Parenting NH February 2018

parenting COMPLIMENTARY

FEBRUARY 2018

NEW HAMPSHIRE

D L I H C R U O Y SO

WANTS TO BE

A SINGER? Winter fun at NH’s nature centers

ParentingNH.com

What you need to know about school choice

Elliot Hospital’s Pediatric Emergency Department is the ONLY Dedicated Pediatric Emergency Department in Southern New Hampshire

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At Elliot’s Pediatric Emergency Department, patients are cared for in a warm, friendly environment that caters to and understands the specific needs of children who face trauma or emergency needs.

We offer a separate waiting area apart from the general public of our emergency department, which provides a less-stressful, more comforting environment for you and your child.

Learn more at www.elliothospital.org

Let your voice sparkle this summer!

Sing, Dance and Act at BYPC

Summer Camps, Lessons, and Classes Preschool to High School Visit BYPC.org or call 472-3894 february 2018 155 Route 101 Bedford, NH

www.parentingnh.com 3

NEW HAMPSHIRE PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER:

Sharron McCarthy, x5117 smccarthy@mcleancommunications.com EDITOR:

Melanie Hitchcock, x5157 editor@parentingnh.com GROUP ADVERTISING SALES DIRECTOR:

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Jodie Hall, x5122 jhall@nhbr.com SENIOR GRAPHIC DESIGNER:

Care for the journey of life.

Nancy Tichanuk, x5116 ntichanuk@mcleancommunications.com MARKETING REPRESENTATIVES:

Barbara Gallaher, x5156 bgallaher@parentingnh.com Debbie Birch, x5133 dbirch@parentingnh.com OFFICE MANAGER:

Mista McDonnell, x5114 mmcdonnell@nhbr.com EVENT & MARKETING MANAGER:

Count on CMC Primary Care for the personalized healthcare you want, when you want it.

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Morgen Connor, x5149 mconnor@mcleancommunications.com 150 Dow Street, Manchester, NH 03101 (603) 624-1442, fax (603) 624-1310

www.parentingnh.com Subscription: One year (12 issues) $15

©2018 MCLEAN COMMUNICATIONS, LLC

Parenting New Hampshire Magazine® is published by McLean Communications, 150 Dow St., Manchester, NH 03101, (603) 624-1442. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without the written permission of the publisher is prohibited. The publisher assumes no responsibility for any mistakes in advertisements or editorial. Statements/opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect or represent those of this publication or its officers. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this publication, McLean Communications, LLC.: Parenting New Hampshire Magazine disclaims all responsibility for omission and errors.

Catholic Medical Center has been recognized as an NCQA Patient-Centered Medical Home for committing to continuous quality improvement and comprehensive care.

a member of GraniteOne Health

WELCOMING NEW PATIENTS Call CMC’s Access Line at 603.314.4750 or visit CMC-PrimaryCare.org to make an appointment today.

4 www.parentingnh.com february 2018

Erica Baglieri, x5125 ebaglieri@mcleancommunications.com

• contents

february features 19

11

15

So your 22 child Teens and wants to Valentine’s Day sing...

departments From the Editor’s Desk

I Want That

The Short List

Cook with Your Kids

School choice in New Hampshire

Dad on Board House Calls

Raising Teens & Tweens

Five for Families

Out and About

6 7 8 32 34 35 36 37 38

ON THE COVER: Bedford Youth Performance Company student Allison Seidel, 12 , of Bedford. Photo taken at BYPC on Tuesday, Jan. 16, by Kendal J. Bush, Parenting NH’s longtime cover photographer.

View more of her work at www.kendaljbush.com.

15

24

New Hampshire’s Does your nature learning child need a centers mouth guard?

22

24 february 2018 www.parentingnh.com 5

from the editor’s desk LAWMAKERS MUST REJECT THE SCHOOL CHOICE BILL In an editorial published last May, I argued Senate Bill 193, New Hampshire’s school choice bill, was a bad idea.

Even with some changes over the past several months, it still is.

The most substantial change to the bill establishing education freedom savings accounts (ESAs) was adding the provision that only families whose annual household income is less than or equal to 300 percent of the federal poverty guidelines can take advantage of the program.

That was an improvement to the bill, but fundamental problems with this bill still remain.

• We don’t know how much this bill will cost.

• Where will the money come from to fund the bill?

• It is not clear whether this bill is constitutional.

One of the goals of the bill is to help low-income families that live in a poor or underperforming school district. Bill supporter Michelle Levell, who heads up School Choice NH said, “Wealthy families can either move to a really high performing district or on their own afford a private school or religious school or homeschooling expenses. Those are often out of reach for the people who need it the most.”

However, bill co-sponsor State Sen. John Regan told Parenting NH that even with the approximately $5,000 per child that would be available to offset the cost of private school, poor families would still not be able to afford private school tuition.

In that case, if the bill’s goal is to give all New Hampshire families access to better education, it fails.

With so many unknowns, it would be irresponsible to push through this bill.

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6 www.parentingnh.com february 2018

Melanie Hitchcock Editor

Camp Marist For the

Best Summer of your

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• Page to Stage Theater Workshops July 18 & 25 - 4-7 pm Performances at 6:30 pm ages 5-9 and 10-18

LLC

Would you agree to buy something that you 1) didn’t know the price of; 2) didn’t know how you’d pay for it; and 3) didn’t do what you needed it to do?

For years, New Hampshire has been lauded nationally for the quality of its public education system.

Dismantling the public school system in favor of an experiment with a marketbased ideology, an experiment that has not proven to work in other states who have adopted school vouchers, with an undetermined price tag and no way to fund it will not improve education. Further, increasing the burden on taxpayers will only motivate them to move their child, and future skilled employee, out of the state of New Hampshire.

More than 20 years after the Claremont decision by the NH Supreme Court that called for equal access to an adequate education for all students, we are still struggling with how to fund school districts fairly and equitably. We need to start there.

For more on the school choice bill, turn to page 19.

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I want that

Individually crafted ‘hugs’

COMPILED BY MELANIE HITCHCOCK

Mosaic Weighted Blankets are said to have the same comforting pressure as a loving hug. They’re hand-quilted in squares to distribute weight evenly across the blanket and individually crafted for each person’s height and weight. Available for children, teens, adults and seniors. Weighted blankets have been shown to benefit some children and adults with autism or ADHD. Available at www.mosaicweightedblankets.com; prices vary

Three bears, but no Goldilocks Fans of the Cartoon Network animated series We Bare Bears can now collect fun plush toys from Gund. Available in each of the three brothers – Grizz, Panda and Ice Bear – each plush is 12 inches long and features accurate details from the show. Recommended for age 1 and older.

Available at www.gund.com; $20

For your valentine

The Handcrafted Caramel Party Box by McCrea’s Candies, made in Boston, contains handmade individually wrapped caramels that are an update of the classic candy. Each rich, smooth confection is made with a combination of old-school methods and a few new-fangled techniques – and a dash of interesting flavors sprinkled in. This box of 40 pieces comes perfectly presented for gifting (or treating yourself).

Available at www.thegrommet.com; $29.95

Hip to be square Indoor play on a bad weather day The new OgoMinton has all the thrill and challenge of Badminton but is designed specifically for short-range play. Its smaller-sized racket and stretchy ogosoft ball make it ideal for kids to play indoors or as a travel toy for on-the-go fun.

Kafé in the Box is the coffee, hot chocolate and tea traveler with a clear Tritan window, and doublewalled, square design. Lighter than a stainless carrier and it won’t spill.

Fits standard car cup holders and under cartridge coffee makers.

Splash-proof lid and straw compatible. Choose from two sizes and four colors.

Available at www.amazon.com; $15.99 to $17.99

Available at www.ogosport.com; $25

february 2018 www.parentingnh.com 7

the short list ...TIPS, TRENDS & NEWS

NEW HAMPSHIRE

COMPILED BY MELANIE HITCHCOCK

This month on www.parentingnh.com:

It’s snow time!

Grab your sled and your snowshoes, and get outdoors. If you aren’t sure where to go in the Granite State to have fun in the snow this month, check out web-exclusive lists on Parenting New Hampshire’s website. Find a new favorite sledding hill, plan out school vacation week, go to a winter carnival, and more.

Looking for something to do inside where you can stay warm? Be sure to go to our online calendar for upto-date event information.

• Where to go snowshoeing — www.parentingnh.com/snowshoenh • Winter carnivals in NH — www.parentingnh.com/wintercarnivals • The best sledding hills — www.parentingnh.com/sledding • What to do during February vacation — www.parentingnh.com/februaryvacation • Your guide to winter in the Granite State — www.parentingnh.com/winter

Enter to win: Tickets to the ice castles in Lincoln The acre-sized, all-ice castle returns to Lincoln, and we’ve got tickets to give away. One of only four Ice Castles in America, this attraction features giant archways, tunnels, slot canyons, ice slide, caverns, glacial waterfalls and a frozen throne.

And don’t miss the high-energy fire show featuring fire breathing, spinning, hula, and more. Performances are every Friday and Saturday from 7:15 to 10:15 p.m.

Parenting New Hampshire will be giving away tickets through February. The last day to enter to win at www.parentingnh.com/icecastles is Friday, Feb. 23.

For more information, go to www.icecastles.com/ lincoln. Don’t forget to wear your boots!

Local dogs in the starting line-up of Animal Planet’s Puppy Bowl Two puppies will hit the national spotlight when they compete in Animal Planet’s 14th annual Puppy Bowl. The Puppy Bowl premieres Sunday, Feb. 4 at 3 p.m.

The public is invited to cheer the puppies on at a viewing party hosted by Anheuser-Busch Brewery in Merrimack from 2 to 5 p.m. The rescue and rise to fame of pups Iris and Edwin was made by possible by a partnership between the Humane Society for Greater Nashua and Alamo Rescue Friends of San Antonio, Texas.

Iris, the camera shy pup happier on the sidelines rooting for the team, is skilled with handling both stuffed toys and rope toys. Edwin is relentless when chasing a ball and is a real first stringer on Team Ruff.

He has a fiercely competitive streak that comes out on the playing field The Puppy Bowl stars will be in attendance and there will be complimentary refreshments and snacks available and dessert items donated by the Nashua Hannaford. Donations of supplies for HSFN’s pets awaiting adoption are appreciated. A wish list can be found at www.hsfn.org.

8 www.parentingnh.com february 2018

IRIS

EDWIN

Create the cover of Parenting NH’s March issue Is your child a master of the marker? A captain of the crayon? We are looking for some talented New Hampshire kids to bring color and personality to the cover of March’s Parenting NH, our special summer camp issue.

