Boston Parent March 2019

MARCH 2019

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Sensory Processing Disorder

More Than Your Typical Tantrum

Summer Campers

Environmentalists of Tomorrow

Universal Playgrounds

Children Coming Together

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Life Lessons Learned at Camp

Educational Toys Stem Toys to Entice

St. Patrick’s + Parade Locations CAPE COD • BOSTON SCITUATE • ABINGTON WORCESTER

APRIL 26 - MAY 5 HUNDREDS OF CREATIVE EVENTS STATEWIDE MANY FREE! explore our event calendar at ARTWEEKMA.ORG

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Boston Parents Paper | March 2019

#ART WEEKMA

March 2019 | BostonParentsPaper.com

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Boston Parents Paper | March 2019

Contents Features

March 2019 Volume 34 • Number 7

10 Sensory Processing Disorder

More Than Your Typical Tantrum

Where All Children Come Together

Summer Campers 14 Environmentalists of Tomorrow 16 Universal Playgrounds What’s Inside 4 Family F.Y.I.

Northeast Camp Guide Vote Family Favorites 2019 Get Ready for D.S.T.

8 Educational Toys

Stem Toys to Entice

18 5 Life Lessons

Learned at Camp

19 Family Calendar

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Here’s Your Lucky Parade Break out your lucky green shirt and head to one of these St. Patrick’s parades throughout the region.

Directories 13 17 22 25 26

Special Needs Resources Camps and Summer Programs Schools & Childcare Centers Classes and Enrichment Entertainment & Party Needs

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Boston Parent 841 Worcester Street Suite 344 Natick, MA 01760 Tel 617-522-1515 info@BostonParentsPaper.com Visit us online at BostonParentsPaper.com

PUBLISHERS Robert and Tracy McKean ART DIRECTOR Debbi Murzyn ASSOCIATE EDITOR Jean Abernathy

Boston Parents Paper is published monthly

by Parenting Media Inc. Please note that the advertisements in this magazine are paid for, which allows this magazine to be free to the consumer.

60,000 copies of Boston Parents Paper are distributed to more than 1600 locations in the region. Past issues are available on our website, www.BostonParentsPaper.com

Send letters to the editor or article ADVERTISING SALES submissions to editor@bostonparent.com.

Holly Castro, David Morney

Submit events to our Family Friendly Calendar at bostonparentspaper.com/event/

March 2019 | BostonParentsPaper.com

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✼ Family F.Y.I.

NORTHEAST CAMP GUIDE

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till trying to figure out where you’ll send your child to camp this summer?

The 2019 digital edition of Northeast Camp Guide features helpful articles on picking the right camp, Your Child’s Best Summer EVER specialty programs, family Starts Here camps, dealing with food Counselor15 Steps to 75+ In-Training Day Camp Camp allergies and more. Read it Programs Success Listings on BostonParentsPaper.com – just click on the Magazine tab then on the image of the Northeast Camp Guide.

Day Camps • Sports Camps • Enrichment Programs • Camps for Special Needs

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ish, which is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, is said to be good for boosting brain power and reducing the effects of conditions like Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. Other good brain foods include blueberries, nuts, seeds, avocados and whole grains. For short-term alertness, try dark chocolate!

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Boston Parents Paper | March 2019

Get Ready to Spring Forward Daylight Saving Time begins at 2 am on March 10.

Set clocks ahead one hour. (Insert groan here.) DST Ends on November 3 at 2 am. Fun D.S.T. facts to set your clock by: • It starts at 2 a.m. for a reason. The idea is that most workers with early shifts will still be in bed and most bars and restaurants will already be closed.

• It is “Daylight Saving Time” (singular), not “Daylight Savings Time” (plural).

• Daylight Saving Time starts in the United States on the second Sunday in March and ends on the first Sunday in November.

• Benjamin Franklin was the first to suggest a change in sleep schedule in 1784 after visiting Paris. In a witty essay titled, “An Economical Project for Diminishing the Cost of Light,” he calculated, somewhat jokingly, that Paris could save $200 million in candles of today’s dollars if they adopted daylight saving time.

• Researchers found a 2% decrease in SAT scores when the tests were administered after daylight saving time.

• “Cyberloafing,” or surfing the web for enjoyment during work hours, increases significantly the first Monday after daylight saving time begins in the spring. Researchers attributed this increase to lack of sleep and thus lack of focus and motivation.

• Contrary to common belief, farmers did not lobby for daylight saving time and even fought against it in 1919. However, they lost against urban retail outlets, such as fast food and tourist companies, who were in favor of the time change.

• In additional to farmers, television networks dislike daylight saving time. During the first week of DST, television ratings usually decrease.

• When daylight saving time was extended in 2007, there was a 7% decrease in crime in the U.S. • Car accidents increase in the weeks following the beginning of daylight saving time.

• About 70 countries around the world observe DLS. • Some countries refer to “Daylight Saving Time” as “Summer Time.”

March 2019 | BostonParentsPaper.com

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✼ Family F.Y.I.

Who’s Your Favorite?

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2019

VOTE NOW

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ur 2019 Family Favorite Awards ballot is here, and we need your input! Each year, we poll our readers for their top picks of places to shop, dine and play – everything from baby gear and book stores to kids’ classes, camps, museums and zoos. Head online to BostonParentsPaper.com to vote for your favorites today. We’ll publish the winners in our annual Best of the Best publication this summer. And you’ll be automatically entered to win a $100 Visa gift certificate.

What Prepared Parents Bring to the Emergency Department Tracey Sutherland, cPNP, Trauma Nurse Practitioner Trauma Center, Boston Children’s Hospital

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s a parent, an unexpected trip to the Emergency Department can be extremely stressful, unpredictable and even scary, but, being prepared can help keep your focus where it needs to be, on your child.

No matter the nature of the emergency, being under acute stress can make simple tasks much more challenging.

So how can you prepare for the unexpected? Here are some items that you can prepare in advance, and have on-file, either a printed copy kept in your bag or electronically on your phone, to make your visit easier. Many of these items can be found on the “camp” form provided by your primary care provider.

• Medication list List all the medications that your child takes with the reason they are taking it along with correct dosages.

This will help alleviate the stress of recall during the visit, while ensuring accurate history.

• Immunization list This will help guide the providers toward what your child may be at risk for, if not fully immunized.

• Allergy list List what the allergy is to as well as the type of reaction that occurs. Besides medication allergies, also include food and environmental allergies as well.

• Prior medical history List all diagnoses, surgeries and hospitalizations, as well as the reasons for each.

• Primary Care Provider List phone numbers for the office as well as emergency after hour calls.

• Copy of Health Insurance Cards.

Besides the information regarding care of your child, having a few of your child’s favorite and familiar items will help calm them during an uncertain visit. A favorite toy or lovey will help make treatment less frightening.

