Boston Parent December 2017

DECEMBER 2017

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Contents

December 2017 Volume 33 • Number 4

F E AT U R E S

14

What NOT to Give Kids for Christmas

16

A Simple Christmas: 5 Ways to Avoid Toy Overload W H AT ’ S I N S I D E 6 Family F.Y.I

Enter to Win Tickets!

Happy Hanukkah Button Batteries Beware!

10 Raising Dad F E AT U R E

A Father’s Gift Wish List

12 Bookshelf

Time Traveling

18 Family Calendar 30 Singleminded

Reverse Assimulation

Directories 20 Camps 23 Schools & Childcare Centers 24 Open House Events 26 Classes and Enrichment 28 Entertainment & Party Needs

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Boston Parent 841 Worcester Street Suite 344 Natick, MA 01760 Tel/Fax 617-522-1515

ART DIRECTOR Debbi Murzyn

Visit us online at BostonParentsPaper.com

CALENDAR EDITOR Andrea Michelson

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Jean Abernathy

ADVERTISING SALES PUBLISHERS Robert and Tracy McKean Holly Castro, David Morney

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Boston Parents Paper | December 2017

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 submissions to editor@ bostonparent.com.

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

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December 2017 | BostonParentsPaper.com

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✼ Family F.Y.I. ENTER TO WIN:

4 Tickets to Elf Live!

ELF The Broadway Musical is the hilarious tale of Buddy, a young orphan child who mistakenly crawls into Santa’s bag of gifts and is transported back to the North Pole. Unaware that he is actually human, Buddy’s enormous size and poor toymaking abilities cause him to face the truth. With Santa’s permission, Buddy embarks on a journey to New York City to find his birth father, discover his true identity, and help New York remember the true meaning of Christmas. This modern day Christmas classic is sure to make everyone embrace their inner ELF. Runs from Nov. 17 – Dec 6. Enter here, http:// bostonparentspaper.com/content/promotions.html

Sweet Surprise D

ecember is chock full with some of the biggest holidays of the year, which is probably why you may be overlooking one small, but very sweet one – National Brownie Day! That’s right, December 8 is the day we pay homage to the chocolate treats.

Whether you like yours fudgy or cakey, you don’t have to feel guilty about nibbling on a brownie on this day.

$967

That’s roughly the amount of money Americans will spend on Christmas gifts in 2017 (that would be $967.13 to be exact). This year’s projected online holiday sales are expected to reach $107 billion. That’s a heck of a lot of Hatchimals, don’t you think?

Awesome Etiquette

The Heart of Hanukkah

T

his year the first night of Hanukkah falls on December 13, ending on December 20, at sunset. The holiday always begins on the 25th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev, but never falls on the same day each year on the Gregorian calendar.

Hanukkah, the Hebrew word for “dedication,” is also known as the Festival of Lights or Feast of the Maccabees.

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Boston Parents Paper | December 2017

In Emily Post’s Etiquette, 19th Edition (April, 2017 William Morrow; ISBN: 9780062439253, $45.00), the fifth generation of Posts bring the latest information to your fingertips. Through their combined 20 years of work at The Emily Post Institute and hosting the wildly popular podcast, Awesome Etiquette, authors Lizzie Post and Daniel Post Senning are masters on the wide-ranging subject of etiquette. With updates to reflect an increasingly inclusive culture, the impact of technology, a divisive political climate, and the ever important but always changing business world, this edition is more timely and relevant than ever.

HOLIDAY EVENTS AROUND MASSACHUSETTS

Massachusetts knows how to celebrate the holidays in style, and entertainment options can seem endless. We wrapped them up for you, from Nutcrackers to holiday performances. Find fun events for your family with our digital Holiday Guide available at www.bostonparents.com

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December 2017 | BostonParentsPaper.com

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✼ Family F.Y.I. ENTER TO WIN:

4 Tickets to Rudolph Live!

The beloved TV classic RUDOLPH THE REDNOSED REINDEER soars off the screen and onto the stage this holiday season. Come see all of your favorite characters from the special including Santa and Mrs. Claus, Hermey the Elf, Bumble the Abominable Snow Monster, Clarice, Yukon Cornelius and, of course, Rudolph, as they come to life in RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER: THE MUSICAL. It’s an adventure that teaches us that what makes you different can be what makes you special. Don’t miss this wonderful holiday tradition that speaks to the misfit in all of us. Dec. 14 – 17.

Enter here, http://bostonparentspaper.com/ content/promotions.html

77,000,000

It’s almost hard for us to believe, but 77 million Christmas trees are planted each year. It takes anywhere from six to eight years for each one to mature. Bestsellers include the Douglas fir, Fraser fir, balsam fir, white pine and Scotch pine.

One more fun fact – the tallest living Christmas tree is a 162-foot Grand fir that’s located in Idaho!

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Boston Parents Paper | December 2017

Button Batteries Beware!

SHINY. SPARKLY. SMOOTH. PERFECT TO PUT IN MY MOUTH!

T

hat is what a toddler may think when they see a button (lithium) battery. Button batteries are all around us know as they help keep our devices powered for a longer duration than alkaline batteries. They are in remote controls, calculators, thermometers, and hearing aids, as well as a myriad of other objects. So this means they are all over your house. Most of the time they are not accessible to your child, but if someone has taken one out and not disposed of it properly or if your child is able to open the battery compartment of the device, your child can get into trouble with it.

As soon as infants start to become mobile, first with crawling, and then walking, they often like to explore the world with their mouth by picking things up—that aren’t food—and putting them in their mouth.

This happens to all manner of things including coins and beads, but this also happens with button batteries. Although it is always concerning when a child ingests a foreign object, button batteries can be lethal.

When a child swallows a non-food object, often it goes into the stomach, and if it does that, it will then eventually proceed out of the gastrointestinal tract with a bowel movement. However, at times, nonfood objects can get stuck in the esophagus, the muscular tube that connects your mouth the stomach. There are three placed in the chest where the foreign object can get stuck in the esophagus. If this happens and the object doesn’t move into the stomach after several hours, the object needs to be removed, usually by a fiberoptic scope.

Button batteries pose a particular hazard because the chemicals in the battery can react with the muscle of the esophagus and can erode through, making a hole. Children have died after ingesting a button battery when the battery became stuck in the esophagus and then eroded through into the aorta (the largest blood vessel in the body), which lead to hemorrhage of blood and eventually death. Sometimes children place the battery up their nose, which can also cause problems with eroding through the tissues of the nose.

Sometimes parents know when their child has ingested a battery— either they saw it, or there was another witness (usually a sibling), or the child says something to the parent. But sometimes children present with drooling or trouble swallowing, or with a history of choking, but no known foreign body ingestion. In these cases it may not be obvious that the child swallowed a button battery and there may be a delay in making the diagnosis with the potential that the child may become critically ill before it is discovered. A two view chest x-ray can make the diagnosis.

Two views are important because with one view the button battery may look very similar to a coin, and the second view provides a little more detail about the ingested object (coin vs button battery.

So what can you do to prevent a button battery ingestion in your home?

Make sure all devices that use a button battery have a secure cover. If the cover comes off easily you may consider providing extra security with duct tape.

Whenever a button battery is removed to be replaced, make sure it is disposed of immediately so the child won’t be able to have access to it.

Educate anyone wearing hearing aids who are in your household or who may come to visit (e.g. grandparents) as they may not be aware of the risks of button batteries to small children.

If your child is drooling, or having trouble swallowing, or if they have an episode of choking, have them evaluated by a medical provider for a possible button battery, or other object, ingestion.