We will choose winners from three age groups: age 7 and younger; age 8-10; and age 11-13. Of the three, one will be chosen to be the cover and the other two winners will be featured inside.

Just cut out the drawing on the next page, and let your kids have fun coloring it in! Parents, please mail it back to us, along with your name, your child’s name and age, address, phone number and email.

THE DEADLINE TO ENTER IS MONDAY, FEB. 12, 2018.

Crayons, colored pencils or markers will be accepted. Bold colors are encouraged. Feel free to leave the background area white.

For more information, or to download a PDF of the coloring page, go to www.parentingnh.com.

Submissions will be accepted via mail to Parenting NH Magazine Editor, McLean Communications, 150 Dow St., Manchester, NH 03101 or email the entry as a PDF attachment to editor@parentingnh.com.

Children of Yankee Publishing Inc. or McLean Communications employees are not eligible.

parenting

february 2018 www.parentingnh.com 9

Never underestimate the power of the scribbles and the amazing imagination of children.

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10 www.parentingnh.com february 2018

So your kid wants to be a Not every child is the next Mariah Carey, but professional voice instruction teaches discipline and more • By Bill Burke

T

he final, fading notes of Timberlane Regional High School’s musical performance of “Sweeney Todd” drifted into nothing and for an instant – just the blink of an eye – the auditorium remained silent before it filled with cheers and applause.

It was in that briefest of moments that Natalie Livingston glimpsed her future.

The 18-year-old from Danville, now a musical theater major in the Hartt School of music at the University of Hartford (Conn.), is on the path to fulfilling a dream that began in that silence three years ago. And despite the dedication, occasional setbacks, hard work and unwavering passion it takes, she, and others like her, know that it’s a fulfilling and ultimately achievable goal.

“It started as a hobby,” Livingston said. “But then I got a supporting role in ‘Sweeney Todd’ and I was like, ‘Well, this I something I love to do.’ It was no longer just a hobby.”

Livingston began her singing career as a high school freshman when she began training for the New Hampshire All-State Music Festival. That same year, an audition for a role in “Fiddler on the Roof” and the key arrival of an influential teacher combined to instill the passion that grew over time.

“His passion really inspired me to develop my own passion,” Livingston said of her early musical mentor and chorus instructor, Rob Harrington. “I was willing to put in any work I needed to do in order to be the best I possibly could.”

It’s a pursuit that has led to noticeable changes, according to her mother – both in her abilities as a performer and as she grew through adolescence.

“I think she learned that it’s OK to follow her dreams,” Michelle Livingston said. “When you go to your parents and tell them you want to go to school for musical theater, our first reaction was, ‘What do you want to do for work?’ But she’s educated us and we’ve learned the arts are important. You can make a living in the arts. If you’re determined, if you work hard and if you have the proper training and choose the proper program – it can work.”

Choosing a music school can be an important step in moving toward that dream. A number of schools throughout New Hampshire specialize in training young musicians and singers, and teaching the

proper way to begin the craft.

“Often times, you need to be clear about what your personal goals are,” said Ann Davison, executive director and founder of the Bedford Youth Performing Company. “Often times we’ll get little guys who want to come in and have someone play piano while they sing. That’s not what we do. What you want is someone trained in teaching voice as if it is an instrument. You need to have someone who knows how to teach that instrument, and you need to have somebody who works really well with children.”

Other times, instructors can help to reset expectations in young would-be singers. TV shows like “American Idol” or “The Voice,” while inspirational, can set unrealistic goals. Tikes hoping to become the next Kelly Clarkson or to unleash the booming voice of Jennifer Hudson may be heading down the wrong path. A trained instructor can spot that and guide that child accordingly. Davison’s school, which opened 21 years ago, instructs youngsters in music, dance, theater, and provides chances to perform in rock and jazz ensembles, among other opportunities.

february 2018 www.parentingnh.com 11

WHERE TO START? SINGER AND TEACHERS OFFER ADVICE

It may take a lot of work and dedication, in addition to making the right decisions, but it is possible to build a future from the stage. Some advice from those who are doing just that:

Natalie Livingston as Maria in “West Side Story.”

“

It’s always been an amazing way to express myself.

Courtesy photo.

”

Natalie Livingston, singer: “If it’s really something you want to pursue, definitely seek out a voice teacher early on. Even if you don’t continue, it’s great to learn to sing correctly and healthily at the beginning of your career. If you don’t, it could lead to developing problems that ultimately become unfixable.”

Ann Davison, executive director/ founder of the Bedford Youth Performing Company: “I would guard against a teacher who wants to take a pre-adolescent child and teach them to have this big, booming voice. You want a teacher who understands vocal cords and how they function. Vocal cords are not really prepared to do that amount of work until they are adolescents.”

Jay Latulippe, co-director, Let’s Play Music and Make Art, LLC: “You want to look at the programming of a music school.

You may go and only get a teacher, but the only thing you’d get is a half-hour lesson. You want a bigger community.

Being part of a larger community is really valuable in the success of your education. Having a program where there are opportunities like bands and connecting with other people – that’s where enthusiasm builds. That’s why we do it. From an education standpoint, they have a far better shot at being successful if they’re having fun.”

12 www.parentingnh.com february 2018

— Natalie Livingston

“That should not be their goal,” Davison said of the Vocal health is emphasized in local music schools, ‘you’re going to Hollywood’ set. “They need to sound which involves treating the voice like any other instrulike themselves. Kids want to have a certain sound and ment. Singing improperly, like playing an instrument power and we need to show them the work that needs improperly, can lead to problems. Approaching the skill to be done to get there. Voices don’t come ready-made carefully is an important part of the process – someto do that kind of thing. [The TV shows] can inflate kids, thing that even the most accomplished singers have but kids have always had those dreams and fantasies – learned. and why not? They’re great goals to have.”

“Just because somebody is famous and on the radio, There are also safety considit doesn’t mean they’re singing erations, teachers say. Singing properly,” said Jay Latulippe, improperly can lead to physical co-director of Let’s Play Music and Music education Make Art, LLC, in Derry. “Students problems – Livingston had her own struggle with developing will come in and try to emulate nodes on her vocal cords but is the best education what they hear on the radio, but worked through it with the help even Adele got nodes. She has you can get. of a trained teacher. The exersaid she knew she was singing cises and training she received wrong but did it anyway. She had — Jay Latulippe, co-director of Let’s from her teacher enabled her to go back and do it properly.

Play Music and Make Art, LLC, to heal and to develop a new That’s where training comes in.” confidence, her mother said.

Along with the dreams of life in “I’ve seen a huge change the spotlight are the benefits that in her from the time she started singing seriously,” come along with honing such skills. According to exMichelle Livingston said. “She used to get nervous. Not perts, it can be a vital part of a well-rounded education. about her performance – but whether her voice was “My feeling is that music education is the best educagoing to hold up. Her voice was unpredictable. We were tion you can get,” Latulippe said. “It’s the equivalent of always wondering if her voice was going to perform for taking math and English and melding them together. her.”

There’s been a lot of research into music education, and

“

”

it’s been found that music is the only discipline that requires both hemispheres of the brain to work in tandem and fire at the same time.”

According to the National Association for Music Education, students benefit from musical training in a number of ways, including developing increased language and reasoning skills, mastering memorization, increasing coordination, enjoying a sense of achievement, learning pattern recognition and improving emotional development.

“We see kids start lessons with us and we see the impact,” Latulippe said. “There are so many positives. There’s pure brain development, but that’s not what the kids are thinking. Parents can certainly see it, but what happens is we see it helps develop patience, discipline, concentration and even social development. That’s the thing about music.

When you’re singing and playing with other people, you have to learn to work together.

You learn how to make it work so it blends and sounds great.

“All of those skills help you in every aspect of your life, whether it’s academic, relationships with other people, your job later in life – all the skills you learn in music help you be a better person in general and navigate life gracefully.”

Of course, there are also arguments against pursuing a career path with a less-than assured financial future, but Natalie Livingston is having none of it.

“Why do we only put value on things where you’re guaranteed to make money?” she said. “It saddens me because what does it matter how much money you make as long as you love what you’re doing? But the world thinks differently.”

It’s a mindset that Davison espouses at the Bedford Youth Performing Company. If the only result is learning to set goals, developing a work ethic and learning determination, then all the work is worth it.

“First of all, in my perspective, every kid is a superstar,” she said. “They’re not all going to be superstar singers, but you have to take time and discover what your gifts are. They’ll get the joy of singing, but it also gives kids a voice – which sounds odd, because I don’t mean it in the literal sense. It gives them power, another way of expressing themselves. It gives them a depth and texture to communicate what they have to say.”

It’s that intangible element that may have ensnared Livingston.

“I’ve always loved singing,” she said. “For me, it’s always been an amazing way to express myself. I love connecting with people and telling stories. And it’s in that moment, right when the show ends, where there’s silence before everybody claps. That’s when you know the audience got it.”

Bill Burke is PNH’s Dad on Board. He’s also the managing editor for custom publications at McLean Publications.

Natalie Livingston in the role of Johanna in “Sweeney Todd.”

Courtesy photo.

february 2018 www.parentingnh.com 13

Core Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine & Core Pediatric Dentistry Keeping You Healthy is at Our Core

Core Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine is dedicated to providing high quality, compassionate care to infants, children and adolescents. We are pleased to assist with the health needs of your family in a child friendly, pleasant environment in three convenient locations – Epping, Exeter and Plaistow. Pediatric allergy and asthma services are also offered at our Exeter location, 603-418-0038.

Epping: 212 Calef Highway 603-693-2100

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All locations are welcoming new patients.

Core Pediatric Dentistry, located at 5 Hampton Road in Exeter, provides dental care for infants, children, adolescents and children with special health care needs. For more information, call 603-773-4900.

corephysicians.org

14 www.parentingnh.com february 2018

Like us on Facebook for news, healthy tips & medical information.

Take a bite out of

dental injuries Mouth guards are a piece of equipment young athletes should be wearing By Crystal Ward Kent

K

ids love playing sports, but roughand-tumble activities can mean trouble for teeth.

As teams enthusiastically vie for the ball or yardage, elbows, knees and heads can crash into teeth and jaws. Even individual sports are risky as

unexpected contact with sporting equipment, the ground or some other unforgiving surface can wreak havoc on unprotected mouths.

However, mouth guards are an easy and relatively inexpensive way to ensure your child’s smile and dental health are protected.

According to Dr. Paul Harvey, Jr. of Harvey Dental in Portsmouth, anyone involved in sports should wear a mouth guard.

