Queens Parent May 2017

QueensParent MAY 2017

NYMETROPARENTS.COM

Are You Raising a

Sugar

Addict?

Tips for cutting back

SpecialParent The Campaign to

End the

‘R-Word’

Kids Cover Contest 2017 See your child on our cover!

FAMILY EVENT LIST

LISTA DE EVENTOS FAMILIARES

WE KEEP THE TOOTHFAIRY

OUT OF BUSINESS.

ciates

THE DENTIST OFFICE. REINVENTED.

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L I C D e n t a l A s s o c i a t e s . c o m | o ffi c e @ l i c d e n t a l a s s o c i a t e s . c o m | @ L I C D e n t a l A s s o c i a t e s 50 -02 5 t h Street, Su ite B | Lo ng Isla nd C ity, Ne w York 1 1101 | 718 . 5 3 0. 6 5 3 9 May 2017 | nymetroparents.com

This Mother’s Day HAVE IT ALL! Style. Selection. Convenience.

Enjoy the best from more than 50 premier shops, ďŹ ne restaurants, entertainment venues, professional services and plenty of free parking.

The Bay Terrace 26th Ave. & Bell Blvd., Bayside NY 11360 Visit us at: http://www.bayterrace.com Visit us at: http://www.cordmeyer.net QueensParent

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NYMetroParents Helping Parents Make Better Decisions

Contents

May 2017 ››

28

Features

18 The Not-So-Sweet Truth Too much added sugar is detrimental to our health­­­—here’s why and what you can do

22

22 Fitting Fitness Into Your Day Some easy ways to make sure you’re exercising daily 24 Avocado Toast­—Elevated Kick up this basic meal with unexpected additions 26 Growing Up Mixed There are more mixed-race families than ever, but parents still face challenges raising kids in two cultures.

46 Putting a Stop to a Slur Parents of kids with special needs join other advocates to push for an end to the ‘R-word.’

18

24

Connections

6 Editor’s Note 8 New Places, New Programs 10 Quotables 11 NYMP Q&A: Sam Weinman shares the benefits of losing.

16 Mommybites Tip of the Month 62 Voices: Why I’m thankful for all the parenting advice I got along the way

Fun & Activities

Family Activities CALENDAR ››

Original photo by PhotoOp NYC (photoopnyc.com) Clothing provided

by Appaman (appaman.com)

12 DIY Corner: Fizzy Bath Bombs 13 Media Matters: Summer Movies 14 Get Your Kid on Our Cover!

16 Humor: Happy Mother’s Day to the Superheroes 28 Outing: Gulliver’s Gate 31 Family Activities Calendar 44 Where-To Guide: Zoos, Nature Centers, and Botanical Gardens

31

Directories 48 54 56 58 60 60 61

Camp Guide Open Houses Professional Services Party Central Meet the Health Care Professional Family Resource Guide Advertisers’ Index

››

ON THE COVER ›› 14 Kids Cover Contest 2017 18 Are You Raising a Sugar Addict? 46 The Campaign to End the ‘R Word’ facebook.com/nymetroparents

@NYMetroParents

Visit NYMETROPARENTS.COM for family activities updated daily and more than 2,000 parenting articles!

Are your child’s immunizations up to date?

Call your Child’s Doctor Today!

Fidelis Care is working to keep our members and the community healthy.

Measles and chickenpox are just two of the diseases that you can prevent by having your child immunized.

Children under the age of 2 don’t have all the defenses they need to fight infection. Immunizations (shots) protect them from dangerous childhood diseases like:

• Whooping Cough • Hepatitis • Rotavirus • Mumps

• Diphtheria • Flu • Polio • Measles

• Chickenpox • Tetanus and more...

Is Your Child Covered? Fidelis Care offers New York State-sponsored free or low-cost health insurance coverage for children under 19 through the Child Health Plus program.

To learn more about applying for health insurance including Child Health Plus and Medicaid through NY State of Health, the Official Health Plan Marketplace, visit www.nystateofhealth.ny.gov or call 1-855-355-5777.

1-888-FIDELIS • fideliscare.org (1-888-343-3547)

TTY: 1-800-421-1220

QueensParent

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MAY 2017 • Vol22• No.11

NYMetroParents Publications EDITORIAL

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR: Michael Kress MANAGING EDITOR: Katelin Walling

EDITOR’S NOTE

DEPUTY EDITOR: Caitlin Berens SENIOR EDITOR: Bethany Braun-Silva ENGAGEMENT EDITOR: Samantha Neudorf REGIONAL EDITORS:

Healthy Kids, Healthy Parents

Samantha Beranbom (Rockland); Karen Demeter (Suffolk); Rosalind Muggeridge (Brooklyn); Jamie McGillian (Westchester); Dorette Saunders (Nassau); Emma Steven (Manhattan);

B

efore my kids were born, I thought I’d never be the type of parent to negotiate— let alone do battle—about desserts and sweets. Sure, I’d let my kids eat a moderate amount of junk, but I’d also be sure to have plenty of yummy fruits and vegetables around. Perhaps we’d cut them into fun shapes or make other irresistible but healthy snack creations. Then I actually had children. I know I am not the only one whose kids’ craving for sweets seems insatiable and all-consuming—and no, fruits and vegetables will not cut it. I am sometimes amazed at how much time and effort they spend thinking about—and conniving to acquire—their next snack. I am a firm believer in “everything in moderation,” but when it comes to kids and sugar, how much is too much? In this issue, Katelin Walling speaks with a nutritionist and other experts to find out, and the answer may surprise you (p. 18).

Of course, our kids follow our example, so modeling a healthy lifestyle is essential. But how many of us feel we have the time to take care of ourselves and hit the gym with any regularity? To help fix that, we’re offering tips on how to make time and space for fitness in our busy lives (p. 22). And if you want to truly relax after a good workout, suggest that your child make you our “Fizzy Bath Bombs” (p. 12) for Mother’s Day. If it’s May, that also means the NYMetroParents Kids Cover Contest is in full swing! You know your kid is the cutest in the world, so go ahead, enter the contest for a chance to see him or her on the cover of one of our magazines. See p. 14 for more details and enter at nymetroparents.com/cover.

We’re proud to feature our contest finalists on our covers throughout the year, showcasing amazing local kids who reflect the diversity of backgrounds, races, ethnicities, and abilities found in our communities—this month is no exception. As parents, we often tell our kids people come in all different shapes, sizes, and colors—differences that we should embrace and celebrate. This month, we have two in-depth reports on the challenges some kids face for being different. In the first, Samantha Neudorf explores the growth of multiracial families in our area by speaking with several local parents in mixed-race families—and she reflects on her own experiences growing up in two cultures (p. 26).

In the second, we meet a group of moms who have been working hard in recent years to end use of the “R-word” (p. 46). Bullying takes many forms, but one pervasive example is calling kids with special needs “retards.” It’s a painful slur that is used all too often by adults as well as kids, in casual conversation as well as in schoolyard taunts. Sabrina Sooknanan takes us inside the efforts to end the use of that word.

Happy Mother’s Day—and happy May—to all!

Gail Warren (Queens) DIRECTORIES EDITOR: Alice Van Dyke EDITORIAL INTERN: Sabrina Sooknanan

ADVERTISING SALES Big Apple Parent 212-315-0800; Fax: 212-271-2239 Jessica Leonhardt, Jeunesse Jackson, Linda Pierce Queens Parent 718-878-4860 Annene Guertin, Ellen Klein Westchester Parent 914-397-0200 Nini DeLuca, Manager Merrill Sugarman, Mary Wender Brooklyn Parent 718-878-4860 Phyllis Crupi, Ellen Klein, Selene Rodriguez Rockland Parent 845-848-8021 Cara Roteman, Jim Russo Long Island Parent, Nassau 516-883-4543 Joan Bergman, Manager, Dani Pollack Long Island Parent, Suffolk 631-472-5437 Lisa Herlihy, Karen Shapiro To Advertise: nympads@davlermedia.com DIR. OF OPERATIONS -- EVENTS: Rebecca Stolcz DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS: Ray Winn OPERATIONS COORDINATORS: Ray C. Guédez, Leonard Porter DIRECTOR OF TRAFFIC: Heather Gambaro ADMINISTRATION MANAGER: Erin Jordan

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DIRECTOR | PUBLISHING MANAGEMENT: Anthony Diaz CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Jiyon Son DIGITAL CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Robert Reynolds DIRECTOR | DIGITAL CONTENT DEVELOPMENT: Sara Wentworth

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Davler Media Group CEO: David L. Miller General Manager: Thomas K. Hanlon 498 Seventh Ave., 10th Floor, New York, NY 10018 Phone: 212-315-0800; Fax: 212-271-2239

Michael Kress Editorial Director, NYMetroParents

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Keep in Touch: nymetroparents.com editor@nymetroparents.com

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May 2017 | nymetroparents.com

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BIG APPLE PARENT, QUEENS PARENT, WESTCHESTER PARENT BROOKLYN PARENT, ROCKLAND PARENT, BERGEN PARENT, and LONG ISLAND PARENT are published monthly by Davler Media Group, LLC Copyright © 2015, Davler Media Group, LLC No part of contents may be reproduced without prior permission from the publisher.

Subscription rates per year, per publication: $39

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NEW PLACES, NEW PROGRAMS

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Who: Queens College Summer Camp What’s New: QC Sports Club for campers ages 9-14, and a renovated gymnasium.

Campers in the sports program will explore swimming, softball, soccer, tennis, volleyball, and basketball all day.

Campers will also benefit from the updated gymnasium and its 82,000 square feet of flooring, including basketball and volleyball courts.

At Queens College Summer Camp, campers ages 5-14 not enrolled in the sports, dance, or theater programs can choose the Education and Sports program, which divides the day into age-appropriate academic enrichment (science, art, and computers) and athletic activities (basketball, swimming, and more).

Want More Info: 65-30 Kissena Blvd., Flushing; 718-997-2777; qccamp.com

Courtesy Queens College Summer Camp

Summer Camp Adds Program and Updates Facilities

Through the QC Sports Club campers can now focus fully on sports during their camp experience.

Who: @ Play Amusements What’s New: A video maker booth, a second bounce house, and bumper cars are coming to the family-friendly venue in Nassau County within the next couple months.

The fully remodeled facility is open year-round and offers a wide variety of attractions, including a carousel, roller coaster, and laser tag, as well as traditional and cutting-edge arcade games. Private party rooms are also available.

The interactive video maker booth will allow families and friends to capture memorable moments with special effects and fun props. The facility’s second bounce house will be dedicated to jumpers ages 9 and younger. And the newly remodeled bumper cars hit the indoor tracks in June.

Want More Info: 229 Broadhollow Road, Farmingdale; 631-815-5355; info@playamusement.com; atplayamusement.com

Courtesy @ Play Amusements

Indoor Amusement Center Expands Attractions

Visitors must be at least 42 inches tall to ride select bumper cars at @ Play Amusements.

Who: VivaEve What’s New: The facility, which opened in October 2016.

VivaEve specializes in providing Uterine Fibroid Embolization, a minimally invasive procedure performed by a board-certified interventional radiologist.

After local anesthesia, a tiny incision is made in the wrist or groin. Using real-time imaging, a catheter is guided through the artery to release tiny particles into the uterine arteries that supply blood to the fibroids, blocking blood flow to the tumors so they shrink and die.

UFE typically takes an hour, in-office recovery time is approximately 2-3 hours, and VivaEve provides round-trip transportation.

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May 2017 | nymetroparents.com

Courtesy VivaEve

VivaEve Offers Non-Surgical Uterine Fibroid Embolization

The reception area at VivaEve

180 East 79 St. Suite # 1C New York, NY 10021

114-20 Queens Blvd, Suite CS2 Forest Hills, NY 11375

Committed to providing neuropsychological and educational assessments to the children of NYC for over ten years.

Our director, Dr. Sanam Hafeez, is a highly sought after expert in the field of child development and learning and a faculty member at Columbia University. She is a regular medical guest and expert contributor to the CBS news shows, Dr. Oz Show, Nancy Grace, Fox and Friends, WebMD, Yahoo! Health and Parenting, Glamour, Women’s Health Magazine and more.

Who We Help: • Learning disabilities • Autism Spectrum Disorders • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder • Memory and Processing Deficits • Developmental Disorders and Delays • Depression, anxiety, behavioral issues, mood disorders, etc

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We accept Health Insurance GHI, UnitedHealthCare, Oxford, Cigna, MagnaCare, BlueCross BlueShield (BCBS) All Major credit cards accepted

www.ComprehendTheMind.com | 1-888-441-0015 QueensParent

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UOTABLES There are times, be it a short drive to school or a longer weekend trip, when I just want to lose myself in a blast of ‘Enter Sandman’

by Metallica without three toneless backup singers in the back seat fighting for the air-drumming rights. Yes, they know all the words. Even my 3 year old.

—Lea Farrow, in a post entitled “7 Unexpected Things I Miss About Life Before Kids,” on her blog TheMethodMother.com

in an instagram 55 degrees! Perfect weather to follow dinosaur tracks and learn about fossils at #DinosaurStatePark #dinosaurs #travelandlearn #nyckids #weekendplans #littletraveler #familytravel #hartford #connecticut (Posted by @thelandoftwo, aka Aurora Aquino, a New York mom)

SKIPPING HOMEWORK

in an instagram Fearless #internationalwomensday #fearlessgirl #fearless #wallstreet #womenofthefuture #bravegirl #forceisfemale #fearce #disneyjunior #disney #disneyjr #artmonte (Posted by @a_a_almonte, aka Alexandra Almonte, a New York mom)

“When we bought this house, we pictured ourselves staying here forever, but I guess that’s normal.

Humans don’t put down roots while simultaneously planning to uproot them. Still, I have spent the last several weeks mourning the childhood I assumed would take place right here.”

—Rebecca Woolf, in a post entitled “And Keep Sailing,” on her blog GirlsGoneChild.net

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May 2017 | nymetroparents.com

“After giving up homework, she was able to spend hours doing things that children should have time to do: swing on the swing set, blow bubbles, plop down on the grass and watch clouds go by, catch fireflies, and make wishes upon stars. She could wonder about things.”

—Diane Roncone in an article entitled “Why I Let My Daughter Say No to Homework;” read the whole thing at

nymetroparents.com/no-homework.

MORE NYMetroParents.com HIGHLIGHTS: CRAFTS FOR MOM: Make it a flowery Mother’s Day with these crafts (nymetroparents.com/mothers-day-crafts).

SAIL AWAY: Where to go catch a boat in the NYC area (nymetroparents.com/boat-rides).

UNDER THE SEA! Discover a marine life paradise at Atlantis Bahamas (nymetroparents.com/atlantis).

SPRING IN NYC: Check out all the fun NYC has to offer this time of year (nymetroparents.com/nyc-spring).

NYMP Q&A

Losing Is Winning ››

By Bethany Braun-Silva

S

am Weinman is the digital editor at Golf Digest and has been a sports journalist for 20 years. His new book Win at Losing, which was inspired by his kids, shows the benefits of losing and what we can learn from it.

Enroll Now!

What do we win from losing?

Losing is great feedback. When you lose at a certain endeavor, you are learning something about where you need improvement. Losing exposes weakness and things you can be improving upon. So if it’s sport and you lose, you are ultimately given an indication at what you need to work on. The second thing is character. Losing is an inevitable part of life and the more we navigate that dynamic the better we get at it and the better we’re equipped to handle losing in whatever realm.

Losing is a great character-building moment in that you are given the opportunity to experience something difficult and emerge from it and that is ultimately a really great growth opportunity.

What should parents do after their child experiences defeat?

I would start by telling your child everyone loses and encourage them not to despair when you go through these moments because it may not be right away but there will be something good to come out of that loss and something positive to take from it. If you can get your kid to wrap their brain around that and know good can come from losing, then they’re less afraid of trying new things because they will be less afraid of failing. The undesirable outcome can yield something positive.

Anything parents shouldn’t do? The first thing is to not put your kid in a position where they are shielded from failure. There is a point when winning and losing is just part of the deal of growing up and I would be very leery of trying to protect your kid from that. Ultimately you are depriving them the opportunity to experience it and learn from it. The second thing is when your kids are upset after a loss, even if it seems trivial to you, don’t belittle how they are feeling. Try to meet them where they are and recognize that while it may seem insignificant to you, it’s a big deal to them and you should validate their feelings.

Do you suggest letting kids win at a young age? Or should parents play fair from the beginning? At a very young age you are dealing with emotion versus reason so my feeling is when you’re engaging in an activity with your kid you shouldn’t be rewarding winning or losing as much as rewarding trying something different. Try to focus on the process of playing the game or having fun and that’s true even as they get older, that yes you don’t want to shelter your kids from failure, but you can still define success a lot of different ways. It can be trying something new or sticking to a process or plan, or when they understand the rules. There’s value in commending that.

S uc ce s s f ul F r ie n d s h i p s a re Po s s i ble !

•••••••••• •••••• We ca n h elp you r ch ild su cc ee d one st ep at a ti m

e.

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STEPS TO

SOCIALIZATION

516.767.0266 www.s2sny.com QueensParent 11

DIY CORNER TREAT YOUR MOM

Fizzy Bath Bombs

The main ingredient in bath bombs is the chemical sodium bicarbonate, aka baking soda. The other key ingredient is citric acid.

These chemicals don’t do much as dry powders, but in water they react and dissolve to produce tiny bubbles of carbon dioxide gas, which is what causes the fizzzzzzzing! (A similar reaction is commonly used in volcano science projects to create foaming “lava.”) The fizzing helps the bath bombs dispense faster and, combined with the hot water, spreads whatever yummy scent you have chosen.

Pamper Mom this Mother’s Day by making these with her favorite scents and colors for a bath-time treat she’s sure to enjoy!

Maker Checklist Large bowl ½ cup citric acid 1 cup baking soda ½ cup cornstarch ½ cup Epsom salt Small bowl or glass

1 tsp. essential oil 1 tsp. water 1 tsp. olive oil Soap colorant in various colors Multiple small bowls Small plastic containers

Directions 1. Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl and mix well.

2. Stir wet ingredients together in a small bowl or glass.

3. V ery slowly add the wet mixture to the dry mixture and keep mixing! Mix, mix, mix, so it doesn’t fizz and bubble up! After it’s all combined, let your mixture sit for a few minutes. It should feel like wet sand and stay together when you squeeze it in your hand. If it’s still too dry or crumbly, add a drop of water or olive oil—but be careful not to let it get too wet!

