podcast in the style of community updates for the small desert town of Night Vale, mixing spooks, chuckles, and charm. $27.50-32.50. berklee.edu/events.

24 Monday Toddler & Me Yoga and Movement.

Leominster Public Library, 30 West St., Leominster. 10-10:45 a.m. & 11-11:45 a.m. A fun-filled yoga play for active tots and preschoolers, featuring poses, songs, and movement. For ages 1 to 3 with caregivers. Register ahead. Free. leominsterlibrary.org.

WordXWord: Poets Creating Conversation. Berkshire Museum, 39 South St., Pittsfield. 7 p.m. Come join poets from around the area as they dissect topics from fast food to not enough food, and farm stands to factories. Free. berkshiremuseum.org.

25 Tuesday Matt Heaton Family Singalong.

Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St., Newton. 10-10:45 a.m. Enjoy as the Toddlerbilly Troubadour brings an infectious energy to his sing-alongs peppered with well-known classics and a few soon-to-be classics. Free. newtonfreelibrary.net.

Backyard and Beyond: Engineer a Birdfeeder. Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 1-3 p.m. Drop-in and try to engineer a bird feeder from common materials you might find around the house, before leaving it with us or bringing it home for your yard. Free with admission.

Members free; nonmembers $14.50, ages under 1 free. discoveryacton.org.

aboard with Bright Star Theatre during this seafaring adventure teaching young buccaneers how to navigate the sometimes-choppy waters of friendship. Best for grades Pre-K through 5th. Free. mywpl.org.

26 Wednesday Backyard and Beyond: Listening Walk. Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 10-11 a.m. Celebrate Take a Child Outside Week, predict the sounds of nature we might find outside and venture for a walk to use our listening skills. Free with admission. Members free; nonmembers $14.50, ages under 1 free. discoveryacton.org.

Preschool Free Play Exploration: Fall Fun. Worcester Public Library: Main Branch, 3 Salem Sq., Worcester. 10-11 a.m. Enjoy fun, interactive stations encouraging literacy, curiosity, and play as autumn comes to New England. Recommended for ages 3 to 5. Free. mwypl.org.

ARTfull Play. deCordova Sculpture Park & Museum, 51 Sandy Pond Rd., Lincoln.

10:30-11:30 a.m. Fill your morning with art and play through experiences in deCordova’s 30-acre Sculpture Park and Museum, with stories, nature, and new friends.

Best for ages 2 to 5. Free with admission.

Members free; nonmembers $14, ages 12 and under free. deCordova.org.

Nancy Schon Birthday Celebration.

Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St., Newton. 4-5 p.m. Celebrate with Newton resident and sculptor of the ‘Make Way for Ducklings’ and ‘Winnie-the-Pooh and Friends’ sculptures with refreshments and surprises. Free. newtonfreelibrary.net.

ASL Night. Museum of Fine Arts: Boston, 465 Huntington Ave., Boston. 5-10 p.m.

The second annual ASL Night, celebrating deaf culture and the deaf community, featuring art, language, performance, activities, and more. Free. mfa.org.

Pajama Time Yoga. Leominster Public The Pirate Bully Bay. Worcester Library, 30 West St., Leominster. 6-7 p.m.

End your day with this guided and imagiPublic Library: Main Branch, 3 Salem Sq., Worcester. 6 p.m. Ahoy Mateys and come native yoga session, exploring movements, BAYSTATEPARENT 17

20 September Fairs & Festivals

breathing exercises, and a calm environment, all in our pajamas. For ages 3 to 7.

Register ahead. Free. leominsterlibrary.org.

27 Thursday Wacky Bubbles. Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 10-11 a.m. Find out if a bubble can be flat, formed into a cube, or shaped into a snake, during this soapy investigation. Free with admission. Members free; nonmembers $14.50, ages under 1 free. discoveryacton.org.

Everyday Engineering: Let’s Go Fly a Kite. Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 2-4:30 p.m. Test out some basic kite designs or come up with your own, and head outside and experiment with simple materials to create one-of-a-kind kites. Free with admission. Members free; nonmembers $14.50, ages under 1 free. discoveryacton.org.

Three County Fair - Northampton, MA Labor Day Weekend, Aug. 31-Sept. 3 Classic family fun including animals, acrobats, food, rides and more.

Woodstock Fair - Woodstock, CT Labor Day Weekend - Aug. 31-Sept. 3 Animal barns, exhibition halls, vendors, rides, and carnival games. Children 10 and under are free.

Gloucester Schooner Festival Gloucester, MA Labor Day Weekend, Aug. 31-Sept. 3 Taking place in the harbor and nearby waters of America’s oldest seaport, this festival honors the major role the fishing schooner has played in the heritage of Gloucester and the eastern seaboard. Featuring a parade of schooners on the water and the chance for kids to sail.

Spencer Fair - Spencer, MA Labor Day Weekend, Sept. 1-3 A timeless country fair including ox and horse pulls, cattle, rabbit and poultry shows, vendors, contests, hall exhibits and performance art. Children under 7 are free.

Appleseed Country Fair Phillipston, MA Labor Day Weekend, Sept. 1-3 Three days of live music, food, local vendors, artisans, brewers and the FiddleFest. Kids area features crafts, activities, animals and a rock climbing wall.

King Richard’s Faire - Carver, MA Weekends, Sept. 1 through Oct. 21 This renaissance-themed attraction features live performances from acrobats, aerialists, fire-eaters, and more.

Franklin County Fair - Greenfield, MA Thursday through Monday, Sept. 6-9 Named one of the “10 Great New England Fairs” by Globe Magazine, the 170th annual Franklin County Fair proves to be kid-friendly, hosting the first ever Power wheels Demo Derby welcoming 3-8 year olds and a youth/team group trivia challenge on Saturday.

18 SEPTEMBER2018

Dartmouth Grange Fair Dartmouth, MA Friday & Saturday, Sept. 7-8 Activities include carnival games, judged exhibits, live animals, and more. Admission and entertainment are free.

Sterling Fair - Sterling, MA Friday through Monday, Sept. 7-9 A two-and-a-half day event filled with agricultural showcases and musical performances. Admission and parking are free.

Mattoon Street Art Festival Springfield, MA Saturday & Sunday, Sept. 8-9 In its 46th year, the Mattoon Street Arts Festival is the longest-running street arts show in the Pioneer Valley. The festival features exhibits, food vendors, traveling musicians and more.

Pet Rock Fest - North Grafton, MA Sunday, Sept. 9 New England’s largest animal welfare music festival, includes a headlining event from platinum-selling singer/songwriter Ryan Cabrera, games for kids, Pups in the Air Frisbee Dog Team, a vegetarian food court, pet contests, a doggie water park, and most importantly, hundreds of nonprofit groups devoted to raising awareness regarding animal cruelty.

Fresh Grass Festival North Adams, MA Saturday and Sunday, Sept.14-16 A family-friendly bluegrass festival with over 50 artists and bands, workshops, contests and more, on the grounds of the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art. Eastern States Exposition (The Big E) - West Springfield, MA Friday through Sunday, Sept. 14-30 The Big E is the largest fair in the Northeast, offering rides, games, contests, parades, live entertainment and more. Active and retired veterans get in free with proper identification.

stART On The Street - Worcester, MA Sunday, Sept. 16 Worcester’s Park Ave. plays host to Massachusetts’ largest art, music and performance festival—with over 200 artists.

Between perusing the vendors and the vegan food options, watch as local artists create works of art right on the street.

Admission is free.

Amherst Poetry Festival Amherst, MA Thursday through Sunday, Sept. 20-23.

Hear Emily Dickinson’s poetry and more contemporary work at this festival.

Belchertown Fair - Belchertown, MA Friday through Sunday, Sept. 21-23 The town common comes alive with rides, food, a petting zoo and more at this traditional country fair.

Team Haverhill’s River Ruckus Haverhill, MA Saturday, Sept. 22 Downtown Haverhill shuts down for an afternoon of classic cars, live music, fireworks and a beer garden.

KidsFest at Wachusett Mountain Princeton, MA Saturday & Sunday, Sept. 22-23 Two days of live shows, Wachusett Mountains’ scenic summit SkyRide, walkaround entertainment, clowns, magic shows, and more fun for the whole family.

North Quabbin Garlic & Arts Festival - Orange, MA Saturday & Sunday, Sept. 29-30 Over 100 booths, a main and spoken word stage, and cooking with garlic demonstrations. This festival is waste-free, with most of the waste produced being recycled or turned into compost for local gardens.

Arts in Common - Westborough, MA Saturday, Sept. 29 The 10th Annual Arts in Common invites artists, performers and neighbors to celebrate the community through the arts.

