NOVEMBER 2016 magazine Technology

Ages 2 – 5 Years Table of Contents New TK Program 4 16 www.ggmg.org Letter from the Editor: Technology and Kids: The Full Time & Year Round Modern Family Good, the Bad, and the Ugly Using technology rather than being used Nurturing technology smarts BOARD OF DIRECTORS Preschool Bilingual Spanish Option by it Jami Grich Chair Laurel Kellam Kirsten Pfleger Vice Chair Cathy Tran 20 Secretary Laura Kabler Oswell 5 Treasurer Kristen McGuire Must-Have Apps for Busy Moms Letter from the Board: Motherhood: there’s an app for that Community Support Tiffany Bindoo Shaheen Bilgrami External Communications Addie Bjornsen Celebrating Diversity Internal Communications Virginia Green Announcing GGMG’s newest committee Kids Events Justine Simpson Cathy Tran 24 Play-based philosophy Member Engagement Sasha Fahimi Integrating Technology into Operations Laura Kim 6 Elementary Education Enroll Parent Education Katrina Dirksen inspired by Get the 411 on tech in San Francisco Partnerships Shikha Goyal-Allain Out and About classrooms Technology Sarah Soto A Very Alternative Thanksgiving Day in Reggio Emilia and the City Lynn Perkins Jennifer Butterfoss Montessori Now COMMITTEES Li’l Kid, Big City: Ocean Avenue 28 Megan Bushnell Community Support Operations Hey Amazon, Where’s My Toy? Diversity & Inclusion Parent Education Sharing Holiday Warmth The nuts and bolts of one of the world’s Entrepreneurship Partnerships Jenny Shaw biggest retailers th Just for Moms Playgroups Rutuja Khanzode Conveniently located in the Mission near 24 St. BART Kids Activities PR/Marketing 8 Magazine Recruiting Ask the Expert: Detecting and 39 Membership Social Events Newly renovated building features: ♥ Web Team Preventing Cyberbullying I Mom: Dining Together Understanding the perils of cyberspace Light & spacious classrooms, gross motor gym, art and sensory for kids When You’re 3,000 Miles Apart Digital dinners bring a family closer Eve Kupferman studio, playground with garden area, new bathrooms, MAGAZINE Jennifer Hofmann Editor-in-Chief Kirsten Pfleger seismic retrofits, and state of the art security. Managing Editor Sonya Abrams 10 Senior Editor Megan Bushnell Dadlands: Channeling The GGMG at Work Art Director JoJo Rhee Chevalier Good Ol’ Days Repeating history with technology 4 Writers Stephanie AuWerter, Shaheen Bilgrami, Housekeeping tug-of-war Jennifer Butterfoss, Tara Hardesty, Laure Latham, Interested in admissions? Bobby Shukla, Catherine Symon P.J. Leffelman 5 Copy Editors Sarah Brandstetter, Emily deGrassi, Anna Gracia, From Our Readers Contact us: [email protected] Arwen Griffith, Neha Masson, Jenny Shaw, Sandy Woo 12 Advertising Sherri Howe Books for Kids: 9 Designers Jessica Franklin, Jesse Recor, Drives & Contest Visit: sftikesacademy.com Lani Schreibstein, Lora Tomova Science and Engineering For inquiring minds of all ages Photographers Lindsay Lovier, Anna Psalmond, 15 Lic #384002757 (pending) Aviva Roller, Carolyn Soling Laure Latham New Arrivals 32 For information regarding how to advertise in this magazine, 14 GGMG Events contact [email protected]. From Womb to World: For questions or comments regarding magazine content, contact [email protected]. How Activity Trackers Work 34 Opening Fall 2016! For questions or comments regarding all other aspects of GGMG, Demystifying your magic wristband Committee Updates including how to advertise an event to our membership, Catherine Symon please contact [email protected]. Cover Photo by Carolyn Soling Photography; Cover model: Elsa (6), Cora (8) Letter from the Editor: Letter from the Board: Modern Family Celebrating Diversity By Kirsten Pfleger By Cathy Tran

odern technology happens in the real world can be challenging. Rutuja Khanzode elcome to November and the start of the busy holiday Board of Directors by is such a core part offers a primer on the magic of Amazon on page 28. On page 24, season! Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays, engaging our shared of our daily Lynn Perkins delves into how San Francisco schools are using and I am so thankful for this wonderful community of experiences, and promoting a existenceM that it’s hard to technology in education. parentsW who have shared such great advice and shown each other community of respect that imagine life without it. There is no shortage of apps, devices, and services promising amazing support. The holidays are a time to come together, and honors the humanity of all. Sometimes, I wonder how my to make our lives easier. But who has the time to figure out which an ideal time to celebrate the spirit of inclusion. This work will be parents managed to get ones might actually be worthwhile? On page 20, Shaheen The members of the GGMG Board are a diverse group of women accomplished by creating an through their day without Bilgrami helps you out by creating a list of useful apps specifically representing many socioeconomic backgrounds and family internal culture that is GPS, phones that predict for busy women and parents. Catherine Symon digs into activity makeups. We strive to ensure that GGMG is not only diverse but responsive to the needs and

Teresa O’Brien Photography Teresa what you need, and instant trackers on page 14, investigating how they work and why you welcoming and supportive to all moms—no matter their background, assets of diverse cultures and

Kirsten loves her smartphone, but sometimes dons communication. Other times, might or might not want one. ethnicity, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, or religion. by adapting the Cathy Tran is mom to two boys, Charlie and a watch and leaves her phone at home, just to see when I’m up late to catch up Instant communication has also changed the way that we With that goal in mind, we have recently created an Inclusion and organization's operations and James, and wife to an amazing and supportive what will happen. on emails or watch a show I interact with one another. On page 39, Jennifer Hofmann shares Diversity Committee, whose mission statement is below: programs to be more attuned husband, Peter. She is the co-host of the parenting podcast The MomVent. In her (limited) DVR’d, I contemplate the how her children have dinner with their grandparents twice a The purpose of the Inclusion and Diversity Committee (IDC) is to to the needs and assets of spare time she enjoys dinners out with friends, luxury of being able to live in the moment. Imagine taking the week, while physically being 3,000 miles apart. On the flip side, (a) identify the inclusion and diversity strengths, issues, and communities of color. nights in watching Bravo, and finding the best time to complete a conversation rather than dashing off hasty Eve Kupferman discusses cyberbullying in our Ask the Expert opportunities within all aspects of GGMG; (b) develop strategies The Inclusion and Diversity breakfast burrito in San Francisco. texts throughout the day, or accepting that we may not have the column on page 8. While technology continues to advance, on and plans to examine ways in which we include and exclude Committee has exciting plans time to watch every show. page 10, P.J. Leffelman reminds us that we are not the first for its initiative, including developing ways to educate members As parents, we often consider how technology affects our generation of parents to tell our kids to “just turn that thing off We strive to ensure that GGMG is not only on various issues surrounding inclusion and on ways to children and our parenting. Jami Grich looks at the current and go outside to play already". So even as we reap the benefits communicate with more sensitivity—with one another and with of technology marching on, some things never change. diverse but welcoming and supportive to our children. The committee will also be promoting educational [W]hen I’m up late to catch up on emails And maybe that's a good thing. all—no matter their background, ethnicity, books and movies for both adults and children. In addition, its socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, members are planning educational seminars and panels, with the or watch a show I DVR’d, I contemplate anticipation of hosting at least two celebratory events next year. the luxury of being able to live in the or religion. We are very excited by the work this committee is already doing, moment. (however unintentionally) GGMG members; (c) systematically and we are looking for more volunteers to contribute to this examine aspects of GGMG to enhance its effectiveness and ability to important work. Please email [email protected] to get started! research concerning the effect of screen time on children’s Thank you to everyone who filled out our survey. meet the needs of its diverse membership; and (d) respectfully cognitive function on page 16. Helping young children understand celebrate cultural events and holidays. The IDC serves the GGMG If you haven't, please take a moment to answer the relationship between what happens virtually and what 6 short questions to help us serve you better.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/B2C57Q2

Housekeeping From Our Readers Opinions expressed in this issue are those of the contributors. Acceptance costumes, PSL with lots of extra shots, and all the alcohol during debate of advertising does not constitute endorsement by GGMG of any products or watching, family free conference, toddler talk. services. The editors reserve the right to accept, edit, or reject any content “I just wanted to let you know how much submitted to the magazine. COMING NEXT: December/January—Inclusion; February/March— International; April/May—Fertility I and my 2-yr old son enjoyed last month’s ADVERTISING: Advertisements are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. For submission information, email [email protected]. CONTEST: Congratulations to Laura Terlouw, the winner of the perfect issue. He ‘read’ the ‘choo-choo book’ so video keepsake from GrandVideo. THIS ISSUE MADE POSSIBLE BY: Birthdays, anniversaries, and one many times the pages fell apart. Thanks for scary advanced French class, a 5-lb voters pamphlet, Conor Gillaspie, family Have an idea for an issue theme or article? Please email [email protected]. cuddle, Halloween backpacking trip in Scotland, store bought Halloween the great issue, we both loved it :)” -Jennifer Lashua

4 | GGMG MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2016 NOVEMBER 2016 | GGMG MAGAZINE | 5 There is an unparalleled abundance to explore in San Francisco and the surrounding Bay Area. How and where do Out & About we start? This section of the magazine aims to answer that question. Any tips? Do share at [email protected].