4. S eparate the mixture into smaller bowls and add a drop of soap colorant. Mix well! We found mixing by hand was the most effective way to get an even color. It’s also nice to leave one bowl white for layering.

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May 2017 | nymetroparents.com

5. Layer your mixture into molds. We used plastic ornaments split in half and experimented with small plastic containers and other recyclables, like yogurt cups.

6. Pack the layers down tightly into the mold by pressing with your fingers.

7. Let dry for a few minutes before carefully removing the bath bomb from the mold. Don’t try to handle the bath bomb yet!

Turn it out from its mold directly onto a surface to dry, and let dry a few hours or overnight.

8. Drop in a warm bath and enjoy!

Reprinted with permission from Curious Jane © 2017 by Girls Dream Out Loud Inc. Published by Sterling Children’s Books. Photography by Elissa Josse and Samantha Razook Murphy.

Media Matters: Summer Movies

5 Movies Your Kids Will Want to See in May and June

Guardians of the Galaxy

Opens May 5 • Target Ag

Vol. 2

e: 11-13+

The sequel to the hit space adventure promises to be an actionpacked good time.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Th

Opens May 19 • Target Ag

e Long Haul

e: 9-12

The fourth Wimpy Kid mo vie has a new cast, but exp ect the same silly antics and potty hum or for which the series is kno wn.

Captain Underpants: The

Opens June 2 • Target Ag

First Epic Movie

e: 5-8

Expect plenty of rude lan guage and cartoonish vio lence in an animated movie based on the hugely popular boo k series.

Cars 3

Opens June 16 • Target

Age: 5-8

The Pixar racecar threequ el looks family-friendly, but with some intense moments.

Despicable Me 3 Opens June 30 • Target

Our Partner: Common Sense Media An independent nonprof it that helps families make smart media choices.

Check out thousands of ratings and reviews at commonsensemedia.org

Age: 5-8

The third film in the popula r, kid-friendly supervillain series promises to be a fun choice for kids and parents to enjoy together, with lots of laughs and positive messages.

See more at NYMetroParents.com/media

Open House May 13th 11 am - 2 pm

QueensParent 13

Get Your Kid on Our Cover!

››

QueensParent OCTOBER 2016

FREE FULL DAY UPK

NYMETROPARENTS.COM

FOR CHILDREN BORN IN 2013

» Enriched Curriculum » Extended Day Class » NYC Gifted and Talented Prep. Class Scheduling Woes How to solve common birthday party dilemmas

Time for a Cellphone?

» Yoga Class » Art Class » Language Class

Knowing when kids are ready for independence

QueensParent SEPTEMBER 2016

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QueensParent AUGUST 2016

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May 2017 | nymetroparents.com

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THE POWER OF PRESCHOOL

ave you ever looked at the cover of this magazine and thought to yourself, “My child should be featured there”?

Well, now’s your chance! The 2017 Kids Cover Contest will open April 24. And this year we’ve expanded it to include 10 finalists, all of whom will be professionally photographed and have a chance to be on our cover. Here’s how it works: Go to nymetroparents.com/cover. You’ll be asked to upload a photo of your child, and you can add a caption, if you like. We’ll ask for your child’s name and age and for some information on how to contact you if your child is a finalist.

Our editors will choose nine of the finalists, and the 10th is the Fan Favorite—the entrant with the most votes. So after you enter, be sure to send the link to your friends and family and post it to your social media to get votes for your child.

After the photo shoot, our editors will choose two winners from among the 10 finalists, and both are guaranteed to be on a future cover of the magazine. One winner will receive a photo shoot from Barbizon and a one-year scholarship to Barbizon Modeling and Acting School, while the other will win a free two-night stay at Kalahari Resort in the Poconos, the largest indoor water park in the U.S. The rest of the finalists might be featured on future covers as well, and the Fan Favorite will win four tickets to Sesame Place.

The cover contest is open to children ages 2-16 and ends June 9. Enter at nymetroparents.com/cover!

When your little angel thinks he’s a daredevil...

Better have a good pediatrician.

Make sure your kids are covered.

Call 866.247.5678 (TTY 711) To learn more about applying for health insurance, including Child Health Plus and Medicaid through NY State of Health, The Official Health Plan Marketplace, visit nystateofhealth.ny.gov or call 855.355.5777.

AffinityPlan.org/CHP QueensParent 15

MOMMYBITES TIP OF THE MONTH

Be a ‘Tour Guide’ for Your New Nanny ››

Our friends at Mommybites are offering a monthly tip to help parents who employ—or are considering hiring—nannies.

“As a new employer, the most important thing that you can do to ensure an easy transition is to act as a family interpreter; you need to teach your new nanny the ‘language’ of your home. Try to reserve at least a few days to be her exclusive ‘tour guide.’ On her very first day, take her on a detailed tour of your home. Show her where everything is and familiarize her with her new surroundings. Describe in detail a typical day with your kids and be very specific about what role you expect her to play: Does she dress the children? Prepare meals? Who packs lunches? Is she responsible to take the children to and from school or do you do it? What about housework?

Communicating these details clearly will ensure that she understands what you expect of her.”

Mommybites’ mom-generated nanny board and babysitting boards have been some of the most popular child-care sites in New York City for more than 10 years! See more at mommybites.com.

HUMOR

© 2016 Alison Wong

Happy Mother’s Day to the Superheroes!

Alison Wong is the writer and illustrator of New Mom Comics: The First Year, which offers a humorous and relatable take on the wild journey of parenting.

“That first Mother’s Day completely changes its meaning. I felt more thankful for my own mother and very grateful to be a mother,” Wong said in her book.

Anyone celebrating Mother’s Day this May will appreciate Wong’s illustration on the superpowers moms possess.

Alison Wong is an illustrator, product designer, and innovation consultant.

She lives in the San Francisco Bay area with her husband and son. Visit newmomcomics.com for more.

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May 2017 | nymetroparents.com

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CALL 1-800-856-1043

QueensParent 17

The Not-So-Sweet Truth

››

Too much added sugar is detrimental to our health—here’s why, and what you can do about it. By Katelin Walling

F

ifty-six. That’s how many different names the food industry uses for sugar.

Here’s another number: 19½. That’s, on average, how many teaspoons of added sugar each person in the U.S. consumes each day. To be clear: We’re talking about added sugar—the sugar the food industry adds to foods, not the sugar found naturally in foods. The daily maximum recommendation from the American Heart Association? Six teaspoons for women, 9 teaspoons for men, less than 6 teaspoons for children ages 2-18, and zero for children ages 2 and younger.

Ready for another? One-quarter: the number of pounds of added sugar Americans are consuming daily, on average, which equates to 90-100 pounds of added sugar annually. “The problem is you’re really supposed to be consuming zero [added sugar], but you could consume an ounce or an ounce and a half,” says Robert Lustig, M.D., a pediatric endocrinologist, professor of pediatrics in the Division of Endocrinology at University of California, San Francisco, and author of Fat Chance: Beating the Odds Against Sugar, Processed Food, Obesity, and Disease.

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May 2017 | nymetroparents.com

So, why is it a big deal that we’re consuming so much added sugar? Dr. Lustig—who was also featured prominently in the 2015 documentary Sugar Coated (available on Netflix) and is a member of the SugarScience team, an authoritative source for the scientific evidence about sugar and its impact on health—shares what we need to know and think about before saying “Yes” to sugary foods.

Glucose vs. Fructose

There are two main sugars found in foods, and it’s important to know the difference because one is necessary and one isn’t.

Glucose, which is found in starch, is the energy of life, according to Dr. Lustig. “Glucose is so important that if you don’t consume it, your body makes it,” he says. The liver has a way of turning fat into glucose called gluconeogenesis. So while it’s necessary for life, it’s not necessary to eat.

Fructose, on the other hand, is an entirely different molecule.

“There’s no animal cell on the planet that needs fructose for any reaction at all,” Dr. Lustig explains, adding that it’s sweet, it’s energy, and it’s calories, but it’s not nutrition.

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Effects of Too Much Sugar

Acutely, too much sugar doesn’t have significant effects on the body. It’s the long-term effects that are the issue.

Dr. Lustig says there are three things fructose does to our bodies that glucose does not: Liver fat: “Because of the way fructose is processed, it goes to the liver and excess gets turned into liver fat, and that liver fat gums up the workings of the liver. When that happens, you end up with a phenomenon called insulin resistance. You have a situation where the liver’s not responding to the insulin signal so the pancreas has to make extra,” Dr. Lustig says, which raises insulin levels all over the body and leads to hyperinsulinemia.

Excess insulin, Dr. Lustig explains, does two things in your body to make you gain weight: It turns energy into fat cells, and it blocks leptin, the hormone that sends a signal to the brain when you’ve had enough to eat. Continued insulin secretion is also one of the major factors involved in chronic metabolic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, cancer, and dementia. “All of those are referred to in total as metabolic syndrome. Some people will get some of those diseases, some people will get others of those diseases, and some unfortunate people will get all of them,” Dr. Lustig says. “Anything that drives insulin is going to drive those, and because of the liver fat issue, fructose drives it.”

Aging: Have you ever thought of why bananas brown? It’s a chemical reaction called the Millard reaction—the aging reaction. “All carbohydrates bind to proteins, all carbohydrates cause a mild reaction. But because of fructose’s unique chemistry, it causes that mild reaction to occur seven times faster and generate a hundred times the number of oxygen radicals called oxidative stress that damage proteins and lipids inside cells,” Dr. Lustig says. “So basically sugar drives aging faster than other carbohydrates.”

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dopamine, the reward response. When dopamine is released, it fosters continued consumption, according to Dr. Lustig. “That’s something only fructose does. So you get into a vicious cycle of consumption and disease.”

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To paint a clearer picture, Dr. Lustig compares fructose to alcohol: “Alcohol is calories, but it’s not nutrition. Consumption of alcohol is dangerous in two ways: It’s dangerous acutely, and it’s dangerous chronically. Fructose is not dangerous acutely, but it is dangerous chronically for the same reason that alcohol is. In fact, fructose and alcohol are metabolized exactly the same in the liver, and that’s why kids are getting the disease of alcohol—Type 2 diabetes and fatty liver disease—without alcohol. Fructose sugar is the alcohol of the child. While we have the capacity to metabolize a limited amount of alcohol, excess is dangerous.

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‹‹ continued from previous page

For that study, the research team studied the diets of 33 Latino and African-American kids with metabolic syndrome (obesity plus at least one other chronic medical condition) to determine a home-baseline diet. Then, for the next 10 days, sugar was cut from the kids’ diets. “What we did was we gave them starch instead so they would not loose weight. We took pastries out, and we put the bagels in. … We took the chicken teriyaki out, and we put turkey hotdogs in. We gave them processed foods, but there were no added-sugar foods,” Dr. Lustig explains.

After those 10 days, the kids were assessed, and “every aspect of their metabolic health improved and their liver fat reversed. That is without any change in calories or any change in weight. This shows fructose is the primary driver because when we gave them extra glucose instead of fructose, it got better unrelated to calories and unrelated to weight,” Dr. Lustig says. “That proves that sugar is the driver of these metabolic diseases. It may not be the only driver, but it certainly is the primary driver, and the one that children are exposed to.”

Easy Tips for Cutting Sugar

When working the following tips into your family’s lifestyle, the first thing to keep in mind is to cut back gradually and make realistic goals for your family. “It’s really hard to go to an extreme. I work with families that want to cut everything all at once, and that’s usually unsuccessful,” says Nicole Silber, R.D., a pediatric nutritionist based in New York City. “Meet your child where they’re at, engage them in the plan, and cut back slowly, which I think will end up yielding more success than to cut back drastically.”

Be weary of foods labeled as fat-free. “There are a bunch of fatfree items that tend to be loaded with sugar to compensate for the loss of fat in the product, especially in baked goods,” Silber says.

Opt for fresh fruit over dried fruit or fruit sauce. With dehydrated fruit and sauces, it’s a matter of the source of sugar being concentrated, Silber says. For example, when you dehydrate a plum, what’s left is the fiber and natural fruit sugar.

“It ends up being much smaller, so you could eat five prunes, which will fill your stomach the same amount as one plum, but you’re consuming five times the amount of sugar because you’re essentially eating five plums,” Silber explains. The same thing happens with applesauce. “It will take a child a few minutes to eat a whole apple, which has the skin, the fiber, the liquid. When you boil it down and puree it into a sauce, you can probably have four or five apples in the same amount of time it would take to eat one whole apple,” Silber adds.

Choose plain yogurt over flavored. Yogurt can be unhealthy if you’re not picking the right one, Silber says. “If a child is used to high-sugar yogurts, you can add in your own fruit, jam, maple syrup, honey,” she advises. “You can even add in your own white sugar. I’m confident you will add in less than the food companies.” And make sure you check the labels on baby yogurts; Silber says some brands are really high in added sugar.

Preventatively, don’t introduce infants to juice or sweetened foods in their first year. Silber advises to give babies more veggies and less fruit to accustom their taste buds to less sweet 20

May 2017 | nymetroparents.com

foods. When shopping for baby foods or making your own, opt for blends that have one or no fruit.

Cut down your weekly dessert intake. Wherever your family is now, cut back one to two servings per week, Silber advises. “If a family has dessert every night, I would say cut back to five nights per week,” Silber says. Another option is to substitute fresh fruit and eat the fruit when it’s extra ripe because it will taste sweeter.

Check out Silber’s no-sugar-added recipe for chocolate banana ice cream at nymetroparents.com/banana-icecream.

Drink water rather than sweetened beverages. Nearly twothirds of kids in the U.S., ages 2-19, consumed at least one sugarsweetened beverage per day, and roughly 30 percent of children consumed two or more, between 2011-2014, according to a study published in January by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics. That includes soda, fruit drinks, sports and energy drinks, and sweetened coffees and teas.

Silber says most kids don’t need to consume beverages aimed toward athletes. “Usually water and a nutritious snack before and after will be sufficient to restore the nutrition and hydration,” she says.

Leave sugar out of recipes when possible. With cooking, Silber suggests cutting the sugar from the recipe entirely, or cutting it in half. “I do this a lot where I see a recipe for a marinade that has a lot of honey or white sugar that I will eliminate and I still think the recipe comes out tasty,” she says.

For baking, Silber says to look for recipes that use more natural forms of sugar, such as honey, agave, or maple syrup because they’re more concentrated, so you’ll use less of it. And remember: “There is a time and a place for [sweets],” Silber says. “Just because it doesn’t have the white sugar doesn’t mean it’s a food that should be given all the time.”

Read and understand the Nutrition Facts labels on packaged foods. The Food and Drug Administration announced a new Nutrition Facts label in May 2016, which among other changes includes an “Includes X g Added Sugars” field. Food manufacturers will need to implement the new label by July 26, 2018, while smaller companies will have an additional year to comply, according to the FDA. Until then, Silber suggests thinking about it in terms of a sugar packet, which is approximately 4 grams of sugar. If you choose a food product that has 8-12 grams of sugar per serving, “envision yourself opening up two or three sugar packets and pouring that into your dish. That can become quite alarming,” she says.

Silber recommends choosing condiments (ketchup, salad dressing, and marinades) with less than 5 grams of sugar per serving, and foods (breads, yogurts, cereals, etc.) with no more than 10 grams of sugar per serving.

An easy way to keep track of your added sugar intake is to convert the grams per serving into teaspoons. There are 4.2 grams of sugar per teaspoon, Dr. Lustig says. That comes out to less than 25 grams per day for children and teens, 25.2 grams for women, and 37.8 grams for men. “We’re currently at about 90 [grams per day] on average. That’s a big difference,” Dr. Lustig says.

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Fitting Fitness Into Your Day

››

As parents, our lives are crazy busy, so here are some easy ways to make sure you’re finding ways to exercise. By Rosalind Muggeridge

D

espite all the advice we parents get about self-care these days, our busy schedules—kids, work, extracurricular activities, and for many of us, aging parents—ensure that our fitness goals consistently end up last on our priority lists. To help remedy that, I spoke with Rachel Lozoff, a Pilates teacher, dancer, and founder of Daily Body Pilates, to get some tips for seasoned parents and new moms alike on developing and, even trickier, maintaining productive fitness habits.

You May Already Be Doing It

Make your daily routine work for you. It’s a fact that many of us are abysmally overscheduled, so finding an hour three times a week to hit the gym may not be practical for everyone.

(Kudos to you if you are making that happen!) It turns out you can still work fitness into your life by simply noticing and taking advantage of what you may already be doing. “I always tell my clients that everything counts,” Lozoff says. “Walking up the stairs instead of taking the elevator, playing with and picking up your kids, stretching or moving your body while you watch TV, or 22

May 2017 | nymetroparents.com

even adding a little aerobic exercise to your daily life by walking everywhere you normally walk, just a little more quickly.”

Be aware. I remember being surprised at how physically strenuous taking care of my first child felt. Whether it’s wrangling a fractious toddler into a stroller or spinning kids around during a dance party, parenting can take a physical toll. Trying to tune into your movements is a great way to help strengthen your body and avoid any chronic pain from starting or worsening. Lozoff calls this type of awareness “Livelates”(pronounced live-a lot-ease, a term Lozoff has trademarked), and it is one of the main strategies she says she uses to help her “stay strong, functional, and able to have daily wrestling matches with two young boys.”

Even when you’re not around your kids, you should try to maintain that awareness. Sometimes it makes sense to sweat the small stuff. “Alignment and posture are also things you can be aware of as a way to prevent overuse or injury,” Lozoff says.

“Are you twisting your body to look at your computer screen at work? Do you carry all of your bags on the same shoulder all the

time? Details like this may seem minor or unimportant in the moment, but can contribute to general aches and pains, and even overuse injuries, over time.”

Consider how you’re framing it. It may be helpful to think about working out in a way that speaks to you and your own personal needs and wishes. Maybe it’s a means to incorporate some time to yourself, a way to stay sane when everyone is wanting a piece of you, or simply something that is going to make you a calmer, better parent. “While the physicality of our lives in NYC can be taxing,” Lozoff says, “seeing your fourth-floor walkup as a daily opportunity to keep your legs and gluteals strong can help it feel less like torture and more like a few minutes of exercise that really will add up and make you stronger.”

