Boston Parent September 2026 by Parenting Media

September 2026

Back to School

BOSTON

BRIGHTON

BROOKLINE

NEWTON

EXPLORE BEFORE YOU ENROLL September 21–27

Experience Boston Ballet School during Preparatory Open Studio Week. Families of children ages 16 months–6 years* are invited to visit our studios, take a FREE class, and get to know our faculty in Boston, Brighton, Brookline, or Newton. Learn more and register today at

bostonballet.org/bpp-enroll Financial aid available *Age as of August 31, 2026

Photo by Brooke Trisolini.

“We LOVE Tender Loving Care. The teachers are like family. They care for each child like their own family. They are knowledgeable in early childhood education as well as the gentle care for infants, toddlers and preschoolers!!”

Woburn - 781-281-2983 | Weston - 781-703-5088 www.tenderlovingcarechildcarecenters.com

September 2026 | BostonParentsPaper.com 3

Discover a school as unique as your child

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COTTING SCHOOL

a tradition of innovation and excellence since 1893

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Comprehensive curriculum

www.cotting.org 4 Boston Parents Paper | September 2026

Collaborative Care Model, an integrated approach to ensure high quality academic and clinical services Consulting services that provide school districts with technology, student assessments and professional development Monthly information sessions and private tours available

Elizabeth Russell, Director of Admissions erussell@cotting.org | 781-862-7323 ext. 114

CONTENTS

SEPTEMBER 2026

Volume 42 • Number 1

WHAT’S INSIDE 6 Family F.Y.I. • • • •

THE RESULTS ARE IN!

Back to School Anxiety Playground Safety Best States for Families Online Admissions Events Calendar

100+ categories and over 500 winners!

Best Practices to Protect Your Child in Sport

5 Individual Sports for Kids Who Shy Away from Team Sports

Dyslexia and Your Child

PUBLISHER Parenting Media, Inc TM

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

ART DIRECTOR | Debbi Murzyn ASSOCIATE EDITOR | Jean Abernathy ADVERTISING SALES Holly Castro, David Morney

How do I know if my child or student is dyslexic? Please note that the advertisements in this magazine are paid for, which allows this magazine to be free to the consumer. Send comments to the editor or article submissions to editor@bostonparent.com. Submit events to our Family Friendly Calendar at bostonparentspaper.com/

September 2026 | BostonParentsPaper.com 5

Family F.Y.I.

2026 FAMILY FAVORITES

Results Now Available!

e 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! Voting for 2027 Family Favorites starts March 1, 2027.

FAMILY FAVORITES WINNERS ARE LISTED, STARTING ON PAGE 14

Back to School Anxiety How to make the transition easier.

eelings 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

6 Boston Parents Paper | September 2026

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

Now Enrolling The Russian School of Mathematics is an award winning after-school math enrichment program for K-12 students. Challenge your child with advanced math classes that will engage and excite them. Enroll in our Fall classes today!

RSM is “among the top 10 schools in the world.” – Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth

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15 SCHOOLS IN MA MathSchool.com September 2026 | BostonParentsPaper.com 7

Family F.Y.I.

BEST STATES FOR FAMILIES

e all know living in our great state is pretty awesome! A recent study by WalletHub confirmed it. WalletHub compared the 50 states across 50 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, Wisconsin, Nebraska, New York, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Illinois andMaine. To see all the results, go to www.wallethub.com.

Playground Safety

The Most Common Injuries and How to Prevent Them

Private School Online Open House Calendar

W preschool and private school’s admission hat better way to keep track of all the

events than this handy tool! With over 50 entities participating, check out the Online Open House & Admissions Calendar on BostonParentsPaper.com. Look for the School Open Houses button on the main header bar and tap. Don’t forget to tell them you saw their event on https://bostonparentspaper.com

8 Boston Parents Paper | September 2026

laygrounds 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!

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2026/2027

Private School Guide Check It Out

x3! •Parent-Friendly Playdate Spots •Birthday Party Venues •Museums and Attractions

To add your school contact info@bostonparent.com

www.bostonparent.com

177 Main Street•Acton MA discoveryacton.org•978-264-4200

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BIG JOE the Storyteller

Original & classic stories Props, puppets, & surprises Virtual Storytelling Now Available

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Birthday Parties Schools Libraries Special Events

617-713-4349

10 Boston Parents Paper | September 2026

Parents Choice Award er ner nne Win Wiinn W

Fran Friedman

Children’s Musician & Instructor Birthday Parties, Schools, Concerts, Libraries

Preschool & Elementary Music Specialist Lots of Participation & Fun for All! 508-358-1614 • www.franfriedman.com

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. September 2026 | BostonParentsPaper.com 11

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.