For more information you can check out the Safe Kids website on the hazards of button batteries and how to keep your kids safe. https://www.safekids.org/tip/battery-safety-tips

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December 2017 | BostonParentsPaper.com

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✼ Raising Dad

A Father’s Gift Wish List I’M

about to start the annual holiday dance with my family concerning what they should buy me.

NOTHING. Men say that and people don’t believe it. I don’t know why. If I really want something — and can afford it — I’d buy it for myself. If I can’t afford it, my wife and kids can’t either (you know, it’s that community property/ everyone’s money thing), therefore, I don’t want them to buy it.

Seems pretty sensible. And it never works.

My best holiday memories have nothing to do with stuff ... except, of course, 1978, when I got Coleco football and Earth Wind & Fire’s Greatest Hits the same morning. That was a great day. I loved opening presents and all, but you get older, you have kids and it becomes about them.

At least until they open a present, take one look at the scooter they just had to have and toss it aside to open the next box.

Then you vow the holidays are about to become about washing dad’s car and doing dishes.

But because we do this dance every year, I’m trying to figure out some things I can ask my family for that don’t involve buying me another T-shirt (their fallback gift, which is fine ... now that I have 5,238 T-shirts emblazoned with the logo of a sports franchise or a quote of something else someone deemed witty).

I realize a pet alligator is probably illegal, and Super Bowl tickets and airfare are out of the question. So I’ll do my best to be a tad more realistic.

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Boston Parents Paper | December 2017

• A WEEKEND OF NO ELECTRONICS. All three of my kids have phones, iPads, iPods, stereos, TVs, microwaves ... whatever, glued to their faces 23 hours a day. You could say this is due to negligent parenting, and you’d probably be right. I just thought the more they get into tech, the better job they can get later to take care of their parents who didn’t plan properly for retirement. Just one weekend. We could talk, maybe take a walk or go somewhere.

I know ... weird.

• A MASSAGE. A real one, with someone who has to be paid. I realize that costs money, but these kids make me tense. Plus it’s a good investment for everyone, as I’ll be in a much better mood for a couple days.

• LEAVE. Just go somewhere for a day and let me have the house. Or, even better, go to grandma’s for a weekend and leave your mom at home.

• LEAVE WITH ME. Despite that last gift idea, I like my kids most of the time. Let’s go somewhere where there isn’t a lot of noise. And, no, you can’t bring a friend.

• AND FINALLY, BE NICE TO EACH OTHER. Sometimes it happens and sometimes it doesn’t.

Everyone benefits by such a crazy idea. Besides, it’s the holidays. Form a new habit, and see how long you can keep it up. Do that, and you may not ever have to buy me anything ever again.

Tony Hicks is a newspaper columnist and the father of four daughters.

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✼ Bookshelf

By Mary Ann Scheuer

Traveling Back in Time with Historical Fiction

I

t is hard to imagine living in a time without cell phones, much less electricity! Can textbooks really describe this for our kids? Historical fiction can bring a different place and time to life and help us imagine being right there.

Often these stories help young readers understand the larger context as well as the personal struggles of ordinary people living through challenging times.

PICTURE BOOKS

Coolies by Yin, illustrations by Chris Soentpiet (Puffin; ages 6-10; $7.97; 40 pp.). A grandmother tells her great-grandfather’s story as he traveled from China to California in 1865 to work on the transcontinental railroad. Yin transforms the term Coolie by showing the courage and integrity of Chinese American immigrants with this powerful, dramatic story.

Freedom over Me: Eleven Slaves, Their Lives and Dreams Brought to Life by Ashley Bryan (Atheneum / Simon & Schuster; ages 6-10; $17.99; 56 pp.). Ashley Bryan created

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this stunning portrait of the personal lives of 11 enslaved people from an 1828 estate sale document.

He gives them names, African cultures, talents and dreams, juxtaposing universal human desires with the cruel condition of slavery.

A Place Where Sunflowers Grow by Amy Lee-Tai, illustrated by Felicia Hoshino (Children’s Book Press; ages 6-10; $9.95; 32 pp.). Mari and her family have been forced to leave their home and are detained in Utah’s Topaz Relocation Center during World War II. Mari finds patience, courage and persistence in drawing and gardening, despite the bleak conditions. A touching picture book, with both English and Japanese text, based on the author’s family stories.

MIDDLE GRADE NOVELS Echo by Pam Muñoz Ryan (Scholastic; ages 9-12; $19.99; 587 pp.). Pam Muñoz Ryan captivates readers with this multilayered story of three children caught in the tumult of World War II. Themes of hope, resilience and inspiration echo (yes, pun intended) throughout three different characters’ separate stories, set in Germany, Pennsylvania and California in the 1930s and 1940s.

Boston Parents Paper | December 2017

YOUNG ADULT NOVELS

The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly (Henry Holt; ages 9-12; $7.55; 352 pp.). A natural-born scientist, 11-year-old Calpurnia would like to spend time examining insects, getting to know her scientist grandfather or reading Darwin’s controversial On the Origin of Species. But in 1899 Texas, all around her expect young girls to learn to sew, run a household and attract a future husband.

The Red Pencil by Andrea Davis Pinkney, with illustrations by Shane Evans (Little, Brown; ages 9-12; $8.52, 308 pp.). Life is hard for Amira on her family farm in Darfur, Sudan, with scarce food, distant water and many chores, and she dreams of school.

A sudden attack by the Sudanese militia disrupts everything, causing Amira and her family to flee for their lives to a refugee camp. Pinkney’s spare evocative verse creates space for young readers to share Amira’s hardship and eventual hope.

Between Shades of Gray

by Ruta Sepetys (Speak / Penguin; ages 12-18; $9.97; 384 pp.). After the Russian invasion of Lithuania in 1939, the Soviet secret police deported countless numbers of people considered anti-Soviet, sending them to exile in Siberian work camps. When teenager Lina and her family are arrested, they are crammed into a boxcar and begin a horrific journey to a frigid gulag. This story reached into my soul, and I find myself continuing to think about it for many years.

The Other Side of Truth

by Beverley Naidoo (Harper; ages 10-16; $6.98; 272 pp.).

Sade and her younger brother must flee Nigeria after their mother is killed in a shooting meant to target their journalist father. Naidoo presents this traumatic story with political insight and emotional sensitivity, depicting the difficulties the children face immigrating to London, locating their uncle and finding their father.

Mary Ann Scheuer is a teacher librarian. Find more books Mary Ann recommends sharing with children at her blog, Great Kid Books, http://greatkidbooks. blogspot.com.

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December 2017 | BostonParentsPaper.com

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By Sarah Lyons

M

y children began their Christmas lists in October.

Curious to see what made the list this year, I read over my daughter’s shoulder and was shocked to see that she had asked for a doll that spits up and wets itself, an expensive Lego set, and a live donkey. These items were NOT on my Christmas list for my children. When you begin your Christmas shopping this year, instead of asking what the kids would like for Christmas, consider asking the parents what they do NOT want their kids to get for Christmas.

A million pieces

Everyone is likely to get frustrated with a toy that comes with “a million” pieces. In no time, the pieces tend to get spread across the entire house and it is nearly impossible to get them back together. “Once the pieces are lost the whole toy is pointless because you can’t do anything with it if certain pieces are missing.” says Kassie Rew, mom of three. Prior to giving, consider the ages of the children in the home. A nine year old may ask for Polly Pocket dolls or Legos but they can easily turn into a choking hazard for a baby brother and a become huge stress for the parents.

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Boston Parents Paper | December 2017

Some assembly required

Every parent cringes when their child opens a fun and exciting toy and the box has the words “some assembly required” which usually means the parent spends hours reading frustrating directions and assembling the toy late into the night. If you are giving a toy that requires assembly, please consider putting it together prior to giving.

