Parenting NH September 2017

parenting

COMPLIMENTARY

SEPTEMBER 2017

NEW HAMPSHIRE

ACCIDENT TO ADVOCATE CONCORD TEEN IS MAKING AN IMPACT

Advice from teens, for parents Teaching tolerance to kids PART 2 OF PNH’S DEMOCRACY DECONSTRUCTED SERIES

ParentingNH.com

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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.

• contents

september

ON THE COVER: Brooke Mills of Concord, 18, is working to bring awareness to concussions through her website www. lessentheimpact. org. Photo taken at NHTI in Concord in July 2017 by Kendal J. Bush, Parenting New Hampshire’s longtime cover photographer. Check out more of her work at www.kendaljbush.com.

departments

12

From 22 accident to Democracy teen advocate Deconstructed

17

Advice from teens for parents

6

The Short List 8

I Want That 10 Cook with Your Kids 34

Dad on Board 36

Learning Curve 37

House Calls 38 Raising Teens & Tweens 39

Out and About 40 Five for Families 42

From the Editor’s Desk

PART 2 OF A 4-PART SERIES

30

Updating the brown bag lunch

17

30

22

september 2017 www.parentingnh.com 5

from the editor’s desk HATE IS NOT JUST A PHASE James Alex Fields Jr., 20, had just moved out of his mother’s house a few months ago into his own apartment. He had a job with a security company in Ohio, and before that served briefly in the U.S. Army.

And on Aug. 12, James became a domestic terrorist.

Tensions escalated that Saturday between white nationalists at a “Unite the Right” rally and counter protesters in Charlottesville, Va. A counter protestor, Heather Heyer, 32, was killed, after James drove his car at high speed through a crowd.

James’ mother told media outlets that she never talked to her son about politics and had no idea he was a white nationalist. School officials and high school friends said his fascination with the Nazis wasn’t a secret. He’d draw Swastikas in class and expressed a “fondness for Hitler.” Law enforcement reportedly visited the Fields’ house several times for domestic violence complaints.

The signs that a tragedy is imminent may be staring us in the face, but we don’t always pay enough attention or take them seriously.

After the mass shooting at Columbine High School in 1999, and subsequent violent acts committed by teens and young adults — statistically mostly males — we’ve heard a lot of the same. He had trouble making friends; he was a loner; he was angry; he had radical beliefs.

And how many times have we heard, I never thought he’d do something like that or I didn’t think he was really going to do it?

The best thing parents can do is simple, but not always easy — be proactive and talk to your kids. Find out how they feel about difficult topics and ask why they feel that way. If they give you an answer that troubles you, deal with it. Also be sure to

model tolerant and accepting behavior and be careful what you say around your kids, even in jest, because they will internalize it (for more about teaching tolerance, turn to Page 22).

Even though parents heavily influence their child’s value system, there can be outside forces that are more powerful, and any child from any background is susceptible. That is why it is up to all of us — when we see a child or teen that is in trouble — to step in.

Whether it was his need to belong, or to be a part of something larger than himself or something innate that moved him toward a vile ideology, James is wholly responsible for his actions.

But James’ life may have turned out differently if his radical beliefs and violent tendencies had been addressed fully when he was a teenager. We can’t brush off and dismiss bad behavior as a phase or something they will grow out of. We need to take what they say and their actions seriously, no matter how old they are.

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Melanie Hitchcock Editor

GRAND OPENING CELEBRATION! OCTOBER 10-15, 2017

Are you ready for a brand new beat?

Musical-themed events, shopping specials, art unveilings, dance performances and giveaways.

Full schedule of Dancing in the Street at settlersgreen.com!

september 2017 www.parentingnh.com 7

the short list ...TIPS, TRENDS & NEWS COMPILED BY MELANIE HITCHCOCK

This month on www.parentingnh.com:

Apples, pumpkins, and fall festivals

Summer is just about over and the kids are back in school. So that means corn mazes, fall festivals and apple picking are right around the corner. There are many activities for families going on throughout the Granite State that you won’t want to miss. Be sure to go online to check out our web-exclusive lists and plan out your family fun for the month.

Parenting NH’s Guide to fall: www.parentingnh.com/fall Where to pick your own apples: www.parentingnh.com/apples Find a corn maze: www.parentingnh.com/cornmazes Fall events and festivals listing: www.parentingnh.com/fallevents Where to take your family hiking: www.parentingnh.com/hiking

Embrace your inner artist and help fight the opioid crisis Hip, bold and expressive, the Art Jam Bridge Fest in Manchester is an explosion of color and creativity. Experience paint, chalk, graffiti, horns, drums and all forms of music and dance from the east side to the west. Jump in and be a part of it. At this art jam, you’re not just seeing it, you’re living it.

As part of the festivities, New Hampshire students will try to set the firstever Guinness World Record for the largest number of paper-crafted butterflies. They will be displayed at the corner of Bridge Street and Elm Street in downtown Manchester. The Butterflies of Hope Wall is a symbol of community involvement to help a common cause.

Head over to the Bridge Street Bridge on Saturday, Sept. 23, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is $10.

All proceeds go toward fighting the community’s opioid crisis.

For a schedule of events, or more information on attending or participating in the Butterflies of Hope Wall, go to www.artjambridgefest.com.

Visit a museum for free on September 23 Smithsonian magazine has designated Saturday, Sept. 23, as the 13th annual Museum Day Live!, an initiative in which participating museums open their doors for free to those who download a branded ticket. The annual event allows museums nationwide to emulate the spirit of the Smithsonian Institution’s Washington, D.C.-based facilities, which offer free admission every day.

To participate in Museum Day Live! download a ticket beginning Aug. 25. Each ticket grants the ticketholder and one guest free access to any participating museum. More than 1,300 museums are expected to participate this year.

To download a ticket, or for more information including an updated list of participating venues, go to www.smithsonian.com/museumday.

And the winner is …

Henrietta One of the Dover Adventure Playground’s unique features is a 1,200-pound, 3-foot by 8-foot climbable alewife granite fish sculpture. This female fish is a nod to the alewife that spawn in the Cocheco River, according to the artist, Thomas Berger.

When the playground opened earlier this summer the public voted on what this fish should be named.

After narrowing the suggestions to the top three names, a panel of judges involved in the creation of the Dover Adventure Playground chose the winner: Henrietta.

For more information about the Dover Adventure Playground, go to www.childrens-museum.org.

8 www.parentingnh.com september 2017

Practice time.

Show time.

College saving time.

The first step to helping their dreams come true is to make saving part of your routine.

The UNIQUE College Investing Plan account offers tax-deferred growth and some of the lowest fees and expenses in the industry. There’s also the Fidelity Investments 529 College Rewards® Visa Signature® Card, which lets you earn unlimited 2% cash back1 on everyday purchases.

Rewards are deposited directly into your 529 account to make sure your saving and spending are in perfect rhythm.

To learn more, or to open an account, visit

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or call 800.544.1914.

Please carefully consider the plan’s investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses before investing. For this and other information on any 529 college savings plan managed by Fidelity, contact Fidelity for a free Fact Kit, or view one online. Read it carefully before you invest or send money.

The UNIQUE College Investing Plan is offered by the state of New Hampshire and managed by Fidelity Investments. If you or the designated beneficiary is not a resident of the state of New Hampshire, you may want to consider, before investing, whether your state or the beneficiary’s home state offers its residents a plan with alternate state tax advantages or other benefits.

Units of the portfolios are municipal securities and may be subject to market volatility and fluctuation.

Account must be open and in good standing to earn and redeem rewards and benefits.

You will earn 2 points per dollar in eligible net purchases (purchases minus credits and returns) that you charge. Credits, returns, adjustments, and certain transactions do not earn points. The 2% rewards value applies only to points redeemed for a deposit into an eligible Fidelity account. The redemption value is different if you choose to redeem your points for other rewards such as travel options, merchandise, gift cards, and/or a statement credit. Other restrictions apply. Full details appear in the Program Rules new card customers receive with their card. Establishment or ownership of a Fidelity account or other relationship with Fidelity Investments is not required to obtain a card or to be eligible to use points to obtain any rewards offered under the program other than Fidelity Rewards.

The Fidelity Investments and pyramid design logo is a registered service mark of FMR LLC. Fidelity Brokerage Services LLC, Member NYSE, SIPC, 900 Salem Street, Smithfield, RI 02917. © 2017 FMR LLC. All rights reserved. 790730.1.0

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september 2017 www.parentingnh.com 9

I want that COMPILED BY MELANIE HITCHCOCK

STEM-inspired robot teaches girls to code With SmartGurlz, girls ages 6 and older will learn to see science, technology, engineering and math in a whole new light. SmartGurlz look just like the dolls she already loves, but these robots use story-based missions, adventures, games and books to stimulate her imagination. The SugarCoded app for smart phones and tablets teaches girls to code with fun assignments and stories.

Available at www.smartgurlz.com; $79.99

For the hungry young traveler The new Marcus & Marcus insulated lunch back pack keeps meals, snacks and drinks cool and protected. A zipped mesh interior pocket helps to organize cutlery, ice packs and more while keeping them safely stored within the pack. The main compartment offers a full zipper opening for easy access and the rubber zipper grip is easy for tiny hands to use.

Available at www. amazon.com; $24.99

A flippin’ awesome game Think you have the skills to be the bottle flip champion? Earn points and move along the board by completing individual, faceto-face or group challenges, or create your own. Bottle Flip Game has a game board, scoring board, 120 unique challenge cards, custom bottle and fun game pieces.

Available at www.bottleflipthegame.com; $24.95

A new take on the fidget spinner This new gadget will have you spinning in amazement. The Mozi combines the nostalgia of the Slinky with a modern-day spinner because it can do both. Once you create motion you can’t stop. To activate Mozi, place your hand through the ring, raise your arm and let Mozi roll. Available in three cool colors: silver, green and iridescent.

Available at www.funinmotiontoys.com; $15.99

Exciting new books every month Prepare little ones for success with Bookroo, a monthly, curated children’s book subscription. With help from a panel of families attending Stanford University who read the books with their own children and rate them, Bookroo uses those ratings to help select the best books in each box every month.

Two boxes available: age 0-2 and 2-6.

Available at www.bookroo.com; subscription prices vary

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by Barbara A. Meyers

“a well-chosen collection that I would happily recommend….will make you laugh, cry, and believe... wonderful for parents to share with children... vibrant and amusing stories... well-conceived animal characters... thoughtprovoking questions encourage dialogue... invites wisdom to emerge….” smile power ™

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ollowing in the legacy of teaching stories, these Fables invite caring adults to explore with children the challenges of growing the self in

family, school, and community. Addressing issues of self-esteem, relationships, bullying, and losses, each Fable is accompanied by a series of suggested talking points to support parents, teachers, and counselors in moving the story from the realm of fantasy to the everyday world of the child and reader.