12 Boston Parents Paper | September 2026

• 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.

Celebrating over 20 years of success serving the Autism community and 10 years as a Boston Parents Paper Family Favorite!

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THE RESULTS ARE IN!

100+ categories and over 500 winners! ABOUT BOSTON PARENTS’ FAMILY FAVORITES

oston 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. >>>

CATEGORY INDEX CAMPS............................................................ 16

SERVICES........................................................ 26

CLASSES & ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS........ 20

EARLY EDUCATION........................................ 21

HEALTH & WELLNESS.................................... 24

SPECIAL SERVICES NEED & RESOURCES..... 26

FUN & ATTRACTIONS.................................... 22 RETAIL............................................................. 25 14 Boston Parents Paper | September 2026

SCHOOLS........................................................ 25

The Center for Pediatric Dental Care and Orthodontics

Standing left to right: Joyce Fadous, Orthodontic Coordinator; Dr. Roger Taylor, DMD, Orthodontist; Dr. Wesley Barton, DMD FAAPD; Darine Elbahnsawy, Practice Administrator; Sitting left to right: Angela Liquori Collins, RDH; Lisa Hintlian, RDH; Sara Bacon, RDH

Orthodontics Roger Taylor, DMD Shahrzad Khorashadi, DMD Oral Surgery Evaneet Sidhu, DMD Michael Gu, DDS

Pediatric Dentistry Wesley Barton, DMD, FAAPD Bahar Houshmand, DDS Ava Ghassemi, DMD Nikita Patel, DMD Jessie Tsai, DMD

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2026 FAMILY FAVORITES ARTS AND CRAFTS SUMMER CAMPS

TOP 5 • Creative Steps Dance Studio • Danforth Art Museum & School • Hale Summer Camps • Just Claying Around • LINX Camps

CAMPS

ACADEMIC SUMMER CAMPS

TOP 10 • Acera School • Camp Howe • Cotting School • French Library/ Alliance Française of Boston & Cambridge • Hale Outdoor Learning Adventures • iCode Of Wellesley • Russian School of Mathematics • SELA: The International Private School • Summer at Brooks • Y3K Tutor In Your Home WINNER • Summer at Brooks

ANIMALS AND NATURE SUMMER CAMPS

TOP 5 • Children’s Museum of New Hampshire • Hale Adventure Camp • Maplewood Country Day Camp & Enrichment Center • Mass Audubon’s Boston Nature Center and Wildlife Sanctuary • Natick Community Organic Farm WINNER • Maplewood Country Day Camp & Enrichment Center

WINNER • Danforth Art Museum & School

BALLET SUMMER CAMP

TOP 5 • All That Jazz Dance Studio • Boston Ballet School Summer Dance Program • Creative Steps Dance Studio • Mass Motion Dance Boston • Mini Movers Studio WINNER • Creative Steps Dance Studio

CULINARY SUMMER 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 SUMMER CAMPS

TOP 5 • All That Jazz Dance Studio • Boston Ballet School Summer Dance Program • Live Love Dance • Mass Motion Dance Boston

16 Boston Parents Paper | September 2026

• The Dance Academy of Saigel Productions (TDA) WINNER • Mass Motion Dance Boston

FAITH-BASED SUMMER 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 SUMMER CAMPS

TOP 5 • Camp Howe • Hale’s Family & Community Program • Maplewood Country Day Camp & Enrichment Center • Mass Audubon’s Wildwood Camp • The Inn at East Hill Farm WINNER • The Inn at East Hill Farm

FOREIGN LANGUAGE AND CULTURAL IMMERSION SUMMER CAMPS TOP 5 • Fleur de Lis Camp • French Library / Alliance Francaise of Boston • German International School • Pine Village Preschool • SELA: The International Private School WINNER • German International School

GENERAL AND TRADITIONAL SUMMER DAY CAMPS

TOP 10 • Chestnut Hill School Camp • Dedham Country Day Camp • Einstein’s Workshop • Everwood Day Camp • Hale Day Camp • LINX Camps • Maplewood Country Day Camp & Enrichment Center • Riverbend School • Steve & Kate’s Camp • Summer at Brooks WINNER • Everwood Day Camp