A not-so-joyful noise

Loud toys have been irritating parents since toys were invented. Musical instruments, toys with hammers, and

battery operated toys with no volume control all contribute to the already high level of noise pollution in the average household. When purchasing a loud toy for a favorite niece or nephew, please stop and imagine it being passed back to your own house when you have children.

If that makes you shudder, keep shopping.

Batteries not included

While we are talking about battery powered toys, please consider a few things as you purchase a gift.

Does the toy require batteries? If yes, are the batteries regularly available at a reasonable price? “We don’t care for toys that require massive amounts of expensive batteries. Sometimes the batteries cost more than the toy itself.” says Jessi Cole, mom of three. Check if the toy comes with batteries or if you must purchase them separately. Make sure to have batteries on hand when the child opens the gift, so they can begin playing immediately.

Toys that encourage violence

Lauren Heller, mom of twins, says “Anything that encourages hitting or violence against siblings is discouraged. They fight enough as it is.” Toys such as Nerf guns, swords, punching bags, and boxing gloves are not ideal for families that may not want weapons in the house.

Amy Cameron, mom of three, has a different perspective “A water gun, lightsaber, or Nerf gun for only one sibling is not desired. They need to be equally armed.” It is best to ask permission before purchasing these items.

All that glitters isn’t always gold

Many families love to receive craft items as gifts and even ask for them specifically. Others may find them messy, stressful, and frustrating. Play dough, paint, markers, stamps, beads, and glitter all fall into this category. “It doesn’t feel like a gift when we are trying to get ink out of laundry, carpet, or off the walls.” says Bridget Estelle, mom of four. Keeping this in mind, some families do enjoy crafts. Double check with the parents to see what their policy on craft supplies is before you make your purchase.

Purchasing a gift for someone is always challenging because you want it to be enjoyed. Ask the parents what they suggest, if anything is not permitted in the house, and if you have a great idea, run it by them first. Consider buying classic toys that are always a hit or an experience like a membership to a local attraction. Even if you have purchased one of the toys mentioned above or do in the future, don’t fret. Parents know that it truly is the thought that counts and are grateful that their children have generous people in their lives.

Sarah Lyons is a stay at home mom to six kids, including two year old triplets.

Gifts parents LOVE to receive for their kids • Educational toys • Experiences — zoo membership, movie passes, classes, camps • Complete gifts — a tablet, case, warranty, and gift card for apps • Accessories — a train to go with a new train set, furniture for a new doll house • Books • Batteries • Practical gifts — clothes, shoes, coats

December 2017 | BostonParentsPaper.com

15

A Simple Christmas: 5 Ways to Avoid Toy Overload

By Sarah Lyons

T

he Christmas season means decorations, tasty treats, family celebrations, and gift giving….and giving and giving. It seems that every year we lose some of the true meaning of Christmas because of the excess of toys that enter my home. Two years ago, when the season came to a close I found myself yearning for a simpler Christmas, one without so much toy overload. I wanted my children to still receive gifts they want and for us to find joy in giving those wishlist items without overdoing it. Here are some strategies I have found to keep the Christmas cheer without fear of the toy overload.

The four gift philosophy This gift-giving philosophy goes like this “Something they want, something they need, something to wear, and something to read.” This idea gives kids a variety of gifts without going overboard. It’s practical, affordable, and fun. Best of all it’s easy to shop for, without the risk of impulse buying.

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Give an experience Instead of spending a lot of money on toys that may or may not get played with, consider giving the gift of an experience. Ideas may include a membership to a local attraction like a zoo or children’s museum, classes that the child would enjoy (dance, art, music, etc), tickets to a show, movie passes, gift cards, a special night on the town, or even a vacation. This gift idea is great because it can be given to the entire family and is sure to create memories that last longer than an easily forgotten toy.

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Boston Parents Paper | December 2017

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A family gift Try giving a gift the entire family can enjoy. Some ideas could include movies, books, board games, electronics, or a swing set. Individual gifts that go along with the family gift could make it more personal. For example, if the family gift is a new video game system, each child might receive a game of interest to them to go along with it. The benefit to this type of gift is it encourages quality family time.

Tchaikovsky’s Score

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A heartfelt gift These types of gifts are special because they are so personal. One Christmas my grandma made all of her children and grandchildren a special recipe book that included family recipes that had been passed down for generations. It was a gift that cost little but was priceless to the recipient. These gifts require more time than money, but will keep giving for many years..

One big gift For some kids there is one large, costly gift that they have on their list. Perhaps they want it more than anything else. Consider getting each child the one larger gift they really want and forgo all the smaller extra gifts.

This will be a good lesson in the cost of items and help them appreciate the gifts they do receive more.

During the holidays, it is so easy to shower those we love with gifts; but when January comes around, you often find yourself surrounded by toy overload. These strategies will not only reduce the excess toys but will also help your children appreciate the gifts they do receive while enjoying the true reason for Christmas.

Sarah Lyons is a full time mom of six and a part time freelance writer.

DECEMBER 21-23 SHUBERT THEATRE

SPECIAL GUEST MC: KURTIS BLOW, OF THE CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED 1980 HIT SINGLE “THE BREAKS”

BUY TICKETS AT BOCHCENTER.ORG

BOCH CENTER BOX OFFICE 866.348.9738

GROUPS OF 10+ CALL 617.532.1116 Boch Center is a trademark of The Wang Center for the Performing Arts, Inc.

December 2017 | BostonParentsPaper.com

17

By Andrea Michelson

PHOTOS COURTESY BOCH CENTER

Thursday, December 21

The Hip Hop Nutcracker 7pm, Boch Center Wang Theatre, 265 Tremont St., A contemporary re-imagination of Tchaikovsky’s timeless music, sets out on a third national tour following the success of two previous sold-out tours. Through Dec. 23, $25 and up. www.bochcenter.org 18

Boston Parents Paper | December 2017

Want more events? Go online today! BostonParentsPaper.com

1 Friday The Train to Christmas Town Varying times, Cape Cod Central Railroad, Buzzard’s Bay. Take a train ride to see Santa in “Christmas Town” while singing songs, eating cookies and drinking hot chocolate. Through Dec. 27. Closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. $34 and up. 888-797-7245; capetrain. com

ELF The Musical 7pm, Boch Center Wang Theatre, 265 Tremont St, “Everyone’s favorite Elf will make his return to Boston this holiday season with ELF The Musical at the Boch Center Wang Theatre! Through Dec. 10, $37.50 and up. www.bochcenter.org

Holiday Open House 10am – 4pm, Old South Meeting House, 310 Washington St., Boston. Meet colonial characters, enjoy a cup of tea, make crafts and much more. Through Dec. 2. FREE. 617-482-6439; osmh.org

Historic Holiday Stroll 3:30pm, Faneuil Hall Marketplace, 4 South Market St., Boston. A 90-minute city tour by costumed guides, ending with Boston Cream Pie at the Omni. Thursdays through Sundays in November, December and January.

Dec. 25 and Jan.1 excluded. Adults, $29; youth, $19.

617-357-8300; thefreedomtrail.org

Lexington Symphony’s Holiday Pops: Welcome Yule 4pm & 7:30pm, Cary Hall, 1605 Massachusetts Ave., Lexington. An evening of popular holiday hits complete with Santa and a carol sing-along. $8 and up.

781-523-9009; lexingtonsymphony.org

Blink! A Light and Sound Extravaganza 4:30-10pm, Faneuil Hall, Boston. Watch as more than 350,000 lights dance to the beat of holiday songs.