These conversations join the natural instincts of childhood with the wisdom adults have gained through experience. Together, children and adults build a bridge to a future in which our ways of being reflect what is fair and just for all who share this planet.

Available at

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Visit us online or call Samantha Wingate, our Director of Admissions at (603) 888-1982.

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september 2017 www.parentingnh.com 11

From accident

to ad After a freak accident in gym class at age 13 changed her life, Brooke Mills of Concord made it her goal to educate people about concussions.

She speaks often at local schools about her journey.

A life-changing brain injury set this teen on a path to changing lives and raising awareness

By Pamme Boutselis

B

rooke Mills could never have imagined that a routine school gym class in March 2014 when she was 13 would change her life dramatically. Yet the injury that resulted, as well as a prolonged recovery, would not only alter her life, but would also lead to new experiences as a national speaker and advocate for concussion awareness.

Now 18, Mills’ journey to wellness is ongoing, and the progress she’s made so far has been hard won.

12 www.parentingnh.com september 2017

It began with a class game of team handball, she said, which combines aspects of basketball and soccer to allow players to score points.

“As I went to pick up the ball, a classmate attempted to kick the same ball as I was reaching for it, resulting in the impact that caused my concussion,” Mills said. Her head received the brunt of the kick and she was knocked backward, unconscious on the floor.

In the aftermath of the concussion, Mills felt tired a lot, even falling asleep in school.

“For the first few weeks after my impact, I slept a lot,” she said. “I experienced bad headaches, dizziness and light sensitivity. I was extremely forgetful – I would walk upstairs and forget what I had gone up to my room for.” Her personality changed and her family told her she had become moody.

Suddenly the “A” student had problems learn-

dvocate

Photo by Kendal J. Bush

ing and difficulty with memorization. She struggled to keep up with studies because reading and using a computer made her headaches much worse.

“Some of my teachers weren’t understanding when my symptoms lasted past a few months,” said Mills.

For the first two weeks after the injury, Mills was out of school completely, returning to class just part time after that.

“I would attend half of a class period and then rest in the nurse’s office,” she said. “I had to drop out of the physical education classes that I was injured in and instead took an online version through VLACs to graduate.

I also used an old-fashioned typewriter to get through my keyboarding class since I couldn’t use a computer screen.”

While her family doctor had diagnosed the concussion and had been of great support in assisting with the accommodations made at school, he initially thought her symptoms would last 7-10 days.

“As the months passed by and my symptoms persisted I was referred to a local concussion specialist,” Mills said. “My family and I were really disappointed by the specialist, who after a quick examination wanted to write me prescriptions for Alzheimer’s medication (for my memory), a pain killer (for my headaches), an ADHD medication (to help my learning) and a depression medication because, surely, I was sad about losing my normal life.”

Her family began looking for alternative care for Mills. “We knew I needed to find a

way to heal my brain, not just the symptoms of the injury,” she said.

“I flew to Atlanta, Ga., for two separate weeks of holistic concussion therapy. I also sought ongoing treatment from two different naturopaths in New Hampshire and Dr. Scott Krauchunas of InFocus Eye Center in Belmont.

And, of course, my mom (a chiropractor) adjusted my spine regularly.”

While the physical injury and symptoms were difficult to bear, the emotional and psychological effects of the injury were substantial as well. Mills said it was really hard overall.

“I lost a lot of my friendships and felt secluded, especially in the first few months after my injury,” she said. “Since I lost a lot of my long-term memories and my personality changed, I don’t think my friends knew how

to connect with me. I also lost my ability to dance, which meant I became disconnected from a whole group of girls I had grown up with.”

It’s especially hard to deal with physical issues that others can’t see. “Just because a person who has suffered a concussion looks fine on the outside it doesn’t mean they aren’t hurting,” Mills said. “I can’t tell you how many people said things to me like ‘you look fine’ or ‘you’re just faking to get out of schoolwork.’

Other peers who had experienced a concussion thought I should ‘suck it up’ or didn’t understand why I wasn’t fully recovered weeks later. In high school, I definitely felt bullied by the remarks of my peers.”

As alone as Mills might have felt at times, she would soon learn how many others were

september 2017 www.parentingnh.com 13

More information

Brooke, above, talks about her website during a radio interview. Below, she speaks to NH1 News about the inaugural National Concussion Awareness Day in September 2016.

• Learn more about Brooke, her volunteer program or speaking engagements: www.lessentheimpact.org • Learn more about National Concussion Awareness Day on Sept.

15 and how you can participate: www.nationalconcussionawarenessday.com

out there experiencing much of what she had been through. It all came about through an organization that had proved beneficial to her in the early days of her injury: the Brain Injury Association of New Hampshire.

When she first reached out, “they really helped educate me about concussions, gave me resources and the support my entire family needed,” Mills said. “As I healed, a representative of their organization suggested that I be a peer-to-peer presenter at schools for concussion awareness.”

After her first presentation, she was shocked by how many students came up to her to tell her that they could identify with her experiences. “Many thanked me and said they had felt alone in their injury,” said Mills.

“Others told me that I gave them hope for recovery.

Some thanked me for helping them understand how to be a supportive friend.”

Mills created Lessen the Impact®, noted on her website as “a volunteer program to increase concussion awareness through education, support of research initiatives and charitable programs, while giving hope to those affected by mild traumatic brain injury.”

She has presented at Sanborn Regional High School, Rundlett Middle School, Sant Bani Elementary School, Winnisquam Regional Middle School and the State University of New York, Cortland campus. Mills has also spoken in a variety of platforms, from public forums and events to the media.

“Most recently, I’ve concluded my speaking engagements with an interactive opportunity for the students; trying to walk a straight line while wearing ‘concussion goggles,’” she said. “These goggles simulate the visual

14 www.parentingnh.com september 2017

and balance effects when you have a concussion, which is surprising to experience for many!”

It’s her hope that these presentations help educators and kids better understand how to support classmates and students dealing with a concussion.

She also wanted to share what she had learned about concussions, living with a brain injury and how to heal naturally.

Mills also founded National Concussion Awareness Day, which is recognized on the third Friday each September.

“This year, I’ve partnered with the Brain Injury Association of America to promote concussion awareness nationally through social platforms, educational events, fundraisers and the media on Sept. 15.”

Mills is a lot better these days than she has been, she said. She remains hopeful in spite of the challenges she continues to face.

“Overall, life is tougher than it used to be. It takes me longer to learn. I have to work harder in school for good grades than I used to. I still get headaches when I exercise and I haven’t been able to return to dancing,” she said. “At times, I also have trouble with word recall, which can be difficult in public speaking-type situations.”

But she focuses on the positives. “One positive is that I’ve learned how to sing; vocal performance has replaced dancing as my performing art of choice,” Mills said. She also has learned of coping tricks. “I try to stay well-rested, do my best to avoid fluorescent lighting and wear sunglasses if I’m feeling light-sensitive.”

She is optimistic that she’ll continue to improve,

Photos on this page courtesy of the Mills family.

• Learn more about concussions and brain injuries: Brain Injury Association of New Hampshire: www.bianh.org or Brain Injury Association of America: www.biausa.org

Special ‘goggles’ simulate the effects of a concussion.

“but I’m doubtful that I’ll ever get back the childhood memories that I’ve lost,” she said. “Advocating for concussion awareness has been a huge part of my emotional healing. Knowing that someone else can benefit from what I’ve learned helps me see the brighter side of my injury.”

Mills is already pursuing her career path, perhaps not surprisingly in a health-oriented field. Growing up in what she calls “a natural-minded family,” she thought everyone looked at health issues in a holistic way.

Thrust into a world of medical treatment made her focus on the differences between healing and hiding symptoms.

“The holistic doctors and their approaches of nutrition, vision therapy, hyperbaric oxygen, holistic IV therapy and chiropractic adjustments have inspired me to pursue a similar path,” Mills said. “Right now, I’m working on my associate degree in health science at New Hampshire Institute of Technology; then I work towards my bachelor’s and then eventually my doctorate in chiropractic degree.”

Pamme Boutselis is the mom of four now-grown kids, a serial volunteer and writer. Follow her on Twitter @PammeB.

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Searching for direction Senior year presents unique and sometimes overwhelming challenges for teens By Maddy Buffett

I

t is difficult to convey to someone else exactly what is on one’s mind. And when asked to speak for an entire population of teenagers, that task is nearly impossible.

However, I am part of a specific subset of that population, and I realize we are united by a common thought. Or I could also say, a common worry, fear, and hope – the future.

“So, do you have any plans for college?

What subjects are you interested in pursuing? What do you plan to make of your life?”

Any high school senior has been badgered with some version of these questions countless times by this point in his or her academic career. However, as we begin to fill out college applications and craft essays, arrange internships and travel, or procrastinate on plans, these small-talk icebreakers become a reality. For some, it is exciting.

It is the time to pursue dreams, become independent, and embrace adulthood. We are entering the prime of our lives.

For others, it is a wake-up call. The time has come when we are expected to become productive members of society.

We must return the investment made on our behalf by becoming self-sustaining and fulfilling civic duties.

Yet, with all the promise and exciting uncertainty the future brings, this time is also daunting. We are essentially told to use our first 17 or 18 years to steer us into our next 50. While any decisions made in the senior year of high

Maddy Buffett will be a senior this fall at St. Paul’s School.

She looks forward to continuing to serve as an editor for the school newspaper and write for the St. Paul’s School website. Maddy also enjoys playing basketball for the Big Red, and debating on Sundays against other schools in New England.

school certainly do not cement the course of our lives, we are expected to begin to find our direction.

As I approach my senior fall, I know I want to go to college. I know I dream of the opportunity to travel independently, with people my age, and experience the rich diversity of the world. Based on my time in school, I know I want to study chemistry, because this is the subject that excites me most to learn. However, I don’t yet know which school will allow me to pursue this goal, as it depends on admissions and scholarships.

I don’t yet know what other interests I will develop as I grow older. I don’t yet know if this is the path my future self will follow. As a person who likes to know all the details, it is a scary time in the sense that is so uncertain. Yet, as a thrill-lover, the unpredictability excites me.

Not every teenager has the same aspirations as I do, but there are common threads among our visions. And, because being on the verge of adulthood is not unique to this generation, I know parents can relate

to the cacophony of emotions teenagers are now experiencing.