North Waterfront North Marina Beach Russian Telegraph Hill Hill A Very Alternative Thanksgiving Day in the City Cow Hollow Sharing Holiday Presidio Financial Nob Hill If you’re like the majority of SF residents, you likely have family outside California. Pre-kids, you may have indulged in plane Pacific Heights District Presidio Downtown Sea Heights Lower Lake Street Pacific Heights Van travel during this awkwardly long weekend: too short to really enjoy time away, too long of a weekend to justify not coming Lincoln Cli‹ Jordan Park/ Yerba Warmth Ness Park Laurel Heights Tenderloin Buena Anza Western By Jenny Shaw Addition South Central Inner Lone Vista Beach home to mom. But in all fairness, turkeys don’t fly, so why should you? Pat yourself on the back for avoiding canceled flights Richmond Outer Mountain Alamo Civic South Richmond North Center Richmond Panhandle Square of Hayes Valley Market and lumpy foldaway couches, and consider the alternative Thanksgiving Day options below. Haight Ashbury Mission he holidays are a time of giving, via thanks, food, or presents. Golden Gate Park Duboce Bay Triangle Cole Valley/ Corona Mission Not everyone welcomes the holidays with cheer, however. By Jennifer Butterfoss Inner Parnassus Heights Heights Dolores Sunset Potrero Central Outer Central Clarendon Eureka Valley/ Waterfront/ 1 in 4 people in San Francisco and Marin cannot afford all the Forest Heights Dolores Heights Mission Hill Dogpatch Sunset Sunset Knolls Twin food they need, according to the SF-Marin Food Bank. So consider Golden Gate Peaks Heights Midtown Noe Weekend Digestion Forest Terrace T Rise and Shine Dishes? What Dishes? Inner Hill Valley volunteering during the holidays to spread some warmth Outer Parkside Forest Hills Parkside Extension Diamond Entertainment Parkside West Heights Bayview Tire out the little ones and allow everyone No idea how to cook a turkey? Portal Miraloma Bernal to those with fewer resources or support. Sherwood Park Forest Heights Pine Lake Park Saint Francis Glen Park to work up an appetite. Own it. Having kids means short cuts, Maybe you have a set of doting Wood Westwood Merced Highlands Silver Manor Balboa Monterey Terrace Heights Terrace Sunnyside grandparents eager to provide some free Mount Meals on Wheels outsourcing, and survival. Now pick Lakeside Westwood Davidson Park Hunter’s Manor Mission SF Turkey Trot Ingleside Portola Point Brighten a senior’s day with homemade cards and Thanksgiving up the phone and make some turkey babysitting? If so, splurge a little on these Lake Terrace Terrace Merced Shore Ingleside Bayview Embrace the Thanksgiving spirit with a Heights Excelsior Heights placemats; children are encouraged to create and participate! Help is dinner plans with these fine options. wonderful entertainment options. Stonestown Ingleside Oceanview Outer Visitacion family-friendly race of varying course Heights Mission Candlestick Crocker Point also needed for gift-wrapping 1,500 presents and stuffing 500 gift bags Amazon Valley distances that encourages thematic Feasting Aboard the A Night at the Circus on Thanksgiving Day. costumes. Hornblower Cruise Once your belly is full, treat your eyes and PLACE: 1375 Fairfax Ave. TIME: Registration begins at 8 a.m. Feeding a family of 4 on this wonderful ears to an artistic feast at Cirque du Soleil’s DATE: Thanksgiving cards due November 23; holiday cards due PLACE: Golden Gate Park Polo Fields cruise costs less than 1 plane ticket across latest production, Luzia, a story inspired by December 2. COST: $38; 100-meter Gobbler Chase is FREE the country. Price includes live music and Mexican culture. Li’l Kid, Big City: RSVP: Email Kathy at [email protected] PLACE: AT&T Park for kids of registered adults sweeping views of the city, Golden Gate and By Megan Bushnell www.sanfranciscoturkeytrot.com Bay Bridges, and Alcatraz. COST: $49 and up Ocean Avenue Raphael House www.cirquedusoleil.com TIME: Departures at 3 or 3:30 p.m. he Ocean Avenue thoroughfare, which spans the Excelsior, Raphael House shelters families experiencing personal or financial Thanksgiving Day 5K PLACE: Pier 3 Mission Terrace, Outer Mission, Miraloma Park, Sunnyside, and instability. The Adopt-a-Family program allows you to gift items on a If you’ve got visitors wanting to see the Giants A Broadway Classic COST: $125 to $135 Ingleside neighborhoods, is slowly evolving from a sleepy strip family’s wish list at less than $50 per item (household items, winter Stadium and waterfront area, this may be the Turn back the clock and travel to 19th century www.hornblower.com of small businesses into a thriving area with opportunities for clothing, children’s shoes). Make it a family effort by involving your Bangkok for the classic Rodgers and perfect event. Bring a canned good to benefit T children in sourcing and preparing the items. family-friendly fun. Come check it out! Hammerstein musical, The King and I at the the SF-Marin Food Bank. Dining on the Beach Community Well (78 Ocean Ave.) in the Excelsior supports PLACE: 1065 Sutter St. SHN theater. TIME: 8 a.m. Get a 3-course prix fixe menu with traditional wellness and holistic health, offering pre- and postnatal support, DATE: gift drop off November 17 through 19 PLACE: 1 Taylor St. PLACE: Terry Francois Blvd. at 3rd St. Thanksgiving options at Beach Chalet. yoga, acupuncture, and childbirth and parenting classes. Across RSVP: Email Jenna at [email protected] COST: $55 and up (behind AT&T Park) Gluten-free and vegan options also available. I-280, you can enroll in San Francisco City College’s (50 Phelan Ave.) www.shnsf.com SF-Marin Food Bank COST: $20 TIME: all day free “child observation course,” offered every semester; the parent- www.runthanksgivingday.com Prepare food packages for local pantries, children’s snack programs, PLACE: 1000 Great Hwy. A San Francisco Original child class includes open play to emphasize fine and gross motor $49; $19 for children under 12 and soup kitchens. Projects involve cleaning produce, preparing family Indigenous People’s Sunrise COST: Beach Blanket Babylon is a must-see, skills and circle time. www.beachchalet.com meals, and assembling grocery boxes for seniors. Feed thousands of featuring outlandish costumed caricatures of Continuing west from campus, walk or hop on the K line, stopping Gathering at Alcatraz people in a single shift! Saturday volunteers must be at least 8 years famous celebrities poking fun at both current at the Ingleside Branch Library (1298 Ocean Ave.) for Toddler Tales Also known as an “Unthanksgiving Day,” this old; Sunday volunteers must be at least 4 years old. events and pop culture through show tunes and Playtime at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesdays. For lunch, try a burger and unique event commemorates the occupation PLACE: 900 Pennsylvania Ave. and increasingly exaggerated headgear. craft beer at Ocean Ale House (1314 Ocean Ave.) to fuel your visit to of Alcatraz by the “Indians of All Tribes” from DATE: Saturdays and Sundays PLACE: 678 Beach Blanket Babylon Blvd. Aptos Playground (105 Aptos Ave.). Then wind down at Yoga Flow 1969 to 1971. The celebration includes RSVP: www.sfmfoodbank.org/volunteer traditional Native American dancing, singing, COST: $55 and up (385 Ashton Ave.), which offers child care for all regular classes and Jenny Shaw is a scientist and editor who is deeply humbled by the many families and other performances. www.beachblanketbabylon.com occasional Saturday family yoga. After such an exhausting day—1.9 who accomplish so much with very little. TIME: Departures at 5, 5:15, and 5:45 a.m. miles of walking if you shunned public transport—you will definitely PLACE: Pier 33 Jennifer Kuhr Butterfoss is a school administrator need a specialty drip coffee from Fog Lifter Café (1901 Ocean Ave.) through SFUSD and mom of two future public school for the trek home. v COST: $14; kids under 5 are FREE students. Megan Bushnell is a former marine biologist who spends her time trying to get two little girls to experience as much of the outdoors as possible, within the confines of preschool, naps, and traffic. She drives or walks Ocean Avenue daily.

6 | GGMG MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2016 NOVEMBER 2016 | GGMG MAGAZINE | 7 GGMG: Helping Others, Treating Yourself Ask the Expert Community Support Detecting and Preventing Cyberbullying With Eve Kupferman, Ph.D.

GGMG: What is cyberbullying and how effective way to combat bullying. This is another reason for Donate Your New or Gently Used Halloween Costume to Families in Need! common is it? parents to hold off on intervening. By waiting and coaching GGMG is partnering with the Homeless Prenatal Program (HPP) to host a costume drive through November 15. EK: Cyberbullying is when someone uses children, you provide a chance for them to reach out to friends Please donate your Halloween costumes to be reused by children next year! technology to willfully and repeatedly and take action themselves. Please consider joining us in supporting this organization in one of two ways: inflict harm on another person. Chat Sometimes intervention is necessary, especially if your child 1. Donate funds directly to HPP via the website: www.homelessprenatal.org/donate. apps, anonymous forums, even gaming doesn’t want to go back to school. If this happens, it’s important Please be sure to choose "GGMG Gives" in the gift designation scroll down menu. This will help us track donations. sites create opportunities to harass, to explain to your child that it’s your job to protect and help him. humiliate, and threaten others. Set up meetings with teachers, school counselors, and key 2. Drop off new or gently used costumes (size newborn to age 10) at the following locations: Today, 25 percent of 11- to 18-year-olds report being administrators. Parents can reach out to the parents of the bully— • Imagination Playhouse, 5628 Geary St. • Recess, 470 Carolina St. cyberbullied, with half of those being at the middle school level. many schools even help facilitate these discussions. If there are • Peekadoodle, 900 North Point St., Suite F100 • Homeless Prenatal Program, 2500 18th St. Another 17 percent of teens admit to cyberbullying—the problem serious physical threats, you may need to contact the police. • Peek-a-Boo Factory, 2 West Portal Ave. (Fridays only). Please ask the office to drop the is very real. What makes cyberbullying particularly devastating is • Play Haven, 254 Laguna Honda donations off in Sharon’s office. GGMG: How can parents monitor and prevent destructive online how quickly it can spread thanks to social media, texting, etc. behavior? Thank you so much for your support of this drive! For more information, please email [email protected]. Cyberbullying also has a scary EK: There is no question that kids permanence since everything is Today, 25 percent of 11- to 18-year-olds will encounter mean behavior in HPP works to break the cycle of childhood poverty by finding housing for homeless families, providing prenatal and parenting support, training saved online indefinitely. A victim some form online. Just as with community health workers, and stabilizing families by addressing issues related to mental health, domestic violence, and substance abuse in their report being cyberbullied, with half of clients’ lives. HPP also responds to basic emergency needs and childcare issues, provides access to a community technology center for clients, and can feel haunted by hateful anything else, parents should talk gives families tools to build financial stability. comments forever. those being at the middle school level. to kids about responsible and GGMG: What can parents do? ethical online behavior and thinking critically about online EK: Most kids are too ashamed to tell their parents they are being conduct. Start conversations early, as most kids begin spending victimized. Many also worry that parental involvement (especially time online at a very young age. Having empathy and compassion at school) will make the situation worse. for others can help prevent negative behavior. Becoming aware of key signs can help parents be alert to Parents shouldn’t be afraid to have rules and monitor kids’ Contest potential problems. Watch out if your child unexpectedly stops online behavior. Explain that just as you keep them safe in other using his device, appears nervous when online, doesn’t want to ways, you set limits and monitor behavior to keep them safe go to school, seems depressed, or sleeps more or less than usual. online. For example, setting device curfews, locking devices at Enter to Win Your Very Own Living Christmas Tree...And a Campout Too! On the flip side, the signs a child may be a cyberbully include dinner, or turning off internet at set times can be ways you set tendencies to quickly switch screens or hide a device, being online healthy boundaries and limits. at all hours, and avoiding discussions about online behavior. There are also software applications to help parents and Forever Green Living Christmas Tree Farm was so well received by GGMG families during children use devices responsibly. Some offer the ability for the 2015 season that we wanted to celebrate with you again. GGMG: How can parents help? parents to see all texts (even if they are deleted) or choose the EK: If your child has been cyberbullied, it is important to remain Think ahead… We will provide one lucky GGMG household with their very own 4- to 5-foot living sites kids can access. Finally, parents should be very intentional and start a sustainably innovative tradition calm, show unconditional support and compassion, and collect this holiday season with a living Christmas tree. Christmas tree that will grow with their family for three seasons. In addition, the and clear about their own device use. Remember, kids model Your personal Christmas returns every year !! the facts to assess the situation. Being a victim of bullying makes FOREVERGREENchristmastree.com winning family receives a complimentary spot at our private campout in May 2017, their behavior after your actions. one feel helpless, so it’s critical that children feel validated and in FREE BAY AREA PRE-ORDER NOW TO SECURE where Fostering Families get to visit their tree at our farm in McCloud, California, while DELIVERY & PICK-UP THE RIGHT LIVING TREE control as much as possible. Acknowledge how much this must GGMG: How can schools prevent cyberbullying? kayaking, hiking, exploring the waterfalls, or just relaxing by the bonfire with s’mores. A hurt and work on a plan of action together. Start documenting EK: Schools play a critical role in teaching kids how to be good combined value of $385. evidence of the bullying (texts, social media messages) in case “net citizens.” Most teach community standards for how to treat We provide eight different species of trees saved from Oregon Christmas tree farms and delivered free to your home for holiday you need proof down the road. one another online and offline. Schools also play a part in enjoyment. Our smaller, yet premium trees are extracted with the environment in mind; instead of being cut, the container conifers are Help your child also understand that she can disengage, fostering the role of bystanders, and many encourage supporting “fostered” to caring homes all over the Bay Area. Each household waters and cares for their personal tree during the holiday season, and detach, and switch focus. Remind her that computers and phones peers when they see bullying and coming forward. every tree is guaranteed to be reforested in Northern California. can be turned off. Cyberbullies feed off responses, and making a Finally, schools often provide guidance for parents, such as TO ENTER THE CONTEST, SEND AN EMAIL WITH THE SUBJECT LINE “FOREVER GREEN” TO [email protected] BY NOVEMBER 30, 2016. choice to step away will empower your child. Reconnecting with holding formal and informal conversations or distributing fun, productive activities that your child values is another advice and guidelines. Check with your child’s school to see important strategy for dismantling the impact of bullying. what is offered. v Peer support is an especially powerful antidote. Robust Dr. Kupferman is a clinical psychologist with a private practice in San Francisco. research shows that peers sticking up for someone is the most