Paddington PJ Party. The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, 125 West Bay Rd., Amherst. 6-8 p.m. Come see the Paddington Comes to America exhibition in your PJs, and don’t forget to bring your favorite stuffed animal, as we enjoy projects, story times, milk and cookies, and more. Members free; nonmembers $5. carlemuseum.org.

28 Friday Backyard and Beyond: Forest Fridays. Discovery Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 10-10:45 a.m. No matter the weather, head outside and enjoy a naturebased activity based on the weather and season. Free with admission. Members free; nonmembers $14.50, ages under 1 free. discoveryacton.org.

Baby Bounce. Worcester Public Library: Main Branch, 3 Salem Sq., Worcester.

10-11 a.m. Get your little one bouncing and singing this story time just for babies with rhymes, songs, stories, bounces, and more.

For ages up to 18 months. Free. mywpl.org.

Celtic Thunder. The Shubert Theatre, 265 Tremont St., Boston. 7:30 p.m. Enjoy this multi-platinum Irish group as it presents brand new music and favorite hits backed by the terrific Celtic Thunder Band. $48.50 and up. bochcenter.org.

10 a.m.-6 p.m. Grab your favorite fairytale outfit and prepare for a fun-filled day at the zoo as you meet your favorite princesses and join Jack and the Pirates of the Rogues’ Armada. Free with admission.

Members free; nonmember adults $19.95, children ages 2 to 12 $13.95, ages under 2 free. zoonewengland.org.

Happy Birthday, Mrs. Bradley. Eleanor Cabot Bradley Estate, 2468 Washington St., Canton. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Celebrate Mrs. Bradley’s birthday with some of her favorite cookies, berries, and tea, as you pick a basket of your own and enjoy in the harvest festival. Register ahead. Members $5, nonmembers $10. thetrustees.org.

Drawing Paddington with R.W. Alley.

The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, 125 West Bay Rd., Amherst. 1:30 p.m. Enjoy watching the illustrator for the Paddington books of the last twenty years demonstrate his craft as audiences draw along with him. Free with admission. Adults $9, youths $6, ages under 1 free. carlemuseum.org.

Solo. Newton Free Library, 330 Homer St., Newton. 2 p.m. Follow a young Han Solo as he teams of with Chewbacca and Lando Calrissian for his first smuggling mission.

Free. newtonfreelibrary.net.

30 Sunday Sukkot Festival on the Farm. Powisset Farm, 37 Powisset St., Dover. 9 a.m.12 p.m. Celebrate the agricultural roots of Sukkot, as we build and decorate a sukkah, help with the fall harvest, learn about honey bees, enjoy storytelling and singing, and more. Register ahead. $10. thetrustees.org.

Cars and Critters. Stone Zoo, 149 Pond St., Stoneham. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Enjoy cars of all makes and models, along with music, trophies, and animal encounters.

Free with admission. Members free; nonmember adults $17.95, children ages 2 to 12 $11.95, ages under 2 free. zoonewengland.org.

Children’s Book Illustration with Timothy Basil Ering. Museum of Fine Arts: Boston, 465 Huntington Ave., Boston.

12-3 p.m. Discover the inspiration and technique of illustrating children’s books with this award-winning illustrator known for his originality and inventiveness. Free with admission. Members free; nonmember Fairyborough Trail Hunt. Discovery adults $25, youth 7 and up $10, ages Museum, 177 Main St., Acton. 9 a.m.-4:30 under 7 free. mfa.org. p.m. Head to the path to see if you can spot what’s out of place in our Fairyborough.

48-Hour Theater Project. David Friend Free with admission. Members free; Recital Hall, 921 Boylston St., Boston. 7 nonmembers $14.50, ages under 1 free. p.m. With only two days for preparation, discoveryacton.org. enjoy original 10-minute musicals written, directed, composed, performed, and proPirates and Princesses Day. Franklin duced by students in a two-day span. Free.

Park Zoo, 1 Franklin Park Rd., Boston. berklee.edu/events.

29 Saturday

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ARTS & ENRICHMENT

DIY: Turn Your Kids’ Art Into Clothing PHOTOGRAPHY BY SHAWNA SHENETTE PHOTOGRAPHY

Your children’s drawings can go from on-paper to in-person with Picture This, an online service that lets kids wear their artwork.

Simply print out a template from picturethisclothing.com, and let kids unleash their imagination. Then, send in a photo of the artwork to have it brought to life on a dress or t-shirt, which will arrive in your mailbox in just a couple weeks. Kids can rock their very own creations, and even have matching apparel made for their dolls!

Picture This clothing comes in children’s and adult sizes. T-shirts and dresses are $49 and matching doll clothing is $25.

Best friends Kylee and Alivia, both 7 and from Belchertown, along with their favorite dolls, proudly wear their one-of-a-kind creations.

20 SEPTEMBER2018

ENT

r e d n U the p o T Big M ENRICH ARTS &

When Kids Really Run Away

to Join the Circus

BY AMANDA COLLINS BERNIER

N

early 70 shows in 17 cities in seven weeks would be a grueling schedule for even the most seasoned circus professional.

But for ten-year-old Ruby Frank?

“It’s really, really fun,” she said, standing outside a circus tent on a July day, selling concessions during a performance intermission.

Ruby is one of 30 kids from all over the country (and even Canada) who, instead of lounging by the pool or heading off to sleep-away camp this sum-

mer, ran off to join the circus.

Circus Smirkus, that is.

The award-winning traveling show may have all the acts you’d expect to find at a circus – acrobats, jugglers, aerialists, contortionists, wire walkers and, of course, clowns – but it’s all put on by some perhaps unexpected performers. The troupe is made up entirely of youth ages 10 to 18.

Each year, over 100 children and teens audition to be part of Circus Smirkus, but only 30 are selected. This year’s troupe included six Bay State youth: Alexa Wang, 16, of Jamaica

Plain; Chase Levy, 17, of Newton; Eva Lou Rhinelander, 13, of Melrose; Glenn Doyle, 14, of Arlington; Ora Lin, 14, of Worcester; and Serafina Walker, 15, of Greenfield.

Among them were 16 returning troupers and 14 new troupers who all traveled to Greensboro, VT, for three weeks of intense rehearsals at Smirkus headquarters in June, then hit the road for a 68-show tour.

Backed by professional coaches, cooks, musicians and crew, the “Smirkos” as they’re referred to, performed to sell-

out crowds in Circus Smirkus’ very own 750-seat Europeanstyle one-ring big top tent.

The audience got the full experience of a live circus performance – cheering as troupers swung from the ceiling, walked a tightrope, performed magic tricks, comedy sketches, aerial acts, juggling and more.

Meanwhile the Smirkos got the full experience of touring in a classic circus show. That means complete immersion into circus life: taking care of props, selling concessions and popcorn, and working the tent crew, light and sound techni-

cians, equipment riggers, musicians and others who travel with the one-ring show.

“It’s been crazy and hectic, but I love it,” said Lin, a firstyear trouper who was part of the show’s lyra and aerial acts.

Circus Smirkus is a 31-yearold nonprofit arts and education organization whose mission is to promote the skills, culture and traditions of the traveling circus. Aside from the Big Top Tour, they offer a Smirkus Camp and Smirkus School Residency programs.

For more information visit www.smirkus.org.

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ARTS & ENRICHMENT

Tales from a Sports-Illiterate Mom of Superfans: A Story of Survival

BY BRENDA DONOGHUE

“So, who’s the orange team?”

A sigh, flash of annoyance and then one word, “Broncos.”

Eddie’s eyes never even left the screen. I’d been dismissed.

It was another failed attempt to connect with my oldest son over football. This kind of scene plays out in a constant loop with my two sons throughout the rhythm of our days.

Within the dynamics of a family, we all play a role, and, apparently, I’m the clueless mom. When it comes to being a sports fan, I’m not in their league. I live in a frat house, a locker room, a fan’s haven. All things sports provide the background music to our day.

I envision myself talking shop with my boys, and reveling in the glory of the latest ballgames. But it seems that no matter how hard I try to meet my expectations, no matter how hard I attempt to gain enough knowledge to be considered a credible fan, I cannot seem to blossom into the mother I aspire to be.

I fumble with baseline sports plays and terminology, and stumble over the names of beloved players. I’m never current on current events. I’m a bonafide buzzkill.

Though, I suppose I’m my own worst enemy.

Asking what team the Patriots are playing while watching the big game -- after a week’s build 22 SEPTEMBER2018

up of playoff hype -- never goes over well. Nor does commenting on the opposing team’s snazzy uniforms. Or using old school sayings to discuss the lopsided score of a game.

“Wow! We are really cleaning that other team’s clock,” I excitedly told Eddie and Billy as I settled onto the couch, ready to connect with them over the weekend’s big basketball game.

“Don’t say that. It’s weird.”

Their only reply. As their shoulders visibly deflated, they barely suppressed disgusted sighs.