Through Jan. 1. FREE. bostonblinks.com

ZooLights 5-9pm, Stone Zoo, 149 Pond St., Stoneham. Stroll along tree-lined paths lit by thousands of twinkling lights; visit Santa and a reindeer. Through Jan. 1. Closed Dec. 25. $8 and up. 781-438-5100; stonezoo.org

2 Saturday A Christmas Journey Varying times, EcoTarium, 222 Harrington Way, Worcester. Enjoy a reading of The Polar Express, a ride on the Explorer Express Train and a visit with Santa.

Reservations required. Weekends through Dec. 10. $20.

508-929-2700; ecotarium.org

Holiday Open House 9am – 1pm, North River Wildlife Sanctuary, 2000 Main Street, Marshfield. Enjoy free admission, cider and snacks while shopping for unique and locally handmade gifts. FREE. 781-837-9400; massaudubon.org

19

Boston Parents Paper | October 2017

Holiday Open House 10am – 4pm, Heifer Farm, 216 Wachusett St., Rutland.

Meet farm animals, take a wagon ride, decorate gingerbread cookies and much more. Weekends through Dec. 10. Free with a canned good. 508-886-5000; heifer.org/ farm

“Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” For Charity, 12-4:15pm, Faneuil Hall, Boston. Enjoy live entertainment near the Christmas tree and support local charities such as Toys For Tots, American Red Cross and more. Saturdays through Dec. 23. Donations encouraged. bostonblinks.com

The Writers’ Loft Holiday Bazaar and Book Fair 12:30-4:30pm, An Unlikely Story, 111 South St., Plainville. Book signings from local children’s authors, crafts and activities for the whole family. FREE. 508-6990244; thewritersloft.org

Dorchester Stringfest 3pm, Kroc Center Boston, 650 Dudley St., Dorchester. A cross-cultural adventure from India and China featuring erhu, tabla and strings. Reservations suggested. FREE. 617-598-3225; celebrityseries.org

3 Sunday Breakfast with Santa 10am – 12pm, Plimoth Plantation, 137 Warren Ave., Plymouth. Enjoy a delicious breakfast buffet, decorate a gingerbread man and visit with Santa. Sundays through Dec. 17. Adults, $20; youth, $10. 508-746-1622; plimoth. org

The Tanglewood Marionettes present Cinderella 10:30am, Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard St., Brookline. These talented puppeteers will bring your child’s favorite fairytale characters to life. Adults, $13; youth, $10. 617-734-2501; coolidge.org

Roxbury Stringfest 3pm, Hibernian Hall, 184 Dudley St., Roxbury. String quartet Castle of our Skins performs a selection of works from black composers. Reservations suggested. FREE. 617-598-3225; celebrityseries.org

Elves’ Workshop & Cookie Decorating 12pm – 3pm, The Children’s Museum in Easton, 9 Sullivan Ave., North Easton. We’ll transform the Lab into an Elf Workshop where Museum elves (renown for their tinkering skills) will help kids make a special keepsake holiday craft. Free with admission. 508-230-3789; childrensmuseumineaston.org

4 Monday MFA Playdates 10:15am, Museum of Fine Arts, 465 Huntington Ave., Boston. Bring your toddler to enjoy story time and looking activities in the galleries. Theme: Winter Wonderland. Free with admission. 617-267-9300; mfa.org

December 2017 | BostonParentsPaper.com

19

5 Tuesday

The Nutcracker Visit at LEGOLAND

Holiday Pops Varying times, Symphony Hall, 301 Massachusetts Ave., Boston. Join the Boston Pops in a performance of holiday music favorites, sing-a-longs and a visit from Santa.

Through Dec. 31; kids matinees Dec. 9, 10, 16, 17, 23 & 24. $33 and up. 888-266-1200; bso.org

7 Thursday

10:30am – 12:30pm, LEGOLAND Discovery Center Boston, 598 Assembly Row, Somerville. Welcome the Boston Ballet’s Sugarplum Fairy and Nutcracker Bear for story time, crafts and a chance to win tickets to The Nutcracker. Price TBA. 866-228-6439; legolanddiscoverycenter.com/boston

8 Friday Christmas Revels

The Gingerbread Man 10-11:30am, Drumlin Farm Wildlife Sanctuary, 208 S Great Road, Lincoln. Design and decorate your very own gingerbread man. While he’s baking, hear about his exciting adventures, then pay a visit to his friends on the farm. Open Dec. 7, 8, 13 and 15. $13.50 and up. 781259-2200; massaudubon.org

Times vary, Harvard University’s Sanders Theatre, 45 Quincy Street, Cambridge. This is a special holiday celebration set in Renaissance Venice, crossroads of the world! Shows through Dec. 23. $10 and up. 617-4962222; www.boxoffice.harvard.edu

Illumination Nights 5-7pm, Stevens-Coolidge Place, 137 Andover St., North Andover. Enjoy singing carolers and warm up with cocoa and s’mores as you enjoy the twinkling lights on the grounds. Weekends through Dec. 23. $10. 978-356-4351; ttor.org

CAMPS

Boston Common Tree Lighting 5-8pm, Boston Common, Tremont St., Boston. Kick off the night with a free ice-skating show on Frog Pond at 5pm, then the park holiday lights are switched on for the season and Mayor Walsh is joined onstage by entertainers and Santa Claus. The tree lighting starts at around 6:55pm. FREE. 617-635-4505; cityofboston.gov

VACATION CAMPS December 18-22, 2017 February 20-23, 2018 April 17-20, 2018

SUMMER CAMP June 18-Aug 17, 2018

June 18th - August 17, 2018

Crafts, Games, Cooking, Outdoor Fun and Field Trips. Open to boys and girls ages 21 months - 12 years old Online registration now open!

Sign up today at cambridgemontessori.org

Open House Sat., Dec 16th • 12:00-2:00 Pizza, tours and activities

Contact: Beth Johns-Thomas Director of Summer Programs 617.206.4662 passport@cambridgemontessori.org

Art ★ Ceramics ★ Drama ★ Music

Science ★ Sports ★ Swimming ★ and more!

Serving ages 2.9 through Grade 8.

Full day and half day options availabe.

Weekly themes and fun, engaging activities!

Swimming lessons!

For more information contact: Jeanette Keller summer@lesleyellis.org | 781.641.5987

20

Register today. Space is limited!

Go to www.lesleyellis.org/summer-program

Boston Parents Paper | December 2017

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

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

9 Saturday The Ugly Sweater Run 10am, Gillette Stadium, 1 Patriot Place, Foxborough. A jolly 5K with holiday-themed refreshment stations and some fun post-event festivities. $35 and up; ages 5 and under, free. theuglysweaterrun.com

Morning with Santa, Family Trees – A Celebration of Children’s Literature 10am – 12:30pm, Concord Museum, 200 Lexington Road, Concord. Enjoy a delightful visit and photo with Santa, as well as a number of engaging seasonal crafts and activities including face painting, treasure hunts, cookie decorating, letters to Santa, and more. Admire holidays trees decorated with inspiration from children’s literature. Through Jan. 2. Adults, $10; youth, $30. 978369-9763; concordmuseum.org

Cultural Survival Bazaar 10am – 5pm, Cambridge Rindge and Latin School, 459 Broadway, Cambridge. Experience art and music from indigenous peoples around the world. Through December 10. FREE. bazaar.culturalsurvival.org

Vanessa Trien and The Jumping Monkeys 11am, The Center for Arts in Natick, 14 Summer St., Natick. This Boston-based singer-songwriter is a local rockstar among the young and young at heart. Adults, $12; children, $10. 508-647-0097; natickarts.org

Geminids Meteor Shower 7:30-9:30pm, Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary, 87 Perkins Row, Topsfield. Learn about one of the most prolific annual meteor showers and step outside to catch a glimpse of the Geminids shower in its early stages.