Keeping a calm and even voice and explaining unfamiliar equipment and procedures will help reassure your child and help them feel safe amid the chaos that can sometimes occur in the middle of an emergency.

Having information on hand and a few familiar belongings from home will help make a stressful Emergency Department visit, a little more manageable.

EXPLORE YOUR WORLD

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aper or plastic cups make great tools for curious young builders, scientists and mathematicians. Make structures by stacking the cups pyramid-style or arrange them on the floor to form geometric shapes and patterns.

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Boston Parents Paper | March 2019

With imagination added in, they can provide hours of fun. To nurture little ones’ natural curiosity, have them make predictions, such as “sink or float?” or “magnetic or not magnetic?” Then test them out.

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✼ Educational Toys

Stem Toys to Entice the Growing Brain Be sure to scroll through the entire list so you don’t miss any of these new award-winning STEM toys for your growing child’s mind!

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1 Learning Resources® Beaker Creatures™ Whirling Wave Reactor

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Age Range: 5+ Where to Buy: Amazon t's a whirling wave reaction! Drop the Reactor Pod into the chamber, fill it with water, and spin the lever to reveal the creatures! Doubles as a working lab station. Includes 1 Reactor Pod, 1 limited-edition ColorChange Frostonian, and science experiment guide. MSRP: $14.99

Where to Buy: Amazon rain-twisting and ultrachallenging puzzles for the most experienced puzzlers come together in Ultimate Puzzle Challenge!, with more than 125 specially created puzzles--including Hidden Pictures® scenes, mazes, Sudoku, word searches, crisscrosses, logic puzzles, Check...and Double Check, and more MSRP: $12.99

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Age range: 5+ Where to Buy: Amazon uild fun animals, objects, and more during play that pairs early math and fine motor skills with creativity and critical thinking.

Includes 100 MathLink ® Cubes in 10 colors and Activity Guide with 10 challenges. MSRP: $14.99

Boston Parents Paper | March 2019

5 Educational Insights® Artie 3000™

Age range: 7+ years Where to Buy: Amazon ay hello to Artie! This coding/ drawing robot puts kids in control. The easy-to-use drag and drop programming can be used on a Mac, PC or tablet. As kids tell Artie what to draw next, they learn leftbrain skills like basic programming, geometry, and math, while engaging the right side of their brains to create cool, colorful designs! MSRP: $69.99

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More than your typical tantrum.

By Lisa Renner aran Pomianowski knew there was something unusual about her son when at age 6 months he started screaming in response to loud toys and bright lights at the supermarket.

The situation became more serious when he was asked to leave preschool because of his constant need to move.

Her son, Eoin (pronounced Owen), was eventually diagnosed with sensory processing disorder, a condition in which the brain has trouble organizing information that comes in from the senses.

The disorder, which is not universally accepted in the medical community, was first identified in the 1960s by occupational therapist and psychologist A. Jean Ayres. The disorder received wider attention in 1998 with the release of Carol Stock Kranowitz’s book The Out-of-Sync Child, (TarcherPerigee), which has sold more than 700,000 copies.

Research indicates that at least 1 in 20 children may have sensory processing disorder, says Sheryl Benjamin, executive director of the Sensory Processing Disorder Foundation in Greenwood Village, Colorado.

Children can be either overly sensitive or not sensitive enough to the stimuli around them. They may have frequent or long temper tantrums, difficulty being still or recognizing others’ personal space, and clumsiness or poor motor skills, among other symptoms.

(See sidebar on page 12)

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Boston Parents Paper | March 2019

“In preschools, these kids don’t know how to respond to all the sensations in the room,” she says. “They can be overwhelmed, they can cry, they can lash out. They can be quiet and cower in a corner.”

While sensory processing (sometimes called sensory integration) difficulties are accepted by the medical community as a symptom of autism and other disorders, sensory processing disorder was not included in the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Medical Disorders – or DSM 5 – released in 2013. The year before, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended that its members avoid referring to the disorder.

“Because there is no universally accepted framework for diagnosis, sensory processing disorder generally should not be diagnosed,” the academy’s statement said. “Other developmental and behavioral disorders must always be considered, and a thorough evaluation should be completed. Difficulty tolerating or processing sensory information is a characteristic that may be seen in many developmental behavioral disorders, including autism spectrum disorders, attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), developmental coordination disorders and childhood anxiety disorders.”

But the problem is that some children have only difficulty with sensory processing and not the other conditions, say those who support a separate diagnosis of sensory processing disorder.

SPECIAL NEEDS RESOURCES Children who go untreated may have trouble with motor skills and then become socially isolated, according to the Sensory Processing Disorder Foundation. The kids may be labeled uncooperative and “out of control,” and their parents may be blamed because people are unaware of the child’s “hidden handicap.”

Researchers are not sure what causes sensory processing disorder, but preliminary findings show it to be inherited. Other factors may include prenatal and birth complications and environmental issues.

Pomianowski says that though her son was later diagnosed with ADHD and Tourette’s syndrome (a neurological disorder characterized by involuntary tics and vocalizations), his first diagnosis was for sensory processing disorder.

She says the diagnosis helped by leading her to get her son treatment with an occupational therapist. The therapy helps “dramatically,” she says.

Now age 7, Eoin has learned techniques to help him manage stress. For example, he might chew gum to help him concentrate or he might ask for a movement break if he’s been sitting in his chair too long.

“He’s much, much better than he has been,” Pomianowski says. “He’s doing so well. We have a supportive school system that recognizes that for Eoin, sitting on the carpet is difficult, so they let him sit on a chair instead.”

The Face of Therapy

Michael Monteiro, an occupational therapist at Cambridge Health Alliance, says the therapy he offers looks like play. “Therapy is similar to play but is actually much more focused as it looks at various parameters of differing sensory information that the child receives (registers), makes sense of (modulates), and ultimately uses,” he says.

“These skill factors can have great impact on overall regulation of state (being at the just right place) for the child.”

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<<< continued from page 11

For instance, if Monteiro is trying to help organize a patient’s proprioceptive sense (the body’s sense of where it is in space), he might have the child explore a jungle gym or use restrictive pedals on a bike or rollerblades to propel himself. “Exploring a variety of playground experiences, integrating climbing, jumping and swinging, coincided with simultaneous cognitive-based decision – for example, a game of ring toss while the child is positioned prone on a scooter board propelling himself across a linear surface – helps address the need for increased proprioceptive input and active engagement in an effort to develop motor planning skills.”

Sarah Schoen, associate director of research at the Sensory Processing Disorder Foundation, says the disorder hasn’t received full acceptance from the medical com-

munity yet because of misunderstanding. The symptoms can look, at first glance, too much like ordinary temper tantrums, or like parents aren’t disciplining their children enough.

“Now that we know there are underlying biological differences between children who have it and those who don’t, it gives credibility,” she says. “It’s not about their parents, but it is a neurophysiological difference from normal.”

