Staten Island Parent January 2014

JANUARY 2014

.com SOLUTIONS FOR EVERYDAY PARENTING

Parents, Start Your Search With Our Preschool & Daycare Directory NESTING 101 Hello Third Trimester

NEW APPS To Keep The Little Ones Busy

O STEPS T L O O H C S E PR

10uccess!

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TABLE OF CONTENTS JANUARY 2014

ADVERTISER INDEX 114

COVER STORY 10 Steps to Preschool Success For many parents, preschool is their child’s first independent venture. This milestone can be more traumatic for Mom and Dad than it is for a child. School psychologist Sharon Nolfi shares some helpful tips to prepare both parent and child for a smooth and fun transition.

Read more on page 58

ARTICLES 26 12 Easy Ways to Inject Some Fun into Mommy Life Need some ideas for amping up your fun side?

32 The Life and Influence of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Facts about Dr. King’s life andaccomplishments.

36 Nesting 101 Some tips to help you enjoy the thirdtrimester

40 Snow Day Activities Here’s some simple ways to make the best of a snow day

44 Tax Season A new year brings a new tax season to prepare for

48 Throw a Sensational Super Bowl Party

COLUMNS 30 Good Sports

by Joe LoVerde

38 Ask the Doctor

by Philip Otterbeck, MD

46 Dear Teacher

Help your little ones learn with or without a screen

64 Finding Your “Best Bet” Pet Match your choice of pet to your family’s style

70 Online Hereafter What happens to online accounts when someone passes away?

4 Pink Opal & Amethyst Necklace 73 Sidekick Diaper Bag Giveaway 77 Hidden Cake 109 Birthday Club

by Peggy Gisler & Marge Eberts

52 Parent & Child Time

by Ann Clinton

74 Growing Up Online

by Carolyn Jabs

80 Gigi’s World

by Gigi & Gina LaGuardia-Schrecker

FAMILY NEEDS 78 It’s In The Cards 106 Party Services 110 Family Classifieds 112 Professional Directory

Celebrate the first-ever New York area Super Bowl

54 Apps & Activities

CONTESTS & CLUBS

S. I. LIVING 20 Community & School News 73 Birth Announcements

SPECIAL SECTIONS

76 Facebook Chatter

60 Preschool & Daycare Directory

82 Family Calendar

72 OMG...I’m a Mom!

If You Can’t Get Out to Pick Up a Copy of S.I. Parent, View it Online Anytime on Your Tablet or Smartphone

www.siparent.com/digital_magazine.php

LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER Hi Staten Island Parent readers, Happy New Year to you and your family!

A New Year - the gift of a new beginning for each one of us. What do you want for yourself in 2014? We have all heard the advice of airplane attendants who tells us to put on our own oxygen mask first before we can help anyone else. The beginning of the new year means that we should look at our own lives and make sure our “oxygen mask” is in place. Ask the person you see in the mirror, "What do I need to do to keep myself healthy, safe, and happy?" You alone have the power to really answer that challenging question. Remember, there is no better time than now to begin making the changes that you want to see in your life.

As parents, our lives become so busy with all the responsibilities of raising a family that we can feel overwhelmed.

Our goal at Staten Island Parent is to help make your job of parenting a little easier by being your "go-to” resource for whatever you need for your family. We are committed to continually improve what we do. That’s our labor of love—and it’s one that we have been performing unwaveringly for 25 years!

To help us with this aim, we would like to hear from you about the things that you are doing. Perhaps you have found a creative way to make time for yourself that might help other parents in our community. What is going on in your life as a parent in Staten Island? What can we do to help you and your family?

Staten Island Parent is more than just a print magazine. Our website, www.siparent.com, is available for you 24/7 and our social media pages allow us to engage in what your current concerns are. Our Family of Friends receive weekly emails with exclusive giveaways (Who doesn’t like free prizes?!), as well as fun crafts, recipes, and things to do with the kids. If you are not already on the list, you can join up on our website. If you are on the list, be sure we are on your safe-senders list so we land in your inbox. We promise not to overload you with emails; we’ll only send the good stuff.

You are important to us! It is because of you that every member on the Staten Island Parent team comes to work each day. Over the years, many Staten Islanders have told us how we have made a positive difference in their lives and we love hearing it! Please continue to share with the community the role we play in your life.

When you use our advertisers’ services, let them know that Staten Island Parent guided you in their direction.

Fricke in Pink Opal & Amethyst Necklace

Thank you for being loyal supporters of Staten Island Parent. On behalf of our Staten Island Parent team, we wish you a 2014 that is filled with joy, love, and fun for you and your family.

The Melissa Lovy necklace is designed with a large skyline pendant with pave stone detail. Attached to a 16" length chain, it is gunmetal plated with Pink Opal and semi-precious Amethyst. www.melissalovy.com

Looking forward to seeing you on Facebook.

A $192.00 value!!

Enter online at siparent.com Click the “Contests & Clubs” Tab

STAFF

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Roselle Farina Hecht PUBLISHERS Roselle Farina Hecht Luciano Rammairone SENIOR EDITOR/ DESIGNER Gerri Friscia DESIGNER Michelle Yannaco

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS & FINANCES Linda Bellesi EDITORIAL ASSISTANT Elizabeth Thompson OFFICE ASSISTANT Carole Stillman

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Ilene Cohen Janine Mulé Cecilia Saccomagno Jodi Fatto TECHNICAL DIRECTOR Alex Levy

You can use a QR Code scanner on a smartphone to visit our website. Download one of the following free apps: QR Reader for iPhone, Barcode Scanner for Android and ScanLife for Blackberry S.I. Parent magazine is published 12 times a year. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. The publishers of this magazine do not assume responsibility for statements made by advertisers or writers.

DISTRIBUTION Orlando Moreno

1200 South Avenue, Suite 202 • Staten Island, New York 10314 Advertising: 718.761.4800 x7139 | Email: info@siparent.com

www.siparent.com

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Come Visit Us!

ST. JOSEPH HILL ACADEMY Pre-K 3 through Grade 8

OPEN HOUSE Wednesday, January 29 - 9:00am - 1:00pm th

Guided tours of our classrooms and campus

A Blue Ribbon Nominated School Providing a premier education to the Staten Island community for over 90 years.

For more information call 718-981-1187 x9136 850 Hylan Boulevard - Staten Island, NY 10305 www.stjosephhill.org

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STATEN ISLAND DAY CAMP LOCATED AT THE COLLEGE OF STATEN ISLAND

800.301.2267 “FRIENDS AND FAMILY DAY” February 8th • 11am to 2pm College of Staten Island • Building 1R AT STATEN ISLAND DAY CAMP WE ALSO OFFER SPORTS ACADEMY Comprehensive Sports Clinics Taught by NCAA Personnel

TECH ZONE ACADEMY Expansive Digital Media Workshops by Instructors Who are Experts in Their Field

NEW FOR LEAR 201 NING 4

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Celebrating Our 35th Year!

• Red Cross Swim Program • Sports & Recreation Program For All Ages • Boys & Girls Ages 5–13 • • 60,000 sq ft Air Conditioned Sports & Recreation Facility • 50 Acres Of Outside Recreational Area • •Payment Plans Available • Optional Extended Day • We Accept MasterCard, Visa & American Express• • Free Door To Door Transportation On Our Air Conditioned Vehicles •

$25 OPEN HOUSE THANK YOU

Take a virtual tour on

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K

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Board Certified Pediatric Dentistry Has your child ever BEGGED you to go to the DENTIST or BEGGED you NOT to leave the Dental Office? d's slan tric I n e ia IMPOSSIBLE you say? Not at our office!!

Stat er Ped e i fic f m e O r P tal We will EXCEED your EXPECTATIONS!!

Den viding ve, o i r s P en are Our gentle touch and special C preh Com nalized o approach with kids is OUTSTANDING!!

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Over 18 years specialty experience

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Kids LOVE Dr. Lisa and Staff!

KIDS and PARENTS are amazed dental visits can be FUN & STRESS FREE!!

Your child's HAPPINESS & DENTAL HEALTH are our #1 priority!

Experience an adventure in one of our themed rooms

General Anesthesia and Sedation available: In-Office or at Staten Island University Hospital Helping infants, toddlers, children of all ages and those with special needs

American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends the 1st dental visit by age 1

IT IS MY PERSONAL MISSION TO TREAT YOUR CHILD THE WAY I WOULD EXPECT SOMEONE TO TREAT MY OWN CHILDREN! Dr. Lisa Lazzara

Helping Kids One Smile at a Time!

FROM THE MOMENT YOU WALK INTO OUR OFFICE, OUR FOCUS IS ON YOUR CHILD Dr. Lauren Cox

www.sidentist4kids.com 4864 ARTHUR KILL RD 718-356-KIDS (5437)

1839 N. RAILROAD AVE 718-667-KIDS (5437)

Major Insurances Accepted. Visa/Mastercard Accepted. Financing Available.

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Like us on Facebook Kids Dental of Staten Island

STATEN ISLANDS #1 PRIVATE DAY CAMP SINCE 1995!

CAMP RE & OPEN UNION Jan 18th HOUSE •12-4 pm G ames & Entertain ment Meet Dir ectors & S taff Enroll at Pre-Seas on Rates

Private, Air-Conditioned Facility ALL SPORTS AND SWIMMING ARTS & CRAFTS & DANCE, FENCING AND MARTIAL DAILY TRIPS & SPECIAL EVENTS MOVIES, SKATING & BOWLING, BASEBALL GAMES, AMUSEMENT PARKS & MUCH MORE!

Adult supervision, F/T medical staff, CIT programs Sibling Discounts Discounts, Free Payment Plans No Registration Fees or Hidden Costs

Larry Marantz & Kathy McBride, Directors

718-761-1492 • 1075 Woodrow Rd

www.rcdaycamp.com Follow Us on Facebook

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★ Come Check Out Our Newly Upgraded Center ★ Scoring has brand new graphics, games and features. Plus new furniture!!

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BOWLING - ARCADE - SNACK BAR - AND MORE!

Inq u Ab ire Fun out dra iser s

Inquire dult About A Parties

With These Awesome Winter Specials STARTING JANUARY TWO NEW YOUTH LEAGUES Call for info & to sign up!

Adult/Child League – Adult Bowls for Free

MONDAY NIGHT BOWL-TILL-YOU-DROP 9:30 PM to 12:30 AM $10 per person (minimum 4 people per lane) ALL YOU CAN BOWL!

Have a Ball League – Free bowling ball per child

SATURDAY & SUNDAY MORNING MADNESS 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM $10 per hour / per Lane

$2 TUESDAYS

DAILY BOWLING SPECIAL– ONLY $25

from 9:30 PM to 11:00 PM $2 Games (maximum 4 games) $2 Shoes, $2 Slices of Pizza, $2 Tap Beers

Monday thru Friday / Noon till 5 PM 1 Hour of Bowling, up to 4 shoe rentals & a pizza pie

Subject to Lane Availability. Management Reserves All Rights. Rain Days, Holidays & Black Outs may Void All Specials. Mention at Desk upon Check-In.

CLASSIC BIRTHDAY PACKAGE

1 hour of bowling, party attendants, 45 minutes in a private room, 20 arcade tokens per child, shoe rental, pizza with unlimited soda, paper goods, invitations, balloons & Bowling Pin Sport Cup for Birthday Child

141 East Service Rd (Exit 7 Off West Shore Expwy)

www.showplacebowling.net • (718) 477-BOWL (2695)

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Find Us On Facebook, Twitter & Instagram

CarnivalKids Happy New Year

FREE BIRTHDAY CHILD & FACE PAINTING OR BALLOON MAKING $140+ value!

With any package.

The Greatest Party On Earth!

INDOOR BIG TOP CARNIVAL FEATURING

Carnival games (skee ball, baseball toss, crazy cans, ring toss, darts, tip the troll, gone fishing, etc.), juggling, magic shows, hula hooping, fortune-telling, spin art, sand art, clowns, costume characters, face painting, balloon making, temporary tattoos, karaoke, corn dogs, lemonade, jellyapples, cotton candy, snow cones & more!!!

No Open Play On Your Special Day!

BIG TOP CARNIVAL

FRIDAY, JANUARY 19 FROM 7-9:30 AND EVERY WEDNESDAY FROM 12-2:30 Kids $1999 • Adults $500–Includes unlimited carnival games, dancing, singing, pizza and refreshments.

718-356-4FUN (4386) • www.carnivalkidssi.com 971 Rossville Ave • Corner of Gunton Place

FREE

ONE PARTY AT A TIME!

Happy New Year

Birthday Child & Make Up

Kosher Parties Available

With any package.

$140.00+ value!

Your Princess and her guests will be pampered in a Hollywood style spa, elegantly decorated with the friendliest, professional staff.

A true ONE-OF-A-KIND experience!

Princess Party Package

2 hours, 12 children, free gift for party girl, 3 party hosts, manicure & pedicure, pizza, refreshments, snack mix, invitations. karaoke, games, prizes, paper goods.

Boys Welcome

te Priva dates Play ore a p S rm 5 o ldren. chi

Staten Island 4108 Hylan Blvd • 718.356.PARTY (7278)

Party Extras

Manicure, pedicure, chocolate facials, hair with feather extensions, make up, glitter tattoos, make your own lip gloss and fragrance, design a shirt, spin art, face painting, custom charatcters and much, more!!!

Brooklyn 8216 13th Ave • 718.238.PARTY (7278) JANUARY 2014

www.siparent.com

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CELEBRATING 28 YEARS! • 2 Year Old Toddler Program

Curriculum reflects the changing needs for today's child including

• 3 & 4 year Old Classes Half & Full Day Programs

• Early Literacy • Critical Thinking Skills • Handwriting Program • Music Enrichment

• State-of-the-Art Outdoor Playground

Including SMART Board Educational Technology

• Large Indoor Gym • Certified Staff

all through an integrated curriculum

• Reasonable Rates

Open House:

Saturday, January 25th • 10am-12noon

Open Registration Begins Saturday, February 1st 9am-11am

BABY BUZZ

Our New Baby Classes

4-12 MONTHS OLD WEDNESDAYS • 10:30AM-11:30AM A free, weekly parent and baby class that includes floor time, infant activities, music and most of all, social time for new parents and their babies. There will be many opportunities for parents to discuss and brainstorm with one another their "new baby" experiences.

TOT-TIME TOGETHER 12-28 MONTHS OLD TUESDAYS OR THURSDAYS • 12:45-2:00PM $150 PER 10 WEEK SESSION A 10 week session where toddler and parent will play and learn together through a variety of creative activities including music, movement, storytime, messy play and outdoor time.

718-442-5350 • 1657 Victory Blvd www.castletonhillpreschool.com • Like us on Facebook

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S.I. LIVING Community & School News

A guide to community events

Ahh! A brand new year! Who doesn’t like a fresh start? We're in the dead of winter and I don’t know about you, but there is nothing better than curling up under a warm blanket with some hot chocolate watching your favorite film. While it may be tempting to make it a movie night with the family all month long, there is plenty to see and do on the Island this month. Why not rent some books at the brand new library in Mariners Harbor? Or work on your New Year's resolution and take a winter hike in one of our parks?

Important January School News Wed, Jan 1: New Year’s Day (Schools Closed) Mon, Jan 13 - Kindergarten admissions begin (see below) Mon, Jan 20: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (Schools Closed) Jan 26- Feb1- Catholic Schools Week. Theme: Catholic Schools: Communities of Faith, Knowledge, & Service Mon, Jan 27-Thurs, Jan 30: Regents Exam Thurs, Jan 30: Pre-kindergarten Non-Attendance Day Fri, Jan 31: Fall Term Ends for High School

2014 Kindergarten Admissions The 2014 kindergarten admissions have begun! If your child will be turning five-years-old in 2014, he or she is eligible to begin kindergarten in September. The application for admissions will be available online on Monday, January 13 on the NYC Dept. of Education web site (http://schools.nyc.gov/ ChoicesEnrollment/Elementary/Kindergarten). You can link directly by visiting siparent.com. You can also apply via phone by calling 718-935-2400, or in person at 715 Ocean Terrace (Building A). The deadline to apply is Friday, February 14.

Placement offers will be distributed in early April and preregistration begins in late April.

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Admission is not determined on a first come, first served basis. All applications received by the deadline are treated th same. You are allowed to list up to 20 schools on your child’s application. However, most students attend their zoned schools, which is determined by your home address. To find out your zoned school you can call 311 or search your home address on http://schools.nyc.gov/schoolsearch/.

Shovels Full of Help for Seniors Where-To-Turn, a local not-for-profit relief organization, once again teams up student volunteers with local seniors to help those who need a hand shoveling out their homes after a snowstorm. Volunteers are appointed to the closest location available, where they remain assigned throughout the winter.

Both seniors and students can sign up online. Visit siparent.com for a link to the application.

Kids Can See Broadway Shows for Free Ever wanted to take the kids into Manhattan so the whole family can take in a Broadway show but get deterred by the prices? The 18th annual Kids’ Night on Broadway hopes to make it easier for families to catch a show on Broadway. Kids’ Night on Broadway allows kids, ages 6 to 18, to see participating Broadway shows for free when accompanied by a full paying

funstation•usa ALL NEW LASER TAG SYSTEM

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INCLUDES: 25 kids, 1 round of Lazer Tag or Virtual Reality Ride, Bumper Cars, Himalaya, Airplane, Mini Twister & Maze, 10 tokens for each child & 50 tokens for the birthday child. Pizza, soda, chips & cake. Coffee & tea for adults. Add'l kids $25.95 each

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3555 Victory Blvd • 718.370.0077 • WWW.FUNSTATIONDAYCAMP.COM JANUARY 2014

www.siparent.com

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S.I. LIVING Community & School News adult. The event will run between Monday, Feb. 24 and Sunday, Mar. 2. Tickets are available to the public on Wednesday, Jan. 8.

For more info, visit the Kids’ Night on Broadway website, www.kidsnightonbroadway.com.

Mariners Harbor Library Opens There’s a new library in town! A brand new branch of the New York Public Library opened last month in Mariners Harbor. The library is located at 206 South Avenue and is open Monday through Saturday. The Mariners Harbor Library, which is the 88th branch in the NYPL system, includes adult, young adult, and children’s spaces, 38 new desktop and 10 laptop public access computers, Wi-Fi capability, and a multipurpose community room. The branch is constructed in the shape of an oyster to reflect Mariners Harbor’s maritime history. For a full list of all the events happening in the library, check out our Calendar of Events on page 82 or visit the online calendar on our website, siparent.com.

Warm-Up for Reading Volunteers Combat those icy winter blasts and warm up to children who need extra help learning to read, by joining the Staten Island Mental Health Society’s (SIMHS) School Reading Volunteer Program.

Free training for new School Reading Volunteers will take place on Tuesday, January 28 and Thursday, January 30, from 9:30 to 11:30am each day at the SIMHS West Brighton headquarters, 669 Castleton Avenue, Building A. The course will be repeated on Tuesday, Feb. 3 and Thursday, Feb. 5 same time, same location. New reading volunteers must attend both classes of either session, which are taught by a professional reading teacher. For more information, call 718-442-2225.

Veteran Status on Driver’s License

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Residents of New York who are military veterans can now request a special designation on their New York State driver’s license. All qualified U.S. military veterans who were honorably discharged can have the word “Veteran” printed on their driver’s license, learner permit, or non-driver photo ID.

Staten Island Family Music 3 convenient locations!

North Shore, & South Shore nd la Is id M

Morning, Afternoon and Weekend Classes

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Ballroom Dancing Workshop! …With Sabrina…

SION 4 WEEK &SE27San d Jan 20 8:00 PM b Fe 3 & 10 at uple co r $100 pe

MUSIC TOGETHER® The internationally renowned music and movement enrichment program for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, children with special needs and the adults that love them.

Call for more infisoter g and to re 60

718.356.3IZ7E

C LASS S !

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COMING SOON STREET Tap & IRISH STEP workshops for adults and kids!

Check Out Our Winter Class Schedule & REGISTER ONLINE at www.SIFamilyMusic.com

Winter Session Begins in January JOIN US AT BABIES R US ON JANUARY 11.

FREE DEMOS FROM 12-2.

Contact mary@sifamilymusic.com to Reserve Your Spot Mary Aloia, Program Director

South Shore Toddler Academy & Preschool Preschool Established 1969

Ages 2-6

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For all of your Christening and Communion needs. We carry couture clothing for infants, toddlers and children.

Zara Terez, Ouch, Dolls & Divas, Appaman, Halabaloo, Sierra Julian and much more

3911 Amboy Road, Staten Island NY 10308

718-967-6767

• Social/emotional skills stressed • Readiness curriculum in all areas • Full & Half Day Sessions Zumba, • Flexible Hours Kinderdance • Outdoor Play Yard & Tai-Chi • Licensed Staff and School • Accepting UPK Applications

718.356.3563 • 11 Sampson Ave (Off Giffords Lane in Great Kills) JANUARY 2014

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Staten Island Pediatric Dentistry rating 38 Years b e l e C ing for Your Childre r a C n of

S.I. LIVING Community & School News By doing this, veterans will be eliminating the need to carry separate documentation to prove veteran status of the United States Armed Forces. More information is available at dmv.ny.gov/armedforces.htm.

New Car Seat Laws

Deborah Gries, D.M.D. , M.S. Michelle Flanigan, D.M.D. Board Certified Pediatric Dentist

Sara Skurnick, D.M.D. Orthodontist Specializing in Dentistry and Orthodontics for Children, Adolescents & Patients with Special Needs

Invisalign Available • Digital X-rays

There will be a new car seat guideline taking effect in February. The guideline is regarding the use of the LATCH system.

LATCH was required in all cars made in the North America after 2002. It is a system that secures car seats using built in achors instead of using the seatbelt. Currently the law states that children should remain in LATCH-secured car seats until they reach the maximum weight limit of 65 pounds. The new guidelines now take into consideration the weight of the car seat itself, and use the combined weight of the child and car seat.

Once the total combined weight of the child and car seat is over 65 pounds, then parents should start using the seatbelt restraint instead of the LATCH system.

Did you know that according to the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association up to 75 percent of child car seats are improperly installed or used? The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has certified technicians who will inspect your child’s car seat free of charge. To find out more, call the Staten Island Safety City Learning Center, located at 715 Ocean Terrace at 212-839-4750.

That’s What Friends Are For! OPEN 6 DAYS A WEEK EVENING & SATURDAY HOURS AVAILABLE

195 Bridgetown Street (Corner of Richmond Hill Road)

www.sikidsdentist.com sikidsdentist@gmail.com

Tel: 718-761-7316

What does a Despicable Me 2 Blu-ray + DVD Combo giveaway, fun holiday recipes to enjoy with the kids, and family-friendly events have in common? They are just a few of the things S.I. Parent Family of Friends members had access to last month. Each week this group gets first notice on exclusive giveaways, kid-friendly recipes, upcoming events, and so much more.