But at least these are the things that occur within the private confines of our own home.

My lack of knowledge never kept us from pursuing our shared love of sports adventures; we’ve made it a priority to visit as many sports venues as possible. But imagine their chagrin when I take my ignorance on the road.

My most disgraceful play is the public embarrassment they evidently suffer at my hands on these road trips… like when I yelled, “Wow, Jackie Robinson sure has played on a lot of teams!” at a popular exhibit at the Baseball Hall of Fame. His retired jersey number had been prominently displayed within each team’s roster.

An uncomfortable hush fell over our immediate surroundings, as Eddie’s eyes jumped from his head. He looked ready

to lurch across the room, as if to steal the words from the air before they reached everyone’s ears. If it were possible to drop dead of embarrassment right there on that floor, he would have done just that.

Both boys immediately dragged me from the exhibit, ushering us to a more private area so they could insulate themselves from further irrevocable humiliation. I later learned from my traumatized children that Robinson did not play for all of those teams, but, rather, his jersey number was universally retired and featured with each team’s roster to specially honor him. Their explanation made a lot more sense.

Don’t feel too bad for them, though. They’ve made it their mission to get me back. They torture me. Making me the butt of their jokes, they surreptitiously provide tidbits of sports misinformation in the hopes that I’ll be caught looking like a fool when I work it into adult conversation.

“Did you talk to anyone at work about (former Celtics player) Brian Scalabrine making the Basketball Hall of Fame?”

The furtive glance, the only tip off to their prank. It turns out Scalabrine is nowhere close to Hall of Fame caliber, something apparently everyone else except for me knows. This has become a favorite and frequent

stunt.

Overall though, they are usually somewhat patient and kind.

They’ve assumed the role of teacher, committing to their mission with zealous passion.

They follow me around the house rattling off their knowledge like seasoned sports journalists. Pop quizzes and lengthy lessons fill most of our days.

I love being their student, and even the victim of their occasional pranks. And there are few memories I adore more than going on our sports vacation adventures. Watching ESPN documentaries as my kids explain the complex backstories will always hold a special place in my heart.

In fact, I’ve recently had an epiphany: my kids feel the same. They don’t want a fabricated image of who a mom of sports fans should be. They just want me, in all my annoying and embarrassing glory.

Our connection is uniquely ours and, in the end, that’s all they crave. We’ve chartered our own course, and created our very own special bond - with scores of cherished memories to prove it.

The thing about parenting is that it’s easy to expend enormous amounts of misguided energy struggling to conform to ill-fitting molds. We compare and critique, convinced on some subconscious level that

there is a better version of what we should give, and who we should be. It’s too easy to miss what’s been right in front of us all along.

For awhile I did just that. Angst over failing to resurrect the superfan of my youth clouded my vision. I almost missed the chance to revel in the quirky sports bond my boys and I already share, and to marvel at our own unique collection of magical moments. I almost missed the chance to cherish memories as they unfold.

But not anymore. The bond we’ve forged over our sports mishaps - while different than I had envisioned - is still pretty awesome. And so, I will embrace it.

My boys? They can feign annoyance and disgust all they want. I know that, deep down, they love it too. And if I’m wrong? Well, they’ll survive.

Brenda Donoghue juggles a fulltime career with raising two boys in Central Massachusetts.

Her writing is inspired by occasional flashes of insight during the chaotic daily grind, which she strives to navigate with humor and grace.

ARTS & ENRICHMENT

Puppet Master Darci Lynne Farmer The singing ventriloquist dishes on life after AGT

BY AMANDA COLLINS BERNIER

V

entriloquism might not be the most traditional childhood hobby, but for the reigning champ of America’s Got Talent, it was an instant obsession.

“I met a girl who did it, and I thought it was the coolest thing I’ve ever seen! So I taught myself in my bathroom mirror,” the 13-yearold singing ventriloquist said.

“I always practiced in front of a mirror so I could see what I need to fix. That’s how I mastered it. I think the hardest part was lip control and pronunciation.”

After only having her first puppet for two weeks, Darci began performing in her home state of Oklahoma and beyond. She was determined to audition for her first talent show, ultimately leading her to audition for the biggest talent show on television.

Darci was just 12 when she won the 12th season of NBC’s America’s Got Talent. Performing on national television in front of a panel of celebrity judges would be unnerving for even the most seasoned professionals, so of course, young Darci felt the heat of the spotlight.

“It was the most nerve-wracking

performance I’ve ever done. Every time I went on, I thought I was gonna puke,” she said, laughing.

She wowed the judges and the nation with her cast of puppets -- Petunia the rabbit, Oscar the mouse, and old lady Edna -- displaying impeccable skill as a ventriloquist and a jaw-dropping singing voice. With 21 million votes, she was crowned the show’s winner last September, earning $1 million and a headlining gig in Las Vegas.

“A lot of things went through my head,” she said of that winning moment. “I was shocked, happy, shocked, and then happy again.”

What’s life been like since then?

“Like a roller coaster,” she said.

“There’s been ups and downs. It’s been fun and scary.”

The ups? Darci has appeared on the Today Show, Ellen, and the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards.

She opened for pop star Fergie in Las Vegas on New Year’s Eve and is in the midst of her own national tour, Darci Lynne and Friends Live. The seventh grader’s first announced show in her hometown of Oklahoma City sold out in just six minutes.

The downsides to the sudden fame?

Transitioning from an unknown tween to an internationally known -- and often recognized -- star. But she’s managing it with grace, and maintains a very 13-year-old attitude and outlook. “I love hanging out with my friends!” she exclaims of what she likes to do when she’s not mastering pup-

pets on stage.

Her advice to other kids who like to perform: “Always dream big! And never give up, because you never know what could happen for you.”

Darci and Friends will be at the Hanover Theatre in Worcester on November 4.

Tickets are on sale now.

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24 SEPTEMBER2018

BAYSTATEPARENT 25

ARTS & ENRICHMENT

STAY IN THE GAME:

Avoiding Overuse Injuries in Teen Athletes

BY DR. LYNN PANTUOSCO-HENSCH, WESTFIELD STATE UNIVERSITY

For my fifth-grade boys’ soccer team, our last season was marked by many changes characteristic of typical adolescent transitions. Players on our team began to experience growth spurts, adolescent awkwardness, growing pains, social-emotional changes -- and overuse injuries. Although this is my oldest son’s team, I have prior experience as a soccer coach over the past 20 years at the youth, club, high school and collegiate levels. That experience combined with my research interests allowed me to make observations, track trends, and develop some useful advice for adolescent athletes and their families.

Essentially, many of the questionable habits that the players got away with more easily in elementary school (such as not eating or sleeping well, neglecting to warm up, juggling sports demands) began to catch up with them. As the physical and schedule demands of multiple sports or multiple teams in a single sport escalate, there is greater likelihood of negative issues such as injuries during 26 SEPTEMBER2018

adolescence. The hope is for adolescent athletes to reduce acute and overuse injuries – to stay healthy and stay in the game.

Adolescents More Prone to Injuries Adolescence can impact athletic performance in many ways due to increases in body size, hormones, and muscular strength. Height and weight increases during a growth spurt can reduce balance and body control, resulting in adolescent awkwardness. In particular, longer legs and arms can have an impact on manipulative skills such as throwing and catching, swinging a bat or racquet, using a hockey or lacrosse stick, and kicking. Even basic locomotor patterns such as running or jumping may need to be relearned on a neuromuscular level.

Physical changes during adolescence combined with increasing demands of practice and game schedules can lead to injuries, many of which can

be prevented. Adolescence is an especially important time to build good health and fitness habits. Between the ages of 11-13 years old, 70% of children will drop out of organized sport. A better understanding of overuse injuries in youth sports can enable parents to more effectively support their young athletic children.

Overuse Injuries According to the Cleveland Clinic, up to half of all injuries seen in pediatric sports medicine are related to overuse.

Overuse injuries occur when children repeatedly play the same sport, using the same muscle groups in similar ways without adequate rest and recovery.

These injuries can affect muscles, ligaments, tendons, bones, and growth plates.

In children, these structures grow unevenly, increasing the likelihood of injury during adolescence. The most common overuse injuries involve feet, ankles, and knees.

Causes of Overuse Injuries According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, “The risk of injury is multi-factorial, including training volume, competitive level, and pubertal maturation stage.” Some common causes of overuse injuries include: Schedule: Too many practices and games without proper rest and recovery is a risk factor.

Overscheduling can also lead to athletic burnout from mental and emotional fatigue.

Specialization: Early specialization in sport and lack of multisport participation leads to repetitive movements, lack of variety of movements, and reduced balance of muscle groups.

Multiple teams in the same sport: Playing on more than one team in the same sport increases the likelihood of schedule demands and repetitive movements.

