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TOY STORES
arts& crafts
BOOK STORES
language immersion programs
NEW ENGLAND RESORTS
TUTORS animals
CONSIGNMENT & RETAIL sports camps
OVERNIGHT CAMPS
ICE skating
MUSIC eye doctors SLEEP AWAY
ACADEMIC
PARTY LOCATION
NANNY SERVICES CLASSES
CHILD CARE
best family deals kids clothing
SUMMER DAY CAMPS DANCE orthodontists
COTTING SCHOOL
Ū Rolling admissions
Ū Comprehensive curriculum
Ū Collaborative Care Model, an integrated approach to ensure high quality academic and clinical services
Ū Consulting services that provide school districts with technology, student assessments and professional development
Ū Monthly information sessions and private tours available
Family F.Y.I.
2025 FAMILY FAVORITES
Results Now Available!
We asked and you told us who your New England favorites are, in droves! Boston Parents received over 200,000 votes from you guys! Awesome! We have your places to vacation, museums to visit, restaurants, schools, medical, special needs and the list goes on and on! Plus, you can find all of the categories online at BostonParentsPaper.com. Mark your calendars! The voting for 2026 Family Favorites starts March 1, 2026. FAMILY FAVORITES WINNERS ARE LISTED, STARTING ON PAGE 14
Back to School Anxiety
How to make the transition easier.
Feelings of anxiety are expected for children going through transitions such as going back to school. Over the summer, routines have changed and worries of the unknown may begin to stir as the school year approaches. There are ways to recognize anxiety in your child, as well as interventions that can help relieve those feelings. Some behaviors that may indicate your child is having anxiety surrounding the return to school are irritability, change in sleep patterns, continually seeking reassurance or asking repeated questions, and in some cases complaints of headache, fatigue and stomach ache. It is important for your child to attend school to learn that their fears can be overcome, as prolonged absence can worsen your child’s fears.
LISTEN
One of the best ways to make the school transition easier on your child is to acknowledge their anxiety. This can be done by listening to your child’s feelings and encouraging them to speak to you about how they feel. It is important to validate their feelings and not dismiss them. Demonstrate confidence that your child can handle the situation.
PRACTICE
Practicing school routines is another way to prepare your child for school. This can include practice walks to the bus stop, evening routines of packing the backpack and picking out
their clothes, or routines that begin when they wake up such as breakfast, getting dressed and traveling to school. Having a school tour prior to the first day can be a great way to introduce the new environment, as well as finding a new friend or neighbor who will be at the school prior to the first day. During the practice runs, it’s helpful to support your child as they think through difficult points of their day such as changing classrooms.
ROLE MODEL
Another way to provide relief for your child is modeling the calm behavior you would like to see. This can feel difficult in situations where you feel stressed, rushed, or anxious yourself. To work through your own feelings, think of taking deep breaths and remind yourself that your child’s behavior is being driven by anxiety.
SLEEP
Another method to set your child up for success for the new school year is ensuring enough sleep based on their age. The new wake-up schedule for school may need to be slowly implemented 1-2 weeks ahead of the first day. Feelings of fatigue can enhance your child’s anxiety.
After the school year begins, if your child continues to display signs of anxiety such as tantrums, problems sleeping, and/or refusal to attend school or activities, speak with your primary care provider about further interventions.
ADVANCED K-12 MATH PROGRAM
BEST STATES FOR FAMILIES
We all know living in our great state is pretty awesome! A recent study by WalletHub confirmed it. WalletHub compared the 50 states across 52 key indicators of family-friendliness measuring data set ranges from medium family salary to housing affordability to unemployment rates. It is no surprise that Massachusetts came in at the top as the best state for families, again! Rounding off the top 10 are Minnesota, North Dakota, Nebraska, New York, Illinois, Wisconsin, Maine, and Connecticut. To see all the results, go to www.wallethub.com.
Wing It
August is full of offbeat holidays that put the emphasis on kindness (National Friendship Day on August 3 and Just Because Day on the 27th), but we’re particularly digging Be an Angel Day, which is celebrated on August 22. What a simple, sweet and fun way to remind your children about the importance of doing something nice for others, like looking out for a younger sibling or lending a helping hand to a person in need.
Playground Safety
The Most Common Injuries and How to Prevent Them
Playgrounds are a fun and stimulating environment for kids to play and burn off energy. Although playgrounds can be fun, each year more than 220,000 children under age 14 are brought to the emergency room for playground injuries. Most injuries are a result of falling from equipment. This can include broken bones, cuts, bruises, sprains, concussions, and internal injuries. The most common injured body part is the arm.
Depending on how high the child is and the way they fall will determine what injuries they may face. This can also happen on monkey bars or swings. Children may lose their grip on monkey bars and fall as a result. Moreover, on swings, children may try to jump off of them midair. This could result in them trying to break their fall incorrectly and cause numerous injuries.
Children can also get injured if the playground area and equipment are not maintained. This can include if a slide, seesaw, swing, etc. has an exposed sharp edge. Children may not see it at first and then be playing and cut themselves. Children may also come into contact with trash or other unsafe objects that were not cleaned up in the playground, causing injury or illness.
The playground is a great place for social interaction for children and a great place for exercise. Parents can keep their child safe and allow for them to have a great time by following these simple precautions!
Safety First: Talking with Your Young Athlete
By Ju’Riese Colón, CEO of the U.S. Center for SafeSport
Health and well-being are often things adults prioritize at the start of every new year, but what about the youngest among us?