GYMNASTICS SUMMER CAMPS TOP 5 • Energy Fitness and Gymnastics • Exxcel Gymnastics & Climbing • Gymnastics Academy of Boston • Gymnastics Express Natick • Planet Gymnastics WINNER • Exxcel Gymnastics & Climbing

HEALTH AND SPECIAL NEEDS SUMMER CAMPS TOP 5 • ABLS - Applied Behavioral Learning Services • Camp Howe • MGH Aspire • Riverbend School • Y3K Tutor In Your Home WINNER • Camp Howe

September 2026 | BostonParentsPaper.com 17

A hands-on museum for families that blends

science, science, nature,, nature & play play..

2026 FAMILY FAVORITES HORSEBACK RIDING SUMMER CAMP

TOP 5 • Camp Marshall Equestrian Center • Dana Hall School • Orchard Hill Equestrian Center • Sweet Meadow Farms • Willow Brook Farm Equestrian WINNER • Sweet Meadow Farms

x3! •Parent-Friendly Playdate Spots •Birthday Party Venues •Museums and Attractions

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LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT SUMMER CAMP

TOP 5 • Camp Howe • Everwood Day Camp • Hale’s Youth Leadership Development Programs • Maplewood Country Day Camp • Wellesley Theatre Project WINNER • Everwood Day Camp

LEGO SUMMER CAMP

2024

TOP 5 • Acera School • Einstein’s Workshop • iCode Of Wellesley • LetGo Your Mind • NuVu Summer

WINN

WINNER • iCode Of Wellesley

MUSIC AND SINGING SUMMER CAMPS

2026/2027

Private School Guide Check It Out

To add your school contact info@bostonparent.com

www.bostonparent.com

18 Boston Parents Paper | September 2026

PERFORMING ARTS SUMMER CAMPS

TOP 5 • Charles River School • Chestnut Hill School Creative Arts & Sports Program • LINX Camps • Wellesley Theatre Project • Wheelock Family Theatre WINNER • LINX Camps

PRESCHOOL AGE SUMMER CAMPS

TOP 10 • Chestnut Hill School Summer Camp • Everwood Day Camp • Hale Day Camp • Lesley Ellis • LINX Camps • PUDDLESTOMPERS Nature Exploration • Riverbend School • SELA: The International Private School • Summer at Tobin • Wellan Montessori School WINNER • Everwood Day Camp

ROBOTICS SUMMER CAMPS TOP 5 • Acera School • Boston Leadership Institute • Edge on Science • Einstein’s Workshop • iCode Of Wellesley

TOP 5 • Camp Howe WINNER • Community Music Center • Einstein’s Workshop of Boston • Jammin With You • Kids Crescendo at Powers Music School • Wellesley Theatre Project WINNER • Wellesley Theatre Project

2026 FAMILY FAVORITES SCHOOL VACATION CAMPS

TOP 10 • Chestnut Hill School Summer Camp • Danforth Art Museum and School Summer Arts • Einstein’s Workshop • Everwood Day Camp • Exxcel Gymnastics & Climbing • Girl Scouts of Eastern Mass • Hale’s School Vacation Days • LINX Camps • Natick Community Organic Farm • SELA: The International Private School WINNER • Einstein’s Workshop

SLEEPAWAY CAMPS

TOP 5 • Camp Birch Hill • Camp Howe • Camps Kenwood and Evergreen • Fleur de Lis Camp • YMCA Camp Takodah WINNER • Camp Birch Hill

SPORTS SUMMER CAMPS

TOP 5 • Camp Howe • Charles River Aquatics • Exxcel Gymnastics & Climbing • Hale Mountain Biking Camp • LINX Camps WINNER • Camp Howe

STEAM SUMMER CAMPS & SUMMER PROGRAMS TOP 5 • Acera School • Einstein’s Workshop • iCode Of Wellesley • NuVu Summer • Russian School of Mathematics WINNER • Acera School

TEEN FOCUSED SUMMER CAMPS

TOP 10 • Boston Leadership Institute • 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 • The Boston Architectural College • The Cambridge School of Weston WINNER • Hale Day Camp (Teen Camp)