Make a Habit of It

Take some time to plan before you start. Lozoff breaks down how to carve out time from our busy daily routines. The first step, she says, is to find 5-10 minutes of movement. “This can be from a class you take, a video you like, or one of many online fitness options,” she says. “If you can memorize the movement over time, this will make it easier to fit in to your daily life.

Another thing Lozoff recommends is picking a time of day when you can squeeze in those few minutes. That could be first thing in the morning, after your child goes down for his nap, on your lunch hour, or after your kids go to sleep at night. “This five to ten minutes can be a manageable amount of time to start with and can still go a long way toward feeling good,” she says.

“Once you get into the habit of fitting regular movement into your day, you can slowly start making your routine longer,” she adds. When I first began exercising after childbirth, I started by simply lying down on my yoga mat and trying to tune into my abdominal core muscles. Once I felt ready to move on, I worked up from there to include more strenuous exercises. Lozoff also advises trying to make the first 5 minutes of your session consist of the same exercises, so that over time you know the movements so well that you can lie down anywhere, anytime, and devote a few minutes to work out.

Do it before you can talk yourself out of it. For many people this is in the morning. For me, it’s as soon as I put my youngest down for his afternoon nap. It helps if I’m already wearing workout clothes, thereby eliminating one more step that might get me off track. For Lozoff, “As soon as I put my son down to sleep, and before I do anything else like clean up toys or do the dishes, I get out my yoga mat and do my 25-minute routine. Though it has changed over the years, I still have that routine and at the end of each busy day, it still feels good to know I had that time for myself in my day. And there are still some days when I can only do five minutes! But it counts.”

Have fun with it. I didn’t start being even remotely consistent about my fitness until I figured out that doing the loop in Prospect Park in Brooklyn is where my bliss lies. I go even more frequently if I’m meeting a friend who is expecting me to be there at a certain time. We try to finish the full 5-kilometer loop; sometimes we run half of it and sometimes we walk the whole thing quickly—it just depends on how we’re feeling that day. Tracking the subtleties of the seasonal changes allows me to become much more in tune with nature and makes me feel like I’m getting a respite from urban living. Plus, being outside on a regular basis clears my head and makes me feel much more calm and centered.

Involving your family is also a great way to get motivated.

(Check out the Movers and Shakers section of this month’s events calendar on page 36 for ways to get out and moving with the whole family.) Or if you’re exercising at home try Lozoff’s tip: “Save your favorite TV show to watch while you exercise, so the whole thing feels like a treat.”

Post-Partum Moms

Take it slow, but try to check in with your body as often as possible. After my daughter’s extremely difficult delivery, I was overwhelmed by how disconnected I felt from my body.

There were days I wondered if I would ever have the energy and motivation to even start thinking about getting back into shape.

But as I learned, feeling fit doesn’t have to involve making a huge commitment.

“Finding time to do something every day, even for just a few minutes, is really essential, especially when you’re postpartum,” Lozoff says. “Not only is it physically beneficial to move, stretch, and strengthen your body, but knowing you have a small part of the day that’s just for you can be both energizing and calming.”

Lozoff ’s first son was born via emergency cesarean section.

“Suddenly my life and my body were completely new to me,” she says. With help from her own fitness instructor—who even held her new baby during the workout—she was able to develop a 25-minute routine. “Scheduling and finances were such that I could only see my teacher a couple times, but once I had that routine, I had the tools to come back to my body and feel strong again.”

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FOOD & NUTRITION

Avocado Toast—Elevated

››

Kick up this basic breakfast with some unexpected additions.

Avocado toast can be enjoyed in three simple steps: toast bread, top it with avocado (smashed or sliced), and eat. But Lara Ferroni shares 20 ideas to elevate the basic meal, from why-didn’t-I-think-of-that combos to unexpected and unusual flavor choices.

From left: Sourdough, smashed avocado, cucumber, chili flakes, fish sauce; sourdough, sliced avocado, strawberries, balsamic vinegar; sourdough, smashed avocado, nectarine slices, fresh mozzarella, fresh mint; sourdough, diced avocado, bacon jam, arugula

Clockwise from top: Brioche loaf, smashed avocado, banana, cinnamon, sugar; brioche loaf, sliced avocado, Nutella, pear slices; brioche loaf, smashed avocado, mandarin orange segments, coconut cream, fresh mint; brioche loaf, sliced avocado, scrambled egg, hot sauce

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May 2017 | nymetroparents.com

Clockwise from top left: Baguette, sliced avocado, almond butter, honey, lemon juice; baguette, smashed avocado, radish slices, Herbs de Provence, flakey sea salt; baguette, sliced avocado, marmalade, flakey sea salt; baguette, smashed avocado, grilled romaine, boquerónes

Clockwise from top: Lettuce, smashed avocado, apple slices, cabbage, poppy-seed dressing; pita, sliced avocado, roasted poblano (or jalapeño), crema; cracker, smashed avocado, pepper jelly; chip sliced avocado, cheddar, caramelized onions

Clockwise from top left: Bagel, smashed avocado, summer tomato slices, fresh basil; bagel, diced avocado, pickled beets, chèvre; bagel, smashed avocado, feta, black sesame seeds, cilantro, lime juice; bagel, sliced avocado, smashed sweet potato, ricotta salata

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Courtesy Nicole Perrino

Courtesy Bicultural Mama Courtesy Betsy Vilca

Courtesy Jen Rabulan-Bertram

Suffolk County blogger Maria Adcock and her family at a birthday party. The kids are half Chinese and Adcock hopes they embrace that side of their heritage.

Jen Rabulan-Bertram and her family live in Denville, NJ, and call themselves the “token mixed family” of their area.

Nicole Perrino and her family live in the Bronx, where she says the diversity makes them comfortable raising mixed-race kids.

Queens mom Betsy Vilca, who is Peruvian, says she and her husband, who is Irish, teach their kids about both cultures.

Growing Up Mixed

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There are more mixed-race families than ever, but parents still face challenges raising kids in two cultures. By Samantha Neudorf

T

here is no worse feeling than when people think you and your child are unrelated. At least, that’s how my mother felt.

I am half German and half Filipina, and I remember many times when I would be out with my Filipina mother and people would come up to her and say, “What a cute child! Are you her nanny?” or “Is she adopted?” One person even went so far as to flatout deny I was her daughter and insisted, “I just don’t see how that’s possible.” All because I did not look exactly like her.

Incidents like these stuck with me and are among the major challenges parents face when raising a mixed-race child. I decided to speak with parents here in the New York metro region to hear their accounts of raising bicultural children today.

Looking Different

In my own experience, identifying as multiracial is complicated because you look “different” from others. It’s challenging because you do end up relating to one side more than another—yet you are not entirely of that race, so you are not always fully accepted even 26

May 2017 | nymetroparents.com

within that group. On the other hand, it feels great to be able to celebrate more than one heritage and be able to better understand other cultures.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau in 2013, 9 million Americans identified as two or more racial categories when asked about their racial background, and a more recent Pew study put that number significantly higher. In New York City, 4 percent of the population identified as “two or more races” in the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau, while statewide more than half a million New Yorkers did the same— and the number is surely growing.

A Cultural Melting Pot

Often revered as a cultural melting pot, New York City and its suburbs are home to people of countless ethnicities. It is therefore not surprising that interracial relationships are on the rise, and with them, the birth of multi-race children.

Nicole Perrino is the founder of the blog Bronx Mamas and is Italian-Irish. Her boyfriend Luis is Dominican, and their daughters

are Briana, 10, and Gia, 4. They live in East Bronx and found that the area has a blend of both of their cultures. “It’s so diverse and you never know what a person is just by looking at them,” Perrino says.

Betsy Vilca is a blogger and YouTuber at Thats Betsy V, and a mother of two children: Ziana, 4, and Gunner, 1. She is Peruvian and her boyfriend Bobby is Irish. They live in the Kew Gardens section of Queens, which is one of the most ethnically diverse places in the country.

Vilca expresses concern about how her kids will be treated based on the current political climate. “I feel like it’s much more accepting to be a mixed-race family than it was years ago,” she says. “But at the same time, with Donald Trump in office we’re concerned our kids might be ostracized because they’re not whitewhite and they’re not Spanish.”

Vilca is able to have her kids learn about both sides of their heritage in New York by going to St. Patrick’s Day activities as well as eating Peruvian dishes such as lomo saltado, a stir-fry of sirloin steak with onions, tomatoes, and French fries served over a bed of rice. “It’s very cultural here in New York and I feel like they’ll be able to identify more with different cultures when they get older,” Vilca says.

Preserving Tradition

One way to preserve tradition is to teach kids to be bilingual or to “speak their mother tongue.” Vilca’s daughter Ziana understands Spanish when she speaks to her, but sometimes refuses to respond because everyone around speaks English. Vilca grew up in Garden City Park on Long Island and felt the same way. “I grew up with a lot of Caucasians and my parents only spoke Spanish, so I couldn’t identify with those kids and was ostracized in that aspect,” Vilca says. She hopes her kids will grow up to speak Spanish fluently and understand it better than she does.

Maria Adcock is the founder of the blog Bicultural Mama and is Chinese-American. She and her husband Matthew, who is Caucasian, live in Suffolk County and have two daughters: Ailin, 8, and Aimei, 2. Ailin is enrolled in Chinese school and Aimei will follow in her footsteps once she is old enough to attend.

Adcock wants her daughters to go to Chinese school because there are not many Asians in her area and her family lives out of state, so her kids do not have a chance to hear relatives speak Chinese very often. She attended Chinese school growing up and wants her kids to be exposed to the culture, language, and traditions. “Some of the challenges of raising mixed-race children are ensuring that the minority heritage traditions are passed down and that my kids are embracing it and proud that there’s this part of them,” Adcock says.

“It’s very easy for them to lose the minority heritage because they’re not immersed in it.”

Adcock hopes that her daughters will continue to celebrate both cultures. She says Ailin identifies more with her Chinese side, but says that could change if she decides she wants to choose to embrace her Caucasian side more. “My husband’s family is nearby and we see them several times a month,” Adcock says. “That’s why I feel like I need to make sure that the other side is being reinforced as well.”

Uncomfortable Situations

Adcock talked to Ailin about racism and what to do if she is bullied. She grew up in Michigan and said she was teased, so she wants to make sure her kids know what to do if that ever happens.

“I want them to be proud at a young age and try to protect them as much as possible.”

There was an instance where Adcock was with Ailin at the post office when she was a baby and an older woman approached them

and said, “Oh my gosh, is that an ‘Amerasian’ baby?”

The term “Amerasian” is used to define a person born in Asia to a U.S. military father and an Asian mother. It was first used during the wars in Korea and then Vietnam and could be applicable to U.S. citizens of any ethnicity, so this was a misinformed comment that made Adcock feel taken aback. “I can tell that she didn’t mean it in an offensive way because she was smiling and said she knew other ‘Amerasian’ babies,” Adcock says. “It was just kind of strange to be called out that way.”

Teaching Kids to Understand Others

Jen Rabulan-Bertram is the founder of the blog Next Kid Thing. She is Filipina-American and her husband Jeff is German, English, and Irish. Jen, Jeff, and their kids Jack, 9, and Josh, 5, live in Denville, NJ, and say they are the “token mixed family” of their area.

Rabulan-Bertram grew up in Virginia, where she says people made racial jokes toward her and repeated racial stereotypes, so she made sure her kids learned how to embrace others. The common refrain in their household is that everyone is different, whether it’s how they look or if they are differently abled. Josh is in special education, so it is especially ingrained in her kids that they accept anyone regardless of race or physical differences. “You don’t know the other person’s story, so you just say that everyone is different,” RabulanBertram says.

Rabulan-Bertram says Jack has been learning about his culture in school and hopes he grows up to embrace both sides. “Having a mom that looks one way and a dad that looks another is definitely something he should be proud of,” Rabulan-Bertram says.

“Whether it’s having awesome food and learning about how his grandparents grew up in a really cool island, I think it’s important for him to know that.”

As for me, being bicultural has allowed me to understand the world and empathize with others through a lens not many people can use. I understand and accept that people will continue to give me weird looks because they cannot figure out what my ethnicity is.

I understand that I will be too Asian in some people’s eyes and too white to others. I understand the struggle to be accepted in society because at the end of the day, I’m still a minority. And I would never change any of it because I am proud of who I am.

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OUTINGS: Gulliver’s Gate

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See the World in Miniature

You can travel the world—and occasionally through time—without leaving Times Square. ›› By Katelin Walling

Katelin Walling

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Katelin Walling

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Courtesy Gulliver’s Gate

Katelin Walling

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1 The Russian section of Gulliver’s Gate is entirely handcrafted (made of balsam wood and hand painted), while other countries utilized 3-D printing. 2 Iconic

buildings in New York City have been miniaturized, including the commuter hub of Grand Central. Various trains, vehicles, and even planes will move throughout the exhibit. Here the MetroCard shows just how tiny everything is at Gulliver’s Gate. 3 Visitors will see scenes from throughout history, including Colossus of Rhodes, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. 4 Until the masters of science and technology are able to make time travel happen, Beatles fans young and old will have to make do with seeing this iconic scene in miniature.

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ulliver’s Gate (a nod to Gulliver’s Travels) is a re-creation of various major cities across the world in Lilliputian proportions—miniature models, built to scale.

The extremely family-friendly venue— changing tables are in all bathrooms, a private nursing station is available for breast-feeding moms, and strollers are welcome—is set to become one of the most interactive miniature exhibits in America.

A Whimsical, Interactive Experience

Upon arrival, each visitor will exchange their ticket for a skeleton key (beginning May 9), which “unlocks” the interactive elements throughout the re-creation—until then, buttons control the elements. Examples include Nessie poking her head out of Loch Ness in Scotland and a bullring spinning to reveal a bullfight in which the bull, in an unusual turn of events, antagonizes the matador in Spain. (Keep an eye out for other humorous scenes like these as subtle and overt humor was integrated throughout—perfect for entertaining children and parents.) Bonus: You get to take the key home as a keepsake.

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May 2017 | nymetroparents.com

More Than Just Buildings

You’ll see renderings of famous buildings and monuments from all over the world— from the Statue of Liberty to the Eiffel Tower in France, among many others. Just don’t expect to see the full Empire State Building and One World Trade—they are so tall that even built to scale they don’t completely fit in the space. You’ll also see some scenes from history: the Beatles walking across Abbey Road, a Lenape village in New York, and Colossus of Rhodes standing over a harbor in Greece.

A Culturally Inclusive Exhibit

Eight countries took part in building Gulliver’s Gate, and the stylistic differences in the models show how the different countries interpret their regions and what they see as culturally significant. “One of the most important things for us is inclusion,” said Jason Hackett, head of marketing. “We want you to be able to see yourself in the model, no matter where you’re from.”

And you actually can. Step into a 3-D scanner (for an extra fee) and be rendered

as a Lilliputian-sized model citizen to become part of the exhibit.

Learn How It Works

Visitors can learn behind-the-scenes details about the miniature world. The wood and high-tech model shops are open for visitors to talk to the builders and learn how the mini cities were created, and a hallway is filled with projections of the entire building process. The command center that monitors the circuitry and interactive components of the miniatures is also open for visitors to see, and the engineers are encouraged to explain how things work in ways all visitors can understand.

Want to Go?

Address: 216 W. 44th St., Times Square, Manhattan Directions: Approximately a 1-hour subway ride from Flushing Hours: Daily, 9am-10pm; last entry will be at 8:30pm Admission: $36; $27 seniors ages 65 and older and children ages 12 and younger For more information: gulliversgate.com

Serving 3 months - 6 years of age (ALL MEALS INCLUDED)

www.preschoolofamerica.us | A Year-Round Program Mon-Fri 8:00am-6:00pm

Special Programs Piano class • Art class Dance class • Karate class Yoga class • Soccer class Foreign language class Competitive strategy & literacy based PRE-K CURRICULUM preparing children for KINDERGARTEN & BEYOND

Queens Schools 112-33 Queens Blvd/Forest Hills (718) 261-2522 42-31 Colden Street/Flushing (718) 762-1232

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83-04 Broadway/Elmhurst (718) 507-1687 63-47 Booth Street/Rego Park (718) 896-8108

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May 2017 | nymetroparents.com

• Barbizon Scholarship & Photo Shoot ($2,400 Value) • Tickets to Sesame Place ($260 Value)

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Promotion period 4/24/17 - 6/9/17

Ideas When You Need Them:

Sign up for our FREE newsletter & never hear “I’m bored!” again. We email the top kids’ events every Thursday—just in time to make weekend plans!

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Turn the page for details on Amusement Park Fun (No. 6 on our list).

MAY

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nymetroparents.com/submitevent UPDATED DAILY AT nymetroparents.com/calendar EDITOR: GAIL WARREN qpcal@davlermedia.com

CALENDAR 32 Editor’s Hot Tickets

37 Crafty Kids

34 We Can’t Believe It’s FREE!,

On Screen

38 Holiday Fun,

Dance Party

35 Show Time!

39 Once Upon a Time

36 Animal Lovers,

Movers & Shakers,

Special Needs

40 Mini Musicians 41 Fun Fairs & Festivals,

Smarty Pants

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EDITOR’S HOT TICKETS

Our calendar is full of great ideas. First, here are the 10 events we consider can’t-miss—the ones we’re taking our own kids to.

Consider it your cheat sheet to the best of what’s great this month!

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Mother’s Day Brunch in the Garden

WHEN: Sunday, May 14, 10am and 1pm WHERE: Queens Botanical Garden, 43-50 Main St., Flushing AGES: All WHAT: Treat mom to a delicious farm-to-table brunch featuring a sumptuous menu by Bartleby & Sage Catering. Guests will enjoy freshly made hot dishes from an Italian Market menu, muffins, scones, fair-trade coffees, teas, and more.

WHY WE LOVE IT: Celebrate Mom with a delicious meal in a beautiful urban garden.

WANT TO GO? $50; $30 children. 718-886-3800. queensbotanical.org.

STEM Expo FREE

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WHEN: Friday, May 19, 5:30-9pm WHERE: New York Hall of Science, 47-01 111th St., Corona AGES: 9 and older WHAT: Explore summer academic and internship opportunities in STEM, witness interactive science demonstrations, listen to music, explore the museum after dark, and enjoy a taste of Queens.