Multiple teams in the same season: Playing two sports in a single season reduces the opportunity for rest and recovery, but it also offers a chance to vary movements.

Structured vs. unstructured play: Children who play more structured sports (teams and leagues) and less unstructured sports (pickup games) tend to be more susceptible to overuse injuries.

The shortfall of the research on long-term athletic development is that it addresses general trends more than practical strategies for individual athletes.

This is where parents come in!

By familiarizing ourselves with best practices, we can provide our children with a healthy youth sports atmosphere throughout adolescence.

As any good coach would do, I’ve broken down the game plan into preseason, in season and off season suggestions.

Preseason Fitness: One of my most sig-

nificant observations from coaching is the lack of general fitness of many young athletes.

When we were kids, it seemed like we could run all day and did. Lack of general fitness makes growing children and young adults more susceptible to injuries, especially overuse injuries. An unfit body will not hold up to the same demands as well as a fit body. Improving basic cardiovascular and muscular fitness before the sports season begins is key. This can be as simple as running sprints or doing push-ups, lunges, or squats at home.

Equipment: Proper equipment is essential, ranging from safety gear to foot wear. Parents should learn about and purchase proper safety equipment.

When my children were new to ice hockey, I asked the coach for a tutorial on what to buy and how to dress appropriately.

As adolescent athletes log more hours of play, a healthy body often starts from the bottom up. Recall that injuries to feet are among the most common.

I recommend buying quality sneakers, cleats, and skates.

Despite the reality that children go through shoes quickly (and the inevitable expense that goes with replacing them), the

increase in use, body weight, and biomechanics warrants supportive, ergonomic footwear. Be sure to learn about sport-specific needs by asking coaches, experienced players, and some retailers. I often see adolescents wearing the wrong size or quality gear. There is also a tendency to forego safety equipment unless required by a parent or coach (for example, mouth guards).

Schedule: A well-organized schedule can help to avoid overuse injuries. This requires communication between coaches, parents, and players.

When determining a schedule and routine for an adolescent athlete, be sure to include him or her in the process. A typical pattern is to prioritize the in-season sport and then club sports over recreational sports.

Usually during adolescence, children begin to identify a primary sport which begins to dictate the schedule. I advise remaining a multi-sport athlete throughout the tween years if possible schedule-wise.

Goals: A child’s goals should be the focus of the preseason family game plan. As former athletes and now coaches, my husband and I are very careful

examples of childhood habits that will no longer suffice during adolescence if a young athlete wishes to maximize performance and reduce injury rates. The biggest pitch here is to help a child view healthy habits as what athletes do in order to be successful. Eating and sleeping well should be part of the package deal.

Healthy progression: Doing too much too fast can also increase susceptibility to injury. A basic rule of thumb is to increase training volume 10% per week over the course of a season. Mapping out a gradual progression over time is helpful for young athletes. As a parent, watch for overload or plateaus and adjust accordingly.

Time limits: During a sport season, there are guidelines for how much time should be spent playing sports. Research Nutrition and Sleep: During a by the American Orthopaedic sport season the standard sleep Society for Sports Medicine and eat well advice applies (AOSSM) showed that “young more than ever. Well rested and athletes who participated nourished young athletes are in more hours of organized more likely to outperform their sports per week than their less prepared counterparts. age in years also had an There is a plethora of nutriincreased risk of an overuse tional advice available, but athinjury.” Adolescent athletes are letically, a focus on hydration encouraged to stay under 16-20 and changing dietary needs is hours of vigorous physical particularly helpful. For examactivity per week. In the 10-14 ple, during peak growth phases age range, organized sports iron and calcium consumption time should be 75% training is especially important. Most and 25% competition. Most young athletes learn too late to youth leagues likely have a prioritize their sleeping and eathigher competition to training ing habits. Getting enough sleep ratio than advised. Athletes and eating healthy require planare also advised to take 1-2 ning and discipline. It’s easy to days off per week. Although forgo bedtimes and eat junk. It’s not simple, balancing time far more difficult to plan meals, commitments can reduce the pack snacks, and get to bed at likelihood of overuse injuries. a decent hour. These are prime

Warm ups: Warming up is an important safety component to competition. While most coaches have good intentions, team warm ups do not always meet individual needs. Figure out what helps your child feel physically prepared for competition.

In our family, we go for walks or light jogs early on game days.

My children sometimes go on our elliptical machine for a few minutes to get their blood flowing and then stretch. Any combination of cardiovascular exercise followed by dynamic stretching should be helpful preparation. When any of our children have sore muscles or other aches and pains, we use a microwavable corn filled heat pack to warm the area before moving. Warm muscles are less likely to sprain and strain. This is especially useful during road trips to avoid stiffness (also during those cold ice hockey

not to impose our goals on our children (it’s not easy!). For example, last spring my son juggled lacrosse, club soccer, and town travel soccer teams.

There is no doubt it was a lot.

He really wanted to be on all three teams, so we made it work following many of the tips shared here. As parents, we can guide goal setting and athletic decision making.

In Season

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seasons).

Fortunately, there are some warm up programs specifically designed to prevent injuries.

One of the best examples is the Prevent injury and Enhance Performance (PEP) program designed to address potential deficits in the strength and coordination of the stabilizing muscles around the knee joint. An added benefit of this 15-minute warm up routine is that athletes are also building all-purpose agility, balance, and coordination. A routine like PEP can be done at home or recommended to a coach for team use.

Proper technique: As training volume increases and competition levels rise, movement and sports skills really need to be done with proper form. Parents can help children learn proper form by demonstrating, watching videos, or reinforcing good habits. For example, when one

of my sons wasn’t shooting a soccer ball correctly, we took a quick video so he could see himself and better understand the feedback he was given.

Repeated, improper movements over time can lead to injury.

Neuromuscular training: Integrating sports skills training with motor skills can build a better athletic foundation for adolescent athletes. An improved foundation can also reduce the risk for future injury. Equipment such as ladders, hurdles, jump ropes, and plyometric boxes can be used for neuromuscular training. Exercises like squats, lunges, or toe raises can be done at home or with a friend.

Post-game: A proper cool down routine can speed up the recovery process. Adolescent athletes should be encouraged to stretch after games and practices. This is one of the tips

we struggle with in our family.

After racing from one sport to another, getting home to eat dinner and do homework, some nights there are not enough hours in the day. Helping our kids learn how to stretch independently has helped. We have some neat fitness products at home that are worth sharing.

A stretch out strap helps with common stretches that could otherwise be partner assisted (and comes with an instruction booklet). Another of our favorites is a vibrating foam roller. The at-home options are becoming more affordable.

Regular foam rollers also provide a deep tissue massage which helps to reduce muscle soreness and muscle pain. As would be expected, the vibrations add to the restorative experience. Lastly, the use of ice remains helpful for reducing swelling and pain as needed post-game. Young athletes

should attend to post-game needs and build good habits during adolescence.

Mental Training: With all of the emphasis on physical preparation for sport it is easy to forget the mental aspects. Developing routines and setting goals are examples of the many mental skills that can be developed.

The book Bring Your “A” Game: A Young Athlete’s Guide to Mental Toughness provides some valuable, step-by-step resources for young athletes to build their mental skill set. Especially important for reducing risk for injury are healthy pre-game and post-game routines that include nutrition, hydration, stretching, and personal reflection. A disciplined routine can help to stave off nagging injuries, as well.

Off Season Time off: When the playoff run is over, the sports parenting

doesn’t end there. Experts suggest that young athletes take a total of three months off from a primary sport (in one, two, or three month chunks of time).

Let your children miss their favorite sports every now and then. Even professional athletes take time off to decompress and enjoy other aspects of life. Our children should too. Fight the temptation of year-round participation in a single sport.

Cross train: The postseason is an ideal opportunity to cross train through a variety of sports or non-traditional physical activities. If you’ve considered trying the new local ninja parkour course, now is the time! After a competitive sport season, it is also advantageous to play a recreational sport. Better yet, encourage your children to enjoy some unstructured pickup games with family or friends.

Dr. Lynn PantuoscoHensch is an associate professor in the Movement Science department at Westfield State University, teaching motor development, exercise science, and other sport-related courses.

She is the mother of four boys and lives with her family in Longmeadow. She thanks Paula Welch for her editorial support.

Learn More Some insightful sports parenting and youth sports books that you may want to check out: Changing the Game,

by J. O’Sullivan Game On: The American Race to Make Champions of Our Children,

by E. Farry Until it Hurts: America’s Obsession with Youth Sports and How it Harms Our Kids,

by M. Hyman 28 SEPTEMBER2018

ARTS & ENRICHMENT

Drug Story Theater: Treatment for Both Audience and Actors

Recovering addicts bring their stories to stage as part of a treatment program, and aim to prevent more kids from falling prey to drugs and alcohol dependence

BY JOAN GOODCHILD

When an actor takes the stage, they have the power to make an audience laugh, cry, feel angry, or experience other emotions through watching the performance. Live theater has the ability to be transformative, jarring, healing and therapeutic.