September 2026 | BostonParentsPaper.com 19

2026 FAMILY FAVORITES 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 • Hale’s School Vacation Days

CLASSES AND ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS ART CLASSES

TOP 5 • Creation Station • Creative Steps Dance Studio • Danforth Art Museum & School • Einstein’s Workshop • Field Martial Arts Academy WINNER • Creative Steps Dance Studio

BALLET CLASSES

TOP 5 • Boston Ballet School • Creative Steps Dance Studio • Mass Motion Dance Boston • Mini Movers Studio • West Concord Dance Academy WINNER • Boston Ballet School

CIRCUS ARTS CLASSES

TOP 5 • Boston Children’s Circus • Commonwealth Circus Center • Esh Circus Arts • Green Dragon Circus Arts

• Maplewood Country Day Camp & Enrichment Center WINNER • Boston Children’s Circus

CLASSES FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENT INSTRUCTION TOP 5 • Boston School of Music Arts • Community Music Center of Boston • Creative Steps Dance Studio • GroovyBabyMusic • Little Groove Music • Note-worthy Experiences Music Studio WINNER • Note-worthy Experiences Music Studio

COMPUTER SCIENCE AND CODING CLASSES TOP 5 • Acera School • Einstein’s Workshop • iCode Of Wellesley • KTBYTE Computer Science Camps and Academy • New England Sci-Tech, Inc. WINNER • iCode Of Wellesley

DANCE CLASSES

TOP 5 • Creative Steps Dance Studio • Do Dance Ballet & Fitness • Miss Katie’s Dance Studio at Keeping Pace • Wellesley Theatre Project • West Concord Dance Academy WINNER • Creative Steps Dance Studio

20 Boston Parents Paper | September 2026

EARLY CHILDHOOD FAMILY MUSIC CLASSES

GYMNASTICS CLASSES

WINNER • GroovyBabyMusic

WINNER • Exxcel Gymnastics & Climbing

TOP 5 • Community Music Center of Boston • GroovyBabyMusic • Jammin With You • Little Groove Music • Music at the Blissful

ENRICHMENT AND AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS

TOP 10 • Acera School • Az-Book-Ah kids Center • Children’s Museum of New Hampshire • Commonwealth Learning Center • Community Music Center of Boston • Einstein’s Workshop • Hill House Inc • Russian School of Mathematics • The Skating Club of Boston • Tobin Afterschool • Wellesley Theatre Project WINNER • Russian School of Mathematics

FOREIGN LANGUAGE CLASSES TOP 5 • AZ-BOOK-AH! KIDS CENTER • Ecole Française Greater Boston • French Library/ Alliance Française • Fun World Language Academy • Ming Hui Academy WINNER • French Library/ Alliance Française

TOP 5 • Boston Rhythmic • Energy Fitness & Gymnastics • Exxcel Gymnastics & Climbing • Planet Gymnastics • Winchester Gymnastics Academy

ICE SKATING LESSONS TOP 5 • Bay State Skating School • Boston Common Skating School • Elite Edge Skating Club • Sharper Edge Skating School • The Skating Club of Boston Skating Academy WINNER • The Skating Club of Boston Skating Academy

IRISH STEP DANCING CLASSES

TOP 5 • Goulding School of Irish Dance • Harney Academy of Irish Dance • Mass Motion Dance Boston • McHale School of Irish Dance • O’Shea Chaplin Academy of Irish Dance WINNER • Harney Academy of Irish Dance

MARTIAL ARTS CLASSES

TOP 5 • Esposito’s Karate Fitness Center • Field Martial Arts Academy • Metrowest Academy of Jiu-Jitsu

2026 FAMILY FAVORITES • Peter Pippos Karate Center • Satori Ryu Karate WINNER • Satori Ryu Karate

MATH PROGRAMS AFTER SCHOOL

TOP 5 • Commonwealth Learning Center • Einstein’s Workshop • Mathnasium • Russian School of Mathematics • Y3K Tutor In Your Home WINNER • Russian School of Mathematics

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY PROGRAMS

TOP 5 • Acera School • AZ-BOOK-AH! KIDS CENTER • Children’s Museum of New Hampshire • Einstein’s Workshop • Russian School of Mathematics WINNER • Russian School of Mathematics

SPORTS PROGRAMS

TOP 5 • Charles River Aquatics • Dedham Health & Athletic Complex • Olympia Fencing Center • The Skating Club of Boston Skating Academy • Waltham Youth Soccer WINNER • Olympia Fencing Center