For those with children in sports or thinking about joining organized athletic activities, it’s never too early to find age-appropriate ways to start talking with your young athlete about positive behavior in sport settings. While these conversations can help prevent abuse and other forms of misconduct, they also support crucial life skills like establishing healthy boundaries.
The U.S. Center for SafeSport is the first national organization in the world dedicated to preventing and responding to abuse within the Olympic and Paralympic movement. But, we cannot do it alone. Shifting sport culture is going to take all of us. The good news is that sport safety can start with something as simple as a conversation—even with kids 5 and under.
Based on the Center’s Parent and Guardian’s Handbook for Safer Sport, here are tangible ways you can talk about boundaries and introduce simple rules related to sport participation with your young athlete.
• Tell your child you value their safety first. If a coach does something that hurts their feelings, hurts them physically, or makes them feel uncomfortable, encourage them to tell you (or another trusted adult) as soon as they can.
• Talk about other adults in their world they consider “safe.” This helps your child feel comfortable sharing concerns with another trusted adult if you are not available. In some families, these may be aunts, uncles, or grandparents. For others, a trusted adult
might be a best friend’s parent, a teacher, caregiver, or pediatrician.
• Ask open-ended questions that can draw out detailed answers. In other words, instead of questions that can be answered with yes or no, ask questions such as “What was your favorite/least favorite part of practice?”
When we establish an open dialogue, kids know they can come to us early and communicate safely. Remember that you don’t have to tackle everything at once. In fact, it’s best to make a commitment to start smaller conversations over the course of time.
Talk about Emotional Misconduct
• Reinforce that a coach may criticize a specific behavior—a kick, a catch, a run—but should never criticize the child personally.
• Teach your child the difference between helping words (such as “you can do it” or “great job trying”) and hurting words (such as “you’re stupid” and “you can’t do anything right”).
• Tell them they should let you know if a coach uses hurtful words when they talk to them.
Talk about Physical Misconduct
• Communicate about physical boundaries with your child before they attend their first class/practice. That includes boundaries between themself and other players as well as the coach.
• Discuss disciplinary techniques that you as a parent consider inappropriate (such as denying a water break as punishment). Tell your child you would want to know if another adult used those on them. This helps them feel comfortable coming to you when something a coach does feels wrong.
When we establish an open dialogue, kids know they can come to us early and communicate safely.
• Help your child understand that making behavioral mistakes (such as not following rules) is different from making skill-related mistakes. They should not be punished for trial and error when learning new skills.
Talk about Sexual Misconduct
• Communicate about what to do if a coach or older kids ask your child to keep something a secret from you or other trusted adults. Encourage them to tell you, even if the secret is something they feel confused or ashamed about.
• Discuss boundaries with your child about who should be touching them and when. Example: “It’s okay for the doctor to look at your private parts during an exam when I’m there, but it’s not okay for anyone else to do that.”
• Use the correct names for body parts when talking with your child and encourage them to use those names as well.
• Remind your child that nobody should be touching their private parts (even if they ask), not even their friends.
• Monitor the relationship of coaches or older kids taking special interest in your child, to spot potential grooming behaviors.
The Center has a wealth of educational tools and resources on abuse prevention for kids and parents. While the guidance above is geared toward children 5 and under, we also offer additional resources on how to talk to children age 6-12 and 13 and older. Y
Report to the U.S. Center for SafeSport if you have experienced abuse or misconduct—or if you have reasonable suspicion of abuse or misconduct—inflicted by someone in the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Movement. You can also call the Center at: 833-587-7233.
Ju’Riese Colón is the Chief Executive Officer of the U.S. Center for SafeSport, the nation’s only nonprofit organization committed to ending all forms of abuse in sport. As CEO, Ju’Riese leads the strategic vision and direction of the organization to ensure every athlete is safe, supported, and strengthened through support. An experienced child advocate who serves as an expert on issues related to child safety, Ju’Riese has led prevention and outreach initiatives with youth-serving organizations serving families, educators, law enforcement, and diverse communities. She earned bachelor’s degrees in criminal justice and Spanish from Virginia Commonwealth University.
ABOUT BOSTON PARENTS’ FAMILY FAVORITES
Boston Parents’ Family Favorites was born with the idea to give readers in Greater Boston and throughout the Northeast a chance to voice their opinions on their personal “Family Favorite” choices for everything kids and family and to support and promote local businesses. The program has evolved over the years, and hopefully, with a lot of input from our readers, we’ve been able to make it better and better.
Voting for Boston’s Family Favorites is conducted in a tworound process. The first round occurs in the month of March and early April with open writein nominations taking place. Write-in nominations continue to be open during round one of voting. As
the nomination period in the first round comes to a close in mid-April, shortly afterwards, the second round opens with-the top nominees in each category being selectable in this final round of voting during the latter part of April and May. Write-in nominations are no longer available. Voters are open to select their favorites from the listed finalists. The Winners, Top 5 and Top 10 are determined in this round. The final winners are posted in August. Mark your calendar and cast your nominations in March/April and your final vote in April/May!