8 | GGMG MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2016 NOVEMBER 2016 | GGMG MAGAZINE | 9 DADLANDS Kinder Klub Enjoy the company of other parents and toddlers while your little one plays in a safe and stimulating environment. GGMG members receive three free passes Channeling the Good Ol’ Days By P.J. Leffelman to any JCCSF Kinder Fun Klub drop-in music, art, dance, cooking or gym class. Learn more at jccsf.org/kinderfunklub. ver since playing that first game on our neighbor’s Atari, I a favorite app. Instead she knew how I wanted to spend my spare time. My mother has books, toy cars, and didn’t share my enthusiasm for what she saw as “vegging big wooden puzzles that Eout.” I fought with her daily for more time to play video games, hold her interest way pushing her to get one more level in before she followed through longer than an episode on on the threat of No Dinner. I traded up to Super Nintendo TV. On lazy weekends, she between elementary and middle school, which then became a will insist on going Nintendo 64, and so on. Years after those arguments with my outside, even if we hadn’t parents, I am now fortunate to develop video games for a planned on it. She lights paycheck, allowing me to live happily ever after. up when we go to nearby

Here’s the twist: I want to emulate my parents when it comes to parks, and she squeals to Redemption must be done in person. Bring the cover of the current GGMG magazine or your GGMG limiting screen time, even if it means having those wonderful be pulled around in her TO REDEEM OFFER: membership card to the JCCSF Front Desk. Magazine must bear the name and address of the GGMG member. fights with my wonderful daughter. She is only 1.5 years old now, wagon. but I’m already preparing myself. • 3200 California Street, San Francisco, CA 94118 Obviously, I love video games, but more importantly, I love I want [my daughter] to know what life is other things too. Outside of my time in front of a screen, my GGMG members enjoy exclusive discounts at the JCCSF on programs and activities for families, including swim lessons, Kinder Fun Klub, Fitness Center Membership and more. Learn more at jccsf.org/ggmg. childhood was filled with riding my bike around town, camping like outside of our living room, and what with the Boy Scouts, and playing soccer, football, and baseball (all trees look like without a black border poorly). I also participated in cross country and track and field, around them. played guitar in local bands, and immersed myself in photography. Had my parents just given in to my video gaming I’m not naïve though; I understand the world we live in. For kids don’t need more stuff… desires, all those other things would have been substituted for starters, I didn’t write all of this with pen and paper. My daughter time on the couch. The limits handed down by my parents helped will get older and she’ll figure out how to use my phone, and they need experience me strike a life balance that shaped who I am today. she’ll want to message her friends while I want to talk with her at make the most of your GGMG Membership & activate your free trial month to Recess today I want similar experiences for my daughter. I want her to know dinner. I will definitely be there to help her learn the ins and outs what life is like outside our living room, and what trees look like of technology, so she can get the most out of it as she grows. I just without a black border around them. We live in a time when want to make sure that there’s a balance that includes interaction technology is advancing rapidly and enhances our lives for the with the outside world, one that gets her out and moving, better overall. These technological advances will improve my skinning her knees, and maybe even getting an occasional daughter’s ability to educate herself about the world, and help sunburn. I want her to be fully aware of the awesomeness of the her excel in the future. But we are also fortunate to live in an internet, Netflix, and Minecraft, but also the complementing amazing place where 30 minutes of driving can take us to the awesomeness of the real world and all the memories that it will ocean, the mountains, or a world-class city center. Being able to grant her. hike through the fog in the Marin Headlands in the morning, then When she’s ready to push back and fight for her turn to master grab a coffee for a stroll down the Embarcadero in the afternoon Xbox, I’ll be prepared. I’m well versed in every argument she’s co-working + childcare! • pilates for mamas • messy art is unique to this area; for her to miss out on that would be tragic. going to throw at me seeing as I used them a good 30 years before CPR • baby sign language • free newborn membership & more! My wife and I have been fairly good about limiting our she was born. And if I’ve forgotten any, I have no doubt my mom check out our ever-changing variety of special events, new activities & daughter’s consumption of TV, computer, phone, and tablet. will be more than happy to remind me of all the fun she and I valuable classes led by some of the best in the business. I had the intention of limiting this time to zero, but there are used to have having the same discussion. v A place of learning, laughing realities that hinder that ideal. She FaceTimes with & leisure, Recess is a living Long-time Bay Area lover, P.J. finally came out west for his job. He is a father playspace, a cozy cafe, a grandparents back in Chicago with the iPad, and to curb the and videogame developer, enthusiast, and player. diverse classroom, an art GET STARTED BUILDING YOUR CHILD’S SKILLS occasional evening meltdowns, we will watch an episode of oasis, your neighborhood meeting spot. Your favorite place & YOUR PEACE OF MIND TODAY “Tumble Leaf” on TV. I am happy to report that she doesn’t to be together, and a place for visit: www.recess-sf.com/ggmg know how to unlock my phone or how to navigate on her own to your child to simply be.

10 | GGMG MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2016 NOVEMBER 2016 | GGMG MAGAZINE | 11 Women in Gertie’s Leap Science: to Greatness Books for Kids Science and Engineering 50 Fearless Written by Kate By Laure Latham Pioneers Beasley, illustrated by Jillian Tamaki s Sid the Science Kid sings, “I want to know why things happen and how, and I wanna know everything now.” Indeed, why wait who Changed Gertie Reece is 100% when there’s so much to learn about science? These books each offer an introduction to different facets of science, from ocean the World Written and illustrated not-from-concentrate life, to the solar system, to the atom bomb. Encourage your kids to be curious and ask questions when you read to them; that’s Under Water, Under Earth by Rachel Ignotofsky awesome. At the how science works! Written by Aleksandra Mizielinska and A Forgotten by history for many, these 50 beginning of the story, Daniel Mizielinski female scientists will inspire young she resuscitates a bullfrog and takes it to The creative duo behind the geographical Baby Beluga 123 Counting Sticker generations to learn science facts they didn’t school in a shoebox to be “the best fifth hit Maps returns with a book about what Written by Raffi, Book (My Little World) know. From 17th-century Maria Sibylla Merian grader.” In fact, she needs to be “the best fifth lies below the surface, both under earth illustrated by Ashley Wolff Written by Jonathan Litton, who discovered the connection between grader” to show her mother, who is leaving and under water. Each page illustrates its The popular song by the famous illustrated by Fhiona Galloway caterpillars and butterflies to 19th-century her and her dad behind, what she is missing. own microcosmos with concise text, Canadian singer is illustrated here in It’s never too early to learn your Lise Meitner who discovered nuclear fission, But disaster strikes when Gertie realizes that science facts, and fun illustrations, book form. It follows a baby beluga numbers with colorful images. this book introduces extraordinary women the new kid in town is a famous kid star— covering topics as varied as edible roots, whale into “the deep blue sea” with Perfect for long trips, this activity who challenged stereotypes to become tough competition for greatness. Bertie’s natural gas, and deep ocean dwellers. The introductions to its ocean family and habitat. If you know the book includes a selection of pioneering scientists. Showcasing women mother is an environmental lobbyist and her page on Deepsea Challenger reads like an song, you’ll be tempted to sing it rather than read it (it’s catchy) stickers to place on glossy pages to illustrate numerals 1 scientists from all over the world, this book father an oil rig worker, so young readers will extreme adventure book. It’s fair to say and if you don’t, you’ll admire a wonderful nursery rhyme through 10. Though the littlest hands might need help includes a glossary, a list of sources, lab tools note the environmental subtext of this that kids and adults could spend hours featuring a beloved but near-threatened Arctic whale who, removing the stickers neatly, children will love reusing and pages, and statistics in STEM. heartwarming story of childhood bravery. poring over this illustrated mini- incidentally, stars as Bailey in Finding Dory. Ages: 0 to 2 years repositioning them all over the book. Ages: 0 to 2 years Ages: 8 to 10 years Ages: 8 to 12 years encyclopedia. Ages: 7 to 10 years