My friends and I tease our parents that it used to be “much easier” to be accepted into great schools and to find summer jobs.

And the fact is, most parents can certainly relate to that.

However, while having a parent understand the mixture of excitement and fear in embarking upon the future can be advantageous for a teenager if they wish to seek advice or help, it can also quickly become an obstacle.

I am lucky to have parents who I know have my best interests in mind. I am the oldest child in my family, so I am the guinea pig. As I plan for my years after college, my parents and I have begun to partake in a balancing act. I take comfort in them being my safety net, yet at the same time, I’m the one that needs to walk the tightrope. I have to prove to them that I can advocate for myself, and they are still learning to trust me to do so.

My parents thank-

EDITOR’S NOTE:

Parenting NH often reaches out to experts when writing articles for parents about tweens and teens. But in this year’s tween and teen issue, we thought we’d go straight to the source. Two teen writers from New Hampshire have generously provided their insight for parents about what it is like to be their age and the stresses they are under as they make their way toward adulthood. They also provide some helpful hints on how to deal with your children at this difficult and confusing age.

fully allow me to pursue my own path, but I know friends who have begun to feel they are in a battle for control of their future. As teenagers enter adulthood, parents need to accept their independence and support the passions their children wish to follow.

While parents may feel that they are only trying to protect their child, it is inevitable that we will make mistakes. But it is our turn to take those missteps, and our time to learn while moving forward.

The opinions of our parents will always matter, but it is my hope parents use their support to push us toward our dreams.

Push and pull How to deal with your teen when times get tough

By Auryon Torrey

T

eens are harsh critics. Acceptance is hard to gain, and everyone craves it.

It makes you feel less alone and it makes you feel you belong somewhere.

However, while seeking acceptance, there are situations when things can get out of hand. Teens sometimes do drugs, drink alcohol or smoke to fit in. It can make a teen change — justified by giving into peer pressure to fit in. The demeanor worn around new “friends” becomes a shell.

I’ve been in that situation. But when my family and a few friends that I trusted told me I was changing and it concerned them, I took a step back. I realized that what was going on wasn’t right. I changed after that experience, but I was lucky to get out before it was too late.

It’s not something that happens to every teen, but it can happen. If there are varying degrees of emotional states (depression, aggression, etc.), parents should investigate what’s going on. If you do, don’t ask their friends. That way you won’t get any modified truths, plus you don’t want your teen to find out you were talking to their friends.

Teens try to be as independent as possible, and they don’t like it when their parents look into what they feel is private. Their privacy is important because it makes them feel like adults.

They want to test the leash and figure out how far they’re allowed to go. If their emotional state is not affecting their school work/home life, let them figure it out on their own. Maybe give them a subtle nudge. The best way to help your teen is to let them know you are there for them if they need you. Knowing they have someone behind them — no matter what — helps a lot.

Teens are thick-skulled and stubborn. If they aren’t open to suggestion, try stepping away.

Nothing pushes them in the wrong direction faster than a desire to prove their parents wrong.

Teens sometimes understand what their parents are doing and may decide to counteract it. They feel like undoing all of the work parents have tried to do is the best way to “ruffle their feathers.” Try to keep a cool head. If you respond negatively, they will, too. You will fuel a heated situation and make it worse.

18 www.parentingnh.com september 2017

Shouting at your teen can cause resentment and more frustration when they refuse to listen.

It can lead to regretful things being said by both of you. Then you’re distressed when they disappear for a few hours. They act in certain ways to make themselves feel in control of the situation. It can also be a defensive mechanism to protect their feelings. They leave because they regret what just happened, all the while blaming everyone else for it.

Teens are good at placing the blame on something or someone else; it makes them feel a little better about what they said or what they did.

They’ll want to forget for a while and become easily susceptible to peer pressure. Every teen says “it’s never going to be me,” but you never know what situation will drive them in a bad direction.

Teens are emotionally delicate. They won’t admit it, but sometimes the littlest things can hurt a lot.

That is something to be mindful of.

Sitting a teen down and getting them to talk can work. They may spill everything to you and you can then find a way to help them. If that works, awesome! But a lot of the time it doesn’t.

You may ask your teen about their day and they just say, “it was fine” instead of telling you the truth.

Sometimes they won’t tell you because they are too proud or because they are concerned about heaping more onto your plate as a parent.

But often they just don’t know how to say things.

Try to be empathetic and always listen before taking action. Successful tricks to get your teen to talk to you depend on the teen. There are books at the library about how to do this. I suggest maybe trying one of those.

Auryon Torrey, 15, of Milford, will be a sophomore at Milford High School. She loves to write short stories, blurbs, and fan fiction for her friends and family.

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AdvERTIsEmEnT

Raising Children with Resilience

By Dr. Carolyn Morgan

A

child’s capacity to regulate emotions is important for coping well with life’s challenges. This capacity is a significant component of what makes a child resilient. Resilience is what allows us to bounce back from change, adversity, and trauma. There are external factors that contribute to resilience such as adequate financial resources, access to medical care, and a loving support system. This article will focus on those personality factors that are associated with resilience, factors that can be developed in our children.

Well-intentioned parents focus on their child’s academic abilities, athletic accomplishments, and extracurricular activities. Parents may not think about the importance of teaching coping skills until it becomes evident that their child is not coping well. Teachers, coaches, and parents are experiencing more instances of children falling apart under normal life circumstances.

Resilience includes character traits such as empathy, perseverance, and capacity to connect socially. Thinking style is also highly correlated with resilience and may include errors or distortions (i.e., “I will never be good at math” or “no one wants to be my friend”). Thinking errors can manifest in behaviors that adults may then misinterpret. There is strong evidence that children benefit from being taught about their thinking style and how it can impact mood, confidence, and behavior.

Emotional regulation skills are crucial for the development of resilience.

Life is emotional, and we will all experience feelings such as hurt, disappointment, rejection, etc. Often, out of their own anxiety, parents rush in to fix situations, thereby robbing the child of an opportunity to gain competence and confidence. Overprotecting our children and disallowing disappointment or frustration work against the goal of building resilience.

The era of “everyone gets a trophy” has failed. The focus on self-esteem, in often inauthentic ways, has done our kids a disservice. A child’s self-esteem is earned through independent efforts and must include failures.

Raising our children to be more resilient has been proven to be effective at preparing our children for their lives ahead. Helping children develop a toolbox of skills may increase their emotional stamina and bolster psychological immunity.

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september 2017 www.parentingnh.com 21

Welcome to DEMOCRACY

DE

ED

This is Part 2 of a four-part series that takes a closer look at how our democracy functions in New Hampshire and beyond. Topics include civics education, teaching tolerance, participating locally in the democratic process and the role of media in keeping government accountable – all with a focus on educating our kids to be better and engaged citizens. If you missed Part 1 on civics education, go to www.parentingnh.com.

IN 0CT0BER: Your government – How to participate in the democratic process

H

New

au stepped out of the airport and it was cold. And not just regular cold, it was different – foreign and strange on his body.

“The cold weather is like something that shoot right into the skin,” Hau, who is from Vietnam, wrote in an essay for an assignment at Henry J McLaughlin Middle School in Manchester.

“When I first step out of airport it was freezing. I [don’t] think you could imagine how cold is the weather that I am living in right now. It kind of hard at first but I am trying to do things better and I did so. “…When I first came to America I was very scared and nervous. At that time it felt like everything that they do was different than what I did in my country. But then I thought ‘no it is just like the same way as it was in my country.’

The idea of home can be a tricky one for new Americans.

“Home is a place that you call family and is made of love and dreams. A family lives in a home,” he writes. “Yes a person can have more than one home. For example, like I am living. I have two homes, one is in Vietnam and the other is in America. But I alway[s] think differently about them. Vietnam is a place that I born and grew up as a child. When I was … 8 years old I moved to America just for an opportunity. Now life is kind of different. School changed things and the language with other people is kind of hard too.

Like many immigrants, Hau has a drive, a resolve, resilience, within him to keep going, to make it work, to make it better.

“If you go to a new country and everything is different don’t [give up] just try it will get better in each day.”

Hampshire How school districts are integrating new American students into the classroom and encouraging tolerance

By Melanie Plenda

New Hampshire is not known for its diversity. In fact, it is often cited as one of the most homogenous states in the union. But that is slowly changing.

According to the American Immigration Council, a nonprofit immigration advocacy group, immigrants –particularly Latinos and Asians – account for growing shares of the economy and population in New Hampshire.

At the same time, anti-immigrant sentiment is a widely discussed concern not only among immigrant populations, but among their allies.

While the grownups in the streets and seats of congress and halls of justice try to sort themselves, educators find themselves on the front lines teaching new American children how to navigate the halls of their new school homes and non-foreign born Americans how to share and be equitable.

Immigrants, refugees and the unauthorized By definition, immigration is the movement of people into a country of which they are not native and not citizens.

As of 2013, there were 75,175 foreign-born immigrants and children of immigrants – including refugees – in the Granite State. Of that number, 10,000 – or about .9 percent – are unauthorized immigrants. And of that total, more than half, 53 percent, are naturalized citizens.

That number has been on the rise.

The foreign-born share of New Hampshire’s population rose from 3.7 percent in 1990, to 4.4 percent in 2000, to 5.7 percent in 2013, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. As a group, immigrants contribute to the state’s economy as workers, and also

account for billions of dollars in tax revenue and consumer purchasing power, according to the AIC. Within immigration there are subcategories: • Refugees: people fleeing a dangerous homeland seeking asylum.

• Unauthorized immigrants (also known as undocumented immigrants): people living in the United States without proper documentation, which is against the law.

Immigration in New Hampshire schools is tracked by the number of English Learners attending New Hampshire schools, of which there are more than 4,900, according to the NH Department of Education.

“While the majority of ELs have come to this state as immigrants with their families or as adoptees joining a new family,” according to the NH DOE, “many were born in the United States. Among the immigrants are numerous refugees who have been resettled in New Hampshire communities.”

To compile these numbers the state tracks two things: Limited English proficiency students eligible for services and LEP Monitored students, those who’ve transitioned to monitored status upon attainment of proficiency in English.

Looking at those numbers, the state as a whole has seen an uptick in the number of LEP enrolled and LEP monitored students between the 2014-15 and the 2016-17 school years. Out of 183,604 total students in 2014-15, there were 4,147 LEP Enrolled and 1,233 monitored. By 2016-17, total enrollment was down — 179,734 — but the number of LEP Enrolled and LEP monitored had gone up to 4,272 and 1,374, respectively.