WHY WE LOVE IT: More than 20 community partners and colleges will inspire, give advice, and provide opportunities for youth.

WANT TO GO? 718-699-0005. nysci.org.

Mets T-Shirt Friday

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WHEN: May 5-19, Fridays, 7:10pm WHERE: Citi Field, 126th Street and Roosevelt Avenue, Flushing AGES: All

May 2017 | nymetroparents.com

WHAT: Cheer on as the Amazin’s take on the Miami Marlins on May 5, and the Angels on May 19. All fans receive a free Mets T-shirt.

WHY WE LOVE IT: Because it’s the Amazins, and we still believe.

WANT TO GO? $17 and up. 718-507-8499. mets.com.

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Traditions Festival FREE

WHEN: May 20-21, Saturday-Sunday, 12-4pm WHERE: King Manor Museum, 150-03 Jamaica Ave., Jamaica AGES: All WHAT: Showcasing artists, artisans, and performers demonstrating crafts from many different cultures from the 19th century and modern times, including plenty of fun hands-on activities.

WHY WE LOVE IT: See how art and culture from the past have impacted communities all across Queens today.

WANT TO GO? 718-206-0545. kingmanor.org.

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Presents ‘Out Of This World’ WHEN: May 12-21, Friday-Sunday, see website for times WHERE: NYCB LIVE, home of Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum Presented By New York Community Bank, 1255 Hempstead Turnpike, Uniondale, Long Island AGES: All WHAT: Prepare to blast off on a cosmic family adventure unlike any other. Join the Circus Space Fleet on a heroic quest of good versus evil and be the first to climb aboard and take the helm as a circus star seeker.

WHY WE LOVE IT: It’s Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey’s final farewell!

WANT TO GO? $22.75 and up. 516-231-4848. nycblive.com.

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Advanced Therapies to Treat

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AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER

Amusement Park Fun

WHEN: May 27-29, Saturday-Monday, 11am-8pm WHERE: Fantasy Forest Amusement Park at the Flushing Meadows Carousel, 111th Street and 55th Avenue, Corona AGES: All WHAT: Come and celebrate Memorial Day at Queens’ only amusement park. Ride on the historic Flushing Meadows Carousel, the Corona Cobra Coaster, and enjoy other rides, shows, and games.

WHY WE LOVE IT: A great way for the family to enjoy the holiday.

WANT TO GO? $3.50 per ticket. 718-788-2676. fantasyforestnyc.com.

90th Annual Little Neck-Douglaston Memorial Day Parade FREE WHEN: Monday, May 29, 2pm WHERE: Northern Boulevard and Great Neck Road, ends at 245th Street, Little Neck AGES: All WHAT: Highlights include an interfaith service, wreath-laying ceremonies, local high school marching bands, civic groups, and military organizations. Plus, there will be a performance by The Blue Aces, the United States Air Force band.

WHY WE LOVE IT: An opportunity to honor the great men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice to keep the USA free.

WANT TO GO? 718-279-3200. lndmemorialday.org.

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Right off LIE an Northern Sta d te

Fleet Week 2017 FREE

The Center For Integrative & Innovative Therapies (The CIIT Center)

WHEN: May 23-30, daily, see website for times WHERE: Various locations, see website for addresses, New York AGES: All WHAT: A great opportunity for the citizens of New York and the surrounding tri-state area to meet sailors, Marines, and members of the Coast Guard, as well as witness firsthand the latest capabilities of today’s maritime services.

WHY WE LOVE IT: It’s the city’s time-honored celebration of the sea services.

WANT TO GO? fleetweeknewyork.com.

10th Annual World Science Festival 2017

Functional Neurological Therapy Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

131 Sunnyside Boulevard, Suite 100, Plainview, N.Y. 11803 Phone: 516-243-8660 • Toll Free: 844-313-7117 www.theciitcenter.com • Follow us on

INTO OUR GIANT MINIATURE WORLD

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WHEN: May 30-June 4, see website for times WHERE: Various locations, see website for addresses, New York AGES: All WHAT: Join us for an exploration of groundbreaking discoveries and encounters with the trailblazing scientists and thinkers who are changing the world. This year will also celebrate the achievements of Women in Science, and explore the impact of the award-winning teachers on the future of scientific discovery.

WHY WE LOVE IT: The goal is to inspire the next generation of leaders.

WANT TO GO? See website for prices. 212-348-1400. worldsciencefestival.com.

Boro-Linc: Queens Art Workshops FREE

WHEN: May 13-June 10, Saturdays, 12pm WHERE: Jamaica Center for Arts and Learning, 161-4 Jamaica Ave., Jamaica AGES: 5 and older WHAT: Build life-sized sculptures of animals, dinosaurs, and even parts of your own body, with papier maché, plaster, and tape.

These community-engaged projects will be displayed at the JCAL Community Gallery at the end of the season. Registration required.

WHY WE LOVE IT: A wonderful opportunity to work with master artist and Jamaica, NY resident Emmett Wigglesworth in his studio.

WANT TO GO? 718-658-7400. jcal.org. ››

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MONUMENTAL. MESMERIZING. MINIATURE.

216 WEST 44TH STREET gulliversgate.com

QueensParent 33

Seining FREE

WHEN: Sunday, May 21, 11am-12:30pm WHERE: Broad Channel American Ball Fields, Cross Bay Boulevard and West 22nd Road, Broad Channel AGES: 9-12 WHAT: Catch-and-release fishing using nets is a great way to get outdoors and discover nature just a few blocks from home. All equipment is provided.

WANT TO GO? 718-352-1769. nycgovparks.org.

WE CAN’T BELIEVE IT’S FREE Think a freebie has to be ho-hum? Don’t let the price tag (or lack of one) fool you. Here are the five no-cost events we’re excited about now. You’re welcome.

First Friday FREE

ON SCREEN Best of the BAMkids Film Festival 2017

WHEN: Sunday, May 7, 2pm WHERE: BAM Rose Cinemas, 30 Lafayette Ave., Fort Greene, Brooklyn AGES: 3-12 WHAT: Enjoy a selection of the most popular films from this year’s BAMkids Film Festival, including the “BAMmie” award-winner for best short film as selected by the 2017 festival attendees.

WANT TO GO? $10; $7 for children 12 and younger. 718-636-4100. bam.org/kids.

WHEN: Friday, May 5, 7-9pm WHERE: Jamaica Center for the Arts and Learning, 161-04 Jamaica Ave., Jamaica AGES: All WHAT: The JCAL First Friday Residency Series aims to provide an inviting and nurturing environment for artists in need of a platform to exhibit their work. Musicians, poets and writers, performers, and visual artists submit concepts of unfinished work to be refined at JCAL. WANT TO GO? 718-658-7400. jcal.org.

Spring Film Series: ‘Some Like It Hot’

Kids Club FREE

Teen Digital Media Lab

WHEN: Saturday, May 6, 8-10am WHERE: Queens Center Mall, Lower Level, JCPenney Wing, 90-15 Queens Blvd., Elmhurst AGES: 3-12 WHAT: Powered by National Geographic Kids, this a great opportunity for kids to learn in a fun, interactive setting featuring creative activities and games that focus on discovery through play.

WANT TO GO? 718-592-3900. shopqueenscenter.com/events.

Open Studio FREE

WHEN: Sunday, May 7, Art Workshops, 11am-2pm; tours, 2pm WHERE: The Noguchi Museum, 9-01 33rd Road, at Vernon Boulevard, Long Island City AGES: 3-12, adult WHAT: Participate in a variety of activities in the galleries including hands-on art making workshops, and tours.

WANT TO GO? 718-204-7088. noguchi.org.

Day Camp Open House FREE

WHEN: Sunday, May 21, 10am-12pm WHERE: Beth Sholom Day Camp, 401 Roslyn Road, Roslyn Heights, Long Island AGES: 3-17 WHAT: Meet camp leadership, tour the indoor and outdoor facility, and ask all of your questions.

WANT TO GO? 516-621-9257. bethsholomdaycamp.com.

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May 2017 | nymetroparents.com

WHEN: Wednesday, May 17, 2pm WHERE: Queens Museum, NYC Building, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Flushing AGES: 13 and older WHAT: Classic comedy with Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis who witness a mob hit, then elude their pursuers disguised as women in an all-girl band–including Marilyn Monroe in a memorable comic performance.

WANT TO GO? $8; $4 seniors; free for children. 718-592-9700. queensmuseum.org.

WHEN: May 5-19, Fridays, 4-6pm WHERE: Museum of the Moving Image, 36-01 35th Ave., Astoria AGES: 13-17 WHAT: A series of free design jams just for teens. A unique opportunity to get exclusive access to the museum, share in your favorite kinds of media-making, or experiment with something new.

WANT TO GO? $15; $11 seniors; $7 children ages 3-17; free for children younger than 3. 718-429-2579. movingimage.org.

Family Film Friday FREE

WHEN: May 5-19, Fridays, 2:45pm WHERE: North Hills Library, 57-04 Marathon Parkway, Little Neck AGES: 5-12 WHAT: Don’t miss these wonderful family films, including Pete’s Dragon on May 5 and Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life on May 19.

WANT TO GO? 718-225-3550. queenslibrary.org.

Children’s Friday Matinee FREE

WHEN: May 5-26, Fridays, 3:30pm WHERE: Mitchell-Linden Library, 31-32 Union St., Flushing AGES: 5-12 WHAT: Enjoy these screenings of blockbuster children’s movies: Sing! on May 5; Moana on May 12; Mulan on May 19; and Big Hero 6 on May 26.

WANT TO GO? 718-539-2330. queenslibrary.org.

Tuesday Afternoon Movies FREE

WHEN: May 2-30, Tuesdays, 2:30pm WHERE: Bellerose Library, 250-08 Hillside Ave., Bellerose AGES: 5-17 WHAT: Teens and children accompanied by their parents or caregivers can enjoy these family friendly screenings: Storks on May 2; Mother›s Day on May 9; Queen of Katwe on May 16; Magnificent Seven on May 23; and Moana on May 30.

WANT TO GO? 718-831-8644. queenslibrary.org.

‘Journey to Space’ 3-D Movie

WHEN: Through June 30: Monday-Friday, 12pm and 3pm; Saturday-Sunday, 1pm and 4pm WHERE: New York Hall of Science, 47-01 111th St., Corona AGES: All WHAT: Moviegoers will learn about the important role of the International Space Station, uncover what NASA and the space community are working on, and discover the challenges they face to carry out bold missions such as capturing asteroids and landing astronauts on Mars.

WANT TO GO? $6; $5 children with admission: $15; $12 children, students, and seniors. 718-699-0005. nysci.org.

Outdoor Movie Night FREE

WHEN: May 28-Aug. 20, Sundays, 8:30pm WHERE: Randall’s Island Park, Field 81, Randall’s Island AGES: 9 and older WHAT: Catch outdoor movies surrounded by great views from Randall’s Island every other Sunday. Films include Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Aladdin, and Zootopia.

WANT TO GO? 212-860-1899. randallsisland.org.

Behind the Screen

WHEN: Through Dec. 31: Wednesday-Thursday, 10:30am-2pm; Friday, 10:30am-8pm; Saturday-Sunday, 11:30am-7pm WHERE: Museum of the Moving Image, 35-01 35th Ave., Astoria AGES: All WHAT: The museum’s dynamic core exhibition features more than 1,400 historical objects, art works, video clips, and interactive experiences that show how moving images are made, marketed, and exhibited. Visitors can create their own short animations, star in their own Video Flipbook, experiment with sound effects, and film music.

WANT TO GO? $15; $11 seniors with ID; $7 children ages 3-17; free for children younger than 3. 718-777-6888. movingimage.us.

SHOW TIME! ‘Peter Rabbit Tales’

WHEN: Saturday, May 6, 11am and 2pm WHERE: Skirball Center for the Performing Arts at NYU, 566 LaGuardia Place, Greenwich Village, Manhattan AGES: 3-8 WHAT: See Peter Rabbit and Benjamin Bunny as they have an adventure that involves a rescue of the Flopsy Bunnies and of course, an escape from Mr. McGregor’s garden. There will also be a pre-show workshop in the lobby during which children can make their own Peter Rabbit puppets.

WANT TO GO? $25-$29. 212-998-4941. skirballcenter.nyu.edu.

UniverSoul Circus Big Top

WHEN: Through May 7: Tuesday-Sunday, see website for times WHERE: Roy Wilkins Park, 177th Street and Baisley Boulevard, Jamaica AGES: All WHAT: Celebrating more than 20 years under the big top, UniverSoul Circus features music, theatrical performances, circus acts, and fun.

WANT TO GO? $20-$40. 800-745-3000. universoulcircus.com.

From My Mother’s Mother

WHEN: Saturday, May 13, 7:30pm WHERE: Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Blvd., Flushing AGES: 3-12 WHAT: Celebrate Mother’s day with a chamber opera about a Korean tradition, with love and reconciliation. Performance in English with English and Korean subtitles, libretto written in English.

WANT TO GO? $10; free for mothers. 718 463 7700. flushingtownhall.org.

‘You’re A Good Man Charlie Brown’

WHEN: May 4-13, Wednesday-Thursday and Sunday, 7pm; FridaySaturday, 7:30pm; Saturday, 3pm WHERE: The Little Secret Theatre, 44-02 23rd St., Long Island City AGES: 3-12, adult WHAT: Come spend a day in the life of the famous comic strip hero, Charlie Brown as he searches for what it means to be a good person, finding unexpected answers from his friends, Schroeder, Linus, Sally, Lucy, and Snoopy.

WANT TO GO? $20; $12.50 for children 13 and younger. 718-392-0722. secrettheatre.com.

Tim Kubart & The Space Cadets Family Show

WHEN: Saturday, May 20, 2:15pm WHERE: Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Blvd., Flushing AGES: 3-12 WHAT: Tim will weave childhood memories through textured pop tunes with lyrics that bridge the gap between innocence and wisdom in a way that listeners of all ages will appreciate and understand.

WANT TO GO? 13; $8 children. 718 463 7700. flushingtownhall.org. ››

QueensParent 35

MOVERS & SHAKERS Tween Yoga

WHEN: Saturday, May 6, 10:30am WHERE: Alley Pond Environmental Center, 228-06 Northern Blvd., Douglaston AGES: 9-12 WHAT: Certified yoga instructor Grace Magee will lead participants out of their busy schedules into a place of serenity and strength. Bring a towel and water.

WANT TO GO? $16. 718-229-4000. alleypond.com.

ANIMAL LOVERS Cesar Millan Live

WHEN: Saturday, May 6, 8pm WHERE: Kupferberg Center for the Arts, 65-30 Kissena Blvd., Flushing AGES: All WHAT: The star of the hit series Cesar 911 will reveal the secrets of happier, healthier relationships between humans and their beloved canines.

WANT TO GO? $39 and up. 718-793-8080. kupferbergcenter.org.

Beautiful Butterflies

WHEN: Saturday, May 6, 1:30pm WHERE: Alley Pond Environmental Center, 22806 Northern Blvd., Douglaston AGES: 3-5, adult WHAT: Learn about the life cycle of butterflies with colorful photos, an engaging book, and live specimens, plus a craft.

WANT TO GO? $21. 718-229-4000. alleypond.com.

Sheep Shearing

WHEN: May 6-7, Saturday-Sunday, 11am-4pm WHERE: Queens Zoo, 53-51 111th St., Corona AGES: All WHAT: See the sheep get their annual haircuts. There will be live shearing demonstrations, fun crafts for kids, and an opportunity to learn all about wool, domestication, and farm animals.

WANT TO GO? $8; $5 children ages 3-12; free for children 2 and younger. 718-271-1500. queenszoo.com.

Pajama Story Time: A Wild Time

WHEN: Friday, May 12, 5:30-8pm WHERE: Queens Zoo, 53-51 111th St., Corona AGES: 5-12, adult WHAT: Hike the zoo and see animals up close. Take a family picture and create a picture frame to commemorate the night.

WANT TO GO? $35. 718-271-1500. queenszoo.com.

A Reptile ‘Edventure’ with Erik Callender FREE

Mets vs. Miami Marlins

WHEN: Saturday, May 6, 7:10pm WHERE: Citi Field, 126th Street and Roosevelt Avenue, Flushing AGES: All WHAT: Cheer on as the Amazin’s take on the Marlins. The first 15,000 fans receive a Noah Syndergaard hair hat.

WANT TO GO? $17 and up. 718-507-8499. mets.com.

It’s My Park at Weeping Beech Park and Daniel Carter Beard Mall FREE

WHEN: Saturday, May 20, 9am-1pm WHERE: Weeping Beech, Margaret I Carmen Green Park, 3701 Bouwne St., Flushing AGES: 5 and older WHAT: Come volunteer with Beautify Historic Flushing this spring to help with general cleanup and planting.

WANT TO GO? 718-359-0528. nycgovparks.org.

Mets vs. Angels

WHEN: Saturday, May 20, 7:15pm WHERE: Citi Field, 126th Street and Roosevelt Avenue, Flushing AGES: All WHAT: Cheer on as the Amazin’s take on the Angels. The first 15,000 fans receive a David Wright starting lineup figurine.

WANT TO GO? $17 and up. 718-507-8499. mets.com.

Spring Festival: Let’s Move Family Zumba and Education FREE WHEN: Saturday, May 20, 1pm WHERE: Glen Oaks Library, 256-04 Union Turnpike, Glen Oaks AGES: 5 and older WHAT: Come join the program inspired by former First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move!” campaign. During this program, participants will learn about healthy lifestyle options and enjoy a mini Zumba workout.

WANT TO GO? 718-831-8636. queenslibrary.org.

Zumba for Kids FREE

WHEN: May 12-26, Fridays, 4pm WHERE: Arverne Library, 312 Beach 54 St., Arverne AGES: 5-12 WHAT: A fun, dance-based exercise designed just for kids.

WANT TO GO? 718-634-4784. queenslibrary.org.

WHEN: Friday, May 19, 4pm WHERE: Pomonok Library, 158-21 Jewel Ave., Flushing AGES: 5-12 WHAT: This educational experience gives children an opportunity to see and learn about reptiles, amphibians, and large insects from around the world.