Air (The Toddler Series) White Sands, Red Menace Written by Kyla Ryman, illustrated by Nathalie Trovato By Ellen Klages How do you explain something that’s invisible, impossible to touch, A sequel to The Green Glass Sea which explains the invention of the and odorless? With simple illustrations that kids will relate to, this atom bomb in the New Mexico desert, the second book finds Suze book explains the intangible concept of air to preschoolers. and Dewey living near the White Sands Missile Range. Suze’s father Ages: 2 to 5 years works on rockets to launch in space while Suze’s mother, a chemist, works on preventing additional atomic bombs after Hiroshima. Marie Curie for Kids: Her Life Sharing secrets, art, and science, Suze and Dewey adjust to high and Scientific Discoveries, with school and confront new challenges, learning what it means to be a Grandmother Fish: A Child’s First Book of 21 Activities and Experiments family. Ages: 10+ years Evolution The Magic School By Amy M. O’Quinn Written by Jonathan Tweet, illustrated by Karen Lewis Marie Curie marked history as an outstanding and Explaining the theory of evolution in simple words to kids is a Bus: Lost in the Solar pioneering scientist, becoming the first person The Sun Is Also a Star formidable challenge. (Look at how long it took Charles Darwin to System ever to win a Nobel in two fields—chemistry and Written by Joanna Cole, By Nicola Yoon convince his peers, and they were supposedly educated.) Yet this physics—as well as discovering periodic elements illustrated by Bruce Degen Natasha is a girl who believes in science and facts, not fate or book is not just clear but fun to read, featuring engaging rhymes and coining the term “radioactivity.” Having grown The 20th anniversary edition of destiny. On a perfect fall day, she and her family are 12 hours away and clever page games to help preschoolers understand where we come from. Isn’t it up in Russian-occupied Poland, Marie’s sharp this children’s classic includes from being deported from the United States when Natasha meets awesome when science and art meet the living world? Ages: 3 to 5 years mind and hard-working nature enabled her to updated scientific information Daniel. Their romance becomes a wonderful coming-of-age story, make it to France where she became a scientist in for this fantastic story. When Ms. alternating between Natasha, who is rationally refusing to fall in the Victorian era. Kids will enjoy her detailed Frizzle’s class finds out that the love with Daniel because of her imminent deportation to Jamaica, biography and will, no doubt, love the Iggy Peck, Architect planetarium is closed, they all and Daniel, who is scientifically trying to convince her that she Written by Andrea Beaty, illustrated by David Roberts experiments that illustrate each chapter of her life. board the Magic School Bus for should fall in love because he’s a poet at heart. Teens will love this Whoever builds a tower of dirty diapers at age 2 or a chapel of Whether it’s making a compass to explore a trip to space and hands-on story of heartbreak, hope, and science. Ages: 13+ years apples at age 3 is surely destined to a great building career. In this magnetism, writing a World War I medic journal, astronomy lessons. hilarious and inventively rhymed book, kids will find out how or going on a periodic table of elements scavenger Ages: 3 to 7 years Laure is the author of the mommy blog Frog Mom (www.frogmom.com), as well as the book Best Hikes young Iggy Peck developed a passion for architecture after a hunt, these hands-on activities will convince more particularly fun anecdote about a bridge held together by with Kids: San Francisco Bay Area. She writes for several parenting websites and lives in London, where than one kid that science can be very cool. she peppers adventures with her husband and two daughters with compulsory cream tea stops. You can shoelaces. Ages: 4 to 7 years Ages: 9+ years reach her at [email protected].

12 | GGMG MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2016 NOVEMBER 2016 | GGMG MAGAZINE | 13 From WOmb to WOrld New Arrivals

By Catherine Symon How Activity Trackers Work Congratulations to Bridget Rodnick! She will be pampering her little one with products from Wearable activity trackers are convenient for measuring how much we’re Babyganics. These plant-based, tear-free, hypoaller- moving and sleeping. But how do they work? And are they accurate? genic cleansers and lotions clean and protect skin from head to toe. To announce your new arrival in the magazine and Gravity and acceleration for a chance to win a Babyganics gift set, fill out the The heart of the activity tracker is the accelerometer, a tiny (1/50th of an inch) electro- form at www.ggmg.org/community.html. mechanical device that measures movement relative to the constant pull of gravity. The accelerometer measures these movements along three axes (up-down, left-right, front- back) to tell the device when and how it is moving in space. An algorithm is then used to interpret the movements and record them as physical activity, inactivity, or sleep.

Polina I. Baby Cornelia Connie L. Baby Lucas Erich Exercise Bridget Rodnick Baby James Patrick Most trackers are worn on the wrist and calibrated to measure steps. Jasmine & Shannon G. Baby Solomon Elliot As your arms swing during walking or running, the repeated motions Blanche B. Baby Lucia Elyse are recorded as steps. Trackers are less effective at capturing activity Sarah Richardson Baby Teya Reece when your wrist is stationary, as when riding a bike. And they can’t detect different levels of effort, so doing bicep curls with a 25-lb weight will look the same to the tracker as if you used a 5-lb weight. To get a better picture of your overall activity, choose a tracker that records your heart rate. Some monitors even have heat sensors to estimate how many calories you burned. DON’T FORGET ABOUT DATE NIGHT DROP-OFF!

Sleep Call For Info + To Sign Up! | 415.440.PEEK Sleep is the trickiest area for activity trackers. Models that rely on movement can’t tell if you are actually sleeping or just lying still. Some models have biosensors that measure heart rate, breathing rate, body temperature, and changes in the electric resistance of the skin to determine sleep status. But sleep experts will tell you that the only way to accurately track sleep is to monitor brain waves.

No two trackers are the same If you wear two trackers at the same time you’ll likely get different readouts. Why? Each manufacturer has its own proprietary algorithm to interpret the information coming from the accelerometer. Each monitor also has a different minimum threshold as to what counts as meaningful movement; a small movement recorded as a step by one brand of tracker might be ignored by another. But if your tracker motivates you to keep moving, 100 percent accuracy is not important. v

2017 - 2018 PRESCHOOL APPLICATIONS DUE JANUARY 31ST Accelerometers in smartphones and laptops Sources: Dimension Engineering, The accelerometer makes it possible for your smartphone or tablet interface to change orientation Howstuffworks.com, Scientific as you rotate the device. And if you drop your laptop, the free fall detected by the accelerometer American, The New York Times, alerts the hard drive to shut off immediately to minimize file damage upon impact. wareable.com APPLY ONLINE AT PEEKADOODLE.COM/GGMG-ACADEMY

Catherine Symon is a medical writer. She’s looking for an activity monitor that can keep track of the number of questions Balanced Approach to Learning | Low Student : Teacher Ratios | Potty Training Not Required | Starting at 2.5 Yrs her 4-year-old daughter asks her each day.

14 | GGMG MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2016 NOVEMBER 2016 | GGMG MAGAZINE | 15 for growth as well. For older kids, tablets, phones, gaming systems, etc...offer incredibly In all my research, I didn’t find any exciting ways to develop skills and talents compatible with their unique interests. One family I evidence that screen time in and of itself is know was concerned about their son’s frequent video game playing, until he grew up to be a harmful for young children other than the surgeon who uses robotic systems to treat patients. His gaming directly developed the skills he potential sleep difficulties related to the blue relies on for a successful career. light emitted by screens. Even the data So how’s a parent to decide? If your kid lights up when talking about the hours he just spent concluding that Baby Einstein videos had a writing a song, he may be developing a passion that could turn into a rewarding career. In negative impact on infant language contrast, passive consumption generally doesn’t lead to cognitive gains. It is our job to help our development has now been re-analyzed. The researchers concluded that exposure to If they’re acting like zombies...or they’re mad that you’re educational programming tended to be positively related to language development, taking away their device, they’ve probably had either too much and infants exposed to no media had lower or poor quality screen time. levels of language development compared to infants with some exposure. One study kids differentiate: am I really benefitting from this screen time? Or am I just being mindlessly reported negative developmental impact of entertained? Enjoying a little mindless entertainment never hurt anyone, but losing several television watching for infants, but only for hours a day to it is not a good choice. those who watched older child/adult-oriented It is important to pay attention to how your kids are acting during and after screen time. If tv shows. they’re acting like zombies (a condition referred to as “digital fog” which affects adults as well) or they’re mad that you’re taking away their device, they’ve probably had either too much or This is your brain on poor quality screen time. If they’re acting out a new game they’ve invented based on what they technology just saw or being creative in a new way, you’re onto something. My 3-year-old has become a Brain scans of kids today look substantially master play-doh builder partly due to YouTube videos she found—ones that I had originally different from scans of same-aged kids just 18 shrugged off as passive-consumption screen time. years ago. They are so different that Mark Prensky, who originally coined the terms Technology and Kids: “digital natives” (those who have never Passive Interactive consumption consumption known life without technology) and “digital immigrants” (those who have transitioned to The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly the use of technology) said in 2001 that kids Sifting through the data, we determine how best to use technology “think and process information fundamentally differently from their to help children develop lifelong skills. predecessors.” In one study, brain scans of non-internet users looked different after just By Jami Grich Photographs by Anna Psalmond Photography five hours of internet use. One widely cited difference in the way arenting so often calls us to check in with our biases and quantity when it comes to kids’ screen time. Screen time can be modern brains work is that linear thinking assumptions, and do our homework to discover what’s thought of in four separate categories: passive consumption (e.g., TV, and learning has been replaced by minds that actually best for our children. There’s hardly a topic more listening to music), interactive consumption (e.g., internet browsing or jump around and multi-task. Some claim that Ppressing than technology, which has bombarded our lives in recent educational apps), communication (e.g., video chatting, social media), heavy use of technology has resulted in kids years. and content creation (e.g., coding, creating music, drawing/painting with shortened attention spans. This may be In my household there’s a divide: my husband is an avid techie who apps). The benefits of passive consumption are few compared to content Communication Content creation true in some ways (even some digital couldn’t wait to download educational apps for our daughter. I, on the creation, for example, but balance is most important—between immigrants are noticing a proclivity other hand, would prefer she get her education from the natural world, categories of media use as well as between online and offline time. nowadays to read less and scan more), but and am skeptical about the effects of technology on her young brain. Critics of media use assert that children aren’t spending enough when learning is tailored to digital natives’ So researching this article was compelling. time in nature, moving their bodies, exploring their environment, and learning style, their attention doesn’t show What became clear immediately is that the information is incredibly connecting with others. There is evidence that the increasing impairment. Mental skills that are enhanced loaded, with headlines ranging from “The Terrifying Truth About What incidence of childhood diabetes and obesity (and a host of other by digital media and computer games include Technology is Doing to Children” to “Technology Essential to problems) are causally related to technology overuse. It seems clear “inductive discovery” (i.e., the making of Children’s Success.” It’s also incredibly complex. There’s no simple way that this is a balance issue. As speaker Doreen Dodgen-Magee likes to observations leading to the discovery of rules to comprehensively research these topics. There are compelling remind teens, it’s “The M word” that matters: moderation. Kids governing the behavior of a dynamic arguments both for and against the use of technology for kids. reportedly spend a staggering seven hours per day engaged with representation), “mental paper folding” (i.e., technology. Just like your mom likely told you to turn off the TV and go picturing the results of various origami-like Monitoring screen time outside, we need to be doing the same. folds in your mind without actually doing Experts recommend recognizing that quality is more important than However, unlike television, technology clearly offers opportunities