There will also be viewing of the night sky through a

CAMPS

Epiic Solutions

Boston's Coolest Teen Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Design Summer Programs AM Workshops, PM Field Trips, Culminating Pitch Competition 1-week programs, June - August Monday - Friday, 9am - 4pm Open to co-ed, 7th - 12th graders Hosted at Innovation Hubs in Boston & Waltham Early-bird rates & scholarships

Learn more: www.epiicsolutions.org Email: hello@epiicsolutions.org

December 2017 | BostonParentsPaper.com

21

Authors and Illustrators Day

large reflector telescope. Ages 10 and up. $7 and up.

978-887-9264; massaudubon.org

1-4pm, Concord Museum, 200 Lexington Road, Concord.

Meet some of the authors and illustrators whose books are featured in the Family Trees exhibit. Free with admission. 978-369-9763; concordmuseum.org

Stars and Meteors at the Holidays 8-10pm, Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary, 280 Eliot Street, Natick. Come for great views of the night sky and meteors with snacks and hot drinks to keep you warm. A fun way to learn about stars and meteors from an astronomer! Ages 12 and up. $8 and up.

508-655-2296; massaudubon.org

11 Monday Family Trees – A Celebration of Children’s Literature

10 Sunday

9am – 5pm, Concord Museum, 200 Lexington Road, Concord.

Admire holidays trees decorated with inspiration from children’s literature. Through Jan. 2. Adults, $15; youth, $6.

978-369-9763; concordmuseum.org

PJ Library Celebrates Chanukah with Vanessa Trien

12 Tuesday

10am & 4pm, Easton Elementary School, 98 Columbus Ave., Easton; 4pm, Natick Community Center, 117 East Central St., Natick. Dance, jump, giggle and sing in the miracles of Chanukah at this joyous and interactive holiday concert for the whole family.

Concert followed by crafts and treats. Registration recommended. Family, $15. 781-795-0510; bostonjcc. org

Gingerbread House 10am – 12pm, The Children’s Museum in Easton, 9 Sullivan Ave., North Easton. Using colorful papers, glittery candy stickers and delicate doilies, decorate a giant non-edible house that will be up in MakerSpace all week long! Make a smaller version to take home to display! Free with admission. 508-230-3789; childrensmuseumineaston.org

Holiday On Ice

Blink! A Light and Sound Extravaganza

11am – 9pm, Community Ice Skating at Kendall Square, 300 Athenaeum St., Cambridge. Enjoy free admission all day with a professional skating show at 2pm. FREE; skate rental extra. 617-492-0941; skatekendall.com

4:30-10pm, Faneuil Hall, Boston. Watch as more than 350,000 lights dance to the beat of holiday songs.

Through Jan. 1. FREE. bostonblinks.com

CAMPS

Hale Day Camp

Summer options for every kid!

halereservation.org

REGISTER NOW FOR WINTER ART CLASSES AT NAC! Drawing, painting, clay, woodworking and so much more -- grades K-12 Early registration discount ends 12/11! www.newartcenter.org 617.964.3424

22

Boston Parents Paper | December 2017

SCHOOLS AND CHILDCARE CENTERS

13 Wednesday • Hanukkah Begins Hanukkah: The Festival of Lights 5-10pm, Museum of Fine Arts, 465 Huntington Ave., Boston. Enjoy an array of musical performances by artists, bands, and ensembles from around the region; view a one-of-a-kind, artist-made menorah and join a community candle lighting; and explore the MFA’s collection of Judaica to find inspiration to make your own art. FREE. 617-267-9300; mfa.org

14 Thursday Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer 7pm, Boch Center Wang Theatre, 265 Tremont St., The beloved TV classic RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER soars off the screen and onto the stage this holiday season.

Through Dec. 17, $38 and up. www.bochcenter.org

15 Friday

Ages 15 months - 5 years Brighton • Porter Sq. • Kendall Sq. South End • Needham • West Newton Jamaica Plain South St. Jamaica Plain Revere St. School Year and Summer Programs Full and Extended Day

Give your child the gift of bilingual education!

Cultural Survival Bazaar 10am – 10pm, Prudential Center, 800 Boylston St., Boston. Experience art and music from indigenous peoples around the world. Through December 17; closes at 8pm Sunday. FREE. bazaar.culturalsurvival.org

Star Gazing Nights 7-9pm, Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary, 293 Moose Hill Parkway, Sharon. Join local astronomers for a look at the stars and other night objects through big telescopes.

Drop in for all or some of the evening. Event subject to

SUMMER DRAMA for ages 4-14

Come visit and see why we were voted Family Favorite 4 years in a row!

TM

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WINNER

2015 WINNER

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2016 WINNER

2017 WINNER

EnrollmentPVP@gmail.com 617-416-7763

www.MyBilingualPreschool.com An excellent education, a caring, child-centered community, and a commitment to inclusivity.

Does your school do this?

Kidstock!

DRAMA CLASSES for ages 4-12

KIDSTOCK!

Creative Creativetheater theater

OURS DOES.

Come and see what makes us The Nation’s leader in Early Education

Now Accepting Applications

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ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS

MAINSTAGE SHOWS

BIRTHDAY PARTIES

www.kidstocktheater.com

781-729-5.KID

TM

BostonParentsKidsCamps.com

Search Our New & Improved Kids Camps Site!

• COST • DATES & TIMES • PHOTOS • VIDEOS • DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS • CONTACT INFORMATION AND MORE!

www.BostonParentsPaper.com Are you a camp director or owner?

Email camps@bostonparent.com for information about how to promote your camp!

www.cfsmass.org • 617.354.3880 rsvp to cfsadmission@cfsmass.org December 2017 | BostonParentsPaper.com

23

Open House Events More Events Online at www.BostonParentsPaper.com

ARLINGTON

11:30 am. 25 Canton St www.bostonjcc.org

International School of Boston Preschool and Kindergarten Open House January 20, 2018. 17 Irving St https://www.isbos.org

WATERTOWN Atrium School Open House December 1, 2017 @ 9:00 am – 11:00 am. 69 Grove St www.atrium.org

DORCHESTER Cristo Rey High School Boston Open House December 17, 2017 @ 10:00 am. 100 Savin Hill Ave. www.cristoreyboston.org

Sun., Dec. 17, Christmas Revels —Harvard University’s Sanders Theatre PHOTO COURTESY REVELS, ROGER IDE

weather-related cancellations. Ages 6 and up. FREE. 781784-5691; massaudubon.org

“A Nutcracker with Real Soul” John Hancock Hall, 180 Berkeley St., Boston “You really don’t get more “original” that Williams’ version of “The Nutcracker” that features people who reflect the increasingly diverse neighborhoods of Boston and, frankly, many other metro areas in the United States.”

WINCHESTER Acera School Open House December 2, 2017 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm. 5 Lowell Ave www.aceraschool.org

MILTON Delphi Academy Open House December 3, 2017 @ 12:00 pm.

564 Blue Hill Avenue www.delphiboston.org

WESTON The Meadowbrook School of Weston Open House December 5, 2017 @ 9:00 am – 10:30 am. 10 Farm Rd www.meadowbrook-ma.org

SHARON Gilson Early Learning Center at Temple Sinai Open House December 3, 2017 @ 9:30 am –

Open House Events May Be Posted Online at www.BostonParentsPaper.com/content/open-house-submission.html

SCHOOLS AND CHILDCARE CENTERS

Infants • Toddlers • Preschool Full Time and Part Time

Kindercam in every classroom!