SWIM LESSONS

TOP 5 • Charles River Aquatics • Dedham Health & Athletic Complex • Goldfish Swim Schools • Hale Family & Community Program • Little Flippers WINNER • Goldfish Swim Schools

THEATER AND PERFORMING ARTS CLASSES

TOP 5 • Kidstock Creative Theater • The Performing Arts Connection • Wellesley Theatre Project • Weston Drama Workshop • Wheelock Family Theatre WINNER • Wellesley Theatre Project

TUTORING OR EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT PROGRAMS

TOP 5 • Az-book-ah! kids center • Boston Tutoring Services • Commonwealth Learning Center • Russian School of Mathematics • Y3K Tutor In Your Home WINNER • Commonwealth Learning Center

EARLY EDUCATION BILINGUAL PRESCHOOLS

TOP 5 • German International School Boston • Ming Hui Academy • Pine Village Preschool • SELA: The International Private School

• SolBe Learning WINNER • SolBe Learning

CHILD CARE FACILITIES TOP 10 • Diki Shining Star Childcare Center • Kiddie Academy of Cambridge • Little Hands Big Hearts Christian Preschool • Pine Village Preschool • Rock and Roll Daycare • SolBe Learning • Tender Loving Care Childcare Centers LLC • The Tobin Schools • Torit Montessori School • Wellan Montessori School

INDEPENDENT PRESCHOOLS

TOP 10 • Delphi Academy • Jackson Walnut Park School • Mt. Alvernia Academy • Park Street School • SELA: The International Private School WINNER • SolBe Learning • Tender Loving Care • Tender Loving Care Childcare Centers LLC Childcare Centers LLC CHILD CARE REFERRAL • The Tobin Schools AND SUPPORT • Torit Montessori School AGENCIES • Wellan Montessori School TOP 5 WINNER • Boston Baby Nurse and • Wellan Montessori School Nanny • Cass and Company, LLC LARGE PRESCHOOLS • New England Doula (TOTAL CAPACITY 31 Support CHILDREN OR MORE) • Sarah’s Sweet Slumber TOP 10 • The Nanny Hub • Bowen Cooperative WINNER • Cass and Company, LLC

Nursery School • Jackson Walnut Park School FAITH-BASED • Kiddie Academy of PRESCHOOLS Cambridge TOP 5 • Pine Village Preschool • Jackson Walnut Park • Second Church Nursery School School • Mt. Alvernia Academy • SolBe Learning • Quincy Catholic Academy • Tender Loving Care • St. Mary of the Childcare Centers LLCThe Assumption School Tobin Schools • The Second Church • Torit Montessori School Nursery School • Wellan Montessori School WINNER WINNER • Jackson Walnut Park • Tender Loving Care School Childcare Centers LLC

September 2026 | BostonParentsPaper.com 21

2026 FAMILY FAVORITES SMALL PRESCHOOLS (TOTAL CAPACITY 30 CHILDREN OR LESS) TOP 5 • Delphi Academy • RISE Early Education Academy • Riverbend School • Two Little Owls Schoolhouse • Wellesley Community Children’s Center WINNER • Delphi Academy

MONTESSORI PRESCHOOLS

TOP 5 • Jackson Walnut Park School • Kingsley Montessori School • Riverbend School • Torit Montessori School • Wellan Montessori School WINNER • Wellan Montessori School

FUN AND ATTRACTIONS AMUSEMENT PARK

TOP 5 • Canobie Lake Park • LEGO Discovery Center • Maziply Mirror Maze • Santa’s Village • Story Land

WINNER • Story Land

BIRTHDAY PARTY VENUES

TOP 5 • Discovery Museum TOP 5 • Einstein’s Workshop • Beede Center Concord • Hale Education • Burn Boot Camp • Dedham Health & Athletic • Jam Time • Natick Community Complex Organic Farm • Equinox

ATHLETIC CLUBS

• YMCA of Greater Boston

WINNER • Discovery Museum

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BIRTHDAY PARTY RESOURCES

TOP 5 • Big Joe the Storyteller • Fran Friedman • Jam Time • Little Groove Music • Music at the Blissful WINNER • Little Groove Music

TOP 5 • Boston Duck Tours • Fenway Park • Plimoth Patuxet Museums • The Harvard Museum of Natural Museum • USS Constitution Museum WINNER • USS Constitution Museum

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K-8 Special Education School | thewolfschool.org | East Providence | RI 22 Boston Parents Paper | September 2026