WANT TO GO? 718-591-4343. queenslibrary.org.

SPECIAL NEEDS

Family Breakfast Club

Sensory Sensitive Sundays

WHEN: Sunday, May 21, 9:30am WHERE: Queens Zoo, 53-51 111th St., Corona AGES: All WHAT: Participants explore the zoo, meet animals up close, and learn ways they can help wildlife in the city. Light breakfast will be served.

WANT TO GO? $35. 718-271-1500. queenszoo.com.

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May 2017 | nymetroparents.com

WHEN: Sunday, May 7, 9-11am WHERE: Chuck E. Cheese’s, 40-24 College Point Blvd., Flushing AGES: 3-12 WHAT: Children with special needs can enjoy food, games, and more with reduced lighting and noise led by a trained and caring staff.

WANT TO GO? Prices vary. 718-321-0400. chuckecheese.com.

CRAFTY KIDS

Family Art Project: Kites

WHEN: May 6-7, Saturday-Sunday, 10am-1pm WHERE: Wave Hill, West 249th Street and Independence Avenue, Bronx AGES: All WHAT: Join visiting artist Andrea Lomanto to design a simple paper kite to display your environmental dream for caring for the earth. Carry your kite message in a spring parade or take it home to watch it fly.

WANT TO GO? $8; $4 children. 718-549-3200. wavehill.org.

Fabric Frames and Lavender Sachets for Mom

WHEN: May 13-14, Saturday-Sunday, 10am-1pm WHERE: Wave Hill, West 249th Street and Independence Avenue, Bronx AGES: All WHAT: Celebrate Mom by creating a wrapped-fabric frame and adorn it with dried flowers and ribbons. Make a small, fragrant sachet gift tied with ribbons and bows and filled with dried lavender.

WANT TO GO? $8; $4 children. 718-549-3200. wavehill.org.

Little Makers: Flower Explorations

WHEN: Sunday, May 14, 10:30am-12:30pm WHERE: New York Hall of Science, 47-01 111th St., Corona AGES: Newborn to 5 WHAT: Use your senses to observe, tinker, and learn about flowers and other natural materials. Design and make paper flowers to create a beautiful flower bouquet. Reservations required.

WANT TO GO? $8 with admission: $16; $13 children ages 2-17. 718699-0005. nysci.org.

Art for Tots: Action Art That Moves You

WHEN: May 13-20, Saturdays, 10:30am WHERE: The Noguchi Museum, 9-01 33rd Road, Long Island City AGES: 3-5 WHAT: Parents will learn strategies for engaging their children during museum visits while exploring art materials and The Noguchi Museum galleries as a family. Reservations required.

WANT TO GO? $10 families with up to four members. 718-204-7088. noguchi.org.

Tim Kubart & The Space Cadets Interactive Arts Workshop

WHEN: Saturday, May 20, 1pm WHERE: Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Blvd, Flushing AGES: 3-12 WHAT: Tim Kubart will lead a family workshop in the making of paper bag puppets and then help children bring their puppets to life. A memorable shared family experience.

WANT TO GO? $7; $4 children. 718 463 7700. flushingtownhall.org.

Make It: Molding and Casting

WHEN: May 6-21, Saturday-Sunday, 1:30-5:30pm WHERE: New York Hall of Science, 47-01 111th St., Corona AGES: 5 and older WHAT: This workshop gets three thumbs up, literally! Participants will learn about the art of molding and casting while they make exact replicas of their most important digit, their thumb.

WANT TO GO? $5 with admission: $16; $13 children ages 2-17. 718699-0005. nysci.org.

Art for Families: Look Closely What Art Can Do

WHEN: Sunday, May 21, 10:30am WHERE: The Noguchi Museum, 9-01 33rd Road, Long Island City AGES: 5-12 WHAT: Parents will engage with their children in discussions about art in the galleries, and work together or individually to make their own works of art. Reservations required.

WANT TO GO? $10 families with up to four members. 718-204-7088. noguchi.org.

Family Storytime Crafts

WHEN: Through May 25: Thursdays, 5pm WHERE: Long Island City Library, 37-44 21st St., Long Island City AGES: 5-8 WHAT: Children will read stories and then make crafts based on the stories they’ve read.

WANT TO GO? 718-752-3700. queenslibrary.org.

Maker Space Friday FREE

WHEN: May 5-26, Fridays, 2:30-5pm WHERE: New York Hall of Science, 47-01 111th St., Corona AGES: All WHAT: Familes can explore different materials, concepts, and ideas while making and tinkering together. Activities cover a wide range of topics including simple circuits, wind-powered racers, and hand sewing.

WANT TO GO? 718-699-0005. nysci.org.

Palisades in Plaster

WHEN: May 27-28, Saturday-Sunday, 10am-1pm WHERE: Wave Hill, West 249th Street and Independence Avenue, Bronx AGES: All WHAT: Use plaster made from the mineral gypsum to create your own sculptural rock formation, and tint with your choice of color.

WANT TO GO? $8; $4 children. 718-549-3200. wavehill.org. ››

QueensParent 37

Mother’s Day Jewelry Box Craft FREE

WHEN: Friday, May 12, 4pm WHERE: Langston Hughes Library, 100-01 Northern Blvd., Corona AGES: 5-12 WHAT: Children can create that special gift for Mother’s Day. Decorate a personalized jewelry box using beads, crystals, sequins, pearls, and fabric.

WANT TO GO? 718-651-1100. queenslibrary.org.

Mother’s Day Nature Facials

HOLIDAY FUN

My Mom, My Doll, and Me: Doll Making Workshop & Tea Party

WHEN: Saturday, May 13, 9:30am WHERE: Alley Pond Environmental Center, 22806 Northern Blvd., Douglaston AGES: 5-12, adult WHAT: This natural facial class for mother and child will liberate your skin’s potential and restore balance where needed. With tranquil music and scented candles creating a relaxing atmosphere, this is a real treat for mothers and children. Registration required.

WANT TO GO? $42. 718-229-4000. alleypond.com.

WHEN: Saturday, May 6, 2pm WHERE: Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Blvd., Flushing AGES: 3 and older WHAT: Timothy Bellavia leads this workshop, inspired by notable global mothers, with a tea party, snacks, book signings, a special red carpet photo-op, and more. Registration required.

WANT TO GO? $20; $10 doll making kit. 718 463 7700. flushingtownhall.org.

Mother’s Day Brunch

Mother’s Day Cards FREE

WHEN: Sunday, May 14, 4:30pm and 6pm WHERE: Q.E.D., 27-16 23rd St., Astoria AGES: 9 and older WHAT: Comics are given permission to share their most hilariously personal insights on motherhood. After all, there’s no one like Mom! WANT TO GO? $10. 347-451-3873. qedastoria.com.

WHEN: Tuesday, May 9, 4pm WHERE: St. Albans Library, 191-05 Linden Blvd., St. Albans AGES: 5-8 WHAT: Tell mom how you feel about her by making a Mother’s Day card.

WANT TO GO? 718-528-8196. queenslibrary.org.

WHEN: Sunday, May 14, 11:30am and 1:30pm WHERE: Wave Hill, West 249th Street and Independence Avenue, Bronx AGES: All WHAT: Celebrate the mothers in your life at a festive Mother’s Day Brunch in historic Wave Hill House.

WANT TO GO? $48; $33 children. 718-549-3200. wavehill.org.

Mother May I?

Origami Flower for Mothers Day FREE

WHEN: Tuesday, May 9, 4pm WHERE: Central Library, 89-11 Merrick Blvd., Jamaica AGES: 5-12 WHAT: Make origami flowers to celebrate Mothers Day. WANT TO GO? 718-990-0700. queenslibrary.org.

DANCE PARTY Flamenco Vivo Carlota Santana II Presents Fiesta Flamenca FREE

WHEN: Tuesday, May 9, 4pm WHERE: Elmhurst Library, 86-07 Broadway, Elmhurst AGES: 5-12 WHAT: Create something beautiful for Mom. WANT TO GO? 718-271-1020. queenslibrary.org.

WHEN: Saturday, May 6, 3pm WHERE: Windsor Park Library, 79-50 Bell Blvd., Bayside AGES: All WHAT: Dancers, singers, and guitarists in colorful flamenco costumes present a variety of dances revealing a life full of pride, passion, honor, and love.

WANT TO GO? 718-468-8300. queenslibrary.org.

Mother’s Day Craft Program FREE

Limon Dance Company

Mother’s Day Craft FREE

WHEN: Wednesday, May 10, 3:30pm WHERE: Bay Terrace Library, 18-36 Bell Blvd., Bayside AGES: 5-12 WHAT: Children will enjoy assembling and decorating a Mother’s Day craft project.

WANT TO GO? 718-423-7004. queenslibrary.org.

Mother’s Day Charm Bracelet and Card Making FREE

WHEN: Friday, May 12, 4pm WHERE: Central Library, 89-11 Merrick Blvd., Jamaica AGES: 5-12 WHAT: Children will be able to select from a variety of charms then personalize a bracelet for their mothers.

WANT TO GO? 718-990-0700. queenslibrary.org.

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WHEN: May 2-7, Tuesday-Wednesday, 7:30pm; Thursday-Saturday, 8pm; Saturday-Sunday, 2pm WHERE: Joyce Theater, 175 Eighth Ave., Chelsea, Manhattan AGES: 9 and older WHAT: The first Joyce season under the company’s new artistic director Colin Connor, featuring musicality, athleticism, and drama.

WANT TO GO? $26 and up. 212-242-0800. joyce.org.

New York City Ballet: Here/Now Festival

WHEN: Through May 19: Tuesday-Sunday, see website for times WHERE: Lincoln Center, David H. Koch Theater, 63rd Street and Columbus Avenue, Upper West Side, Manhattan AGES: 9 and older WHAT: For serious ballet fans this festival is a must-see, featuring

43 ballets from 22 choreographers. Experience three decades of contemporary choreography commissioned by NYCB in 10 specially curated performances.

WANT TO GO? $30 and up. 212-496-0600. nycballet.com.

The StepCrew

WHEN: Saturday, May 20, 8pm WHERE: On Stage at Kingsborough, 2001 Oriental Blvd., Manhattan Beach, Brooklyn AGES: 5 and older WHAT: The StepCrew is an extravaganza of Celtic music, song, and three styles of percussive dance: traditional Irish step, tap, and Ottawa Valley, a form known for fast, high-stepping jigs and reels.

WANT TO GO? $30-$32. 718-368-5596. onstageatkingsborough.org.

American Ballet Theatre: ABTKids

WHEN: Saturday, May 20, 9:30am-12:30pm WHERE: Metropolitan Opera House, 30 Lincoln Center Plaza, Upper West Side, Manhattan AGES: 3-12 WHAT: A rare chance to get behind the scenes with the very special American Ballet Theatre. There is a 1-hour performance, a preperformance workshop, and ballet lesson.

WANT TO GO? $25 performance; $20 pre-show workshop. 212-3626000. abt.org.

Spring Festival: Multicultural Dance and Games FREE

WHEN: Saturday, May 20, 11:30am WHERE: Glen Oaks Library, 256-04 Union Turnpike, Glen Oaks AGES: 5-12, adult WHAT: Explore dance, songs, and games from around the world.

This program explores the rich and diverse heritage through songs in many languages.

WANT TO GO? 718-831-8636. queenslibrary.org.

‘The Monomyth’

WHEN: May 17-27, Wednesday-Saturday, 8pm WHERE: The Chocolate Factory Theater, 5-49 49th Ave., Long Island City AGES: 13 and older WHAT: This dance created and performed by Michelle Boulé, is paired with music sourced from disco, and is ultimately a celebration of connection through the alchemy of movement and presence.

WANT TO GO? $20. 718-482-7069. chocolatefactorytheater.org.

ONCE UPON A TIME Storytime & Craft

WHEN: Sunday, May 7, 2pm WHERE: Queens Botanical Garden, 43-50 Main St., Flushing AGES: 3-12 WHAT: Bring your little gardeners and nature lovers in for a relaxing afternoon featuring nature-inspired stories, followed by a botanically themed craft activity. Registration required.

WANT TO GO? $6; $2 children ages 4-12; free for children 3 and younger. 718-886-3800. queensbotanical.org.

Little Naturalist Storytime: The Tiny Seed

WHEN: Sunday, May 21, 1:30pm WHERE: Alley Pond Environmental Center, 22806 Northern Blvd., Douglaston AGES: 5-8 WHAT: Kids will read about the travels of a tiny seed and plant some seeds of their own in this fun nature class. Class will include a story, time with the animals, a craft, and nature walk. Registration required.

WANT TO GO? $21. 718-229-4000. alleypond.com.

Read to a Dog FREE

WHEN: May 4-25, Thursdays, 3:30pm WHERE: North Hills Library, 57-04 Marathon Parkway, Little Neck AGES: 5-12 WHAT: Children can select a book to read aloud to Jami, who has been certified as a therapy pet partner. Reading aloud improves literacy skills, and animals are ideal reading companions because they create a relaxed, comfortable, and safe environment.

WANT TO GO? 718-225-3550. queenslibrary.org.

Family Storytime FREE

WHEN: Through May 27: Saturdays, 4pm WHERE: Long Island City Library, 37-44 21st St., Long Island City AGES: 3-8 WHAT: Children will hear all kinds of fun interactive stories, and they can also make new friends.

WANT TO GO? 718-752-3700. queenslibrary.org.

Toddler Time FREE

WHEN: Through June 20: Tuesdays, 10:30am WHERE: Long Island City Library, 37-44 21st St., Long Island City AGES: 2 and younger WHAT: Children and their caregivers enjoy interactive storytelling, songs, rhymes, and a letter of the week craft.

WANT TO GO? 718-752-3700. queenslibrary.org. ›› QueensParent 39

singer to critically acclaimed Broadway performer. Her work in film, television, recordings, and on Broadway have been recognized by every major industry award affiliation.

WANT TO GO? $45 and up. 718-631-6311. visitqpac.org.

Thursday Night Jazz: Brandon Ross and Stomu Takeishi

WHEN: Thursday, May 11, 8pm WHERE: Jamaica Center for Arts & Learning, 161-04 Jamaica Ave., Jamaica AGES: All WHAT: Featuring emerging and established jazz musicians and their friends.

WANT TO GO? $10. 718-658-7400. jcal.org.

Quicksilver: Off the Beaten Track

MINI

MUSICIANS Flushing Town Hall Monthly Jazz Jam

WHEN: Wednesday, May 3, 7-10pm WHERE: Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Blvd., Flushing AGES: All WHAT: Monthly jazz jam, led by saxophonist Carol Sudhalter, with Joe Tranchina on piano, Eric Lemon on bass, and Scott Neumann on drums.

WANT TO GO? $10. 718 463 7700. flushingtownhall.org.

Global Mashup #4: Taiwan Meets Jamaica

WHEN: Friday, May 5, 8pm WHERE: Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Blvd., Flushing AGES: 9 and older WHAT: Featuring saxophonist, singer, and composer Stephanie Chou, whose music combines classical and Chinese influences with jazz; and Jamaican artist Owen Romeo with his group Tribal Legacy, presenting an array of Caribbean music. Each band plays a set, then the two meet and jam.

WANT TO GO? $16; free for children 13-19. 718-463-7700. flushingtownhall.org.

Quintet of the Americas: Winds of Change FREE

WHEN: Saturday, May 6, 1:30pm WHERE: Flushing Library, 41-17 Main St., Flushing AGES: All WHAT: This woodwind quartet will perform a concert about the environment with music from ragtime and jazz to contemporary with poetry about the Earth by American naturalists Walt Whitman and Ralph Waldo Emerson.

WANT TO GO? 718-661-1200. queenslibrary.org.

Vanessa Williams: Live In Concert!

WHEN: Sunday, May 7, 3pm WHERE: Queensborough Performing Arts Center, 222-05 56th Ave., Bayside AGES: 9 and older WHAT: One of the most respected and multi-faceted performers in the entertainment industry today, this artist grew from chart-topping pop

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WHEN: Friday, May 12, 6:30pm WHERE: King Manor Museum, 150-03 Jamaica Ave., Jamaica AGES: All WHAT: In collaboration with Five Boroughs Music Festival, this baroque ensemble features chamber works from Moravia, the Netherlands, Sweden, Poland, and beyond.

WANT TO GO? $15; $10 seniors and students. 718-206-0545. kingmanor.org.

Global Mashup #5: Thailand Meets Tahiti

WHEN: Friday, May 19, 8pm WHERE: Flushing Town Hall, 137-35 Northern Blvd., Flushing AGES: 9 and older WHAT: Deum Band presents traditional and contemporary dance music from Thailand, and Josh Cho and Le Bandu Barracud present authentic Tahitian music. Each band plays a set, then the two meet and jam.

WANT TO GO? $16; free for children 13-19. 718-463-7700. flushingtownhall.org.

Spring Concert and Lawn Tea

WHEN: Sunday, May 21, 2pm WHERE: The Voelker Orth Museum, 149-19 38th Ave., Flushing AGES: 9 and older WHAT: The musical ensemble Eart’Acte will have the flowers swaying to the music at this concert, featuring fabulous music, a garden of spring flowers with a selection of savory and sweet treats, and luscious teas. In the event of rain, the program moves indoors.

WANT TO GO? $25; $20 students. 718-359-6227. vomuseum.org.

The Oratorio Society of Queens Celebrates 90th Anniversary

WHEN: Sunday, May 21, 4pm WHERE: Queensborough Performing Arts Center, 222-05 56th Ave., Bayside AGES: 5 and older WHAT: Rejoice in hearing the “Choral” Finale of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, the uplifting and celebratory “Ode to Joy” sung live by the Oratorio Society of Queens, and its own orchestra the Orchestral Arts Ensemble of Queens, conducted by Maestro David Close.

WANT TO GO? $35; $30 seniors and students; $10 for children 12 and younger. 718-631-6311. visitqpac.org.

Music in the Garden: Chai Found Music Workshop

WHEN: Saturday, May 27, 3:30pm WHERE: Queens Botanical Garden, 43-50 Main St., Flushing AGES: All WHAT: One of the most highly esteemed sizhu (Chinese chamber music) ensembles in the world kicks off the 2017 Music in the Garden series.

WANT TO GO? $6; $4 seniors and students. 718-886-3800. queensbotanical.org.