Schoen says there is greater recognition of the disorder now than there has been since she began working in the field 30 years ago. She says the key to success in treatment is effectively involving the parents.

“If parents don’t learn how to address the child’s sensory needs, how to problem-solve when a child is having a continued on page 14 >>>

Signs of Sensory Processing Issues FOR INFANTS AND TODDLERS

FOR PRESCHOOLERS

• Has problems eating or sleeping.

• Refuses to go to anyone other than a parent.

• Is irritable when being dressed or uncomfortable in clothes.

• Rarely plays with toys.

• Resists cuddling or arches away when held.

• Cannot calm self.

• Has a floppy or stiff body or motor delays.

• Is over-sensitive to touch, noises, smells or other people.

• Has difficulty making friends.

• Has difficulty dressing, eating, sleeping and/or toilet training.

• Is clumsy, weak or has poor motor skills.

• Is in constant motion, in everyone else’s face and space.

• Has frequent or long temper tantrums.

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Summer Campers

<<< continued from page 12

Environmentalists of Tomorrow

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ampers are the future stewards of the environment, and the grass is looking greener. According to a study conducted in 2015 by the National organization of the American Camp Association, Nature/Environmental Education programs as well as Gardening programs make up 31% of new programs being added to camps based on interests of campers.

Camps in New England have been providing an ideal setting for creating environmental awareness in children for over 150 years! Living closely with the Earth while at camp, campers learn to appreciate and care for the world around them. They experience it as members of an ecosystem, which allows them to understand and appreciate biodiversity on a personal level.

Camp gives children the opportunity to explore how their choices have an impact on other animals and on the Earth. It often sparks interests that can become lifelong hobbies, lifestyles, and careers – environmental and earth sciences, gardening, farming, oceanography, geology, and so much more.

Whether located in a field or forest, on an island or a school campus, a park or a dedicated woodland reserve, camp program offerings maximize the use of the site where the camp is located. Experiential learning at camp happens naturally when camp leadership implement common-sense and sound practices in their programs. Training counselors to instruct kayakers not to pick the water lilies as they paddle

around the pond or lake; hikers on an overnight trek return with more trash than they took with then; organic gardens planted for educational purposes are done so in locations where they can be left for the rest of the year.

These experiences in the natural world are transformational – so much so that campers return home with real world knowledge of environmental awareness and a focus on reducing their negative impact on the environment. They return home with an enhanced appreciation of the outdoors and their role in the ecosystem.

Children who attend summer camp go on to have a greater appreciation for natural parks and wildlife preserves for the rest of their lives – many will even go on to pursue interests in the environment or the sciences in college, the workplace, the community, and their families.

While you’ll find varying degrees of environmental expertise and focus from camp to camp, summer camps today are building on the proud tradition of providing children with opportunities to experience and enjoy nature and the environment in ways that will sustain our collective future. Though one can’t know if the namesake of the next national park will credit their experience to summer camping, we are positive they won’t mention NOT interacting with nature and the environment.

Provided by the American Camp Association, New England

meltdown, then it certainly does seem to limit success of therapy,” she says.

“It’s not really about the one or two hours a week the child might spend with the therapist.”

Lori Yurtin, whose son has sensory processing disorder and autism, agrees. “As a parent, you need to be engaged and learn and understand what they’re teaching,” she says, adding that early intervention helps.

Her son Chase, now 13, exhibited signs that he had some serious sensory problems when he was an infant. Unlike his twin sister, he was bothered by sunlight, wind and loud noises. Yurtin couldn’t take him on walks or bring him anywhere.

“This kid screamed the entire day and into the evening until we put him to sleep,” she says.

Though she knew something was wrong, she wasn’t able to convince medical professionals of that for some time. Chase didn’t get a diagnosis of autism or any treatment until he was 20 months old. Looking back, Yurtin says she wishes she would have been able to start him in occupational therapy earlier.

“I honestly think they could have helped sensitize him and given him a continued on page 18 >>>

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Boston Parents Paper | March 2019

CAMPS AND SUMMER PROGRAMS

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Universal Playgrounds: Where All Children Come Together

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very child has the essential and undeniable right to play, and to experience the magic and freedom that comes from an ordinary day at the park. And there is nothing children love more, regardless of their abilities and needs, than playing and socializing alongside one another at the playground!

Massachusetts has always been among top-ranking states working hard to ensure and support equal participation for children with disabilities and special needs, and it’s no different when it comes to recreation. Universal playgrounds, accessible to all and designed for children with physical disabilities to experience mobility and have access to equipment and fun, multi-sensory designs is something Boston communities can and should be proud of! Here are some local, inclusive playgrounds that serve as a model for our entire nation that families of all abilities should check out.

Mayor Thomas M. Menino Park

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he city’s first universally accessible playground, steps from the Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in the Charlestown Navy Yard incorporates a ramped play structure, embankment slides and climbers, and a swing chair. This dramatic, waterfront space has been noted for its cleanliness, and was envisioned

by Mayor Menino in the wake of the Boston Marathon bombings to afford special needs children, patients, and families the opportunity for active play as well as a place of respite for recovery and relief. In his words, “This is Boston at its best—people coming together to improve the quality of life for the residents of our city.” 98 16th Street 300 First Avenue, Charlestown

By Alyson Gregory sectioned for kids ages 2-5 and 5-12. Barton Road, Wellesley

Harambee Park

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nveiled in 2009, this bright and vibrantly colored playground was Boston’s first “Boundless Playground”, and was designed to maximize play with elevated structures such as a gazebo affording children with physical disabilities a greater perspective that was once unreachable, while at the same time encouraging independent play with peers. This site features plenty of high-backed swings and play panels along with multiple handrails, and was furnished through another of Mayor Thomas Menino’s programs. Talbot Avenue, Dorchester

Touch The Sky Playground

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pen to the public when school is not in session on afternoons and weekends, this fully accessible North Shore playground features a slide constructed out of roller balls for touch sensations along with learning boards and wide ramps with rubber surfaces. The latest addition to the school’s dedication to children with disabilities, and also open to the community when not in use, is the Douglas Marino Community Field, a rubberized, completely level field that allows children in wheelchairs or with vision impairments to play ball! The school’s executive director, Mark Carlson, wants parents of children with disabilities to know about this community asset, and that it is available to them. Beverly School for the Deaf, 6 Echo Avenue, Beverly

Noah’s Place Playground

L

ocated at Marine Park on Pope’s Island, this community-inspired and generously funded and dedicated site is the largest and pened in 2013, this privately funded, most sensory-rich inclusive playground in New 10,000 sq. ft. universal playground hits all England. Features of this park include a toddler the marks of inclusive play for children and is well equipped with completely accessible rub- playground, wheelchair swing, a natural ember surfacing, ADA swings, and multiple ground bankment slide, and a seesaw-like apparatus that children of all abilities can enjoy. components. Learning boards feature Spanish 102 Popes Island, New Bedford to English language and the impressive site is

Barton Road Playground

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Boston Parents Paper | March 2019

Buttonwood Park Playground and Zoo

N

amed “one of the finest small zoos in the United States”, the Buttonwood complex is wonderfully designed for an outing. The Black Bear Express and Wildlife Carousel are both ADA certified, making them wheelchair accessible for children and just down a path lies the accessible playground with wide ramps and elevated surfaces that allow plenty of room for turning in a wheelchair. Bring some bread to feed the ducks in the idyllic pond, all located on the grounds of Buttonwood Park. 425 Hawthorn Street, New Bedford Alyson Young Gregory is a native New Yorker, and Boston-based freelance writer, mother, and Holistic Health Educator specializing in Ayurveda. She has a passion for maximizing vitality through nutrition based on environment and individual body constitution for all ages, supporting children’s wellness policies, and finding inspiring local activities for families.