2026 FAMILY FAVORITES FAMILY FUN FAIRS/ FESTIVALS

TOP 5 • Duckling Day on Boston Common • Hale-o-ween at Hale Education • HONK Festival • Natick Community Organic Farm Farm Fest • The Inn at East Hill Farm WINNER • The Inn at East Hill Farm

HISTORIC SITES & TOURS

TOP 5 • Boston Public Garden • Freedom Trail • Old Sturbridge Village • Plimoth Patuxet Museums • USS Constitution Museum

LIVE THEATER AND FAMILY PERFORMANCES

TOP 5 • Music at the Blissful • North Shore Music Theatre • Puppet Showplace Theater • Wellesley Theatre Project • Wheelock Family Theatre WINNER • Music at the Blissful

LOCAL FARMS

TOP 5 • Mass Audubon’s Drumlin Farm • Natick Community Organic Farm • Parlee Farms • The Farm at Raven Brook • The Inn at East Hill Farm

WINNER • USS Constitution Museum WINNER • The Inn at East Hill Farm

INDOOR PLAY SPACES TOP 5 • Boston Children’s Museum • Children’s Museum of New Hampshire • Einstein’s Workshop • Jam Time • Maplewood Enrichment Center WINNER • Boston Children’s Museum

KID’S PARTY ENTERTAINMENT

TOP 5 • Barn Babies Traveling Petting Zoo • Big Joe the Storyteller • Jam Time • Music at the Blissful • Puppet Showplace Theater WINNER • Music at the Blissful

MUSEUMS AND ATTRACTIONS

TOP 5 • Children’s Museum of New Hampshire • Danforth Art Museum & School • Discovery Museum • Museum of Science • New England Aquarium WINNER • Discovery Museum

PARENT-FRIENDLY PLAYDATE SPOTS

TOP 5 • Children’s Museum of New Hampshire • Discovery Museum • Einstein’s Workshop • Jam Time • Puppet Showplace Theater WINNER • Discovery Museum

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2026 FAMILY FAVORITES ZOOS, AQUARIUMS OR NATURE CENTERS TOP 5 • Ecotarium Worcester • Franklin Park Zoo • Natick Community Organic Farm • New England Aquarium • Southwick’s Zoo WINNER • New England Aquarium

PLACES FOR ICE SKATING

TOP 5 • Babson Skating Center • Bay State Skating School • Duck Pond Boston Common • FMC Ice Sports • The Skating Academy WINNER • Duck Pond Boston Common

SUMMER RESORTS FOR FAMILIES

TOP 5 • Bayside Resort Hotel • Oceans Edge • Smugglers’ Notch Resort • The Inn at East Hill Farm • Winnetu Oceanside Resort WINNER • The Inn at East Hill Farm

WINTER RESORTS FOR FAMILIES TOP 5 • Bayside Resort Hotel • Mount Washington inn • Smugglers’ Notch Resort • Stowe Mountain Resort • The Inn at East Hill Farm WINNER • The Inn at East Hill Farm

HEALTH

BIRTH CENTERS AND MATERNITY CARE

TOP 5 • Blissful Sleep Doulas • Boston Baby Nurse and Nanny • Mass General Hospital • Mother’s Helpers • New England Doula Support WINNER • Boston Baby Nurse and Nanny

FAMILY DENTISTS

TOP 5 • Chestnut Dental • Holly Tree Dental • Natick Dental Partners • Pediatric Dental Specialists of Needham • The Center for Pediatric Dental Care & Orthodontics WINNER • The Center for Pediatric Dental Care & Orthodontics

HOSPITALS OR MEDICAL CENTERS

TOP 5 • Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center • Boston Children’s Hospital • Brigham and Women’s Hospital

24 Boston Parents Paper | September 2026

• Mass General Hospital • Newton-Wellesley Hospital - Main Campus 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 • Metrowest Family Eye Care • Specialized Pediatric Eye Care, Beverly • Vision Care Specialist Westboro WINNER • Family Eyecare Solutions

ORTHODONTISTS TOP 5 • Chestnut Dental • Dr Mark Halvorsen • Dr. Eric Gheewalla • Starr and Glick Orthodontics

• The Center for Pediatric Dental Care & Orthodontics WINNER • The Center for Pediatric Dental Care & Orthodontics