“The age group at highest risk is those children between the ages of eight and 18,” he said.

“We see the most dental injuries with kids in this age range. Younger children may not be playing sports at a high level or with a great deal of contact, but they can be vul-

DID YOU KNOW?

Custom mouth guards can be purchased in a wide range of colors. Some kids pick their favorite color while others choose the color of their sports team.

Custom mouth guards can also have the child’s name imprinted on them – not a bad idea given how casually they are often left around the locker room!

nerable to injury because they are learning and are not as coordinated. They also have teeth that are in transition from baby teeth to permanent, so these teeth are not as deeply rooted. With 13- to 18-year-olds, you see the frequency of injuries go down a bit, but the severity of injuries can be more significant, as this age group is bigger, stronger and playing sports at a more intense level.”

The need for a mouth guard can be determined somewhat by what type of sport your child plays. Sports are placed in three categories by the medical community: 1) Non-contact, low velocity: swimming, cross-country skiing, curling and running Photo courtesy of Glidewell Laboratories

february 2018 www.parentingnh.com 15

Amherst Orthodontics

D

r. Diane Shieh, of Amherst Orthodontics, is honored to be recognized in New Hampshire Magazine’s Top Dentist (Orthodontics category) since 2006. With nearly 18 years of orthodontic experience, you can be sure of Dr. Diane’s commitment to delivering honest opinions — with health and prevention in mind. Come see why our patients and • Complimentary Appointment Shuttle colleagues love us.

• Complimentary New Patient Exam • Orthodontics for Children, Teens “ We had such a wonderful and Adults experience.The entire • Invisalign & Invisalign Teen Provider staff was courteous and professional. Any problems • Flexible Financing or questions that we had were taken care of at our “ This whole process was such a pleasant convenience.The end result experience. It could not have gone any is so dramatically improved. smoother. Ashley actually looked forward We could not be happier! I to her appointments and seeing all her would recommend Amherst “friends” at Amherst Orthodontics!

Orthodontics to everyone.”

Thank You!!” ~Julie F. ~ Nathan A.

5 Overlook Drive #6, Amherst, NH 03031 603-672-0844 • www.amherstorthodontics.com

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2) Non-contact high-velocity: skateboarding, downhill skiing, horseback riding or racing, and cycling 3) Contact: basketball, soccer, hockey, football, field hockey, lacrosse “Contact and non-contact high-velocity sports are definitely activities that warrant a mouth guard,” said Dr. Harvey. “It’s not just player-to-player contact that can cause injury, but flying balls, sticks, the ground or the ice – any of these can do harm.”

Dr. Robert Chaikin, owner of Belknap Dental in Dover, echoes Dr. Harvey’s recommendations and takes them a step further.

“We even recommend mouth guards for adults who are in contact or high-velocity sports. It is much easier to prevent dental injuries than to have reconstructive work done.”

There are three types of mouth guards: Stock mouth guards, which are generic and purchased off the shelf at sporting goods stores; the “boil and bite” type, which are also available over the counter and provide a slightly more customized fit; and custom mouth guards, which are fitted at a dental practice.

Neither Dr. Harvey nor Dr. Chaikin recommend the stock mouth guards, which can fit poorly and cause irritation or fall out too easily. However, Dr. Harvey said the boil and bite may be acceptable for younger players whose mouths are still changing.

“As long as the fit is comfortable and the mouth guard stays in, a boil-and-bite guard will provide good protection,” he said. “And, it can be a less expensive option for those early years when a child’s mouth is still evolving. You can then graduate to a custom guard when the child is older.”

Dr. Chaikin said parents may want to consider a custom mouth guard, even with a younger child, if the other types are not fitting comfortably or if the child has braces.

“An ill-fitting mouth guard is not only uncomfortable and not fully doing its job, it can also cause irritation to dental tissues. We can create mouth guards that fit comfortably over braces – that are soft on the inside and hard on the outside. Even if the child’s mouth is in transition, with some baby teeth and some emerging permanent teeth, we can continue to adjust that mouth guard as the child’s mouth changes.”

How can you tell if a mouth guard is fitting well? “The child should be able to breathe and speak with the mouth guard in,” said Dr. Chaikin. “The mouth guard should not feel loose or irritating. I suggest that parents check their child’s mouths for signs of irritation.

The mouth guard should also not create tightening or cramping in the jaw. If any of these signs are there, it’s time for a new guard.”

Whatever type of mouth guard you purchase, keeping them clean is important, and something parents should monitor.

“We see mouth guards being stuffed in gym bags, backpacks, sitting on benches and being played with during downtimes,” said Dr. Harvey. “They do not lead a sanitary life!

Wash them in hot water after wearing and let them dry or you can also rinse with hot water and brush with some toothpaste.”

“If parents are really concerned about germs, they can also clean them with warm water and a little diluted unscented household bleach – sodium hydrochloride – then rinse well,” adds Dr. Chaikin. “This will also get rid of any odor if your mouth guard develops one.”

If your child complains about wearing a mouth guard, both dentists advise reminding them that mouth guards do a great job at preventing broken and cracked teeth, and that is something to smile about.

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What you need to know about

NH’s school choice bill How will it be paid for, why do we need it and is it legal?

By Melanie Plenda

A

bill that allows some parents to use state funds to defray the costs of sending their child to a nonpublic or alternative school has cleared another hurdle on its way to becoming law.

On Jan. 16, SB 193, titled, “establishing education freedom savings accounts for students,” came before the house finance committee for a public hearing.

“Over the four-and-a-half hour hearing, many people testified, with somewhat less than one-third supporting the bill and somewhat more than two-thirds opposing it,” writes Rep. Neal Kurk, R-Weare, chairman of the House Finance Committee in an email to Parenting NH. He estimated about 75 people spoke at the hearing.

He said public comments were limited to the financial impact on school districts, the state budget, local and state taxpayers, and the like.

“The policy issues related to the bill — for example, whether educational scholarships/ vouchers are appropriate and desirable for this state, whether the proposal is constitutional among others — were decided favorably by the House when it approved the bill and sent it to the Finance Committee for consideration of the cost aspects of the proposal,” he wrote.

This has been a contentious bill for the past year with proponents arguing that it would allow parents the right to choose a better school for their child and opponents arguing that this bill will gut public education.

No matter where you stand on the merits of school choice, the bill itself has left some with lingering questions about how the bil — which includes stabilization grants for districts who

lose a certain percentage of students — would be funded.

What is SB 193?

Senate Bill 193, which was introduced in January 2017, is a bill that allows eligible students to get up to 95 percent of what the state currently pays per pupil for public school to use that money to go to a private school. Current estimates put that amount at roughly $3,600 per student on average. The remaining 5 percent would go to cover the costs of the organization that administers the scholarship.

Students with special needs, and those who receive free and reduced lunch, would also get what is called differentiated aid under SB 193. Differentiated aid is money the state provides to school districts to cover expenses associated with these students. State Sen. John Reagan (R-Deerfield), one of the co-sponsors of the bill, said they estimate students who qualify could receive anywhere from $4,500 to a maximum of $7,000.

The way that works, according to the bill, is the scholarship organization would contact the New Hampshire Department of Education to tell them the number of eligible students applying for the scholarship. The department would transfer the money into individual student savings accounts to be spent on tuition, transportation, textbooks, curriculum, online courses, training, tutors, testing and home schooling supplies among other authorized education-related expenditures. This money can go toward any approved private school, including religious schools, or to families who home school.

Reagan said it’s not certain yet if the money would go directly to parents or if the scholarship fund would send it directly to the private

school, or in the case of homeschoolers, directly to the families. He said that likely won’t be hammered out until the bill becomes law.

Eligible students, according to the latest version of the bill available at press time, include students ages of 5 to 20 who have not graduated high school and who are attending a New Hampshire public school, including a chartered public school, for a minimum of one year; or who received an account in the prior year; or who is entering kindergarten or first grade; and whose annual household income is less than or equal to 300 percent of the federal poverty guidelines (For single-parent households with one child that is about $48,720 a year. For an average four-person household, that amount is about $73,800.); or who is assigned to a school that for two consecutive years has been unable to demonstrate that it provides the opportunity for an adequate education; or who has an indi-

vidualized education program (IEP) or an accommodation plan; or who applied and was not admitted to a chartered public school or whose application for an education tax credit scholarship was not funded.

An education tax credit scholarship is a mechanism by which private donors and businesses donate money to an education fund in return for tax credits. That money is given out to eligible low-income students to use to go to private schools. These funds are administered by the nonprofit NH Children’s Scholarship Fund. According to their website, in 2016-17 they awarded 260 scholarships totaling $560,000.

Homeschooled students, roughly 5,900 students that don’t currently receive state funding, would be eligible for scholarship funds under this bill.

Further, the state would reimburse districts that lose more than one-quarter of one percent of their allocated budget with stabilization grants, paid for by the state, for the fiscal year the district takes the hit, as well as the four fiscal years following.

According to the bill, the Department of Education shall then order the scholarship organization that provided accounts to students from those districts to conduct a survey of the financial effects of students receiving scholarships. The organization will determine the amount of the reduction, if any, and whether the scholarship program has resulted in economic hardship to the school district. The results are forwarded to the school boards of those districts.

Reagan did not immediately have an idea of how much the state would have to pay out in stabilization grants. When asked via email where the money would come from to pay for the grants, he said he did not have time to do the research on that question.

During an earlier interview with Parenting NH he said, “I don’t know what the projection

february 2018 www.parentingnh.com 19

was on that. If it was $10 million it still puts the program in place and you’re going to get the bonus of you’re going to get improved performance from the public schools.

“Because once the heat’s on and the school sees a couple of kids leave, you know the principal tells the teachers you want to keep your positions you better do things better because now the parents have a choice.”

When asked about the financial impact of this bill, Finance Chairman Kurk said in a brief phone interview, “I don’t have the time to do what you are asking me to do” and declined to schedule an additional interview.

He did say there were financial documents available discussing the impact that included reports and analysis generated by The Josiah Bartlett Center for Public Policy, a New Hampshire-based think tank that, according to its website has, “as its core beliefs individual freedom and responsibility, limited and accountable government, and an appreciation of the role of the free enterprise system”; from Reaching Higher New Hampshire, a think tank who, according to their website, has a mission to, “foster … support for high standards in our public schools, giving all New Hampshire children the opportunity to prepare for college, for immediate careers, and for the challenges and opportunities of life in 21st Century New Hampshire.”; and, from “several other organizations,” which he did not name.