To join in, simply go to siparent.com and click the link on the top right. We promise we won’t spam; we’ll only send the good stuff!

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ENJOY LIFE!

>>> 12

EASY WAYS TO INJECT SOME FUN INTO MOMMY LIFE

t was my birthday last week. A “big” birthday so family and friends extended the celebrations appropriately. I returned home from one outing with girlfriends and proudly displayed my bright, orange, latte mug.

Painted across the front is BFF: Brilliant, Fun-Loving Friend. My thirteen-year-old daughter piped up, “Do you really consider yourself fun loving?”

Ouch.

I

Her comment burrowed into my mind, not for its apparent hurtfulness but for its potential truth. I had to ask myself, am I less fun loving now that I am a mom? Probably. Do my children HOSTNG A GAME NIGHT CAN BE A GREAT WAY TO LET LOOSE AND HAVE FUN! see me only as the responsible, serious woman who manages crank up the tunes and shake things up. their lives and schedules? I am afraid to ask.

It is challenging for busy, exhausted moms to remember, or find the energy, to have fun in addition to planning everyone else’s bliss. Here are some suggestions to inject more fun into your mommy life.

3. Get dirty. It is freeing and you will feel like a child again.

Remember water or food fights? I love to ride my bike on muddy trails and embrace that shocking, cold, first splash. Now that you are the grown up, no one can complain about the mess you make.

1. Allow yourself to get excited about something, anything and tell someone. It can be as simple as that new book you are itching to open. According to Christiane Northrup, M.D., on her CD, The Power of Joy, when we share what makes us feel good and excited, it reinforces the joy connections in our brains.

4. Laugh until your belly aches. Watching funny movies or sitcoms is an obvious way to exercise your humor muscles. But a visit to a great card shop can also have you chuckling. Buy a few cards to send to friends or keep them as a smile starter.

2. Dance. Our bodies are made to move and dancing will lift your mood. Hence the immense popularity of Zumba. If you need motivation or do not want to dance alone, tape The Ellen DeGeneres Show and dance with Ellen during her opening. Or,

5. Sing loudly and with gusto. If your ability to carry a tune is as poor as mine, use the shower or your time alone in the car to belt out tunes that you love. Imagine yourself as the child who sang into her hairbrush with no restraint.

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We Are Now Open!

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6. Bask in baking. I’m talking about cooking for fun, not the rushed, getsomething-on-table-in-time-for-dinner type of cooking. Think sumptuous and decadent. Tackle it on a day when someone else is in charge of meals. Invite your spouse or a friend to join you only if that would add to your fun.

7. Go to a local art gallery and let the color and beauty stimulate and awaken your creative senses.

8. Become someone else. Playing dress up never gets old. Invite some moms and daughters over for a princess tea party.

Make a trip to the local thrift shop and look for the most outrageous bridesmaid’s dress to wear. Hosting a Murder Mystery Dinner is another opportunity to get into a character and costume.

9. Host a games night for grown-ups.

When choosing games, think about games that involve larger groups and force people out of their comfort zones.

Guesstures, Catch Phrase and Cranium are so much fun you may not care who wins.

10. Take yourself on an Artist Date, a term coined by author Julia Cameron.

The Artist Date is a solo weekly outing anywhere that interests you. Cameron stresses that the outing must be fun.

Think a sense of play.

11. Watch your children play. What can you learn from them? Join them on a swing and see the world from a new perspective. Why should kids have all the fun?

12. Do something that scares you. The adrenaline rush will wake up all your senses. How about ziplining? A scary ride at the amusement park? Feel free to yell as loudly as you must throughout the ride.

By Sue LeBreton, a freelancer writer and mom to two children. She is fun loving and has the mug to prove it.

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HOLY CHILD P R E SC H O OL

GOOD SPORTS

by Joe LoVerde

71 8. 35 6. 51 59 4 7 4 7 A m b oy R o a d S I , N Y 10 3 12 ENJOYING YOUR SUPER BOWL EXPERIENCE Are you excited that the Super Bowl will take place in our neck of the woods this year for the first time ever?

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Maybe your favorite team won’t be on the field at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., for the 6:30 p.m. kickoff on Feb. 2.

And maybe you weren’t able to secure tickets to Super Bowl XLVIII, and are planning to watch it from the comfort of your living room or a party at a larger location. (That might be just as well, seeing as how the Farmer’s Almanac has predicted a snowstorm for that day.)

Still, if you’re a football fan and share that love for the game with your children, there are plenty of once-in-a-lifetime experiences scheduled for New York City to enjoy together during Super Bowl week.

The party starts with Super Bowl Boulevard in Manhattan, a game-related interactive funfest. It’s open every day from Jan. 29 at noon until 11 p.m. on Super Bowl eve along Broadway between 34th and 44th Streets. Best of all — it’s free!

A highlight of the event figures to be the Toboggan Run, between 40th and 41st Streets, where you can take a ride down a giant slide 58 feet high toward a goal post until you cross the goal line.

There will also be a video show in which NFL highlight footage will be projected onto the side of Macy’s at Herald Square. The 10minute show will run continuously.

Do you or the young sports fans in your family collect autographs? If so, former NFL greats and even some current stars will be available to sign for free on a stage constructed between 39th and 40th Streets. You’ll have six hours, from noon to 6 p.m., to meet some of the game’s stars. And between 8 and 10 p.m. each night, fans can take in a concert at that same location.

The Lombardi Trophy — the prize the AFC and NFC champs will be playing for in the Big Game — will be on display in a glassenclosed tent between 41st and 42nd Streets, and you can get a family photo with it at no charge.

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Another photo op will be at an oversized roman numeral XLVIII— or 48— to commemorate this year’s Super Bowl. The 50-foot wideby-17-feet tall-by-15-feet deep exhibit will be located between 42nd and 43rd Streets.

There will be plenty of other exhibits as well, including the usual football-tossing, video-game playing and memorabilia tables that usually accompany fan events.

GIVE YOUR YOUNG ATHLETE THE CARE THEY DESERVE AT

Updated Super Bowl Boulevard information is posted at www.nycgo.com/ar ticles/super-bowlboulevard.

If you can’t wait for Super Bowl week to get started, there will be other NFL-related events. The most fun and interesting of them looks to be Gridiron Glory: The Best of the Pro Football Hall of Fame exhibition through March 2 at the Liberty Science Center in Jersey City. It will consist of rare memorabilia and interactive exhibits, at which you can compare your body size to that of an NFL player, try on replica uniforms and football gear, try your hand at officiating in an NFL Instant Replay Booth and sample the electronic head gear used by coaches and quarterbacks to keep in contact during a game.

There will also be a gallery at which you can experience training camp drills, and NFL players have been stopping in from time to time since the exhibition began on Sept. 28.

On Jan. 20, former Jets player Randy Beverly will greet fans and sign autographs. All of these sessions run from noon until 2 p.m.

Check out the Liberty Science Center website at http://lsc.org for more information and ticket prices.

There will be other events leading up to the game, though somewhat less glamorous. Complete, up-to-the-minute details of how to best experience the first cold weather Super Bowl is posted throughout the website http://nynjsuperbowl.com.

Joe LoVerde has been coaching youth sports on Staten Island for nearly 40 years. He’s also a longtime newspaper editor and sportswriter.

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LEADERS IN HISTORY

>>> THE LIFE AND

INFLUENCE OF DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.

artin Luther King, Jr. played a pivotal role in race relations in the United States for nearly a decade. He helped secure the end of legal segregation of AfricanAmerican citizens, created the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and served as a source of inspiration for black individuals across the globe.

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Dr. King did not begin his life as a crusader or public figure.

He had much more modest beginnings in rural Atlanta.

Born Michael King, Jr., he was the middle child of Michael King, Sr. and Alberta Williams “THE TIME IS ALWAYS RIGHT TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT.� ~ MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. King. Michael King, Sr. served as pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Dr. King attended Booker T. Washington High School and Church upon the death of his father-in-law, who was the was so advanced he was able to skip both the 9th and 11th church's prior pastor. At this point, the elder king decided to grades. He went on to college at the age of 15, graduating change his name to Martin Luther to honor the famed from Morehouse College in 1948 with a degree in sociology.

Protestant religious leader. His son soon decided to adopt In his junior year of college, King enrolled in a Bible class that the name as well. sparked a renewed enthusiasm for the ministry. He later enrolled in the liberal Crozer Theological Seminary in A religious family, the Kings tried to shield their children Chester, Pennsylvania, where he received a Bachelor's of from the realities of racism that were alive and well in the Divinity. Later he attended Boston University and earned a country. They believed racism and segregation to be an Ph.D. at the age of 25. It was during his time in Boston that he affront to God's will, and Martin, Sr. discouraged separation of met his future wife, Coretta Scott. While he was completing class and taught these lessons to his children. Those lessons his dissertation work, Dr. King became the pastor for the resonated with Martin, Jr. Dexter Avenue Baptist Church of Montgomery, Alabama.

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Martin Luther King, Jr. became directly involved in the civil rights movement after the head of the local NAACP chapter in Montgomery met with him on the night that Rosa Parks was arrested for failure to give up her bus seat to a white passenger. Dr. King helped institute the Montgomery Bus Boycott. During this time, AfricanAmericans refused to ride the public bus system in Montgomery. The boycott lasted 382 days. During that time, Dr. King's home was bombed due to his involvement in the boycott, and he was arrested for conspiracy. His work paid off on December 21, 1956, when the Supreme Court ruled that racial segregation on public transportation was illegal.

Dr. King promoted nonviolent protests against unfairness to the African-American community, urging civil disobedience and peaceful protests, tenets that formed the basis for the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, or SCLC, which he led. He participated in numerous nonviolent protests and was arrested several times. During one stint in jail, he penned his famous, "Letter from a Birmingham Jail."

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Dr. King established a relationship with fellow African-American civil rights activist Bayard Rustin, who shared similar interests, including the teachings of Gandhi. Rustin would serve as King's mentor and also was the main organizer of the March on Washington that took place on August 28, 1963. Approximately 250,000 demonstrators were involved in the march, and it was the largest demonstration in the nation's capital up to that time. In front of the Lincoln Memorial, Dr. King issued his famed "I Have a Dream" speech. He later met

As a result of his civil rights efforts, Dr. King was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize on December 10, 1964, at the age of 35. He was the youngest person ever to receive the honor. He donated all of the prize money to his racial equality effort.

In his honor, Americans have celebrated Martin Luther King, Jr. Day as a federal holiday since 1986. King was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1977. Many streets have been renamed in his honor, and Dr. King remains a source of inspiration decades after his death.

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Through the late 1960s, Dr. King expanded his Civil Rights Movement to other cities. But he was often met with criticism, especially when he appealed to white middle-class citizens. Many militant black organizations considered King's methods too weak and ineffective. His support was faltering and Dr. King grew weary of marches, jail and protests. However, in April of 1968, a labor strike in Memphis drew King's attention, and he gave a speech about the sanitation labor dispute, which would prove to be prophetic. The next day, on April 4, Dr. King was hit by a sniper's bullet while standing on an outside terrace of his motel room at the Lorraine Motel. King's words from the previous day, including, "I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight that we, as a people, will get to the promised land," were haunting. James Earl Ray was charged with the assassination.

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PREGNANCY

>>>

NESTING 101: HELLO THIRD TRIMESTER

ight around the end of your second trimester and somewhere in the beginning of your third trimester – something magical happens in a woman’s pregnancy. This something magical is called ‘nesting.’ This is simply a term that means you are preparing for baby and therefore, wanting to clean everything in sight to get ready for your tiny, precious bundle of cuteness.

R

For some women, this period of nesting is a relaxing and comforting time for them as they organize and control what goes where. For others, it can be a bit stressful THE THIRD TRIMESTER CAN BE A JOYFUL, RELAXING TIME depending on other factors in AS YOU PREPARE FOR YOUR NEWBORN’S ARRIVAL. your life such as…an outgrown home where there is shoes to washing all of the baby’s new clothes. Having not enough storage and space to put things in the place that something tangible to read from will help you stay focused. you want them to be put.

2. Be realistic. You may think that repainting your master So what do you do when you are in your nesting stage and bathroom three months before you deliver is a great idea. are feeling overwhelmed with where to begin? Many women But hang on. Nesting is a time of organizing and settling in. ask this question and unless you are pregnant yourself or Save the painting for your husband or paint your soon-to-be have been pregnant – this very distinct stage in a woman’s baby a one-of-a-kind masterpiece made by yours truly if you pregnancy may cause more stress than relaxation. really have the itch to paint.

Try these seven tips and ideas to get you started on your way to creating a calm, organized and nesting-approved home that results in a place where the entire family wants to gather. No matter the size of your living quarters or the question of where to begin – this list will give you the nudge you need to get things going.

1. Make a list. Lists are great because they are visual. Do it the old fashioned way with a pen and paper. Take a seat and write down everything on your mind from organizing your

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3. Take your time. Revisit your list of things to be done and do them one at a time. Trying to tackle everything at once will leave you feeling overwhelmed and defeated before you have even tackled that first item. Give yourself grace when it comes to tidying things up and take it slow.

4. Enjoy nesting. Nesting is one of the many fun times during a woman’s pregnancy. It says, ‘The end is near,’ and this, this, and this needs to be done before the baby is born.

Nesting allows for some sort of control over the pregnancy

and signals to the brain that ‘Yes, I am ready for this baby to come.’ Bottom line: it feels good to be prepared.

5. Include the kids. If you have other children this is a great time to let them help you with organizing the home. Kids love to help; especially when it comes to the arrival of their younger sibling.

Something as simple as putting the baby’s bows in a bin to vacuuming the nursery can make all the difference to your children when they want to help out.

6. Reflect. After one thing is done, take a break and eat a snack. Take time to reflect on where you are in your pregnancy. Enjoy the moment.

Relish in the fact that your other children get a smile out of helping.

Embrace the idea of waiting until after naptime to tackle the dishes.

Take time to be in the moment.

7. Save something for your husband. Just because you think you can get everything done by yourself, doesn’t mean leaving a thing or two for your husband to do is a bad idea.

This serves two purposes, 1.) You can direct your attention to another task and, 2.) Your husband will feel needed and appreciated when he sees how happy you are now that the curtains are hung in the baby’s room.

It’s a win-win situation.

Nesting happens. It is part of a woman’s pregnancy that many look forward to. Take this list of ideas and get started on your own list of ‘to do’s.’ If the baby decides to come early, you will be comforted knowing that everything is in its place before the arrival. If you go past your due date, well, now you just have more time to nest.

By Meagan Ruffing, a freelance parenting writer, who is pregnant with her third child and is currently enjoying the nesting stage.

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ASK THE DOCTOR Philip Otterbeck, MD

DISORDERS OF THE THYROID GLAND Have you ever wondered why you just don’t feel like yourself? Are you sluggish, irritable, or having unexplained changes in your menstrual cycle or your weight?

If so, you could be one of the estimated 30 million Americans who suffer with a disorder of the thyroid gland – over half of whom remain undiagnosed and, thus, untreated.

The thyroid is a small, approximately 25 gram, butterfly-shaped gland which sits in your neck. The gland produces thyroid hormone for which there are receptors in virtually every organ system. Consequently, disorders of the thyroid gland will adversely affect every organ system.

Common disorders of the thyroid gland include abnormalities of hormonal function (too much or too little thyroid hormone) and thyroid nodules.

Hypothyroidism The most common form of hypothyroidism (a sluggish thyroid) in the United States is called Hashimoto’s thyroiditis. In this condition, circulating antibodies attack and destroy the thyroid tissue, rendering patients without enough thyroid hormone. The result of this hormonal deficiency is an overall slowed metabolic rate with symptoms of fatigue, abnormal menstrual cycles, constipation, depression, brittle hair and nails, slow heart beat, diffuse body swelling, memory loss, shortness of breath, and, in severe cases, altered mental status. Some patients will feel cold all the time and have modest weight gain. Severe obesity and weight gain are not generally features of hypothyroidism. Fortunately, treatment of hypothyroidism is simple – replace the thyroid hormone that the body no longer makes. Typical therapy includes oral levothyroxine and the dose of treatment is calculated based on the patient’s blood work.

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Hyperthyroidism In patients who have hyperthyroidism (a fast thyroid), there are a variety of underlying causes. Graves’ disease, a type of hyperthyroidism, is similar to Hashimoto’s thyroiditis in that the underlying problem is circulating thyroid antibodies. But unlike in Hashimoto’s where the antibodies destroy the thyroid tissue, the antibodies in Graves’ disease stimulate the thyroid gland to overproduce thyroid hormone, resulting in too much circulating hormone. Patients with hyperthyroidism often complain of unexplained weight loss, moodiness/anxiety, palpitations (fast beating of the heart), increased appetite, insomnia, feeling hot all the time, increased perspiration, and frequent bowel movements. Treatment consists of medication to slow the thyroid (typically methimazole), radioactive iodine ablation (to destroy the thyroid completely and render the patient hypothyroid), or surgery (to remove the offending gland). In the latter two cases, patients would be treated long-term with levothyroxine as they will have been rendered hypothyroid by both radioactive iodine or surgery.

Thyroid Nodules Thyroid nodules are essentially lumps or bumps in the thyroid tissue. Generally, nodules are detected on ultrasound after palpation on physical examination, though they might also be seen on a CAT scan or MRI. Sonogram remains the best and most sensitive test for thyroid nodules.

Thyroid nodules are very common. Some data suggest that up to two-thirds of patients have thyroid nodules when screened. So if your doctor does an ultrasound, and you have nodule(s) on your gland, you are not special! Furthermore, 95% of thyroid nodules are benign, so, in most cases, there is very little to worry about if one (or more) of these lesions is detected.

Thyroid nodules come in two main flavors: those that contain solid tissue and those that contain liquid. The ones which contain liquid material are called cysts and are almost uniformly benign. Generally, cysts do not require a biopsy.

Nodules which contain solid material are more worrisome, but remember, the vast majority of these nodules are still BENIGN. Though recommendations differ based on a person’s individual risk factors, generally speaking, thyroid nodules are considered for a biopsy (to rule out thyroid cancer) once they achieve a size of 10 mm (1 cm) in greatest dimension. If a patient has a family history of thyroid cancer or a history of radiation directed at their neck, consideration would be given to biopsying smaller lesions.

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Screening Note that professional medical organizations differ widely as to whether routine screening for thyroid abnormalities is indicated for the general population. So, depending on which guidelines your doctor follows, you might or might not have been screened. Particularly if you’re having some of the symptoms described above, you might benefit from screening for a thyroid problem.

Fortunately, it’s generally as simple as a blood test!

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Finally, it is important to note that many of the symptoms of thyroid disorders are nonspecific.

That is, you could have one or more of the abovementioned symptoms and have a perfectly normal thyroid gland. In those cases, it is important to continue to search for an underlying cause for how you feel. Don’t give up!

Dr. Abhinav Sinha, Dr. Radhika Kapoor, Dr. Iva Leroy & Dr. Michael Capozzi

Overall, thyroid disorders are easy to test for and have effective treatment modalities. If you think you might have a disorder of the thyroid gland, you should speak with your doctor or other healthcare professional.

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Dr. Philip Otterbeck is the Chair of the Endocrinology Division at Richmond University Medical Center.

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WINTER FUN

>>> KEEP

BUSY WITH FUN SNOW DAY ACTIVITIES

ew things are as eagerly anticipated by children as birthdays, holiday presents and, of course, snow days. When the meteorologist predicts several inches of snow, most kids go to sleep to visions of sledding, snowball fights and building snow forts. Should the school district close for the day, cheers can be heard throughout the neighborhood.

F

Although children may revel in the idea of days off from school due to snow, parents may not be as enthusiastic.

Entertaining children when they typically should be in class can take creativity, especially when the weather is inhospitable. To alleviate bouts of cabin fever or prevent cases of hypothermia, there are many fun things parents can consider. And don't tell the children, but some are educational, too.

WITH A BIT OF CREATIVITY, A SNOW DAY CAN BE A FUN AND EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY FOR FAMILIES.

~ Put out birdseed or a suet block and feed the neighborhood birds. Compare the different species that come to grab an easy meal. Artistic kids can sketch what they see by looking out the window. ~ Shovel a shallow path in the snow around the yard to create a snow maze. Build snow blinds, behind which kids can hide.

~ Pretend you are on a North Pole expedition and hike through the neighborhood in a quest to reach the summit of a mountain or to find a hidden treasure. ~ Use spray bottles or squirt bottles filled with water and food coloring to draw masterpieces in the snow. ~ Explore and look for winter plants and other foliage that survive the chill.

~ Gather winter nature items, like pine cones and icicles. Look for frozen "fossils."

~ Grab skates and head to an ice rink or solid (and safe) pond.

~ Brew a thermos full of hot chocolate and go sit out with the neighbors who are probably going a bit stir crazy as well.

~ Decorate an outdoor tree with streamers and popcorn garland.

~ Check in on elderly friends and neighbors and offer to shovel their driveways and walkways, if necessary.

~ If it's too chilly for a picnic in the snow, place a blanket on the family room floor and enjoy an indoor picnic.

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~ Rent a movie and cuddle on the couch under blankets. ~ Have a marathon video game battle. ~ Put on some tunes and dance around the house. ~ Play a classic game, such as Twister or Monopoly. ~ Take out modeling clay or dough and create different play figures or ornaments. ~ Whip up a hearty meal together, giving kids free reign over the ingredients. ~ Play with toy trucks and cars in the snow. ~ Engage in a snowball fight. ~ Find the tallest hill in the area and test your bravery on the back of a sled. ~ Chase the dog around the backyard.

Dogs often like to play in the snow, too.

(Remember to check their paws afterwards to remove ice stuck between their paw pads.) ~ Sit in sunny windows and read books silently or to the group. ~ Make sock puppets and put on a show. ~ Catch up on beauty sleep by taking a nice nap under a warm quilt. ~ Bake a batch of brownies or cookies.

Snow days don't have to be restless mornings and afternoons spent locked indoors. There are many different and fun ways to pass the hours.

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FINANCIAL

>>>

GET READY FOR TAX SEASON

new year not only brings a host of new opportunities, but it also brings a host of familiar obligations.

One such obligation is paying taxes, which doesn't have to be done until mid-April. But waiting until the last minute with respect to taxes can make the process even more difficult, and putting it off certainly won't help those people who vowed to stop procrastinating in the new year.

A

Getting a head start on tax season can be beneficial in numerous ways, not the least of which is avoiding the lastminute rush to file your return come the filing deadline. Even TIPS FROM THE IRS TO MAKE TAX SEASON SMOOTH SAILING. if you have yet to receive your W-2 (which you should have in comes. If you don't plan on hiring a professional to prepare hand by January 31), there are steps you can take to get your taxes, you can contact the IRS with your questions, and ready for the coming tax season. the earlier you do so, the more quickly you are likely to have your questions answered.