BOSTON MUSEUM INCLUSION PROGRAMS Boston Children’s Museum

Morningstar Access offers families of children with special needs the wonderful opportunity to visit and experience the exhibits at a less crowded time, with less concern about infection, and a limit of only 100 guests. Read what parents had to say about this program on their website. www.bostonchildrensmuseum.org

The Museum of Science

This museum’s dedicated Accessibility Coordinator will assist families with all aspects of accessibility for children with disabilities from everything to the sensoryfriendly restrooms and the quieter places and less-crowded exhibits throughout the museum. www.accessibility@mos.org

Museum of Fine Arts

The MFA’s Beyond the Spectrum program is designed for children and teens with Autism Spectrum Disorders, and meets on select Saturdays for gallery exploration and hands-on art making. Classes are divided by age for 8-12-year-olds and for teens aged 13-18. www.artfulhealing@mfa.org

CAMPS AND SUMMER PROGRAMS

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<<< continued from page 14

jump start,” she says. “He lost so much brain development in that time.”

Yurtin had to pull Chase out of preschool because he couldn’t tolerate the noisy kids. He didn’t start kindergarten until he was almost 7. He is able to attend school now but still struggles with temper tantrums and doesn’t have friends. Still, Yurtin is grateful that he is “moderately functioning” and isn’t any worse.

Dealing with Insurance

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IFE LESSONS. These are moments where the lightbulb goes off over child’s head. They understand the concept of two plus two. They see something they can’t un-see or learn something they’ll never forget. Over the last 150-plus years, camp has provided opportunities for children and adults to discover or further develop many life lessons. Here are just a few.

1

It’s all about relationships.

Life doesn’t exist in a vacuum and no one can do this alone.

Just like a classroom, children have opportunities at camp to share experiences with peers, develop friendships, and learn the ups and downs of getting along with others. By the nature of co-existing in the same space and enjoying similar experiences, camp encourages children to develop and maintain skills necessary to relationship building.

2

I can do that!

Confidence! Camp thrives on self-efficacy in young people.

Enjoying success in a healthy manner and learning to overcome obstacles or even failure are hallmarks of a camp experience. For both campers and staff, camp allows young people to feel proud when things go well and encourages resilience when they don’t.

3

Take a risk.

One way to build confidence is to try something new. Camp is rife with safe, healthy opportunities

20

Boston Parents Paper | March 2019

for children to take a chance. This could mean climbing a 30-foot wall, trying out for the camp production of Peter Pan, riding a horse, or trying broccoli for the first time.

At camp, young people learn how to take risks and learn from their outcomes.

4

It’s a great big world out there.

When a child goes to camp, they interact with peers and adults from places they might have never seen or even heard of.

Campers might hear a new song or accent. They may meet someone from another state or country, and sometimes they run into people from home who become lifelong friends at camp. Camp is an opportunity to both try new things and meet new people.

5

Not all learning happens in a classroom.

Last but certainly not least, campers discover that school does not have a monopoly on learning.

Campers develop new skills, learn about their own passions and interests, and are exposed to ideas and experiences that don’t normally sneak into a formal classroom. Without knowing it, campers are learning every day by simply getting out and going to camp.

For more information about camp and the benefits of the camp experience, contact the American Camp Association New England or visit www.acanewengland.org.

One roadblock some parents find when trying to get occupational therapy for their children is that insurance companies won’t pay for treatment for a diagnosis of only sensory processing disorder.

“Using International Classification of Diseases (ICD) diagnostic codes, such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and developmental coordination disorder, can oft en increase reimbursement,” Monteiro explains. “Some plans cover evaluation but not direct treatment. Others carry limited treatment coverage yearly. Although some consider sensory processing disorder an area that is controversial, sensory processing treatment has been used by occupational therapy for more than 30 years with extensive research and collective data. Massachusetts’ own Department of Mental Health has fully endorsed the use of sensory processing strategies and has developed an initiative to support and reinforce the use of sensory processing treatment in all settings that it provides supervision.”

Parents continue to seek treatment for their children because they see results, even with the out-of-pocket costs. “Families who have embraced their children’s sensory processing needs are oft en committed to provision of services out of pocket,” Monteiro says. “They can also elicit the help of their child’s school by incorporating sensory processing treatment and consultation services in their child’s individual education plan.”

Guinevere Pilapil says she appreciates the effects occupational therapy has had on her 9-year-old son with sensory processing disorder. “He is maturing, and he is able to regulate himself a lot,” she says.

PHOTO BY GENE SCHIAVONE, COURTESY OF BOSTON BALLET

Calendar

Coppélia is a delight for all ages, with toys that come to life and a heroine who saves the day.

March 21–31, 2019 Boston Opera House 539 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02111 Tickets: $37–$159 (50% off youth price, ages 2–17) Box Office Phone: 617.695.6955 Box Office Hours: 19 Clarendon Street, Boston MA 02116 Mon–Fri 9:30 am–5 pm bostonballet.org/coppelia March 2019 | BostonParentsPaper.com

21

1 Friday

Tiny Trekkers – Stony Brook

Masters of Miniature: 40th Annual Model Ship Show 10am-5pm, USS Constitution Museum Charlestown Navy Yard, Building 22 Charlestown. With handcrafted models of all sizes, types, and materials, you can explore the intricate art of model making as practiced today. Explore the show through our scavenger hunt or join in the fun of a hands-on activity – either way, a visit to the Museum and the show is a great way for your family to spend the day! Admission to the Museum and Model Show are by suggested donation. 617-286-5082; ussconstitutionmuseum.org

First Friday Nights Free – Acton 4:30 - 8:00 pm. The Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Acton. Enjoy free admission and explore the museums at night during this special monthly event, during which the museums gratefully accept food donations for area food pantries. FREE. 978-264-4200; discoverymuseums.org

2 Saturday

10:30am-12pm, Stony Brook, 108 North Street, Norfolk. Start your weekend off right with a fun and knowledgeable Stony Brook teacher on the trails learning about nature. Each day will have a special topic created to excite your child about the natural world. There will be crafts, activities and lots of laughter. So come and join the fun. For ages 2.9 - 6. Registration required. $6. 508-528-3140; massaudubon.org

3 Sunday Mary and the Witch’s Flower 10:30am, Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard St., Brookline.

Presented by Science on Screen, Jr. Plant experts from the Museum of Science explain the function of flowers and the “flower powers” plants use—smells, colors, shapes, and more—to get bees and other animals to pollinate them. 8 and up. $6. 617-734-2501; coolidge.org

Chamber Music Concert 2:30pm. 37 Main St., Rockport. FREE 978-309-9833; nmyo.org

Brookline Music School presents “Check the House for Art” 10:30am, Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard St., Brookline.