We have cameras in every classroom that parents can log onto throughout the day and watch their children at the center!

Cummings Center in Beverly Enrolling Now (978) 969-6679

• Structured curriculum beginning at 15 months • All staff members are infant/child CPR and first-aid certified • Weekly visits from The Story Teller, Music Man, My First Yoga, The Tumble Bus, Happy Feet and Hoop It (kids basketball)

Owner-operated since 1994

Very competitive rates

www.thelearningzoneonline.com.

Woburn (781) 932-1070 23 Warren Ave. 24

Framingham (508) 872-3600 63 Fountain St.

Boston Parents Paper | December 2017

Belmont (617) 489-1161 279 Belmont St.

Waltham (781) 891-3600 295 Weston St.

Weston Beverly (781) 642-6787 (978) 969-6679 101 River Road 600 Cummings Ctr

SCHOOLS AND CHILDCARE CENTERS — The Boston Globe. $25-$85. December 15-28, (888) 596-1027; www.urbannutcracker.com

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.

16 Saturday Family Design Day

The Alastair Moock Family Holiday Hootenanny 11am, Regent Theatre, 7 Medford St., Arlington. Moock and special guests, Fiddlin’ Quinn and The Fayerweather Street School Chorus, perform holiday tunes. $12. 781646-4849; regenttheatre.com

Winter Solstice Lantern Walk 4-5:30pm, Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary, 87 Perkins Row, Topsfield. Make lanterns, tell solstice stories and stroll the trails to light up the night. Enjoy hot cider and cocoa at the bonfire after the hike. Through Dec. 17. $8 and up. 978-887-9264; massaudubon.org

Middleborough Festival of Lights 4-9pm, Boston/Cape Cod KOA, 438 Plymouth St., Middleborough. Drive through acres of lights, then visit the Christmas Village for holiday snacks, ornaments for purchase and a model train display. $2 per car. 978-8105892; discovermiddleborough.com

Holiday Show Fundraiser Beverly Rocci Post, Brimbal Ave, Beverly, Join the 15th annual Holiday Show Fundraiser to help kids in the North Shore explore their passion for dance at no cost.

These dancers are in great need of support and to date Revive Dance Xchange has given over $230,000 in scholarships to kids in need. This is a fun event with a silent auction, games, dance performances and more. Open to the public and to non-dancers too. $20 Donation. December 16, 6PM. (978) 922- 5215, www. revivedancexchange.com

17 Sunday Christmas Revels Times vary, Harvard University’s Sanders Theatre, 45 Quincy Street, Cambridge. This is a special holiday celebration set in Renaissance Venice, crossroads of the world! Shows through Dec. 23. $10 and up. 617-4962222; www.boxoffice.harvard.edu

Chanukah Run-a-Latke Family Fun 5K 11am, Chabad Hall, 44 Burrill St., Swampscott. Get your spirit healthy in time to celebrate the festival of lights! This scenic 5K on the North Shore will start and finish at the Chabad House. Bring the whole family! There will be Chanukah programming for children while the adults run. $25. www. northshoretimingonline.com

PJ Library Celebrates Chanukah with Vanessa Trien 4pm, Fayerweather Street School, 765 Concord Ave., Cambridge. Dance, jump, giggle and sing in the miracles of Chanukah at this joyous and interactive holiday concert for the whole family. Concert followed by crafts and

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

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

BRIMM R

1880

10:30am, BSA Space, 290 Congress St., Boston. Tour gingerbread houses made by local design firms, then create your own. Registration required. $12. lbdma.org

INSPIRED TO LEARN • ENCOURAGED TO EXPLORE • EMPOWERED TO LEAD

Walk-in-Wednesdays Parent Led Tours - 8:15 am December 6 January 10

New Innovation, STEAM & Maker Labs

Independent | Co-Educational | Pre-K to 12th Grade www.brimmer.org | Chestnut Hill, MA December 2017 | BostonParentsPaper.com

25

CLASSES AND ENRICHMENT

REGISTRATION Starting: December 11th!

14 week session

- Beginner to Advanced Classes - Tots Classes - Intensive & Xcel Programs -Tumbling - Personal Training - Work-It Circuit-

Sun., Dec. 10, Authors and Illustrators Day­—Concord Museum Julia Denos, author of Swatch: The Girl Who Loved Color, and some fans

CALL TODAY!

1 HF Brown Way, Natick, MA 70 Jaconnet St, Newton Highlands, MA

617-795-7177 www.EnergyFitnessgym.com

Art & Crafts Classes 31 Thorpe Road, Needham MA

Painting • Sculpture • Clay • Mosaics Printmaking • Sewing • Knitting Collage • Sculpture • Drop In Hours Individual Instruction • Birthdays

www.nicolesartspot.com • (781) 343-1250

PHOTO COURTESY CONCORD MUSEUM

treats. Registration recommended. Family, $15. 781-7950510; bostonjcc.org

The Nutcracker Boston Opera House 539 Washington St, Boston, Create an annual tradition with family and friends at one of New England’s most beloved holiday events and make memories to cherish for years to come. The Nutcracker will capture your imagination and transport you to a magical world of brave toy soldiers, dancing snowflakes, and a mystical Sugar Plum Fairy. $35-$204, Through December 31, (617) 695-6955; bostonballet.org

18 Monday Blink! A Light and Sound Extravaganza 4:30-10pm, Faneuil Hall, Boston. Watch as more than 350,000 lights dance to the beat of holiday songs.

Through Jan. 1. FREE. bostonblinks.com

20 Wednesday Family Trees – A Celebration of Children’s Literature 9am – 5pm, Concord Museum, 200 Lexington Road, Concord. Admire holidays trees decorated with inspiration from children’s literature. Through Jan. 2. Adults, $15; youth, $6. 978-369-9763; concordmuseum.org

21 Thursday A Winter Solstice Celebration 3:30-5pm, Joppa Flats Education Center, 1 Plum Island Turnpike, Newburyport. Come celebrate the longest night and shortest day of the year with Joppa Flats! $6 and up. 978-462-9998; massaudubon.org

Winter Solstice Hayride 6:30-8:30pm, North River Wildlife Sanctuary, 2000 Main Street, Marshfield. Bundle up in your favorite warm layers and join us in the celebration of the Winter Solstice.

Bring your own box dinner and we will supply hot

26

Boston Parents Paper | December 2017

cocoa, dessert and stories. $8 and up. 781-837-9400; massaudubon.org

success of two previous sold-out tours. Through Dec. 23, $25 and up. www.bochcenter.org

The Hip Hop Nutcracker

22 Friday

7pm, Boch Center Wang Theatre, 265 Tremont St., A contemporary re-imagination of Tchaikovsky’s timeless music, sets out on a third national tour following the

Disney on Ice presents Dream Big varying times, Agganis Arena, 925 Commonwealth Ave., Boston. Disney’s beloved princess stories and fairytales

CLASSES AND ENRICHMENT We bring the instrument and the instructor.

Private in-home lessons available

Is your enrollment down?

Advertise Here!

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!

TM

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

32 South Fairview St., Roslindale, MA

617-323-2566

2016 TOP 5

SPACE AVAILABLE

Bay State Skating School

Cambridge, Brookline (Cleveland Circle & Larz Anderson),

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

As featured on “Chronicle”

Call 617.522.1515

GET THE BEST REPORT CARD YET!