This year we had a record number of readers vote, up 30%, and a record number votes cast, over 200,000! Competition was fierce! See who came out on top on the following pages. >>>
Pediatric Dentistry
Wesley Barton, DMD
Ronen Krausz, DDS
Bahar Houshmand, DDS
Ava Ghassemi, DMD
Mahdieh Beheshti, DMD
Dentist
Orthodontics
Roger Taylor, DMD
Shahrzad Khorashadi, DMD
Orthodontist
CAMPS
ACADEMIC CAMPS
TOP 10
• Acera School
• Camp Howe
• Cotting School
• French Library / Alliance Française
• Hale Outdoor Learning Adventures
• Natick Community Organic Farm
• Plimoth Patuxet Museums
• Russian School of Mathematics
• SELA: The International Private School
• Y3K Tutor In Your Home
WINNER
• SELA: The International Private School
ANIMAL & NATURE CAMPS
TOP 5
• Children’s Museum of New Hampshire
• Hale Adventure Camp
• Mass Audubon’s Drumlin Farm
• Natick Community Organic Farm
• NEOC (New England Outdoor Camp)
WINNER
• Hale Adventure Camp
2025 FAMILY FAVORITES
ARTS & CRAFT CAMPS
TOP 5
• Camp Howe
• Danforth Art Museum & School
• Hale Summer Camps
• LINX Camps
• Just Claying Around WINNER
• LINX Camps
BALLET CAMPS
TOP 5
• All That Jazz Dance Studio
• Arlington Dance Place
• Boston Ballet School Summer Dance Program
• Creative Steps Dance Studio
• DanceFIT Studio
WINNER
• Creative Steps Dance Studio
CULINARY CAMPS
TOP 5
• Boston Bakeology
• Cambridge School of Culinary Arts
• Cooking Up Culture - BU
• LINX Camps
• The Maker Farm
WINNER
• Cambridge School of Culinary Arts
DANCE CAMPS
TOP 5
• All That Jazz Dance Studio
• Boston Ballet School Summer Dance Program
• Live Love Dance
• Mass Motion Dance Boston
• The Dance Academy of Saigel Productions (TDA) WINNER
• Mass Motion Dance Boston
FAITH BASED CAMPS
TOP 5
• Christian Youth Conference at Ocean Park
• Grotonwood Camp and Conference Center
• JCC Camp
• Lexington Christian Academy
• Mount Hope Christian School
WINNER
• JCC Camp
FAMILY CAMPS
TOP 5
• Camp Howe
• Grotonwood Camp and Conference Center
• Hale’s Family & Community Program
• Mass Audubon’s Wildwood Camp
• The Inn at East Hill Farm
WINNER
• The Inn at East Hill Farm
FOREIGN LANGUAGE & CULTURAL
IMMERSION SUMMER CAMPS
TOP 5
• Fleur de Lis Camp
• French Library / Alliance Francaise
• German International School Boston
• Pine Village Preschool
• SELA: The International Private School
WINNER
• SELA: The International Private School
GENERAL & TRADITIONAL DAY CAMPS
TOP 10
• Chestnut Hill School Camp
• Dedham Country Day Camp
• Dedham Health & Athletic Complex
• Einstein’s Workshop
• Everwood Day Camp
• Hale Day Camp
• LINX Camps
• Steve & Kate’s Camp
• The Cambridge School of Weston- CSW Summer
• YMCA Camp Takodah
WINNER
• Everwood Day Camp
GYMNASTICS CAMPS
TOP 5
• Broderick Gymnastics Academy
• Energy Fitness and Gymnastics
• Exxcel Gymnastics & Climbing
• Gymnastics Academy of Boston
• Planet Gymnastics
WINNER
• Energy Fitness and Gymnastics
HEALTH & SPECIAL NEEDS CAMPS
TOP 5
• Applied Behavioral Learning Services
• Barton Center for Diabetes Education
• Camp Howe
• MGH Aspire
• Riverbend School
WINNER
• Applied Behavioral Learning Services
HORSEBACK RIDING CAMPS
TOP 5
• Camp Marshall Equestrian Center
• Dana Hall School
• Orchard Hill Equestrian Center
• Sweet Meadow Farm
• Willow Brook Farms
WINNER
• Sweet Meadow Farm
Favorite Birthday Party Venue Winner!
LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT CAMPS
TOP 5
• Acera School
• Camp Howe
• Everwood Day Camp
• Hale’s Youth Leadership Development Programs
• Lumos Debate
WINNER
• Hale’s Youth Leadership Development Programs LEGO CAMPS
TOP 5
• Acera School
• Einstein’s Workshop
• iCode of Wellesley
• LetGo Your Mind
• NuVu Summer
WINNER
• iCode of Wellesley
MUSIC & SINGING CAMPS
TOP 5
• Artbarn Community Theater
• Camp Howe
• Community Music Center of Boston
• Jammin With You
• Powers Music School WINNER
• Community Music Center of Boston
PERFORMING ARTS CAMPS
TOP 5
• Charles River School
• Chestnut Hill School
Creative Arts & Sports Program
• Kidstock! Creative Theater
• LINX Camps
• Wellesley Theatre Project WINNER
• Wellesley Theatre Project
PRESCHOOL AGE CAMPS
TOP 10
• Chestnut Hill School Summer Camp
• Everwood Day Camp
• Hale Day Camp (Kindercamp)
• Lesley Ellis Summer
• LINX Camps
• Natick Community Organic Farm
• PUDDLESTOMPERS Nature Exploration
• SELA: The International Private School
• Summer at Tobin
• Wellan Montessori Summer
WINNER
• SELA: The International Private School