16 | GGMG MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2016 NOVEMBER 2016 | GGMG MAGAZINE | 17 both ways. Even violent video games have the immediate rewards of social media have a We’re all familiar with IQ and EQ. Perhaps positive effects on skills sets such as dopaminergic effect on the brain: every time we ought to start thinking in terms of a increasing reaction time and flexible mindset, a text or a “like” is received, happy hormones TQ—technological quotient. This would How Much Screen Time Is OK? visual-spatial skills and others, and contrary are released in the brain, at a level similar to include both hard skills, such as skillful to popular belief, violent video games do not when a groom sees his bride at the altar. gaming and discerning internet surfing, as The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) • remember that media use is not a good appear to result in poor impulse control. In addition, social media is ripe with well as soft skills like knowing when to turn it previously recommended no screen time substitution for face-to-face Frighteningly, though, one study found that opportunities for social comparison, which off and how to use technology to maximize for kids under 2 and two hours maximum communication kids who had played violent video games can potentially lead to either enhanced or our own creative potential, sense of daily for children, but their new guidelines • create tech-free zones (especially kids’ were four times more likely to report that harmed self-image. In fact, satisfaction with belonging and self-worth, and interpersonal highlight the importance of teaching kids bedrooms) and times (such as dinner) they’d carried a weapon to school and were body image and/or life is negatively relationships. “healthy concepts of digital use and • don’t use technology as an emotional more likely to be arrested and prosecuted for associated with time spent on Facebook. And In the decades to come, the gap between citizenship.” The AAP’s 2016 recommendations pacifier; teach kids emotional regulation criminal acts as adults. Another convincing unfortunately, kids are seeing and learning those with high and low TQ is likely to be for children’s use of screen time, listed • do your homework regarding piece of research was a longitudinal, cross- things on the internet we’d rather they frighteningly evident. For particularly moving below, can be summarized as “monitor, “educational” apps and read reviews of cultural, meta-analysis that reported a link weren’t. One study found increased risk- examples, see the movie Idiocracy and co-view, and model.” video games (www.commonsensemedia. between exposure to violent video games and taking behavior in adolescents to be related compare it to a series of inspiring TED talks by • pay attention to their online org is a great resource) them), and “representational competence” increased aggressive behavior. to exposure to risky social media content. young adults called “TEDx Nextgeneration environment just as you would any • help teens create appropriate online (i.e., reading visual images as representations Christopher Ferguson, a prolific researcher This is yet another area where parents are Asheville.” Being mindful and investing other environment relationships and behave appropriately; of three dimensional space). who believes that the previously mentioned called to monitor their children’s use of significant time and energy in teaching our • set limits and make unplugged time a help them understand the importance On the other end of the continuum, “techno- studies overstate the situation, claims that media, teach self-regulation, and encourage kids lifelong skills to maximize their TQ is daily priority of privacy and the fact that their digital brain burnout” is of concern. Gigi Vorgan and factors such as depression, antisocial healthy media choices. The same way you perhaps one of the best things we can do for • be aware of what kids are doing online footprint is indefinite v Gary Small, authors of “Your Brain Is Evolving personality traits, family violence, and peer wouldn’t let them eat cookies all day long, it’s them. and what friends they’re doing it with • use kids’ online mistakes as teachable Right Now” in Digital Divide, believe the influence are larger factors than media best not to let them indulge their Instagram Jami is a psychologist specializing in teaching couples • join them in their online activities moments and seek help if you see any mental stress of hour upon hour of digital violence contributing to violent behavior. obsession. Although “Facebook Depression” how to have healthy conflict in just four hours. She is • be a good role model in your own media red flags such as sexting, bullying, or connectivity leads to cortisol and adrenaline Although that may be true, it doesn’t negate exists, it’s also been shown that supportive definitely a digital immigrant and is grateful to have use posting self-harm images married a man who functions as her personal tech the link. Groups including the AAP, American secretion that can result in depression and communication with parents can alleviate it. support hotline. cognitive impairment over time. Medical Association (AMA), and American And don’t forget that there are powerful Psychological Association (APA) support the pro-social opportunities presented by social Media violence and conclusion that the research translates to media. Kids can and do use Facebook to pay agression significant societal level effects. The good it forward and change the world. Somehow, people are still asking if media news? Research shows that kids whose violence leads to aggression. The research on parents actively manage their media use The big takeaway this is clear and bountiful and has been consume less and make higher quality Don’t get lackadaisical. The evidence so far accumulating for decades. According to the choices on their own. supports that smart use of technology The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), includes “research shows that without guidance or And about that Facebook • avoiding over-consumption/sedentary controls [virtual violence] has the power to post... lifestyles, make children more aggressive, violent, and Many of us have a love-hate relationship with • allowing kids to be their digital native fearful.” Way back in 1982, the National social media. And it’s no wonder, given that selves and remembering that their brains SAN FRANCISCO & MARIN Institute of Mental Health reported that the are radically different from ours, REAL ESTATE effects of viewing violence on TV were • balancing technological and non- abundant enough for concern. The advent of technological growth and learning first-person shooter video games such as Call opportunities, Life begins at home. • choosing technology that has an of Duty have created a whole new cause for With over 30 years of combined experience, the Costa Group is a top-producing Real Estate team concern. educational component or pro-social ranked in the top 1% of San Francisco area Realtors. From Mission Bay to Richardson Bay, experience our A 2014 meta-analysis of 98 independent benefit more often than passive studies (with a total of almost 37,000 consumption or addictive social media, extraordinary service, involvement and concern for you & your lifestyle. Your Home Awaits. participants) concluded that violent video • proactively encouraging kids to flourish games increase aggression and aggression- with the amazing opportunities provided in related variables and decrease prosocial the digital environment, and Franck Costa & Sara Werner Costa outcomes. Interestingly, the study also • recognizing the negative impact of violent 415.730.2604 770 Tamalpais Drive, Suite 306, Corte Madera concluded that prosocial video games have media and educating children about the [email protected] | TheCostaGroup.com 1801 Fillmore Street, San Francisco BRE#01853603 | BRE#01772972 the opposite effects, strengthening the reality of violence when they are exposed conclusion that the effects of technology go to it.

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18 | GGMG MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2016 NOVEMBER 2016 | GGMG MAGAZINE | 19 Google (free) to find a date and time that suits everyone.

Babysitting Must-Have Apps Are you in desperate need of kid-free time? The UrbanSitter app (free) makes it easy to find and book a babysitter for an hourly rate for Busy Moms that suits your budget. If you list school affiliations or social groups you belong to, or By Shaheen Bilgrami Cloud Baby Monitor login with Facebook, you can find sitters used Sprout Pregnancy Glow Baby by your friends and social circle. Don’t forget to take advantage of the great GGMG discount offers a visual countdown that is easy enough There is a dizzying array of smartphone apps that promise Dormi and $50 credit! If you like, Sitternote (iPhone, and more. You can upload photos, make diary for kids to set themselves. Many teachers and to engage, entertain, and/or change our lives. This mom- free) can provide your sitter with your notes and share all or select information with children’s therapists use physical versions of tested selection could actually help make life a little bit Preschoolers and emergency contact list. It also lets you send caregivers, doctors or relatives. The app this product as a clear and effective way to easier! All apps are available for both iPhone and Android, task lists to your sitter, and you’ll can also be used for multiple children. Big Kids show children how much time they have left. unless otherwise noted. get an alert as tasks are marked complete. We all know that white noise can calm Paper everywhere! Another useful tool to babies and get them to sleep. Apps like White If you’re overloaded with flyers and leaflets keep your kid on Noise Free (free) offer a selection of soothing from school and work, you can use the schedule is Fertility and Pregnancy sounds including rain, thunder, and water Genius Scan app (free) to turn the offending Choiceworks ($6.99). noises. White Noise hard copies into PDFs. If kiddie artwork is Originally developed Monthly cycle produced by the Babycenter website and Baby ($0.99) includes cluttering up your life, use Artkive ($4.99), for special needs The Fertility Friend app (free + paid includes access to a social network of moms basic ambient sounds Canvsly ($0.99), or Keepy (free + paid children, this premium) is a fertility tracker for women who are due in the same month as you. The plus lullabies, and will premium) to store, share, or make photo storyboard-based app trying to conceive. If you are not necessarily app also has a kick counter, contraction timer, soon include a baby books of the masterpieces. is actually useful for all trying to conceive, My Cycles (free) is an app and converts to a baby tracker when baby monitor which switches children. There are that provides an easy way to monitor your arrives. Glow Nurture (free + paid premium) is on white noise when Bathroom breaks pre-loaded, but monthly cycle. There is also functionality to a newer, more contemporary pregnancy app, baby cries. Both have You’ve finally got the customizable record information such as temperature and which takes a more visual approach to a timer which can turn kid out of diapers, but schedules, including COLA Messenger pre-menstrual symptoms. providing information. The Sprout Pregnancy the audio off at your heart sinks when a night time schedule. Sitternote App (free + paid premium) is really distinctive, a set time. you’re out and about When a task is Choiceworks Pregnancy with interactive 3-D images to explore your and you hear, “I need There are many apps about the development completed, the item Heal developing baby. There are also more pared to pee…NOW!” The Sit can be swiped of a baby and pregnancy symptoms. There Baby monitor Both apps allow you to send payments down apps such as the Full Term app (free) Smartphone baby Sprout Baby or Squat app (free) into the “All Done” column. There are several that offer similar features, some Tracker to your babysitter and keep a history of which includes a kick counter and monitors, such as uses your phone’s GPS are also waiting boards, to help kids use information produced by experts and payments made. contraction timer but is simpler and Cloud Baby Monitor to direct you to the some information from peers, so choose one learn to be patient, amongst many easier to use. (iPhone, $3.99) or Dormi nearest bathroom: with which you feel most comfortable. The other features. (Android, $8.99) are color-coded green if it My Pregnancy and Baby Today app (free) is Health and Lifestyle Babies and Toddlers useful to have when you is clean enough to ‘sit’, Scheduling are traveling, or when and red if it’s not. You Keeply As your kids get older, scheduling Doctor on call Eating, pooping, your everyday monitor can also add bathrooms to the and coordinating their various No time to see the doctor? Heal (free) is a and sleeping is on the fritz. You do database yourself. If your kid is activities becomes more new app-based service that allows you to Keeping track of your baby’s feeds, need a spare still in diapers, you can use a filter complicated. The COLA Messenger schedule a doctor to come to your home. diaper changes, and sleep is a mean feat smartphone (which will to look for bathrooms that have app (iPhone, Free), can be used to Once you have downloaded the app and when you are sleep deprived. But don’t require working wifi, but changing tables. Genius Scan plan playdates, carpooling, and registered, you can request appointments for worry, there are myriad apps designed doesn’t have to be an activities, as well as your own social any registered member of your family. You to make this easier! Glow Baby and active phone) to use as Motivating your kids engagements, as it’s particularly well suited will be sent a confirmation with the doctor’s Sprout Baby Tracker (free) are very Baby Connect Giving kids a countdown or setting a timer the monitor in your to group messaging. One GGMG mom says, name and a time slot, with appointments much in the vein of the associated can sometimes make it easier to pry them baby’s room, and “It's like a family calendar/rolodex all rolled available in as little as two hours. Each pregnancy apps (see previous). Baby away from screen time, playdates, and other somewhere safe to put it facing baby’s crib. into one!”. If you need help coordinating dates appointment incurs a flat fee of $99, but Connect ($4.99) is one of the most activities. If the alarm on your phone is no Make sure that your connection is secure for events or meetups, but want to keep it Anthem, Blue Shield PPO, and Cigna Glow Nurture popular, allowing you to record and and that security features in the app are longer doing the trick, the Time Timer App My Pregnancy simple, use the Doodle: Schedule Maker by members will just be charged a copay. The Fertility track feeding, diapers, sleep, health, (iPhone, $2.99, iPad, $4.99, Android, $0.99) Friend and Baby Today switched on.

20 | GGMG MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2016 NOVEMBER 2016 | GGMG MAGAZINE | 21 Appointments are also available on weekends and holidays!