• Gather your documents. Your W-2 is likely not the only document you will need to prepare your tax return.

Statements regarding your investments, student loan payments, mortgage and a host of other documents might be necessary for you to fill out your return. You should start receiving these documents in January, so gather them as they come in and keep them in a convenient place. This will ensure you don't get frustrated when filling out your return while increasing the chances you earn all of the credits and deductions you deserve.

• Take your time. When you decide to get an early start on your taxes, you allow yourself to take your time preparing your return. This reduces the likelihood of getting stressed when filing your return. Many people get a bit nervous when filing a tax return, but that stress can be even greater if you leave everything until the last minute. If you're starting early, take your time when working on your return and don't succumb to any potential stressors.

• Examine past returns. Many people have questions when filling out their tax returns, but those who wait until the waning days of tax season to prepare their returns ignore those questions in an effort to make the filing deadline.

When you start preparing for tax season early, examine past returns and see if there are any questions you wanted to ask in the past that you didn't have time for. Write these questions down as you comb through your past returns and bring the questions to your tax preparer when the time

• Consider hiring a professional. Starting early also gives you an opportunity to determine if preparing your own return is too tall a task. If that's the case, consider hiring a professional to prepare your return. If you decide to hire a professional, do so early so that person has more time to devote to your return. If you wait too long, chances are the tax preparer will be buried with many other customers' returns and won't be able to devote as much time to preparing your return as you would like.

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More information about getting ready for tax season is available at www.irs.gov.

JANUARY 2014

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by Peggy Gisler & Marge Eberts

The Value of Preschool Programs

4240 Amboy Road Great Kills

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DEAR TEACHER Solid Advice on Improving Children’s Basic Skills and Addressing Answer: Preschool programs do have Parental Concerns

Question: What are some of the reasons for sending your child to preschool? – Considering

value. They can help parents provide their children with the rich background of experiences necessary for success in school. Preschools can offer your child these benefits:

1. Training in social skills. Through playing with other children, a child picks up the skills of sharing, negotiating and cooperating, and gains experience in forming friendships.

2. An awareness of others' feelings. A child learns that others share his worries, fears and delights -- a first step in realizing such feelings are not unique to him alone.

3. A greater trust in adults. By finding out that other adults will care for him, a child learns that he can trust adults other than his parents. This makes the world feel like a safer place.

4. A greater sense of independence. At home a child receives a great deal of one-on-one attention. Learning that attention must be shared with others makes the child more self-reliant.

5. Improved listening and speaking skills. A child has to develop these skills to communicate successfully with the teacher and other children.

6. New experiences. From trips to a bakery to new songs and dances, a child is introduced to activities that help him learn more about the world.

7. Stimulation and activity. A child gets to play with a variety of equipment and materials in a place primarily designed for play.

8. Increased self-esteem. By succeeding at school tasks, a child becomes more confident of his abilities.

9. The satisfaction of belonging to a group. A child gains an appreciation of what school is like and develops a positive attitude toward school. He/She also becomes more comfortable with being away from home for part of or the whole day.

10. Solid preparation for kindergarten. With today's kindergartens turning into yesterday's first grades, preschool now offers the background for success in school that children used to get in kindergarten.

E-Books vs. Books Question: Are e-books better for my child than books?

– Nook or Book Answer: Reading is what is good for your child. The more children read, the better they will read and do in school.

There is no conclusive evidence that shows that e-books are

better than books. Some studies are being done, but it is likely to be awhile before there is a definite answer. Nevertheless, more and more schools are turning to e-books for textbooks. And some teachers now consider books a thing of the past. Parents often endorse their children using e-books -- saying the e-books motivate their children to read and are fun for them to use.

Not all teachers are sold on e-books. Some are concerned that all the animations distract from the story line. And children do move away from reading to playing games on electronic devices.

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Helping Children Organize their Writing Question: My fourth-grade son has a very difficult time trying to organize his writing. He is a great little reader, but getting his thoughts down on paper seems to be an impossible task for him. What suggestions do you have so I can help him to improve his writing skills? – Help

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Answer: Since your son is a good reader, this is definitely the place to start. Get some good short children's books out of the library, like a Curious George or Clifford book. Read a book with your son.

Encourage him to tell you what happened first in the book, next and then at the end of the story. By doing this, your son has just completed a verbal outline. Explain that this is one way that authors organize their thoughts, and it is a way that he could organize his own writing.

Read another book together and show him how to make a timeline of the events that happened in the story. Have him write the beginning and ending events on the line and then fill in the middle of the line with a few other events that happened.

Point out that this is another way to organize his writing.

Another technique that almost writes a story or report is simply talking to your son about what he wants to say or what he knows about a topic. What he says should then be written down on 3x5 cards and placed, by him, in the order of their importance. He can then complete his writing assignment.

Remember this: The more your son writes, the better his writing skills will be.

Parents should send questions to dearteacher@dearteacher.com or ask them on the columnists’ website at www.dearteacher.com.

JANUARY 2014

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PARTY!

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The culmination of the American football season is on the horizon. Millions of people will tune in to watch two teams battle for the title of champion.

While the teams may be busy prepping their last-minute offensive and defensive strategies, sports fans across the country are doing their own strategizing by planning the perfect game-day party.

The first AFL-NFL World Championship Game in professional American football, later known as Super Bowl I, was played on January 15, 1967 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. The Green Bay Packers defeated the Kansas SUPER BOWL PARTIES ARE FUN WAYS TO ENJOY THE LAST FOOTBALL GAME OF THE SEASON City Chiefs. Since that day, AND HAVE A HOUSEFUL OF GUESTS CELEBRATE AND SOCIALIZE. ardent fans and novices alike have been celebrating football chairs and rely on a caterer (or the services of the nearest pizza by hosting their own viewing parties at home. These parties joint) should plan early. If you would like to have a football present yet another way for friends to get together. gathering, start laying the groundwork a few months in As the opening kickoff draws closer, here are some keys to Super Bowl party success.

advance. This way you can leave deposits for any vendors and be secure in knowing you will have what you need come gameday.

• Know your playing field. Your home is only so big, and that means you will have to limit the number of people you can invite. Crowding too many people into the house can be uncomfortable and dangerous, never mind trying to talk and hear above the cacophony of too many people. Take inventory of how many you can seat comfortably. You may need to move out larger furniture and move in folding chairs if you plan to accommodate more guests.

• Establish your play book. Will this be a chips-and-dips type of party or will you be offering more substantial fare? Is it adults-only or are guests able to bring their kids along? Make a list of questions that need to be answered and set up the party parameters. This way you will know what to stock up on in advance. Consider allocating a separate room in the house for kids' play or for adults who are there for the social aspect of the party and will not necessarily be glued to the television.

• Size up your competition. Super Bowl Sunday is a oncea-year event. There will be thousands of like-minded individuals planning their own parties and utilizing the same services in your local area. Those who need to rent tables and

• Check your equipment. What is the Super Bowl without a means to watch the game? Retailers often offer the best deals on new televisions this time of year because they know sports fans want to upgrade their televisions for the big game. If yours

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• Watch the clock. Hardcore fans will not want to miss any of the action.

Therefore, refreshments and other components of the party will have to coordinate to the timing of the game. Do the bulk of food preparation before kickoff and allow guests to mingle and fuel up before the game starts. Save finger foods and other snacks that are easily accessible for when the game starts. Guests can take a break at halftime and grab food and beverages that are set up buffet-style in another room. Hosts and hostesses also may want to consider serving as food "butlers" and constantly come out with new finger foods on trays and go around the room to ensure everyone doesn't miss a moment of the game.

• Don’t run interference. There's not much entertainment that needs to be scheduled on game day apart from the game itself. Ensure that the television is situated so nobody's view is obstructed and that people moving in and out of the room need not cross in front of the TV to get food or use the restroom. While it may be customary to decorate your home with a few decorations, ensure any decorations do not obstruct views of the game. To make things comfortable for the largest number of people, consider having two TVs tuned into the game running in separate rooms. This way, guests can mingle and not be tied to one area.

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PARENT & CHILD TIME

By Ann Clinton

Liam stepped off the school bus at his corner and was surprised to feel wet drops hit his face. He looked around and smiled. It was snowing and it was Friday - so if the January Snow snow kept up, tomorrow might turn out to be a great sleigh-riding day. He had been so busy talking with his schoolmates on the bus, no one had noticed the snow flakes.

“Mom, Mom. It’s snowing,” Liam announced as he opened the front door.

His mom came from the kitchen and said, “Yes, I noticed. It just must have started snowing because when I took Max out for a walk 20 minutes ago, it wasn’t snowing.”

“Right. It wasn’t snowing when we came out of school and got on the school bus,” Liam said.

“I think we are supposed to get a few inches,” his mom advised.

“Well, I hope we get enough so I can go sleigh riding.”

Liam sat at a kitchen window and looked out. He turned to his mom and asked, “Is it snowing enough outside for me to have a cup of hot chocolate inside?”

His mom smiled and said, “I believe it is exactly the right time for a cup of hot chocolate. I might even put a marshmallow in my cup of hot chocolate.”

A few minutes later the kitchen was filled with the scent of delicious hot chocolate.

As they sipped the chocolatey liquid, it was quiet until Liam asked, “Mom, do you think it is snowing by Philip’s house.”

His mom put down her cup and said, “This is not just a snow shower. I believe this is the beginning of a snow storm. The weather channel predicts several hours of snow and several inches. So, even though Philip’s house is quite a distance from ours, I think it is snowing by his house, too.”

“Good!” Liam exclaimed. “I’m going to call Philip and see if he has plans for tomorrow.”

Liam got up from the table; he had finished his hot chocolate. He went to the telephone and called Philip. The phone rang three times and then Aunt Liz answered. Liam said ‘hello’ and asked to speak to Philip. Aunt Liz said ‘sure’ and called Philip to the phone.

“Hello,” Philip said into the phone.

“Hi, Phil. It’s Liam. Is it still snowing by your house?”

“Yeah. It is. It started snowing when I got out of school,” Philip related.

“That’s when it started snowing by me,” Liam said. “And, that’s why I’m calling.”

“Oh, what did you want to know?“ Philip asked.

“I wanted to know if you want to go sleigh riding tomorrow – or do something with snow. You know if we get enough snow maybe we can build a snow fort.”

Philip was quiet for a moment.

QUIZ

Liam asked, “Phil, are you still there?”

“I am. I’m just thinking about how much time it will take to shovel snow with Ryan.”

“Oh, you and Ryan are going to shovel your walk?”

“We’re shoveling our walk with our dad and then we are going to shovel the walks of some of our neighbors,” Philip answered.

“I can help you and Ryan with that,” Liam said. “I can use the extra money.”

“Liam, we’re not going to shovel the snow for money. Ryan said we should shovel the snow at the homes of some of our older neighbors. Neighbors who would have a hard time shoveling snow – you know like Grandma Ann and Granny Rose. They really couldn’t shovel the snow if they still lived in their houses.”

“Good thing they live in apartments. Philip, I like that idea. It is like a community spirit,” Liam said.

“That is exactly what Ryan told me when he asked me if I wanted to get some snow shoveling exercise,” Philip laughed.

“I’d like to help you. I’m all for building up my muscles,” Liam said.

“Okay, let’s talk early tomorrow morning,” Philip suggested.

“Good idea. Talk with you then.”

As Liam put the telephone down, it rang. He picked it up and said, “Hello.”

Monica said, “Liam, hello. Is it still snowing by your house?”

Liam laughed and said, “I think it is snowing all over.”

“Well, I’m calling because we are organizing a soft snowball fight for tomorrow. Are you interested?”

“I like that idea, Monica, but I just got off the phone with Philip and he and Ryan are going to do some community snow shoveling tomorrow morning.”

“Say that again, Liam,” Monica asked. “I’m not sure I know what community snow shoveling is.”

“Monica, it’s when you help a neighbor and you do it for nothing. You don’t get paid,” Liam explained.

“Oh, that is what we do on my block. We all help each other clear our sidewalks and driveways of snow.” Monica added.

“I’ll talk with Philip and Ryan. I think they’ll be interested in a snowball fight,” Liam advised.

“A soft snowball fight,” Monica stressed. “Soft snowballs.”

“Is Erica going to join us in a soft snowball fight?” Liam wanted to know.

“She’s the one who suggested it,” Monica said.

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What were Philip and Ryan going to do?

Who suggested a soft snowball fight?

When did Liam notice it was snowing?

Ann Clinton is a Staten Island grandmother who enjoys creating stories for her grandchildren.

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LITTLE LEARNERS

>>>

NEW APPS & TRADITIONAL ACTIVITIES KEEP LITTLE ONES BUSY Visit www.siparent.com for a link to these and many other fun and educational apps.

he next time you are in a store, restaurant or waiting room, take a look at the moms with children. Chances are very good that the little ones in strollers or shopping carts are playing on electronic devices while moms work through their to-do lists. I see these scenes often and clearly recall running errands with three young children in tow; packing at least one large tote with necessities, and often one or two more bags with books, toys and items to keep them occupied during the trip.

T

Times have certainly changed with endless options available in games and apps HELP PRESCHOOLERS LEARN THROUGH PLAY-- ON SCREEN AND OFF. for the youngest tech-savvy wizards. I love to find products Boards and Go Wild. Children (and the entire family) play and that help busy mothers save time while children are learning design in an interactive, educational setting. $2.99 new things. Children’s apps that teach through play offer the best of both worlds. Balanced with traditional, offline games • Zorbit’s Math Adventure: It’s rocket fuel for preschool! This and activities, Moms can feel good about letting their little app teaches early math skills through engaging characters, ones play with these apps covering areas like creative play, rich characters, lively music and superior game play. Boys and math skills, the alphabet, music and foreign languages. girls learn through engaging with Zorbit as he prepares for Here are a few highly rated and reasonably priced children’s apps, available on iTunes, along with hands-on learning ideas: • Colorforms® Revolution HD: Classic Colorforms creativity is now available in an award-winning iPad app. Imaginations soar with endless options to combine shapes, colors, patterns and backgrounds in four modes – Create, Play Sets, Puzzle

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his mission to planet Earth. $3.99 • Endless Alphabet: Learn the alphabet. Each letter has its own personality and a different voice and cute animated body when boys and girls touch them. Each word features an interactive puzzle game with talking letters and a short animation illustrating the definition. $5.99 • Gus on the Go: The younger the child, the easier it is to

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learn new languages. Children go with Gus the Owl on an interactive learning adventure around the globe, teaching basic nouns through a variety of games. $3.99 • Music Learning Lab: Learn fundamental principles of music through lessons, games, and a creative composer environment where children can create their own songs and see them performed by their Music Learning Lab friends. Free When screen time is over, everyday household items and activities can be turned into teachable moments that make learning fun: • Cooking, when age appropriate, is a creative – and delicious - way to learn math and reading! Children have the opportunity to measure and count, notice shapes and colors and recognize numbers and words in the recipe’s directions.

• Staying in the kitchen, when little ones start to empty the drawer of plastic bowls or cups, start a counting game. Start counting as each item is removed; hopefully, moms can challenge their littlest students to count to the same number when the items are replaced in the drawer.

• During holidays, moms can use snacks as teaching tools. Think candy corn or pumpkin seeds at Halloween, conversation hearts at Valentine’s Day and star fruit at the Fourth of July. Create counting games out of these treats for themed fun.

Whether moms are on the go or at home, these new educational apps and fun, offline activities provide plenty of ways to mix playtime with learning.

By Maria Bailey, host of Mom Talk Radio, award-winning author, talk show host, founder of BlueSuitMom.com, co-founder of Newbaby.com, and mother of four. www.mariabailey.com

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COVER STORY

10 to Preschool Steps

Success

he beginning of preschool is a major milestone for children and their parents. Preschool presents new challenges, even for children who have been in daycare. Many preschools have expectations more commonly associated with kindergarten or first grade. Some preschools even have entrance exams that require a child to demonstrate specific skills.

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Preschool readiness results from a combination of natural childhood growth processes and learned skills. Children have different timetables for such natural milestones as crawling and walking, and parents can do little to affect when these skills will emerge. In contrast, there are numerous abilities that depend on learning, and parents can do much to provide an environment in which such learning will occur.

You can prepare your child for preschool success by incorporating some simple activities into your child’s daily routine. Here are some specific ideas: 1. Talk With Your Child, Not At Him. Preschool is a verbal place where children are required to express themselves in words. Give your child a lot of practice by encouraging conversations among family members at home. When your child is telling you something, focus your attention on her and on what she is saying. Ask questions so she will tell you more.

2. Find Playmates. Give your child the opportunity to play with children his own age. At first each child may engage in his own activity, although other children are present. Psychologists call this “parallel play,” a developmental skill that must be mastered prior to “interactive play,” in which children actively engage each other. Gradually introduce the concept of sharing, but understand that children develop this skill at different rates.

3. Emphasize Physical Play. A child’s muscle control develops in sequence from larger, looser movements to smaller, more detailed ones. For this reason, hours spent running, jumping, throwing a ball, and climbing will make a child more able to master holding a crayon or pair of scissors later on. Public parks are excellent places for play that will enhance your child’s physical abilities.

4. Provide Sensory Play Experiences. Playing with sand and water allows children to learn about the properties of each, while developing perceptual pathways in the brain. Many preschools emphasize sensory activities in their reading readiness programs.

5. Introduce Materials And Tools. Provide your child with paper, fat crayons, washable markers, child-sized safety scissors, removable tape, and stick glue. Let them create pictures, cut outs, and greeting cards. Teach them to hold and use these tools safely.

6. Read To Your Child. Read to your child, pausing occasionally to discuss pictures or action in the book. Your child will love having you close, and she will learn how to properly handle and enjoy a book. Some children learn to read the alphabet, or even words, just by following along with a parent’s reading.

7. Teach Hygiene For Good Health. Preschools are incubation rooms for germs, so make sure your child knows how to wash his hands before eating and after using the bathroom. Teach him to sneeze and cough into a tissue. Most preschools will expect children to observe these simple rules of hygiene.

8. Provide Structured Activities. Play simple games with your children and emphasize that following rules makes the game go smoothly. If your child doesn’t have routines for getting up in the morning and going to bed, establish regular sequences of tasks for those times. Make a chart with boxes that your child can check as tasks are completed.

9. Visit Preschools With Your Child. Let your child get used to the idea of preschool with visits designed to tantalize. Point out the attractive toys and activities. Remember that some fear and a period of adjustment are normal.

10. Explore Your Own Feelings. Preschool can be more traumatic for the parent than for the child. Sometimes it’s painful to realize that our “babies” aren’t babies anymore. Accept that it may be an emotional time. Try to separate your own emotions from any adjustment difficulties your child may experience.

Start your child on the road to success in preschool and beyond. Use the suggestions outlined above to ensure that ongoing skill development is fun for both of you. These are years to be treasured, so remember to enjoy them!

By Sharon Nolfi, M.A., MFT, a licensed school psychologist, freelance writer and mother of grown children.

Preschool and Daycare Directory Big Bird’s Playhouse 1859 Richmond Avenue • 10314 718.982.0550 • Linda Indelicato bigbirdsplay@aol.com • www.bigbirdsplayhouse.com

Programs:

Learn more about the schools in this directory on www.siparent.com

Ages 1 month to 12 years. Half and full day. Extended hours 6:30am-6:30pm.

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Objective: A happy place to learn and play. Serving S.I. parents for over 23 years. Licensed teachers. CPR. First aid. All staff are fingerprinted and background checked.

Building Blocks Montessori School 55 Forest Avenue • 10301 718.448.2992 bbms411@verizon.net www.buildingblocksmontessori.com

Programs: Preschool-elementary 5th. Full and half day. Full curriculum plus Spanish, art, music, gym, yoga and multicultural studies.

You can watch school videos, look through, photo galleries and more! Just click on the

Schools & Daycare tab!

Objective: Montessori guided open classroom programs aimed at developing confidence, independence and a love of learning.

Busy Beach Day Care, Inc. 777 Seaview Avenue • Bldg. 11 • 10305 718.667.2861 • Maria Cirillo maria.cirillo@omh.ny.gov • www.busybeachdaycare.org

Programs: Infant/toddler, pre-school, UPK programs. Creative curriculum Model–Music Together provider-Kinderdance & Spanish enrichment programs.

Objective: To provide quality childcare at affordable rates to State Employees and the S.I. community.

Children’s Harbor Montessori School Adelphi Academy of Brooklyn 8515 Ridge Blvd, Bay Ridge Brooklyn, NY 11209-4307 718.238.3308 Email: info@adelphinyc.org adelphinyc.org

1000 Richmond Terrace • 10301 718.442.6112 • Dina Baio-McLaughlin childharborms@aol.com

Programs: Ages 2-5, including Kindergarten. UPK provider. Full & half day options. Extended hrs.

Programs:

Objective:

2, 3 & 4 Year Old Programs, Before & After School Care, Special Needs, International, SAT Prep, College Guidance, Tutoring & Independent Study, Grade Boosting, Community & School Service, Drivers Ed., Summer School, Summer Day Camp, Mentoring

Unique learning environment located on the grounds of Snug Harbor Cultural Center. Individualized Montessori Curriculum. Arts-integrated classrooms.

Community Resources Preschool

Objective: Extra Curricular, Publications, Student Advisory Board, Model UN, Interscholastic & Intramural Athletics, Athletic Clubs, Cheerleading, Culinary Arts, Fine Arts, Drama, Dance, Performing Band & Chorus, Leadership & Mentoring.

3651 Richmond Road • 10306 718.351.6416 • jaynem111@si.rr.com

Programs: UPK, preschool, full and half day. Special education, centerbased programs, integrated classes, SEIT, extended day.

Objective: CR Preschool provides a safe, stimulating environment which is accepting of each child’s unique abilities.

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Eltingville Lutheran School

Kiddie Academy of Staten Island

Our Lady Star of the Sea School

300 Genesee Avenue • 10312 718.356.7811 • Colleen McGuigan elselc@yahoo.com • eltingvillelutheranschool.org

1110 South Avenue • 10314 718.698.6905 • Anna Wheeler kastatenisland@gmail.com

5411 Amboy Road • 10312 718.984.5750 • Irma P. Cummings icjt@aol.com • www.olssparish.org

Programs:

Programs:

Programs:

3 & 4 year old programs. Half and full day sessions.

Extended day available.

Infants, toddlers and preschoolers. After school ages 6-12. Full and part-time programs. Open year round 6:30am-7:00pm.

PreK 3–Tues & Thurs, Half Day PreK 4–Mon-Wed-Fri, Full and half day

Objective: Our preschool program gives children a foundation that prepares them for a lifetime of learning.