Brian Friedland, Brookline Music School piano faculty member, will be joined by vocalist Laura Jaye Grill and a string quartet for “Check the House for Art.” 8 and up. Adults, $13.50; youth, $10.50. 617734-2501; coolidge.org

Teddy Bear Tea Noon & 2pm Concord Museum, 200 Lexington Road, Concord. Delight your child or grandchild with an afternoon for just the two of you!

Bring a favorite teddy bear or stuffed animal to join you for tea or cocoa and take part in a simple craft. $25/adults, $22/child, 978-3699763; concordmuseum.org

249th Anniversary of the Boston Massacre 7pm, Old State House, 206 Washington St., Boston. Hundreds of reenactors perform at the exact location of the original event that changed the course of history. FREE. 617-720-1713; bostonhistory.org

Seussational!

11am – 2pm, Providence Children’s Museum, 100 South St., Providence, R.I. Celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birthday with stories, slime, costumes and more.

Free with admission. Repeats Sunday. 401-273-5437; childrenmuseum. org

MakerSpace Fun Noon-3pm, Children’s Museum in Easton, 9 Sullivan Ave., North Easton Creative thinking is as vital as math, reading or writing. It fosters problem-solving and experimentation. It evolves questions into ideas and ideas into inventions. Free with admission. 508-230-3789; childrensmuseumineaston.org

4 Monday MFA Playdates – Boston 10:15 am. Museum of Fine Arts 465 Huntington Ave., Boston. Bring your toddler to enjoy story time and looking activities in the galleries, followed by art making. Tours leave on a rolling basis starting at 10:15 am. Each month focuses on a specific theme. Recommended for children ages 4 and younger with adults. No registration required. 617-267-9300, www.mfa.org

5 Tuesday Especially for Me 1:30-4:30 pm The Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Acton. Come explore the entire Museum campus at your own pace. We are open to the general public during these events, but group visits and birthday parties are not scheduled in order to avoid crowding and to support exhibit accessibility. Free with pre-registration. 978-264-4200; discoverymuseums.org

6 Wednesday Coyote Club Session 1 3:30 – 5pm, Habitat Education and Wildlife Sanctuary, 10 Juniper Road, Belmont. Come outside and play! This afterschool program helps children expend pent up energy, become familiar with the sanctuary, problem-solve and learn to work together. For ages 5-10. Registration required. $18. 617-489-5050; massaudubon.org

ARTfull Play – Lincoln 10:30am, deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, 51 Sandy Pond Road, Lincoln. A play-based session engaging kids with art, books,

Here’s Your Lucky Parade Break out your lucky green shirt and head to one of these St. Patrick’s parades throughout the region.

CAPE COD

WORCESTER

March 10, noon. Runs down Park Ave. from Mill St. to Highland St. 508-753-7197; stpatsparade. com

BOSTON

March 17, 1pm. Starts at the Broadway T station, runs through South Boston and ends at Andrew Square. 844-478-7287; southbostonparade.org

SCITUATE

March 17, 1pm. Starts at Gates Middle School on First Parish Road. 781-545- 6671; weloveaparade.com

ABINGTON

March 17, 1pm. Starts at the corner of Orange St. and Washington St. 781-878-1570; www. abingtonstpatricksdayparade.org

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Boston Parents Paper | March 2019

BY WHOISJOHNGALT - COMMONS.WIKIMEDIA.ORG

March 9, 11am. Starts at the corner of Long Pond Drive and Route 28 in South Yarmouth.

508-240- 7347; capecodstpatricksparade.com

CAMPS AND SUMMER PROGRAMS

Register today for the comprehensive five week program and specialty one week camps!

Pursue Your Passions

Choose from over 100 courses in visual arts, drama, game design, music, sports, and MORE!

www.NewEnglandBaseCamp.org

JUNE 24 TO JULY 26 · AGES 3 TO 15 · HINGHAM

www.derbyacademy.org/summer

June 17th - August 16th, 2019

Summer Program 2019

Art ★ Ceramics ★ Drama ★ Music

Serving ages 2.9 through Grade 8.

Science ★ Sports ★ Swimming ★ and more!

Full day and half day options availabe.

Swimming lessons!

Day camp for ages 3-14 (preschool - grade 8) Wide selection of arts, sports and specialty camps (Rockwall Climbing, Rowing, STEAM, Robotics and Math) Early morning and extended day available

428 Hammond St., Chestnut Hill www.tchs.org/summer 617-264-1346

For more information contact: Jeanette Keller summer@lesleyellis.org 781.641.5987 Register today. Space is limited!

Go to: www.lesleyellis.org/summer-program

Summer STEM Programs Lego Engineering, Robotic Programming, Stop Motion Animation, and Minecraft!

REGISTER TODAY! 2019

WWW.LETGOYOURMIND.COM

AMUSEMENT

EV3

PARK RIDES

March 2019 | BostonParentsPaper.com

23

materials, the environment and new friends. Ages 2–5. Free with admission. 781-259-8355; decordova.org

7 Thursday Sip Some Sap 10-11:30am, Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary, 208 S Great Road, Lincoln. Listen to a story of maple sugaring and take a walk out to our sugar bush. We’ll check our evaporator to see how sap is turned into syrup and enjoy a tasty maple treat. For ages 3-12. Registration required. Adults and Children $16, 781-259-2200; massaudubon.org

Take Aparts, JR. 10-11am The Discovery Museum, 177 Main Street, Acton. Are you curious about what’s inside everyday electronics? Grab some tools and discover resistors, capacitors, gears and more as you uncover the inner workings of household gadgets and gizmos. 978-264-4200; discoveryacton.org

8 Friday Masters of Miniature: 40th Annual Model Ship Show

Little Groove 10:30am, Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard St., Brookline. Little Groove performs fun and educational music for children that adults will also enjoy. Children will love being a part of the musical experience, using their bodies and voices to sing along to catchy songs that help them build important motor and social skills. Adults, $13.50; youth, $10.50. 617-7342501; coolidge.org