Healthy living Motherhood somehow makes us more conscious of making safer and healthier choices around food, toiletries, and household products. The new EWG’s Healthy Living app (free) gives you better insight into a vast library of products before you buy them. Download the app and simply scan a product barcode in a store to bring up the Environmental Working Group (EWG) rating with an Tripit Waze explanation. If the product does not have a high score, you can choose an alternative that does! Hiku Gate Guru

iExit Interstate Exercise Exit Guide If being a parent is making it hard for you to find time to exercise, there are a host of apps to help you squeeze in a quick workout. Shopping playdates, or picnics in different parts of A good one for beginners is the Johnson & Instacart (free) can be a lifesaver when you’re town! If you’re taking a car trip, Waze (free) Johnson Official 7 Minute Workout (free), pressed for time and desperate for groceries. can help you get to your destination more which has a series of scientifically calculated Download the app, create an account, and quickly. It offers a community-based traffic workouts, the shortest of which are just seven order from a variety of local stores including and navigation platform that is integrated minutes long. Another great app, SWORKIT Costco (you don’t even need a Costco into Google Maps. Use it to avoid traffic (free + paid premium), works for all abilities. membership). The first delivery is free and trouble spots and help other drivers by It has pre-recorded video workouts including subsequent deliveries begin at $5.99 reporting issues you encounter. yoga, strength training, and cardio, or you can (depending on the popularity of the two-hour create customized workouts. slot you choose) on $35+ orders. If you need Travel The Tripit app (free) organizes all of your an app to organize and share shopping lists, travel plans into one accessible place. You Hiku (free) allows you to create multiple can even send travel itineraries to friends and shopping lists, one for each store, including family. If you, your kids, or your car need online stores, which can be shared. For an refueling while traveling on U.S. interstates, added dimension, you can buy a Hiku the iExit Interstate Exit Guide (iPhone, $0.99; Shopping Button ($59) for your kitchen, which Android, free), uses your phone’s GPS to give includes a barcode scanner and voice BUY TICKETS TODAY you a list of exits ahead and what each pit DEC 1029 recognition technology to add items to your stop offers. You can search upcoming exits for s allet.org lists. Wunderlist (free) is another popular, but specific businesses (useful for your picky more general, list app which is also shareable. eater) and other amenities. A similar app to look up amenities at over 100 airports is Gate LEAD SPONSORS SPONSORS Out and about The Herbert Family Yurie and Carl Pascarella (free). v The Swanson Foundation Kathleen Scutchfi eld If you have a little one, the Baby Pack and Go Guru The Smelick Family // © Erik Tomasson app (iPhone, $0.99) can make it easier to get MEDIA SPONSORS OFFICIAL AIRLINE Nutcracker out of the house without forgetting essential Shaheen Bilgrami is freelance writer and editor gear. It contains a variety of sharable custom and is a contributor to http://blog.littlelane.com when she isn’t trying to keep up with her energetic lists of what to take for various outings and Join us for one of our 4.5-year-old! Contact her through her website, www. OFFICIAL BAKERY lets you create customized lists. shaheenbilgrami.com magical Family Performances If the city’s microclimates are driving you 7 Minute Workout crazy, use the SF Climates app (iPhone, Free) San Francisco Ballet in Tomasson’s San Francisco Ballet in Tomasson’s Instacart to know exactly what to wear for meetings,

22 | GGMG MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2016 NOVEMBER 2016 | GGMG MAGAZINE | 23 How much or how little your child interacts with technology is feel pressured to keep up with the latest and greatest or to be perceived as cutting edge,” ultimately up to you and the school you choose. says Emma Peat, a humanities teacher and educational coach at Live Oak School, a State of the art learning,” says Mark Picketts, director of private K-8 school in Potrero Hill. “Instead, we AltSchool, considered an educational program innovation and professional evaluate why it’s being used and find how it “start-up,” is a network of micro schools with development for Hamlin. can best support learning.” five locations in San Francisco. It deems itself The school assigns iPads in second grade, Live Oak gradually introduces students to a “tech-forward company,” and credits its which students use independently and computers once a week in first grade. seamless use of educational technology to its collaboratively to explore educational apps, Students use them mainly to research and team of creative teachers (reportedly such as iMovie, Explain Everything, and write or to play Bee-Bot, a program that gives thousands of teachers apply for the Notability, to create multimedia content— them an introduction to coding and approximately 50 positions) and access to a think book trailers to accompany reports, programming. By second grade, there’s a cart reliable network. “We use technology to complete with QR Codes for others to watch of Macbooks in the classroom (1:1), and deeply understand our students and their the videos when they check the book out of students attend technology class to learn how goals, and to document their experience and the class library. to use them. They also work on digital their progress,” says Carolyn Wilson, director In addition, Hamlin provides a K-8 coding projects, such as creating comic books with of education for AltSchool. and robotics curriculum to develop the app Comic Life or making podcasts. Although the school is known for its tech computational thinking and offers a space Come fourth and fifth grade, personal use, you won’t find kids huddled over devices called the Riveter Lab. It is stocked with tools Chromebooks that stay at school are all day long. Students use a device (tablets for from duct tape and Legos to the latest distributed, and students regularly use them Kindergarten through second grade and technology: laser cutters and 3D printers for to collaborate via shared documents. Chromebooks for older kids) about 5 to 30 girls “to demonstrate their thinking by Peat says teachers are careful not to percent of the day. Younger kids use devices making.” Last year, second graders built a over-rely on computers or to over-enable kids the least, and spend the rest of their time cardboard city and brought it to life with to use them. Instead, they leverage working collaboratively, often with traditional electricity by adding conductive tape, LED technology to support specific needs by learning tools. lights, and batteries, and even embedding giving a child the opportunity to practice a The school built and uses interconnected video interviews with shopkeepers. “We are skill or tackle an accelerated challenge. Integrating Technology into technology to create a personalized never in one place with technology,” says Technology is used as a collaborative tool and curriculum for each student, track progress, Picketts. “We model design thinking by teachers integrate it to allow students to and communicate with parents. Additionally, constantly evolving and taking tech to the share their learning with others through Elementary Education it leverages programs such as DreamBox, next level.” digital portfolios, web and wiki pages. They San Francisco schools offer a wide range of technology integration in the Khan Academy, and BrainPop to supplement also rely on Google for educational tools to learning, all of which feed results into the Gradual integration allow students to create, collaborate, and “We don’t integrate technology because we classroom. You can find the right fit for your family. AltSchool ecosystem to give teachers and share. parents a complete picture of a child’s By Lynn Perkins Photography by Lindsay Lovier Photography progress. Instead of graded papers, parents receive an updated stream of their child’s ot long ago, I was checking email when a Google doc notification popped up. It was learning fundamental skills, such as progress on a Parent Communication app. from my son Will, in second grade, sharing a document on a school project about interpersonal communication. Some simply “Our use of tech enhances the learning ancient Romans. I had no idea my 7-year-old knew how to research bygone prefer that schools rely on more traditional experience, allows students to progress at Ncivilizations, let alone use and share a Google doc. He quickly realized that he had a teaching methods for young children. Public their own pace, and allows teachers to see powerful tool at his disposal when he saw how impressed I was. A day later, a second Google and private San Francisco elementary exactly where each child is [in relation to] his doc arrived. It was a presentation outlining Will’s argument for adopting a family dog. He’d schools make decisions about technology goals,” says Wilson. copied and pasted together a collage of puppy photos he knew I’d find hard to resist. use every year, with the results being As someone who works in the technology industry, I shouldn’t be surprised at how much surprisingly unique to each school. The Bridging the STEM gender my young kids already know about it. Schools in the U.S. spend more than $15 billion schools below span the integration gap annually to bring devices (Chromebooks and iPads), software, and educational apps to spectrum, from the tech-embracing An all-girls K-8 school, The Hamlin School is classrooms according to Futuresource Consulting, a U.K.-based educational research firm. AltSchool to the tech-wary San Francisco passionate about integrating technology, in These tools help prepare kids for the modern world, enrich learning, and allow teachers to Waldorf School. Their choices shed light on part to tackle the current gender gap in STEM customize the curriculum and pace for more personalized education. However, not everyone the variety of ways technology is integrated education. “We [support] a culture of agrees with tech-integrated classrooms, citing that unequal access to technology and poor today. innovation and pride ourselves on the network access widens achievement gaps, and that digital distractions interfere with kids intentional use of tech as a tool for redefining

24 | GGMG MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2016 NOVEMBER 2016 | GGMG MAGAZINE | 25 Classroom. Since not all students have access Barhydt says Waldorf realizes that parents to technology at home, alternative access may struggle to keep kids away from methods are provided. technology or worry that their kids are TECH TALK WHEN TOURING ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS “Technology has the power to level the missing out, so teachers work closely with As you begin touring elementary schools, you may be surprised at how differently playing field,” says Anderson. “As a district them to fight “tech peer pressure.” She says schools integrate—or don’t—computers in classrooms, curriculum, and focused on providing equitable access to all, that most parents stop worrying when they communication. To find a good fit, ensure that you see eye to eye on screen time. closing the digital learning gap is core to our see the curriculum and the “articulate, Here’s what to ask: agenda.” poised, deep-thinkers” that a tech-free education helps to create. • Does technology play an important • Are teachers trained on how to Marching to a different beat role at your school? If so, how is it incorporate technology into their Not every school agrees with technological The bottom line used? lesson plans? integration. “Technology immerses children There’s little evidence to show whether or not • If you are not using technology in the • Do you have a tech support person on in solitude, giving them no feedback. They technology improves kids’ long-term classroom, what’s the rationale? staff? can’t see body language or hear changes in academic success. However, it’s hard to • What devices are available to • Do you have a strong and reliable the tone of a voice; [technology] is the argue against technology as a valuable tool if students? wireless network to support your antithesis of experiencing true senses,” says used with good sense while observing digital • What is the ratio of computers to technology program? Mary Barhydt, a lead teacher at San Francisco citizenship, a code of ethics governing the students? • Do teachers and administrators use Hands-on teaching as a foundation Waldorf School, a K-12 school centered on responsible tech. How much or how little Ed Walters, head of Alta Vista School, a progressive PK-8 school that emphasizes science, • How much of the school day is spent technology (classroom blogs, email creative, holistic education. The school your child interacts with tech is ultimately up technology, and math, believes that technology is a powerful tool for feedback and on a screen? newsletters, social media) to believes technology hinders learning and to you and the school you choose. v collaboration. • Is technology available to support communicate with students and unnecessarily tethers children to objects, “Machines are great for practical use. We use Scratch, a child-friendly programming tool, to Lynn is Co-Founder and CEO of UrbanSitter. As an children with different learning styles parents? ultimately creating passive consumers. tell stories and make games, and products such as Google docs to learn file and folder making, entrepreneur, Lynn is passionate about leveraging and needs? • How do you address the varying levels From age 7 to 12, Waldorf curriculum technology to create innovative solutions for parents. sharing work, and for peer review, but they are no substitute for hands-on teaching with a • How is new technology evaluated? of access to technology students may or focuses on artistic expression and social As a mom of three, she finds it an ongoing challenge teacher,” he says. to find the right balance of tech time for her kids.. may not have at home? interactions. Students work with simple, The lower school’s focus is on teaching the fundamentals of computer use—a little bit in first natural materials—no technology or even grade, but mainly starting in second grade with 1:1 use of laptops to learn keyboarding skills textbooks are used. Instead of sharing a and how to share work with teachers and parents. Kids create with paper and pencil, later device or a document, they collaborate with moving their work to the computer to edit and collaborate with peers to improve it. each other, using real instruments to create By fourth grade, as kids prepare for middle school, more class work at Alta Vista is done on and harmonize music. The school advises computers (Chromebooks), where students can select from a menu of technology classes, parents to restrict screen time at home, too— Discover the joy including, “How to Build a Computer,” “Systems of the World,” and “Code Fu.” Email for including television and recorded music— of making music the GGMG Discount Leveling the playing field until around sixth grade, when students can The SFUSD, which includes about 60 elementary schools, is uniquely challenged with the actually understand how a device works and together with education of more than 57,000 students. The district is two years into a massive shift to literally begin taking it apart in the classroom. your family! transform itself into a truly digital domain, bringing aboard new technology tools (30,000 student devices are now in place), enhancing curriculum, and building a robust, resilient Haight · Inner & Outer Sunset infrastructure to support the increased use of technology. This (415) 745-1495 shift is spurred on by the system-wide assumption of student sfmusictogether.com assessments that are entirely computer-based. “We are committed to providing high-quality computer science education to all students, beginning in pre-kindergarten,” says Heidi Anderson, public relations manager for the district. “By starting in the earliest grades and with all children, we seek to normalize a discipline that has been long dominated by a selective group of the population.” San Francisco public schools focus on providing fundamental computer skills in the lower grades, and add greater access to technology in middle schools, including computer science, digital media classes, and technology integration into core curriculum. Though the use of technology varies within the district, Anderson says a growing number of teachers use tools like Google