These documents did not include estimates or analysis from the New Hampshire Department of Education, Kurk said.

According to the Josiah Bartlett Center’s report, the participation rate nationally among states that have voucher programs is 1 percent of eligible students. They note that this is one percent of eligible students, but not 1 percent of all students.

Based on the criteria laid out in SB 193, the Center estimates that half of New Hampshire public school students would qualify for the program. So, using that 1 percent average on that population, The Bartlett Center determined that it’s likely 835 students statewide would choose a scholarship.

Using $4,500 as an average scholarship payment (which includes 95 percent of the state adequate education funding, plus 100 percent differentiated aid) and a 1 percent participation rate, The Bartlett Center estimates that the ESA would reduce state funds to local districts by $3,757,500, or “0.14 percent of district operating budgets, on average.”

They also looked at what would happen if 5 percent of eligible students received a scholarship.

“That would be a high first-year participation rate, but a reasonable rate to expect several years down the road, based on the experience in other states,” according to the Center.

At 5 percent, if 4,175 students statewide choose a scholarship, state funds to local districts are reduced by $18,787,500, or “0.72 percent of district operating budgets.”

The Center argues this number falls within the range of the number of students public schools lost between 2010 and 2015, which they say is 7 percent. “The expected decline in enrollment would be well within the average range that school districts handle on a yearly basis,” according to its analysis.

As for the stabilization grants, The Bartlett Center looked only at the operating budget, as opposed to total revenue and, “To keep this study simple, we did not include the amount districts might receive in stabilization grant funding. Had we included stabilization grants, the average revenue loss would be even smaller.”

Reaching Higher NH, in its analysis, did look at the stabilization grants. They estimated if 3 percent of students get vouchers in the first year of the program, districts would lose $5.8 million in state funding. They further estimated that the state would spend $2.2 million that year in stabilization grants and $10.1 million over five years. They are also estimating the state would be spending another $2.6 million per year for students currently in private schools who get vouchers. These numbers, according to Reaching Higher are just based on the number of students getting free and reduced lunch.

“As a result, however, the $31 million (total over the next five years) should be considered a conservative, minimum estimate of impact.”

The Department of Education was expected to release its estimation of the financial impact of the bill, but according to an email sent Jan. 17 by department spokeswoman Bianca Garcia, “We will not be able to release any information until the fiscal note is finalized.”

Oversight The parent of the child receiving the scholarship is responsible and accountable — in consultation with their educational providers — to establish academic growth goals for the student at the outset of each academic year and will regularly measure students’ academic growth throughout the school year.

According to the bill, “in measuring each

20 www.parentingnh.com february 2018

student’s progress toward achieving those goals throughout the school year, the provider may use a variety of assessment tools and participating students shall take either the statewide assessment test or a nationally norm-referenced test that measures learning gains.”

This includes homeschooling families who are not required to participate or provide assessments to the state. Some homeschooling families have balked as they won the right in 2012 to not have to do assessments and report to the state. This law would reverse that for those who accept scholarship funds.

Michelle Levell, who heads up School Choice NH, a nonprofit that advocates for school choice, said the scholarship program is optional and if homeschooling parents don’t like this requirement, they do not have to apply.

These tests for homeschooling families, according to the bill, would be paid for by the public school district.

Amy Gall, who heads up the NH Homeschooling Coalition, declined to comment, saying that as a nonprofit they do not take a position on legislative issues.

If a student is not making satisfactory academic growth after two years, the scholarship organization, along with the parents, would come up with an intervention plan that includes a process for monitoring student growth and progress. The organization would also then review the use of education freedom savings account funds to ensure expenses best address the student’s academic growth.

The bill also establishes an Education Freedom Savings Account Commission comprised of two senators, three representatives, the scholarship administrator and a member of the state board of education to, “provide a report on or before Nov. 1 of each year to the general court including findings, recommendations and any corrective or technical improvements that the education freedom savings account program may require.”

There is a sunset provision built in where, unless renewed, the law expires in 2023.

Why do we need a school choice bill?

Sen. Reagan said he introduced this bill because, “We need it to introduce competition in education and for parents and children to seek a different venue for educating their children.”

Despite the availability of charter schools, homeschooling and private schools, he said that competition is not available, “by any

stretch of the imagination.”

This bill would allow more children to “seek other venues,” he said. Adding that judging by other states that have adopted school choice programs “when you introduce any type of school choice, all the schools in the area improve because they have to.”

When asked if there were any specific deficiencies in the current public school system that he could use as examples or specific districts that needed improvement, Reagan did not cite any.

“If we do nothing we just continue to poorly educate children,” Reagan said.

Levell with School Choice NH said this law is needed because, “right now wealthy families already have these sorts of options for their children if needed. Even if they’re in a really good district, that doesn’t mean it fits their particular child. Each kid is different. And right now wealthy families can either move to a really high performing district or on their own afford a private school or religious school or homeschooling expenses. Those are often out of reach for the people who need it the most.

Whether its low-income families or special needs families.”

Levell said these scholarship accounts put these options within reach.

Private school tuition varies greatly and some schools offer their own financial aid packages to students. The Bartlett Center released an average of the cost of tuition in the 10 most populous areas in the state in 2012.

They found tuition for low-income students who qualified for financial aid, the lowest tuition cost for elementary students was $2,200, the highest was $25,700, the median was $5,000 and the average was $6,328 per year.

For high school students, the lowest cost, excluding those who offer free tuition to those who qualify, was $2,405, the highest was $25,700, the median was $7,978 and the average was $9,302.

However, Reaching Higher NH said this bill would unduly harm the hometowns of the low-income students in particular. It said the largest pool of eligible students will likely be those from households who earn less than 300 percent of the Federal Poverty Line.

“This means that about 70 percent of eligible students will come from communities that are extremely vulnerable to fluctuations in state aid and enrollment,” Reaching Higher reports. “These communities depend on dollars raised through local taxes and state funding due to lower-than-average equalized valuation per pupil (lower-than-average property valuations, meaning a lower ability to raise property tax funds). For example, a reduction in state aid in Franklin has a more discernible impact on their local budget than a reduction in state aid in Rye.”

Reagan said this is likely a moot point because this population isn’t likely to take advantage of these scholarships because tuition at the private schools would still be more than they can afford.

“A poor rural district is made up of poor rural people,” he said. “They’re not going to move their kids. How are they going to do it if they’re poor? They don’t have to move far but they still have to pay the tuition? Without special needs that’s limited to $5,000.”

What is it going to cost?

Rep. James Grenier (R-Lempster), a member of the House Education Committee, said no one knows what this bill will cost, and that’s one of his big problems with the bill as it’s written.

(Parenting NH reached out to House Education Committee Chairman Rick Ladd, but he did not return calls or emails seeking comment. Parenting NH also reached out via email to committee members Barbara Shaw and Joseph Pitre — who also co-sponsored the bill — and none of them responded to requests for comment. Linda Tanner responded after the deadline and said she had been busy and apologized.)

Grenier said the state has yet to come up

Infant - 6th grade

with a way to adequately fund its current obligations such as the NH Special Aid Fund and building aid, so he’s skeptical as to how the state is going to be able to fund an indeterminate amount in stabilization grants.

He said this is particularly worrisome because the state doesn’t already have a pool of money set aside; it will just have to come up with it from somewhere.

Furthermore, he said, local property owners will end up bearing the burden of paying for this law in a few ways.

Though the state pays a per pupil and differentiated aid amount for a special education student, that amount usually falls well short of the actual cost to educate the child which, depending on the need could be as much as $100,000 or $200,000. That shortfall is typically funded by the taxpayers in local districts. That will be the same under the new law. So even if the student goes to a private school, local tax payers will still have to make up the difference.

And taxpayers generally will be paying for the stabilization grants, he said. “These are adding huge costs to our local school districts and towns.”

Grenier said that the open language of the bill may have the state paying for student populations it hasn’t had to pay for up until

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now such as homeschooled students or any of the 16,266 students already attending private school.

When asked via email whether any current private school students could get a voucher, Reagan did not respond.

Is this legal?

The scholarship funds can go to pay for tuition at religious schools. This is raising questions of constitutionality for some people, while others believe the state will be on solid ground in this regard.

Gilles Bissonnette, legal director for the American Civil Liberties Union of New Hampshire wrote in a position paper, “The New Hampshire Constitution mandates strict separation of church and state, and includes explicit prohibitions on using taxpayer dollars to support religious education.”

Grenier said he too thinks the bill is on shaky ground constitutionally, but for a slightly different reason. Grenier said when the bill was first being discussed he asked why parents couldn’t just apply directly to the state for these funds. This would eliminate the need and expense of a scholarship organization and allow the state to raise and appropriate funds.

Grenier said the New Hampshire Constitu-

tion prohibits state and local tax dollars from being spent to educate a student in a religious school.

“By giving the money to a parent through an education savings account, the bill plays a game of beans and presumes the funds do not go to a religious school because the money does not go directly to a religious school, but to the parent,” he said. “This is how the intent of the New Hampshire Constitution is an end run and why the bill cannot be a simple and clean ‘raise and appropriate’ bill.”

Reagan said he is confident that even if there are challenges, this is not new territory and other states have successfully been able to prove that this is, in fact, constitutional.

Gov. Chris Sununu is on record as being an enthusiastic supporter of SB 193. Last June, he signed a school choice bill, much narrower in scope, known as the “Croydon Bill,” which allows some school districts who lack a public school for certain grades to use public money to pay for private school.

As of this writing SB 193 was still in the House Finance Committee and is expected out of committee in March.

Melanie Plenda is an award-winning freelance journalist based in Keene.

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Dateless on Valentine’s Day

If your teen is feeling left out, there are other ways to take part in the holiday

By Andrea Bushee

E

ven at their young age, teens and tweens who don’t have a “valentine” might feel a little left out of all the activities and celebrations that surround the holiday this month.

But just because they may not have a special someone doesn’t mean they can’t have fun and do something else like joining the Black Hearts Party at the Nashua Public Library.

Ashlee Norwood, teen program librarian, will be organizing the event which is geared toward 12- to 17- year-olds.

“We promote it as an Anti-Valentine’s Day,” Norwood said. “It’s nice to have a place to go that is not focused on hearts and love and all that jazz.”

The event will run from 4 to 6 p.m. and will include voodoo doll making, snacks and a movie that does not involve romance.

Norwood said she identifies with teens who may not be into Valentine’s Day. At the library event there will be no pressure to be with someone, she adds.