And for the actors who are part of Drug Story Theater, they, too, are benefitting from putting on the production. That’s because the actors are all recovering drug and alcohol addicts who are bringing their story to stages at schools around Massachusetts as part of their treatment plan.

“After the performance, I remind the students watching how they have helped my kids with their treatment,” said Dr. Joseph Shrand, an Instructor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, and Chief of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry for High Point Treatment Centers in Southern Massachusetts. “Then I remind them that that’s peer pressure in a really positive way.”

Founded by Shrand in 2014, Drug Story Theater teaches improvisational theater to teenagers as part of their recovery from addiction. Recovering patients write and perform in their own shows about the seduction of drugs and alcohol and how they became hooked.

Performances take place at middle and high schools for student audiences around the state. A question and answer session is held after the perfor-

mance. The aim is to educate kids about neuroscience and how addiction takes hold of the brain.

“I believe because the brain is the brain, that DST can be replicated through Michigan, Massachusetts or Morocco,” said Shrand. “The goal is that this becomes an international model of treatment and prevention. Using neuroscience, we explain to kids that ‘your brain is so cool. Why would you want to give it up to drugs?’”

Through the program and its performances, the treatment of one becomes treatment of many, which is DST’s slogan.

The actors who are enrolled and who put on the performances find the feedback from audiences incredibly rewarding, he said, and often stay in the program for multiple years as part of their sobriety.

“It occurred to me we could begin using the pleasure of theater,” said Shrand in explaining his inspiration for the program.

“There’s nothing like giving an audience something and getting that rush of applause. The idea was to create a program in which a kid begins to feel, and is reminded of their value so much that they prefer that over drugs and alcohol.”

Shrand, who is also the medical director at CASTLE, a short-term treatment center in Brockton for adolescents, would know about the rush of acting. He had his own experience in theater as a child

when he starred in the Emmyaward winning PBS children’s show Zoom. His mother was an actress and his father was a pediatrician, he noted, so this current phase of his career only makes sense.

Since its founding, DST has performed for more than 20,000 students across the Commonwealth. Patients rehearse at Massasoit Community College over the course of 20 weeks to develop new shows. Now growing beyond its roots in southeastern Massachusetts, the program recently partnered with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, which has given DST $250,000 over two years to expand. Shrand hopes to provide many more Massachusetts schools with a DST performance this coming year.

“Everyone wants to feel value.

Every time we can remind people of their value, we increase their value,” he said.

Inquiries about bringing DST to local schools can be made on the group’s Facebook page.

They also have a website at drugstorytheater.org.

Joan Goodchild is a veteran writer and editor and mom of two living in Central Mass.

BAYSTATEPARENT 29

Creative Campers We asked summer campers at the YMCA of Central Massachusetts to draw artwork for baystateparent’s 2018 Best Of awards... and we couldn’t be more thrilled with the results! Special thanks to the artists from: Camp Greendale on Indian Lake in Worcester, Camp Blanchard on Lake Manchaug in Sutton, Camp Boroughs at the Boroughs Family Branch Y in Westborough, the Alden Summer Program at the Central Community Branch Y in Worcester, and Camp Lowe on Fort Pond in Lancaster.

We’re so proud of your work, campers, and so are the businesses and organizations you created art for. We see some designers in the making!

30 SEPTEMBER2018

BAYSTATEPARENT 31

32 SEPTEMBER2018

“Art is not what you see, but what you make others see” – Degas

BAYSTATEPARENT 33

The Frosting on the Cake Non-Profit Providing Birthday Parties for Homeless Children Celebrates 15th year

BY DARA T. ALLEN

L

isa Vasiloff values the importance of celebrating birthdays.

The Executive Director and co-founder of Birthday Wishes remembers a phone call she received during her non-profit’s early years.

“A woman calling to volunteer shared a story with me from second grade. In her

34 SEPTEMBER2018

elementary school, birthdays were announced over the loudspeaker,” she explained.

“This was an exciting tradition that made the birthday girl or boy feel extra special. On the woman’s seventh birthday, she sat in her classroom listening anxiously to hear her name.

The daily events were read as usual but her birthday was never mentioned. It was an oversight from the office that

left a big impact. The little girl left school heartbroken and the memory of that day still resonated with her decades later. She never forgot it.”

Most of us associate birthdays with family, friends and fun. But, what if no one acknowledged your birthday?

What if you couldn’t have a birthday party or a celebration of your own? Fifteen years ago, Vasiloff pondered these

questions and came up with an idea. Her sons, ages 6 and 8 loved birthday parties and thought they were fun. She and a friend decided to visit a local homeless shelter to throw a birthday party for a young child. It seemed like a great way to encourage her sons to give back to those who may be less fortunate. They loaded up the car with decorations, supplies and a cake and set out.

The party was a success and soon another followed. Shortly after, Birthday Wishes was founded.

Birthday Wishes aims to bring happiness to children living in homeless shelters by providing them with a birthday party. The organization works directly with agencies and shelters to provide birthday bashes for homeless children ages 1 to 17 who would oth-

erwise be unable to celebrate this traditional rite of passage.

Vasiloff explained, “Often kids living in a shelter have been at a couple of different schools in the course of a year. Many of them are dealing with the trauma of homelessness and are running on survival mode.

Many of life’s norms, like birthday parties, are no longer possible. Birthday Wishes was the first organization in the country to offer these children and their parents an authentic birthday party experience.

Fifteen years later, it is still the only organization in New England that provides this service.”

Today, Vasilloff coordinates parties for children in hundreds of shelters and agencies throughout the New England and New York areas. They supply her with the child’s first name, age, and likes, and she provides the magic. For some of the kids, it is the very first party they have ever experienced.

Along with the cakes, favors, and gifts, the parties offer an escape from the daily grind of

life in a shelter. For two funfilled and stress-free hours the birthday boy or girl can relax and celebrate turning a year older.

The parties are so popular that there is a current waiting list for their two different types

decorated box complete with a cake, crafts, games, party favors and four personalized gifts are delivered to homeless children who are living in hotels and various locations.

Vasiloff estimates that the organization executes 30 to 60

Most of us associate birthdays with family, friends and fun. But, what if no one acknowledged your birthday? of parties: an on-site party, where trained volunteers travel to shelters to throw the shindig (many hosts are former Birthday Wishes recipients who want to give back), or the second type, which is called a party in a box. A

on-site parties per month and 200 parties in a box per month.

Volunteers can get involved in many ways. Clubs, school, temple and church groups often contribute by building a birthday in a box as a service project. Others may choose

to host a toy drive or donate party supplies.

“Philanthropy equals fundraising. It’s important to remember that no donation of time nor supplies is ever too little,” Visilloff said.

Earlier this year, Birthday Wishes held its annual signature fundraiser, the cleverly dubbed the Cake Walk, in Newton. The three-hour event is not your typical cakewalk, where music plays and stops and participants land on a certain square to win a cake or another prize. Instead, it is a literal 5K walk. A festival followed the walk, where participants had their faces painted, jumped in a bouncy tent and played lawn games. There were snack tents with refreshments and pizza and of course, to be expected, complimentary cake provided by Montillo’s to round of the day. The event raised over $100,000 for the organization.

Yasiloff will always remember one of the first birthday parties she hosted in a Boston shelter. The party was for a 5-year-old boy and the theme

was Spider Man. As she was setting up the decorations, the little boy came down the stairs decked out in a suit. She recalls, “This birthday party celebration was so important to him that he wore his finest clothing.” She still remembers his bright smile, his suit and his face, painted to resemble his favorite superhero. It was around this time that she realized that these parties would change the direction of her life.

Thanks to Birthday Wishes a countless number of homeless children will be able to partake in a ritual and tradition that so many take for granted. These children will sit at a table surrounded by friends and family and blow out the candles on their very own birthday cakes.

And when they do, they will feel empowered to make a wish.

To learn more about the Cake Walk and other volunteer opportunities, contact 866-388-9474.

Dara T. Allen is a cake connoisseur who lives harmoniously in the suburbs with her husband, children, guinea pig, cat, and dog.

BAYSTATEPARENT 35

New History and Social Studies Standards Set for Massachusetts Public Schools

BY DOUG PAGE

Thomas Jefferson is out and Frederick Douglass is in.

The former slave and civil rights advocate replaces the nation’s third president, author of the Declaration of Independence and founder of two universities in the introduction to the new Social Studies and U.S. history standards, setting the tone, tenor, teaching and priorities Bay State public school children will soon experience with the subjects.