Celebrate the Lions’ Birthdays 10am – 2pm, Franklin Park Zoo, 1 Franklin Park Road, Boston. Lion brothers Dinari and Kamaia turn 10. Celebrate with zookeeper encounters, cake and more. Free with admission. 617-989-3742; zoonewengland.org

10 Sunday – Daylight Savings Time Family Concert 3pm, Memorial Hall, 83 Court St., Plymouth. Meet our Phil musicians and their instruments during a pre-concert instrument demonstration - the perfect way to test-drive many instruments! $10 and up. 508-746-8008; plymouthphil.org

10am-5pm, USS Constitution Museum Charlestown Navy Yard, Building 22 Charlestown. With handcrafted models of all sizes, types, and materials, you can explore the intricate art of model making as practiced today. Explore the show through our scavenger hunt or join in the fun of a hands-on activity – either way, a visit to the Museum and the show is a great way for your family to spend the day! Admission to the Museum and Model Show are by suggested donation. 617-2865082; ussconstitutionmuseum.org

Boston Sea Rovers Sunday Kids Day

9 Saturday

3pm, Kresge Auditorium, MIT, 48 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge. Dancing feet and flying horas, lithe Yemenite movements, all capped by a huge finale filling the stage and the aisles. $18, bostonfestival.org.

Public Museum Tour @ deCordova — Lincoln 2pm, deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, 51 Sandy Pond Road, Lincoln. Join a Museum Guide for an enlightening gallery tour of the current Museum exhibitions. Please meet in the Third Floor Lobby. Free with admission or membership. All ages welcome. Repeats Sunday. 781259-8355; decordova.org

Especially for Me 5-8 pm The Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Acton. Come explore the entire Museum campus at your own pace. We are open to the general public during these events, but group visits and birthday parties are not scheduled in order to avoid crowding and to support exhibit accessibility. Free with pre-registration. 978-264-4200; discoverymuseums.org

10am-2pm, DoubleTree by Hilton Boston North Shore, 50 Ferncroft Road, Danvers. Join us for fun ocean related activities and presentations during the day. Sunday features free admission for kids under 12 and exciting kids programs. See website for a complete schedule and adult ticket information. www.bostonsearovers.com/kids-activities

Israel Folkdance Festival of Boston

Boston Babies Clothing Swap Noon-2pm Temple Israel, 477 Longwood Ave., Boston. (newborn - 3T) Donate clothes, baby and momma gear, and toys. Take home same. Extras donated to Cradles to Crayons. $5 per family, free with bag of 18m-3T clothing. www.meetup.com/clothing-swaps

12 Tuesday Toddler Tuesdays at LEGOLAND Discovery Center 10am-2pm, LEGOLAND Discovery Centers, 598 Assembly Row, Somerville.

Join us from 10am – 2pm in DUPLO Farm for special toddler activities, story time, and LEGO® fun for the little ones! Discounted tickets are available only via walkup on the day of the event. See website for schedules and rates. boston.legolanddiscoverycenter.com

14 Thursday SCHOOLS AND CHILDCARE CENTERS Our mission is to create an early childhood program that fulfills the cognitive, emotional, social and physical needs of what is known to be the most significant period of human development.

Friends Childcare offers an exciting, creative curriculum, as well as fun and stimulating learning activities for all age groups. Tailor-made schedule 7AM-6PM, 5 days a week. Regular in-house enrichment programs such as nature exploration, music, gross motor program, and baby massage are included in the tuition.

• Infants

(Birth to 15 Months)

• Toddlers

(15 Months to 33 Months)

• Preschool/ Pre-Kindergarten (33 Months to 5 Years)

Brookline • 617-731-1008 • 617-739-0854

Call or email us to schedule a tour • friendschildcare.brookline@gmail.com www.friendschildcare.net

24

Boston Parents Paper | March 2019

Pi(e) Day 10-11:30am, Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary, 208 S Great Road, Lincoln.

For ages 2-8. Registration required. Adults and Children $17.50, 781-2592200; massaudubon.org

Pi Day at Boston Children’s Museum 11am – 3pm, Boston Children’s Museum, 308 Congress St., Boston.

SCHOOLS AND CHILDCARE CENTERS Pi Day at The Discovery Museums 10am, The Discovery Museums, 177 Main St., Acton. Visit today for circle-themed art activities. Free with admission. 978-264-4200; discoverymuseums.org

15 Friday St. Paddy’s Party 10-11:30am, Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary, 208 S Great Road, Lincoln. Did you know that ‘drumlin’ is a Gaelic word for “littlest ridge?” Have you ever found a lucky four-leaf clover? We’ll plant shamrocks, greet a snake, and enjoy some boxty, a traditional Irish potato treat. We might even dance a jig or two. For ages 2 and older, but younger siblings welcome to register. Registration required. Adults and Children $17.50, 781-259-2200; massaudubon. org

St. Patty’s Party 10am – 4pm, The Children’s Museum in Easton, 9 Sullivan Ave., North Easton. Celebrate the holiday with Celtic crafts and a little leprechaun magic. Free with admission. 508-230-3789; childrensmuseumineaston.org

Kid’s Night Out 6:30-8:30pm, Milton Art Center, 334 Edgehill Road, A drop-off event. Lucky leprechaun’s dessert spectacular. Plus Kenny Academy, Irish Step Dance Performance. Ages 1-5. $22. Registration required. info@miltonartcenter.org; miltonartcenter.org

16 Saturday Tiny Trekkers – Stony Brook 10:30am-12pm, Stony Brook, 108 North Street, Norfolk. Start your weekend off right with a fun and knowledgeable Stony Brook teacher on the trails learning about nature. Each day will have a special topic created to excite your child about the natural world.

There will be crafts, activities and lots of laughter. So come and join the fun. For ages 2.9 - 6. Registration required. $6. 508-528-3140; massaudubon.org

Boston Children’s Chorus — Celebrating Families’ Voices Weekend of Song and Professional Development 2pm, Strand Theatre 543 Columbia Road Boston. BCC’s Training and Intermediate Choirs come together for this inspiring concert in partnership with Boston Public Schools. Over the past year, we worked together to create a vibrant, new, multilingual and culturally relevant general music curriculum drawn directly from the families of Boston Public Schools students! 617-245-6045; bostonchildrenschorus.org

Little People’s Playhouse

Educating and caring for your child like their own!