26 | GGMG MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2016 NOVEMBER 2016 | GGMG MAGAZINE | 27 opened the door and instantly, my more items into an FC, and it’s one way miles each day as they navigate the FC. In 6-year-old asked me “is it here yet?” Amazon is able to store and sell so many each case, the robots and associates pick up looking for the big brown box with things. All items are scanned into a database as many items for as many orders as possible, smilingI arrows that had become so to track and monitor product quantity and before returning to the sorting line. ubiquitous at our house. He was anticipating where they are stored in the FC as soon as his new Minecraft LEGO kit, which we had they arrive from merchants. Once items are Computer-assisted ordered together on Amazon.com just a checked in, they are automatically available packaging couple of days ago. for us to buy from the website. Items from various orders are then sorted by Once upon a time, Amazon brought only another group of associates and kept books to our doorsteps. Now we can order An army of associates together on a rolling shelf. In the packaging everything, including the kitchen sink. More Thousands of employees called associates area, another associate takes our LEGO kit than 20 years after it started, Amazon has package and ship items to customers around from the shelf and puts it into a brown been branded “the everything store,” as it has the clock. Associates have specialized roles; cardboard box. Amazon uses computers to grown into a veritable one-stop shop. So your some stock shelves as items arrive, while tell associates exactly what size box to use children (and you) may want to know­­—how others see what you’ve ordered and pick out and how to package and ship the item as do the things we order arrive at your doorstep and pack those items to arrive as quickly and cheaply as possible, without wasted space or so fast? Well, it turns out that Amazon is more efficiently as possible. resources. Packed and sealed, the box goes like Santa’s Workshop than you ever thought. When I hit submit on the LEGO kit, an on another conveyor belt. Amazon has miles associate instantly sees my order on a upon miles of conveyor belts zig-zagging Technology-driven retail handheld device. The associate then uses the around the warehouse. As boxes travel along Amazon is a retail giant that uses technology device to tell a robot to retrieve one Minecraft the belt, they come to a labeling machine, to be as fast, cheap, and expansive as LEGO kit from aisle four, shelf six, top row, which prints our name and address on a possible. The company has mastered the use cubby number two. The robot looks like a shipping label and sticks it on the box. indeed packed together. Humans and of data, algorithms, and even futuristic robots giant bin on wheels and can go to that Further along, the shipping label is machines work in sync to bring orders to to make online shopping efficient. Amazon location and bring back the LEGO kit in automatically scanned to read the customers. doesn’t actually make most of the goods that minutes. Not all FCs have robots; some rely destination. In some of the newer fulfilment it sells. Instead, merchants and on associates to physically retrieve items in centers, the package is weighed as well while Destination: home manufacturers elect to sell goods on Amazon, yellow tote bags, and they are known to walk being scanned to check that all items are In most FCs today, conveyor belts split off in and the company stores, fulfills, and ships every direction, routing packages through the warehouse based on destination. Packages many of those items on the merchant’s Once upon a time, Amazon brought only books behalf. To store millions of items, Amazon has travel steadily on these belts and finally go built a network of warehouses called to our doorsteps. Now we can order everything, down a chute to be loaded into a UPS or fulfillment centers (FCs). The company has including the kitchen sink. FedEx truck. All orders going to San Francisco figured out precisely where to build these go down a designated chute into one delivery giant FCs to most optimally deliver anything truck. Amazon updates the order status to to anyone in two days. shipped and provides us a tracking number so that my son can track his toy’s journey. Optimized organization Shipping is the only time Amazon hands over istockphoto system packages to a third-party company in the Thinking back to the LEGO kit I ordered, it entire process. If rumors are to be trusted, may sound like an easy task to find and Amazon is planning to take that part over as package LEGOs, but try doing that in a facility well to further control the process. housing millions of products while thousands So it’s true: Amazon is our modern-day Hey Amazon, of orders come in each minute. Amazon has Santa’s Workshop, complete with robot elves, created a systematic cubby system that keeps magical technology, and a constant stream of Where’s My Toy? items organized, sorted and easy to find. items people wish for. So next time an item Every cubby has a barcode and each item has arrives at your doorstep, take a second to Most of us have used Amazon at least once (if not a corresponding shelf/cubby location. It’s not appreciate what it took to get to you! v uncommon to find a juicer stored next to every week), but few realize the complexity of the Rutuja Khanzode is a product manager by day and earrings or books alongside a garden hose. author of the blog www.livinglargetinylot.com by system that brings each box to our doorstep. Amazon stores items not by category, but by night, where she chronicles recipes, travels, and her where those items will fit best and take up as life in San Francisco with her husband and their two active boys. By Rutuja Khanzode Photographs by Aviva Roller Photography little space as possible. This helps pack in

28 | GGMG MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2016 NOVEMBER 2016 | GGMG MAGAZINE | 29 SAN FRANCISCO SYMPHONY

SUNDAY DECEMBER 4 11AM & 3PM

WE EDUCATE, NURTURE AND This festive, family-friendly concert event is a San Francisco Symphony holiday tradition. Members of the Orchestra and special This road to school CARE FOR PARENTS AFTER THE guests artists including the San Francisco Boys Chorus, is awfully long - TURFinc dancers, and Beach Blanket Babylon, will dazzle and BIRTH OF THEIR BABY. delight with holiday favorites. Tickets include a post-concert party with entertainment, arts and crafts, and refreshments. WE NEED TO For a truly unforgettable event, upgrade your experience with MOVE CLOSER! • POSTPARTUM CARE a VIP package. Enjoy premium concert seats and access to the ultimate pre-concert party, complete with a visit from Santa. BREASTFEEDING AND • Premier VIP packages also include tickets to the Davies BOTTLE SUPPORT Symphony Hall Tree Lighting Ceremony on November 30. • SLEEP EDUCATION Proceeds support the Symphony’s education and community programs. • INFANT MASSAGE Ticket exchange and discount not available. • FAMILY ADJUSTMENT Presenting Partner Louise M. Davies Foundation ASSISTANCE

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30 | GGMG MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2016 NOVEMBER 2016 | GGMG MAGAZINE | 31 GGMG events COMMUNITY NEIGHBORHOOD MEETUPS: FOR MOMS ONLY! SOCIAL EVENTS SUPPORT Thank you, our incredible GGMG members and dress up for photos in our photo booth, play in families, for attending this year's Fall Festival! We our Sports Zones, and enjoy all of our fantastic We know the challenges that moms face when trying to get out of the multiple subgroups, and you are not required to live in the neighborhood in 2016 Light the Night Walk loved watching all of you dance with Music for partners' booths in the beautiful sunshine. It truly house for a baby-free glass of wine with friends. Luckily, the GGMG order to join. Last November, GGMG members participated in the Aardvarks and JAMaROO, decorate pumpkins, was a perfect day because of you! Neighborhood Meetups Committee makes it easier to get out and meet Light the Night Walk in memory of our friend and other moms in your community! There are 11 neighborhood groups that Tip: Change your settings in BigTent to have events and discussions from your fellow GGMG member and volunteer Caitlin Mullinix, neighborhood forum sent to your email—this way you’ll never miss anything! who passed away in June 2015. Our team raised organize events for GGMG members, and in addition to playgroups and almost $10,000 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma events for the kiddos, they all organize a regular Moms’ Night Out (MNO) Society's lifesaving cancer research and free support Please feel free to contact the committee chair at yanina.markova@gmail. which varies from wine or cocktail nights for the ladies of The Heights, services for patients and caregivers. com with questions or ideas for future meetups. NOPA/Alamo Square, and Bernal/Glen Park, to a regular book club The 2016 San Francisco Light the Night Walk is Thursday, November 10. Food and family-friendly for members of Sunset/West Portal and The Richmond GET CONNECTED festivities will begin at 5 p.m. in Lot A of AT&T Park. At neighborhoods. Mamas in the Marina will host a wine night at Nectar To find out more about the playdates hosted in your neighborhood and 7 p.m., we will turn on our lanterns to light the night Wine Lounge in mid-November, so check out BigTent for more with hope along a 1.8-mile stroller-accessible route beyond, and to RSVP, join the neighborhood subgroup on BigTent for the information posted by that, or any other neighborhood subgroup. through AT&T Park. neighborhood(s) you are interested in at www.bigtent.com/group/subgroup. Please help us in remembering Caitlin by joining or To RSVP or find out more about MNOs, playdates, and other events in supporting our team this year. Signing up is a Tip: You can set up your settings in Bigtent to have events and discussions your neighborhood, join the subgroup for the neighborhood(s) you are two-step process: (1) RSVP to the event on BigTent from your neighborhood forum sent to your email—this way you won’t miss and (2) register on the Light the Night website. interested in at www.bigtent.com/group/subgroup. You can join anything! DATE: Thursday, November 10 TIME: 5 to 8:30 p.m. PLACE: AT&T Park, Lot A REGISTRATION: http://www.bigtent.com/home/calendar/ event/98663107