16th Annual Mamapalooza FREE

WHEN: Sunday, May 28, 12-5pm WHERE: Riverside Park Pier I, 500 W. 70th St., Upper West Side, Manhattan AGES: All WHAT: Moms rock! Celebrate families and the people who love them at this annual music and art-filled festival featuring kids activities, crafts, ecoenvironmental information, food, vendors, interactive fun, and more.

WANT TO GO? mamapalooza.com.

BoroughCon

FUN FAIRS & FESTIVALES 4th Annual LIC Springs FREE

WHEN: Saturday, May 6, 12-5pm WHERE: Vernon Boulevard, between 50th and 46th avenues, Long Island City AGES: All WHAT: Enjoy live music, dance, and theater performances, plus interactive lessons, art, sculpture-making, fitness classes, outdoor dining, pop-up activities, sports games, and more.

WANT TO GO? 718-786-5300. longislandcityqueens.com.

Cherry Blossom Festival FREE

WHEN: Saturday, May 6, 12-4pm WHERE: Randall’s Island Park, Fields 62 and 63, Randall’s Island AGES: All WHAT: Set along the backdrop of the Hell Gate Bridge and the Urban Farm, this festival welcomes the park’s cherry blossoms with live music, performances, games, exhibitions, face painting, and more.

WANT TO GO? 212-860-1899. randallsisland.org.

Spring History Festival: Flushing’s Green Past, Present, and Future FREE

WHEN: Saturday, May 6, 10am-5pm WHERE: Weeping Beech, Margaret I Carmen Green Park, 3701 Bouwne St., Flushing AGES: All WHAT: Learn, make, eat, and experience Flushing’s unique heritage at this full-day, outdoor festival featuring local and citywide performers and vendors.

WANT TO GO? 718-359-0528. nycgovparks.org.

Spring Sheep Shearing

WHEN: Saturday, May 6, 11am-4pm WHERE: Queens County Farm Museum, 73-50 Little Neck Parkway, Floral Park AGES: All WHAT: Don’t miss this annual farm event with sheep shearing and wool spinning demo, which also features in-depth tours with farmers, craft stations, live music, hayrides, food, and more.

WANT TO GO? $5. 718-347-3276. queensfarm.org.

WHEN: May 26-29, Friday-Monday, see website for times WHERE: St. John’s University, 8000 Utopia Parkway, Jamaica AGES: All WHAT: This multi-media convention, ranging from live-action television to anime/manga, will also host panels, vendors, an artist alley, and a video game tournament. Guests include Sean Astin, Khary Payton, Chester Rushing, and Johnny Brennan, to name a few.

WANT TO GO? $17-$27. boroughcon.com.

SMARTY PANTS Family Game Night FREE

WHEN: Wednesday, May 17, 4-5pm WHERE: Long Island City Library, 37-44 21st St., Long Island City AGES: 3-5, adult WHAT: Kids will learn to cooperate, collaborate, share, and develop their analytical skills while playing their favorite game or learning a new one.

WANT TO GO? 718-752-3700. queenslibrary.org.

Little Makers: Glider Planes

WHEN: Sunday, May 21, 10:30am-12:30pm WHERE: New York Hall of Science, 47-01 111th St., Corona AGES: Newborn to 5 WHAT: Discover the fun of aerodynamics as you learn about the four forces of flight. Design and build your own glider plane with everyday materials. Reservations required.

WANT TO GO? $8 with admission: $16; $13 children ages 2-17. 718699-0005. nysci.org.

The Story I Tell: Creative Writing Workshop

WHEN: Through Aug. 29: Tuesdays, 7:15-8:45pm WHERE: Sunnyside Reformed Church, 48-03 Skillman Ave., Sunnyside AGES: 13 and older WHAT: Whether a beginner or a long-time writer, this workshop will help participants power up their prose and activate their creativity. Through in-class work, 1-on-1 support, essential principles, and group discussions, participants explore and write fiction, nonfiction, drama, and poetry.

WANT TO GO? $25 per class; free for the first class. 718-426-5997. sunnysidenyc.rcachurches.org.

Queens Book Festival

WHEN: May 27-28, Saturday-Sunday, 11:30am-7pm WHERE: LIC Landing, 52 Center Blvd., Long Island City AGES: All WHAT: Local authors, internationally acclaimed storytellers, interactive panel discussions, workshops, poetry performances, and more are brought together at this inclusive experience.

WANT TO GO? $10 seated events. 917-745-3507. queensbookfestival.nyc.

Coming up next month: JUNE 11: Field Day Fun! at Queens Botanical Garden, Flushing JUNE 17-18: Queens International Children’s Festival at Jamaica Performing Arts Center, Jamaica JUNE 24: Summer Festival at King Manor Museum, Jamaica QueensParent 41

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QueensParent 43

WHERE-TO GUIDE

nymetroparents.com/where-to

Zoos, Nature Centers, and Botanical Gardens ›› Research by Sabrina Sooknanan

Julie Larsen Maher

Read through our guide to find petting zoos, arboretums, nature preserves, farms and public gardens, all packed with fun nature activities for the whole family. Let your little ones loose to try their hands at zoo feedings and touch tanks, explore wooded trails, and learn about exotic plants. The spring season is the perfect time to explore the outdoors. As always, please call ahead before taking your crew to the zoo.

See an Andean bear at the Queens Zoo, the only bear species in South America.

Alley Pond Environmental Center 228-06 Northern Blvd., Douglaston 718-229-4000; alleypond.com Hours: Monday-Friday, 9am-4:30pm; weekend times vary, check the website Admission: FREE; donations accepted The center is an aquatic and terrestrial habitat and nature preserve that features a learning center and environmental laboratory. The center offers animal, science, and nature programs for children and adults. The site also hosts weekly events, including nature walks, workshops, and an Evening with the Stars astronomy program. Registration is required for all events. There is also a live animal room that has a variety of small ambassador animals.

Flushing Meadows-Corona Park Grand Central Parkway, Whitestone 44

May 2017 | nymetroparents.com

Expressway (Between 111th Street and College Point Boulevard) 718-760-6565 nycgovparks.org/parks/fmcp At 897 acres, it’s the largest park in Queens, which means there’s plenty of recreational space. The park is home to the Queens Zoo, Queens Museum, Queens Botanical Garden, New York Hall of Science, Arthur Ashe Stadium (home of tennis’ U.S. Open), Queens Theatre, Citi Field (home of the Mets), an aquatic center, an ice rink, a carousel, seven playgrounds (including a wheelchair-accessible playground for kids of all abilities), and two lakes. In the summer, trees and flowers in bloom include the Cornelian cherry tree, forsythia, redbud tree, roses, and other planted beds.

Forest Park Myrtle Avenue, Union Turnpike, Park Lane South between Brooklyn-Queens County Line and Park Lane 718-235-0815 nycgovparks.org/parks/forest-park Hours: Daily, dawn to dusk, unless otherwise posted Admission: FREE, excluding golf course and carousel rides In this large, multi-neighborhood park, there is a golf course, carousel ($3 per ride), seven playgrounds, a picnic area, hiking trails, and a walking and bike trail that weaves through the entire park. Visitors can also explore the park on horseback.

Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge After North Channel Bridge on Cross Bay Boulevard, Broad Channel 718-318-4340 nyharborparks.org/visit/jaba.html Hours: Trials: daily, sunrise to sunset; visitor center: daily, 9am-5pm (summer hours) Admission: FREE A 1.75-mile loop trail features views of West Pond, Jamaica Bay, and an osprey nest. A shorter trail, a little less than a mile, features views of East Pond and bird life.

There is a wide variety of programs offered at the site, including presentations on seasonal wildlife, sunset tours, hikes, boat trips, family programs, monthly book club, and an annual lecture series; check the website for details.

Queens Botanical Garden 43-50 Main St., Flushing 718-886-3800; queensbotanical.org Hours: April-October: Tuesday-Sunday, 8am-6pm; November-March: TuesdaySunday, 8am-4:30pm Admission: $6; $4 seniors and students with ID; $2 children ages 4-12; free for children 3 and younger; free for all Wednesdays, 3-6pm, and Sundays, 9-11am,

as well as through the winter Includes the Rose Garden, Green Roof Plant Collection, Fragrance Walk (shrubs, perennials, and bulbs that are especially fragrant during the growing season), Bee Garden, and other thematic gardens and historic plantings. Visitors can see a variety of different plants in bloom each month.

The garden regularly hosts programs that demonstrate environmental stewardship, promote sustainability, and celebrate the rich cultural connections between people and plants. Children ages 2-14 can get involved in seasonal, handson gardening experiences yearround. Visit queensbotanical. org/kidsprograms for more information.

Queens County Farm Museum 73-50 Little Neck Parkway, Floral Park 718-347-3276 queensfarm.org Hours: Grounds: daily, 10am-5pm. April-November: Hayrides ($3) and farmhouse tours offered weekends, 11am-3pm Admission: FREE, except on special event days The farm is the longest continuously farmed site in New York City. The site includes historic farm buildings, livestock, farm vehicles and implements, planting fields, an orchard, and an herb garden.

Each month offers new events and programs.

Socrates Sculpture Park 32-01 Vernon Blvd. (at Broadway), Long Island City 718-956-1819 socratessculpturepark.org Hours: Daily, 9am-sunset Admission: FREE This outdoor park features large-scale sculptures and hosts free weekly summer workshops every Saturday for children, in which they can work with a different artist each week (workshop schedule is posted online). Popular family programs include Wild Fest on

May 20 and Long Island City Bike Parade on June 10. Other programs include Shakespeare at the Park.

Wildlife Conservation Society’s Queen Zoo 53-51 111th St., Corona 718-271-1500; queenszoo.com Hours (through Nov. 6): Monday-Friday, 10am-5pm; weekends and holidays, 10am-5:30pm Admission: $8; $6 seniors; $5 children ages 3-12; free for

children ages 2 and younger; free parking Besides being home to a wide variety of wildlife—from mountain lions to Andean bears—visitors can view at their leisure, the zoo also offers a walk-through aviary and handson learning experiences for kids with an emphasis on wildlife conservation. Young children can also relax and explore in the

Discovery Center, which offers projects and special activities along with a library full of animal-themed storybooks and games, a microscope and fossils, and a crafts station, which is open on weekends. Plus, watch California sea lions flip for fish during their 11:15am, 2pm, and 4pm feeding times at the sea lion pool in the center of the zoo.

Find the full guide at ›› nymetroparents.com/zoos

Queens College

SUMMER

CAMP

17 JULY 3– AUGUST 24, 20

Featuring

• NEW QC Sports Club for Children Ages 9–14

• 5 Great Educational & Recreational Programs for Children Ages 5–16

• STEM Academy in our Education & Sports Program • Theatre Arts • Dance Academy • Counselor-in-Training for Ages 15–16

OPEN HOUSE TOURS May 7 & 20 • June 3 FitzGerald Gymnasium Saturdays or Sundays 10 am or 11 am.

QC.SummerCamp@qc.cuny.edu www.QCCAMP.com 718-997-2777

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45 QueensParent 4/6/17 12:40 PM

SpecialParent

Putting a Stop to a Slur

››

Parents of kids with special needs join other advocates to push for an end to the ‘R-word.’ By Sabrina Sooknanan

I

“ hate that word! I don’t want you to ever use that word again!”

That’s what Kari Wagner-Peck yelled at a man who used the “R-word” in her son’s presence. Wagner-Peck, a Portland, MEbased blogger whose son has Down syndrome, says she felt as if the man understood her when she told him not to use language like that again.

Not everyone is so understanding, however. Calling someone a “retard”—whether in supposed jest or as an insult—is common, with many people probably unaware how hurtful it is to people with intellectual disabilities. That’s why activists, many of them parents, are taking a stand against the R-word with the Spread the Word to End the Word campaign.

Hurtful language is a constant battle for many people with intellectual disabilities, who are often stigmatized. Advocacy against the R-word has been ongoing for decades, says Soeren Palumbo, cofounder of the campaign, whose sister has an intellectual disability.

“Spread the Word to End the Word was created as a grassroots,

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youth-led campaign in 2009 as part of the Special Olympics World Winter Games being held in Boise, Idaho,” he explains.

From Clinic to Slang

The word “retard(ed)” comes from the Latin word retardare, which means to delay or make slow. The R-word was originally introduced as “mental retardation” to clinically define people with intellectual impairment. Initially, individuals were defined as having mental retardation if they received an IQ score of 70 or below. IQ looks at the difference between a person’s chronological age and his developmental age. “If you would score below a 70, the thought would be that you might have issues with verbal, performance, and adaptability to daily life,” says Nava Silton, Ph.D., associate professor of psychology at Marymount Manhattan College, located on the Upper East Side of Manhattan.

Eventually, the R-word became part of everyday slang and

people began to use it in jokes and pop culture, and it came to be seen as a pejorative word. The gap between medical terminology and offensive language grew and the purpose of the word became blurred.

What’s So Bad About It Anyway?

Dr. Silton believes a big problem with the R-word is it dehumanizes the person with the intellectual disability. “I’m very much a proponent of people-first language, so [that means] saying you are an individual with autism or an individual with a physical disability,” Dr. Silton says. She adds: “You are a person first with all those things that are uniquely human and unique to you, and then you also happen to have a disability. When you use the R-word you are defining the person by that term, and that is so reductive to do that to somebody.”

The language we use, advocates say, represents our values and can lead to certain behaviors, positive or negative. Using the R-word is a form of excluding and isolating people, but on the other hand, Palumbo says, “each decision to not use the R-word re-affirms the attitude that people with [intellectual disabilities] are valuable enough to not denigrate, valuable enough to include in shared human dignity.”

For parents of and advocates for people with intellectual disabilities, using the R-word singles out certain people for different treatment—and is just plain hurtful. “[It has] the same effect and intent of any slur, whether racial, anti-Semitic, antiLGBT, anti-Muslim, etc.,” Wagner-Peck says. “It diminishes the person’s humanity. It is a hateful word whether the user acknowledges that or not.”

R-Word Offenders

Wagner-Peck works to call out those who use the word, unknowingly or not. This led her to publicly confront Chuck Klosterman, the best-selling author and former New York Times ethics columnist, about several occasions in which he used the R-word in print. In her open letter to Klosterman, she pointed out several instances when Klosterman had used the R-word and characterized the author as an “unrepentant hater of people with cognitive disabilities.” She ended the letter with a question: “What are the ethics of using the R-word?”

Wagner-Peck says she didn’t expect Klosterman to respond to her letter, but he did—apologizing for his choice of words and even donating $25,000 for her to give to any charity. In his response, Klosterman wrote, “I realize the books that contain those sentiments were published over 10 years ago, but that is no excuse; I was an adult when I wrote them and I knew what I was doing.” Wagner-Peck says she reacted in yells and tears to his apology—and with shock to the donation.

Ellen Seidman, a New York City blogger and mom of a son with disabilities, created a public message on her blog LoveThatMax.com to call out people who used the R-word and shed some light on the effects of it. Among her efforts is a YouTube video called “Would You Call My Child A Retard?” showcasing photos of her son Max and flashing phrases that detail offensive and belittling uses of the R-word. She begins the video by saying, “To me, he’s not a kid with disabilities. He’s just an awesome kid. But some people give him a bad name.”

Seidman says most people would never say the R-word to a child’s face; however, she believes if you wouldn’t do that, then you shouldn’t use it in any place or situation. She writes in her blog post, “Ultimately, this isn’t just about a word—it’s about

respect. It’s about getting people to consider kids and adults with cognitive impairment equal members of society. It’s not about censorship, either; it’s about starting a conversation on how people can better treat Max and others like him.”

In another post, Seidman tells a story of Joseph, a 9-yearold boy with autism spectrum disorder, and the amazing thing he did at a Target in Medford. While shopping with his family, Joseph noticed someone had arranged metal letters to spell out the word “Retards” on a shelf. He knew it was a bad word and spoke to his mother to confirm the meaning of the R-word. Joseph’s mom Tracy explained, “It’s a word people use toward people with disabilities or a word people use kind of ignorantly—instead of saying ‘stupid’ or ‘silly’ they choose to use that word and it’s really mean.” As a result, Joseph thought of his brother Max, who has autism, and felt that they needed to change the letters so nobody would see the bad word. Joseph searched the shelf for letters and rearranged them to spell his name “Joe” and the word “Dream.” He didn’t let the negative word affect him and he turned it into something positive, something Tracy says she really wanted Joseph to learn, according to Seidman’s blog post.

‘R-Word’ the Movie

Amanda Lukoff is a filmmaker whose older sister Gabrielle has Down syndrome. Inspired by Gabrielle, Lukoff is creating a film called The R-Word about “how the power of words, and the love between siblings, can inspire a movement.” In an interview, Lukoff recalled a time when she was little and a friend came over to her house to play. When the girl saw Gabrielle she asked to leave, and Lukoff ’s dad ended up driving the girl home. This was the first time Lukoff was exposed to other people’s negative reactions to her sister. She remembers that she, along with her and Gabrielle’s other sisters, were confused by the girl’s reaction because Gabrielle was their sister—and no different from other children in their eyes.

“Growing up with Gabrielle made me and my [other] sisters more sensitive to the R-word—we advocated for Gabrielle by standing up to our peers about their use of the R-word,” Lukoff says. As a part of the film, Lukoff and her team created an animated short illustrating her experiences with the R-word and introducing her journey to find “how, when, and why the R-word became a part of pop culture, to discover if the R-word transcends American society, to uncover the lasting effects the R-word has on people with intellectual disabilities, and their friends and families, and ultimately, to try to empower people and communities and encourage everyone to think before they speak.” The film is set to be completed and screened this summer.

No doubt, some people will inevitably come away from any discussion of the R-word unconvinced that it is a big deal. For them, Jonathan Franklin Stephens, a self-advocate with Down syndrome, has a message, which he conveyed in a Huffington Post article he wrote: “To all of you who use it, let me say it one more time, THE R-WORD HURTS. You don’t have to aim the word directly at me to hurt me and millions of others like me who live with an intellectual disability. Every time a person uses the r-word, no matter who it is aimed at, it says to those who hear it that it is okay to use it. That’s how a slur becomes more and more common. That’s how people like me get to hear it over and over, even when you think we aren’t listening.”

Sabrina Sooknanan is a NYMetroParents intern.