The school districts seeing the most LEP students are not surprisingly those in some of the largest communities in the state, including Concord, Nashua and Manchester.

Refugees Refugees are fleeing danger. “They take with them only what they can carry, only what they have time to pack. Sometimes all they have left are their dreams, their hopes and the will to survive,” according to the state’s web Refugee website.

september 2017 www.parentingnh.com 23

The admissions process for refugees is long. “It can take up to about two years. I think refugees are one of the heaviest vetted groups of people who enter the United States when you compare them to other groups like students or people here on a work visa.”

According to State Department, those going through the process have to apply, are screened by the U.S. State Department and other agencies, and interview in person with the Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Further, the Resettlement Support Center requests a “sponsorship assurance” from a U.S.-based resettlement agency that is experienced in providing assistance to newly arrived refugees, according to the state department.

Once the refugees arrive in New Hampshire, Seebart said, they have all the rights and responsibilities of an American except for the right to vote.

“They have full status and to work and do everything Americans do and they are here under the protection of our government,” she said. “And they are on the correct trajectory to get a green card within a year and become a citizen within five years if they choose to.”

5

tips on how to talk about tolerance: Preschoolers

1. Be honest. Don’t encourage children not to “see” color or tell

children we are all the same. Rather, discuss differences openly and highlight diversity by choosing picture books, toys, games and videos that feature diverse characters in positive, non-stereotypical roles.

2. Embrace curiosity. Be careful not to ignore or discourage your

youngster’s questions about differences among people, even if the questions make you uncomfortable.

3. Broaden choices. Be careful not to promote stereotypical gender

roles, suggesting that there are certain games, sports or activities that only girls can do or only boys can do.

4. Foster pride. Talk to your child about your family heritage to encourage self-knowledge and a positive self-concept.

5. Lead by example. Widen your circle of friends to include people from different backgrounds, cultures and experiences.

— Excerpted from Beyond the Golden Rule — A Parent’s Guide to Preventing and Responding to Prejudice: www.tolerance.org

Since Congress passed the Refugee Act of 1980, which established the Federal Refugee Resettlement Program as well as screening and admission standard, about 3 million refugees from all over the world have resettled in the United States, said Barbara Seebart, NH State Refugee Coordinator in the Office of Health Equity, Concord.

In 2016, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Syria, Burma, Iraq and Somalia accounted for the most of the refugees coming into the United States, according to Pew Research. Over the past decade, the largest numbers of refugees have come from Burma (159,692) and Iraq (135,643), Pew shows.

California, Texas and New York resettled nearly a quarter of all refugees in fiscal year 2016, together taking in 20,738 refugees, according to Pew. Other states that received at least 3,000 refugees included Michigan, Ohio, Arizona, North Carolina, Washington, Pennsylvania and Illinois.

New Hampshire last year took in 36 refugees, 20 so far in 2017, and 573 since 2008, according to the Refugee Processing Center. Since the early-1980s, about 7,500 refugees have become Granite Staters, according to the state, most of them settling in Manchester, Concord, Nashua, and Laconia, according to the state.

Congress sets the quota for the number of refugees that can be let into the country, Seebart said, and where they go in the state is typically determined by the resources (medical, employment, transportation and educational) available in an authorized resettlement area.

24 www.parentingnh.com september 2017

Refugees in NH schools Anna-Marie DiPasquale, an English Language Learner social worker at Concord High School, said refugees account for the biggest shift in diversity in their school.

“It’s a relatively new phenomenon to have this wonderful diversity in Concord,” she said of the school, where more than 30 countries including Rwanda, Burundi, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Iraq are represented in the population.

“In 1995, the school district was fewer than 2 percent not white, then Concord became a refugee resettlement site and now … at the high school … about 16 percent of our student body is from around the world.”

Even though as DiPaquale said, Concord is a special place, it is a microcosm of the outside world, and as such is not immune from bigotry, even though she’s quick to point out, “it would be the exception not the rule if a kid is bullied about their culture.”

When it does happen, she said, the administration takes it very seriously.

“We have had incidences; it’s not perfect by any means,” she said, describing an incident a few years ago where a racial epithet was scrawled on the door of an immigrant family. In response, students organized a rally outside the family’s home and gave them flowers.

“They wanted them to know this was an anomaly and to make them feel welcome,” DiPasquale said. “There’s a large group like that that will outnumber the negative.”

Wendy Perron, director of English Learner Instruction for the Manchester School District, said she hears a range of experiences from students in Manchester and that there have been tensions this year.

“We have a group of Muslim students that we meet with at the high school and check in with regularly,” she explains, “And when we ask them, ‘would you be comfortable hosting a forum of your peers to discuss your challenges?’ They didn’t even want to host that discussion; they sort of want to fly under the radar.”

When she asks them how they are internalizing that, their resilience shines through.

“Do I think it affects them and it’s a goal we all have to work on? Yes. But when I spoke with this particular group they said, ‘look, we’ve been through so much, these words are really nothing. We’ve been through such violent situations, we know these tensions exist but we prefer to kind of [ignore them].’”

Unauthorized Immigrants The perception that there is a deluge of unauthorized immigrants coming into the country is not backed up by the numbers. According to Pew Research Center, in 2015, the number of unauthorized immigrants living in the United States was lower than at the end of the Great Recession in 2009. These years also saw a shift in who was coming here and staying without proper documentation, with the number of Mexicans declining and people from other regions rising, Pew Research showed.

According to Pew estimates, the unauthorized immigrant population in 2016 in the US was 11.3 million, and represented 3.4 percent of the total U.S. population in 2015.

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5

tips on how to talk about tolerance: Elementary/pre-teens

1. Model it. Talking to your child about the importance of embracing difference and treating others with respect is essential, but it’s not enough. Your actions, subtle and overt, are what your child will emulate.

2. Acknowledge difference. Acknowledge the many ways people are different,

and emphasize some of the positive aspects of our differences — language diversity and various music and cooking styles, for example. Likewise, be honest about instances, historical and current, when people have been mistreated because of their differences.

3. Challenge intolerance. If your child says or does something indicating bias or prejudice, speak up. Silence indicates acceptance. First try to find the root of the action or comment, then explain why the action or comment was unacceptable.

4. Seize teachable moments. Look for everyday activities that can serve as springboards for discussion.

5. Emphasize the positive. Praise your child for behavior that shows respect for

others. Catch your child treating people kindly, let them you know you noticed, and discuss why it’s a desirable behavior.

— Excerpted from Beyond the Golden Rule — A Parent’s Guide to Preventing and Responding to Prejudice: www.tolerance.org

26 www.parentingnh.com september 2017

The number of unauthorized immigrants peaked in 2007 at 12.2 million, when this group was 4 percent of the U.S. population, according to Pew. The American Immigration Council puts the number of unauthorized immigrants in New Hampshire at about 10,000.

New Hampshire schools don’t track immigration status of students, Perron said. However, she said she believes a good portion of students in the district are likely sons and daughters of undocumented parents or are unauthorized themselves.

“I will say our refugee students are somewhat more supported because they have that resettlement agency – connecting them to social services and employment services,” Perron said. “I’m a little more worried about our immigrant students that are here and undocumented.

They don’t really understand what their rights are and they don’t really know who they can trust or where they can get resources.”

She said the district tries to hold a lot of parent info sessions where they might just put out on the table information for undocumented families, where they can find it and discreetly pick it up. She said they also share that information with the guidance department.

“We definitely feel it in the schools,” she said. “We’ve had cases where a family member is deported, and that of course upsets the family and the student of course brings that into school with them.”

This kind of thing also causes attendance issues, she said. Students from undocumented families might disappear for a while only to come back and say they had been laying low for a few weeks in another state.

“Immigration sweeps happen in the city,” Perron said, “And [some students] definitely get nervous about that.”

Immigration and equity in the school With these numbers and a growing immigrant population, it falls to some of the largest school districts to address issues of adjustment and equity.

DiPasquale said her goals for helping immigrant students at her school in Concord include integrating students into school by helping them access the curriculum and anything an American student would have access to, helping them create a plan for after high school and to

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work with the families and being that bridge between the families and the school system.

Ultimately, though, what DiPascuale wants is for the new American student to feel connected to the school and community.

“There’s been amazing research on this,” she said, “school connections – It seems obvious… but students who are connected to school, perform better academically. So if you feel like, ‘this is my school. I’m invested. I feel like I have a say in my academic future,’ you are going to perform academically.”

That connection could look like sports, clubs, or connections to teachers, among other things, she said. For example, the school started the Be the Change Club.

DiPascuale said the idea behind the club lies in the theory of students as experts in their own experience.

DiPascuale said, “When students arrive, they are learning a new language, they are learning a new culture, everything is different, they don’t feel like they are expert at anything. But actually they are, they are expert in their own experience. They are experts in helping others create a welcoming environment. They are experts in their own culture.

“So we created this club to give students a voice to be able to learn from each other.”

DiPascuale said the club has about 150 members but has attracted anywhere from 60 to 300 students to the monthly cultural events and international movie nights the club hosts. The club is also responsible for a weekly feature on the daily televised announcements, called Culture Talk, where an international student is interviewed about their culture or a report is given on a fact or point of international interest.

New American students are also given the opportunity to visit social studies and geography classrooms to discuss and answer questions about their country of origin or culture as it comes up in those classes. They also are able to add to discussion of some of the multicultural books included in the English curriculum.

“It really benefits the whole school to use the expertise that we already have,” DiPascuale said. “We have students in the classroom that feel like they have a foot in both worlds. So any chance we get to have the students share their experience, they do that right in the classroom.”

But even the best programs and intentions can’t stave off every eventuality for tension and division.

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Gymnastics, Ninja, and Tumbling classes start August 28!

Registration is now open.

Classes for 18 months to 18 years.

Bathrooms have been completely remodeled this summer!

Summer Camp is back at Gymnastics Village with half and full day options (9am-3pm)! Designed for boys and girls from 6 to 14, kids will participate in gymnastics rotations, fitness activities, Ninja Challenge obstacle courses, games, crafts, party apparatus like our inflatables, zip-line and more.

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

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Keeping Kids Healthy for Over 35 Years!

tips on how to talk about tolerance: Teens

1. Keep talking. Even if your teen doesn’t initiate conversations about

issues of difference, find ways to bring those topics up with them. Use current issues from the news as a springboard for discussion. Ask your teen what they think.

2. Stay involved. Messages about differences exist all around your teen.

Know the websites your teen visits, take time to listen to or watch the music and shows they enjoy. Then discuss the messages they send.