Lynn Lyons, licensed clinical social worker and psychotherapist in Concord, specializes in the

22 www.parentingnh.com february 2018

treatment of anxiety disorders in adults and children.

In general, she doesn’t hear a lot of angst over Valentine’s Day. However, if teens or even tweens are feeling a lot of pressure to have a boyfriend or girlfriend around this time of year, it is a good opportunity for them to ask themselves if they are even ready for a relationship at their age.

“How do we help teenagers differentiate between what their peer group or society says is supposed to happen versus what they are really ready for themselves,” she said.

She suggests teens might want to think of Valentine’s Day as an opportunity to express caring to anyone they have a friendship or connection with.

Feeling socially connected is a huge factor in mental health in tweens and teens, Lyons added.

She suggests teens simply tell other people how they feel on Valentine’s Day as a way to celebrate. For example, saying “I really am glad you’re my friend or say to a teacher I really value your support,” will work, and said Lyons, “instead of focusing on what you get, let’s talk to kids about how you give.”

NOw eNrOlliNg fOr Summer/fall 2018!

FEBRUARY IS TEEN DATING VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH

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If your teen is dating, it’s important to be aware of the issue of violence between teen partners.

Every year, approximately 1.5 million high school students nationwide experience physical abuse from a dating partner. It is also known that 3 in 4 parents have never talked to their children about domestic violence. In light of these alarming facts, every year during the month of February advocates join efforts to raise awareness about dating violence, highlight promising practices, and encourage communities to get involved.

Teen dating violence (TDV) is defined as a pattern of abuse or threat of abuse against teenaged dating partners, occuring in different forms, including verbal, emotional, physical, sexual and digital. TDV occurs across diverse groups and cultures.

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There are many resources available to provide information and support to victims and assist service providers and communities to decrease the prevalence of dating violence among young people. Anyone can make this happen by raising awareness about the issue, saying something about abuse when you see it and organizing your community to make a difference.

Go to www.nrcdv.org for more information.

— Courtesy of the National Resource Center on Domestic Violence

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Volunteering on, or around Valentine’s Day is another opportunity to show love toward humankind in general. Teens can find local volunteering opportunities that welcome helpers their age at volunteermatch.org.

For example, there is a Mardi Gras Gala on Sunday, Feb. 1, in Concord, hosted by Catholic Charities New Hampshire that welcomes teen volunteers.

The event helps to support the organization’s Emergency Services Fund, which provides heating assistance, grocery and gas cards and other support to people in critical need in the state. The event also helps fund other services the charity provides and dinner is also served to volunteers.

If teens and tweens are looking for a way to help from home, Elysia Gabe of www.volunteermatch.org, an organization that connects those wanting to give back with organizations in need, suggests they can participate in virtual volunteer opportunities.

One such opportunity asks volunteers to make greeting cards for holidays, like Valentine’s Day, to be distributed to personal and skilled care residents.

Other virtual opportunities can be found through the Virtual filter in the left side menu of the search results, Gabe added. Use Valentine as your search term.

Another way teens can help others and add to their bank account is to offer babysitting services to a local couple with younger kids. Though they might not take the place of a romantic date, little kids can brighten any Valentine’s Day and their parents will appreciate the night out.

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Registration for summer camps and recreation classes begins April 1st. Call 603.889.8092 or visit gymnasticsvillage.com.

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Winter explorations: Get outside and learn!

Visit New Hampshire’s nature learning centers this month

By Jacqueline Tourville

W

ith a wide array of kid-friendly learning programs planned for this month, New Hampshire’s many nature centers make it easy for families to explore the great outdoors. If you are ready for one last blast of winter fun, bundle up and enjoy a day of play in nature.

24 www.parentingnh.com february 2018

Ever wondered which animals make all those tiny and notso tiny footprints in the snow? Learn the basics of animal tracking at Prescott Farm Environmental Education Center (www.prescottfarm.org) in Laconia, on Saturday, Feb. 3 or Saturday, Feb. 17, from 1 to 3 p.m. The interactive tracking walk takes place around the center’s grounds.

For more animal-tracking fun, join naturalists from the Harris Center (www.harriscenter.org) on Sunday, Feb. 4, for a family-friendly winter tracking walk along the Tenant Swamp boardwalk in Keene. This outing is geared toward elementary school children and their families, but all are welcome. The walk begins at 2 p.m. behind Keene Middle School. Email the Harris Center at thelen@harriscenter.org to reserve snowshoes.

Valentine’s Day may be all about roses, but beneath the snow and frozen ground, there are new flowers and new plant life just waiting to explode. To learn how trees and other plants wait out winter and start preparing for spring, head to Waiting to Bloom at the Massabesic Audubon Center in Auburn on Wednesday, Feb. 14, for a fun and informative guided walk through the winter landscape. See what early signs of spring you can spot.

Call 668-2045 or go to www.nhaudubon. org for more information and to register.

For added adventure, snowshoe

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rentals for all ages are available anytime to explore the center’s grounds.

What’s winter in New Hampshire without the time-honored tradition of ice fishing? Hosted by Amoskeag Fishways in Manchester, Let’s Go ICE Fishing! is a free two-day program that will be held Friday, Feb. 16, and Saturday, Feb. 17, for families to learn the basics of ice angling.

Led by staff and volunteers from New Hampshire Fish and Game, the program covers ice safety, fish ecology, equipment, and there’s a fishing field trip for hands-on learning. All angling gear will be provided.

For kids ages 8 and older. Call 626-FISH to register.

Squam Lakes Natural Science Center in Holderness invites families to take a naturalist-guided walk of the live animal exhibit trail to see how the center’s furry and feathered residents adapt to winter in New Hampshire. Scheduled for Saturday, Feb.17, from 10 a.m. to noon. Snowshoes are available at no extra cost or bring your own. More information available at www.nhnature.org.

For some indoor fun, visit the Massabesic Audubon Center for its live reptile and amphibian show featuring the center’s own live turtles, frogs, and snakes.

Learn what species live in New Hampshire, how to identify them, and what strategies they use to survive the winter. You can even touch or hold a turtle or a snake. All ages welcome. Call 668-2045 to register.

The Natural Winter Wonder program at the Beaver Brook Association in Hollis is still going full steam in February, with fun program sessions that include a story, craft and outdoor nature walk. For preschoolers and their parents/caregivers, this month’s Winter Wonder session takes place Tuesday, Feb. 20, at 10 a.m. Visit the association’s website at www.beaverbrook.org for more information or to register.

At Squam Lakes Natural Science Center on Friday, Feb. 23, experience winter like an animal as you make your way through a fun course that challenges kids and parents to skip like snowshoe hares, slide like otters, balance like bobcats, and jump like deer. How fast can you go? After this wild outdoor adventure, head inside to meet some special live animal guests. For more information or to register, go to www.nhnature.org.

If you are up for a different kind of challenge, on Tuesday, Feb. 27, Amoskeag Fishways hosts a special Makerspace Challenge Day to build winter sleds from recycled materials. No more snow? Build your own games in this day dedicated to the imagination. To learn more and register, go to www.amoskeagfishways.org.

Jacqueline Tourville is a freelance writer and children’s book author who lives on the Seacoast.

Amoskeag Fishways Flip out over Vacation Makerspace Days!

Games & Sleds Feb. 27

Fish Ladders Feb. 28

3D Cityscapes March 1

A-N-D

Ice Fishing Class with Field Trip Feb. 16, 17

Winter Wildlife Feb. 3, 10, 24

Call 626-FISH to register

www.AmoskeagFishways.org www.facebook.com /AmoskeagFishways 4 Fletcher St. • Manchester, NH

Celebrate the Magic of the Merrimack THE AMOSKEAG FISHWAYS PARTNERSHIP Eversource • NH Audubon • NH Fish & Game • US Fish & Wildlife

february 2018 www.parentingnh.com 25

Adventure, Fun and Excitement Await Your Child at Camp Doucet!

Our traditional day camp in South Nashua is the perfect environment for sun this summer!

Open to youth, ages 6 to 13, our camp offers: ✓ Special Theme Weeks ✓ Athletic Activities ✓ Team Building Experiences ✓ Arts and Crafts ✓ Swimming Activities ✓ Outdoor Adventure ✓ Weekly field trips to State Parks, beaches & more!

Early and late pick up options available for campers.

Please contact us about scholarships and financial assistance.

For more information, visit our website at www.bgcn.com or call Christine Lessard, Membership Secretary, at (603) 883-0523.

Visit our table at the Summer Camp Expo on March 17, 2018 to meet our staff and receive more information!

p m a C y a D e r u Nat t! is d if f e r e n Every day

NH AUDUBON

S E O R E H R E SUP E

2018 THEM

Summer STEM Programs

Trails & Treks Explore Natural Habitats Live Animals • Fun & Learning

r?

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Lego Engineering, Robotic Programming, Stop Motion Animation, Minecraft

Amherst, Bedford, Concord, Dover, Durham Gilford, Hampstead, Hopkinton, Londonderry Manchester, Milford, Nashua, New London, Salem Ages 4-12. School vacation weeks and summer camp. Financial aid available.

Dates, details & registration online at nhaudubon.org.

Massabesic Center, Auburn www.LetGoYourMind.com

26 www.parentingnh.com february 2018

603.668.2045

McLane Center, Concord

603.224.9909

Summer camp & Parenting New Hampshire’s

Program expos MANcHeSter saturday, March 3, 2018

10am-1pm

Derryfield Country Club

NASHUA

MANcHeSter

saturday, March 17, 2018

10am-1pm

the Courtyard Marriot

N A S H UA

Free AdMISSION! After the expos, go to parentingnh.com for a list of all the summer programs in the state and view photos, videos & more!

VIrtUAL eXPO

Meet wItH rePreSeNtAtIVeS FrOM regIONAL SUMMer cAMP PrOgrAMS INcLUdINg Attend and enter to win

4 pAsses to WAter CouNtry! one winner per expo.