ROBOTICS CAMPS
TOP 5
• Acera School
• Boston Leadership Institute
• Edge on Science
• Einstein’s Workshop
• iCode Of Wellesley WINNER
• iCode Of Wellesley
SCHOOL VACATION CAMPS
TOP 10
• Chestnut Hill School Summer Camp
• Einstein’s Workshop
• Everwood Day Camp
• Exxcel Gymnastics & Climbing
• Girl Scouts of Eastern Mass
• Hale’s School Vacation Days
• LINX Camps
• Mass Motion Dance Boston
• Natick Community Organic Farm
• SELA: The International Private School
WINNER
• Einstein’s Workshop
SLEEPAWAY CAMPS
TOP 5
• Camp Birch Hill
• Camp Howe
• Fleur de Lis Camp
• Hale Adventure Camp
• YMCA Camp Takodah
WINNER
• Camp Birch Hill
SPORTS CAMPS
TOP 5
• Camp Howe
• Chestnut Hill Summer Camp
• Exxcel Gymnastics & Climbing
• Hale Mountain Biking Camp
• LINX Camps
WINNER
• Exxcel Gymnastics & Climbing
STEAM SUMMER CAMPS & SUMMER PROGRAMS
TOP 5
• Einstein’s Workshop
• LINX Camps
• NuVu Summer
• Russian School of Mathematics
• SELA: The International Private School
WINNER
• SELA: The International Private School
TEEN FOCUSED CAMPS & SUMMER PROGRAMS
TOP 10 TIE
• Boston Architectural College
• Boston Leadership Institute
• Cambridge School of Weston
• Camp Howe
• Coastal Discoveries: Marine Education Program
• Einstein’s Workshop
• Everwood Day Camp
• French Library/ Alliance Française
• Hale Day Camp (Teen Camp)
• LINX Camps
• NuVu Summer
WINNER
• Einstein’s Workshop
WINTER CAMPS
TOP 5
• Einstein’s Workshop
• Exxcel Gymnastics & Climbing
• Hale’s School Vacation Days
• Mass Motion Dance Boston
• SELA The International Private School
WINNER
• SELA: The International Private School
CLASSES & ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS
ART CLASSES
TOP 5
• Creation Station
• Danforth Art Museum & School
• Einstein’s Workshop
• Energy Fitness and Gymnastics
• New Art Center
WINNER
• Einstein’s Workshop BALLET CLASSES
TOP 5
• Boston Ballet School
• Creative Steps Dance Studio
• Mass Motion Dance Boston
• Mini Movers Dance Studio
• West Concord Dance Academy
WINNER
• Creative Steps Dance Studio
CIRCUS ARTS CLASSES
TOP 5
• Boston Children’s Circus
• Circus Complex Co.
• Commonwealth Circus Center
• Esh Circus Arts
• Moody Street Circus
WINNER
• Commonwealth Circus Center
CLASSES FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENT INSTRUCTION
TOP 5
• Brookline Music School
• Community Music Center of Boston
• Go Go Allegro School of Music
• Little Groove Music
2025 FAMILY FAVORITES
• Maestro Musicians Academy
• Note-worthy Music Studio
WINNER
• Note-worthy Music Studio COMPUTER SCIENCE AND CODING CLASSES
• The Inn at East Hill Farm ZOOS, AQUARIUMS OR NATURE CENTERS
TOP 5
• Franklin Park Zoo
• Natick Community Organic Farm
• New England Aquarium
• Seacoast Science Center
• Southwick’s Zoo
WINNER
• New England Aquarium
RETAIL & FAMILY SERVICES
BABY GIFTS & GEAR
TOP 5
• CouCou
• Cutie Patutie’s Consignment
• kodomo boston
• Magpie Kids
• Tiny Hanger
WINNER
• Cutie Patutie’s Consignment
BOOK STORES
TOP 5
• Blue Bunny Books & Toys
• Brookline Booksmith
• Hummingbird Books
• Porter Square Books
• Wellesley Booksmith WINNER
• Brookline Booksmith CONSIGNMENT STORES
TOP 5
• Blessing Barn Beacon Hill
• Boomerangs
• CMC Kids Tag Sale
• Cutie Patutie’s Consignment
• LexFUN! Consignment Sale
WINNER
• LexFUN! Consignment Sale
FAMILY SHOE STORES
TOP 5
• Active Soles
• Closet to Closet Kids Resale Boutique
• Michelson’s Shoes
• Red’s Shoe Barn
• The Barn Family Shoe Store
WINNER
Michelson’s Shoes
KIDS’ CASUAL WEAR STORES
TOP 5
• CouCou
• Cutie Patutie’s Consignment
• Keeping Pace with Multiple Miracles
• Kodomo Children’s Clothing
• Tiny Hanger
WINNER
• Cutie Patutie’s Consignment
KIDS’ SPECIAL OCCASION WEAR STORES
TOP 5
• BeeCee’s Kids
• Cutie Patutie’s Consignment
• Keeping Pace with Multiple Miracles
• kodomo bostonchildren’s clothing
• Magpie Kids
WINNER
• Keeping Pace with Multiple Miracles
TOY STORES
TOP 5
• Blue Bunny Books & Toys
• Catch A Falling Star Toys
• Cutie Patutie’s Consignment
• Henry Bear’s Park
• Keeping Pace with Multiple Miracles WINNER
• Henry Bear’s Park
2025 FAMILY FAVORITES
FAMILY
PHOTOGRAPHERS
TOP 5
• Andre Toro Photography
• Boston Baby Photos
• Corey Flint Photography
• Janelle Carmela Photography
• Lucozzi Portraits
WINNER
• Lucozzi Portraits
KIDS HAIRCUTS
TOP 5
• Kids Kool Cuts
• Max and Mia’s Children’s Salon Hanover
• Snip-its Haircuts for Kids
• The Cutting Studio
• The Village Barber WINNER
• The Cutting Studio