49 Years Experience Children (4 –18 years)

Medford, Newton-Brighton, Quincy, Somerville, Waltham, TM

West Roxbury, Weymouth

2017 TOP 5

781-890-8480 • www.BayStateSkatingSchool.org

December 2017 | BostonParentsPaper.com

27

come alive on the ice. Through Jan. 1. $10 and up. 617353-4628; agganisarena.com

350,000 lights dance to the beat of holiday songs.

Through Jan. 1. FREE. bostonblinks.com

Christmas Revels

26 Tuesday

Times vary, Harvard University’s Sanders Theatre, 45 Quincy Street, Cambridge. This is a special holiday celebration set in Renaissance Venice, crossroads of the world! Shows through Dec. 23. $10 and up. 617-4962222; www.boxoffice.harvard.edu

Boxing Day!

23 Saturday A Charlie Brown Christmas: A Family Classic 2 & 4pm, Calderwood Pavilion at the Boston Center for the Arts, 527 Tremont Street, Boston. Bust a move with Charlie Brown, Snoopy and Lucy as they put on a Christmas pageant, trying to discover the true meaning of this holiday. Through Dec. 24. $15 and up. 617-2660800; www.goldstar.com/events/boston-ma

24 Sunday • Christmas Eve Holiday Pops Kids Matinees 11am, Symphony Hall, 301 Massachusetts Ave., Boston.

These special family concerts are shorter in length with no intermission and include a children’s sing-along and post-concert photos with Santa. $33 and up. 888-2661200; www.bso.org/Performance

25 Monday • Christmas Day Blink! A Light and Sound Extravaganza 4:30-10pm, Faneuil Hall, Boston. Watch as more than

ENTERTAINMENT AND PARTY NEEDS

Celebrate everything 2017 at Online Ordering Available

Host your next party in our new Decorating Kitchen

11am – 2pm, The Discovery Museums,177 Main St., Acton. They’ll supply the cardboard and you bring the creativity. Free with admission. 978-264-4200; discoverymuseums.org

Blink! A Light and Sound Extravaganza 4:30-10pm, Faneuil Hall, Boston. Watch as more than 350,000 lights dance to the beat of holiday songs.

Through Jan. 1. FREE. bostonblinks.com

27 Wednesday Family Trees – A Celebration of Children’s Literature 9am – 5pm, Concord Museum, 200 Lexington Road, Concord. Admire holidays trees decorated with inspiration from children’s literature. Through Jan. 2. Adults, $15; youth, $6. 978-369-9763; concordmuseum.org

Christmas Revels Times vary, Harvard University’s Sanders Theatre, 45 Quincy Street, Cambridge. This is a special holiday celebration set in Renaissance Venice, crossroads of the world! Shows through Dec. 23. $10 and up. 617-4962222; www.boxoffice.harvard.edu

29 Friday Boston Pops Perform Looney Tunes 7pm, Symphony Hall, 301 Massachusetts Ave., Boston.

Watch Looney Tunes classics projected on the big screen while the Boston Pops performs their original scores. Through Dec. 30. Saturday matinee at 3pm. $46 and up. 888-266-1200; bso.org

New Year Noisemakers Rosalita's Puppets

www.rosalitaspuppets.com 617-633-2832

J & J Pony Rentals • Quiet, gentle, lovable ponies; large and small available for any occasion.

• Pony parties at your place or at the farm.

• Customized packages at reasonable rates

10am – 3pm, Providence Children’s Museum, 100 South St., Providence, R.I. Create festive noisemakers to ring in 2018. Through Dec. 31. Free with admission. 401273-5437; childrenmuseum.org

30 Saturday Disney on Ice presents Dream Big varying times, Agganis Arena, 925 Commonwealth Ave., Boston. Disney’s beloved princess stories and fairytales come alive on the ice. Through Jan. 1. $10 and up. 617-353-4628; agganisarena.com

Blink! A Light and Sound Extravaganza 4:30-10pm, Faneuil Hall, Boston. Watch as more than 350,000 lights dance to the beat of holiday songs.

Through Jan. 1. FREE. bostonblinks.com

TM

2017 WINNER

Now offering GLUTEN-FREE items

Cakes, Cookies, Candies, Gift Baskets & All Your Party Needs!

1356 Beacon St., Brookline 617-566-3330

www.partyfavorsbrookline.com

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31 Sunday Happy Noon Year HUNTERS HAVEN FARM 104 King St., Groveland, MA

978-373-1300

HuntersHavenFarm.com

Boston Parents Paper | December 2017

10:30am – 12pm, The Common, 308 Congress St., Boston. Why wait until midnight to welcome 2018?

Start your celebrations early with festive hat making

and a noon countdown. Free with admission. 617-4266500; bostonkids.org

Bessie’s New Year Eve Party Prep 10am – 11:45am, The Discovery Museums, 177 Main Street (Route 27), Acton. Let’s get ready to shake, rattle, and roll into the New Year by making party hats and noise makers! Come bundled-up in your warmest pajamas and stick around for our pajama dance party at 11:45am, with a countdown to 12 (noon), in Discovery Woods. Free with admission. 978-264-4200; discoverymuseums.org

✼

periodically to count down the New Year with confetti blasts and a rousing rendition of Auld Lang Syne. $10 per person. 508-230-3789; childrensmuseumineaston.org

Boston’s Family Fireworks 7pm, Boston Commons, Tremont St., Boston. Enjoy a fantastic Fireworks Display over Boston Common, brought to you by The Mugar Foundation. FREE. www. firstnightboston.org

calendar

Beverly’s New Year 2018 3:30-7pm, Downtown Beverly. Join Beverly’s New Year for the Grand Procession Parade and Kids’ Countdown the Tanglewood Marionettes.

Reservations required.

Beach Ball Drop. Admission buttons go on sale soonFREE. at 617-514-1644; jfklibrary.org. local businesses.

Enjoy music, performances, arts and crafts, magic, Curious Creatures and more!

Outdoor Winter Backyard Birding, 10:30am, Boston Nature events,Center, free; indoor, 978-922-8558; beverlymain500 Walk$5-8.

Hill St., Mattapan. Learn to use streets.org binoculars, go on a bird hike and create some seed and fruit art for the birds to enjoy. Registration required.

Youth, $7.

617-983-8500; New Year’s Eve Party massaudubon.org.

Latelier, 10:30am, Regent Theatre, 7 Medford St., 10am –Matias 4pm, The Children’s Museum in Easton, 9 An hour of magic andthe surprises a Chilean SullivanArlington.

Ave., North Easton.

Keep time from honored magician and mentalist.

Adults, $10;atyouth, $8. tradition of ringing in the New Year our day781-646-4849;The regenttheatre.com. long celebration. party is bursting with crafts, games,SOUTH activities and magic shows that mean family fun forTracking everyone! break merriment theWe’ll Winter Wild from Thing,the 9am, Francis William

Bird Park, 251 Washington St., Walpole. See Jan. 14 listing.

Winter Warm Up, 2-6pm, World’s End, Hingham. Get

for hiking, sledding, snowshoeing, owl prowls Mon., outdoors Dec 25, Blink!

A Light and Sound Extravaganza— tales around the campfire. Adults, $10; youth, free.

Faneuiland Hall, Boston 781-740-7233; ttor.org.

Family Owl Prowl, 7pm, Blue Hills Trailside Museum, 1904 Canton Ave., Milton. Practice owl calls and meet some of the museum’s resident owls before going on a night hike to search for them. Registration required. $10.

617-983-8500; massaudon.org.

Stargazing: Jewels of the Night, 7pm, North River Wildlife Sanctuary, 2000 Main St., Marshfield. Join astronomy enthusiast Peter Reed as he guides you through the constellations. Registration required. $13.