3. Live congruently. Model the message. Evaluate your circle of friends or the beliefs you hold about certain groups of people. Teens are more likely to be influenced by what you do than what you say, so it’s important for your words and behaviors to be congruent.

4. Broaden opportunities. Provide opportunities for your teen to interact with peers from different backgrounds.

5. Encourage activism. Promote ways for your teen to get involved in

causes they about. When young people know they have a voice in their community, they are empowered to help resolve issues of injustice.

— Excerpted from Beyond the Golden Rule — A Parent’s Guide to Preventing and Responding to Prejudice: www.tolerance.org

Left to Right: Mary B. Shupe, MPH, APRN, CPNP • Rochelle Heit, MD, FAAP Catherine Leighton, APRN, CPNP • Sharon VanTuil, MD, FAAP Helen Poremba, MD, FAAP • Martin Schwartzberg, MD, FAAP Photo by: kendaLL j. bush PhotogRaPhy

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“I think that we often boast that we are the most culturally and linguistically diverse school district in the state,” Perron said, “but you go into the cafeteria and you still see factions where students are kind of grouping themselves by culture or language.

“We really want to be intentional … about that integration in a learning community.”

Perron said that’s why they feel a great responsibility as a leadership team to take this issue on this year by doing some equity literacy work with all of the Manchester schools.

Perron said that at the high school level, this includes revamping portions of the curriculum to give New American students a chance to write about their culture, language and experience in a way that allows them to share that with their American student counterparts. Additionally, the curriculum in English and Social Studies in particular will include more multicultural perspectives.

The idea, Perron said, is to integrate the idea of equity and understanding into all aspects of students’ learning experiences.

Likewise, the district, in conjunction with the Manchester

Education Association, has developed equity literacy training for teachers.

Elements of equity literacy include figuring out how to create a safe and caring learning environment for all learners that, “values relationship in both word and deed.” To do that there needs to be a desire to understand what and develop equity literacy and to recognize the barriers that that students face in Manchester to access opportunities and learning. There also needs to be, according to the presentation, a willingness to “’lean into’ uncomfortable spaces within ourselves, colleagues, and community to develop equity literacy,” according to Perron.

“We’re going to have training and be really talking about equity and talking with each teacher, each educator in the district to do an equity audit,” Perron said. “Because it’s not going to be any one group of students, or one assignment – really what we need to do is integrate our efforts throughout every aspect of our system from assignments to policy to really invoke that change.”

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

Teaching tolerance Additional resources for parents and educators SPLC’s Teaching Tolerance • project features a literacy curriculum, Perspectives for a Diverse America, to help teachers better engage their diverse students: www.tolerance.org

Village School offers • anGlobal accredited, customizable K-12

tolerance education via online and text-based curriculum: www.globalvillageschool.org

GVS also maintains a separate • website that provides a list of resources including books and suggested media: www. globalvillageresources.org

Five lesson plans for teaching • tolerance: www.educationworld.com/a_lesson/lesson/ lesson294.shtml

the Golden Rule — • ABeyond Parent’s Guide to Preventing and Responding to Prejudice: www.tolerance.org

The Anti-Defamation League • offers print and online resources to help parents and educators combat hate and bigotry among children: www.adl.org

28 www.parentingnh.com september 2017

Becoming a Citizen According to the U.S. Citizenship Immigration Services, naturalization is the process by which U.S. citizenship is granted to a foreign citizen or national after he or she fulfills the requirements established by Congress in the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).

People can qualify for naturalization if they have been a permanent resident for at least five years and meet the other eligibility requirements; have been a permanent resident for three years or more and meet all eligibility requirements to file as a spouse of

a U.S. citizen; and, if the person has qualifying service in the U.S. armed forces and meets all other eligibility requirements.

An immigrant’s child can also qualify for naturalization if the parent is a U.S. citizen even if the child was born outside the U.S. or the child is currently residing outside the U.S. Becoming a citizen takes a minimum of five years and costs about $725 just for the application and biometrics required. In addition to residency requirements, eligibility for

citizenship includes — among other things — being able to speak, read and write English and knowledge of the country’s laws and history as well as a citizen’s rights and responsibilities.

School districts don’t specifically track immigration status of students.

But one measure that gives a good indication of how many immigrants or refugees there may be statewide and by district is the data collected about Limited English Proficiency Enrollment.

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Join our state licensed Kids Club program!

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september 2017 www.parentingnh.com 29

Brown-bag makeover Great ways to make lunch healthier and more exciting for your kids

By Michelle Lahey

T

he days of being that kid in the cafeteria with the odorous egg salad or tuna sandwich are long gone. The typical brown bag lunch has gotten a facelift – and a healthier (and better-smelling) one at that.

The best part? The lunch-packing responsibility no longer falls only to the parents.

“When children have some choice in meals, are involved in the shopping and preparation, they learn about healthy food, acquire valuable cooking skills, and have fun,” said Patricia Ritter, owner of Nature’s Wonders in Rye, which offers cooking and nature classes for children.

Packing their own lunches can be empowering, and being involved in the cooking and preparation process teaches children about the ingredients going into their food.

Showing off the tasty and homemade lunches they made themselves gives kids a sense of pride for being an essential part in the dish’s creation.

“Every so often I have my kids help me experiment with new recipes or ideas to make their lunches more fun with variety,” said Erika Bragdon, mom of four and blogger at Living Well Mom based in the Lakes Region.

“We look for ideas online or simply get creative in the

kitchen.

They love it and are far more likely to try new things if it's something they chose than if I picked it out.”

Getting kids involved in the cooking process is a great way for them to gain more knowledge about food, but making sure what they’re packing each day is nutritious – yet still fun for them – is just as important.

“You can pack a variety of anything healthy and make a great meal out of it,” said Sarah Pelletier, mom of a three-year-old daughter and owner of Birch Landing Home handmade goods in Wolfeboro.

“My daughter actually isn't a big fan of sandwiches, so lunches for us are often an

Tasty Taco Muffins Prep time: 25 minutes Ingredients: lb package Shady Brook Cook time: 25 minutes • 1.3 Farms ground turkey Total time: 50 minutes • 1 c. cooked sweet potatoes • 1 egg Serves: 12-15 • ½ c. almond flour • 1-2 T. taco seasoning • ¾ tsp. sea salt

Put ground turkey, sweet potatoes, and egg into your food processor and process until blended. Scrape sides if necessary.

Add remaining ingredients – almond flour, taco seasoning and sea salt – and process again.

Fill 12-15 paper-lined muffin tins. Bake at 350 degrees for 25-30 minutes until a meat thermometer reads 165 degrees. Enjoy hot or cold!

— Recipes courtesy of Erika Bragdon at www.livingwellmom.com.

Visit the website for more healthy recipes.

30 www.parentingnh.com september 2017

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3 bananas ½ c. peanut butter ¼ c. honey 1 tsp. vanilla extract 1 tsp. cinnamon 2 c. gluten-free oats

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a kindergartner to a high school senior include vegetable-packed pasta salad, meat and cheese roll-ups, Bragdon’s gluten- and dairy-free Tasty Taco Muffins, or even “breakfast for lunch” with whole wheat pancakes, banana and peanut butter.

“You can also use flatbread to make roll-up sandwiches and cut them into pinwheels,” Ritter said. “Cream cheese, cucumbers and dill are a great combination.”

No matter how your child decides to change up their weekly lunches, making small, healthy, homemade changes can make a world of difference, not just in their own health, but also in their energy levels as well as their interest in food and cooking.

“Really, I feel that you don't have to pack a sandwich for lunch, you can pack a variety of anything healthy and make a great meal out of it,” Pelletier said.

16

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Mash bananas; add peanut butter, honey, and vanilla extract and mix well. Add cinnamon and oats and combine once more.

assortment of healthy snacks…pretzels with hummus, cheese and crackers, or peanut butter on crackers for filling protein along with a fruit pouch, carrot sticks, a cup full of berries, etc.”

Ritter suggests packing a meal, comprised of snacks, into divided containers to make lunch seem more exciting.

“I have found kids love dips of any kind: veggies and Ranch dressing or tzatziki, or fruit and yogurt with lemon, or hummus,” Ritter said. “You can find the divided containers and offer a few different options – a dip and crackers or pita bread.”

Homemade lunches made up of snacks can also remind kids of popular yet less nutritious store-bought lunch options, such as Lunchables that are higher in sodium and fat.

Having kids pack their own, similar lunch not only cuts out a large amount of that fat and sodium, but it keeps them satiated longer thanks to healthy proteins and fats, without taking away the fun of eating a lunch made up of snacks.

Other easy yet healthful lunch ideas that will resonate with everyone from

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Michelle Lahey is a food writer who was born and raised in New Hampshire. She also blogs about food at www.ahoppymedium.blogspot.com.

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MONEY MATTER$ Finance 101 for tweens and teens Financial literacy is an important tool for teens who are preparing to enter adulthood or who are heading off to college for the first time. This education should begin early, according to experts.

Making sure your teens are prepared with the proper skills can make the difference between starting them off with a strong fiscal foundation and seeing them fall victim to common — and costly — financial pitfalls. We asked two experts about saving for long-term goals, establishing good financial habits and avoiding mistakes.

Our experts: Anne-Marie Bisson, vice president of Marketing and Financial Education at Lowell, Mass.based Jeanne D’Arc Credit Union, which has an office in Nashua; and Jennifer Marsella, marketing officer at St. Mary’s Bank in Manchester.

What is the state of financial literacy among teens in New Hampshire?

Anne-Marie Bisson: “New Hampshire should be proud of its forward thinking and commitment to financial literacy. In a 2016 study

by WalletHub.com, New Hampshire had the highest financial literacy in the country. However, less than half the states in the country are making financial education a priority. Not only does New Hampshire incorporate personal finances into economics courses, but they also offer an

optional Personal Finance course and had the lowest dropout rate in 2016. Until legislation is passed to mandate financial education, New Hampshire teens should be encouraged to take the personal finance course in their school.”

At what age should a teenager begin thinking about their financial future?

Jennifer Marsella: “As early as possible. Introducing money concepts at a young age is ideal, and that can start as young as preschool. An excellent first step is for teens to open their own savings accounts. If they already have a savings account, the natural progression is to open a checking account with a debit card. As soon as teens get their first job, such as babysitting or cutting grass, it is important to begin thinking about money long-term by learning the difference between needs and wants.”

What are some of the most important early concepts teens should learn about finances?