NANNY SERVICES
TOP 5
• Boston Baby Nurse & Nanny
• Boston Nanny Centre
• Cass and Company, LLC
• Sarah’s Sweet Slumber
• The Nanny Hub WINNER
• Cass and Company, LLC
HEALTH & WELLNESS
BIRTH CENTERS & MATERNITY CARE
TOP 5
• Boston Baby Nurse & Nanny
• Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
• Mass General Hospital
• Mother’s Helpers
• New England Doula Support
WINNER
• Boston Baby Nurse & Nanny
FAMILY DENTISTS
TOP 5
• Chestnut Dental
• Natick Dental Partners
• Pediatric Dental Specialists of Needham
• The Center for Pediatric Dental Care & Orthodontics
• The Medford Center for Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry
WINNER
• The Center for Pediatric Dental Care & Orthodontics
HOSPITALS OR MEDICAL CENTERS
TOP 5
• Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
• Boston Children’s Hospital
• Cambridge Health Alliance
• Mass General Hospital
• Newton-Wellesley Hospital
WINNER
• Boston Children’s Hospital
LEARNING DISABILITIES SPECIALISTS
TOP 5
• Boston Ability Center
• Buttonloop Children’s Therapies
• Commonwealth Learning Center
• South Shore Therapies
• Y3K Tutor In Your Home
WINNER
• Boston Ability Center MENTAL HEALTH PRACTICES
TOP 5
• Be Inspired Counseling
• Behavioral Health and Medicine
• Buttonloop Children’s Therapies
• McLean Hospital
• South Bay Mental Health WINNER
• Be Inspired Counseling OPTOMETRIST
TOP 5
• Family Eyecare Solutions
• Mass. Eye and Ear
• Medfield Eye Associates
• Metrowest Family Eye Care
• Specialized Pediatric Eye Care, Beverly
WINNER
• Family Eyecare Solutions
ORTHODONTISTS
TOP 5
• Chestnut Dental
• Dr Eric Gheewalla
• Dr Mark Halvorsen
• Starr & Glick Orthodontics
• The Center for Pediatric Dental Care & Orthodontics
WINNER
• The Center for Pediatric Dental Care & Orthodontics
PEDIATRICIANS
TOP 5
• Atrius Health
• Framingham Pediatrics
• Franklin Pediatric and Adolescent Care
• Needham Pediatrics
• Pediatrics at Newton Wellesley
WINNERS
• Needham Pediatrics
SPEECH LANGUAGE THERAPY
TOP 5
• Boston Ability Center
• Boston Children’s Hospital
• Buttonloop Children’s Therapies
• Speech Language Pathology Center
• The Speech Therapy Center
WINNER
• Speech Language Pathology Center
SPORTS MEDICINE PRACTICES
TOP 5
• Boston Children’s Hospital
• Beth Israel Deaconess Sports Medicine
• Boston Sports Medicine
• Mass General Hospital
• Orthopedics New England
WINNER
• Boston Children’s Hospital
SPECIAL NEED SERVICES & RESOURCES
SPECIAL NEEDS GENERAL RESOURCES
TOP 5
• Applied Behavioral Learning Services.
• ABA Helps, LLC
• Bridging Independent Living Together Inc.
• Campus School at Boston College
• Commonwealth Learning Center
WINNERS
• Applied Behavioral Learning Services
SPECIAL NEEDS LEGAL ASSISTANCE
TOP 5
• Fletcher Tilton PC
• Cushing & Dolan, P.C.
• Mariscal Special Needs Law
• Ramos Law Education and Disability Advocates
• Special Needs Law Group
WINNER
• Fletcher Tilton PC
2025 FAMILY FAVORITES
SPECIAL NEEDS PRESCHOOLS
TOP 5
• Applied Behavioral Learning Services.
• Campus School at Boston College
• Cotting School
• Kennedy Day School
• Partners in Child Development
WINNER
• Campus School at Boston College
SPECIAL NEEDS ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
TOP 5 TIE
• Campus School at Boston College
• Cotting School
• League School for Autism
• May Institute
• Milestones Day School and Transition Program
• The Wolf School
WINNER
• The Wolf School
SPECIAL NEEDS MIDDLE SCHOOLSMIDDLE SCHOOLS
TOP 5
• Campus School at Boston College
• Center For Applied Behavioral Instruction
• Cotting School
• Milestones Day School and Transition Program
• The Wolf School
WINNER
• The Wolf School
SPECIAL NEEDS HIGH SCHOOLS
TOP 5
• Campus School at Boston College
• Cotting School
• League School for Autism
• Learning Prep School
• Milestones Day School and Transition Program
WINNER TIE
• Campus School at Boston College
• Milestones Day School and Transition Program
SPECIAL NEEDS AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS
TOP 5
• ABA Helps, LLC
• Applied Behavioral Learning Services
• Bridging Independent Living Together Inc.
• Campus School at Boston College
• Commonwealth Learning Center
WINNER
• ABA Helps, LLC
SPECIAL NEEDS RECREATION PROGRAMS
TOP 5
• Berklee Institute for Accessible Arts Education (BIAAE)
• Boston Ballet School Adaptive
• Bridging Independent Living Together, Inc.
• Skating Academy
• The Common Room Inc
WINNER
• The Common Room Inc.