4-H Camp Middlesex Academy of Notre Dame American Youth Foundation — Camp Merrowvista Bishop Guertin High School Boys and Girls Club of Greater Nashua: Camp Doucet & Kids Club Camp Birch Hill Camp Hawkeye Camp Marist Camp Ponemah at Hampshire Hills Circus Smirkus Currier Museum of Art Fleur de Lis Camp Foster’s Golf Camp

Girl Scouts of the Green & White Mountains Girls at Work, Inc Granite YMCA Highland Mountain Bike Park Horton Center Kroka Expeditions Lawrence Academy LETGO Your Mind LOFTechnology Manchester Karate Studio Merrimack Parks and Recreation/ Camp Naticook Nashua Catholic Regional Junior High School

Nashua Community Music School New England Sports Camps New Hampshire Audubon Prescott Farm Environmental Education Center Road’s End Farm Horsemanship Camp Roaring Brook Camp for Boys SkyVenture NH Thrive Outdoors UMaine 4-H Camps at Tanglewood and Blueberry Cove Windsor Mountain Summer Camp YMCA of Greater Nashua february 2018information www.parentingnh.com 27list for more and a current of exhibitors: www.parentingNh.com

COMPLIM

ENTARY

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Week long full-day summer and school vacation programs •Engineering •Game Design

HI RE

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Adventure School Vacation Camp

Survival & life skills for every adventure www.thriveoutdoorsnh.com April 23-27 Ages 8-12 MAnchester, rochester, Derry, nAshuA, & concorD

Hiking • Rock climbing • Canoeing Survival basics • Team building Leadership • Mentoring & more

Weekly tuition includes: • Licensed day camp • Programming from 6:30 am to 6:00 pm • Daily snacks and meals • Weekly field trips • Playground and gym activities • Daily swim time and swim lesson opportunities • Arts and crafts • Educational summer program and more!

For more information, visit our website at www.bgcn.com or call Christine Lessard, Membership Secretary, at (603) 883-0523.

Visit our table at the Summer Camp Expo on March 17, 2018 to meet our staff and receive more information!

28 www.parentingnh.com february 2018

ADVERTISEMENT

ENSURING A STRONG FUTURE Prepare for rewarding careers through Continuing Ed, Workforce Development Programs

Granite State employers are eager to fill good-paying jobs. They just need to find skilled candidates.

The right education, guidance and training can create that candidate, and that opportunity.

Employers’ needs have evolved, and the need for a skilled workforce is vital. Students mapping out their future — or parents advising young students — can take advantage of a number of New Hampshire-based continuing education and workforce development programs to help them solidify their post high school careers.

We spoke to three experts who can guide parents and students as they weigh their options. From what to look for in a continuing education program to the best way to hone new skills and even how to pay for continuing education, our panel provides invaluable expertise.

OUR EXPERTS: Dr. Johnna Herrick-Phelps oversees Graduate Studies and Professional Development at Granite State College (granite.edu). As a former business owner and mother of a teenager, Johnna offers great insights into how education can help you get back to work.

Christie Dunlavey is the adult education coordinator and human resources program manager at the Virtual Learning Academy (vlacs. org) in Exeter.

Kristine Dudley is the director of the Workforce Development Center at Manchester Community College (mccnh.edu).

What should I look for in a continuing education program?

Herrick-Phelps : “Continuing education comes in two primary categories: degree programs and

professional development. First, you’ll need to decide which option is best for you. The job market is competitive and if you don’t already have a college degree, your resume could be easily overlooked by a hiring manager. When searching for the right college, it’s important to find a transfer-friendly school that will maximize any previous college credits you’ve already earned. External recognition is also a good sign: Granite State College was recently ranked in Washington Monthly magazine’s list of Best Colleges for Adult Learners and U.S. News & World Report’s best online bachelor’s programs.

“If you already have a certain level of education and experience, professional development workshops can be a great fit. They offer an accelerated format so you can quickly and efficiently gain new

skills or sharpen existing qualifications. In either scenario, look for high-quality, affordable programs with flexible schedules, such as online courses, so you can be sure that your new commitment will fit your busy schedule.”

Dunlavey: “Life is unpredictable. While looking for a continuing education program it is important to consider the flexibility of the program. At VLACS our Adult Education students can work at the time, place and pace that works best for them. Another critical element to consider is the level of support the program provides. At VLACS our Adult Education students work one on one with an instructor for each course. This one on one support allows for individualized support and helps students to reach their goals.”

Dudley: “Convenient and flexible scheduling is very important, as well as flexibility in the learning style and pace of the program. In choosing a continuing education program, students should opt for the learning style that works best for them. It may be in-class, selfpaced online, or a mix of both. The student should consider all options and make a careful choice about what will work for their lifestyle.”

february 2018 www.parentingnh.com 29

Where should I start if I’m interested in both a degree and professional development?

Herrick-Phelps: “Professional development serves as a low-risk way to explore a subject that interests you. It can also help refresh the study habits and time management techniques you’ll need as a student, so when you’re ready to tackle a An online program for adults to earn a high school diploma, complete individual degree, you’ll be 100 percent precourses, prepare for college, or advance their career!

A fully online program for adults to earn a high school diploma, complete individual pared. Career counseling can also courses, prepare for college, or advance their career! help define your goals. At Granite We are a flexible 100% online program, where students VLACS offers State, we offer career services free VLACS offers learning for a lifetime, anytime and anywhere, through our online instruction for adult learners. work at the time, pace and place that works best for them. Also, of charge to our current students learning for a our students work directly one on one with a course instructor. and alumni, but also potential lifetime, anytime We really value the relationships we build with our students. students who are trying to map out is the Adult WeEducation find that theseProgram? relationships help us to best support our andWhat anywhere, Success is the only their next move.”

VLACS Adult Education Program

students which ultimately helps them to be successful.

As a competency-based program, students can work at a pace that best meets

option. their needs. through ourThat means work, family, and other adult commitments won’t deter students away from their education.

Our competency-based approach means there are no online instruction Our competencytraditional deadlines; students work until they understand and based approach With VLACS’ Adult Education Program, Students Can: for adult learners. master competencies. means there are no

What is the difference between a credit and a non-credit course?

Dudley: “The main difference between credit and non-credit traditional deadlines; courses is that credit courses are students work until Advance Their Career Earn a High School Diploma they understand and designed for students with the Gain the skills needed to move Those with high school diplomas master competencies.

Contact VLACS for more information. forward in your career path, including have better job opportunities, higher intent of earning college credit Whether it takes a reading, writing, math, science, and earning potential, and are able to vlacs.org/adult-education few weeks or a few other specialties. pursue higher education. toward a degree or certificate. Stu603.778.2500 months, VLACS’ dents may have goals of working instructors will work Increase Earning Potential Take Individual Courses info@vlacs.org with every student By furthering their knowledge, adult Our broad, online learning catalog toward a future career that requires at their respective students can boost their annual salary can help adult learners meet other a degree or certificate to gain pace to ensure their potential in their chosen field. program requirements. success. employment. Students taking credit Boost Self-Esteem Prepare for College courses receive a letter grade.

Our online program can equip adult For those who have been out of high learners with the confidence they school for a while, our classes can Non-credit courses are designed for need to succeed. help refresh their mind and prepare them for higher education. students who want to learn a new skill or upgrade an existing skill. This may be for many reasons, including personal development, professional development or potentially to gain employment in a new career.

Non-credit courses may or may not assign grades, but in the end it is more about passing or not passing the course. Finally, I believe that many students who continue on the Workforce Development Center classes at MCC are available path of non-credit courses do so in-person and online. In-person classes start monthly and online classes are ongoing with flexible start-dates to meet because they have a commitment your schedule needs. to life-long learning.”

Dunlavey: “When you enroll in a course you will talk with your Classes Starting at $145! course instructor about your intent.

Are you interested in earning a Classes Include: credit for this course or taking this course for enrichment? If you are • Home Inspection • Microsoft Office interested in taking a course for • Audio Engineering • QuickBooks credit there will be specific com• Veterinary Assistant • ESOL petency assessments within the • Pharmacy Technician • AND MORE! course that you must complete to demonstrate your proficiency.”

BOOST YOUR SKILLS AT MCC

Workforce Development Center at Manchester Community College ManchesterWDC@ccsnh.edu | (603) 206-8160 www.mccnh.edu/wdc | 1066 Front St, Manchester, NH

30 www.parentingnh.com february 2018

What are the benefits to completing a continuing education program?

Herrick-Phelps: “For those returning to work, continuing edu-

cation is a great way to fill any perceived ‘gaps’ in your resume with knowledge and proof that you’ll be an asset in the workplace. For example, if you’re a stay-at-home parent, your entire day is filled with planning, scheduling and budgeting. These are the fundamentals of project management. This just so happens to be a highly marketable skill among employers, so taking a workshop on project management, or a similar topic, will teach you how to apply your expertise in a professional environment.”

Dudley: “There are many benefits to completing a continuing education program, however it begins with identifying one’s individual goals. Some of the benefits include gaining new knowledge, skills and abilities, engagement with other students, obtaining a credential needed to enter a certain field of work or just for the sake of having fun learning something new. I believe that the bottom line on the work that we do in continuing education is that it satisfies an individual’s commitment to life-long learning.”

Can I afford it?

Herrick-Phelps: “Education is certainly an investment, but you shouldn’t rule it out. Adult students are eligible for financial aid to finance a college degree. And there are certain scholarships designed for helping non-traditional students over the age of 25.”

How can I involve my employer in continuing my education?

Herrick-Phelps: “Your employer can be an incredible resource. More than 50 percent of employers offer undergraduate tuition assistance. If you pursue professional development, federal financial aid doesn’t cover these costs, but the price point is more affordable. Employers often have staff development funds for ongoing training that can be applied to the cost of attending a professional development workshop. Ask your HR representatives for advice.”

Dunlavey: “VLACS is looking to partner with employers to help businesses boost employee engagement and retention. Please feel free to contact adulted@vlacs.org for more information.”

Enhance Your Skills & Advance Your Career Stay up to date with the latest trends and changes in your career with professional development at Granite State College, New Hampshire’s #1 College for Adult Learners!

Advantages Expand Your Potential Take your work to new, strategic heights with workshops aimed to help you communicate, present, and collaborate at a higher level. ď ˆ

Workshop Topics Include: Customer Service and Sales

Available Across the State and Online

Communication

With online workshops and live sessions that take place at our statewide campuses and other convenient sites, you have multiple ways to access professional development opportunities.

Management and Leadership

Employer-Friendly

Project Management

Did you know that many employers have staff development funds for ongoing training?

Our workshops are an affordable solution that can maximize this benefit.

Learn from Industry Experts Workshops are taught by well-respected instructors who not only serve on the faculty of Granite State College, but are also leaders in their respective fields.

Get Started LEARNING SOLUTIONS

To learn more about Professional Development at Granite State College and sign up for updates, visit: granite.edu/PDlaunch

february 2018 www.parentingnh.com 31

cook•with•your• kids WHIP UP A STEAMING CUP OF CHOCOLATE GOODNESS

By Susan Nye

W

hether you and the kids have spent hours on the ski slopes, in the backyard building a snowman or at the skating pond, a mug of cocoa or hot chocolate is the perfect way to warm up.

