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BROOKLYN FREE Family Where Every Child Matters Extra Special Activities for Your Kids September 2016 BROOKLYN FREE Family Where Every Child Matters Extra special Activities for your kids Turn homework into a home run How a good night’s sleep boosts learning Find us online at www.NYParenting.com Child Health Plus +++++ with Fidelis Care Affordable health insurance for How much does Child Health Plus cost? children under 19. Coverage may be free or as little as $9 each month, based on household income. For families at full WYLTP\TSL]LS-PKLSPZ*HYLVќLYZZVTLVM[OL See top-quality providers, close to home. lowest rates available. How do I enroll my child? Checkups, dental care, hospital care, Through NY State of Health at nystateofhealth.ny.gov. and more! Apply by the 15th of the month to have coverage for your child on the 1st of the following month. +Fidelis Care is a top-rated plan in the Fidelis Care is in your community! 2015 New York State Consumer’s Guide =PZP[ÄKLSPZJHYLVYNÄUKHUVѝJL[VZLHYJOMVY[OL to Medicaid and Child Health Plus. JVTT\UP[`VѝJLULHYLZ[[V`V\ 1-888-FIDELIS • ÄKLSPZJHYLVYN (1-888-343-3547) TTY: 1-800-421-1220 To learn more about applying for health insurance, including Child Health Plus and Medicaid through 5@:[H[LVM/LHS[O;OL6ѝJPHS/LHS[O7SHU4HYRL[WSHJL visit www.nystateofhealth.ny.gov or call 1-855-355-5777. 'ÄKLSPZJHYL BROOKLYN Family September 2016 45 FEATURES COLUMNS 6 A quiet problem 10 Healthy Living Ten tips for parents with shy children BY DANIELLE SULLIVAN BY DENISE YEARIAN 38 Behavior & Beyond 8 Homework star BY DR. MARCIE BEIGEL Ten tips for parents to make homework a home run 42 Tips for Feeding Kids BY DENISE YEARIAN BY JOANNA DEVITA 22 Finding her shtick 43 Good Sense Eating A Brooklyn comedian’s journey to BY CHRISTINE M. PALUMBO, RD mommyhood 36 BY TAMMY SCILEPPI 44 Just Write Mom BY DANIELLE SULLIVAN 24 Stitching together character Lessons from a childhood sewing contest — 45 Dear Teacher and my mother’s words of wisdom BY PEGGY GISLER AND MARGE EbERTS BY CAROLYN WATERBURY-TIEMAN 26 From A to ZZZs 46 A Letter from College Important info linking shut-eye to great BY AGLAIA HO grades 47 Ask an Attorney BY MALIA JACOBSON BY ALISON ARDEN BESUNDER, ESQ. 36 Time to read 48 Dear Dr. Karyn This whole family is going to hit the books BY DR. KARYN GORDON BY LISA A. BEACH 49 Divorce & Separation 40 Get every kid into the parks BY LEE CHABIN, ESQ. This is a great time to explore the outdoors BY SHNIEKA L. JOHNSON 56 The Book Worm 26 BY TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER SPECIAL SECTIONS 58 New & Noteworthy BY LISA J. CURTIS 12 Classes and Enrichment Directory CALENDAR 28 School Choices Directory 57 The Marketplace 50 September Events September 2016 • BROOKLYN FAMILY 3 LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER Screen time, families, and children get in the elevator time consuming elec- plans to update its guidelines on It’s something for us all to con- in my office build- tronic media than they media use later this year. Current sider. Are we reading books any- I ing and I’m the only do in school, accord- recommendations are to avoid all more? Are we engaging in enough one not looking down at ing to Common Sense screens for children under 2, and to physical activity or are we sitting in my smart phone. I drive Media. Anya Kamenetz allow a maximum of two hours per front of some kind of screen? Are our the streets of our city did a wonderful piece day of high-quality material for older kids getting enough exercise or are and narrowly avoid pe- on this topic for NPR children. I would like to repeat that they also sitting on their backsides destrians looking down that caught my ear the line about avoiding all screens for too much? If those hours logged are at their screens instead other day and prompted children under 2. How often I’ve seen correct, then they certainly are not. of looking where they’re me to download it. tablet devices propped up in front of We need to address that quickly, going. I’ve seen moms Some of the facts she babies in restaurants, apparently to especially as school begins and new crossing streets with strollers and si- pointed out are that tweens log 4 1/2 pacify them into silence so the par- patterns emerge after the summer multaneously looking down at their hours of screen time a day, seven ents can enjoy their dinner. vacation. device. No matter how often the days a week, 52 weeks a year. For Parents have to set the example dangers of driving and texting are teens, it’s even higher; nearly seven and, personally, one sees far too Thanks for reading. pointed out, we still have people hours a day. And that doesn’t include many parents concentrating on their ignoring the warnings and inviting time spent using devices for school own screens rather than on their accidents and possible death. We are or in school. children. It