EARLY EDUCATION
BILINGUAL PRESCHOOLS
TOP 5
• Little Children Schoolhouse
• Ming Hui Academy
• Pine Village Preschool
• SELA: The International Private School
• SolBe Learning
WINNER
• SolBe Learning
CHILD CARE FACILITIES
TOP 10
• Cambridge Preschool of the Arts
• Kiddie Academy of Cambridge
• Little Children Schoolhouse
• Pine Village Preschool
• SELA: The International Private School
• SolBe Learning
• Tender Loving Care Childcare Centers LLC
• The Tobin Schools
• Wellan Montessori School
• Wellesley Community Children’s Center
WINNER
• Tender Loving Care Childcare Centers LLC
CHILD CARE REFERRAL & SUPPORT AGENCIES
TOP 5
• Boston Baby Nurse & Nanny
• Cass and Company, LLC
• New England Doula Support
• Sarah’s Sweet Slumber
• The Nanny Hub
WINNER
• Cass and Company, LLC
FAITH-BASED PRESCHOOLS
TOP 5
• Abundant Life Christian School & Learning Center
• Jackson Walnut Park School
• Mt. Alvernia Academy
• Quincy Catholic Academy
• St. Mary of the Assumption School
WINNER
• Jackson Walnut Park School
INDEPENDENT PRESCHOOLS
TOP 10
• Delphi Academy
• Jackson Walnut Park School
• Little Children Schoolhouse
• Mt. Alvernia Academy
• SELA: The International Private School
• SolBe Learning
• Tender Loving Care Childcare Centers LLC
• The Tobin Schools
• Torit Montessori School
• Wellan Montessori School
WINNER
• Wellan Montessori School
LARGE PRESCHOOLS
TOP 10
• Bowen Cooperative Nursery School
• Kiddie Academy of
2025 FAMILY FAVORITES
Cambridge
• Kingsley Montessori School
• Pine Village Preschool
• Second Church Nursery School
• SELA: The International Private School
• SolBe Learning
• Tender Loving Care Childcare Centers LLC
• The Tobin Schoolsl
• Wellan Montessori School WINNER
• Tender Loving Care Childcare Centers LLC
MONTESSORI PRESCHOOLS
TOP 5
• Jackson Walnut Park School
• Kingsley Montessori School
• Riverbend School
• Torit Montessori School
• Wellan Montessori School WINNER
• Wellan Montessori School
SMALL PRESCHOOLS
TOP 5
• Little Children Schoolhouse
• Lotus Montessori Academy
• Riverbend School
• Two Little Owls Schoolhouse
• Wellesley Community Children’s Center
WINNER
• Little Children Schoolhouse
SCHOOLS — ELEMENTARY
BILINGUAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
TOP 5
• EFGB Ecole Francaise Greater Boston
• German International School
• Quincy Catholic Academy
• SELA: The International Private School
• Torit Montessori School
WINNER
• SELA: The International Private School
FAITH-BASED ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
TOP 5
• Mount Hope Christian School
• Jackson Walnut Park School
• Mt. Alvernia Academy
• Quincy Catholic Academy
• St. Mary of the Assumption WINNER
• Jackson Walnut Park School
MONTESSORI ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
TOP 5
• Kingsley Montessori School
• Oak Meadow Montessori School
• Riverbend School
• Torit Montessori School
• Wellan Montessori School
WINNER
• Wellan Montessori School
PRIVATE INDEPENDENT ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
TOP 5 TIE
• Advent School
• Delphi Academy
• Jackson Walnut Park School
• Mt. Alvernia Academy
• SELA: The International Private School
• Wellan Montessori School
WINNER
• SELA: The International Private School
PUBLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
TOP 5
• Countryside Elementary
• Eliot Elementary
• Hunnewell Elementary School
• Marathon Elementary
• Thoreau Elementary
WINNER
• Eliot Elementary
SCHOOLS — MIDDLE
FAITH-BASED MIDDLE SCHOOLS
TOP 5
• Austin Preparatory School
• Lexington Christian Academy
• St. Mary of the Assumption School
• Saint Paul’s Choir School
• Ursuline Academy
WINNER
• St. Mary of the Assumption School
MONTESSORI MIDDLE SCHOOLS
TOP 5
• Bay Farm Montessori
• Inly School
• Oak Meadow Montessori School
• Riverbend School
• Wellan Montessori School
WINNER
• Riverbend Schooll
PRIVATE INDEPENDENT
MIDDLE SCHOOLS
TOP 5
• Delphi Academy
• Riverbend School
• SELA: The International Private School
• Ursuline Academy
• Wellan Montessori School
WINNER
• Wellan Montessori School
PUBLIC MIDDLE SCHOOLS
TOP 5
• Boston Latin
• Francis W. Parker Charter Essential School
• Medway Middle School
• Wellesley Middle Schoo
• West Somerville Neighborhood School l
WINNER
• Boston Latin
SCHOOLS — HIGH
BOARDING HIGH SCHOOLS
TOP 5
• Deerfield Academy
• Eagle Hill School
• Lexington Christian Academy
• Phillips Academy Andover
• Phillips Exeter Academy
WINNER
• Eagle Hill School
FAITH-BASED HIGH SCHOOLS
TOP 5
• Austin Preparatory School
• Boston College High School
• Cardinal Spellman High School
• Newton Country Day School of the Sacred Heart
• Ursuline Academy WINNER
• Ursuline Academy
PRIVATE
INDEPENDENT HIGH SCHOOLS
TOP 5
• Archbishop Williams High School
• Austin Preparatory School
• Archbishop Williams High School
• St. Sebastian’s Country Day School
WINNER
• Ursuline Academy
PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS
TOP 5
• Hopkinton High school
• Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School
• Medway High School
• Newton South High School
• Wellesley High School
WINNER
• Wellesley High School
• Y
Dyslexia and Your Child
By Jill Plantedosi
In speaking with numerous teachers and parents I have worked with over the past 25 years, a consistent question that I am asked is, “how do I know if my child or student is dyslexic?”