Make this the winter you skip the powder in the envelopes and instead try the delights of real chocolate and real milk. It’s definitely worth the extra trouble. You can make up a batch of Super Chocolatey Hot Cocoa Mix in advance and use it for the rest of the winter. (OK, maybe it will last through the February vacation.

You can make another batch for March.)

Susan Nye writes for magazines throughout New England. She shares many of her favorite recipes and stories about food, family and friendship on her award winning blog, Around the Table, at www.susannye. wordpress.com

SUPER CHOCOLATEY HOT COCOA • Super Chocolatey Hot Cocoa Mix (recipes follows) • Milk • Pure vanilla extract • Marshmallows or whipped cream (optional)

For each mug of cocoa, heat 8 ounces of milk over medium-low heat. As the milk warms, whisk in 2-3 tablespoons of Super Chocolatey Hot Cocoa Mix and 1/4 teaspoon vanilla per mug. Continue whisking and heat until the cocoa is steaming. Do not let the milk boil.

Pour into mugs and top with marshmallows hot cocoa. You’ll probably want to skip or whipped cream. Serve immediately. the marshmallows, but don’t forget the whipped cream.

MOM AND DAD – if you feel the need for an extra pick-me-up, try a barbagliata.

This Italian treat adds a shot of expresso or strong coffee to a mug of delicious

SUPER CHOCOLATEY HOT COCOA MIX Enough mix for 8 to 12 (8-ounce) mugs

• • • •

1 c. cocoa powder 1 c. mini chocolate chips 1 c. or to taste sugar 1 tsp. salt

Put cocoa, chocolate chips, sugar and salt in a large bowl and whisk to combine.

Transfer to an airtight container.

VARIATIONS:

– Remember this recipe next December. Not only will you want to make a batch to see you through the holidays, but Super Chocolatey Hot Cocoa Mix makes a great gift. Make up a huge batch, HOLIDAY HINT

SUGAR & SPICE HOT COCOA: add 2 tsp. cinnamon, 1/4 tsp. cloves and 1/4 tsp. nutmeg to your Cocoa Mix MEXICAN HOT COCOA: add 2 tsp. cinnamon and 1/2-1 tsp. cayenne pepper to your Cocoa Mix PEPPERMINT STICK HOT COCOA: add 1/2 c. crushed candy canes or peppermint candies to your Cocoa Mix

32 www.parentingnh.com february 2018

fill a bunch of Mason jars and tie each with a pretty red bow. Homemade cocoa mix is a great gift for your kids’ teachers as well as your office gift swap.

What’s the difference between hot cocoa and hot

chocolate?

The terms are used interchangeably, but here’s the scoop. Traditionally, hot cocoa is made from cocoa powder, sugar and milk. While thin, it is sweet, chocolaty and delicious. Hot chocolate is often called sipping chocolate, and it’s something else entirely. Sipping chocolate is very rich; it’s more dessert than drink. Instead of cocoa powder, hot or sipping chocolate is made from actual chocolate. In addition, fans tend to make it with cream or a combination of cream and milk.

SIPPING CHOCOLATE

Makes 4 small servings

• • • • • •

1 strip orange peel 1/2 c. whole milk 1/2 c. half-and-half 4 oz. chopped chocolate – white, milk or dark 1 tsp. honey (if using dark chocolate) 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract Use a vegetable peeler to cut a strip of peel from an orange about 2-3 inches long. Use a very sharp peeler to ensure you only get the orange part of the peel.

The white pith is bitter.

Put the orange peel, milk and half-andhalf in a saucepan over medium heat and heat until just below the simmering point. Remove pan from heat and add the chocolate. Let the warm milk and cream sit for about 10 minutes to steep the orange and melt the chocolate.

Remove the orange peel and whisk to combine. Reheat to steaming and whisk in vanilla. Pour into espresso cups and serve.

– after the kids are tucked in bed on Valentine’s night or any time a special, chocolaty treat is warranted, add a tablespoon or two of Grand Marnier or cognac to each cup and enjoy.

MOM AND DAD

february 2018 www.parentingnh.com 33

dad on board Time machine interruptus I SHOWED MY DAUGHTER A WALKMAN AND IT WENT AS WELL AS YOU’D EXPECT

BY BILL BURKE

I

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showed my daughter a Walkman and it went as well as you’d expect As a child of the 1980s, I grew up during a time when music came on large, circular discs that we got at Zayre. My daughter, on the other hand, is growing up during a time when you can’t hold the music that you don’t own.

So it was with genuine curiosity recently that she walked into the room holding a relic from the distant past. Unearthed during an archeological expedition into our basement, the Walkman she brought upstairs likely hadn’t spun a cassette since Neil Young actually was Rockin’ in the Free World. She turned it over, examining it closely before she asked – “How do you open it?”

She was aware of what it was, but she had never held a portable cassette player or used one before. I popped the top open and offered to walk her through the experience. While she went in search of some AA batteries, I took a closer look at it and discovered something about my wife that I hadn’t known. Evidently, she was an aristocrat in the 1980s. This particular Walkman was no simple device. It had a digital clock on the front, radio preset buttons, and an alarm feature. Lady Dad on Board listened to the finest of music on only the highest quality devices, it seems.

We popped the batteries into the back and pressed play. The wheels that would advance the thin strip of tape across the heads lurched to life and began spinning.

Our experiment looked promising and we were one step closer to the 1980s. Headphones and earbuds are everywhere, so we grabbed a pair and headed back to the basement to dig for a cassette.

I figured we’d stumble across something from the grunge era, but we obviously miscalculated and fired up too many gigawatts in our audio time machine. The first cassette we came across was Iron Maiden’s “Piece of Mind,” her dad’s favorite from 1985. I slipped the tape into the cover, closed it, plugged in the headphones and prepared to let “Where Eagles Dare” wash over my child’s eardrums, convincing her that her father was an audio genius and also had impeccable musical taste.

Nothing happened.

I pressed play again, hit stop and ejected the tape. I pulled it out and pressed play yet again. This time, something did happen. The Walkman started to churn forward, only to vomit its shiny silver innards all over the inner compartment. Metallic pieces burped forth and slid all around, rendering this once fine piece of audio equipment useless.

My daughter was disappointed, because now she’d have to go back to streaming flawless recordings at her convenience. At least she was spared the indignity of having to flip the tape over. But even that was a far cry from her dad’s youth, which involved advancing a Bay City Rollers 8-track manually.

There are some details from my musical past I’m just not willing to share with her quite yet.

Bill Burke is a writer who lives in southern New Hampshire with his wife and daughter, and actually did buy his first album at Zayre in Seabrook. He is also the managing editor of custom publications for McLean Communications.

vacations perfected

34 www.parentingnh.com february 2018

house calls Post-holiday health tips MAKE A PLAN FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY

BY SARAH FINN, MD

T

he holidays are about celebrating health, family, friends, gratitude and faith.

Food is a way to celebrate, and the holiday season offers us many delicious ways to do so. In celebrating, many of us gain “holiday weight,” so this is the time, if you haven’t already, to make a plan for you and your family to be well.

WITHOUT A PLAN

My patients say, “I eat whatever during the holidays and I gain five pounds. I used to be able to lose it by summer, but now I can’t.” Many people want to lose weight, but a year later they still weigh two pounds more. Over 10 years that could add up to 20 pounds, which can increase your risk of disease.

Many holiday favorites are loaded with sugar and are highly processed. If enjoyed without restraint, you will gain wait and increase your weight set point, which is the weight your body tries to maintain.

If you weigh 180 pounds and gain five pounds, your new set point is 185 pounds.

If you lose five pounds after the holidays your body will fight to get you back to 185 pounds. Our muscles get more efficient with weight loss — you burn fewer calories with exercise and the number of calories you require daily goes down — and our hunger hormone increases. The result is an uphill battle that's difficult to win.

WITH A PLAN

By setting some goals, you can help mitigate holiday weight gain and potential negative consequences. The key is to make your goals measurable and attainable.

Instead of making losing weight your New Year’s resolution, make it more specific following these suggestions.

EATING HABITS:

• I will eat protein before carbohydrates (meat before bread), so I don't overeat something that my body will turn to fat.

• I will not have foods around the house that I can't have just a few bites of.

• If I am hosting, I will have storage containers to give to my guests to bring food home so I'll have fewer tempting leftovers around.

• I will stick to water or seltzer water.

• I will bring a healthier dish to parties so I do not feel stuck eating something that is not part of my plan.

• I will continue to keep track of my my calories using whatever method works for me — a tracker, in a notebook or on my computer.

• I will say no if I do not want something at a party.

er school, roviding aft 0 girls. p , 74 19 e c n 2,00 ire sin w Hampsh to more tha ter, Serving Ne outreach programs rd, Manches d n rs in Conco te summer, a en C s’ irl G and Nashua. ver 50 schools. o r Outreach to rograms in Mancheste p . b ly lu ai d C r s irl ne g in D feeding 100 and Nashua,

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.org hampshire girlsincnew 705 (603) 606-1

EXERCISE:

• I will walk for 20 minutes, five days a week.

STRESS:

• When I feel stressed or lonely, I will take three deep breaths instead of reaching for a sweet treat.

SLEEP:

• I will aim for seven to eight hours of sleep.

THE BEST PLAN

There's no right or wrong way to create your own plan. Pick strategies that work for you and help you stick to your healthy habits. Share this plan with your family so you can all work together.

Dr. Sarah Finn is the medical director of Dartmouth-Hitchcock’s Weight and Wellness Center. For more information, go to www.d-h.org. For healthy recipies, go to www.dartmouth-hitchcock.org/ stories/cooking-up-health.html.

february 2018 www.parentingnh.com 35

raising teens and tweens Expectations vs. reality SOMETIMES WE HAVE TO GO IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION ON THE PARENTING ROADMAP

BY TRACEY TUCKER

A

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s we take on the journey of parenting, many of us create milestones and expectations for ourselves as parents. We construct a roadmap of things we will do and things we will expect from our children or for our children. It is easy when our children are babies to believe in this parenting map because we can control so much when they are small.

But what happens when our expectations of our kids or ourselves as parents are not met? What happens when things go differently or we struggle to help our kids through these expectations? In my experience, nowhere is this truer along the journey than in adolescence.

For many parents, watching their child transition into adolescence can be hard, as their behaviors become more challenging, their thoughts more broad and with their sense of self swinging like a pendulum.

Their exposure to bigger issues, peers and greater expectations, both socially and academically, can lead to a myriad of frustrations and surprises for parents and their kids.