Gingerbread Learning Center, Inc.

Objective: Safe, loving, secure environment. Outstanding curriculum. Small class sizes. Healthy nutritious meals.

Open door policy.

Objective: Success through early exploration and discovery.

Early Emergent Literacy with Rowland Reading Happily Ever After.

Prodigy Preschool and Childcare

80 Woodrow Road • 10312 718.356.0008 Email: gingerbreadlearn@aol.com www.gingerbreadlctr.com

Mini World Preschool 7516 Amboy Road 10309 718-948-9535 • Debra Ercole miniworld2001@aol.com

3080 Arthur Kill Road • 10309 718.948.4800 • Caryl Stingo/Lorraine Ricca carylsting@thepavilion.org www.pavilionprodigypreschool.com

Programs:

Programs:

Programs:

Pre-school: 3-5 yrs. Infant-stimulation: 0-2 yrs.

Inclusion. Itinerant program.

Ages 2.4 - 3 years " Mini Tots" Not potty trained OK Ages 4 years old UPK AM & PM Extended hrs available.

Monday-Friday, full time or part time. Half day or full day options. Extended hours available.

Objective:

Objective:

Objective:

ABA training, speech/language, fine motor, gross motor behavior, learning disabilities. Assist parents too.

To provide a nurturing environment where children can grow & develop physically, mentally, emotionally & socially. We teach children how to think, not what to think, & to develop themselves as well-rounded individuals with an innate curiosity & love of learning.

Prodigy is designed to be a home away from home for children where they can learn, laugh, grow and have fun!

High Hopes Childcare 1298 Woodrow Road • 10309 718.317.8143 • Doris Cannizzaro/Dawn Burnett admin@highhopeschildcare.com www.highhopeschildcare.com

Programs: Infant care through Universal PreK. Half and full day programs available.

Objective:

Richmond Hill Children's Center New Dorp Christian Academy 259 Rose Avenue • 10306 718.351.4442 • Cathy Whittier ndbcndca@yahoo.com www.newdorpchristianacademy.com

501 Richmond Hill Road • 10314 718.494.7422 • Donna M. Bak rhcc@verizon.net • www.rhccny.com

Programs:

Programs:

Preschool/Daycare/Free Full Day UPK/Summer Camp, Open Year Round from 7am – 6:30pm. Full Day and Half Day Programs with extended hours available.

Accepting children 3 & 4 years old. Full or half day classes available. On-going registration.

Objective:

We are dedicated to creating a loving environment where your child will learn and grow.

Objective: Committed to excellence in helping a child to achieve his potential academically, spiritually and socially.

Academics are promoted in a fun, hands-on environment. Learning takes place in a multi-sensory environment, where independence, critical thinking, sharing, cooperation & teamwork are valued & promoted.

Holy Child Preschool

Notre Dame Academy

St. Adalbert School

4747 Amboy Road • 10312 718.356.5159 • JoAnn Gaal holychildprek@gmail.com • www.holy-child.org

74-78 Howard Avenue • 10301 718.447.8878 ext. 307 kdagostino@notredameacademy.org www.notredameacademy.org

355 Morningstar Road • 10303 718.442.2020 • Diane Hesterhagen stadalberttuition@hotmail.com www.stadalbertschool.com

Programs:

Programs: Pre K 3 & 4 program. Full & half day sessions available.

Universal Pre-K

Objective:

Pre-school 3-4 & Kindergarten ~ Primary Grades 1-5 ~ Middle School Grades 6-8 ~ High School ~ Aftercare available ~ Summer Enrichment.

To provide an enriched learning environment where children develop a love of the school experience.

Objective:

JCC of SI (3 locations)

An Independent Catholic College Prep Academy for girls and young women that offers exemplary academic programs on a magnificent 13-acre campus.

Programs: Parent & Me; Toddling Around for 2 year olds; Preschool for 3 and 4 year olds.

1466 Manor Road • 10314 718.475.5225 • Beth Howard bhoward@sijcc.com • www.sijcc.org

Objective: Our goal is to enrich you child’s emotional, social, intellectual and physical development while providing the foundation for a lifelong love of learning.

St. Joseph Hill Academy

Programs:

850 Hylan Boulevard • 10305 718.981.1187 • Eileen Gregor egregor@stjhill.org www.stjosephhill.org

Day care starts at 3 mos; Toddler programs; Pre-school part/full time; Universal Pre-K; extended hours.

Programs: PreK 3 to 8th grade. PreK 3 and PreK 4; full or half days.

Objective: We offer a stimulating, individualized age-appropriate curriculum. A developmental approach fosters social & emotional growth.

Objective: Providing a premier Catholic education to the Staten Island community for over 90 years.

St. Teresa School

Staten Island YMCA

The Village Preschool

1632 Victory Boulevard • 10314 718.448.9650 www.saintteresaschool.com

651 Broadway • 10310 718.981.4933 • E-mail: asicuranza@ymcanyc.org 3939 Richmond Ave • 10312 718.227.3200 • E-mail: bschiuma@ymcanyc.org www.ymcanyc.org/statenisland

76 St. Alban’s Place • 10312 718.967.5809 • Lisbeth Brandefine village.preschool@gmail.com

Programs: Pre K 3-3 half days (Tues, Wed, Thurs) and 2 half days (Tues, Thurs), PreK 4–5 full and half days and 3 half days (Mon, Wed & Fri).

Objective: Christ-centered values based environment where activities develop social decision and emerging reading readiness skills.

Small World Preschool 144 Bloomingdale Road • 10309 718.356.7795 • Maria Schraidt kdsrmybiz@aol.com

Programs:

Programs: Early Childhood (10mos–4yrs); Nursery School (born in 2011) 2, 3 & 5-day; Free UPK (born in 2010); Enriched extended day, before & after care. Youth & Teen programs. Swim classes–all ages/levels.

Activities: Swim lessons included for 3 & 5 day Nursery School & Enriched Extended Day participants.

South Shore Toddler Academy & Preschool 11 Sampson Avenue • 10308 718.356.3563 • Debra Mackey sicsprek@aol.com

Since 1977. Ages 2-6. Open 6:30-7:00. Toddler, Nursery, Summer & UPK. Certified teachers.

Discounts available.

Programs:

Objective:

Objective:

High quality developmentally appropriate early childhood program that promotes physical, cognitive, social and emotional development.

Social/emotional skills stressed. Readiness curriculum in all areas. Pre-writing and pre-reading skills. Licensed staff and school.

Staten Island Academy

The Children’s Center College of Staten Island

715 Todt Hill Road • 10304 718.987.8100 x802 • Caroline S. Crane ccrane65@statenislandacademy.org www.statenislandacademy.org

Programs: Children explore, create and investigate in Staten Island’s only independent PreK 3-Grade 12 school.

Extended day included.

Objective: PreK fosters independence, encourages children to pursue individual interests and nutures developing language and social skills.

Ages 2-6, UPK, Full/Half Day, Zumba, Tai-chi, Kinderdance, Mommy & Me 18-24 mos.

2800 Victory Boulevard • Bldg. 2R / Rm 104 • 10314 718.982.3190 childrencenter@csi.cuny.edu www.csi.cuny.edu/childcare

Programs: Infant/toddler programs, Preschool program, Universal Pre-K, School age program (pending enrollment.)

Objective: Early education and child care. Flexible scheduling.

Subsidized fees for children of CSI students.

Programs: Ages 2.0-6.0. Developmentally appropriate sensory integrated experience of learning through play.

Emphasis on literacy & math.

Objective: Empower, foster, encourage independence & self-esteem intellectually, physically, socially & emotionally.

Volunteers of America– SI Early Learning Ctr. 10 Joline Lane • 10307 718.984.7900 • Bonnie Wohl bwohl@voa-gny.org

Programs: Special Needs Preschool ages 3-5; Special Ed. Itinerant Teacher ages 3-5; Evaluation Services ages 2.6-5; Sat. Respite ages 3-7; Behavior Intervention ages 3-21.

Objective: To provide educational and therapeutic services to young children with developmental delays.

Wagner College Early Childhood Center One Campus Road • 10301 718.390.3137 • Claire Maher/Pam Dicke pdicke@wagner.edu www.wagner.edu/ecc

Programs: Ages 2.3 to 6. Preschool and kindergarten. Full and half day. Extended hours available.

Objective: Our individualized program meets the developmental needs of young children with opportunities to explore, imagine, create and discover.

Zion Lutheran Preschool Staten Island Montessori School

The Tanglewood School

4240 Amboy Road • 10308 718.967.2196 • Kitty Giambertone kgiambertone@francisschool.com www.simontessorischool.com

15 Tanglewood Drive • 10308 718.967.2424 • Fay Taranto tanglewoodschool123@gmail.com

Programs: Montessori activities are designed to encourage initiative, self-confidence, concentration, independence, cooperation and respect for others.

Objective: Providing an educational environment allowing children to grow cognitively, socially, emotionally & physically.

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Programs: Montessori program. Integrated special education.

Half and full day. UPK–Half day free 4 year olds.

New: Preschool for 2 year olds.

Objective: To develop a sense of community, respect and cooperation in our young students.

505 Watchogue Road •10314 718.981.3623 • Text: 917.853.9466 • Kim Luxoro misskimzion@aol.com www.zionlutheranpreschoolsi.com

Programs: Terrific 2’s, Preschool for 3’s, PreK for 4’s, Parent/Toddler Interaction, Afterschool Programs and Zummer Camp.

Objective: Provide an abundance of learning opportunities that foster a child’s development in a Christian setting.

START THE NEW YEAR WITH A NEW SMILE! The right time for an orthodontic evaluation is by the age of 7.

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SOME BENEFITS OF ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT ARE: • Beautiful, healthy smile is the most obvious • Straight teeth help to effectively bite, chew & speak • Improves appearance & self-esteem • Straight teeth reduce the risk of cavities & periodontal disease • Early treatment can lower the risk of trauma to protruded front teeth • Early treatment can correct harmful oral habits such as thumb sucking or tongue thrust • Early treatment can guide jaw growth & development

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PET OWNERSHIP

>>>

FINDING YOUR “BEST BET� PET

hen Erica Galligan's children were young, her family tried adopting a dog. But allergy issues forced her family to return their pet to the breeder. Over time they found other alternatives, starting with a saltwater aquarium for their whole family and gradually adding freshwater fish and a tree frog for their sons. "I figured an aquarium was easy, low-maintenance, and fun to look at," Galligan explains about their next step into pet ownership.

W

According to the America Veterinary Medical Association., 56% of U.S. households include a pet. But if yours isn't among them yet, how do you find the right one? Here are five factors to consider and a few tips for easing into pet ownership:

Amount of care and energy

THERE ARE SEVERAL IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS WHEN CHOOSING A PET FOR YOUR FAMILY.

Different types of pets require varying levels of commitment. Consider how much time you have available each day to care for a pet. Are you willing to walk a dog? Do you want to be regularly cleaning a hamster cage?

Can you give a younger pet the extra attention they will require?

How will you manage that puppy when it's full-grown?

Sarah Collins, Adoption Team Leader for the Wisconsin Humane Society, advises, "Be honest about what you can handle. And remember that responsibilities will ultimately fall on the parents." Aquarium pets, such as fish and dwarf frogs, require the least care. Next come tank- or cage-kept pets: snails, hermit crabs, birds, reptiles, rodents and rabbits. And then cats.

Aside from horses, dogs can be the most time-consuming pets, with some breeds needing large amounts of exercise.

Recognizing the energy level of a dog before bringing it home can prevent any surprises related to care and exercise. Puppies particularly require attention, even if they have been housebroken. "The rule of thumb is to allow one hour for their age in months, plus one," Collins says, explaining how long a puppy can wait before being let out. For example, a two-month

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old puppy would have to be walked every three hours, day and night. Knowing how much time you can invest in a pet may help to narrow your options.

Ages of kids and level of responsibility Introducing a new pet into a home with very young children can be a challenge - for both the pet and the child. Toddlers don't have the capacity to understand appropriate handling of animals and their quick motions can startle or scare pets. If you're ready to bring home an animal while your children are young, make sure to consult pet store or humane society staff to find a pet whose personality melds well with active youngsters.

If your children are older, taking responsibility becomes more of an issue. Often kids want a pet without understanding the care involved. Discuss how much work they're willing to assume and explain what is necessary for different pets.

Bridget Cahill drafted a contract with her three daughters before allowing them to purchase a tortoise. Then each girl signed the contract, agreeing to the responsibilities and consequences they'd outlined together. "It did say on the contract, 'I will not throw a fit when you ask me to feed Nelly. I will do it lovingly and happily,'" she says.

Specialized Care for YOUR Child

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65

Your Lifestyle It's easy to think a dog or cat would be fun to own - until you're planning a trip and need to find a place for the pet to stay while you're gone. If you travel often, this can quickly become a hassle. "It's pretty easy to put a 10day feeder in an aquarium," notes Galligan. which makes fish a terrific option for families who are away from home frequently. For a busy family on the go, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs or other independent pets work well.

Space It's not necessary to have a fenced back yard - or any yard at all - to own a dog. But you should have in mind places to walk the dog and play with it. A small aquarium can go in a bedroom, like the freshwater fish tank one of Galligan's sons keeps in his room. A litterbox can be kept in a laundry room or basement, as long as the cat has access.

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Collins says, "If you have a small house or yard, you just have to be able to accommodate your pet's needs." It helps to think through placement of cages and other equipment before bringing a pet home. If you live in an apartment or condo, it is also important to check any rules that apply to pet ownership before bringing home any animal.

Allergies People can be allergic to dogs, cats, birds, and even guinea pigs. Reactions such as itchy eyes, runny noses, rashes and asthma, come from a protein in pet dander and saliva, and occur in 15 to 30 percent of allergy sufferers (according to The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America). Because the allergens stick to surfaces, such as clothing and walls, it's important for those with pet allergies to avoid having the animals in their home, if possible.

But this doesn't mean families with allergies can't have a pet. Reptiles and amphibians don't create the allergy-causing protein and should be safe. Or choose a pet requiring more regular grooming, such as a poodle or poodle-mix dog. Also note that the smaller the pet, the less dander is created to activate allergies. Ask your allergist or a veterinarian for recommended pet breeds. Collins advises, "If you're not sure, get allergy tested by your doctor."

Whatever animal your family chooses, you will find many benefits and rewards from being pet owners.

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"It's a lot of fun," says Galligan. "It's great for kids to grow up with the responsibility of someone other than themselves."

And given so many breeds and varieties out there, you're sure to find a pet to fit your family.

Tips to Easing Into Ownership If you've thought through these five factors but still need more reassurances to be confident in choosing a pet, consider trying one or more of the following:

Research Galligan's son developed an interest in freshwater fish before having his own aquarium. He read books from the library. He visited the pet store to investigate varieties. He learned all he could before convincing his parents to buy a freshwater aquarium.

Besides books and store staff, it can help to also speak to someone who owns a pet like the one you are considering. Cahill talked with a friend who owns a turtle before letting her daughters buy the tortoise.

Pet Sitting

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The Cahills also had extensive experience caring for a variety of animals before they brought home their own pet. They watched friends' fish, hamsters, several cats, hermit crabs and a number of dogs. And they used each of those experiences as an opportunity to talk about pet ownership.

"It's totally different to have the animal every day," Cahill notes. "It makes them see that it's constant. There are certain things you have to do everyday." She recommends having a child take on a pet sitting responsibility, even if it means simply going to a house to feed a pet or let a dog out for one day.

Start Simple Not all pets are created equal. Which means you can choose to start with a lowmaintenance pet to allow your children to learn responsibility before moving up to a bigger commitment. Cahill agrees. "I thought the tortoise would be great to ease in. The girls still clean, feed, and walk her in the summer."

Collins also recommends guinea pigs for families new to pet ownership. "They're easy to hold and not as hard to take care of."

By Lara Krupicka, a freelance writer and mom to three girls and one dog (and at various times, several beta fish and dwarf frogs).

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To Register Call 718-984-5750 Irma Cummings, Principal or 718-984-0593 Debbie Emigholz, Parish Manager 5411 AMBOY ROAD • SI, NY 10312 JANUARY 2014

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DIGITAL DATA

>>>

THE ONLINE HEREAFTER

ow you really can live forever, but that’s not necessarily a good thing.

N

Many of your online accounts – from automatic bill payments to eBay – may remain active after you pass away, unless you take steps to ensure they don’t, says attorney Hillel Presser, author of Financial Self-Defense.

Automatic bill pay, for example, can theoretically keep tapping your bank account long after you’re gone or, at least, until your money is.

“It’s important to make sure WHAT HAPPENS TO ONLINE ACCOUNTS WHEN SOMEONE PASSES AWAY? your online bank and shopping accounts, even your legally allowed to access them,” Presser says. “In many cases, social media, can be closed out, or that your loved ones are they may be violating the accounts’ terms of service or authorized to access them,” Presser says. “You may ask, ‘Why violating federal privacy and computer fraud laws. Some would I care if I’m gone?’ I can tell you from experience: states have laws governing online materials, but they’re because it can create real headaches, and more heartache, different and which of your accounts are covered depends for your family.” on where the provider is located.”

Bank and shopping accounts will be vulnerable to identity theft, which would affect your estate if someone opens credit cards in your name. You might have valuable intellectual property, like domain names. They may need access to your health records, particularly if you died under questionable circumstances, he says.

There’s the sentimental stuff – photos and emails -- that your family may want as a remembrance of you, and the libraries of music and ebooks, which may represent a considerable investment on your part.

“The problem is, even if you provide a family member with all of your accounts, log-ins and passwords, they may not be

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What can you do to ensure your family isn’t left with a virtual nightmare after your passing? Presser offers these tips: • Create a list of all of your accounts, including log-in names, passwords, and answers to any security questions.

Obviously, your list will need to be securely stored. Since you’ll need to update it regularly as you add accounts or change passwords, it will be easiest if you keep the list on your computer in a password-protected folder. Some versions of Windows allow you to create protected folders, but you may need to get third-party software to do this, such as freeAxCrypt. Remember to create a backup of your list,

whether it’s on a jump drive or printed out on paper. Store the backup in a secure place such as a safe deposit box. Do not put password information in your will, which is a public document.

• If you have a Google account, set up the new inactive account manager. In May 2013, Google became the first site to give users an option for choosing what becomes of their content if they should become debilitated or die. Under the profile button, click “Account,” scroll down to “Account Management,” and you’ll find instructions for “Control what happens to your account when you stop using Google.” You can select how long the account should be inactive before your plans are set into motion; choose to whom you want to offer content, such as YouTube videos, Gmail, Google+ posts, Blogger and Picasa web albums, or whether it should simply be deleted.

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• Appoint a digital executor.

Perhaps the simplest way to ensure your online life is taken care of is to appoint a digital executor – a techsavvy person who will be willing and able to carry out your wishes.

Authorize the person to access your inventory of log-in information and spell out what you want done with each account, whether it’s providing access to loved ones or business partners, or deleting it.

“The digital world has grown and transformed so rapidly, the law hasn’t kept up, which makes managing your digital afterlife challenging. Until there are more consistent laws and procedures governing this area, it’s best to plan ahead, leave clear instructions and be sure you have a list of accounts where your estate lawyer or a loved one can find it and access it,” Presser says. “It will make a world of difference to your survivors.”

By Hillel L. Presser, Esq., MBA www.assetprotectionattorneys.com

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Tips • Prod Fun uc t

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Snoring During Pregnancy Study by the University of Michigan

O.M.G. I’m a MOM!

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ents • Giveaw ay em nc Totseat

Reviews

SRP $34.95 www.svan.com Winner of the SheKnows 2013 Parenting Award Editor’s Choice, the Totseat is a durable fabric seat that safely transforms adult chairs into the perfect seat for babies and toddlers. Includes a cummerbund for use with open-back chairs to provide additional support.

Ultrasound Art SRP $20-$60 • www.raditantartstudios.com Radiant Art Studios introduces a way for parents to keep the wonderful image of their child’s ultrasound for all time. The ultrasound can be imprinted on a frosted glass ornament, a suncatcher, a wall panel, and t-shirt.

ErgoPouch SRP $29.95-$79.95 • www.ergopouch.com Radiant Art Studios introduces a way for parents to keep the wonderful image of their child’s ultrasound for all time. The ultrasound can be imprinted on a frosted glass ornament, a suncatcher, a wall panel, and t-shirt.

BARE Baby Bottle SRP $14.99 • www.bittylab.com The BARE Perfe-latch nipple features several different size orifices on its tip and promotes a wide latch, as with breastfeeding. The BARE baby bottle supports breastfeeding and is designed to minimize baby’s preference for a bottle over the mother’s breast.

Women who begin snoring during pregnancy are at strong risk for high blood pressure and preeclampsia, according to research from the University of Michigan. The research showed pregnancy-onset snoring was strongly linked to gestational hypertension and preeclampsia, says lead author Louise O’Brien, PH.D., associate professor in U-M’s Sleep Disorders Center.

“We found that frequent snoring was playing a role in high blood pressure problems, even after we had accounted for other known risk factors,” says O’Brien. “And we already know that high blood pressure in pregnancy, particularly preeclampsia, is associated with smaller babies, higher risks of pre-term birth or babies ending up in the ICU.” Habitual snoring, the hallmark symptom of sleep-disordered breathing, was defined as snoring three to four nights a week.

About 25 percent of women started snoring frequently during pregnancy and this doubled the risk for high blood pressure compared to non-snoring women. O’Brien writes that these results suggest that up to 19 percent of hypersensitive disorders during pregnancy might be mitigated through treatment of any underlying sleep-disordered breathing.

Pregnant women can be treated for sleep-disordered breathing using CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure). It involves a machine worn during sleep that uses mild air pressure to keep the airways open. It is possible that use of CPAP may decrease high blood pressure in pregnant women.

“Hypersensitive disorders of pregnancy are a leading global cause of maternal and infant deaths and cost billions of dollars annually to treat,” O’Brien says. “By asking pregnant women about snoring, especially in those with high blood pressure already, obstetric healthcare providers could identify women at high risk for sleep-disordered breathing and intervene during the pregnancy. This could result in better outcomes for mother and baby.”

Win

Sidekick Child Carrier Diaper Bag SRP $129 • www.gogobabyz.com

The Sidekick is the first and only full-size diaper bag with a built-in child carrier.

Adjustable strap allows you to carry baby at either hip. The Sidekick is designed for infants and toddlers up to 35 pounds and between 6 months and 3 years of age. The bag includes spacious compartments and pockets, and comes in a multitude of colors.

Enter Online at www.siparent.com Click on the Contests and Clubs Tab

Newbies Submit Your Baby’s Annoucement on www.siparent.com. Click on the Contests & Clubs Tab.