According to Drs. Shaywitz from the Yale Center for Dyslexia and Creativity, dyslexia effects 20 percent of the population and represents 80-90 percent of all those with learning disabilities.
Teachers have become increasingly concerned about diagnosing dyslexia as early as possible in order to put together a roadmap for success. Educators need to identify children who are at risk for dyslexia and catch them before they fall. So many children are not getting a definitive diagnosis of dyslexia, but are given a checklist of strengths and weaknesses, stating only the word “learning disability” on their evaluation. Success begins with identifying this complex problem and knowing the best interventions to put into place. The dyslexia guidelines posted on the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s website, provides a set of screening recommendations for all students, as well as a framework for intervention. These guidelines can be quite helpful in providing information needed to support students with dyslexia.
Dyslexia is characterized by difficulties with accurate and/or fluent word recognition and by poor spelling and decoding abilities.
WHAT IS DYSLEXIA?
According to the International Dyslexia Association, (www.interdys.org), “Dyslexia is a specific learning disability that is neurobiological in origin. It is characterized by difficulties with accurate and/or fluent word recognition and by poor spelling and decoding abilities. These difficulties typically result from a deficit in the phonological component of language that is often unexpected in relation to other cognitive abilities and the provision of effective classroom instruction. Secondary consequences may include problems in reading comprehension and reduced reading experience that can impede growth of vocabulary and background knowledge.” (Adopted by the IDA Board of Directors, Nov. 12, 2002)
The basic deficit in dyslexia, is the result of persistent difficulties with phonological processing. If your child has a phonological impairment, and struggles with the individual sounds of spoken words, he/she may have problems with:
• Spoken language linked to a child’s phonological skills, (Either delayed early on and/or word retrieval later on).
• Phonemic awareness (understanding by the child that spoken words are made up of smaller units of speech)
• Difficulties with pronunciation of words
• Rapid automatized object naming
• Identifying letters of connecting letters to sounds
• Ability to use expressive language
• Decoding difficulties that impact accuracy
• Hearing and repeating rhyming sounds
• Encoding sounds into letters and spelling
• Learning the sound system of a foreign language
COMMON MYTHS ABOUT DYSLEXIA
• More boys than girls are dyslexic-Dyslexia affects comparable numbers.
• Dyslexia will be outgrown-Dyslexics will be able to learn to read accurately, but will continue to struggle with fluency and automaticity.
• Intelligence is related to dyslexia- Dyslexics often have a high IQ.
• Dyslexia is a vision problem-Dyslexic children are no more likely to have vision problems than non-dyslexic children.
• Mirror writing is a symptom of dyslexia-This is very common in all children at the early stages, as young children commonly reverse letters.
• Dyslexia doesn’t show up until elementary school-Dyslexia can show up in preschool. Often these preschoolers were late talkers and had difficulty with rhyming words.
• Dyslexic children need to try harder-Effort has nothing to do with reading success, as the brain functions differently in a dyslexic child.
• There is no way to accurately diagnose dyslexia-We can now accurately identify those at risk as early as preschool and children who are dyslexic by first grade.
• Dyslexia only happens in the English language- Dyslexia is prevalent in all languages.
RECOGNIZING THE SIGNS OF DYSLEXIA
PRE-SCHOOL (EARLY YEARS)
• Trouble with learning nursery rhymes
• Struggles to learn and remember the names of the letters in the alphabet
• Difficulties recognizing letters in his/her name
• Mispronouncing and confusing familiar words
• Difficulty producing individual speech sounds
• Struggles to blend the sounds in words
• Not recognizing rhyming words and patterns
• Having a family history of reading difficulties
KINDERGARTEN AND FIRST GRADE
• Does not associate letters with sounds
• Reading errors and miscues that show no connection to the sounds of the letters
• Difficulty reading one-syllable words
• Difficulty separating sounds in words and does not understand that words come apart
• Struggles to blend sounds in words
• Difficulty getting to the individual sounds of spoken words
• Difficulty with word retrieval
• Slow progress in acquiring reading skills
• Rarely reads for pleasure
• Complains about how hard reading is and how tired they get
<<< Continued from page 29
SECOND GRADE AND ABOVE
• Slow reading, often pausing during reading
• Trouble reading unfamiliar words
• Difficulty getting to the individual sounds of spoken words
• Stumbling when reading multisyllable words
• Difficulty with word retrieval
• Poor fluency and prosody
• Oral reading is full of substitutions, omissions, and mispronunciations
• Avoids reading aloud
• Confuses words that sound alike
• Struggles to finish assignments
• Difficulty learning a foreign language
• Poor spelling
• Reading comprehension often superior to accuracy and speed
• Slow progress in reading skills
• Rarely reads for pleasure
The Massachusetts Dyslexia Guidelines provides for all students from kindergarten through at least third grade, to be screened for reading. They use a valid, developmentally appropriate DESE approved early literacy screening instrument. If your child’s screening results are below benchmark, the student’s parents or guardians will be notified within 30 days. There will be a discussion about what actions will take place within your child’s education program. Remember that a screener is not a reading assessment, but a way to help identify those students who may be at risk for dyslexia.
Actions
parents
can
take if they feel their child is at risk for dyslexia
• Review the screening assessment with your child’s teacher and discuss what plan of action will be put in place.
• Listen to your child read aloud at home, and make a
list of your observations and concerns. Bring your list to the meeting.