Anne-Marie Bisson: “The first thing would be to understand the importance of starting to save early in life. Putting away a portion

32 www.parentingnh.com september 2017

of an allowance, monetary gift or paycheck is critical. Teaching teens about the power of compound interest will help them see how their money can grow and therefore help them understand why saving at a young age pays off.”

Jennifer Marsella: “Learning the difference between needs and wants is pivotal. Adults understand that instant gratification is not always the financially sound choice, but this can be a challenging lesson for teens. Tied to this lesson is becoming aware of income limits and understanding how to budget.

Teens need to learn how to budget the money they have rather than spend like they have the amount of money they wish they had. Teaching tweens and teens to save first and spend second is vital to their financial futures. A great way to start is for them to save for a specific goal. This provides an incentive for them to put money in a savings accounts first rather than spend it all or save very little.”

What kind of financial tools should a teen have by the time they graduate high school?

Anne-Marie Bisson: “As our young adults enter college or the workplace after high school graduation, they should know why they should save money; how a checking account and debit card works; the factors that make up a credit score and the importance of building and maintaining a good credit score; the rights and responsibilities of having credit; how to and why it’s important to budget; and how to protect themselves from fraud and iden-

tity theft. In addition, teens need to truly understand the cost of college, the types of student loans and the impact their college choice will have on their financial future. I truly believe that every student should be required to take a course in personal finance before they graduate from high school. By providing the financial tools they need to make smart financial choices, they will in turn build their financial wellness.”

Jennifer Marsella: “Opening a savings account is the first step for young teens. By the end of high school, teens should also have their own checking account with a debit card. Online banking and mobile banking (if he or she is 18 or older) make managing money quick and easy for teens. Saving and spending apps are also a good resource for teens to track their income and expenses. On a foundational level, teens should know the components of budgeting and how to establish one.”

Should teens begin to establish credit, by what age, and what’s the best way to go about that?

Anne-Marie Bisson: “Every person is different.

Teens should begin to establish credit once they receive financial education on what credit it is, why it’s important, what a credit score is and how to use credit wisely. Some teens are more than ready to handle credit at a young age, while others are not. If your teen has a steady income, is responsible and understands the responsibility of credit, then they might be ready to take the first step of acquiring a low-limit credit card.”

What’s a common mistake you see among teenagers and their finances?

Anne-Marie Bisson: “One common mistake is enrolling in a program or service that automatically debits their checking account.

Sometimes this happens when shopping online or if a student enrolls in a gym or music service where there is a monthly fee debited from their account. Often times these debits occur when there isn’t enough money in the account, resulting in an overdraft and subsequent fee. Before you know it, the teen owes the financial institution money, panics and just ignores it. We teach our students to pay attention to checked boxes online, be sure to understand their responsibility when entering into an agreement of any kind, and most importantly,

if they get into trouble reach out and talk to us about it.”

Jennifer Marsella: “Teens tend to live and spend in the moment, which can set them on a path of poor financial choices. Learning that today’s money choices have lasting impacts is an invaluable lesson.”

Help your student become financially savvy.

What other benefits can parents expect from a teen who can manage finances responsibly?

Jennifer Marsella: “A greater sense of financial pride and accomplishment as well as more motivation for teens to earn their own money and establish their own financial lives. Children often model their parents’ behavior, so parents who manage money responsibly can take pride in helping their children become financially literate.”

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cook•with•your• kids BACK-TO-SCHOOL FIESTA

By Susan Nye

I

t’s time to get back into the school routine. Along with juggling carpools and soccer practice, it’s hard to find a few minutes of quality time with your kids. So let this be the year that you and your children cook together.

each other and the tasks at hand. Think of it as the Zen of chopping meets parenting in the age of iEverything.

It’s OK if you can’t cook every night. Try to make a date with your kids, cutting board and mixing bowls a couple of nights a week. You can start a new tradition this the year – Taco Tuesday or Southwest Sunday.

Instead of being a chore, cooking dinner is an opportunity to take a breath and spend time together. Put away the devices, turn off the TV and focus on

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.

CHIPOTLE CHICKEN TACOS Serves 4

• • • • • • • • • •

Zest and juice of 1/2 lime 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 T. minced red onion 2-3 tsp. chipotles in adobo puree* 1 tsp. cumin Kosher salt to taste About 2 T. olive oil 1 1/2 lbs. boneless chicken thighs 4 small flour tortillas Garnish: Grilled Corn, Tomato and Avocado Salsa (recipe on page 35)

34 www.parentingnh.com september 2017

Put lime juice and zest, garlic, onion, cumin and chipotle puree in a bowl, season with salt, add olive oil and stir to combine. Add chicken and turn to coat. Marinate chicken at room temperature for about 30 minutes or in the refrigerator for 2 hours or more.

Turn once or twice during this time.

minutes. Slice chicken.

Preheat grill to medium-high.

* To make chipotle puree – put can of chipotle in adobo in a small food processor or blender and process until smooth. Transfer to a clean glass jar and store in the refrigerator. Use as needed.

Arrange chicken and grill, turning once, until cooked through, about 3-5 minutes per side. Remove chicken and let rest for 5

Wrap tortillas in foil and, turning once, warm on the grill for about 2 minutes.

To serve: place tortilla on each plate, top with chicken, and garnish with Grilled Corn, Tomato and Avocado Salsa.

ZUCCHINI TACOS Serves 4

• • • • • • •

1 T. balsamic vinegar 1 clove garlic, minced 1 tsp. minced jalapeno or ancho chili 1 tsp. cumin Kosher salt to taste 1-2 T. olive oil 1 small red onion, halved and cut in thin wedges

• 1 bell pepper (red or yellow), seeded and sliced in thin wedges • 1-2 zucchinis, trimmed and sliced on the diagonal • 4 small flour tortillas • Garnish: Queso Fresco and Pico de Gallo (recipe follows)

Put vinegar, garlic, chili, cumin and olive oil in a bowl, season with salt and stir to combine. Add onion and pepper and toss to coat. Add zucchini and toss again.

place on grill. Stirring a few times, grill vegetables until tender-crisp, 3-5 minutes.

Place zucchini on grill and cook until just tender, 2-3 minutes per side.

To serve: place tortilla on each plate, top with zucchini, onion and pepper, and garnish with Pico de Gallo and sprinkle on Queso Fresco.

Transfer onion and peppers to a grill basket and

Wrap tortillas in foil and, turning once, warm on the grill for about 2 minutes.

PICO DE GALLO Makes 1 cup

• • • • •

1 T. fresh lime juice 1 T. extra-virgin olive 1 small clove garlic, minced 1 scallion, thinly sliced 1 tsp. or to taste thinly sliced ancho chili

• • • •

Kosher salt to taste About 8 oz. cherry tomatoes, chopped 1 T. roughly chopped cilantro leaves 1 T. roughly chopped mint leaves

GRILLED CORN, TOMATO AND AVOCADO SALSA Makes about 2 cups

• • • • • • • • •

Zest and juice of 1/2 lime 2 T. extra virgin olive oil, plus more for the corn 1 clove garlic, minced 1 scallion, thinly sliced 1-2 tsp. or to taste minced jalapeno 1 tsp. cumin Kosher salt to taste 1-2 ears corn, shucked (about 3/4 c. kernels) 1/2 lb. tomatoes, cored, seeded and chopped (about 3/4 c. chopped tomato) • 1/2-1 avocado, peeled, seeded and chopped • 2-3 T. roughly chopped cilantro leaves Put lime zest and juice, olive oil, scallion, garlic, jalapeno and cumin in a bowl, season with salt and whisk to combine. Let sit for about 10 minutes.

Preheat grill to high. Brush corn with a little olive oil. Lay ear directly on grill and cook for 5-7 minutes, turning to cook evenly.

Remove from grill; when cool enough to handle use a sharp knife to remove kernels from the cob.

Add corn, tomato and avocado to the bowl and toss to combine.

Sprinkle with cilantro and toss again.

Put vinegar, olive oil, garlic, scallion and chili in a bowl, season with salt and whisk to combine. Add tomatoes, sprinkle with cilantro and mint; toss to combine.

september 2017 www.parentingnh.com 35

dad on board Me? Overprotective?

Nah. PAY NO ATTENTION TO THE BUBBLE I’VE PLACED MY DAUGHTER IN FOR SAFEKEEPING

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y daughter recently mowed the lawn for the first time, and it is huge news around our house.

In virtually every other family in America, it wouldn’t be a big deal, but it is at our address because I was convinced she was going to slam into an unforeseen yellow jacket nest and run herself over with the mower while fleeing for her life.

Up until recently, when my now 15-year-old wanted tea, I’d heat up the water for her because I was sure she’d lean over the stove and burst into flames. None of this is a reflection of her at all. A cognitive behavioral therapist would say that I regularly jump to conclusions that end in the worst case scenario. The Mom-on-Board will tell you it’s just me being me. I can be a tad overprotective. Or alarmingly smothering. Whichever.

Things began to change recently, however, when my wife pointed out the obvious: “She’s going to have to know how to do certain things,” she said.

“She’s going to have to know how to mow the lawn and cook dinner and take care of herself. She’s going to have to know how to change a tire, fill the car up with gas and drive.”

It’s when she used the phrase “drive” that she started sounding like Charlie Brown’s teacher. If I have a hard time letting her mess around with whirling razor-sharp blades on the front lawn or steeping leaves over the open pit of lava in our kitchen, imagine my level of stress when she gets behind the wheel.

For a while it looked like I was getting worse. One of her daily tasks is taking the dog out to do his business. That simple job was in jeopardy because I saw a bear in our backyard. (Note: This is not the case of an overprotective dad mistaking an overachieving squirrel for a grizzly. It was a real bear.) As far as I was concerned, if the bear wasn't standing on his hind legs, wearing a pork pie hat and necktie and looking for picnic baskets, this was mortal danger. That particular encounter only lasted a few seconds before I made a slight sound and it bolted into the woods never to be seen again, but the damage to my psyche was done.

Luckily, my aversion for taking the dog out was stronger than the fear of having my child mauled by a bear, so Figgy gets to do his thing.

Still, she's learning. Or, more accurately, I'm learning. Since the revelation that I'm not going to be driving her around or making tea for her the rest of her life, she's mastered such skills as making macaroni and cheese. It's a start.

So the lawn got mowed, and my kid is a little closer to being able to take care of things for herself — though she didn't exactly relish the task. She likes yard work about as much as I do — which is to say not even a little. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, especially when it lands in grass that's way overgrown.

Maybe I'll get her a bear saddle and trust fate.