PLAYGROUPS

December Playgroup Formation Event at Sports Basement Presidio Here's your chance to find that special circle of ENTREPRENEURSHIP & CAREERS KIDS ACTIVITIES mommies to help you survive motherhood. At GGMG Playgroup Formation events, you will meet moms with similarly aged children and learn how to launch Working Moms Lunch at Work-Life Balance Webinar Holiday Family Fun at Presidio your own playgroup. The program format is as Specialty’s Café GGMG is thrilled to host a free webinar about finding Officers’ Club follows: get introduced, get to know each other, then Join us at Specialty's on Pine Street for our monthly balance in your everyday life—that you can attend in Join Kids Activities for kid-friendly holiday crafts and schedule a playdate to continue the fun. We'll also be downtown working moms networking lunch. Meet your pajamas from home. Together we'll define and fun family activities! Make winter bird hand puppets, sharing info about member benefits, neighborhood other moms and enjoy great conversation. GGMG will examine balance, which means so much more than decorate cookies, learn about park wildlife at the meetups, and other playgroup activities available pay $10/lunch for the first 10 moms who respond. just juggling endless tasks. You'll walk away with easy, Roving Ranger truck, and explore the Presidio Nature through GGMG. go-to practices for re-centering and re-aligning your Looking forward to seeing everyone! Lab, an all-ages, hands-on exhibition that brings the This event is ideal for mothers of young infants (0-12 to-do list so that there's more room to get to those great outdoors to life. Good for children up to age 11. months). Expecting moms and moms with older DATE: Thursday, November 10 things that light you up and more space to honor the Free snacks will be available for all—and the first 100 children are also welcome to attend. Pre-crawling TIME: 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. precious moments with your family. The event is families will receive a special Presidio goodie bag! babies are welcome at this event. PLACE: 369 Pine St. hosted by Julie Houghton, Liz Applegate, and Paula Jenkins, who are all moms and life coaches. We hope DATE: Saturday, December 3 Saturday, December 3 COST: GGMG buys lunch for first 10 moms DATE: you will join us! who respond ($10/lunch) TIME: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. TIME: 9 to 10:30 a.m. PLACE: 50 Moraga Ave. REGISTRATION:  www.bigtent.com/group/calendar/ DATE: Thursday, November 3 PLACE: 610 Old Mason St. event/99105845 TIME: 7:30 p.m. COST: FREE COST: FREE COST: FREE REGISTRATION: http://www.bigtent.com/group/calendar/ REGISTRATION: www.bigtent.com/group/calendar/ event/99138116 REGISTRATION:  www.bigtent.com/group/calendar/ event/99026439 event/99168411

32 | GGMG MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2016 NOVEMBER 2016 | GGMG MAGAZINE | 33 GGMG committee updates

Committee Spotlight: Entrepreneurship and Careers How to Help Thank you to all of our 2016 Fall Festival Describe the personality of your committee. How do you know when you are making a difference? We’ve all known a friend who was in the sponsors and volunteers! Our committee is committed to helping mothers find and explore their If we’re able to help mothers feel in control of their careers and feel like hospital or in an unexpected family passions. We’re fun-loving and can wander off on tangents (e.g., how they are supported in pursuing their passions, we’ve made a difference. situation. Do you ever wonder to do do working mothers maintain balance?) but at the end of it all, we besides writing a comment on her Who are your current volunteers? Facebook wall? come back to helping moms explore fulfilling careers and Our volunteers include Tania Shah, Lauren Belden, Julie Houghton, entrepreneurial ventures. Kyra Jablonsky, Marija Djordjevic, and Shirley Ling. Our board liaison is Offering specific support is often more Why do you do what you do? What has been an unexpected benefit of Katrina Dirksen. helpful than simply asking “how can I being involved with the Entrepreneurship and Careers Committee? help?” because it keeps the burden off the What’s next for the Entrepreneurship and Careers Committee? person in need. Here are some ideas: I (Rebecca Andersen) am a newish volunteer with the committee. We are working on a few industry-specific panels, including blogging, GGMG has been a great resource to me, particularly as a sounding tech, law, and sales, to name a few. We’re also working on booking • Food is always welcome. Cook and board for the unexpected challenges I faced as a working mother. I love speakers in marketing new ventures and making career transitions. deliver dinner, or order a meal from a career development and it’s great to be able to give back to GGMG and service like Munchery. Ideally, you’ll support other mothers in this area! How can interested GGMG members get involved in the choose the meal because in times of Entrepreneurship and Careers Committee? What types of activities or projects do you undertake? crisis, the hardest part is focusing on the We’d love to hear about what career topics GGMG members are simplest decisions. Our committee organizes events for mothers to engage with career interested in! Hearing directly from members helps us to target our topics and fulfill entrepreneurial goals; this could include skill-building activities. We are always open to ideas and speaker references and • Offer to babysit; there’s nothing like events (e.g., LinkedIn profile development, how to build a personal never turn down a volunteer. Email us at [email protected]. someone trustworthy taking your brand), networking opportunities, panels, and mentoring from other children for an afternoon playdate when working mothers. you are overwhelmed. Or book an UrbanSitter. • Visit her at the hospital—without children. GGMG Needs Volunteers! Renewing Your • If the family doesn’t have a car, offer to Have you thought about volunteering with GGMG? Now is the time to lend yours or drive them yourself. step up! GGMG has many open positions and volunteering with us is a GGMG Membership • Listen. Sometimes we just need a kind great way to meet other moms and keep your skills sharp. And don’t Renew your membership up to 60 days before it expires. Simply log ear and someone who will empathize forget about the many discounts that volunteers receive—savings into BigTent and click the “Continue Enrollment” link. If you don’t see without offering solutions. above and beyond those offered by the regular GGMG membership on that link, you can easily re-apply online at www.ggmg.org/join.html. If I still remember standing in a parking lot many popular family and children’s services. Also, after one year of you have any questions, reach out to us at [email protected]. with a dead car after soccer practice, kids service, volunteers receive their GGMG membership for free! Contact in tow, and no adults around to help. Tow us at [email protected] for more information. No longer living in San Francisco? You can still renew and maintain access to the forums, receive the trucks cannot take children, so we were Current Open Positions: magazine, and attend GGMG events. stranded. Within minutes of posting on Community Support: 2 volunteers Facebook, three GGMG friends offered to Has your baby recently graduated from kindergarten? Just for Moms: 1 co-chair pick us up with the proper-sized car seats. GGMG has raised the age limit to include moms who have a child 11 Kids Activities: 1 volunteer This is the power of the mom connection; years old or younger. Magazine: 2 photographers, 1 graphic designer to help a friend in need is to pay it Parent Education: 1 volunteer Have friends moving to SF? forward for the day when you will Playgroups: 1 chair, 2 volunteers They can join prior to moving, but must provide a local residential (inevitably) need support yourself. Neighborhood Meetups: directors for Haight, NoPa/Alamo; address within six months of joining. ambassadors for Haight, Mission/Castro, Nob Hill/North Beach, New this year: Renew your GGMG membership and be automatically Noe, Bernal/Glen entered into a monthly raffle for an Amazon gift card! Recruiting: 1 co-chair Web Team: 2 co-chairs, 1 moderator

BRITT FOHRMAN

34 | GGMG MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2016 NOVEMBER 2016 | GGMG MAGAZINE | 35 Photo by John Lee

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36 | GGMG MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2016 NOVEMBER 2016 | GGMG MAGAZINE | 37 I Mom Dining Together When You’re 3,000 Miles Apart By Jennifer Hofmann

y children have dinner with my parents twice a week. from preschool, or a new book to share. My mother started My 5-year-old daughter, Lotte, and twin toddler sons, sending books to Lotte, something she has always done, but now Jamie and Ryan, wash their hands, climb into their she would buy a second copy for her house and they would read seats—oneM kitchen chair and two high chairs—and patiently wait books together and turn the pages in unison. My dad would make for the electronic beep that indicates a call coming in. Then my faces and sing Beatles songs as Lotte ate, and I would very quietly parents, at 8:30 p.m. New York time, show up on the laptop, observe from the kitchen, cleaning up, or packing leftovers, while sitting at their dining room table, to great cheering and squealing they spent time together. from my tiny army of three. Meals are described, analyzed, and When the boys were born, dinners with grandma and grandpa shared through the screen, glasses and sippy cups are cheersed became even louder and messier, and three times as joyful. The repeatedly and a great mess of smiling kids and an even broader first time Jamie motioned along to Itsy Bitsy Spider was with my set of smiling mother on Skype. The first grandparents fill my time Ryan said “grandpa,” kitchen. “kitty cat,” and “choo choo!” We first started our was on Skype. After arriving twice-a-week dinners on our first trip to Buffalo, we when Lotte was small, pushed the stroller through around 2 years old. I security, saw my parents would sit at the table with waiting for us, and the boys her and we would talk to absolutely freaked out with my parents. I’d ask her joy. The recognition was questions and she would instant—no shyness or quiet answer me, sometimes looking at them, but really just side glances, just immediate smiles and laughter followed by Ready for a responding to me. My parents called it “Baby TV.” It was mostly reaching requests of “up! up! up!” them observing, and my daughter didn’t really seem to pay much We’ve even branched out a little and roped in some other attention to their presence. It was fun, but not interactive. family members, a “Super Skype,” as Lotte calls it. Sometimes we home with Then one day, while I was pregnant with the boys, we were conference chat with my great aunt in Florida along with my having dinner, and I left the table to grab something in the parents. The quality of the conversation seems to decrease as the outdoor space? kitchen. While I was gone, I heard Lotte start describing to my number of people chatting increases, but everyone still seems (And a hose?) pretty happy when we log off. This summer while in Buffalo, my I had been trying for weeks to get her to aunt came up for a surprise visit and as we all sat down to dinner Lotte declared, “We’re Skyping—in real life!” We all agreed and engage; apparently all I had to do was leave cheersed the declaration. her alone with the laptop. Communicating this way makes me really happy. Would I prefer my parents to live close enough so we could see them once a Having no outdoor space didn’t seem like a big deal... Sherri Howe parents what was happening. She was chattering away—it was so week? Sure. But a very simple piece of free technology makes the until your gregarious kid decided to bring the outdoors great! Then when I returned to the table, she stopped and distance and time apart a little easier to bear, and allows my most in! If your pre-baby abode just isn’t working anymore, REALTOR® & GGMG Mom a.k.a — look for me favorite people a chance to come together, over dinner, twice a call Sherri to discuss your options. She specializes in askhowe resumed her dinner, and my parents continued talking to me. It on the GGMG message boards helping busy families find the right home for their current wasn’t hard to see what was going on, so a few minutes later I week. v and anticipated needs. Even better, she gets her clients 415.640.4664 LIC# 01816621 walked back into the kitchen—with the table in view but out of through the process with their sanity intact. [email protected] Jennifer Hofmann is a mother to a small army of children, a writer, and a Lotte’s line of sight, and she started talking to my parents again. member of various book clubs despite rarely reading the books. She is an Whether you are venturing into the market for the first She even offered to sing them a song. I had been trying for weeks expert on playgrounds that are completely enclosed, and finds herself daily time, or you are a real estate veteran, Sherri has the to get her to engage; apparently all I had to do was leave her explaining that ‘yes, they’re twins, yes, they do look alike—they’re identical.’ She hopes her daughter will be able to tell her brothers apart before they start proven expertise and enthusiasm to guide you to a solid alone with the laptop. investment decision. to seriously mess with her. Dinner with my parents became really wonderful from that TOP 3% OF ALL REALTORS IN SAN FRANCISCO night forward. Lotte would plan the visit: stack up some drawings

38 | GGMG MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 2016 NOVEMBER 2016 | GGMG MAGAZINE | 39 Are you a San Francisco mom? Want to receive this magazine? Join GGMG today at www.ggmg.org.

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