“The 2018 introduction was written with an intent to foreshadow the standards that follow, particularly with regard to U.S. history and government,” said Massachusetts Department of Elementary & Secondary Education (DESE) Spokeswoman Jacqueline Reis.

“It is intended to be more reflective of current scholarship and more consistent with the new framework’s standards and recommended documents, which give increased weight to 36 SEPTEMBER2018

the ideas and experiences of women, African-Americans and Native peoples.”

Unanimously approved by the Massachusetts Board of Education (BOE), which oversees the Commonwealth’s K-12 public schools, at its June meeting, the nearly 200page document, entitled The 2018 History and Social Studies Framework replaces the standards from 2003 and lays out the learning expectations for Bay State public school students, from Kindergarten to high school.

The new frameworks come on the heels of legislation passed by the state Senate and state House of Representatives, which strengthens civics education in Massachusetts public schools. A final bill has yet to be approved by both legislative bodies because they differ on whether a civics project should be required to graduate high school. The Senate is for it but the House of Representatives is opposed.

“There’s an increased emphasis on civics at all grade levels, including a new grade 8 course on civics,” wrote DESE Commissioner Jeffrey Riley in the new framework’s introduction, which will guide teaching in Bay State public schools.

The new standards “reflect the diversity of the United States and world cultures, with particular attention to the contributions of women and men of all ethnicities and backgrounds in the United States and the connections among world cultures,” Riley wrote.

The new standards are important, says Ludlow Schools Superintendent Todd Gazda, because they “serve as a curriculum road map for all public schools in the Commonwealth, articulating the state’s expectations for what students will know and be able to do in each content area at each grade level. This provides for continuity and consistency in learning expectations across the state.”

The new frameworks took two years to complete, said Westborough High School Social Studies teacher Casey Cullen, who helped revise the frameworks. The committee revising the standards, he says, included 44 educators, community people and activists.

The new standards require Bay State public high school students to learn about the civil rights challenges of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) community, the Gay Pride movement and how other state courts provided equal protection for same gender marriage.

Casey acknowledged there’s controversy around teaching LGBTQ rights but said, “It’s something being discussed in the national media, the state media and not to go into the history (of this movement) would be negligent.”

In what appears to be a reaction to “fake news” and extrem-

ist opinions on social media websites, which may have influenced the 2016 presidential election, the new history frameworks include lessons on digital news and social media for 8th graders and high school students.

“Students have access to knowledge – any kind of fact – at their fingertips,” said Cullen, noting the proliferation of hand-held wireless devices, whether phones or tablets, many children carry. “They need to know how to look at sources and be able to make value judgments on their own.

There’s so much information today that it’s a battle for some of the more pertinent facts to be known.”

Critics of the new frameworks – especially the pending 8th grade civics course – suggest students will be ill prepared for the class.

“You can’t understand civics until you understand the history of the government, the American system and

the country’s founding,” said Jane Robbins, a co-author of “No Longer A City On a Hill: Massachusetts Degrades Its K-12 History Standards,” a paper critical of the new standards that was published by the Pioneer Institute, a Bostonbased think tank. “You don’t have the foundation to build upon them.”

“The strongest, single problem with the 8th grade civics class is that one gets rid of the chronological sequence of events,” said David Randall, a co-author of the same paper, who’s with the National Association of Scholars.

Eighth grade students, say Robbins and Randall, will lack the historical knowledge to understand U. S. Supreme Court cases and rulings, which they’ll review in the upcoming class.

Massachusetts state law requires students to pass a Social Studies test to graduate from one of its public high schools. The BOE is expected to decide this fall on the type of test high school students will take to meet the requirement.

“If you talk to a lot of high school history teachers, they don’t want another standardized test, but they don’t want civics and history being slighted either,” said Cullen.

The risk, he said, of not having some sort of test or project for students to complete to meet the Social Studies/ history requirement for high school graduation is that if it’s not tested or in some way assessed, the subject won’t be given its due diligence.

Noting that there are already three required tests – English, math and science – students must pass to graduate from a Massachusetts public high school, Lisa Guisbond, who leads Citizens for Public Schools, an advocacy group, said, “We think the state should join the encouraging trend of states that have abandoned graduation testing.

Massachusetts is now just one of 13 states with (high school) graduation exams, down from 26.”

Bay State law says the Social Studies and history standards need to instruct students on “at least the major principles of the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution, and the Federalist Papers.”

The state law also says the standards need to “inculcate respect for the cultural, ethnic and racial diversity of

the Commonwealth and for the contributions made by diverse cultural, ethnic and racial groups to the life of the Commonwealth.”

DESE Spokeswoman Reis says the new standards took effect immediately with the BOE’s vote but it’s likely many school districts will not introduce them until the 2019-2020 academic year.

While there was a committee assigned to write the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson is credited as the document’s primary author. As president, he founded the United States Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., which prepares students for careers as Army officers. In 1819, he founded the University of Virginia in Charlottesville.

Frederick Douglass was born a slave around 1818 in

Maryland and, when in his 20s, escaped to Massachusetts. He became a leading abolitionist, a newspaper publisher and pushed for women’s suffrage.

He advised President Lincoln about African American soldiers fighting for the Union during the Civil War. Doug Page is a Massachusetts father of two teenagers and award-winning writer whose newspaper career started in high school.

He’s written stories, sold ads, and delivered newspapers in the morning’s wee hours. He’s been covering Common Core and Massachusetts public education for the last six years.

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Go to baystateparent.com to sign up

BAYSTATEPARENT 37

VERY SPECIAL PEOPLE

A two-year-old child takes part in the RITA-T test at UMass Memorial Health Care. Photos courtesy of UMass Memorial Health Care.

New Autism Screening Test Offers Earlier Diagnosis and Intervention Piloted at UMass, RITA-T Cuts Wait Time for At-Risk Toddlers

BY DARA T. ALLEN

Currently, the average age of diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in the U.S. is close to 4 years old, though signs can be seen as early as 12 months. But a groundbreaking new screening test being piloted at UMass Memorial Health Care in Worcester could shave years off that diagnosis time, allowing the screening and identification of toddlers as early as 18 months.

The RITA-T, or Rapid Interactive Screening Test for Autism in Toddlers, is new system for identifying early ASD. A Level 2 screening test, it is to be administered on young children identified at risk for autism,

38 SEPTEMBER2018

or who scored positive on a Level 1 screening test, or who providers are worried about.

This new Level 2 test can be administered to children to differentiate between ASD and other delays, identifying children at-risk for ASD at a younger age than ever before -- 18-36 months -- and thus referring them in a faster way for more appropriate ASD evaluations.

RITA-T is an interactive test, which is preferred in this age group as it triggers directly early signs professionals look for, rather than relying on history or observation, as they may be hard to recognize.

Research commenced four

years ago when Dr. Roula Choueiri M.D., who specializes in neuro-developmental disabilities, collaborated with Dr. Sheldon Wagner, Ph.D. to create a new and improved screening tool for earlier identification of autism. Inspired by their findings and collaborative publication, Dr. Choueiri continued to delve into this project with a community of her colleagues at UMASS Memorial Health Care.

One major change between the RITA-T test and other testing is that this new exam can be administered by a variety of early childhood providers -- not just limited to specific

specialists. It is fast in its administration and scoring, easily accessed and reasonably priced.

“Before the arrival of the RITA-T, the previous Level 2 screening test was the only one on the market and it was more expensive. This new test can be completed within ten minutes,” Dr. Choueiri explained.

“It requires no preparation and since it is based entirely on games, the children seem to like it.”

A marker, a toy phone, a mirror, a photo, and other child-friendly components are included in the RITA-T kit and employed to create a play-like,

stress-free experience for the children, while assessing for early signs of autism. The RITA-T includes nine semi-structured play-based presses that examine constructs that have been described to be delayed in children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). With this new system integrating Early Intervention Providers, very young children can be screened earlier than with other testing.

With earlier diagnosis comes earlier intervention.

“It is exciting to be able to make a difference in a child’s life and it is much better to see it early. While there is hope

at any age of diagnosis, early intervention changes the trajectory as the brain is developing,” said Dr. Choueir.

Jackie Gryska is a mom whose son, Jack, started showing signs of autism at 12 months of age and was later diagnosed at 18 months. “He went through a series of tests all day for multiple hours. Most of them, due to his age, were all playbased testing. The final results took about a week to get back.

The wait times for children to get these tests done now have increased to wait lists of up to a year or longer due to the increase in autism,” the Wayland mom said.

Gryska is pleased to learn about the RITA-T screening. “I feel the RITA-T training will be helpful to families, especially to first-time parents like we were,” she said. “As a first-time parent you are not quite sure what symptoms to look out for and what could be concerning.”