Tiana Jade Ebanks Sampson

Gioia Christina Cerrai

August 7, 2013 6 pounds, 14 ounces Parents: Brianna

July 29, 2013 6 pounds, 2 ounces Parents: Joanna and Jerry

Skylar Angelique Swain

Joella Antonietta Sereno

October 31, 2013 8 pounds, 6 ounces Parents: Janice and Melvin

Morgan Joel Pastoriza-Webster

August 10, 2013 7 pounds, 12 ounces Parents: Alyssia and Jermaine

September 24, 2013 9 pounds, 8 ounces Parents: Daniela & Salvatore

Staten Island Montessori School Over 45 Years of Quality Education

GROWING UP ONLINE

by Carolyn Jabs

NEW TODDLER PROGRAM!!

Ages 2-3

PROGRESSIVE ELEMENTARY CURRICULUM • Pre-K, Kindergarten–8th Grade • Complete MONTESSORI Curriculum • Small Classes • Full Academic Program • Science, Cultural Subjects, Computers, Art & Music • Reading Specialist • Licensed by NYC, Chartered by NYS

~NO RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION~ 4240 Amboy Rd • Great Kills 718.967.2196 • www.simontessorischool.com

With over one billion people on Facebook, it’s inevitable that some will be crooks. Over the years, scammers have figured out plenty of ways to get Facebook users to give up important information including user names, passwords, cellphone numbers, and even credit card data.

STAYING ONE STEP AHEAD OF THE SCAMMERS ON FACEBOOK

You may think that you and your kids are savvy enough not to share that kind of personal detail. Unfortunately, clicking on the wrong Facebook link can make you a victim or an unwitting accomplice who “shares” the scam with friends. The only way to protect yourself and your network is to be aware—and make your kids aware—of the tell-tale signs that mischief is afoot. Here are some of the most common scams: Freebies. Everyone loves a deal, but online as well as off, it’s wise to be skeptical about offers for free gadgets, gift cards, airline tickets, etc.

Some companies do offer legitimate giveaways but don’t take Facebook’s word for it. Go directly to the website of the company that is making the offer to be sure it’s legit.

Very Special Videos. Hard as it is to resist a video of your favorite celebrity, it’s even harder to turn down a video that arrives with a heading like “I can’t believe they got you on film!” Clicking on these links often results in a message inviting you to download a new media player. Don’t!! If you feel you must see the video in question, search for it by name. If it’s not on YouTube or another well-known site, it’s probably a ruse to get you to download malware.

Apps and Ads. Most ads and apps are damaging only because they waste your time. Some, however, are nothing more than pretexts for collecting personal information. Be suspicious whenever you are asked to provide a user name, password or any other kind of identifying data.

If the app steers you to a new page, check the domain name to see if it’s long and weird-looking. Any legitimate e-commerce site will have a web address that starts with https. Never respond to pop-ups that ask you to fill out a survey or download an additional bit of software.

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Facebook Features. Some scams promise to improve your Facebook experience by, for example, changing the look of your page or allowing you to see a list of people who have looked at your profile.

Facebook doesn’t allow other companies to mess with the structure of their site, so don’t even consider downloading anything that suggests otherwise. Also, some scammers claim to be part of the Facebook security team and threaten to close your account if you don’t provide account information. On its website, Facebook makes it clear that the company will never ask for an account password, social security number, credit card or pin number. If you are worried about the status of your account, go directly to the Facebook Help Section.

Links from Friends. Scammers take advantage of the fact that Facebook users trust their friends, so you have to be wary of links even when they are embedded in posts or messages from people you know. If a link seems out of character—a weight loss message from someone who hates dieting—send a private message. It’s possible your friend has been hacked and doesn’t realize what’s being posted in his or her name.

If you or your kids realize, after the fact, that you’ve clicked on something you shouldn’t, don’t panic. Here are specific steps that will restore security to your Facebook account: ~Change your password at facebook.com/hacked. Choose a sequence of characters that will mean something to you but not to others. If you’ve used the same password for other accounts, change those passwords too. ~Delete every copy of the scammy post or link post so other people won’t get infected. To remove a post, move the cursor to its upper right corner. When the pencil icon appears, click “delete.” ~Alert your friends.Tell them your account has been compromised so they should be cautious about any messages that seem to be from you. ~Review your “likes” to be sure you actually added each one.

Go through your app list too (https://www.facebook.com/ settings?tab=applications). If you see any you don’t recognize, delete them.

Is Your Child Having Difficulty In School?

LEARNING DIFFICULTIES MAY BE ASSOCIATED WITH HEARING LOSS! We specialize in infant and children testing including central auditory processing evaluations and hearing aid fittings.

STATEN ISLAND AUDIOLOGICAL SERVICES 1173 Forest Avenue • SI, NY 10310

718-981-6020 Mary E. Goodacre AuD, CCC-A NY Aud. Lic #603

Kate Spektor, AuD, CCC-A NY Aud. Lic #002007

Doctors of Audiology

~Run your anti-virus software. Update it if necessary. Activate the “Safe” feature on your browser so you and your kids will get warnings about risky websites. ~Tighten privacy and security settings by going to the Account Settings section of Facebook (upper right corner). While you are there, click on “Active Sessions” to be sure no one else is logging onto your account.

Emergency Children’s Help Organization ~Report scams and other problems by clicking on the “Report a Problem” button under Settings.

The people who engineer Facebook scams are nothing if not creative, so make it a habit to visit websites that report on new scams and hoaxes. At Snopes.com, putting Facebook into their search engine brings up the real story behind a variety of common schemes. Facecrooks.com, a website devoted entirely to Facebook, has a helpful section called Scam Watch.

Like any other neighborhood, Facebook is populated mostly by trustworthy people. When those people watch out for each other, the occasional scoundrel is less likely to find gullible victims.

By Carolyn Jabs, M.A., who raised three computer savvy kids including one with special needs. She has written Growing Up Online for ten years and is working on a book about constructive responses conflict. Other columns are available at www.growing-up-online.com. @ Copyright, 2014. Carolyn Jabs. All rights reserved.

(In collaboration with Mercedes-Benz of Brooklyn) is hosting a

2014 Spring Raffle Friday, March 28, 2014 Enter to win a New 2014 Mercedes Benz E350 Cabriolet (with Premium 1 Pkg) or $50,000 IN CASH. $100 per ticket. Only 1,000 tickets to be sold.

Proceeds to benefit the mission of ECHO 3041 Veterans Road West • 866.755.ECHO ECHO is a registered non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization.

Raffle rules: Winner is responsible for all federal, state and local income taxes and license fees associated with the vehicle registration. Base MSRP $59,070. Professional tax advice is recommended. If less than 900 tickets are sold the raffle becomes a 50/50 Raffle with winner receiving 50% of collected revenue. Winner need not be present to win. Winner must complete a W-9. Must be 18 years of age to participate.

www.EchoOrganization.org For information or to make a donation: Denise M. Stallone Tel: 866-755-ECHO (3246) • Fax: 718-967-9087

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t Social! e G s ’ t e S.I. PARENT asked:

We can't believe that another year is over!

What are your resolutions/goals for 2014?

COMMENTS:

Diane Anselmo Greaves: To spend more time actually VISITING people than texting them!

Karen Dale: To adopt a healthier diet for my family that includes more homemade foods and less processed ones.

r e t t a h C

Last month on Facebook we chatted about Elf on the Shelf, toy drives, child safety Jill Bergstrom: Stop sweating the small stuff and try to get more organized. and so much more! Aside from all the input you'll get Jodi Vitagliano-Fatto: My New Year's resolution is to have more patience and to not get from fellow Staten Islanders, it's myself upset over the small things. where we post updates on what's going on, as well as some funny Debbie Antoniello: To donate books, clothes etc and lighten up the load cartoons – because we all need a of stuff in my house. laugh from time to time.

Join us. We'd like to hear what you think!

Cecilia Capua Saccomagno: To apply for my master's degree...cook healthier meals for my children.

Like us on Facebook.com/siparent to see more on these and other topics.

Join us & over 6,600 of our closest friends to discuss today's issues.

It's fun!

S.I. PARENT asked:

What's a fun gift to give a six-year-old boy who is about to become a big brother?

COMMENTS:

Rebecca Anderson: A baseball glove for both and a ball a bat and a tee. They will be playmates for ever.

Jennifer DiDonna: My daughter loved her personalized (name embroidered) scrubs to wear to the hospital when her brother was born.

Sherryll Clark: A book for him about being a big brother, and a book for him to read to the baby when the baby comes. Also a quite time toy, like a magic ink book or puzzle so he can do something fun without bothering mommy and baby.

Donna Dougherty Lindemann: A camera to take his own pictures for a fun memory book.

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Hidden Cake For a chance to win an 8-inch

Mother Mousse Cake 718.983.8366 3767 Victory Blvd • 2175 Hylan Blvd

Think You Won One Our Contests?

Go to siparent.com and click on the Contests and Clubs tab to find out!

SPECIALIZING IN CHILDREN AGES 3 & UP 3 Year Old Karate Tots 6-10 Year Olds Teen & Adult Classes Dis c ip lin e C on f id en c e At t e n t i o n S p a n • Free Intro Class • Flexible Payment Plan • Beginner Classes Ages 3 & Up • Classes for Free Uniform W/Sign Up For Children & Adults Special Needs Children VISIT US ON THE WEB FOR A VIRTUAL TOUR WWW.AMERICANKARATEOFSTATENISLAND.COM W YEAR NE SP EC I

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find the cake (pictured above) in this issue. Then log on to www.siparent.com, click on the “Contests & Clubs” Tab to fill out the entry form. One winner is chosen each month.

AMERICAN KARATE OF STATEN ISLAND

2795 RICHMOND AVE • 718-761-7366 (In Best Buy Shopping Center by the SI Mall) (Call or walk in after 3pm)

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FAMILY NEEDS It’s In The Cards

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FAMILY NEEDS It’s In The Cards

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GIGI’S WORLD

by Giavanna and Gina Schrecker

Home of the Staten Island Special Education Parent Center

Does Your Child Have A Disability or Special Health Care Needs?

YOU ARE NOT ALONE! “WE CARE, WE’VE BEEN THERE”

Parent to Parent is a support network and is the Staten Island Parent Resource Center for children with Special Education Needs, Developmental Disabilities, Behavioral Challenges and Special Health Care Needs.

Founded and directed by parents of children with special needs.

For More Information Call 718.494.4872 Fax: 718.494.4805 1050 Forest Hill Rd • SI, NY 10314 Email: siptp@aol.com

N EW D ORP CHRISTIAN ACADEMY 259 Rose Ave & 10th St (New Dorp)

tion” ve Excellence in Academic and S “Achie piritual Educa

COME VISIT US!

CALL TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO TOUR NDCA Nursery School Classes for 3 & 4 Year Olds Extended Day Care Hours Also Available Full Day Kindergarten Through 8th Grade Christian Performing Arts Program K-8th Grade Computer Classes After School Activities • Safe Environment Discounts for Siblings • Free Bus Service Operating Since 1974

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718.351.4442

www.siparent.com

Hi! My name’s Giavanna, but everyone calls me Gigi.

There’s so much going on in my life that I want to share with you. That’s why, with the help of my mom Gina LaGuardia-Schrecker, VP of Content Development and Social Media for The CollegeBound Network, I am writing a monthly kid’s-eye view of what it is like in my world.

Random Thoughts of a 10-Year-Old When Mom sat down to brainstorm this month’s column with me, she first asked if I had any New Year’s Resolutions. “Mom, 10-year-olds don’t do that,” I said very matter-of-factly, and tried to go about my business of choosing a snack before bedtime. Of course, with her deadline looming (isn’t it always!?), she pushed me a bit more… “So, what’s on your mind then, Gigi?”

Because she had used that “I need something to go on” tone that I’ve heard many a time in regard to this column I did what any 10year-old under pressure would do: I started releasing all the random thoughts that float around my mind on a daily basis. After a solid few minutes of these rapid-fire responses, mom said she had more than enough and was trying to contain herself from laughing too hard…

So without further adieu, I present to you:

Random Thoughts of a 10-Year Old • Why do people yodel on mountains?

• How come dogs walk on four legs instead of two?

• Why do fish breathe with gills, but whales breath with lungs, but they both live underwater?

• Was the invention of Coca-Cola really an accident?

• Why do monks not include butternut squash in their diet?

• How come firehouse dogs are always Dalmatians in the movies?

You never see any other types of firehouse dogs in movies.

• Why do bears hibernate and dogs don't?

Party Like an Animal At...

• Is a New Year's resolution really worth it since you're just going to forget it anyway?

• Does everyone have his or her own scent?

• How come stairs go up and down and not straight?

• Did women always wear skirts in the olden days?

• How come people walk with two feet? Why can't they walk on one?

• How do maple oak trees make maple syrup?

• If you break a mirror, will you really have bad luck?

• Will cats and dogs ever love each other?

• Why can't light bulbs be shaped like things?

Mustache- or dog-shaped light bulbs would be cool.

• Do chickens make other noises in addition to cluck-clucking?

Open Play Time is BACK!!!

Tuesday & Wednesday 12:00-3:00pm Friday 10:00am-1:00pm. $6 per child, no charge for the adults.

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• How come men can only wear pants and not skirts?

• Why do hats have to mess up your hair?

• Why is it so cold in February even though it's closer to spring than any other winter month?

• How come gorillas and monkeys are both primates, but the gorilla is bigger?

• Why do people say penguins look like they're wearing tuxedos? I just don't see it.

• When anyone talks about “karma,” I think of caramel and it makes me hungry.

• Why does the gold look like butter in Minecraft?

• How come bananas are yellow?

• If I could be any animal, I'd be a zebra.

And last but not least…

Read S.I. Parent on your Tablet or Smartphone!

• Why am I so random?

www.siparent.com Staten Islanders Giavanna & Gina Schrecker invite you to write to them at editorial@siparent.com or post to www.facebook.com/siparent

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JANUARY IS: Cervical Cancer Screening Month

FAMILY CALENDAR

Family Fit Lifestyle Month Financial Wellness Month Get Organized Month

IMPORTANT DATES:

THE LIBRARY IS A GREAT PLACE TO TAKE THE KIDS. For local Library Hours and Locations, visit www.siparent.com/library_hours.php

MORE FUN FAMILY EVENTS ONLINE! Visit www.siparent.com’s home page and click on the “More Events” button under the calendar icon.

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New Year’s Day - Jan 1 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (Observed) - Jan 20 National Pie Day - Jan 23 National Catholic Schools Week - Jan 26-Feb 1 Chinese New Year - Jan 31

SATURDAY, JANUARY 4 718-816-5834 4:30pm • All ages • Free

FRIDAY, JANUARY 3 PLEASE NOTE: Events announced in this calendar are subject to change. We strongly suggest calling to confirm times, prices, ages, etc. before you attend.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 2

Paint Day SI Children's Museum 718-273-2060 1:30-4:30pm • Ages 2-10 • Free w/admission Tot's Time Plus SI Children's Museum 718-273-2060 11am • Ages 1-5 • $5 w/admission Teen Lounge Great Kills Library 718-984-6670 3:30pm • Ages 12-18 • Free Open Lab Port Richmond Library 718-442-0158 5:30-7:30pm • Adults • Free Teen Lounge Tottenville Library 718-984-0945 2:30pm • Ages 12-18 • Free Baby & Me Tottenville Library 718-984-0945 11am • Ages 0-1.5 • Free Homework Club St. George Library 718-442-8560 4-5:30pm • Ages 5-11 • Free Global Partners Junior Richmondtown Library 718-668-0413 4-5:30pm • Ages 9-12 • Free • Register Book Babies Stapleton Library 718-727-0427 11am • Ages 0-1.5 • Free Movie South Beach Library

Up4Art SI Children's Museum 718-273-2060 1, 2 & 3pm • Ages 2-10 • Fee

Kidz Cook SI Children's Museum 718-273-2060 2, 3 & 4pm • Ages 2-10 • Free w/admission

Young Adult Afternoon Movie Port Richmond Library 718-442-0158 2-4pm • Ages 12-18 • Free

Fun Fridays Great Kills Library 718-984-6670 3:30pm • Ages 5+ • Free

Family Movies: Cinerella III New Dorp Library 718-351-2977 2pm • All ages • Free

Toddler Story Time Port Richmond Library 718-442-0158 10:30-11:30am • Ages 0-6 • Free

Free Math & Reading Tutoring New Dorp Library 718-351-2977 11am; 2pm • Math PreK-8 | Reading PreK-3

Baby Rhyme Time New Dorp Library 718-351-2977 10:30am • Ages 0-1 • Free • Register

Saturday Showtime Mariners Harbor 212-621-0690 2-4pm • Ages 0-12 • Free

Toddler Time Tottenville Library 718-984-0945 10:30am • Ages 1.5-3 • Free

Knitting Hour South Beach Library 718-816-5834 3:30pm • Adults • Free

Preschool Story Time Todt Hill-Westerleigh Library 718-494-1642 11:30am • Ages 3-5 • Free Board Games St. George Library 718-442-8560 3:30-4:45pm • All ages • Free Tween Cyber Time Mariners Harbor 212-621-0690 3pm • Ages 5-12 • Free • Register Reading Aloud Richmondtown Library 718-668-0413 3:30pm • Ages 3+ • Free Wii Love Gaming Stapleton Library 718-727-0427 3:30pm • Ages 5-11 • Free Wii Time South Beach Library 718-816-5834 3:30pm • All ages • Free

SUNDAY, JANUARY 5 Up4Art SI Children's Museum 718-273-2060 1, 2 & 3pm • Ages 2-10 • Fee Climate and Weather Blue Heron Nature Center 718-967-3542 1pm • Ages 5-12 • Free

MONDAY, JANUARY 6 Read Aloud Huguenot Park Library 718-984-4636 4pm • All ages • Free

Teen Cafe Remixed New Dorp Library 718-351-2977 2-4pm • Ages 12-18 • Free Computer Class Basics Port Richmond Library 718-442-0158 10:30am-12pm • Adults • Free Story Time Todt Hill-Westerleigh Library 718-494-1642 4pm • Ages 3-11 • Free

CALENDAR EVENTS at siparent.com Expanded & Enhanced

Picturebook Time and Crafts St. George Library 718-442-8560 4pm • Ages 3-8 • Free Homework Club St. George Library 718-442-8560 4:30-6pm • Ages 5-11 • Free Kiddie Story Time Mariners Harbor 212-621-0690 4pm • Ages 0-12 • Free All Join In! Stapleton Library 718-727-0427 11am • Ages 2-4 • Free

HAPPY NEW YEAR Wednesday, January 1

SI Parent would like to wish all of our readers a Happy and Healthy New Year!

TUESDAY, JANUARY 7

Tot's Time Plus SI Children's Museum 718-273-2060 11am • Ages 1-5 • $5 w/admission Teen/Tween Craft: Cardstock Frames Great Kills Library 718-984-6670 3:30pm • Ages 10-18 • Free • Register Knit & Crochet Club Port Richmond Library 718-442-0158 11am • Adults • Free Free Math & Reading Tutoring New Dorp Library 718-351-2977 3:30pm • Math PreK-8 | Reading PreK-3 Teen Lounge Tottenville Library 718-984-0945 2:30pm • Ages 12-18 • Free Craft Corner Todt Hill-Westerleigh Library 718-494-1642 4pm • Ages 3-11 • Free Baby Space St. George Library 718-442-8560 10am; 11:30am • Ages 0-1.5 • Free Loom Jewelry Club St. George Library 718-442-8560 4pm • Ages 8-12 • Free Friendship Bracelet Club Dongan Hills Library 718-351-1444 3:30-4:30pm • Ages 7-12 • Free

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Knit & Crochet Club Dongan Hills Library 718-351-1444 11am-12pm • Adults • Free

Teen E-Resources Dongan Hills Library 718-351-1444 4pm • Ages 12-18 • Free Preschool Story Time Richmondtown Library 718-668-0413 1pm • Ages 3-5 • Free • Register Stay Well Exercise Program New Dorp Library 718-351-2977 1-2pm • Seniors • Free Writing Workshop New Dorp Library 718-351-2977 2:30pm • Adults • Free Children's Read Aloud South Beach Library 718-816-5834 4pm • Ages 0-12 • Free

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8

Clay Day SI Children's Museum 718-273-2060 1:30pm • Ages 2-10 • Free w/admission Teen Club New Dorp Library 718-351-2977 2-4pm • Ages 12-18 • Free Cut & Craft Time Port Richmond Library 718-442-0158 4-5pm • Ages 5-18 • Free Picture Book Time/Reading Aloud New Dorp Library 718-351-2977 4pm • Ages 3+ • Free Family Story Time Tottenville Library 718-984-0945 4pm • Ages 3+ • Free

STATEN ISLAND SKATING PAVILION

PUBLIC SESSIONS Fridays 8:00 - 11:00pm Saturdays 2:30 - 4:30pm & 8:00 - 10:00pm and Sundays 2:00 - 4:00pm Register Now for Skate School Call Danielle for a brochure 718.948.4800 | pavilionskateschool@gmail.com 3080 Arthur Kill Rd (Near Bloomingdale Rd) • www.thepavilion.org

PRODIGY PRESCHOOL

Not Your Everyday Preschool!

AT PRODIGY children ages 3-5 receive professional ice skating instruction from USFS Certified Coaches & academics from NY State Certified Instructors Monday-Friday Full Day Program • Half Day Available

Caryl 718.948.4800 • carylstingo@thepavilion.org • SI Skating Pavilion • 3080 Arthur Kill Rd JANUARY 2014

www.siparent.com

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CALENDAR EVENTS at siparent.com Expanded & Enhanced

Tween Activity Time St. George Library 718-442-8560 4pm • Ages 8-12 • Free • Register

Open Lab: TechConnect New Dorp Library 718-351-2977 10:30-11:30am • Adults • Free • Register

Toddler Time St. George Library 718-442-8560 10:30am • Ages 1.5-3 • Free • Register

Video Games Dongan Hills Library 718-351-1444 3:30-4:30pm • Ages 5-12 • Free

Board Games South Beach Library 718-816-5834 3:30-5:30pm • All ages • Free

Read Aloud with Coloring Craft Dongan Hills Library 718-351-1444 3:30-4pm • All ages • Free

Teen Tech Time Dongan Hills Library 718-351-1444 3:30-5:30pm • Ages 12-18 • Free Bookcraft Stapleton Library 718-727-0427 4pm • Ages 4-8 • Free

CLIMATE AND WEATHER Sunday, January 5 Blue Heron Nature Center 1pm Ages 5-12 Free 718-967-3542

preserve2.org/blueheron

Understanding our climate helps us prepare our city for a more sustainable future.