QueensParent 47

camp GUIDE 2017

All My Children Daycare and Nursery School

Various locations; call for information or check us online Queens: 347-708-7827 Brooklyn: 347-708-7827 Manhattan: 212-419-5416 allmychildrendaycare.com info@allmychildrendaycare.com

All Star Studios

108-21 72nd Ave. (4th floor), Forest Hills 718-268-2280 allstarstudiosnyc.com allstarstudios@gmail.com

American Dance & Drama

188-22 Union Turnpike, Fresh Meadows 718-479-8522 68-02 Metropolitan Ave., Middle Village americandanceanddramastudio.com

Blue Dolphin Summer Camp

80-22 Parsons Blvd., Queens 718-847-6470 bluedolphincamp.com info@bluedolphincamp.com

Camp Clio

Held at Camp Claire, Lyme, CT and Middlesex County Camp, Moodus, CT 212-472-5207 campclio.org

718-268-7980 citgnurseryschool.org nurseryschool@thecitg.org

Hillcrest Jewish Center Day Camp 183-02 Union Turnpike, Flushing 718-380-4145 hjcdaycamp.org daycamp@hillcrestjc.org

Hug Music, Creative & Nurturing Music Lessons for Everybody

Music Lessons and Music Therapy 112-01 75th Ave., Lower Level, Forest Hills 718-487-4309 hugmusicny.com contact@hugmusicny.com

ISTEIN Education Center

107-06 71st Road, 2nd floor, Forest Hills 718-575-8877 isteinny.com; info@isteinny.com

Ivy Day School

65-01 Kissena Blvd., Flushing 718-460-6366 70-44 Kissena Blvd., Flushing 718-880-1888 104-70 Queens Blvd., Forest Hills 718-997-1997 ivydayschool.com dinam@ivydayschool.com

Jack & Jill Nursery Schools

56 Bruceville Road, High Falls 855-707-2267 camphuntington.com dfalk@camphuntington.com

43-23 Colden St., Flushing 718-762-1218 Jack & Jill Nursery School II 68-05 Fresh Meadow Lane, Fresh Meadows 718-939-8687 jackandjillschools.com

Christ the King Summer Camps

JEI Learning Centers

Camp Huntington

Joseph Arbitello and Cara Fragias, directors Ages: 3-16 68-02 Metropolitan Ave., Middle Village 718-366-7454 ctkny.org; ckkids@ctkny.org

Auburndale: 347-408-4098 Floral Park: 718-347-3138 Fresh Meadows: 718-740-7888 Great Neck: 516-482-2234 Rego Park: 718-441-3762 Forest Hills: 917-702-8505 jei.com

The Church-in-the-Gardens Nursery School

Kent Prep

50 Ascan Ave., Forest Hills

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194-11A Northern Blvd., Bayside 718-423-5757; kentprep.com

May 2017 | nymetroparents.com

The Kew-Forest School

Summer at Kew-Forest 119-17 Union Turnpike, Forest Hills 718-268-4667 x108 kewforest.org summer@kewforest.org

718-969-1900 133-20 Avery Ave., Flushing 718-321-1610 132-25 Pople Ave., Flushing 718-353-3628 rainbowchildlearning.com info@rainbowchildlearning.com

Magic Day Camp

Rhythm NY

216-15 Peck Ave., Bayside 718-634-8109 magicdaycamp.com

Mill Basin Day Camp

5945 Strickland Ave., Brooklyn 718-251-6200 millbasindaycamp.com

Noah’s Ark Preparatory

38-20 Bell Blvd., Bayside 718-279-4251 62-48 Mt. Olivet Crescent, Middle Village 347-335-0044 noahsarkschool.com noahsarkpreparatory@gmail.com

Oasis Day Camp

Queensborough Community College, Bayside Library Room 14 (basement) 646-519-5055 oasischildren.com bayside@oasischildren.com

Pee Wee Folks

12-45 Clintonville St., Whitestone 718-746-6107 peeweefolkspreschool.com

Performing Arts Conservatory of New York 35-57 89th St., Jackson Heights 718-639-1425; 917-774-3411 paconyschool.com info@paconyschool.com

Queens College Summer Camp July 3-Aug. 24 65-30 Kissena Blvd., Queens qccamp.com

Rainbow Child Development Center

250-21 Northern Blvd., Little Neck 718-225-8600 77-40 164th St., Fresh Meadows

213-01 Northern Blvd., Bayside 70-68 Kissena Blvd., 3F, Flushing 718-224-3364 rhythmny.com jackkim@rhythmny.com

RoboMindTech S.T.E.M. Education Center Creativity, Science, Robotics & L-E-G-O Learning Fun 185-10A Union Turnpike, Fresh Meadows 718-264-ROBO (7626) robomindtech.com robomindtech@gmail.com

Rose Academy of Ballet

70-11 Austin St., Forest Hills 718-520-0207 roseacademyofballet.com racademyofballet@gmail.com

Samuel Field Y Day Camp

58-20 Little Neck Parkway, Little Neck 718-225-6750 x261 sfy.org agavora@sfy.org dschaefer@sfy.org

Soccer Friends USA Inc.

106-06 Queens Blvd., 3rd Floor Gym, Forest Hills 718-261-2403 347-756-2568 (para EspaĂąol) soccerfriendsusa.com soccerfriendsusa@hotmail.com

Tiny Footsteps

167-01 Union Turnpike, Fresh Meadows 718-969-5500 tinyfootstepsny@yahoo.com

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As Close to Sleep Away Camp as You Can Get! • Ages 3-16 • 8:30 am - 5:30 pm • Extended hours available • Hot lunch option • AC transportation available • Low staff/child ratios • Flexible enrollment • Sports, games & outdoor adventure • Visual arts, crafts & performing arts • Special events & theme days • Color war & carnivals • Red Cross Swim Instruction

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May 2017 | nymetroparents.com

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38-20 Bell Blvd. Bayside, NY 11361 For more info call: (718) 279-4251

62-48 Mt. Olivet Crescent Middle Village, NY 11379 For more info call: (347) 335-0044

www.noahsarkschool.com

188-22 Union Turnpike, Fresh Meadows, NY

718.479.8522

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CAMP MARKETPLACE

Register Now for Spring and Summer!

35-57 89th Street Jackson Heights, NY 718-639-1425 • 917-774-3411 www.paconyschool.com info@paconyschool.com

Dorney Park Basketball Soccer Basketball Bowling Roller Skating Swimming Karaoke Fishing Arts & Crafts GaGa-Ball Lacrosse I ork ntegr ity Frien d

w rship Team Leade

Blue Dolphin Summer Camp Open House Thursday May 4th 4:30pm - 6:30pm Thursday May 18th 4:30pm - 6:30pm Tuesday June 6th 4:30pm - 6:30pm

ship

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BlueDolphinCamp.com - 718-847-6470 80-22 Parsons Blvd. Queens NY 11432

SOC SOCCER Year-Round Soccer Program General Classes After School Summer Camp Futsal League Travel Team Birthday Party All Girls Class Soccer in Spanish

Ages 18 Months & Up

HELP WANTED! H NYMetroParents is looking for experienced temporary help in our midtown Manhattan office.

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May 2017 | nymetroparents.com

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If you register by June 1

Please visit us at isteinny.com 718.575.8877 · info@isteinny.com 107-06 71 st Rd, 2 nd Floor, Forest Hills, NY 11375

You may sign up for 1-5 days per week.

Early Drop-Off/Late Pick Up Included Dance/Theatre Arts/Sports Camp Activities: Dance, Hip-Hop, Arts & Crafts, Jewelry Making, Acrobatics, Cooking, Computers, Drama on Camera, Vocal, Basketball, Volleyball, Soccer.

Outdoor playground • Moonbounce & Water Slides

ctkny.org Please Contact Cara Nicole for more info: 917 602-6271 68-02 Metropolitan Ave. Middle Village, NY 11379 QueensParent 53

CAMP MARKETPLACE

Immerse. Make. Inspire

185-10A Union Turnpike, Fresh Meadows, NY 11366 robomindtech@gmail.com 718-264-7626 (ROBO)

Summer Registration Now Open! > LEGO Science & Robotics Programs (K-8) > Video Game Design & Animation (Grade 3-8) > Coding Programs > After Camp Studio Workshops > Robotics Competition Training > Group Programs: STEM Field Trips & Workshops

Call for a FREE Trial Class Time

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5/7 Sun 11-12pm RVSP via email or Phone Home to NYC FIRST Lego League & National World Robot Olympiad Champions

OPEN HOUSES 2017 Blue Dolphin Summer Camp

80-22 Parsons Blvd., Queens 718-847-6470 bluedolphincamp.com info@bluedolphincamp.com Join us for an open house on May 4 and 18 and June 6 from 4:306:30pm.

Countryside Montessori School

354 Lakeville Road, lower level, Great Neck 516-466-8422 cmsgn.com info@cmsgn.com Join us for an open house on May 7 from 2-5pm.

Hillcrest Jewish Center Day Camp

183-02 Union Turnpike, Flushing 718-380-4145 hjcdaycamp.org daycamp@hillcrestjc.org Open houses offered on Sundays in May from 10am12pm, and on Wednesdays from 7-9pm. Sunday tours, registration, slideshow presentation, and Q-and-A sessions.

Magic Day Camp

216-15 Peck Ave., Bayside 718-634-8109 magicdaycamp.com Come to our open house sessions on Sundays, May 7 and 21 starting at 1pm at Jib Lanes. Summer magic is here with swimming daily and three trips each week!

Mill Basin Day Camp

5945 Strickland Ave., Brooklyn 718-251-6200 millbasindaycamp.com Join us for an open house on May 13 from 11am-2pm.

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May 2017 | nymetroparents.com

Oasis Day Camp in Bayside

Queensborough Community College, Bayside Library Room 14 (basement) 646-519-5055 oasischildren.com bayside@oasischildren.com

Join us for an information session on May 13 from 11am-1pm LB-25; May 14 from 11:30am-12:30pm, tour 12:45-2pm; and June 3 from 11:30am-12:30pm, tour 12:45-2pm.

Queens College Summer Camp

65-30 Kissena Blvd., Queens July 3-Aug. 24 qccamp.com Join us for an open house at Queens College Campus-Fitzgerald Gymnasium on May 7 and 20 and June 3 at 10am.

Rhythm NY

213-01 Northern Blvd., Bayside 70-68 Kissena Blvd., 3F, Flushing 718-224-3364 rhythmny.com jackkim@rhythmny.com Rhythm NY will host open houses on Sundays during May, 9am-2pm. Sign-up is required, please visit our website.

RoboMindTech S.T.E.M. Education Center Creativity, Science, Robotics & L-E-G-O Learning Fun

185-10A Union Turnpike, Fresh Meadows 718-264-ROBO (7626) robomindtech.com robomindtech@gmail.com Join us for an open house on May 7 from 11am-12pm, please RSVP.

Samuel Field Y Day Camp

58-20 Little Neck Parkway, Little Neck 718-225-6750 x261 sfy.org agavora@sfy.org dschaefer@sfy.org Come check out our Camp Open House on Sunday, May 7 from 10am-12pm at the Henry Kaufmann Campgrounds located at 75 Colonial Springs Road in Wheatley Heights.

Arts Festival 2017

May 20th – 21st 11am – 6pm (Rain or Shine)

55 W. Railroad Avenue Garnerville, NY 10923 www.garnerartscenter.org Photo Credit: Kristi Veltidi

Where History & Contemporary Art Collide Amongst 14 Acres of 19th Century Industrial Spaces • Open Artist Studios • Workshops • Food Trucks • On Site Craft Brewery & More

Bravo! Dance Boutique provides convenience and flexible store hours.

Products we sell include: Ballet Slippers • Tap Shoes • Jazz Shoes Leotards • Skirts • Shorts Don't see what you need?

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$8 Adults, $6 Seniors/Students, Children under 14 are free 1 and 2 day pass packages available with additional discounts.

Go to garnerartscenter.org for details.

The 2017 festival celebrates social change & the inclusion of everyone in a broad society

Bravo! Dance Boutique 108-12 72nd Avenue, Forest Hills NY 718-309- 9787 | www.bravodanceboutique.com

Jack & Jill Nursery Schools

Long Long Island Island Speech Speech & Myofunctional & Myofunctional Therapy Therapy

“Providing peace of mind for over 40 years.”

43-23 Colden Street, Flushing

68-05 Fresh Meadow Lane, Fresh Meadows

(718) 762-1218

(718) 939-8687

NOW REGISTERING SUMMER PREP PROGRAM JULY 5TH-AUGUST 25TH DESIGN YOUR OWN SESSIONS!!!

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• Extended Hours for Working Parents (7:30am - 6:00pm)

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• ACD Vouchers Welcome

Diapers Optional!!! 2-year olds always welcome OVER 40 YEARS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD SAYS IT ALL!

visit us at www.jackandjillschools.com

718-640-6767 • 516-216-1791 www.LISpeechandMyo.com

Licensed Speech Pathologists & Myofunctional Therapists Specializing in the Treatment and Correction of: • Language Disorders • Memory & Auditory Processing Difficulties • Fluency • • Voice Disorders • Motor Planning Disorders • Deviate Swallowing • Tongue Thrust • • Feeding & Swalling Problems /Aversions • Thumb Sucking • Articulation Disorders • Oral Facial Muscle Weakness •

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Lake Success

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516-216-1791 • 718-640-6767

Wantagh

Speech Pathology & Swallowing Disorder Services of Nassau 3375 Park Avenue., Suite 4010 Wantagh, NY 11793

516-221-3653

QueensParent 55

Professional services

Your local guide to tutors, teachers, lawyers, financial planners, and other professionals DENTISTS & DENTAL PROVIDERS AVENUE ORTHODONTICS 150-33 14th Ave., Suite 100, Whitestone 718-767-8400; avenueortho.com Dr. Eleni Michailidis and Dr. Abraham Chahine are highly trained orthodontic specialists. Schedule a complimentary consultation at Avenue Orthodontics to learn about the options available for your entire family.

DOCTORS & MEDICAL PROVIDERS LONG ISLAND CENTER FOR SPEECH AND MYOFUNCTIONAL THERAPY Locations across Nassau and Suffolk: East Yaphank, Farmingville, Stony Brook, Commack, Jericho, Wantagh, and Lake Success lispeechandmyo.com Queens: 718-640-6767 Nassau: 516-216-1791 Suffolk: 631-689-6858 Janine Stiene, speech-language pathologist, along with her group of therapists, supports families and children across Long Island, specializing in PROMPT, feeding, myofunctional therapy, voice disorders, fluency, augmentative communication, articulation, auditory processing disorders, and expressive and receptive language disorders.

FAMILY TRAVEL ROSHNI CRUISE PLANNERS AN AMERICAN EXPRESS TRAVEL REPRESENTATIVE 718-997-8888 iwantyoutotravel.com rkarnavat@cruiseplanners.com Specializing in customized vacation packages for families or groups to any destination, worldwide. Please contact Roshni at 718-997-8888 or rkarnavat@ cruiseplanners.com for a free quote.

FINANCIAL PLANNING & INSURANCE YAN KALANDAROV, AGENT, NEW YORK LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY 917-403-0715 ykalandarov@ft.newyorklife.com When it comes to life insurance it 56

helps to get a little professional advice.

Call me today to set up a time to talk.

LEGAL SERVICES BAKSHI LAW Offices in the Financial District, Long Island, and Westchester 917-244-6133 lawbakshi.com lara.bakshi@gmail.com Bakshi Law specializes in special education law, representing parents and children with disabilities, attending suspension hearings, CSE and resolution meetings. Our attorneys offer assistance on a sliding scale.

THE LAW OFFICES OF JOSEPH H. NIVIN, P.C. 118-35 Queens Blvd., Suite 1220, Forest Hills 347-642-0376 153-01 Jamaica Ave., Suite 201, Jamaica The Chanin Building 122 E. 42nd Street, Suite 2100, Manhattan nivinlaw.com; jhnivin@nivinlaw.com The Law Offices of Joseph H. Nivin, P.C. focuses on family and matrimonial law, including contested and uncontested matrimonial proceedings, custody, visitation, orders of protection, child support, spousal maintenance, and paternity.

SPECIAL NEEDS BAKSHI LAW Offices in the Financial District, Long Island, and Westchester 917-244-6133 lawbakshi.com lara.bakshi@gmail.com Bakshi Law specializes in special education law, representing parents and children with disabilities, attending suspension hearings, CSE and resolution meetings. Our attorneys offer assistance on a sliding scale.

HUG MUSIC, CREATIVE & NURTURING MUSIC LESSONS FOR EVERYBODY MUSIC LESSONS AND MUSIC THERAPY 112-01 75th Ave., Lower Level, Forest Hills 718-487-4309; hugmusicny.com contact@hugmusicny.com We offer various fun and nurturing music classes, including music lessons on multiple instruments, music therapy for children with special needs, and baby-toddler music classes.

May 2017 | nymetroparents.com

LITTLE OPTICS INC. 192-07 Union Turnpike, Fresh Meadows 53-15 Roosevelt Ave., Woodside 718-468-7500 Hablamos Español littleopticsinc@yahoo.com We provide eyeglasses and professional eye care for children, including infants and young adults. We also alleviate any self-esteem issues associated with the stigma of wearing glasses. When your child leaves Little Optics, rest assured that they will feel confident.

LONG ISLAND CENTER FOR SPEECH AND MYOFUNCTIONAL THERAPY Locations across Nassau and Suffolk: East Yaphank, Farmingville, Stony Brook, Commack, Jericho, Wantagh, and Lake Success lispeechandmyo.com Queens: 718-640-6767 Nassau: 516-216-1791 Suffolk: 631-689-6858 Janine Stiene, speech-language pathologist, along with her group of therapists, supports families and children across Long Island, specializing in PROMPT, feeding, myofunctional therapy, voice disorders, fluency, augmentative communication, articulation, auditory processing disorders, and expressive and receptive language disorders.

STEPS TO SOCIALIZATION 13 South Bayles Ave., Port Washington 516-767-0266 Steps to Socialization was created to help children who have difficulty socializing. We teach children how to think socially, step by step. Working in small groups, we cover a variety of topics, including how to establish and maintain friendships and initiating and maintaining conversations.