Grysak feels fortunate that her 2-year-old son was diagnosed with ASD early. “The early diagnosis and interventions opened doors for us to get Jack occupational therapy, speech therapy and ABA therapy 30 hours a week in our home from amazing teachers and therapists. It has allowed him to be integrated into a public preschool setting and has allowed him to continue his therapies at school within his classroom setting.”

UMass Medical School offers an on-site training course to administer RITA-T, and online training is available as well, making the tool accessible to people all over the world. The three-hour training program is geared to a wide range of early intervention specialists such as

teachers and day care providers who work with children age 3 and younger.

Some developmental delays or behaviors that could indicate a high risk for ASD could include a toddler not responding to his name, a language delay or a loss of language, difficulty with eye contact, aversions to touch or loud noises, or repetitive behaviors.

However, Dr. Choueiri cautions that it is important not to be alarmed by one of these behaviors, and said that parents with concerns should contact an early intervention specialist, as early intervention providers can start working with the family even without a diagnosis, and can make appropriate screenings and referrals.

“RITA-T will really help providers identify high-risk children earlier, which means that intervention and treatments can also start earlier,” Dr. Choueiri said.

For information about RITA-T, including how to get trained in its administration, go to www. umass.edu/AutismRITA-T/ about-the-test.

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Looking for things to do with the kids this weekend?

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BAYSTATEPARENT 39

ALZHEIMER’S

Recasts Parenting Demands for

CARETAKERS

Balancing an aging parent’s Alzheimer’s disease with the needs of young children makes caretaking even more challenging for some

BY JOAN GOODCHILD

In

2013, Kelly Landini had already been through the emotional wringer. Her father had recently passed after a battle with pancreatic cancer. But instead of a break after several years of watching her dad suffer, life had other plans.

“Toward the end of my father’s illness, I recognized that something was wrong with my mother,” said Landini, who lives in Shrewsbury. “I had hoped it was stress of being

40 SEPTEMBER2018

his primary caregiver for four years as he battled pancreatic cancer. It didn’t take long for me to recognize it was more than that as she became easily confused, forgetful. She was unable to manage money, stopped cooking and her appearance changed.”

Eventually Landini’s mother, Ginger, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and the full commitment of serving as her mother’s primary caretaker began.

But Landini also had someone else to care for with many needs: her young daughter Ava, who was just entering Kindergarten when her mother’s health began to decline.

“It is an incredibly difficult balancing act to juggle caring for my young daughter and my mother at the same time while working full time,” said Landini. “I have left my daughter with friends or dragged her to hospitals more than I probably should. There have been

times when I just wasn’t as present as I should be, or I was short tempered or distracted.

There is only so much you can give to your child, parents and work while keeping the house together and bills paid.”

September is World Alzheimer’s Month, an international campaign by Alzheimer’s Disease International (ADI) every year to raise awareness and challenge the stigma that surrounds dementia. According to the Alzheimer’s Association,

5.7 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s and that number is projected to rise to nearly 14 million by 2050.

Every 65 seconds, someone in the U.S. develops Alzheimer’s, and more than 16 million Americans, like Landini, provide an estimated 18.4 billion hours of unpaid care for people with Alzheimer’s or other dementias.

“It’s a progressive disease that can last a long time, anywhere from three to 20

years,” said Nicole McGurin, Director of Family Services for the Alzheimer’s Association of Massachusetts and New Hampshire. “It’s very unpredictable, and as the disease progresses, patients need 24-7 supervision. To have to meet that need and also meet the needs of a child of a certain age is very difficult. It’s so hard to balance the needs of a child with the needs of someone with Alzheimer’s.”

Alzheimer’s is life’s ultimate interruption, according to Deborah Lynn, a Massachusetts author from Wayland with a published memoir about caring for her mother after her Alzheimer’s diagnosis. The book, On Angels’ Wings, A Journey Through Alzheimer’s with My Mother, chronicles her almost 18 years of caretaking under the trying circumstances Alzheimer’s delivers.

No one is planning for Alzheimer’s, said Lynn, and adjusting to the reality of life when caring for a loved one with the disease requires a rethinking and refocus of priorities. For caregivers of young children, life is already unpredictable enough.

“Assemble a team,” said Lynn.

“Caretaking is not done alone and no one can manage this on their own. It is a totally draining disease. Get educated and get a team together.”

While Lynn’s own children were adults when her mother was diagnosed, she often brought her granddaughter to visit her mother, and had to explain to her that dementia could make visits challenging.

“I would explain that grandmother is not always here with us. You might want to be gentle. She might not remember and know who you are. But it doesn’t mean she doesn’t love you. Give her that beautiful bright smile.”

Like Lynn, McGurin suggests caretakers seek support immediately.

“Don’t try to do this alone,” she said. “Reach out for help from other family and friends and the community. Tell them specifically what you need.

Don’t wait for people to offer help. Often with Alzheimer’s, people want to help but don’t know how. They need to be given a task.”

And take care of yourself, adds McGurin.

“You can’t take of an aging parent with Alzheimer’s and a child, too, if you don’t take care of yourself first.”

Landini said in her circumstances, support is sometimes

hard to come by and care outside of immediate family is expensive.

Communities and first responders still lack a depth of understanding about Alzheimer’s.

The disease has dealt a devastating blow to her life, her family, and her daughter’s childhood as her daughter has watched her grandmother change in ways that are both confusing and upsetting because of the disease. But Landini says she still tries to find the positive in the situation where she can.

“My daughter’s level of

compassion for seniors and dementia patients astounds me,” said Landini. “She is a natural with them and will do just about anything to bring a smile to their face, especially a person sitting alone or looking sad. I believe she has learned empathy, compassion and respect for her elders.

These are valuable life lessons and I am a proud mother.”

Landini and others who are hoping for a cure for Alzheimer’s will walk in the 2018 Worcester County Walk to End Alzheimer’s

on September 23rd. Similar events are being held around the country this month. For more information on Alzheimer’s, or if you need advice about caretaking, visit www.alz.org.

Joan Goodchild is a veteran writer and editor and mom of two living in Central Mass.

Kelly Landini, her mother, Ginger, and 10-year-old daughter Ava at her dance recital. Kelly brings her mom, who has Alzheimer’s, to as many of her daughter’s events as she can. “It brings my mom a moment of joy and us memories to treasure,” she said.

BAYSTATEPARENT 41

ask the

Follow us on

NUTRITI

NIST

Does Your Young Toddler Need Whole Milk?

to stay on top stories, join the conversation with other parents and be the first to hear about contests and giveaways.

42 SEPTEMBER2018

Q: A:

I give my 16-month-old son almond milk instead of whole cow’s milk. He gets plenty of dairy via good quality cheeses, yogurt, etc., and takes a multivitamin. My doctor recommended I switch to whole milk to increase my son’s body weight, although he is “average” height and weight.

He is 16 months and weighs 25 pounds. I’d like a second opinion about the importance of dairy intake.

Do young toddlers need whole milk? And what to do if your doctor recommends your child gain weight?

Whole milk is typically recommended for young toddlers because of its higher fat content, which is important for brain development, satiety, fat soluble vitamin absorption (Vitamin A, D, E, and K) and meeting their calorie needs for growth.

Whole milk also provides a great source of calcium and vitamin D content for bone growth and development.

Nut milks, like almond milk, provide a great source of calcium and vitamin D, but only provide about 1 gram of fat per cup, versus 8 grams per cup found in whole milk.

Therefore, if you decide to provide your toddler with almond milk, make sure to offer other

sources of fat with their meals and snacks. This could be from other high fat dairy sources like whole milk yogurt, cheese or butter. Or, through other sources of fat like avocado, plantbased oils, nut or seed butter, or fatty fish like salmon or tuna.

If your child has been growing along the same growth curve percentile, there is no cause for concern about their weight.

If there has been a significant change (i.e. drop in weight along the growth curve), there may be other ways to address this rather than having to switch to whole milk. If you haven’t been adding in other sources of fat with meals and snacks, start with that. If you have been, my suggestion would be to meet with a pediatric dietitian to figure out the underlying cause for

the weight change and provide personalized feeding strategies and food suggestions that meet your family’s and child’s food preferences.

Lauren Sharifi is a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and food blogger at biteofhealthnutrition. com. Lauren works in private practice in Brighton at ASF-Peak Health (asfpeakhealth.com) and is passionate about helping individuals and families become competent eaters that find joy out of eating. Have a question for Lauren? Email editor@baystateparent.com.

Finally Forever

September’s Child: Meet Jaeden

Hello! My name is Jaeden and I am a loyal friend!

Jaeden is an imaginative 10-year-old girl of Caucasian descent. Those who are close to her describe her as feisty, sweet, outgoing and sometimes silly. Some of her favorite activities include making up stories and songs, playing with her Barbies, and playing dress up with jewelry and make-up. She also enjoys riding her bike and playing outside, whether it’s swimming, going to the beach or playing with friends. Jaeden likes to be in charge and independent but is also described as a loyal friend. She enjoys the structure of school, and in general thrives

in an attentive environment with lots of positive reinforcements.