PEDIATRICIANS

TOP 5 • Atrius Health • Boston Children’s Primary Care Alliance • Framingham Pediatrics • Franklin Pediatric and Adolescent Care • Needham Pediatrics WINNER • Atrius Health

SPEECH LANGUAGE THERAPY TOP 5 • Back Bay Speech & Occupational Therapy • Boston Ability Center • Boston Children’s Hospital • Buttonloop Children’s Therapies • Speech Language Pathology Center WINNER • Boston Ability Center

SPORTS MEDICINE PRACTICES

TOP 5 • Beth Israel Deaconess Sports Medicine • Boston Children’s Hospital • Boston Sports Medicine • Mass General Hospital • Orthopedics New England WINNER • Boston Children’s Hospital

2026 FAMILY FAVORITES

RETAIL

BABY GIFTS & GEAR

KIDS’ CASUAL WEAR STORES

TOP 5 • Cutie Patutie’s Consignment • Keeping Pace with Multiple Miracles • kodomo boston • Magpie Kids • Tiny Hanger

TOP 5 • Cutie Patutie’s Consignment • Keeping Pace with Multiple Miracles • Kodomo Children’s Clothing • Magpie Kids • Tiny Hanger

WINNER • Cutie Patutie’s Consignment

BOOK STORES

KIDS’ SPECIAL OCCASION WEAR STORES

TOP 5 • Blue Bunny Books & Toys • Brookline Booksmith • Hummingbird Books • Porter Square Books • Tatnuck Booksellers WINNER • Porter Square Books

CONSIGNMENT STORES

TOP 5 • Blessing Barn Beacon Hill • Boomerangs • Cutie Patutie’s Consignment • Keeping Pace with Multiple Miracles • LexFUN! Consignment Sale WINNER • Cutie Patutie’s Consignment

FAMILY SHOE STORES TOP 5 • Closet to Closet Kids Resale Boutique • Cutie Patutie’s Consignment • Michelson’s Shoes • Red’s Shoe Barn • The Barn Family Shoe Store WINNER • Cutie Patutie’s Consignment

TOP 5 • BeeCee’s Kids • Cutie Patutie’s Consignment • Keeping Pace with Multiple Miracles • Kodomo Children’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

SCHOOLS ELEMENTARY

BILINGUAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TOP 5 • Delphi Academy • German International School • SELA: The International Private School • Torit Montessori School

WINNER • SELA: The International Private School

FAITH-BASED ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

TOP 5 • Jackson Walnut Park School • Mount Hope Christian School • Mt. Alvernia Academy • Quincy Catholic Academy • St. Mary of the Assumption School WINNER • Jackson Walnut Park School

MONTESSORI ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

WINNER • SELA: The International Private School

PUBLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

TOP 5 • Cabot Elementary School • Countryside Elementary • Eliot Elementary • Hunnewell • Thoreau Elementary WINNER • Cabot Elementary School

SCHOOLS HIGH SCHOOLS BOARDING HIGH SCHOOLS

TOP 5 • Kingsley Montessori School • Norwood Montessori School • Riverbend School • Torit Montessori School • Wellan Montessori School WINNER • Wellan Montessori School

PRIVATE INDEPENDENT ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

• Wellan Montessori School

TOP 10 • Delphi Academy • German International School of Boston • Jackson Walnut Park School • Kingsley Montessori School • Mt. Alvernia Academy • Park Street School • Riverbend School • SELA: The International Private SchoolThe Advent School • Torit Montessori School

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

September 2026 | BostonParentsPaper.com 25

2026 FAMILY FAVORITES

SCHOOLS - MIDDLE SCHOOLS

FAITH-BASED MIDDLE SCHOOLS

MONTESSORI HIGH SCHOOLS

TOP 5 • Austin Preparatory School • Lexington Christian Academy • Saint Paul’s Choir School • St. Mary of the Assumption School • Ursuline Academy

TOP 5 • Norwood Montessori School

WINNER • St. Mary of the Assumption School

WINNER • Norwood Montessori School

MONTESSORI MIDDLE SCHOOLS

PRIVATE INDEPENDENT HIGH SCHOOLS

TOP 10 • Archbishop Williams High School • Austin Preparatory School • Boston Trinity Academy • CABI- Center of Applied Behavior Institute • Cardinal Spellman High School • German International School Boston • St. Mark’s • St. Sebastian’s Country Day School • Ursuline Academy