SPECIALTY APPAREL BRAVO! DANCE BOUTIQUE 108-12 72nd Ave., Forest Hills 718-309-9787 bravodanceboutique.com bravodanceboutique@gmail.com Bravo! Dance Boutique understands the value of community. Our mission is to be able to provide local families the convenience of obtaining dance apparel at competitive prices.

THERAPY & COUNSELORS COMPREHENSIVE CONSULTATION PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES, P.C. 114-20 Queens Blvd., Suite CS 2, Forest Hills 180 E. 79th St., Suite 1C, Manhattan 1-888-441-0015 comprehendthemind.com Dr. Sanam Hafeez, an expert in diagnosing and treating all childhood psychological and learning conditions, has a refreshing approach: direct, warm, and competent. These qualities have made her sought after in the field of neuropsychology and child development.

LOUIS E. MORA, PH.D., PSYCHOLOGIST P.C. 70 Glen Cove Road, Suite 201, Roslyn Heights 347-740-5690 lmoraphd.com Dr. Mora specializes in psychological testing.

This includes neuropsychological testing, giftedness examinations, and evaluating for the presence of psychological disorders.

TUTORS & TEST PREP VILLAGE EAST GIFTED: ENRICHMENT CENTER FOR THE GIFTED LEARNER Village East Gifted of Huntington 33 Walt Whitman Road, Huntington Station 631-549-2313 Village East Gifted of Roslyn 216 Willis Ave., Roslyn Heights 631-549-2313 villageeastgifted.com info@villageeastgifted.com Village East Gifted provides after-school enrichment and private tutoring. Enriching every qualified, gifted child. We are also a John Hopkins CTY info and SAT testing center.

WOMEN’S HEALTH VIVAEVE 888-749-7888 Main Office: 108-16 63 Road, Forest Hills Surgical Center: 25-15 Crescent St., Astoria vivaeve.com; info@vivaeve.com VivaEve specializes in providing comprehensive counseling and UFE (Uterine Fibroid Embolization) procedures to women looking for a medically advanced, safe alternative to the major surgery commonly used to treat fibroids.

LIU POST’S CENTER FOR GIFTED YOUTH

SUMMER 2017 MONDAY - FRIDAY PROGRAM July 3-28, 2017 | 9:00am to 3:30pm Are You the Parent of a Gifted Child?

LIU Post’s Center for Gifted Youth announces its 37th annual summer program for gifted children. The summer program runs on Monday to Friday from July 3-28. The program is open to gifted children entering grades 2-8 in September 2017. The program expands students’ knowledge, develops creative and critical thinking skills, and offers children the opportunity to learn in an exciting and accepting environment.

For information call 516-299-2160 liu.edu/post/giftedyouth Now find us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter

INQUIRE ABOUT TRANSPORTATION!

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Admission Admi miissio sio i n iis h highly ighly s selective and enrollment is limited.

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QueensParent 57

PartyCentral PARTY ENTERTAINMENT CLOWNS.COM Proudly Serving Westchester, Long Island, Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and the Bronx 516-577-0000; 718-971-5862 clowns.com We are a family-owned and -operated entertainment company, offering a wide range of party and entertainment services including clowns, inflatable bounce houses, characters, magicians, princesses, magic shows, face painting, and party concession rentals.

PARTY PLACES @ PLAY AMUSEMENTS 229 NY-110, Farmingdale 631-815-5355 atplayamusement.com info@playamusement.com Have your next party at the newly renovated @ Play Amusements! It offers 40,000 square feet of fun, ranging from 92 arcade games, inflatables, bumper cars, and roller coaster to a carousel, disco room, and laser tag!

AMERICAN DANCE & DRAMA 188-22 Union Turnpike, Fresh Meadows 718-479-8522 68-02 Metropolitan Ave., Middle Village americandanceanddramastudio.com We are one of Queens’s largest and most exciting birthday party locations,

offering dress-up, disco, and gymnastics parties. We also offer bubbles and fog machines, cotton candy, plus crazy craft, and princess parties!

BOUNCEU OF COLLEGE POINT Whitepoint Center, 13225 14th Ave., College Point 646-883-JUMP (5867) bounceu.com/college-point-ny collegepoint.ny@bounceu.com BounceU of College Point is where birthdays come to life! We provide the ultimate private party and play experience. Come celebrate with us today!

CELEBRATIONS IN THE KITCHEN 63 E. Old Country Road, Hicksville 516-396-2193 celebrationsinthekitchen.com celebrationsinthekitchen@gmail.com The most unique, fun-filled, joyous event! We have created a true baking experience for everyone to enjoy, including cookie baking and decorating, cupcakes “from scratch,” muffin and scone baking, and brownies. Come in, call, or visit celebrationsinthekitchen.com for more information on parties.

FANTASY FOREST AMUSEMENT PARK FOREST PARK CAROUSEL Fantasy Forest Amusement Park at the Flushing Meadows Carousel 111th Street and 55th Avenue, Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, next to the Queens Zoo fantasyforestnyc.com info@nycarousel.com Ready for a thrilling and fun birthday party? Our package includes private

Your local guide to entertainers, party places, activities, and other resources.

seating area, unlimited rides, games, goodie bags, and a host to help.

FOREST PARK CAROUSEL Woodhaven Boulevard and Forest Park Drive, Woodhaven forestparkcarousel.com info@nycarousel.com Enjoy a classic carousel-themed birthday party. Includes 2 hours in VIP party tent, unlimited rides, games, goodie bags, and a host to help.

MUSIC TOGETHER® WITH MUSIC AND ME Celebrating our new look with our new name!

Wendy DeAngelis, center director (Mommy, Music & Me Inc. since 2003) Gym-Azing in Astoria Shotokai USA Karate in Bayside Babies “R” Us in College Point Queens Botanical Garden in Flushing The Reform Temple of Forest Hills in Forest Hills The Church-in-the-Gardens in Forest Hills Tiger Schulmann’s MMA in Glendale LICAM in Long Island City 718-229-0033 musictogetherwithmusicandme.com info@musictogetherwithmusicandme.com We provide unique birthday party musical experiences for 1st through 6th birthdays. Call us to customize your child’s musical birthday. We can also come to your space.

RAISING ASTORIA 26-11 23rd Ave., Astoria 347-669-3711 raisingastoria.com

info@raisingastoria.com Have a memorable birthday party at our self-service venue. Bring your own food, drinks, and decorations, and we will provide a fun, spacious environment with toys, music, disco lights, and a bounce castle.

SOCCER FRIENDS USA INC. 106-06 Queens Blvd., 3rd Floor Gym, Forest Hills 718-261-2403 347-756-2568 (para Español) soccerfriendsusa.com soccerfriendsusa@hotmail.com Soccer Friends USA wants to celebrate your child’s next birthday party with you! We offer soccer parties for children ages 2 and older at several fantastic locations.

THINKERTOTS 222-14 Union Turnpike, Bayside 718-740-1616 1818 Jericho Turnpike, New Hyde Park 516-488-3414 thinkertots.com thinkertotsnhp@gmail.com We can custom design your party with open playtime and music or you can rent out our location. We provide theme paper goods.

WHAT’S COOKING? 30 E. Main St., Oyster Bay 516-922-COOK (2665) whatscookingny.com info@whatscookingny.com Martha Stewart, Newsday, and News 12 boast What’s Cooking? is a No. 1 Choice Birthday Party Place where children can explore their creativity in culinary arts.

• Dedicated Party Pros • 100% Private Parties • Giant Indoor Inflatables • We Clean Up!

BounceU of College Point 13225 14th Avenue • College Point, NY 11356 (718) 747-5867 • BounceU.com/college-point-ny 58

May 2017 | nymetroparents.com

I N PA R T N E R S H I P W I T H

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IS PROUD TO PRESENT

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Meet the Health Care

Louis E. Mora, Ph.D., Psychologist P.C. 70 Glen Cove Road, Suite 201, Roslyn Heights 347-740-5690 lmoraphd.com

PROFESSIONAL To be in this section, call 212-315-0800 or email nympads@davlermedia.com

Long Island Center for Speech and Myofunctional Therapy Locations across Suffolk and Nassau: East Yaphank, Farmingville, Stony Brook, Commack, Jericho, Wantagh, and Lake Success lispeechandmyo.com Queens: 718-640-6767 • Nassau: 516-216-1791 • Suffolk: 631-689-6858 Janine Stiene, speech-language pathologist, is owner and operator of Long Island Center for Speech and Myofunctional Therapy. Along with her group of therapists, she supports families and children across Long Island, specializing in PROMPT, feeding, myofunctional therapy, voice disorders, fluency, augmentative communication, articulation, auditory processing disorders, and expressive and receptive language disorders (adults and children). Intensive feeding therapy for individuals who suffer from texture and consistency aversions, and FEES— Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing—are also offered. There is a total of seven affiliated offices across Long Island, all participating with most major health insurance companies and offering evening and Saturday hours.

Dr. Mora works with children and adults. He specializes in psychological testing, which helps improve diagnosing and treatment planning. Such testing includes neuropsychological testing, giftedness examinations, and evaluating for the presence of psychological disorders.

This includes evaluating for ADHD and possible consequences of head injury.

He has years of experience doing such testing with various populations. He earned his doctorate in clinical psychology and postdoctoral education in forensic psychology from St. John’s University. He is also an adjunct professor of psychology at St. Francis College.

Dr. Michael Gruttadauria, The Center for Integrative and Innovative Therapies (The CIIT Center) 131 Sunnyside Blvd., Suite 100, Plainview 516-243-8660 theciitcenter.com

Dr. Michael Gruttadauria heads up the operations at an advanced treatment center for autism spectrum disorder called The CIIT Center. The CIIT Center’s mission is to approach each child with autism as a total entity by enhancing the biomedical, neurological, nutritional, electrical, and immune system of each of our patients and combining this with occupational, physical, and speech therapies, along with applied behavioral analysis. Our comprehensive approach starts with identifying the underlying factors that may be holding the child back, not just treating their symptoms. This gives each child every opportunity to reach his or her potential.

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May 2017 | nymetroparents.com

N.Y.S. Certified teacher who is patient (all levels/all exams)

After School - Homework Help Math, English & Writing Enrichments SHSAT - Summer & Fall Private Tutoring (One-on-one, small group) Gifted and Talented Test Prep Reading Club SAT 64 ue Bayside NY 113 214-18 73rd Aven om u.c ed ep pr Website: www.top repedu.com Email: info@topp 73 TEL: (718) 928-86

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AD INDEX

NYMetroParents.com features more than 20,000 businesses serving the NY Metropolitan area!

ACROBATICS / GYMNASTICS

Ivy Day School......................................21

Rainbow Child Development Center....14

PERFORMING ARTS / ACTING

All Star Studio.......................................23

Jack -N- Jill Nursery.............................55

RoboMind Tech.....................................54

American Dance & Drama....................51

Noah’s Ark............................................51

The Church-in-the-Gardens

BIRTHDAY / PARTY SERVICES

Preschool of America............................29

Nursery School.....................................57

American Dance & Drama....................51

Rainbow Child Development Center....14

RESTAURANT / FOOD SERVICES

BounceU - College Point......................58

The Church-in-the-Gardens

Tiny Footsteps......................................25

The Bay Terrace at Bayside...................3

Gulliver’s Gate......................................33

Nursery School.....................................57

Soccer Friends, USA Inc......................52

Tiny Footsteps......................................25

YM-YWHA - Samuel Field ...................49

YM-YWHA - Samuel Field ...................49

CAMPS

CLASSES

All My Children Day Care.....................52

Kew Forest School (The)......................63

All Star Studio.......................................23

LIU Center for Gifted Youth..................57

American D&D Christ the King

Performing Arts Conservatory..............52

Summer Camp.....................................53

Rhythm NY...........................................57

American Dance & Drama....................51 Blue Dolphin Summer Day Camp.........52

FAMILY ENTERTAINMENT / EVENTS / OUTINGS Everything Kids Expo...........................29 Flushing Town Hall..........................42-43

RETAIL Bravo! Dance Boutique.........................55 The Bay Terrace at Bayside...................3

Garner Arts Center Arts Festival 2017......55 Gulliver’s Gate......................................33

SPECIAL EVENTS

Land of Make Believe...........................58

Everything Kids Expo...........................29

LIC Springs!..........................................21

Flushing Town Hall..........................42-43

RoboMind Tech.....................................54

The Bay Terrace at Bayside...................3

Garner Arts Center Arts Festival 2018....55

Steps To Socialization.......................... 11

Wild West City......................................57

Jewish Week (The)...............................59 LIC Springs!..........................................21

Camp Clio.............................................53 Christ the King Continuing Education...50

DANCE

FAMILY TRAVEL

Countryside Montessori School............30

All Star Studio.......................................23

Land of Make Believe...........................58

Hillcrest Jewish Center Day Camp.......49

American Dance & Drama....................51

Wild West City......................................57

IStein....................................................53

Bravo! Dance Boutique.........................55

Ivy Day School......................................21

Hillcrest Jewish Center Day Camp.......49

Jack -N- Jill Nursery.............................55

Rose Academy of Ballet.......................50

Blue Dolphin Summer Day Camp.........52 Hillcrest Jewish Center Day Camp.......49

Janine Stiene Suffolk Center

KENT Prep...........................................54

DEVELOPMENTAL

Magic Day Camp....................................7

for Speech......................................55, 60

Kew Forest School (The)......................63

C.I.I.T. Center.................................33, 60

Mill Basin Day Camp ...........................13

Louis Mora Ph.D.............................27, 60

Magic Day Camp....................................7

Comprehensive Consultation

Mill Basin Day Camp ...........................13

Psychological..........................................9

Noah’s Ark............................................51

Janine Stiene Suffolk Center

JEI Learning Center..............................64

FITNESS

SPECIAL NEEDS C.I.I.T. Center.................................33, 60 Comprehensive Consultation Psychological..........................................9

Queensborough United Soccer Club....19 Rose Academy of Ballet.......................50

SPORTS Blue Dolphin Summer Day Camp.........52

Oasis Children Services.......................50

for Speech......................................55, 60

Performing Arts Conservatory..............52

Louis Mora Ph.D.............................27, 60

Queens College Summer Camp...........45

Steps To Socialization.......................... 11

C.I.I.T. Center.................................33, 60

EDUCATION

Psychological..........................................9

Queens College Summer Camp...........45

Fidelis Care New York............................5

Queensborough United Soccer Club....19

LIC Dental Associates ...........................2

Soccer Friends, USA Inc......................52

Rhythm NY...........................................57 RoboMind Tech.....................................54 Rose Academy of Ballet.......................50 Soccer Friends, USA Inc......................52 The Church-in-the-Gardens Nursery School.....................................57 Tiny Footsteps......................................25 YM-YWHA - Samuel Field ...................49

All My Children Day Care.....................52 Comprehensive Consultation Psychological..........................................9 Countryside Montessori School............30 Jack -N- Jill Nursery.............................55

HEALTH Affinity Health Plan...............................15 Comprehensive Consultation

Christ the King Continuing Education...50 Magic Day Camp....................................7 Mill Basin Day Camp ...........................13

Louis Mora Ph.D.............................27, 60 Steps To Socialization.......................... 11 Viva Eve - Spectrafem, LLC.................19

THEATER Flushing Town Hall..........................42-43

JEI Learning Center..............................64

MUSIC

KENT Prep...........................................54

IStein....................................................53

CHILD CARE / DAY CARE

Kew Forest School (The)......................63

Ivy Day School......................................21

IStein....................................................53

All My Children Day Care.....................52

Noah’s Ark............................................51

Performing Arts Conservatory..............52

JEI Learning Center..............................64

Christ the King Continuing Education...50

Preschool of America............................29

Rhythm NY...........................................57

KENT Prep...........................................54

Young People’s Day Camp - Queens...17

TUTORS

QueensParent 61

VOICES

Non-Judgment Day in the Village

››

Why I am thankful for all the parenting advice I got along the way—from friends, family, and strangers alike. By Heather Ouida

P

rior to being a mother I thought I knew all there was to know about raising a child. I promised myself that when I had children, my kids would never watch TV, stay up too late, eat junk food, scream in the supermarket, be fresh, or throw sand in the sandbox. I was so judgmental I didn’t even realize I was being so—until I had my first child.

As a mom, I’ve learned I don’t have all the answers, and there is no one right way to raise a child. I recognize that sometimes you can do everything right and your 2-year-old may still flop on the ground and pound his feet in a full-blown, screaming tantrum in the check-out line. I admit what I now profess to know only came about with the help of so many—mothers, friends, even strangers, who, in short, helped me be less judgmental of myself and of others.

I realize now the wisdom of “It takes a village…” and am thankful for all the women who helped me along the way. When my older son was going through a difficult time and I would start a sentence by saying, “Why can’t he just… (fill in the blank: eat like other children, go to mommy-and-me classes without crying, etc.),” they would say, “Because he’s just himself.” This is a mantra from the Village I continue to carry with me today.

Now that I’ve opened this Village door, I can see just how many

people have played a positive, non-judgmental role. When my younger son decided getting up at 3:50am was a totally acceptable time to start his day, my family and friends would call with suggestions, encouragement, and empathy (and the occasional Cosmo when things got really rough!). They reminded me, too, that just as I can’t take credit for all of my kids’ successes (as much as I would like to!), I also can’t take the blame for all the things they sometimes do wrong. “Don’t make this about you and your parenting,” they would say. “Just help them through it.”

The Village cannot be a parochial or provincial place. On that note, I want to acknowledge all the strangers who have helped me out in airports, restaurants, and grocery stores over the years when I was having a hard time with my boys. I promise you and them that I will pay it forward. I will not give you a mean look when your child is screaming, I will not tell you I can’t understand why your child can’t happily share because mine always does. I will not look at my watch when I see your child is up past what I consider to be an acceptable bedtime. I will remember that I, too, have been there. I will remind myself what I have learned from so many others along the way.

I will help you, offer you a hand and listen; I will not judge you.

I am part of your Village, too.

Heather Ouida is the co-founder of Mommybites, a site that offers nanny boards, online parenting education, and other services. She lives in New York City with her husband, two sons, and her pet turtle Squirtle. This essay first appeared on Mommybites.com.

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QueensParent 63

S MM R RE

DAILY FUN ACTIVITIES AND BRAIN BUIILDING JEI CLASSES!

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