Legally freed for adoption, Jaeden will do best in a family with a mother and a father or two mothers. If there are other children in the home, they will need to be an older female. Most importantly, Jaeden needs a family who will stick by her side through ups and downs. A family must also be open to helping Jaeden visit with her birth parents three times a year and maintain contact with her two sisters with whom she is close.

Can you provide the guidance, love and stability that a child needs? If you’re at least 18 years old, have a stable source of

income, and room in your heart, you may be a perfect match to adopt a waiting child. Adoptive parents can be single, married, or partnered; experienced or not; renters or homeowners; LGBTQ singles and couples.

The process to adopt a child from foster care requires training, interviews, and home visits to determine if adoption is right for you, and if so, to help connect you with a child or sibling group that your family will be a good match for.

To learn more about adoption from foster care, call the Massachusetts Adoption Resource Exchange (MARE) at 617-6273 or visit www.mareinc.org.

Circle of

Friends

Area Adoption Info & Matching Events

Ready to learn more about adoption?

Join an information meeting in your area to hear directly from social workers and experienced families, have your questions answered, and receive and application.

Springfield Area Adoption Info Session: Tuesday, September 4, 4-5:30 p.m. DCF Western Regional Office, 140 High St., 1st Floor, Springfield.

Framingham Area Adoption Info Session: Thursday, September 6, 6-7:30 p.m. DCF Area Office, 300 Howard St., Framingham. No registration required.

Contact: Sheila Fitzgerald at 508-424-0145 or sheila.fitzgerald@state.ma.us.

Northern Region Adoption Info Session: Monday, September 10, 6-7 p.m.

Jordan’s Furniture IMAX Conference Room.

50 Walkers Brook Dr., Reading. Walk-ins welcome, RSVP encouraged. Contact: Fredia Torrence at (978) 557-2734 or fredia. torrence@state.ma.us.

Central Region Adoption Info Session: Wednesday, September 12, 6 p.m. Central Regional Office, 13 Sudbury St., Worcester. No registration required.

Contact: Valerie Fluitt at (508) 929-2143.

Canton Area Adoption Info Session: Monday, September 17, 6-8 p.m. Canton Police Department Conference Room, 1492 Washington St., Canton. RSVP: ADLU Line at (508) 894-3830.

Boston Area Adoption Info Session: Wednesday, September 19, 4-6 p.m.

Boston Regional Office, 451 Blue Hill Ave., Dorchester. No registration required.

Contact: Marsha Donovan at (617) 989-9209.

BAYSTATEPARENT 43

A GOOD PARTY IS ALWAYS IN SEASON

44 SEPTEMBER2018

September INDEX

To Advertise Contact Regina Stillings at regina@ baystateparent.com

Bayle Mountain Marketing................................... 41 Big Joe Productions............................................. 45 Big Y Foods, Inc..................................................... 7 Boch Performing Arts Center................................ 17 Boston Paintball.................................................. 44 Davis Farmland................................................... 15 Digital Federal Credit Union................................. 31 Discovery Museums............................................. 37 Ecotarium.................................................. 23,28,35 Eagle Hill............................................................... 5 Fidelity Bank....................................................... 33 Fletcher Tilton PC................................................. 38 FMC Ice Sports....................................................... 2 Girls Inc............................................................... 27 Gymnastics Learning Center................................. 28 Heywood Hospital................................................ 19 KidzExpo............................................................. 32 Magic World........................................................ 44 Mall At Whitney Field............................................. 6 Mary Baker Eddy Library (The)............................ 41 Midwifery by Maryanne....................................... 40 Mike’s Moonwalk Rentals..................................... 44 Millbury Federal Credit Union............................... 39 Museum of Science.............................................. 32 Reliant Medical Group.......................................... 43 Reliant Ready Med................................................ 3 Roger Williams Park Zoo...................................... 42 Rosalita’s Puppets................................................ 45 Rota Springs........................................................ 31 Sholan Farms...................................................... 11 Shrewsbury Children’s Center............................... 37 UMass Memorial Medical Center................. 14,39,48 Urban Air.............................................................. 9 Violet the Clown................................................... 44 Wachusett Mountain....................................... 24,25 YMCA............................................................. 30,32

baystateparent.com BAYSTATEPARENT 45

Take Eight With Boston Ballet Dancer Emily Hoff At 18 years old, Emily Hoff is the youngest dancer in this season’s Boston Ballet company. The Bay State native who grew up in Wellesley, moved to London at age 15 to train at the Royal Ballet School for two years, before being offered a place as a trainee at San Francisco Ballet. In her first professional role, Emily is returning to her roots as a member of the renowned company where she first fell in love with dance.

1. When did you first start dancing? Was it something you loved right away? I first started dancing at the age of three. I liked my ballet classes, but what I really loved was performing. After my first ballet performance I said to my mom, “That was so much fun! Next year can I just do a performance every day instead of taking classes? I think I like the stage part of ballet better!” Even to this day dancing on stage is still my greatest passion, but I have come to love every part of ballet and am always happier when I am dancing!

2. When did you know you wanted to dance professionally? How did it change from a hobby to a career? After seeing Boston Ballet’s The Nutcracker every year, it was always my dream to dance the role of Clara. When I was 12, 13, and 14 years old, I was lucky enough to have the incredible opportunity to dance this role alongside Boston Ballet’s company. I think my first year as Clara was when I realized that I wanted to dance professionally. I had achieved my childhood goal, and so I needed something new to work towards. Since then, there has never been anything I have wanted more than to be a professional dancer. I honestly still cannot believe that this dream I have had for so long has finally come true.

3. What does a typical day look like for you? I wake up at 7 a.m., eat breakfast, and then walk over to the studios early to warm up and mentally prepare myself for the day ahead of me. I take company class from 9:45-11:15 a.m. and then head to rehearsals for whatever ballets we are working on that day. I work with stagers and choreographers to learn new roles or our ballet masters to rehearse roles that we have already learned. Every day is different depending on what ballets we are rehearsing. I also find time during the day to do some combination of Pilates, Gyrotonics, and physical therapy to keep my body strong and healthy. During a performance run, my days are longer and can include both matinee and evening performances. At the end of the day, I like to make dinner and relax before doing schoolwork. I am currently taking several online classes. After completing my school work for the day, I like to read a book in bed until I fall asleep.

4. What’s the craziest thing that ever happened during a performance? Ballet performances are live, so there is always the possibility that unexpected things can go wrong on stage. I have certainly been the victim of various wardrobe malfunctions, but probably the craziest thing that has happened was during The Nutcracker when I was still a student. Mother Ginger, who walks on stilts under her giant skirt that fits eight little girls underneath, fell over on stage while I was under her skirt as a Polichinelle. It was frightening during the moment, but no one was injured and we were all able to laugh about it afterwards. It is a tough part for the dancer on stilts, but I am happy to say I will never have to do that role since it is always played by a male dancer!

5. What’s the biggest challenge or struggle you’ve faced in dance? I have always been a perfectionist, which is both a blessing and a curse. One of the hardest things for me has been trying to come to terms with the fact that everything cannot be perfect all the time. I have struggled at times with my confidence, as I can easily pick apart every single step and find many things that do not look exactly like the picture of “perfection” that I have in my mind. I have been trying to use my perfectionism as motivation to work harder and improve faster. Even if perfection does not exist, if I learn from my mistakes and give 100% of myself in every single class, rehearsal, and performance, then I can at least be confident in the fact that I will come a step closer to the dancer I want to be every single day.

6. What’s something people would be surprised to know about you? People are always surprised by how much I eat. Since ballet dancers are usually very thin, everyone always assumes that we do not eat anything, but in reality that is not true. We need to fuel our bodies in order to enable us to get through long days of rehearsals and performances, and food is essential for maintaining strong and healthy muscles and bones. If ballerinas really ate as little as we are stereotyped to, there is no way we would be able to do what we do.

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7. If you hadn’t become a dancer, what do you imagine you’d be doing? I If I was not a dancer, I would be about to start my freshman year of college right now, and I think I would probably be studying something in the sciences. Science has always been the subject that I found to be the most interesting, particularly human biology—anatomy, psychology, neurology—so I imagine I would be working towards a major in one of those fields.

8. What is your advice to young boys or girls who dream of being a professional dancer one day? Even if you have all the natural talent in the world, you can never sit back and wait for things to work out for you. Give 100% of yourself every single day, and take advantage of every opportunity to learn something new. Take risks and try things outside your comfort zone—sometimes those are the best opportunities to see what you are capable of achieving.

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