TOP 5 • Bay Farm Montessori • Norwood Montessori School • Oak Meadow Montessori School • Riverbend School • Wellan Montessori School WINNER • Riverbend School

PRIVATE INDEPENDENT MIDDLE SCHOOLS

TOP 10 • Acera School • Cotting School • Delphi Academy • Fay School • German International WINNER School Boston • Ursuline Academy • Nashoba Brooks PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS • Riverbend School TOP 5 • SELA: The International • Brighton High School Private School • Lincoln-Sudbury Regional • Ursuline Academy High School • Wellan Montessori School • Newton North High WINNER School • Wellan Montessori School • Somerville High School • Wellesley High School WINNER • Newton North High School

26 Boston Parents Paper | September 2026

PUBLIC MIDDLE SCHOOLS

TOP 5 • Boston Latin • Charles E. Brown Middle School • Medway Middle School • Wellesley Middle School • West Somerville Neighborhood School WINNER • Boston Latin

SERVICES

FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHERS

TOP 5 • Janelle Bruno • Janelle Carmela Photography • Lisa West Photography • Lucozzi Portraits • The Homegrown Photographer WINNER • Lucozzi Portraits

KIDS HAIRCUTS

TOP 5 • Kids Kool Cuts • Lulu’s Family Cuts • Max and Mia’s Children’s Salon Hanover • Snip-its Haircuts for Kids • The Cutting Studio WINNER • The Cutting Studio

NANNY SERVICES

TOP 5 • Blissful Sleep Doulas • Boston Baby Nurse and Nanny • Cass and Company, LLC • New England Doula Support • Sarah’s Sweet Slumber WINNER • Boston Baby Nurse and Nanny

SPECIAL NEEDS SERVICES AND RESOURCES

SPECIAL NEEDS AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS TOP 5 • ABA Helps, LLC • ABLS - Applied Behavioral Learning Services • Commonwealth Learning Center • Milestones Day School and Transition Program • Simply Social Kids WINNER • ABA Helps, LLC

SPECIAL NEEDS ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

TOP 5 • 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 GENERAL RESOURCES

TOP 5 • ABLS - Applied Behavioral Learning Services • Boston Ability Center • Bridging Independent Living Together, Inc. • Commonwealth Learning Center • Milestones Day School and Transition Program WINNER • Bridging Independent Living Together, Inc.

2026 FAMILY FAVORITES SPECIAL NEEDS HIGH SCHOOLS

TOP 5 • Campus School at Boston College • Center For Applied Behavioral Instruction • League School for Autism • Milestones Day School and Transition Program • The Cotting School WINNER • Milestones Day School and Transition Program

SPECIAL NEEDS LEGAL ASSISTANCE TOP 5 • Cushing & Dolan, P.C. • Fletcher Tilton • Mariscal Special Needs Law • Ramos Law Education and Disability Advocates

• Special Needs Law Group WINNER • Fletcher Tilton

SPECIAL NEEDS MIDDLE SCHOOLS

TOP 5 • Campus School at Boston College • Center For Applied Behavioral Instruction • Milestones Day School and Transition Program • The Cotting School • The Wolf School WINNER • The Wolf School

SPECIAL NEEDS PRESCHOOLS

TOP 5 • ABLS - Applied Behavioral Learning Services • Campus School at Boston College

• Kennedy Day School at Franciscan Children’s • Partners in Child Development • The Cotting School WINNER • The Cotting School

SPECIAL NEEDS RECREATION PROGRAMS

TOP 5 • Adaptive Fitness & Movement • Berklee Institute for Accessible Arts Education (BIAAE) • Boston Ballet School Adaptive • Bridging Independent Living Together • The Skating Academy WINNER • Bridging Independent Living Together

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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.

28 Boston Parents Paper | September 2026

eachers 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 September 2026 | BostonParentsPaper.com 29

• • • • • • <<< 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

30 Boston Parents Paper | September 2026

• •

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 KidsHealth - Understanding Dyslexia – www.kidshealth.org/parent/medical/learning/dyslexia.html 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

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September 2026 | BostonParentsPaper.com 31

5 Individual Sports for Kids

arents 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.

By Sarah Lyons

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.

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

TENNIS

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.

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. 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

32 Boston Parents Paper | September 2026

Sarah Lyons is a freelance writer and mom of six kids including triplets. She enjoys reading, writing, and spending time outdoors with her family.

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September 2026 | BostonParentsPaper.com 33