781-837-9400; massaudubon.org.

Speech-Language & Hearing

WEST Valentine Card Making Party, 10am, The Eric Carle Museum, 125 West Bay Road, Amherst. Pop in to make Associates Greater Boston, PC special valentines for your of family, friends or classmates.

Registration $12 perget pair ahead or trio. this year!

Let usrecommended. help your child 413-658-1100; carlemuseum.org.

• Speech, Language, Literacy Evaluations

and Therapies for All Ages 29 Sunday • Individual Early Intervention Therapy

• Occupational Therapy The Enchanted Forest, 10:30am, Coolidge Corner Theatre, 290 Harvard St., Brookline. Artbarn, a youth community theater company, presents the tale of a Dr. Maura G. Marks Ph.D., AuD., CCC-A/SLP., Director family vacation gone wrong.

Adults, $13; youth, $10.

617-734-2501; coolidge.org.

MEDFIELD

5 N. Meadows Road • 508-359-4532

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Serving Children NORTH PLAINVILLE 2016 Ward Winter Fest, noon to 3pm, Ward andReservation, Adults TOP 5 30 Man-Mar Dr. • 508-695-6848 Andover. Explore the property on a guided hike, or www.speechlanguageandhearingassociates.com bring your snowshoes and sled to play. Then warm up with refreshments by the fire. $10 per car. 978-886-5297; ttor.org.

ENTERTAINMENT AND PARTY NEEDS TOP 5

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31 Tuesday

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Pa arrty P

WEST Backwards Storytime, 10am, The Discovery Museums, “ComeNational BounceBackwards Off Our Day Walls” 177 Main St., Acton. Celebrate Private and Birthday Parties Free with admission. with• 100% silly stories activities.

• Open Bounce & Family Fun 978-264-4200; discoverymuseums.org.

Peabody, MA • Field Trip Programs 978-532-5868 • Glow & Rock Star Parties 2017 BostonBounceParty.com TM

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Host your next party in our new Decorating Kitchen

entss Parent Par ard Award ice Aw Choice Cho eerr ner ner nne nn nne Win Wiiinn W Win Wi W

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December 2017 | BostonParentsPaper.com

29

✼ Single Minded

Reverse Assimulation

By Susan Solomon Yem I met my ex-husband when I was assigned to supervise the translation of a film into Khmer, the language of Cambodia. It was 1979, and the United States had just begun to accept Cambodian refugees for resettlement. He was one of the first to arrive.

In the ignorance of my youthful selfabsorption, all I knew about Cambodia was its location in Southeast Asia. Through my work on this project, I learned a lot, and I met many newly arrived refugees. My interest in the success of their resettlement and their desire to learn more about America changed my life. I began spending my weekends commuting 90 minutes from my home to Long Beach, California, the largest Cambodian community in the United States, to minister to these people. I truly believed this was my life’s calling.

My ex-husband was also helping the new arrivals. In fact, our weekends were usually spent together. We stayed in a house overflowing with men, women and children.

We all shared meals, played games and taught each other our languages. This side-by-side work burgeoned into a romance, and 10 months after we met, we married.

I used to tease him that I thought East meets West meant a New Yorker (me) getting together with a Californian. I would never have imagined that my East meets West would have included marrying someone from halfway around the world.

My Cross-Cultural Education Living with the Cambodian refugees was an education in a culture I was soon to adopt as my own. I learned some rudimentary language. (My first Khmer words translated to I like Cambodian food.) I learned how men and women relate to each other — women rule! And I discovered a lot about the horrendous experiences of living under the Khmer Rouge. I truly loved these people and this culture.

Shortly after our wedding, we moved from Southern California to Boston to help settle the latest wave of refugees. We rented a five-bedroom house in Revere. Soon every room was occupied by families fresh off the boat.

English was a language seldom heard in our household.

For me this was cultural immersion, even though I never left the country.

My oldest son was born during this time. Here were two other families in the house, and both had baby boys the same age as mine. One of the families included a grandfather who enjoyed keeping an eye on all three boys.

30

Boston Parents Paper | December 2017

We were living in community, and, even though my skin was a different color, I felt a kinship to these housemates.

Marrying a Culture Cross-cultural marriage is challenging and often unsuccessful. It is not just that you have no common background. For some, like us, our cultures united because there had been a trauma that drew us together. War and upheaval forced my ex-husband to flee to the United States. I do not believe that our cultural differences caused our divorce, but they probably contributed to it.

With the end of the marriage came the end of my cultural connection. I no longer logically fit into a world populated by people who looked different from me. I could no longer go to the Cambodian grocery story and blend in with the other shoppers because my Cambodian husband was no longer by my side.

The year my daughter turned 16, I wanted to cater a Cambodian dinner for her friends. When I called to find out how much the meal would cost, the price I was quoted was exorbitant. Had I communicated in Khmer, I know the food would have been much cheaper.

With their father out of the house, my children had fewer and fewer Cambodian cultural experiences. Beside eating less of the food and attending fewer special events, they abandoned their Cambodian nicknames and what little vocabulary they knew as young children.

Losing Our Cultural Identity When we were together, the Cambodian culture dominated our family life. I taught my kids little about my Jewish roots. Now they have no interest in learning. And, other than bagels and deli, they are not too keen on the food. When they are asked their nationality or cultural background, they are all reluctant to respond. They usually ask the questioner to guess. It is harder to find the connections we had previously.

Recently my daughter and I paid a visit to a few of my Cambodian friends from those early days in Long Beach.

It was a delight to spend time with them and listen to them chatter in Khmer, picking up words here and there.

The sights and scents in their homes drew me back to a time I greatly missed. My daughter enjoyed the visit, too, and has made a connection she continues to nurture.

The sadness I feel about my divorce is compounded because I have also lost a culture and maybe even a little of my identity.

Susan Solomon Yem is singleminded about raising her five children to adulthood. She’d like to hear your stories about single parenting. Contact her at susansyem@gmail.com

Photos by Melody Komyerov, Rachel Napier, Carol Boughrum

The Concord Museum is jam-packed with fun, family events!

22nd Annual Concord Museum

2017 Honorary Chair Sunday, December 10 Explore a new animated picture book with the author/illustrator.

Meet the Authors & Illustrators

Family Trees

D.B. Johnson

Sunday, December 10

A Celebration of Children’s Literature

By reservation.

Morning with Santa December 9 By reservation.

15 children’s book authors & illustrators are visiting for conversation & book signing

38 fanciful trees of all shapes and sizes, decorated with original ornaments inspired by acclaimed children’s storybooks and contemporary picture book favorites.

Meet Taco Dragon Saturday & Sunday, December 16 & 17

November 22 ~ January 1

www.concordmuseum.org

Lead Sponsor

Media Sponsor

DIR ECTED BY PATR ICK SWANSON

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MEGAN HENDERSON, MUSIC DIR ECTOR

enetian Celebration DECEMBER 8--27, 2017 of the Winter Sol◊ice

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Children under 4 are always free!

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Harvard University, Cambridge, MA

Sanders Theare

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December 2017 | BostonParentsPaper.com

31

MFA for the Holidays December Vacation Week Your sense of wonder comes to life with art making and activities from December 26 through 31.

mfa.org/holidays Doll’s house with silver and porcelain miniatures. Dutch, 1700–1800. Wood, silver, porcelain, glass, oil on copper, mother of pearl and pen and ink drawings.

Rose-Marie and Eijk van Otterloo Collection. On view in Gallery 242, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Photo courtesy Tony Rinaldo.

Supported by Pamela and Bradford Warner.

Art-making activities supported in part by UNIQLO USA