Urban Park Rangers will introduce you to these important scientific concepts that will help you prepare for the future. The climate programs explore topics like climate change, global warming and concepts of sustainability. Weather programs delve deeply into everyday weather events including lightning and thunder, clouds and the water cycle, and hurricanes and extreme storms.

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THURSDAY, JANUARY 9

Tot's Time Plus SI Children's Museum 718-273-2060 11am • Ages 1-5 • $5 w/admission Paint Day SI Children's Museum 718-273-2060 1:30pm • Ages 2-10 • Free w/admission Movie Matinee Huguenot Park Library 718-984-4636 3-5pm • All ages • Free Teen Lounge Great Kills Library 718-984-6670 3:30pm • Ages 12-18 Free Family Movie Night Port Richmond Library 718-442-0158 6-7:30pm • All ages Free Teen Lounge Tottenville Library 718-984-0945 2:30pm • Ages 12-18 • Free Baby & Me Tottenville Library 718-984-0945 11am • Ages 0-1.5 • Free Homework Club St. George Library 718-442-8560 4-5:30pm • Ages 5-11 • Free

Internet for Beginners Dongan Hills Library 718-351-1444 11am-1pm • Adults • Free Global Partners Junior Richmondtown Library 718-668-0413 4-5:30pm • Ages 9-12 • Free • Register Zumba Workout New Dorp Library 718-351-2977 12:30-1:30pm • Adults • Free Adult Craft: Safety Pin Jewelry South Beach Library 718-816-5834 5:30pm • Adults • Free

FRIDAY, JANUARY 10

Kidz Cook SI Children's Museum 718-273-2060 2, 3 & 4pm • Ages 2-10 • Free w/admission Preschool Story and Craft Huguenot Park Library 718-984-4636 10:30am • Ages 3-5 • Free • Register Fun Fridays Great Kills Library 718-984-6670 3:30pm • Ages 5+ • Free Toddler Time Port Richmond Library 718-442-0158 10:30-11:30am • Ages 0-6 • Free

michelle giumenta, dds

J&J Academy

Celebrating Over 10 Years Practicing

718-698-0280 55 Wyona Ave, S.I. NY 10314 Just bring your little prince or princess and WE will take care of the rest!!!

Saturday & Sunday care available.

Check website for details.

✬ Child friendly atmosphere will make your child’s dental visit a pleasant experience.

NO REGISTRATION FEE, OR DEPOSITS.

✬ On staff with Staten Island University Hospital, with Operating room privileges for over 10 years.

FREE A.M. UPK • ACD Voucher accepted • FREE Breakfast & Hot Lunch are served • FREE weekly Chinese class • New York State certified teacher, small class ratio, all CPR trained staff • Follow UPK curriculum for 4 years old • Open Mon to Fri 7:00am to 7:00pm • 4000sq. ft of playground

✬ Digital radiography ✬ Laser Dentistry available

718-979-6462 ✬ In office sedation Like Us On Facebook

Please visit our website: www.jjacademy.org for more information

2530 AMBOY ROAD • NEW DORP

HIGH HOPES C N F AP T ALL

:

OPEN M 6:30A TO 0PM

6:3

OW

OR

✬ Practice is limited to children, young adults and those with special needs.

ERSONAL

OUR

TENDER-LOVING CARE! Flexible schedules • Age appropriate curriculum Half and Full Days available

COME & E JOIN TH !

N U F

INFANTS

TODDLERS

FREE UPK

6 Weeks - 2 Years

2 Years - 3 Years

For children born in 2009. Extended hours available.

NURSERY SCHOOL 3 year old program Half days or Full days!

1298 Woodrow Rd 718-317-8143

at Richmond Road & First Street

Michael De Simone Ph.D, LCSW

michaeldesimonetherapy.com

HELPING ADULTS, CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WITH

Anxiety • Fears & Worries • Anger Depression • Grief & Sadness Insecurity & Shyness Self Esteem & Relationship Problems In a Private, Comfortable and Confidential Setting

For information or consultation call 718-650-9000 or e-mail michael.w.desimone@gmail.com 175 Burbank Ave (New Dorp) Follow us on Facebook at Facebook.com/MichaelDeSimonePhD JANUARY 2014

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CALENDAR EVENTS at siparent.com Expanded & Enhanced

Toddler Time Tottenville Library 718-984-0945 10:30am • Ages 1.5-3 • Free Family Game Time Todt Hill-Westerleigh Library 718-494-1642 3-4pm • All ages • Free Board Games St. George Library 718-442-8560 3:30-4:45pm • All ages • Free • Register Toddler Time Mariners Harbor 212-621-0690 11am • Ages 1.5-3 • Free

WINTER HEARTH STORIES Saturday, January 11 Greenbelt Nature Center 1pm Ages 4-8 Fee 718-351-3450 www.sigreenbelt.org

Come gather in the warmth of the Greenbelt and hear stories about the season of frost. Weather permitting, take a short walk outside to experience the wonders of winter. Warm up by making a seasonal craft and sipping hot chocolate.

Registration required.

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Toddler Time Dongan Hills Library 718-351-1444 10:30-11:30am • Ages 0-5 • Free Wii Dongan Hills Library 718-351-1444 3-4:30pm • Ages 12-18 • Free Coffee and Books Richmondtown Library 718-668-0413 11am • Adults • Free Reading Aloud Richmondtown Library 718-668-0413 3:30pm • Ages 3+ • Free American Mah Jongg New Dorp Library 718-351-2977 2:30-4pm • Adults • Free Mouse & Keyboarding Basics New Dorp Library 718-351-2977 2:30-4:30pm • Adults Free Wii Time South Beach Library 718-816-5834 3:30pm • All ages • Free Preschool Story Time South Beach Library 718-816-5834 10:30am • Ages 0-12 • Free

SATURDAY, JANUARY 11 Up4Art SI Children's Museum 718-273-2060 1, 2 & 3pm • Ages 2-10 • Fee Wilderness Survival Blue Heron Nature Center 718-967-3542 11am • Ages 8+ • Free

Family Movies: Born to Be Wild New Dorp Library 718-351-2977 2pm • All ages • Free Free Math & Reading Tutoring New Dorp Library 718-351-2977 11am; 2pm • Math PreK-8 | Reading PreK-3 Movie Time: The Croods Todt Hill-Westerleigh Library 718-494-1642 12pm • Ages 4-11 • Free Tween Cooking St. George Library 718-442-8560 10:30am • Ages 8-12 • Free • Register Winter Hearth Stories Greenbelt Nature Center 718-351-3450 1pm • Ages 4-8 • Fee Cinema Saturdays Stapleton Library 718-727-0427 3pm • All ages • Free Knitting Hour South Beach Library 718-816-5834 3:30pm • Adults • Free

SUNDAY, JANUARY 12 Up4Art SI Children's Museum 718-273-2060 1, 2 & 3pm • Ages 2-10 • Fee

Living Green: An Herbalist's Approach to Colds Greenbelt Nature Center 718-351-3450 2pm • Adults • Fee

MONDAY, JANUARY 13 Teen Cafe Remixed New Dorp Library 718-351-2977 2-4pm • Ages 12-18 • Free

Granindg!

Open

Big Bird’s Playhouse

D’S BIG BIR TIME R TODDLE -3

Early Childhood Development Program

REGISTER NOW FOR PRE-SCHOOL EXTENDED HOURS AVAILABLE FROM 6:30AM-6:30PM

my & Me

Ages 2 m Gy Indoor nd Ave chmo 1869 Ri

Mom Meals & Snacks Included Classes Daycare & Pre-School 6 Weeks to 5 Years Before & Afterschool Drop Off / Pick Up at P.S. 22, P.S. 54, P.S. 58, P.S. 60, P.S. 69 Trained in First Aid and CPR • Low Tuition (Breakfast and Lunch Included) Spanish use use Open Ho mer Open Ho th UFT, 1199, ACD & HRA Vouchers peaking S m u 9 S also for January 2 Children in Diapers Accepted Teacher p m Day Cam yrs 9 Fully Air-Conditioned Classrooms 11am - 1p e ru 12 Fre 4 Custom Built Play Grounds ages 5 th includes ming Licensed Early Childhood Teachers & Staff Fingerprinting Day trips, swim ch u m o s Licensed by NYC Bureau of Daycare Kit pool & Full Time Family Owned & Operated more!

2&3 Since 1991 s Year Old $600

www.bigbirdsplayhouse.com 1859 Richmond Ave • 718-982-0550

th per mon

UFT and 1199 Vouchers Accepted

Register Now For Half Day UPK–Free for children born in 2009.

Full Day Available Free for a Fee. Registration With Ad

JANUARY 2014

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CALENDAR EVENTS at siparent.com Expanded & Enhanced

Rainbow Loom Port Richmond Library 718-442-0158 3-4pm • All ages • Free Story Time Todt Hill-Westerleigh Library 718-494-1642 4pm • Ages 3-11 • Free Picturebook Time and Crafts St. George Library 718-442-8560 4pm • Ages 3-8 • Free Homework Club St. George Library 718-442-8560 4:30-6pm • Ages 5-11 • Free

LIVING GREEN: AN HERBALIST'S APPROACH TO COLDS Sunday, January 12

Kiddie Story Time Mariners Harbor 212-621-0690 4pm • Ages 0-12 • Free Science Experiment Time Dongan Hills Library 718-351-1444 4-5pm • Ages 5-12 • Free All Join In! Stapleton Library 718-727-0427 11am • Ages 2-4 • Free

TUESDAY, JANUARY 14

Tot's Time Plus SI Children's Museum 718-273-2060 11am • Ages 1-5 • $5 w/admission Teen/Tween Sewing Workshop Great Kills Library 718-984-6670 3:30pm • Ages 10-18 • Free • Register Knit & Crochet Club Port Richmond Library 718-442-0158 11am • Adults • Free

Greenbelt Nature Center 2pm Adults Fee 718-351-3450 www.sigreenbelt.org

Indulge yourself in the natural healing practices of herbalism. Join the Greenbelt educators for a presentation of an Herbalist's approach to colds.

Sample healthy recipes, teas, and tonics while you learn about preventative practices to keep your body healthy.

Registration required.

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Free Math & Reading Tutoring New Dorp Library 718-351-2977 3:30pm • Math PreK-8 | Reading PreK-3 Teen Lounge Tottenville Library 718-984-0945 2:30pm • Ages 12-18 • Free Craft Corner Todt Hill-Westerleigh Library 718-494-1642 4pm • Ages 3-11 • Free Baby Space St. George Library

718-442-8560 10am; 11:30am • Ages 0-1.5 • Free Knit & Crochet Club Dongan Hills Library 718-351-1444 11am-12pm • Adults • Free Teen E-Resources Dongan Hills Library 718-351-1444 4pm • Ages 12-18 • Free Stay Well Exercise Program New Dorp Library 718-351-2977 1-2pm • Seniors • Free Writing Workshop New Dorp Library 718-351-2977 2:30pm • Adults • Free Children's Read Aloud South Beach Library 718-816-5834 4pm • Ages 0-12 • Free

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15

Clay Day SI Children's Museum 718-273-2060 1:30pm • Ages 2-10 • Free w/admission Teen Club New Dorp Library 718-351-2977 2-4pm • Ages 12-18 • Free Picture Book Time/Reading Aloud New Dorp Library 718-351-2977 4pm • Ages 3+ • Free Preschool Program New Dorp Library 718-351-2977 11am • Ages 2.5-5 • Free • Register

JANUARY 2014

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CALENDAR EVENTS at siparent.com Expanded & Enhanced

Family Story Time Tottenville Library 718-984-0945 4pm • Ages 3+ • Free Tween Activity Time St. George Library 718-442-8560 4pm • Ages 8-12 • Free • Register Downloading eBooks on iPad Dongan Hills Library 718-351-1444 12:30-2pm • Adults • Free Teen Tech Time Dongan Hills Library 718-351-1444 3:30-5:30pm • Ages 12-18 • Free

WINTER WONDERLAND HIKE Saturday, January 18

Bookcraft Stapleton Library 718-727-0427 4pm • Ages 4-8 • Free Board Games South Beach Library 718-816-5834 3:30-5:30pm • All ages Free

THURSDAY, JANUARY 16

Tot's Time Plus SI Children's Museum 718-273-2060 11am • Ages 1-5 • $5 w/admission Paint Day SI Children's Museum 718-273-2060 1:30pm • Ages 2-10 • Free w/admission Teen Lounge Great Kills Library 718-984-6670 3:30pm • Ages 12-18 • Free

Greenbelt Nature Center 10am Ages 8+ Free 718-351-3450 www.sigreenbelt.org

Join the Greenbelt Nature Center staff for a walk along the trails of the central Greenbelt. Search for animal tracks, squirrel drays, woodpecker holes and other signs that animals are active, even in winter.

Walk for at least 90 minutes, conditions permitting. Registration required.

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Pre-school Time St. George Library 718-442-8560 10:30am • Ages 3-4 • Free • Register Read Aloud with Coloring Craft Dongan Hills Library 718-351-1444 3:30-4pm • All ages • Free Advanced Internet Searching Dongan Hills Library 718-351-1444 11am-1pm • Adults • Free Global Partners Junior Richmondtown Library 718-668-0413 4-5:30pm • Ages 9-12 • Free • Register Book Babies Stapleton Library 718-727-0427 11am • Ages 0-1.5 • Free

Open Lab Port Richmond Library 718-442-0158 5:30-7:30pm • Adults Free

Movie South Beach Library 718-816-5834 4:30pm • All ages • Free

"Create Your Own Diary" Craft New Dorp Library 718-351-2977 4pm • Ages 7+ • Free

Kidz Cook SI Children's Museum 718-273-2060 2, 3 & 4pm • Ages 2-10 • Free w/admission

Teen Lounge Tottenville Library 718-984-0945 2:30pm • Ages 12-18 • Free Baby & Me Tottenville Library 718-984-0945 11am • Ages 0-1.5 • Free Homework Club St. George Library

718-442-8560 4-5:30pm • Ages 5-11 • Free

FRIDAY, JANUARY 17

Fun Fridays Great Kills Library 718-984-6670 3:30pm • Ages 5+ • Free Teen Advisory Group New Dorp Library 718-351-2977 2-4pm • Ages 12-18 • Free Toddler Time Port Richmond Library 718-442-0158 10:30-11:30am • Ages 0-6 • Free

arel p p A ance ore

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St le Inb a l i a Av

s ag es & a du lt l l a f o n e r d chil Cl as s e s for COM PETITIVE & RECREATIO NAL CLASSES IN Ballet, Lyrical, Tap, Jazz, Conte mporary, H ip H o p , A c r o , C h e e r F u n k , Leaps, Jumps, Tu r ns & O pen Stretch HAVE A H APPY & HEA LT HY NEW YE AR FROM CENTE R S TAGE DAN CE .

T h a n k y o u t o a l l o f o u r da n c e f a m i l i e s fo r y o u r c o n t i n u e d s u p p o r t.

A m a n d a D a l l i , M a n ag i n g D i r e c t o r Ba chelor of A rts in Da nc e From H unter Colleg e

7 1 8 . 98 2 . 9 2 2 6

1 0 A k ro n P l a z a ( B u l l s h e a d ) c e nt e r s t a g e d a nc el t d @ y a h oo . c om

ba Zus m at 9 - 10PM

Friday

We D o t i e s ! r ay P a Bi r t hd

JANUARY 2014

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CALENDAR EVENTS at siparent.com Expanded & Enhanced

Toddler Time Tottenville Library 718-984-0945 10:30am • Ages 1.5-3 • Free Preschool Story Time Todt Hill-Westerleigh Library 718-494-1642 11:30am • Ages 3-5 • Free Board Games St. George Library 718-442-8560 3:30-4:45pm • All ages • Free • Register Tween Cyber Time Mariners Harbor 212-621-0690 3pm • Ages 5-12 Free • Register

ANIMAL TRACK EXPLORATION Sunday, January 19

Toddler Time Dongan Hills Library 718-351-1444 10:30-11:30am Ages 0-5 • Free

New York City is home to an amazing abundance of wildlife. From falcons and salamanders, to deer and seals, wildlife viewing opportunities exist year-round. Exploration series focus on unique wildlife viewing opportunities during particular seasons. Birding programs are appropriate for all skill levels and beginners are welcome. To enhance your experience you are encouraged to bring binoculars and field guides, or ask a Ranger to borrow a pair.

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JANUARY 2014

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SUNDAY, JANUARY 19 Up4Art SI Children's Museum 718-273-2060 1, 2 & 3pm • Ages 2-10 • Fee

Reading Aloud Richmondtown Library 718-668-0413 3:30pm • Ages 3+ Free Wii Love Gaming Stapleton Library 718-727-0427 3:30pm • Ages 5-11 • Free

Animal Track Exploration Bloomingdale Park 718-967-3542 1pm • All ages • Free Natural History Hike to Moses Mountain High Rock Park 718-351-3450 1pm • Ages 8+ • Free

Wii Time South Beach Library 718-816-5834 3:30pm • All ages • Free

SATURDAY, JANUARY 18 Up4Art SI Children's Museum 718-273-2060 1, 2 & 3pm • Ages 2-10 • Fee

Young Adult Afternoon Movie Port Richmond Library 718-442-0158 2-4pm • Ages 12-18 Free

Bloomingdale Park 1pm All ages Free 718-967-3542 preserve2.org/blueheron

718-816-5834 3:30pm • Adults • Free

Family Movies: Delhi Safari New Dorp Library 718-351-2977 2pm • All ages • Free

TUESDAY, JANUARY 21

Tot's Time Plus SI Children's Museum 718-273-2060 11am • Ages 1-5 • $5 w/admission Knit & Crochet Club Port Richmond Library 718-442-0158 11am • Adults • Free Teen Lounge Tottenville Library 718-984-0945 2:30pm • Ages 12-18 • Free Preschool Fun Tottenville Library 718-984-0945 11am • Ages 3-5 • Free

Free Math & Reading Tutoring New Dorp Library 718-351-2977 11am; 2pm • Math PreK-8 | Reading PreK-3

Baby Space St. George Library 718-442-8560 10am; 11:30am • Ages 0-1.5 • Free

Winter Wonderland Hike Greenbelt Nature Center 718-351-3450 10am • Ages 8+ • Free

Loom Jewelry Club St. George Library 718-442-8560 4pm • Ages 8-12 • Free

Knitting Hour South Beach Library

Friendship Bracelet Club Dongan Hills Library

Read S.I. Parent on Your Tablet or Smartphone! www.siparent.com

JANUARY 2014

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CALENDAR EVENTS at siparent.com Expanded & Enhanced

718-351-1444 3:30-4:30pm • Ages 7-12 • Free Knit & Crochet Club Dongan Hills Library 718-351-1444 11am-12pm • Adults • Free Teen E-Resources Dongan Hills Library 718-351-1444 4pm • Ages 12-18 • Free Preschool Story Time Richmondtown Library 718-668-0413 1pm • Ages 3-5 Free • Register Stay Well Exercise Program New Dorp Library

MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY (OBSERVED) Monday, January 20

In observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day banks, public schools, the Stock Exchange, and public libraries will be closed, and alternate side of the street parking will be suspended.

718-351-2977 1-2pm • Seniors • Free

718-273-2060 11am • Ages 1-5 • $5 w/admission

Children's Read Aloud South Beach Library 718-816-5834 4pm • Ages 0-12 • Free

Paint Day SI Children's Museum 718-273-2060 1:30pm • Ages 2-10 • Free w/admission

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22

Clay Day SI Children's Museum 718-273-2060 1:30pm • Ages 2-10 • Free w/admission Cut & Craft Time Port Richmond Library 718-442-0158 4-5pm • Ages 5-18 • Free Read Aloud West New Brighton Library 718-442-1416 4pm • Ages 5-12 • Free Picture Book Time/Reading Aloud New Dorp Library 718-351-2977 4pm • Ages 3+ • Free Family Story Time Tottenville Library 718-984-0945 4pm • Ages 3+ • Free Tween Activity Time St. George Library 718-442-8560 4pm • Ages 8-12 • Free • Register Bookcraft Stapleton Library 718-727-0427 4pm • Ages 4-8 • Free Board Games South Beach Library 718-816-5834 3:30-5:30pm • All ages • Free

THURSDAY, JANUARY 23

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JANUARY 2014

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Tot's Time Plus SI Children's Museum

Movie Night Huguenot Park Library 718-984-4636 5-7pm • All ages • Free Teen Lounge Great Kills Library 718-984-6670 3:30pm • Ages 12-18 • Free Family Movie Night Port Richmond Library 718-442-0158 6-7:30pm • All ages • Free Silly Science West New Brighton Library 718-442-1416 4pm • Ages 5-12 • Free Games & Gaming Program New Dorp Library 718-351-2977 4pm • Ages 6-12 • Free • Register Teen Lounge Tottenville Library 718-984-0945 2:30pm • Ages 12-18 • Free Baby & Me Tottenville Library 718-984-0945 11am • Ages 0-1.5 • Free Homework Club St. George Library 718-442-8560 4-5:30pm • Ages 5-11 • Free Toddler Time St. George Library 718-442-8560 10:30am • Ages 1.5-3 • Free • Register

JANUARY 2014

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97

CALENDAR EVENTS at siparent.com Expanded & Enhanced

Read Aloud with Coloring Craft Dongan Hills Library 718-351-1444 3:30-4pm • All ages • Free Global Partners Junior Richmondtown Library 718-668-0413 4-5:30pm • Ages 9-12 • Free • Register Zumba Workout New Dorp Library 718-351-2977 12:30-1:30pm Adults • Free

FRIDAY, JANUARY 24

Kidz Cook SI Children's Museum 718-273-2060 2, 3 & 4pm • Ages 2-10 • Free w/admission

HISTORY AND CULTURE

Preschool Story and Craft Huguenot Park Library 718-984-4636 10:30am • Ages 3-5 • Free • Register Fun Fridays Great Kills Library 718-984-6670 3:30pm • Ages 5+ • Free

Puzzle and Coloring Hour West New Brighton Library 718-442-1416 4pm • Ages 0-12 • Free Toddler Time Tottenville Library 718-984-0945 10:30am • Ages 1.5-3 • Free Family Game Time Todt HillWesterleigh Library 718-494-1642 3-4pm • All ages Free

Blue Heron Nature Center 11am Ages 5-12 Free 718-967-3542

Board Games St. George Library 718-442-8560 3:30-4:45pm • All ages • Free • Register

preserve2.org/blueheron Ice-age glaciers, Native Americans, Dutch traders, British Redcoats, and the Underground Railroad have all left their mark on New York City. Their stories can be found in the names of our streets, our architecture, and our parks.

Urban Park Rangers specialize in interpretation of historic turning points, both natural and man-made, in our city’s long history.