• Have your child placed in an intense early intervention reading program taught by a reading specialist, and have his/her progress monitored.
• Set up regular meetings with the teacher to discuss your child’s progress.
• If your child is not making progress and you still have concerns, ask to have a full diagnostic reading assessment done.
• Have your child taught with a scientifically—based reading program that supports his/her strengths and weaknesses.
• Your child’s reading program should include the following components: Phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension.
• Set aside a designated reading time in your home to read together. Let your child select books of his/her choice and practice with repeated readings.
• Be cautious about computer-assisted instruction.
• Use every opportunity to expose your child to literacy activities
Remember that dyslexia is a reading impairment, not a thinking impairment, and that the essential of a successful reading intervention is:
• Early screening
• Early diagnosis
• Early intervention
October 2 has been designated in Massachusetts as Learning Disability Screening Day in order to raise awareness of the necessity of screening for reading disabilities and promoting an understanding around dyslexia and other reading disabilities. Y
Jill Piantedosi is an adjunct professor for American International College, where she teaches graduate students who are pursuing an advanced degree in reading. She has worked as a reading specialist at both the elementary and middle school level for over 30 years. She holds an M Ed. in education and an advanced CAGS degree in reading. Jill is nationally board certified in English Language Arts 6-8 and holds a Massachusetts reading certification K-12.
References
Shaywitz, J. P. & Shaywitz, S., (2020). Overcoming Dyslexia.
New York: Vintage Books
Sousa, David, (2014). How the Brain Learns to Read.
California: Corwin Book Company
Websites
Florida Center for Reading Research – www.fcrr.org
International Dyslexia Association – https://dyslexiaida.org
International Literacy Association – https://www.literacyworldwide.org
Mass Department of Elementary and Secondary Education –https:www.doe.mass.edu/instruction/screening-assessments.html
National Center for Learning Disabilities – https://www.ncld.org
Parents as Teachers – www.parentsasteachers.org
Yale Center for Dyslexia and Creativity – http://dyslexia.yale.edu
PCD provides children of all abilities with a solid foundation for life-long learning through our educational and therapeutic programs.
MyPCD.org
Anderson School is a comprehensive approved private special education school for students ages 3-12 who have multiple disabilities, or significant, complex medical needs.
Early Intervention at PCD is an integrated developmental program offering evaluation and therapeutic services for children under age 3 who are not reaching age-appropriate milestones, or are at risk for a developmental delay.
Sibshops at PCD provides young brothers and sisters (age 6-13) with peer support and information in a lively, recreational setting. For enrollment in the 2023-24 sessions, email sibshops@MyPCD.org
5 Individual Sports for Kids
Parents want their kids to have an active and healthy lifestyle and many sign them up for team sports hoping to help them develop healthy lifelong habits and a love for physical activity. While there are many benefits to team sports, they aren’t always the best fit. Individual sports can be a great alternative to playing on a team especially for kids who have ADHD, sensory processing disorder, or struggle with socialization disorders. Individual sports help kids stay active while building self-esteem and focus. They also learn to set personal goals, and have the opportunity to work one-on-one with the coach. Here are some great individual sports to try and the benefits for your child can gain by participating in each of them.
TENNIS
Hand-eye coordination, speed, agility, gross and fine motor skills, and strong cardiovascular exercise makes tennis a great option for kids who like to keep moving, are quick on their feet, and want the individual attention that comes from one-on-one coaching.
MARTIAL ARTS
Kids who want to learn discipline, respect for others and themselves, balance and coordination, self-control, and work on their listening and focusing skills should consider trying martial arts. This can also become a family sport as all ages are welcome in this activity.
GYMNASTICS
Gymnasts are known for their strength, coordination, flexibility, and discipline. Your child may never become an Olympic gymnast but the confidence and agility they will learn from participating in gymnastics will stick with them.
By Sarah Lyons
SWIMMING
Swimming is a great source of cardiovascular exercise. It also promotes strength, stamina, balance, better posture, and teaches water safety. Swimming, like martial arts, is a sport for all ages. A love of a sport like swimming can turn into a lifetime source of exercise and enjoyment.
RUNNING
While running sports typically start in late elementary school or middle school, it is never too early or late to enjoy. Besides a great cardio workout, running helps develop physical, mental, and personal development as kids overcome challenges and set new goals in distance or time.
If none of the above sports are of interest, you may also want to research fencing, wrestling, cycling, dance, diving, or golf. Many of these sports allow kids to compete on an individual basis while contributing overall to a team. For example, kids competing in gymnastics will receive an individual score but the points go to an overall total for the team. This gives kids the support from teammates without the pressure of having to play on a team. Kids will learn to set and exceed their personal goals and also have the camaraderie that goes along with a team sport. If you notice your child is feeling pressure or frustration from participating in team sports, give an individual sport a try. Y
Sarah Lyons is a freelance writer and mom of six kids including triplets. She enjoys reading, writing, and spending time outdoors with her family.
ONE IN 36 CHILDREN HAS AUTISM. WE CHANGE LIVES ONE CHILD AT A TIME.
FOR NEARLY 70 YEARS, MAY INSTITUTE HAS PROVIDED EXCEPTIONAL CARE TO AUTISTIC CHILDREN AND THOSE WITH OTHER SPECIAL NEEDS.
OUR SER VICES ARE B ASED ON APPLIED BEH AVIOR AN A L YSIS (AB A):
Special edu cation schools for autism and developmental disabilities
Center-based services for to ddlers and you ng children