15 mos. to 6 yrs. • Pre K • Kindergarten Before & After School Ages 6-12 • 7am - 6pm Part-time Preschool • 7am - 1pm ♦ Literacy based academic program focusing on the whole child ♦ Tutoring available ♦ Catered hot meals included

ONGOING ENROLLMENT

www.peopleplayhouse.net 32 South Fairview Street ♦ W. Roxbury/Roslindale Line ♦ 617-323-2566 4019 Washington Street ♦ Roslindale/Jamaica Plain ♦ 617-323-6144

Welcoming Future Leaders • Toddlers through Grade 5 • Outstanding academic achievements • Flexible Early Childhood schedules • Before school care available • After school enrichment • Summer and vacation programs

3 McGinnis Dr, Burlington www.mounthopeschool.org | 781-272-1014

child study center

pmc.edu/csc

Celebrate circles and all things round. Free with admission. 617-4266500; bostonkids.org

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day 10:30am – 1:30pm, Franklin Park Zoo, 1 Franklin Park Road, Boston. Watch as animals receive green-themed enrichment treats in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day! Free with admission. Repeat Sunday617-989-3742; zoonewengland.org

17 Sunday- St. Patrick’s Day St. Patrick’s Day Parade 1pm, South Boston. One of the country’s largest St. Pat’s parades, complete with military, marching bands, floats and plenty of bagpipes, it follows Broadway through South Boston. FREE. 844478-7287; southbostonparade.org

St. Patrick’s Day Parade 1pm, Scituate. The parade begins at the Gates Middle School, and ends at Hatherly Road by the Satuit Tavern. FREE. 781-545-6671; weloveaparade.com

19 Tuesday Coyote Club Session 2 3:30 – 5pm, Habitat Education and Wildlife Sanctuary, 10 Juniper Road, Belmont. Come outside and play! This afterschool program helps children expend pent up energy, become familiar with the sanctuary, problem-solve and learn to work together. For ages 5-10.

Registration required. $18. 617-489-5050; massaudubon.org

Preschool Summer Program At Pine Manor College’s Child Study Center

Rich curriculum for Preschoolers age 2.9 to 5 years, on our beautiful campus with ample outdoor activities, all just minutes from RT. 9.

Call CSC Director Lynne Love, 617-731-7039 400 Heath St., Chestnut Hill, MA 02467 | www.pmc.edu/csc March 2019 | BostonParentsPaper.com

25

20 Wednesday Romance of the Woodcocks – Stony Brook 6:45-7:45pm, Stony Brook, 108 North Street, Norfolk. Join in for a memorable evening watching the incredible displays and antics of this shorebird that gave up the shore. The male woodcock displays for nearby females by flying from his calling grounds in an upward spiral and then fluttering like a leaf back to earth while making a very distinctive “whirring” call. Upon landing, the bird begins a series of “peenting” calls in hopes of attracting that special female. Birchwold Farm in Wrentham is an ideal spot to view this magnificent show. Registration required. $8.

508-528-3140; massaudubon.org

Masters of Miniature: 40th Annual Model Ship Show 10am-5pm, USS Constitution Museum Charlestown Navy Yard, Building 22 Charlestown. With handcrafted models of all sizes, types, and materials, you can explore the intricate art of model making as practiced today. Explore the show through our scavenger hunt or join in the fun of a hands-on activity – either way, a visit to the Museum and the show is a great way for your family to spend the day! Admission to the Museum and Model Show are by suggested donation. 617-286-5082; ussconstitutionmuseum.org

21 Thursday Bread and Bunnies - Lincoln 10-11:30am, Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary, 208 S Great Road, Lincoln.

Hop on down to the kitchen for some hare-raising fun. We’ll visit a rabbit on the farmyard then head into the kitchen to bake bunny’s favorite treat: carrot bread! For ages 2 and older, but younger siblings welcome to register. Registration required. Adults and Children $17.50, 781-259-2200; massaudubon.org

Bring binoculars and a scope if you have one. Registration required.

Free. 508-528-3140; massaudubon.org

Nowruz 10am – 5pm, Museum of Fine Arts, 465 Huntington Ave., Boston.

Celebrate the Persian New Year with tours, art making activities and performances. Free with admission. 617-267-9300; mfa.org

Girls Day 11am-4pm, MIT Museum, 265 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge. Explore, build, create and investigate with MIT faculty, students, and volunteers throughout the day. All hands-on activities, informal talks and demonstrations are included with admission. Free with admission. 617253-5927; web.mit.edu/museum

A Teddy Bear Tea Noon & 2pm, Concord Museum, 200 Lexington Road, Concord. Bring your favorite teddy bear to join you for an afternoon tea party and craft. Reservations required. Adult $25, children $22. 978-369-9763; concordmuseum.org

Söderberg Voice Competition 10am-5pm, South Shore Conservatory, 1 Conservatory Drive, Hingham Voice competition for kids ages 10-18. FREE. 781-749-7565; sscmusic.org

24 Sunday The Very Hungry Caterpillar Day Noon-4pm Carle Museum, 125 West Bay Rd in Amherst. Meet The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Make a butterfly mask. Plus films, scavenger hunts, and storytimes. FREE with Museum Admission. www.carlemuseum.org

Karen K and the Jitterbugs

10:30 am, Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard Street, Brookline. Bug Out! with Karen K and her imaginary friends, the Jitterbugs: Stinky Rock Off Main (loves playing outside, refuses baths), Hop (working on his patience and 7pm, Amazing Things Arts Center, 160 Hollis St., Framingham. a monthly self control); and Slug Bug (needs a LOT of naps), plus other antennaeclad friends! $10.50 and up. www.coolidge.org all ages show that features local bands and singer/songwriters from middle school, high school, college or just out of college. $8. 508-40526 Tuesday 2787; amazingthings.org

22 Friday

Health Fair: Our Changing Brain

Toddler Tuesdays at LEGOLAND Discovery Center

Waterfowl Walk – Stony Brook

27 Wednesday

10am-2pm, LEGOLAND Discovery Centers, 598 Assembly Row, 10am-1, Museum of Science, 1 Science Park, Boston. Hands-on activities Somerville. Join us from 10am – 2pm in DUPLO Farm for special toddler and research displays from local scientists delve into brain chemistry. Free activities, story time, and LEGO® fun for the little ones! Discounted with admission. Repeats Saturday 617-723-2500; mos.org tickets are available only via walkup on the day of the event. See website for schedules and rates. boston.legolanddiscoverycenter.com 23 Saturday 8-9am, Stony Brook, 108 North Street, Norfolk. Join naturalist, Jonathan Glover, for a morning walk around the Stony Brook wetlands. Ducks are on the move and the wetlands attract a wonderful variety of these beautiful birds. We will scan the marshes and ponds for returning nesters and migrants stopping by on their journey north. Returning nesters include Wood Ducks, Hooded Mergansers, Mallards and Black Ducks.

Green-winged Teal, Northern Pintail and Ring-necked Duck are possible and if we’re lucky we may find Bufflehead or Common Mergansers or more. We will also keep an eye out for other wildlife we happen upon.

usscm.org | 617-426-1812 • Interactive exhibits for all ages!

• Open 7 days a week • Admission by donation 26

Boston Parents Paper | March 2019

ARTfull Play – Lincoln 10:30am, deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum, 51 Sandy Pond Road, Lincoln. A play-based session engaging kids with art, books, materials, the environment and new friends. Ages 2–5. Free with admission. 781-259-8355; decordova.org

Belmont SEPAC Resource Fair 7pm, Butler Elementary School 90 White Street Belmont. Access information on behavioral services, assessment services, tutoring, social

“The best hands-on Museum I’ve seen.”