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Wii Time South Beach Library 718-816-5834 3:30pm • All ages • Free

Toddler Time Port Richmond Library 718-442-0158 10:30-11:30am • Ages 0-6 • Free

Saturday, January 25

Baby Time Mariners Harbor 212-621-0690 11am • Ages 0-1.5 • Free Toddler Time Dongan Hills Library 718-351-1444 10:30-11:30am • Ages 0-5 • Free Reading Aloud Richmondtown Library 718-668-0413 3:30pm • Ages 3+ • Free

Book Discussion New Dorp Library 718-351-2977 2:30pm • Adults • Free

SATURDAY, JANUARY 25 Up4Art SI Children's Museum 718-273-2060 1, 2 & 3pm • Ages 2-10 • Fee History and Culture Blue Heron Nature Center 718-967-3542 11am • Ages 5-12 • Free Free Math & Reading Tutoring New Dorp Library 718-351-2977 11am; 2pm • Math PreK-8 | Reading PreK-3 Tween Book Blitz St. George Library 718-442-8560 2pm • Ages 8-12 • Free • Register Sensory Story Time St. George Library 718-442-8560 3:30pm • All ages • Free • Register Crafternoon Dongan Hills Library 718-351-1444 2-3pm • Ages 5-12 • Free Penguin Pals Greenbelt Nature Center 718-351-3450 11am • Ages 2-4 • Fee Cinema Saturdays Stapleton Library 718-727-0427 3pm • All ages • Free

RAN PRESC HO LUTHE N OL ZIO

OPEN HOUSE THURSDAY, JANUARY 23RD 7:00-7:30– ALL six classrooms will be open with the caring, nurturing staff at Zion for you to visit 7:30– Presentation by Miss Kim, the School Director 7:45– Question and Answer session, information on how and when to register your child 8:00- Curriculum night to discuss PreK-4 program

Like us on Facebook or visit www.zionlutheranpreschoolsi.com misskimzion@aol.com 718.981.3623 Please Text 917.853.9466 505 Watchogue Rd. c/s Willowbrook Rd.

Room for 16 Players Inside 8 More Players Outside (weather permitting) 2 PS3, 2 XBOX and 3 Wii Stations Extensive Game Library ~Heated & Fully Air-Conditioned For All Seasons~

~ Video Game Parties ~

THERE’S SOMETH ING SPECIAL AB OU T....

SExtce.lleP atrick’s School nce in Educat ion. Chri stia n Va lues.

C a t h o l i c E n v i r o n m e nt .

Universal Prekindergarten Open Enrollment For All Classes All Year Round Free Universal Pre-K for Four Year Old Children (Extended Hours Available) Servicing the South Shore for 20 years

MINI TOTS PROGRAM Ages 2.4–3.9 (Not Potty Trained OK) • A Fun Outdoor Play Area • Licensed & Certified Teachers • Nurturing Staff • Enriched Learning Program • Summer Camp Available

REGISTRATION GRADES K & UP JANUARY 27-31

C a l l f o r I n f o r m a t i o n & t o S c h e d u l e a n A p p o in t m e n t

www.stpatrickssi.org 3560 Richmond Rd • 718.979.8815 ADVANCED ACCREDITED

OPEN HOUSE

Monday-Friday in January and February 10am-2pm. Come in for a tour!

Conveniently located near PS 1 & PS 6

718-948-9535 • 7516 Amboy Rd www.miniworldpreschool.com JANUARY 2014

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CALENDAR EVENTS at siparent.com Expanded & Enhanced

Knitting Hour South Beach Library 718-816-5834 3:30pm • Adults • Free

SUNDAY, JANUARY 26 Up4Art SI Children's Museum 718-273-2060 1, 2 & 3pm • Ages 2-10 • Fee

Chinese New Year Celebration: Year of the Horse Greenbelt Nature Center 718-351-3450 2pm • Ages 5+ • Fee

MONDAY, JANUARY 27 Baby and Me Great Kills Library

PENGUIN PALS Saturday, January 25

Greenbelt Nature Center 11am Ages 2-4 Fee 718-351-3450 www.sigreenbelt.org

Brr-It's cold out!

Come inside to learn how penguins adapt to the cold.

Make your own penguin companion to take home.

Registration required.

100www.siparent.com JANUARY 2014

718-984-6670 11am • Ages 0-1.5 • Free Teen Cafe Remixed New Dorp Library 718-351-2977 2-4pm • Ages 12-18 • Free Rainbow Loom Port Richmond Library 718-442-0158 3-4pm • All ages • Free Film Program West New Brighton Library 718-442-1416 3:30pm • Ages 0-12 • Free Winter Wonderland Party Tottenville Library 718-984-0945 4pm • Ages 4+ • Free Story Time Todt Hill-Westerleigh Library 718-494-1642 4pm • Ages 3-11 • Free Picturebook Story Time St. George Library 718-442-8560 4pm • Ages 3-8 Free Homework Club St. George Library 718-442-8560 4:30-6pm Ages 5-11 • Free

All Join In! Stapleton Library 718-727-0427 11am • Ages 2-4 • Free

TUESDAY, JANUARY 28

Tot's Time Plus SI Children's Museum 718-273-2060 11am • Ages 1-5 • $5 w/admission Knit & Crochet Club Port Richmond Library 718-442-0158 11am • Adults • Free Free Math & Reading Tutoring New Dorp Library 718-351-2977 3:30pm • Math PreK-8 | Reading PreK-3 Teen Lounge Tottenville Library 718-984-0945 2:30pm • Ages 12-18 • Free Craft Corner Todt Hill-Westerleigh Library 718-494-1642 4pm • Ages 3-11 • Free Baby Space St. George Library 718-442-8560 10am; 11:30am • Ages 0-1.5 • Free Knit & Crochet Club Dongan Hills Library 718-351-1444 11am-12pm • Adults • Free

Kiddie Story Time Marine Corps League 212-621-0690 4pm • Ages 0-12 • Free

Teen E-Resources Dongan Hills Library 718-351-1444 4pm • Ages 12-18 • Free

Family Movie Time Dongan Hills Library 718-351-1444 3:30-5:30pm • All ages • Free

Stay Well Exercise Program New Dorp Library 718-351-2977 1-2pm • Seniors • Free

Read S.I. Parent on Your Tablet or Smartphone! www.siparent.com

ALL TYPES OF CLASSES Art • Music Movement • Cooking

Voted Staten Island’s #1 Children’s Party Center

Call for schedules & info

OVER 5,000 SQ FT OF FUN! BIRTHDAY PARTY PACKAGES TO ACCOMODATE YOUR NEEDS

OPEN PLAY 7 DAYS!

Early Bird Special

Mon-Thurs 10-6 $7 • Fri & Sat 10-8 $10 • Sun 10-6 $10 Call Ahead–We Close For Private Functions

Book for April or May by Jan 31st & receive your choice of FREE Glitter Tattoo Package, Candy Cart, Character or Princess!

Try one of our popular theme parties

Must mention this ad at booking. Exclusions apply.

FIND US ON Friend request us and look out for a special contest coming up soon!

FACEBOOK SPECIAL NEEDS PRIVATE PLAYDATE IS THE FIRST SUNDAY OF EACH MONTH

718.966.5990 • 8 Johnson St • www.kidzrocksi.com

JANUARY 2014

www.siparent.com

101

CALENDAR EVENTS at siparent.com Expanded & Enhanced

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 29

Clay Day SI Children's Museum 718-273-2060 1:30pm • Ages 2-10 • Free w/admission

Family Story Time Tottenville Library 718-984-0945 4pm • Ages 3+ • Free

Teen Lounge Tottenville Library 718-984-0945 2:30pm • Ages 12-18 • Free

Teen Club New Dorp Library 718-351-2977 2-4pm • Ages 12-18 • Free

Tween Activity Time St. George Library 718-442-8560 4pm • Ages 8-12 • Free • Register

Baby & Me Tottenville Library 718-984-0945 11am • Ages 0-1.5 • Free

Pajama Story Time West New Brighton Library 718-442-1416 7pm • Ages 5-12 • Free

Video Games Dongan Hills Library 718-351-1444 3:30-4:30pm • Ages 5-12 • Free

Homework Club St. George Library 718-442-8560 4-5:30pm • Ages 5-11 • Free

Picture Book Time/Reading Aloud New Dorp Library 718-351-2977 4pm • Ages 3+ • Free

Bookcraft Stapleton Library 718-727-0427 4pm • Ages 4-8 • Free

Pre-school Time St. George Library 718-442-8560 10:30am • Ages 3-4 • Free • Register

PRESCHOOL DIRECTORY

Board Games South Beach Library 718-816-5834 3:30-5:30pm • All ages • Free

THURSDAY, JANUARY 30

Will your little one be starting preschool this year? Be sure to check out S.I. Parent's Preschool Directory on Page 60!

Visit www.siparent.com and go to our Schools & Daycare tab.

102www.siparent.com JANUARY 2014

Tot's Time Plus SI Children's Museum 718-273-2060 11am • Ages 1-5 • $5 w/admission Paint Day SI Children's Museum 718-273-2060 1:30pm • Ages 2-10 • Free w/admission Teen Lounge Great Kills Library 718-984-6670 3:30pm • Ages 12-18 • Free Toddler Story Time Great Kills Library 718-984-6670 11am • Ages 1.5-3 • Free • Register Open Lab Port Richmond Library 718-442-0158 5:30-7:30pm • Adults • Free

Read Aloud with Coloring Craft Dongan Hills Library 718-351-1444 3:30-4pm • All ages • Free Open Lab Dongan Hills Library 718-351-1444 11am-1pm • Adults • Free Global Partners Junior Richmondtown Library 718-668-0413 4-5:30pm • Ages 9-12 • Free • Register Book Babies Stapleton Library 718-727-0427 11am • Ages 0-1.5 • Free Movie South Beach Library 718-816-5834 4:30pm • All ages • Free

FRIDAY, JANUARY 31

Kidz Cook SI Children's Museum 718-273-2060 2, 3 & 4pm • Ages 2-10 • Free w/admission

JANUARY 2014

www.siparent.com

103

CALENDAR EVENTS at siparent.com Expanded & Enhanced

Astronomy and Night Sky Programs Wolfe's Pond Park 718-967-3542 6pm • Ages 5-12 Free

Toddler Time Tottenville Library 718-984-0945 10:30am • Ages 1.5-3 • Free

Fun Fridays Great Kills Library 718-984-6670 3:30pm • Ages 5+ Free

Preschool Story Time Todt Hill-Westerleigh Library 718-494-1642 11:30am • Ages 3-5 • Free

Preschool Story Time Great Kills Library 718-984-6670 11am • Ages 3-5 • Free • Register

Board Games St. George Library 718-442-8560 3:30-4:45pm • All ages • Free • Register

Toddler Time Port Richmond Library 718-442-0158 10:30-11:30am • Ages 0-6 • Free

CHINESE NEW YORK CELEBRATION: YEAR OF THE HORSE

Toddler Time Dongan Hills Library 718-351-1444 10:30-11:30am • Ages 0-5 • Free Reading Aloud Richmondtown Library 718-668-0413 3:30pm • Ages 3+ • Free Wii Love Gaming Stapleton Library 718-727-0427 3:30pm • Ages 5-11 • Free

Sunday, January 26 Greenbelt Nature Center 2pm Ages 5+ Fee 718-351-3450 www.sigreenbelt.org Gung Hay Fat Choy-Happy New Year!

Come join the Greenbelt educators as they celebrate the Year of the Horse.

Learn about the history of this ancient celebration and the symbolism of the horse. Create fun crafts and enjoy traditional snacks. Registration required.

104www.siparent.com JANUARY 2014

American Mah Jongg New Dorp Library 718-351-2977 2:30-4pm • Adults Free Computer Basics New Dorp Library 718-351-2977 2:30-4:30pm Adults • Free Register Wii Time South Beach Library 718-816-5834 3:30pm • All ages • Free

Read S.I. Parent on your Tablet or Smartphone

CAN YOUR DENTIST DELIVER THESE SERVICES? • Intravenous and Oral Sedation • Nitrous Oxide “sweet air” • Painless injections with “The Wand.” One of only

• 38 years of experience with over 2,000 hours of continuing education • CPR and emergency management trained staff

four Dentists in the NY area to have this technology • Comfort care cleanings • Doctor’s cell phone number

• Always see the same Doctor

• Drill free dentistry

• One hour hygiene visit devoted to oral health

• 5 year warranty on dental work • State of the art oral cancer screening with Vizilite • Financing available • An overall heath approach with blood pressure and blood sugar testing • Be seen on time!

and comfort • Availability of topical gels for gum comfort during hygiene visits • Understand your dental needs; see it on TV with our intra-oral camera!

• Ask us about the 25 other ways we can help you!

• Evening and weekend hours

If your answer is “no,” you need to call

STATEN ISLAND DENTAL CARE 718.761.5757 Dr. Frederick S. Hecht, D.M.D., P.C. Crown Council Humanitarian Dentist award for overseas dental missionary trips

Special Web Offer! www.AfraidOfTheDentist.com 1520 Richmond Avenue Staten Island, NY 10314 We are sorry but we are not able to accept Medicaid JANUARY 2014

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105

FAMILY NEEDS Party Services DJs, MCs, Vocalists, Dancers, Videographers, Photographers, Pro Light Shows, Intelligent Lights, Photo Booth, Live Animal Shows, Candy Carts, Cotton Candy, Popcorn, Plasma TVs, Rides, Magicians, Clowns, Limousines, Karaoke, Costume Characters, Casino Night Tables, Fully Insured

YOUR ONE STOP DJ & ENTERTAINMENT COMPANY

partywithf2k.com 718.554.4780

494.0709 drr927@aol.com www.littleshopstudios.com 864 Post Ave • SI, NY 10310

PARTY TIME ENTERTAINMENT

COSTUME CHARACTERS Full Line of Costume & Cartoon Characters to Enhance Your Child’s Party DJ/Costume characters packages available for 1st birthdays & christenings

Kids Dance Parties Call Sherry: 718-317-7439

Party With Us Now!

• Disc Jockeys • Video Taping • Karaoke • M/F Dancers • Party Servers • Dancing Gorillas • Caricaturist • Magicians • Singing Telegrams • Celebrity Look-a-Likes

• Costume Characters • Clowns • Puppet Show • Petting Zoo • Theme Parties • Double Dare Mini Circus • Dress Up Tea Parties • Carnival Games • Cotton Candy

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375

4 hour basic party

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Established 1985

718-984-5546 or 732-360-1616

MOUSE-A-CISE WORK OUT WITH MR. OR MRS. MOUSE

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106www.siparent.com

• Jousts • Catapillar • Lazer Maze • Birthday Machine • Obstacle Course • Casino Parties • Photo Favors • Balloon Typhoons • Chair Rental • And More!

Party Smarty 718-556-9475 Entertainment Affordable Party Packages

Excludes weddings, sweet 16’s, bar/bat mitzvah and communion parties.

With coupon. Staten Island only.

Not valid with other offers or prior purchases.

Boogie with your favorite costume character.

Children’s Party Craft Parties Entertainment for All Ages

• Stuffed Bears • Airbrushed Tattoos • Wax Hands • Candle Art • Rides • Moon Walks • Ball Crawl • Super Slide • Dunk Tank • Gyro • Train • Carousel

718.556.9475

From children’s parties to elegant affairs.

Serving Staten Island since 1994.

$

• Candy Carts • Ice-Cream Sundae Bar • Sno-Cone Machines • Hot Dog Wagon • Candy Sticks • Craft Parties • Sand Art • Spin Art, T-Shirts & Pictures

www.PartyTimeEntertainmentInc.com • 718.667.8998

Party People Promotions We love what we do and it shows.

JANUARY 2014

YOU CHOOSE THE THEME. WE THROW THE PARTY!

Donna Ribertelli • 917

With any DJ booking, cannot be combined.

Childrens Party Entertainment Set to Music

At Little Shop Studios Specializing in children’s birthday parties, team parties and tween dance parties.

$100 OFF

le Re l i a b b le A f fo r d a e d nc E x p e r i e re d su Fu l l y I n

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c: 718-986-6510 • p: 718-698-2712

Face Painting, Glitter Art Tattoos Sculpture Balloons, Temporary Tatoos, DJ’s, Entertainers, Karaoke, Rides, Spin Art, Sand Art, Candy Art, Arts & Crafts, Theme Parties, Stuff a Bear Parties, Candy Cart, Cotton Candy, Popcorn, Snokones, Pretzels, Sundae Bar, Carnival Games, & More!

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FAMILY NEEDS Party Services

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917-417-3481

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Party on the Wild Side Live Animal Shows for Birthdays, Classrooms, and Summer Camps.

• Reptiles • Birds • Mammals 732-264-1879 • Bugs

www.partyonthewildside.com Featuring: Inflatable Rides • Popcorn • Cotton Candy Sand Art • Spin Art • Magicians • Caricaturists * WE SPECIALIZE IN PHOTO FAVORS *

BIRTHDAY PARTY

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356-8723

ENTERTAINMENT PACKAGES AVAILABLE

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107

108www.siparent.com JANUARY 2014

BIRTHDAY CLUB

Join S.I. Parent Magazine’s BIRTHDAY CLUB! Log on to www.siparent.com and click on the “Contests & Clubs” Tab

January JANUARY 1 Dylan C. McDonald Kellie Grant Tiffany-Ann Elie Valentina Bulone Daniella B. Durojaiye Stella Monaco JANUARY 2 Thomas Monza III Kelly-Anne Doyle Alana Guidice Joanne Malek Nicholas B. Antonelli Jack Tazzetto Christopher Bocola Paul Michael Bronski Nevin Ibroci Naim Ibroci II Brianna Piccirillo Jacob Ajodha JANUARY 3 Samantha Esposito Alexa Iman Akmal Alexandra Colalillo Jessica Shamah Mary M. Cali Sean Marcus Jones Monica Kobayashi Skyla Rose Paolino Jarrett Serate Manny Camardo Shawn Kafader Dylan Spinosa Daniel Ceneno JANUARY 4 Zachary Tyler Nielsen Steven Gurges Annelise Dunleavy Erica Holzer Caitlyn Holzer Megan Nagengast Jalla Taylor Manwel Gorgy Philip Gorgy JANUARY 5 Alyssa Ryan Travion Francis Mariham Tharwat Damien Joseph Cruz Nicholas Spaan Michelle Avila Oniesha Johnson JANUARY 6 Nina Chaiken Alicia Furnari Caitlyn Gould Kevin Schoenau

Nicole Buccellato Taylor Riopedre Robert Goldy Calavetta Raymond Henry Pitre Elizabeth Maira Jesse Jobin Robert Terzino-Torres Michael Del Rio JANUARY 7 Matthew Cruz Jonathan DeGroot Sean A. Torres Gabriella Jezina Xavier Gonzalez Andrew Piccirillo Francesca Moschella Danielle Santora/Casucio Briseis Scott Brianna Mirochnik JANUARY 8 Ashley Henrich Jenna Marie Romano Nicholas Lafata Iandioro Lauren Levy Robert Butler Julie Higgens Christina Adinolfi Melissa Hughes Timothy Casserly Vincent Mattaliano Jolene He JANUARY 9 Larry Gill Meghan L Henrich Bianca Sawh Billy LoPresti Jay Ellis Gabriel Zacary Nacmias Kyle Dimino Jonathan Jose Sheehan Joseph Depaulo Madison-Skyy Williams Amy Romero JANUARY 10 Nathaniel Wyatte III Rebecca Sue Farina Alex Nicolas Napper Anthony J. Schoentube Victoria Varriano Caitlin Howard Jason Young Kristen Ann McGill Lasaun Turner Giovanni Depaolis JANUARY 11 Christopher Schaefer Brittney Negron

Kevin Robert Lott Allison Yeneic Valentina Gandolfo Taylor Clanton Austin Pierce JANUARY 12 Gloria Monteleone Joseph Guercio Tamyra Meaders Ryan Jones Matthew Keeler Alexis Compton Christopher DePaulo Fallon Rose Bottali Hunter Canada Skylar Di Paola JANUARY 13 Michael Buono, Jr. Stephanie Troeller Tiffany N. Zingaropoli Michael Adeyanju Olivia Devoti Angelica Pettinato Joel Rivera Luca McLean-Egitto George Vales JANUARY 14 Jezlyn Fairbairn Justina Burzo Theresa Burzo Shahrukh Sayeedl Kristina Elizabeth Dwyer Nicole Lee Sutherland Samantha Del Rio Alexa Geloso Angelina Delmar RaeAnne Kascle Emma Devlin Yolanda Carrington JANUARY 15 Simone Elvin Jessica Perriri Mallory Reiss Thomas Tavernite Mandee Rivera Damien Cruz Nicole Stefanski Victoria Battista Bridget Keag Michael Varriano Brett Erichsen JANUARY 16 Kevin Sinclair Victoria Wong Nicholas T. Mandracchia Thomas Edward Vasquez Deanna Crocco

Daniel Cugini Alexander Olinsky William Smith Mekenzie Gonzalezå Gabriella Paniss Connor Pannell JANUARY 17 Emily Grace Doyle Michelle Vann Anthony T. Arpaia Julie LoPresti Jordan Sesny Luciano Turano Crystal Nerone JANUARY 18 Tiffany Alvino Caroline O’Dowd Daniela A. Nacmias Gia Koppie Adrian Rzonca Salvatore Basile Ryan Crimmins Jayani Ganewattage JANUARY 19 Joseph Caparelli Tess Isobel Studholme Lauren DiRago Toni Ann Kilaras Ryan Scali Adriana Maldonado Kaiitlynn Marie Vazquez Alyssa Grunhaus Ryan Starita Lea Price Isabella Smith JANUARY 20 Nicole Rodriguez Robert Gentile Erica Durkin Jeffrey M. Kamber Deanna Garcia Casey Nelson Rocco Fruscione Casey Bowden Kelly Hynes JANUARY 21 Mathew Jason Martinek Jerrell Ricky Smith Joseph Impeduglia Ian Gabriel Weeks Jasmine Bentley Josephine Marie Pikowski Amanda Mangano Burnias Joshua Jones Jessica Benedetto Alexandra M. Cochon

Stephanie Radolinski JANUARY 22 Jaclyn Guinane Timothy Egan Andrew Sinclair Neyla Ibroci Stefanie Pitre Gail Lemberg Nekoela Bishop Alexis Jacobs Matthew Rhoden Tiana Marie Castro Destin Rogers JANUARY 23 Skyler Lynn Labetti Vincent Brennan Mitchell Weiss Danielle Sarah Maguire Andrew Pellegrino Paige Polanco Samantha Sciari Sanuli Dharmawardena Bryanna Fail Caitlyn Nicole Murphy Ariel Burgos Amanda Palmer JANUARY 24 Lauren Di Giulio Vincent Taccetta Jessica Lynn Kevin Sawh James O’Brien III Taylor Torado Victoria M. Macula Zuri Bishop Matteo Corallo Tyler Goldstein JANUARY 25 Rachel Kearns Christopher R. Carbone Gabrielle Burfeind Michael John Ahr Jamie Daluise JANUARY 26 Sarah R. Coppotelli Nicholas DeLouisa Michael Sanicola Kiyanna Shanice Young Dante J. Aubain Nicole Lee Giambrone Emily Gonzalez Francesca Delapi Johnny Marsh Zachary Bellantoni Jaelin Lau Grace Assile

JANUARY 27 Justin Zaluk Jillian Bodiford Jaysen Sullivan Tierra Webb Christopher Rodriquez Ortiz Jordan Hafizi Nina Russo Kimberly Modolo Jake William Maiello JANUARY 28 Kimberly Lucchese Vincent Lucchese Jordie McFarquhar Alexandra Labita Thomas Jared Lieto Nicole Marie Loforte Jillian Bartel Joseph Lopez Daniel Bodin Jasmine Shea Joseph Guerci JANUARY 29 Bonnie Jones Michael Mema Julia Rosaria Cristiano Brooke Price Brittany Joyner Alexander Cole Slovitz Jayden McKenzie Rebecca Bianco Elizabeth Saada Joseph Giampietro JANUARY 30 Vincent Richard LoVerde Richard Reda Ashley Vella Tara Egan Jazmin Warren Eric Schnellbacher Katelyn Nouvertne Joseph Lopez Mia Garofalo JANUARY 31 Joseph Peters Alex Joseph Carlson Justin Drew Carlson Joseph Michael Moutos Rebecca Borges Gustavo Adolfo Paz Jr. Liam Bailey Lisa Migliorisi Vanessa Pristavec Ben Terry Kenneth Johnson Devin Hernandez Dylan Litmanovich

Birthday Club members are entitled to receive

10 FREE TOKENS AT FUNSTATION Funstation is located on 3555 Victory Boulevard • 718.370.0077 Good only for birthday club members on this list. Not to be combined with any other offers. Offer valid on child’s birthday only.