Bill Burke lives in southern New Hampshire with his wife and daughter. It's the house with the perfectly manicured lawn and grizzly bears. He is also the managing editor of custom publications at McLean Communications.

36 www.parentingnh.com september 2017 PARENTING NH MAGAZINE APRIL 2017 4.38” x 5.42

parentin

COMPLIM

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learning curve

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For some kids, the learning doesn’t stop

April va fun for alcation l Engineer a win fo ing r NH stud ents Parentin

PARENTS SHOULD ASK TO REVIEW THE IMPACT OF ESY SERVICES ON THEIR CHILD

M

BY ELIZABETH FEINGOLD

y daughter and I were sitting on the porch one morning on vacation when we looked up to see a school van lumbered down the little alleyway between the beach homes.

As the days passed, I watched the bus as it crawled by in the early morning, and often again in the afternoon. Sometimes there was one child on the bus, and sometimes three. I would think how tough it must be for the children to board the bus each day in such an idyllic spot, watching as their peers tumbled out of their houses in their bathing suits, headed for yet another day of fun on the beach with their boogie boards, floats and assorted sand toys.

There are children who receive special education services that benefit from and require continuation of services during the summer. The specific services and time spent in programs vary based on the needs of the individual students but in general, students spend much of their summer in school or other specialized educational settings working to retain the skills they acquired during the previous school year.

These special education and/or related services, as determined under the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) are known as Extended School Year (ESY) services. Each student’s team must meet by a certain date each year to determine if that student would experience significant regression of skills or loss of emerging skills if not provided with these services beyond the traditional school year.

Services such as these are helpful students. However, as I watched the students seated inside the school van, I thought of how hard they were working, the perseverance they must have, and the determination and strength they needed to carry them through those days while other children are able to relax, have fun, and recharge before the start of the upcoming school year.

Because it’s September, and the early weeks of school have passed by along with our warm nights, and summer greenery, it’s important for school personnel to remember some of our children — those who already have to fight hard every day to gain essential skills — are not fully recharged.

As parent advocates, it would be helpful at the first team meeting of the year to request that one of the agenda items be a review of the student’s summer and how this could impact the school year. What type of ESY programming was your student involved in; for how many weeks and how many hours of the day? Did your student get a break in between ESY and the new school year? How is your student feeling at the start of the year? Are they overwhelmed, or are they feeling good about the benefits of being in ESY? Whatever the answers, the team should discuss the positive and possible stressful impacts of the summer’s ESY on the student, then use this information to review the student’s needs, which might include revising the IEP, adding in breaks to prevent burn-out, or providing time with the guidance counselor, school nurse, or whomever is your student’s school “go-to” person.

Providing scaffolding to your student at the beginning of the year will bolster that tremendous summer effort.

Elizabeth Feingold retired from Kearsarge Regional School District, where she worked for over 30 years as a special education teacher and coordinator at the elementary, middle and high school levels. She is now a consultant and advocate. Reach her through www.seacservices.com or email seacsvcs@gmail.com.

gNH.com

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APRIL 201 7

SPR INTO GING HEALTOHOD HEALTH Y FAM SPECIA L SECTIO ILIES N INSIDE

visit parentingnh.com ating Celebr s! r e 13 Y a

Preschool • Pre-Kindergarten

Directors/Teachers: Monique & Darcie Sylvia,M.Ed. M.Ed. Monique Medeiros, B.E.S.Medeiros, & DarcieB.E.S. Gonsalves Sylvia, The Meeting Place/across from The Black Forest /Amherst, NH

673-3022 • www.littleeinsteins.us

Experience the

2017 Portsmouth Fairy House Tour

Magic!

Fairy House: Marilyn Stowe Photo: Barry Kane

More than 250 magical fairy houses on display at the Governor John Langdon House, Strawbery Banke Museum and in Prescott Park.

Meet Fairy Houses author/ illustrator, Tracy Kane!

SEPT. 23 & 24 11-3 p.m.

Tickets now available online at

portsmouthfairyhousetour.com or at select Portsmouth retailers. proceeds benefit local non-profits & schools FOR MORE DETAILS VISIT:

portsmouthfairyhousetour.com september 2017 www.parentingnh.com 37

house calls Small bites, big benefits SNACKS ARE A GREAT WAY TO HELP YOUR CHILD MEET THEIR NUTRITIONAL NEEDS

BY AMER AL-NIMR, MD WITH KATHRYN M. STEPHENSON, FOURTH-YEAR MEDICAL STUDENT AT GEISEL

S PBS KIDS! ON NHPTV WEEKDAYS Cat & The Hat Arthur Wild Kratts Ready Jet Go! Nature Cat Curious George Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood Splash & Bubbles Sesame Street Dinosaur Train Peg + Cat

SATURDAY 6:00 AM 6:30 7:00 7:30 8:00 8:30 9:00 9:30 10:00 10:30

Peg + Cat Curious George Thomas and Friends Bob the Builder Splash & Bubbles Nature Cat Odd Squad Wild Kratts Ready Jet Go! WordGirl

12:00 PM 12:30 1:00 1:30 2:00 2:30 3:00 3:30 4:00 4:30

Super WHY! Thomas and Friends Sesame Street Dinosaur Train Splash & Bubbles Curious George Nature Cat Ready Jet Go! Odd Squad Odd Squad

SUNDAY 6:00 AM 6:30 7:00 7:30 8:00 8:30 9:00 9:30 10:00 10:30

38 www.parentingnh.com september 2017 Parenting NH APRIL 2017 1/4 page: 4.38” X 5.42”

Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood Bob the Builder Sid the Science Kid Arthur Splash & Bubbles Nature Cat SciGirls Cyberchase Granite State Challenge Odd Squad o rg v. nhpt

6:00 AM 6:30 7:00 7:30 8:00 8:30 9:00 9:30 10:00 10:30 11:00 11:30

nacks can contribute in a healthy way to your child’s diet. While school-age kids tend to snack once or twice a day, toddlers average as many as four daily snacks—a quarter of their calories. So choose snacks that help your child get their daily nutrients, keep them full, and avoid extra trips to the dentist.

Four parts of children’s diets that benefit from extra attention are fruits and vegetables, added sugar, calcium and vitamin D, and whole grains.

Snack time is an opportunity to help meet the daily recommendation of a cup of veggies and a cup of fruit each day. How? You would be surprised by how many kids will eat cucumbers if they are peeled and placed in front of them while they are watching TV or coloring. Many also enjoy dipping raw vegetable slices in low-fat ranch dressing or hummus. Other favorites include celery (ever try Ants on a Log?), frozen peas, canned corn, and sugar snap peas.

When it comes to fruit, whole fruit and low-sugar fruit cups are easy to throw in lunch boxes, and plastic containers are great for taking berries on the go. Be mindful of choking hazards (for example, while in the car) and cut grapes and similar chunky foods in quarters for younger children.

When it comes to added sugar, the average American consumes three times the recommended limit — and it often sneaks in during snack time. This can contribute to childhood obesity. Strive to limit added sugars in your child’s diet to no more than four teaspoons or 16 grams per day. Look for key words in the ingredients such as sweeteners, cane, sugar, and most ingredients ending with “-ose”. Natural sugars are OK. It is also good to regularly avoid sugary cereals and juices. Water is the best beverage option between meals, and when you do give your child 100-percent juice, dilute it. If you are baking treats for your loved ones, try cutting out up to half of the sugar in the recipe.

Children also need calcium and vitamin D for growing bones. School-age children are advised to have two to three servings per day of dairy, or fortified dairy-free milk alternatives. A cup of milk, two slices of cheese, or a child-sized yogurt each count as a serving and make good snacks. Cheese sticks (or cubes) and yogurt tubes are practical. Though again, check how much sugar is added to flavored yogurts. Try to choose one that has less than 10 grams.

Finally, snack time can help kids get three to five daily servings of whole grains, such as a slice of wheat bread or a cup of whole grain cereal. Good options for snack time include wheat toast, waffle strips, or baked crackers with nut butter. Plain popcorn is also fun. Just fill the bottom of a brown paper bag with kernels, fold the top shut and microwave until it is full. This cuts out the salt and saturated fat found in commercial options.

When it comes to food, the most important thing is to foster a positive relationship with healthy choices. You can model good habits by splitting a plate of veggies and dip with your child after school, or during movie time. If possible, grow vegetables and berries at home. When snack time comes around, just open the back door!

Amer Al-Nimr, MD is a pediatric gastroenterologist at the Children's Hospital at DartmouthHitchcock. For more information, go to www.chadkids.org.

raising teens and tweens

Building Champions for Everyday

Life!

And they’re off HOW TO MANAGE THE STRESS AND EMOTIONS OF SENIOR YEAR AND APPLYING TO COLLEGE

BY TRACEY TUCKER

Starting as early as 18 months old!

Call today for a free trial!

TWO LOCATIONS:

Portsmouth (603) 433-0404 Dover (603) 740-3547

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

Open Enrollment Throughout the Year

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t is typical for me to see more high-schoolers in the later part of summer and fall of their senior year, as well as their parents. Senior year is a time of intense anxiety and loss, surrounding an inevitable next step for many youth — college.

High school seniors are pressured by a timeline that is often anxiety-ridden and overwhelming. They are sprinting to the finish line with applications, final high school projects, and the dreaded college essay that is rewritten at least 100 times. In addition, the concerns around which college to attend and how to pay for it can create an environment fraught with sleepless nights.

College has become a professional sport for high school seniors — desperate to find the right college for their future professional life and the right fit that will allow them to enjoy a social life that will be engaging, accepting and fun. Seniors are constantly on the go during the fall of their last year, and many times this pressure bleeds over into their family life.

Parents get frustrated by their child’s procrastination and ”distance” from the normal family routine, as well as the overall behavior and mood of their “almost adult” at home.

Parents say they try to help, but they are often pushed away or ignored. As the anxiety of their high school senior increases, parents take on not only their kid’s anxiety, but also their feelings of hope and fear. Oh yes, this time period is certainly a recipe for disaster.

But it doesn’t have to be.

With seniors, I talk a lot about organization, structuring time and working through feelings of ambiguity. Let’s face it, not knowing what is going to happen isn't easy, but we can find ways to cope with these gray areas. I also talk to kids about the realities of their dreams. Many kids have spoken to several college counselors so they understand the process. But I help them get more comfortable with what might happen by developing coping skills they will use their entire life.