CLASSES AND ENRICHMENT We bring the instrument and the instructor.

Private in-home lessons available

Bay State Skating School

Contact Molly Howard at 617-999-8794 pianoplaytime@yahoo.com www.pianoplaytime.com

Cambridge, Brookline (Cleveland Circle & Larz Anderson),

LEARN TO SKATE CLASSES for Recreational • Figure • Hockey Skating Skills

As featured on “Chronicle”

Medford, Newton-Brighton, Quincy, Somerville, Waltham, West Roxbury, Weymouth

TM

50 Years Experience

2018

Children (4 –18 years)

TOP 5

781-890-8480 • www.BayStateSkatingSchool.org

Making a Difference One Skater at a Time

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March Vacation Camp March 11-18 and March 18-22 Pot O’ Gold Kids’ Night Out Saturday, March 16th 6:30-9pm

88 Wells Avenue • Newton • 617 244-3300 • www.exxcel.net

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GET AHEAD IN MATH & READING. Join us as we play math games, read books and apply our studies to our daily lives.

Call in today to reserve a slot!

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32 South Fairview St., Roslindale, MA

617-323-2566 SPACE AVAILABLE

ART SUMMER PROGRAMS GRADES 1 - 12 | JUNE 24 - AUGUST 30 | DAY PROGRAM

Creative Arts Therapies in Hingham and Duxbury

Drawing & Painting

Ceramics

Individual and group music therapy, adaptive dance and accessible yoga for of all ages and abilities Eve Montague, MT-BC Director, Creative Arts Therapies 781-934-2731, x20

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& More!

Register now at www.newartcenter.org 61 Washington Park, Newton, MA 617-964-3424 | info@newartcenter.org

March 2019 | BostonParentsPaper.com

27

and tales around the campfire. Adults, $10; youth, free.

781-740-7233; ttor.org.

Family Owl Prowl, 7pm, Blue Hills Trailside Museum, 1904 Canton Ave., Practice Explore owl calls and meet groups, etc.

Interested in Milton. private therapy? aquatic therapy, hippotherapy, speech therapy,resident occupational physicalon therapy, some of the museum’s owls therapy, before going a and night more. Talk health care, advocacy, and available hiketo tovendors search about for them.

Registration required. $10. supports. www.belmont.k12.ma.ua 617-983-8500; massaudon.org.

Stargazing: of the– Night, 7pm, North River Romance of theJewels Woodcocks Stony Brook

Wildlife Stony Sanctuary, Main Street, St., Marshfi eld.Join Join 6:45-7:45pm, Brook,2000 108 North Norfolk. in for a astronomy enthusiast Peter Reed as he guides you memorable evening watching the incredible displays and antics of through the Registration required.displays $13. this shorebird thatconstellations. gave up the shore.

The male woodcock 781-837-9400; massaudubon.org. for nearby females by flying from his calling grounds in an upward spiral and then fluttering like a leaf back to earth while making a very distinctive “whirring” call. Upon landing, the bird begins a series of “peenting” calls in hopes of attracting that special female. Birchwold Farm in Wrentham is an ideal spot to view this magnificent show.

Registration required. $8. 508-528-3140; massaudubon.org

with refreshments by the fire. $10 per car. 978-886-5297; ttor.org.

31 Sunday

31 Tuesday

Davey the Clown

WEST 10:30 am, Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard Street, Brookline. Davey Backwards 10am,juggler, The Discovery the Clown is a Storytime, physical comedian, unicyclist,Museums, and accordionist.

177 Main St.,is Acton.

National Backwards Davey’s show big andCelebrate funny, perfect entertainment thatDay will keep kids withadults silly stories and—activities.

Free $10.50 with admission. and convulsed with laughter! and up. www.coolidge.org 978-264-4200; discoverymuseums.org.

HIP Morning Birding Walks

8-9:30am, Habitat Education and Wildlife Sanctuary, 10 Juniper Road, Belmont. Birders and non-birders of all ages and skill levels are invited for bird walks at Habitat. We will look for signs of migrating species, mating behaviors, and nest building. Free. 617-489-5050; massaudubon.org

ENTERTAINMENT & PARTY NEEDS Celebrate everything in 2017 at

Fran Friedman

Stories inent Stone s – Stony Brook Par Children’s & Instructor ard 1:30-3:30pm, Stony Brook, 108 North Street,Musician Norfolk. Learn how millennia Choice Aw of glacial advances er and retreats created the landforms and topography of ner nne inn Win Wi W 30 Saturday Birthday New England. We will hike on the sanctuary to see andParties, identify various Who’s Out There – Evening Wildlife Prowl – Stony Brook distinctive glacial landforms as well as theSchools, evidence ofConcerts, how those stones Libraries 7-8pm, Stony Brook, 108 North Street, Norfolk. Explore the fascinating were put to use in developing New England. Examine their characteristics

world of Stony Brook as the sun is setting. This has been described Available as a magical time of day, and adventures out Online on theOrdering trails often reinforce that notion. You never know what you will find on a walk Rosalita's Puppets party after sunset. Our pace will be relaxedHost and ouryour sensesnext heightened www.rosalitaspuppets.com income ourout new as we will be on the lookout for creatures that just as the 617-633-2832 sun is setting (including owls, beavers, Decorating frogs, otters, batsKitchen and many other nocturnal animals).Registration required. $11. 508-528-3140; massaudubon.org

Preschool Elementary and learn how they continue to influence the living&world today.

Registration required. $16. 508-528-3140; massaudubon.org Music Specialist

Lots of Participation & Fun for All! 508-358-1614 • www.franfriedman.com ENTERTAINMENT AND PARTY NEEDS

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J & J Pony Rentals

Woolapalooza • Quiet, gentle, lovable ponies; large and small available 10am-4pm, Drumlin Farm for Wildlife Sanctuary, 208 S Great Road, any occasion.

Lincoln.

Bask in the beauty of Mass Audubon’s Drumlin Farm, the • Pony parties at your place or perfect setting to delight in all things sheep. For ages 0 and older. at the farm.

Registration required. Adults and Children $17, 781-259-2200; • Customized packages at massaudubon.org reasonable rates

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MARCH 29 –31

FEBRUARY SCHOOL VACATION WEEK PROGRAMMING

Untold American Stories: Black History Month

Tuesday, February 19 to Friday, February 22 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Join us for a fun-filled week of educational programming, as we explore inspiring true stories! In collaboration with Sweet Blackberry and local artists, the Library will offer morning and afternoon activities to complement short film screenings. Don’t forget to check out our all-day art activities from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. And be sure to explore the Mapparium®— it’s free all week for everyone 17 and younger!

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