FAMILY NEEDS Classifieds

ANGIE'S

CONFUSED ABOUT COLLEGE? at ACADEMIC WISDOM

CLEANING SERVICE RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL CLEANING

F F O 10IR%ST NG F A NI C LE

FREE ESTIMATE CALL

we can help.

Call us for an appointment.

Consultation is FREE!

718-502-4001

Believe + Succeed LLC

Executive Function Deficits & Time Management Skills

PAULINE SCANLON LEARNING COACH

917.364.1644 • LDCSINY@gmail.com

917-453-4448

Are You Common Core Crazy?

Let me help 20 years experience New York State & City Licensed & Certified Tutoring Grades PreK-6 Call or Text Mrs. Laurence Fragomeni

(646) 258-9754

All Grades & Subjects K-12 NYS CERTIFIED TEACHERS READY TO WORK WITH YOUR CHILD

C: 718-755-3025

KAREN L. GOLDMAN, MA, LMHC-BC PSYCHOTHERAPIST & BEREAVEMENT SPECIALIST

By Appointment Only • 1076 Forest Ave 347-850-2322 karengoldmansitherapy.com kl.goldman@yahoo.com NYS Licensed Mental Health Counselor Treating Adults, Teens, Children & Families for Over 20 Years Evening and Weekend Hours

Tots “R” Us Daycare, Inc.

DYSLEXIC and NON-DYSLEXIC Is your child struggling with reading, spelling, writing or comprehension?

6 WEEKS–12 YEARS • EARLY PRE-SCHOOL CURRICULUM OPEN 6AM-6PM (EXTENDED HOURS AVAILABLE) • Free Breakfast, Lunch & Supper • Over Nights & Weekends • Hablamos Espanol • Summer Camp & Recreational Activities • NYS Licensed, ACD & HRA Accepted

Carol 347-215-2417 crlvsky@msn.com

110www.siparent.com JANUARY 2014

MARSHA PONCE 718.447.1416

Affordable private & small group instruction offered by certified, experienced teachers.

Certified Private Tutor

WILSON READING PROGRAM MULTI-SENSORY APPROACH ORTON-GILLINGHAM METHODOLOGY

Piano Teacher with a BM & MA in Music Offering Lessons in Your Home or Mine. All Ages, Levels & Styles.

Tutoring By Christine

“Help Bring Your Child’s Education to the Next Level”

ADVANCED TUTORING

Piano Lessons Experienced, Conservatory Graduate

Accepting Admission at our Newest Location–Call for Info!

LOCATIONS LOCATED OFF AVE, NEAR PS 22 718-954-4108 5FOREST

Email: totsrusdaycare@hotmail.com

Raise Your Score on the Common Core!

Classes for Grades 3-7 Begin the Week of January 6 Register before December 1 Get $50.00 off Refer a Friend and Receive One Free Private Tutoring session!

917.748.9089 christine@tutoringbychristine.com

www.tutoringbychristine.com

Lessons For All Ages and Levels in Studio or Your Home

917.586.5656 PIANO GUITAR VIOLIN BASS & AND MORE

Common Core Tutor

OVER 25 YEARS EXPERIENCE FAST, EFFECTIVE RESULTS AGES 5 AND UP

MUSIC LESSONS

NYS Certified Teacher

ASK ABOUT OUR

PRIVATE TUTOR

FREE MUSIC LESSON!

Specializing in Early Reading Development Phonics • Homework Help • Test Prep

IN YOUR HOME OR IN OUR STUDIO

GRADES K-8

718.490.1787 • mdorazio11@hotmail.com “Teacher of the Year” 2011-2012 school year

READ S.I. PARENT ON YOUR TABLET OR SMARTPHONE! GO TO WWW.SIPARENT.COM JANUARY 2014

www.siparent.com

111

FAMILY NEEDS Professional Directory ATTORNEY

ATTORNEY

Cassandra & Gullo , PLLC

Special Needs Children Need Special Plans for

DIVORCE

Child Custody • Alimony • Child Support • Domestic Violence CRIMINAL

Former Brooklyn Prosecutor with over 20 years experience

Desk appearance tickets • DWI Drug & Sex Crimes • Homicide Pleas • Sentencing

Staten Island: 718-698-1130

FREE Initial Consultation

DIVORCE ATTORNEY

Family Court • Child Custody Spousal & Child Support Domestic Violence • Adoptions Name Changes • Annulments Separation Agreements Free Initial Consultation for Divorce Actions 24 Kurt T. Richards, P.C.

Hour Phone Service

PERSONAL INJURY Car Accidents • Slip and Fall Construction Accidents Premises & Product Liability Negligence Including Personal Trainer Negligence

Attorney at Law

www.krichardspc.com 718.720.1000

Brooklyn: 718-701-2100

Divorce Attorney 4060 Amboy Road in Great Kills

COUNSELING SERVICES

ORTHODONTICS

KAREN L. GOLDMAN

ORTHODONTIC SPECIALIST, P.C. Dr. Michael Donato, Jr.

For Individuals, Groups, Adults and Children • Play & Art Therapy • Anxiety • Grief & Loss Issues • Relationship Issues • Depression • School/Career Issues

1076 Forest Ave • S.I. 347-850-2322

By Appointment • Day & Evening Hours

PEDIATRIC PHYSICAL THERAPY

Let Dr. Donato and his staff treat you to a quality orthodontic experience in a warm, caring & attentive setting.

Children • Adults • Invisalign™

(718)987-7688 199 Clarke Avenue Richmondtown

www.straightteeth.net

Most Insurance Accepted Most Major Credit Cards Accepted

718.317.7030 3710 Richmond Ave

www.starspediatrictherapy.com

Parent Support “When family matters”

Integrative Approach - 1 Family at a Time

Identify Core Issues • Gain Positive Communication Skills Create Harmonious Resolutions PARENTS WITH CHILDREN 5 YRS UP: Anxiety, Depression, Low Self Esteem, ADHD, Bullying, Oppositional Behavior, etc.

Bea Fulciniti MSEd, MSSpecEd, PhD Retired School Psychologist Deborah White, RN MS HNC Board Certified Holistic Nurse

917-932-3083 • www.twoangelshealing.com ORTHODONTICS

CALL US AND HAVE Salvatore R. Indelicato, D.M.D. Specialist in Orthodontics

GENTLE, PERSONAL, QUALITY CARE FOR CHILDREN & ADULTS

27 Washington Avenue (Side Entrance) Staten Island, NY 10314

ADVERTISED HERE!

(718) 967-5213

Member American Association of Orthodontists

David Lerman Psy.D

Tel: 917.783.5378 Fax: 718.494.2352 Email: Dr.lerman@gmail.com

YOUR BUSINESS

444 Huguenot Avenue • SI, NY 10312

LCSW-R, MSEd, CRC, CASAC

Individual / Family Therapy Psychoeducational Evaluations School Consultation Autism Program Case-manager

AUDIOLOGY ISLAND PROVIDES:

• Auditory Processing Disorder Screening and Evaluation (age 5+) • Auditory Brain Stem Response (ABR) testing • Complete Hearing Evaluation • Failed School Screening Follow-up • Ear Protection, Swim Molds and other Custom Ear Products • Hearing Aid Evaluation and Fitting

Retreats • 2 Day Programs • Sessions

PSYCHOTHERAPIST

NYS LICENSED PSYCHOLOGIST

148 New Dorp Ln, 2nd Floor 718-980-0188 info@audiologyisland.com

COUNSELING / COACHING

PSYCHOLOGIST

NY/NJ CERTIFIED SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGIST

EVALUATIONS INDIVIDUAL THERAPY SESSIONS GROUP MOTOR CLASSES MARTIAL ARTS PROGRAM

Attorneys at Law

718.442.7004

718.948.2102 ~Affordable Rates~

NYS Licensed Psychotherapist Bereavement Specialist

Call

JOHNSON & LANGWORTHY, P.C.

~Free Initial Consultation~

1200 South Ave, Ste 201 • SI, NY

MA, LMHC-BC

• Special Needs Trusts • Guardianships • Parents’ Wills

ATTORNEY

Adam B. Cohen, Esq.

AUDIOLOGY

Kim Williams-Jenkins Culturally Competent Compassionate Counseling • Advanced Integrative Therapy • Indiv/Couples/Family • Special Needs/Identity/Self Esteem • Work & Educational Issues/ Abuse-Recovery • Autism/Aspergers SOME CREDIT CARDS ARE ACCEPTED

2504 Richmond Road • 10306

917-613-4009

718-761-4800 x7139

PSYCHOTHERAPIST

PSYCHOTHERAPIST

DIANE MILIO, L.C.S.W.

SPEECH PATHOLOGY

Pediatric PROMPT and Feeding Therapy

PSYCHOTHERAPIST

Specializing in the treatment of children, adolescents, adults, couples and families

Marissa Ramos-Vitarelli MA, CCC-SLP-PC

Over 25 Years Experience Most Insurance Accepted Evening & Saturday Appointments Available

Speech-Language Pathologist PROMPT Certified Instructor for the PROMPT Institute

718.317.5782

917.887.8820 120 Rathbun Avenue Staten Island, NY 10312

47 Lucy Loop • SI, NY 10312

SPEECH PATHOLOGY 718-967-0359 • 3767 Richmond Ave www.brightstartspeech.com brightstart@si.rr.com

Speech & Language Pathology, P.C.

• Private practice with energetic & talented Speech Language Pathologists • Extensive experience • Full range of services (diagnostics & evaluations) • Occupational Therapy Now • NYS & ASHA Certified Accepting CPSE & RSA • Multi-Lingual Therapists

Offering Homecare

WE ACCEPT ALL MAJOR INSURANCE PLANS. FREE CONSULTATIONS.

SPEECH PATHOLOGY FIND THE FUN IN FEEDING is a twelve-week feeding program, utilizing the SOS Approach to Feeding. It utilizes a non-invasive developmental model, that teaches your child how to interact, tolerate and eat a variety of foods in a non-stressful, supportive environment. Parent/caregiver training is a key part of this program to foster success at home.

A multidisciplinary approach is also utilized, incorporating the expertise of a feeding therapist, an occupational therapist, a nutritionist, a pediatrician or any relevant professional working with your child.

www.pediatricandadultspeech.com LISA JIANNETTO, MA, CCC-SLP, DIRECTOR

718.356.6604 • 4056 Amboy Rd • 10308 SPEECH PATHOLOGY

HOME-BASED PEDIATRIC & ADOLESCENT SPEECH, LANGUAGE & FEEDING THERAPY & EVALUATIONS ALLISON WEISS M.S. CCC-SLP NYS Licensed, ASHA Certified PROMPT Trained Certified SOS Feeding Provider

646.831.1981

ALLISONWEISSSLP@GMAIL.COM WWW.ALLISONWEISSSLP.COM

SPEECH & OT

SPEECH PATHOLOGY

Simply Speaking SLP, PLLC Speech & Learning Center

Speech Screening, Evaluations, Feeding, Pediatric Speech, Oral Motor, Tutoring, Enrichment & Homework Help.

All school-aged children, including those with learning & developmental delays.

Most Insurance Accepted (Incl. Medicaid) NYC DOE CPSE and RSA letters welcomed!

Ade Otubanjo, M.A., CCC-SLP Leah Pride Otubanjo, M.S.Ed., M.A. Biochemistry 252 Maple Parkway (At Forest Ave) • SI, NY 347.546.5088 • simply.speaking.slp@gmail.com www.simplyspeakingslp.com

SPEECH, OT/PT

QUALITY CARE SPEECH CENTER, INC.

EVALUATION & TREATMENT OF PEDIATRIC SPEECH & LANGUAGE, FINE & GROSS MOTOR DELAYS & DISORDERS • Department of Education CPSE & CSE Tertiary Designation • Most Insurance Accepted • Homecare and School Services Offered

718-608-1508

southshorespeechtherapy.com 520B Bloomingdale Rd SI, NY 10309 415 Route 34, Suite 218 Colts Neck, N.J. 07722

NYS Licensed Speech Pathologists, Occupational & Physical Therapists Evaluation and Treatment of Pediatric Speech, Language, Feeding, Oral, Fine & Gross Motor Disorders, P.R.O.M.P.T., Russian Bilingual Services, State of the Art Sensory Gym Dept of Ed Provider (CPSE & RSA) Top of Tertiary Tier Designation

718.605.4301 3767 Hylan Blvd (Great Kills) Randi Pino M.A., CCC-SLP/TSHH, Director

www.qualitycarespeech.com

SPEECH PATHOLOGY

SPEECH AND LANGUAGE THERAPY ASSOCIATES OF STATEN ISLAND, PLLC PROMPT TRAINED THERAPISTS SOS FEEDING APPROACH ORTON-GILLINGHAM & WILSON TRAINED THERAPISTS EAROBICS

Individualized and Customized: Language Enhancement Programs, Auditory Training Programs, Fluency Enhancement Programs, Oral-Sensory-Motor Plans, Voice Treatment Programs, Accent Reduction Programs, Feeding Treatment Plans, Pediatric & Adult Clients We welcome NYC DOE clients, and we are now an associate of The Perfect Playground for all CSE cases.

www.pediatricandadultspeech.com NEW LISA JIANNETTO, MA, CCC-SLP, DIRECTOR LOCATION 718.356.6604 • 4056 Amboy Rd • 10308

SPEECH PATHOLOGY

SPEECH PATHOLOGY

CLAIRE GUTTSMAN M.A., C.C.C. - SLP

Speech Language Pathology PC

1076 FOREST AVE. (corner of Manor Rd.)

718-447-5501 Certified professional, providing quality evaluations and treatment of adults and children for over 35 years.

ADDITIONAL SERVICES: Public Speaking Improvement, Accent Reduction, Corporate Speech Pathology & Lecturing

• Diagnosis & treatment of infants, toddlers, adults • Autism, learning and communication disabilities • Articulation, impaired language, stuttering or lisps • All major credit cards and insurances

PreCare, SLP, PC • Radmila Gurevich, MA, CCC-SLP

WWW.SLPMD.COM

718.259.4001 • 1829 Richmond Rd

SPEECH PATHOLOGY

DOE APPROVED TO PROVIDE MONO AND BILINGUAL SERVICES FOR PRE-SCHOOL AND SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN.

Speech and Language Pathology Practice Serving You and Your Children

Autistic Spectrum Disorders, PDD, Craniofacial Differences, Fluency Disorders, Apraxia of Speech, “Late Talkers,” Hearing Impairments & Phonological / Articulation Disorders 347.640.4SLP (4757) • 188 Hylan Blvd • 10305 www.bbslp.org • Email: info@bbslp.org

Most Insurances Accepted

SPEECH PATHOLOGY

Sandra Mazzucco M.A., C.C.C.-SLP

NYS LICENSED SPEECH LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST

CALL US AND HAVE YOUR BUSINESS ADVERTISED HERE!

Evaluations & Therapeutic Intervention for Children & Adults

• ASHA Certified • New South Shore Location: 465 Belfield Ave • Annadale Town North Shore: 1076 Forest Ave

718-815-6024

718-761-4800 x7139

ADVERTISER INDEX A Wedding & Special Occasion Ctr........ 34

Geico ............................................................108

Richmond County Savings Bank .............. 2

Academic Advantage .............................. 68

Genesis Fertility ............................................ 66

Richmond Hill Children’s Center ..............66

Adelphi Academy ...................................... 41

Gingerbread Learning Center ................115

Richmond Univ Medical Ctr ......................55

Advantage Medical Care ........................ 31

High Hopes ....................................................87

Roller Jam ......................................................17

American Karate ........................................ 77

Hoffman & Karl Family Dental Center .... 28

Seido Karate..................................................71

Art Lab............................................................ 53

Holy Child ......................................................30

Showplace Entertainment ..........................12

Athletic Edge .................................................. 5

Hugs and Kiddies ........................................38

SI Academy ..................................................18

Bario’s Pizzeria .............................................. 27

J&J Academy................................................87

SI Audiological Services..............................75

Big Bird’s Playhouse .................................... 89

JCC Camp ....................................................43

SI Children’s Museum ................................77

Bricks 4 Kidz .................................................. 34

JCC Early Childhood Education ..............95

SI Community Charter School ..................93

Brienza’s Academic Advantage.............. 65

JCC First Foot Forward ................................67

SI Dance Center .......................................... 23

Carnival Kids..................................................13

JCC Reality Check ......................................74

SI Day Camp.................................................. 8

Casa Belvedere..........................................103

Kaplan Test Prep ..........................................45

SI Dental ......................................................105

Castleton Hill Moravian Preschool............14

Kiddie Wonderland......................................47

SI Family Music ............................................ 23

Center Stage Dance Co.............................93

Kids ‘N Shape ................................................49

SI Mental Health Society ...................... 37, 68

Cherry Bomb Rockstar Party USA..............97

Kids Dental ....................................................10

SI Montessori School .................................. 74

Children’s Harbor Montessori ..................65

Kidz Lounge ..................................................28

SI Pediatric Dentistry .................................. 24

Circle Urgent Care ......................................22

Kidzrock ........................................................101

SI Skating Pavilion ...................................... 85

Costanzo’s Martial Arts ................................91

Kumon of Silver Lake....................................38

Silhouette Dance Center .......................... 46

Created By You ............................................52

Lollipop Children’s Boutique ......................50

Small World Dental...................................... 39

Dea Music......................................................29

Master Curry Karate ......................................7

Small World Preschool................................ 69

Dr. Michael D’Anna ......................................63

Marina Cafe ..................................................27

South Shore Toddler Academy ................ 23

Dr. Michael Di Simone ................................87

Mathnasium ..................................................25

Spa Di Da ......................................................13

Dr. Michelle Giumenta ..............................87

Medieval Times ............................................91

St. George Theatre ......................Back Cover

Dr. Phyllis Merlino ..........................................65

Mini World Preschool ..................................99

St. John Villa Academy................................91

Dr. Trogan’s Music School ..........................37

Miss Jessica’s Jamz ......................................69

St. Joseph Hill Academy................................6

Dragons & Butterflies ....................................23

Music Together of SI ....................................25

St. Patrick’s School ........................................99

Dynamic Dental ..........................................67

New Dorp Christian Academy ..................80

St. Paul’s School of Nursing ........................97

ECHO ..............................................................75

New Dorp Moravian Church ....................56

St. Rita ..............................................................71

Eden II ............................................................33

Notre Dame Academy ..............................57

The Sunnyside School..................................67

EJ Michael’s ..................................................35

Once Upon A Child ....................................35

The Village Preschool ................................35

Eltingville Lutheran School ........................47

Our Lady Star of the Sea ............................69

Total Dental Care..........................................45

Evolution Dance ..........................................53

Parent to Parent ..........................................80

United Sports Youth League ......................50

Fairy Lice Mothers ......................................34

Party Jam Party Centers..............................51

Volunteers of America ................................89

Farrell Driver’s Ed ..........................................52

Party Jungle ..................................................81

Wagner College External ..........................56

FasTracKids ....................................................16

Pinot’s Palette ................................................42

YMCA ..............................................................15

Francis School ..............................................46

Pole Position ................................................ 30

Young People’s Day Camp ........................ 9

Fun Station......................................................21

Rab’s Country Lanes....................................19

Zion Lutheran ................................................99

Games on Wheels........................................99

Richmond County Day Camp..................11

Look For THE Re-Opening of our North Gannon Ave. School

As per Section 4410 of Article 89 of the Education Law

• Group or Individual Curriculums at Your Home, Preschool or our Center.

• Diagnostic Evaluations and Therapy by Licensed Certified Professionals. Placement determined by NYC CPSE. • NYS Approved Preschool Evaluation Site.

• FREE TUITION AND TRANSPORTATION* * For all eligibile children. Funding provided through state and local agencies. Parent may transport for reimbursement.

• Developmental Areas: Behavior and Socialization, Cognitive Development, Speech and Language Hearing Loss, Physical and Occupational Therapy.

• Three Convenient Staten Island Locations.

• Call or Visit our School & Pick Up a Free Brochure.

• For Information Concerning the Early Intervention Program Call 311.

WWW.GINGERBREADLCTR.COM ~Equal Opportunity Employer~

Ages 0-5 Programs Available 718 80 Woodrow Rd • 471 North Gannon Ave • 144 Bloomingdale Rd E-Mail: GingerbreadLearn@aol.com

5 Days - Full Day/Half Day

Not responsible for any typographical errors.

Extended Daycare Hours 7am-7pm Available JANUARY 2014

www.siparent.com

115

PRST STD

SOLUTIONS TO EVERYDAY PARENTING

1200 South Avenue • Suite 202 Staten Island, New York 10314

www.siparent.com

U.S. POSTAGE PAID STATEN ISLAND, NY PERMIT NO. 493