used to be they were screen people without a doubt. Digital devices are more integral merely talking on the phone, now I’ve been asking the question every year, with research available they are also scrolling and texting. about how all of this is affecting our to support both the benefits as well This kind of distraction takes away Susan Weiss-Voskidis, children. It seems that most Ameri- as the dangers. Anya writes that precious time for focus on the chil- Publisher/Excutive Editor can children actually spend more the American Academy of Pediatrics dren and supervision/guidance. [email protected] Community News Group Contact Information CEO: Les Goodstein ADVERTISING: WEB OR PRINT ADDRESS PRESIDENT & PUBLISHER: Jennifer Goodstein (718) 260-4554 New York Parenting Media/CNG [email protected] 1 Metrotech Center North 10th Floor New York Parenting CIRCULATION Brooklyn, NY 11201 (718) 260-8336 PUBLISHER / EXECUTIVE EDITOR: [email protected] Susan Weiss PUBLISHER / BUSINESS MANAGER: EDITORIAL www.NYParenting.com Clifford Luster (718) 260-4554 [email protected] OPERATIONS ASSOCIATE: Tina Felicetti CALENDAR SALES REPS: Alexis Benson, Erin Brof, (718) 260-2523 Jay Pelc, Stephanie Stellacio ART DIRECTOR: Leah Mitch WEB DESIGNER: Sylvan Migdal The acceptance of advertising by New York Parent- New York Parenting has been recognized for ing does not constitute an endorsement of the editorial and design excellence by PMA. GRAPHIC DESIGNERS: Arthur Arutyunov, products, services or information being advertised. New York Parenting is published monthly by New Daria Avvento, Gardy Charles, Yvonne Farley, We do not knowingly present any products or ser- York Parenting Media/CNG. Subscription rate is Earl Ferrer, John Napoli vices that are fraudu lent or misleading in nature. $35 annually. Reproduction of New York Parent- Editorial inquiries, calendar information, advertising ing Media in whole or part without written per- rates and schedules and subscription requests may be mission from the publisher is prohibited. All rights MANAGING EDITOR: Vince DiMiceli addressed to New York Parenting, One Metro tech reserved. Copyright©2016 Readership: 185,000. Center North, 10th Floor, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11201. 2015 circulation audits by CVC. ASSISTANT EDITOR: Courtney Donahue New York Parenting can also be reached by calling COPY EDITORS: Lisa J. Curtis, (718) 260-4554, emailing [email protected] or Shavana Abruzzo by visiting our website, NYParenting.com. CALENDAR EDITOR: Joanna Del Buono Join the conversation on Facebook. 4 BROOKLYN FAMILY • September 2016 When your child needs more than just a Band-Aid... Better have a good pediatrician. Make sure your kids are covered. Contact Affinity Health Plan at 866.247.5678 to obtain more information about Child Health Plus, a free or low-cost health insurance program sponsored by New York State for kids under the age of 19. To learn more about applying for health insurance, including Child Health Plus and Medicaid through NY State of Health, The Official Health Plan Marketplace, visit nystateofhealth.ny.gov or call 855.355.5777. AffinityPlan.org/CHP September 2016 • BROOKLYN FAMILY 5 A quiet problem Ten tips for BY DENISE YEARIAN hildhood shyness is a com- parents with mon concern a mong pa rents, C who fear their youngsters may lack self-confidence and lag be- shy children hind in social development. But with preparation, practice, and patience, most reserved children can learn how to successfully navigate social situations and build meaningful re- lationships with peers. Here are 10 tips to help: 1. Start small: Expose your child to a variety of non-threatening, posi- tive peer interactions from an early age. When he starts day care or school, begin with a small class or group size until he is ready to tran- sition to a larger one. As group size grows, consider adult-child ratios to encourage positive peer interactions and reduce the chance of negative behaviors such as bullying, exclu- sion, and name calling. 2. Scope out settings: If possible, informed. Present it in story form: because the setting is too loud, there take your child to a new academic “Tomorrow [child’s name] is going are too many people, or it’s too cha- or extracurricular program before to…” and tell your child the whole otic. You’ll never know unless you classes begin, so he can meet the story, inserting his name. Then ask, listen. Validate his concerns and ask teacher and get acquainted with the “What other things might he see?” open-ended questions to encourage setting and routine. “What else might he do?” dialogue. 3. Rally support: Let the teacher 6. Dress rehearse: Role play dif- 9. Get professional help: If your or caretaker know about your child’s ferent scenarios, such as meeting a child’s behavior persists past six shyness, and stay in touch through- new peer at school.
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