I have parents come to therapy to talk through their concerns about their child’s changing likes and dislikes and sometimes their child’s disengagement from an activity that they had previously enjoyed. Parents also get worried when their once straight-A student struggles academically.

In these cases, the important part of these discussions with parents and kids is finding the root cause. Sometimes it is purely a decision on the child’s part to experience new activities. It may also be because as kids get older, time management becomes can be overwhelming and they feel the need to pick and choose how they divide their time. There are other times when kids are trying to manage anxiety or depression.

The reason for the change is imperative as it gives the parent and child a starting point for a conversation. Often kids don’t talk to their parents because they feel pressured by them to keep up with their hobbies, activities or grades. There are times when your expectations can make kids feel guilty or resentful.

This is where the real challenge is, as many parents are committed to upholding their beliefs about how their child should develop and participate in their middle and high school years.

Some parents wrestle with changing these expectations for fear that their kids will not be successful. This rigidity can shut kids down emotionally and does not allow for healthy dialogue and the development of the emotional coping skills needed to work through life’s roadblocks.

As kids move into adolescence, communication is crucial, but so is flexibility. Allowing our kids to identify their stressors is critical to helping them find the reasons why they feel and behave the way they do, and why they make certain decisions.

Sometimes it is in the best interest of the child for the parent to hold firm, but there are times when re-working expectations might allow the child to feel empowered to make decisions or to fail in a supportive environment.

Tracey Tucker is executive director of New Heights: Adventures for Teens and a licensed mental health counselor at Tradeport Counseling Associates in Portsmouth.

five•for families

BY JACQUELINE TOURVILLE Design your own dragon: The Currier Museum in Manchester invites families (kids ages 5 and older) to design and make their own paper dragon.

Does your dragon blend into the night? Does your dragon reflect the sun’s rays in a million colors?

Using paint and patterned paper let your imagination soar — and breathe fire. What Color is Your Dragon? is Saturday, Feb. 3, from 1 to 3 p.m. www.currier.org

New Hampshire Farm & Forest Exposition: Billed as “New Hampshire’s Greatest Winter Fair,” the 35th annual Farm & Forest Expo is Friday, Feb. 2 to Saturday, Feb. 3 at the Radisson in Manchester. The Expo offers educational workshops, unique Granite State-made products, winter farmers market, and a chance to pet plenty of animals. Just for younger attendees, the Kids Zone offers games, crafts, and learning demonstrations all about farm life in New Hampshire. For hours and admission information, go to www.nhfarmandforestexpo.org.

Art Camp: Just in time for February’s school vacation week, the Children’s Museum of New Hampshire offers a morning’s worth of messy, creative fun at its arts-focused drop-in camp on Tuesday, Feb. 27, from 9 a.m. to noon. Kids will create 3-D sculptures and other cool projects then have some museum playtime. Geared toward ages 6-9. Other camps offered throughout the week. www.childrens-museum.org

The shortest month of the year is long on fun things to do with your kids. Shake off cabin fever with these top picks for families.

Kids Ski Fest: On Saturday, Feb. 3, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Great Glen Trails in Gorham hosts a day of winter fun with games, team cross-country ski relays, beginner ski lessons and races just for new skiers — and snow tubing all day for everyone.

Kids and their parents are welcome to participate, on skis or off.

Registration fee includes a trail pass, lunch and all activities. Rental skis for kids are free. Go to www.greatglentrails.com to register.

Teen Art CoLAB: New Hampshire Institute of Art challenges young artists, ages 13-18, to come together with like-minded teens to create an original collaborative art piece, all in one inspired evening. You don’t need to be a Picasso to take part. Emphasis will be placed on the creative process, communication, collaboration and fun. February’s CoLAB is Friday, Feb. 9. Other upcoming dates: March 9 and April 6. Go to www.nhia.edu/community-programs to register.

Jacqueline Tourville is a freelance writer and PNH’s travel and tourism expert.

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out about

Courtesy Photo

STORY TIME: ANIMALS IN MY ROOM 3 FEBRUARY

CONCORD – Gibson’s

Bookstore, 45 South Main St. Alexandra Welch-Zerba and Sheila Welch appear at Gibson’s as story time special guests, a mother-daughter author-illustrator duo,

presenting Animals in My Room, a cozy bedtime story that will delight young readers and celebrate the imagination of children of all ages. As Anna drifts off to sleep, her stuffed animals come to life. What mischief will they get up to before Anna wakes? Free. 11 a.m. www.gibsonsbookstore. com

february

15TH ANNUAL ICE HARVEST AND WINTER CARNIVAL 3 SATURDAY TAMWORTH VILLAGE – Remick Country Doctor Museum and Farm, 58 Cleveland Hill Road. Take part in a New England tradition and enjoy timeless wintertime fun. Participate in traditional ice block cutting, piking and hoisting and see it transported to our ice house; celebrate winter with outdoor and indoor activities and family-friendly games; meet and greet farm animals; demonstrations of step-by-step ice harvesting, ice sculpting, live music, crafts, scavenger hunt and more. Admission: $10, 11 and older; $5, age 5-10, and free for kids 4 and younger.

11 a.m. to 3 p.m. 323-7591; www.remickmuseum.org

PYT PRESENTS: HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL

7 WEDNESDAY – 8 THURSDAY MANCHESTER – Palace

Theatre, 80 Hanover St. Disney Channel's smash hit movie comes to life on the Palace stage. Troy, Gabriella and the

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students of East High must deal with issues of love, friends and family while balancing their classes and extracurricular activities. The whole family will love the show’s infectious, danceable songs. Shows also Feb. 14 and 15. Tickets: $14, adults; $11, kids. 7 p.m. 6685588; www.palacetheatre.org

MR. POPPER’S PENGUINS 7 WEDNESDAY

CONCORD – Capitol Center

for the Arts, 44 South Main St. Mr. Popper spends his time dreaming of Antarctic adventures. He is astounded when one day a packing crate arrives on his doorstep and a penguin waddles out.

encourage everyone to register, since you don’t need to fish to win one of the many prizes drawn throughout the weekend. Free Kid’s Fishing Clinic on Saturday at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 1, 2, and 3 p.m., for kids younger than 16. For more information, go to www. meredithrotary.org.

LIFE UNDER THE SNOW With original songs and performing penguin puppets, this delightful, action packed musical adaptation of Richard and Florence Atwater’s popular book is the perfect family treat.

Grades 1-5. Tickets: $7. 10 a.m. and noon. 225-1111; www. ccanh.com

MOONLIGHT AND MAGNOLIAS 9 FRIDAY-24 SATURDAY

ROLLINSFORD – Garrison

Players Art Center, 650 Portland Ave. Garrison Players Arts Center proudly presents the hilarious farce Moonlight and Magnolias. Locked in a room for five days with nothing to eat but bananas and peanuts, three men supposedly crafted the screenplay to what is widely considered one of the finest films of all time. Inspired by actual events, Ron Hutchinson's hilarious new comedy Moonlight and Magnolias tells the behind-the-scenes story of Gone With the Wind as seen through the eyes of producer David O. Selznick, director Victor Fleming and writer Ben Hecht. Hutchinson’s play, is written as farce, but also deals with serious questions about race and the fragile position of Jewish executives in Hollywood.

Adults, $18; students, $15. Show times: Friday and Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 2 p.m. www. garrisonplayers.org.

ANNUAL BACKYARD WINTER BIRD SURVEY

10 SATURDAY – 11 SUNDAY Many people reported that

birds disappeared from their feeders in the fall and NH Audubon wants to know if they have returned with the cold weather. Help them track our bird populations by taking part in the annual Backyard Winter Bird Survey Feb. 10-11. Biologists need assistance from citizens all over the Granite State to get a clear picture of what’s been happening with our winter birds. Anyone can participate by counting the birds in their own backyard on the survey weekend and reporting online or sending the results on a special reporting form to NH Audubon. To receive a copy of the reporting form and complete instructions, e-mail your name and address to bwbs@nhaudubon.org or call 224-9909. Forms are also available at NH Audubon centers in Auburn, Concord and Manchester, and online.

Find more information about the survey at www.nhaudubon. org under Get Outside-Birding.

GREAT MEREDITH ROTARY ICE FISHING DERBY 10 SATURDAY – 11 SUNDAY MEREDITH – Lake

Winnipesaukee. The 39th annual Great Meredith Rotary Ice Fishing Derby brings anglers and families from all over New England outside to enjoy the winter. A major fundraiser for the Meredith Rotary Club, this event a “must-do” for anyone that loves the great outdoors.

Over $50,000 in prize awards, including a Disney Dream Vacation. Registration is $40 per person and provides the opportunity to win one of the cash prizes as well as the Disney trip. Event producers

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LACONIA – Prescott Farm,

928 White Oaks Road. Did you know there is a whole world of activity under the snow?

That’s right—all kinds of critters are going about their business throughout the cold winter.

Bundle up and join us as we discover what their world is like. $12, adult-child pair; $4 for each additional child. 1 to 3 p.m. 366-5695; www. prescottfarm.org

26TH ANNUAL WINTER CARNIVAL 24 SATURDAY

MERRIMACK – Wasserman

Park. This family event is packed with outdoor and

indoor winter fun. The carnival features an Ice Fishing Derby with the Merrimack Lions Club, snowshoeing demonstrations, a campfire, ice carving and a Cardboard Box Sledding Contest. Free. Noon to 3 p.m. www.merrimackparksandrec.org

ERTH’S DINOSAUR ZOO LIVE 28 WEDNESDAY

ROCHESTER – Rochester

Opera House, 31 Wakefield St. Get ready for the ultimate playdate, 65 million years in the making, as Erth’s Dinosaur Zoo Lives guides your family on a breathtaking tour that begins in pre-historic Australia. You’ll observe, meet and interact with an eye-popping collection of amazingly life-like dinosaurs and other creatures presented in a theatrical performance that will thrill and entertain kids while stimulating their imaginations in ways that will forever connect them to their world. Brought to life by a team of skilled performers and puppeteers, and designed with the help of professional paleontologists. Tickets: $15$23. 7 p.m. 335-1992; www. rochesteroperahouse.com

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“Thank you for giving me the ride of my life. I only hope someday I can fly the DHART helicopter and help people like I was helped.”

- Camden

There are moments in life that change everything. For Camden, it was realizing that he wants to help others the way Dartmouth-Hitchcock’s Advanced Response Team helped him. As a national leader in patient-centered care, with locations throughout New Hampshire and Vermont, we’re proud to be there for your life moments.

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