With parents, I focus on one primary issue – loss. Parents sometimes don't think about the huge elephant in the room; that their kid is about to embark on a journey away from them. I focus on this issue because I often see that instead of processing their feelings, parents push them down to avoid dealing with them. Parents may lean out or lean in too much with controlling or avoidant behaviors because the thought of this new journey is exciting yet painful.

I talk to parents about their fears and feelings of loss around their child leaving and I point out the behaviors that can actually push their kids away. I talk about patience and allowing their child to go through the process while they show a sense of calm and acceptance. I also talk about communication and not feeding into their child’s anxiety by engaging in negative discourse or authoritative edicts.

Seniors need their parents more than ever during this process. How they show it might be off-putting, but it is important to remember they are about to confront a huge change. While tackling the beginning of their next phase of life, seniors need their parents to quietly sit next to them, ready for them to talk or lean in on, no matter how they behave.

From Preschool to High School, we have the class for you!

I R FAV O

2 017

FAMILY FAVORITES

WINNERS

Recognizing the family-friendly businesses, services and places that make NH a great place to raise your family. Don’t miss this special issue!

NEW HAMPSHIRE

TO ADVERTISE CALL 603.413.5154 september 2017 www.parentingnh.com 39

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september

Courtesy photo

CRUISING DOWNTOWN 2017 2 SATURDAY

MANCHESTER – Downtown Manchester. Cruising Downtown is a classic car show featuring more than 700 custom and antique cars and trucks each year. Parts of Elm Street in downtown Manchester are closed to allow vehicles and car enthusiasts an opportunity to view the vehicles up close and talk with the owners. The event attracts car enthusiasts from around New England.

42ND NH HIGHLAND GAMES & FESTIVAL Hosted by the Rotary Club of Manchester. All profits raised are distributed to area charities.

Entertainment all day. 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. www.cruisingdowntown. com

AUBURN DAY AND 25TH ANNUAL DUCK RACE 9 SATURDAY

AUBURN – Auburn Village, Hooksett Road. Enjoy a fun-filled day for the whole family with a celebration of the town of Auburn featuring the famous duck race, Salmon Falls Apple Pie Contest, Pretty Chicken Contest, 5k Duckling Dash, New Hampshire artisans, crafters and vendors, children’s activities, food and more.

Event proceeds benefit Auburn Historical Association and other local nonprofits. www. auburnday.com

40 www.parentingnh.com september 2017

15-17 FRIDAY-SUNDAY LINCOLN – Loon Mountain Resort. A three-day celebration of Scottish music, food and drink, athletics, dance, heritage and more. You don’t have to be Scottish to enjoy the pageantry and excitement of piping and drumming performances and competitions, highland dancing, fiddle, harp, sheep dog trials, and heavy Scottish athletic competitions. Scotland’s cultural history comes to life in living history encampments and the clan village, where more than 60 clans wear their tartans and share their traditions. Scottish and Celtic performers will play traditional and modern music. Look for the Youth Program with crafts, games, storytelling and demonstrations. Rain or shine. Weekend tickets are $60; single-day tickets available. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. For full schedule of events and activities, go to www.nhscot.org.

HAMPTON BEACH SEAFOOD FESTIVAL 8-10 FRIDAYSUNDAY

HAMPTON BEACH – Ocean Boulevard. Sample worldfamous seafood at New England’s largest beach party. Sixty of the Seacoast’s top restaurants will serve mouthwatering seafood. Choose from fried clams, shrimp, and lobster (steamed, fried, or in a

roll) to non-seafood items like BBQ Ribs, “Blooming Onions” and desserts. Arts and crafts vendors, beverage tent with beer and wine, entertainment on two stages, Kiddie Land, Lobster Roll Eating Contest at 2 p.m. Saturday, fireworks at 8:15 p.m. Saturday, and more.

Free shuttle service. Admission: Friday, $5; Saturday, $10; Sunday, $8; children under 12 always free. Friday, 4 to 9 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. www. hamptonbeachseafoodfestival. com

8TH ANNUAL HARVEST FESTIVAL 16 SATURDAY

LACONIA – Prescott Farm, 928 White Oaks Road. Annual event includes horse-drawn hayrides, face painting, petting farm, food, music, oxen, games, raffles and hay jump. Free admission. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

366-5695; www.prescottfarm. org

SEMI-ANNUAL CONSIGNMENT SALE 16-17 SATURDAY – SUNDAY

DOVER – Hellenic Center, 219 Long Hill Road. Find gently used, quality children’s clothes for infants to teens, maternity clothing, baby gear, footwear, toys, nursery furniture, sports equipment, costumes, books and more. All proceeds benefit the Children's Museum of New Hampshire.

Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m.to 1 p.m. (half-price sale) www.childrens-museum.org

GRANITE STATE COMICON

16-17 SATURDAYSUNDAY MANCHESTER – Radisson Hotel, 700 Elm St. Granite State Comicon returns for a 15th year to the Radisson Hotel for two days of comic book and pop culture fun. This familyfriendly event features hundreds of comic book creators, special guests, vendors with the hottest collectibles and more. Attendees can get their

pictures taken with superheroes, stormtroopers, pirates, princesses and other characters. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Admission: Saturday, $25; Sunday, $20; $35 for a weekend pass. www.granitecon.com

SISTER HAZEL CONCERT TO BENEFIT LOCAL YOUTH 22 FRIDAY

CONCORD – Capitol Center for the Arts, 44 South Main St. The Frank Monahan Foundation is excited to present a special fundraising concert with platinum-selling band, Sister Hazel. Athletic uniforms, little league travel, musical instruments – though these are essential elements for students, they are not always affordable or available. That’s where the Frank Monahan Foundation comes in. Since 2013, the Foundation, named for the former Bishop Brady High School basketball coach, has granted thousands of dollars to local schools, sports teams and youth organizations. Tickets: $30-$100. 8 p.m. 225-1111; www.ccanh.com

FALL FUN FEST 23 SATURDAY

HUDSON – Presentation of Mary Academy, 182 Lowell Road. Join PMA for the 22th annual Fall Fun Fest. This year’s festival is bigger than ever.

Enjoy a variety of activities for all ages. New this year: zipline and hot air balloon rides. Activities for all ages including inflatables, bungee jump station, mechanical bull, face painting, pumpkin painting, tie dye station, petting zoo and more. Try your luck at the Super Raffle to win a $500 prize, classroom-theme baskets and penny sale. Traditional BBQ favorites, a baked potato bar, fresh pulled pork and Nan King teriyaki chicken.

Cool off with Kona Ice or satisfy your sweet tooth at the bake sale. Free admission. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. www.pmaschool.org

9TH ANNUAL GREAT NH PIE FESTIVAL 24 SUNDAY

MILTON – New Hampshire Farm Museum, 1305 White Mountain Highway. You know yours is the best

pie in the Granite State, so here’s your chance to let everyone else know. Don’t bake? Just eat! A panel of judges will evaluate pies in several categories: fruit pie, savory pie, and of course, apple. Kids’ pie eating contest and a raffle, too. Admission: $10; $5 for members; children 2 and under get in free. Noon to 3 p.m. www. farmmuseum.org

24TH ANNUAL HARVEST MOON AND NATUREFEST 24 SUNDAY

WARNER — Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum and Little Nature Museum, 18 Highlawn Road. Celebrate the fall harvest with a day of nature and Native American-themed craft demonstrations, presentations, handson activities, drumming and Native American foods. Native artisans will demonstrate traditional crafts. Richard Brewster will share his knowledge on beekeeping. Hourly raffles and much more. Admission: Adults, $10; seniors, and children 6-12, $5; age 6 and under get in free. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

456-2600; www.indianmuseum.org

THIS AIN’T YOUR GRANDMOTHER’S ART IN THE PARK.

ART JAM BRIDGE FEST Sept. 23rd, 2017

Bridge St. Bridge / Manchester, NH 10AM – 3PM • Live music all day • Local artists & interactive art • Large murals & graffiti walls • Aerialists & dance performances • Flavorful foods • $10 ticket supports addiction crisis efforts

ArtJamBridgeFest.com september 2017 www.parentingnh.com 41

five•for families

COMPILED BY JACQUELINE TOURVILLE End-of-summer bash: On Sunday, Sept. 3, Waterville Valley gives summer a memorable send-off with an outdoor family festival featuring free games for kids, a family scavenger hunt and foot race, an outdoor concert, plus Waterville Valley’s annual charity Duck Race across Corcoran Pond with cash prizes for the three fastest ducks. www. waterville.com

Hillsborough County Fair: It is peak season for county fairs in New Hampshire. Don’t miss one of the best, the Hillsborough County Fair in New Boston, on Sept.

8-10. Events and activities include oxen- and horse-pulling competitions, a giant pumpkin weigh-off, an apple pie contest, 4-H animal exhibits, live music, entertainment and exciting midway rides and games. And, of course, all the fried dough you can eat. For a schedule of events, go to www.hcafair.com.

Harvest Festival: On Saturday, Sept. 23, the Remick Country Doctor Museum & Farm in Tamworth marks harvest time with a special celebration of agricultural life in New Hampshire. All ages can take part in traditional harvest activities including cider-making and corn-grinding.

Afterward, visit the barnyard animals and take part in crafts and traditional harvest games like cornhole. www.remickmuseum.org

Whether you are celebrating the end of summer or the beginning of fall — or a little bit of both — here are five top picks for September family fun in New Hampshire.

Butterfly Night: On Friday, Sept. 8, Amoskeag Fishways in Manchester is back with a new and exciting Family Fun Night that’s all about butterflies.

Through hands-on activities, learn about the butterfly life cycle and how to identify species you and your kids may have seen in the backyard this summer. Plus, discover what these amazing creatures do in the fall and winter, including migrating all the way to Mexico. Family Fun Night programs are 6:30-8 p.m. Don’t forget to register. www.amoskeagfishways.org

How ‘bout them apples?: All month orchards throughout the state are bursting with everyone’s crisp and crunchy favorites. Family-friendly spots for pick-your-own apples include DeMerrit Hill Farm in Lee (www.demeritthillfarm.com), Mack’s Apples in Londonderry (www.macksapples.com), and Gould Hill Farm in Contoocook (www.gouldhillfarm.com). Looking for a location closer to home? Check out Parenting NH’s list of PYO orchards at www. parentingnh.com. There’s no better way to kick off fall than with a warm slice of apple pie.

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

42 www.parentingnh.com september 2017

Back to School check list:

❏ School clothes ❏ Stationary items ❏ Back pack ❏ Hair cut ❏ Healthy smile

Make an appointment for your healthy smile today!

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LISTEN FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN A TRIP TO SEE KATY PERRY IN VEGAS!

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